AYALA Land Inc. (ALI) is investing P12.7 billion to strengthen its retail presence in Cebu.
It is allocating P10.5 billion to expand Ayala Center Cebu and develop Ayala Malls Gatewalk in Mandaue City.
The remaining P2.2 billion will go toward the “reimagining” of Ayala Center Cebu and Ayala Central Bloc, part of ALI’s previously announced P17.5-billion program to upgrade its flagship and core malls nationwide through phased rollouts from 2025 to 2028.
ALI said this strategic deployment of capital underscores the company’s confidence in the sustained consumer demand and economic potential of key urban centers like Cebu.
On Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, Ayala Malls chief operating officer Paul Birkett said Cebu is “too important to settle for ‘good enough’” and will get investments on par with global retail destinations like Bangkok, Dubai, and London.
“Cebu is the fastest-growing GDP area in the country with high employment and disposable income. We need to deliver products worthy of that market,” he said.
The ongoing Ayala Center Cebu renovation—about 75–80 percent complete—will finish by end-2025, updating both the aesthetics and functionality of the decades-old mall. The adjacent expansion, located on the former Seda Hotel pool and UCC Coffee shop, will be completed by end-2027, adding 18,000 square meters of gross leasable area targeted for premium “bridge brands” and flagship stores.
“I think one of the things we’ve looked at for Cebu, and it’s never really been done, is this should be the home of some flagships as well,” said Birkett. “We shouldn’t just give you second rate versions of a store. You should be having big, two level stores, great, big glass runs and that’s one of the reasons we’ve had to build the expansion.”
Meanwhile, Birkett said the redevelopment focuses on turning malls into “third spaces” for social interaction, with entertainment and leisure zones expanded five-fold to cater to all age groups. New concepts will include gaming, VR and AR attractions, active play areas and lifestyle facilities beyond traditional cinemas and gyms.
Ayala Malls is also set to bring first-in-Cebu and first-in-VisMin retail brands such as Bangkok-based Pomelo and Manila-grown beauty retailer Issy & Co., alongside homegrown Cebu concepts that will be promoted to other Ayala Malls nationwide.
Moreover, Ayala Malls Gatewalk, slated to open in late 2026, will serve as “the heart of fun in Cebu,” complementing Ayala Center’s upscale retail positioning.
The new mall is designed as a vibrant entertainment and dining destination. It will feature creative hubs, gaming zones and a massive design-forward food hall, with a 55,000 sq.m. of GLA inside the 17.5-hectare master-planned, mixed-use estate Gatewalk Centrale in Mandaue City.
“This is about building for the Cebuano market today, but with flexibility for what it will need 10 years from now,” Birkett said. “We don’t want people to have to fly to Manila, Hong Kong, or Singapore for the best retail experience—we want them to find it here.”
Ayala Malls’ strategic footprint in the Visayas has grown, reflecting its long-term confidence in the region’s potential: Ayala Center Cebu, Ayala Malls Central Bloc, and the upcoming Ayala Malls Gatewalk in Cebu; Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod City; and Shops at Atria in Iloilo City. / KOC