UNIQLO invades Davao

Nothing can stop these people from joining UNIQLO's private opening event at SM Premier in Lanang.

It’s the day after the declaration of martial law. And yet, people flocked to  SM Premier in Lanang to have a taste of what Japanese clothing brand UNIQLO has to offer.

Uniqlo opened its first store in Mindanao at SM Premier, Lanang Wednesday (May 24). However, only the store’s guests were allowed entry and given the opportunity to shop as the official opening to the public would happen on Friday, May 26. This is the brand’s 37th store in Mindanao. It will open its 38th store at SM City Davao Annex at Ecoland on June 2.

Uniqlo started as Men’s Shop Ogori Shoji in Yamaguch Prefecture in 1949.  Uniqlo’s first location opened in Hiroshima in 1984.

“Davao is the largest city in Mindanao and we are thrilled to open our first two stores here,” Uniqlo Philippines Chief Operating Office Katsumi Kubota. But why Mindanao and why Davao? 

UNIQLO Philippines Chief Operating Office Katsumi Kubota gamely answered all the questions thrown his way about the Japanese brand's decision to invest not only in Davao but in Mindanao.

Apparently, the company recognized Mindanao’s economic growth and has high expectations in Mindanao.

This is Uniqlo’s 5th year in the country and they appropriately marked this with a big bang because by August this year, the company will open its 40th store in the Philippines. The company is set to open another store at SM Cagayan de Oro next month and then another store in Subic this year.

Uniqlo’s opening coincided with the declaration of martial law in Mindanao. However, the number of people in attendance, including several city councilors and the business sector negated fears that the declaration would have a negative impact in the city’s business climate.

The people behind the successful launch of UNIQLO's first store in Davao, at SM Lanang

Prix Banzon of PNA and Apol Legario, PR Officer of SM Ecoland checking out the latest in fashion at UNIQLO

Moms will definitely have a hard time choosing from the latest clothing style for kids of all ages, only at UNIQLO

Shopping is easy and convenient at UNIQLO

The UNIQLO store at SM Premier in Lanang has changed the shopping landscape in the city

SM to bring Science Discovery Center to Jinjiang, China by 2014

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. is set to bring the Science Discovery Center to Jinjiang, China by 2014. This will be the third SM Science Discovery Center in the country and the first outside the Philippines.

Science Discovery Center head Arturo C. Carballo said this is part of SM Prime’s plans to have 10 malls in China by 2014. There are six SM Malls occupying a total space of 797,545 square meters in China with specific locations in Xiamen City in Fujian, Jinjiang City in Fujian, Chengdu City in Sichuan, Jiahe Road in Xiamen City, Suzhou City in Jiangsu and the latest in Chongqing City which opened in December 2012.

The first SM Science Discovery Center opened at the SM Mall of Asia in Manila in 2007 while the second Center opened in Davao City’s SM Premier this month.

“This is one of the most modern science centers with a Planetarium powered by the Digistar 5 projector system; the full-dome Planetarium alone costs P700,000,” Mr. Carballo said. This is even more modern than most Science Centers in the United States which only uses the Digistar 3 system, he added.

The Davao Science Discovery Center occupies a 2,000-square meter space but compared to the 158 seating capacity for MOA’s Planetarium, Davao’s Planetarium can only seat up to 80 people. But while the Center in Manila has only 9 galleries, Davao has up to 10 interactive galleries on geology, Biology, the Body, Climate, Energy, Transportation, Technology, Engineering and The Future.

“The Science Discovery Center in Davao is expected to cater not only to Dabawenyos but also to the whole of Mindanao,” he said.  Based on their studies on the Mindanao market, they have decided to lower down the entrance fees from P330 for walk-ins in Manila to only P250 for walk-ins in Davao City.

Mr. Carballo said they have met with officials of the Department of Education as well as Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte and they agreed to provide a special rate for public schools. He said Pasay City exempted the Discovery Center in MOA from the amusement tax so they were able to provide public school students there with a low rate of P180.  We are trying to get a much lower rate for Davao public school students, he added.

Department of Tourism XI Regional Director and Assistant Secretary Arturo P. Boncato, Jr. said the Discovery Center brings with it more opportunities for the city as it will provide educators with a unique, tech-based platform when teaching the youth about concepts in science, technology and other related topics.

“It will help the city sustain its advantage not only in business and tourism, but also in education,” he said. The investment came at a most opportune time, he said, given the recent economic boom brought about by the influx of investments and tourism.

Kadayawan sa Davao not over yet

The City Tourism Office will only be able to quantify Davao City’s gains from the conduct of the Kadayawan Festival 2013 after August 31, 2013 since there are still festival-related activities that will be conducted up to the end of the month.

“We are still coordinating with the hotels as to their occupancy rate during the Kadayawan Festival but until the festival-related activities are over then that will have to wait,” City Tourism Officer Ma. Felisa Marques said. “We are also doing an exit survey on the airport arrivals but as of now me humahabol pa na tourists,” she added.

Marques said the main events of the Kadayawan namely the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan and the Pamulak Parade may be over but there are still many Kadayawan-related activities that are on-going and still to be conducted.

On top of this is the 2013 Phoenix Accelerate Vega Hot August Races slated at the Speed City Drag Strip in Maa Diversio Road on August 31 and September 1, 2013. This racing event is a battle among drag racers in the Pro Class, Sportsman Class, Clubman Class and Quick Eight.

The Drag Race may just be the biggest legal drag race in Visayas and Mindanao with around 80 participants from Cebu and major cities in Mindanao.

Marques said Dabawenyos and visitors can still enjoy the on-going Kadayawan-related activities and shows such as the Durian Festival at SM Premier Lanang up to August 25. The eat-all-you can durian festival at P150 is still on-going so those who want to indulge in durian can still try the King of Fruits, she said.

The Agri-Trade Fair at SM City Ecoland which features plants and a bountiful harvest of fruits in season is still on-going at the SM Car Park until August 27. She said “we should strengthen Kadayawan especially now that this is being replicated in many parts of the world including Japan.”

She said that even before the Kadayawan officially closes, they are already conducting meetings to prepare for the next festivals in the city such as the Paskuhan sa Davao and a bug summer festival which will be launched in conjunction with the Summer Fest.

Marques said Davao City’s strength lies in domestic tourists who make up 93 percent of the arrivals. One percent of tourist arrivals in the city are Balikbayans while only 6 percent are foreign tourists comprising of Americans, Australians, Japanese and Koreans.