THE ‘SUPER’ MARKETPLACE GOES TO ILOILO
If you ask me, “super” is the word I’d use to describe every visit I make to Iloilo. Super is the extra-super bowl of La Paz batchoy with unli-chicharon and hot broth that keeps us retracing our steps to Netong’s in the public market, where it all began. Super is our home-sweethotel that is Richmonde, where our stay is always an enriching experience. Super are the world-class mega developments in the city that has endearingly preserved its history and traditions. Super is the famous Ilonggo hospitality that welcomes every guest to this friendly, lovely city.
And now, residents and visitors alike are in for another super experience — make that a “super” market experience — with the recent opening of The Marketplace, Festive Walk Mall, Iloilo City.
“We’re truly excited for you to experience The Marketplace in Iloilo City,” says a beaming Arleen Aldaba, Rustan Supercenters, Inc. (RSCI) acting CEO, as she joins the visibly excited, cheering crowd waiting for the countdown to open the first The Marketplace in the Visayas. “Our promise to you is to keep our store a place to satisfy your passion for food and your discerning palate. We hope that with our unbeatable assortment of quality products from here and all over the world, wide range of choices, a beautiful and spacious store, and impeccable customer service, grocery shopping will never be the same again.”
Tefel Valentino, VP for marketing and business development, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, reveals, “When we first launched Festive Walk Mall last June, our mission was to create a shopping space where Ilonggos could experience world-class innovations in shopping, entertainment, and lifestyle attractions while providing our customers with unparalleled convenience in this fastevolving city. Today, we are very proud to officially welcome another first, the region’s premier branch of The Marketplace. Through this partnership with The Marketplace by Rustan’s, we at Megaworld Lifestyle Malls believe that we can revolutionize the supermarket experience in Iloilo with all-new imported products, healthy gourmet finds and, of course, the top-notch service that The Marketplace is known for all over the country.”
Leading government officials from all over Iloilo province, Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III is happy to welcome The Marketplace to his city as “it will open up the palate of the Ilonggos to the jamon serrano, the Hungarian pork, and many more that are exclusively being marketed by Rustan’s in the country.’’ He shares, “The Ilonggos have a taste for exquisite things and we love to eat. And we’re very happy to note that Rustan’s will not be satisfied with only one store opening in the city, but they will have at least three stores from the very start (also opening is The Marketplace in Plazuela Dos, Mandurriao, Iloilo City).”
The Marketplace couldn’t have found a better location than “The City of Love” to put up its first store in the Visayas. Now we have another reason to love Iloilo. “I just received information from Manila that Iloilo City was again included as a finalist in the Best City for Business in this part of the country,” discloses Mayor Espinosa, brimming with pride.
On top of that, Iloilo City is practically crime-free and for people who don’t smoke, the entire city is thankfully smokefree. Moreover, it is designed to be childfriendly.
And so, to market we go! Here’s the beef: Among the grand opening specials is the buy-one-take-one promo on the Wagyu beef burger patties at only P699 per kg. The Greater Omaha US Angus beef rib-eye is now at P149.90 per 100 grams, from P189.90.
We keep our eyes peeled for more super bargains as we go shop-crazy! There’s a buy-one-take-one promo on the breads. And on whole cakes, too, in different flavors (wish we could bring ‘em home to Manila!). There’s a buy-one-get-one, too, on skin and body care products.
Wine lovers are having an intoxicatingly good time choosing their wines, now at 30-percent off. Like the Demazel sweet red at only P175 from P249, the Chateau Le Ferreau Belair at P439 from P550 or the Chateau Pey Mallet at P1,119 from P1,399.
The roast chicken is at 20-percent off while the cooked sausages are at 10-percent off. And yes, the cheeses, of which The Marketplace carries such a wide assortment from different parts of the world (such as Parmigiano-Reggiano, Manchego Curada, Brie, Cambozola), are at 20-percent off. So with the Salami Milano, prosciutto, and Chorizo Pamplona.
“Now, we don’t have to get our hams, cheeses, and beef for our hotel from Manila,” says Natalie U. Lim, the charming, well-loved resident manager of Richmonde Hotel Iloilo.
Kerwin Legarde, RSCI VP for nonfood merchandising, tells us, “We’re bringing the global imported assortment to the Ilonggos so they don’t have to go to Manila.”
Suddenly, our eyes are riveted on a corner that we probably haven’t seen in any of The Marketplace branches in Manila. “Iloilo will be the first to have Taste of the Philippines,” Legarde points out. “We’re helping the Ilonggos sell their products like their rosquillos, barquillos, etc.”
Notable among these homegrown Ilonggo brands is Trappist, a line of monastic food products churned out with such loving and conscientious care by Our Lady of the Philippines Abbey in San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras. For over 1,500 years, faithful to the Rule of St. Benedict, the Trappist’s blessed kitchen has been producing a glorious selection of jams, jellies, marmalades, dried fruits, fruit juices, and assorted baked goodies.
“This will be a venue for Ilonggos to showcase their talent and ingenuity, and sell their handicrafts and cherished food, like our La Paz batchoy and our pancit Molo,” says the proud Ilonggo Mayor Espinosa, himself impeccably garbed in a hablon
barong, proudly made in Iloilo. “It is possible that these popular Ilonggo dishes will be introduced later. We’re also convincing The Marketplace to bring our Ilonggo food to Manila, like our famous Tatoy’s (the undisputed king of seafood in Iloilo, also sought after for its lechon manok and sinful chicharon
bulaklak and sisig).” Surely, supermarket shopping has never been this enticing and exciting, you’d probably need to arm yourself with a lot of shelf control.