DTI, PRA, and SCMAP launch “Job Blueprint” with SM Supermalls,

On June 16, 2025, the future of employment in the Philippine wholesale and retail trade industry received a significant boost.  The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in collaboration with the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) and the Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP), launched Section G: Job Blueprint for the Wholesale and Retail Trade Sector at SM City North EDSA. The initiative included a two-day job fair with immediate hiring opportunities for Filipino job seekers.

(L-R): Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP) President Dennis Llovido, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary Engelbert Chua, DTI Secretary Cristina Roque, and Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) President Roberto Claudio Sr. attend the media launch of the Section G: Job Blueprint for Wholesale and Retail Trade on June 16, 2025, at SM North EDSA.

The Section G Job Blueprint, which was created after extensive talks with industry stakeholders, emphasizes the importance of strong collaboration between government, the private sector, and mall leadership in addressing personnel shortfalls in retail and supply chains.  According to the DTI, it wants to enhance employment growth by capitalizing on the sector's critical contribution to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and its role as a key employer of over 10 million Filipinos.

Industry support and immediate impact

The job fair, which included hundreds of career possibilities from top retailers and logistics providers, gathered a broad crowd of job seekers looking to connect with PRA and SCMAP member companies hiring for positions in merchandising, warehousing, logistics, and frontline retail.

“This is more than just a job fair—it’s a call to action. We are proud to partner with DTI, PRA, and SCMAP in hosting this meaningful initiative that connects people to opportunity and promotes inclusive employment.” ~Joaquin San Agustin, Executive Vice President of Marketing at SM Supermalls

SM Supermalls, the host venue and promotional partner, reiterated its commitment to national workforce development and economic recovery.  This event is part of SM's continued commitment to initiatives that empower micro, small, and medium-sized firms (MSMEs), job seekers, and industry participants.

With Section G being formally released, stakeholders are looking forward to adopting its important recommendations and creating a stronger, more resilient retail commerce sector for all.

About SM Supermalls Job Fairs 

SM Supermalls, a division of SM Prime Holdings, Inc., is the Philippines' leading developer, operator, and owner of world-class malls. SM Supermalls is dedicated to fostering sustainable and community-centric developments. Through initiatives like job fairs, SM Supermalls continues to play a pivotal role in nation-building, offering opportunities that transform lives and contribute to the well-being of Filipino communities.

SM Proudly Celebrated Local MSMEs at DTI Wedding Fair at SMX Aura

Filipino bridal designers wowed the crowd with modern, sustainable, and culturally rooted creations at the Wedding Fair Fashion Show—proudly highlighting Tatak Pinoy talent.

Love, tradition, and local enterprise were highlighted at the Bagong Pilipinas Wedding Fair 2025, which took place from June 27 to 29 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier.  The Department of Trade and market (DTI) organized the three-day event, which successfully presented over 100 Filipino MSMEs, showcasing Filipino ingenuity while driving actual business prospects in the events and wedding market.

The fair attracted industry professionals, wedding planners, creatives, and couples planning their special day to learn about everything from couture bridalwear and floral arrangements to photography, catering, travel services, and more.  The highlight of Day 1 was a runway fashion show showcasing Filipino bridal designers who modernized traditional textiles and sustainable design for the bride.  Day 2 and 3 featured speeches and interactive exhibits that highlighted creative professions ranging from graphic design and stationery to music and event production, demonstrating how weddings can reflect both personal stories and cultural pride.

Filipino tradition met timeless elegance at MSME booths featuring modern takes on the Barong Tagalog and Filipiniana—from hand-embroidered details to contemporary silhouettes perfect for formal Filipino weddings

A unique highlight at the DTI Wedding Fair: MSMEs showcased elegant Capiz shell dining wear—from plates and chargers to napkin holders and centerpieces—blending sustainability with sophistication.

MSME designers wowed guests with their collection of bridal gowns, groom’s suits, and entourage wear—featuring silhouettes that range from classic romance to modern minimalist, all crafted with Filipino finesse.

Filipino-made bridal jewelry and accessories took the spotlight at the Bagong Pilipinas Wedding Fair 2025, with MSME booths showcasing handcrafted tiaras, pearl earrings, heirloom rings, and bridal bling rooted in Filipino

In essence, the 2025 Wedding Fair was more than an event—it was a celebration of love, culture, and entrepreneurship, underlining that when Filipino MSMEs thrive, our communities—and the nation—grow stronger, faster, and more beautiful.

