Four Malls, Four Cities, One Highway (Marcos Highway)

The Commuter is back. Well, I wasn't really gone. My mini-adventures within NCR didn't stop. I did realize that despite my absence, the blog is still being read. Today, I'd like to share my mall hopping experience. Mind you, I didn't do all these trips in one day. The four malls are the ones  that are easily accessible to those who live near the vicinity of one of the busiest highways in the country--Marcos Highway.

Marcos Highway, in front of Robinsons Metro East; now cleared of the repairs and renovation

Last year, Marcos Highway was riddled with repairs and renovation (see blog Capture It! The Price of Progress). Now with the repairs all finished, it's the perfect spot for malls to thrive. And the highway cuts across four different cities, namely Antipolo, Cainta, Pasig, and Marikina. Residents of these areas wouldn't need to go so far to hang out in a mall when there are four malls easily accessible through this highway. Here, I give only general descriptions of what's inside these malls.

SM City Masinag (Antipolo City)

From the bridge way, sun setting at this time

Among the four malls, this is the newest that has opened. Located in Barangay Mayamot, Antipolo City, the mall is conveniently located close to the Masinag junction where terminals, a supermarket, a wet and dry market, as well as convenient stores make this area one of the busiest places. Just a few walks down from the junction, SM City Masinag is the mall that caters to those who live within Barangay Mayamot as well as other barangays close by such as Mambugan and Cupang.

The mall has three levels. On the third level are four cinemas and among the four malls, this one offers one of the cheapest theater rates. The mall has a variety of shops on the first and second level. The first level is filled with various types of restaurants and eateries such as fast food, casual diners / restaurants, bake shops, and dessert kiosks. More food choices and varieties are also found in the second level and the Food Court which is on the third level of the mall, next to the cinemas.

Bookstores, hardware stores, appliance stores, pharmacy, health and beauty, and a host of services (driving institute, beauty salons, courier services, laundry service), make this mall an all-in-one convenient shopping place. This mall also boasts of housing one of the biggest supermarkets in the area. Located on the eastern section of the mall, it is housed in its own building.

Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall (Cainta)

The original mall, along Marcos Highway

From the newest mall, we go to the oldest mall and the first that was ever built along Marcos Highway--Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall. The mall has undergone two extension phases. The original mall can be seen easily from the highway. As the years passed, its developers decided to add sections and eventually a bigger building that now houses the Grand Mall.

At the Grand Mall, the cinemas (after its renovation) are the only ones that still have a separate pricing for the upper and lower section of the cinema. Catching up with its newer counterparts, it also has a 3D and 2D theater. If you feel like having a coffee break after the movie, Figaro is conveniently located within the vicinity of the cinema section. On the same floor, one could move on to the mall's recreational center--World's of Fun. Snack time is a breeze in this area too with a host of snack kiosks surrounding the place.

The department store has three levels. Stepping out of the department store, one can have more shopping choices with two levels housing a variety of shops and boutiques. There are two appliance centers in the mall--one located on the second level and the other located on the mall's lower ground floor or basement.

The basement is busy as a bee with a flea market (Tiangge) offering easy to afford goods and services. The mall's food court is also located here. And this area has a huge empty space that serves as an atrium where concerts, variety shows, and holy masses are being held. The lower ground floor also houses the mall's supermarket. In time, it also constructed a smaller but still complete supermarket at the older Sta. Lucia mall.

Robinsons Metro East (Pasig City)

Newly renovated Robinsons Metro East

If you really want to mall hop, there's no other place to conveniently do it than here. Literally located beside Sta. Lucia, a walk around the corner will take you to the mall's landscaped walkway. Newly renovated, the mall was redesigned to house newer restos and shopping boutiques. Fitness buffs thrive in this mall with the presence of Fitness First. The cinemas were also renovated and now have 2D and 3D theaters. The fourth floor houses the recreational center, the cinemas, and church communities.

The department store is at the middle of the mall and is housed in two levels. The third level houses the hardware, the fitness and health centers, and the cyber section of the mall. The upper and lower ground levels house various types of restaurants, diners, and fast food chains. A bookstore, clothing boutiques, a video and DVD shop, and the chains of food stores make the upper ground level a place that's filled with shoppers and diners.

The supermarket is located on the lower ground level. It's well lighted area and wide spaced aisle make it a relaxing place to do your groceries.

SM City Marikina (Marikina City)

Captured from the platform of LRT-2 while I was waiting for the train; the sky is clear and the clouds are puffy

This is the mall located beside the riverbanks of Marikina River. Going there is quite easy via jeepney. It is also walking distance from the Santolan station of LRT-2, the purple train.

The mall is divided into three levels. The topmost level houses eight cinemas and the recreational center. The second level houses a variety of shopping boutiques and restaurants. It also houses the department store. The first level houses SM Cyberzone, and a host of diners and fast food chains. This is also the level where the supermarket is located. It is one of the biggest in terms of floor area. On a non-crowded day, the wide space and aisle make it quite a relaxing place to walk around and do your groceries. If you happen to get hungry right after shopping, then there are several food kiosks located just outside the supermarket.

