Planting dreams with ‘Grow Trees Community’ in Benguet

Like his father before him, John Dizon, Jr. and his family have been long-time stewards of protected trees in their community in Tuba, Benguet. When the time came for him to take up the mantle, he did so willingly to honor his father’s legacy.

“My father passed away in 2012. It was then that we found out that the area he is managing in collaboration with the government was part of a community-based forest management program,” said Mr. Dizon.

A year later, Mr. Dizon, who now heads Benguet-based environmental conservation group, Nagawa, Manganese, Liw-Liw, Sadle Agroforestry Assoc. Inc. (NAMALISA), started working closely with the SM Foundation for an inaugural tree-planting campaign back in 2013 to pick up where his father had left off in his advocacy.

With the impact of climate change more felt in recent years, Mr. Dizon shared the importance of planting more trees in communities to thin out air pollutants in keeping the air fresh and people healthier. The trees which his father planted also helped prevent soil erosion and landslides caused by earthquakes.

He nurtures a dream that some of his children will take after him to help protect the environment. Getting closer to that dream, one of his sons is eyeing a career in forestry, a nod to his father’s chosen field.

To further this advocacy, Mr. Dizon supports the reforestation initiative of SM Foundation, Inc., the social good arm of SM and the Fast Retailing Foundation (FR Foundation), a general incorporated foundation in Japan through the Grow Trees Community campaign.

The project aims to plant and grow forest trees such as the Benguet pine, Alnus or Calliandra and Coffee trees to also help create livelihood opportunities for the community by working closely with People’s Organizations such as NAMALISA in Tuba, Benguet.

The proponents teamed up with SM Supermalls and government partners such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agriculture, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Philippine National Police, Philippine Information Agency and the local government of Tuba.

Grow Trees Community was previously launched in Nasugbu, Batangas and Macabebe, Pampanga. Across the three locations, the project aims to plant over 200,000 seedlings and propagules.

It is in support of the SM Green Movement that seeks to improve the quality of life of communities through sustainable solutions to promote a green planet, green living and a green culture.

FR Foundation focuses on promoting research designed to help make the world a better place, spurring technological development, nurturing human resources, and supporting socially vulnerable individuals or groups.

It is part of Fast Retailing Co. Ltd., the leading Japanese retail company that owns well-loved casual wear brand, Uniqlo.

Shopee onboards aspiring MSMEs from the Aeta Community in partnership with Angeles LGU & the Clark Development Corporation

Local entrepreneurs from the Aeta Community

With its mission of making e-commerce more accessible for Filipinos across the country, Shopee partners with the local government unit (LGU) of Angeles City and the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) to engage and onboard local entrepreneurs from the Aeta community in Pampanga through its nationwide initiative – Shopee University Roadshow. Aspiring and current entrepreneurs from the Aeta community learned how they could sell their products on the platform and will soon be able to sell their handicrafts and traditional products, such as flutes, bird whistles, and coin banks, to a nationwide audience.

“Through this Shopee University Roadshow, our MSMEs will reach a larger market and wider audience to introduce their very own products. Thank you for this opportunity, Shopee, for giving a bridge for our local businesses,” shared Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin.

Ed Pamintuan, Chairman of the Clark Development Corporation, said “Everything that we do drives back to our main mission of driving growth and modernization for Clark City. We are grateful that our partnership with Shopee has given our Cabalens, most especially our Aeta brothers and sisters, the support that they need to jumpstart their online selling journey.”

“We are honored to partner with Angeles City and the Clark Development Corporation in our shared mission of supporting local businesses. It is incredibly humbling to be part of the e-commerce journey of our local MSMEs. We will continue to make e-commerce accessible for all with more iterations of the Shopee University Roadshow and Shopee Kumustahan,” shared Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines.

