Tag: Festival Mall

Do you miss watching movies at Commercenter?

Do you miss watching movies at Commercenter?

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For those of you who have been missing out on developments here in Alabang, Commercenter officially closed down their cinemas (4 screens) on March 15, 2025 fulfilling their announcement (click here and here) They did, however, announce that something new will materialize but there are no details as to what that might be.

During one of my recent visits at the high-end shopping mall in Filinvest City, I noticed that the 2nd floor path leading to what used to be the cinemas was sealed shut which you can see in the video below.

For the newcomers reading this, Commercenter’s cinemas operated for a little over ten years starting in the 2nd half of 2014. The cinemas had 4 screens and each screen had a sitting capacity of over 100 seats. Outside of the screens, the ticket desk and the concessionaire were right beside each other. Having seen a lot of movies at Commercenter, I can say that watching films inside the cinemas was often comfortable, convenient and pleasant.

As many of us know, the COVID-19 pandemic really hit the cinemas industry of the nation very hard as other types of businesses also went down. The nationwide shutdown of movie theaters caused by government pandemic restrictions really hurt not only the cinema operators but also their employees. When the restrictions were eased, cinemas around the country gradually reopened and for a time moviegoers had to wear face masks when watching movies. When I saw The Batman in Commercenter in March 2022, me and others had to wear face masks because they were required.

A post-pandemic economic recovery happened here in the Philippines but it looks like the cinemas industry has yet to achieve the pre-pandemic numbers of moviegoers. That being said, I can only speculate that the rise of ticket prices, the preference of locals to watch new movies by streaming, and the rise of varied operating expenses probably contributed to the closure of cinemas not only in Commercenter but also those in Festival Mall.

With regards to inflation, the rise of ticket prices at Commercenter during the post-pandemic persion were noticeable. I paid P320 for The Batman in March 2022 and P380 for Sound of Freedom in September 2023 at Commercenter. Before the mall closed down its cinemas, foreign movie tickets were being sold at P400 each. Clearly, there were unfavorable economic forces that happened.

Without the cinemas, Commercenter lost entertainment value. I remember back in 2015 when a lot of people formed long lines to watch Jurassic World which also explained why the mall’s basement parking almost reached full capacity. There were also busy weekends for blockbusters films like Wonder Woman, Avengers: Endgame, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Mad Max: Fury Road and others right there.

Before the closure of the cinemas happened, this movie poster of the 2025 Superman movie (directed by James Gunn) was displayed inside Commercenter. The film is set to open in cinemas worldwide this July and Commercenter’s cinemas have been closed since March 15. The display of this movie poster is pointless now.

Before the pandemic struck, Commercenter was a fun place for moviegoers and I personally know friends based outside of Muntinlupa City who came to the said mall for movies. That means Commercenter really had a unique attraction that made it competitive with Alabang Town Center and Festival Mall when it comes to attracting people who love movies. At the same time, the mall has nice places where visitors can have meals or coffee after watching a film.

Of course, the cinemas of Commercenter are no more and we can only remember the old days of fun-filled moviegoing at its cinemas through pictures, social media posts and collected movie tickets.  

In my honest opinion, watching movies in Alabang will never be the same.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Deed of exchange for Festival Mall signed

Deed of exchange for Festival Mall signed

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Festival Mall – the popular shopping mall in Filinvest City in Alabang – is now fully owned by Filinvest REIT Corp. (FILRT) as the deed of exchange with Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI) has been formally signed recently, according to a BusinessWorld news report. Previously it was reported that the value of the transfer of ownership was worth over P6 billion.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the news report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…

FILINVEST REIT CORP. (FILRT) has executed a deed of exchange with its parent company and sponsor, Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI), for the transfer of ownership of Festival Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

The two companies executed the memorandum of agreement and the deed of exchange on March 5 as part of a P6.26-billion property-for-share swap transaction, FILRT said in a regulatory filing on Thursday.

Under the transaction, FILRT will issue 1.63 billion shares at P3.85 each to FLI in exchange for the ownership of the 121,862-square-meter (sq.m.) main mall of Festival Mall. The addition of Festival Mall will increase FILRT’s total gross leasable area by 37% to 452,310 sq.m.

