SG Hassan Pasco receives a Plaque of Recognition from CDRRMO

SG Hassan receives a plaque of recognition from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office officials: (L to R) Ralph Kristian Eustaquio, Research and Planning Division Head, Vanessa T. Reyes,CGADH-I, CDRRMO , Rolly Asaula Administrative Division Head and John Edward Babani Administration and Training Division Head. With them is SM City San Pablo CRS Manager Ramon Domingo (3rd from right).

City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office awards SM City San Pablo guard SG Hassan Pasco a plaque of recognition for his selflessness and courageous efforts in saving a life during a critical and life-threatening situation on June 25, 2023.

While conducting his regular rounds, SG Pasco noticed a 74-year-old customer experiencing difficulty breathing due to something stuck in his throat. Fortunately, as a
trained guard in first aid rescue techniques, he performed the Heimlich maneuver (Abdominal Thrusts) right away, and that saved the customer.

SG Pasco is trained in first aid rescue techniques and regularly undergoes refresher courses with the assistance of a Certified First Aid Trainer from the Philippine Red Cross. These training sessions are conducted every morning before the mall opens.

CDRRMO Management Council in San Pablo, Laguna said that his quick thinking, decisive
action, compassion, and unwavering dedication to the preservation of human life have
made a remarkable impact on the community. SG Pasco also received P10,000 from the
city Administration Office.

SM Supermalls, Mesa ni Misis team up for the healthiest SuperMoms Meetup

Just in time for Nutrition Month, SM Supermalls partnered with Mesa ni Misis to celebrate the healthiest SuperMoms Meetup at the SM Megamall Event Atrium on July 22, Saturday.

SuperMoms gathered once again for the biggest and grandest super momma convention, which also marked the launch of Juana’s Table, the newest recipe book by Mesa ni Misis’ Juana Manahan Yupangco.

“We SuperMoms hold the power to shape the future of our children’s health. By embracing a plant-based diet and introducing it to our families, we can ensure that our little ones grow up strong, vibrant, and armed with the necessary tools to lead a healthy and fulfilled life.” said Grace Magno, SM Supermalls Vice President for Corporate Marketing.

SM Supermalls and Mesa ni Misis, through the recipe book, aimed to educate moms on the importance of healthy and sustainable eating. Written by Yupangco herself, who is a food security champion and advocate for local produce and farmers, the book is filled with healthy and affordable meal options that moms can easily create in their kitchen using the freshest produce found at the SM Sunday Market.

During the event, participants were treated to a cooking demo by Yupangco, who was then joined by celebrities and certified SuperMoms, Dimples Romana and Patti Grandidge Herrera who whipped up a veggie gimbap using fresh, local ingredients. They showcased how easily one can create a delicious and healthy meal for the whole family using one of the many recipes found in the book. Also, moms got the chance to discover how to practice sustainability in the household through cooking.

The meetup featured on-ground activities for moms such as the SuperMoms Club Photo wall where SuperMoms got to take photos with their goodie bags and a raffle draw where lucky SuperMoms won special prizes and other awesome surprises from partners and sponsors.

Started in 2018, SM Supermalls’ SuperMoms Club is the Philippines’ largest mommy community on Facebook. Its on-ground event, the SuperMoms Meetup, has become an avenue to further build a stronger community of inspiring women and super mommas who uplift, support, and encourage each other.

“This meetup was designed with your well-being in mind. We want to make you feel valued and cared for, and at the same time, we want to give you a voice to be heard at home, in the workplace, and in your community. Your SM Supermalls family will always be here for you, listening to you and understanding your needs and helping you throughout your motherhood journey,” said Juana Manahan Yupangco.

The healthiest SuperMoms Club meetup in the metro was supported by SM Markets, SM Store, Fully Booked,Viu, NutriAsia, UnMeat, Téviant, Skin Poem, Designer Blooms and Blims Furniture.

Never miss out on the latest SuperMoms gatherings at SM Supermalls! To know more about the SuperMoms Club, join the Facebook community for moms, by moms via www.facebook.com/groups/SMSuperMomsClub.