The Shopee University Roadshow is a masterclass that educates MSMEs nationwide on how to bring their businesses online and onboard into Shopee. The masterclass equips sellers with the necessary tools and knowledge to generate more sales and grow their buyer base. Meanwhile, the Shopee Kumustahan engages Shopee sellers in a casual gathering for them to learn online selling tips and tools through an exchange of their experiences, insights, and advice.

This marks the third iteration of the Shopee University Roadshow and the Shopee Kumustahan, following successful runs in Davao City and Cebu. Through both events, Shopee furthers its commitment to support the growth of MSMEs and help all Filipinos benefit from digitization, wherever they may be.

If you’re interested in growing your business online, kickstart your e-commerce journey with Shopee today. Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

About Shopee
Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee promotes an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem by enabling businesses to digitalize and grow their online presence, helping more people access and benefit from digital services, and uplifting local communities.

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping homegrown brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

Shopee is part of Sea Limited (NYSE: SE), a leading global consumer internet company. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology through its three core businesses: Shopee, Garena and SeaMoney.

SM Prime, UNDRR commend women leaders in disaster resilience

For the second consecutive year, SM Prime Holdings (SMPHI) commits to support the global search for women leaders in disaster resilience. SMPHI is sponsoring Women’s International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) Leadership Awards, a flagship program of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

SMPHI Vice President for Corporate Compliance Liza B. Silerio said that the support is aligned with the company’s drive to recognize women’s leadership in disaster risk reduction. “This is important in inspiring other women to fully and effectively participate in promoting gender equality and empowerment while building our collective resilience.”

UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Mami Mizutori expressed gratitude for the support, stating, “The awards highlight the key role of women as leaders and agents of change in building resilience and actively participating in the creation and implementation of DRR strategies, policies, plans and programs in their regions. Their stories reflect the diversity of solutions required to meet the converging challenges of accelerating climate change and disasters in the region.”

“We look forward to continued collaboration with SM in our DRR agenda,” Secretary General Mizutori added.

There were 15 shortlisted finalists from 420 nominations received from across 24 Asia-Pacific countries in the WIN DRR Excellence Awards 2022 sponsored by SM Prime. Pacific geo-hazards expert Esline Garaebiti & Indian researcher of river flood risk Dr. Homolata Borah were awarded top honours for achieving exceptional professional success in DRR at the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Brisbane last September 21, 2022. Excellence award winner, Ms. Garaebiti is the Director General of the Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards, Environment, Energy and Disaster Management in Vanuatu, while Rising Star award winner Dr. Borah, works with communities on Majuli, the world’s largest inhabited river island where river erosion is an existential issue. The awards come with a cash prize to celebrate women’s achievements in reducing disaster risk. There are two award categories – the Excellence Award, proudly sponsored by SM Prime Inc., worth US$10,000 and the Rising Star Award worth US$7,500.

The WIN DRR partnership is consistent with SM Prime Holdings’ social commitment towards women empowerment, resilience, good health and well-being of women. The company’s corporate social responsibility arm, SM Cares, supports programs that advance these causes.

The Women’s International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) is a professional network to support women working in disaster risk reduction, in all their diversity. Its overall goal is to empower women to attain leadership and enhance their role in decision-making in disaster risk reduction in Asia-Pacific. The WIN DRR Philippine Network is powered by SM Prime and Asia Pacific College.

Earlier this year, SM Prime through its SM CARES, partnered with UNDRR in celebrating women empowerment through a webinar on the role of women in disaster resilience. In her keynote message, Mizutori emphasized “women’s equal participation and leadership in public life including disaster risk reduction is important and it is also essential to reducing disaster risk in achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals.”

Visit http://www.smprime.com for more information on SM Prime Holdings and its other programs towards disaster preparedness.

Begin investing in jewelry with Cebuana Lhuillier’s back-to-back jewelry sale

Discounts from 10 to 50% off on selected gold items up for grabs

Jewelry enthusiasts are in for a treat as Cebuana Lhuillier, together with Cebuana Lhuillier Jewelry, Cebuana Lhuillier Premium, and Just Jewels, unveil two back-to-back massive sales events starting with the Dazzling Gold Rush Sale slated from September 14 to 20 nationwide.

