Monthly Archives

May 2026

Entertainment

Your Vibe, Your Tribe: SM Supermalls Drops New Anthem “Gala To The Max” by DNA

SM Supermalls released its newest anthem, “Gala To The Max,” performed by the rising girl group DNA.

Forget the usual mall run; it’s time for a total vibe check. SM Supermalls, in an electrifying partnership with StarPop, has officially pulled the curtain back on its newest anthem, “Gala To The Max.” Performed by the rising group DNA, the track is more than just a catchy earworm; it’s a tribute to the way we hang out today.

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The message is clear: SM isn’t just a place to buy things. It’s your “third space.” It’s where you meet the crew, find your community, and—as the song says—live life to the max at your most loved mall.

More Than a Destination, It’s a Mood. “Gala To The Max” captures the essence of what it means to visit SM. Whether you’re there for a fitness milestone, a deep dive into your favorite fandom, a gaming marathon, or just a chill afternoon with your furbabies, SM remains the ultimate backdrop for every subculture.

SM Supermalls Executive Vice President for Marketing JonJon San Agustin emphasizes that the mall is an extension of the shoppers’ identity, “At SM, we’ve always been about creating spaces where memories are made. With ‘Gala To The Max,’ we’re celebrating that unique energy our shoppers bring. It’s about your vibe and your tribe. Whether you’re here to play, shop, or just hang out, we want you to feel that this is your space, the most loved mall that truly fits your lifestyle.”

The Soundtrack to Your Next LSS

Produced alongside StarPop, the track features the high-energy vocals of DNA, a trio of sisters composed of Ezri, Julia, and Tasha. The song is designed to be the definitive background score for every TikTok transition and weekend hangout.

DNA members and real-life sisters (from left) Ezri, Tasha, and Julia could not hide their excitement as they brought to life (and ears) SM Supermalls’ newest jingle.

Join the Movement

The official rollout begins this weekend across all SM malls nationwide. With more music and more reasons to stay longer than you planned, SM is officially calling on the community to show off their moves. Come as you are, bring your tribe, and show the world how you gala to the max.

 

Lifestyle

The Ultimate Summer Play with SM Supermalls x Tiktok Live

In this heat, the aircon is definitely calling! Summer came alive as 24,000+ viewers at SM Supermalls x TikTok LIVE transformed everyday malling into a fully immersive, real-time experience! Marking the first of many LIVE collaborations, #SummerPlayAtSM brought some of your most-loved creators like Iñigo Jose, Sean Tristan, and more to vibe check the ultimate summer hangouts here at your most loved SM!

Rooted in the idea that summer is best enjoyed together, #SummerPlayatSM aimed to bring the summer fun no matter where they are as creators invited audiences to tag along as they explored and discovered their next move LIVE.

This new interactive experience set the tone for a new era of malling. One where discovery, connection, and community seamlessly come together both on-ground and on-screen here in your most-loved mall, SM Supermalls–All For You!

Play All Day, LIVE!

The ultimate weekend plan finally turned into reality as creators brought their audiences straight into the action, turning SM North EDSA into an interactive playground in real time! With spontaneous challenges, audiences dictated the next move. Iñigo Jose joined in the fun as he experienced different summer activities that’s both enjoyable and certified barkada-ready within the mall!

The livestream seamlessly blended on-ground action into real-time audience interaction.

Iñigo’s competitive energy kicked things off at SM Bowling until Space & Time Cube at The Block, where every throw came with a daring twist thanks to dares from viewers and players he met along the way. Safe to say, the whole end-to-end SM North EDSA run felt like one big barkada hang—with the audience calling the shots every step of the way!

Fit Check, LIVE!

Summer style took center stage with Sean Tristan as our LIVE audience became his main stylist for the day.

Moving through the SM Store, Decathlon, and a quick pass through Toby Sport’s Pickleball Super Series, Sean Tristan invited viewers to curate his looks in real time, from brunch-ready fits to sporty looks with gear perfect for the season.

Summer Fun That’s All For You

It wasn’t just a livestream, it was fully interactive, both online and on-ground. As comments and reactions rolled in, viewers became part of the action, with game passes and SM Malls Online vouchers dropping throughout. Every interaction became a chance to win, turning viewers into active participants.

This marks one of many collaborations between SM Supermalls and TikTok LIVE, bringing malling into a more dynamic digital space. By turning everyday moments into livestream experiences, SM is redefining how audiences engage with mall culture, now accessible anytime, anywhere.

As the partnership grows, mall events continue to evolve into livestream experiences where creators spotlight top tenants and viewers shape the experience in real time.

As your most loved mall, SM Supermalls continues to be a space where people connect, discover, and share authentic moments, bringing the energy of malling into the digital world.

