Bright Lights, Green Spaces & Hidden Gems: Here’s Why Pasig City Deserves More Attention!

Pasig City often gets overshadowed by its busier neighbours in Metro Manila, but this thriving city has grown into a model of sustainability, community, and creative urban living. Once known mainly for its traffic, Pasig now stands out for its green spaces, lively food scene, and people-first city planning.

Also read: 20 Fun Things to Do in Manila on Your Very First Trip

The Green City

Butterfly Garden, Pasig RAVE Park | Image credit: Maxine Chan

Thanks to its long-running sustainability drive, Pasig still proudly carries the nickname “The Green City”. The city enforces plastic reduction policies, promotes active transport, and has expanded its bike lanes and car-free zones in recent years.

Pasig remains recognised globally for its climate efforts under initiatives like the Ambitious City Promises, which promote citizen-led urban sustainability in Asia. This initiative was put together in hopes of strengthening capacity building in local governments. At the same time, they aim to involve citizens in developing local climate action plans for their respective communities.

Since my line of work is heavily integrated in promoting sustainability practices, I am proud to see my hometown trying to combat the effects of climate change.

The two sides of Pasig

Image credit: Yacine Petitprez

It’s funny how when people hear about Pasig, they usually think of Ortigas — somewhat far from the Pasig’s “Green City” moniker. As they say, however, there are two sides to every story.

Locals still talk about the “two sides” of Pasig — the bustling West, home to Ortigas Center and Capitol Commons, and the quieter East, stretching toward the Rizal border. Each side’s distinct infrastructure really says a lot about the disparity within the city.

Pasig was once a part of Rizal province, but then shifted to the National Capital Region in the 1970s. Compared to the more urbanised and structured West Pasig, East Pasig somehow holds remnants of its provincial flair.

Pasig’s notable sights and activities

Image credit: Rainforest Adventure Experience Official Instagram Page

The city’s “green” heart lies in Rainforest Adventure Experience (RAVE) Park, a 10-hectare nature hub in the Eastern side that remains a go-to for locals who want fresh air without leaving the city. This green patch in the city provides a gathering area for locals (and non-locals) to be with nature.

The park is great for families and fitness lovers, offering swimming pools, gardens, bike trails, and a small zoo. In recent years, it has added more shaded picnic areas and outdoor workout spaces for locals. There are plenty of different animals there — I personally like the aviary the best, since it’s home to colourful peacocks. They have large spaces to walk around, too.

Pasig Cathedral (left), Pasig City Museum (right) | Image credit: Pasig City (left), Pasig City Museum Official Facebook Page

Aside from the greenery, the East is where you can also experience a touch of history. Here, you’ll find the city’s old buildings: Pasig Cathedral, Plaza Rizal, and Pasig City Museum. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to visit the last two just yet. As a local, there’s still so much for me to explore around my hometown!

An action-packed yet liveable urban escape

Pasig’s Tunnel of Light, which is set up during Christmas | Image credit: Ricki Salud

If you’re more interested in the city’s urban sprawl, there’s much for you to enjoy. Check out Kapitolyo’s evolving café and bar scene, weekend food markets at Capitol Commons, and new lifestyle hubs like The Grove Retail Row and Estancia Mall. You can check them out for drinking sessions and food trips. Love starting your days with a good sweat? Head to the Capitol Commons for a quick jog. Plus, don’t miss the ever-famous Tunnel of Light that’s set up in Tiendesitas every Christmas season!

Within Ortigas, it’s nice to know that they make an effort to make the area more liveable than the average city. Every Sunday, one of the major roads is closed off to cars, so people can walk and bike freely. Places such as the elevated walkway along Julia Vargas allow for this as well.

Ortigas Skyline | Image credit: Jun Acullador

Whenever I walk to nearby malls like SM Megamall and Podium, I always relish my strolls along the walkway. If more cities would adopt this, we would surely have less traffic; we’d have a more pleasant everyday travel experience, too! 

Also read: Traffic in the Metro? Take the Pasig River Ferry Instead

Pasig is a city that offers many things, blending both urbanity and greenery into the home I know today. Give it a chance and you’ll see why locals proudly call it home.