Ayala Center Cebu remembers, celebrates 2015 highlights
Ayala Center Cebu celebrates a momentous 2015 as it continues to provide the best lifestyle offerings and the most sought-after events in the metro. As the region’s premier lifestyle destination, Ayala Center Cebu has been host to a string of international acts and major store openings in the past year.
Highlighting this year’s firsts in the city are the openings of big names in retail and fashion. In August, prestige and luxury were reintroduced to Cebu when Rustan’s opened its new three-level store to the public. Swedish retail giant H&M opened its biggest store in the country last November, with a wave of shoppers excited to get their hands on the latest fashion finds. In December, Marks and Spencer opened its bigger and more extensive store, along with a fashion show featuring its holiday collection. To add more flair to the shopping experience, the new concept stores of Bershka and Pull & Bear opened in Ayala Center Cebu as well.
International talents also took center stage at Ayala Center Cebu’s grounds. The world-renowned Gregorian Choir of Paris came to the Philippines for the first time and performed live in Cebu exclusively at the Terraces last February to spread a spiritual message of hope and solidarity. The Platters, the group behind hits such as Only You and The Great Pretend er, also performed for a Valentines special at The Gallery. In March, good vibes and cool reggae music filled the air as American reggae band, Big Mountain, performed their popular hits like Baby, I love your Way and Caribbean Blue at the Terraces.
Kids spent an enjoyable afternoon with the lovable Peppa Pig and friends, who entertained them with different song- and- dance numbers last November. Last December, Ayala Center Cebu became one of the brightest spots in town with the launch of The Terraces’ new tradition, the “Symphony of Lights,” a lights and sounds spectacle.
Ayala Center Cebu continued its efforts in advocating social responsibility to the community. Being a part of the worldwide movement for change, Ayala participated in a ceremonial switch-off organized by the World Wildlife Fund for Earth Hour last March. During the Persons With Disabilities (PWD) Awareness month in July, Ayala Center Cebu, in partnership with the Cebu Provincial Government, spearheaded activities that bridge the gap between mainstream society and the PWD community. Ayala Center Cebu also initiated the Think Pink campaign, together with its beneficiary, the I Can Serve Foundation, where a series of events and activities were laid out to promote health consciousness. Ayala collaborated with Idea ’Yala’s Luna Collective in developing ideas for an innovation challenge aimed at engaging the youth through de- sign, technology or programs. Ayala Center Cebu brought the YALA (Young and Living Awesome) life bags containing emergency essentials to poor island communities in Cebu.
All these efforts did not go unnoticed, as Ayala achieved several awards last year: the 2015 Apolinario Mabini Award as the PWD-Friendly Establishment (Bronze award), a Gold Award in the renovations and expansions design and development category at the 2015 Asia Pacific Shopping Center Awards competition of The International Council of Shopping Centers for its new expansion wing, Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence and Cebu’s Best Lifestyle Mall in Sun. Star Cebu’s Best of Cebu Awards 2015.