Cebuana Lhuillier president & CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier shares, “Even in the most difficult of times, the value of gold remained stable and consistent, making it a good starter investment. Gold jewelry has always been a reliable and consistent source of cash, especially during times of emergencies. I invite all Ka-Cebuanas to begin their investing journey by taking advantage of our upcoming gold sales where they are sure to get quality items at wallet-friendly prices.”

The Dazzling Gold Rush Sale is available in all of Cebuana Lhuillier’s more than 3,000 branches where buyers can enjoy 10% discount on all items, as well as up to 50% discount on some choice pieces. The sale extends to Cebuana Lhuillier Jewelry Premium and Just Jewels branches where high-end jewelry pieces are on sale with up to 20% discount.

For hassle-free and convenient shopping, buyers can also visit Cebuana Lhuillier Jewelry or Cebuana Lhuillier Jewelry Premium at http://www.cebuanalhuillierjewelry.com or tune in to their Cebuana Lhuillier Facebook community page to avail of the 10% discount during the jewelry online sale.

Alternatively, buyers can also go to Cebuana Lhuillier Jewelry Premium in Shopee, Lazada, and Zalora and get 10% discount for all pieces on display.
On top of Cebuana Lhuillier’s week-long sale, Cebuana Lhuillier Jewelry Premium is also holding its Grand Pre-Christmas Sale in Festival Mall Alabang from September 16-18, with up to 25% discount offered on all premium jewelry items.
For more information, visit http://www.cebuanalhuillierjewelry.com.

Hamilo Coast and WWF: partners in eco-tourism and sustainability

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​Hamilo Coast, the premier beach resort town in Nasugbu, Batangas, may be the weekend haven of the country’s affluent set, yet it is on track as a thriving model of sustainable eco-tourism practices. 

Touting 5,800 hectares of prime seaside development, Hamilo Coast is a project of SM Prime’s Costa Del Hamilo, Inc. (CDHI), which carefully integrates residential, resort, leisure, commercial, and institutional land uses in the sprawling estate. But beyond its vast scope and stunning vistas, Hamilo Coast embraces sustainable tourism at the core of its philosophy and shows how beautiful beachfront homes can harmonize with nature and the environment.

2022 marks Hamilo Coast’s 15th year of productive partnership with the conservation group World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF). Hamilo Coast and WWF have been working together on key areas for sustainability—coastal resource management, ridge-to-reef management, solid waste management, mangrove reforestation, the use of renewable energy sources, and environmental awareness.

This long-standing collaboration with WWF signifies Hamilo Coast’s determination to pursue eco-tourism and sustainability while upholding international standards for leisure property development. 

Ms. Imee G. Francisco, Vice President and Head of CDHI Projects and Operations, takes pride in the partnership’s objectives. “More than building and maintaining a beautiful community, we seek to create and sustain a world that future generations can enjoy. To help serve this end, CDHI continues to develop Hamilo Coast without compromising the quality of wildlife living around it.” 

This year, Hamilo Coast and WWF will focus on addressing the major components on waste management, which include assessment of solid waste, water and wastewater management practices, formulation of environmental management plan, and the promotion of food shed farming systems. Apart from these, Hamilo Coast and WWF will continuously work on programs that will help conserve, protect, and nurture the environment.

For one, Hamilo Coast and WWF’s Ridge to Reef program declared three of Hamilo Coast’s 13 coves–Pico de Loro, Etayo, and Santelmo–as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). These are coastal zones where human activities are strictly regulated to ensure their long-term conservation. Declaring more MPAs would also mean expanding Hamilo Coast’s scope in safeguarding more marine ecosystem and resources. 

Hamilo Coast also continues to implement a mangrove reforestation program in its 24-hectare mangrove belt—one of the largest in Nasugbu. Here, Hamilo has planted 50,000 propagules hand-in-hand with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines.

