FEATURES

Manila, Philippines – SM Supermalls continues its commitment to empower and enrich the growth of local Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by building a thriving ecosystem of entrepreneurship and innovation

“MSMEs are our local partners in generating value across all the communities we operate in,” said Steven Tan, President of SM Supermalls. “With 99.59% of the local economy composed of MSMEs, the persistence and vibrancy of local trade as well as the generation of jobs on the micro, small, and medium scale hinges on their success.”

In line with this, SM Supermalls continues to implement various programs and plan opportunities for MSMEs to grow their customer base through the vast network of SM malls in the country. With 67% of its tenants being MSMEs, these programs empower entrepreneurs by providing them with accessible and affordable prime retail spaces in SM’s high-foot traffic malls, as well as helpful packages to support their growth.

Marketplace for Success

Various local products sold by SM for MSMEs’ purveyors

“Because SM has been an established brand for over three decades, perhaps people have forgotten that we started out as a small enterprise ourselves,” said Tan. “Our own experience emphasizes the value in supporting our MSMEs and has given us valuable insight we can use to further support this crucial sector in line with the government’s efforts.”

Last May, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) introduced the fourth iteration of the national MSME Development Plan geared to reduce operational costs and eliminate barriers for new entrepreneurs. Through the plan’s implementation, the DTI hopes to grow the number of registered MSMEs, improve their contribution to the larger local economy, and support continual job creation.

The “SM for MSMEs” program supports budding entrepreneurs in overcoming three key challenges they usually face–access to a diverse group of customers, the high cost of traditional operational requirements like rent, and competition with established brands for attention and patronage. Serving as a marketplace for entrepreneurs facing difficulties finding the right venue and market, SM aims to be the incubator of the country’s next big brands. 

“SM for MSMEs offer scalable packages to businesses in the communities around SM malls–for as low as 500 pesos per day, small scale businesses can rent a booth in SM’s high-foot traffic venues during regular exhibits and special events. The program currently has 633 purveyors nationwide, providing an affordable and strategic platform for entrepreneurs to sell their products and reach the right market.

Other Programs of SM for MSMEs

StartUp Market Purveyors, Arctic Balm and South Sea Gems, at SM City North Edsa

SM initiated its “StartUp Package” in 2021 to assist MSMEs in opening their first brick-and-mortar stores. The package provides start-up-friendly rental rates within SM malls along with the free usage of kiosks and carts. Marketing assistance is also provided through free exposure in SM online assets and ad spaces within the malls with valuable mentorship from its experts on operations and marketing. SM also offers financial assistance with BDO network bank. This program is currently running across five malls with 30 purveyors as of writing. Earlier this year, 44 StartUp Market purveyors successfully transitioned to SM tenants.

Supporting Farmers in our Rural Communities

The SM Sunday Market currently runs in 23 SM malls

On top of these, SM helps support rural communities through opportunities for fair trade that also preserve its cultural heritage. The SM Sunday Market bazaar has been running since last year across 23 active and participating SM malls. Among its 135 purveyors are graduates of SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan program farmers who are local food and produce suppliers.

“Throughout SM’s decades of growth, we are familiar with the work and effort it takes to build a business from the ground up. Thus, with these programs SM aims to be a catalyst for the success of local MSMEs through support and tailored offers that further foster economic vitality and social wellbeing across all communities we operate in,” said Tan. “Because of the success we’ve been met with, not just on our own operations but with the programs and efforts we have initiated, we continue to pay it forward by supporting this crucial, underserved sector in the local economy.”

About SM Supermalls 

SM Supermalls, owned by SM Prime Holdings, Inc., is the largest chain of shopping malls in the Philippines. Dedicated to nation-building and positively impacting lives, SM Supermalls continuously evolves to meet the changing needs of Filipinos through various initiatives, including job fairs and support for MSMEs. 

A continuing commitment to providing job opportunities to Filipinos

On June 12, in celebration of Independence Day, SM Supermalls, in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Public Employment Service Offices (PESO), successfully hosted a nationwide “Trabaho Para sa Super Pinoy” job fairs. Since starting its weekly job fairs in January at various malls nationwide, SM Supermalls will have hosted over 100 job fairs this week, with several more to come until the end of the year. This initiative is a continuing commitment of SM to providing job opportunities to tens of thousands of Filipinos across the country.

The Job Fair at SM Mall of Asia draws hopeful job seekers searching for posted positions.

