Adventures of a Diva Princess: SM Supermalls

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Good news, holiday shoppers: SM Cares is bringing back the SM Bears of Joy to help you share the joy with children in need this holiday season!

For this year, SM Cares went with the theme "I-share ang ligaya ng pasko kasama ang SM Bears of Joy" featuring SB19's song Ligaya. The collection is inspired by “family” and features four adorable “FamBears” reminding shoppers to share the joy of Christmas and their love for their family members with those in need this season.

First is Daddy Bear, who strives to provide for the family and is someone you can always lean on. Then there’s Mommy Bear; she's the greatest gift because of her unconditional love. Brother Bear, the coolest member of the family, is here to keep everyone safe. Last but not least is the kindhearted and the sweetest FamBear, Sister Bear, whose hugs and kisses will take your worries away.

"This year's collection is all about family. Nothing is as joyful as spending the holidays with those that we love, and we want to help extend this feeling to children who are in need this season through a simple yet very meaningful gesture that our mall-goers can make while doing their holiday shopping," said SM Cares Senior Vice President for Marketing Jonjon San Agustin.

To participate, simply purchase a pair of these specially designed bear plushies, one for your keeping and the other to be donated to children in various communities across the country. The plushies are priced at P250 per pair and will be available in select SM Malls nationwide, and through the online stores of Toy Kingdom and The SM Store until December 25, 2022.

SM Cares is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, responsible for initiatives that focus on communities and the environment. In addition to its programs on women and breastfeeding mothers, SM Cares’ advocacies include programs on the environment, PWDs and senior citizens, and children and youth.

Visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares to learn more about these programs.

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With all the commotion in the Metro, you’ll want to unwind and enjoy a #AwSMBurstOfSummer at SM Megamall and The Podium! Here’s a list of things you should see this summer.

Preview of Mega Whale Shark

The #AweSM3DWhaleShark was first spotted at the SM Megamall LED billboard last April 28, 2022. It is the first-ever 3D immersive experience in Manila and everyone can enjoy this sight daily at 7pm to 9pm every 15 minutes. Stay tuned for more awesome experience as this is just the first preview and we’ll give you more of the Mega Whale Shark soon!

Watch here: https://www.facebook.com/smmegamall/videos/786805132726449

#First3DPreview #OnlyAtMega

Mega Play Park

Experience the #AweSMBurstOfSummer as SM Megamall brings you a fun and exciting experience at the Mega Play Park located at the Ground Floor, Mega Fashion Hall. The gigantic doll house, funnest games such as golf, table tennis and colorful photo spots, are perfect for the young ones and kids-at-heart. Enjoy this attraction until May 10, 2022.

Summer Coolers and Desserts- Until May 10

The Ultimate Summer Coolers and Desserts surrounding the colorful Mega Play Park are the best, delicious drinks and desserts to beat the summer heat: Yogorino, Serenitea, Gong Cha, Milksha, Tokyo Bubble Tea, The Alley, Cold Stone and Papermoon.

Mega 5-Day Sale

It’s going to be a summer to remember as SM Megamall gives you the most awaited Mega 5-day sale. Score lots of amazing deals and SMAC exclusive deals from your favorite stores from May 11-15, 2022. #SafeMallingAtSM #Mega5DaySale.

Pawsome Summer The Podium

Paws up at The Podium Paw Park! Enjoy two whole weekends of dog socializing and fun in PetMe’s activities and day care service. And shop special accessories and treats from Presidential Paws, BARF Philippines, Petenizer and more at our Pup-ups! Pawsome Summer happening this April 28-May 1 & May 6-8. Can’t wait to spend this pawsome summer with you!

The Podium Alfresco area ADB and Roofdeck

Spend a little more time with friends and family with a little city breeze at The Podium Alfresco. Dine Al fresco at the ground level at ADB or up at The Roofdeck Gardens. Reserve a table through your restaurant of choice or sit & scan the QR to place an order.

The Food Lab and Culinarya Pampanga

Your favorite instagram food brands are making it to The Podium! The Food Lab brings together your instagram cravings in one spot. Order a variety of food and snacks from pop-ups of each of the instagrammable food brands in your feed. Stay tuned for more!

