SM celebrates longest Grandparents' Day

 
As a sign of solidarity with the Filipino family's inherent respect for elders, SM Supermalls gives its shoppers the longest Grandparents' Day celebration, where grandmas and grandpas take the spotlight in all of SM's 52 malls nationwide for two whole weeks.

From August 31 up to the actual Grandparents' Day on September 13, SM malls will have their "Grand Gifts and Treats" activities where special treats and discounts are offered by various mall tenants during the whole two-week celebration.

A "Grand Memory: I Love You Lolo & Lola" photo wall is also installed as an attraction for all families. It is a special spot where families can capture their precious bonding moments with their elders while inside their favorite SM malls. Also not to be missed is the "Grand Market" activity which will happen in select malls from September 7 to 13. It is a bazaar showcasing items produced by grandparents.

Come September 12, at 7am, a "Grand Walk" warms up the grandparents for the days with special exercises and a massage therapy session conducted by accredited Red Cross volunteers. Registration for the activity is open to 60 years old and above.

Finally, on Grandparents' Day (September 13), all SM Supermalls will go full force to delight all grandfathers and grandmothers with dining offerings, entertainment, and event gadgets and technology products.

Setting the mood right are the malls' 9am Thanksgiving Mass for Grandparents, where the priest will administer a special blessing for grandparents and grandchildren, who will offer flowers to their lolos and lolas.

SM Cyberzone will have an all-day play gaming event at SM Dasmariñas, SM San Mateo and SM Masinag.

A "Grand Music" event will serenade the senior SM shoppers with oldies but goodies tracks that will not only make them reminisce about the good old times, but also introduce the timeless music to their grandkids.

To capture all the special bonding moments of the families celebrating in their favorite SM malls, a special Grandparents' Day photo booth will also be present per mall on the actual Grandparents' Day on September 13.

In SM Supermalls’ social media assets, several Grandparents' Day online promos will be ran from August 31 until September 13.

Shoppers can visit SM Supermalls' official website at www.smsupermalls.com; follow its official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; and get an insider access to all the fun happenings at SM Supermalls nationwide through Viber Public Chat. Customers can tweet their thoughts, upload and share photos while celebrating Grandparents' Day inside the SM Supermalls, then use the season’s official hashtag #GrandparentsDayAtSM.

Simultaneous Earth Hour ceremonies in all SM Supermalls in the Philippines and China

For eight years now, Earth Hour have been creating tremendous impact on the global awareness of climate change. More people around the world are beginning to understand the significance of going beyond one hour to really make a difference. The Philippines, once proclaimed as the "Earth Hour Hero Country" for having the most number of participating communities, will once again try to take the lead – thanks to private companies like SM Supermalls.

All 52 SM malls around the country and six in China will simultaneously turn off their lights to show SM's continued support to the annual Earth Hour climate change awareness campaign of World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF). With all SM malls hosting Earth Hour ceremonies for its respective communities, it will not be surprising if the country becomes a "hero" again for this environmental campaign.

All SM malls will provide the crowd with inspiring videos leading to the switch-off countdown. After the lights have been switched off, candles will be distributed to the crowd while an exciting lineup of entertainers will be presented for free.

SM Mall of Asia will be the host mall for the ceremony, with candidates from Ms. Earth as guests, among others, and AVP for Operations Mr. Perkin So to lead the switching off of the lights.

Happy Walk For Down Syndrome Awareness

One in every 800 births; 1,875 cases a year; more than 100,000 affected families—those are the numbers revealed last year by the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines Inc. (DSAPI) on the incidence of down syndrome in the country.
According to DSAPI, down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always been part of the human condition, universally present across racial, gender or socioeconomic lines. It usually causes varying degrees of intellectual and physical disability and associated medical issues.
Over a decade ago, February was dubbed as Down Syndrome Consciousness Month to make more Filipinos aware of the condition. In support, DSAPI and SM Cares Program on Disability Affairs came up with Happy Walk, a day-long program that not only raises much-needed awareness for down syndrome patients, but showcases their talents and triumphs.
In the event, DSAPI president Elmer Lapena and SM Cares Program on Disability Affairs head Engr. Bien Mateo will look back at what they had accomplished in 2014 and give the latest information on the state of down syndrome in the Philippines.
Happy Walk will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015 at the Skydome of SM City North Edsa.




Objective
Raise public awareness of down syndrome by organizing a special event for patients and their families

Resource Persons

1. Mr. Elmer Lapena, President of DSAPI
2. Engr. Bien Mateo, Head, SM Cares Program Director for Disability Affairs

Other Sources
http://dsapi.org/
http://smcares.com.ph/disability
http://www.ncda.gov.ph/disability-laws/proclamations/proclamation-no-157/