ISLAND
CITY MALL, by all standard brings Tagbilaran City into the level of modern
metropolis as far as malling experience is concerned. | | Today
ours is a small world…thanks to scientific advances, especially IT (information
technology). With globalization come changes in lifestyle through modern trends.
This advent has been made possible when retail trade was taken over by the Malls.
Today…ours is a Mall world.
And
I, a dyed-in-the wool Mall-phile, almost could not believe that I can relive the
wonders of Mall life |
right here in the city. Thanks to the Island City Mall, it seems I had not left
Manila at all.
My
family has this years-old tradition of hearing Mass, having lunch and then malling
- for school and personal needs right after - in one travel every Sunday. Too,
being a certified "Hollywood" freak myself, it seems to be a mortal
sin then to let a week pass without seeing one those fantastic films they make
these days-on the big screen.
I
am a Lino Brocka film fan (I have seen all his films) and to these days, I do
not consider it beneath me to see a good Tagalog movie - when the script, the
director and actors justify the trip to a cool movie theater. The Island City
Mall theaters answer all these yearnings.
Garment-wise,
the family has been educated not to be snooty and feel like above-the-rest when
it comes to garments. Of course, for special occasions like birthdays, Christmas,
graduations or anniversaries - the gift with a branded tag can score one some
points from the recipient. ICM appears to have the best of both worlds, we found
out.
MALLING
AS A PHENOMENON
Fast
forward into the new millennium, malling is still a phenomenon - but now it even
goes beyond shopping. Thousands of people flock to malls not just to shop, but
to dine and while the time away.
The
fresh seafood catch at the new "Prawn Farm" restaurant, for instance,
is simply superlative that has impressed many of our Manila and foreign-land based
visitors. Meantime,
it is a big bonus already to savor the good food and ambience of the Bee Farm
Restaurant if you are able to converse with its ever-gracious hostess Vicky Wallace.
And to catch the latest in business, politics and gossip (if you may) - there
is no other stop but at Bo's Café - whose coffee we swear by the altar,
tops Starbucks - in any given day.
Malling
has come to mean not just of finding their way to shopping, but of health, grooming,
leisure and entertainment. For me who is sensitive about my receding hairline
and will not let just anyone touch my hair - it was a relief to know there is
a David's Salon right here in the ICM.
A
MALL IS BORN IN THE CITY
Boholanos
never felt and enjoyed that malling experience until Island City Mall was born
on June 26, 2004. Long before ICM existed, weekends were usually spent on strolling
in the town plaza and taking a dip in the beach, or even just staying at home.
Watching
favorite soaps and variety shows on TV, or singing with a karaoke, were enough
for the Boholanos to entertain themselves.
But
with the birth of Island City Mall, everything may have changed totally with the
way the Boholanos shop, dine and unwind. That malling experience that they were
deprived of since the last decade is now a part of the Boholano culture.
| | | Everything…from
fashion to leisure…has undergone tremendous and welcome changes unprecedented
in the annals of Boholano history.
With
over 40,000 square meters of prime malling convenience Island City Mall has all
the complete anchor stores and tenant shops consisting of top leading brands to
provide great shopping pleasure.
When
budget allows, "Guess" jeans is such an attraction and Bench fashion
items (especially its assorted caps) is catching up - at almost only one-third
the prices. | Other
specialty shops, signature and fashion centers, service shops, amusement centers,
fun houses and other amenities such as activity center and exhibit area are conceptualized
for a one-stop shopping, dining, health, recreation and entertainment center in
Bohol.
A
Foodwalk at the lower ground level is a perfect place for a wholesome dining experience
with the whole family, and friends-where the choices jump from Chinese, Filipino
and Spanish to a little Italian; while the supermarket spreads out with more choices
from the widest array of groceries, household items, and practically everything
you need under one roof and are available at low prices. My cousin Benny and I,
for example, were pleasantly surprised to get these trendy men's tee-shirts with
material similar to those offered at "People Are People" and "Folded
and Hung" shops at a price below P200. It is just incredible.
There
are also brand names for the discriminating tastes of customers. The Home and
Fashion Department has its own regular fashion statement every season to update
customers what's in and what's hot. The store knows that customers have varied
lifestyles that command different needs and wants so it offers apparels that are
functional and practical yet trendy and fashionable. The Mall has gone to many
corners of Asia to score "competitive prices" of imported items, especially
those from Mainland China.
At
Screenville, moviegoers can experience the total cinematic adventure with the
latest blockbuster movies on the widescreens of the four state-of-the-art digital
cinemas. It has all the amenities that offer comfort to everyone.
The
family just witnessed "Indiana Jones" during the summer break at the
ICM theaters and the total experience was truly top-of the line - Dolby sounds
and all. We remember Mar Uy Alturas, top honcho of this top-ranking retail marketing
entity, display us the technology behind his Screenville theaters then - even
before the first opening for the premier film to be shown called "Spider
Man". Our first impression on the Screenville theaters has been truly lasting.
In
terms of IT development, the mall appears attuned to global trends toward technological
advancement. There is a gamut of computer stores like AAC Tech, Thinking Tools,
telecommunication centers like Globe Telecom, RCPI, internet cafes like Netopia
and Bohol Online, and even digital and electronic service providers, whose technology
and telecommunication players could showcase the latest hardware and software
available.
Island
City Mall is also seen changing the live entertainment scene in the city with
mall shows and other events that feature big stars and other celebrities, and
concerts with the country's top bands and artists. Such is the depth and variety
of entertainers and celebrities that ICM offers - that we kidded the Manila folks
once that we have a better chance of catching these celebrities in Tagbilaran
than in the capital city of Manila itself. "No exag."
One
mall therefore that appears to have it all, Island City Mall continues to embody
and change the lifestyle of Boholanos, sets the trend, and blends the best and
the finest. This is a Mall world after all…
The
Island City Mall is the crowning glory for an enterprising Alturas family (led
by Mar) who first brought the concept of "bringing the store to the town's
doorsteps" decades ago inside traveling goods-bearing trucks.
We
earnestly believe that the enterprising genius of the family and its long-standing
belief that "customer is first" will be the hallmarks that will propel
the Group into a firmer grip on industry leadership in Bohol for many years to
come. | 
