As early as March 27, check out the best deals and promos as Shopee opens the 4.4 ShopeePay Sale. Shopee’s mobile wallet grants you access to numerous perks such as sending money for free, buying the cheapest load up to 5GB data for ₱10, and claiming Free Shipping vouchers on your purchases.
Send money for free, buy cheapest load, and avail exclusive rewards with ShopeePay
On top of all the shopping perks, there are useful features that you should try to maximize the benefits from your mobile wallet. Send money from your ShopeePay wallet to any bank, e-wallet, or Shopee user for free. As an additional treat, you can get free ₱100 when you send money for the first time via ShopeePay from March 27 to April 4. Your first transfer also qualifies you for the “Send, Scratch & Win” raffle promo. Get a chance to win coins and vouchers, and earn an entry for the raffle draw of ₱100,000 weekly. For more info, visit https://shopee.ph/m/shopeepay-send-money-for-free.
Stay connected when you’re on vacation when you buy prepaid load and data promos from major telcos. Avail of ShopeePay’s cheapest load offer to get up to 5GB for only ₱10—perfect for when you want to post your travel memories on social media anytime, anywhere.
Before planning your summer trip, settle your monthly bills and get up to 100% cashback on participating billers such as Meralco, Maynilad, Globe, Smart, PLDT, Cignal, RCBC, and Metrobank starting March 27.
With your summer trips fast approaching, pay with ShopeePay and get 30% cashback on all your hotel bookings, including EstacioUno Boracay, Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, Quest Hotel Tagaytay, Solea Palm Resort Mactan, Mithi Resort and Spa Bohol, and White Breeze Palawan. You can also get big savings when you visit “ShopeePay Near Me” on the Shopee app and purchase ₱1 Deals. Redeem your discounts by paying with ShopeePay in-store at partner merchants such as Potato Corner, Papa John’s, Gong Cha, Puregold, National Bookstore, The Generics Pharmacy, Metro Oil, and more.
Start your 4.4 shopping early and make the most of the opening sale
On March 27, shoppers can enjoy the hourly flash deals that offer various items at irresistible prices for as low as ₱1. Set your alarms and get amazing deals during the rush hours sale starting at 12 AM. The 4.4 Opening Sale on March 27 also features lots of all-day deals that are too good to miss out on. Trying to find the best deal for you? Here’s a list that you can check:
With more people out and about, one closet staple to consider is the Crocs Stucco. They’re lightweight, comfortable, and very versatile to wear on beach trips, out-of-town travels, or casual visits to the mall. For those looking to stand out and look glammed up for any occasion, check out the Beauty Glazed Eye Palette that comes in a bunch of shades such as yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue, green, red, and black. Capture moments spent with loved ones using the realme Narzo 50A Prime and its 50 megapixel AI triple camera that takes quality photos you’ll be excited to share and post online. Parents are beginning to plan fun and safe summer activities and they need a trusted brand to keep their babies feeling fresh and clean. They can’t go wrong with the Johnson’s Active Kids Shampoo, available in a more affordable twin pack.
Watch out for the 4.4 ShopeePay Sale TV commercial that will leave you humming to the jingle for days. Visit Shopee’s official YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/shopeephilippines on March 26 to catch this.
Mark your calendars for themed days and win free cash via ShopeePay
Leading up to April 4, look forward to themed days that will keep you hooked such as Summer Electronics Fair on March 27, Global Deals Fair on March 28, Fashion Fair on March 29, Payday Sale on March 30, Summer Beauty Fair on March 31, Kid’s Wear & Toys Fair on April 1, Pet Care Fair on April 2, and Sports & Motors Fair on April 3.
While you’re waiting for the best deals, you can also join the Pera 4 All: P5,000 Roleta Giveaway – daily livestreams from March 28 to April 2, 12PM, where you can claim instant cash via ShopeePay with Lucky Roleta and stand a chance to win as much as P5,000.