The deal expands FILRT’s portfolio into the retail mall segment. Previously, its portfolio consisted of 17 office buildings and 2.9 hectares of land leased to the owner and operator of Crimson Resort & Spa Boracay.

Following the addition of Festival Mall, FILRT’s portfolio mix will comprise 67% offices, 6% hospitality, and 27% retail.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you hope to see improvements or expansion projects at Festival Mall now that it has a new owner? Do you think FILRT will come up with new office buildings in close proximity to Festival Mall within the next ten years?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 62

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 62

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Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

#1 VKunia reacts to The Terminator – The first time I ever saw The Terminator was on home video way back in the mid-1980s. I could not forget how the film blended elements of action, detective story, film noir, horror and science fiction together smoothly. Recently I viewed VKunia’s own reaction video about the 1984 movie and it was entertaining to watch as she felt its impact. I encourage you to watch her reaction video.

#2 Oblivion tested across multiple Xbox game consoles – Recently, I started replaying the 2006 fantasy role-playing game (RPG) The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion on my Xbox Series X console via Xbox Game Pass (XGP). But before doing that, I saw YouTuber Ramnexus’ video of Oblivion which he tested on Xbox 360 up to the more modern Xbox consoles. His video is loaded in-depth technical analysis and explanations which I really enjoyed watching.

#3 You, Me and the Movies react to Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga – If there was anything odd about Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, it was the fact that it was actually made and released so long after Mad Max: Fury Road’s impact faded away. Directed by George Miller, the 2024 movie starring Anya Taylor-Joy was actually entertaining given its status as a spin-off and prequel, but I never felt any urge to replay it. If you want to discover what the movie is about without having to spend too much of your precious time, I encourage you to watch the reaction video by You, Me and the Movies below.

#4 The struggle of ramen restaurants in Japan – If you have been traveling overseas over the past five years, where you able to visit Japan and eat inside a ramen restaurant? Ramen restaurants there have been struggling with unfavorable economic factors and there is a growing number of them closing down. Watch and learn from the video below.

#5 Oliver Harper examines The Terminator video games – Believe it or not, there were several video games based on The Terminator that got released in the early 1990s. I myself never got to play any of them but thanks to the Internet and YouTubers who had the resources, several videos about the Terminator games have been uploaded on YouTube in the forms of longplays, retro reviews, reactions and more. Oliver Harper’s own video conveniently examines all the Terminator games and it is a fascinating retro gaming viewing experience.

#6 Basic Instinct trivia by Minty Comedic Arts – Remember how controversial Basic Instinct was when it was first released in cinemas in 1992? It was controversial for its intense approach on violence and sexuality under the direction of Paul Verhoeven, and also for the notorious short scene of Sharon Stone crossing her legs. Not only that, mobs of homosexuals protested the film and some of them even harassed people who bought tickets to see it. Recently, Minty Comedic Arts posted a trivia video about Basic Instinct which you should see.

#7 Avalanche examined by GoodBadFlicks – In the history of cinema, the 1970s was the decade that saw a slew of disaster movies from Hollywood studios. It was typical for a Hollywood disaster flick to have a large cast of actors playing different characters who are struggling with the disaster. In 1978, Avalanche was released and it was produced by low budget movie king Roger Corman. As the film was not successful, it became forgotten until GoodBadFlicks made a video about it. It’s a must-see for anyone who loves disaster films and the 1970s.

