SM shows solidarity for Down syndrome community through this year’s Happy Walk

SM Cares, a long time-supporter of the Down Syndrome community, is celebrating 20 years of supporting communities. This 2024, SM malls celebrate Happy Walk in SMX Manila, SM City Cebu and SM City Bacolod.

SM Cares, in partnership with the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines (DSAPI), continues to show its support and commitment to raising awareness and empowering the Down syndrome community through the annual Happy Walk, held last March 24, Sunday.

This year’s Happy Walk got even bigger with over 5,000 overall attendees, with 480 persons registered with Down Syndrome, the highest across runs. The event was held at the SMX Convention Center Manila at the SM Mall of Asia Complex.

All for Down, several executives showed full support during the event. Among them were (third from left) Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines (DSAPI) President Luis Harder, along with Toy Kingdom Senior Vice President for Operations Ms. Karen Dechavez; Toy Kingdom Vice President for Operations Ms. Myra Dumangas; SM Supermalls' Assistant Vice President for Marketing Hanna Carinna Sy; SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans Sy; Atty. Peter Pardo, Chief of Staff of Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano; SM Prime Chief Finance Officer John Ong, and DSAPI's Elmer Lapena, Agnes Lapeņa and Nill Arroyo

SM City Cebu also participated in the Happy Walk with over 1,000 participants, bringing together their own local communities in solidarity for people with Down syndrome.

Also present in the event for SM City Bacolod is Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.

This year’s Happy Walk had various fun activities and events for attendees to participate in, alongside walking with members of the Down syndrome community.

SM Employees and their families also showed support to our Natatanging Nilalangs during the Happy Walk 2024 – showing SM’s commitment in being a Mall for All

SM Cares has been supporting the Down syndrome community through the Happy Walk for over 20 years, and has also been a consistent partner of DSAPI since 2007. Each step of the journey shows SM’s commitment to encouraging compassion and acceptance for people with Down syndrome within society, as well as fostering an inclusive mall experience for everyone.

SM Supermalls champions wellness and community: Health and Beauty Caravan 2024 returns!

SM Supermalls kicks off the continuation of Women's Month celebrations with the press launch of the 3rd Health and Beauty Caravan by Ricky Reyes at SM Megamall. In cooperation with the Philippine Red Cross, Philippine Cancer Society, and Local Government Units (LGUs), this special project spearheaded by the Filipino Hairdressers' Association (FILHAIR) for the Metro Manila Mayors Spouses Foundations Inc. (MMMSFI) has become a cornerstone event, promoting health, beauty, and social responsibility within communities. Building on the success of the 2023 edition, this year's caravan will take place from April 16 to June 26, 2024, across SM malls nationwide.

In the press launch, FILHAIR President "Mother" Ricky Reyes shared her vision for the caravan, emphasizing its focus on not just outward beauty but also inner wellness. Mandaluyong City Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos highlighted the positive impact the caravan will have on women in the community, particularly in terms of health and empowerment. Philippine Red Cross Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang stressed the importance of well-being and social responsibility. Representatives from the MMMSFI, including Vice President Trina Biazon of Muntinlupa, Treasurer Tiffany Gatchalian of Valenzuela, and Secretary Aubrey Malapitan of Caloocan, accepted the project and expressed gratitude.

FILHAIR President "Mother" Ricky Reyes

Mandaluyong City Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos

Philippine Red Cross Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang

Metro Manila Mayors Spouses Foundation Inc. Vice President and Muntinlupa First Lady Trina Biazon

Metro Manila Mayors Spouses Foundation Inc. (MMMSFI) Treasurer and Valenzuela First Lady Tiffany Gatchalian and MMMSFI Secretary and Caloocan First Lady Aubrey Malapitan

The Health Caravan will again be joined by LGUs to provide free medical services for 800 participants, including women, children, and senior citizens. This will include the distribution of medicines and vitamins; training for barangay health workers on emergency preparedness; blood typing; blood sugar checks; feeding programs; and more. The Philippine Cancer Society will also offer cancer screenings for all women. China Bank will likewise participate in this event by offering a specialized Insurance Program designed for beauty practitioners, salon owners, salon employees, and makeup artists.

