Lifestyle

Catriona Gray, Miss Universe 2018 as an official judge for the Miss Universe Colombia 2020 pageant. She will also represent Smile Train as the organization’s global ambassador. Smile Train is a global organization dedicated to taking care of children with cleft palate and currently Miss Gray is one of the organization’s global ambassador.

As a part of this charitable partnership the crowned Miss Universe Colombia will become a local ambassador for the organization’s charity partner, Smile Train. The reigning title holder will work closely with Smile Train to help raise awareness for children with clefts locally and around the world.

While visiting Barranquilla, Catriona plans to safely visit Smile Train’s local partners and meet some of the beneficiaries supported by the charity. She has been focused on using her platform to raise awareness for children with clefts. In fact, she has previously visited Smile Train’s programs in the Philippines and in Brazil to see firsthand all of the incredible work done by the organization locally. In addition, she has attended several virtual speech sessions with cleft patients, launched a Public Service Announcement (PSA) for finding patients and is currently the face of the beepTM card awareness campaign.

Globally, 540 babies are born with a cleft every day. Smile Train is committed to providing access to proper cleft care treatment and financial assistance even during the pandemic. In addition to life-changing surgery, Smile Train’s local medical partners provide essential care, such as speech therapy, emotional support, nutrition services, and orthodontic care, to ensure that children have the opportunity to lead full and productive lives.

Smile Train, with the support of its donors and partners around the world, has supported safe and quality cleft care for more than 1.5 million children in need for the past 21 years. In the Philippines, Smile Train has supported cleft surgeries for more than 60,000 children since 2001.

For more information about Smile Train’s global efforts and to donate, please visit smiletrain.org. To learn more about Smile Train’s local programs in the Philippines, please visit smiletrain.ph, follow Smile Train Philippines on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like us on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.

Typhoon Ulysses taught us many things and this is the time to be united especially this unpredictable things are happening. Also time to share our blessings to the victims affected although a lot of different organizations and individuals gives their immediate donations to those affected. Just like SM Supermalls and SM Foundation, through its Operation Tulong Express (OPTE) program provides immediate relief assistance to residents affected by Typhoon Ulysses in Cagayan and other affected areas.

SM Center Tuguegarao Downtown donated two truckloads of bottled water which were received by Tuguegarao City Mayor Jefferson Soriano and Vice Mayor Bienvenido De Guzman. The donations were brought to Cathedral Gym and East Central Elementary School which served as evaucation centers for flood-stricken residents. Hot meals were also distributed to some 300 residents.

“At SM, we will continue to reach out to as many communities as we can and help them bounce back. We urge everyone to join us as we extend a helping hand to those who are greatly affected by this calamity,” said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan.

This effort forms part of Operation Tulong Express (OPTE), a social good program of SM Foundation in collaboration with SM Supermalls and SM Markets to address the needs of communities during calamities and crisis.

To those who wish to send help, SM through Philippine National Red Cross, is only accepting cash donation. No in kind donations will be accepted to help prevent spread of COVID-19.

Donations can be deposited to the following BDO account:
Account name: Philippine National Red Cross
Peso savings: 00-453-0190938
Dollar savings: 10-453-0039482
Swift code: BNORPHMM

For more updates and announcements, visit www.smsupermalls.com or its social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@SMSupermalls).

Recently, I have been thinking of how people in our community will have the chance to feel the same way for Christmas this year, amid the ongoing pandemic.

For months, we have been avoiding crowded places and keeping our distance with gatherings, which I think could create a huge gap and difference in how we celebrate various occassion.

But, as always, SM has its own way of creating a magical and joyous season not just for me, but also to a lot of Filipino families that yearn to celebrate this wonderful time of the year. Needless to say, however much stress and hassle we gotta be, we always look forward to the positive and merry side of hope and giving.

So having said how excited I am, here are some of the details on how SM can prove us that they are really anticipating a wonderful and joyous christmas for all of us;

Starting off November 6 with Christmas Launches. SM Supermalls are on-set to start their magical and delightful christmas design show-offs. Twelve different SM malls will light up their colorful and magnificent Christmas displays — from SM Mall of Asia and SM Megamall to SM Seaside City Cebu and SM CDO Downtown Premier! SM got extra surprise for us such us bringing merry feels through fireworks, orchestra, and whimsical characters! All the SM malls nationwide follow suit with their own magical Christmas light up on November 7 and 8. Welcoming christmas with such ceremonies truly reflects inspiration and cheerfulness despite the pandemic.

Christmas Chorale. Christmas wouldn’t be as merry without the power of music! Watch and feel enchanting and mesmerizing music by live choirs at selected SM Supermalls. Meet up with your family and friends at SM and enjoy some Holiday tunes! It will surely be an awesome experience! There is no no need to worry because strict safety protocols are in place at SM malls, so you can just focus on the magic of the celebration.

Christmas Markets. Since it’s the season of giving, it is also time to help and support local MSMEs bounce back from the negative impact of the pandemic by buying your Holiday essentials and gift supplies at SM’s nationwide Christmas Markets from November 9 to January 3. As part of the Kasama Ng SM campaign and DTI’s Buy Local, Support Local, the Christmas Markets will feature and promote unique local products and goods so shoppers can buy from small businesses and help them finally go forward and recover.

Selfie with Santa. Worrying about missing Santa this year? – SM has made sure you won’t miss your selfie with Santa this year! You can pose with a virtual Santa Claus safely and via augmented reality at SM.ofcourse you wanna try it! Simply scan the AR markers located in selected areas in SM malls and have a photo with virtual Santa. Don’t forget to share it with your family and friends online!

SM Bears of Joy. SM Supermalls is giving back through its annual Bears of Joy campaign. From November 4 until Christmas Day, you can collect Special Medical Frontliner Bears of Joy. For P200.00, you can keep one and share the other for charity.

TikTok Fam Contest. It’s more fun when you dance with the fam! For those families who wanted to showcase their fun and extravagant dance moves, join the TikTok Fam Contest now! Simply showcase your special TikTok moves accompanied by your favorite Christmas song in your most-loved SM mall and you can get a chance to win exciting prizes!

#SAFEMALLINGATSM:UPDATE MALL HOURS AS OF NOVEMBER 2020

Indeed, we are all in this fight together, don’t forget to share while you care, and be delighted by the merriness of Christmas with SM. As they platformed this event as “Sama sama tayo sa Pasko sa SM”, let us enjoy and hope for the best this yuletide, and for all the upcoming Holidays ahead!

For more information, visit http://www.smsupermalls.com or follow @smsupermalls on all social media platforms.