There you have the ultimate mall hopping experience: four malls, four cities, one highway.

Makati CBD: A Leisurely Walk

The commuter is back! It’s really up to us to think of ways to unwind despite our busy work schedules. If I get the chance to have a break from training, then I’d take the opportunity to take a walk. I love walking! Sometimes I discover new places just by doing it. Today, I’m gonna share one of my leisurely walks around Makati CBD. Most of the visuals you see here are streets and intersections. These indicate the areas I’ve walked along. They’re not meant to single out a specific building or place. If you’ve been to Makati CBD, then I enjoin you to point out those specific places yourselves.


My walk begins at the corner of Makati Avenue and Buendia Avenue (now named Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue). Despite the name change, this popular avenue that starts from EDSA and cuts across through Manila and Pasay City has remained to be called  “Buendia.” Fortunately, this day is a mixture of cloudy and sunny skies. Walking is also my form of exercise and so I grabbed the opportunity to go on a leisurely walk.

Buendia Avenue / Makati Avenue Intersection

 

From the corner / intersection of Makati Avenue-Buendia Avenue, I walked along Makati Avenue that leads to Paseo de Roxas. Along this path, you’d see landmark buildings such as Pacific Star, Banco de Oro (formerly Equitable-PCI Towers), UCPB Building, and across the street, you’d find Development Bank of the Philippines and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. 

Makati Avenue (Mandarin Oriental Side)

Makati Avenue / Paseo de Roxas Intersection

As I walked along, I found myself on a another busy intersection--Makati Avenue-Paseo de Roxas. While waiting for my turn to cross the street, I’d look around and see the Atrium, the Ayala Triangle Gardens / Park, and a statue of Sultan Kudarat (placed on a corner island, close to the Ayala Triangle Park). This is one of many statues found within Makati CBD. 

Crossing Paseo de Roxas, passing through the corner island where the statue of Sultan Kudarat is located, I stopped at the corner of the Ayala Triangle Park. We are still at the intersection of Makati Avenue-Paseo de Roxas. From this corner looking towards Paseo de Roxas, you’d see a row of trees along the sidewalk. But for this walk, I decided to walk along Makati Avenue. Although it had lesser patches of shades from trees, my aim was to get to another busy intersection of Makati CBD. Since this is a leisurely walk, I’d get to enjoy the open space and green atmosphere of the Ayala Triangle Gardens to my left in contrast to the row of buildings to my right (e.g. the Atrium, Sommerset, Escolta). 



After the gardens, you will also see the Filipinas Heritage Library.

“Since 1996, the Filipinas Heritage Library has served as a leading one-stop electronic library of Filipiniana books and other resources. Today, FHL continues to reach out to a much wider audience by harnessing the power of the Internet to provide researchers anywhere in the world access to the wealth of information it offers; promoting a love of reading and contributing to the improvement of literacy rates through educational programs and reading campaigns; instilling a sense of pride in the country’s cultural and artistic heritage through exhibits and cultural shows; and helping communities across the nation build and nurture their own libraries.” (taken from Filipinas Heritage Library)

Filipinas Heritage Library

To know more about this library, check out their website at www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph. I’ve been to this library a couple of times for research purposes. This was way back in college. I haven’t gone back to this library since then. Maybe the collection has improved somewhat. The library also has a series of seminars on arts, writing, photography, journalism, etc.

Well, here I am at the corner of Ayala Avenue-Makati Avenue. Under the shade of the Gabriela Silang Statue, I took pictures of two famous hotels--Shangrila and Manila Penninsula. I’ve been to both hotels, not because I stayed there (too expensive for me!). My aunt and uncle once stayed at the Shangrila when they visited the Philippines for a vacation. Both of them live in the USA. Then, I was invited (on two occasions I think) to a wedding reception that happened at the Manila Penninsula.

This corner was the end of my walk and I must be heading back. 

Instead of going back the same way, I decided to go through the Ayala Park. I went through the strip that’s all lined up with various restaurants and cafes. On the grassy areas, you’d see benches, some sculptures, well-cut grass and people--friends and lovers too! 

I ended up seated on a bench where you could see the Philippine Stock Exchange. I sat down to take in the relaxing atmosphere of the park.
 
I went through the park and exited to Paseo de Roxas. The park has many gates. I think I counted around five gates--three located along Paseo de Roxas and two located along Makati Avenue. I walked along Paseo de Roxas, relaxing and taking advantage of the shades that the trees were providing. I've gone back to my place of work.



So that ends my leisurely walk around Makati CBD. How far have I walked? I absolutely have no idea! Sometimes when I look at Google Map, the map seems to show that my walk has been quite lengthy. But for me, no walk is too far or short because it is my form of relaxation.