Filipino singer-songwriter Clara Benin returns with the visual accompaniment to her new single “blink.”
Heavily inspired by Michel Gondry’s romantic sci-fi film, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the music video finds the folk-pop phenom waking up in bed on a distant shoreline of a beach, while navigating her journey towards healing and self-preservation.
The ethereal clip is directed by Josh Elefan, a close friend and frequent collaborator of Benin. “We actually came up with the concept together,” said the 28-year-old multi-talented artist. “This video is so personal to the both of us.”
A month ahead of the International Women’s Day, Clara Benin was featured on a giant billboard at Times Square in New York for Spotify’s EQUAL campaign, a global movement which serves as an initiative of the streaming platform to amplify the work of outstanding women and gender-nonconforming musicians.
Having amassed more than 40 million streams on Spotify alone, Clara Benin is the first Filipino signed under Sony Music’s OFFMUTE— a Southeast Asian record label that’s entirely dedicated to giving artists a voice, an audience, and an opportunity for cross-collaboration within the region.
The Parallel Universe singer-songwriter is currently working on a couple more singles in the coming months.
SM Supermalls awarded special recognition awards; lauded as government’s largest private sector partner for its national vaccination program
SM Supermalls was awarded for its continuous nationwide efforts by the DILG, DOH, DTI, and DICT for their unwavering support of the National Vaccination and VaxCertPH Programs, as well as carrying the DTI Safety Seal in all 76 of their malls.
In photo from L-R, Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Ireneo Vizmonte, National Task Force Against Covid-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vivencio Dizon, Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Emmanuel Caintic, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, and SM Supermalls President Steven Tan
In recognition of the vaccination efforts of the best performing local government units (LGUs), the DILG held an awards ceremony on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at the SM Mall of Asia, with the opening remarks led by Mr. Steven Tan, President of SM Supermalls.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in a video message, congratulated the winners for their strong leadership during the pandemic and for being valued partners of the national government in implementing important projects that contributed to the country’s improved COVID-19 status.
“Salute to all the recipients of this day’s awards for your robust commitment and partnership with the national government as we altogether implement these programs down to the grassroots. I know and acknowledge that without your support, we would have not surmounted the past two years of this pandemic. Kaya nais kong ipaabot sa inyo ang aking taos-pusong pasasalamat,” President Duterte said.
SM Supermalls awarded with Certificates of Recognition by the DILG, DOH, DTI, and DICT for their vaccination efforts
The winners have shown synergy with the government’s implementation of numerous programs,
according to DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año, two years into the COVID-19 pandemic. He believes that the other LGUs can learn from the winners and should strive to emulate their victory.
“The victory of today’s winners are founded on their cooperation and support to these programs which have changed the landscape of the country’s COVID-19 response. Pagbati sa inyong tagumpay at hangad namin na kayo ay pamarisan ng iba pang mga LGU sa bansa,” Año said.
‘Bayanihan Bakunahan’
For the ‘2nd Doses Accomplishment’ category, Zamboanga City was named first placer, while Ilocos Norte was the best-performing province in the ‘A2 Doses’ category. Nueva Ecija took first place in the ‘Total Doses Administered’ category.
In the VaxcertPH awards, Marikina, Iloilo, and Davao were named best performing LGUs in the Highly Urbanized City (HUC) category; in the Component City/Independent Component City (CC/ICC) category, Antipolo City, Rizal was named winner for Luzon; Roxas City, Capiz was named winner for Visayas; and Malaybalay City, Bukidnon was named winner for Mindanao. San Simon, Pampanga received the citation for Luzon; Caluya, Antique received the recognition for Visayas; and Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon received the award for Mindanao.
Safety Seal Certification
The Safety Seal program grants a Safety Seal to public and private businesses or buildings, signifying that the building or establishment is in compliance with COVID-19 health guidelines.
With 5,800 Safety Seals awarded to enterprises in the HUC category, Quezon City topped the victors; Dasmarinas City, Cavite issued 500 Seals to take first place in the CC/ICC category. Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya was declared the winner in the Municipality category, receiving 807 Safety Seals.
