The Araneta Center: Bouncing Back
In the 60s and early 70s, people frequented the Cubao area as it boasted of having a complete commercial complex - The Araneta Center. The 35-hectare property was built primarily for shopping, dining and entertainment. Its primary attraction then, and until now, is the Araneta Coliseum which is aptly known as the Big Dome.
Spectacular sporting events and entertainment shows drew crowds to the world's biggest coliseum. Flash Elorde's fight versus Harold Gomes and the Thrilla in Manila filled the dome to the rafters. Elorde's fight was The Dome's inaugural event and the general admission ticket was pegged at 70 centavos while the reserved section ticket price was 5 pesos. Da Flash knocked Gomes out in Round 7.
Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka, Tom Jones, Matt Monro, the Lettermen and Michael Jackson showed their wares before a jampacked crowd. The NBA Superstars, Harlem Globetrotters and a host of other celebrities appeared at one time or another at the Big Dome. And the classic Toyota -Crispa games regularly drew thousands of basketball enthusiasts to Cubao's bustling business center.
I still remember the NBA selection team's visit here in 1975. I was confined at the St. Luke's Hospital and it was the visiting team's last night appearance. The intense desire to see the legendary Elgin Baylor in the flesh prompted me to request hospital authorities to allow me to leave the hospital for three hours to watch the game at the Araneta Coliseum. At 10PM, I was back in my room, rejuvenated by the dazzling plays of NBA's best.
To its western side was the Farmer's Market which became a household name as goods were sold as fresh and at affordable prices. With it were business outlets selling dry goods, appliances and electronic devices at the Farmers Plaza. A market side by side with a mall made it a go-to among the youngsters as well as seniors. To its right, at the Gen. Romulo Ave, was the Cubao Plant Nursery, prominent of which was the Bulacan Gardens.
There were rows of restaurants and food establishments such as The Aristocrat, Bamboo House, Shakeys, 3M Pizza, Nena's Bibingka, Hong Ning, Mamon Luk and Josephine's . Manila COD was a pioneer in retailing and Ali Mall and SM soon followed. Rustan's Cubao was a byword in those years .The Marikina Shoe Expo was making waves then as they were selling shoes at almost factory prices. And Mercury Drug Store and Commander Drug were stiff competitors along Aurora Blvd.
Aristocrat was at its peak then that it operated on a 24- hour basis with the Gold Room at the ground floor as the favorite among diners savoring the succulent Chicken Barbeque while listening to organ music. Ma Mon Luk was raking it in that it could afford to pay a rental fee of P100 thousand every month.
First class movie theaters such New Frontier Cinema and the Ali Mall Mini Theaters were showing blockbuster films and people preferred these movie houses as Cubao had more space and easier to reach via public transportation. I remember watching Dog Day Afternoon at the Diamond Theater with Al Pacino showing flashes of acting brilliance as a bank robber surrounded by Police and the FBI. I watched it in two consecutive runs. It is still one of my all-time movie favorites.
But with a sudden turn of events, Cubao was hard hit and suffered losses in terms of patronage of almost all business outlets. What were the causes of the sudden collapse of the Araneta center? First was the sudden rise of newer commercial shopping centers, such as the Glorietta shopping complex, the expanded Greenhills shopping center and the Ortigas Business District.
Next was the proliferation of bigger and newer shopping malls in key towns and cities, such as SM, Robinsons and Ever Gotesco which gave Metro Manilans and those in the suburbs more choices. People, then and now, do not have to travel far just to shop and dine as malls are just everywhere.
And with these developments, Araneta Center, on its own, failed to upgrade its facilities and did not introduce changes in its marketing strategies by way of newer attractions and enticements. The same Carnival with the same rides. How would they have coped up with Star City, Boom na Boom and Enchanted Kingdom? The business establishments remained the same without face lifts necessary to project newer images. And what made matters worse was the establishment of the light railway transit structure right at Aurora Blvd which caused a rapid decline in business along that stretch. Soon the inner establishments followed.
And in recent years, the Binondo Area, specifically Divisoria, has become easily accessible with the establishment of the LRT. Air conditioned malls such as 168, Divisoria Mart, Meisic Mall made shopping easier and more convenient, not to mention the low, low prices of goods.
However, In 2009 and 2010 and up to now, Cubao has had a transformation in an attempt to rebound and regain lost glory. Owners of various establishments have been pouring millions into innovations. The much vaunted Araneta Coliseum is now painted in bright yellow and blue and has had total overhaul of its interiors. It has been renamed as Smart Araneta Coliseum. PBA games are regularly held there.