Mangroves are the first line of defense for coastal communities, stabilizing shorelines by averting erosion and providing natural barriers to storm surges, flooding, and hurricanes. As an effective carbon storage, mangroves absorb six times more carbon than mature tropical forests, making it all the more vital in slowing down the effects of climate change. 

Finally, Hamilo Coast and WWF will further push for environmental awareness by celebrating occasions that show respect for biodiversity. One is the annually held Earth Hour, during which time people are urged to shut down electricity to make a substantial difference in energy consumption. Individuals, organizations, and establishments also come together on Coral Triangle Day to shed light on ocean conservation and the ways we can protect and preserve the world’s epicenter of marine biodiversity. 

Likewise, the development boasts the largest volunteer effort for the ocean’s health, made possible with the International Coastal Cleanup, where people gather on the Pico and Santelmo beaches to collect trash and record information on the collected debris. 

For all these sustained efforts, WWF has awarded Hamilo Coast with the Longest Sustainability Partner Award, recognizing the development’s commitment to sustainable tourism and its positive impact on the Philippine tourism industry.

Francisco affirms, “CDHI is proud of how far we have come at Hamilo Coast with the help of WWF. This inspires us to do even more, in the hopes that our efforts will make it possible for future generations to witness the beauty of nature as we see it today.” 

Local Brand Makes Sabon Refilling Possible

There is a global call from environment advocates to urge multinational companies and leading brands of consumer goods to lessen use of plastics in their product packaging by refilling. It is yet to happen.

However, a local brand called SABON EXPRESS, has joined the global reuse and refill revolution to spur a transition to a plastic-free future. Its founder and Chairman, Mellany Zambrano, believes it is time to shift consumer behavior and habits when it comes to buying household products.

SABON EXPRESS, an innovative consumer goods brand and franchisable store chain, is paving the way for locally manufactured liquid soaps and detergents to have strong foothold in the market with its first-of-its-kind mechanized and automated ‘sabon’ refilling stations that allow consumers to have a refill of highly essential and consumable household products like dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent, fabric conditioner, liquid hand soap, car shampoo, reusing their own bottles and containers – in a hygienic way.

SABON EXPRESS dubbed as The Refill Authority, is trailblazing a more appropriate way of sabon refilling – one that does not require the ‘tindera” to use “tabo” or dipper to fetch products from the drum to manually refill bottles, which is a current practice of most local sabon refilling stores in the country. Said manual process potentially contaminates products and makes refilling messy and unhygienic. Sabon Express recently launched its liquid soap dispensing unit at the ZeroWaste Bazaar in Uptown Mall BGC Taguig last July 18-21 – as the first and only automated and hygienic sabon refilling station in the country.

The Zero Waste Bazaar is in celebration of Plastic-Free July, a collaborative event of Ecowaste Coalition of the Philippines, Greenpeace Philippines, Mother Earth Foundation, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Health Care Without Harm together with Break Free from Plastic, Oceana Philippines International, and Megaworld Lifestyle Malls. It showcased a photo exhibit and bazaar featuring art and eco-friendly stores to make plastic-free Pilipinas a reality.

SABON EXPRESS strongly advocates for “a world with less plastic” by promoting the reuse of plastic containers for household products via its conceptual and innovative hygienic ‘sabon’ refill dispensing unit in all its stores which comes in both manual and automated machines – a game changer in the local ‘sabon’ refilling industry.

With a vision to serve the country’s increasingly demanding market at scale, Sabon Express is committed to continuous research and development and is being assisted by the Department of Science and Technology’s Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) for further product development, technical advancement and good manufacturing technology and processes.

“At Sabon Express, we are always looking for ways to innovate in order to serve our consumers better and to help save the environment in our own little way because our business is advocacy-driven”, says Mellany Zambrano.

