Malls here are the “hangout” of a great number of people. I am not saying they go there for shopping, window shopping and such, I am saying that they go there to hang out. They go to the mall, sit on the benches and relax. They have a snack there and spend the whole day. It’s a social place to be.
You may be wondering, why would people hang out in malls? There are two things that malls have that people here want:
- Air Conditioning
- Food
That’s right! The biggest reason for a lot of people to spend the day at the mall is that it is air conditioned! You know, it can be quite hot here. Air conditioning eats up a lot of electricity too. So, what better way to keep cool for cheap than to hang out most of the day at the mall?
The other thing I mentioned is food. Back in the States, where I came from, Malls are places where there are stores where you buy stuff. There are a few restaurants, but they are not the big thing at the mall. Here, in many malls, most of the places there are restaurants! Amazing, huh? I would say that in most malls here, if you look at the floor space, about 50% of the total area is taken by restaurants! Numbers wise, there are more stores, but the shops tend to be small, while the restaurants are big and take a lot of space. On top of the restaurants, there are tons of little kiosks in the middle of the walkways selling food items.
Think about it… why are there so many food places? Because people come to hang out in the Air Conditioning. What is one thing that we all have to do, to one extent or another? Eat!
See you at the mall! Lunch?
Its a very thought provoking subject Bob, as here also its the same although people here do not go to the mall simply to take advantage of the air conditioning, but we have a mall about 40 minutes drive away, called Bluewaters, they have everything from designer shops to cinemas, and most of all, places to drink coffee and eat, the amount of places designated for eating are enormous, so much so that the place is packed on Saturday's and Sundays with young people.
People seem to flock to shopping malls, for anything other than for shopping, they congregate in the various sport bars, cinema entrances, on the benches as you have said, having conversation, and if they decide to buy something its a bonus, but of course it beats the boredom of weekends doing nothing, I have seen it also in the Philippines, I met an American like yourself Bob in Bacolod City, we struck up a conversation, he told me "Look at all these people in here, and they only come in for the aircon, and to hang out, they dont buy anything ?" hahahaha, its the same the whole world over, apart of course from the need to escape the hot sun and enjoy the aircon.
Hi Peter – yep, I guess that you are right, the same patterns repeat themselves no matter where you go! It seems that the mall has already placed the little nipa hut in the barangay where people used to gather and talk.
Hi Bob,
Re malls in the Philippines, you're right, it is a hangout place. The malls are nice and cool but one thing I can't stand is the noise level! Especially in SM Davao, there is that carousel that keeps playing that loud music over and over. I feel so bad for the people who work there as they have to listen to it day in and day out. It's plain torture! When I go, I do my business and get out. But, that "noise" still keeps playing in my head the rest of the day!
I think also that shopping, and eating, is the Filipinos' favorite pastime. Even here in the States, if you go to a mall, you're sure to find groups of Filipinos shopping. One time, in an outlet mall, we saw a van of Filipinos with balikbayan boxes ready for their goods! 🙂
Here in NY, kids usually do this – they go to the malls to hang out. They're called mall rats. So, maybe, the Philippines has its own version of mall rats, perhaps? 😉
Hi Tina – I have GREAT news for you! In addition to the carousel at SM Davao, they now have a train! That's right, they pick up kids and ride them all over the mall in it. Be careful, if you are walking down the aisles of the mall and not paying attention the train will run you right over! An added plus is that the train also plays music as well!!! Ha ha.. what fun! 😉
I hate the *^$(&* thing!
Hi Bob,
I did my share of hanging out in the mall when I was in college. That was because I didn't want to get caught in the traffic congestion when I got off from school. But back then it was not as noisy as today. When I came back after 6 years in the US last 2001 and went to SM Cebu City mall, I asked my young nephews and nieces who, of course like to hang out in the mall, how can they stand the noise.
Liklik
P.S. I'm Bill Paul's wife by the way.
Hi Liklik! Thanks for leaving your comment, it's nice to hear from you. I hope Bill is doing fine.
I understand what you mean about the malls being so noisy! That is also something that I don't like about going there. But, I guess I've gotten used to it, to some extent!
Take care.
