Hidden on the sixth floor of the Ayala Museum is Filipinas Heritage Library, a haven for freelancers and entrepreneurs who don’t want to to fight for space in coffeeshops or pay expensive co-working space rental fees. It’s a traditional library with real books but it has the basics of a good work area. Here, you can get work done without burning a hole in your pocket. Need a good reason to purchase the PHP1500 yearly membership? We’ll give you five. 

1. It’s really value for money

Your PHP1500 might get you a week at a fancy co-working space, but at Ayala Museum it can get you a year’s worth of membership to the Filipina Heritage Library. This translates to a comfy work area, good wifi and unlimited access to art exhibits. Working at the FHL  four times a week (they’re closed on Mondays!) means you’ll only be spending PHP8 a day to use their space and tap into their wifi connection. If you want to charge your gadgets, you’ll only have to pay an additional PHP25. It doesn’t have the collaborative culture of co-working spaces nor does it have the intersting mix of people you’ll see in a coffee shop, but your PHP8 a day will allow you to get your work done. Where else can you get a deal like that?

2. You’ll be surrounded by art

Fine, the library itself won’t amaze you because it looks like a college library, white lights and all. No hip furniture. No colorful walls. No inspiring quotes on posters. However, you’ll be in the same building as some of the most prized art collections in the country. If you feel like taking a walk to combat a writer’s block, you can just head down the exhibit area and get yourself cultured. Also, the membership comes with unlimited access to all the exhibits for the card holder and one companion. On days when you are not working (or even on days when you are), you can actually take someone on a museum date at no extra cost.

3. Get discounts at partner establishments

There is no coffee machine nor a pantry at the library, but this is a good excuse for you to head on to the M Cafe right across the building. With your membership card, you can get a 10% discount on all food and drinks. The membership card also doubles as a discount card in other partner establishments. This includes Power Mac Center, Fully Booked, and the Mind Museum. If you use the card often, it can easily pay for itself in terms of discount.

4. It’s in the CBD!

Ayala Museum is right at the center of well, Ayala, the country’s central business district. It’s easy to get there via bus or the MRT. You can also park your car at Greenbelt. It’s right across the big Makati malls, and people won’t have a hard time finding you. You can even easily arrange a museum meeting with your client because your workplace is so easy to access.

5. You’ll feel safe

Last year, there was a series of robberies in coffeeshops, thus making making freelancers realize that it is unsafe to use laptops and gadgets in such public areas. Well, safety is not an issue at the Ayala Museum. The place has a very tight security because it houses some of the most expensive art works in the country. The security personnel are polite, and they’ll make you feel safe. You can just concentrate on getting your work done while they worry about keeping you safe. 

6/F Ayala Museum, Makati Avenue cor Dela Rosa St, Makati; +63 2 759 8288, www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph. Tue-Sun 9am-6pm.