Therapy, music and art in a mall

Yes, I am a mall rat and I am proud to say that I find some therapy in malling. Therapy from?work stress, therapy from vexations brought about by problems I cannot solve such as traffic, and therapy from little heartaches brought about by lonely?situations that I can solve such as empty nesting.? 

 I find happiness at the Rockwell Power Plant Mall, browsing at National Book Store to check what books are on sale. I go to Healthy Options to see if there are new quinoa varieties. I like looking for quirky stuff at Dimensione and nicely priced clothes at Zara and Kashieca. I enjoy meeting up at Wild Ginger or Bread Talk with former UP schoolmates for some?nostalgic talk and debates on political BS in the country.? Most of all, I love dining at Ganso Shabuway on weekends while listening to soothing music by a quartet that plays songs ranging from Bacharach to Elton John to The Beatles.

 The Power Plant is one mall I know where shoppers have such urbane manners and they?actually pause in front of nameless musicians, including silver-haired pianists, and clap in respectful appreciation.

Last Sunday, I was pleasantly surprised to see dancers performing quite gracefully and shoppers couldn’t help but stop and gather around them because they were wearing intricate and colorful body artwork. It was an Instagram moment, and people were happily snapping photos for posting.?   

Then I spotted Boboy Consunji, one of the best admen I know, his bubbly PR head Bess Howe at Campaigns and Grey, with Rockwell’s own charmers Tracey Castillo and Jermaine Peck,?obviously monitoring the dance show directed by Jackie Aquino. Boboy explained that this performance is the first in a series of weekly shows depicting the features of Proscenium, the residential community rising right within Rockwell Center in Makati.?   

Last Sunday, the body art on the dancers was about nature: butterflies, flowers and trees. “The Proscenium will have much greenery and ample space to breathe. The greenery filters the pollution of the city and is exactly what we need for a healthier lifestyle,”?Boboy explained.?   

Proscenium is the only residential community that will have a world-class?theater and  a museum aside from retail and dining outlets, swimming pools and beautifully landscaped gardens. Hence, the name Proscenium.

No wonder that four condominium buildings rising in the 3.6 hectare development (adding to Rockwell’s current 15.5 hectates) are named after theaters: Sakura, Kirov, Lincoln and Lorraine. The fifth one is Proscenium Residences.?   

I remember how over dinner last year, Rockwell Land president and CEO Nestor Padilla told us about Proscenium — the greatest Rockwell yet — as envisioned by architect Carlos Ott. “It will be an urban sanctuary of leisure and serenity,” he explained.”Rockwell?is not just about building towers.”?   

Serenity is what we all?seek right now. So tomorrow, I will go to Rockwell’s Power Plant Mall again to find my serenity and therapy. There is too?much traffic on my mind.?     

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“#ProsceniumLiveInArt” will have three performances at 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. in different parts of Power Plant Mall tomorrow, with the theme “Performing Arts.”? Follow the author on Instagram and Facebook @milletmartinezmananquil and email her at mananquilmillet@gmail.com.