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 1400 children and
250 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
annual celebration led by
the Earth Day Network
that puts the spotlight on
issues that are affecting
the environment. First
held in 1970, Earth Day
was the result of a need
for a unified response
against various environmental problems like pollution and resource depletion. Today, the event
is considered the biggest
environmental movement
in the world, with millions
joining celebrations every
year.
At SM, every day
is Earth Day. However,
today we are reminded of
our responsibility to protect the planet we live in.
We believe that we must
all come together and
take the necessary steps
against this climate crisis
and accelerate a greener
and more equitable future
for everyone,” shared Ms.
Liza B. Silerio, SM Supermalls Vice President for
Corporate Compliance
and SM Cares Program
Director for the Environment.
SM Supermalls featured the art of
multi-awarded Filipino artist, sculptor and illustrator, Manuel Baldemor. His
works depict the rich cultural aspects of the Philippines and can be found in
multiple institutions worldwide. His drawings and
Earth Day poem inspired
the Earth Day program at
SM, reflecting a long-time
partnership on SM Cares
programs for the environment, starting with his design of SM’s first eco bags
in 2007.
The storytelling
activity featured a special
Earth Day story based
on Baldemor’s artworks.
The story reflected simple
ways children can participate in living sustainably
on their own and with their
families. Meanwhile, kids
and kids-at-heart were
welcomed at the coloring
activity section. Participants were given art materials and a selection of
Baldemor’s drawings to
color in.
And to cap off the
celebration, a sustainability tour was held wherein
everyone participated in a
guided tour to one or more
of the mall’s eco-friendly
facilities such as, E-waste
collection area, waste segregation bins, and Trash to
Cash booths.
The Earth Day
celebration is just one of
the numerous ways that
SM is promoting sustainable living among Filipinos, and the company
has other programs aimed
at helping care for the
environment. These are
the Trash to Cash Recycling Market held every
first Friday and Saturday
of the month; daily water
recycling systems, and
environmental campaigns
such as the Green Film
Festival, Green Retail
Agenda, and the International Coastal Cleanup
Drive, just to name a few.
SM Cares is the corporate
social responsibility arm
of SM Prime Holdings,
responsible for initiatives
that promote sustainability and the development
of the community. SM
Cares’ advocacies include
programs on Women and
Breastfeeding Mothers,
Persons with Disabilities,
Senior Citizens, and Children and Youth, as well
as the Bike-Friendly SM
initiative, in addition to
its Programs on Environment.
To learn more
about these, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares
