In the Philippines, it isn’t unlikely to see several malls built in close proximity with one other. For the rest of the world, however, having an abundance of malls located in one area can be seen as a bit excessive. As a nation of mallgoers, the Filipinos’ love for shopping malls gives them a distinct Pinoy culture that has piqued the interest of people who aren’t Filipinos or are simply living in the Philippines. And there are plenty of reasons as to why this is so.

Let’s take a look at four interesting facts about the shopping malls in the Philippines, and understand how they’ve become an integral part of shaping Pinoy mall culture.

Malls Are a Sign of Economic Progress

Malls are often signs of economic growth because they indicate that the people working and living near them have the spending power to afford many of the commodities and services that malls have to offer. Shopping malls also provide people with jobs and can attract a lot of businesses, which helps boost the local economy. As a result, it’s common to see restaurants, retail stores, and hotels near Mall of Asia (as well as other malls) because of the amount of foot traffic the mall generates.

Malls in the Philippines Are Built with Convenience in Mind

Like most shopping malls across the globe, the malls in the Philippines house plenty of shops where people can buy clothes, shop for their household goods and electronics, as well as sit down and have a nice meal. What makes the malls in the country a little bit different from the rest, however, is that they also include establishments and offices where people can complete their errands with ease.

People can do their groceries at the supermarket, book a medical appointment with a general physician at the clinic, and even get their driver’s licenses renewed at a satellite government office. They can also pay their household bills through a mall’s bills payment center, as well as mail a package to a family member living abroad via a shipping company that’s located in the mall.

Other businesses that can be found in a typical mall in the Philippines include:

• Laundry services and laundromats
• Shoe repair shops
• Watch repair shops
• Printing shops
• Key duplicate shops
• Pharmacies

With all of these establishments conveniently found in one location, mallgoers don’t have to travel far or go to a different location just to finish all of their errands.

Malls Are the Perfect Places to Spend the Weekend

A lot of Filipinos reserve their weekends for friends or family. Thus, they want to spend this time to enjoy the company of their loved ones before they head back to school or the office the following week. When it comes to choosing a place to hang out, malls are almost always at the top of the list. This is because malls in the Philippines are also designed to provide mallgoers with hours of fun.

Apart from window shopping, mallgoers can catch a movie at the cinema, eat at any of the many restaurants, and play games at the mall’s video arcade or other entertainment centers. People can also get themselves pampered at a wellness spa or salon. With so many fun and exciting things to do at the mall, it’s no wonder that mallgoers prefer going to the mall during the weekend.

Malls Have Become Popular Tourist Destinations as Well

As previously mentioned, it’s common for malls to be built near each other in the Philippines. In Makati alone, four of its malls are located so close to each other that they’re connected via footbridges. The five malls in Ortigas Center, on the other hand, are only a 10- to 30-minute cab ride away from each other—given that there’s no traffic. Because of this, malls have to find ways to keep mallgoers invested in shopping at their establishments.

One solution some malls came up with is to build attractions in or beside their shopping complex to entice more people to visit their malls. Pasay City’s Mall of Asia, for example, has the Bay Area Amusement Park. This amusement park features a wide range of rides and fairground games that give mallgoers a fun and exhilarating way to spend their weekend. There’s also the Venice Grand Canal Mall in Taguig, which has a man-made canal where people can enjoy a quick gondola ride around the mall.

Because of these malls’ unique features, they’ve become tourist destinations in their own right. As a result, they’re able to attract more people, whether they’re locals enjoying their time in the mall or foreign tourists looking for something fun to do while they’re in the Philippines. The malls in the Philippines are an essential part of the lifestyle. Thanks to the convenience shopping complexes provide, Filipinos can complete their errands, spend time with their families, and relax and unwind under one roof. As a result, the malls in the country have helped create a mall culture that’s distinctly Pinoy.