Work it, Mom!

It’s a workout party with mom this May! Get dancing, stretching, and boxing with The Podium boutique studios, and get your customized Nike fit for the occasion. Release those endorphins and have a great time with mom this May 15, sunday.

So there you have it: a list of the best things to do in Ortigas this summer. At SM Megamall and The Podium, dine, shop, and strike a pose! For more, follow @smmegamall and @thepodiummall on Twitter.

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SM Supermalls has deployed the first ever in-mall free charging stations in the Philippines for e-Vehicles (EV) at select SM malls as part of its efforts to create a safer, greener future for all.

The free EV charging stations were simultaneously launched today at SM Aura in Taguig City, SM North Edsa in Quezon City, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, and SM Megamall in Mandaluyong; with PGA Cars providing the car displays at the official launch event in SM Aura.

This initiative is part of SM Supermall’s push to support technological innovations for a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.

“SM Supermalls will remain true to our promise of creating a safe malling experience for our mallgoers, and part of that commitment is building a greener environment for everyone. We will always strive to ramp up our efforts to give back to our communities through our innovative projects in driving sustainability in our 79 malls nationwide. We want to urge everyone to consider more sustainable options in their everyday life, and shifting to e-Vehicles is a giant leap towards a greener future for all of us,” SM Supermalls President Steven T. Tan said.

The in-mall charging stations is conveniently located in SM AURA B1 Parking, SM Mall of Asia 3rd Level North Parking Building, SM Megamall B1 Parking Mega Fashion Hall, and SM North Edsa 3rd Level North Parking Tower, have two Wallbox Pulsar Plus 7.4KW AC chargers per mall. These chargers support e-Vehicle brands such as Audi, BMW, Fiat, Ford, GMC, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volkswagen, and Hyundai, among others.

The launch of the EV charging stations in premier SM malls is a product of SM Supermalls’ continuous partnership with the Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Trade and Industry in assisting the government accelerate its renewable energy and sustainability initiatives.

“SM Supermalls will continue our staunch support of the government’s new EV law and the National Renewable Energy Program to promote a more eco-friendly society for all Filipinos. We remain steadfast in our goal of increasing our share of renewable energy sources by 50 percent by the end of 2022,” Tan said.

E-vehicles are true zero emission vehicles that have electric motors instead of internal combustion engines. As of 2020, there are 12,965 registered EVs in the Philippines. SM Supermalls is one of the first mall chains to establish in-mall e-Vehicle charging sites in the country.

SM Supermalls is the first mall chain to establish in-mall e-Vehicle charging sites in the country. In 2018, SM North Edsa inaugurated its first EV charging station to service electric public transport routes and most recently these EV chargers have been updated.

In the coming months, expect that more fast chargers will be installed in other SM Malls nearest you.

The EV Charging Stations Project supports The SM Green Movement towards a greener planet. #smgreenmovement @smsupermalls. For more information, visit www.smsupermalls.com and follow @smsupermalls on all social media accounts.

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SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, recently joined this year's Earth Day celebrations by promoting the responsible disposal of recyclables and e-waste among its mall-goers and employees, and highlighting the government's various efforts in helping preserve the country's waterways.

Among SM Cares Earth Day 2022 activities were the "Earth Day Trash-To-Cash," a special iteration of SM Cares' long-running Trash-To-Cash Recycling Market where customers and the community can drop off their recyclable waste, such as paper and plastic containers, in exchange for cash at designated collection points in all SM malls nationwide from 10 AM to 2 PM.

In partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - National Capital Region (DENR-NCR), SM Cares also hosted a photo exhibit centered on the winners of DENR's Gawad Taga-Ilog program, which recognizes the efforts of local government units in ensuring the cleanliness of their waterways. The exhibit was held last April 22 to 24 at SM Mall of Asia.

"SM has always been a reliable partner of the DENR in promoting our various initiatives aimed at protecting the environment. What makes it better is that the company really takes their environmental stewardship very seriously, which aligns well with our goal of preserving the country's natural beauty and resources,” said Al O. Orolfo, Director of the DENR Internal Audit Service.

