4 Prime Shopping Malls in Baguio for Both Tourists and Locals

Where: Luneta Hill, Upper Session Road, Baguio City, Benguet

Baguio isn’t immune to the infectious shopping bug that SM Supermalls brings to the country’s major cities with the existence of SM City Baguio.

Located in Luneta Hill in Upper Session Road, SM City Baguio opened in 2003 and since then has been the largest shopping mall in the whole North Luzon region. It is also the only mall to not utilize a central air-conditioning system and the second mall to make use of natural lighting, the other being the SM Mall of Asia.

It has all the makings of your usual SM mall: a food court filled with different fusion cuisines; an activity area where they host lively local events; a department store; as well as multiple levels dedicated to beauty and well-being, appliance and home needs, and gadget and tech retails. What sets it apart, though, is the stunning view from each level’s balconies where you can see Burnham Park, Baguio Cathedral, and even Session Road. It is also home to the only DFA passport office in the Cordillera region.

In 2016, the mall’s expansion included the creation of Sky Park, a tourist destination that fuses theme park attractions and green architecture. Its green foliage, elevated garden, and thousands of square meters of additional green space is all part of SM’s commitment to replenish the community’s tree population and improve its environmental impact.

Where: Porta Vaga, Session Road, Baguio City, Benguet

Session Road in Baguio is considered as the city’s cauldron of business and trade, where merchants big and small open shop to the teeming tourists and shoppers. Due to shopping centers like the famous Porta Vaga Mall, which opened in 2002, business in Session Road is always alive.

The mall, which spreads across five themed buildings, belongs to the Porta Vaga family and was built on the principle of social responsibility and environmental stewardship. The five buildings are Porta Vaga Main, Porta Vaga Annex, Antipolo, Patria de Baguio, and the four-story Puso ng Baguio which just underwent renovation. It has its own department store that caters to both native merchants and global brands; the Food Lane that offers a variety of local and international choices; and different levels housing boutiques of apparel, personal care, gadgets, and tech-related products.

The proprietors of Porta Vaga Mall put a premium on giving back. Specifically, they support the missionary efforts of the church in Cordillera, which includes the Diocese of Baguio, Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe, and Tabuk. In fact, they have a space dedicated to a religious kiosk in their department store, where shoppers can buy wares and produces from nuns.

Where: Harrison Road, Baguio City; and Baguio-La Trinidad-Bontoc Road, La Trinidad

Some businesses in Baguio have existed long enough that they have been a pillar of what has been deemed the “Baguio City Experience.” Such a pillar is Tiong San, who dubs itself “Suki ng Bayan” (the people’s favorite).

And why shouldn’t it? Tiong San has been operating for over seven decades among three generations of proprietors, building a sense of trust and value for shoppers in the region along the way. From its humble origin as a bazaar of general goods, it now has branches in Harrison Road in Baguio, and along Halsema Highway in La Trinidad, and even operates in real estate, telecommunications, and the hospitality business.

Currently, Tiong San’s shopping centers in Harrison Road and La Trinidad caters to a vast array of local and global brands, from apparel to houseware to tech peripherals. They also have their own full-range supermarkets and meat shops. Tiong San has also partnered with government agencies and local government units to promote local industry, environmental sustainability, and entrepreneurship.

Where: Abanao corner Zandueta Street, Baguio City, Benguet

Abanao Square might be the smallest and the most unassuming mall on this list, but much of its charm lies on its wide assortment of affordable goods and services – from apparel, personal care, and electronics, to banks, pawnshops, remittance centers, and even a fitness gym.

The five-storey shopping center opened back in 2002 and has since then turned into a sensation for Baguio locals not only because of its cheap wares, but also because of its convenient location. Surrounded by the major streets of Abanao, Zandueta, and Harrison Road, Abanao Square is also near famous landmarks such as Burnham Park, Session Road, the Baguio City Hall, and the Baguio City Market, making the mall literally central to people’s lives.

This convenience has also made Abanao Square a prime location for civic events in the past such as Red Cross Baguio’s blood donation drives and medical missions, last year’s Little Miss Baguio, and this year’s observance of World Autism Awareness Day.

Indeed, Abanao Square covers all of the locals’ everyday essentials, and then some more. For many years to come, the mall will be a standing testament that business in Baguio is brisk and blooming.

For more places to be in the City of Pines, check out Yoorekka!