As SM marks four decades of growth, it celebrates the relationships that built its legacy—bringing over 3,500 exclusive deals across 88 malls nationwide in its biggest partner-powered shopping celebration yet

For generations, SM Supermalls has been part of Filipinos’ daily lives. It’s a space for shopping, celebrations, connections, and community. But as lifestyles change, so does SM.

Today, SM Supermalls continues to transform, not just in its tenant mix or infrastructure, but in how it serves, empowers, and grows with the people it was built for.

“SM has always been more than just malls—we are part of people’s lives and journeys. That’s why we constantly listen, innovate, and evolve. Our commitment is simple: to create spaces and experiences where every Filipino can thrive today and, in the future,” said Steven T. Tan, President of SM Supermalls.

At the heart of SM’s transformation is the belief that our greatest strength lies in the relationships we build—with customers, employees, partners, and communities.

3,500 Epic brand deals across 88 malls nationwide – One SM 40th celebration

To mark its 40th anniversary, SM Supermalls is launching its biggest and boldest nationwide promotion yet: a 40-day shopping festival filled with thrilling deals, surprises, and exclusive offers across 88 malls from August 1 to September 9, 2025. With more than 3,500 deals from the country’s most loved brands, every mall visit becomes a chance to discover something new, exciting, and unforgettable.

Expect a vibrant mix of flash sales, anniversary bundles, redemption offers, gamified promos, and surprise giveaways that bring joy to every aisle. Shoppers can also conveniently browse and unlock deals through the SM Malls Online App, making the celebration accessible anytime, anywhere.

More than just a retail event, this milestone is a nationwide thank-you to millions of loyal shoppers who have made SM part of their lives for four decades. Powered by thousands of partner brands, the campaign transforms every deal into a symbol of gratitude and a shared celebration of the SM experience.

A New Era of SM Supermalls: Big on People, Purpose, and Place

As SM marks this milestone year, it enters a new era—one shaped by its deep connection to people, a stronger sense of purpose, and a renewed vision for place-making. More than ever, SM is evolving into a platform that uplifts communities, supports livelihoods, and builds spaces that matter. This transformation is most evident in how SM empowers local businesses and creates inclusive economic opportunities across the country.

Growing Local, Building Futures for MSMEs

True to its entrepreneurial roots, SM Supermalls supports Filipino livelihoods through its SM for MSMEs program and nationwide job fairs. Since 2019, the program has helped over 17,000 local businesses overcome barriers like high costs and limited market access through affordable leasing, curated fairs, and digital support. In partnership with DOLE and LGUs, SM also holds regular job fairs, creating thousands of employment opportunities and reinforcing its commitment to inclusive economic growth.

A Mall That Cares for the Next Generation

Environmental sustainability is at the heart of SM Supermalls’ operations. Across 48 malls, rooftop solar panels generate clean energy, while water recycling and rainwater treatment systems help conserve freshwater supply. Flood mitigation is supported by catchment basins in 29 malls, while bike-friendly features and electric vehicle charging stations in 69 malls promote cleaner air. Sustainability programs like Trash to Cash, Plastic Waste Collection, and E-Waste Collection encourage tenants and shoppers to reduce, reuse, and recycle. These are reinforced by the SM Waste-Free Future campaign with clearly labeled bins and regular coastal cleanups in partnership with environmental organizations.

Through its social good arm SM Cares, SM engages communities, mallgoers, and partners in collective action for a greener tomorrow. From climate resilience initiatives to educational campaigns and mall-based activations, SM Cares fosters a strong culture of environmental responsibility. More than a corporate goal, sustainability at SM is a shared commitment that empowers Filipinos to protect and preserve the planet for future generations.

Championing Inclusivity for All

SM Supermalls continues to champion inclusivity by creating welcoming spaces and equal opportunities for all. A strong advocate for women’s empowerment, SM supports and celebrates women year-round through impactful programs and partnerships. This commitment is also reflected within the organization, with 65% of SM Supermalls’ workforce and the majority of its leadership team composed of women.

As a visible ally of the LGBTQIA+ community, SM celebrates Pride Month annually with inclusive mall-wide events, advocacy forums, and partnerships that promote acceptance and equality for all.

SM’s inclusivity efforts extend to persons with disabilities through SM Cares programs. In 2025, flagship events gathered record participation: over 40,000 attendees for the ASP Angels Walk for Autism and more than 8,000 participants for the Happy Walk for Down Syndrome. The Emergency Preparedness Forum equips PWDs and senior citizens with disaster readiness tools, while the SM Mall of Asia Arena remains a national model for accessibility. SM also fosters literacy and community connection through Book Nook, a storytelling hub open to all.

