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Ortigas Malls kicked off its Women’s Month celebration with “Gahum sa Buwak: Flower Power,” an art event featuring works by women artists and fashion designers from Davao, at the G/F East Wing of Estancia Mall in Pasig City. The month-long event will run until March 31, 2023.

“For Women’s Month, we wanted to put the spotlight on Filipina artists from Davao through ‘Gahum sa Buwak,’ which directly translates to ‘flower power.’ The event seeks to provide Dabawenya artists an avenue where they can be seen and heard, and be given opportunities to showcase their creativity. Ortigas Malls supports this call, and we are excited to host our local artists in Estancia,” said Arch. Renee Bacani, Vice President of Ortigas Land.

Organized by Dabawenyo Artists Federation Inc. art group Floral Artists of Davao, Gahum sa Buwak features the works of various female artists, including paintings by Rita Bustamante, Mean Tan Guinoo, Annie Tan Sy, Maru Aiharu, Aimee Suarez, Josie Tionko, Ritzel Polinar, Nina Custodio, Marica Llamas Cang, Shaira Secuya, Jing Rabat, and Amanda Fe Echevarria; a photography exhibit by Ellah Plariza; and digital art by Anthonette Plariza.


The opening ceremony and ribbon cutting at Estancia Mall was attended by Vice President Sara Duterte, Pasig City Vice Mayor Robert Jaworski Jr., Department of Tourism Mindanao director Tanya Rabat, fashion designer Margarita Montemayor Nograles, National Artist for dance Agnes Locsin, and honorary consul of Hungary for Mindanao Mary Ann Montemayor.


Art talks

 

Throughout the month of March, Estancia Mall will host a series of “Gahum sa Buwak” art talks by Amanda Fe Echevarria (“An Introduction to Art Therapy” on March 4, 2pm), Rita Bustamante (“Lecture on the process of a creative experience” on March 12, 3pm), and Councilor Pilar Braga (“Art and Culture in Davao” on March 26, 3pm).


Fashion show

 

There will also be a fashion show called “Threads of Culture” featuring ensembles by Margarita Montemayor Nograles of local brand Kaayo and jewelry designer Kathryn Fanlo on March 19th.


Workshops

 

To cap off the Women’s Month celebration, visitors can join a painting workshop on March 31, 2pm called “Musing the Soul, Painting and Poetry in Words and Colour,” where they will create art in different mediums, such as painting using acrylic, oil, and watercolor.


Estancia Mall, a shopping mall with a modern luxurious feel and design, is known for hosting events highlighting Filipino talent and creativity. For five years, it has been the venue for the annual Ortigas Art Festival, an event showcasing local art of various disciplines. A live music venue is also located in Estancia Mall, where shoppers can watch Filipino musicians perform.


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With “Gahum sa Buwak,” Ortigas Malls continues to support Filipino arts by providing a platform and venue for artists across the Philippines.


“Bringing art closer to every Filipino is important to us. We hope many of our loyal shoppers get a chance to experience the exhibit and activities in ‘Gahum sa Buwak,’” said Arch. Bacani.


“Gahum sa Buwak: Flower Power” will run from March 1 to March 31, 2023 at the GF East Wing of Estancia Mall, Pasig City.


For more information and updates on Estancia Mall, like their Facebook page and follow @estanciaph on Instagram. Download the Ortigas Malls app and be part of the community.

iPeople & Mapua execs introduced in a presscon the various breakthrough programs resulting from the collaboration of Mapua University with Arizona State University, who has been ranked as America’s Most Innovative University over the last 8 years. (From L-R): Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo (President & CEO, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna and Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao), Engr. Anthony Hilmer S. Medrano (EVP & COO, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna), Dr. Bonifacio T. Doma Jr. (EVP for International Alliance & Cintana Partnership Executive Director), Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea (President, Mapúa University & Chairman, iPeople), Alfredo Ayala (President, iPeople), Lorenzo V. Tan (President & CEO, House of Investments, Inc. of the Yuchengco Group of Companies), Gemma O. Cheng (Vice President & CFO of iPeople), and Justin Fabia (Country Manager for Philippines, Cintana Education).