Follow @smsupermalls on social media or visit www.smsupermalls.com for the latest updates and events.

 

 

Lifestyle, News

Largest gathering of advocates for People on the Spectrum in Southeast Asia: SM Cares and the Autism Society Philippines (ASP) bring together 47,500 advocates nationwide for 2026 ASP Angels Walk with SM

Thousands of participants gather at SM Mall of Asia Arena for the ASP Angels Walk for Autism 2026, demonstrating nationwide support for autism acceptance, accommodation and appreciation.

The Autism Society Philippines (ASP), together with SM Cares and its partners, gathered 47,500 allies and advocates nationwide together at the ASP Angels Walk for Autism last April 26, 2026. The record-breaking attendance this year reflects the growing support for the Autism Community through collective programs and efforts done by SM Cares and the ASP in forging an Autism-OK Philippines.

United voices and shared purpose take center stage at ASP Angels Walk for Autism 2026, as Mr. Hans Sy officially cues the walk for inclusion.

For close to two decades, SM hosted the ASP Angels Walk as a celebration that aims to turn a long-standing advocacy into a meaningful celebration of inclusion, dignity, and hope. This year’s celebration further expanded this advocacy by empowering communities through simultaneous walks across SM’s most-loved malls nationwide.

“ASP Angels Walk reminds us that inclusion is about creating space, and more importantly, making people feel that they truly belong. At SM, we are honored to walk united with the autism community—their families and fellow advocates who have long shown us the power of courage and perseverance. This commitment is about pursuing transformative inclusivity: empowering communities until every person is seen, supported, and given the opportunity to thrive,” said Steven Tan, President, SM Supermalls.

Barrier-free inclusion and transformative action

This year’s theme “Aumbitious. Aarangkada. Aangat.”, encouraged like-minded advocates to turn aspirations and conversations on impactful inclusivity into actions that are not only felt but are transformative.

To prepare for the event the SM Mall of Asia Arena’s venue team underwent specialized training from the Department of Tourism called “Barrier-Free Tourism Kaya Natin.” The comprehensive session focused on enhancing accessibility and inclusivity for customers on the spectrum ensuring their safety and wellbeing while in the premises.

SM Book Nook receives the ASP Autism Works Partner of the Year Award, represented by Ms. Hanna Carinna Sy, recognizing its commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for the autism community.

This year’s event was also made special through the recognition of meaningful partners in the advocacy, including SM Book Nook, which was honored as ASP Autism Works Partner of the Year. The distinction reflects how inclusive community spaces can help open more opportunities for learning, engagement, and belonging. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte was also recognized with the Hans T. Sy Leadership Award for Autism Inclusion and Welfare, honoring leadership that supports the autism community in meaningful and lasting ways.

Collaborative Advocacy

Families and participants join the walk during the ASP Angels Walk for Autism 2026, highlighting community support and inclusive participation.

Since its inception, the ASP Angels Walk has grown into a long-standing movement that champions inclusion and advances the vision of an Autism-OK Philippines. The movement is reinforced by SM’s pursuit of becoming a truly inclusive Mall for All—accepting, accommodating, and appreciative of customers no matter what their needs may be.

Participants, including families and children, join the ASP Angels Walk for Autism 2026 at SM City Tuguegarao and SM City Davao, reflecting widespread community support and inclusive participation across regions.

As a continuing partner of ASP, SM Cares remains committed to building spaces and programs that support the autism community throughout the year. With sustained initiatives in inclusion, accessibility, and community engagement, SM continues to stand with individuals on the spectrum and their families—always working toward a future where no one is left behind.

SM employee volunteers gather in solidarity during the ASP Angels Walk for Autism 2026, demonstrating corporate and community support for autism inclusion.

Held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City and simultaneously in SM City Bacolod, SM City Baguio, SM City Butuan, SM Seaside City Cebu, SM City Davao, SM City Iloilo, SM City Lipa, SM City Lucena, SM City Olongapo Central, SM City Tuguegarao, and Virac Town Plaza, this year’s ASP Angels Walk continued to unite communities across the country in support of individuals on the autism spectrum and their families.

 

Entertainment

Zara Larsson releases her star-studded Midnight Sun: Girls Trip remix album

“2026’s hottest pop star.” – PAPER Magazine

“Larsson delivers her most radiant body of work.” – Rolling Stone

“This is the moment when Larsson is finally coming intom view as pop’s main girl.” – VOGUE

“A new household name in the main pop girl zeitgeist” – Billboard

“The album of the summer.” – GQ (Best of 2025)

GRAMMY®-nominated pop superstar Zara Larsson keeps the global party going with Midnight Sun: Girls Trip, a collection of remixes and collaborations that gives new life to her already famously vibrant songs. Revisiting each track from her breakthrough album Midnight Sun, Zara invites a worldwide all-woman cast of friends and faves to an inclusive celebration that crosses borders, genres, and vibes for an unforgettable excursion into free-wheeling self-expression.