Innovations for the Evolving Filipino Lifestyle

SM’s transformation also mirrors the evolving lifestyles of Filipino families. The rise of wellness, outdoor activities, and pet-friendly spaces has inspired the development of SM Active Hub—dedicated fitness zones inside the mall that support various sports and physical activities. Highlighted by Pickleball courts and running tracks, the Active Hub promotes movement, bonding, and well-being. This is complemented by SM Paw Parks and Bike-Friendly SM facilities, making malls more inclusive for active and health-conscious communities.

Digitally, SM enhances convenience through the SM Malls Online app, cashless payment systems, and digital directories, ensuring a seamless and connected malling experience. Its growing omni-channel ecosystem allows shoppers to browse, order, and enjoy their favorite brands anytime, whether in-mall, online, or through hybrid options like pickup and delivery.

Celebrating 40 Years of Evolving with YOU!

As SM Supermalls celebrates its 40th anniversary, it looks back on four decades of shared milestones, empowered communities, and constant innovation. From its beginnings as a vision to make retail more accessible for Filipinos, SM has grown into a dynamic force shaped by a deep understanding of people’s evolving wants, needs, and aspirations. Today, it continues to reimagine the malling experience through thoughtful design and technology—introducing lifestyle zones, wellness spaces, and smart locators in malls like SM City Laoag, SM City Sto. Tomas, and MOA Sky to make every visit easier, more personalized, and more enjoyable.

Because at its core, SM is built around the evolving lives of its customers. We don’t just keep up—we move forward with you. What you need today, and what you’ll need tomorrow—SM evolves with you, and continues to evolve for you.

##############

———————–The article provided is authorized for use, and represents solely the author’s personal opinions. Please contact us in the event of any potential infringement.

CITY OF MALOLOS — In less than five minutes, the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) services are now made faster and more accessible through their 5-Minute Response Time (MRT) commitment which can be reached via 911 hotline, PNP Chief PGen. Nicolas D. Torre III underscored in his visit to the Bulacan Police Provincial Office (BPPO) at Camp Alejo S. Santos here today, August 6.

In his speech during the Command Visit, Ceremonial Turnover of Equipment, and Pledge of Support to 5-MRT by LGUs of Bulacan, Torre shared the reason why the police must respond to the public in a span of only five minutes, emphasizing that every second of waiting feels like a lifetime to those who call for help during emergency situations.

“Maraming hindi naniwala na ito ay kayang gawin. Bakit po limang minuto? Sapagkat kami ay naniniwala na sa isang taong nangangailangan ng tulong at tumawag sa 911, bawat segundo ng paghihintay is almost a lifetime—both figuratively and literally,” he said.

“Makakaasa kayo na ang inyong pambansang pulisya ay patuloy na paiigtingin ang aming pagseserbisyo hindi lamang dito sa Bulacan kundi maging sa buong bansa. Sisiguruhin namin na ang ating mga mamamayan, ang mga nangangailangan ng tulong ay aming mararating sa loob ng limang minuto,” Torre added. 

It can also be recalled that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. praised the PNP’s rapid response capability in his fourth State of the Nation Address last July 28. He said that this is a reflection of the government’s on-going efforts in modernizing law enforcement operations and strengthening public safety. 

On the other hand, the Provincial Government of Bulacan, led by Governor Daniel R. Fernando and Vice Governor Alexis C. Castro donated a total of 100 Kirisun POC Radios, one DJI Matrice 30 Series Drone, 24 Motor Star Motorcycle Patrol, and one Toyota Rush to BPPO to further enhance their patrolling in the province and to maintain their quick response to crime-related incidents.

Fernando also expressed his gratitude to the BPPO for keeping Bulacan safe, which led to the province’s recent recognition as the 3rd Safest Place in the Philippines as released by the 2025 World Travel Index.

“Sa totoo lang po, kapuri-puri ang husay at abilidad ng aming kapulisan. Sa katunayan, sa ating pagkakaisa at pagtutulungan, ay kinilala ang buong Bulacan bilang ikatlong pinakaligtas na lugar sa Pilipinas. Kaya salamat po sa ating kapulisan,” Fernando said.

##############

———————–The article provided is authorized for use, and represents solely the author’s personal opinions. Please contact us in the event of any potential infringement.

The Provincial Government of Bulacan led by Governor Daniel R. Fernando (center) donates additional drones, including a DJI Matrice 30 Series Drone, to the Bulacan Police Provincial Office witnessed by Philippine National Police Chief PGen. Nicolas D. Torre III (third from right), PBGen. Ponce Rogelio I. Penones , Jr. (second from right), Local DRRM Officer Manuel M. Lukban, Jr. (first from right), Rep. Salvador Pleyto (second from left) on Wednesday, August 6, at Camp Alejo S. Santos in the City of Malolos, Bulacan.

