SM CITY Bacolod organized its first big event of the year last January 5 at their Event Centre. This is the first time that SM has held an exclusive party for the media. Media people from local publications, television, radio, and even the cyberworld via the local bloggers association were honored with dinner and entertainment that evening.

Mall Manager George Jardiolin excitedly shared the plans for Bacolod City this year up to 2014. He especially referred to the current expansion project that involves a three-level building that will house SM Department Store. By April this year, all three levels will be occupied. This is Phase 1.

This year, the start of Phase 2 of the expansion will mean the development of the North Wing into a wider building that is also a multi-level one in order to accommodate more shops and restaurants. Local, national, and international brands will result to a wider selection of goods for Bacolod and Negros shoppers.

According to SM Prime Holdings President, Mr. Hans T. Sy, the Bacolod expansion is SM Prime’s way of paying tribute to Bacolod residents. The expansion was started barely 6 years after SM took up residence in the City of Smiles. This endeavor will enable the mall to be a premiere destination that is viable for both business and leisure.

The project has a budget of P1.4 billion and will mean jobs for 2,000 people. The SM City Bacolod Annex along Rizal Street at the Reclamation Area will add 102,043 square meters of gross floor area (GFA) to the main mall making SM City Bacolod’s GFA add up to 171,380 square meters; 81,204 square meters of this area is gross leasable.

The Media Night was one of the few events that will be hosted at the Event Centre. Due to the expansion, the area is going to be occupied temporarily by stores that will be affected by the expansion. Yet, this doesn’t keep events and programs from being staged. After all, the public’s entertainment and pleasure is always a top consideration of the management. Tuloy ang ligaya, as we Pinoys say.

At Media Night, we from the sector were regaled by local talents Musicat, the University of Saint La Salle’s famed singing group. With just five members onstage to entertain us during dinner, we were mesmerized by their beautiful singing voices and stage presence. What followed the group’s performance was a rib-tickling solo act by the sexy comedienne Giselle Sanchez who had us almost rolling on the floor with laughter. Although personally, I found the jokes too sexually graphic for comfort that these might even have a red-blooded male squirming in his seat, Ms. Sanchez has the unusual knack of eliciting raucous laughter with her punch lines. One just cannot help but laugh out loud.

Good food, laughter plus the promise of bigger and better mall attractions and facilities made SM’s first Media Night especially memorable for us. This year will hold many exciting surprises for us all.