Applicants are on the hunt for a job at the SM Seaside City Cebu Job Fair.

The Independence Day job fairs saw an overwhelming turnout, with more than 16,000 job seekers flocking to SM Supermalls to connect with potential employers. Notably, a significant number of applicants received Hired-on-the-Spot (HOTS) offers, emphasizing the immediate impact of these events. This initiative not only facilitated employment but also highlighted the convenience and ease of participation.

The job fairs are made possible through the partnership with Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Among the DOLE guests in some of the SM hosted job fairs are: Undersecretary Carmela Torres (OIC-Secretary); Assistant Secretary Paul Vincent Añover, Employment and Human Resource Development Cluster; and Director Patrick Patriwirawan, Jr., Bureau of Local Employment (BLE).

Convenience and ease for all

The inclusion of on-site government booths, such as Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Social Security System (SSS), PAG-IBIG, and PhilHealth, significantly streamlined the application process. This setup allowed applicants to complete necessary job requirements efficiently, contributing to the high number of HOTS offers. The well-ventilated and air-conditioned environment of SM Supermalls provided comfort for both job seekers and employers, further enhancing the overall experience.

Exciting opportunities await prospective job seekers at SM City Naga’s Job Fair.

Two Hired-on-the-Spot (HOTS) applicants successfully land jobs at the SM Megamall Job Fair.

Looking ahead

Steven Tan, President of SM Supermalls, expressed his gratitude: “We are humbled by the positive response to our Independence Day job fairs. It’s heartwarming to see so many Filipinos finding job opportunities and taking steps towards a brighter future. We remain committed to supporting our communities and fostering inclusive growth.”

As the “Trabaho Para sa Super Pinoy” job fairs continue to roll out nationwide this month, SM Supermalls remains dedicated to empowering Filipinos through sustainable employment initiatives. The next wave of job fairs is set to occur throughout the year, providing ongoing support and opportunities for job seekers across the country.

Other weekly Job Fairs happening in June: 

• SM City Molino (June 13)
• SM City Tanza (June 13)
• SM City Novaliches (June 13 – 14, Quezon City (QC) University)
• SM City Valenzuela (June 14)
• SM City Calamba (June 14)
• SM City Tuguegarao (June 18)
• SM City Daet (June 19)
• SM City Puerto Princesa (June 19)
• SM City Lucena (June 21)
• SM City San Lazaro (June 25)
• SM City Laoag (June 25)
• SM City Davao (June 26)
• SM Seaside City Cebu (June 27)
• SM Megamall (June 27, SM Group)

Venues and dates may change prior to notice. For more details on the SM Job Fairs, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @SMSupermalls on social media. Join us in building a brighter future for every Filipino.

Filipino heritage and style reigned supreme as the Museo Del Galeon in SM Mall of Asia transformed into a spectacular celebration of culture and the nation’s independence with the highly anticipated Ternocon 2024 held recently. The event brought together talented designers, stunning creations, and a community united in celebrating Filipino legacy through fashion.

Titled “KKK: Kasarinlan, Kultura, Kasuotan,” the fashion show commemorated the 126th year of Philippine Independence, showcasing the rich history of our culture through the iconic terno. The event was made possible with the collaboration of Bench/ lifestyle + clothing and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

Three trailblazing fashion designers—Jojie Lloren, Cary Santiago, and Jaggy Glarino—stunned the audience with collections that paid homage to Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Each collection was a personal tribute, weaving stories of our heritage into every piece.

Lloren’s “A Lullaby for my Mother” captivated the night with 12 elegant ternos, paying homage to his beloved mom and the Motherland. Santiago’s “Ikonograpiya” wowed everyone with 12 ternos, celebrating iconic Filipino symbols like the Sampaguita, the Philippine national flower, jeepney, and sorbetes (Filipino ice cream) in the vivid colors of our national flag. Meanwhile, Glarino’s “Lemlunay” enchanted the audience with nine ternos and three barongs, inspired by the rich cultural heritage of Mindanao.

The atmosphere was filled with a sense of elegance and national pride. The audience itself was a stunning display of Filipino beauty, with guests adorned in their finest ternos, barongs, and modern Filipiniana interpretations. From socialites and celebrities in show-stopping outfits to fashion enthusiasts sporting avant-garde creations, the crowd embodied the brilliant spirit of Filipino fashion. Everyone came together to celebrate their heritage through style.

