| Ayala Avenue | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 1.9 km (1.2 mi) |
| From: | Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Barangay San Lorenzo |
| Major junctions: |
Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, Salcedo Street, V.A. Rufino Street, Paseo de Roxas, Makati Avenue, and EDSA |
| To: | Metropolitan Avenue in Barangay San Antonio |
Ayala Avenue is an avenue in Makati City in the Philippines. It is one of the busiest thoroughfares in Metro Manila, crossing through the heart of Makati's central business district. Because of the many businesses located on the avenue, Ayala Avenue is aptly nicknamed the Wall Street of the Philippines. It is from Epifanio de los Santos Avenue to Metropolitan Avenue.
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Ayala Avenue's segment from Paseo de Roxas to Makati Avenue used to be a runway of the Nielson Airport, which was the first airport built in Luzon. Paseo de Roxas's segment from Ayala Avenue to Makati Avenue also used to be a runway of the airport. The airport was blazed by Japanese invaders on December 10, 1941 and resumed operations in 1947. The runways were converted into a road in 1949 when the permanent facilities of the airport was passed on the owner of the land, Ayala y Cia.
The runways' missing part to the main road (now Makati Avenue) was added. It later created new segments from Paseo de Roxas to Malugay Street, Malugay Street to Kamagong Street, and Kamagong Street to the tip part of South Avenue (which is from J.P. Rizal Avenue to Metropolitan Avenue) at Metropolitan Avenue. The last extension is a northbound lane connecting South Avenue. The EDSA-Makati Avenue Segment of the McKinley Avenue was acquired by the avenue. Such segment was of McKinley Avenue prior to the 1941 Nielson Airport fire. When the MRT was established, its flyover was added for left turners to EDSA heading Monumento at the lane going to EDSA.
Ayala Center, which comprises eight distinct shopping centers, is partially located on Ayala Avenue, specifically the Glorietta complex, Greenbelt mall, and the 6750 building, as well as the Shangri-La Makati hotel. It is one of the largest and most famous malls in the Philippines.
The Ayala Triangle is a sub-district of the Makati central business district, comprising the parcel of land between Ayala Avenue, Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas, as well as the buildings on those streets. Many multinational companies, banks and other major businesses make their home on the triangle, noted by the many skyscrapers bounding the Triangle. Many exclusive and/or expensive stores make their home there. Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas also house the distinction of being the runways of the former Nielson Field, Metro Manila's main airport in the 1930s.
PBCOM Tower, the tallest commercial building in the Philippines, is located at Ayala Avenue (corner V.A. Rufino Street). It serves as the headquarters of two Philippine banks, the Philippine Bank of Communications, of which the building's name owes it to, and East West Bank.
One of the trading floors of the Philippine Stock Exchange is located on Ayala Avenue's Ayala Tower One, as well as the old building of the Makati Stock Exchange. Near the building is also the most famous statue of assassinated politician Benigno Aquino, Jr., located at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas.
Ayala Avenue is home to many other landmark buildings, of which some are in turn home to some of the biggest names in Philippine business. Some of these famous buildings include the following: