When you visit Manila, 2 things strike you about the lifestyle: malls and a sense of spiritualism (specifically Catholicism).
There was a very tempting Marc By Marc Jacobs store and an Escada store at Greenbelt – nicest or at least highest end mall we visited. You can certainly tell how high-end the mall is by the shops that inhabit each mall – Balenciaga may be featured at one mall while another may have local shops.
Mr. Gadget theorizes that malls are prevalent in the Philippines because:
1) it’s a warm country and a centralized place with air-conditioning would appeal to the masses and
2) it is somewhat of a homage of sorts to American consumerism.
Interestingly enough, I didn’t actually recall too many shoppers with bags and wondered how profitable the malls actually were. But I can see malls as a meeting point, shop windows as an aspirational escape, and the act of shopping as a family activity. It seems natural then to have churches centrally located so families can pray together in the midst of doing shopping or eating.
Thus my little observations on malls and churches in Manila. Onto food and styles in parts 2 and 3 …
Wow, this is so cool! Maybe I would find the motivation to go to church more if there were churches in the malls here! Haha.
how interesting. can’t wait to hear more and see more pix. oh and i left u an award on over at my blog today. enjoy, love 🙂
I’ve always been interest in Manila! Glad you are posting about it.
Thats so interesting! I had no idea! Can’t wait to read posts 2 and 3!
Churches in mall? That is intense. Looking forward to parts 2 and 3!
i’ve always wanted to visit manila. apparently there are a lot of koreans there! who knew…
When I was in Singapore, there was also churches at the mall…not only that in Hotel ballrooms as well!
xo*
churches at the mall….weird 🙂
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love hearing about your travels!
your trip looks like great fun. i never knew there were churches in malls, that is too much. my mom always talks about Christmas time in the philippines and this makes me want to take a trip there 🙂
haha churches in malls seems such a funny concept, but hey whatever floats your boat 🙂
How strange! I’m not sure how I’d feel about praying in the same place I shop. I’d probably end up praying for good sales on shoes! 😉