If you missed the show, don’t worry! The celebration continues with an exclusive exhibit from June 11 to June 23 at the Main Atrium of SM Mall of Asia (across Bench and The French Baker). Here, you can get up close and personal with 24 selected looks from the runway, marveling at the intricate craftsmanship and powerful stories behind each creation.

Gather your friends and celebrate a fashion experience like no other! Visit the Ternocon exhibit and celebrate our kasarinlan, kultura, at kasuotan!

To know more about SM Supermalls’ exciting fashion events, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @SMSupermalls on social media.

Kapag nasa restaurant, kadalasang may ibinibigay sa ating libreng tinapay bago dumating ang inorder nating pagkain.

Masaya natin itong tinatanggap dahil wala na ngang bayad, nakakakain pa tayo habang naghihintay. Ngunit alam mo bang may malalim palang dahilan sa likod nito?

Nagdudulot ng pagtaas ng blood sugar level ang carbohydrates na matatagpuan sa tinapay. Upang bumalik sa normal ang blood sugar, naglalabas ang pancreas ng insulin na nagiging dahilan naman ng hunger o pagkagutom.

Ayon kay Dr. David Ludwig, isang endocrinologist at nutrition professor sa Harvard University, “foolproof way” para sa mga restaurant ang pagbibigay ng tinapay sa kanilang customers upang mas ganahan silang kumain at mas marami silang i-order.

Dagdag pa niya, maging ang fast-digesting tropical fruits katulad ng saging ay may kaparehong epekto.

Kahit na nagmumukhang mapagbigay ang mga restaurant, estratehiya nila ito upang mas lumaki ang kanilang kita. Kaya sa susunod na bigyan ka ng libreng tinapay, tandaan mo ang impormasyong ito at kumain lamang nang tama at sapat para sa iyong katawan.

Hanggang saan ka kayang dalhin ng pag-ibig?

Ang isang lalaking ito sa India, nadala ng pag-ibig sa examination room ng kanyang kasintahan!

Suot ang ilang accessories at makapal na lipstick, nagpanggap bilang babae si Angrez Singh upang kumuha ng Multipurpose Health Workers Exam ng kanyang girlfriend.

Ngunit mabilis na nabisto ang disguise ni Singh dahil hindi nag-match ang kanyang fingerprint sa biometric device ng Baba Farid University of Health Sciences. Dito na rin natuklasan ang mga gamit niyang pekeng ID.

Agad na tumawag sa mga awtoridad ang exam proctors upang ipaaresto ang lalaki.

Ni-reject din ang test application ng kanyang kasintahan at maaaring hindi na pahintulutan pang kumuha ng health worker’s exam sa hinaharap.

Gaya ng inaasahan, napukaw ng insidenteng ito ang atensyon ng mga netizen na pabirong nagsabing relationship goals ang dalawa.

Amusing man para sa netizens, isang paalala ang pangyayaring ito na hindi kailanman dapat gawing rason ang pag-ibig upang sumuway sa batas.

Kilala ang mga Japanese sa pagiging disiplinado at magalang. Sa katunayan, itinuturing sila bilang standard pagdating sa mga katangiang ito.

Ito ay dahil bata pa lamang, itinuturo na sa kanila ang tamang asal.

Patunay rito ang isang batang Japanese na nagpakita ng ligtas at tamang paraan ng pagtawid sa kalsada sa isang viral video.

Upang tumawid, kailangan munang tumayo ng bata sa stop road marking malapit sa pedestrian lane at maghintay.

Kapag huminto na ang mga sasakyan, tatawid na ang bata habang nakataas ang kamay, isang signal na nagsasabing, “Please stop.”

At kapag ligtas nang nakarating sa kabilang bahagi ng kalsada, magpapasalamat ang bata sa driver sa pamamagitan ng pag-bow o pagyuko.

Hinangaan naman ito ng mga netizen. Karamihan sa kanila, natuwa sa disiplinang ipinakita ng mga batang Japanese.

Pinuri rin nila ang pagsunod ng mga residente sa mga patakaran at regulasyon sa kalsada.

Isang Pinoy netizen naman ang ikinumpara ito sa Pilipinas at nagsabing binubusinahan pa ng mga driver ang mga tumatawid, kahit nasa pedestrian lane naman. Ang iba pa nga, binibilisan lalo ang pagmamaneho kapag dumadaan dito upang hindi na huminto at maabutan ang mga tumatawid.

