For Babies, It’s A (S)Mall World
We are a mall generation. Malling really wasn’t an attraction to me back when I was a student; I did not have much disposable money that I somehow enjoy at present. Also, it seems there is an Amazing Race going on, with Henry Sy, John Gokongwei, and the Ayalas as the major fierce competitors. The goal is to make their respective malls as near to each major area as possible. The nearest SM Mall to our house used to be SM Centerpoint (Sta. Mesa), then it became SM City Manila, and now it’s SM City San Lazaro (well, at least as of the time I posted this entry). As a Pisay student, we used to walk towards SM City North EDSA when hailing cabs proved to be futile. Now, walking to TriNoma will save some precious minutes. Hindi na tao ang lumalapit sa mall; mall na ang lumalapit sa tao.
This mall phenomenon (or craze, or whatever label fits) is very understandable. The establishments are providing the people not only what they need, but also what they fancy. They provide the people with dozens of fastfood chains and restaurants, clothing / shoe / accessories / appliance / technology stalls, bookstores, music stores, beauty salons / barber shops, video arcades, supermarkets, and of course, movie theaters. But the list above is very much, uhm, basic. Each mall should also have the following: 1) drugstores (you never know when you will need that tablet); 2) videoke bars (to unleash the singer in you); 3) shoe shine and repair with key duplication on the side; 4) bayad centers (for all your bills – electricity, water, telephone, etc); 5) banks / ATM machines (to spend money, you should have a place to procure it in the first place); 6) lottery outlets (to fund your much-needed shopping spree); 7) e-load / prepaid cards booth; 8) massage parlors (malling can be that tiring, so you need to relax too); 9) driving license renewal booth; 10) airline tickets booth; 11) tutorial centers / IT schools; 12) pet shops; 13) a big activity center (for the mall shows); 14) competing coffee shops (to get that planner); 15) altering services (for neither-here-nor-there dress sizes); 16) medical / dental services; 17) photo studios (for the barkada pics); 18) gyms (to flex those muscles); 19) K-9 dogs (to supplement the metal detectors); 20) men painted in silver, posing as statues; 21) intricate waterfalls; and 22) [put your need here, they will provide it].
Sometimes, I ponder if the malls are just doing too much to attract customers and potential spenders. On one hand, the ease that a person will get from all the services he/she can avail of is really a great deal of relief; instead of going from one place to another, all you need to do is go to the nearest mall to accomplish all of your errands, all the while enjoying your ice cream cone. On the other, capturing their continually expanding target markets is an endless pursuit. Now you do not have to rush your shopping to fulfill your Sunday obligation. You just occupy one monobloc chair in while waiting for Father to take center stage.
But my personal ire goes to the parents who bring their babies in the said establishments. Not the toddlers, although they too can provide an unwanted scene: imagine that child who won’t leave the arcade or the toy store and will summon all his strength and vocal shrieking powers to make his point clear, complete with teleserye tears and lie-on-the-floor antics. I’m referring to babies that are still very fragile. I wonder how they enjoy being brought out when a good percentage of them still couldn’t open their eyes. In my opinion, if the couple really wants to hang out or to do their weekly window shopping, they should leave their offspring at home, where he is better off. Less pollution, less germs, less chance for disasters.
I also am curious as to how the noise and organized chaos around them permeate their brains subliminally. Malling might have been forced into our subconscious. On days I frequent my coffee shop of choice (checking papers), there would be families in nearby tables or couches, and yes, grade schoolers are enjoying their ice-blended coffee drinks, as if every kid is exposed to that. Wow, they are born into it. In contrast, I had my first taste of frappucino when I was in college already. The same argument will hold true for the very young mallrats.
Still, the most annoying for me would be the sight of empty strollers, especially on escalators. My mind instantly entertains the idea that the baby has been plucked from the cart by a stranger while mommy is deciding which color of dress suits her shoes better. Apparently, the child gets tired staying there too, so they have to be carried from time to time. But please, I hope these parents find time to fold their strollers so as not to alarm the paranoid part of the populace.
The malls are really expanding their target markets to include the very young. They have indirect purchasing power: children that nag their parents for the latest trendy (and hopefully lead-free) toy usually succeed, provided they do their part of the barter (better grades, making mano to lola once they get home, and others). Fastfood chains have their kiddie meals. Barber shops solely for kids are emerging; even spas have specialized “kiddie” versions (a more expensive touch therapy). Of late, there are baby counters, the human version of baggage counters. If you want to enjoy your mall weekend without attending to your child, you may opt to leave them at these places. They can hop around all they want (the setting usually resembles a playground), and there are in-house yayas (or teachers) provided. These toddlers, upon observation, are conspicuously enjoying; some even have a hard time leaving the said places. They might exclaim, “my parents really love me; I love this place,” to which one can reply, “yes, they do, but they also love to do things without you.” Of course, couples have various valid reasons on leaving their children, but you get my point. The mall might – no, is – not the best place for babies who still need their vital nutrients.