Manila, Philippines – iPeople, the publicly listed Yuchengco-Ayala education partnership, introduced today a first of its kind offering that enables Filipino students to immerse themselves in global educational experiences with top international universities and a top Philippine university, in a highly cost-effective manner.

Last year, iPeople school Mapua University and its daughter schools Mapua Malayan Colleges Laguna and Mapua Malayan Colleges Mindanao, entered into a collaboration with Arizona State University (ASU), which has been ranked America’s most innovative university, ahead of Stanford and MIT, over the past 8 years.

The collaboration is focused on Business and Health Sciences programs. In the latest US News & World Report online program rankings, ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business ranked Top 10 in the US across 8 programs and disciplines, including the #1 spot for online bachelor’s in business programs, and ASU’s online bachelor’s program in psychology was ranked #4.

Through this collaboration, the Mapua schools also became members of the ASU-Cintana Alliance, a global network of 15 of the most innovative higher education institutions in the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Chris Hill, Chief Strategy Officer, and Head of Asia Pacific at Cintana, said, “We are delighted to be collaborating with the Mapua schools, whom we selected as our Philippine champions, because of their long-standing reputation for innovation and academic excellence. The recent ranking of Mapua as one of the top 4 Philippine universities, together with UP, Ateneo and LaSalle, in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, is clear evidence of the quality of a Mapuan education.”

Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea, President of Mapua University and Chairman of iPeople, said: “We have long been focused on delivering the hallmarks of a Mapuan education: international, digitally enhanced, outcomes-based and research-driven. Our collaboration with global leader ASU and being part of the ASU-Cintana Alliance enable us to take these to a higher level for our students, by giving them numerous opportunities to learn with a top ranked US university, and other leading education institutions around the world.”

At a press conference held in Mapua’s brand new Makati campus, the most modern in the NCR, the collaborating schools introduced several ground-breaking offerings.

During their time at the Mapua schools, students now have the opportunity to be immersed in international learning experiences in numerous ways. Firstly, they have access to ASU’s world-class content in all their ASU-enhanced courses. Secondly, students are able to participate in Global Signature Courses through state-of-the-art virtual Global Classrooms, which give them the opportunity to learn remotely from professors at member universities of the ASU-Cintana Alliance, and interact with classmates from around the world, without leaving the Philippines.

Students can also participate in classes co-lectured by ASU faculty in the US. Lastly, students will have many opportunities to participate in dozens of student exchange and summer immersion programs at ASU-Cintana Alliance schools.

Lorenzo V. Tan, the CEO of House of Investments, the listed holding company of YGC (Yuchengco Group of Companies), and the majority shareholder of iPeople said, “YGC has long prioritized education as one of our contributions to nation building. It is very timely that our Mapua schools are launching this very innovative and global initiative as we celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of our past Chairman, Ambassador Alfonso T. Yuchengco, who had always advocated for making quality education more affordable for Filipinos and had forged many successful partnerships with industry leaders from around the world.”

Cezar P. Consing, the CEO of Ayala Corporation, added: “This initiative will allow young people access to education that, while Philippine centered, is also global in quality and in reach. We want to help develop a generation of truly global Filipinos, because our country deserves the best the world has to offer.”

Operations at the Baliwag RHUs run even more smoothly after the upgrades made by SM Foundation and UNIQLO.

Small as they seem, local community health centers hold a significant impact in improving Filipinos’ lives.

According to the 2017 National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS), Filipinos continue to count on public medical facilities, such as public hospitals, rural health units, or barangay health stations, for their healthcare treatments.

The NDHS showed that the majority of parents whose children had fever, diarrhea, or acute respiratory infection sought advice or treatment from public healthcare facilities.

These facilities are also the most common source of contraceptives. Beyond this, public health facilities have been an active platform for vaccination and other key health programs.

But despite their vital role, the facilities are hindered from functioning at their full potential by a multitude of challenges, such as deficiency of facility infrastructure, and lack of strategic medical equipment and supplies.

Providing services that the community deserves

Just north of Metro Manila stands the Rural Health Unit (RHU) III of Baliwag City.

The facility is one of the RHUs recently upgraded by the SM group through the SM Foundation’s partnership with UNIQLO Philippines.