Open for franchise, distribution and reselling

Among the signature products of Sabon Express are the Deesh dishwashing liquid, Lanza fabric conditioner, Hush hand soap, Savonex multipurpose cleaner, SoFresh washing machine tub cleaner, Glim glass cleaner, Switch liquid detergent, Vorox toilet care, and CarZ car care.

Sabon Express ALL-IN franchise+ package is worth P388,000 which includes Sabon refill dispensing machine, store fabrication and installation, display racks and counter table, store signages, P50,000 worth of initial product inventory, product marketing/sales training, and more.

For franchise, distribution and reselling inquiries, call Sabon Express hotlines: 0919-0967602/0970-5614670/0965-6912553 or visit their office at 1023 10thFloor, City & Land Mega Plaza, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig City.

The Relentless Rizaly: From SM Foundation scholar to SM Prime accounting manager

Twenty years ago, high school student Rizaly Lim and her four siblings would watch in awe every time they pass by the construction of the first SM City in her hometown Sta. Rosa, Laguna. All five children, packed in the tricycle their father rides for a living, were all excitedly looking forward to happy family weekends they would be spending at the huge mall.

Today, after graduating Summa Cum Laude through a scholarship from SM Foundation, Rizaly is now a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) working as Accounting Manager for the head office of SM Prime Holdings, a leading property developer in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

From SM Foundation scholar to SM Prime accounting manager

At a young age, Rizaly was headstrong about getting her family out of poverty. She shares, “My father was the only one who worked for our family, and because we were a large family, his daily earnings as a tricycle driver were never enough.”

Rizaly finished high school at the Balibago National High School as class valedictorian in 2005 and was already sending applications for other college scholarships when her teacher asked the top 10 students to go to SM City Sta. Rosa for an interview with SM Foundation.

“Sa umpisa, hindi po ako naniwala kasi bago pa lang sa amin noon ang SM City Sta. Rosa,” she recalls. She proceeded of course, driven by the one goal of finishing college and helping her family. “Gusto ko rin po makapag-aral at makapagtapos noon. Maka-work at makatulong sa family.”

A few exams and interviews later, SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI) went to visit her and her family at home to inform them that she will be receiving a full scholarship with monthly allowance until she finishes her course.

In 2010, Rizaly graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accountancy. She went on to pass the Philippine CPA Board Exams on first try in October 2010. The assistance of SMFI, she said, went beyond tuition and allowances. “With full scholarship grants and monthly allowances, as well as the opportunity to work at SM Store during our summer and Christmas vacations, the SMFI scholarship has enabled me to help my family financially.”

“I am the master of my fate”

While other parents were buying their college kids the latest Nokia phone back in the summers of 2000’s, Rizaly’s father gave her and her siblings weekly assignments to accomplish during the summer vacation. “Our late father instilled in us the love of reading and the value of studying,” she shared. “During summer, he would assign us English words and their meanings to memorize and asked us to recite these to him.“

Then there’s the memorization of motivational poems and speeches, one of which stuck with her for life: “It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” She shared that this last stanza of “Invictus” by W.E. Henley had kept her motivated to look past the limitations of her circumstances and focus on her personal goals.

Career at SM

SM Foundation was established in 1983 by Henry Sy, Sr. and Felicidad T. Sy as the heart of the SM group. It has established programs that are focused on nurturing and caring for underserved communities where SM is present. It supports and empowers host communities through education, healthcare, shelter, disaster response, sustainable agriculture, and care for persons with special needs.

To date, SM Foundation has assisted more than 8,000 college and technical/vocational students, and has donated over 100 school buildings with a total of 334 classrooms built across the country.

Nurturing the graduates extends beyond the classroom as SM Foundation also provides job opportunities across the different companies of the SM group. The foundation organizes a Career Fair specifically designed for its scholars.

From the Career Fair organized by SM Foundation, Rizaly was able to get job offers from three companies – among which was SM Prime Holdings, one of the largest integrated property developers in Southeast Asia that offers innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities with the development of malls, residences, offices, hotels and convention centers. It is also the largest, in terms of asset, in the Philippines.