#8 Ashleigh Burton reacts to X-Men: First Class – Back in 2011, I saw X-Men: First Class inside one of the old and original cinemas of Festival Mall here in the Philippines. The film was entertaining and cleverly done but back then, I did not find the new actors who played Charles Xavier, Magneto and Mystique convincing (note: they proved themselves worthy of their roles in X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014). At the same time, the movie was a soft reboot and a prequel together. Some people really enjoyed while others not so much. Regardless, I encourage you to watch Ashleigh Burton’s X-Men: First Class reaction video below.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Commercenter announces March 15, 2025 closure of its cinemas, promises something new coming

Commercenter announces March 15, 2025 closure of its cinemas, promises something new coming

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Commercenter, the nice sprawling shopping mall located in Filinvest City in Alabang, Muntinlupa, recently announced via social media that its 4-screen cinemas will be closing on March 15, 2025 and still they promised something new is coming.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the entire social media post announcement by Commercenter. Some parts in boldface…

To our amazing moviegoers, thank you for every laugh, tear, and unforgettable moment we’ve shared at Commercenter Cinema over the years. ❤️🎬 Your presence and memories will always be part of our story, and we’re beyond grateful for the journey.

While our curtains will officially close on March 15, this isn’t the end. Something exciting is on the way to Commercenter and we can’t wait to share it with you. Stay tuned! 😉✨

For transparency, posted below is the screenshot of one of the images that came with the social media post of Commercenter.

For the newcomers reading this, the cinemas of Commercenter opened in the late part of 2014 and its cinemas each had nice and comfortable seats with a good sound system and screen. Each cinema has over a hundred seats to accommodate moviegoers.

I myself saw lots of movies at Commercenter from 2014 to 2023 (note: I have not seen movies inside any cinema for 2024). While I cannot recall all the films I saw inside the cinemas of the sprawling mall, I saw the following there: Sound of Freedom (read my movie review by clicking here), Wonder Woman (my review here), The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Write About Love (my review here), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Deadpool, Deadpool 2, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, X-Men: Apocalypse, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Aquaman, Terminator: Dark Fate, The Batman, Jurassic World, and Godzilla: King of the Monsters (my review here) to name some.

The last movie I saw at Commercenter was Sound of Freedom.

In my experience, watching movies inside Commercenter was fun and comfortable. The mall is a short drive away from home and there are nice restaurants and stores inside. After watching a movie, I could enjoy a meal at Sigekiya Ramen or at The Black Pig or at Akrotiri, have coffee at The Coffee Syndicate or at The Bingsu. Or buy a snack at ASSI Fresh Plaza.

As such, it is really saddening to learn that Commercenter’s cinemas will be closing down soon. I can only speculate that not enough moviegoers in this post-pandemic age could support the cinemas of the mall and not enough private groups booked the cinemas for their events or gatherings. It seems to me that streaming – which became the new standard of watching movies since the COVID-19 pandemic – is a factor as well. Lastly, Commercenter charged P400 per ticket for foreign movies which is quite expensive for local moviegoers.

By adding Commercenter’s closing cinemas to the already closed old original cinemas of nearby Festival Mall, that would combine to a total of fourteen closed screens/cinemas. Festival Mall still has its 4-screen modern cinemas while Alabang Town Center’s cinemas are still operating. Without Commercenter as a movie venue, people living within Filinvest City and in the nearby communities will have to visit ATC and Festival Mall for the movie theater experience within Alabang.

The cinemas area at the 2nd floor of Commercenter.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City who frequently saw movies at Commercenter, how do you feel about the March 15 closure of the cinemas? If you could still remember, how many movies were able to watch at Commercenter in all? What was the most memorable cinematic moment you had inside Commercenter’s cinemas? What could be the new thing Commercenter promised?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Opening of DFA-NCR South Consular Office inside Festival Mall commended by Muntinlupa Mayor

Opening of DFA-NCR South Consular Office inside Festival Mall commended by Muntinlupa Mayor

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Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the permanent Consular of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was formally opened inside Festival Mall in Filinvest City, Alabang, and it was commended by Mayor Ruffy Biazon as the facility’s many services will be helpful for the local residents and those from other cities, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon commended the opening of the permanent Consular Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) at Festival Mall in Alabang.

Biazon attended the opening of the DFA Consular Office National Capital Region-South located at the third floor of the mall’s east wing.

Also present during the opening ceremony were Ambassador Joseph Yap, DFA Office of Consular Affairs Assistant Secretary Adelio Angelito Cruz, and Filinvest Land president and CEO Tristan Las Marias.

