SM SUPERMALLS SAY Y-E-S to 2012

Hear Ye..Hear Ye! Gear up for 2012 and say Y-E-S as SM City Marilao and SM City Baliwag cap off 2011 with the grandest mall wide Year-End-Sale from December 26 - January 15, 2012.

 Don’t miss exciting events and unbelievable discounts up to 70% off. Get the best deals in clothing, beauty and wellness products, toys and gadgets from SM Department Store, SM Hypermarket and other participating retail shops.

It is also the perfect time to shop for that much-coveted appliance at SM Appliance Center, furniture at Our Home, or handy tools at Ace Hardware. Load your shopping carts with last- minute giveaways, gifts, souvenirs, branded items and everything else you need for the year-end festive season! Let your whole family enjoy the Metro Manila Film Festival 2011 at SM Cinema or thrilling rides and games at SM Storyland after checking out the special bargains.

Mall hours will be from 10AM - 10PM on Dec. 26-30, 9AM to 7PM on Dec. 31 and 12NN to 10PM on Jan. 1. Plus, Super SM Hypermarket will be open at 8 AM on Dec. 31 for early morning shoppers who are preparing ahead of time for New Year’s Eve get-together.

End your year with great treats from SM City Marilao and SM City Baliwag! Shop now and say Y-E-S!!

SENIOR GREETERS AT SM CITY MARILAO

HAPPY, HAPPY, AFTERNOON! -- Do not think of them as just ‘seniors’. Clad in greeter sash, Santa’s hat and winsome smile, SM Hypermarket grand greeters are elders over 60 years old who welcome every shopper with a cart and a warm smile. But surprisingly there is more than just a smile.

Greeter’s continuous contact with shoppers quickly attunes to the tastes of the shopping public. “From the moment they [shoppers] enter the hypermarket I already knew if they are in a bad mood, so I smile and ask how I can help them. I feel good because I am able to lighten up their mood” said 64-year old Erlinda Macayana. 71 year old Benjamin Espiritu also added, “I make it to the point that customers are valued by offering carts or helping them with their purchase.”

Grand greeters, as explained by Branch Manager Peter Evangelista, are integral part of SM Hypermarket because it is a way of making shopping experience more personal. Likewise, grand greeters or senior greeters are part host, who welcome shoppers with enthusiasm and energy. They are also part traffic cops, who give directions and other information. At times, they are also part counselors, who give advice to customers on the best deals for tight budget or tips on avoiding peak crowds in the mall.

SM City Marilao Hypermarket saw the tremendous value in nurturing older members of the workforce. “Our grand greeters play a vital role in establishing goodwill with our customers. Like ambassadors, they change customer’s mindset by eliciting from them a responsive smile. Our customers maybe in a hurry, stressed or anxious, the smile that is imparted by our grandparents or grand greeters are the needed ray of sunshine to the end a long and tedious day”, said branch manager Peter Evangelista.

 “In the same manner, it is a way of correcting the misguided notion that as soon as they [senior citizens] hit their sixties life they are less capable of doing things”, Mr. Evangelista added.

 SM City Marilao Hypermarket seasonably hires the elder members of the community to empower them and to keep them productive.

SM CITY MARILAO EMPLOYEES SHARE THEIR BOUNTY.

While most of us are blessed enough to have new toys and presents every Christmas, some children maybe lucky to receive a toy once in a decade.
As a continued effort of inspiring and sending love to underprivileged children, SM City Marilao employees willingly gave up their break time meal, pledged their Php 100 and adopted a bear.

 “Toys are essential for children to lead happy, healthy and productive lives. All children regardless of race, creed or circumstance need at least a simple toy like SM-Cares bear” said SM City Marilao Mall Manager Ms. Bernadette D. Velasco. “A toy can mean everything to a needy or homeless child, we pitch in to make sure that the less fortunate children have the wonderful holiday season they deserve”, added by Ms. Velasco.

This outpouring act of generosity and selflessness truly illustrates the essence of Christmas.

