Top Ten Picks for Metro Manila’s Popular Malls (Part One of Two Parts)

SM North EDSA
• SM North EDSA is the first SM Supermall operated by the largest retail and mall operator in the Philippines—SM Prime Holdings. It is actually dubbed as the grand daddy of Philippine malls. When it opened in 1985, it signaled a revolution in Philippine retail landscape.
  
  This was actually the mall that hooked me during my University of the Philippines-Diliman days. It was the place that I preferred to go and roam around after I got wind up with the department stores in Avenida area in Manila.
  
  It has a land area of 425,000 square meters and in fact the third largest in the world. It has an estimated of foot traffic of over 300,000 people on weekdays and 500,000 on weekends.
  
  It sits along North Avenue and Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Quezon City.
  
  SM North EDSA has four primary buildings—the City Center, The Block, The Annex and Carpark Multi-level Building, and the Sky Garden.
  
  An Amphitheater, which has an entertainment stage for events with more than 1200 seats, a 12-cinema complex, a Hypermarket, and over 800 shops are among its attraction for this mall. It offers more than 4,000 parking slots and valet services on 3 strategic locations.



TriNoma
• TriNoma is dubbed as a super-regional mall and opened on May 16, 2007. It sits along Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) and North Avenue, which is just right across SM North EDSA. It sits on a 20-hectare of land with 195,000 square meters for leasing area and has four levels. Its location was the former site of ‘Divisoria sa EDSA’, a flea market established by the former mayor of Quezon City, Brigido R. Simon Jr. as a livelihood project for the informal settlers of the said municipality.
  
  It is accessible via Metro Rail Transit since it is where the end station is. The mall is owned by Zobel de Ayala family and its holding company, Ayala Corporation.
One thing that TriNoma can easily be identified with other Ayala Malls, it boasts of its Zen-like and alfresco-type architecture. It has multi-layered terraces, a seven-water feature and a reverse waterfall and its structure’s façade that illuminates and changes its hues during nighttime.

It is home to The Landmark and Crossings Department Stores.

Other attractions include six digital cinemas and one THX cinema, Timezone, RedBox Karaoke and an Activity Center (an ideal venue for concerts and live performances).

TriNoma was awarded by International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) on October 15, 2008 with a Silver award for outstanding design qualities and creativity in development.


Gateway
• Gateway is known to be the oasis in Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City. The five-level mall has set a standard for upscale shopping or malling experience.
  
  Its inauguration was in 2004 and has become the ‘urban renaissance of Araneta Center’. It offers a complete ambiance for the sophisticated shoppers with dining and entertainment amenities. It houses Rustan’s Department Store and the Mandarin Oriental Café and Deli (operated by the world-renowned Mandarin Oriental Hotel).
  
  Gateway is very much accessible since it is linked with MRT3 and LRT2 stations. It is also linked to the Araneta Coliseum (the country’s host to the biggest local and international events) and Cubao’s Farmer’s Plaza.
  
  The mall is a recipient of the Merit Award from the International Council of Shopping Centers Design Competition for its tasteful design elements complemented with functional amenities.
  
  Today, Gateway Tower 2 is being built with a 25-storey retail and office extension integrated with the mall’s unique amenities.
  
  
  Robinsons Galleria
• Robinsons Galleria is popular because it stands behind the historic Mary Queen of Peace Shrine that is the usual convergence of EDSA Revolution rallies.
  
  It is also a flagship mall of Robinsons Land Corporation and a prominent landmark on EDSA and Ortigas Avenue. It has five levels with more than 500 shops—dining outlets, entertainment facilities and service centers; its captive market are the students, employees and the guests of establishments that surround the said mall.
  
  Due to other malls having their renovations and expansions, Robinsons Galleria also wittingly came up with its version of its latest attraction—the Veranda, which is located along the Ortigas Deck Parking. It is considered to be the new hangout venue for foodies where the mall has carefully put together. Its ambiance is laid-back and al-fresco.
  
  Robinsons Galleria is just beside the two high-rise towers—the Galleria Corporate Center and Robinsons-Equitable Tower. It is also a neighbor of deluxe hotels, like Holiday Inn Galleria Manila, Crowne Galleria Manila and the Galleria Regency.
  
  For most, Robinsons Galleria’s business address is actually on EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue in Quezon City, not Pasig or Mandaluyong City.
  
  
  Shangri-la Plaza Mall
• Shangri-La Plaza. If Gateway is known to be an ‘oasis’ in Araneta Center, Shangri-La with its name projects a sense of paradise, a utopia.
  
  The seven-level mall is another upscale shopping mall that is located in the Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City. It is in the middle of four streets, namely, Internal Avenue, St. Francis Avenue, Shaw Boulevard and the major thoroughfare, EDSA and sits on a 8.6-hectare land.
  
  After TriNoma, Gateway and SM Makati, The Shang as commonly known for, is the only mall that directly connects with the MRT station (the Shaw Boulevard station) through its fifth floor. It is also the only retail arm of Kuok Group of Companies, the owner of the worldwide chain of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.
  
  Garden Food Court on the basement level, Technohub is also located beside the food court, department stores-Rustans and Crossings, Cineplex, Premiere Theater (for private or corporate event viewing) are just among its attractions.
  
  Armani Exchange, OshKosh, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Cartier, Debenhams, DKNY Jeans, Dolce and Gabbana, Escada, Gap, Guess, Hugo Boss, Kenneth Cole, Lacoste, Liz Claiborne, Marks & Spencer, Polo Ralph Lauren, Topshop and more are just among signature shops that are housed by Shangri-La Plaza.