Eat, pray, shop: Philippine malls become the new town plazas

With their functions expanding from shopping and dining to venues for Catholic mass, Zumba workouts or even weddings, experts say malls are taking on a more important role at the heart of communities.

Filipino life traditionally revolved around a public square, with a church, local government building and market attached, where adults socialised and children played, according to urban planner Felino Palafox.

But while malls have long been a mainstay of urban Manila -- the capital has at least 153 peppering its skyline -- the neon-lit consumer temples are now sweeping across the Philippine archipelago, penetrating even rural areas.

“They have replaced the public plazas as gathering places,” Palafox said.