Harrison Plaza closes shop after 43 years
Published Dec 30, 2019 12:00 am
By Joseph Almer Pedrajas
Closing its doors Tuesday to the public it had served for 43 years, the Harrison Plaza in Malate would always be a source of fond memories for a group of senior citizens whose friendship was built inside one of the country’s oldest malls.
‘FAREWELL, HARRISON PLAZA’ – The 43-year-old Harrison Plaza, one of the country’s first modern shopping centers, closes shop today, December 31. (Mark Balmores)
Carlito Basalo, Danilo Que, Efren Avila, Lito Salvador, Rex Estrada, and a certain Vic were still in their early years when they met each other after frequenting the place to wind down.
“Noong may trabaho pa ako, every Saturday and Sunday nandito ako. Pero ngayon, araw-araw na (When I was still working, I was here every Saturday and Sunday. Now, I’m here everyday),” 61-year-old Salvador said when the Manila Bulletin chanced upon them sitting at a bench inside the mall.
“Naging pamilyar na ‘yung mukha ng bawat isa. Hanggang sa naging magka-kausap na at naging magkakaibigan (We became familiar with each other untile we became friends),” added Salvador, who calls their group “Malate Boys.”
Salvador would not skip a day without going to the mall as it was his means of “getting away from all the stress.”
“Tahimik (It’s quiet),” 74-year-old Basalo added. The five others shared his sentiment.
Meanwhile, for 78-year-old Vic, the oldest of the group composed of some 15 men aged 55 to 80, staying at their “most favorite place” might also be the reason behind their long life.
“Maganda sa health. Siguro pampahaba ng buhay kasi dito nare-relax kami (It’s good for the health. Maybe, it brings long life because we can relax here),” he said. “Marami kaming nakikita (We see a lot).”
There was even time during their 20s when they would bring their girlfriends, Vic said.
“Dito namin ide-date girlfriend naming (We dated our girlfriends here),” he said.
Vic, who previously lived in Malate but already moved to Barangay Tambo in Parañaque City, believed that Harrison Plaza held some “charm” that drew him back regularly even if he resides some six kilometers away.
“May gayuma (It has a charm),” he said. “Nagdyi-jeep ako araw-araw para lang makapunta ditto (Everyday, I take a jeep just to be here).”
Estrada, 55, who had also moved to Parañaque, would never get tired driving his bicycle since it’s the cheapest means to get to Harrison.
“Nandito kasi yung mga matatagal ko ng kaibigan (My long-time friends are here),” he said.
“Dito kami tumatambay noong bata pa kami. Naabutan pa namin ‘to noong damuhan pa (We’ve been frequenting this place way back when were still young. We even got the chance to see this place when it was still grassy),” he added, “Tignan mo, hanggang ngayon, dumadayo pa rin kami (You see, until now we still frequent this place).”
The Harrison Plaza is located on Harrison Avenue in Malate near the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and was inaugurated in 1976. It was tagged as the first modern air-conditioned shopping mall in the country.
It featured a cinema, amusement rides, a carnival and a jai alai fronton site.
“Madalas kami doon . Pumupusta-pusta pa kami, nanonood ng mga laro (We used to visit the jai-alai to watch and place our bets),” Avila said.
But in November 2019, management issued a memorandum, which was obtained by the Manila Bulletin, informing its tenants that the mall would cease operations starting December 31, 2019.
It said that it would be turned over to another owner which would reportedly convert the seven-hectare lot into a mixed-use development.
Some 180 stalls, including the tattoo and paintings shop of Freddie Luna, descendant of renowned Filipino artist Juan Luna, would be affected.
Nevertheless, the 65-year-old Avila said that Harrison Plaza would remain in his memory as it was where he had his most unforgettable experiences.
“Mga 1980 yun, kakapasok ko pa lang ng sinehan, ang daming tao kasi pelikula ni Bruce Willis. Tapos biglang may sumigaw (That was 1980. I had just entered the movie house, which packed with people as it was showing a Bruce Willis movie, when all of a sudden someone shouted),” he remembered, “Sabi ‘sunog! sunog!’ Nagtakbuhan lahat ng mga tao. Nagtalunan sa upuan (Fire! Fire! People started jumping from their seats and running out)”
He added: “Dito ko rin napanood sila Imelda Papin, kumanta siya dito. Pati si Amy Perez, dalaga pa siya noon (I also watched Imelda Papin sing here. I also watched Amy Perez, she was still single then)”
After learning of the mall’s impending closure, 67-year-old Que expressed sadness that they would have to part ways as they would no longer have a place where they could freely spend their time.
“Kilala na kami ng mga guards dito (Security guard are already familiar with us),” he said.
“Nakakalungkot din. Magkakawatak-watak na kami (It saddens me that we’ll go our own way),” he added. “Kanina nga, yung paborito kong kainan, sarado na pala (Just awhile ago, my favorite restaurant closed shop).”
Que said that they might have to find some other ways to still see each other.
“Siguro sa ibang mall magkikita pa kami (Maybe, we’ll still have a chance to see each other in other malls),” he said.
Nearby malls offering free movies to senior citizens could pass for the longtime buddies’ next meeting place.
