Category: Advocacy

John Dizon, Jr. of Benguet-based environmental conservation group NAMALISA plants trees in support of SM Foundation’s and Fast Retailing Foundation’s Grow Trees Community project.

Like his father before him, John Dizon, Jr. and his family have been long-time stewards of protected trees in their community in Tuba, Benguet. When the time came for him to take up the mantle, he did so willingly to honor his father’s legacy.

“My father passed away in 2012. It was then that we found out that the area he is managing in collaboration with the government was part of a community-based forest management program,” said Mr. Dizon.

A year later, Mr. Dizon, who now heads Benguet-based environmental conservation group, Nagawa, Manganese, Liw-Liw, Sadle Agroforestry Assoc. Inc. (NAMALISA), started working closely with the SM Foundation for an inaugural tree-planting campaign back in 2013 to pick up where his father had left off in his advocacy.

With the impact of climate change more felt in recent years, Mr. Dizon shared the importance of planting more trees in communities to thin out air pollutants in keeping the air fresh and people healthier. The trees which his father planted also helped prevent soil erosion and landslides caused by earthquakes.

He nurtures a dream that some of his children will take after him to help protect the environment. Getting closer to that dream, one of his sons is eyeing a career in forestry, a nod to his father’s chosen field.

To further this advocacy, Mr. Dizon supports the reforestation initiative of SM Foundation, Inc., the social good arm of SM and the Fast Retailing Foundation (FR Foundation), a general incorporated foundation in Japan through the Grow Trees Community campaign.

The project aims to plant and grow forest trees such as the Benguet pine, Alnus or Calliandra and Coffee trees to also help create livelihood opportunities for the community by working closely with People’s Organizations such as NAMALISA in Tuba, Benguet.

People’s Organization NAMALISA plant trees at the launch of Grow Trees Community in Tuba, Benguet

The proponents teamed up with SM Supermalls and government partners such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agriculture, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Philippine National Police, Philippine Information Agency and the local government of Tuba.

Grow Trees Community was previously launched in Nasugbu, Batangas and Macabebe, Pampanga. Across the three locations, the project aims to plant over 200,000 seedlings and propagules.

It is in support of the SM Green Movement that seeks to improve the quality of life of communities through sustainable solutions to promote a green planet, green living and a green culture.

FR Foundation focuses on promoting research designed to help make the world a better place, spurring technological development, nurturing human resources, and supporting socially vulnerable individuals or groups.

It is part of Fast Retailing Co. Ltd., the leading Japanese retail company that owns well-loved casual wear brand, Uniqlo.

1 SM Prime Holdings (SMPHI) recently announced its support for the global search for women leaders in disaster resilience.

2 For the second consecutive year, SMPHI is sponsoring Women’s International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) Leadership Awards, a flagship program of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

3 SMPHI Vice President for Corporate Compliance Liza B. Silerio said that the support is aligned with the company’s drive to recognize women’s leadership in disaster risk reduction. “This is important in inspiring other women to fully and effectively participate in promoting gender equality and empowerment while building our collective resilience.”

4 UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Mami Mizutori expressed gratitude for the support, stating, “The awards highlight the key role of women as leaders and agents of change in building resilience and actively participating in the creation and implementation of DRR strategies, policies, plans and programs in their regions. Their stories reflect the diversity of solutions required to meet the converging challenges of accelerating climate change and disasters in the region.”

5 “We look forward to continued collaboration with SM in our DRR agenda,” Secretary General Mizutori added.
6 The WIN DRR Excellence Awards 2022 sponsored by SM Prime has 15 finalists shortlisted from 420 nominations received from across 24 countries in the Asia-Pacific. The winner will be announced at the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Brisbane on 21 September 2022. US$10,000 will be awarded to an individual woman who has achieved exceptional professional success in DRR.

7 The WIN DRR partnership is consistent with SM Prime Holdings’ social commitment towards women empowerment, resilience, good health and well-being of women. The company’s corporate social responsibility arm, SM Cares, supports programs that advance these causes.

8 The Women’s International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) is a professional network to support women working in disaster risk reduction, in all their diversity. Its overall goal is to empower women to attain leadership and enhance their role in decision-making in disaster risk reduction in Asia-Pacific. The WIN DRR Philippine Network is powered by SM Prime and Asia Pacific College.

9 Earlier this year, SM Prime through its SM CARES, partnered with UNDRR in celebrating women empowerment through a webinar on the role of women in disaster resilience. In her keynote message, Mizutori emphasized “women’s equal participation and leadership in public life including disaster risk reduction is important and it is also essential to reducing disaster risk in achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals.”
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ABOUT SM PRIME HOLDINGS

SM Prime, one of the leading integrated property developers in Southeast Asia, remains committed to its role as a catalyst for economic growth, delivering innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities, thereby enriching the quality of life of millions of people. Sustainability and Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience form part of SM Prime’s core business strategies. It ensures that its risk-informed investments catalyze sustainable development and positive change in the communities where it operates.

For more information on SM Prime Holdings and its other programs towards disaster preparedness, visit their website at www.smprime.com.

Officially starts the Christmas countdown by creating a circle of happiness among Filipinos

To kickstart the Christmas countdown, SM Supermalls began its 100 Days of Happiness last September 16, where they aim to create a circle of happiness with 76 participating malls, shoppers, the marginalized communities of women, persons deprived of liberty, artisans, cause-oriented organizations, and select local government units.

“We want to create a circle of happiness in all our SM malls by featuring products of cause-oriented programs which we will offer to our shoppers who, in turn, give them to friends and family, and ultimately, benefit the communities that created these products,” said SM Supermalls President Steven T. Tan.

Through the campaign, SM Supermalls encourages Filipinos to support the advocacies of individuals and organizations that provide opportunities and create livelihood for their communities. For this year, SM partnered with bag designer Zarah Juan, Spark PH, the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP), the Association of Foot and Mouth Artists of the Philippines, UNICEF, and the Quezon City LGU for its Vote to Tote initiative, among others.

The launch event held at SM North EDSA The Block was attended by SM Supermalls President Steven Tan and SVP for Marketing Joaquin San Agustin; Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, and select councilors of the city; Spark PH Founder Mica Teves; GSP President Dr. Nina Lim-Yuson; designer Zarah Juan; and Brownies Unlimited Marketing head Dustin Ngo.

Equipping young girls to lead and build the future, one box of brownies at a time
For this year’s 100 Days campaign, SM Megamall, along with 9 other SM malls, is collaborating with Brownies Unlimited and the Girl Scouts of the Philippines. For every purchase of a special GSP-themed box of brownies in-mall and via the SM Malls Online App, one girl will be sponsored with a GSP membership for a year.

“We have a lot of young girls across the country and they’ve had such difficult times during the pandemic. Our membership dropped significantly. By buying a box, you can sponsor a girl for one year and she can learn so many things like being independent, loving her country more, and helping her community,” said GSP President Nina Lim-Yuson.

Recently, SM Supermalls helped the GSP vaccinate all its 70,000 members nationwide. By providing them with convenient and safe COVID-19 vaccines, SM Supermalls was able to ensure that the GSP members have access to quality healthcare services.

SM shoppers can purchase a box of brownies from 46 Brownies Unlimited branches nationwide and the SM Malls Online App.

Giving marginalized women and persons deprived of liberty hope for the future
Apart from the GSP partnership, SM Supermalls also partnered with the local government of Quezon City for its Vote to Tote program, Spark PH, and bag designer Zarah Juan to sell upcycled tarpaulin handmade tote bags sewn by marginalized women and female persons deprived of liberty.

“Christmas is all about giving. We are very happy that this year, the communities of Quezon City are included as beneficiaries in this program. And apart from helping the women in our communities, we are also able to help the environment by upcycling 70 tons of election tarpaulins that we’ve collected.” said Mayor Belmonte.

Juan, the designer, was the brainchild of the upcycling initiative. “During the elections, there were tons of election campaign wastes. I wanted to do something and I thought I have my platform– my designs. If my designs can actually solve this problem, then it’s worthwhile. Then I pitched the idea to Maica Teves, the founder of Spark PH. From there, we gathered all the help we can– from the Quezon City LGU who will help us collect tarpaulins, the women communities that can help us create, and SM Supermalls who can provide us the platform to distribute.”

A Happiness Walk was done to showcase the upcycled tote bags that shoppers can buy in SM malls. Joining the Happiness Walk were men and women of substance including select Girl Scouts members, Jeremy Lapena and Bernce Sevilla of the Downs Syndrome Association of the Phils, Mylene Abiva of WomenBiz, media celebrities Ces Oreña Drilon, and Gina Pareño among others.

The proceeds of the upcycled tote bags will be given to the women PDLs in Camp Karingal, and the marginalized women of Barangays Sto. Cristo, Greater Lagro, and Pinyahan in Quezon City. The tote bags will be sold in the following SM malls:
SM Aura Premier
SM Southmall
SM City Fairview
SM City North EDSA
SM Megamall

Helping a community of artists
And in the south of Metro Manila, the SM Mall of Asia family will be partnering with the Association of Foot and Mouth Artists in selling painted Christmas cards to the shoppers.