If there will be a mother freaking out because her baby was snatched from her stroller, don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.
This mall phenomenon (or craze, or whatever label fits) is very understandable. The establishments are providing the people not only what they need, but also what they fancy. They provide the people with dozens of fastfood chains and restaurants, clothing / shoe / accessories / appliance / technology stalls, bookstores, music stores, beauty salons / barber shops, video arcades, supermarkets, and of course, movie theaters. But the list above is very much, uhm, basic. Each mall should also have the following: 1) drugstores (you never know when you will need that tablet); 2) videoke bars (to unleash the singer in you); 3) shoe shine and repair with key duplication on the side; 4) bayad centers (for all your bills – electricity, water, telephone, etc); 5) banks / ATM machines (to spend money, you should have a place to procure it in the first place); 6) lottery outlets (to fund your much-needed shopping spree); 7) e-load / prepaid cards booth; 8) massage parlors (malling can be that tiring, so you need to relax too); 9) driving license renewal booth; 10) airline tickets booth; 11) tutorial centers / IT schools; 12) pet shops; 13) a big activity center (for the mall shows); 14) competing coffee shops (to get that planner); 15) altering services (for neither-here-nor-there dress sizes); 16) medical / dental services; 17) photo studios (for the barkada pics); 18) gyms (to flex those muscles); 19) K-9 dogs (to supplement the metal detectors); 20) men painted in silver, posing as statues; 21) intricate waterfalls; and 22) [put your need here, they will provide it].
Sometimes, I ponder if the malls are just doing too much to attract customers and potential spenders. On one hand, the ease that a person will get from all the services he/she can avail of is really a great deal of relief; instead of going from one place to another, all you need to do is go to the nearest mall to accomplish all of your errands, all the while enjoying your ice cream cone. On the other, capturing their continually expanding target markets is an endless pursuit. Now you do not have to rush your shopping to fulfill your Sunday obligation. You just occupy one monobloc chair in while waiting for Father to take center stage.
But my personal ire goes to the parents who bring their babies in the said establishments. Not the toddlers, although they too can provide an unwanted scene: imagine that child who won’t leave the arcade or the toy store and will summon all his strength and vocal shrieking powers to make his point clear, complete with teleserye tears and lie-on-the-floor antics. I’m referring to babies that are still very fragile. I wonder how they enjoy being brought out when a good percentage of them still couldn’t open their eyes. In my opinion, if the couple really wants to hang out or to do their weekly window shopping, they should leave their offspring at home, where he is better off. Less pollution, less germs, less chance for disasters.
I also am curious as to how the noise and organized chaos around them permeate their brains subliminally. Malling might have been forced into our subconscious. On days I frequent my coffee shop of choice (checking papers), there would be families in nearby tables or couches, and yes, grade schoolers are enjoying their ice-blended coffee drinks, as if every kid is exposed to that. Wow, they are born into it. In contrast, I had my first taste of frappucino when I was in college already. The same argument will hold true for the very young mallrats.
Still, the most annoying for me would be the sight of empty strollers, especially on escalators. My mind instantly entertains the idea that the baby has been plucked from the cart by a stranger while mommy is deciding which color of dress suits her shoes better. Apparently, the child gets tired staying there too, so they have to be carried from time to time. But please, I hope these parents find time to fold their strollers so as not to alarm the paranoid part of the populace.
The malls are really expanding their target markets to include the very young. They have indirect purchasing power: children that nag their parents for the latest trendy (and hopefully lead-free) toy usually succeed, provided they do their part of the barter (better grades, making mano to lola once they get home, and others). Fastfood chains have their kiddie meals. Barber shops solely for kids are emerging; even spas have specialized “kiddie” versions (a more expensive touch therapy). Of late, there are baby counters, the human version of baggage counters. If you want to enjoy your mall weekend without attending to your child, you may opt to leave them at these places. They can hop around all they want (the setting usually resembles a playground), and there are in-house yayas (or teachers) provided. These toddlers, upon observation, are conspicuously enjoying; some even have a hard time leaving the said places. They might exclaim, “my parents really love me; I love this place,” to which one can reply, “yes, they do, but they also love to do things without you.” Of course, couples have various valid reasons on leaving their children, but you get my point. The mall might – no, is – not the best place for babies who still need their vital nutrients.
If there will be a mother freaking out because her baby was snatched from her stroller, don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.
posted by mardan at 10:50 PM
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