SM Megamall, Mandaluyong, Philippines

An emerging marketplace

(Source)

Makati and its extensive skyline and immediate environs are usually regarded as THE main commercial center of the Philippines. The main thoroughfare, Ayala Avenue, is lined with the offices of various international financial institutions and is popularly dubbed the "Wall Street of the Philippines." But it isn't the only business district in Metro Manila. There is also downtown Manila, Bonifacio Global City and Eastwood, among others. But I chose to make the country's second largest corporate hub, the Ortigas Center, my home. Though it doesn't enjoy the affluence or recognition of Makati, it does handily defeat its neighbor in the one category that really matters- shopping.

The extensive front façade of the SM Megamall.

From my condominium, I was within walking distance of eight different enclosed vertical shopping malls. All rose to at least three levels, and while some offered mostly mid-market level vendors, others, such as my retail mainstay, Shangri-La Plaza, were filled with retailers designed to attract a more upscale clientele. Although most of its neighboring competitors were easily over a million square feet each, none even approached the immense size and scope of the SM Megamall. It stretched for a couple thousand meters along Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue, the metropolis's main thoroughfare. It was so extensive, in fact, that each end was in close proximity to separate light rail stations on the same line.

SM Megamall lease plan ca. 2011.  View the full PDF version here.

I found myself among the six tiers of the mall quite often, but mostly for non-retail related business. There were government offices within its corridors, where a quick handshake could expedite any normally lengthy process. My orthopedic surgeon was also housed at the comprehensive Megaclinic on the mall's top level. In fact, I had both of my knees surgically repaired within one of that clinic's operating venues. It was a surreal experience; after the procedure, I was a bit hungry, so they were nice enough to wheel me down to the food court, still clad in my backless gown and dizzy in my drug-addled state, to get a bite to eat at Greenwich Pizza.

-UPDATE-  1- SM Megamall on the lower left-hand corner under the Ortigas Center skyline and dark rainy season clouds.  2- The MRT and EDSA running in front of the mall.  (Source)  3- The Mega Fashion Hall expansion.  (Source)  4- Inside the SM Megamall.  (Source)

SM Megamall opened in 1991 as SM Prime's third colossal monstrosity of a mall, although it was much larger than either one of its "mega" predecessors. At over 4.2 million square feet, it served as the country's largest shopping center until SM's Mall of Asia debuted in 2006. Within its concrete walls, it offers every example of SM brand available, from SM Hardware, to SM Electronics, to SM Appliances. There is even a large convention and meeting complex known as the SM Megatrade Hall. Originally opened with the country's first ice skating rink, that feature has since been replaced by more shops. Though basic in overall design, the stacked tiers and the imposing length of the building make it quite the extraordinary destination.

-UPDATE-  SM Megamall Mallmanac ca. 2024.  View the full PDF version here.

Today, by most industry metrics, SM Megamall boasts a ranking of the world's seventh largest enclosed shopping mall. Presently, a major expansion is underway that will once again make the groundbreaking facility the most substantial in the country and the second largest in the world. A major American shopping destination, Forever 21, has joined Megamall's lineup while there is talk of an IMAX Theater being constructed on the property. Whether or not all of these plans become reality remains to be seen, but if there's anything the Filipinos do well, it is their retail endeavors, so I fully expect nothing but the best.

SM Megamall official website

SM Mall of Asia, Pasay, Philippines

An emerging marketplace

(Source)

SM Prime is one of the biggest real estate developers in the Philippines. In fact, they brought the concept of the super, gigantic mega-mall to the archipelago. Their SM City malls can be found in just about any city of size in the country, bringing with them SM Supermarkets, SM Department Stores, SM Electronics, SM Theaters and absolutely anything else that SM can slap their name on.

Much like Nordstrom, SM started out selling strictly shoes. In fact, SM stands for Shoe Mart. Their stores tend to be a bit middle of the road, and I always thought of them as the Wal-Mart of the Philippines. Granted, their merchandise was more on the level of a JCPenney or Dillard's, but the way they dominated the Philippine retail landscape was very much reminiscent of Wal-Mart's command of the US market.

1- The mall's main entrance facing Epifanio De Los Santos Boulevard. 2- A view of Manila Bay from the mall.  3 & 4- The Bayside Promenade on the west side of the mall.

I was never a fan of the architecture of SM's malls. I always found the design of Ayala malls to be much more noteworthy. SM malls tend to be very tedious and boxy in appearance with only a few wavy elements, LEDs patterns and glass decor to break the monotony of their plain concrete walls. The inside corridors tend to traverse in a racetrack pattern with few variations. With this prejudice in mind, I was looking forward to finally visiting the Mall of Asia. I had high hopes that SM's flagship facility would have at least little more to offer in the originality department. I was disappointed to see that it was pretty much the same SM template but on an even larger scale.

SM Mall of Asia lease plan ca. 2011.  View the full PDF version here.

Being located in a densely populated country and city (Manila is by far the most densely populated major city on the planet) most malls are built vertically, with the smaller ones topping out at three levels while it's not uncommon to see the larger ones with seven or eight tiers. The Mall of Asia, however, was built on reclaimed land in Manila Bay, so there was plenty of room to spare (and apparently waste.) Thus, The Mall of Asia is a mere two stories with hardly any prominence and an obnoxiously huge footprint.