About SM Supermalls MSMEs

SM Supermalls, owned by SM Prime Holdings, is the leading mall developer and operator in the Philippines. As a staunch advocate for MSMEs, SM Supermalls is dedicated to helping Filipino entrepreneurs succeed. Join our thriving marketplace across 80+ malls nationwide. Visit msme.smsupermalls.com to download your MSME application or email us at customercare@smsupermalls.com with your most innovative product and preferred location. Don't miss this opportunity to grow your business with SM Supermalls today!

Community at Work: SM Cares Joins Brigada Eskwela 2025

SM North EDSA volunteers sweep hallways for Brigada Eskwela—helping create clean, focused spaces where students can learn and grow.

From June 9 to 13, 2025, SM Supermalls engaged thousands of volunteers across its malls countrywide in support of the Department of Education's (DepEd) annual Brigada Eskwela campaign, to help prepare public schools for the new academic year. This year's Brigada Eskwela has the theme “Nagkakaisa para sa Handa at Ligtas na Pagbabalik Eskwela.”

Driven by the spirit of bayanihan, SM employee volunteers join Brigada Eskwela to help public schools prepare for the new academic year—fostering cleaner, safer, and more welcoming spaces where students and communities can thrive.

SM employees in action—offering their hands and hearts to help schools gear up for another inspiring year of learning.

As a long-time DepEd partner, SM Supermalls returned to Brigada Eskwela 2025 as part of its larger commitment to youth empowerment, environmental care, and inclusive community building.

The campaign was implemented in 75 SM Supermalls, with over a thousand employee volunteers collaborating with DepEd, local government units (LGUs), school officials, and community people.  It enabled community volunteers to have a direct impact by assisting schools in creating safe, clean, and inspirational learning environments.

“We are proud to be part of Brigada Eskwela again this year. Education is the cornerstone of nation-building, and through volunteerism and shared responsibility, we aim to help create safe and welcoming learning spaces for students all across the country.” ~Steven Tan, President of SM Supermalls

An employee volunteer from SM Center Pasig organizes learning materials as part of Brigada Eskwela efforts to support public school readiness.

With every wipe and every gesture of care, SM City Novaliches volunteers bring classrooms closer to a brighter, cleaner start.

Demonstrating hands-on commitment, an employee volunteer from SM City Baliwag carefully stacks hollow blocks—contributing to stronger school infrastructure.

Embodying the spirit of bayanihan, SM City Sorsogon employee volunteers paint school chairs with dedication—bringing new life to classrooms through Brigada Eskwela.

Employee volunteers from SM Center Ormoc paint classrooms as part of Brigada Eskwela, helping create more inspiring learning spaces where students can thrive.

An SM City Mindpro volunteer helps clean the school grounds during Brigada Eskwela—making way for brighter days and better learning.

SM employee-volunteers worked on a variety of preparatory activities, such as classroom cleaning and disinfection, wall and learning space painting, desk and chair repairs, and the turnover of vital learning resources.  This annual endeavor not only improved school infrastructure, but also developed community ties and fostered a culture of solidarity, pride, and common responsibility for education.

The program helped 66 public schools around the country, ensuring that thousands of Filipino students may return to a clean, safe, and functional learning environment when classes start.

By supporting Brigada Eskwela 2025, SM Supermalls demonstrates its continued support and alignment with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, reflecting its commitment to fostering inclusive, sustainable development in every community it serves.

This initiative is also part of SM's broader advocacy through SM Cares, the company's corporate social responsibility arm, which champions programs for people with disabilities, senior citizens, the environment, women and breastfeeding mothers, children and youth, and bike-friendly initiatives.

For more updates on SM’s social good initiatives, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares or follow @OfficialSMCares on social media.

SM Supermalls elevates urban air quality

Cyclists gather at SM Seaside City Cebu, championing greener, healthier urban mobility.

There's nothing quite like strolling through a mall with spectacular vistas, spacious arcades, and beautiful greenery.  Shopping at SM Supermalls is more than simply making a purchase; it's also about enjoying spaces intended for comfort, sustainability, and a healthier atmosphere.  More than ever, SM's dedication to green infrastructure is influencing metropolitan air quality while making the city more livable for all.

