If you told Johans Juruena that he’d be working at SM 12 years after he met its founder Henry Sy, Sr., he probably wouldn’t have believed you.

 It was 1978, and the nine-year-old Johans was just looking forward to his yearly summer visit to Manila. Summers from his childhood were filled with memories of hanging around at what was then Shoemart along Carriedo Street in Quiapo, Manila, where his mother, Erlinda, worked as a sales clerk.

He still vividly remembers what the shoe store looked like. “Ang ibinebenta d’un, may men’s shoes, may ladies’ shoes, may pambata na rin talaga. May glass showcase sa gitna kung saan nand’un yung mga naka-display na sapatos,” he said.
(“It sold shoes for men, ladies, and children. There was a glass display in the middle where all the shoes were showcased.”)

However, there was a particular encounter that would shape his future career. During that same summer, Johans unexpectedly met the shoe store owner—Henry, whom SM employees fondly called “Tatang.”

A close encounter with Tatang

Johans shared that his mother immediately reminded him to pay his respects through pagmamano, the traditional gesture of respect toward the elderly by touching one’s forehead to the back of their hand as an act of “blessing.”

“N’ung bumisita si Tatang sa Carriedo para i-check yung display and items, nagkataon na nand’un ako. Isa ako sa mapalad na nakapagmano kay Tatang,” he recalled. “Nakangiti siya. Inabot niya kamay niya para makapagmano ako.”

(When Tatang visited the store along Carriedo to check the display and items, it just so happened that I was there. I was one of those lucky enough to approach him and pay my respects,” he recalled. “He was smiling. He even held out his hand for me to ‘bless.’)

While observing the store owner, Johans overheard how Tatang constantly quizzed his employees about what the customers needed. “Ano ba ang hinahanap ng customer na wala tayo?” Tatang would ask. “Ano ba ang kailangan ng customer na wala tayo?”

(What are customers looking for that we don’t have?” Tatang would ask. “What do our customers need that we don’t have?)

In that brief encounter, Johans caught what mattered most to Tatang – giving his customers what they need.

Working for SM

It was 1990, and Johans, fresh out of college, officially became part of SM. He first worked as a sales utility clerk, facing customers day in and day out.

“North EDSA ang first Supermall ni SM. N’ung panahon namin n’un, pag-open pa lang nang 10 o’clock, pag-roll up, yung mga customers nasa may entrance na sila. Grabe ang foot traffic ni North EDSA,” Johans recounted.

(North EDSA is the first Supermall of SM. During our time, customers would line up as soon as the mall opened before 10 a.m. The foot traffic at North EDSA was really something else.)

His next encounter with Tatang happened while handling the Men’s Shoes section at the SM Store North EDSA. “Nakita ko siyang bumisita. Supervisor na ako noon sa Men’s Shoes—1996 or 1997. Yung araw na ‘yun, wala ‘yung Manager, naka day-off. Usually, ‘yung una niyang pinupuntahan yung Men’s Shoes. Naka- ready kami lahat,” Johans shared.

(I saw him visit. I was already a Men’s Shoes Department supervisor—1996 or 1997. My manager wasn’t around that day; he had the day off. Usually, he [Tatang] would drop by the Men’s Shoes [section] first. We were all ready.)

Johans distinctly remembers how Tatang reminded him to keep the sandals and other footwear clean. That way, the customers could appreciate their products better. It was a simple but important lesson that Johans would carry with him even in the decades to come.

Salute to a continuing legacy

Fast forward to 2023. Many things have changed, but some things have remained constant. SM is celebrating its 65th year in the industry.

Johans’s experience working at SM is a testament to not only the company’s decades-long commitment to top-notch customer service, but also to Tatang’s enduring legacy. Johans is now a manager at SM Store Quiapo, with people working under him and following his guidance.

Sa dami ng hinaharap na pagsubok patungkol sa plastic pollution at kahirapan, ay umuusbong ang kwento ng pag-asa at pagbabago.

Isipin ang mahigit na 100 milyong na kilo ng itinapong plastic — isang kabigla-biglang bigat na 220 milyong pounds, na katumbas ng 5 bilyong, tig 500mL na bote — pinipigilan sa pagdumi sa ating kapaligiran.

“Hindi ito isang panaginip; isa itong tagumpay ng aming mga recycling communites na pinulot ang bawat isang bote para makaahon sa kahirapan,” banggit ni David Katz, isang visionary, founder at Chairman ng Plastic Bank.

Noong Oktubre 23, 2023, tumuntong si David Katz sa stage ng Sustainable Brands sa Madrid. Hindi siya nandoon upang magbigay ng tipikal na corporate speech; siya ay nandoon upang i-challenge ang mga pangako sa pagiging sustainable at mag-udyok ng pagbabago. Masigasig na binibigyang diin ni Katz na ang panahon para sa sustainability ay lumipas na. Ang kailangan natin ngayon ay isang radikal na pagbabago sa kung paano tinutugunan ng mga negosyo ang kanilang mga responsibilidad sa kapaligiran at panlipunan.

