Robinsons Place Pangasinan, The Opening

The Main Entrance

Judging by the number of people that flocked to Robinsons Place Pangasinan on March 15, 2012, its opening is deemed a success.

It was as if everyone from the immediate surrounding municipalities and cities were there!

The Great Atrium (photo credit: Reginald Agsalon)

I know a lot of people, including myself, who dread clawing through a maze of bodies while shopping. But this would not be a problem in Robinsons Place Pangasinan which has a gross floor area of 32,000 square meters. 

 

Just look at the number of people in this picture and yet there was still enough elbow room for everyone!

As I've observed, Robinson's 30th branch has wide corridors and high ceilings; these features enabled the mall to handle the volume of the crowd and to properly circulate the body heat the crowd generated. It was such a pleasure to be able to lounge around Robinsons Place Pangasinan without having to worry about being shoved about or having my toes stepped on or be suffocated by the heat.

Second Floor

The Circle over-looking the Great Atrium and The Food Court

The Department Store

 

Aside from its anchors--Robinsons Department Store, Robinsons Supermarket, Handyman, Robinsons Appliances and Robinsons Movieworld (all three cinemas and a 3D cinema)--a great number of shops were already open for the visitors' enjoyment.

Two particular shops got my attention: Kenko and La Sedia Furniture. I'm a big fan of  furniture and home improvement products. Haha!
 

A colorful set of different-sized containers by Kenko for the win!

From a spa, to restaurants, to gadgets, to clothing lines, a great number of other shops can also be found in Robinsons; there's bound to be something for everyone. Who knows, your next great find might just be in Robinsons Place Pangasinan.

Siapno-Tada Optical, Crowd Favorite

The Siapno-Tada Optical Branch at Robinson's Place Pangasinan

Welcoming smiles, personalized service and affordable yet quality products—these hallmarks of Siapno-Tada Optical were evident during its opening of its latest branch in Robinson’s Place Pangasinan in Calasiao, held on March 15, 2012. 

Glam shades selling like pancakes

Clients striking a pose at the photo booth

Located at the Ground Floor, Siapno-Tada Optical initially drew crowds with the sale of their shades.  Sold at an affordable forty-five pesos (Php 45.00), these perfect summer must-haves were instantly a hit. Clients were able to enjoy them at once as they smile for the photo-booth while wearing these great summer goodies. Concurrently, the staff was very patient in assisting the clients and was accommodating in helping them relax as they strike a pose for the camera.

The latest frames at Siapno-Tada Optical

Clients as they wait for their glasses.

Inside the Siapno-Tada Optical shop, clients were treated no less as they took advantage of the free laser eye examination. The queue was long but the people patiently waited on comfortable chairs as they looked through Siapno-Tada Optical’s latest eye-wear. The crowd might have flocked the shop but the ophthalmologists and sales staff were unfazed in meeting the optical needs of the clients; no less than the owner Dr. Voltaire Siapno-Tada saw through the clients’ satisfaction.

Quality service with a personal touch, Siapno-Tada Optical truly delivers!

I find myself thinking about what it means to fight for something...

I find myself thinking about what it means to fight for something and an animated movie I watched during childhood suddenly came to mind. I can’t remember the title and for many years I wasn’t able to find it using search engines.

Anyway, the story goes like this.

There was once a unicorn that lived in a forest. The other animals praised her beauty but the unicorn was lonely for there was no other like her. The butterfly told her that once, a long time ago, there were others like her but they were driven away and imprisoned by a great red bull who wanted all the unicorns for himself. It was rumored that the red bull was still living somewhere.

Despite the dangers, the unicorn went on a journey in search of the other unicorns.

On her way, she came upon an old man who was in trouble. The unicorn helped him and the old man turned out to be a magician. In return for the unicorn’s kindness, the magician turned her into a young woman for her own protection. For there are those who are after unique creatures such as her.

The unicorn, now a young woman, and the magician came upon the castle where they worked as part of its court. There, she met a prince. The prince was an acclaimed hero and beloved of the people. But he was unhappy.

For he desires what true heroism means and knows not what it is.

