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Those who appreciate beauty should visit the SM Mall of Asia at the first oppurtunity. Built at a cost of P7 Billion, it is no wonder that it's quite the world's most beautiful mall, facing as it does one of the world's stupendous shores. And that's aside from the fact that you can also shop in that particular place. So therefore, you can shop while watching the seascape of the sunset. The said Mall stands on a 60-hectare property. The ground of the Mall which is 38.6 hectares, is already enough to house 49 jumbo jets and 40 football fields. Space is not a luxury; space, in fact, is an excess. "I intended it that way," explains Mr. Henry Sy Sr. "I could have made a much more money here by building a high-rise mall. But then, it won't have any beauty and character at all," adds Mr. Sy.The complex of four buildings connected by elevated walkways, is sprawling type, seemingly just two stories. And there are skylites, atriums and gardens everywhere. "Our very own is a fresh, clean and green environment," says Betty Sy, treasurer of the family but publicly listed holding company SM Investment Corporation.One of the main features of The Mall is the IMAX Theater, which costs $2 Million worth of equipment. It has a total of 560 seats, an 8-story thater with a 22-meter by 33-meter screen size. "The IMAX is a first in the Philippines," says Hans Sy. The said Mall also has Hypermart, which, according to Herbert Sy, is the cleanest wet market. What takes away the breath of the shopper literally is the 2-kilometer shoreline with a pristine and uninterrupted view of Manila Bay. "There is nothing like it in the world," volunteers Mr. Sy Sr.The SM Department Store is the first Department Store in the world develped around the theme, say its designers, Alex Soto and Keith Yamasaki. "The theme is Manila Bay, the sea, sails, sea animals," explains Alex Soto. "I don't think there is quite like it," adds Yamasaki.The overall design is fluid an organic. The luggage department, for an instance, has cruise voyage for a theme, that of a Ladies Wear, tropical fish.

"I put the best in this Mall," says Sy Sr. "I also want the Filipinos to enjoy the best." Betty Sy adds that it provides a different kind of shopping experience. "This would be the premiere tourist attraction and destination in the Asia Pacific," predicts Mr Sy Sr. He feels buoyant about the Philippines tourism potential. He says that Pearl of the Orient Seas is one of the richest countries in the world, in terms of resources-mining, forestry, agriculture and people.

Mr. Sy Sr. thinks that it will only take a matter of time before the Philippines takes off. He cites China as an exmaple. He says that China was very poor before, but now, it's a totally different country. He says that we too, can make a stand of our own.