“Tayo ay nakatayo sa isang sanggang-daan,” deklara ni Katz, “Maaari tayong magpatuloy sa landas ng konsumerismo, o maaari tayong magsimula sa isang malalim na paglalakbay patungo sa regeneration ng ating mundo.” Naniniwala siya na hawak ng mga negosyo ang susi sa paghihilom sa ating planeta at pagpapalakas sa mga komunidad na nangangailangan.

Mula nang magsimula ito, ang kilusang Social Recycling ng Plastic Bank ay kumalat na parang napakalaking apoy, na lumalagablab sa 550 mga komunidad sa buong Southeast Asia, Latin America, at Africa.

Sa Pilipinas, ang Plastic Bank ay mayroong mahigit 230 recycling na komunidad sa 8 probinsya na nag-ambag ng higit sa 25% porsyentong koleksyon sa 100 milyong kilo na milestone. Sa 40,000.

Around the world, girls are leading the charge for change — breaking glass ceilings in various fields and professions and challenging perceptions about what is possible for them. 

Recognizing this, Beiersdorf Philippines, Watsons, and Plan International Pilipinas collaborated to string together a series of initiatives to create sustainable pathways that will allow young women to realize their full potential, unhindred by the biases and barriers that have long held girls and women back.

These initiatives are carried out in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl (IDG). Held annually on October 11, IDG is a powerful occasion to bring the world’s attention to the realities and lived experiences of girls and young women.

To mark IDG, all three organizations have joined hands for the “BraveHER, BoldHER, & StrongHER: Redefining Girls’ Power to Take Charge, Break Barriers, and Thrive” event. This event serves as a platform to foster discussions about girl’s rights and gender equality, with a particular focus on equitable and quality health services, as well as career empowerment to increase their economic resilience

Bringing together Nimisha Jain Country Manager Beiersdorf Philippines, Cathy Seco of Executive Director Plan International Pilipinas, and Sharon Decapia, AVP for Marketing, PR & Sustainability of Watsons in one panel became an opportunity to open a genuine dialogue and prompt first-hand discussions about the importance of advancing girls’ rights, including their right to equal opportunities, celebrating their achievements, and raising awareness about the challenges they face.

“We care beyond skin for an inclusive society and aim to foster social cohesion. From the get-go, our efforts are grounded in our goal of providing inclusive education, promoting protective environments, and fostering skills development in girls. Every initiative is a reflection of our commitment. And the progress of these young girls showcases the impact of our collective effort,” says Nimisha Jain.

The invaluable participation of Punlaan scholars and youth advocates from Plan International Pilipinas also provided valuable insights into what it’s like to be a girl in today’s world and their shared hopes for a gender-equal society, where they are treated as experts in their own experiences, as agents of change, and as equal partners.

But more than joining hearts and minds for a conversation, the event also provided a chance for all partners to express their commitment towards supporting girls and young women in the country.

Beiersdorf is setting their sights high with an ambitious target: to make a positive impact on the lives of 300,000 people in total by 2023 through the Empowering Girls projects. To achieve this Beiersdorf has set up programs that offer quality, inclusive education, promote protective environment and strenghten health services, an ideal environment for girls and young women to thrive. To demonstrate this commitment, Beiersdorf Philippines’ formal declaration of support for Filipina girls, aligns seamlessly with Beiersdorf’s global commitment, which kickstarted in 2020 and is set to continue until 2025.

Additionally, the company is turning over donating PhP1M to Punlaan School’s Pharmacist Scholars, providing young women and girls with a better chance to realize their dreams of becoming pharmacists. To generate the funds, Beiersdorf dedicated a portion of all NIVEA sales made at Watsons stores from July 15 to August 31, 2023.

Plan International, a development, humanitarian, child and youth-girl-centered organization working in the Philippines since 1961, adopts a lifecycle and gender-transformative approach to economic empowerment. 

“Girls and young women make up the majority of the world’s 628 million unemployed young people. They don’t have access to education or job training, preventing them from getting the skills they need to access decent work and break out of poverty,” said Ana Maria Locsin.

“This is why this event serves as a unique opportunity for us to come together and ensure that every girl can pursue the career and life she wants,” Locsin added.

The organization is currently implementing projects that provide support to girls and young women from a young age and throughout each stage of life, enabling them to make economic decisions while challenging the gender norms and societal stigmas imposed upon them.

