For some years now, Forum Robinsons in Mandaluyong City has been lost in the shuffle of Metro Manila's gigantic shopping malls. At times, it even feels like a remnant of new millennium optimism.
Younger visitors might recall it more now for its criminally underrated cinema spaces, quick-serve Forum Bites, or perhaps an air conditioning system that left much to be desired.
But when it first opened in 2004, what was then called Robinsons Place Pioneer was envisioned to be a multifaceted establishment that would cater to a new cyberhub, or a place where workers of the business process outsourcing (B.P.O.) boom of the early 2000s congregated.
Sadly, less than two decades later, the once-animated mall announced on its Facebook page that it would be closing down on May 1. So we'd like to take a moment to say goodbye to the old, reliable Forum.
Robinsons Land sought to maximize its new Philippine Economic Zone Authority (P.E.Z.A.)-accredited cyber information technology park, the Robinsons Cybergate Complex, for the emerging B.P.O. sector. And Robinsons Place Pioneer was positioned to be part of the dynamism of the complex. The mall's location along EDSA corner Pioneer placed it right smack in the middle of the giant commercial hubs of Ortigas and Makati. Apart from being an ideal haunt to residents and employees within the Cybergate community, the mall offered commuters a central transport location and a place to stay for a little while before they headed north or south.
Robinsons Place Pioneer began transforming three years after it was built into more of the cyber lifestyle mall we know today. It had stores selling I.T. products, such as computers, audio-video and gaming equipment, and the like, to a new generation of Filipinos that was wide-eyed about the possibilities of new-age tech.
The mall eventually took seven more years to be renamed Forum Robinsons, which was said to be part of its repositioning to better align with the Cybergate Complex.
On the lower ground level, there was Siomai House for a quick comfort snack. The upper ground floor had a Starbucks for all those forgettable coffee dates.
Upstairs was Robinsons Movieworld's cozy theaters, which had superb audio quality and even had one state-of-the-art 3D facility. Victory Pioneer, on the second level, used to offer a place of refuge for devout Christians. In between were the technology shops and food stalls we all know and love.
Over the years, the specialty mall regrettably lost its luster and even those who frequent it can say that it was in dire need of a facelift. For some, it just couldn't keep up with the ever-changing urban landscape and newer consumers, especially with malls like S.M. Megamall, Robinsons Galleria, and The Podium all close by, constantly evolving and modernizing their amenities. Technology had also become far more accessible these days, and the Forum saw a dwindling customer base for its tech and gadget shops. Of course, the pandemic didn't do it any good either.
Nevertheless, there's something to be said about the mall's place in Metro Manila commercial lore. While it was built to usher in an era for the tech-savvy Filipino, it ironically ended up becoming a snapshot of a vision for the future stuck in the past.
But its fans can take comfort in the fact that an exciting project from Robinsons Land to replace Forum Robinsons is coming soon. What it will be we don't know yet, but here's hoping that the new development will have a semblance of the Forum's old buoyancy and charm.
Forum Robinsons is holding an All-Out Clearance Sale at the Robinsons Department Store inside the shopping center until April 30. The department store is offering up to 80 percent off on a wide range of items.
