Sssshhhh ... Now it can be told ... #ThrowbackThursday #TBT About 15 years ago I helped arranged the trip and personally escorted Hans Sy in his first visit to Davao. He was with his sidekicks Jojo Mendiola (President of SM Dept Store; his father Senen was the accountant and original partner of Henry Sy, hence SM, Sy-Mendiola), and Jeffrey Lim (now SM Holdings CFO).They came in style in a private jet and stayed for 3 days. I showed them the citys vibrant economy in Agdao and Bankerohan public markets, the local Gaisano, Felcris and NCCC stores and Victoria Plaza. Hans told me he regretted that SM was missing the action in Davao. After a week, they called me to find a contractor to fence off their Ecoland lot so they can immediately start construction of their first mall in Mindanao. (The fencing was done by HLC) They also asked me to name local business groups that they can partner with.(Its the Bangayan family). Several years after SM City Davao opened in 2001, I and Mall Manager Debbie Go were asking Hans and company to build a hotel and convention facility which then was Davaos urgent need. SM responded with not just an SMX and a hotel, but opened an entirely new mall, a first for its premier type, at Lanang.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 22:30:31 +0000