The squeeze is back

We all knew it was a temporary ceasefire but the nearly month-long  relative calm from June 12 when the US-Iran memorandum of agreement was officially signed by both the US and Iran   admittedly lulled some of  us into hoping that some kind of modus vivendi could be reached to allow the world to “normalize.”

Alas, count on Mr. Trump to break his own ceasefire agreement and put the squeeze back on the global economy.

We Filipinos have such an optimistic outlook. As I have repeatedly pointed out, to an ordinary visiting balikbayan or to foreigners visiting our country, they are pleasantly amazed at how vibrant some of our shopping malls are, with crowds of families, friends, fur babies enjoying the air-conditioned malls.

However, while the crowds may be blockbusters on weekends, and concentrated on a few well-known and centrally located shopping centers, another more worrisome picture should be closely observed.

A couple of big malls have seen a spate of store and restaurant closures,  and on weekdays see minimal foot traffic. Of the remaining restaurants that are operating in some malls , I normally ask the servers how business is doing and they readily admit that management has been cutting staff, making them fear for their own jobs as more Filipinos are eating out less on weekdays.

One interesting development I’ve noticed is the growth of hobbyist clubs that malls are now cashing in on. It started with the Cosplay enthusiasts who boost mall attendance when families and friends congregate to parade their realistic and inventive costumes.

Likewise, radio-controlled, car kit hobbyists have also become a weekend staple in some malls, while there has also been a notable increase of mall-sponsored car enthusiast gatherings and displays. Cheap sights and thrills that generate good weekend traffic.

There has also been an increase in the number of card enthusiasts for sports cards and other items who now opt to meet in malls on weekends.

Stand-alone boutiques are a dying breed. Those that manage to survive are brand chain boutiques, and the sale events are not attracting bargain buyers as they once  did in the past. Sales are now regularly available.

People are still eating out, but increasingly, restaurants have to package special set meals that, in the past, were offered only at lunch on weekdays. However, nowadays, those special meal sets are now offered all day on weekdays.

But another subtle sign from chain restaurants is the substitution of premium ingredients – imagine a famous Italian chain restaurant dropping anchovy from their ingredients. Likewise, a menu change where there are more affordable chicken dishes on offer as it seems that premium steaks are now too expensive for most.

It has also been quite noticeable how portion sizes have gradually been reduced. A couple of restaurants where I normally enjoy a burger have noticeably been serving smaller sizes. What was once a double patty burger that I had to halve is now a comfortable mouthful. A reliable old-timer burger that I used to also halve and give  to my husband is now just good enough for me.

And most recently, a high-end steak chain that initially served a really juicy and big bacon-hamburger that I simply could not manage on my own, has resorted to a downsized version that, for a small-eater like me, is no longer big  enough to satisfy me, even though the price was still at its old price of almost P800.

In case most of you have not noticed, most restaurants have also stopped placing their condiments on the table. Nowadays, you specifically have to ask for the specific condiment and it is now served in small servings – stuff such as ketchup, soy sauce and even napkins. Little things that restaurants are saving on.

Parking fees, perhaps, pretty much like the transfer fees that banks like to charge – but which thankfully, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has put an end to (hopefully for good and will not be restored at some point in the future) is also a big-money earner, although more understandable with the number of vehicles nowadays, but those fees can cost a pretty penny when you stay longer than three hours.

These may seem like petty observations, but for most Filipinos who now cannot even afford to enjoy cheap foreign travel like they did before the Middle East conflict – malling, window-shopping and enjoying affordable food and entertainment is how most keep sane from worrying how to stretch their salaries or meager business income, while reading about how our public officials are able to continue to travel and stay for long stretches of time to visit “sick” relatives.

It is a wonder that despite all the corruption accusations on both sides, the government still refuses to be transparent about government transactions. I’m sure that we may all be shocked at just how much our government officials and lawmakers are spending on their meals while we notice every little petty change in the price and size of a burger or a meal set.

While the malls may be enjoying brisk business on weekends, most Filipinos, I think, are now staying mostly at home glued to their internet-serviced smart TVs, bingeing on their streaming service of choice at a more  efficient cost, buying their favorite snack and drinks, while saving on the cost of increasingly expensive restaurant food, theater movies and parking and squeezing the most out of every penny they can.