“Available dito ang primary services tulad ng document verification and authentication at passport issuance, among others. Spacious, bright, at convenient din ang bagong office—hindi lang para sa Muntinlupeños kundi pati sa ating mga kababayan from nearby cities and provinces (Primary services such as document verification and authentication and passport issuance, among others, are available here. The new office is spacious, bright, and convenient—not only for Muntinlupeños but also for our countrymen from nearby cities and provinces),” the mayor posted on Facebook.

Biazon said, “this office is more than just a facility. It’s a gateway of dreams para sa lahat ng Pilipinong nagnanais makabisita, makapag-aral, o makapagtrabaho sa ibang bansa (It’s a gateway of dreams for all Filipinos who wish to visit, study, or work abroad).”

Cruz said the DFA-NCR South Consular Office will serve “as the mini-OCA Aseana and DFA outpost.”

He said the Alabang office will provide “consular services that cover first time passport applications, passport renewals, authentication, and Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN).” 

The first passport applicant at the DFA-NCR South office was a 67-year-old man who applied for his very first Philippine passport. He said he applied for a passport so he can visit his child in California.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, do you think the upcoming STI Academic Center Alabang will make a positive impact on local society as well as on families looking for schools to have their children enrolled in?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Ownership of Festival Mall transferring to Filinvest REIT Corporation (FILRT) for over P6 billion

Ownership of Festival Mall transferring to Filinvest REIT Corporation (FILRT) for over P6 billion

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Have you been to Festival Mall in Alabang lately? Some things might change in the near future as the ownership of the shopping and lifestyle mall (first opened in May 1998 as Festival Supermall) is being transferred by the Gotianun Group to Filinvest REIT Corporation (FILRT) in a deal worth more than P6 billion, according to a Manila Bulletin business news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin business report. Some parts in boldface…

The Gotianun Group is transferring ownership of its flagship Festival Mall-Main Mall in Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City to Filinvest REIT Corporation (FILRT) in a P6.26 billion deal that marks the real estate investment trust’s entry into the retail leasing business.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) said it is selling the 26-year-old Festival Mall to FILRT in exchange for 1.63 billion FILRT shares at an issue price of P3.85 per share under a tax-free property-for-share swap transaction.

“The transaction fulfills FLI’s commitment as the sponsor of FILRT to continually support the growth and expansion of its REIT portfolio through the infusion of high-quality income-generating real estate assets,” FLI said.

It added that, upon the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) approval of the transaction, FLI and FILRT shall execute a lease agreement for the building.

In a separate disclosure, FILRT said the issue price represents a 30 percent premium over the 30-day volume weighted average price of P2.94 per FILRT share, and falls within the fair value price range provided by FTI Consulting’s Fairness Opinion and LeeChiu Property Consultants, Inc.’s Valuation Report.

The property was appraised by Leechiu Property Consultants, and a fairness opinion was provided by FTI Consulting. A discounted cash flow (DCF) approach was used as the primary method to determine the value of the property.

Under the DCF approach, the future cash flows of the property were discounted using a weighted average cost of capital (WACC) based on a capital asset pricing model. A direct capitalization approach was also used as a secondary reference for the valuation of the property.

For the valuation of the shares, FTI Consulting used various methodologies such as the DCF approach, a dividend discount model, and a comparable public companies’ method, to arrive at a range of values for the fair value of FILRT shares.

The primary common shares to be issued by FILRT to FLI will come from the unissued common shares of FILRT. This will be subject to the approval by FILRT’s shareholders and regulatory approvals.

Upon the SEC’s approval of the transaction, FLI and FILRT shall execute a lease agreement for the property.

“Pursuant to the approval of the transaction, the Board approved the conduct of a special stockholders’ meeting (SSM) to be held on March 4, at 10:00 AM. The record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice and right to vote at the SSM is February 10, 2025,” the firm said.

FILRT’s diversification into mall leasing comes after its expansion into the hospitality space with the acquisition of 2.9 hectares of land owned by Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC) in Boracay Island for P1.05 billion in cash.

The land is being leased by Boracay Seascapes, Inc. (BSI), the building owner of Crimson Resort & Spa Boracay and a subsidiary of FDC.

