Palawan Will Never Be the Same – Puerto Princesa’s First Big Mall
by Donna Amis Davis
On May 24, 2012 the city of Puerto Princesa was forever changed.
That was the day Robinsons Place Palawan opened. This is Palawan’s first large air-conditioned mall with movie theaters and a major department store.
There are three reasons Robinsons will become a new favorite place for locals to shop and dine.
- The first is parking. Robinsons has a lot of parking spots, and well-organized entrance and exit driveways.
- The second is Robinsons Movie World. Puerto Princesa’s last movie theater closed several years ago. None were ever opened to take their place. Now Robinsons has opened a 4-plex theater showing both Filipino and Hollywood films. One of the theaters is 3D.
- The third is the spacious, air-conditioned interior. In Manila, malls have long been known as places to hang out with friends, and cool off on hot days. We can assume Robinsons will become a gathering place for locals here, as well.
Robinsons can’t boast the first set of escalators in Puerto. That honor belongs to Unitop Department Store, which opened over a year ago.
Robinsons can’t boast the first Jollibee. Puerto already has two other Jollibee locations, on Rizal Avenue, and down by the palenque on Malvar Street.
And Robinsons can’t boast the first grocery store. There are many places to shop for food in Puerto Princesa. Robinsons does have some products not sold elsewhere on Palawan, though. American cheddar cheese, and Hershey’s chocolate chips were two items we spotted.
The photo below shows my most amusing moment while wandering through Robinson’s Grocery Store – the fish display. Whole huge tuna fish were on sale. Just like the palenque! Well, minus the crowded aisles, smell of fish, dim lighting, sloshing water underfoot, and sweaty heat.
Robinsons boasts a view deck across the front from which you can catch views of the gorgeous mountains surrounding Puerto Princesa.
At the other end of the mall, floor to ceiling view windows give a pretty picture of the City in a Forest.
Donna on Palawan has to admit that she was a bit “wowed” by the Robinsons experience. As one of the city’s fortunate owners of a vehicle, she will enjoy easy parking when she wants to shop. Adequate parking is a huge draw.
But on the other hand, she feels a little sad. In her opinion, much of Puerto’s charm and color spring from all the small locally owned eateries and shopping spots unique to the city. She sincerely hopes that Robinsons won’t be the death of wonderful places like Beans and Pages Coffee Shop, Brunos, Bona’s Chaolong, Neva’s Place, and Rene’s Saigon.
Did you ever a have moment where you welcomed progress, but it made you sad at the same time?
https://www.donnaamisdavis.com/palawan-puerto-princesas-first-big-mall/Puerto Princesa & PalawanRestaurants & FoodDonna Amis Davis,Palawan,palenque,Philippines,puerto princesa,Robinsons,shoppingby Donna Amis Davis On May 24, 2012 the city of Puerto Princesa was forever changed. That was the day Robinsons Place Palawan opened. This is Palawan's first large air-conditioned mall with movie theaters and a major department store. There are three reasons Robinsons will become a new favorite place for locals...Donna Amis DavisDonna Amis Davis[email protected]AdministratorDonna Amis Davis
wow. this makes shopping,dining and buying your needs more convenient..and yes i hope this does not affect the medium size businesses ..
http://www.worldtrev.com/accommodations-coron/
I just had a chat with Alfred of the Beans and Pages book and coffee shop that has been featured twice in this blog. He feels pretty optimistic. So I was encouraged by that!
ayos, ang ganda na sa puerto princesa… ndi na kylangan pang pumunta ng manila!
Oo, Chazzy, talaga! Maganda rito at ngayon may cine pa.
nice you can speak tagalog 🙂 just like you I hope people in palawan will be more attractive and more concern about the natural beauty of their place not by malls. we all knew malls killed a lot of small and medium establishment in their nearby area including wet markets.
Looks a lovely place.
I share your sentiments and reservations. The same thing has happened in all the other places where new big malls suddenly sprout. First, there is disruption in the local economy as the smaller businessmen do not quite know how to deal with this mammoth competitor. But soon, as the locals figure out how to compete and on what areas to compete in, then things change for the better. This, sad to say, is progress. Change happens, but then change is necessary if we are to survive.
Frankly, I welcome the chance to see the Avengers in 3D! While I lament the fact that Robinson’s had to cut down all those trees to make way for the mall (there had to be a better way), a part of me says that Puerto Princesa will find a way to survive this latest invasion. It has to.
Thanks for your thoughtful reply. Apparently the local business community is monitoring the situation closely and carefully, so I have great hope Puerto will continue to carry its eclectic charm. We have to be happy for all the jobs created. And having a theater here gives one less reason for folks to head to Manila.
I agree with you about the trees. Oh how I hope the gorgeous huge old trees around town weather the city’s inevitable progress!
It’s happening in other places, too. Baguio and Olongapo are the ones that come to mind. My Beloved was born and raised in Olongapo/Subic, and finding out about the big mall that just opened there and the other one under construction just made him so sad. I wish there was a better way to help the local communities other than opening malls in places like these. They lose something in the process. Now they’re no different from Metro Manila.
Oh, that’s interesting that he felt sad about it, too.
A lot of people who grew up there but have moved away heard about it also and felt the same. I hope the price for progress will be worth it.
I hope these malls development will stop at PPS and not spread to El Nido and Coron.
Sometimes we want the place to be original and rustic.