-UPDATE-  1- Just inside the main entrance.  (Source)  2- The skating rink.  (Source)  3- Mall of Asia shops.  (Source)  4- The globe.  (Source)

Presently listed as the fourth largest mall in the world (it was the second largest at its opening), The Mall of Asia is about 4 million square feet in size. It includes an SM Hypermart, an SM Supermarket, several outdoor greenspaces, a 180 foot tall Ferris wheel, a regulation hockey size ice skating rink and a 20,000 seat arena, amongst other amenities. It is surrounded by residences and offices, as well as satellite restaurants and supporting shops. It is, perhaps, the most American style mall in Metro Manila.

Panorama of the Mall of Asia from the Philippine Cultural Center.

Much like Ala Mona in Honolulu, I never made much of an effort to shop at The Mall of Asia. Being more oriented to the tourist market, I usually chose not to deal with the hassles when I could easily find everything that I needed (minus the mile long walks) at nearby malls like Robinson's Galleria and Shangri-La Plaza. But it was still nice for the occasional visit if for nothing more than to watch locals who never dealt with ice outside of a cup of halo-halo trying to stay upright on a pair of ice skates.

(Source)

SM Mall of Asia official website

Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong, Philippines

An emerging marketplace

The Philippines is a place of extremes. Right next to the gleaming glass towers of Makati’s central business district are blocks of informal settlements, more commonly known as slums. The weather is basically half a year of non-stop rain and half a year of bone dry skies. Even their shopping is extreme. While the vast majority of the population make their purchases at their local market, or palengke in Tagalog, and at the nearest sari-sari store, the privileged few get to browse in some of the largest and most extravagant shopping malls in the world.

1- The main entrance on Shaw Boulevard. 2- The Grand Atrium above center court. 3- The view of Shangri-La Plaza from my condominium.

As of this writing, three of the world’s seven largest malls are located in Metro Manila. And they are huge. They’re all encompassing as well; Victor Gruen would be happy to see how they have developed in this archipelago. More often than not, they contain supermarkets, doctors’ offices, cinemas, countless restaurants, residential space and more. This being said, of all the malls in Manila, Shangri-La Plaza is my favorite.

Shangri-La Plaza Lease Plan ca. 2011.  View the full PDF version here.

Affectionately known as The Shang, the seven level center is a paltry million square feet of gross leasable area. It is dwarfed by its next door neighbor, the 4.2 million square foot SM Megamall. However, I find it to be the much more impressive of the two. It is anchored by Rustan’s, considered to be the Philippines’ most upmarket department store, there is a massive food court in the basement level, and the Grand Atrium at Center Court, with its many unaligned escalators, mezzanines and staircases, is reminiscent of an M.C. Escher painting.

1- Shangri-La Plaza with Star Mall on the opposite side of EDSA. 2- An MRT train pulls into the Shaw Boulevard Station right next to Rustan's.

Each of the levels has its own theme. From the basement to the sixth level, they are respectively known as Food and Fun, home of the food court and the electronics sector; City Streets, a hodge-podge of different stores and an outdoor strip of nightclubs and restaurants; Casual Lifestyle, focusing on everyday fashion; Indulgences, offering upscale accoutrements; My Family, My Home with domestic design, child and baby stores; Urban Lifestyle, with fashion forward clothing and accessories marketed to the younger crowd; and Pleasures of Life on the top level, home of the cinemas and other entertainment venues. Shangri-La caters to people of most demographics with stores ranging from the upscale Coach and Tiffany’s to mid-market Marks & Spencer.

Around the Ortigas Center in Metro Manila.

When I moved to Manila, I specifically sought out a condominium in the Ortigas Center, a business district straddling the line between Pasig and Mandaluyong cities in which Shangri-La is located. Within walking distance are seven other malls including Saint Francis Square, the Podium, the SM Megamall and Robinson’s Galleria. I did most of my grocery shopping at Rustan’s supermarket and got prescriptions filled at Mercury Drug. I got my hair cut at a barber shop in the basement area, and there was a great little natural foods store that had one of the best selections of wine that I’ve seen in the country. It was perfect. Everything that I needed was just a few steps outside of my building.

1- Shangri-La Plaza with my former residence building in the background. 2- The Saint Francis Shangri-La Place twin residential towers. 3- A fire that started in the mall's basement viewed from my condo window. No major damage occurred, but Rustan's Supermarket was closed for a few months.

The MRT (Manila’s light rail system) has a station directly connected to the mall that I used daily to commute to and from work. There are a series of skyways and bridges that connected Shangri-La to two other malls, EDSA Central and Star Mall. I’ve always wanted to live in an urban environment where a car isn’t a necessity, and living right next to Shangri-La allowed me to do that.

Like most Philippine malls, it is pretty unremarkable from the outside. It is an unassuming concrete block washed in dull yellow paint. It is surrounded by scores of high-rise buildings, further diminishing its presence. There are no surface lots, just several parking decks and rooftop spaces. Finding a place in the carpark can be quite the hassle, and I would merely smile at all of the cars in the queue for entry as I walked right past them and to my own condominium just a short stroll away.

The Saint Francis Shangri-La Place tower complex.

Without a doubt, the most impressive part of the facility is its residential portion. The seven levels of shopping are punctuated by the 60 story tall twin towers, The Saint Francis Shangri-La Place. At just under 700 feet tall each, they are the tallest residential buildings in the entire country, as well as the tallest skyscrapers of any kind in the Ortigas Center.

(Source)

Shangri-La Plaza may not be the largest mall in the area, but I found it to be the best by far showing that, once again, bigger may not necessarily be better.

Shangri-La Plaza official website