A Look Back to Move Forward: 5 years of firsts at the City of Firsts
Five years since becoming Araneta City, the City of Firsts remains true to its name—a multimodal hub with countless firsts and memories worth sharing.
As we celebrate our 5th year, here’s a look back at the firsts that happened through the years as we continue to move forward for more:
2019 was a significant year for Araneta City. It was in 2019 where the change happened—the official launch of Araneta City, the City of Firsts.
However, there was a shift to the new normal in 2020; everything and everyone turned virtual. Despite the challenges, Araneta City kept on with the changes and started to innovate, utilizing everything the digital space has to offer– switching on ground events to online through live streaming and different social media platforms. Araneta City was also among the first to use augmented reality, bridging offline experience online.
Fast forward to 2022, there was a major comeback at the City of Firsts. Araneta City brought back the Fiesta Carnival, mini version. The comeback of Fiesta Carnival sent waves of nostalgia for the older generations while forging new memories to the younger ones. In the same year, the Binibining Pilipinas Grand Santacruzan also made its grand return, filling the streets of Araneta City with beautiful Binibining Pilipinas candidates. It was the year of connecting the past to the present, transcending memories through time.
A new year meant more firsts at the City of Firsts. 2023 marked the opening of the much-awaited expansion of Araneta City’s multi-awarded Gateway Mall, the Gateway Mall 2. Since then, so much has transpired in Gateway Mall 2. The Quantum Skyview, the largest indoor LED ceiling in the country, has bore witness to a series of fan events, gatherings, and activations. His Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle led a special Eucharistic celebration prior to the opening of Sagrada Familia Church to the public. Just beside Gateway Mall 2, the Smart Araneta Coliseum hosted the FIBA Basketball World Cup. And, before the year ended, Fiesta Carnival reopened at its original location—right at the center of Araneta City.
This year, more projects have come to life, solidifying Araneta City’s expansion and modernization. The Farmers Plaza to Gateway Mall 1 connection has now expanded through Gateway Mall 2 and Smart Araneta Coliseum. Moreover, earlier this year, the first Ibis Hotel brand in the Philippines, ibis Styles Manila Araneta City, opened for business with a direct link to Gateway Mall 2. Araneta City also brought home the first-ever B★VERSE BTS, Singing The Stars Exhibition located at Level 4 of Gateway Mall 2, which brought the K-POP group BTS and its Filipino fans closer. Following suit was the opening of the Demon Slayer Total Concentration Exhibition located at Level 3 of Gateway Mall 2 and will be open until October 27, 2024. Not to mention that this year, Gateway Mall 2 was awarded as the New Mall of the Year by Retail Asia. And, just recently, Araneta City launched the first-ever aRUNeta Run Club, happening every Sunday of the week.
Araneta City’s vision remains the same: to create inclusive community that deliver memorable experiences worth sharing. If you’ve been part of these years, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you!
We’re done looking back; it’s time to move forward. As we approach the remainder of 2024, expect more firsts to unfold at the City of Firsts, with Cyberpark 3 and Laurent Park already in the pipeline. So, stay tuned, keep posted, and we hope to see you around!