Von Lakwatsero: SM Gensan Opening

Last quarter of 2008 and I was still in General Santos, working, when SM was the talk of the town. It was then sensationalized when it was announced that it will build its own mall in the city. It was a debate in different threads as to where SM will built its structure until it was finalized that the Salazar properties at the back of SOCOTECO II Office is where the SM Gensan will rise. Many were happy since it is just a walking distance from other malls such as Gaisano Mall (the first mall in Gensan), KCC Mall (expanding mall to compete with SM and also building its another mall called Veranza just across the street where they will also build bridges to connect the two together), and a ride away from Robinsons Place.

October 2009 came and but there was no perspective yet of SM Gensan to see for those clamoring fans on how the structure would look like. Will it be like the other SM malls, box type or warehouse like? Although it was a bit disappointment for some who couldn't wait that long, some were happy knowing that most houses/structures in Salazar properties were demolished except for Dunkin' Donuts branch in Santiago boulevard where the contract will expire first quarter of 2010.

It was August 2010 when the perspectives, floor plans, and blue prints came out. All of the SM Gensan fans anticipation for it was finally realized. A two-storey building with modern design will rise. Fencing and construction began the following month and projected to open by last quarter of 2011. Too much excitement for many people, especially those who likes to shop and roam around the new structure in the city.

Last quarter of 2011 came but the building construction was still far from the finish line. Many were asking and questioning if it can make it to its original plan. Unfortunately, the original plan was revised. From two-storey, it became a three-storey building. The seven-storey car park was trimmed down to five-storey. It was again anticipated that it might open sometime in March 2012 in time for the graduation and summer.

2012 it is. The most exciting part of the year for SM Gensan and its fans. It didn't open in first and second quarter of the year but at last in opened this month. August 10, 2012 was the opening day. For the first time Santiago boulevard had a slightly heavy traffic. When there was no SM yet, this boulevard is very huge for few riders that pass by. But now, it was like we need to widen the road and put extra traffic lights in corners Santiago/San Miguel and Santiago/J. Catolico.

On its first three days, a lot of celebrities were invited. There were celebrities' mall shows from time to time on August 10-12, 2012.

This is the atrium. It was full of mall goers during celebrities' mall show. The people were so loud like you can almost hear screams from a collapsing building. That's how I describe the noise I heard at that moment. The stairs, ground and hallways around this atrium were really full of people. If you try to cross from the restaurants to the department store, you can find ways through the narrow spaces around that atrium.

This is where the mall shows happen. When it is time for the celebrities to show, the crowd would grow and most of them were teenagers.

This is the Al Fresco facing the five-storey car park. There were restaurants around here and some branded coffee shops are soon to open this August until October this year. On its first three days, every night was a band night. Local bands and celebrity singers performed here while nice fountain show facing the car park also entertained the people.

This is the tallest and very modern car park in South Central Mindanao so far and it is connected to the department store.

A lot of people during the opening were students. You can easily notice them because a bunch of them were still in their school uniforms. Seeing them made me realized that there were lots of schools sprouting in Gensan already. There were uniforms that were unfamiliar to me and I was not able to see during my student and working days in Gensan.

The fountain show. So glad that those street children were not captured in this shot. A lot of street children were really happy seeing the fountain lights changing colors from time to time. Due to their amazement, they couldn't help themselves but took shower from these fountains and play around.

Facing the Al Fresco feels relaxing not only because of the fountain show but of the colors of building as well. At the center, bands and singers performed starting 6pm.

People were so amazed by these water fountains. It is better than the water fountains in front of the City Hall. Almost everybody who had their cameras that time would stop by and took pictures of it.

People were starting to gather again for the next batch of celebrities to perform. I was not able to capture full packed atrium during the mall shows due to difficulty in finding good location with good visibility.

This atrium I think is the biggest from other malls that I used to visit.

There are two ways to get to the cinema. This one is connected to the food court. The food court by the way is quite smaller than other SM malls.

This is still a way to the cinema. Those crowds were buying tickets. The cinema actually is different from other cinemas I saw. I think the screen is very suitable for 3D since it is very wide and huge. While I was watching Bourne Legacy, I thought my eyes were getting larger and wider at the same time to suit them to the wide screen. Maybe my eyes were just used to smaller screens. The price is also affordable and can compensate the ambiance, screen, seats and sounds. By the way, upon payment for the cinema ticket, a card will be given aside from the ticket and it will be used to enter the cinema. It just like you are entering the MRT/LRT that you have to insert the card to the machine slot and the gate will open for you.

This is the empty side of the 3rd level. There were so many vacant stalls in this level.

One of the most visited stalls in this mall where the customers were actually shopping and not just window shopping was the Toy Kingdom. As you can see, Toy Kingdom was very crowded.

For those who like gadgets, visit the Cyberzone. Lots gadget stores here and lots of new gadgets were displayed. Acer, Canon and Samsung have their own stall in this zone.

That was the stage where the celebrities performed. There was a small box room beside it where the celebrities wait until their performance. Small number of people started to gather for another celebrity mall show.