On April 22, SM Cares also held the "SM Earth Day Challenge" wherein SM employees were encouraged to bring in items for recycling such as cardboard, paper, old books and newspapers, PET and plastic bottles, tin and aluminum cans, old kitchen items, and small e-waste such as old mobile phones, chargers, earphones, computer cords, ink toner and cartridges, and calculators, among others. In total, SM was able to gather a total of more than 19 tons of recyclables and electronic waste from its Earth Day activities.

“We at SM know that environmental stewardship must come from our people themselves. This is why we continue to create opportunities for them to show that they are one with the whole organization in wanting to achieve the kind of future that we want for ourselves and our loved ones, where everyone can enjoy all the beautiful things that Mother Nature can offer,” said Cheryll Agsaoay, SM Supermalls Human Resources Vice President.

“The theme for this year's Earth Day is 'Invest in Our Future.' This is a wakeup call for all of us to start investing in the only planet we call home, so that future generations may still be able to witness its bountiful wonders. It’s the kind of investment that doesn’t require a lot of money, but the payoff is worth it,” said SM Supermalls Vice President for Corporate Compliance and SM Cares Environment Program Head Engr. Liza B. Silerio.

Through these efforts, SM Cares not only supports the goals of the global Earth Day movement, but also many of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including "SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation," "SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities," "SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production," "SDG 13: Climate Action," "SDG 14: Life Below Water," and "SDG 15: Life on Land."

Other sustainability projects of SM Supermalls include the annual Green Film Festival, which promotes environmental awareness among students and the youth; the AweSMSeas project in partnership with the USAID and PRRCI, which promotes responsible plastic waste management affecting our seas; and the International Coastal Cleanup that gathers thousands of volunteers every year, among others.

To learn more, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares

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The Philippines has long been considered calamity-prone and vulnerable to disasters. In fact, it placed third among all the highest-risk countries worldwide, according to the World Risk Report of 2018.

A big contributor is the country’s geographical location and make-up. As an archipelago, the Philippines is composed of many small islands and is surrounded by water. It is also located within the Typhoon belt and the “Ring of Fire” and between the Eurasian and Pacific tectonic plates. Thus, natural occurrences such as typhoons, tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, are almost always a disaster waiting to happen - literally.

Just recently, the Visayas and Mindanao regions suffered from the devastating effects of Typhoon Odette. Taal Volcano’s last eruption was only in 2020, and it affected more than 736,000 people. Filipinos constantly experience a barrage of natural disasters, and yet, a study from the Harvard

Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) in 2018 shows that 47.5% of all the respondents said they have not done anything to prepare themselves for a disaster within the past five years, and only 36% feel prepared enough.

Still, there seems to be hope in encouraging Filipinos to start priontizing their safety and investing in disaster preparedness. In the same Harvard study,‘ many of the respondents said if they had enough funds and resources, they would definitely be willing to prepare ahead. This shows that, in spite of it all, Filipinos do want to be ready. So, what can we as individuals do to make sure that we are well-equipped when the next typhoon, earthquake, or volcanic eruption hits? The first step is to know your location well. Is it prone to flooding? How far away is it from the nearest volcano? Is ft close to a fault line? All this information can be found with just a click of a button, thanks to digitalized documentation efforts led by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). (Link: https://www. phivolcs.dost.gov. ph/index.php/gisweb-hazard-maps) Once you have assessed your location’s vulnerabilities, now you can actively prepare yourself and your home for any incoming calamities. Check your house for any damages, and if it is made from materials that can withstand ground movement or strong winds. Keep a Go Bag with emergency resources accessible, both in your homes and places of work.

Finally, make it a habit to listen to the radio and the news for any updates, and monaor your local government unit’s social media for any announcements. Familiarize yourself with as many routes as you can to your nearest evacuation center. Schools, barangay courts, and even malis like SM Supermalls often open their doors to receive evacuees in times of crisis.

Earthquake Recording Instrumentations (ERI) on all malls for earth movement real time monitoring being recorded in an ERI dashboard.

SM, as a responsible member of the community, has taken disaster resilience as a necessary investment to help ensure that our communities thrive. SM allots 10% of its capital expenditures to incorporate disaster-resilient features, of which installing water management design features is one of them. By ensuring that its investments, employees, tenants and partners are resilient, no Filipino will be left behind.