Kaya kung ikaw ang tatanungin, dapat bang tularan sa Pilipinas ang ganitong paraan ng pagtawid ng mga Japanese?

Minsan, nararanasan nating ma-conscious bigla dahil akala natin, nangangamoy na tayo. Ngunit alam mo ba na para sa ibang tao, seryosong problema ito?

Ito ay dahil mayroon silang sakit na tinatawag na olfactory reference syndrome.

Ang olfactory reference syndrome ay halimbawa ng obsessive-compulsive and related disorder. Psychiatric condition ito kung saan naniniwala ang isang tao na mayroon siyang mabahong hininga, kili-kili, o utot—kahit wala naman talaga.

Nagdudulot ang olfactory reference syndrome ng extreme social anxiety, paranoia, at isolation. Kadalasang iniiwasan ng mga apektado nito ang pumunta sa social events, maging sa trabaho, dahil nahihiya sila sa kanilang amoy. Kahit sabihan silang wala naman silang amoy, hindi sila naniniwala.

Napagkakamalan din nilang ang mga aksyon ng iba gaya pagsinghot, pagtakip sa ilong, o pagbubukas ng bintana ay dahil sa amoy nila.

Mahalagang mabigyan ng tamang atensyon at pangangalaga ang mga taong may obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.

Sa pamamagitan ng maayos na edukasyon at suporta mula sa mga mahal sa buhay at propesyonal, posibleng malabanan ang mga hamon na dulot ng ganitong mental health illness.

Bakas sa mukha ng isang batang lalaki ang pagkalito nang marinig ang salitang Tagalog na ‘kanin.’

Kailangan niya kasi itong i-spell sa finals ng Scripps National Spelling Bee, ang taunang competition sa Amerika.

Mula sa San Bernardino, California ang 12-anyos na si Shrey Parikh. Siya ang pinakabatang finalist sa prestihiyosong national spelling bee.

Nang marinig niya ang salitang kanin, higit sa isang minuto niya ito pinag-isipan.

Sa kasamaang-palad, ini-spell niya ito bilang “kanan” at natanggal sa finals.

Dahil dito, nakamit niya ang ikatlong pwesto.

Gayunman, hindi rito natatapos ang kanyang paglalakbay. Ayon nga sa head judge ng national spelling bee na si Mary Brooks, mayroong self-drive o sariling determinasyon na magtagumpay si Shrey na makatutulong sa kanya sa mga paparating na taon sa kanyang buhay.

Ang graduation ng sariling anak ang isa sa mga pinakahihintay na pagdiriwang ng isang magulang. Kaya kadalasan, inaalay ng mga anak ang kanilang graduation song sa mga proud na magulang bilang pasasalamat sa kanilang naging sakripisyo.

Ganito mismo ang ginawa ng isang paaralan sa Bohol para sa kanilang moving up ceremony.

Ngunit nang lumapit ang mga estudyante sa kanilang mga magulang upang yumakap at magpasalamat, mag-isang naiwan sa kanyang kinatatayuan ang 16-anyos na si Carl Dionne.

Dahil wala siyang kasama sa seremonya, tahimik na lamang siyang napaluha.

Laking gulat niya nang mayroong isang guro na yumakap sa kanya.

Ilang saglit lang, dinamayan siya ng iba pang mga guro.

Mas naging emosyonal ang binatilyo nang lapitan siya ng kanyang mga kaklase upang makisimpatya.

Isang araw bago ang moving up ceremony, isinugod sa ospital ang bunsong kapatid ni Carl.

Pupunta naman sana ang kanyang tiyahin at lola, ngunit sa kasamaang-palad, lumakas ang ulan at na-flat ang gulong ng kanilang sinasakyang motorsiklo.

Ang mga ito ang dahilan kung bakit walang kasama si Carl.

Nang mapanood ang video ng umiiyak na anak, napaluha na lang din ang kanyang ina. Naawa siya sa anak at nadurog ang kanyang puso dahil matagal niya iyong hinintay.

Naintindihan naman ni Carl ang sitwasyon dahil alam niyang mahalaga ang kanyang bunsong kapatid at mahal na mahal niya ang kanyang ina.

Wala man siyang nakasama sa kanyang graduation, naiparamdam naman ng mga nagmamahal sa kanya na hindi siya nag-iisa.