“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” –William Arthur Ward

I cannot wait to see Iloilo City Mayor Jose ‘Joe III’ Espinosa III and members of the City Council honor the late SM Supermalls godfather Henry Sy, Sr. for his contributions to the city’s economic growth and expansion for over 40 years (ditto for the Iloilo Business Club).

Ilonggos owe Sy a debt of gratitude for selecting Iloilo City for his first SM Department Store outside of Manila. Built in 1979, it was the store’s fourth branch.

SM Delgado infused tremendous economic gains for the city in terms of tax revenue, which aided the city government and provided employment opportunities. It also caused a big stir in the “malling life,” causing a paradigm shift in the attitudes of local consumers.

I was told it would be the biggest “shoes mall” in Iloilo City, which did not have a department store at the time. Weeks before SM Shoe Mart Delgado opened, I would peek inside and saw lots of shoes on display.

When SM Supermarket was conceptualized, SM Prime Holdings opened its store at SM Delgado in 1985 and relaunched the mall in 2004, sparking further economic growth for Iloilo City. SM Delgado was originally known as SM Iloilo prior to the opening of SM City Iloilo in1999.

The four-level complex, featuring eight cinemas, a food hall, food court, and cyberzone opened in Iloilo City’s Mandurriao district. The mammoth mall, one of the biggest in the country, caused a domino effect and helped skyrocket Iloilo City’s economic development and spurred investment opportunities in other sectors.

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Sy died last Saturday at the age of 94.

During the inauguration of SM City Iloilo, I saw Sy, in a wheelchair, throwing coins in the crowd. I helped myself to some of the coins on the floor together with other guests.

When the Mall of Asia, the fourth-largest shopping mall in the Philippines and 13th in the world, opened in Pasay City in 2006, I was one of the lucky editors officially invited and flown to the event.

I again saw Sy throw the coins, together with his children and associates.

According to Forbes Magazine, Sy led the Philippines on the World’s Billionaires List 2018.

For his gargantuan contribution to Iloilo City’s economy, and the entire Western Visayas, I salute the “Mall King of Asia.” Rest in peace./WDJ