I still want to level up

“I haven’t accomplished much yet, but I value what I have already accomplished and received so far,” said Rizaly, referring to the highest honors she has received in high school and college, becoming a CPA, and being promoted to manager in within only a few years of her work at SM Prime. “These are just a few of the accomplishments for which I will be eternally grateful. I’m also proud of my daily achievements at work, such as fulfilling particular duties assigned to me. They make me happy and proud of myself, and they inspire me to do better.”

“Ang mga dating pinapangarap ko lang, nagagawa ko na ngayon,” Rizaly said as she related how she has been able to travel to Taiwan for vacation and do the tri-city tour of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. But her biggest dreams, she said, remain centered on her family: to provide better for her family by sharing with them what she has now. “Nothing is simple. Nothing is easy. Hindi ko naman to straight line lang na na-achieve. Life is full of challenges. Just stay strong, keep the faith and always give your best effort.”

Collaboration: A key in creating sustainable agri-enterprises

KSK Farmers’ Market Day at SM City Sta. Rosa

Limited market information and market access are two major obstacles to increased smallholder farmers’ income. According to studies, farmers in grassroot communities often lack access to profitable, value-added markets. In the absence of critical supporting functions, such as infrastructure and service provision – farmers struggle to transform their traditional subsistence farms into a feasible commercially oriented production. Buyers, on the other hand, such as wholesalers, find it difficult to get the quantity and quality of produce that they need for processing on a timely basis.

Because of this challenge, SM Foundation collaborated with various government agencies, and engaged various SM business units such as the SM Development Corp. (SMDC), SM Supermalls and SM Markets to ensure that local farmers under the Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan (KSK) program have venues where they can sell their produce amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

From training KSK participants in practicing sustainable farming technologies via technology transfer and product development, SMFI, together with various SM business units used the power of collaboration to create farm-market linkage – which intends to create a powerful driver of rural poverty reduction.

Team social good
The Good Guys Market is a weekend market set up in SMDC properties to connect small-scale farmers directly with consumers—condo residents. This initiative links around 26,000 small-scale farmers directly with consumers.

Together with SM Supermalls, SMFI launched the Green Lane initiative. Led by the wives of the KSK farmers, the social enterprise offers a wide variety of quality yet affordable indoor and landscape plants which cater to every enthusiast’s preference. In addition, the team also launched the KSK Farmers’ Market Day to provide farmers with market exposure in select SM Malls nationwide.

Meanwhile, SMFI also partnered with SM Markets in creating market for onion farmers. Through the partnership, SMFI was able to establish specialized onion pop-up booths creating a stable market for small scale onion farmers.

Millions of smallholder farmers are seeking ways to improve the productivity of their farms and to improve their market performance. Modern farming technologies, paired with market linkage, such as the SM KSK, plays a vital role in improving the livelihood of small-scale farmers and their families.

SM Foundation’s Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan (KSK) is SMFI’s Social Good program on sustainable agriculture that intends to uplift the lives of Filipinos in grassroot communities through sustainable agriculture via technology transfer, product development and farm-market linkage. To date, the program has trained more than 28,500 farmers from more than 900 cities/municipalities nationwide.

SM PRIME continues to explore ways to promote environmental consciousness

Climate change is one of the most pressing and defining global issues today. It has become imperative for both the public and private sectors to continue to band together to primarily, safeguard the welfare of the people and to step up to strengthen the resilience of the nation.

The Philippines currently ranks third globally when it comes to climate change vulnerability. In relation to its geographical location, it is more exposed to altering intensities of climate change manifested through erratic weather systems and natural calamities.

The private sector is called upon now more than ever to align with the principles of sustainable development and to take on the same firm stance on environmentally sound practices in its operations.

