Araneta Center

The Araneta Center is a 35-hectare commercial area situated in Cubao, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. It is located Between EDSA and Aurora Boulevard and hosts stations of Manila Metro Rail Transit System (MRT 3) and Manila Light Rail Transit System Line 2 (LRT 2).Araneta Center, Inc. a company under the Araneta Group is the developer, owner, and manager of the commercial area.HistoryThe 35ha property which the Araneta Center stands was purchased by J. Amado Araneta of the Araneta clan in 1952. The land which stood between Highway 54 (now EDSA) and Aurora Boulevard was as of 1959, remote and located in an area designated for suburban mass housing and frequented by the now-defunct Hukbalahap rebels. The original owner of the property was the Radio Company of America (RCA). Initially, Araneta purchased only 4ha of from RCA and built the Aranetas' residence in 1953 which would be known as the "Bahay na Puti" or White House. It was in 1955, that Araneta purchased the remaining 31ha of land from the RCA.In 1956, the Aranetas sold a portion of the property to Philippine National Bank which proceeded to set up a branch in the area. On the same year the first Aguinaldo Department Store, a well known retailer of its era set up their first branch outside the Escolta area in Manila. The Progressive Development Corporation (PDC) moved their headquarters from Plaza Cervantes in Binondo, Manila to the Araneta Enterprise Building along Aurora Avenue. The same company would be tasked to develop the Araneta Coliseum.