The RHU serves 300 patients daily (on average).

The majority are from low-income households from 8 barangays, where three are the biggest in the city.

The number does not include COVID-19 vaccinations, family planning services, medicine and prescription refills, and requests for medical and death certificates.

“Bukod sa may mga anay, ang mga pintura ay nagba-bakbakan. Ang mga pinto at ceiling namin ay sira or may mga crack. Kailangan na talagang i-renovate dahil marami nang sira,” RHU III midwife Rebecca Galves shared the previous state of their center.

Aside from the damage that comes from daily use, the RHU’s layout wasn’t optimized to fit documents, medical tools and equipment, and necessary furniture.

Patients had to sit close to each other during checkups and consultations, limiting workers’ efficiency and patients’ privacy and safety.

“Dahil masikip dito sa loob, hindi namin kayang i-accommodate lahat ng pasyente. Unang una, hindi dapat maging crowded sa pasilidad dahil tayo ay nasa pandemic pa kailangan pa rin ng social distancing. Kaya ang mga pasyente namin ay kadalasang naghihintay sa initan sa labas. Kapag umuulan, nababasa sila,” she recalled.

“Bukod sa marami kaming kagamitan at documents na hindi na magkasya sa mga cabinets, sa isang kwarto, tatlong kama pa ang nakalagay. At dahil masikip, minsan, ang waste products ay nasa ilalim na ng kama. Hindi namin maibigay ang komportableng kapaligiran at ang serbisyong gusto sana naming maihatid,” she added.

For her, the renovation of the center done by the SM Foundation could not have come at a better time.

Now, she can finally deliver the medical help she has long hoped to give the community—a service people deserve.

With renewed fervor, midwife Rebecca Galves fixes the maternity bed inside Baliwag RHU III.

“Ngayong narenovate na ang Center, nakakatiyak kami na gaganda pa lalo ang kalidad ng serbisyo. Unang una, komportable na ang lugar kung saan maghihintay ang mga pasyente. Bukod pa dito, mai-hihiwalay namin ang mga pasyente base sa kalagayan at pangangailan nila. Higit pa rito, pag bumisita ang mga pasyente, mararamdaman nilang para silang nasa makabagong pasilidad dahil malinis at maaliwalas na dito ngayon,” she described the new RHU III.

“Kagaya ng sinasabi namin sa mga pasiyente, mahalaga ang maayos at malinis na kapaligiran dahil nakakatulong ito sa pagpapapagaan ng pakiramdam. Kaya dito sa bagong center, pag-upo pa lang nila, makakaramdam na sila ng ginhawa—na parang gagaling na sila. Ganoon din sa aming mga health workers. Dahil maayos na ang aming pinagtatrabahuhan, iba ang pakiramdam namin. Mas excited kaming magtrabaho at mas panatag kaming maghatid ng kalidad na serbisyo sa bawat pasiyente,” Galves added.

Galves takes a pregnant mother’s blood pressure in preparation for her monthly checkup.

Aside from the RHUs in Baliwag, SM Foundation and UNIQLO’s partnership pave the way for the renovation of Pulilan RHU 1 and 2.

The upgrade of these two health facilities centers on SM Foundation’s mission: help community health centers by providing adequate facilities and equipment to improve medical care, especially in rural areas.

Local health workers come together to plan for the reopening of Pulilan RHU II

Through the recent upgrade, the centers are ready to meet the accreditation standards set by PhilHealth.

In turn, the RHUs can provide medical care to more indigent and underprivileged patients.

They can also receive funding from the government for administrative use and the purchase of supplies to better serve the community.

Continued trust in public health

Close by is Baliwag’s RHU I. Much like the center where Galvez works, the facility serves low-income individuals. One of them is Hazel Esquilona, a single mother of three.

“Malaking tulong talaga ang health center na ito para sa amin dahil tuwing may nagkakasakit po sa amin at wala kaming mapagkukunan ng pera, mayroon kaming matatakbuhan. Nito lang, nagkasakit ang anak ko—suspected po noon na may dengue o UTI siya. Wala po akong pera pero dahil dito sa health center, nagawa kong ipasuri ang ihi at dugo ng anak ko,” Esquilona recalled how the center saved her child’s life when she had nowhere to turn to.

