The pupils under the care of Marikina City Social Welfare and Development happily show off their own SM Besties of Joy
SM Supermalls brought the spirit of the holidays to life as shoppers and employees came together to share joy with children through SM Besties of Joy and ChriSMiles, transforming holiday generosity into meaningful community impact through SM City Marikina, SM City Masinag, and SM City San Mateo.
For SM City Masinag, SM Besties of Joy benefited children of Barangay Pintong Bukawe, San Mateo, Rizal, while SM employee volunteers celebrated the season with children from Precious Heritage Children’s Home for ChriSMiles. For SM City Marikina, SM Besties of Joy reached children under the care of the City Social Welfare and Development of Marikina City.
Meanwhile, employee volunteers spent a meaningful day with children from Marikina Kids Town, sharing gifts, snacks, and holiday activities. For SM City San Mateo, both SM Besties of Joy and ChriSMiles were dedicated to children from the San Mateo Day Care Center, where SM employees led a cheerful program filled with gift-giving, games, and shared moments of joy at SM City San Mateo’s activity area.
These initiatives reflect SM Supermalls’ commitment to uplifting communities and nurturing a culture of compassion and volunteerism. From the generosity of shoppers to the dedication of employee volunteers, each contribution helped make the holidays brighter for children across East Metro.
SM Supermalls in the East Metro extends its heartfelt gratitude to all shoppers who shared a little extra and donated through SM Besties of Joy, helping spread smiles, hope, and joy this Christmas season.
Bulakenyos may look forward to yet another exciting retail experience as KKV officially opens its doors at the second level of SM Center Pulilan. Popularly known for its wide selection of affordable lifestyle finds, KKV is the latest addition to the mall’s delightful mix of shopping purveyors.
KKV features an extensive line of beauty products, accessories, home finds, stationery, toys, and snacks, all of which cater to evolving lifestyle needs. With its vibrant interiors and convenient store design, KKV invites customers to explore and discover stylish and functional everyday items.
With KKV now open, SM Center Pulilan marks another milestone as it continues to make lifestyle and retail offerings more accessible to Bulacan communities, giving shoppers more reasons to visit, explore, and enjoy.
Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa), one of the country’s leading life insurance companies, has achieved a double milestone after receiving recognition from two prestigious international award-giving bodies for its MyBiz program – an innovative suite of insurance and protection solutions designed for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Sun Life Grepa was named Best MSME Insurance Initiative of the Year at the International Finance Awards 2025. The annual program recognizes industry excellence by honoring organizations that demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation, and contribution to their respective sectors. Winners are selected through a rigorous evaluation of their achievements and impact on their industries.
The company also took home the MSME Insurance Initiative of the Year – Philippines at the Insurance Asia Awards 2025. This marks the fourth consecutive year (2022 – 2025) that Sun Life Grepa has been honored by Insurance Asia, which celebrates outstanding insurers across the region for their excellence in claims management, product innovation, customer experience, and digitation transformation.
“These recognitions from Insurance Asia and International Finance Awards affirm our mission to build brighter futures by protecting the very backbone of our economy – the MSMEs,” Peter M. Miranda, Vice President for Group Marketing Operations at Sun Life Life Grepa.
Launched in 2022, the MyBiz program provides MSMEs with easy access to holistic insurance packages that cater to the wellness, protection, and recovery needs of their employees. The program, offered through Sun Life Grepa Healthcare, features three comprehensive packages – Accident ProSafe, Smart Care Plus, and HIPSTER – to meet the evolving needs of businesses across various stages of growth, from start-ups to established enterprises.
“Through sun Life Grepa Healthcare, employers can provide their teams with straightforward, affordable, and comprehensive protection plans – whether their business is just starting, expanding, or thriving,” Miranda added.
To learn more about how Sun Life Grepa helps empowers MSMEs and safeguard their employees’ future, visit any Sun Life Grepa branch, speak with a Sun Life Grepa advisor, or follow Sun Life Grepa Healthcare on Facebook.
The new year calls for a fresh start, and there is no better way to kick off 2026 than with a shopping spree that delivers both style and savings. SM’s End of Season Sale is officially on, inviting shoppers to refresh their wardrobes, upgrade their homes, and stock up on everyday essentials at prices worth celebrating.
Running until January 11, 2026, this much-anticipated sale offers discounts of up to 70 percent in hundreds of participating stores. From the latest fashion trends and beauty must-haves to home upgrades and tech essentials, shoppers can find it all in one place at SM City Grand Central, SM City Valenzuela, and SM Center Sangandaan.
Expect sulit deals from well-loved SM destinations such as The SM Store, Surplus, Miniso, Watsons, Simply Shoes, SM Supermarket, and SM Hypermarket. Fashion fans can update their looks with standout pieces from trendy boutiques like Uniglo, while those focused-on wellness and self-care can score great finds that fit both their routines and their budgets. The End of Season Sale is also the perfect time to invest in your space. Discover exciting offers at SM Appliance Center for home and kitchen upgrades, Our Home for stylish interiors, and Ace Hardware for tools and DIY essentials that help turn plans into reality.