I'm with Tina! To be honest, one of the hardest thing for my husband and I about living in the Philippines is the noise level. In the malls it is concentrated in an enclosed space. The loud mall music, plus whatever singing contest is going on, plus each store playing its own background music, plus people trying to talk over the din. If we are going to look for a quiet restaurant, we do not go to the mall. In fact, we buy what we came for and get out as fast as possible! Earlier this year we took a trip and were in Thailand and Singapore before returning to Manila for a couple days. The noise level in the malls hit is like a ton of bricks!
So in RP, the malls now are like indoor parks?? People go there not to shop but to hang out… I have not noticed that too much around my area. Or could it be I don't go to the malls too much, myself. To shop, I login into my computer and shop to my heart's content. 😆 No noise, no hassle.
For things that I would not buy online (like clothes, shoes), I prefer to go to the downtown area and use the smaller shops/stores/boutiques. That way I avoid the mall. I like patronizing the small businesses for their more personalized service and also because I like supporting my own community. If I can buy anything that's right here in my backyard, I'd prefer to do it here first. I live in a bedroom community. We do not have a mall although there are several big ones close by, within 10 miles of where I am.
I'm with you on that, AmericanLola! 😯
hI BOB as i mentioned to your good lady afew days ago one of my few gripes about pr is there is always noise. the malls are probley the worst. Iam abelever the air con is abig attraction Have been in malls in oueson city sm were impossible tomove Any way leaving joe burg in 4 hours for dubai arrive davao next thursdad 16 august for a few days then china j
Hi Bob,
A train ? Wooohooo
We can both go for a ride in it while we eat or ice creams,
can't wait 🙂
Scott
Bob,
Yeah, I hated that damn train too. It also kept playing this tune that is still stuck in my head till this day (my last encounter with "Darth Choo Choo" was in February) — " It's a small world" has got nothing on that annoying song.
Yep, "malling" is now ingrained in the Filipino psyche. In Davao, it all started in Victoria Plaza and the virus spawned 3.5 other malls (JSGaisano illustre is a half mall). Four plus malls in Davao, who would have thunk? I never thought the city could support more than 1 mall — then again, I predicted that Blugre cafe would not last a year (coffee and Davao? ha!). Goes to show that I underestimated my beloved hometown.
I'm a small business supporter myself (I shy away from Starbucks when possible), but with daily heat and lack of sidewalks in Davao, the malls are just simply too convenient. The beauty of the whole thing is that Davao is still growing and local entrepenuers are benifitting from it without too many national or international chains choking their livelihood.
You'll notice some small or local businesses thriving in the malls. Thrift stores in Victoria Plaza is a prime example as well as the stalls, boutiques and food courts in SM, NCCC and Gmall.
I remember taking a 3 day trip with my visiting parents to Puerto Rico. We did not have a lot of time to see the sights and were fortunate to know some locals who lived there. So, where did my ol' man and mum request to go? not the beach, not the old town or cultural sights. You guessed it, the mall. You can bet I was thrilled to visit the Puerto Rican GAP store. not.
sites? or sights? which is it? tomato, tomahto….I have to say, I haven't written this much since college.
Both correct!
Hi Frank – Yes indeed, the noise in the malls is deafening!
Hi Scott – Are you buying the ice cream? I'll bring my kids along!
Hi Macky – You missed one! How about Chimes Mall in Uyangaran? That's the high end mall in Davao now!
I thought about including Chimes but wasn't sure if it classifies as a mall. I guess it does. 5.5 malls in little Davao. Amazing.
Oh, and thanks Jae. The things I learn in this blog gig of yours, Bob.
The noise makes the mall a love-hate relationship for me … if they toned down the noise level I'd spend alot more time there.
With regard to the eating places, one of the big reasons Mita and I eat most of our "food out" at the mall is … parking. There's lot's of restraunts I've seen in local communities that are on my mind to try out but most have little or no parking … when we drive the 2.2 km to our nearest Henry Sy's New and Improved Shoe Mart there's tons of parking.
This is one of the big features of the North Luzon Expressway that makes fortune also. In the US we expect food in expressway rest areas to be somehting like a McDonalds and that's it … on the NLEX there is a rest area every 10km and they are packed with food choices … and, of course, ample parking.