“Nakumpirma po na may UTI siya. At kahit wala po kaming pera, agarang nabigyan ng tamang gamot ang anak ko. Nabigyan din po kami ng libreng antibiotic at paracetamol,” she said as she shares why the center has been close to her heart.

Hazel Esquilona brings her daughter to the Baliwag RHU I for a consultation before receiving the first dose of the anti-rabies vaccine.

And so, when their family had another medical emergency, she did not hesitate to visit the RHU I.

This time, she felt even more at ease seeking health care as the warmth of the health workers was complemented by an upgraded facility.

“Ngayon, ang isang anak ko naman ay nakagat ng kuting. Dito po kami tumakbo dahil bilang isang single mother na may simpleng kabuhayan, hindi ko po afford ang vaccine sa hospital o clinic,” she said.

“Para sa kagaya naming kapos talaga sa pera, malaking tulong ang center na ito. Maayos ang serbisyo ng mga staff at maaliwalas at komportable na rin ngayon sa loob ng center. Tuwing biglang may nagkakasakit at wala kaming perang pampagamot, mayroon kaming maaasahan,” she capped.

Collaboration is a powerful tool for bridging the gaps in quality healthcare for grassroots communities, such as the partnership between SMFI and UNIQLO.

By understanding the role of different players, such as local organizations, non-profits, and governments, we can create innovative solutions that bring quality healthcare to people—ensuring that no one is left without quality healthcare, especially the vulnerable sector.

SM City Marilao is excited to announce its first 3-day sale event for 2023! Starting on March 3, 4 to 5, shoppers may take advantage and enjoy incredible discounts on wide range of products and countless of items mall-wide.

There’s nothing like a light, fruity treat to liven up the senses in the middle of a long day. Long hours of study and work call for regular breaks to keep one’s cognitive and creative juices flowing, especially when it’s crunch time.




That’s where the refreshing fizz of Milkis works its magic. A product of Lotte Corporation, Milkis is imported and distributed by Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc..(PCPPI). Milkis is a delicious soda drink that brings new dimensions of flavors with its refreshing combination of milk and yogurt.

“With Milkis, Filipinos can have more refreshing days ahead. This delightful drink is a great choice for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, or a rewarding treat after a long day. Milkis tickles the palate with yogurt fizz, which pairs well with a light snack,” said Frederick D. Ong, PCPPI president and chief executive officer.

Milkis is available in Original and Strawberry, and may be found in select convenience stores and supermarkets, such as 7-11 and Robinsons Supermarkets.

Aside from Milkis, PCPPI, the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country, sells well-known brands such as Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Tropicana, Lipton, and Premier. For more information about PCPPI and its brands, please visit pepsiphilippines.com.

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Filipino singer-songwriter Barbie Almalbis marks a monumental milestone in music with the official release of her Tower Sessions Live album under Sony Music Entertainment and a reunion concert featuring her iconic bands Hungry Young Poets and Barbie’s Cradle.

Both celebrations honor her 25th anniversary in the local music scene as a woman who successfully navigated the realm of Pinoy rock with emotionally resonant songwriting and artistic independence.

Presenting a new arrangement of her old and new songs, Barbie Almalbis’ Greatest Hits live album was produced by Eric and Carlo Perlas of Tower of Doom, recorded by Kyle Cayton, and mixed/mastered by Simon Durias. It will also feature career-defining hits such as “Firewoman,” “Torpe,” “Tabing Ilog,” “The Dance,” “Goodnight,” and “Just A Smile,” along with fairly new tracks: “Days Are Long,” “Silaw,” “Tigre,” and “Kumpas,” the album’s carrier single.


“It’s always been a dream of mine to record our songs live, because we’re always rearranging songs as a band, and I think there’s something special that gets captured when the we play live together,” Almalbis shares. “My producers and collaborators did such a great job of making you feel like you’re at the gig. You can feel the power of the kick drum and the bass, and then have guitars blasting in your ear — in a pleasant way, of course.”

