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Angeles City – Rising from the Ashes
The site of a former U.S. Air Force base, Angeles City has become one of the fastest-growing cities and economies in the Philippines. It has been named one of the best places to live in the Philippines, and now hosts a variety of manufacturing and service industries. Along with the neighboring Clark Special Economic Zone, Angeles and its surrounding areas is projected to be the next great Philippine metropolis.
A Green Spot in a Sea of Gray
Angeles City started out as a Spanish settlement and as a barrio of San Fernando, Pampanga's capital. Much of the land was devoted to agriculture, having been irrigated by the numerous rivers that crisscrossed the Pampanga landscape. In 1904, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt establish a U.S. Army camp in the area, which was soon expanded to become the primary U.S. Air Force base in Southeast Asia. Clark Air Force Base played a crucial role in the Second World War, and was recaptured by the Americans in 1945.
Between 1945 and 1991, Angeles City was known as "Air Force Town", with a seedy image. The eruption of nearby Mount Pinatubo, however, hastened the departure of American forces from the Philippines. Ash and lahar from the volcano blanketed most of Pampanga, and trade and industry ground into a halt.
Despite the fallout of natural disasters, the national government and concerned residents joined hands in cleaning up Angeles City, establishing an international airport and an entertainment and amusement zone. Angeles City and its surrounding metropolitan area now form the economic center of Central Luzon, with gigantic malls such as SM and Robinsons and a bustling logistics hub. Clark Green City, a forward-looking project, aims to turn Angeles City into the must-see tourist and business destination in the whole of Luzon.
Buying a House in Angeles City
Because of the large land area of the city, real estate developers have started putting up subdivisions which now house thousands of families. These subdivisions, such as Bagumbayan Subdivision, Waterstone Village, and Samsonville, have many amenities present in Metro Manila villages, such as 24/7 security, clubhouses, and swimming pools. Prices range from P955,000 to P38.5 million, and these houses are often located conveniently near malls and major roads.
