Best Malls in Metro Manila

Copyright © 2009 by Chester B Cabalza. All Rights Reserved.

Malls, malls, malls!!!

It’s only in Metro Manila, predicted to be the richest city in Southeast Asia by 2020 (http://bisean.blogspot.com/2007/10/southeast-asias-richest-cities-by-2020), where three of the top 25 largest malls in the world are to be found, and the 11th largest on earth is situated in Cebu City.

The Philippines is the country within the region of Southeast Asia, aside from Thailand and Malaysia, inhabited by more than half a billion heterogeneous population, smitten and crazier of box-typed, al fresco but more typically air-conditioned supermalls, which are direct competitors of China and the United Arab Emirates, going brouhaha over gigantic and colossal private spaces that have leisure structures included in the elite largest malls of the world.

Generally as seen, the Asian shopping mall boom has attracted the international media during the past few years. And the game of building more incredible shopping malls, parts of a much larger entertainment, office and residential complexes – the epitome of 21st century, roofed for work and live compounds, are hot items in this part of the globe!

In the Philippines, it’s said that “malling” culture is a hit because aside from being used as a past time, it also roughly serves 15% of RP’s total GNP and represents 33% of the entire services sector. By and large, it employs 5.25 million people, representing a significant 18% of the country’s work force, which means roughly two of every 10 workers, is employed in the retail industry.

Despite the economic recession this year, there’s still a yearning for escapism using the grandiosity of malls and other public spaces.

So, here’s my personal list of the 15 best shopping and leisure malls in Metro Manila alone, aside from the hundreds of sprouting shopping centers in every urban cities of the country.

Ranking:

1 – Shangri-La Plaza (Mandaluyong City) – the world-renowned, five star deluxe Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts brand, which offers its only beautiful mall, plunked in Metro Manila’s sprawling Ortigas center. The only mall of a kind, of this famous brand, found all throughout the world. This classic upscale public space allures shopaholics and strollers alike, a treat of a very-high ceiling and very long escalators, inside a humungous and sophisticated mall. Affectionately called The Shang, i deem it’s a perfect place to shop, dine, watch cinema, read books, party and stroll along with family, inside a conventional yet posh box-type shopping mall. Its expansive complex includes twin high-rise residential skyscrapers, pricey hotel rooms, and safe parking lots with a separate building of its own.

2 – SM Mall of Asia (Pasay City) – i believe big is beautiful! Since its grand opening in May 2006, it was dubbed as the largest mall in the country and ranked 3rd largest supermall in the world. But in late 2008, it was demoted to 4th in terms of total area and 6th based on gross leasable area (GLA). But more surprises and innovations make this former biggest mall as one of the most lovable malls around the metro. A giant globe emphasizing the Philippine map, perhaps insinuating its presence as a competitive retail center in the region, welcomes shoppers inside a ship-shape and Arquitectonica designed edifice, featuring exciting attractions like the first-ever IMAX theater in Manila, the country’s first Olympic-sized ice skating rink – both for recreational and competitive figure skating and ice hockey, open-air Music hall, an esplanade for the annual World Pyro Olympics (fireworks display), Science Discovery Center, SMX convention center, ferry services in Manila Bay, a 20-seater tram around the mall, and a neo-classic church built for sunset romantic weddings. Plus two medium-size hotels and office spaces are to be leased soon in its spacious vicinity.

3 – Greenbelt (Makati City) – undeniably and unquestionably the premier lifestyle center located at the leading CBD. Its stylistic and aristocratic indoor and outdoor elements, usually invaded by expatriates, diplomats, businessmen, foreign tourists, call center agents, yuppies, and socialites have fervor longing for unparalleled strip of international boutiques like Bulgari, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, etc., and mid-market brands such as Calvin Klein, Lacoste, Marks & Spencer, etc., and of world-class Filipino designers and retailers. It revolutionized the outdoor and al fresco elements of malling, combining nature in development, which became a model for newly-constructed and newly-renovated malls in the country. This upscale complex features a classy Ayala museum, an endearing dome-like chapel, a refreshing nook, and a loop of high-quality indoor and open-air shopping hubs. I think the nightlife here isn’t boring but lively and bubbly as ever.