“It is simply not a matter of if, but when. We already know that there will always be another typhoon, another earthquake, another natural calamity. Our best bet to avoid personal losses and damages is to be ready for when it comes.” ~Hans T. Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings

Some of SM’s notable resilient infrastructure is SM City Marikina and SM Mall of Asia, designed to help mitigate the effect of flooding in the community. Most SM malls feature disaster-resilient designs including SM City Puerto Princesa in Palawan wherein the mall es elevated approximately 1.40 meters from the City Road, thus preventing it to be flooded from the heavy rain throughout the year. SM City Consolacion in Cebu has an adequately designed draining system discharging to adjacent creek and area surface drain along the perimeter walls.

SM Seaside City Cebu's protection against storm surges is provided by elevating the site above mean sea level, thereby allowing the mall to be a place of refuge during times of flooding. The complex road was constructed 4.0m (not 3.0m) higher than the city road. Instead of flood barrier walls as a solution to the threat of flooding, the building's main floor was also elevated at 4.0m (not 4.5m) from the complex roads. The first level was designed to be a parking area with a 4.0m elevation difference from the main floor.

“We often ask ourselves – how else can we make it better for the people? We don’t want to just simply build malls, but more importantly, we make sure that our developments improve the lives of the community by adding disaster-resilient features to help mitigate the potential effects of disasters.” ~Hans T. Sy, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime Holdings

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After two years, suddenly it feels like summer again. And it’s a great time to enjoy the beach and great outdoors, as well as the city streets with family and friends again.

It’s also a great time to shop for breezy, summer-ready styles for brighter days at The SM Store. Whether you are headed for a pool party or enjoying time with the family at the mall, the warmer months are an excellent opportunity to look and feel great. Here are some exciting summer must-haves from The SM Store.

Keep fit and fab – and fashionable - with athleisure outfits from SM Woman’s Active Department, which are made from polyester-spandex blend, stretched, and with a regular fit for all body types. A water bottle by your side from the Women’s Accessories Department will keep you cool and hydrated.

If you’re headed for the beach, make a splash with Coco Cabana’s swimwear and rash guards at the Women’s Wear Department. There are also board shorts for surfing, swimming, and chillin’ under the sun at Coco Republic at the Men’s Department. Also, go for brighter colors and bold prints like tie dye tees at Tee Culture at The SM Store.

Walk the summer streets with cool and comfy sandals from Parisian Women and sneakers and rubber shoes from the Men’s Shoes Department. Don’t be afraid to express your accessories like cross body bags from Parisian Women and the Men’s Accessories Department Hatchet Backpacks from Jansen.

Kids, too can have a lot of summer fashion fun with Swim Printed Rash guards for boys and girls, Printed Shirts and Shorts from Just tees and Fashionable and printed Maxi dresses for girls from Little Miss. They also offer comfy and stylish shoes, slip-ons and casual footwear which are a great outfit for kids this summer in Sugar Kids and Tough Kids. All available at The SM Store’s Kids Department.

Shop in-store or online and celebrate the vibe of everyday summer at The SM Store. Visit www.thesmstore.com or order via The SM Store Call To Deliver services at #143SM (#14376) and have a personal shopper assists you. For more updates and exciting deals, follow TheSMStore in Facebook and on Instagram.

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SM City Baliwag and SM City San Jose Del Monte join the nationwide ‘Resbakuna Kids’ pilot vaccination drive as the malls became the official venue for the inoculation of children 5-11 years old recently.

Led by the respective health offices, with support from the local government units, Baliwag and San Jose Del Monte encouraged parents to pre-register their children at the nearest Rural Health Unit (RHU) or respective barangay health centers, as walk-ins at the vaccination sites are not yet allowed.

Children aged 5-11 will receive Pfizer vaccine with a lower dosage and lower concentration than those given to minors aged 12 to 17.

To make vaccination fun for kids, SM City Baliwag transformed the mall vaccination site into a country farm-themed venue, equipped with kid-friendly areas for screening, registration, vaccination, observation and monitoring. The mall also staged balloon twister activities to entertain kids at the venue. There were at least 500 pre-registered children inoculated during the pilot vaccination at SM City Baliwag.

