“Promoting Philippine tourism is the most important job this country has. It is through tourism that we can compete in the global marketplace,” said Henry Sy Sr.

The words of the Sy family patriarch are more than just words of wisdom… they are a guiding vision. And such a vision is breathing life into SM Investments Corporation’s (SMIC) latest project — the Mall of Asia Complex.

The Mall of Asia Complex is envisioned to be the country’s premier business and tourism district, situated in the coast of Manila Bay. The 60-hectare mixed-use development will integrate technologically advanced infrastructure with office, retail, institutional, residential and leisure components. The project is expected to boost the country’s tourism industry and redefine Manila’s place among the new and exciting urban centers of Asia.

At the center of this emerging business district lies the SM Mall of Asia. The 386,000-square meter shopping complex showcases a variety of stores and live entertainment venues, al fresco dining spaces, and interaction areas for the culture and the arts. Tagged as the largest mall in the Philippines, the SM Mall of Asia offers the ultimate shopping experience with the country’s first IMAX theater, an Olympic-sized ice skating rink, and an upcoming aquarium.

Just a few steps away from the SM Mall of Asia are the SM Corporate offices, which consist of six sprawling one-storey buildings. These offices presently house the corporate offices of the SM Group with a daily population of 3,000 personnel and around 1,500 suppliers, clients and applicants.

On the southern portion of the complex lies the Shrine of Jesus Church, which has been a favored venue for weddings and other Catholic ceremonies.

Connecting via a pedestrian bridge from the north side of the SM Mall of Asia is the OneE-com Center. The center is a 10-storey contemporary building designed for e-commerce, contact centers, BPO companies, and specialized office uses. Among the tenants of the OneE-com Center is the 16th club of Fitness First Philippines, Inc, which will occupy the building’s first and second floors.

Also  opened last November at the Mall of Asia Complex was the SMX Convention Center — a world-class venue consisting of open exhibition areas, multi-functional halls and flexible meeting rooms with modern exposition amenities for major conference and trade exhibits. The three-storey, 46,000-square meter building with basement and parking, features second level commercial shops and a pedestrian bridgeway leading to the SM Mall of Asia. The SMX Convention Center is envisioned to be the country’s premier destination for both local and international trade and cultural events.

For those looking for the finest boardwalk experience, the Mall of Asia Complex offers The Esplanade. The 1.5-kilometer strip of fully-landscaped open-space will be allocated to house retail and entertainment establishments and can accommodate up to 800 guests (banquet set-up). The entire stretch of the promenade will have jogging paths, bike trails, playing courts, and outdoor restaurants.

Another major development project at the Mall of Asia Complex is the SM Arena, a sprawling indoor facility for big-time sports and entertainment events that can seat over 16,000 spectators. This expansive arena is expected to be the venue of choice of major gigs of well-known international artists in the music and entertainment industries.

In addition, the Mall of Asia Complex  inaugurated the SM Mall of Asia Science and Discovery Center last October 10, 2007 — the first of its kind themed-park devoted solely to science and technology. A partnership between SM Prime Holdings and US-based Leisure Entertainment Consultancy, the SM Mall of Asia Science and Discovery Center  features a digital planetarium and a wide range of technology and science-themed presentations and exhibits.

Likewise in the pipeline are the construction of the SM Ferry, which will feature a modern ferry terminal to service guests and tourists who wish to travel to Cavite City and Bataan, or to SMIC’s planned eco-tourism development estate, the Hamilo Coast in Nasugbu, Batangas; the SM Land Showroom will showcase the resort and residential features of the Hamilo estate; and a leisure strip area set to soft-open by next month where people can converge and unwind after a hard day’s work and look forward to fresh and hip themed-happenings every month with their choice drinks and spirits. The Mall of Asia Complex will also give rise to real property investments such as hotels, upscale offices and full-serviced apartments.

SMIC just recently forged a memorandum of agreement with the Microtel Inns and Suites hotel group to put up a 150-room hotel strategically located near the SMX Convention Center and the Mall of Asia. Also in the pipeline is the Radisson Hotel set to rise in October 2009.

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