Mr. Senate President, mga kagalang-galang na kasama natin sa Senado:

This representation stands today not just as a senator-judge, but as a member of this institution who took an oath to uphold the Constitution. I’m here to explain my vote – but more importantly, to stay true to that oath: to serve with integrity and give life to the spirit of the law.

ACCOUNTABILITY 

Article XI Section 1 of our Constitution provides that “Public office is a public trust” – Ang isang katungkulan sa pamahalaan ay isang tiwalang ipinagkaloob ng mamamayan.

This underscores one of the core principles of democracy, that ultimate political power resides with the people. Thus, the Preamble starts: “We the sovereign Filipino people…” because the government’s authority and legitimacy emanates from the people. 

Thomas Jefferson encapsulated the expectation from a person holding public office in one sentence: “When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property.” Kapalit ng tiwalang ipinagkaloob ng bayan sa isang tao ay ang paglilingkod nang may katapatan sa Saligang Batas at sumasalamin sa mithiin ng bayan na nakapaloob dito. “Pag-aari” ka ng publiko dahil ang bawat galaw at desisyon mo ay hindi para sa sarili, kundi laging para sa bayan.

While due process protects life, liberty, and property, public office is not private property. As Justice Malcolm wrote in Segovia v. Noel, a public position is not owned by its holder. Ang posisyon sa gobyerno ay hindi premyo o personal na karapatan. Ito ay pananagutan at pagtitiwala ng taumbayan. 

During the July 26, 1986 discussion of the Constitutional Commission, it was noted that: “A violation of an oath of office is itself a violation of the Constitution, because a public official’s oath is in the Constitution.”

Thus, accountability is not only a moral imperative – it is a constitutional duty. Public officials are answerable to the people at all times, and the mechanisms of impeachment and oversight exist precisely because no one can claim a vested, personal entitlement to office. Where accountability is demanded, due process must still be observed—ngunit hindi ito dapat maging panangga laban sa makatarungan at lehitimong pagsusuri, o gamitin upang gawing pagmamay-ari ang isang tungkuling pampubliko. Higit sa lahat, hindi ito dapat maging kasangkapan upang takasan ang pananagutan. Wala ni isa ang nakatataas sa pananagutan, lalo na ang mga nasa pinakamataas na posisyon sa ating bayan.

ROLE OF THE SENATE; SUI GENERIS NATURE OF THE IMPEACHMENT

Mabigat ang papel natin sa impeachment. Hindi ito simpleng usaping legal. Desisyon ito na nakabatay sa batas at nagmumula rin sa ating prinsipyo at konsensya. The framers of our Constitution knew this. That’s why impeachment decisions are ultimately acts of political and moral judgment, not just strict legal analysis.

Kaya malinaw ang disenyo ng ating Saligang Batas: ang House ang may ekslusibong kapangyarihang magpasimula ng impeachment, at ang Senado ang tanging may kapangyarihang lumitis at magdesisyon. This is a sui generis role: unique, exceptional, and deeply rooted in our democratic system. That is also why both chambers of Congress were given the authority to craft their own Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Cases. 

DEFENSE AGAINST CRITICS OF THE REMAND 

May mga bumatikos sa pag-remand natin ng Articles of Impeachment sa House ay pag-iwas sa tungkulin. Pero kung susuriin, hindi ito pag-atras. It was a necessary and prudent step towards ensuring that the proper procedure was followed so that our decision as a court will not be marred by legal and constitutional infirmities.

Now we are faced with the high court’s decision that tackles precisely that which we hoped to avert when we remanded the Articles of Impeachment. Clearly, today, the Supreme Court’s decision in G.R. 278353 is a vindication of the Senate’s action.

We have been called many names and ridiculed in the digital court of public opinion. The Senate President would likely agree with this representation that the allegations thrown at us regarding the impeachment and even the decision of the Supreme Court, a matter that we have no participation in, are extremely preposterous and absurd.

But this exercise, while political in nature, is not about personalities, revenge, prevailing sentiments, or personal biases. It is about upholding what is legal and constitutional, and what will hold true in the years that follow.

Let me make one thing clear to our kababayans: We, in the Senate, have never abandoned our mandate in this impeachment proceeding. Ang bawat hakbang po na ating tinahak ay naka-angkla sa kaluluwa ng ating bayan – ang ating inaalagaan at pinoprotektahang Saligang Batas ng Republika ng Pilipinas.