The artists joining Zara on the set span diverse sounds and countries of origin, and range from absolute icons to rising stars to indie tastemakers: Shakira, Robyn, Tyla, PinkPantheress, Kehlani, JT, Madison Beer, Emilia, Helena Gao, Margo XS, BAMBII, Malibu, and Eli. Watch visualizers for every song HERE now, and stream or purchase Midnight Sun: Girls Trip right HERE via Epic Records / Sommer House.

The album opens on a new version of “Midnight Sun” that continues the creative kinship of Zara and PinkPantheress over a beat that blends the former’s radiant dance-pop with the latter’s propulsive UK garage-inflected sound. A song later, Kehlani joins for a lush R&B take on the romantic “Blue Moon,” before JT drops a blistering verse on the rowdy, Margo XS-remixed “Pretty Ugly.” Later, Shakira helps transform “Eurosummer” into a jet-setting club cut, Tyla doubles the diva heat on “Hot & Sexy,” and Robyn brings her legendary presence to “Puss Puss.” Zara sprinkles shiny new vocals throughout.

In truth, as the songs shape-shift through styles, tempos, textures, and even languages, there’s never a dull moment on Midnight Sun: Girls Trip. As she wrangled an international array of top-tier talent, Zara worked closely with Margo XS and MNEK to craft the project — two members of the tight, trusted team with whom she created 2025’s original Midnight Sun (also including Gao and Zhone), an album that was not only her most authentic and expressive yet, but which has since racked up nearly universal praise.

Zara’s runaway success in the wake of Midnight Sun made Girls Trip possible. In February, she scored a career-first GRAMMY® nomination for Midnight Sun (Best Dance Pop Recording), while also in the midst of what Billboard called “a major Hot 100 comeback.” Now the #24 artist in the world on Spotify, she currently has four singles on the Billboard Hot 100: the viral Lush Life (peaking at #35, video approaching 1 billion views), “Midnight Sun” (#39), and her earlier PinkPantheress team-up Stateside (#6), which hit #1 on the Billboard Global 200 and Spotify’s Global Top 50 after U.S. figure-skating champ Alysa Liu did a routine to the song during the Winter Olympics. This week, Tyla’s aptly titled “She Did It Again” featuring Zara entered at #59.

This past Wednesday, Zara was honored with the Breakthrough Award at Billboard’s Women in Music ceremony. In an interview that came out this month celebrating the news, Billboard called Midnight Sun the “album that’s made her a new household name in the main pop girl zeitgeist.” Their words joined similar raves from outlets including PAPER, Rolling Stone, VOGUE, GQ, Pitchfork, NYLON, and more. She just scored five American Music Awards nominations, too: Breakthrough Pop Artist, Breakthrough Album of the Year, Song of the Summer, Collaboration of the Year, and Social Song of the Year.

Zara also won praise for her recently wrapped, fully sold-out first North American headlining tour. Inspired by her U.S. breakthrough, The New Yorker published a profile this month titled “Zara Larsson Gets Her Flowers,” noting “on the Midnight Sun tour, the Swedish artist makes a comeback that feels like a debut.” In a victory lap of sorts, Zara discusses her whirlwind year in a new in-depth episode of Call Her Daddy.

Showing no signs of slowing down, Zara will embark next month on a jam-packed summer festival run that includes Lollapalooza Chicago, BBC’s Radio 1 Big Weekend, and a staggering series of European dates. In September, the Midnight Sun Tour officially continues — first with a just-announced concert at Los Angeles’ beloved Greek Theatre, and then with an Australia/New Zealand arena leg. Presale for the latter sold out in less than 2 hours, and more than 6 months in advance. Find her full itinerary below.

If Midnight Sun was inspired by the feeling of an endless summer night in Zara’s native Stockholm, then Midnight Sun: Girls Trip is what happens when that night rolls into an infinite season of pure pop energy where everyone is invited. As Zara herself recently noted, “This is just the beginning of Girls Trip!!!”

Zara Larsson, Midnight Sun: Girls Trip

  1. “Midnight Sun” with PinkPantheress
  2. “Blue Moon” with Kehlani
  3. “Pretty Ugly” with JT and Margo XS
  4. “Girl’s Girl” with Emilia
  5. “Crush” with Eli
  6. “Eurosummer” with Shakira
  7. “Hot & Sexy” with Tyla
  8. “The Ambition” with Madison Beer and BAMBII
  9. “Saturn’s Return” with Malibu and Helena Gao
  10. “Puss Puss” with Robyn

(Photo credit: Charlotte Rutherford)

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