Shopping for Filipinos has evolved to many facets of experience throughout the years. From the simple chore of buying stuff, the shopping experience at the malls have expanded from entertainment, health, beauty, and recreation to other practical needs. Mall goers cut across demographics and malls are in constant innovation to cater to the sophistication of this urban activity.
Strategically placed at urban centers, malls have become the bonding venue for families, friends, co-workers, classmates and even for owners and their pets. Here we have several featured malls that brings to forth exciting possibilities for the next shopping trip.
SM Prime Malls
Mammoth complexes, accessibility, state-of-the art movie houses, fine dining and vast array of recreational possibilities gives SM Prime Malls on top of the list. By the Manila Bay Area, the Mall of Asia has an outdoor explanade, sprawling viewing decks, rows and rows of restaurants and cafes. With 600 hundred shops, MOA can provide the kind of shopping experience with vast choices of purchases. Different entertainment offerings can be found at the first IMAX theater, 3D theaters, Director’s Club, Premiere Cinema and CenterStage Cinema. There is also the Philippines’ first Olympic-sized ice skating rink. Pyrotechnic displays can be seen during weekends and holidays. Shopping amenities introduced here are the electronic mall directories, shuttle services, breastfeeding stations and the SM Business centers.
As one of the most popular malls, SM North EDSA remains the mall to visit with Sky Garden, the second IMAX theater, the Sky Garden and The Block. The mall has more 500 retails shops, service stores, restaurants and 12 movie houses. Al fresco dining and watering holes provide opportunities to unwind and relax. With its accessibility, entertainment options and convenience to nearby cities, SM North EDSA is the one mostly visited and mostly densely populated malls in the country.
SM Megamall has two wide wings with five floors of shops, stalls, and boutiques for the vast source of products, endless hangouts, and 12 movie houses. The Megatrade Hall is a favorite venue for trade expos, job fairs and conferences. The huge arcade, number of karaoke bars and activity areas provides entertainment to shoppers from the Ortigas business district. The art boulevard houses different galleries that showcases contemporary works of art as well as antique finds.
For the upscale crowd in Ortigas area, The Podium houses mostly foreign brands with fine dining restaurants and two theaters. With Singapore style and design, upscale shopping can be found on all six floors with 120 shops and boutiques. The atrium at the center of the mall features different events such as art galleries, fashion shows, signings, performances and recitals.
Eastwood Mall
Covering 16 hectares of Libis area, this mall introduced innovations to redefine the shopping experience. The Eastwood Mall is the country’s first mall that has full concierge with butler service. While shopping, the butler acts as a personal assistant to the shoppers in any way he can to make the experience more convenient and enjoyable. Message handling, bill payments, wheelchairs and emergency kits are also availabe at the concierge.
Fine-dining restaurants are manned by no less than the chefs with bold and unique flavors to offer. Retail shops carry high-end brands with key local brands. The cinemas boast of the latest 3D technology to date. The Ultra 7 Cinema has full reclining chairs and serves bottomless drinks and popcorn with a single ticket purchase.
Entertainment at the Open Park feature outdoor exhibits, fairs, concerts, advocacy-oriented events, tourism, and pet-related activities. There are also citywide sales and travel and lifestyle promos.
As a pet-friendly mall, owners with their pets can stroll and shop around at Eastwood Mall with no worries at all. The pet pass, issued daily, entitles owners to be accompanied by their at certain shops. There are pet stations positioned conveniently around the park that provide tissue papers and plastic containers for cleaning and disposing wastes. As a fitting tribute, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society chose Eastwood Mall as home to Seb Chua’s artpiece, “The Silent Companion.”
A free shuttle service makes its rounds through Eastwood City to assist customers to Eastwood Mall but soon to open is a bridgeway that will connect Eastwood Mall to City Walk.
The vibrant Eastwood City Walk boasts of hip and trendy stores and a wide display of restaurants, disco, bars and cafés for the young crowd. The Manor Superclub features pure clubbing experience with the most popular disc jockeys in town and Circa Superclub gives that energetic party vibe with its ultra modern LED lightings.
Greenbelt
This three-hectare area is marked with ingenuinely-designed buildings surrounded by greenery and flowing waters. The park is carefully landscaped that is adjacent to the al fresco dining spots and mall entrances. World-class retailers is mixed with acclaimed Filipino designer shops. Every avenue offers something different to after-office hours and weekend shoppers. At the Greenbelt 5 and 4, is the fashion avenue for those who have sophisticated tastes and high-end lifestyles. The younger crowd can be found at Greenbelt 3 with coffee shops, fashion-forward boutiques, cinemas and clubs. There is also a line of restaurants featuring local and foreign cuisines. For different dining experience, there is Greenbelt 2 for a mix of restaurants. Greenbelt 1 houses local retailers and food outlets along with Rustan’s supermarket.
Shangri-La Plaza
They say that the Shangri-la is the only mall one will ever need. With the upper market as its main target, one can make high-end luxury purchases and dine at the Metro’s best restaurants at the top floor overlooking Ortigas Central Business District. For clients who do not have time to shop and those who do have time but is in need of assistance, there is the personal shopper on hand for expert advice and personalized service. By request, they do wardrobe coordination, gift selection, image styling and makeover, home and lifestyle consultation, trend forecasts and merchandise selection. Set apart from the rest with its shapely architect, the Shang is easily a premier shopping and lifestyle destination this side of town.
Power Plant Mall
A favorite watering hole nowadays for expatriates and young professionals, the Power Plant Mall is easily found at the Rockwell Center. Rockwell was an actual thermal power plant before it was decommissioned and demolished. While the names still stands, the Rockwell Center continues to be a magnet for foreigners and the local elite who would like to hang out and shop. The four-level mall carries special brands from the international and local scene, a supermarket, posh retailers, signature mini-anchors, themed restaurants and cinemas. Easily found at Rockwell Center, the Power Plant Mall is said to be the place for those who know their fashion and lifestyle.
Gateway Mall
Gateway Mall sets the standard for upscle malling experience at the Cubao area. The five level mall offers the sophisticated shopper a wide range of options in shopping, dining and entertainment. With more than 200 shops, one can find internationally-known brands and local signature shops anchored by Rustan’s Department Store. This premier upscale shopping destination is supported by five-star customer service to make Gateway Mall the lifestyle destination at the heart of the Metro.
Trinoma
With Trinoma, the Ayala mall experience is now no longer confined at Makati and Alabang. Divided into several zones, over 500 stores can be found with the additional attraction of Landmark Department store and Crossings. For moments of relaxation after shopping sprees, there is the Trinoma Park at the fifth floor with restaurants and coffee shops ready at hand to serve hungry shoppers. There is also fine dining restaurants, cinemas and activity area at the center of the mall. The Triangle North of Manila or Trinoma covers 195,000 square meters with major inter-modal public transport hubs.
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