Designing for people and the planet

SM Supermalls stresses people-centered design, providing attractive settings that combine nature and modern convenience.  The arcades of the SM Mall of Asia and the MOA Sky, for example, include open, breezy walkways that encourage leisurely strolls as well as outdoor restaurants and entertainment.  Meanwhile, SM Aura and SM North EDSA's Sky Garden—the first in an SM mall—combines lush vegetation and water elements to reduce indoor heat, enhance air quality, and generate cooling effects in densely populated areas.

SM North EDSA houses the first Sky Garden in an SM mall, highlighting endemic plants and water features that bring nature onto a rooftop.

The SM MOA Sky showcases greenery and open-air spaces that promote cleaner, cooler urban living.

Championing bike-friendly cities

Beyond providing open spaces, SM Supermalls is at the forefront of bike-friendly initiatives, with over 5,000 bike parking places spread across its sites.  According to studies, riding instead of driving short distances can reduce carbon emissions by up to 90%, considerably lowering air pollution and its long-term influence on climate change.

Bikers enjoy the convenience of secure parking as SM Supermalls champions eco-friendly transport solutions.

Greening malls with native flora

Furthermore, several SM malls have endemic plant species that improve air quality and promote local biodiversity, filtering pollutants and providing a natural habitat for urban wildlife.  These green spaces are intended to contribute to a healthy environment rather than only for aesthetic purposes.

Making public transport more convenient

To make sustainable transportation more accessible, SM Supermalls maintains public transportation terminals that connect buses, jeepneys, and other modes of transportation.  These terminals encourage commuters to use public transportation, which can considerably reduce individual carbon footprints and traffic congestion, resulting in cleaner air and more efficient urban mobility.

Powering the shift to EVs

Recognizing the need for greener mobility, SM Supermalls has built Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) at 69 of its malls countrywide.  By providing critical infrastructure for electric vehicles, SM helps to minimize carbon emissions and dependency on fossil fuels, which is an important step toward improving urban air quality.  According to studies, EVs emit up to 60% less greenhouse gases than regular gas-powered vehicles, making them an important answer for decreasing pollution in congested urban areas.

Monitoring air, empowering communities

SM's commitment to sustainability includes air quality monitoring, which ensures that levels of urban pollution are observed and managed.  Under SM Prime Holdings, the firm collaborated with Quezon City to develop an air quality monitoring system that gathers environmental data and delivers updates via a public website.  This effort keeps communities informed while fostering long-term plans for a cleaner, healthier urban landscape.

SM Supermalls monitors air quality in real time, empowering communities with data for cleaner, healthier cities.

A greener future for urban living

From green roofing and bike-friendly amenities to EVCS and air quality monitoring, SM Supermalls is reimagining retail spaces with a greater environmental impact.  Every visit to an SM mall helps to shape a better urban future in which sustainability and innovation coexist.

40 years of building better communities

Celebrating 40 years of community service, SM Supermalls remains the leading retail and lifestyle destination in the Philippines.  True to its tradition, SM is at the forefront of environmental sustainability with groundbreaking waste, water, and energy solutions, as well as disaster resilience projects.

CDO's Bold New Firsts Begin at SM Supermalls

Do you want to eat some delicious seafood?  Consider ready-to-drink coffee that has just been brewed.  Check out these recently launched food and beverage establishments that are coming your way; this month, it's all about what you desire.

You have every reason to add these new firsts to your life to make it more fulfilling.  Even when it comes to brief coffee breaks and decadent meals, you deserve the best to satiate your appetites. 

SM Supermalls is located right here in Cagayan de Oro City. Give yourself endless opportunities to live the good life and have a genuinely fulfilling day.

Fresh Eats Straight from the Sea at Zubaibai Seafood Restaurant

Zubaibai Seafood Restaurant offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience—a daring new spin on Filipino culinary traditions that is ideal for any seafood lover.

This pork-free restaurant serves tasty cuisine with a modern twist, such as their classic Balangay Seafood Boil, which is a hefty feast of fresh seafood served in a custom-built Balangay-style boat, commemorating Filipino heritage in a festive setting.  Each dish is expertly presented with built-in burners, ensuring that the meal is pleasantly hot and freshly prepared right at the table.

With this beachside-inspired dining retreat at Level 5, SM CDO Downtown, you may indulge in the sea's bounty while experiencing a blast of flavor.

Coffee On-the-Go with Starbucks Drive-thru

Starbucks, one of the country's most popular cafés, has launched its first drive-thru location in Northern Mindanao, allowing our busy coffee enthusiasts to enjoy their favorite blends and brews on the go.

