There was a lot of excitement when SM Megamall opened in 1991. At 330,000 square meters, it was not only huge like its name implied. It also had many innovations that attracted a lot of customers.
It was the first SM mall that was designed by foreign mall designers, and each floor had a theme and assigned graphics. The shops were more upscale, and it had a row of specialty restaurants in the fourth level. And then, there were the attractions — the Artwalk and the Art Center, the Megatrade Hall, and the Ice Skating Rink.
I was working as a Bowling Center manager in SM City North EDSA in 1992 when I was informed that I would be assigned as manager for the Ice Skating Rink they were opening at SM Megamall. Considering this a new and exciting challenge, and happy at the opportunity to work at SM Megamall, then the biggest and most popular mall in the Philippines, I gladly accepted the new assignment. This decision changed my life forever.
The idea of having an ice skating rink in a tropical country was a novel one, and again, there was the question of whether Filipinos would warm up to a sport that was associated with countries with four seasons. But SM’s management not only believed in it, but made many preparations to make it work.
Top roller skaters were recruited to join in as rink personnel. Disc jockeys from top radio stations were recruited to work as part timers, as the rink then had a concept of disco recreational ice skating with a DJ booth in the center. As part of the operations team, I also learned ice skating as Mr. Hans Sy would tell us, “to be able to sell it, you must learn it”.
After experiencing ice skating for the first time during its first-month trial run, I already knew that it would be a fun activity. There was just one concern — was the market ready for this activity?
We were all elated that the SM Megamall Ice Skating Rink was, as they would say, a mega hit the day it opened. It was the coolest place in town and thousands of people all over the Philippines would queue every day from opening to closing time. We would stand up 12 hours a day assisting our customers, and we were happy that our efforts did not go unnoticed.
Henry Sy, Sr., whom we fondly called Tatang, would pass by daily, smiling and elated at the turnout. He would talk to us about the operations and rewarded us for our efforts. Tatang’s visits also inspired and motivated everyone in the organization knowing that the ice skating rink had the special attention of management.
After the initial successful turnout, our goal focused on providing a long-term plan that would keep the market growing. SM brought in a top American coach to train our homegrown coaches and to standardize their know- how. Eventually we had our formal lessons wherein we adapted the popular American ISI Recreational Program, which was used worldwide. Finding this to be a safe and relaxing program, hundred of students lined up, and as they progressed, we organized recitals and local competitions. Soon we were ready to join international competitions.
The first international competition we joined was in Nara, Japan in 1993. Three teenaged female skaters who had taken formal lessons were trained by Nino Santos, a top coach in the Philippines then, and Kathy Kitchner, a former Australian champion whose husband was an expatriate in the Philippines.
The skaters brought home medals, and this brought about great awareness of the potentials of ice skating. Media interest was very high and loved the fact that Filipinos could do well in a winter sport. Cool Runnings, a movie about a Jamaican toboggan team competing in the Winter Olympics was showing at that time, and it reinforced the fact that tropical countries could do well in winter sports. All this made more skaters enroll and learn ice skating.
As the number of enthusiasts grew, we started joining competitions around Asia. Hong Kong, which started the ISI program in Asia was a popular destination, and the results were outstanding. Filipinos are by nature graceful and have a strong artistic style, and as we gained the technical skills and confidence, we started competing in the annual ISI World Team Championships in the US.
Our team, headed by Ric Camaligan, had its first try when it joined the prestigious 1995 World Team Championship in Houston, Texas. This was the first time a Philippine contingent was competing, and there was much curiosity about our team. We were elated when our team of 50 skaters placed 5th overall over 100 teams from the US and Asia, and so were many other Filipinos who were amazed about our fire on ice.
President Fidel Ramos invited the skaters to Malacañang Palace and conveyed his congratulations. I overheard him ask Mr. Sy, “Henry, kaya ba natin sa Olympics ito?” Mr. Sy just smiled and said, “We will try.”
We would participate in many more competitions and during my time we won two 3rd places overall in the ISI World Team Competitions – over 150 teams in Boston in 1997 and in 1999 in San Jose, California. When we went home, we were very happy to be invited to Malacañang. To date, I understand that SM has participated in 36 foreign competitions, brought home a total of 391 gold, 249 silver, and 133 bronze medals. The SM team has brought much honor to the country, especially when it placed 2nd overall in the 2005 ISI World Team Championships in southern California.
Working with the ice skating team has given me the opportunity to work with world-class homegrown skaters. There was Michael Novales from Las Piñas who had his basic lessons in Megamall and continued in the Southmall Ice Rink when it opened. He created quite a stir when he won against the top US contender in the highest technical event of the competition, Freestyle 9/10 in San Jose, California in 1999. The US media congratulated us on being able to develop world-class talents.
There were a lot of promising skaters: Kilani Dewitt, Francesca Laureano, Irina Feleo, Christian Gabriel Cruz, Dale Feliciano, Jerico Lim, and many young skaters who I believe are now making waves for the Philippine team.
A lot of celebrity kids were also ice skating enthusiasts. There was KC Concepcion , a graceful skater, who joined the Philippine team to Boston in 1997 where she won gold and silver medals. Mom Sharon and Francis Pangilinan would join us in the bleachers to watch her graceful moves. Bong Revilla and Lani Mercado’s children were also active ice skaters — brothers Jolo and Bong were into ice hockey, while sister Ina would glide like a princess. Lani Mercado was very supportive of her children during competitions and would always be there for them during competitions.
The daughters of Johnny Delgado and Laurice Guillen, Ana and Irina Feleo, were top artistic skaters, with Ina becoming a national champion in the 1990s. What is really remarkable is that these celebrities fell in love with ice skating and trained as hard as the others to excel in the sport without asking for special treatment.
The SM management gave us their all-out support through training programs and in the international competitions we joined. Mr. Hans Sy would always challenge our skaters to do their best and enjoy what they are doing. His speeches during our victory parties would always assure skaters of SM’s support.
While I am now working as an expatriate in Hong Kong as Group Manager for ice rink operations in the Swire Properties, Ltd., I feel very proud to have been part of the beginnings of ice skating in the Philippines. My work experience at SM has definitely prepared me for this job. I’ve learned a lot working for SM — goal setting and planning, diligence and perseverance, attention to detail, focus, creativity, and innovation.
When I came back to Manila last year during the Skate Asia competition at SM Mall of Asia, I was so happy to see the first Olympic-size ice skating rink in the country. I had the chance to catch up of former colleagues, and enjoyed exchanging views with Hans Sy.
I was also overwhelmed to see and meet again the man who started it all, our Tatang, Mr. Henry Sy, Sr. I had the privilege to be seated beside him during the opening ceremonies and I took the chance to greet him and thank him. I was elated when he looked at me and smiled.