I am quite bothered lately that Robinson’s Galleria is slowly becoming a non – smoking place.

Yesterday as I was strolling at Galleria with my bestfriend Cecille, the mall’s security personnel had told us off, at least twice, that smoking is no longer allowed. We just shrugged those reminders off since there was a WHOLE LOT doing just the same. And it’s not as much fun hanging out at the mall when all you do is to dodge being apprehended just because you are puffing a cigarette or two.

I had been a smoker almost half my life that I really resent this so – called policy or “Republic Act so – so, Clean Air Act” bullshit.

I know that “Smoking is Dangerous to My Health” and all those two – liners about the hazards of smoking i.e. “smokers don’t grow old, coz they die young”, etc. I am aware of the consequences, thank you!. I had accepted the fact that my life expectancy is diminishing by the second, proportionate to the number of sticks I consume. But what the heck! Isn’t it MY lungs and MY heart that are at risk? Forgive me for being a self-righteous bitch but I would surely live MY life the way I wanted to, whether it be suicidal or for my own betterment.

And what about the passive smokers who constantly forced to inhale my cigarettes’ strays? I am not a bit bothered. Why? They say that second – hand smoke is worse than puffing those sticks yourself. To which I totally disagree. The reason is I have yet to see for myself any recorded scientific finding/discovery or article that will give conclusion to this hypothesis. Passive smokers can cover their nose or something but I will not stop smoking just because of them.

Back to those glory days when smoking is still allowed at SM Malls, where my friends and I would hang – out, chill or just waste the hours away. Well, that was before and I see no indications that it will be that way again. I just hope that Robinson’s Malls will not follow suit or they will suffer the same fate as that of SM Malls. That the only time people flock to their premises is when there’s a midnight [or three – day] sale!