It's Me, Daddy Ryan!

SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI) has taken another step in its mission to enhance the agriculture and entrepreneurial skills of farmers. The organization recently launched the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan on Sustainable Agriculture Program (KSK-SAP) across various locations in Calabarzon.  KSK-SAP farmers and partners from San Pablo City, Laguna.  Beginning with its launch in Padre Garcia, Batangas on April 13, 2023, the program has since been extended to Silang, Cavite, Batangas City, San Pablo, Laguna, and Calamba City. SMFI is also set to provide free agri-skills training to local farmers in other parts of the region to help other beneficiaries uplift their families and communities. Empowering local farmers  The local farmer-beneficiaries will undergo a two-phased program, spearheaded by its partner school Moca Family Farm RLearning Center, Inc.    The said program kicked off with an immersive 14-week training program, designed to equip participants with essential skills...

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime ), one of the leading integrated property developers in Southeast Asia, has been recognized by three international award-giving bodies for excellence in transparent Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting for its 2021 Annual Integrated Report entitled “Together, We Rise”. SM published its sustainability reports in 2013 even before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) mandated sustainability reporting in the Philippines. SM Prime further promotes transparency and accountability by informing investors and stakeholders of its ESG performance and impacts, decision-making processes, and competitive positioning value in the sector. “We are honored to receive these awards as a recognition of our commitment to provide transparent reporting in our sustainable practices. We value all our stakeholders, and we strive to enrich the quality of life of the Filipino people,” SM Prime President Mr. Jeffrey Lim said. At the summit of international ...

  In 1971, the Philippines launched the Community Health Organization Program to classify health services into primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. As part of this initiative, barangay health stations were created to ensure that primary healthcare improves the overall health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Since then, these local health centers have played a crucial role in improving the health outcomes of Filipinos. They have not only provided general healthcare services but also served as agents during the COVID-19 pandemic and helped with the vaccination rollout. Additionally, they continue to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent diseases, particularly among vulnerable populations. Adequate facilities for improved healthcare SM Foundation (SMFI) has made it its mission to provide adequate facilities and upgraded equipment to boost health centers as they fulfill their mandate of delivering quality health care, even amid the pandemic. Pursuing its m...

Continuing its commitment to helping elevate the country’s education system, SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI), in partnership with SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SMPHI) and the Department of Education (DepEd), have recently collaborated to construct two new school buildings in Laguna and Batangas. Upon the completion of the joint initiative, two two-story four-classroom school buildings will be donated to the Laguna Resettlement Community School in San Pedro City, Laguna, and the San Antonio Elementary School in Sto. Tomas City, Batangas. Each of the school buildings is set to be equipped with learning materials, armchairs, handwashing facilities, emergency equipment, and PWD-friendly facilities to ensure that students, especially from low-income communities, gain access to modern, safe, and conducive learning facilities. Formalizing the partnership, representatives from the SMFI, DepEd, and the local government units of said provinces attended the memorandum of agreement signing last April 28, 20...

  1700 children celebrate Earth Day at SM malls nationwide. SM Supermalls, in collaboration with its corporate social responsibility arm, SM Cares, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), local government units, and partner schools and organizations joined the rest of the world in celebrating Earth Day at SM malls nationwide on April 22, 2023. With the theme “Invest In Our Planet, Invest In Our Youth,” SM Supermalls and SM Cares lined up various activities that aimed to raise awareness among children and their families about the importance of coming together across various sectors to take care of the environment. SM malls nationwide simultaneously held relevant and impactful celebrations with activities such as Children’s Storytelling, Coloring, and Sustainability Tours, gathering 1700 children and 350 employee volunteers. These activities aimed to encourage everyone in the family, particularly the young ones, to protect and respect Mother Earth. Earth Day is an...

  Metro Manila is comprised of 16 cities and 1 municipality – is the economic, political, and cultural capital. Metro Manila’s forecast of becoming a global power city is challenged by the consequences of rapid urbanization. The UN-Habitat lists the effects of climate change, natural disasters that hamper urban infrastructures and city competitiveness, unequal livability, job creation, and poverty reduction. Is there a way out of Metro Manila’s challenges? Architect and urban designer Chintan Raveshia, and urban planner and sustainability consultant Tony Chan of Singapore-based Arup emphasize urban development should also consider people’s  aspirations, it's changing needs and expectations, and the national identity of the residents. Finding the identity of the city Raveshia inspires responsible stakeholders to ask themselves first the most fundamental question: “What’s the identity of the city and how do we make its residents proud?” He quips, “Singapore, a city that is high ...

SM Prime Holdings Inc.   (SM Prime) has partnered with the  University of the Philippines Los Baños   (UPLB) to further promote the country’s pursuit of sustainable development. Through a scholarship grant, SM Prime aims to assist select students pursue undergraduate degrees in Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology (BSHE) and Bachelor of Science in Forestry (BSF) – courses geared towards sustainability. The scholarship will be awarded to students from low-income households in Pasay City intended to provide better employment prospects and help reduce poverty and inequality, which are major obstacles to sustainable development. Members of the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) and SM Prime Holdings Inc ink partnership to create scholarships geared towards sustainable development. Present during the signing are (From left) UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources Dean Marlo Mendoza, UPLB College of Human Ecology Dean Dr. Ricardo Sandalo, SM Prime AVP and Hea...