DILG-Manila City, on the other hand, took first place in the HUC category for DILG-issued Safety Seals with 557. DILG-San Carlos City, Pangasinan, led the CC/ICC category with 284 Safety Seals. Last but not least, in the Municipality category, DILG-Santiago got first position with 289 Safety Seals granted, followed by DILG-Narvacan with 258 and DILG-Magsingal with 208.
realme and Shopee are partnering to release exciting new smartphones in the Philippines with the narzo 50A Prime and GT 2 Pro, both launching exclusively on realme’s Official Store Global on Shopee this March 25.
The narzo 50A Prime is the thinnest gaming smartphone in the narzo series and one of the slimmest in the market. Due to its Kevlar Speed Texture Design and 8.1mm ultra-thin build, this smartphone makes it easy and comfortable to hold. With its Unisoc T612 Processor and massive 5000mAh battery and 18W quick charge capability, it ensures its users all-day connectivity and maximum performance. Its 6.6-inch FHD display and peak brightness of 600nits allow you to play your favorite mobile games without missing any detail, even under direct sunlight. More than its gaming capabilities, the narzo 50A Prime also comes with a 50MP Triple Camera for capturing clear and crisp images. realme narzo 50A Prime comes in Black and Blue colorways and will retail at P7,290 for the 4+64GB variant and P7,990 for its 4+128GB variant.
The GT 2 Pro is the most premium flagship smartphone ever by realme. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, this smartphone is equipped with a powerful processor and loads of storage space. Its 65W SuperDart charging support quickly charges your drained realme GT 2 Pro to 100% in just 33 minutes. Its 6.7-inch, 2K AMOLED display powered by LTPO 2.0 with QHD resolution is capable of a dynamic refresh rate that ranges from 1Hz to 120Hz for greater responsiveness and efficient performance, saving energy by up to 50%. This device sports a collection of cameras, with its 50MP main and ultrawide cameras, a 3MP “microscope” camera, and a 32MP selfie camera, giving you all the tools you need to take the perfect shot. realme GT 2 Pro is priced at P34,990 and will come in two colors; Paper White, and Steel Black.
This March 25, enjoy realme and Shopee’s early bird prices up to 14% off on the realme narzo 50A Prime and up to 17% off on the realme GT 2 Pro! Users can also look forward to realme’s Flash Sales on March 27, 30, and April 4 from 12-3AM, 10-1PM, and 4-11:59PM with deals up to 20% off. Don’t miss out on realme’s must-have deals on their latest smartphones and other mobile devices exclusively on their official store on Shopee!
Nothing can stop us from honoring the victories and strides of women from all walks of life this Women’s Month, not even a pandemic. And as celebrations need not be grand, you can do them even within the comforts of your community, especially if you’re living in Lumina Homes.
As one of the country’s leading affordable housing developers, it always puts residents’ needs at the forefront of its projects. A testament to this is its well-thought-out location and amenities, perfect for celebrating extraordinary occasions like Women’s Month.
Support women-owned businesses at Tambayan Ni Juan
Many, if not all, Lumina communities have a Tambayan Ni Juan, which resembles a night market.
Take this opportunity to get to know the hardworking entrepreneurs here, especially those run by women. Apart from buying their products, take the chance to support their business by posting a good review on their social media page.
There are also live gigs at the Tambayan ni Juan from time to time! If you get the chance, go ahead and request women empowerment songs and jam with the bravest women in your life!
Set up a coffee date with the woman in your circle in a nearby coffee shop
Whether you want to catch up over coffee or plan with your gals how to start a business, a passion project, or a civic group, there are many lifestyle hubs where you can pursue your endeavors.
Your Lumina home is near signature lifestyle brands such as Vista Mall, AllHome, Coffee Project, MEX, and many more.
