THINK ABOUT IT
By: Iris P. Concepcion

Imagine life as lasagna. When added with tomato, it becomes gourmet that is fit for royalty taste. For the societal quilt, this is dynamism working.

In another tale of the social macabre, I had plied Recto with open eyes and had fun looking at refurbished trophies, passports and drivers' licenses in their mediocre aesthetics madness. Gone are the bleeding red imprints in licenses. These are replaced with transparent, raincoat-like designs with the map of the Philippines. They come in blue, green and yellow. I have seen bags made out of these at American Boulevard outlets. I often wonder why passports could not be pink; I have seen one and it is striking. I even saw an oil tanker repainted with beautiful flowers, in pastel pink likewise. It brings off the gloom out of the streets.

I believe in non-repetition of old, stale, unfunctional ideas and more of the reinvigoration of creative processes.

Today, I am taking on leaflets. I have seen one stuck on the wall seeking redress against barangay officials and it made me laugh. I have never seen such a grandiose appeal asking where the parking fees go and the motorcycles. Words are formed this way:

"Huwag maniwala sa matamis na salita! Huwag sumangayon sa kanilang black propaganda! Wakasan ang pagkampi sa mga taong nambubogbog!"

On the lighter other world, my favorite mall near the vicinity and I need to spell it out now, Robinson's, has thoroughly embraced minimalism at its best.

I have seen the previously staid Le Donne and Jannilyn giving ooommmmpph to these outlets. I had stared triumphantly at the first with ballsy flowers made of fluffy fur feather dusters adorning its interiors. The effect is super illustruous. The latter has blue swimming fishes like Nemo. The merchandise has not changed; inside the quadrant is a pair of giggling couple, friends for good or worse, laughing at the impertinent shoes of the bygone disco period. Even their bargain shops have dolls that look like a naughty corn with a grinning Sponge Bob toothing his assent nearby.

The tumbling cartoon alongside it looked forlorn.

It sells Marikina leather shoes at two for P150.00. I swear to God this could rival Esprit in make. It likewise seels a slicer, touted as Japanese-inspired that could cut pieces of veggies and fruits in beautiful and perfect renditions. The guy is funny. He looks like one of this writer's Daddies and he is flaunting. Finally.

I did visit the Rizal trail at Luneta and was again followed by one of these forebears showing me how silly the productions in the past are, made of cut-outs in blurry paper mache. I had to let out a guffaw. The serious disarray of Rizal's houses look impaled beside the fab sculptures of people I did not know are heroes. This could rival the postcards of agriculturists majoring in molecular parasitism in one bookstore. It is getting weirder and weirder day by day.

This mall is truly a haven. Even with the absence of its pricey brands, it adds fun with a newer component. You might even get served by a lookalike of previous Presidents with their universal products. You can already feel its vibe of fun. You can donate books and school supplies at one of its entrances.

Its grocery always serves free samplings. I had gobbled an entire white chocolate one time just milling around it. It has a mass on Sundays with impeccable priests; and they are humurous. Go to the Girls outlet, it is like a comic book societal affair. It is all pink and dandy. For kids. At 40, I still would like to have their bags. Do not weep if you see Sponge Bob peeking out his teeth over racing motorcycles; he pops out everywhere in this arena. As a riddler, find the cutest Vans ad with my favorite person on Earth on it, being the better other, and his road dream. I know him; he is eternally innovative.

I love people laughing and people do laugh when they get out from this mall.

Again, next time, where their comedic merchandising never cease.

And the rotating flab busters are travelling here. The gyrating one I have seen at Isetann was likewise brought here. It has gone transnational. Of course, the giggle value never stopped.

This writer loves David and his cohorts. She loves most the best half though.