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.