“All these and more will start to unfold in the coming days as we continue spreading happiness across all SM malls around the country. Let us not waste our next 100 days and use it to make one another happy by giving. Today, let the countdown begin to a hundred days of happiness!” Tan closed.

This is the second time SM Supermalls has started a holiday countdown campaign. In 2021, the biggest mall network in the Philippines showed the world more than a hundred ways of giving through 100 Days of Caring. Underserved communities surrounding the 76 SM malls were provided with their urgent needs through in-kind and monetary donations by the malls, its various business units, and the employees.

For the list of all partner institutions and their beneficiaries visit www.smsupermalls.com and follow @smsupermalls on all social media accounts.

SM Prime Holdings, Inc., one of Southeast Asia’s leading integrated property developers and leading conservation organization World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines have entered a collaboration in adopting a more robust reporting framework to address the climate crisis.

This is a major partnership of WWF with a Philippine company towards the development of a bespoke program towards decarbonization.

Sustainability at SM Prime is at the core of its corporate identity. SM Prime is at the forefront of spearheading sustainable practices as well as setting records in pioneering programs to consciously protect the environment and strongly focus on resilience in its developments.

Under the partnership, SM Prime will adopt the Corporates for a Better Planet Initiative (CBPI), WWF-Philippines’ flagship program that provides an actionable framework for organizations to operate sustainably within the paradigm of the climate crisis.

“We are delighted to work with WWF Philippines on this sustainable journey. Focusing sustainability within the context of the Philippines ensures that our strategies and projects are highly material, efficient and more responsive in addressing local concerns surrounding resilience and adaptation. We need to be one with the worldwide community to achieve this and we need to work with global experts to get this right,” SM Prime President Jeffrey C. Lim said.

Climate change is one of the most pressing and defining global issues today. The Philippines currently ranks third globally when it comes to climate change vulnerability. In relation to its geographical location, it is more exposed to altering intensities of climate change manifested through erratic weather systems and natural calamities.
These risks are rife with complexity and uncertainty and organizations typically fail to properly assess their implications. The CBPI program takes a holistic approach towards this pivotal issue, addressing these risks from a custom-built, science-based perspective.

By partnering with the WWF, SM Prime will be able to enhance and determine climate change solutions that will be reflected through responsible and transparent reporting.

The first phase of CBPI involves gauging where SM Prime stands in its sustainability initiatives and setting a science-based target in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels. SM Prime published its first Integrated Report in 2021 under the Integrated Reporting Framework which provides an overview of our value creation model — how we seek to create value for our stakeholders by contributing to national progress through investments and interventions critical to the country’s socio-economic growth.

As a champion of climate action in the Philippines, our partnership with WWF adds another enhancement to transparent reporting by ensuring greenhouse gas (GHG) computations are accurate and use appropriate methodologies.

With the need to broaden efforts to protect the environment, this partnership forms part of group-wide efforts under the SM Green Movement that aims to improve the quality of life of communities through sustainable solutions to promote a green planet, green living and a green culture.

SM Prime’s partnership with WWF dates back to 2007 under Hamilo Coast, its leisure resort development in Nasugbu, Batangas.

WWF closely monitors the health and viability of the Hamilo Coast area including three of its coves designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)—the Pico de Loro, Etayo and Santelmo.

In recognition of its conservation efforts, Hamilo Coast was cited by WWF-Philippines as its longest standing Sustainability Partner in 2020.

About SM Prime

SM Prime Holdings Inc., one of the leading property developers in Southeast Asia, is committed to providing safe and sustainable spaces for its stakeholders. Its development strategy is anchored on the responsible use of resources. In the communities it serves, it is able to promote resource conservation, environmental protection, and disaster resiliency by implementing solutions for water, waste, and energy management.

SM Prime is a key player in the SM Green Movement that aims to improve the quality of life of communities through sustainable solutions to promote a green planet, green living and a green culture.

Find out more about SM Prime and the SM Green Movement

Filipinos are paying more attention to healthy living as they realize the importance of health and wellness amid the COVID-19 pandemic. To empower people in the Philippines to have a better understanding of their body and health conditions, Pru Life UK has launched Pulse, an AI-powered mobile app that provides users with access to real-time health information wherever they are, round the clock.

“Pulse is part of our ‘We DO Health’ commitment to inspire a healthier lifestyle among Filipinos. Through innovative features within the app such as Healthcheck and Digital Twin, we hope to promote holistic health management and encourage users to make more informed lifestyle choices in order to achieve their health goals. This is also in line with our ambition to make healthcare affordable and accessible to everyone,” says Pru Life UK SVP and Chief Customer Marketing Officer Allan Tumbaga.

