BGC Butas: Community on the other side of a modern, upscale district

MANILA, Philippines – When one thinks of Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, visions of a luxurious lifestyle come to mind. However, there is a passageway, almost portal-like, that brings you to a world distinct from BGC’s offerings.

Just 20 steps away from the bustling cityscape, eateries, street food vendors, and sari-sari stores line a busy street in an area famously known as BGC Butas (literally, Hole). In contrast to the organized and orderly city, the area is described by a barangay official of South Cembo as “untidy,” likening it to Quiapo in Manila.

Employees coming from corporate offices flood the area, especially during their lunch break, for home-cooked meals from eateries or quick bites from parked tusok-tusok sidecars.

For regular customers like Melvin Gonzalez, a housekeeping personnel within BGC, the Butas is immensely helpful. Here, food prices are nearly half of what is typically found in the main BGC district.

“Kasi dito, mura. Kalahating ulam lang, 40 [pesos]. Sa ganitong trabaho namin, kailangan magtipid,” Gonzalez said. (Here, it’s cheap. Half a meal is only 40 pesos. In our line of work, we really need to save.)

The eateries of BGC Butas have been a lifeline for countless employees, offering affordable meals. At the same time, these eateries provide a steady livelihood to the owners.

“This eatery is what I have used to put my children through school,” Aida Verdin said in Filipino.

Selling food for over two decades now, Verdin has watched towering buildings rise around her humble rented house — a testament to her presence before BGC’s transformation.

Despite her customers being workers in the wealthy side of BGC, she said these are not rich individuals; they need to stretch their peso, just like anyone else.

Arnel dela Torre, who sells mangoes from his sidecar, said Butas is not just a food hub but a vibrant community they have built over time. 

“Dito mas makikita mo ‘yong komunidad (Here you can see community),” Dela Torre said, comparing the lifestyle in BGC and at his food stall on the other side of the wall.

Bridging worlds 

The BGC Butas, sometimes “Lagusan” (Tunnel), was coined by locals for the passageway that connects the modern and vibrant exterior of Bonifacio Global City to a more humble residential area of Barangay South Cembo. 

Through time, this area has gained attention, both online and offline, because of its stark contrast to BGC’s fast-paced environment. 

The origin of BGC Butas dates back to the district’s major urban development in 1995. 

An official from Barangay South Cembo said that during the construction of the district, half of 7th Avenue, which was part of South Cembo and previously owned by Makati, was integrated into the territory of Federal Land Incorporated, one of BGC’s developers. 

To create a more accessible route for construction workers moving between the two areas, some locals created an actual hole in the fence that BGC put up, thus popularizing the term “BGC Butas.”

“Kasi wala talagang daanan ‘yan. So, going back years ago, [‘yung butas] naging access ‘yan during the time na nagsisimulang magkakaroon ng construction…. So maraming nagwo-work diyan, [mga] construction worker. Ginawa nilang daanan diyan,” the village official said.

(Because there really was no path there. So, going back years ago, the hole became an access during the time when the construction was starting to happen…. So there were a lot of people working there, construction workers. They made a way there.)

In 2018, the 66-story Metrobank Center and the Grand Hyatt Manila were established in Grand Central Park, a mixed-use complex developed by Federal Land. This development restricted South Cembo’s access to the property, prompting concerns from Makati City.

To address the issue, a Deed of Undertaking was established between Federal Land and Makati City. 

Both parties agreed to provide South Cembo with a gated passage to BGC for people to use. However, the catch was that it could only be used for emergencies, such as ambulances, police, and fire trucks, hence its formal name, Emergency Vehicle Access (EVA).

“Kahit anong klaseng emergency, kung private vehicle ‘yan, hindi p’wede. So talagang lagi siyang nakasarado… [Then] ‘yung pedestrian access is exclusive for residents of South Cembo only,” the barangay official said.

(No matter what kind of emergency, if it’s a private vehicle, it’s not allowed. So it’s really always closed…. [Then] the pedestrian access is exclusive for residents of South Cembo.)

Along with the rise of buildings came an undeniable increase in job opportunities and population. Residents and non-residents of South Cembo began putting up businesses — like sari-sari stores, eateries, and street food carts — to cater to the numerous employees in BGC. 

The influx of people going in and out of the passageway led to the disregard and neglect of EVA restrictions. 

While some may view Butas as an eyesore because of its apparent disparity with the posh and clean city area, it has become a lifeline for many, especially for locals who are trying to make a living and employees who are trying to make ends meet. 

For them, no wall can restrict their right to access a place and seek opportunities. 

Contrasts in concrete

According to the Office of Barangay South Cembo, businessmen are eager to buy properties in their area to initiate development. The problem is that the business will not thrive as outsiders are not permitted to enter unless they are “authorized.” 

“Siyempre, we welcome progress. Pero ‘yong katulad nito, since may boundary kasi, may walls, hindi sila makadaan… Maganda naman ‘yong progress, kaya lang din pinag-aaralan talaga,” they said. 

(Of course, we welcome progress. But with something like this, since there are boundaries, there are walls, they can’t get through…. The progress is good, but it has to be studied as well.)

While it is true that BGC has brought economic opportunities and improved infrastructure in some parts of the city, it has also exacerbated socioeconomic inequalities, contributing to poor urban development and pushing marginalized communities to the outskirts.

The concrete houses in Barangay South Cembo provide an architectural contrast to the full-glass skyscrapers of BGC.

Architect and visual artist Isola Tong noticed this contrast while researching green spaces in the Philippines for an art project. She came across a striking image on Google Earth — an aerial view that juxtaposed BGC with its neighboring areas. 

“If the economy is thriving, why do ordinary Filipinos not feel its benefits? Why do our city streets appear so sharply divided from above?” she said.

Vendor Dela Torre supports development that could bring more people to the area, potentially boosting his mango business. However, this comes at the cost of finding designated spaces where he is “permitted” to sell. 

“Papayag kami [sa development], kaya lang hahanap na lang kami ng space namin na hindi bawal. Makakatulong din kami na hindi makasikip…Hindi kami mawawala, pero hindi rin kami makakaistorbo,” he said.

(We support the development, but we will just look for our own space where it’s not prohibited. We can also help to avoid overcrowding…. We won’t disappear, but at least we won’t be a disturbance either.) 

Meanwhile, Limuel Adan, a messenger who works at BGC, worries that if these affordably-priced food stalls are placed inside BGC, many residents would complain. 

“Kapag pumasok ka sa loob niyan, p’wede ka sitahin diyan, may marshal. Ayaw nung iba na medyo mayaman na makakita ng pakalat-kalat kasi dapat elegante, lalo’t nasa loob ka ng hotel. So nakakasira sa guest,” he said.  

(When you enter there, you might get stopped by a marshal. The wealthy don’t want to see disorderliness because it ruins the ambiance of the place. It should be elegant, especially inside a hotel. So it affects the guests negatively.)

Walking through both walls, you see the gap between those who have much and those who have little. For some, BGC is a sign of hope — a chance to improve their lives. For others, it shows how unfair life can be. 

Maybe that is the goal — to build sustainable districts. But until such time that every Filipino can have better living conditions, systemic inequality will persist. In fact, the government only takes one search, as Tong also noted, to notice and close this social segregation in our society. – Rappler.com