Rissa Mananquil-Trillo loves malls as much as you do

MANILA, Philippines - Businesswoman, beauty columnist, model, visionary and a devoted wife and mother, Rissa Mananquil-Trillo — ever stylish and clever — sums up what an Ayala Malls woman is. Her timeless beauty, composure and wit have catapulted her into becoming a woman of influence. But just like the many girls who regard her as an inspiration, or “life peg” as a millennial would say, Rissa lives for the simple things in life, too, like going to the mall when her schedule permits. Before Rissa became the force that she is now, she was once a girl who finds pleasure in window-shopping and in dreaming of that day when she’ll finally open her own beauty store in one of her favorite malls. That dream has in fact become a reality. From being a regular shopper, Rissa is now a certified Ayala Malls merchant with her Happy Skin cosmetics line.

 On a quiet afternoon, Rissa dropped by Greenbelt 5 for a quick fashion fix. And in between fittings, she gladly answered some questions that every Ayala Malls patron would have surely loved to ask.

Do you still remember the time when you fell in love with the whole concept of going to the mall?

 Growing up, malling for me meant being able to go to the bookstore to buy new books when I got good grades, eating out and discovering new dishes other than burgers and hotdogs. It also meant getting a good laugh when we watched movies and honing my imagination and dreams every time I saw inspiring store windows. Malling nourished my love for books, fashion and beauty.

Is shopping therapeutic or a “spiritual” activity for you?

To me, shopping bonds sisters, friends and families.

What’s your favorite Ayala mall?

Glorietta and Greenbelt.

What made you fall in love with this mall?

Style, taste and convenience.

Will you please share the fondest memories you have of this particular mall?

As a teen, I was star-struck meeting supermodel Naomi Campbell when Fashion Café first opened in Glorietta. As a model, I got the chance to walk down the runway on some of the biggest shows mounted in Glorietta. When my husband Paolo and I were dating, I can never forget how his first gift to me was a piece of jewelry from Tiffany’s in Rustan’s. And when we were getting married, we also happily spent many hours fixing our wedding registry at Rustan’s. Now that we have children, we celebrate their birthdays by eating out as a family. We’ve celebrated many milestones with this mall.

What keeps you coming back?

I always feel comfortable inside Ayala Malls. For someone who loves to shop, it’s also a fashion haven for those who want to save and splurge.

What are your favorite shops?

Rustan’s, Adora and the second floor of Greenbelt 5, which celebrates Filipino talent.

Why do you love Ayala Malls?

Everything you need or want is inside the mall, and they think of the little things to ensure that customers get a great experience. Ayala Malls always makes you feel like a VIP.

Do you believe that online shopping can truly replace going to the malls?

Online shopping has a different market. Nothing can replace seeing, hearing, touching or tasting a product. Shopping at malls is for people who value the full experience of a brand.

What “mall traditions” have you passed on to your kids?

Trips to bookstores, watching movies as a family and trying new restaurants, so they will become open to trying new cuisines.

How did Ayala Malls affect your business decision to put up the first shop of your cosmetics label, Happy Skin?

It’s a dream come true for me and my partner, Jacqe Gutierrez, to open our first boutique in the heart of Manila’s shopping district. We want to open stores in malls we ourselves genuinely enjoy going to.

What are the things you learned from Ayala Malls that you somehow apply into how you run your own business, which is housed inside a mall?

I love how Glorietta’s general manager, Mitch Dumlao, and his team were so hands-on with our needs as a new tenant. He was there for the big and little things we needed. We are just a young brand and yet Ayala Malls treated us like a heavyweight in the industry. His goodness and leadership inspire me.