Importance of Malls in the Culture of Filipinos

One of the favourite pastimes of Filipinos are shopping malls. It is notable that
from pre-Spanish Era the Filipinos' urge for barter and traffic in all manner of respects
are common. Though as time has progressed the culture also evolves and has brought
us the shopping malls that we are so fond of. In fact it was the combined legacies of
Spanish and US colonization that led to its enduring Westernized values.

Malls are not only used for entertainment, as they also act as alternatives for
most Filipinos, whose everyday struggles make them feel helpless. Malls offer a mirage
of convenience, stability, and prosperity. It is one of the efficient ways to escape the
bitterness of life. The Philippines have a tropical maritime climate, meaning the weather
is generally hot and quite humid thus another reason for Filipinos to go to malls is to
avoid heat. Quoting from Henry Sy, “Doing a mall is not only construction of the physical
place: what is important is the merchandising mix. We strive to serve the convenience
of the public. We want shopping at our malls to be a unique and an enjoyable
experience”. Thus it is an expectation for every Filipino to have the consistency of
enjoyment and relaxation whenever one goes to malls.

The importance of shopping malls to the culture of Filipinos is extremely

significant. First of all it provides economic and political benefits. HSBC (Hongkong and
Shanghai Banking Corporation) predicts that the “Philippines can leapfrog to become
the 16th largest economy in the world by 2050”. Also according to The latest Nielsen
report showed that Filipinos are the world’s most confident consumers. This proves that
Filipinos are very fond of shopping. It is very deep-rooted to every Filipinos to go
shopping with or without money. In the Philippines, malls outnumber parks. And it is
easy to see why. The apparent lack of ‘green lungs’, especially in Manila, not only limits
communal resources for relaxation, socializing, and appreciating nature but also
exacerbates air pollution.
 Malls offer advantages and disadvantages. Aside from providing jobs and
boosting the economy, malls also serve as new community centres. However, their
growth has also led to the privatization of public space and become a symbol of
widening inequality. The global mall boom, judged by the US and Chinese experiences,
is ephemeral, if not self-destructing. As online shopping eventually replaced consumers’
fascination with indoor malls, it can be assumed that malls may be doomed. In the
Philippines, the mall boom is an unavoidable aspect of the growth that is rooted in
capitalism. However, as the mall culture sweeps the world, it is time to revisit the
significance of true growth and economic empowerment. Promoting a society based on
consumerism and materialism would only further expand the wealth gap and increase
the concentration of influence.

With almost a quarter of the population identified to be poor and food-insecure,

the presence of so many huge malls is a testament to the structural inequality and
corporate greed in the Philippines. It cannot be denied that malls have boosted the
economy by providing jobs and increasing consumption; however, they only create an
illusion of development, as these economic benefits do not reach the poor. While some
people dismiss the idea of malling as merely a pastime or leisure activity, it speaks
much about the changing nature of the Filipino culture. Malls are not used solely for
entertainment, as they also serve as avenues of escapism for most Filipinos, whose
daily hardships have made them feel despondent.