Thanks to the two years of COVID, our Entertainment habits have transitioned heavily to home-based content and watching. And while this is only natural when it comes to K-Dramas, Limited Series, and a host of other content; I’m one of those who miss the community experience of watching movies in a cinema. Sure the streaming services, both global and local, have made good on their promise of constantly providing us with new, fresh content; but for blockbuster films such as "Spider-Man: Far From Home," there really is still no substitute for having viewed it for the first time in a movie theater.

The smell of popcorn, the noises of slurping soda, may now be missing; but the sense of a shared experience, the hearing of the collective intake of breath during tense moments, the laughter that rolls like a wave throughout the cinema, those are things that make watching with a live audience still unique and one-of-a-kind. Think back to a pre-pandemic film like "Black Panther," and how different an experience it would have been, if you had watched it for the very first time, merely from the confines of your home.

But of course, the nagging question left hanging as our cinemas reopen, is just how safe it is to venture out again; and be in a close, circumscribed space with strangers. And it is a fair question, as risk is a variable factor to each person. I want the odds stacked in my favor; but I’m also balancing this with not being held hostage by the health situation, and perpetually being cocooned at home.

All cinemas will make claims about the health and safety protocols being followed in their theaters, and their relative safety can’t be underestimated. But I’ll be honest, I took heart from the information SM Cinemas recently announced regarding how they’re going the extra mile in welcoming the public back to their cinemas.

They’ve re-opened over 35 cinemas nationwide, both for fun movie experiences and for exclusive screenings, and they’ve done so in partnership with Hygiea. Hygiea Innovations and Technology Inc. is the largest pioneer in implementing the use of technology to eliminate harmful bacteria and viruses in every business and personal space - offering the world’s first silver-ion infused air handling unit (AHU) filters.

As one of the first establishments to secure a Safety Seal certification from the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), SM Supermalls and SM Cinemas stands firm in its commitment to the safety and well-being of its Mall-goers and cinema patrons.

SM Cinemas are now equipped with Aurabeat Air Purifiers, which eliminate 99.9 percent of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in just 15 minutes. As mentioned, the purifiers use silver-ion technology, and a five-stage disinfection to help dismantle the viruses, and filter the air.

To supplement this, MERV Hepa AHU filters are installed in the air conditioning units inside the SM theaters, to help ensure that the air inside the cinema is safer and cleaner. And of course, a well-fitted face mask, seat gap policy, one-way traffic flow, presentation of health declaration all form parts of the protocols to enter the cinema.

In these two months of 2022, I’ve attended four screenings at SM Cinemas - to watch "Spider-Man," "Marry Me," "Death On the Nile," and "West Side Story." Yes, I’ve also watched in other malls; but I’m happy to say that my experience at the SM Cinemas always felt safe and properly managed.

Sure, there are no 100 percent guarantees in life. The Omicron COVID variant showed us that even with the vaccine, we could succumb to COVID; but thankfully, more often that not, it was a mild case that didn’t require intubation, nor was it life-threatening. So I’m not going to flat out guarantee heading out to the cinemas is now absolutely safe; but in the bigger scheme of things, as I refuse to allow myself to be held hostage by COVID, it is of comfort to read about SM Cinemas and their Hygiea purifiers.

For more information and updates, visit www.SMcinema.com, and follow @SMCinema on FB and Twitter, and @sm_cinema on IG, as well as the SMCinema Viber Community.

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