A Founder’s Dream: Urban Farming and the SM Foundation

 Based on a vision put forward by founder Henry Sy, Sr., and a program that began in earnest in 2007; SM Foundation mounted simultaneous Urban Farming initiatives last July 7, at the SM City North Edsa Annex and 16 other SM malls. It was a wonderful way to highlight its progress over the years and to celebrate the vision with the strategic government agencies and LGUs that have been such valuable partners over the 16 years.

SM City North Edsa

This Urban Farming initiative is led by the SM Foundation through its Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan
on Sustainable Agriculture Program (KSK-SAP). It’s about uplifting the farmer community, fostering environmental consciousness, food security, and creating livelihood and income opportunities for marginalized urban communities. Through the KSK-SAP, a comprehensive program of urban farming techniques, product development, marketing, and basic accounting
are offered in strategically-located field schools.

The KSK program has successfully conducted over 260 sustainable agricultural trainings, benefiting a total of 28,550 farmers. These trainings have taken place in both rural and urban settings, where participants have been exposed to sustainable farming modules that promote the cultivation of nutritious, high-quality vegetables and fruits.

Partnering with the SM Foundation, SM Supermalls, and SM Markets are the following government agencies; the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority, the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Tourism, and the Quezon City Government. Each government organization and LGU plays a vital role in maintaining the viability of the program, and so that no stone is left unturned in
ensuring its success.

As an example, the SM Foundation has brought SM Supermalls and SM Markets into the picture so that as these urban farmers successfully harvest, they’re given an opportunity to market and sell their produce at the Sunday Markets that are now being held in several malls across the nation. When the produce reaches a volume that goes beyond this Sunday marketing mechanism, the SM Markets offer other alternatives.

It’s about creating integration and circularity so that a mini-economic ecosystem is realized. After all, it can’t be about teaching them what and how to farm and then leaving them with no outlet with which to monetize this harvest. The SM Foundation creates these strategic
partnerships so that true income opportunities become part of the overall scenario.

Who would have thought that this vision of Henry Sy, Sr., back in 2007, would have been so uncanny in predicting the mounting problems and issues we face today in agriculture, sustainable food production, food security, and urban development? It’s a vision and dream that those in the SM Foundation are very proud to carry on, and deliver.

SM is in the business of creating a sustainable environment. From being the first to consider
renewable energy in mall buildings, to implementing energy-saving devices, we continue to meet significant sustainability milestones.


Join us as we commit to a more sustainable lifestyle at smgreenmovement.com and #SMGreenMovement.

SM Prime taps Citicore Renewables for the supply of Clean Energy

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime) and Citicore Renewable Energy Company (CREC) signed a Memorandum of Agreement on 11 July 2023 as a joint commitment to champion renewable energy.


Through this partnership, SM Prime will source its energy requirements of up to 90-Megawatts (MWac) from CREC’s upcoming Lumbangan Solar Power Plant in Tuy, Batangas. The long-term agreement will commence in the first half of 2024. This is in line with the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) policies of the Department of Energy.

This development further strengthens both CREC and SM Prime’s commitment to the Department of Energy’s program of moving up the renewable energy supply component of the Philippines to 35% by the year 2030.


“This partnership marks our strong commitment to providing sustainable operations in our developments nationwide. It is aligned with SM Prime’s target of achieving net zero by the year 2040. SM Prime ensures that its risk-informed investments catalyze sustainable development and positive change in the communities where it operates,” said Mr. John Ong, SM Prime Chief Finance Officer.

The agreement with SM Prime adds to CREC’s long list of blue-chip company partners, attesting to the company’s solid performance and service excellence.

“We are happy to partner with SM Prime in providing clean and safe renewable energy for their power requirements,” said Mr. Oliver Tan, CREC President. “We believe that their support and trust in us through this partnership reflects our commitment as a
renewable energy provider, and we are glad that SM Prime shares in our vision of a sustainable future,” Mr. Tan added.

Seven ways tech and AI can help parents raise digitally responsible kids

 

Kids today have access to information in a way that previous generations never had growing up. The challenge for parents is to help them learn how to be responsible digital citizens.

Thankfully, parents also have access to AI-powered apps and devices that can help them safeguard their kids’ online and real-life safety. Tech and AI can provide valuable, accessible, and round-the-clock assistance in safeguarding their children’s wellbeing.