FILRT President and CEO Maricel Brion-Lirio said this is the company’s first asset infusion since its initial public offering and “not only increases the distributable income to our shareholders in the immediate term but also supports our goal of delivering stable dividends and increasing the potential for capital appreciation in the longer term.”

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City who happens to be a frequent visitor or shopper of Festival Mall, do you think the incoming, new owners will be able to make improvements on the mall somehow? Do you hope that the original cinemas of Festival Mall will get renovated and reopened with the latest cinema technologies in the future?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Have you been to X-Site amusement center inside Festival Mall lately?

Have you been to X-Site amusement center inside Festival Mall lately?

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In times of prosperity or hardship, Festival Mall (originally named Festival Supermall) in Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City continues to attract families and shoppers. Since the mall’s early days in 1998, its amusement center X-Site kept on succeeding on attracting visitors and providing them bouts of varied fun in return to what the customers paid for. X-Site is a lively form of entertainment-focused capitalism that just keeps on moving forward and attracting visitors.

Located at the 3rd floor (note: officially referred to as the 2nd Level or 2L or 2nd Floor by the mall. The 1st floor and 2nd floor of the mall are referred to as Lower Ground Floor and Upper Ground Floor respectively), the X-Site Amusement Center has a wide floor space with a high ceiling.

The way it was designed, X-Site has several arcade games (lots of fun retro games included), merchandiser games, a virtual reality ride, KTV booths, motion-sensing dance spot, the ring toss, entertainment stores, indoor sports games, redemption games, bumper cars, and the indoor roller coaster (which explains the need of having a high ceiling). Watch below the YouTube video and the images I prepared below.

At the arcade games section inside X-Site.
Having a high ceiling made it possible to have an indoor roller coaster (tracks above the machines and people in this image). Other amusement centers in Alabang had lower ceilings which made their places feel small or tight when compared to X-Site.
Some newer machines plus indoor sports games added into the arcade games section.
This is the place for those who love dancing and music.

When I was much younger and Festival Mall was still new, I played lots of games at the arcade of X-Site. Elevator Action Returns, Tekken 2, Tekken 3, Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes, Street Fighter Alpha 3 and Tekken Tag Tournament were some of the games I played there as far as I could remember. I never rode the indoor roller coaster because my fondness for roller coasters had faded away even before Festival Mall opened its doors (May 1998).

Back in 1998, I know a few friends whose had not even visited Festival Mall (at the time we talked) yet they already heard of the positive word-of-mouth feedback about the indoor roller coaster of X-Site.

The indoor roller coaster of X-Site remains a favorite ride for those who kept coming back.

On December 25, 2023, I visited Festival Mall to look around. I passed by X-Site and I saw an unusually large number of people there composed of young people, children and their parents/guardians.

For the newcomers reading this, December 25 here in the Philippines is a time of having fun during the Christmas season and also it is the day when the annual Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) opens in cinemas. This explains why a lot of people spend time at the shopping malls and it is a cultural thing here in the Philippines.

Considering the fact that the original cinemas of Festival Mall have deteriorated leaving only 2 or 3 screens operating (note: the mall also has modern cinemas at the expanded side), a lot of people still visited the mall to watch the MMFF movies that opened on December 25. As for the large number of people who flocked to X-Site that same day, I can only speculate that some of them might have been moviegoers passing the time as they wait for the next screening of movies to watch.

I took this shot of X-Site on December 25, 2023. Look at the high number of people on the floor.

If you plan to visit Festival Mall in Alabang and if you are craving for fun rides or games, then you might want to visit X-Site Amusement Center.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Over P1 billion deposited through BSP’s coin machines

Over P1 billion deposited through BSP’s coin machines

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A major breakthrough has been realized with regards to recirculating massive amounts of loose change in the Philippines as more than P1 billion in coins have officially been deposited into the coin deposit machines (CoDMs) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, according to a GMA Network news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…

Over a year since the launch of coin deposit machines (CoDMs), the monetary value of coins deposited through the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) initiative to promote coin circulation has breached P1 billion.

In a statement on Thursday, the BSP said the total value of coins which coursed through CoDMs has reached P1,008,889,490.24.

