“In a public space, ideally, you are a citizen with agency; in a faux public space, you are either a consumer or a threat to the design of the place,” writes Jenny Odell in her book “How to Do Nothing.”
Public spaces in our country are sparse. In its place are shopping malls that far outnumber libraries, parks and other recreational spaces free for public use. It is for this same reason that we often find ourselves as Filipinos in malls most of the time. Heck, even when they are closed we routinely go there—at least some of us do—to jog, run and do pretty much everything we could in an active space.
SM Southmall acknowledges such a role, which is why it recently launched the first mall perimeter running track in the south aptly called Joggers’ Lane.
The track spans 1.1 km, just enough for those who plan to go on a light run each morning. Built in partnership with Unilever and Boysen, Joggers’ Lane is SM Southmall’s initiative to encourage the community of fitness enthusiasts who frequent the mall in the morning to run.
Joggers’ Lane was officially opened to the public on Feb. 29 with an event called the “Leap Year Run.”
Header photo courtesy of SM Southmall
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Writer: CHRISTIAN SAN JOSE
