ANGELES CITY? Ayala Land Inc. has opened its first property in Central Luzon, a 9.3-hectare lifestyle hub called Marquee Mall in this city.

The mall is inside a 53-hectare integrated community that ALI has started to develop.

In a recent briefing, ALI president Antonino Aquino said his company wanted to bring the ?Ayala feel? to the north, which was why it decided to put up a mall here.

?Angeles City serves as the midpoint between Subic and Clark, making it the best location for people from these two places to experience the Ayala life,? he said.

ALI earlier established several lifestyle centers in Metro Manila and Cebu.

Marquee Mall?s architectural design, patterned after a town plaza of Kapampangans, considered the province?s lifestyle and culture, Aquino said.

It also features homegrown stores such as Nathaniel?s Delicacy, Susie?s Cuisine, Ikabud (One and Only), Kabigting?s Halo-Halo and Aling Lucy?s Sisig.

The mall is inside the Marquee Place, a residential area developed by Alveo Land, a subsidiary of Ayala Land.

It has three floors that house more than 450 stores and restaurants, and a public transport terminal.

Marivic Añonuevo, ALI senior vice president and Ayala Malls Group head, said the al fresco Civic Plaza outside the mall?with its water features and landscaping?separates Marquee from other malls in the province.

?We are very bullish about our target market, which we think can reach as far as Bulacan, Tarlac and Subic,? Añonuevo said.

Javier Hernandez, ALI assistant vice president, said Ayala Land has invested over P1 billion for the mall, which is expected to be fully operational in December.