Often when we form fond memories of a certain place, it’s due to us experiencing firsts during the moment. Think back to when you had your first date or when you first had a night out with your friends. One special place that comes to mind when thinking of firsts is Araneta City. It even prides itself as such, calling itself a “city of firsts.”

For most, the first to come to mind when thinking about Araneta City is its iconic landmark, the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Often referred to as “the Big Dome,” it was considered the largest indoor arena in Asia when it debuted in 1960. Its opening marked a historic milestone for the Philippines as well after the first match held in the arena had Filipino boxer Flash Elorde take the World Junior Lightweight Championship after defeating American Harold Gomes through knockout in the seventh round. This wouldn’t be the only boxing milestone to take place in the Big Dome as the legendary final battle for the heavyweight championship of the world between Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier III, referred to as the “Thrilla in Manila,” would later rock the venue in 1975. Through this momentous fight, Ali had cemented himself as one of the greatest boxers of all time. 

To commemorate this historic win, the first enclosed, fully-airconditioned, multi-leveled shopping mall in the country was named after Muhammed Ali. To this day, Ali Mall continues to thrive next to the venue. 

For those who can remember, there was also the first all-year indoor amusement center, Fiesta Carnival. Up until it closed down in the early 2000s, it had served as a small paradise for families to enjoy its rides and attractions. It returned for a brief period in 2022 and will make yet another comeback this October, as revealed by the vice president for leasing of the Araneta Group, Lorna Fabian. 

That’s not all. Araneta City’s latest endeavor, Gateway Mall 2, has recently opened its doors to the public. While it’s still relatively new, the new wing already offers a variety of options, whether it’s shopping, eating, or just finding a place to relax. 

For the hungry ones, Gateway Mall 2 will soon be home to an impressive collection of dining options. Currently, you can enjoy American cuisine staples from the Burgoo American Bar and Restaurant or local Filipino favorites offered by Abe. There’s a world full of flavors to choose from among the dining establishments such as Cochi Bistro, Choi Garden, Coco Ichibanya, Blk 513, and Tokyo Milk Cheese to name a few.

Yet another highlight on its list of firsts, Gateway Mall 2’s Quantum Skyview is the first of its kind in the country. It’s hard not to look away from the LED-powered ceiling that, spanning over 700 square meters, is sure to leave spectators mesmerized. The area has been used to host events such as K-pop and P-pop fan events. 

The top floor, on the other hand, is home to the Sensory Garden. The space makes for a nice solace from the urban jungle as visitors can relax and marvel at the green space. Sharing its space is the Sagrada Familia Church, a 1000-seater airconditioned church, where the faithful can find a moment of peace. 
Soon to come as well are the 18-cinema Cineplex for moviegoers to enjoy and the Paeng’s Gateway Bowl for sports enthusiasts. There will also be a cafe opening up on the mall’s third floor dedicated to everything K-pop and P-pop exclusively for fans of the music genres and those interested to know what the fuss is all about. 

With all these new offerings to come, it is without a doubt that you’ll be forming many firsts once more in this city of firsts.