The Beauty Caravan aims to help all beauty practitioners, salon owners, hair and makeup artists, and everyone involved in the beauty industry. It will achieve this through seminars and competitions in different categories, such as the UNISEX HAIR COLORING STYLING COMPETITION, which focuses on the latest trends in hair color and styling. There's also the REBOND PLUS CATEGORY, a competition for the best hair rebonding service, the BRIDAL MAKEUP CATEGORY for the best Makeup Artist, and the newest and much-awaited category this year, the HIGH FASHION, GANDA NG LOLA CATEGORY, a competition celebrating style and confidence among senior citizens.

The model of Bridal Makeup Champion 2023, Paulo Torda

The model of Unisex Color Styling Champion 2023, Marvin Habla 

More details about participating SM malls and the complete competition categories will be revealed soon. Stay tuned!

SM celebrates sustainability on World Water Day: Supporting DENR-NCR’s Gawad Taga-Ilog and beyond

In time for World Water Day on March 22, SM, a long-time partner of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - National Capital Region (NCR), celebrated their commitment to clean water at the recent 4th Gawad Taga-Ilog awards ceremony held at Park Inn by Radisson in SM City North EDSA. The Gawad Taga-Ilog is a search for the Most Improved Estero (waterway) in Metro Manila, and SM has been a consistent supporter of this local government-led project for the past four years.

(L-R): Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Executive Director Jacqueline Caancan, SM Supermalls’ Vice President for Corporate Compliance Liza Silerio, and SM Prime Senior Assistant Vice President for Estate Management Orliber Paule at the recent 4th Gawad Taga-Ilog awards ceremony held at Park Inn by Radisson in SM City North EDSA

In the photo are (L-R): Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Executive Director Jacqueline Caancan, SM Supermalls’ Vice President for Corporate Compliance Liza Silerio, SM Prime Senior Assistant Vice President for Estate Management Orliber Paule, and SM Cares’ Assistant Vice President Richard Caluyo with the other sponsors and awardees at the 4th Gawad Taga-Ilog awards ceremony.

The Gawad Taga-Ilog program recognizes the significant efforts of local governments, particularly barangays, in keeping Metro Manila's waterways clean and trash-free. The theme, "Transforming Communities Through the Gawad Taga-Ilog," emphasizes sustainability – a cornerstone of SM's philosophy. It focuses on three core concepts: economic growth, environmental enhancement, and social inclusion. 

This aligns with SM's environmental initiatives, which include the Adopt-A-River/Estero Program, a partnership with the DENR and the local governments of Pasay and Paranaque. It focuses on improving water quality, cleaning up solid waste, and implementing sustainable solutions for the Pasay and Parañaque rivers. As part of a 5-year Memorandum of Agreement, SM works to decongest the river of garbage, improve water flow, and foster community participation through clean-up initiatives, engineering solutions, and educational materials.

SM's donated trash-boat is being used to remove trash at Malabon Creek, behind SM City Sucat in Paranaque—a proactive step towards cleaner waterways.

Last year, SM championed the International Coastal Cleanup Day, gathering a team of over 17,000 volunteers and collecting a record-breaking 100,432.50 kg of trash across 15 SM malls in 12 locations nationwide.

SM Supermalls has consistently participated in the International Coastal Clean-Up, providing a platform for volunteers to contribute to a greener future.

SM plans to partner with Local Government Units (LGUs), to recycle water, which will be used in watering city landscapes, promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship.

By actively supporting initiatives like Gawad Taga-Ilog and implementing innovative solutions, SM demonstrates its unwavering commitment to a cleaner and more sustainable future for our waterways and communities.