CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – On October 9, the newest mega mall in the Philippines opened in Cabanatuan City, north of the capital, Manila. On October 10, the mall was shut down by the police and fire marshall.

The reason?  Fire code violation.

Tens of thousands of residents of Cabanatuan and nearby towns and cities flocked to the new mall to be among the first to experience airconditioned shopping and presumably to get a glance of the opening day festivities featuring Queen of All Media (and presidential sister) Kris Aquino, who was among the celebrity guests.

As it turned out, the mall was filled to capacity and there was no room to move about (see photo).

The crowd reminded Filipinos of the everyday ocurrence for commuters on Metro Manila’s Light Railway System, the  MRT. 

Police and Fire Marshalls said that the mall violated maximum capacity limits, creating a high fire hazard and potential  fatal stampede.

With the kind of government bureaucracy in the Philippines, it may take months before the mall will be allowed to reopen.