4 – Trinoma (Quezon City) – a new high-end shopping mall booms in northern part of Metro Manila and strategically located in “north triangle”, inferred to be the next new CBD in mega Manila. Its distinctive site places this shopping precinct atop the MRT-3 depot, beautifully constructed with indoor and outdoor hangouts and trailblazing interior hallways – an exceptional Ayala blueprint. As described, al fresco areas punctuated with unique reverse waterfalls and lush greenery landscaping, characterize the mall. As I see, since its soft opening in 2007, numerous people are now flocking this new doorway, showcasing the city’s magical transformation, and revealing the power purchasing of the richest city in the metropolis.

5 – Gateway (Quezon City) – since its construction in 2003 and opening the following year, for me, the Araneta center was revived and reinvigorated, thus welcoming new investments, such as numerous towering condominiums and offices soon to erect in this erstwhile beloved shopping complex, sparkling a redevelopment plan to redeem its former glory. Standing beside the famous landmark of Araneta Coliseum, in 2007 this contemporary box-type amusement received a merit award from International Shopping Centers, recognizing the mall’s design and redevelopment. Cognizant of its achievement, boosting the bold makeover it’s bringing to Araneta center’s skyline - other inimitable attractions it possesses, which strongly appeal to avid shoppers are the following: a floating garden, named “The Oasis”, an imperial Fabergé Easter egg-like entrance, dubbed the “Pavilion”, a Mandarin Hotel suites on its top floor, and also a cool Cineplex emblazoned with an astounding and imposing dome.

6 - SM City North EDSA (Quezon City) – now dubbed as the “largest mall in the Philippines” with a gross floor area of 425,000 square meters and technically, the second largest in the world, after the closing of South China Mall. Because of the sudden appeal of Trinoma, a twin rival, ultimately the Sy’s grabbed this golden opportunity for a healthy market competition and popped in their ingenious mastery on how to remodel this first supermall in the country. Initially to compete, they constructed the “The Block” to feature a mid-market flare with cinema theaters converted into digital cinema format, then came next “The Annex”, an upscale six floors building with a basement; elevating SM City North EDSA’s status as the country’s largest mall. But the real highlight, awaiting its ardent shoppers, would be the opening of the “Skygarden”, promises to open in 2009, offering an exciting and environmental element to the mall complex, which will be decorated with a lagoon, an aviary, an amphitheater, cafés, specialty restaurants, novelty shops, and a waterfall which will cascade from the Skygarden at level four down to "The Sky Garden Park". I’ve also learned that SM’s second IMAX theater is in the making at “The Block”.

7 – SM Megamall (Mandaluyong City) – i know the name speaks for itself. It once prided the first skating rink inside a mall around the metro, now outdone by its sister SM MOA. An eye-catcher along the main thoroughfare of EDSA because of its very long box-type structure, beside the imposing Asian Development Bank, and seducer of middle to upper income shopaholics. Other important attractions include megatrade halls, cyberzone, art galleries, and face-lifted cinema complex where most local commercial movie advance screenings happen. But sudden changes via the Atrium made mark to rediscover SM Megamall again. It opened in October 2008 and offered various choices of upscale retail shops and restaurants It’s said that access to the center is designed to offer an air of drama and surprise. Off the existing bridgeway, the visitor approaches the center through a low ceiling hallway that widens toward the cylindrical skylight. There’s a grand chapel decorated with neo-classical retablo or altar inside, with a separate adoration chapel that has a modern design, and is now open for public eucharistic services. Behind SM Megamall is The Podium, a posh specialty mall, also owned by the retail king in the country, that caters to expatriates, businessmen and yuppies alike.

8 – Robinsons Galleria (Mandaluyong City) – the Robinsons’ flagship supermall. Currently, the entire mall is undergoing major renovations and redevelopment as the West Wing is halfway completed. Robinsons Galleria will become an even modern, more tech, more exciting shopping experience. But beyond that, it stood historical times during people power revolutions, having been immortalized in paintings by Nem Miranda as backdrop to the bloodless and hippiest events in recent history. Within the mixed-use complex, in front stands the iconic EDSA Shrine and atop a giant Mother Mary Queen of Peace. Beside the mall is plunked by the Galleria Corporate Center, the Robinsons-Equitable Tower, deluxe hotels such as the Holiday Inn Galleria Manila, Crowne Galleria Manila, and the Galleria Regency.