 

 

 

Aside from the release of Tower Sessions Live on digital platforms, Barbie Almalbis is set to headline her 25th Anniversary concert at 123 Block, Mandala Park on March 11 (Saturday), from 2pm onwards. Celebrating the impact of her music as a guide to many people’s journey in life, the show will reunite her with former bandmates in Hungry Young Poets and Barbie’s Cradle.

Aptly titled Firewoman:25 Years of Barbie Almalbis, the mini-music fest will also feature sets by some of the country’s finest acts, including Sandwich, Gab Alipe of Urbandub, Clara Benin, I Belong To The Zoo, Kai del Rio, and Bird.

Reflecting on her career as an artist, Almalbis expressed gratitude to her fans who have been supportive of her endeavors through the years. “I didn’t have so many plans growing up, but always just dreamt of playing music. I’m so grateful that I get to do this and share the experience with others too. I’m always touched by the support of my fans and friends, and really humbled and encouraged by their words and stories about how these songs have also become part of their journey.”

Barbie Almalbis’ Tower Sessions Live is now available on all digital platforms worldwide under Sony Music Entertainment.



Tickets to her upcoming concert, Firewoman:25 Years of Barbie Almalbis are available for purchase via TicketMelon. The event is presented by GNN Entertainment Productions, in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment, Backspacer Records, JB Music, Nova Wellness Store, D&D, Smirnoff Mule, and 123 Block.

As more doors filled with opportunities and new experiences open to you this year, make each milestone last as it happens, with OPPO’s newest Portrait Expert, the OPPO Reno8 T. With amazing upgrades all around, shoot clear portraits and capture your best self this year for unforgettable memories that you will love to look back on and share to the world. Now available in all OPPO Brand Stores, partner dealers and online, see life even better than it is with unmatched photography features, bigger storage, better performance, and more for P18,999.

Create lasting memories with the newest Portrait Expert

As the first Reno series smartphone with a 100MP Portrait Camera, the Reno8 T allows you to picture every special moment, aesthetic fit check, and creative content with clearer details that do not miss a thing. Highlighting beautiful portraits, its 32MP selfie camera makes you look good in every angle and every snapshot while having lasting memories with people you love. Completing its Triple Camera System, this smartphone is equipped with a 2MP depth camera and a 2MP microlens to bring more life to your captured moments. The Reno8 T’s depth camera enables you to add a creative blurring or bokeh effect to your snapshots, while the 2MP microlens offers 20x or 40x magnification to spotlight small, fine details that would otherwise be impossible to see by the naked eye.


More than its actual camera features, you can easily level-up your photography skills with a wide range of imaging features such as the AI Portrait Super Resolution, Bokeh Flare Portrait, Selfie HDR, AI Portrait Retouching, to a Flash Snapshot. With all these options, you can easily explore and enjoy endless content possibilities with the all-new OPPO Reno8 T.

Reach maximum levels of creativity with a massive storage and long-lasting battery

The Reno8 T is built with a cohesive system and performance that easily complements its top-of-the-line 100MP Portrait Camera. Providing you with an 8GB RAM and 256GB ROM that is expandable to an additional 8GB RAM, you can make use of a larger memory that perfectly accommodates a smoother user experience. With this massive storage, you can create as many memories to mark your highlights of the year, shoot TikTok videos and vlogs, as well as enjoy other types of entertainment without worrying about lags or system errors due to a full storage.

While it runs smoothly with a large storage, you can maximize the great performance of the OPPO Reno8 T with its 5000mAh battery that powers the device for all-day use without dying in the middle of an IG worthy moment. It also has a 33W SUPERVOOC fast charging capability so you can boost the battery life from 0 to 100% in 67 minutes or a little over an hour. Just enough time for the device to power up in the morning while you get ready for an exciting day ahead.



Make an impression with a trendy, powerful design that is built to last

What makes the all-new OPPO Reno8 T a stunner apart from its internal capabilities and world-class photography features is its unique design. Housing all of its great features are two different colors, designs, and finishes that you can choose from. Opting for a vibrant Sunset Orange color, you can own the one-of-a-kind Fiberglass Leather design of the Reno8 T that offers a premium feel to match your trendy looks and bright memories. On the other hand, the classic color of Midnight Black gives a sleek, timeless look with the remodeled version of the signature OPPO Glow design that is silky-smooth to the touch.

