Makati City, one of the most highly urbanized areas in the Philippines, serves as a hub for the country’s major economic activities. Defined by a fast-paced lifestyle and rapid modernization, much of the city’s space has been transformed for commercial use. As contemporary structures and developments continue to rise, the cultural identity of its residents has been increasingly overshadowed. This rapid urbanization has presented significant challenges in identifying and preserving the city’s cultural heritage, with many historically significant sites being neglected or forgotten—issues that this study seeks to address. Anchored in Muñoz-Viñas’ Cultural Heritage Theory—which highlights the intangible meanings embedded in tangible heritage—this research explores the strategies employed to identify and conserve heritage assets in Makati through urban cultural mapping as a qualitative framework. It also examines the challenges of reconciling past identities with present urban realities. Using archival research, key informant interviews, and participatory mapping, the study investigates how cultural heritage can be thoughtfully integrated into Makati’s ongoing urban development. Additionally, it explores how the city’s cultural blueprint contributes to sustainable development through adaptive reuse, local history education, identity-building, and the application of augmented reality (AR) to visualize lost or inaccessible heritage sites for future generations.

Authors:
Edesa Grama, University of Makati, Philippines

About the Presenter(s)
Associate Professor Edesa Grama is the Department Chairperson of Languages at the University of Makati, specializing in communications.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Friday Schedule

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