Fun at the SM Mall of Asia

From left, Nurul Nadia Mohd Roslan, Elvie Mesiona & Angie Ang Shuat Chin at SM MOA

Last Sunday, July 4, 2010 after our get together in Nurul Nadia’s house in Crown Asia, Nadia asked me if I can come with her to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to fetch a female planner named Angie Ang Shuat Chin who will be having a training at Fab 2 for a couple of weeks. After meeting her, Nadia decided to go to SM Mall of Asia in Manila with Angie and myself. She was craving for the mango shake that she bought last time that she went there. This is her second trip to the mall only.

SM Mall of Asia is so huge and I definitely will get lost if I am alone. Just imagine it is a 407,000 square meter mall, the largest mall in the Philippines and the third largest mall in the world. Isn’t this great ! It has now been a tourist destinations that raised the standards of shopping, leisure and entertainment in the Philippines.

Kultura Filipino Store at the SM Mall of Asia sells Filipino handicraft showcasing Filipino ingenuity

We went around the mall and I saw the Kultura Filipino Store. I wanted to buy something for Suhaila Mohd Zaki “Sue”, one of my Malaysian friend who went back to her country already. I sure missed her a lot. As we entered the store, everything was awesome ! All products were the results of Filipino talents and ingenuity.

It was so interesting to see bags made of caps from the soft drinks in cans and newspapers. These products demonstrated Filipino handicraft skills, originality, inventiveness and resourcefulness.

Variety of Souvenirs are being sold at Kultura Filipino

Beautiful hand crafted pots and bases

Kultura Filipino Store had been in existence since the late 1950’s as a small Filipino handicraft store. Over the years, it has gained great reputations for its world class products which are sold at a reasonable price. Kultura Filipino now is an affiliate of SM Incorporated so you can see their products displayed in major SM Department Store outlets/branches.

Photo Frames and shellcrafts

Gift boxes and packaging

After spending some time searching for something to give to Sue, I finally found a photo frame made of capiz shells. It is so simple yet artistically made. Sue wanted to buy a photo frame while she was in the Philippines but she was not able to buy one. So, I thought this capiz frame will be a nice pasalubong for her. I sure hope Hadi-yo will bring it.

Elvie, Nadia and Angie at the food court, MOA enjoying fruit shake and Turk's Shawarma

Delicious Shawarma !

From Kultura Filipino Store, we moved to the Food Court to buy the mango shake Nadia wanted to buy. Angie ordered the same flavor while I ordered the melon shake. We saw the Turk’s Shawarma stall near the fruit shake and we ordered three (3) yummilicious Shawarma’s. But Nadia had to make sure that the beef is “Halal” because she is Muslim. We tried to find a table to eat and stay for awhile but then because there were a number of people we did not find an available one immediately. We left the main food court dining area and suddenly saw a vacant table near the Cinnabon bakeshop. It was better than the food court area. We stayed there for awhile, talked, enjoyed our Shawarma’s and fruit shakes and had our pictures taken. Thanks to the service personnel for taking our photos.

Beautiful cakes by "Cakes R 4 Us"

Nadia and Angie at "Cakes R 4 Us"

After having a simple dinner, we checked some things out at MOA. We landed at “Cakes R 4 Us” stall which sells creatively made cakes and pastries. Cakes were decorated and artistically made. They were so inviting, colorful, beautiful and delicious ! Well, these were made by talented Filipino bakers as well ! Angie Shut Chin’s husband owns a bakeshop in Malaysia and makes some cakes as well.

Nadia and Elvie with Winnie the Pooh ! So Cute !

Elvie with Winnie the Pooh

We passed by Toy Kingdom. We did not go inside but we were amazed by the life size toys in front of the store. We had our pictures taken with Winnie the Pooh, Iron Man 2 and the Astronaut. We felt that we were kids once again. We had so much fun at MOA ! I hope next time we can go ice skating.

Elvie Mesiona and Angie Shuat Chin with Iron Man 2

Nadia and the Astronaut