BEL-AIR VILLAGE

'Bel-Air Village' is a private subdivision and gated community in Makati City, Philippines. To the north, the village is bound by Neptune-Anza-Orion-Mercedes-Amapola Streets, Estrella Street on the northeast, Epifanio de los Santos Avenue on the southeast, Jupiter Street on the southwest, and Nicanor Garcia (formerly Reposo) Street on the northwest. It encompasses a total land area of 787,234 square meters and is roughly shaped like a tobacco pipe. 'Bel-Air' was developed in four phases, and consists of 950 lots, thirty-two streets and two well-developed parks in Phases 2 and 3, each with covered badminton/basketball courts. Makati Avenue separates Phase 2 from the rest of the subdivision. The village is managed by the Bel-Air Village Association (BAVA), and comprises only a portion of Barangay Bel-Air, which now includes Ayala North, Buendia Avenue Extension, the Ayala Triangle, and the entire Salcedo Village. The current Barangay Captain is Mrs. Nene Lichauco.

Contents

History

Community Services

Cleanest and Greenest Barangay

Life in Bel-Air

References

External links

History

BEL-AIR VILLAGE, MAKATI CITY, M. MANILA, was part of the then NIELSEN AIRPORT of the Municipality of Makati, Rizal Prov.
In the 1930’s, the AYALA-owned NIELSEN AIRPORT was the only COMMERCIAL AIRPORT of Manila. Philippine Air Lines ( PAL ) then owned by Don Andres Soriano Sr. operated domestic flights from Manila to Baguio and Paracale, with 9- Passenger twin engine planes flown by American pilots.
During World War II, the airport was taken over by the Japanese Air Force and the U.S. Army Air Corps.
AYALA AVE. And PASEO DE ROXAS were wide and macadam as they were then the RUNWAYS of the AIRPORT. The NIELSEN TERMINAL & TOWER located across the PENINSULA HOTEL at Makati Ave. is still standing, well groomed as an AYALA LEGACY.
After the War, in 1945, the AIRPORT was returned to AYALA; domestic and international commercial air operations resumed. However, in 1948, the U.S.AIRFORCE turned over NICHOLS AIR BASE to the Phil. Gov’t. PRESIDENT M. ROXAS transferred all commercial air operations from NIELSEN to NICHOLS despite the intense lobbying of the AYALAS and SORIANOS.
It was a BLESSING IN DISGUISE. COL. JOSEPH MCMICKING of the U.S. Army and HONORARY COL. PHIL. AIR FORCE, the husband of DONA MERCEDES ZOBEL DE AYALA ( majority share owner of AYALA ) visualized a future FINANCIAL, BUSINESS, COMMERCIAL CENTER with residential villages all around the vacant NIELSEN AIRPORT.
In early 1950’s, he lured Manila’s influential entrepreneurs, business leaders to move to FORBES PARK at give-away price of land at EIGHT ( 8 ) PESOS per square meter. Who then later built their magnificent buildings at Ayala Ave. And Paseo De Roxas. San Lorenzo Village followed in 1954 for executives and the upper middle class.
IN 1956, the PAL Airline pilots union ( ALPAP ), composed of over 200 virtually ex-US. Airforce and Phil Air Force pilots requested AYALA for a subdivision. Thru the efforts of CAPT ANTONIO O’BRIEN, then President of ALPAP and with gracious support of his friend, Col.J. McMicking, PHASE I of Bel-Air Village was opened in 1957 at a price of P 15.00 per sq.meter for pilots and P 30 for others.
After viewing the vast area of cogon and talahib all around the area, only 100 pilots signed up and 50 odd pilots erected houses. The others sold their rights at a handsome profit. There is not a single building in BUENDIA, PASEO DE ROXAS, MAKATI AVE. and AYALA AVE. The only building was the RIZAL THEATRE ( now the site of SHANGRILA HOTEL and later a small MAKATI SUPERMART)
From the FIRST HOUSE and RESIDENCE of CAPT CHARLIE DEEN at No. 2 Polaris St. corner Mars St., PHASE I, BEL-AIR VILLAGE blossomed into FOUR PHASES : I - IV with over 900 home owners. The WIDOW of the FIRST RESIDENT, MS. JUDITH DEEN and siblings still lives at their 1957 house. While the WIDOW OF CAPT. A. O’BRIEN, the former film actress PARALUMAN just recently moved out of their house at Polaris St. Capt. O’Brien chose the name BEL-AIR as the pilots wanted a name with “ AIR”.
From a one-woman employee, part time as she was the Secretary of ALPAP, for the first several years, BAVA now has a full complement of personnel to service the Village. The ASS. has orchestrated several organizations for YOUTH, WOMEN, SENIOR, ETC. The BEL-AIR PARK is considered one of the finest among the Villages of the City.
Bel-Air Village was the third division to be developed by the Ayala Development Corporation. It was incorporated and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1957. Bel-Air's deed restrictions for residential lots have remained in force since 15 January 1957. These restrictions officially expired in 2007, but were renewed by votation and extended for another twenty-five years.

Community Services

The Bel-Air Village Community Center is located on #40 Solar Street, adjacent to the BAVA office, the Bel-Air Security Headquarters and Bel-Air 3 Park. The Community Center hosts a clinic, the Bel-Air Post Office Extension, the Bel-Air Fitness Gym, and two function rooms for the use of village residents in good standing. Gym membership is open to residents and their visitors, with corresponding fees. Two covered badminton/basketball courts are located at the parks on Juno and Hercules Streets in Bel-Air 2 and on Solar Street in Bel-Air 3.
Barangay Bel-Air offers other extension services such as free ambulance service through Lifeline Arrows, and the Continuing Education Program for English Proficiency for household help, security and maintenance personnel, in cooperation with the Department of Education and the Mapua Institute of Technology. More subjects like math and science will be offered in the future, in line with Makati City's Non-Formal Education Program.

Cleanest and Greenest Barangay

As of 2005, Bel-Air was proclaimed the Cleanest and Greenest Barangay, Cluster I in the City of Makati, for the eighth record-breaking consecutive year. As a result the barangay has been inducted into Makati City's Clean and Green Hall of Fame.

Life in Bel-Air

Bel-Air Village's 'Pasinaya', which means thanksgiving, has been held annually since 1993 as a way of fostering community spirit and promoting camaraderie among its residents. This sense of community, carefully nurtured by the current barangay captain, has made life in Bel-Air very colorful and festive. The yearly celebration usually consists of a variety of events held during the month of April at the Bel-Air 3 Park, featuring various food stalls, bazaars, entertainment, games and ''perya'' rides.
During the rest of the year, cultural events such as the recently-held ''Night of Music'' concert provide entertainment for the residents. Presented in cooperation with the Italian Embassy, the Makati City Government, the Department of Tourism and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and sponsored by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Women of Bel-Air, ''Night of Music'' featured the Four Seasons Chamber Orchestra with Maestro Ruggero Barbieri on 16 February 2007 at the Bel-Air Multipurpose Court.

References

★ BAVA Handbook (2006)

★ Bel-Air Village Association Website

★ Barangay Bel-Air Website

★ Makati City Government joins Barangay Bel-Air in ‘Pasinaya 2004’

★ 335th "Araw Ng Makati" Celebration Begins With Pasinaya 2005

External links

★ Bel-Air Village Association, Inc.

★ Barangay Bel-Air