The Curious Mom

Climate change is one of the most pressing and defining global issues today. It has become imperative for both the public and private sectors to continue to band together to primarily, safeguard the welfare of the people and step up to strengthen the resilience of the nation.

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.

The private sector is called upon now more than ever to align with the principles of sustainable development and to take on the same firm stance on environmentally sound practices in its operations.

Limited market information and market access are two major obstacles to increased smallholder farmers’ income. According to studies, farmers in grassroots communities often lack access to profitable, value-added markets. In the absence of critical supporting functions, such as infrastructure and service provision – farmers struggle to transform their traditional subsistence farms into a feasible commercially oriented production. Buyers, on the other hand, such as wholesalers, find it difficult to get the quantity and quality of products that they need for processing on a timely basis.

Because of this challenge, SM Foundation collaborated with various government agencies and engaged various SM business units such as the SM Development Corp. (SMDC), SM Supermalls, and SM Markets to ensure that local farmers under the Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan (KSK) program have venues where they can sell their produce amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

From training KSK participants in practicing sustainable farming technologies via technology transfer and product development, SMFI, together with various SM business units used the power of collaboration to create farm-market linkage - which intends to create a powerful driver of rural poverty reduction.

The Good Guys Market is a weekend market set up in SMDC properties to connect small-scale farmers directly with consumers—condo residents. This initiative links around 26,000 small-scale farmers directly with consumers.

Together with SM Supermalls, SMFI launched the Green Lane initiative. Led by the wives of the KSK farmers, the social enterprise offers a wide variety of quality yet affordable indoor and landscape plants which cater to every enthusiast’s preference. In addition, the team also launched the KSK Farmers’ Market Day to provide farmers with market exposure in select SM Malls nationwide.

Meanwhile, SMFI also partnered with SM Markets in creating a market for onion farmers. Through the partnership, SMFI was able to establish specialized onion pop-up booths creating a stable market for small-scale onion farmers.

Millions of smallholder farmers are seeking ways to improve the productivity of their farms and to improve their market performance. Modern farming technologies, paired with market linkage, such as the SM KSK, play a vital role in improving the livelihood of small-scale farmers and their families.

SM Foundation’s Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan (KSK) is SMFI’s Social Good program on sustainable agriculture that intends to uplift the lives of Filipinos in grassroots communities through sustainable agriculture via technology transfer, product development, and farm-market linkage. To date, the program has trained more than 28,500 farmers from more than 900 cities/municipalities nationwide.

In anticipation of the 124th anniversary of Philippine Independence, SM Supermalls shares why Independence Day is a pivotal turning point in our history.

Independence Day represents the core of our beliefs and our identity as Filipinos – a strong and courageous race willing to fight for freedom’s sake. After almost 400 years of colonization, the raising of our flag and the singing of our anthem serves as more than an obligation; it commemorates the heroism embodied by every Filipino who fought for our freedom. This June 12, 2022, at 8:30 am, come in the colors of the Philippine flag and head to the SM Supermalls’ Flag Raising Ceremony as we show the love of our country and pay our respects to those who fought to protect it.

As our national hero, Jose Rizal once said, ‘He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination.’ Tracing one’s roots is important to build one’s character. It is crucial to keep your feet on the ground as you reach greater heights. The same rings true for all Filipinos; we cannot truly appreciate the freedom we enjoy today without being aware of what our ancestors have fought for to gain our independence.

To celebrate Philippine Independence Day, SM Supermalls will be holding major events to commemorate this national holiday and encourage Pinoys to further embrace Filipino culture.

Show your love of your country and value the sacrifices of the Filipinos who died protecting and defending it. Come in the colors of the Philippine flag and head to SM Supermalls’ Flag Raising Ceremony on June 12, 2022 – assembly time is at 8:30am. Give it the utmost importance, as this is the thread that knits Filipinos together from one generation to the next.

 

Continued Partnership with Save Philippine Seas
The first episode of Miming and Friends supported by Mondelēz International was released on World Oceans Day on June 8, 2022, and is the first in a series of five. It talks about the importance of segregating waste at home, to ensure they don’t end up in the ocean. SPS serves as consultant and advisor to the Miming episodes on waste collection. Led by Anna Oposa, Executive Director and “Chief Mermaid,” SPS is an organization that aims to empower citizens towards environmental consciousness, leading to collective action and behavior change. In 2021, Mondelēz International and SPS released a series of infographics sharing the real reasons behind marine litter, entitled “There’s Plenty of Plastics in the Sea; How did this happen?”

Partnering with Miming and Friends
Miming and Friends, led by Cat-Fish Miming, flying lizard Buboy, and Unicorn Anacorn, join the many friends they meet along the way in learning about the world. Other video topics include values, how to count and sing, and the importance of caring for each other and the environment - all from the multilingual and multicultural perspective of the Filipino experience. The channel is the creation of Miming and Fwends Animation Studios, formed by partners Ramon and Meryll del Prado from Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, “The values we espouse through Miming and Friends very much align with the values of Mondelēz International and Save Philippine Seas. We are thrilled about this partnership as it fully synergizes with the greater goal of having responsible children as they grow up to become mindful adults.”