 

  

Another great addition to take note of the OPPO Reno8 T design, is the upgraded Orbit Light around the camera module that functions as a notification light with eight different settings with eight choices of colors to choose from. With this, you will never miss a notification even when you are busy experiencing life and making memories through the lens of the OPPO Reno8 T.

Made to stand the test of time, both designs of this smartphone promise a worthy investment. The OPPO Reno8 T has undergone numerous testings to be able to withstand years of use and remain durable after daily handling. It has also been tested specifically for 48-Month Fluency Protection for performance to remain the same from the day of purchase.

Upon unboxing the new smartphone, users will be pleasantly greeted by the latest operating system of OPPO’s technology, the ColorOS13. With Smart Always-On Display, you can conveniently access and manage entertainment such as your favorite tunes without unlocking your screen. Apart from this, you can also enjoy other special features, such as the Screen Translate to easily translate both texts and images to more than 100 languages with a single tap.

Meanwhile, Five Grade Access Control allows you to manage which apps can access your location, camera, microphone and more. The ColorOS13 also gives you the power to censor sensitive information found specifically in screenshots with Auto Pixelate to keep you safe and anonymous when sending information anywhere online.


Grab the all-new OPPO Reno8 T now in-store and online

With upgrades all-around on such a remarkable device, you can turn memorable experiences into lasting memories by getting your hands on the all-new OPPO Reno8 T today! Visit official OPPO brand stores and ecommerce platforms on Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok shop to purchase your next new smartphone for only Php18,999.

Hosted by dog influencers Show Suzuki and Gonta (first row, center), the Super Pets Club launch at the Skypark of SM Aura Premier was well attended by proud fur moms and dads who brought along their furbabies. (Top row):  SM SVP for Marketing Jon Jon San Agustin (left) with his fur baby, Logan, and Super Pets Club project lead Hannah Carinna Sy and her buddy Katsu; Second row: Influencers and pet lovers Kyle Jimenez and his shih-tzu bestfriend, Princess Velasco with her napoleon cat, Olaf, Alex Camus with Stardust, Kim Velasco and Fendi, RV Cuarto and his adorable corgi, and Sylver Sy with P-chan.

SM Supermalls just launched the biggest pet community in town, the SM Super Pets Club, at the SM Aura Premier’s Paw Park.



“Filipinos are known to be the best fur parents and we don’t treat them just like pets, but as part of our own families. As everyone is welcome here at SM, including our furry friends, we’ve made a program that gives them the best benefits when entering our malls. So register now and join our club!” shared SM Supermalls SVP for Marketing Jonjon San Agustin.

By joining the community, you get special access to super perks, exclusive rewards, and amazing experiences for you and your fur babies.

Access the Paw Park conveniently

SM Supermalls President Steven Tan with Chloe and Super Pets Club project lead Hannah Carinna Sy with her buddy Katsu.

You can now create up to 5 Pet IDs per owner which will provide access to over 50 Paw Parks in SM Malls nationwide. The ID also provides the mall with information on each dog’s latest vaccine so that your fur baby is guaranteed a safe and clean environment at SM’s parks.

Get your hands on exclusive deals and treatos


From an SM Super Pet welcome gift and exclusive e-vouchers, to the grandest rewards and discounts from partner tenants, members can get their hands on these super perks. Plus, you can reserve the Paw Park exclusively at any SM Mall for 1 hour on your dog’s birthday celebration! How cool is that?

Have a go-to community for pets

Members of the SM Super Pets Club will be given access to a microsite filled with pet-related activities, events, and promos happening at SM. The microsite will have a community feature where you can chat with others about your pets. Talk about a supportive community, right?


To join the SM Super Pets Club, register your fur baby using the QR codes at the SM Paw Park or at the counters in various SM stores. Just input all your pet’s details including their vaccination status, and voila! You can download your Pet ID and claim your welcome gift.




The Pet IDs will only be valid only for one year from your pets’ anti-rabies vax date, so be sure to get them vaccinated annually.




Let’s get this paw-ty started by joining the SM Super Pets Club!

Visit www.smsupermalls.com and follow @smsupermalls on all social media platforms for news and updates on exciting deals and promos.