Powering up EDSA

Along the stretch of Edsa happened the People Power Revolution in 1986, during which Filipinos from all walks of life linked arms to topple a dictatorship and reclaim true democracy for the country.

Over the past 33 years, Edsa bore witness to a series of major transformations, as the rapid urbanization of the metropolis saw massive infrastructure and property projects rising along this 24-kilometer stretch.

Today, Edsa remains a major thoroughfare in the metro—but one that exudes a highly different character and vibe compared to what it was more than three decades ago. Here are some of the malls that have changed the landscape of this historic avenue.

Gateway Mall

Opened in 2004, the flagship mall of Araneta Center has five levels and is linked to Araneta Coliseum and LRT-2. It has a total floor area of 100,000 sqm.

Robinsons Galleria

It is the country’s first mixed-use facility that combined a mall, hotels, offices and condominium residences within one development. Within the site is Robinsons Galleria Ortigas, the flagship mall of Robinsons Land Corp., established in 1990. The five-level shopping mall houses over 500 local and international shops, dining outlets and service centers.

Other establishments in the complex include the two high-rise office towers, Galleria Corporate Center and the Robinsons-Equitable Tower, deluxe hotels Holiday Inn Galleria Manila and Crowne Galleria Manila, and Galleria Regency.

SM Megamall

SM Megamall is among the pioneer shopping malls established by Henry Sy Sr. in 1991, when he started the malling phenomenon. From its initial total floor area of 311,898 sqm, SM Megamall has since undergone several renovations to reach its current floor area of 474,225 sqm—following the addition of the Mega Fashion Hall, which currently houses flagship international retail brands. Meanwhile, the construction of a 49-storey, S-shaped SM Mega Tower has begun and is expected to be completed by 2020.

Edsa Shangri-La

Opened in August 1992 within the Ortigas Center in Mandaluyong, it was the first of the five Shangri-La hotels and resorts in the country. It has a total of 632 rooms, which consist of 607 guestrooms and 25 suites. It also has four international restaurants, two lounges, café and bakeshop, two ballrooms and 19 meeting rooms, among other amenities and features.

Starmall Edsa-Shaw

Situated at the corner of Metro Manila’s busiest avenues, Starmall is directly linked to the MRT Shaw Station and hosts a busy transit terminal, which draws a huge cross-section of daily commuters and shoppers. Starmall is a subsidiary of Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc.

SMDC Light Mall

It occupies the first two levels of the three-tower SMDC Light Residences, which is directly linked to the MRT Boni Station in Mandaluyong.

Sources: robinsonsproperties.com, robinsonsmalls.com, sminvestments.com, smoffices.com, shangri-la.com, starmalls.com.ph, megaworldcorp.com, gatewaymall.com.ph, smdc.com, greenfield.com.ph and Inquirer Archives