This Makati underpass just got a colorful, creative refresh
In a city where underpasses are often rushed through, the Paseo de Roxas walkway in Makati is being transformed into something people may actually stop to look at.
A new large-scale mural now stretches across the underpass, marking 10 years of partnership between Security Bank Corp. and Japan's MUFG.
At the unveiling on April 30, Security Bank President and CEO Victor Lee Meng Teck said the milestone goes beyond the artwork itself.
He said that the mural’s theme, “People, Planet, and Prosperity,” reflects what the partnership continues to stand for, noting that for the thousands who pass through the space each day, it is meant to be more than public art.
“It becomes a reminder that when institutions work together with purpose, they can leave something meaningful behind,” he said.
The mural weaves together scenes inspired by education, community, sustainability, sports, and labor. Students in classrooms, runners crossing the city, workers building shelters, and families helping one another appear throughout the artwork, many drawn from real-life experiences and advocacy projects.
At the center is an image of a classroom, which Filipino artist AG Saño considers the emotional core of the mural. Rather than showing students face-forward, Saño painted viewers from behind, placing passersby directly into the scene.
“We wanted people to feel that they’re part of the mural,” Saño told PhilSTAR L!fe. “Usually when you paint a portrait, you paint the face. This time, you see the back of the student raising their hand, so it feels like you’re inside the scene.”
The centerpiece also features a Muslim teacher, reflecting Saño’s experiences in Mindanao and the struggles many marginalized communities continue to face when it comes to education and representation.
The installation builds on an earlier mural placed in the same area in 2019, and reworks the space with updated scenes centered on people and everyday activity.
Known for works centered on social and environmental themes, Saño said the mural was shaped by shared advocacy and real-world references that made the collaboration feel grounded rather than symbolic.
He also reflected on his earlier hesitation about working with corporations, before finding alignment with partners whose advocacy matched his own.
“I used to hate the idea of working with corporations... But finding companies that actually follow through on their missions made me realize it can be a good way forward. It’s about working with people who walk the talk,” he said.
The mural is now on display at the Paseo de Roxas Underpass in Makati.
