BY GIOVANNI A. FLAVIANO
DAVAO CITY – Welcome to where ‘heritage meets hip’ as Alsons Development and Investment Corporation (Alsons Dev) opens the door of Poblacion Market Central (PMC) during the 37th Kadayawan fest.
It is an upgraded retail and lifestyle destination with better facilities, modern design and improved tenant mix of food and stores for essential services. Even as it infuses new trends in the growing retail and food scene, it remains committed in preserving Mindanaoan heritage .
PMC houses former tenants from the 56-year-old Aldevinco Shopping Center and adding new resto concepts in order to bring together a refreshing and fulfilling shopping experience, with exciting activities like art events, installations and murals.
“Ang significance aning establishment (Aldevinco) shows our heritage. Shows our identity.”
“Davao City cannot be Davao City if not for how we identify ourselves as Davaoeños and Aldevinco and its vendors are one of those things that makes us Davaoeños.” – Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte in his speech at the reopening of PMC.
NEW LIFESTYLE DESTINATION
Cecile Dominguez-Yujuico, President of the Conrado & Ladislawa Foundation Inc. which is the social development arm of the Alcantara Group said during her welcome remarks, “Poblacion offers an impressive and ever-evolving merchant mix of art, antiques, and souvenir shops, restaurant concepts, and convenience retailers. We are proud to introduce this new lifestyle destination as Davao opens its doors once again to visitors, and especially this month, with the celebration of our beloved Kadayawan festival. We thank the city government, led by Mayor Baste Duterte, for making this happen.”
NOSTALGIA
Cecile Dominguez-Yujuico then took a nostalgic turn about her visionary grandfather Conrado Alcantara recalling, “It all began 56 years ago through an iconic local landmark situated along CM Recto Street and Roxas Avenue: Aldevinco Shopping Center. My grandfather, Conrado Alcantara, had a vision of creating a convenient, centralized shopping center – the first of its kind in Davao City. As the city’s very first shopping complex, Aldevinco quickly became one of the most beloved destinations in the city, with a variety of high-quality Mindanao products like Mindanao textiles, pearls, and antiques.”
REOPENING
“Makita niyo sa painting ko andyan ang mga kasamahan natin na mga Muslims, Indigenous Peoples, and Christian sector magsama sama tayong mag sharing the bounty of our land, mas masagana po ang lahat. Yan po ang konsepto natin sa Kadawayan, thanksgiving for all the blessings.” – Mindanaw Artist and Sculptor Kublai Millan during the unveiling of his mural painting, the latest artwork featured at PMC.
“In October 2021, Poblacion welcomed and celebrated the work of over 300 artists from more than 30 galleries and art groups in Mindanao when it hosted the Mindanao Art Fair. We also put the spotlight on local business owners and creatives during our first-ever month-long Christmas bazaar, “Pasko sa Poblacion.” This allowed us to showcase Mindanaoan artistry and Mindanao’s rich cultural heritage–which has always been Poblacion’s vision and goal.”
“Through Poblacion, we want everyone to know that “shopping” isn’t limited to just browsing and buying items; we have enhanced and elevated this through other experiences like dining, art appreciation, monthly themed events and having essential services–like banks–within an arm’s reach,” she added.
THIRD GENERATION ENTREPRENEURS
“We are also proud of the fact that some of Poblacion’s merchants are third-generation entrepreneurs, whose grandparents started their journey with us at Aldevinco. We are grateful that we are able to continue on as their partners in showcasing the best of Davao and Mindanao here in Poblacion.”
Cecile Dominguez-Yujuico said that nearly a year after Poblacion’s soft opening in October 2021, we are proud to announce that we now have over 70 merchants, with more opening in the fourth quarter of this year.
“From food to sculptures, batiks and textiles, and handicrafts, Poblacion has something for each and every one of our guests – whether you are a Davaoeno or a visitor to the city – who have varying shopping preferences, while also celebrating Mindanaoan culture and traditions.”
