Celebrating Rizal province at My City, My SM launch

MANILA, Philippines - The recent “My City, My SM” launch at SM City Taytay showcased the province of Rizal — its natural beauty, rich natural resources, vibrant arts scene and thriving economy.

Held just in time for Angono’s Higantes Festival, the event began with a grand parade led by colorful higantes inspired by President Benigno Aquino III and the artist Nemiranda, and followed by parehadoras, little girls wearing wooden slippers and carrying boat paddles, an Angono tradition rarely scene today.

The evening’s honorees — artist and sculptor Nemiranda, who has been instrumental in making his hometown the Arts Capital of the Philippines; and Rizal’s dynamic First Lady Andrea Bautista-Ynares — made a dramatic entrance with the higantes and parehadoras with drumbeaters adding rhythm to the fun and festive air.

During this special occasion, the mall’s event center was transformed into fiesta central with colorful papier-mâché higantes welcomed guests from the walkway. Exquisite tapestries fashioned from fabrics Taytay has long been known for filled the place, as did sculptures, which the artist Nemiranda so graciously shared with the guests.

Guests led by Rizal Governor Jun Jun Ynares and Taytay First Lady Joan Gacula enjoyed going through the showcases featuring replicas of the Rizal Provincial Capitol and the Nemiranda Art House. The Provincial Capitol showcase featured products from some of Rizal’s towns — suman and casuy from Antipolo, fish products from Binangonan, dairy items from Jalajala, eco-friendly products from Teresa, while the Nemiranda showcase was inspired by the artist’s studio in his Art House, complete with paintings and sculptures.

Rizal provincial officials — Tourism head Jenny Sumulong, public information officer Rely Bernardo, Taytay Tourism head Cora Cascon and PIO Carmen Zubiaga — graced the occasion, as did members of the Nemiranda family. SM officials led by VP for marketing Millie Dizon, VP for operations Liza Silerio, regional operations manager Johanna Rupisan, as well as SM City Taytay mall manager Maureen Fernandez and group brand manager Timothy Jonas Cuenca welcomed them.

The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the honorees’ panels, which were dramatically revealed by air dancers. Performances by the Banda Dos of Taytay and the children from the Balikalay Foundation delighted the guests, as did the fiesta spread of delicacies from the province.

The “My City, My SM” launch in SM City Taytay is the eighth in the second year of this tourism-oriented campaign that features the many cities in the Philippines where SM malls and stores are located.

Last year’s “My City, My SM” road show brought readers to 15 cities in the Philippines with prominent personalities from each area as tour guides. It began just in time for the Giant Lantern Festival in December 2009 with “I Left My Heart in San Fernando” featuring internationally acclaimed film director Brillante Mendoza and Mutya ng Kapampangan Nicolette Henson; and had a grand finale with “The Genteel Charm of Bacolod” marking the opening day of the 31st Masskara Festival with honorees Raymund Javellana and the dynamic Association of Negros Producers board members Mary Anne Colmenares, Cristina Gaston, Mary Anne Sicangco Hagad and Josephine Locsin.

This year’s “My City, My SM” campaign began in January with “The Lakeside Charm of San Pablo” featuring Ado Escudero and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Dr. Jaime Alip. In March former Prime Minister E.A. Cesar Virata and Island Cove and Leisure Park managing director Gilbert Remulla were honored in “Celebrating Cavite.” “My Marikina” honored former Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando along with the city’s shoemakers and retailers — Nelson Valentino of Valentino Shoes, Erlinda Salonga-Pastoral of Ohrelle, Anita Puzon-Salonga of Miliani and Gilda Salonga-Cruz of Le Donne. 

“Tayo Na Sa Antipolo” highlighted the city’s Maytime festivities at SM City Masinag with honorees Chiqui Roa-Puno and Susan and Florence Hassig; and just last month, “Come Home to Calamba” was in time for Jose Rizal’s 150th birth celebrations, depicting him as a global hero with honorees Barbara Gonzalez, who is a descendant, and artist Mark Cosico.

More recently, “I Love Lipa” featured National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera and the young members of the Katigbak Family; while Bravo Baliwag honored great Bulakenos — National Artist Virgilio Almario and dance director Shirley Halili-Cruz.

 “My City, My SM” is a joint project of SM and the Department of Tourism with support from The Philippine Star.