Lost Urban History | Victoria Plaza Mall

Victoria Plaza Mall is the first shopping centre in 1993 to cater to the local populace of Davao City. It’s considered a counterpart of Harrison Plaza, which was acquired by the SM Group and was demolished to make way for a modern version. The fate of Victoria Plaza Mall is already set when the antiquated shopping center closes its doors permanently in December 2025. It has become a local landmark of Davao City, previously owned by the Limso Family. Until it went into receivership, it was acquired by the NCCC Mall, which acquired the property on March 12, 2019. It was rebranded as NCCC Mall VP. But a recent development is that it will be redeveloped by Robinsons Land Corp.

Lost Urban History | Fair Mart: Plaza Fair

01.26.2020 – This could be a Sunday perspective but it is more of going back to fond memories of defunct establishments in the Philippines and what really happened to them. Last Monday after getting off the elevated train just realize how the surrounding area of Plaza Lacson (named after the famous Mayor of Manila) is populated by either old deserted buildings, but old establishments under disrepair. In the past this was part of the central commerce dominated by Manila, where Escolta was the Ayala Mall of its golden era before the World War II. But what fondly I remember was the glory days of Department Stores and Plaza Fair was one of those place people go to besides its small stores named Fair Mart.

Lost Urban History | Sta. Cruz Building

04.01.2019 – If you’re in Manila you’ll find it hard to believe this place was the original central business commerce for the country. Even before World War II erupted Escolta, and its surrounding area was the most visited place as shopping centres basking in the business. But after the war with transition that changed the Philippines things where not the same. There have been so many historical landmarks in this area of Carriedo, Sta. Cruz, and Escolta that you can find these stories not preserved in libraries, but through the web. Because even public libraries in this country have been shall we say ‘under construction’ since as evident from last week’s random walks around the city and nearby Rizal Park you’ll probably have idea already.

Lost Urban History | Harrison Plaza

03.20.2019 - Harrison Plaza is a local shopping centre in the Philippines, and the first mall with air conditioning that opened in the mid-197os. There’s a lot of history to go about this mall for those who have grown up in the area of Malate in Manila, and there were a lot good memories in this place that made it even more special. But sadly, things have not been the same lately that appears that this mall has become a shell of its former place. News has it that this might close down by the end of 2019 with possible demolition and redevelopment by the new owners signaling what could be another ‘end of an era’ considered as a historical landmark for its time.

Lost Urban History: Philcomcen Building.

05.18.2015 – The Philcomcen building was one of the original buildings that were first constructed in the Ortigas area that would be visibly seen from EDSA and used to be the residence for most of the local radio stations and a UHF TV station in the Philippines. Over the years the development of Ortigas has spawned taller structures that are residential or business related. The former Philcomcen building has become an eyesore with failed rehabilitation in the mid-1990s and now it’s being slowly demolished.