Host a community meeting at the Multipurpose Hall
If you’re already part of a group of empowered women and you wish to hold a simple gathering, Lumina communities are made with a Multipurpose Hall. Here, you can safely have a general assembly to discuss women’s history, raise awareness of issues women still face today or create uplifting projects.
Have a women’s day off at the Jogging Path
Perhaps you’re the kind of person who likes to keep her circle small. Maybe, you prefer staying away from the busyness and the limelight. Your Lumina community still has a space where you can celebrate Women’s Month your own way.
You may opt to empower your body and clear your mind at the jogging path. At the end of the day, looking after yourself and prioritizing your health and wellness is a vital step to empowerment.
Join Women at Work Online Contest
Honor the modern superwomen at the workplace who inspires you the most. Share on social media a photo of an inspiring woman at work and get a chance to win as much as P5,000 cash!
Share a photo on your Facebook or Instagram account of a “woman in action” (not limited to women in the workplace) who inspires you the most.
If on Facebook, make sure to set your post to Public so we can view your entry. If on Instagram, set your account to Public also.
In the caption, tell us in a maximum of 3 sentences what inspires you most about this person. Add the official contest hashtags: #LuminaHomes#LevelUp2022#WomenAtWork
Go to https://www.lumina.com.ph/public-event-upload and select “Women at Work: Online Contest” on the event dropdown. Fill-in the required fields, and on the Message Box, place the link of your entry.
Submit your entries until March 28, 2022.
An empowering future awaits you at Lumina Homes! To learn more about the exciting lifestyle you can have at Lumina Homes, visit www.lumina.com.ph.
Sweet rewards await kids after inoculation at SM City Marilao. Over 300 vaccinees aged 5 to 11 received sweet treats from Conti’s Bakeshop and Restaurant after getting their Covid 19 vaccine shot at SM City Marilao.
Over 300 vaccinees aged 5 to 11 received sweet treats from Conti’s Bakeshop and Restaurant after getting their Covid 19 vaccine shot at SM City Marilao.
Marilao Local Government targets to inoculate at least 300 kids a day as the province shifted to alert level 1. Parents and guardians are urged to sign up their kids via link bit.ly/3l7XaIG and get vaccinated for extra layer of protection.
300 kids aged 5 to 11 received sweet treats from Conti’s Bakeshop and Restaurant after getting their Covid 19 vaccine shot at SM City Marilao. SM hopes to entice more children in getting jabs with the lively and child-friendly ambiance and sweet rewards.
With the lively and child-friendly ambiance and sweet rewards from Conti’s Bakeshop and Restaurant, SM City Marilao hopes to entice more children in getting jabs.
Looking for Proudly Filipino products on Shopee, but don’t know where to start? Support Local by checking out Shopee’s #TatakPinoy Virtual Trade Fair happening until March 24!
Currently in full swing, the virtual trade fair features a variety of items from over 200 local sellers and brands with discounts of up to 90%. The week-long fair in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will put a spotlight on local sellers and their products to provide users with an easier way to support local businesses.
Overwhelmed with the wide array of choices? Here are some items you can explore from local brands that offer quality products at affordable prices:
For skincare and personal care aficionados:
Maxi-peel Rejuvenating Set Day and Night Face Care Regimen
Skincare routines continue to be a rising trend among Filipinos. Complete your daily regimen with this Maxi-peel rejuvenating set from Splash Personal Care. A full set contains an exfoliant solution, face wash, sun protection cream, and moisturizing cream which, used together frequently, will help you achieve pimple-free and glowing skin.
EB Advance Cleanse Off Makeup Remover Balm
To make sure your face stays clean and fresh especially after applying makeup and retouching throughout the hot summer days, check out this makeup remover from Ever Bilena. This balm glides smoothly across your skin–removing makeup, impurities, and dirt with ease.
Curls by Zenutrients Avocado & Tea Tree Protein-Free Conditioner
Your skin may need lots of TLC, but don’t forget to take care of those tresses as well! Proudly Pinoy brand Zenutrients has a wide selection of haircare products free of sulfates, proteins, an parabens, ensuring you only get the good stuff for your hair. Check them out at deals up to 20% off throughout the fair.
