Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — May is traditionally the month of festivals in Antipolo. Among the popular festivals are the Ang Tipulo on May 1, which showcases its culture and delicacies like suman, mangoes, and cashew nuts; and the Maytime Festival, which starts the Pilgrimage season on the first Tuesday of the month with a procession of the image of Our Lady of Antipolo.

This May, Antipolenos had something else to celebrate when SM City Masinag opened its doors to the public last Friday, May 6. Located along the Marcos Highway in Antipolo City, the shoping center is 90,260 sqm in size, and is SM Prime Holdings’ 41st supermall, the second to be opened in the province of Rizal after SM City Taytay.

SM City Masinag will serve shoppers in Antipolo City and nearby cities and municipalities like Rodriguez, Marikina, San Mateo, Cainta, Taytay, Tanay, Baras, and even some parts of Quezon province.

Masinag’s proximity to Metro Manila makes it a magnet for the spillover of the metro’s urbanization and industrialization. Considered Antipolo’s Central Business District, it is predicted to grow as a major urban center due to its strategic role as an inter-modal transport hub triggered by the construction of LRT 2, as well as a high intensity commercial development. There are also many large subdivisions, schools, and business establishments in the area.

Designed by DSGN Associates, SM City Masinag’s exterior features a combination of crisp colors and materials, ample landscaping, and carefully proportioned shapes detailed for a modern, sophisticated appearance.

The mall internally connects a wide variety of shops, restaurants, junior anchors, and entertainment facilities. Upon entering the mall, the eyes of customers are drawn upward to an array of suspended, Powerfoil X industrial fans, which provide gentle breeze to shoppers as they roam the mall area. It also has a walk-a-lator surrounded by glass sheets and five stories of multi-level parking for customer convenience.

With the SM Department Store and SM Supermarket as its anchor stores, the mall will also include SM mainstays like the SM Appliance Center, ACE Hardware and Watsons. It will have over 180 shops, restaurants, computer stores, and service outlet, including specialty stores from international brands to serve its upscale customers. Among these are shoe stores like Payless Shoesource, Nine West, Aerosoles, Charles and Keith; boutiques like 158 Designers Boulevard, Arrow, Cache Cache, Fox, and La Senza; and cosmetic stops like Etude and The Face Shop.

Eating out options in the mall range from the Food Court, where one can get good food from fastfood to local and international food chains and specialty restaurants like Tutti Frutti and Sbarro. There will be four state-of-the-art cinemas to provide entertainment fun for customers.

The mall’s design and construction team includes DSGN Associates, design concept consultant; JRP Design Inc., structural consultant; DA Abcede and Associates, project manager; and New Golden City Builders, general contractor.