SM Store Archives - The Metropolista

5 January 2024

SM Store Hosts Shop & Share a Toy Event in Celebration of Christmas

Many Filipino traits are well-known, including the countrymen’s generous spirit, unending devotion to family, and special reverence for the holiday season. The longest Christmas celebration in the world starts as soon as the “ber” months start, earning the country fame. Beyond the celebrations and feasts, though, this time of year represents a resolve to help those less fortunate, especially children.

In light of this, the SM Store launched the “Shop & Share a Toy” campaign from December 1–15, 2023, to inspire its loyal customers to brighten the lives of children around the country. The campaign enabled customers to get a new toy for just P100 with a minimum single-receipt purchase of P3,000 at any SM Store. It was a joint effort of the SM Foundation, SM Cares, and well-known non-governmental organizations such as World Vision, Good Neighbors Philippines, and UNICEF Philippines. Children in the age range of three to seven received five thousand (5,000) brand-new toys from different parts of the nation as a result of this joint effort.

Sharing and giving are important values at the SM Store. This holiday season, “Shop and Share a Toy” bring less fortunate children delight through a meaningful collaboration among SM Store, partner NGOs, and our dedicated shoppers. Mr. Dhinno S. Tiu is the executive vice president of the SM Outlet.

There are 365 days in a year, and every child in the Philippines deserves to feel the pure delight of a new toy, just like any other child would. Thanks to your generosity, SM Store was able to help less fortunate children celebrate Christmas in style while simultaneously providing them with the tools they needed to develop holistically through play. As the Christmas season begins, SM Store hopes that everyone will continue to give gifts in the spirit of the season, which will help spread love, generosity, and compassion.

5 October 20235 October 2023

SM STORE TURNS OVER MORE THAN 93,000 NOTEBOOKS TO THOUSANDS OF UNDERPRIVILEGED STUDENTS THROUGH SHOP AND SHARE FOR EDUCATION

“Education is the most powerful weapon for changing the world – Nelson Mandela“

SM Store Corporate Social Responsibility through SM Store Bacolod donated hundreds of school kits to Illuminado Nessia Elementary School in Bacolod City.
From left, Mr. Willie Gamboa-Branch Manager of SM Store Bacolod, Ms. Corazon Alfiscar-Principal of Illuminado Nessia Elementary School, (center) Mr. Aries Pineda-Sr. Manager of SM Store Corporate Social Responsibility, Mr. Pete Galimba-Asst Schools Division Superintendent of DepEd Bacolod and Mr. Celestino Nifras Jr-Sr. Education Specialist of DepEd Bacolod.

Recognizing the need of many Filipino children towards having adequate school resources, SM Store launched a program called Shop & Share to Bridge Access to Education, which aims to help many underprivileged students in their learning journey.

During the entire month of August, several SM Stores across the country participated in the initiative that allowed their loyal customers to take part in helping a student in need through donating a school kit. Originally retailing for P149 per bundle, the school kits were made available for customer purchase and donation at a reasonable amount of P99. Last September 1, 2023, SM Store started to turn over more than 13,000 notebooks to thousands of underprivileged pupils in different parts of the Philippines.

In partnership with SM Foundation, SM Stationery and some local government units, a total of twenty (20) public schools received school kits through the program, namely: Capatan Elementary School in Tuguegarao City; Balanga Elementary School in Balanga, Bataan; Federated PTA Division in San Fernando, Pampanga; Osorio Elementary School in Trece Martires, Cavite; Lemery Pilot Elementary School in Batangas; Pateros Elementary School in Metro, Manila; Sampaloc Site II Elementary School in Paranaque City; Tungkong Mangga Elementary School in San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan; Universidad de Manila Annex in Manila; Efraim Santibanez National High School in Passi, Iloilo; Jugan Elementary School in Consolacion, Cebu; Mabolo Elementary School in Cebu, Barrio Luz Elementary School in Cebu, Carreta Elementary School in Cebu, F. Ubay Elementary School in Puerto Princesa; Nessia Elementary School in Bacolod; Macasandig Elementary School in Cagayan De Oro; Banisil National High School in General Santos, Zamboanga Central School SPED in Zamboanga City and City Government of Basilan.

Mr. Peter Galimba, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent at DepEd – Division of Bacolod City, expressed how this initiative will help and impact the students of their school – “These notebooks are the keystones to their academic success, providing a solid foundation for their educational pursuits.”

In accepting the notebook bundles donated by SM Store, Dr. Ramonit Belascuain, Principal of Efraim M. Santibañez National High School in Municipality of Passi, Province of Iloilo, conveyed the symbolism and significance of notebooks in the lives of the students – “These are not just ordinary school supplies; they serve as inspiration for children who are studying and valuing education.”