SENIOR DAY’S DAZZLE UP CHRISTMAS ECO BAG AT SM CITY MARILAO

The creative group of Marilao Elderly skip the traditional gift wrap and go for a more environment friendly SM ECO BAG. Participants enjoyed personalizing their ECO Bags by adding festive details such as ribbon, bows, stickers, glitters and paint. For only P35.00 for canvass eco bag and P10.00 for sando eco bag, SM Eco Bags are perfect substitute for gift wrappers. Personalizing it is easy, stylish and eco-friendly. It also saves gift wrapping time for busy holiday season. In the photo is five fancy decorated Eco Bags. (Inset) Marilao Senior Citizens adding finishing touches to SM ECO bag. Senior’s Day is a SM Cares program for the elderly member of the community.

GREENER CHRISTMAS WITH SM ECO BAG

It’s Christmas time again and part of the charm of holiday gift-giving is in the wrapping. Traditionally, we get rolls of gift-wrapping paper for our gifts. But think about how much litter a Christmas party at home can create. With the amount of waste we accumulate after all the gifts have been opened, we need to be more creative in wrapping our gifts to reduce waste and help Mother Earth.

 This year consider a greener way of wrapping your gifts. Holiday gift giving does not have to mean giant trash bags full of discarded wrapping paper. For only P35.00 for canvass eco bag and P10.00 for sando eco bag, SM Eco Bags are perfect substitute for gift wrappers. Here are few reasons why choose SM Eco bags:

 SPACIOUS. Do you have odd sized gifts? Those can be so difficult to wrap! The SM Eco Bags make it easy to wrap. Its durability can carry loads of stuff, too.

 SAVES WRAPPING TIME. No time to pack and wrap gifts? Skip the conventional gift basket and boxes and stash all the goodies, clothes, toys and grocery packs inside the SM Eco Bag. Its hip colors will surely add to the festivity that the Yuletide brings. Personalizing it is also easy and stylish.

 REUSABLE. The best thing about these wrappings is that they're not only earth friendly, but can be reused year after year. It can also promote recycling habit for the New Year to come.

 So this Christmas, let’s try to lessen holiday litter. Visit the SM Eco Bag booth at SM City Marilao and order your Eco Bags now!

CHRISTMAS BEGINS AT SM CITY MARILAO

The most wonderful time of the year is here! Fill your heart with cheer as SM City Marilao celebrates the Christmas season with extended mall hours, shopping fun and wonderful ChriSMs for everyone. Enjoy fantastic blasts, sparkling lights and amazing color and shapes of loud booms and bangs on the much-awaited biggest and brightest Grand Illumination Night, a Spectacular Fireworks Display every Saturday evenings of the month starting December 3 including December 25 and 30 at Parking C of SM City Marilao. Experience extraordinary adventure as SM City Marilao stages the first original musical production “It’s Christmas!” on December 4 at The Event Center. It is a story of a whimsical young girl who got lost in the midst of Christmas rush and was transported into a magical land filled with adventure. The show will surely capture the essence of Christmas as children learn valuable insights in life. Admission is free. Let the Yuletide music accompany you while doing your Christmas shopping. Listen to the Caroling Cheers and get serenaded by different choirs on December 9; December 12-16 and December 19-23. Children will be happy to meet Santa Claus this season of gift-giving. Meet and greet Santa on all Sundays of December and on the 24th of December at Santa’s Candy Cane Factory. Plus, real life couple Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos with the cast of My Househusband movie will be at the event center on December 12. Proudly directed by Jose Javier Reyes, the light comedy film about husband and wife who have exchanged roles is set to be released on Christmas Day, as part of the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival. As added shopping fun, lucky shoppers may win one (1) of six (6) Chevrolet spark cars in Dine and Drive promo of SM City Marilao Foodcourt. Dine in or takeout, for a minimum purchase of meals and drinks worth Php. 200.00 from any participating SM Food Stall, customer is entitled to a raffle coupon. Increase your chance of winning by purchasing any of SM Eco bags and Global Pinoy Cards. Promo period is from November 25 to January 31, 2012. Mall hours will be from 10AM to 10PM with midnight madness schedule on December 16, 17 and 23, from 10AM to 12MN. Holiday rush schedule for December 24 and 31 is 9AM to 7PM. Experience a delightful December at SM City Marilao and have the coolest month-long Christmas celebration this season.

SANTA’S CHRISTMAS CANDY CANE FACTORY AT SM CITY MARILAO

November 12, 2011-- It was a revelation night of magic, holiday cheers and excitement as SM Supermalls simultaneously launched the happiest season of the year with Yuletide carols, gift-giving, and much- awaited Holiday Centerpiece.