On the other hand, SM City San Jose del Monte turned its vaccination area into a child-friendly, party-like place, decorated with colorful tarpaulins, balloons, and lanterns. On its first day, children were entertained by mascots before they underwent medical checkups and consultations.

“Today is a special milestone, especially for the kids of San Jose del Monte. They have an added layer of protection against the virus, and because of that, malling will be happier and a lot safer for them,” said SM Regional Manager Lea Sta. Ana.

To make kids feel a lot more comfortable while vaccination is ongoing, SM Bulacan malls have partnered with mall tenants for treats and deals they can avail, such as freebies and discount coupons, as well as free play from amusement tenants.

“We are happy to welcome kids here at the mall and be part of their journey as they take a step towards being protected against the COVID 19 virus. As always, we at SM will give our utmost support by keeping our venues open for vaccination drives like this” shares SM City Baliwag Mall Manager Rodora Tolentino.

Prior to this, there were at least 100 children inoculated during the ‘Resbakuna Kids’ pilot vaccination drive at SM City Marilao led by the Municipal Health Office and the LGU last February 14. Meanwhile, minors’ vaccination for 5 to 11 years old is slated at SM Center Pulilan on March 2.

For children with health risks, the guardian/parents are encouraged to secure clearance from their kids’ doctors first before getting them vaccinated. They would also need to bring valid ID cards or documents with photos of their children instead of a birth certificate. Consent forms, assent forms, and health declaration forms will also be made available on site.

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In celebration of National Arts Month this February, SM recently showcased the life and works of some of the country’s most fascinating visual artists at the My City, My SM, My Art book exhibit in SM City Taytay

The exhibit featured pages from the book, which is a compilation of the My City, My SM, My Art campaign highlighting the best of Philippine visual arts – painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, and filmmaking. During its three-year cultural journey from 2016-2019, My City, My SM, My Art featured masters, modernists, and millennials in a roadshow around the SM Supermalls as far north as the Cordilleras and as far south as General Santos.

During the exhibit, mallgoers had a rare glimpse of the book at the My Art house, which is inspired Luzon’s Bahay na Bato. The larger-than -life book pages showcased the life and works of Maestro Jose “Pitok” Blanco.

Jose “Pitok” Blanco is known for his mural size paintings depicting the joyous celebrations in Angono that captures the faces of real people in town. His masterpiece, Pag-ahon ng Pagoda, a depiction of the fluvial parade of the San Clemente fiesta in the 1970s was obtained by the Rockefeller Foundation in New York. Angono Town Fiesta shows more than 100 figures at various states of delight and celebration during the feast of San Clemente, Angono’s Patron Saint.

Pitok’s children, who are second generation artists, also gave mallgoers a glimpse of their works during the exhibit. Glenn Blanco, Noel Blanco, Michael Blanco, Joy Blanco-Alejandro and Peter Paul Blanco graced the exhibit opening at the 2nd Level Bldg A of SM City Taytay and were welcomed by SM Supermalls Senior Assistant Vice President for Operations Johanna Rupisan, Regional Operations Manager Cid Victoria and SM City Taytay Mall Manager Maureen Fernandez.

The exhibit also featured book pages of those who were part of the My Art stop at SM City Taytay: Pinto Art Museum’s Edrick Daniel, Sculptors Kishin Javier and Lucky Salayog, and Franz Marion Vocalan.

Also highlighted were works of Angono KUTA Arts Group founder Isidro “Manong Jon” Santos whose works are free-flowing abstract forms that fuse into randomly recognizable images that are often visually arresting and have a window to his imagination.

My City, My SM, My Art is the latest edition in the My City, My SM series, which celebrates the beauty, culture, traditions and great people in cities around the Philippines where SM has malls. This comes after My City, My SM, which highlights tourism; My City, My SM, My Cuisine, which features heirloom recipes from prominent families around the country, and My City, My SM, My Crafts, a celebration of traditional arts and modern Philippine design.

Visit https://mystorymysm.com/mycitymysmmyart/ and https://www.youtube.com/MyCityMySMMyArt to learn more about the My City, My SM, My Art campaign.