BAD TRIP 18: SMification
It pains me to see grand old cities lose their character simply because Henry Sy put his one-size-fits-all stamp on them. It used to be that cities like Baguio and Iloilo had a charm all their own. Session Road and J. M. Basa St. were lined with charming old buildings and quaint little shops where one could find unique treasures that warmed the heart, mind… and stomach.
Not anymore.
I was in Iloilo the other day on J. M. Basa St. and was appalled by the sight of boarded up shops and seedy clubs in what used to be the liveliest strip of road in the entire city. Now it reeks of urban decay, shunned by people who now flocked to malls built outside the city.
Baguio is in a similar bind. Old haunts disappeared on Session Road, unable to compete with the monstrous SM mall up on the hill.
Now they're beginning to look like any other city on the planet. Aaaargh!!!
Not anymore.
I was in Iloilo the other day on J. M. Basa St. and was appalled by the sight of boarded up shops and seedy clubs in what used to be the liveliest strip of road in the entire city. Now it reeks of urban decay, shunned by people who now flocked to malls built outside the city.Baguio is in a similar bind. Old haunts disappeared on Session Road, unable to compete with the monstrous SM mall up on the hill.
Now they're beginning to look like any other city on the planet. Aaaargh!!!
posted by Miki at
9:57 PM
5 Comments:
Sadly, this is not unique to Philippine cities. Even here in the US, a lot of small businesses lose out too whenever a mall rises in the vicinity. Wal-Mart is a favorite target because not only does its presence undermine the small businesses, its presence ultimately leads to the loss of a "small town" feeling or the loss of a place's charm. Sad.
SM has obviously borrowed a page from Wal-Mart's playbook. It's ugly malls are now a presence in a lot of areas in the country. Awful.
I am with you on this one, KuyaMiki. I was in Iloilo last week and was surprised to see what has become of the charming city. I think my hometown, Roxas City, is also undergoing the same transformation -- gone were the old Capiznon houses and small shops and kapihans... replaced by ugly apartment and commercial buildings!! Even the Roxas City Cathedral was painted in horrible blue!
@panaderos - guess i was feeling nostalgic, remembering all the great times i had in the old days. darn.. i am getting old.
i think the incomes of these malls do not even contribute much to the local economy (except for temporary employment of local salesladies that is anti-labor at best). i'm sure henry sy takes out all his cash receipts from all over the country and banks them at a choice bank somewhere in makati. (sigh)
@ZJ - good thing the sutukil-type restos along the beach are surviving. and flourishing, from what i can observe last time i was in roxas city. but of course the old downtown shops/stores will close eventually, kahit gaisano pa lang ang nandun
huhu.. i miss the old iloilo. i miss the old solitary walks.
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