The Curious Mom

(From left to right) SM Prime Energy Consultant Jaime Patinio, SM Prime Chief Finance Officer John Nai Peng Ong, SM Prime President Jeffrey Lim, CREC Chairman Edgar Saavedra, CREC President & CEO Oliver Tan, CREC Sr. Manager Sales & Energy Trading Jerard Garcia

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.

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 is offered in strategically-located field schools.

The KSK program has successfully conducted over 260 sustainable agricultural pieces of training, 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 allowed 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 the commitment to a more sustainable lifestyle at smgreenmovement.com and #SMGreenMovement.

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. 

Through the recipe book, SM Supermalls and Mesa ni Misis 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 astonishing 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.