SM has a new look as it has undergone renovation. It has modern ceiling and wall designs and state- of -the art lighting that enhance its nice surroundings. The Food Court section at the basement is now a Cyberzone with known retailers doing good business. Adjacent to it is an SM Supermart. Only a few food stalls remain. The same is true with Ali Mall.
Right beside the Big Dome is the upscale Gateway Mall which houses the Gold Platinum Theater that boasts of Lazy Boy chairs arranged in a coliseum style for better viewing. It also has nine other well equipped movie theaters. Farmers' Plaza, too, has a new look and is connected to the Big Dome and the MRT station by covered footbridges.
In place of the outmoded Fiesta Carnival is Shopwise which sells assorted merchandise and offers free parking for customers. The front and side portions are occupied by food chain outlets such as KFC, Wendy's and Figaro. High-rise condominiums are presently being constructed. Rustan's Supermarket has been converted into a bus terminal.
All these improvements are complimented by an efficient traffic management system which reduces chaos in its main streets and connecting roads. And there is ample open space parking. Motorists and pedestrians have that feeling of security and all-around cleanliness is a given.
Shoppers and diners are beginning to revisit this once bustling commercial center and in a few more years, many observers predict a rebound. In the past two weeks, I have been to Araneta Center four times, walking leisurely and retracing the concrete paths and establishments I took and frequented long ago. This time with a limp and somewhat slow reflexes but, nonetheless, the excitement is still there.
- Konted
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| The Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City |
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| The Araneta Coliseum is the principal attraction of the Araneta Center. |
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| It is also known as The Big Dome. |
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| The Coliseum's Green Gate |
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| Red Gate of the Big Dome |
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| Basketball fanatics waiting for the gate to open during a finals match |
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| Tickets sold out from Game 1 to Game 6 of the Commissioner's Finals Series except for Upper Box B. In Game 7, Ticketnet would not even answer the phone for ticket inquiries. |
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| PBA games are regularly played at the Big Dome. |
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| The 2012 Commissioner's Cup being a blockbuster with the championship series reaching Game 7 |
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| Tight championship series between BMEG and TALK N TEXT |
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| BMEG Llamados winning the much-coveted title |
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| Araneta Coliseum is now named Smart Araneta Coliseum. And with a new floor paint for the next conference. |
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| Araneta Coliseum's opening was on March 16, 1960 with Flash Elorde knocking Harold Gomes out in Round 7. |
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| Elorde knocking Gomes out to win the World Junior Lightweight title (G'gle file) |
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| Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma Thunder playing last year at The Dome with a group of NBA superstars against a local team. |
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| Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant joining that NBA selection. |
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| Michael Jackson making his appearance at the Big Dome in 1976 |
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| The Thrilla In Manila with Muhammad Ali beating Joe Frazier in 14 rounds. |
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| Gateway Mall is adjacent to the Big Dome |
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| Gateway Mall connects the Araneta Coliseum to the LRT station. |
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| Garden at Gateway Mall |
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| Shoppers troop to Gateway Mall especially during the Holiday Season. |
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| There are more than 200 shops at Gateway Mall. |
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| A restaurant with filing cabinets as props |
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| SM Cubao has undergone renovation. |
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| With a new look that attracts customers |
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| State-of-the art lighting |
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| Stairway to the Cyberzone which used to be the Food Center |
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| Cyberzone at the basement |
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| SM Supermarket at the basement |
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| Tube that connects SM to Ali Mall |
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| Ali Mall named after Muhammad Ali |
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| Also with a new look |
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| Electric carts on display at Ali Mall |
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| The Food Court of Ali Mall |
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| The Barber's Cut at Beppo's |
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| The famous Lapaz Batchoy at Ali Mall |
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| Since 1945 |
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| Standard La Paz Batchoy |
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| Farmers Plaza |
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| The link to Araneta Coliseum |
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| Remodeled Farmers Plaza |
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| Good traffic management system at the Araneta Center |
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| The Fiesta Carnival is now Shopwise. |
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| National Bookstore |
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| Andre watching Games 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6. Tickets for Game 7 were sold out. |
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| Bus Terminal in front of Rustan's Supermarket |
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| Manila Hearing Aid shop at the Araneta Center |
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| For those with hearing difficulty |
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| Battery-operated |
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| At the Araneta Center |
Bonus pics:
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| 2013 5.0 liter Ford Mustang parked somewhere in Antipolo, Rizal |
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| The 2013 Ford Mustang packs a tremendous 650 horsepower. |
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