Turmericap Plus
Meanwhile for the young at heart, keep looking and feeling youthful with Go Natural’s Turmericap Plus, which contains vitamins and minerals that can support your immune system and joints.
For the mommies and daddies:
Nursery New Born Kit Set (Free Organizer)
For mommies and daddies who love buying in bulk to get freebies, add to cart this Nursery Newborn Kit from Sweet Baby. It comes with diapers, premium wipes, and a free organizer to store all of your baby’s essentials–making it easier for you to head out with your family for a quick summer getaway.
Magnolia Cheezee Spread Milky White
Kids going back to face to face schooling? Stock up on baon essentials such as this Magnolia Cheezee Spread from San Miguel Foods. This milky and cheesy spread with a resealable spout is also perfect for a good afternoon merienda or a snack during family trips this summer.
On top of these sweet deals coming from multiple brands and sellers, you can also use the promo code TATAKPINOY20OFF to get 20% off of participating #TatakPinoy Virtual Trade Fair items when you purchase via ShopeePay.
Vouchers are limited in quantity so hurry and checkout Shopee’s #TatakPinoy: Virtual Trade Fair today through https://shopee.ph/m/tatakpinoy2022!
Today, living an eco-friendlier life has become much more manageable. With many simple yet effective ways to make our everyday lives more sustainable, and with many groups ready to help us take that first step toward a greener future, there is every reason to start today. Living a personal sustainable lifestyle can be impactful only if we do it together to preserve our planet for generations to come.
One of the best things to live sustainably is to reduce your carbon footprint. Many seemingly harmless daily activities can contribute to a higher carbon footprint or other greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere, leading to dramatic climate changes. An increased carbon footprint includes high electric consumption, driving our cars over short distances, and the excessive use of aerosols and air conditioners, to name a few. Try to identify and minimize these activities if you can, or look for more eco-friendly alternatives, if available.
You can also lower your carbon footprint by using energy efficiently. Use energy-efficient appliances, replace your old lighting fixtures with LED lights, and turn off energy-consuming items when not in use. Doing these eliminates energy waste in your home and helps you save more on utility expenses.
The 2020 Climate Transparency Report disclosed that the Philippines generated 1.18 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per capita in 2017. The country will need to reduce its emissions to below 132 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030 and below -198 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050. It is to meet the 1.5°C-compliant climate change mitigation goals of the Paris Agreement, of which the country is a signatory.
Together with the Plastic Credit Exchange, SM Cares helps gather empty, clean, and dry plastic waste at select
SM Supermalls nationwide. Plastic waste may be dropped off every day from 10AM to 5PM.
Another way to make your lifestyle more sustainable is to correctly manage and segregate your garbage. Sort and separate your waste by type (e.g., paper/carton, plastic, glass, metal, electronics, etc.). It helps to find out more about your community’s waste collection and management policies. You can even make extra cash if you dispose of your non-organic waste through the proper channels.
You can also minimize the waste you generate at home. There are many simple ways to do this. It includes reusing plastic bags, opting for eco-bags when shopping, and avoiding single-use items. By being mindful of our food consumption, we can also significantly reduce food waste and packaging.
The 2020 Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey Center for Business and Environment report that the Philippines ranked third among the world contributors to plastic pollution, with 2.7 million metric tons of plastic waste each year.
SM’s Trash to Cash recycling market happens every first Friday and Saturday of the month
from 10 AM to 2 PM across all SM Malls and select SDMC Malls nationwide.
As a responsible member of the community, SM has consistently implemented programs to inspire Filipinos to be more sustainable, educating them on the importance of sustainability and how to help protect the environment. It includes the long-running Green Film Festival, which features the free screening of environmental documentaries for students and other program partnerships that promote alternative options to plastic.