In SM City Marilao, the program kicked off with music from Barasoain Camereta Philippines, Bocaue Student Choir, Rosari Angeli Ensemble and Sons and Daughters of Mary Choir. Captivating the essence of Christmas was a short monologue performed by Juliana Silang Cruz, a solitary young girl, who dreamed of enchanted Christmas. That holiday dream came true when Santa and his elves brought her to Christmas Candy Cane Factory. Story ended with distinguished guests of the event joining together to unveil and light up the Christmas Candy Cane Factory.

 SM Marilao’s Christmas Candy Cane factory, located at the mall’s east wing, features Santa’s factory fresh sweet treats; candies, candy canes, lollipops, delectable cakes and ice-creams. A giant couch was placed inside the factory so children could sit and enjoy Santa’s Christmas sweet treats. Complementing Santa’s Candy Cane Factory is nearby Giant Christmas Wreath centerpiece at the cinema’s entrance.

Because SM believes in the philosophy of making Christmas special, gift giving to the underprivileged children signaled the love and bigheartedness that the Yuletide celebration promotes. The fireworks display capped the event leaving shoppers and audience wanting for more.

The launch also introduced latest remixed version of SM Supermalls’ Christmas jingle, the Christmas ChriSMs Bop, which will liven up the musical excitement of shoppers frequenting the SM malls this season. Sung by Maria Aragon, an international YouTube sensation star, the 11 year old has come a long way ever since she uploaded a video of her breakthrough acoustic rendition of Lady Gaga’s song, Born This Way, back in February of this year. This video has become a viral hit after Lady Gaga herself saw and promoted this video urging her fans to view it, and at present the video already reached more than 43 Million views worldwide. Her recent singing engagements were in Ellen DeGeneres show and Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball Tour leg in Toronto. Aragon was also given the opportunity to perform for dignitaries including Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their 2011 royal tour of Canada. She was also chosen by Manny Pacquiao to sing the National Anthem on his fight with Manuel Marquez last November 12, 2011.

 So this holiday season, spend time with your friends, family and loved ones at SM City Marilao or in any of your favorite SM Supermall, enjoy the Christmas treats and together hear Maria Aragon as the voice of SM Christmas.

SM Foundation empowers Bulacan Farmers through Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Training Program

SM CITY MARILAO – The 34th Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan, a season-long training program on commercial vegetables and short-term fruits production culminated last November 11, 2011. This program is a collaborative effort of SM Foundation Incorporated, Harbest Agribusiness Corporation, Department of Agriculture, Provincial Agriculture Office and Municipal Agriculture Office, aimed to empower farmers through the technological knowledge gained from the 16-week training.

Through its 12- step program, farmers were taught of pest and disease control, fruit selection, harvesting, post-harvest handling, accounting and marketing. The training program also covers topics such as site selection, land preparation, seed handling and seedling culture, crop management, fertilization and irrigation.


Trainees were divided into four groups and were able to have technical briefing, lecture and hands-on field practice during the duration of the program. The demo farm which serves as the training site of the farmers located at Barangay Sta. Rosa II in Marilao, Bulacan has a 5,000 square meter flat and fertile land. Its accessibility benefitted over a hundred farmers from Bocaue, Marilao, Norzagaray, Pandi, Plaridel, Meycauayan, San Jose and Sta. Maria in Bulacan. The said training program also gave assistance to farmers not only in alleviating agricultural economic status but also in attaining agricultural sustainability by developing a customized local farming.

Highlighting the event was the harvest festival in which farm produce like eggplant, bitter gourd, string beans, honeydew, lettuce, sweet corn, melon, watermelon, squash and cucumber were all available for sale. This served as a jump start to market-linkage by opening opportunities for farmers to sell the crops that they grow at SM City Marilao mall area.


The Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers Training Program is spearheaded by SM Foundation Incorporated who financed the launching and graduation ceremony as well as harvest festival. Jointly implemented by the Department of Agriculture Regional Offices, the whole training program was supervised by Harbest Agribusiness Corporation- a seed corporation which provided the farm inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, fungicides, and plastic mulch as well as seedling trays.

