Philcoa, or at least that place across the actual coconut authority at the mouth of Commonwealth Avenue, has long been a commuter’s hub. The old Citi Mall, with its Super Baratilyo hallway and oft-visited Mercury Drug, and the L Paseo, which houses the beloved branch of Jollibee, are the two main buildings that have served many in transit for as long we QC folk can remember. Whether it was as a meetup spot, a transport terminal, a quick buy or eat, Philcoa was where you ended up. So it wasn’t long before news that establishments at these two spots were slated for a January 31 closure had the Internet feeling, well, a lot of feels.
Now that the date has passed, it looks like Citi Mall and L Paseo really are closing down. A quick look at Philcoa in the morning of February 2 proves it. Practically all establishments had their doors shut—only the transport terminals were operating as usual. Saying goodbye to an old friend will always be heavy, but at least these pictures will always be there when you need a reminder of what once was.
Citi Mall proved to be a bit of a ghost town around 10am on February 2. A lot of commuters were walking past, but there were no more stores and stalls to stop at. The jeepney terminal to UP Diliman was still in operation.
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Over at L Paseo, the establishments were also closed. The pathway up front was being used by folks walking past, but all the glass doors were covered up and a few shops had ‘closed’ signs on them. The old Jollibee, a favorite hangout spot, had its windows covered and tape across its main door. A marking of where the old happy bee used to be above the door could also be seen.
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What happens next to Philcoa?
With the doors of some of the most beloved hangout spots of Philcoa now shut, there is the question of what happens to Citi Mall and L Paseo. In a previous chat, Raquel B. Florendo, UP Diliman vice-chancellor for planning and development, said there are two main factors for the upcoming changes to Philcoa, particularly Citi Mall: “It is something to do with safety and the major development (around the area).”
Citi Mall has been around for as long as we can remember, and we can’t say much on the structure’s upkeep. “Safety that was already on the part of the local government, so that is already uncompromisable,” added Florendo.
Then there is the matter of the nearby railway. “In terms of retrofitting the building, it may not be anymore viable considering that there will developments in the area related to MRT-7. They’re going to build already the area where the pedestrians will go up from the terminal.”
NOTE: This article first appeared on Spot.ph. Minor edits have been made.
