MYSTERY UNDERGROUND: Man emerges from drainage in Makati

MANILA, Philippines – An unusual and unsettling scene unfolded Monday when a man emerged from a drainage canal at the corner of Rufino and Adelantado Streets in Legazpi Village, startling pedestrians and motorists in the busy Makati district.

Photos and firsthand accounts posted online quickly went viral. One eyewitness, who identified himself on Reddit as RoughMasterpiecei, recounted the bizarre moment:

Woman crawls out from drain in Makati. Photo courtesy: Reddit/RoughMasterpiecei

“I had just finished at the gym and was walking back home, camera in hand, doing a bit of a photowalk. Just at the corner of VA Rufino and Adelantado, I saw something that made me freeze—a head coming out of a street drain,” he wrote.

The incident took place around 4:16 p.m. on May 26.

What started as an eerie sight quickly turned chaotic. Upon emerging from the drainage, the unidentified individual, initially believed to be a woman, bolted across the street, pursued by what appeared to be security or military personnel.

“She started running—towards me. For a second, I tensed, ready to defend myself if needed,” the Reddit user shared. “But just as quickly, a military guy on a scooter shouted, ‘Wag!’ So I stood down.”

Woman crawls out from drain in Makati. Photo courtesy: Reddit/RoughMasterpiecei

The man vanished down the road before he could be apprehended by authorities.

In response to the incident, local officials inspected the drainage opening and promptly fixed the crack on top of the canal to prevent unauthorized access or reentry.

As of this writing, the identity of the man and his reasons for being in the underground drainage system remain unknown.

The story has sparked a flurry of speculation on social media—from serious concerns about mental health and homelessness to tongue-in-cheek fears of urban legends come to life.

Update: Authorities believe the man was a 'mendicant' or 'taong grasa'—a street dweller frequently seen behind Makati Medical Center and often found resting in a nearby canal.

“I hope these people get help, to be honest,” said RoughMasterpiecei in a follow-up post. He later returned to the site out of curiosity and noted that while the opening was wider than expected, the tunnel inside seemed narrow, though a pipe led off to another unseen section.

Photo courtesy: Reddit/RoughMasterpiecei

For now, the streets of Makati hold on to one more unsolved mystery—one that’s left a city both amused and unsettled.

— The Summit Express