PORTIONS OF THE SC DECISION WE DO NOT AGREE WITH

But as they say, Mr. President: dissent is not a threat to democracy – it is essential to its survival. Kaya doon sa mga pumuna, sa mga nagsabing mali ang naging pasya ng Senado, hindi tama ang ginawa namin, naiintindihan po namin kung saan kayo nanggagaling. And in that same democratic spirit, I now take this opportunity to respectfully air my own dissent to certain portions of the Supreme Court’s decision. 

While we respect the Court’s authority, I believe there are portions of the ruling that may have inadvertently made the already difficult process of impeachment even harder. Impeachment was never meant to be easy, but neither was it designed to be impossible. The framers of the 1987 Constitution deliberately relaxed the rules to empower the people and lower the barriers to initiating accountability against high-ranking officials.

The Constitution even allows any ordinary citizen to file a verified complaint. Ang mababa at mataas na kapulungan ng Kongreso ang nagsisilbing takbuhan ng mamamayan sa mga pagkakataong wasak na ang tiwalang ipinagkaloob ng publiko sa mga iniluklok nito.

And yet, with this decision, we now see new procedural hurdles that were not explicitly required by the Constitution, including the rigid interpretations of due process at the preliminary stage. 

These add layers of complication to a process that is already politically and institutionally fragile. Kung hindi natin iingatan, baka mawalan ng saysay ang impeachment – buhay sa papel ngunit patay sa proseso.

This was no accident of drafting. The framers of the 1987 Constitution intentionally relaxed the requirements for initiating impeachment – lowering the vote needed from two-thirds, as required in past Constitutions, to just one-third of all House members. 

As explained by the Framers of our Constitution, this was meant to “make it easier, not harder, to hold high public officials accountable.” They had lived through a time when power went unchecked and accountability was elusive – kaya sinigurado nilang ang kapangyarihan ay laging may kaakibat na pananagutan.

EXPLANATION OF VOTE

Mr. President, this representation did not come to this decision lightly. We understand and value the necessity of public accountability. Walang sinuman ang dapat mailagay sa pedestal na hindi kayang abutin ng batas. Pero ang pananagutan ay kailangang dumaan sa tamang proseso – isang proseso na hindi lamang makatarungan, kundi naaayon at tumatalima sa Saligang Batas ng Republika ng Pilipinas.

Sa mga ganitong sitwasyon, hindi po naaalis sa aking isipan kung may mga pagkakataon bang maaaring labagin ng Senado ang mga ipinag-uutos ng Korte Suprema. Maaaring halimbawa po nito ay kung may klarong panghihimasok sa internal na Rules of Procedure ng Senado ang Korte Suprema.

Ngunit pagdating sa pagbibigay kahulugan sa nakasaad sa Saligang Batas, tanging ang Korte Suprema lamang ang may kapangyarihan bilang pinal na tagapagpasya. 

Article VIII, Sec. 1 of the 1987 Constitution expands the Supreme Court’s scope of judicial power by mandating it to “determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the Government.” 

In the case of Angara vs. Electoral Commission, Justice Jose P. Laurel, who later became the 3^rd President of the Republic wrote: “[W]hen the judiciary mediates to allocate constitutional boundaries, it does not assert any superiority over the other departments; it does not in reality nullify or invalidate an act of the legislature, but only asserts the solemn and sacred obligation assigned to it by the Constitution…” 

Noong tinatalakay ng ating Constitutional Framers ang probisyon sa Konstitusyon patungkol sa proseso ng impeachment, binanggit ng kagalang-galang na Commissioner Dodong Maambong ang isang sipi mula sa isang kaso sa Amerika: “Ang impeachment ay ang unang hakbang sa isang proseso ng pagwawasto. Ang layunin nito ay hindi personal na pagpaparusa sa nasasakdal. Bagkus, ang pangunahing layunin nito ay panatilihin ang pamahalaang naaayon sa Konstitusyon.”

This quote captures the heart of what impeachment is meant to be. It is not about personalities or punishment. It is about protecting the very structure of our constitutional democracy. And sometimes, protecting that structure means accepting limits, even when we disagree with how those limits are drawn. In this case, the Supreme Court—as the final interpreter of our laws—has spoken unanimously, decisively, and with finality. It ruled that the impeachment complaint violated the one-year bar rule, the Vice President was denied due process, and that this Senate, as of that moment, had not acquired jurisdiction.

We may not agree with every word of that ruling, but the rule of law is not a matter of convenience. It is the foundation of our democracy. Upholding it, even when it is difficult or unpopular, is what gives this institution its credibility, and our democracy its strength. To ignore it, no matter how justified we may feel, is to risk eroding the very foundation we are sworn to defend – our Constitution. 

###############

———————–The article provided is authorized for use, and represents solely the author’s personal opinions. Please contact us in the event of any potential infringement.