A la SM na eto eh!'

 Winner, ‘My City, My SM’

MANILA, Philippines - That’s a popular expression our province is known for. I had the privilege of growing up in Batangas City during 1970s and ‘80s and somehow the provincial air has diminished and the city, being the provincial capital, is no longer what it used to be.  

It has been transformed by modern times and serves as a great alternative destination if your weekend is not complete without the obligatory road trip and you are tired of the usual go-to spots places in the metropolis. This is a city where one can wind down after the frenetic pace. It is laidback, full of greenery and expansive spaces and its proximity to scenic destinations is part of the attraction. Undeniably, it is its friendly and warm citizens that greatly add to the city’s charm.

The province is rich in historical and cultural attractions, home of the famous, majestic centuries-old churches, unspoiled countrysides and exotic delicacies. Its public town plaza is lined with century-old acacia trees and your trip must include a visit to the Batangas public markets where you can buy beef or pork tapa, sumang malagkit, panocha, calamay, pakaskas and tsokolate eh. Batangueños’ gracious disposition, openness and ease with all those they come across are effortlessly reflected in our food, such as kalderatang kambing, adobong dilaw, pansit lomi, sinaing na tulingan — perhaps the one thing that truthfully reveals the essence of the province. You may be surprised to learn there is more to Batangas than beaches and kapeng barako.

And who hasn’t heard of our very own Batangas Governor, Ms. Vilma Santos and recent nationwide talent show winner Jovit Baldovino? There is also the Calumpang River which runs quietly to Batangas Bay with no obstruction to urban development linking a vital tributary between the east and west sides of the city.

Whenever I pay a visit to my home province, admittedly, it is difficult to resist the call of the mall. But now, a modern shopping experience has arrived in progressive Batangas City. SM opened its first branch here three years ago, bringing the SM experience closer to Batangueños. SM is the city’s first full-service mall with two levels and approximately thousands of square meters. The mall has the usual areas for shops and restaurants, apparel, fashion, cinema and amusement. Apart for providing a venue for family bonding, it has made shopping more convenient for both locals and those who reside in nearby towns, particularly with the existence of SM supermarket.  

Many years ago, the place where SM is now situated was pure pasture, a place where cows and goats openly grazed with kids playing in wide fields in pure abandon. It was far from my childhood imagination that there would ever come a time that Shoemart, an iconic fixture of Metro Manila that I occasionally visited, would be transplanted here to my city. Malling has now become a new and fascinating activity here, offering a lifestyle change for the locals. Ready to serve, SM offers the same benefits that people have come to expect from every SM store, all in a clean and air-conditioned environment.  

SM seamlessly harmonizes the past with the present. I experience nostalgia when I hear stories from my parents, grandparents and elders — their tales of old Batangas calls to mind an oasis of simple leisure that held on to traditional values. Seeing things differently — like the existence of SM in my city — is just a matter of how I perceive it within the world around me.

The existence of SM serves as a complement to traditional times, a past when the world seemed safer, more comprehensible and far less demanding. I hope SM will be more than walls, more than a structure; I hope it will be a quiet witness to the change of history, values and lifestyles. For every annoyance or inconvenience that may characterize life here, Batangas City is and will always be home for me. Having lived in the Philippines all my life, I’m sure SM — like me — will withstand the test of time. As we enter a new decade, the classic promise of SM will continue to captivate my province mates through the years.