In a time when Filipinos are expected to work tirelessly—whether through endless academic demands or harrowing work hours—escaping formal responsibilities, even briefly, is no longer a luxury but a necessity.
Coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg, “third places” refer to spaces between home and work, acting as a core setting for informal public life to build connection, community, and sociability. Yet in the Philippines, such spaces are increasingly scarce. What we consider third spaces varies per individual, but the lack of accessible and cost-free public spaces is undeniable.
Public libraries are few and far between, with figures from June 2025 reporting their presence in only four percent of local government units, many of which remain severely underdeveloped. Parks and green spaces are similarly underfunded and poorly maintained, routinely sidelined in favor of commercial and residential developments. Metro Manila, for instance, averages only five square meters of green space per person, well below the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum of nine.
This shortage has tangible consequences. Socialization and recreation have become deeply tied to spending, turning even rest into a transaction. Every cafe you visit to study, amusement park you explore to have fun, and the stage you look up to witness your favorite artists perform requires the average person to pay for the experience. Even accessing the few remaining public spaces entails spending on transportation and necessities. Leisure, once communal and free, has become increasingly exclusive.
As costs rise, private developers step in to fill the void—not with genuine public spaces, but with commercial substitutes. Malls multiply while parks disappear, offering controlled environments that mimic social spaces yet remain fundamentally transactional. This imbalance is evident in the sheer contrast between the country’s roughly 100 national parks that are dominated by hundreds of shopping malls in urban landscapes.
These days, people prefer going to malls simply because they are available, air-conditioned, and accessible. In contrast, spaces where people can gather freely, connect authentically, or simply exist without spending are few and far between. And with the lack of genuine third spaces, Filipinos fall deeper into the rabbit hole of consumerism, having no choice but to rely on these commercial “alternatives” for relaxation and recreation.
This dependence creates the illusion that third spaces still abound, when in reality they are steadily eroding. Private developers prioritize revenue generating establishments over inclusive, open spaces. Green parks, plazas, and community centers are either reduced, privatized, or excluded altogether in favor of malls, cafes, and gated lifestyle complexes. While such places may appear accessible at first glance, participation remains limited to those who can afford to pay.
As society grows accustomed to commercialized environments, public pressure on the government to invest in free, communal third spaces weakens. When malls replace parks and cafes replace libraries, the absence of accessible public areas becomes normalized. In turn, authorities neglect the responsibility to create and maintain inclusive spaces that promote social interaction without monetary barriers.
Worse still, existing third spaces are often abandoned and left to decay. Public parks fall into disrepair, community centers lose funding, and open areas deteriorate through neglect. Rather than being restored, they are overshadowed by newer, commercial developments. The commercialization of social spaces does not just replace them—it actively erodes them, leaving communities with fewer places to gather freely, connect authentically, and belong without condition.
To arrest this decline, institutions that are entrusted to serve the public should be held accountable. National agencies and local government units must work alongside communities to proliferate spaces that are accessible, inclusive, and communal. Public welfare must be prioritized over profit, treating parks, libraries, and other public spaces not as afterthoughts, but as something crucial for a community to thrive.
Third spaces are essential to one’s mental well-being and social cohesion; they are not luxuries that should be sidelined for commercial expansion. When the government learns to collaborate with our communities, third spaces can grow and thrive sustainably. Only then can Filipinos reclaim such areas and exist collectively without paying for their right to belong.
This article was published in The LaSallian‘s January 2026 issue. To read more, visit bit.ly/TLSJan2026.