KIDS, TEACHERS CELEBRATE UNITED NATIONS DAY AT SM

OCTOBER 24, 2011 -- Just in time for the celebration of the United Nations Day, SM CITY MARILAO and SM CITY BALIWAG highlighted the festivity with a parade of costumes from around the globe. Over a hundred students from Bulacan Elementary Schools participated to showcase their colorful cultural attires.

SM Event Centers were instantly transformed into a huge palette of hues filled with music and ecstatic crowd. Clad in beautiful costumes and flags, the adorable participants walked through the mall area, leaving the mall goers and store tenants with cheers and rounds of applause.

 After the parade, students and their mentors went onstage as the judges took a closer look of the contestants in their winning costumes. Winners were judged based on creativity, appeal and audience impact. Schools with the most number of participants won P10,000 worth of SM gift pass and winners of best UN costume received P5,000 worth of SM gift pass likewise.

The UN parade was a testament of SM’s way of being one with the world. Arch. Erlinda Estrella, Assistant Mall Manager of SM City Marilao, said the celebration was to signify not only the support but also the commitment of SM in actively raising the quality of life of every child regardless of race, creed or circumstance.

“Through this activity, we honor the hard work and contribution of the 193 nations from around the globe that make this world a safer place to live in. We believe that avowed goal signed in 1945, is as pertinent today, as it was 66 years ago. It is a goal I know we all share- the full and healthy development of every children,” Arch. Estrella added.

SM CARES PRESENTS ITS PWD PROGRAMS TO THE UNITED NATIONS

SM Prime Holdings was recently invited by the United Nations to present its programs for persons with disabilities in the recent 4th Convention of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

 SM Supermalls President Annie Garcia and Vice President for Operations Bien Mateo presented the company’s initiatives through its SM Cares program to over 500 delegates from various countries. SM was the only private corporation invited to attend the event.

Her speech, Realizing the Right to Work and Employment, centered on the efforts of the SM Supermalls to help PWDs to get gainfully employed. She noted that SM Malls offers business opportunities for PWDs through shops that offer therapeutic massages owned and operated by persons with visual impairments; as well as through one of its merchant’s Kultura Filipino’s Crafts for a Cause program.

There are also employment opportunities for PWDs in the malls as attendants in elevators, comfort rooms, ticket booths, and sales personnel of tenants. She added that since the SM malls have facilities that are accessible and barrier free, its 15,000 locators have a chance of considering employment for persons with disabilities.

Other PWD initiatives mentioned were livelihood programs for PWD farmers who can sell their produce to mall customers through a Pick and Pay method; as well as facilities for bowling and ice skating as well as well as its Photography with a Difference program.

All these “have transformed our business environment into a community of opportunities open to PWDs, to enjoy bonding moments with their families, to be independent and free, to show their abilities above their disabilities, and an environment friendly to entrepreneurial and employment opportunities.”

 Department of Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Alicia Bala represented the Philippine government and delivered its message of support to the convention on the rights of PWDs. Other speakers included Ms. Barbara Murray, Senior Disability Specialist of the International Labor Organization in Geneva; Mr. Jared Abidi of the National Center for the Promotion of Employment for Disabled People in India; Mr. Francisco Rivero of Mexico; Ms. Jin Ang, Vice Chair and Member of the CRPD Committee; and Mr. Stig Langvad, Member of the CRPD Committee.

SM CARES, BULACAN MALLS SUPPORT GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY

October 14, 2011 -- SM Marilao and SM Baliwag held the 3rd simultaneous Global Handwashing Day to promote good hygiene for children in Bulacan. Students from Marilao and Baliwag public schools have joined the celebration at SM City Malls to increase awareness and understanding on the importance of handwashing as an effective and affordable way of preventing diseases.

Because it takes more than a “City” to achieve this goal, SM Supermalls partnered with the Department of Health, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, UNILIVER and local government units such as Municipal Health Office, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection as well as private organizations such as Banco De Oro and Prime Health Clinic to demonstrate the effective ways of washing hands through fun filled activities. The event focused on the message that visibly clean hands are not necessarily hygienically clean, contrary to what most adults believe. To be germ fighters rather than germ spreaders, children were advised to use soap and water to remove bacteria and microbes. Right steps and strokes on proper handwashing were also taught.