SM Store considers education as one of the foundations of a progressive society. This initiative holds a huge importance in the company’s advocacy not only to give back to the community but to uplift the lives of every individual, especially the children.

The collective efforts of SM’s loyal patrons, partners, and stakeholders embody that great things are done by a series of small things. Through their commitment to help, almost one hundred thousand notebooks were provided to fourteen thousand students, which means giving them support, encouragement, a chance to learn, and an opportunity to dream beyond limits.

The undying compassion and generosity of SM Store’s customers continue to inspire to create more programs that exhibit collaboration and involvement within the community, which in the end, aims to benefit those who are the most in need.

1 October 20231 October 2023

PLAYING THE GIANT PIANO MAKES SHOPPING MORE FUN AT SM STORE MAKATI

The BER months just got more exciting at SM Store Makati with its newest in-store attraction a giant piano. The immersive piano, one of the country’s largest, is set to delight kids and kids-at-heart with its interactive features that’ll make shopping at SM Store more fun.

Here are three ways to enjoy the giant piano experience:

1. Play and create melodies on the interactive Giant Piano.

Bring the whole family and enjoy playing the giant piano — who knows, you might create a catchy song. To play, step on the piano keys, and watch the keys light up in different colors.

2. A time for bonding with the family while shopping.

Take a quick break from shopping. Head over to the 4th floor of SM Store Makati and enjoy playing music with your siblings while waiting for the parents to shop. Or while your companions are busy gift-hunting for the upcoming holidays, entertain yourself with the most fun thing to do in the mall.

3. Experience a new kind of fun– the SM Store Makati way.

SM Store Makati has always been the go-to of many Filipino shoppers. With its extensive selection of merchandise and services, it’s definitely a one-stop shop all loved to visit.

SM Store Makati is packed with exciting things for its customers. With the addition of the giant piano, it aims to provide more fun and excitement to every shopper. Come and experience SM Store Makati’s giant piano on the 4th floor and make your visit to the mall more exciting and interactive.

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11 September 202315 September 2023

SM STORE CELEBRATES ITS 65TH FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY BY HELPING FILIPINO CHILDREN IN NEED THROUGH THE SHARE SHOES CAMPAIGN

The simple things in life are oftentimes taken for granted. To some people, tangible objects like clothes, bags, or shoes are everyday commodities that they can easily buy and eventually dispose of at will. Meanwhile, millions of people around the world, specifically children, walk barefoot as they lack the financial resources to avail themselves of decent footwear.

According to a 2017 article by William Blischke, an American Sociology professor at the California State University Dominguez Hills, 14% of the earth’s inhabitants lack shoes or have inadequate footwear. He adds that in some developing countries, shoeless children cannot attend school because they may communicate and contract diseases from their foot sores. This is why some international non-profit organizations claim that shoes, or the lack thereof, are one of the most visible signs of poverty.

In the Philippines, no available academic study justifies Filipino children’s actual lack of shoes. However, this phenomenon can be substantiated by the 2023 report of the Department of Education, which states that one of the most pressing issues in the primary education system is the lack of access to resources. Since school shoes are an integral part of a student’s uniform even in public schools, it will be difficult for less-privileged families to purchase them. Thus, leaving children with no choice but to either use their old and ill-fitting shoes or worse, walk barefoot – just to complete their education.

This is the challenge that the SM Store intends to address through the Share Shoes campaign – to provide school shoes to the poverty-stricken students of the Philippines. In line with the celebration of SM’s 65th founding anniversary and through the help of its dedicated customers and partner organizations, SM Store aims to donate more than sixteen thousand (16,000+) pairs of shoes to the last-mile schools and communities in the country. With a minimum of Three Thousand Pesos (P3,000) single-receipt-spend at any SM Store, a customer is entitled to donate a pair of shoes, which originally retails for P299, for only Sixty-Five Pesos (P65.00) and shall be considered as a Share Shoes Champion.

In a statement, Mr. Dhinno S Tiu, Executive Vice President of SM Store, exemplifies the value and symbolism of shoes for both SM and its advocacy to support the community:

“Shoes have been the core of our business for over 65 years. Thus, giving out thousands of shoes to the Filipino children who need them the most through the generosity of our customers, is a symbolic gesture of our commitment to continue to live the legacy of sharing and giving back to our partner communities.”

More than a material donation, SM Store hopes that these pairs of shoes will help the children’s journey towards a better life. Through a simple act of giving, these underprivileged children will be able to learn, play, and flourish in school. And by protecting their young feet, the time will come when they can confidently step, walk, run, and even leap towards their individual goals and dreams.

Shop at your favorite SM Store from September 1, 2023 to November 15, 2023 to support a child in need. For only P65, you can help transform a life by being a Share Shoes Champion! Help us put shoes on a child’s feet and together, let us witness how they walk through life with smiles on their faces. (Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-172377, Series of 2023)