NEWSFLASH

---

PARKS OUT MALLS BURGEONING IN METRO MANILA

Manila, March 12, 1998 - According to the office of the Department of Tourism, malls have become a threat to the country's parks.

Although park life in Manila has not been totally ignored most people prefer an air-conditioned place. Most people also would rather go to the malls rather than walk in the parks for fear of muggings and falling prey to common park-roving thieves.

SM Supermalls' Vice President Carmen Katigbak think that while parks are valuable, there are not a lot of things to do unless one really want to do picnics. She claims that malls are not competing with parks, both venues offer something good and different to the public, and it is realy a matter of preference.

Lydia Eschauz of SM Corporate Affairs estimates that at least one million people visit one of the seven SM supermall branches daily. Department of Tourism said park estimates can't even come close.

It is the endless variety of malls---from food outlets to stores to theaters---that continues to attract the public. Lack of security and sanitation facilites limits the visits to the parks.

But the fact remains, you see more and more grassy parks turned into concrete buildings. Malls are burgeoning and the popularity increases with more and more modern infrastructures and ultra modern facilites.

---