It’s interesting to note that in this day and age of glitzy, ginormous shopping malls, some commercial centers stand and operate as if the last 30 years didn’t happen. Marketplace Shopping Mall in Kalentong is one such place.
I’ve no idea how old Marketplace is, but judging from its facade it looks like it’s been up since my mother was a coed at nearby Jose Rizal University (formerly Jose Rizal College). It looks, well, dated. Either it’s really old or it cares little about upkeep. Regardless, me and the girls found ourselves there one lazy Sunday afternoon to attend a kiddie party.
Though my nine-year-old daughter had some funny observations about the place, I found Marketplace oddly charming. The stalls that sell cheap RTW and assorted wares from China, the dingy corners, the drowsy atmosphere… it’s a breath of fresh air, so to speak, even if the air there smells faintly of roaches. For some reason the place reminded me of a bygone era when things were far simpler. If it weren’t for the videoke machine blaring old pop hits in one corner and the smartphones in the hands of the salespeople there, the illusion that I’ve stepped back in the early 80s would’ve been complete.
Later, at the kiddie party, surrounded by cheerful kids, I realized I am missing my childhood. Sigh.
Karl Cinematic Universe 