Picture a park in the heart of Makati back in the 1970s. That was the original Glorietta. It had an outdoor stage. This park was designed by Ildefonso P. Santos Jr. He was a National Artist for Architecture.
Now fast forward to today. Glorietta is a large shopping mall complex. It stands in the Ayala Center. Ayala Land owns it. Ayala Malls operates it. Glorietta is divided into five sections. They are named Glorietta 1 to 5. You will find many shops, restaurants and cinemas here. There are gyms and arcades too. Two central activity centers host many events. Some visitors find it maze-like. Its interior layout can be complex.
Glorietta’s name comes from the Spanish word “glorietta”. It described public meeting places in Spanish colonial towns. Until 1997, it was called Quad. This name came from the four original cinemas. Quad is Latin for four.
The new Glorietta mall opened in 1991. It had a large leasable area. It was envisioned as one of the largest malls in the Philippines. The mall has evolved over the years. Glorietta 5 opened in 2008. This wing is detached from Glorietta 1 to 4.
Major tenants like Mercury Drug and Jollibee set up shop here. They were present even before Glorietta’s development. SM Makati and The Landmark are anchor tenants. They provide supermarkets and department stores.
In 2012, Glorietta broke a Guinness World Record. It had the most people modeling on a catwalk. There were 2255 participants. Uniqlo opened its largest Southeast Asian store in Glorietta 5 in 2018.
“Top of the Glo” is a roof deck attraction. It features Japan Town and K-Park. The mall is undergoing a major redevelopment. This started in 2024. The aim is to modernize the interiors and exteriors. The gross leasable area will increase. Completion is expected in 2026.
Glorietta 1 to 4 has up to five retail levels. Glorietta 5 has three retail levels. It also offers five levels of BPO offices. Walkways connect Glorietta to nearby malls.
Glorietta 3 has clubs, restaurants and luxury labels. Glorietta 4 features cinemas and a food court. You will also find Rustan’s Department Store and The Marketplace supermarket here.
Hotels and office buildings stand above Glorietta. These include Holiday Inn & Suites Makati and Ascott Makati.
Glorietta has faced some challenges. In 2007, an explosion in Glorietta 2 killed eleven people. Fires have occurred over the years. Despite these incidents, Glorietta remains a vibrant destination.
Today, Glorietta continues to evolve. It adapts to meet the changing needs of its visitors. The mall is a mix of retail, dining and entertainment. It is a place where people gather. Glorietta is a landmark in Makati.