At present, the SM Group has 41 malls nationwide receiving an average of over 3 million shoppers daily; A home to 12,000 tenants, served by more than 25,000 SM employees. Because of SM’s size and reach, the malls have virtually become information gateways, and venues that promote and propagate such worthwhile activities. Thus, global handwashing is a testimony to the continuous commitment of the company to promote good health and clean living.

Because SM Cares, Global Handwashing Day for children is part of mall wide program led by the Children’s Committee of the company. A simultaneous Handwashing Campaign was also done in all malls of SM city nationwide.

SM Cares shares threefold purpose with PWDs

SM Marilao, September 22, 2011: – SM Cares through its PWD Committee in partnership with the DSWD, NGOs, Cerebral Palsied Association of the Philippines (CPAP) and Alyansa ng may Kapansanang Pinoy, Inc. (AKAP), gathered to raise public awareness on cerebral palsy. The event with a theme, “Ang cerebral palsied na may sapat na kaalaman at karapatan, kayang ipaglaban”, has a threefold purpose. First is to raise awareness about environmental sustainability through tree planting. Second is to provide and promote knowledge management on people with disabilities. Third is to empower people with cerebral palsy. These threefold purpose event is all rolled up into one day celebration of extraordinary accomplishments and great character of people with limited mobility.

The program started early morning at 7:00 AM, with tree planting activity at Barangay San Pedro Hagonoy Bulacan. Around 30 volunteers led by ASP Malolos Chapter President, Dr. Anawi Tolentino, SM Baliwag’s Assistant Mall Manager, Arch. Andrew Cristobal, Daylinda B. Taleon, Project Officer of AKAP and delegates from CPAP, DSWD-NCR, AMO-PDM, KAMPI, PDALD, PARM together with parent members and children with autism/ cerebral palsy– joined together in planting the seedlings on a one hectare garden. The tree planting activity is part of the advocacy in increasing efficiency and savings which can only be accomplished by tapping natural resources and addressing environmental concerns. In addition, its symbolic meaning serves as a reminder of the significance and responsive role expected from each one of us who were privileged of mobility to become part of a changed society.

Recognizing the importance of educating the public on cerebral palsied individuals, a follow through discussion has taken place at Bulwagang San Juan Hagonoy, Bulacan. Honorable Vice Mayor Rey Santos opened the program with a reminder of the commitment each one has to make to people with disabilities. Inspirational messages were given by Ms. Maura dela Rosa, Asst. Regional Director, DSWD FO II and Ms. Angelina Dela Cruz, MSWDO. To make the progam more interesting, kids from SPSC show off their talents by rendering a special dance number.

From Hagonoy, Bulacan, guests and participants were invited at the SM Marilao event center for the closing ceremony. Ms. Bernadette Velasco, SM City Marilao Mall Manager welcomed guests. Many cerebral palsied individual have difficulty sitting in a regular chair because of posture and muscle tension, the specially designed wheel chairs provide those with cerebral palsy with a different level of independence and comfort through the properly sized headrests, backrests as well as seats. Through the efforts of AKAP or Alyansa ng may Kapansanang Pinoy, Inc., headed by Capt. Oscar Taleon and Later Days Saint Charities Philippines; eleven people with limited mobility were given custom-fitted wheelchairs. Joining the awareness exercise was Ms. Dianne Deluria of Philippine Cerebral Palsy Incorporated, who recognized the outstanding cerebral palsied people. Closing remarks was given by Ms. Joanna Hizon of DSWD, who chaired the said event. Thus, Ms. Hizon commended SM for enhancing awareness of PWDs by helping the people at the malls to be more understanding and aware of the plight of PWDs.


Presently, SM is committed to change and progress for persons with disabilities. The company strives to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in every facet of malling experience. As SM marilao mall manager, Ms. Velasco, says “Our company is defined by our corporate social responsibility…our commitment is to improve the plight of our customers with special needs.” Currently, SM Marilao and SM Baliwag are more disabled friendly. This can be seen in the mall’s PWD ramps, toilet facilities with handlebars and counters which are accessible to wheelchairs; personnels were trained to take care of its special customers, and events were held in the mall to highlight more consciousness about this sector. All of these help the company in sealing the commitment to put the needs of special customers as the heart of the SM’s corporate social responsibility. Thus, SM is dedicated in being a catalyst of change by celebrating PWDs ABILITIES rather than disabilities.