SM also has projects that directly engage its mall-goers, focusing on solid waste management. These are the monthly Trash to Cash recycling market and the collection of used lead-acid batteries (ULABs), the Electronic Waste Collection program, and the Plastic Waste Collection program held in partnership with the Plastic Credit Exchange. To date, SM Supermalls have collected more than 11,600 kg. of plastic waste, 2,000 kg. of electronic waste and 908,000 kg. of assorted recyclable waste.
Customers can drop off their electronic waste at bins in the Cyberzone and selected locations
of SM Supermalls nationwide.
In addition, SM has been exploring renewable alternatives as its malls’ energy source. For instance, in 2020, the company generated 9,620 MWh of energy from solar roof panels installed in ten different malls nationwide. The company has also completed solar panel retrofits in other malls. SM hopes to achieve its goal of having 50% of the energy it consumes being sourced from renewable sources by the end of this year.
“We have always been an advocate of sustainable living. Proof of this is the numerous environmental initiatives that the company has implemented. We build our malls with the environment and community in mind, and we make sure that our developments contribute to environmental protection,” said Engr. Liza B. Silerio, SM Supermalls’ Corporate Compliance Head. “More importantly, we know that personal sustainability is key to achieving the green future that we want. We will continue to implement programs that encourage positive change within our community partners.”
SM Cares is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, with programs to support communities, promote social inclusion and care for the environment. Its CSR advocacies include the Environment, Persons with Disabilities, Women & Breastfeeding Mothers, Children & Youth, Senior Citizens, and the Bike-Friendly SM Program.
To learn more about these programs, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares.
The topic of sustainability in property development has surged since the world experienced Covid-19. Having to redefine the use of spaces, people soon realized how instrumental real estate is in the journey towards a more sustainable way of life. With the threat of climate change looming in the horizon and a growing population to sustain, the need to build more sustainable and resilient cities only continue to rise.
SM Prime traces its journey on sustainable design and development way before the concept has gone main stream. At the heart of SM is its commitment to serve its customers – designing its malls to bring better comfort and an enjoyable experience in every visit to SM Supermalls.
Sustainable Comfort
Built through several phases of development, SM Megamall, among SM’s 78 malls across the country, has grown into the complex it is today with 800 shops including 250 dining outlets and 16 anchor tenants. Customers explore the expanse of the 10-hectare development from its convenient parking grounds, relaxed atmosphere and beautiful façade. Behind this is sophisticated engineering anchored on sustainable design and technology.
SM Megamall is energy and water efficient. The building is enveloped with EIFS or Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems board which helps boosts wall insulation, making it more resistant to heat. It only uses LED lighting system allowing a 50% energy saving. The mall also tracks a lighting operating schedule following the supply requirement of our mall activity and does not contribute to environmental lighting pollution so as not disturb nocturnal animals. It also uses sensor activated escalators that contribute to about 30% energy savings. It’s air handling system uses high-efficiency air-conditioning system that has greater environmental stewardship. Lastly, it uses efficient water fixture for water savings and recycles water.
SM Megamall works with the natural environment. The mall utilizes green walls, skylights and clerestory or a high section wall that contains windows above eye level to increase the flow of natural light. It is surrounded with plants of local varieties and selection of trees and shrubs.
SM Megamall Bicycle Racks
SM Megamall promotes mobility. Situated in the middle of EDSA, SM Megamall brings 550 buses into one integrated system to promote easier mobility. Green hybrid transports provide options for the more environmentally conscious passengers. All public transports are required to meet mandated emission levels in support of the Clean Air Act. The mall is pedestrian-friendly with about 1,595 square meters of covered walk ways. Throughout the mall, designated bike lanes and parking spaces are provided. Lastly, parking sensors not only make parking easier but has also reduced emissions in the parking areas.
