Whether it's returning to your hometown or hitting the mall with the whole clan to celebrate the holidays, Filipino Christmas is always about coming together with your loved ones, feasting on the most delicious meals, exchanging gifts, and creating memories you will never forget. For 2021, Robinsons Malls hopes to make the holidays more enjoyable especially to families in Northern Luzon through the opening of Robinsons Place La Union in the capital city of San Fernando on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021.
Robinsons Place La Union is Robinsons Malls' third shopping complex in the Ilocos Region, following the success of Robinsons Place Ilocos in San Nicolas and Robinsons Place Pangasinan in Calasiao. Touted as the biggest mall in La Union, the new addition to Robinsons Malls’ portfolio strengthens its mantra of improving and making life more meaningful for Filipinos by opening its doors to more people in the north.
Its location in San Fernando City promises not only a unique mall experience to Ilocano residents, but also an all-in-one spot for shopping and dining needs of weekend tourists—especially surfers and beach lovers who fondly called the province as Elyu. The mall's presence along MacArthur Highway also makes it an ideal stopover for those who are driving to Pangasinan, Baguio, and Ilocos Sur.
Sharing the stoke inside and outside the mall
Robinsons Place La Union also doesn’t ignore the fact that it’s a gateway to the “Surfing Capital of the North,” taking advantage of the laidback beach vibe that draws in people to the province. The popular surf town of San Juan, after all, is just 10 minutes away. Every nook and cranny of the four-level mall takes inspiration from the beautiful waves that Elyu is known for.
With architecture and design by Jonathan O. Gan Associates, the four-story mall's façade boasts blue-colored curvilinear accents, which are reminiscent of the ripples and waves from the nearby coast. Wave-like patterns are also seen inside, especially on the ceiling design of the common hallway. The atrium at the center features clerestory windows, which allows natural light to pass through and create a bright and sunny vibe inside the mall.
Surfboards, whether as a painting on the wall or as a thin piece of wood, are used as design accents: from floor labels near the elevators to bathrooms. It's also hard to miss the “shaka” gesture splattered on hallways to greet everyone with the positive vibe we need these days. Surf-inspired murals by Filipino artist Happy Navarro are found along escalators, on posts, and in between the malls’ variety of shopping and dining outlets.
Sustainability is also at the forefront of Robinsons Place La Union, knowing that it’s a stone’s throw away from one of the Philippines’ premier surfing destinations and one of La Union’s biggest natural wonder. The materials recovery facility makes sure that waste is effectively segregated, the malls’ sewage treatment plant as well as the gray water collection system maintains environment-friendly water waste discharge and recycling of non-potable water, and efficient toilet fixtures also minimize unnecessary water waste.
The tinted façade windows and frosted sticker for clerestories are not only design-related choices, but also a way to regulate heat and lessen dependency on air-conditioning.
Coming home to your local favorites
Robinsons Place La Union takes pride in showcasing what the Ilocos Region has to offer. Some of the local food outlets you'll be seeing are: Sagat Crust Food House, which has an existing outpost in Rosario; Pasarabo, which offers various pasalubong products from all over Region I like longganisa and bagnet; Gem's Empanada Ilocandia, which started in Laoag in 2006; and Seashack LU, which is a San Juan favorite that’s famous for seafood grub.
Other homegrown services are also getting the spotlight at Robinsons Place La Union. There's Lorma Life Check Clinic, which opened in 2012 in La Union, Smile City Dental Essentials and Dr. Brows from Baguio City, and Luxe Derm Skin Care Clinic, which is having their first mall venture with Robinsons Place La Union. This not only supports local entrepreneurs, but also generates more job especially in the provincial capital.
Aside from bringing homegrown brands to more people, Robinsons Place La Union is also taking popular food, apparel, and wellness services closer to Ilocanos like Mary Grace, Koomi, Cabalen, Classic Savory, Samgyupsal, Crocs, Levi’s, Havaianas, Octagon, Digital Walker, @Tokyo, and an international coffee shop. Anchor tenants are Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Department Store, Robinsons Appliances, Handyman, Daiso and Super 50 to make sure that it's a one-stop shop for La Union residents.
Robinsons Movieworld will have four state-of-the-art cinemas, which are set to provide the best entertainment once quarantine measures are eased. Digiworld, which is a special zone dedicated for gadgets, is housing premium tech brands.
For the foodies, there's the 344-seater Eat Street, a food hall brand by Robinsons Malls that's offering a wide selection of food choices. The Sky Deck, an outdoor hangout at the mall's roof deck, is Robinsons Place La Union’s one-of-a-kind amenity that gives mallgoers a view of the province’s verdant mountains.
If you’re looking for a place to go this holiday season, Robinsons Place La Union offers way more than a shopping and dining experience. It promises beautiful holiday memories—most especially one that’s right by the mall’s towering Christmas tree at the main entrance. Get ready to take photos!