Makes big difference not to have to shoehorn your car into a parking space and later have to try to back out with three or more little "watcher boy" helpers all giving conflicting directions. 99% of the customers are Filipinos, of course, not expats, so if I were ever thinking about a retail store or a restaraunt the _first_ thing I'd look for was a place with parking aailable … it might be the "make or break" of the business.
Hi Bob,
Ha-ha! I got to meet "Mr. Choo-choo Train" last April! I couldn't stop laughing when I saw it. I remembered your warning to watch that I don't get run over, but you know what, there was a man/clown(?) walking in front of it making sure everyone's out of the way. The interesting part, though, is nobody seemed to mind. I looked around and everyone seemed to be happy! 😕
I wonder if mall owners realize that they may be losing business because of the noise level? Hmmm…
Hey Bob,
Funny topic. Here in SM Cebu they have the train too, but it plays "club" music (???) and yes, I have ridden it several times as I can't leave the mall until I take my kids on it!!!
American Lola, you are so right!! Malls is the number 1 philippine past time!!! I dislike all the crowds and the noise as well, I'm used to the malls in the states where its quiet!!
In Cebu we are lucky to have a few parks but its not common here as in the states or any industrailized country. Do wish we had more. My grandmother actually wrote a letter to GMA to start "national" children's parks and playgrounds, I wasn't sure if it was going to pan out but luckily she got a letter back and the Head of Dept. of Ed is going to go ahead and start it and start it in Bukidnon where my grandmother lives. So pray that it does happen and I will keep you guys posted.
Hi Macky – You not only learn, but you also teach! That's the neat thing, we all do. We learn some things from some of the community here, and teach other things to them! That's the beauty!
Hi Dave Starr – I didn't know that there were rest stops on the NLEX with food places and such! From the sounds of it, those put the US rest stops to shame! Amazing! We don't have those kind of expressways and such down here in Mindanao. We sent all our money and resources up there so you guys can enjoy all the good stuff! 😆
Hi Tina – I know that nobody can tell, but to be honest I despise that train in SM! I hide my feelings very well, though, so nobody knows, I am sure! 😆
Hi Pia Sez – We have a lot of fairly nice parks in Davao, which is really nice. Right now, they are building a new park, which I had once heard would be called "Central Park" but they must have dropped the name, because I heard that they will hold a naming contest for the park during the upcoming Kadayawan Festival.
By the way, where in Buidnon does your Grandmother live? Bukidnon is one of my favorite parts of Mindanao!
They also hold qualifying contests in the malls, such singing contest similar to the American Idol. You can hardly move around. Try going there when local actors/actress visit the mall to promote their movies. It's a real torture!
Here in my community, the malls are becoming baby sitters, I mean, teen-age kids are dropped off by parents while the latter go to work. So mauls/brawls are in the malls esp during weekends.:???:
Hi jul – I hate it when they have the actors/actresses at the mall. Well…. when they have the good looking actresses, I have to go for the sense of community! I am sure you know what I mean. I want to show my true community spirit and such! 😆
Got to go… Feyma is coming, and I don't want her to read this!!! 😉
On a similar note, about where people pass their time… Is it common there (Philippines) for people to spend lots of time at the bookstore? I noticed here the bigger bookstores like "Borders" and "Barnes & Noble" would probably be the equivalent of "malls" in the Philippines. It is because people go there not necessarily to buy books but to pass their time! My observation, anyway…
It's probably because these big bookstores have a cafe inside so folks can help themselves to whatever books they want to read, go to the cafe when hungry or just to have some coffee, then go back to the main bookstore to peruse some more. Even at the cafe, people are allowed to bring the books they're reading.
So it's a nice leisurely way to spend time, sample some books before buying them, or for some folks to do their "research" there.
Another activity that draws people to bookstores are free-or-paid lectures or poetry reading or workshops, etc. The visiting lecturers or workshop facilitators are an eclectic mix. These events do provide some worthwhile activities to look forward to. I often go to East West (a smaller bookstore in Mountain View, CA) for these evening events and always have a good time.
