Casa Hacienda Makati

Casa Hacienda de San Pedro Makati in the National Spotlight

We are proud to share that the Casa Hacienda de San Pedro de Macati was featured in the 2025 National Conference on Local History and Heritage through the paper presentation of Ryana Leigh Clemente of Holy Angel University.

Her study, “Nurturing Hope: The Youth and the First Government Orphanage at Casa Hacienda de San Pedro de Macati (1917–1926),” examines the historical role of the Casa Hacienda as the Philippines’ first government orphanage. It highlights not only its significance in child welfare, but also its place within the broader context of American colonial policy and Benevolent Assimilation.

We congratulate Ms. Clemente for advancing research on the Casa Hacienda and for helping deepen public understanding of its layered history and cultural significance. Her paper has also been accepted for publication in the conference’s official journal—a testament to the continuing importance of the Casa Hacienda in our nation’s story.

A Major Milestone in Makati Historiography

The City Government of Makati has released “Makati Historical Essays”, the product of its 2023 Historical Research Project. The volume offers a rare and rigorous look into the city's deep past from its earliest traces as a visita of Santa Ana in the 16th century, to its transformation into a modern urban center.

Especially significant for this page, the essays revisit the origins of Hacienda de San Pedro de Macati, with close attention to the 1608 land donation by Pedro de Brito to the Jesuits - the very act that laid the groundwork for the Casa Hacienda we are trying to preserve.

Included in the book:
- “Searching for the Archaeology and Early History of Makati” by Timothy Vitales
- 23 barangay histories
- A cultural profile reflecting Makati's evolving identity

This is a welcome step toward a clearer, more accountable public memory. We invite everyone following this page to read, question, and build upon this effort, for the story of Makati is not finished, and the Casa Hacienda still stands to tell its part.

MAKATI HISTORICAL ESSAYS

The Makati Historical Essays is an output of the Cultural Mapping and Historical Research Project of the Museum and Cultural Affairs Office and adopted through City Ordinance No. 2023-257.

The book is divided into three parts:
1. Five Periods in the History of Makati
2. The Barangays of Makati Through Time
3. A Cultural Profile of Makati

This collection provides a comprehensive, well-researched history of Makati, offering valuable insights into the city’s cultural, social, and historical evolution.

It is available to researchers and enthusiasts in Museo ng Makati, the Makati City Library, the University of Makati, in all 23 barangays, private cultural institutions in the city, and national cultural agencies such as the NHCP, National Archives, National Library and National Museum.

Mayora Abby Binay-Campos invites to discover and learn more about our city’s history through this book for a better understanding and appreciation of Makati’s development.

Once used as a Spanish field hospital and later as the first government orphanage in the Philippines, the Casa Hacienda of Makati continues to evolve as a site of public care and civic purpose.

On June 24, 2025, the City Government opened the Animal Care Facility within the compound, located along the Pasig River on the west side of the Casa Hacienda ruins.

The facility adds a meaningful new layer to the site's heritage by combining present-day service with historical preservation. Its presence affirms the continuing relevance of the Casa Hacienda grounds as a place of public value and care—even for the most vulnerable members of our community, such as our pets.

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Cultural Significance No. 12
Part of the Sugar Empire of the Philippines

Did you know that behind the rapid rise of Makati lies a connection to the sugar empire of Negros? In the 20th century, the historic Casa Hacienda of Makati housed Victorias Milling Company (VMC), one of the largest sugar producers in Asia. From staff housing to warehouses for sugar export operations, this site bridged provincial wealth and urban development.

VMC’s presence here reflects more than just the movement of commodities—it symbolizes Makati’s transformation from a sleepy town to an industrial hub, contributing to its emergence as the Philippines’ financial center.

But this wasn’t the first time the Casa Hacienda supported the sugar industry! As far back as the 1700s, the estate was already producing sugar under its original owners, the Jesuits. Later, under the Zobel de Ayala family, the site became part of a legacy that laid the foundations for Makati’s urban development.

This chapter in Makati’s story shows how economic forces, industrialization, and heritage intersect. How did a former sugar warehouse evolve into a critical piece of urban history? And how does preserving sites like the Casa Hacienda help us understand the forces that shaped modern-day Makati?

Explore the layers of history and learn how the Casa Hacienda of Makati continues to inspire new generations.

Read the full article here: https://casahaciendamakati.wordpress.com/2024/10/28/cultural-significance-no-12/