9 – Festival Supermall (Muntinlupa City) – perhaps known as Alabang’s exciting place and is acknowledged as the first theme mall in the Philippines. A palatial Disney-inspired complex, enjoyed by shoppers for its usable and ridable train inside the mall, incorporating a maximum space that creates freedom of circulation, where the family is guaranteed the ultimate fun and excitement with shopping, dining and entertainment all under one roof. A fave hangout among southern suburbaners that also provides free parking for shoppers as an incentive.

10 – Greenhills Shopping Center (San Juan City) – think it as the fave destination among balikbayans and dayong turistas. The country’s value shopping mecca especially for those who desire to dive in for affordable and expensive pearls sold by our enterprising Muslim brethen. A vibrant shopping center in eastern part of the metro, espousing an “indoor-outdoor” theme, and uniquely hosts a Roman Catholic chapel and a Muslim prayer room, inside a sprawling center. It boasts a half-a-billion peso renovation of former Virra Mall into V-Mall as part of a four-year plan by Ortigas that began in 2002 to spruce up one of the country’s oldest shopping centers. The Strip features Chinese and other Asian cuisines. The Promenade includes cinemas, KTV, concert halls, and book shops. Now it’s drawing customers from all walks of life especially during Christmasses because of its elaborate and adopted COD tradition, having a Christmas mannequin show perform.

11 – Eastwood Mall (Quezon City) – there’s a new jewel to Eastwood grounds, aside from being a high-end cyberhub, the opening of the velvet mall exclusive for mostly upper classes. This trendy and upscale mall features two distinct sections, the Central Park - a wide-open area with botanical garden and lagoon, and the Main Mall section - a fine collection of upscale brands, a huge atrium, a row of al fresco restaurants and more. But what is exciting in this mall, one can hire a butler or a shopping chaperone while malling all day long and buying valuable stuffs.

12 – Glorietta (Makati City) – it has a share of historical moment when the Oakwood Mutiny in 2003 surprised would be shoppers nearby, and guests of the newly-renamed Ascott Hotel, that fateful day. The mall was also a newsmaker when it shocked shoppers due to accidental explosions, in years 2000 and 2007, respectively. Despite those unfortunate circumstances, Glorietta remains to be a formidable shopping district. It wowed shoppers for its iconic large atrium, perhaps the first design originated here among malls in the metro, where it has become a current trend among Philippine supermalls, nowadays. Awarded as the Shopping of Year, twice in 2002 and 2004, but Glorietta to this day still catches party-goers offering techno discos and cool bars, along its sidestrips, at the heart of the premier central business district.

13 – Power Plant Mall (Makati City) – who would ever think that from a dusty, former site of the controversial Meralco-owned 130 MW Rockwell thermal plant, would rise a model real estate and create a prime residential, educational/professional, and commercial land in Makati City along the Pasig River. Described as, conviniently tucked away in the verdant “city within a city”, that is the Rockwell Center. A blogger wrote that this communal mall provides unique and leisurely experience for the discerning shoppers. Its four-level complexes incorporates a mix specialty brands, both international and local, a supermarket, lifestyle retailers, signature mini-anchors, themed restaurants and state-of-the-art cinemas. One of the “in” places to go to, for scavengers of uban bazaars, yet bazaar-tripping takes a classy and trendy turn.

14 – Robinsons Midtown Mall (Manila City) – originally known as the Robinsons Place Manila, where it’s incribed in many travelling books such as the Lonely Planet, of places to go to around the Ermita and Manila area, for wandering foreigners, when in the Philippines. A lifeblood area for neighboring UP Manila students, and as a joke, a part of the university’s off campus, where they hang-out and dine in. By far, it’s the largest Robinsons’mall of the Gokongwei family.

15 – Bonifacio High Street (Taguig City) – while a budding lion city of Taguig is growing so fast, Bonifacio High Street is one of the newest commercial areas at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC). A new kid on the block, covering a kilometer-long boulevard of greenery, lined with novelty and high-end retail shops, and dining establishments, already started its operations. And as predicted, the chic Serendra area is one of the darling and coolest places to hangout during weekends. BCG is beset as the next premiere business district, ensuring a dramatic increase in both visual and land value, thereby marrying business and leisure lineup of well-designed buildings, manicured and landscaped parks, and open-air activity spots.