HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE: OUR NEW ABNORMAL

As was crucially seen during the recent health crisis, the malls of today are more than congregation centers for recreation, dining and/or shopping. Thanks to their strategic locations, and their serving as walk-in magnets for the community; they’ve stepped up, and become focal points for community service, for disseminating pertinent information, and acting as crucibles for communication and activations.
I’ve observed how SM Supermalls is one of the mall operators who has taken this new role to heart, fully understanding the important role they can play by partnering with government organizations and local government units (LGU’s) in jumpstarting initiatives of social impact and betterment. They recognize how there are multiple touch points when creating effective synergy and collaboration – that it doesn’t all have to follow one formula. *DSWD Sec. Rex Gatchalian and SM Supermalls President Steven Tan during the launch of the DSWD-SM Supermalls/SM Foundation Sibol Lokal 2023 event.*
Recently, the SM Mall of Asia hosted the 2023 Sibol Lokal event, in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and their improved Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian was present for a memorandum of agreement signing between the DSWD, SM Supermalls and the SM Foundation. Sibol Lokal is a regional promotional and marketing initiative that aims to showcase and advocate SLP products and services, to boost DSWD employees’ and the general public’s interest in patronizing the SLP output, and to encourage the growth of MSME’s (micro, small and medium-scale enterprises).
Through the memorandum of agreement, steps are being taken to expedite the implementation process, to rationalize cost parameters, and provide new training and capacity-building activities, for SLP’s poor, vulnerable, and marginalized household and communities. There’s a five-year incubation period – broken down to Punla, Usbong, Sibol, Yabong, and Ani phases. And SM Supermalls commits to expand its SM Government Services Express, starting with 21 locations. This is the latest chapter in the partnership forged between SM Supermalls and the DSWD. *THE DENR-SM Supermalls Mall of Asia coastal clean-up event, with DENR Sec. Toni Yulo-Loyzaga.*
Then, there was a memorandum of agreement signed by the Department of Agriculture (DA), SM Supermalls and the SM Foundation. Fostered on the belief that urban gardening should be promoted in the name of food security, alternative livelihoods, and nutrition; there are now rooftop urban gardens at SM North EDSA, SM City Fairview, SM City Sta. Mesa, and SM City East Ortigas — with additional gardens to spring up at 21 more malls.
For SM Supermalls, it connects directly to the SM Sunday Market that it’s been promoting in over 30 malls, while SM Foundation ties it in with edible garden training under their Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan Farmer’s Training Program. Juana Manahan-Yupangco of Mesa ni Misis, which promotes plant-based diets using locally grown produce, was a guest speaker at the event. Speaking on the benefits of urban gardening and how it can be an activity shared with the children, she mentioned that backyard “gulay” is healthier and more nutrient-rich as it’s just been made “pitas;” and by involving the children, they get to appreciate veggies at an earlier age. And that’s all on top of how they’re actually easy to grow, and saves money. *AT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, SM Supermalls and SM Foundation ‘Urban Gardening’ launch.*
On June 8, the Mall of Asia held their regular coastal clean-up event, and this was done with the participation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), with DENR Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga in attendance during the very early morning hour. Earlier that week, SM Supermalls was on the panel presented by Sec. Loyzaga at the Central Office of the DENR, as part of World Environment Day, and DENR’s Environment for Life initiative.
During her years at the Manila Observatory and as president of our National Resilience Council, Secretary Loyzaga has long championed environmental action and sustainability, and was happy to count SM Supermalls among the committed supporters to this advocacy. Solar panels, building structures with an eye to disaster mitigation given how we’re so prone to flooding and calamities, solid waste management, and water conservation – there are a myriad of ways that SM Supermalls supports this particular cause.
As we see, SM Supermalls has taken on the challenge of being relevant to its communities in ways that go beyond their being a location of commerce and recreation. It’s a continuous and ever-evolving search for partnerships that can enhance this progressive outlook on the role it can play in nation-building and community growth. I’m happy to see other mall operators are also doing their part in creating more synergistic partnerships, and being more connected to development, as spearheaded by our government.