The CoDMs, introduced in June 2023, were launched in a bid to encourage the public to make use of their idle coins.

The BSP said that since its launch, the CoDMs have accumulated more than 260,000,000 pieces of coins and facilitated almost 240,000 transactions.

Through CoDMs, people can place legal tender coins in the machines, with the total value credited to e-wallet accounts in GCash or Maya, GoTyme bank accounts, or converted into shopping vouchers.

As of this writing, the BSP’s coin deposit project website has yet to have the latest numbers published. Previously, the official numbers were P950,361,380.76 in overall value, 250,352,704 coins counted and 228,482 transactions registered as of September 15, 2024. You can read my September 26, 2024 post by clicking here.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Have you deposited your loose change into a BSP coin deposit machine in your locality during the past sixty days?  

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

More than P950 million deposited through BSP’s coin machines

More than P950 million deposited through BSP’s coin machines

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Almost a billion Pesos worth of coins have been deposited through the many coin deposit machines (CoDMs) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) as of September 15, 2024, as published on their website.

Based on the latest statistics, a total of  P950,361,380.76 (14.26% higher than the previous count of P831,774,151.23) in coins got deposited into BSP machines on  228,482 transactions (13% higher than the previous count of 202,110 transactions) from customers. In terms of physical quantity, 250,352,704 in coins were deposited. The previous count of deposited coins was 223,021,306

Doing the math on the latest statistics, customers averaged P4,159.46 per transaction (versus the previous count of P4,115.45 per transaction) at the machines. As for the grand total Peso amount divided by the number of coins deposited, the average is P3.7961 per coin deposited (versus the previous average of P3.7296 per coin deposited).

When it comes to the number of coins involved with each transaction, 250,352,704 coins divided by 228,482 transactions resulted in an average of 1,095.72 coins per transaction. This result shows that a lot of people out there are making big deposits by the jars and bags at the coin deposit machines.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Does your household or your local business still have plenty of loose change that you could possibly deposit into the nearest BSP coin deposit machine? Are many members of your local community aware that they can deposit their excessive coins into BSP coin deposit machines so that they can money into their respective GCash accounts?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

FOR LEASE – A Spacious Condominium Unit at The Mondrian Residences in Filinvest City, Alabang

FOR LEASE – A Spacious Condominium Unit at The Mondrian Residences in Filinvest City, Alabang

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If you are looking for a spacious, furnished condominium within Alabang, we have one of 6 units only at the upper floor of The Mondrian Residences in Filinvest City available for lease. The Mondrian Residences is located at 5321 East Asia Drive, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa City.

The Mondrian Residences up close. Its building is very visible for those traveling along Commerce Avenue in Filinvest City.

At 93 sqm, it has one large bedroom, 3 bathrooms, living room with sofa, chairs and tables, kitchen with cooking equipment, one basement parking slot and 2 terraces overlooking Commercenter, Westgate and Alabang Town Center.

Residential facilities of The Mondrian Residences include a jacuzzi, a fitness center, function rooms, owners’ lounge, passengers’ elevators and service elevators. 24/7 security service, reception service, building maintenance and valet service are guaranteed. If you own a car, you can avail of the dedicated basement parking space that goes with the unit.

The Master’s Bedroom with indoor aircon, a balcony and view outside.
The living room with enough space for dining.
The view from the terrace of the unit.
The kitchen with refrigerator, microwave, toaster oven and cooking unit. At left is the main door.
The Mondrian Residences at night time.

The Mondrian Residences is strategically located in close proximity to office buildings, restaurants, hotels, coffee shops, banks, ATMs, the Filinvest City Central Park, movie theaters, shopping malls, gas stations, convenience stores, car dealers and groceries. This means that living in the unit is convenient for your job, your needs and your lifestyle.

Living at the The Mondrian Residences is peaceful as crime rarely happens in Filinvest City. At the same time, Filinvest City is a popular destination for fitness buffs and people who enjoy the open air surroundings with trees.

If you are interested to visit and see the unit, please send me a private message or call me at 09053350831.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673