What do you have if you combined the SM Mega Mall concept with Greenbelt’s upscale ambiance plus the crowd at Divisoria during Christmas plus Manila Boardwalk’s stunning view of Manila Sunset ? Simple, it is the grand opening of the Henry Sy’s Mall of Asia! This is the much awaited opening for Filipinos since there is no doubt that all of us are a bit mall crazy. One good thing about this is that our mall experience just got better with a stunning view of Manila bay and one of the church that I love — the Church of the Way, the Truth and the Life, nearby.
Here are the facts about mall of Asia:
– a total cost of P7 billion to build a 38.6 hectares mall sitting on a 60 hectare property.
– it has 500 outlets, including 180 restaurants which is the biggest in our country and this is the true One stop shop for all walks of life. Think of a restaurant or store and it will be in the Mall of Asia.
– There is an olympic-size skating rink where you can place hockey (nice — I do hope this sport takes off) – a Music Hall, good for 900 seats
– a 13,000sq. m Super SM hypermarket
– The first Imax in the Philippines with a 560 seater and an eight-story-high theather with a 22m x 33m screen size! (which I will cover in a separate post)
– It has a view of 2-kilometer shoreline of Manila bay and stunning view of Manila’s Sunset
This Mall of Asia series aims to provide an experiential account on the grand opening of MOA and what’s in store for you in this mall. I have both raves and rants about this place and I plan to share this with you.
UPDATE 5/22/06 I wouldn’t say that this is the biggest mall in Asia because the Siam Paragan in Thailand right in the heart of the city! It is a lot bigger because it houses a car showroom and you can buy your cars from here. Also, it was so hi-tech that I saw the first 3d TV in Siam Paragon! I don’t think MOA beats that. But MOA has a great view of Manila Bay and no mall can boast about this in Asia 🙂
Excellent MOA round-up you did here, Anton. Kudos to you for being there on the FIRST DAY! I know I probably won’t go until quarter 4 of this year.
Just want to say, nice to hear we still have motivations to build new Things and following new trends. I am actually disappointed to the idea of having a bigger mall. Our country have more malls than libraries and schools. I would be really happy and over the joy to hear and see a big library beeing build for our country this way we can educate people because I believe this is what we need. Talk about technology, we need new technology to help build up our economy, we say we are better now than before I agree, but we can do more and think more quality and long term than big new things that happens all at once. Whats would happen next after the trend is over? will this actually get wasted like other malls already build, why don’t we think of improving thing that we already have and not build same ones. I believe houses for the poor, educating people who cannot afford and and employment is what the country really need. WHERE WILL THE PEOPLE GET THE MONEY TO ACTUALLY SPEND ON THE MALLS WE LOVE SO MUCH. Unemployment are high, the poor who cannot feed themselves and who rather spend their money on material things. i understand we have percetage of wealthy people in our country but in actual fact we have more poor that the wealthy. Please think!! think of improving that building please!! each one of us can help!!!
Just want to say, nice to hear we still have motivation to build new things and follow new trends. I am actually disappointed at the idea of having more malls. I would be really happy and overjoyed to hear and see more libraries being built to educate people there is more to life than shopping. We need more specialised workers and new technology to help build up our economy, i understand there are more wealthy people in our country now than ever before but the percetage of poor people also unbelievably high. WHERE WILL THE PEOPLE GET THE MONEY TO SPEND ON THE MALLS WE LOVE SO MUCH. Why don’t we think of improving things we already have. I believe houses for the poor, education, and employment is what the country really need.