Red alert: Sale up to 70% off at Robinsons Malls

MANILA, Philippines - August brings torrential rains. And at Robinsons Malls —all 32 of them nationwide — it’s raining sales (up to 70% off) until Aug. 31.  Up to 70-percent markdown? Now, that’s really hot — make that red hot!

Naturally, to channel my inner shopaholic, I make a dash for the nearest Robinsons Mall. Robinsons Galleria is quite near my neighborhood, but since today is a working day, I head to Robinsons Place Manila in Ermita, which is near my office in Port Area, for lunch. But of course, the first order of the day is lunch!  You don’t want to be shopping on a grumbling stomach, do you? Besides, you’ll need an ample reserve of energy to sustain you up to the finish line of your shopping marathon. Robinsons Malls Manila has an overwhelming selection of restos/casual dining places that cater to assorted taste buds and budgets. For this lunch, we try Yakimix sushi smokeless grill restaurant (Level 4, Midtown Wing) for a healthy, hearty buffet of Japanese food complete with a sinful array of desserts for only P520 per person.

Now fully fueled up, we set out for the day’s shopping trip. But first, to make the most of our shopping time, we get a map of Robinsons Place Ermita and draw up a battle plan before we attack the stores. First, we swoop down on Robinsons Department Store (Level 2), where I get a couple of nice Lee tees at 50% off (now only less than P500 each, from P1,000 plus) for my niece who is celebrating her birthday this month. Of course, I get a top for myself, too — a frilly girly one for only P250).

I find a lot more hot stuff on my kilometric shopping list at Robinsons Department Store. Like Bossini tops with collar, now also at 50% off. Now, who needs to go to Hong Kong or Singapore for Bossini?

Suddenly, I see green (aside from the red tags all over the store). It’s the eco bag with a tree design — I think that I shall never see a recycled bag as lovely as this. I get one for myself at only P40.

In the same store, I get two items that are not on sale but are value-for-money buys. One is a pair of open-toed Converse slip-ons in dark blue that’s great for walking especially when you want to shop till you drop.  I must confess I have the exact same pair in light blue and and another one in black that I got at Universal Studios in Florida. Oh, well, a girl can’t have too many shoes or slip-ons, can she? This shoe unique Converse all-star design is quite a conversation piece — I often get asked, “Where did you buy that?” Now, you know.

And for my sister in Canada who often longs for homecooked Pinoy food, I grab a copy of the latest Appetite magazine so she could probably try the recipes for such intriguing dishes as longganiza risotto, nilasheng na manok sa serbesa, and adobong sugpo sa mangga.

I bag more bargains at NaRaYa (Level 2), a famous Thai brand that produces those pretty finely crafted fabric bags and accessories. I bought half a dozen of these bags at the Bangkok airport recently. It’s good to know we have them in Manila, too. I get a black bag with the signature bow that’s at 50% off at NaRaYa (now at P691 from P1,199). The salesgirl tells me it’s the last piece; somebody bought a dozen for giving away. I pair my black tote with a tiny black cosmetic bag with mirror. How tote-ful of the salesgirl to suggest this to me!

Since a girl also can’t have too many bags, I walk over to Esprit (Level 2) to get a shopping bag (P698, not on sale but quite reasonable and functional) in my favorite color — shocking fuchsia — just in case I overshop and would need an extra bag for my purchases.

To reward my feet for all the walking it has done so far, I walk into the Prettyfit store (Level 2) where lots of really pretty shoes are at up to 70% off. I get  a black pair of gartered flats that’s a perfect fit for my feet and budget (now at P999 from P1,998). If you go to Singapore, you’ll find Prettyfit at Wisma Atria that’s got a wide selection of reasonably priced shoes to suit every occasion, embellished with ethnic embroidery, suede trimmings, and beaded patterns — you’ll find them all, too, at Prettyfit here.

So, I’ve got clothes, shoes, and bags. What about costume jewelry? For that, I hop over to my favorite Canadian brand Aldo (Level 2). I get a shimmering pair of flower earrings at P199 (from P300 plus). Also at Aldo, my shopping companion Boy Suerte is shoe happy to find a pair of canvas shoes marked down from P3,499 to P2,500. He grabs it before somebody else does.

The last stop on our shopping itinerary is the supermarket (Level 1) where I grab some chocolates and a few grocery items.

To chillax after a tiring but fun day of shopping, we treat ourselves to a three-scoop cup of screamingly delicious gelato at the Arts Cream Gallery at the ground floor.

There are just so many grab-worthy buys at the month-long Robinsons Red Hot Sale. Mango is at 70% off. Kenneth Cole Reaction offers from 25 to 65% off. Find your perfect solemate at Aerosoles at 25% off. At Girbaud, there’s a buy 1, get 1 sale. At F&X, you get three shirts/tops for only P899 and two for only P799. Who needs to fly and shop abroad when a lot of these famous international brands (aside from the top local brands) are here at Robinsons and some of them are on sale (think Calvin Klein, Charles & Keith, Clarks, Cotton On, Dorothy Perkins, Florsheim, Esprit, GH Bass, Guess, Hush Puppies, Liz Claiborne, Mango, Mossimo, Naturalizer, Nine West, Rockport, Springfield, Skechers, Steve Madden, United Colors of Benetton, Van Heusen, etc. etc.).

Robinsons Malls first held its red hot sale in August 2011, and the month-long sale has since become such a hot attraction. Robinsons Malls holds a mall-wide sale event four times a year. Aside from the mall-wide discounts, shoppers are presented a coupon, which will reveal a prize. Promo runs from Aug. 10 to Aug. 31. Visit www.robinsonsmalls.com; www.facebook.com/RobinsonsMalls, www.twitter.com/RobinsonsMalls.

Surely, shopping is even more cool at Robinsons Malls with its red hot sale.