Shopping at SM is always more than just ticking items off a list. Between finds, take a break and enjoy satisfying meals at the SM Foodcourt or explore the newest dining spots at SM City Grand Central, SM City Valenzuela, and SM Center Sangandaan, where comfort food favorites meet exciting new flavors. Whether you are shopping for a fresh 2026 look, planning home upgrades, or simply enjoying a day out, SM City Grand Central, SM City Valenzuela, and SM Center Sangandaan are ready to welcome you with exciting deals and a complete mall experience.
The countdown is on. Shop smart, save big, and say YES to SM’s End of Season Sale before it wraps up on January 11, 2026.
Pru Life UK is taking centre stage at the 51st Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) as a premium sponsor, reaffirming its partnership with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and strengthening its commitment to champion Filipino stories both on and beyond the big screen. The collaboration reflects the company’s mission to be a dependable partner Filipinos can trust at every life chapter—an embodiment of its Count on Pru Life UK promise.
As a festival partner, Pru Life UK will play an active role in MMFF’s flagship events, including the Parade of Stars on 19 December, and the prestigious Gabi ng Parangal on 27 December. Through its participation, the company hopes to honour the storytellers and creatives behind the festival, while supporting an industry that continues to shape the nation’s culture.
Pru Life UK’s involvement highlights its belief that the stories Filipinos bring to life, whether of triumph, resilience, hardship or hope, deserve support and protection.
“The MMFF has long been a cherished holiday tradition that brings families and communities together. As we support this year’s festival, we reaffirm our Count on Pru Life UK promise, because behind every film is a story of a Filipino family doing their best, dreaming bigger, and hoping for a better tomorrow. These are the same stories that inspire us to protect what matters,” said Kathryn Cajucom, Head of Brand and Integrated Marketing Communications.
“Just as MMFF films portray the realities of everyday life, Pru Life UK aims to stand beside families in their own journeys, helping them plan, recover and move forward with confidence,” Cajucom added.
This year’s MMFF, themed “A New Era for Philippine Cinema,” will feature eight official entries, showcasing a range of genres and fresh perspectives for audiences nationwide. All films will screen starting 25 December, continuing the festival’s legacy of uniting Filipinos through stories that reflect the heart and spirit of the nation. ###
About Pru Life UK
Pru Life UK is the leading life insurer in the Philippines demonstrating its commitment to protect Filipinos’ financial future and well-being for every life, for every future.
Established in 1996, Pru Life UK operates in over 200 branches and general agency offices in the Philippines, and holds the largest life insurance agency force of close to 38,000 licensed agents.
Pru Life UK offers a wide range of tailored solutions that address the unique and evolving needs across demographics and life stages. These include life protection, health, accident and disability, and investment-linked insurance.
Currently, Pru Life UK serves over 930,000 individual policyholders and more than 85,000 insured group members, and ranks first in New Business Annual Premium Equivalent* as of Q3 2025, according to the Insurance Commission.
Pru Life UK is a subsidiary of Prudential plc, with a legacy of more than 175 –years of safeguarding the future of millions of families for this generation and generations to come.
Pru Life UK is headquartered in 9/F Uptown Place Tower 1,1 East 11th Drive, Uptown Bonifacio, Taguig City 1634, Metro Manila, Philippines. Its main customer center is located in G/F Cluster 2, Uptown Parade, Megaworld Blvd. corner 36th street Uptown Bonifacio, Taguig City 1634, Metro Manila, Philippines. Its customer center contact details are: +63 (2) 88875433 (within Metro Manila) and 1-800-107785465 (for domestic toll-free via PLDT landline), email: contact.us@prulifeuk.com.ph.
The PRU customer center processes customer concerns based on applicable timelines provided by the law. Visit www.prulifeuk.com.ph/en/contact-us/ for the list of its branches and more information.
Pru Life UK is legally permitted to provide financial products or services in the Philippines as regulated by the Insurance Commission.
The Insurance Commission’s head office is located in 1071 United Nations Avenue Ermita, Manila, Philippines. Their Cebu District office is located at Unit 17, Ground and Second Floors, The Gallery, Pope John Paul II Avenue, Barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City, while their Davao District office is in Door 2&3, 3rd Floor of YAP Building Quimpo Boulevard, Ecoland, Davao City. Visit www.insurance.gov.ph/contact-us/ for more information.
Notes:
*New Business Annual Premium Equivalent (NBAPE) – premium for a new policy paid in a year Please use “Pru Life UK” when referring to the company.
Foodies in Bulacan have another reason to visit SM City Marilao as Jiang Nan Hotpot finally opens its door to bring in authentic Chinese dishes that blend tradition, comfort, and bold flavors.
Conveniently located at the 2nd level, West Wing Expansion, Jiang Nan Hotpot features a menu that highlights rich sauces and carefully prepared soup bases, ranging from light and savory to rich and aromatic. Diners can customize their meals by selecting from a variety of fresh ingredients, including premium meats, vegetables, seafood, and noodles, which are cooked directly at the table.
As SM City Marilao is now full steam ahead as a lifestyle destination, Jiang Nan Hotpot certainly tops the list of comfort food restaurants with its flavorful offerings and inviting atmosphere, making it a favorite choice for those seeking quality food and a satisfying dining experience close to home.