SMMG Mega Tower
SM Megamall practices responsible materials management. The mall uses Echostop ceiling finish for noise absorption which is made from gypsum and paper liner made from 100% reclaimed and recycled paper. The Mega Tower uses insulated glass units which keeps heat out during summer months and Low E-glass to minimize the amount of ultraviolet light that comes through the windows, with both features maximizing energy savings. It also has a Material Recovery Facility dividing recyclables, biodegradable waste, residual waste and hazardous waste.
Environmental Strategy
All these initiatives are aligned with SM Prime’s environmental strategy of developing, designing, and building integrated lifestyle cities with sustainability and resiliency considerations in mind.
Echoing these efforts, SM Prime continues on its transition to clean energy. Aside from investing in energy efficient programs, the company is broadening its renewable energy investments. SM Prime targets to increase its demand for electricity sourced from renewables by more than 50% across all of its business segments by end of 2022 in support of the Department of Energy’s goal of moving the country’s renewable energy supply component up to 35% by the end of the decade.
Moreover, as part of a growing movement of responsible and sustainability-centered enterprises, SM Prime has joined the 2,500 organizations worldwide in supporting the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and its goal of creating a more resilient financial system through better climate risk disclosures. Through this, it hopes to continue to drive its business to adopt more sustainability initiatives related to climate change.
At Hamilo Coast, SM property in Nasugbu, Batangas, it continues to uphold its commitment to sustainability and conservation as it planted 50,000 more mangroves which covers 100,000 square meters of the estate. This is also touted as one of the largest mangrove areas in Nasugbu. Hamilo Coast continues to protect its mangrove ecosystem together with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines—a partnership it has nurtured since 2007.
Hamilo Coast also undertook the initiative to declare three of its coves, namely Pico de Loro, Etayo, and Santelmo as Marine Protected Areas in 2009.
SM is regreening the country sides through its tree planting program led by SM City Baguio. This is in partnership with the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Cordillera Administrative Region (DENR-CAR), Baguio Water District, the local government of Baguio City and 25 media organizations in Baguio.
As of January 2022, over 600,000 trees have already been planted in Baguio City and neighboring towns in Benguet.
SM further promotes sustainable practices through water recycling and the adoption of technologies that promote smart water use. In 2020, it was able to recycle 28.9 million cubic meters of water.
In terms of solid waste management, SM Prime has intensified its campaign by requiring all contractors to implement proper waste management procedures during construction. A long-running program through SM Cares, the monthly Trash to Cash (TTC) provides an avenue for the community, including properties’ tenants, to participate in solid waste management. This initiative ran for nine months in 74 malls and five SM Development Corporation properties in 2020, saving 134,067 seven-year-old trees to date.
It also undertakes paper recycling in partnership with the Trust International Paper Corporation and the responsible transport, treatment, storage and disposal or processing of the properties’ generated hazardous waste, compliant to the government’s implementing rules and regulations.
Resiliency as a Necessity
While SM serves millions of customers every day, its impact goes beyond its businesses – touching the lives of millions more in the communities wherever it is present. For a country like the Philippines, the impact of climate change can already be felt with typhoons getting stronger and more frequent.
Hans T. Sy, chairman of the Executive Committee of SM Prime has served in leadership roles in both national and international organizations focused on disaster resiliency and its impact to business and society. Leading by example, SM integrates disaster resiliency in its business strategy as well as its city and mall designs and developments. This, not only allows SM businesses to operate during calamities, instead, also helps communities become more resilient to typhoons.
“I believe in an age-old adage; an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. SM Prime has taken deliberate steps to reinforce resiliency across its properties and provide a focused approach on sustainability in order to preserve communities and save lives,” said Mr. Sy.
Such is the impact created by SM Masinag.
Vermont Park Phase 1 is located near SM Masinag. For years, it would undergo flooding during typhoons. However, the story has changed. Since SM Masinag opened to serve the community, it has been equipped with a water catchment facility that can detain 17,681 cubic meters of water, which is equivalent to 7 Olympic size swimming pools. This helped control the flooding of nearby villages during typhoons.