Here are 7 ways tech and AI can help parents raise digitally responsible kids and make parenting a little easier.

1. Maximize generative AI to make learning about internet safety more interesting!

Besides capturing their attention, it’s also equally important to make sure that kids are interested in what we’re trying to engage them in.

If you’re looking for fun, creative ways to teach your kids about internet safety, try asking Bard—Google’s conversational generative AI chatbot! Simple questions like “What's a fun way to teach internet safety to kids?” or prompts like “Interactive websites that teach internet safety” can give you an entire list of ideas and activities that you can try out with your kids.

From book and story recommendations, interactive online games, conversation starters, and even additional tips, Bard will never run out of ideas on how you can make learning about internet safety an enjoyable experience.


2. Monitoring and limiting kids’ online interactions.

Tech can help protect kids from potential risks through content filtering based on their age.

Tools by Google, for instance, make it possible for parents to monitor their children’s screen time, set limits and shut off their devices at bedtime.

If your kid is under 13, you can download Google's Family Link to track and control online activity, including text messaging and social media, using your own phone. TikTok's Digital Wellbeing features also allow you to remotely manage your kid’s TikTok from your phone.

Circle Home Plus is a device and subscription service that pairs with your existing router and lets you pause access to the internet, create time limits, and add content filters to all devices on your home network (including Wi-Fi devices), plus manage phones and tablets outside the home.

3. Teaching kids empathy through situations IRL.

PLDT Home and Google’s Be Internet Awesome video series features Sam and his AI friend Robo-berto in fun and enlightening adventures that illustrate how kids can be smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave online.

The songs and situations that Sam finds himself in impart valuable lessons on digital responsibility such as thinking before you click and bullying. In one episode, Sam discovers that forwarding the posts of his friends can hurt them.

“Ako po’y nanliliit, ako ba ay nanglait? Parang di niya na gets, ibang react ba ang ipapalit?” he sings and turns to his friend Robo-berto. The robot sings, “Pag online chikahan, medyo hirap maintindihan.”


4. Making it easier to raise critical thinkers.

AI can analyze web content and online interactions to detect and block inappropriate or harmful websites and social media platforms. It can also identify signs of cyberbullying and harassment and analyze patterns and potential risks by monitoring various data sources.

At a young age, children can be trained to think critically about the accuracy of the information they read or watch. Is the story or post backed by credible evidence? AI can help filter information and trace the source of a story and its authenticity.

AI has given us countless hours of entertainment, allowing us to enjoy computer-generated images in movies and TV shows. Because they are so used to technology in a way their parents aren’t, kids can learn for themselves how to evaluate deepfake technology when it’s being used to sway or harm their young minds.

5. Keeping parents well-informed about their children’s location.

AI-powered GPS and geolocation technologies can help parents keep abreast of their children’s whereabouts. Are they in school, with friends, in the mall? Or are they in a place where they would normally not go? Wearable devices like watches or smartphone apps use AI algorithms to provide real-time location updates and geofencing capabilities. They can also alert parents if their child goes beyond predetermined safe zones.


6. Making homes more secure.

Surveillance and security systems are now so advanced that you can monitor your home 24/7 from your phone. AI-powered cameras and systems use algorithms to analyze video feeds to detect unusual behavior, identify potential dangers — like if someone left the door open — and send an alert.


7. Monitoring the family’s health.

Tech has made it possible for wearable devices and smartphones to track vital signs and provide health monitoring. They can detect irregularities in their sleep patterns, heart rate and activity levels among many others. When these irregularities are detected in your children, the device will alert you to potential health issues.

Apps and online tools use AI algorithms to analyze videos or recordings of a child's behavior and provide insights on their cognitive, motor, and social development. Parents can also use AI-powered scheduling apps to manage their kids’ school routines and homework to simplify the family’s daily schedule.


PLDT Home is committed to keeping children safe online and at the same time giving them access to information that helps in their education, wellbeing, and growth. This contributes to the PLDT Group’s broader commitment to help the country attain UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 16 which promotes just, peaceful and inclusive societies including the end to abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.