“I constantly encourage the private sector to work closely with the government. This way, we can be more cohesive in our efforts to make more meaningful progress towards a better and sustainable future. As a private enterprise, SM Prime will continue to do its share in addressing climate change for the benefit of communities,” said Hans T. Sy, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee.

Water conservation

Sustainability at SM Prime is at the core of its corporate identity. SM Prime has spearheaded sustainable practices as well as set records in pioneering programs to consciously protect the environment and strongly focus on resilience in its developments.

For one, the property conglomerate embarked on a campaign to substantially reduce its water consumption. It pioneered the installation of sewage treatment plants even before the measure was required by way of the Clean Water Act in 2004.

Today, its sewage treatment plants recycle 8.7 million cubic meters of water, lessening its dependence on fresh water sources for air conditioning operations, gardening, water closet flushing and other non-potable uses. SM Prime’s water catchment basins across 20 SM malls can also catch and store almost 79 million liters of water in total every time it rains, or as much as 32 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

By controlling the flow of flood water, surrounding communities have been provided more protection against the devastating effects of floods, alleviating what communities would normally fear when the rains come.

Renewable energy

SM Prime continues to explore ways to promote environmental consciousness in its operations and developments to minimize environmental impact.

In 2014, SM Prime achieved an important milestone in the country with SM City North EDSA becoming then the world’s largest solar-powered mall. Today, SM Prime is adding eleven more malls with solar roof decks.

Showing its firm resolve to advance its sustainability agenda, the company is committed to increase the use of renewable energy by 50% in 2022 across its various business segments, ahead of the national goals to be 35% renewable by 2030.

Through these efforts, SM Prime is committed to provide affordable and clean energy to its tenant-partners, minimizing the carbon footprint emission in its operations.
Collaboration toward resilience

As a key figure in the private sector, Mr. Sy and his dedication to environmental protection continues to serve as a testament to how Philippine businesses can usher positive change toward disaster resilience and risk reduction management in the country.

In 2012, Mr. Sy joined the United Nations Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG) for Disaster Reduction. In 2015, he was also inducted as the first and only Filipino member UNDRR ARISE (Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies) International Board. He currently serves as co-chair in the ARISE-Philippines network and National Resilience Council (NRC) of the Philippines, representing the private sector. He continues to help develop multi-sectoral partnerships in the country to strengthen the ability of corporations, including MSMEs, to prepare and respond to disasters brought about by natural hazards such as earthquake.

“Climate change is looming over our Mother Earth. If we can contribute no matter how little and if I can get everybody to be aware of it, I think we will make an impact. It’s never too late,” said Mr. Sy in a video interview for the 50 Sustainability & Climate Leaders initiative.

Sun Life: Partner in Health!

Sun Life Philippines has launched a promo for those keen to secure and invest in their health.

Entitled Sun Life: Partner in Health Promo, qualified participants can get a chance to win P2,000 worth of Giftaway e-vouchers.

To qualify, one simply needs to connect with their Sun Life advisor and schedule a financial consultation. During the consultation, the advisor will provide a registration form which participants will need to fill out. The completed form will serve as their raffle entry.

Those who want to join but currently do not have an advisor can connect with one via http://www.sunlife.co/TalkToAnAdvisor.

Interested participants have until June 30, 2022, to sign up and attend a financial consultation to qualify for the raffle draw.

Ten (10) winners will be electronically drawn on June 22 and July 6, 2022, and will be announced on June 25, and July 9, 2022, respectively. The list of winners will be posted on the official Sun Life Philippines Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SunLifePH).

“Sun Life is constantly finding new and exciting ways to engage our clients so that we can help them secure a brighter and healthier future,” Sun Life Philippines Chief Client Experience & Marketing Officer Carla Gonzalez-Chong said. “Through this promo, we hope to encourage more Filipinos to take the first step, and with the help of our Sun Life advisors, understand why it’s worth it to invest in their health.”

To stay updated on promos, follow @SunLifePH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To know more about how Sun Life can be your partner in health, visit http://www.sunlife.co/SLPIH.

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