Okay, I think this is not really about malls but the mall article provided an offshoot topic of "where people go to spend time."
Are there other venues besides malls (in Phil) that would attract crowds? And if they do, why?
This is an interesting food for thought actually.
It's kind of funny that folks come to the malls to beat the heat. The first indoor mall was in Minnesota in the late 50's/early 60's-the Southdale Mall in suburban Minneapolis. The original reason for the indoor mall was to shop while escaping the snow and cold…
I remember our experience with the evil choo choo in the SM mall in Davao. My son saw it and wanted to ride it over and over. The last thing I wanted to see was that train coming around the corner again…ugh…
Bob,
The comments about parks reminded about the new PTA park. It was about 80% when I left the country and I've been curious about how it looks.
There are no pictures of it on the net. The only shots I saw were of the statues that being painted with some horrendous colors (don't get me started over the annoying trend of Davao sculptures being painted with tacky colors).
Do you have any pix of that park?
Hi Bob,
My grandparents have a ranch near Valencia they are neighbors to the MKADC plantation and some of their land is leased to the pineapples as well. My grandfather runs a completely "organic" farm and raises lamb for meat, he airfreights the meat exclusively to a spanish restaurant in Manila. My grandmother grows strawberries. They also run a business management school on their farm and hold corporate and business events and luncheons. I grew up in Bukidnon when I was a toddler before moving to the states on the same farm and its Bukidnon where I feel at peace….BTW, my grandfather has a manual if anyone who is interested in organic farming and raising organic livestock here in the Philippines…
Hi bob
so bob what is the best mall to eat in and what place do you like ?
Pia, I have a friend getting started growing organic chickens in Manolo fortich, Bukidnon, and would be interested in getting a copy of that manual for him!
Hi Angie – Bookstores here (not Manila, but anywhere outside Manila) are few and far between. You are limited to only National Bookstore on most occasions, which is not a very good bookstore, unfortunately.
Hi stebujiji – So, we are in agreement about the train! 😆
Hi Macky – The park is not yet ready, and it's really kind of blocked off from access. It will open soon, though, and I'll shoot some photos. Maybe I should go up to the top floor of Apo View and shoot some photos out the window there!
Hi Pia – I'd like to go visit your Grandparents sometime! I spend a lot of time up around Valencia.
Hi anndrew – I don't often go to malls to eat, but when I do, I'd say that SM is the best for that. In SM, my favorite restaurant is Roadhouse Cafe. I am talking about SM Davao now.
I liked the malls when I first came over here, but now it is not my favourite place to go. If I have shopping to do I prefer to drag myself out at 10am when they open and are still not crowded.
Hi Pia:
Me too, I'd like to get a copy for my bro-in-law who's having a small farm in Bukidnon. Does your grandpa sell strawberry for propagation ?
Hi Louis – I'm like you, if I am going to the mall, I like to be there as close to opening time as I can. Fewer customers to fight through, fewer hassles! 🙂
Pia,
I thought everything in Philippine is already organic (i.e. no-fertilizer-just-put-in-soil-and-watch-grow-sell?
Hi Jae – A lot of stuff here (particularly in plantations) is treated with sprays, fertilizers and such. Sometimes to a greater extent than it should!
Hi Bob, American Lola and Jul, wow, thanks for you interest in my grandparents farm, its called "Manupali Natural Farm", a teaching farm advocating sustainable agriculture and management. My grandparents are Angel and Chelo Javellana.
Can you please send me your email addresses to my email address? Its [email protected] and I'll give you my grandfather's email, he charges a fee of course for the manual, but its great and so comprehensive. Bob, you can correspond with my grandfather if you ever want to visit the farm when you're in Valencia. They do theses awesome eating extravaganzas if you ever want to hold meetings or whatever, there is a fee per person.
Jae, no not everything is organic yet and only a small handful of farmers do it organically, my grandfather works hard to try to educate and get everyone to do so as its more economical and better on the enviorment.
Hey Jul, email me at [email protected] and I'll tell you the secret to my grandmother's strawberries….wink, wink….
Hi Pia Sez – Thanks for the additional information. I have e-mailed you so that you can e-mail me back your grandfather's email address.