Who can remember the time when what is now the Robinsons Galleria South Mall was once a major bottling plant? Or when what is now a major grocery chain at the San Pedro-Muntinlupa boundary was once a paper factory?
In between the time when San Pedro City was known as the Philippines’ “Sampaguita Capital” and as a “Dormitory City,” the city was also known for the major industrial hubs that were part of Laguna’s transformation into a manufacturing center in Southern Luzon.
For instance, I could remember two major beverage plants along the National Highway – the Asia Brewery near Elvinda Village, now a hodgepodge of other industrial firms; and the Cosmos Bottling Plant, makers of the famous homegrown drinks Pop Cola and Sarsi.
Sadly, Cosmos Bottling was swallowed up by Coca-Cola sometime in the 2000’s, and while Sarsi still exists (albeit not as common as it was in the past), Pop Cola was lost in the annals of Philippine food history. (I think the last time they sold Pop Cola was in the 2010’s?)
Before long, even the Cosmos plant in Barangay Nueva ceased to exist, and an empty lot stood in the area by the time I started working for OpinYon in 2014. Some years later, Robinsons Malls bought up the land and transformed it into Robinsons Galleria South Mall, now one of the two premier shopping centers in San Pedro City.
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I’ve decided to write about this after reading an article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer which stated that the Pepsi-Cola bottling plant in Tunasan, Muntinlupa City is reportedly shutting down operations by the end of 2024.
"Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc., (PCPPI) the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the Philippines, has already dismantled and transferred all the production lines to the other plants outside of Metro Manila," that article read. "Apparently, the cost of production—from rent to utilities —has gone up to the point that it was no longer feasible to keep the plant in operation."
For years, like Cosmos and Asia Brewery, the Pepsi-Cola Tunasan plant has served more than a manufacturing hub or a place of work – it has served as one of those “landmarks” for motorists and commuters traveling to Laguna province.
For those going home from San Pedro City from Manila, the sight of that plant usually meant that they’re now just over a kilometer or so away from the San Pedro-Muntinlupa boundary.
It’s interesting to see what will become of the plant once it shuts down operations, especially as a major shopping mall sits right beside it.
Abangan ang susunod na kabanata!
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And in honor of the memories of our “vanishing” landmarks, here’s a joke that only “old-time” San Pedrenses will understand:
Sa isang bus papuntang San Pedro, Laguna…
Kunduktor: Kayo po, Kuya?
Pasahero 1: Dalawa po, sa McDonald’s.
Kunduktor: At kayo po, Lolo?
Pasahero 2: Isa lang, Pepsi.
Kunduktor: Kayo po, sir?
Pasahero 3: Isa, sa Cosmos [present-day site of Robinson’s Galleria South]
Kunduktor: At kayo po, Miss?
Pasahero 4: Lima kami. Tatlong hamburger, dalawang hotdog at limang Pepsi.
Kunduktor: Miss, hindi po ito restoran, bus po ito! Saan po kayo bababa?
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