Start your day with your go-to Iced Latte.  If you're feeling daring, try one of their seasonal signature brews.  Pair your handcrafted coffee or non-coffee drink with a tasty Doughssant. 

You can now take Starbucks with you wherever you go, no matter how you feel.  Whether you're on your way to work, running errands, or simply enjoying the city, the North Wing of SM City CDO Uptown is the perfect place to get your caffeine fix.

Discover new ways to dine—only at SM Supermalls, bringing you a #NewEraOfFirsts.

Don’t forget to like and follow @smsupermalls on social media or visit www.smsupermalls.com for the latest updates and events!

SM Supermalls #NewEraOfFirsts

At SM Supermalls, we’re proud to lead a New Era of Firsts—bringing you first-to-market brands, groundbreaking experiences, and culinary destinations you won’t find anywhere else. From world-class dining and retail exclusives to innovative spaces that connect and inspire communities, we’re redefining what it means to have it all.

As we continue to grow, we remain committed to sustainability, community empowerment, and creating memorable moments that make every visit more meaningful. There’s always something new and exciting waiting for you at SM.

CDA Empowers Cooperatives Through SM Supermalls’ Weekend Market

By signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at the SM Supermalls Headquarters in Pasay City on Monday, July 1, 2025, the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) and SM Supermalls have established a strategic alliance.  By providing them with access to busy mall areas through the SM Weekend Market, a venue for exhibiting regional goods, indigenous artists, and Filipino entrepreneurship, the partnership initiates a collaborative endeavor to promote Filipino cooperatives.

L-R: Royston A. Cabunag, Assistant Vice President and Lead for MSME and Job Fairs, Engr. Junias M. Eusebio, Vice President for Mall Operations of SM Supermalls formalized partnership through a MOA signing with CDA Chairperson Usec. Alexander B. Raquepo and CDA Administrator Asec. Santiago S. Lim, that aims to empower Filipino cooperatives through the SM Weekend Market initiative.

The MOA was signed by Undersecretary Alexander B. Raquepo, CDA Chairperson, and Engr. Junias M. Eusebio, Vice President for Mall Operations of SM Supermalls, in the presence of key officials from both institutions. 

“This is a historic partnership between the private and public sectors. We take great pride in this collaboration with SM Supermalls, which represents a powerful step forward in uplifting our micro, small and medium cooperative entrepreneurs. This model partnership will not only provide access to markets, but help elevate the economic well-being of our communities.” ~Undersecretary Alexander B. Raquepo, CDA Chairperson

Fresh, proudly Filipino produce takes the spotlight supporting local farmers and cooperatives at the SM Weekend Market at SM City Calamba.

Shoppers enjoy direct access to farm-fresh produce at the SM Weekend Market where farmers are given dedicated selling spaces in select SM Supermalls.

Local farmers showcase and sell their fresh harvest to shoppers at the SM Weekend Market, a platform by SM Supermalls that connects producers directly to consumers in high-traffic mall locations.

CDA would support qualified cooperatives nationwide to take part in the SM Weekend Market as part of the arrangement.  Space in strategic mall locations will be made accessible by SM Supermalls in exchange for a small charge, which will only be used to partially offset maintenance expenses.

“The SM Weekend Market was born out of a simple but powerful idea — to give farmers and local producers, especially those in cooperatives, the chance to bring their goods closer to the people, in places they wouldn’t normally have access to. With CDA as our partner, we are excited to open more doors and more mall spaces to co-ops across the country. This partnership will allow more communities to thrive, more stories to be told, and more Filipino-made products to be celebrated.” ~Engr. Junias M. Eusebio, Vice President for Mall Operations at SM Supermalls

Lively displays of locally grown vegetables welcome shoppers at the SM Weekend Market at SM City Southmall.

In the upcoming months, additional improvements and market rollouts are anticipated as the event launches a statewide partnership between CDA and SM Supermalls.

About the SM Weekend Market 

The SM Weekend Market is a community-driven initiative by SM Supermalls that gives farmers and cooperatives direct access to high-foot traffic locations, helping them sell fresh, abundant harvests quickly and sustainably. By providing accessible weekend selling spaces in designated SM mall areas, the Weekend Market connects local producers with urban shoppers — creating a win-win for both communities and consumers. 

More than just a marketplace, the SM Weekend Market is a purposeful movement — empowering grassroots enterprises, boosting local food systems, and fostering deeper community connections through commerce, culture, and collaboration.