Metro Manila may badly lack parks or green pockets, but what it does have are malls, malls and more malls. 

And shopaholic Filipinos don’t seem to be complaining. A recent outstanding entry to the variety of shopping options is the one-year-old SM Mall of Asia (MOA) of tycoon and Fujian native Henry Sy. 

In terms of floor size – 400,000 sq m – it isn’t the world’s biggest shopping mecca, but only the seventh after names like South Dongguan Mall and Golden Resources Mall in China and the Central Plaza in Thailand. 

But it still has the power to overwhelm, rising majestically along scenic Manila Bay and occupying 19ha. The 83-year-old Sy, who remains very much in command of his SM Group of Companies, can be said to have redefined the lifestyle of a generation (possibly even two). 

The opening of the company’s first supermall, SM City North EDSA in 1985, kicked off the “malling phenomenon that shows no sign of abating, especially with the steady influx of overseas workers’ remittances, and other retail entrepreneurs joining the bandwagon as well as SM’s future expansion plans. 

SM Prime Holdings, tasked with managing the malls, now has 28 shopping centres throughout the archipelago and four branches in China and Guam. According to SM spokesperson, Millie Dizon, MOA realizes another of Sy’s many dreams to serve his adopted country. 

Known for his simple work ethic of “getting the job done – and when he was younger conducting daily shop floor inspections – MOA is a departure from the iconic monolithic concrete structures SMs were known for.

To the first timer, MOA can appear daunting.  But it’s actually quite easy to get around in.  The complex consists of four buildings linked by elevated walkways – the Main Mall (with shopping and dining and the Philippines’ first Olympic-sized ice-skating rink), North Parking Building (SM Hypermarket), South Parking Building (SM Department Store) and Entertainment Center (chic restaurants facing the famous Manila Bay and 10 theatres including a Director’s Club and the country’s first IMAX theatre). 

Capitlalising on the sea breezes, many areas of MOA are not air conditioned. Not to be outdone, Ayala Malls of Ayala Land recently ventures from its traditional baliwicks of Makati City, Alabang Town Center and Taguig, all south of Metro Manila into north Metro Manila with its TriNoma (Triangle North of Makati) development. 

Starting with the mall, which recently soft opened, the long-term goal is to grow TriNoma into “a centre of retain, dining and entertainment in this part of the city,says Rowena Tomeldan, vice-president and deputy grouop head of Ayala Malls. 

Its proximity to the MRT Depot in North Triangle is also seen as a valuable asset boosting its progress.

Besides hosting prestigious local and foreign brands such as Bench, Penshoppe, Zara and Topshop, new retail concepts will be introduced by Rolex, Skechers, Birkenstock, Merrel and Sperry, who have announced their first Philippine outlets will be located at TriNoma.

A design innovation, the TriNoma Park, a one-hectare rooftop experience will be ideal for shows and performances.