Meanwhile, SM Marikina, which is also in a high-flood rate zone, is able to serve as first responder and a safe haven to affected families during times of calamities. This is because it is standing on 246 stilts with an elevation higher than the highest recorded water level rise in Marikina City.
Sustainability and Resiliency as Strong Foundations for Responsible Development
SM Prime anchors its development on both sustainability and disaster resiliency. For SM, both serve as strong foundations for responsible development – to address the increasing demand for urban areas and to address the threat of climate change.
From the onset of concept design, SM Prime allocates around 10% of capital expenditure to incorporate sustainability features and disaster resilience when building malls, offices and even integrated lifestyle cities.
“The safety of the communities, employees, customers, and the facility structure remains top priorities in all SM Prime developments. As I tell my design teams ever so frequently, ensuring safety is the only way I can sleep well,” Mr Sy said.”
For SM, this means the hard infrastructure capacities as well as how spaces are designed to facilitate mobility, green transport options, greener buildings and even green technology such as being powered by solar energy. As such, wherever SM operates, SM Prime makes every effort to help create the spaces and cities we need in order to sustain ourselves into the future.
Floods and rising water levels brought about by typhoons are perennial problems in Marikina city, which is considered as one of the low-lying areas of Metro Manila. During typhoons, Marikina River’s water can rise up to 23 meters compared to its normal average level of 13 meters. While this causes the communities surrounding the Marikina Watershed to be underwater, SM Marikina stands tall, serving as a safe haven to its neighboring communities.
The secret? It is sitting on 246 stilts.
SM City Marikina is uniquely designed. The 6-hectare mall property which is located within the Marikina River Watershed is an elevated mall built on top of 246 stilts.
“A critical part of building climate resilient structures is to understand weather patterns and how it affects the environment where your city or building will be,” explained Architect Fides Garcia-Hsu, Vice President of SM Engineering Design and Development (SM EDD). “During the design phase of SM City Marikina, we considered the long-term flood cycles of the Marikina Watershed, which was identified to be a high-risk area by the World Bank in 1977.”
Building on stilts traces back to ancient civilization from different parts of the world. The answer lies in its powerful functionality. Elevated construction had been the way earliest people groups would protect themselves from flooding, moisture and surface organisms. It also gives them provision for open space storage or cultural activities. Lastly, it reduces cost in modifying natural terrain. While building on stilts have been adopted by modern architects through the years, people had lost interest in it during the rise of urbanization.
SM revisited the functionality of ‘building on stilts’ and reinvented the concept as a climate resilient feature. This design was complemented with other disaster preparedness considerations to help reduce the risk of damages during extreme flooding. As such, SM City Marikina was built an additional 20 meters farther than the suggested 90-meter distance from the Marikina River centerline. Moreover, the ground floor parking was purposely laid out as an open-design, without walls to allow water to flow, while the second floor was elevated at 20.5 meters, which is higher than the maximum recorded flood levels.
During super typhoons, SM Marikina’s resiliency saves an average of Php1 billion in terms of losses from business sales alone. This means that it is able to help its tenants, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises that depend on the mall for their business continuity and growth.
For its neighboring communities, SM Marikina also serves as a safe haven and a first responder to families who are affected during calamities. It also provides free parking spaces for those who are stranded and need a safe place to wait for flood water to recede.
“Our ultimate goal is to help build the resilience of our stakeholders. This begins by building our own resilience to serve as a good foundation they could rely on especially during calamities,” Garcia-Hsu said.
Beyond the city of Marikina, building on stilts may be experiencing a revival in other parts of the world as urbanization begin to rise along with a greater demand for greener spaces. This would allow for high rise developments while keeping ground levels reserved for much needed green open spaces.
While it took SM an additional 15% in its capital investments to make SM City Marikina a disaster resilient mall, the group sees it as an essential investment in its commitment to create shared value for its stakeholders. This, complemented with a science-based approach on climate scenario risk analysis, allows SM City Marikina to defy odds and prove that integrating resiliency is the way to a climate resilient future.
