Barangay Hulo

Barangay Hulo is a vibrant riverside residential and commercial neighborhood in Mandaluyong City, located near the Pasig River and fronting Rockwell Center in Makati. It serves as an interesting transition point where a traditional, dense local community meets the glass-and-steel luxury of Makati's premier financial pockets.

• Exact Barangay/City: Barangay Hulo, Mandaluyong City
• Best For: River ferry commuting, local street food, budget-friendly residential rentals near Makati
• Average Spend: ₱50 - ₱250 per person
• Power Outlets & Wi-Fi: Outlets are rare; mostly local convenience stores and small bakeries; use mobile data.

Living on the Edge of Rockwell

Hulo is a fascinating neighborhood because it's literally just a bridge away from Rockwell Center. Honestly, if you stand on the banks of the Pasig River in Hulo, you're looking directly at some of the most expensive condominiums in the country. Because of this, many young professionals and college students choose to rent apartments in Hulo. It is way cheaper than living in Makati, but you can just walk across the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge to get to work or hang out at Power Plant Mall. Anyway, the local streets of Hulo are narrow and busy, filled with sari-sari stores, local carinderias serving cheap home-cooked meals, and children playing basketball on the corners.

The neighborhood has a very strong community feel. Just a heads up: if you're not used to narrow streets and heavy tricycle traffic, walking through Hulo can feel a bit overwhelming at first. Tricycles are the king of the road here, and they navigate the tight corners with a speed that is honestly impressive. So, make sure to watch your step and listen for their horns when you are walking down Coronado Street.

Commuter Life: The Ferry and the Bridges

For commuters, Hulo offers one of the most underrated transit options in Metro Manila: the Hulo Pasig River Ferry Station. While the ferry system isn't as famous as the MRT, it's a fantastic way to bypass the road traffic entirely if you are traveling to Manila (Ermita/Intramuros) or Pasig. The ride is breezy and cheap, though the schedule can be a bit unpredictable. If you are traveling by road, the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge is a major link. Before it was rebuilt, it was a narrow two-lane steel bridge, but now it's a wide, modern bridge that handles a lot of traffic. Tricycles from the Hulo terminal can take you straight to Boni Avenue, where you can catch jeepneys or head to the MRT-3 Boni station.

For drivers, parking is virtually non-existent on the streets of Hulo. If you're visiting someone, you'll either have to find space inside a private compound or park across the river in Rockwell and walk back. Grab is the way to go if you want to avoid the parking headache.

Updated on Jun 19, 2026 by George Gemson