Touché

We had lunch with my husband's family at The Podium mall yesterday, where a fencing competition was going on. Sponsored by the mall and the Philippine Fencing Association, the competition was also meant to raise awareness about the sport, promote the association and, hopefully, excite enough interest from young mall-goers so they will take up fencing. The little girl in the pink shirt was watching the competition with complete attention (though her older sister wasn't)—think she'll ask her parents for epee, foil or sabre lessons some time soon?

Fountain of youth

Today all over Metro Manila, malls competed for their share of consumer pesos by hosting Easter programs and games for children. For such-and-such amount spent in the mall, children can participate in arts and crafts, get their face painted, join games and go Easter egg hunting 'for free.' We have turned into such a mall culture, it's scary. The kids seemed to have a lot of fun though, and I liked The Podium mall's centerpiece in the game area: a fountain filled with brightly colored plastic Easter eggs. We were at The Podium to have lunch with my husband's family at Banana Leaf Curry House because today also happens to be my mother-in-law's birthday.

Happy Easter, everyone!

Amore

The Podium mall in Ortigas Center has an Italian-themed promotion going on for the Valentine weekend titled "Amore." The atrium on the second floor is set up like an outdoor café with a stage where shoppers will be serenaded by sopranos and tenors with Italian love songs and entertained by street performers—ventriloquist, magician, poet, mime, violinists and dancers—at a carnevale. Throughout the mall, Italian motorcycles and scooters are on display, most of which can be bought from dealers whose addresses and phone numbers are also on display beside the bikes. The pièce de résistance is at the mall's main entrance: a Ferrari F355 F1 Berlinetta. This is as close as I will ever get to a Ferrari.

Happy Hearts Day!

Funhouse mirror

This is one of the huge, mirrored supporting pillars inside The Podium mall in Ortigas Center. They make for such crazily fun reflections, young children immediately run to them when they enter the mall.

See what's reflecting what at James' Weekend Reflections.

Child magnet

Kentucky-based Dippin' Dots has been available in Manila for several years now. I have yet to meet a child who doesn't like their ice cream.




But really, how can one resist such fun ice cream dots?

Understated playfulness

One of the ceiling lamps of Burgoo American Bar and Restaurant in The Block (a mall in Quezon City). Much more subdued and elegant than the brightly-colored lamps in their branch in The Podium (a mall in Pasig City), but just as playful.

Sunny Christmas

Gold-painted rattan Christmas trees and balls on the glass driveway canopy of The Podium, a mall in the Ortigas Center of Pasig City.

Visit the Sky Watch Friday home page and tour the skies of our beautiful world.

Something's missing

The gold-painted rattan Christmas trees and balls in yesterday's post were also The Podium's decorations inside the mall. Even with the addition of more gold-painted ornaments on the trees, however, the decorations hanging from the skylight of the atrium just doesn't strike me as being festive enough. I don't quite know why though. Some traditional green and red, perhaps? What do you think?

Alice

We're still at The Podium ogling the fancy vehicles on display for the mall's Italian Valentine promo. According to Ducati's website, the Desmosedici RR is a road replica of their MotoGP racing bike Desmosedici GP6. Only 1,500 bikes were manufactured. With such exclusivity, it's little wonder that this baby's lover just had to give her a name.

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Attention all CDP bloggers! Demosthenes over at the forum says "Get voting!" Don't forget: we get two votes for the April theme this time, thanks to Elaine. "Yes, sir, Mister D! We're on our way!" :)