When I was growing up in the province of Malapatan, Glan (South Cotabato then, became Sarangani Province now), my mom would want to buy something for the household she goes to Dadiangas then (called GenSan now). The only big stores I mean like a small mall, at that time was Kimball Plaza (I think built in late 70’s), it burned down around 2002 and Datu Complex. I think Datu Complex was closed around that year or two after that too. Before the sad event, people were just so happy shopping there. Going to those places when I was a kid the place its always jam-packed. Just think about it, since that’s the only few malls in town. The people that were shopping there were the people from the nearest towns like Marbel, Polomolok, Kiamba and the other side of the bay Malapatan, Glan and the smaller towns, and of course the people of GenSan.

At around Mid 90’s, GenSan was the boom town and too many malls were being built. KCC was built and it’s packed with people that the business were in retail (geared more for sari-sari store). Now KCC built one of the fancy mall in GenSan “The Veranza Mall”. It’s really like the annex of the KCC mall. SM GenSan, I think is the nicest SM mall that’s built in Mindanao. It used to be GenSan was quiet after sundown. Nowadays as if the city never sleeps. I’m happy that GenSan improved a lot.

Felcris Centrale – A brand new mall in Davao

I could say the same thing with Davao city. When we first arrived here to live in 2002, Davao just had a few nice malls. Its a bit better than GenSan I should say . It’s just simple malls not fancy at all. It used to be that the small neighboring towns comes here to Davao city to shop. Nowadays, those little towns have malls of their own already too like Toril, Tagum and Panabo. Living here for a long time now, I can say that no need for us to be going special trip to Manila if you don’t really need a super fancy stuff. You can almost find anything you want here. If your wife want expensive and branded stuff you can almost always get that here, I think. If she wants those super expensive bags or shoes that the famous people use, then you might have to go to Manila, HongKong or other Asian countries. It’s not a problem too for flight, some airlines now fly from other cities here in the Philippines to other Asian countries.

Other parts of Mindanao malls were being built too. I’ve seen it advertise on TV or the malls here they showed of the branches they have all over the Philippines. For sure Gaisano Malls dominates Visayas and Mindanao. Here in Davao, we have few Gaisano malls (2 here in the downtown Davao, 2 in Toril, 1 or 2 in Tagum, 1 in Panabo). The main Gaisano here in Davao city, they improved that mall a lot to compete with the other malls. Now we have 2 SM malls herein the city. Here in Davao, just near to our house we have SM mall, NCCC mall, S & R Membership Store and the new one now that were just opened a week or two ago. It’s from Felcris. They also own Chimes mall.  Their brand new mall is called Felcris Centrale.

Most malls have grocery stores, department stores, appliance center, restaurants, post office and other shipping courier, pet shops, bakery, payment center for your house bills, banks, ATM machines, government offices, play area for the kids, riding train for the kids, conference rooms, theaters and many more features.

Really shopping nowadays got even better. If you have the hang of it, use the internet to shop. You don’t have to fight the traffic. Send it to your place. Use LBC courier, they almost ship to any place in the Philippines. That I know because we use them for shipping for our business.

Have fun shopping!

End of last year was really pretty bad on both side of my family. My first degree cousin at the Rodriguez clan (my mom’s side) died third week of December, I was informed by my niece that she’s sick just middle of last year. I just thought that it wasn’t so serious. So shocked finding that she died a few months after. During that time also my first degree cousin at the Bayoy clan (my dad’s side). She was admitted to the hospital here in Davao for her illness (diabetes & heart). She’s been sickly now for 2 years or more.

So my cousin that was in the hospital needed a blood transfusion badly. If you’re on Facebook I think you saw that message from Bob asking if somebody would be willing to give blood. Here’s the whole message on his Facebook timeline:

“Friends, I have a request. It is not easy for me to ask for help, but this is for someone else. My wife’s cousin is hospitalized with complications from diabetes. She needs blood. If you are in Davao and if you have type O blood, would you be willing to donate for her? If so, please pm me and we will coordinate with you. Thank you to anybody who can help.— feeling hopeful with Feyma Bayoy Martin.”

Really a lot wanted to help from the announcement of Bob on Facebook. Problem most of them live abroad.  I want to thank you guys for wanting to help out. One particular person contacted me and she was really willing to give. Luckily my cousin got blood right away. My cousin expresses her appreciation for you guys’ willingness to help and the offered prayers.

While were asking people to donate, we’re also asking our kids if they want to donate and they’re all willing to give blood for their Aunt. So I brought Aaron & Jean & Chris. When we got to the blood bank it said on the sign that anybody who want to donate to show ID and the person that donates cannot be below 18 years old. So the kids ages were okay. So we filled up papers for some info and my cousin’s info. We had to show the request from my cousin’s doctor that she really needed blood. First off to be interviewed by the person in charge was Aaron. First thing they asked what time did he go to bed the night before, Aaron answered 12am. He was out then. They immediately said, he can’t donate blood. Too late for him to go to bed. The latest should be 11 pm, they said. So I brought Chris next in line. They will not accept him, because of his mental capacity (he is a special child). I even tried to donate myself but they won’t accept because I’m taking medication.

Giving Blood

So last one in the family was Jean. She was accepted. I helped out Jean on filling out the papers. Wow, all the writing was in totally deep Bisaya. Jean was having difficulty answering them. So after she filled out the papers, she waited for awhile before her name was called out. Finally when they called her, and it didn’t took her long inside and she came out. So I asked her if she’s done there? She told me that “oh they didn’t take out any blood because I’m not type O blood”. I’m shocked that the blood bank people didn’t talk Jean into giving blood even though she can’t donate to my cousin. They could have saved the blood there for other people, especially because Jean’s blood type is fairly rare, type A. I asked Jean later when we head home, that if they ask to donate would she donate? She told me yes, she would donate.

I brought Aaron and my nephew the next day. Both of them can’t donate that day because they’re blood pressure was up. The technician said they might just be so nervous about it. The next day my nephew went back and he was fine. His blood was drawn okay. So luckily my cousin really got the 3 bags she needed, one of my nephews in Kidapawan was a regular donor there and he brought some blood from there.

I was shocked that the blood bank was closed during the holidays. The Red Cross was not open 24 hours during the holidays either (they opened till midnight during New Years day). Maybe that’s also the same in the West.

Helpful information for you all if you want to donate blood:

• Sleep the night before not later than 11 pm.
• Bring with you a valid id.
• Make sure you’re not taking any prescription medicine.
• Make sure you don’t have cold, fever, runny nose.
• If you have high blood pressure they will not out take blood from you
• Try to relax, nervousness will lead to high blood pressure. They advise there to drink plenty of water.
• Don’t drink alcohol for awhile if thinking of donating blood.
• People with disability can’t donate

Those are the things I remembered that they reminded there.

If possible to donate blood do so. Bob and I really encouraged our family to donate.