A version of this feature has been republished by ABS-CBN.com.
I arrived at Anko's newest Gateway Mall branch with two goals: the first was work, the second was to find an iPad pillow.
My partner had the chance to buy one at another Anko branch weeks ago and decided against it. Regret quickly followed. So when I learned Anko was opening a new store in Cubao, I figured I could cover the launch and check whether they still had the elusive pillow in stock.
As it turns out, only one of those objectives was accomplished.
The Australian home and lifestyle brand has officially opened its newest store on Level 2 of Gateway Mall 1 in Araneta City, its sixth branch in the Philippines and its first outside the Ayala Malls network.
If you've been to Anko's TriNoma flagship, currently the largest Anko store in the country, then Cubao isn't exactly difficult to reach. One train ride can take you from one branch to the other.
But while TriNoma may have the advantage in size, Gateway has something else going for it: location.
Few places in Metro Manila see as much movement as Cubao. Students, office workers, concertgoers, provincial travelers, and everyday commuters pass through Araneta City at all hours of the day. For many people, Cubao isn't necessarily the destination. It's the place between destinations.
And that makes it a sensible home for Anko.
During the launch, many members of the media gathered around executives to ask questions about expansion plans, retail strategy, and the brand's continued growth in the Philippines.
I spent most of that time roaming around the store instead. After all, press releases can tell you how big a branch is. Walking through it tells you whether you'd actually want to spend time there.
At 1,455 square meters, the Gateway branch is substantial without feeling intimidating. What struck me most was how comfortable it felt to explore.
Part of that comes from its location beside The Oasis, Gateway Mall's expansive indoor garden and skylight feature. Large retail spaces can sometimes feel overwhelming no matter how carefully they're designed. The openness surrounding this branch creates the opposite effect. Even during the launch, when shoppers, executives, and members of the media were all moving around the space, the store never felt cramped or chaotic.
Instead, it felt surprisingly relaxed.
Inside, shoppers can browse Anko's signature range of homewares, kitchen essentials, beauty products, travel accessories, stationery, toys, and everyday lifestyle finds. Like its other stores, the branch is built around the idea that good design should be accessible without carrying a premium price tag.
"At Anko, we are guided by a simple belief that everyone should have access to well-designed, quality products at everyday affordable prices," said Anko Philippines Interim Country Manager Kimberly Mulligan.
The Cubao store also represents an important milestone for the company. It is Anko's first branch outside the Ayala Malls network and reflects the brand's continued expansion across Metro Manila.
According to Anko Global CEO Arjun Puri, the branch was delivered entirely by the local Philippine team, from fixtures and visual merchandising to final styling, with global support provided remotely.
"This store is especially meaningful because it reflects the strength and capability of our local team," Puri said.
The opening was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Puri, Mulligan, Anko Global Chief Retail Officer Lil Velis-Bowker, Anko Global Operations Manager Rachael Eames, Anko Gateway Store Manager Herald Quizon, Ayala Corporation Head of Strategy and Business Development Mark Uy, and Araneta City Senior Vice President of Leasing Ma. Lorna Fabian.
With the opening of its Gateway Mall branch, Anko continues its expansion across Metro Manila while bringing its Australian-designed products closer to Filipino shoppers who pass through one of the country's busiest commercial districts every day.
The Gateway branch spans 1,455 square meters. The TriNoma flagship spans 1,634 square meters.
That's a difference of 179 square meters.
Unfortunately, one of the things Gateway appears to have sacrificed to save those 179 square meters was the iPad pillow I came looking for.