One of the key features on Pulse is Healthcheck, an AI-driven health assessment powered by UK-based healthcare technology and services company Babylon. Designed by doctors, scientists and epidemiologists, the tool gives users insights into their long-term disease risks, and the changes they can make to reduce their risk and improve their long-term health. Through a detailed assessment on the user’s medical history, family history, lifestyle, nutrition and mental health, Healthcheck creates a projection of the user’s risk of contracting a range of diseases in the next five years, based on peer-reviewed epidemiological data. With access to this information, users can explore specific diseases and understand their risks and the factors affecting them, by comparing their level of risk to people of the same age and gender.

Getting practical insights to make positive lifestyle changes through your Digital Twin

Through an engaging conversational chatbot interface, users are asked about their medical history and lifestyle factors to assess their current health status and predict their future disease risks. After completing the Healthcheck assessment, Pulse users can immediately access a comprehensive visual overview of their health status through the Digital Twin, a realistic graphic representation of the body broken down by organ where users can explore specific diseases and understand their risks and the factors affecting them. Based on the information provided by the user, a health score is also generated to give an indication of how healthy the users are compared to national guidelines and people of the same age and location.

The Digital Twin feature also helps to identify the risk factors and health status, such as “good,” “caution,” or “alert”, of each organ, which informs users of the conditions that they might contract in the future. It also gives practical suggestions, including dietary and exercising habits, on improving the conditions of a specific organ.

Advocating proactive healthcare management with Pulse

It is increasingly important to maintain one’s physical health and mental wellness, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the correlation between mental wellness and overall health, the Digital Twin feature also provides users with useful information about their anxiety, mood, self-esteem, and stress levels. Coupled with practical guidance on how to manage them better, this tool can empower users to be more mindful of their overall health status.

Using AI-powered tools and real-time information, Pulse serves as a 24/7 partner to help Filipinos prevent, postpone and protect against the onset of diseases. Pulse also provides users with access to educational information, such as preventive tips against COVID-19 in the Pulse Beats articles and SAFE STEPS Safety Card infographics. In addition, to help safeguard the people’s health and provide peace of mind, Pru Life UK is offering free COVID-19 protection and Personal Accident insurance for new and existing users through Pulse.

“COVID-19 has made us more vulnerable than ever. This is the time for all of us to develop a habit to proactively manage our physical and mental health. Pulse is a timely tool that helps Filipinos lead healthier lives, so they can further protect their families and communities in these challenging times,” adds Tumbaga.

To note: Healthcheck is intended for use by adults over the age of 18. Healthcheck is not suitable for pregnant women and users with long-term medical conditions or disabilities who may have different needs and risks than shown.

About Pulse

Pulse is a digital health app and the first-of-its-kind in the region to offer holistic health management to consumers. Using AI-powered self-help tools and real-time information, the app serves as a 24/7 health and wellness partner to users, helping them prevent, postpone, and protect against the onset of diseases. Pulse is part of Prudential’s region-wide strategy to provide affordable and accessible healthcare to everyone across Asia by leveraging digital technologies and best-in-class partnerships.

Following the regional launch of Pulse in Malaysia in August 2019, Pulse was introduced in the Philippines in February 2020. The app is being rolled out in 11 markets across the region, supported by a growing suite of regional and local service providers such as Babylon (symptom checker and healthcheck).

Pulse can be downloaded for free from Apple and Google Play stores.

Pulse is owned and operated by Prudential Services Asia Sdn Bhd, an affiliate of Pru Life UK. Existing health services on the Pulse app are provided by third-party partners, and not Prudential.

For more information: https://wedopulse.com/ph/

About Pru Life UK
Established in 1996, Pru Life UK is the pioneer of insuravest, or investment-linked life insurance products, in the Philippines and is one of the first life insurance companies approved to distribute US dollar-denominated investment-linked life insurance policies in the country. Since its establishment, Pru Life UK has expanded its reach to over 190 branches in the Philippines, with the biggest life agency force of more than 32,000 licensed agents.
The company is also one of the country’s top three life insurers based on the Insurance Commission’s 2019 Q3 rankings in terms of new business annual premium equivalent and total premium income. Pru Life UK is headquartered in Uptown Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Pru Life UK and Prudential plc are not affiliated with Prudential Financial, Inc. of the United States, Prudential Assurance Company (a subsidiary of M&G plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom), Philippine Prudential Life Insurance Company, Prudentialife Plans, Inc. or Prudential Guarantee and Assurance, Inc. (all Philippine-registered companies). Pru Life UK is a life insurance company and is not engaged in the business of selling pre-need plans.

For more information: www.prulifeuk.com.ph