 

The prince and the unicorn became friends. So he introduced her to his father, the ruler. The ruler however sensed something different and enticing with the young woman. The young woman sensed danger. The unicorn found out later that the ruler was the red bull who imprisoned the other unicorns. The ruler and the prince in turn, found out what she really was.

It was then that the prince realized what his father is exactly like. So he wished to help the unicorn and aided her in her flight. The ruler sensed the escape however, and went after them. The prince defended the unicorn. But the ruler was a powerful sorcerer and as the red bull, he was formidable; the prince, though an experienced warrior, is merely a human.

The battle ended up on the beach where the unicorn pleaded for the prince to save himself. It was her that the red bull was after and the prince need not endanger himself for her. There was nothing else that they could do. They were no match for the red bull.

The prince however was determined to save her. And so he fought and fought the red bull with all his might.

The ending of the story? The prince died. And I cried a lot.

The unicorn cried a lot too.

Before he took his last breath, he told the unicorn, “I have slain dragons, and rescued damsels, and I was loved for those but I was unsatisfied for I knew not what heroism means. Now, I do. True heroism means fighting for what is right even if the chance for victory is hopeless.”

But because of his efforts, the unicorn was able to free her sisters and was able to come back home to her forest.

Now let me ask you, how many times have you given up on a dream or a belief or a task because it appeared too daunting or difficult?

(Note: I recently looked it up again and to my relief and joy, I finally found it! Which explains the pictures. :) The title is The Last Unicorn and the movie was based on a novel of the same title written by Peter Beagle. Some details may differ from the actual story but I'm keeping this post as it is for this is how I remembered the story. My impression of The Last Unicorn helped shape a big part of who I am.)

In Search of the Pangasinense

A bullet-hole on a bronze plaque.

That seems to be the only physical evidence of the horrors that once ravaged the capital, if not the entire province, during the Second World War. If one would look at the Capitol Complex now, one would never imagine that such an event took place.

Magnificent structures, sprawling grounds with lush and abundant greenery, picturesque beaches with sparkling waters and the blue sky overhead—the Capitol Complex would take your breath away.

But the breath catches in my chest and it feels heavy. I am overcome by sadness.

The Capitol Complex has become the symbol of pride and progress of our beloved Pangasinan. And rightfully so. We have come a long way, and Pangasinan being one of the best provinces in the country, we have much to be proud of. The Provincial Capitol building is a proud testament to the re-emergence of the Pangasinan spirit. But as I touch the bullet-hole on one of its commemorative plaques, this question rang with a defeaning echo in my mind, “Who are we as a people?”

 The building itself is of neo-classic design. The rear portion is reminiscent of the White House. Even the emblem on the topmost portion of the façade is similar to that of the seal of the United States. Intimidating statues of eagles guard the buttresses of the building. American. Where is the Filipino influence? More importantly, WHERE IS THE PANGASINENSE?

My walk around the Capitol Complex reminded me of our family trip in Sagada. The municipality has the modern amenities of a widely-known tourist spot but you can feel their indigenous culture permeating through its every structure, street, caves, fields and people. 

Our then tourist guide good-naturedly pointed out that unlike ours, their traditional customs had not only survived, but have also been preserved well and have been successful in integrating with the modern way of life without much conflict.

The colonization of our province left us with great institutional and structural legacies but with little cultural awareness.

This disturbs me somehow. Because cultural identity fosters unity, dignity, and reinforces pride—the kind that drives one to give one’s best, not only for oneself but to give something back to where one came from as well. Cultural identity spells success.

And yet…and yet I cannot help but to feel hope. 

The Provincial Capitol Building is indeed a powerful symbol. For no matter how bad it had gone to ruin during the war and had been damaged over the years, it remained standing, proud and defiant against the disasters that plagued it. And now it has become more resplendent than ever.  The Pangasinense spirit had not been annihilated.

The bullet-hole on the plaque that commemorates its construction is a testament to our broken past. One we can never get back. But I’d like to think that through the increasing awareness on local tourism, we are able to recapture and recreate an identity of our own. A mix of the few remaining pieces of the past, forged with modern views and with the emerging trends and practices that are uniquely bred in Pangasinan.

I traced the bullet-hole on the plaque again. But this time I smiled.