Who says that the Philippines is getting poorer each day? Did you know that four out of the eleven Largest Shopping Malls in the world are in the Philippines? Since the 90′s Filipinos have shifted their weekends into a mall mongering event for the Family. It has become part of the urban lifestyle wherein every family try their best to escape the heat and pollution of the outside world by going to malls and spending quality time with their kids in the the commercial landscapes of the Country. Malls have become a gigantic community center for every Filipinos where every conceivable family activity is available from Sunday Mass to indoor theme parks and rides all in one roof. As of 2008, Forbes listed the 10 World’s Largest Malls in the world, most of them Located in Asia and the eleventh spot surprisingly belongs also to the Philippines.

The rank is based on the GLA (Gross Leasable Area) of every mall wherein the interior floor space are leased for retail shops, services, cinemas, restaurants and entertainments. The Greater the GLA, the Higher the Rank.

1. South China Mall
Location: Dongguan, China
Year Opened: 2005
Gross Leasable Area: 7.1 million square feet
In the Chinese mall arms race, this facility opened a year after the Golden Resources Mall to displace it as the country’s and the world’s largest. The space includes wind mills and theme parks, plus a replica of the Arc de Triomphe.

2. Golden Resources Shopping Mall
Location: Beijing, China
Year Opened: 2004
Gross Leasable Area: 6 million square feet
Not sprawling, this is a stacked-up five-story mall. Approximately 1,000 stores, selling plenty of familiar global brands like Nike and DKNY. A truly ambitious real estate project, with new apartments and offices, surround the mall. A tough location outside the heart of the city has resulted in disappointing traffic from foreign tourists.

3. SM Mall of Asia
Location: Pasay City, Philippines
Year Opened: 2006
Gross Leasable Area: 4.2 million square feet
Includes the first Olympic-sized swimming pool and first IMAX theater in the Philippines. Spread over four buildings, customers can get around on a 20-seat tram.

4. Cevahir Istanbul
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Year Opened: 2005
Gross Leasable Area: 3.8 million square feet
Europe’s largest shopping mall has a roller coaster, wave pool and several IMAX theaters.

5. West Edmonton Mall
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Year Opened: 1981
Gross Leasable Area: 3.8 million square feet
The biggest in North America, the West Edmonton Mall has over 800 stores, along with attractions like a water park, skating rink, casino and rides.

6. SM Megamall
Location: Mandaluyong City, Philippines
Year Opened: 1991
Gross Leasable Area: 3.6 million square feet
Fun stuff includes bowling, ice skating and a 12-cinema movie theater, along with traditional mall fare like arcade games. Customers can also get a haircut or see a doctor at the Manila clinic.

7. Berjaya Times Square
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Year Opened: 2005
Gross Leasable Area: 3.4 million square feet
Built with an adjacent hotel and convention center. In addition to over 1,000 retail shops, the mall includes a 12-story-high roller coaster, plus a pool, skating rink and “Cosmo’s World,” a children’s theme park.

8. Beijing Mall
Location: Beijing, China
Year Opened: 2005
Gross Leasable Area: 3.4 million square feet
The first real suburban mall in China, located about an hour from downtown Beijing, this center has four levels with parking for 8,000 cars, plus a man-made beach. Bootlegged DVDs of American movies are a top seller.

9. Zhengjia Plaza
Location: Guangzhou, China
Year Opened: 2005
Gross Leasable Area: 3 million square feet
Has been known to attract over half a million shoppers on a good day. Another mixed-use space, the mall has a hotel and office tower in addition to retail stores.

10. SM City North Edsa
Location: Quezon City, Philippines
Year Opened: 1985
Gross Leasable Area: 3 million square feet
The first major “mega mall” built by SM Prime Holdings, which now claims three of the largest 10 in the world. It’s a five-story complex that boasts over 100 retail outlets and restaurants, along with 12 cinemas, a bowling alley and skating rink. An IMAX theater could be added soon.

11. SM City Cebu
Location: North Reclamation Area, Cebu City Philippines
Year Opened: 1991
Gross Leasable Area: 2.9-million square feet
The first mall built outside Mega Manila that boasts trade halls, complex and large food courts

So the next time you go to an SM Mall, be proud, because they are one of the Largest and most elegant Mall in the world… (Obvious naman diba?)… Sana lang next time, we could be one of the largest economy in the world and not just in terms of Corruption hehe.