Las Piñas

Las Piñas is a city in Metro Manila.

Understand

Las Piñas, better known as Las Piñas City, lies on the southwestern corner of Metro Manila. It is surrounded by Manila Bay to the northwest, Bacoor in Cavite to the west, Muntinlupa to the east and southeast, and Parañaque to the north.

To many locals, Las Piñas is widely associated with the traffic jams along its major thoroughfare, Alabang-Zapote Road, and the large gated communities housing the rich population in southern Metro Manila. Historically, Las Piñas is just a little town filled with rice paddies, then part of Rizal, before suburbanization made this part of Metro Manila's urban sprawl. Except for its old downtown area on the coast of Manila Bay, Las Piñas is generally filled with subdivisions, many of them being gated with a few having none.

Alabang-Zapote Road is Las Piñas's major thoroughfare, running from Aguinaldo Boulevard in Bacoor to National Road in Alabang. Historically part of Calle Real (Real Street), it onced overlooked agricultural land until Las Piñas became suburbanized. Most food, shopping, and accommodations lie along this road.

Las Piñas's historical district, the Las Piñas Historical Corridor, lies along Father Diego Cera Avenue, also part of Calle Real. This area still contains many heritage homes and buildings as well as the St. Joseph Parish Church, which houses the Bamboo Organ.

Get in

By bus

Las Piñas is served by buses from Alabang or Manila (Plaza Lawton), all plying the heavily travelled Alabang-Zapote Road. Reinalyn Transport, Igan Transport and Alabang Transport Service Cooperative operates services between Alabang and Lawton. TAS Trans. and Funride Transport provides service to SM Southmall.

By jeepney

Get around

By jeepney or bus

Jeepneys and buses are the main mode of transport in the city. Numerous jeepney routes ply its major thoroughfare, the notoriously jammed Alabang-Zapote Road. Buses, generally air-conditioned is the alternative for longer trips. Be prepared for the everyday traffic jams, though, regardless of what you ride.

By car

If you bring a car, please expect this

The only major thoroughfare through Las Piñas is the Alabang-Zapote Road, notably jammed throughout the day, being southern Metro Manila's version of EDSA. Other major roads are Mariano Alvarez Drive and Padre Diego Cera Avenue. Driving in Las Piñas is a nightmare as you must find your way in the daily congestion, and you might get stuck for hours.

There is a network of alternate routes available, called the Las Piñas Friendship Route, but expect to pay as most routes run through affluent subdivisions with gates and guards require you to pay toll fees if you are just passing through. A sticker is required if you don't want to pay tolls, but it can only be issued to your vehicle if you have a friend or relative in any of those major subdivisions, or you live in any of them.

See

Historical Corridor

• 🌍 Gabaldon Hall, Diego Cera Avenue, Ilaya (Poblacion) (just after the intersection with C-5 Road Extension). Historical school building, constructed as one of the "Gabaldon Schools" during the American occupation in 1907. It is now part of Las Piñas Central Department of Education's Las Piñas school division office. (updated Nov 2018)
• 🌍 Lara House, 160 Diego Cera Avenue, Ilaya (Poblacion) (in front of a commercial building). Ancestral house that once housed the Las Piñas General Hospital and Las Piñas's municipal hall. It now hosts a small barbershop below. (updated Nov 2018)
• 🌍 St. Joseph Parish Church (Bamboo Organ Church), Diego Cera Avenue, Daniel Fajardo (Poblacion). Founded in 1795, this church is built the Earthquake Baroque style. It houses the renowned Bamboo Organ, built in 1825 by Diego Cera, an Augustinian priest. (updated Nov 2018)

Outside the Historical Corridor

• 🌍 Mary Immaculate Parish Church (Nature Church), Apollo 11, Talon Singko. A nature-themed Roman Catholic parish church built by Filipino architect Francisco "Bobby" Mañosa. The current church is rebuilt in the original style from the original church destroyed by fire during a New Year's Day fire caused by a misfired firework. (updated Nov 2018)
• 🌍 Palazzo Verde (Fernbrook Gardens), Daang Reyna, (before Portofino South). Luxurious church used as a wedding venue by many personalities. The inside is off-limits, but you can take selfies with a carriage outside or you might shot the church from the outside. It has a small chapel, Notre Dame de Vie Chapel, just across Zapote River. (updated Nov 2018)

Do

• 🌍 Southlinks Golf Club, Ayala Southvale Sonera, Almanza Dos (Turn right into Ayala Southvale Sonera from Daang Hari). Rather a lackluster links golf course inside an affluent subdivision. Locker rooms are available, but there is no WiFi access. (updated Dec 2018)

Buy

• 🌍 Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari, Almanza Dos (near the roundabout with MCX; if coming from Cavite, it is just past the bridge over Zapote River). 10:00-21:00. Small shopping mall with Italian-style architecture. While new (built in 2013 as part of the ongoing Vista City development), it has a variety of shops and restaurants, including its major anchor shops, H&M and Uniqlo. (updated Nov 2018)
• 🌍 SM Southmall, Alabang-Zapote Road. 10:00-21:00. Major SM mall with a variety of food options. Opened in 1999, it is the first large SM mall in southern Metro Manila. Since 2012, it has been renovated and it retail space has been further expanded. (updated Nov 2018)
• 🌍 Robinsons Place Las Piñas, 345 Alabang-Zapote Road, Talon Dos (A kilometer before the Casimiro intersection). 11:00-21:00. (updated Dec 2018)

Eat

Drink

Sleep

• 🌍 Dream Hotel, Alabang-Zapote Road, Almanza Uno (Behind Eurotel). A/C rooms with cable TV, telephone, hair dryer, and complete bathrooms. Has free WiFi and carports. Best option to sleep if you are visiting SM Southmall. ₱1,307 per day. (updated Dec 2018)
• 🌍 Eurotel Las Piñas (In front of SM Southmall and beside PAGCOR Club Tropicana). A/C rooms with cable TV. Free WiFi. Slightly cheaper option over Dream Hotel if you are on budget. ₱1,070 per day. (updated Dec 2018)
• 🌍 Victoria Court Las Piñas, Admiral Street, Talon Tres, ☎ [phone]. Mid-range option for overnight stays, but has a reputation as a "short-time" hotel hosting illicit sex. Rooms have modern designs, with cable TV, and a few has indoor hot tubs. Has free breakfast and WiFi. Filipino-Japanese fusion ramen dishes are served, starting at ₱150. (updated Dec 2018)

Connect

Go next

Routes through Las Piñas

Continues as to Pasay ← Parañaque ←	N  S	→ Kawit → Continues as to Tanza
END ← Parañaque ←	N  S	→ Bacoor → Cavite City
END ← Junction with ←	W  E	→ Muntinlupa → END