“Pag may libreng sine sa mga seniors, sigurado nandoon kami (If there’s a movie house that offers free movies for seniors, maybe we’ll still see each other there,” Que added.
‘FAREWELL, HARRISON PLAZA’ – The 43-year-old Harrison Plaza, one of the country’s first modern shopping centers, closes shop today, December 31. (Mark Balmores)
Carlito Basalo, Danilo Que, Efren Avila, Lito Salvador, Rex Estrada, and a certain Vic were still in their early years when they met each other after frequenting the place to wind down.
“Noong may trabaho pa ako, every Saturday and Sunday nandito ako. Pero ngayon, araw-araw na (When I was still working, I was here every Saturday and Sunday. Now, I’m here everyday),” 61-year-old Salvador said when the Manila Bulletin chanced upon them sitting at a bench inside the mall.
“Naging pamilyar na ‘yung mukha ng bawat isa. Hanggang sa naging magka-kausap na at naging magkakaibigan (We became familiar with each other untile we became friends),” added Salvador, who calls their group “Malate Boys.”
Salvador would not skip a day without going to the mall as it was his means of “getting away from all the stress.”
“Tahimik (It’s quiet),” 74-year-old Basalo added. The five others shared his sentiment.
Meanwhile, for 78-year-old Vic, the oldest of the group composed of some 15 men aged 55 to 80, staying at their “most favorite place” might also be the reason behind their long life.
“Maganda sa health. Siguro pampahaba ng buhay kasi dito nare-relax kami (It’s good for the health. Maybe, it brings long life because we can relax here),” he said. “Marami kaming nakikita (We see a lot).”
There was even time during their 20s when they would bring their girlfriends, Vic said.
“Dito namin ide-date girlfriend naming (We dated our girlfriends here),” he said.
Vic, who previously lived in Malate but already moved to Barangay Tambo in Parañaque City, believed that Harrison Plaza held some “charm” that drew him back regularly even if he resides some six kilometers away.
“May gayuma (It has a charm),” he said. “Nagdyi-jeep ako araw-araw para lang makapunta ditto (Everyday, I take a jeep just to be here).”
Estrada, 55, who had also moved to Parañaque, would never get tired driving his bicycle since it’s the cheapest means to get to Harrison.
“Nandito kasi yung mga matatagal ko ng kaibigan (My long-time friends are here),” he said.
“Dito kami tumatambay noong bata pa kami. Naabutan pa namin ‘to noong damuhan pa (We’ve been frequenting this place way back when were still young. We even got the chance to see this place when it was still grassy),” he added, “Tignan mo, hanggang ngayon, dumadayo pa rin kami (You see, until now we still frequent this place).”
The Harrison Plaza is located on Harrison Avenue in Malate near the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and was inaugurated in 1976. It was tagged as the first modern air-conditioned shopping mall in the country.
It featured a cinema, amusement rides, a carnival and a jai alai fronton site.
“Madalas kami doon . Pumupusta-pusta pa kami, nanonood ng mga laro (We used to visit the jai-alai to watch and place our bets),” Avila said.
But in November 2019, management issued a memorandum, which was obtained by the Manila Bulletin, informing its tenants that the mall would cease operations starting December 31, 2019.
It said that it would be turned over to another owner which would reportedly convert the seven-hectare lot into a mixed-use development.
Some 180 stalls, including the tattoo and paintings shop of Freddie Luna, descendant of renowned Filipino artist Juan Luna, would be affected.
Nevertheless, the 65-year-old Avila said that Harrison Plaza would remain in his memory as it was where he had his most unforgettable experiences.
“Mga 1980 yun, kakapasok ko pa lang ng sinehan, ang daming tao kasi pelikula ni Bruce Willis. Tapos biglang may sumigaw (That was 1980. I had just entered the movie house, which packed with people as it was showing a Bruce Willis movie, when all of a sudden someone shouted),” he remembered, “Sabi ‘sunog! sunog!’ Nagtakbuhan lahat ng mga tao. Nagtalunan sa upuan (Fire! Fire! People started jumping from their seats and running out)”
He added: “Dito ko rin napanood sila Imelda Papin, kumanta siya dito. Pati si Amy Perez, dalaga pa siya noon (I also watched Imelda Papin sing here. I also watched Amy Perez, she was still single then)”
After learning of the mall’s impending closure, 67-year-old Que expressed sadness that they would have to part ways as they would no longer have a place where they could freely spend their time.
“Kilala na kami ng mga guards dito (Security guard are already familiar with us),” he said.
“Nakakalungkot din. Magkakawatak-watak na kami (It saddens me that we’ll go our own way),” he added. “Kanina nga, yung paborito kong kainan, sarado na pala (Just awhile ago, my favorite restaurant closed shop).”
Que said that they might have to find some other ways to still see each other.
“Siguro sa ibang mall magkikita pa kami (Maybe, we’ll still have a chance to see each other in other malls),” he said.
Nearby malls offering free movies to senior citizens could pass for the longtime buddies’ next meeting place.
“Pag may libreng sine sa mga seniors, sigurado nandoon kami (If there’s a movie house that offers free movies for seniors, maybe we’ll still see each other there,” Que added.