The short version
Pateros is a small, dense municipality with a local town identity wedged between larger commercial districts. It is not polished, and that is part of its appeal for someone who wants an ordinary Filipino neighbourhood rather than a managed expat address. Narrow roads, river crossings and the lack of rail make the exact commute decisive.
A town rather than a lifestyle product
Pateros is the only municipality in Metro Manila, and its history is tied to the Pateros River, trade and balut production. The name itself is associated with ducks and shoemaking in the municipal profile. The town centre remains more local in feel than neighbouring BGC or the Pasig business areas.
That proximity can mislead. BGC may be close on the map, but the route out of Pateros is governed by bridges and traffic. Walk the route to the nearest useful transport connection, and ask how the street behaves during rain. A central-looking address can still be awkward without a motorbike, car or patient ride-hailing budget.
Would I live here?
Yes, for someone whose work is nearby and who wants local texture. I would not choose it as a universal base for Metro Manila. Pateros is interesting precisely because it has not been flattened into a lifestyle district, but that also means accepting more friction in daily movement.