So who shops at the malls??

[rolour]

I have heard and read about how life is so hard in the Philippines and I believe all that but I have a question, maybe trivial but I thought I'd ask it - So who shops at the malls? I mean, year after year, malls keep sprouting up like mushrooms. And it seems no business gets bankrupt. Somebody may be buying to keep these businesses afloat, right? So if you are outside looking in, so to speak, life is not really that hard, or is it? :?: :?: :wink:

[flipadfoot]

window shopping lang and eating lang opisyo ko sa mall. hehehehe :D

[Theophilus]

Who shops at the mall?

People with money, I guess. If we still hear complains about life being hard this clearly tells us that lack of money may not be the only thing that makes life hard. The rich can be miserable, too. :???: To me, to be rich and miserable is worse than being poor and having barely enough. Besides, there's the Filipino ability to adapt to adverse situations making our threshold for misery (even pain) far higher than westerners. Where in the world can you find people cheering on at the sides during a coup? Only in the Philippines. Just an observation actually although the question remains. Why the malls? Maybe it's simply because, to many, there's no better place to go and have some fun. :smile:

[Hippocrates]

I have heard and read about how life is so hard in the Philippines and I believe all that but I have a question, maybe trivial but I thought I'd ask it - So who shops at the malls?
Economist Cielito Habito pointed out that the local economy is thriving despite of the financial crisis because of two factors:

One, Consumer Spending which is mainly attributed to the financial remittances sent over by the OFWS estimated to be around 8 Billion US Dollars (Thanks a whole lot for keeping our country afloat! :wink: )
Two, Telecommunications Sector which is experiencing a robust growth (Hence making us the "Texting Capital of the World")

But he also adds what is lacking in the local economy are businesses which generate a lot of high quality jobs (such as those found in steel, manufacturing, mining, etc.) So basically what we have is a lot of shoppers and an army of unemployed and underemployed filipinos.

I mean, year after year, malls keep sprouting up like mushrooms. And it seems no business gets bankrupt.
I'm sure Henry Sy, John Gokongwei, Andrew Gotianum and Jaime Zobel de Ayala are happy about it. :wink:

Somebody may be buying to keep these businesses afloat, right? So if you are outside looking in, so to speak, life is not really that hard, or is it? :?: :?: :wink:
Well ofcourse and most of the credit goes to all of YOU out there in the Middle East, Europe, United States, Hong kong, Japan, Singapore and aboard the Maritime Vessels which OFWs are found.
Your sacrifices are greatly appreciated by the whole Filipino Nation, Mabuhay Kayong Lahat! =D> :bow =D> :bow =D> :bow =D> :bow =D> :bow

[rolour]

One, Consumer Spending which is mainly attributed to the financial remittances sent over by the OFWS estimated to be around 8 Billion US Dollars

Makes a lot of sense, Hippocrates. I remember walking at SM City Iloilo many years ago, looking at all the wide-screen TV's costing 6 figures (in pesos). I thought 'who can afford these??' Well, maybe probably a few filthy-rich businessmen and politicians. Later in the week, we visited a relative in her decent, but very small house. Inside, however, was a Sony Wega widescreen with a Bose sound system, maybe even the one I saw at SM days earlier. Turned out, her son, who works in the Middle East, just arrived for a vacation. Katas Ng Saudi - how true... :D