However, I know that these developments are unstoppable.
i agree! =)
I agree with you. I like the original and rustic parts!
and so it begins…..
Ah yes, that’s the catch isn’t it? They say if you aren’t growing you are dying.
Wow its so nice and i hope more investors will be interested to invest in Puerto Princesa but hoping that its always eco-balance system so that the beauty of Puerto Princesa and Palawan well not be distracted
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Yes, it’s really a balance, isn’t it?
Yes, that’s the challenge, isn’t it? Keep the beauty and eco-balance while not being left behind in progress.
Yeah,….and i hope this beauty of Puerto Princesa City and whole Palawan will remain as it, But i am little afraid because by the next year our beloved Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn who proctect and maintain the beauty of Puerto Princesa City will be end his term a as Mayor of City in the Forest and who ever be the next mayor i dont know if she/he will continue of what Hagedorn did for Puerto Princesa City and for People itself..but hoping whoever the next mayor will also protect the beauty of City and not distracting it,….
I certainly hope so too!
wow!! this is awesome indeed! 😉
Big Progress is good, specially for the people of Palawan…Specially now, you have movie theaters, with the3-D movie house… Thats a lot of progress… That is really awesome!!! Progress has ups and downs… UPs for the Robinsons, and sadly to say DOWN for the individual businesses… BUT there is a way in which you can co-exist with a Big Mall like Robinsons… You can put your business and venture inside the Mall… When the people of Palawan see your shops in Robinson that would make them more happier… Favorite resto or whatever business you have right there in just one place… Palawan souvenirs, should be placed inside the Mall as well… For people of Palawan and tourists will surely go to Malls… You have to relocate your businesses in the Mall or near the tourists spot where you alone exists… That is the only solution that i can advice… My sympathy is with you, (individual businesses), But we CANT STOP PROGRESS…
Yes, progress brings a lot of changes.
I loved this post. I love that you are so enthusiastic about your new mall. (I would be too!) I used to be a real estate lawyer and worked on many development projects. Change is inevitable. The best projects are the ones where everyone recognizes that and works together to make the project the best it can be. Not sure I’d want to trade trees for a bigger parking lot, but I too would be jumping up and down about your new movie theater. Enjoy!
Thank you, Jill. Yes. There are lots of new jobs, and convenience. Ease of parking is a huge improvement! We’re just hoping some of the quaint, rustic charming places won’t disappear.
i hope the local power distributor (PALECO?) can provide the electricity needs of the entire city and Robinson’s. Puerto Princesa is the unofficial brownout capital of the Philippines. Please do something about the power supply.
I feel sad for NCCC. my kid grew up with NCCC’s limited aisle width, dusty stairs, and noisy aircon units. i hope Palawenos will not abandon NCCC and also Rengel, Ramtan, etc. But i am fairly positive that when the excitement and the curiosity die down, people will go back to the oldtime favorite hangouts 🙂 nothing beats the original (cross my fingers) 😀
I think with all the boom in population that there is room for both. NCCC still carries things that the new Robinson’s doesn’t carry. And it is in a great location near the center of town. When we first arrived in Palawan we did all our grocery shopping going from door to door at Rengel’s, Ramtan, Leonor’s. I remember it was a big day when Cost Plus opened. The road out to it was still unpaved, dirty and dusty, so we called it Dust Plus! Remember those days?
Your right, that was long time ago. Fourteen years had past when I was doing a trading business. A lot had been changed.
happy to hear that there’s a big mall in Puerto Princesa as they said progress is inevitable of course to be included in 7th wonders in the world we should welcome a great change as well…..tourist are coming in every corner of PALAWAN …. Consumer’s have prerogative where they can shop and spent their free time gallavanting….it’s time also to built new building for those old department stores and groceries…..be positive….
Yes, there are plenty of positives, and we were among the first in line to see a 3D movie and shop at the new grocery store!
ms. donna, yup. my sine na din sa puerto princesa sa ikalawang pagkakataon… sana lang wag na muling bastusin ng mga tao tulad ng nangyari sa maresca nuon… haist. dz comming dec. jan nako sa pilipinas… gusto ko na maamoy muli ang palawann… gusto ko na mag tagalog araw araw.
Enjoy your trip!
I like the way the giant tuna fishes are decorated with peppers…and some kind of fruit? What is it? Very colorful and what a great place to shop!
Yeah, those are the little local tomatoes. Thanks for stopping by!
I have seen small towns here in Michigan, including the podunk town I’m in become smothered in large malls, or several of those mini-malls. The kind with a low occupancy rate that set there as more an eye sore. I hope your lovely island doesn’t experience this.
That’s it exactly. The places lose their charm and become same-same.
Well, may your paradise remain just that. btw, I added your site to my “reading list” page on my site. Have a great week. 🙂
Wow. Thank you, John! I appreciate that.
…i miss palawan.. i just hope indeed that even though Robinsons was built… may babalikan pa rin akong malinis n simoy ng hangin… Im happy na start na ng progress ang Palawan..but Palawenos..lets keep Palawan a Paradise.. 🙂
Well said, Arbie!
I am always glad to note that there are people from other countries who choose to stay in the Philippines. It also makes me feel good as a local. That being said, outside of our concern for the environment, people especially the locals, should primarily take care of our most important asset – the children and their safety and protection.
I’m so sad to see Robinson in Palawan though they will bring progress in the place but they ruin the natural beauty of it.