Watsons, as the leading health, wellness and beauty retailer brand, also recognizes their influence to change lives and uplift communities. As part of Watsons’ Sustainable programs under the “People” pillar, 

Watsons’ has chosen Punlaan School, a renowned institution that caters to young women from underserved communities by providing essential training and education, to be the center for the Watsons Apprenticeship Program. Through this special 6-month program, young women are eqipped with the skills needed for a successful career path with Watsons. 

“This Apprenticeship Program with Punlaan school reflects our commitment to support and create job opportunities for young women,” shares Josefina Arriola, People Innovations Project Director  of Watsons. “Our goal is to be able to educate and equip them with the skills to be job-ready and empowered members of the community.”

It is also worth noting that this is more than just a one-day event for these organizations. BraveHER, BoldHER, & StrongHER comes in the tails of two other activities: the recent “Girls Takeover” hosted in five Watsons stores and the “Girls on the Rise” Career Workshop. 

A signature IDG event of Plan International, the Girls Takeover aims to encourage girls to occupy spaces where they are rarely seen or heard, engaging in conversations that empower them to learn, lead, decide, and thrive. On September 30, Watsons and Beiersdorf welcomed 10 girl advocates who had the opportunity to take over the positions of Beauty Ambassadors, Cashiers, and Store Managers for a day.

As a follow-through activity to the Girls Takeover, the career workshop focused on developing the girl advocates’ intrapersonal skills, which are essential for success in the job market. During this workshop, Beiersdorf and Watsons staff actively engaged with the girl advocates by conducting modules focused on personal development and personal and professional values. These modules provided valuable insights and skills that empowered the advocates and boosted their readiness for future employment opportunities.

“We believe that girls can be bigger than any barrier, bolder than any bias, and stronger than their struggles. Our collective goal is to provide them with opportunities to overcome obstacles and thrive in all aspects of their lives,” said Locsin.

To learn more about NIVEA Philippines’ ongoing commitments and initiatives in empowering the young Filipina community, visit https://www.beiersdorf.com

To know more about Plan International Pilipinas’ work in advancing children’s rights and equality for girls in the Philippines, visit: https://plan-international.org/philippines/.

To know more about Watsons Philippines sustainability initiatives and efforts to support communities, visit https://www.watsons.com.ph/sustainability and www.watsons.com.ph.

Taong 2007 ng itatag ng SM group, sa pamamagitan ng SM Foundation ang programang Kabalikat sa
Kabuhayan. Nagmula ito sa simpleng pangarap ni Henry Sy, Sr na paunlarin ang ating mga Pilipino sa
tulong ng agrikultura at siguradong may sapat na pagkain ang bawat komunidad.
Mahigit 16 taon na ang nakalipas mula noon, ngunit patuloy ang SM Foundation sa pagbibigay ng
dagdag kaalaman sa pagsasaka at pagnenegosyo.

Nito lamang, umabot na sa higit kumulang 28,550
benepisyaryo ang nakapagtapos sa nasabing programa. Isa na rito si Renato Fojas.
Pagtatanim para sa pamilya, komunidad.
Lumaki si Renato sa payak na pamumuhay. Marangal nyang itinaguyod ang kanyang pamilya sa
pamamasukan bilang karpentero.
“Mahilig akong magtanim simula pa noong bata pa ako. Pero, nagtrabaho ako bilang karpintero. Dahil
kontrata lang ito, hindi laging sigurado ang kita,” bungad niya.
Ang hilig sa pagtatanim ang nag udyok sa kanya para sumali sa KSK-SAP noong 2010. Dito, natutunan
umano ni Renato ang iba’t ibang paraan ng pagtatanim ng prutas at gulay.

Dagdag pa niya, nakakuha rin
siya ng kaalaman tungkol sa akmang pananim sa iba’t ibang uri ng lupa.
Dahil dito, nakapagpayabong siya ng isang vegetable garden sa likod ng kanyang bahay. Ito ay naging
sandalan nila, lalo na noong panahon ng pandemya.

Dr. Alfredo P. Manugas VI, the San Fernando, Cebu Municipal Health Officer and Health
Department Head checks up a young patient at the lobby of the newly refurbished Primary Health
Facility.
Healthcare facilities are essential pillars of every community, ensuring that residents
conveniently get the medical care and attention they deserve.
Dr. Alfredo P. Manugas VI, the Municipal Health Officer and Health Department Head, knows
just this. Serving at the San Fernando, Cebu Primary Healthcare Facility (SFCPHF) for roughly
15 years, he has imbibed the importance of modernizing facilities to provide better services to
his patients and safe workplace for his fellow health workers.
“This facility is close to my heart. Considering the length of my stay, this has become my second
home,” he said.
Dr. Manugas said that the collaboration of SM Foundation, local government unit of San
Fernando, Cebu and its mayor, Mytha Ann Canoy could not have come at a much better time,
especially at the heels of a global medical scare.