Lifestyle

Voters, take note! Voting has been much simpler this year as the countdown to the May 12, 2025, national and local elections gets underway.

Voters fill the venue at SM North EDSA during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in 2023.

SM Supermalls is pleased to introduce the Mall Voting Program (MVP) at 20 selected SM malls around the country in collaboration with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), bringing democracy literally closer to home.

The days of oppressive heat and packed school gyms are long gone. On May 12, eligible voters who have been assigned to MVP locations can go to the SM mall of their choice to cast their ballot in a safe, convenient, and air-conditioned setting. Whether you’re a working professional, a busy parent, or an elderly person seeking convenience and comfort, the MVP is made to make voting easier, one step (or escalator trip) at a time.

Who Can Vote in the Mall?

Only voters whose precincts were officially transferred to a mall. This is indicated in the final list from COMELEC.

How Can I Confirm If I Vote in a Mall?

Check any of the following:

• comelec.gov.ph
• Your Voter Information Sheet (VIS)
• Mall posters or tarps
• Barangay caravans or your local COMELEC office

Voting Hours at the Mall:

• 5:00 AM – 7:00 AM— Priority: Seniors, PWDs, Pregnant voters
• 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM— Regular voting hours

Can I Bring Someone to Help Me Vote?

Yes, a relative (up to 4th degree) or Electoral Board member may assist.

Can My Companion Vote at the Mall Too?

Only if their precinct was also officially transferred to the same mall.

Here’s a list of the participating SM Supermalls where you can conveniently vote this coming May 12:

1. SM City Manila
2. SM City North EDSA
3. SM City Fairview
4. SM City Sucat
5. SM City Bicutan
6. SM City BF Parañaque
7. SM City East Ortigas
8. SM City Southmall
9. SM City Cauayan
10. SM City Baliwag
11. SM City Tarlac
12. SM City Batangas
13. SM City Santa Rosa
14. SM City Puerto Princesa
15. SM City Legazpi
16. SM City Iloilo
17. SM City Consolacion
18. SM CDO Uptown
19. SM CDO Downtown
20. SM City Butuan

SM Supermalls offers a convenient mall voting experience for the 2025 elections, with 20 SM malls where people can vote.

From Luzon to Mindanao, SM Supermalls is proud to open its doors—rent-free—for the benefit of Filipino voters. And don’t worry, COMELEC’s got the backend handled: trained election personnel, full compliance with electoral rules, and tight coordination for logistics and security.

Why mall voting works

The goal? A smoother, more inclusive voting experience—especially for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, and pregnant voters. Think ramps, elevators, comfortable seating, and spacious voting areas—all in a familiar and accessible setting.

“We believe democracy should be inclusive, convenient, and secure,” shared Junias Eusebio, Vice President for Mall Operations at SM Supermalls. “By offering our malls as voting venues, we’re not just making it easier to vote—we’re helping empower every Filipino to make their voice heard.”

People sit and observe the proceedings, awaiting the election results at SM North EDSA.

Democracy meets convenience

This isn’t SM’s first time teaming up with government agencies. Through the SM Government Service Express (GSE), select SM malls already offer one-stop access to services like ID processing, permits, and more. The MVP is yet another way SM Supermalls is stepping up to serve the public in meaningful ways.

Plan ahead

Eligible for mall voting? Expect an official advisory from COMELEC about your assigned voting venue. Then, on May 12, head to your designated SM mall, bring a valid ID, and vote with ease.

Let’s all do our part—vote smart, vote safe, and vote comfortably.

Find your precinct number easily at precinctfinder.comelec.gov.ph.

Visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @smsupermalls on social media for additional information and real-time updates.

As an active participant in the global movement for cleaner seas, SM Prime is committed to protecting the environment and inspiring Filipinos to live sustainably.

The pursuit of healthier oceans and seas necessitates steadfast dedication, steady effort, and sincere concern for our planet. As a prominent supporter of this worldwide movement in the Philippines, SM Prime has made environmental stewardship a fundamental part of its corporate identity in addition to being a duty.

SM City Tanza volunteers join a Philippine Coast Guard coastal cleanup, demonstrating SM Prime’s environmental commitment.

Beyond just preserving coastal ecosystems, SM’s unwavering commitment, in keeping with its Net Zero 2040 strategy to reduce emissions, encourages Filipinos in all communities to lead sustainable lives, turning awareness into tangible change.

And this dedication continues to translate into tangible, meaningful results. In 2024 alone, SM’s mall cleanup initiatives successfully collected and diverted a total of 157,425 kilograms of trash from ending up in our seas, oceans, and other bodies of water, significantly reducing its impact on marine biodiversity and helping preserve our planet’s marine ecosystems.

Understanding the intricate relationship between waste and climate change, SM has been helping to address the solid waste crisis not only because it pollutes our waters but also because it contributes significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Landfills filled with organic and plastic waste emit methane, a potent GHG far more destructive than carbon dioxide in accelerating climate change. Through proactive cleanup activities and robust waste management initiatives, SM addresses this issue head-on, significantly reducing environmental harm while mitigating its impact on the global climate.

SM’s continued success in its advocacy stems from the collective strength and cooperation of its diverse business units. This synergy allows the organization to extend its cleanup initiatives from coastal areas to smaller but equally vital water channels like rivers and esteros. By mobilizing hundreds of dedicated employees and thousands of enthusiastic volunteers, SM ensures that its efforts are extensive, impactful, and enduring.

Part of SM Prime’s success in its cleanup initiative can be attributed to its employees and countless volunteers, who help ensure that all of its efforts are comprehensive and long-lasting.

Collaboration lies at the heart of SM’s environmental initiatives. Recognizing that achieving cleaner oceans requires collective action, SM consistently partners with government agencies, local governments, and international organizations. Frequent collaborators include the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), various local government units (LGUs), and global groups such as Ocean Conservancy, particularly for the annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC).

ICC 2024 represented a significant milestone for SM’s participation in the initiative, celebrating its 10th consecutive year of engagement while also being its largest to date, activating 15 SM malls nationwide and drawing an extraordinary turnout of 23,320 passionate volunteers. This record-breaking participation highlights SM’s growing influence and underscores the expanding public enthusiasm for protecting our oceans.

Dedicated to keeping up this momentum, SM keeps up its cleanup efforts by being actively involved. Since January 2025, SM By the Bay has conducted monthly cleanups, showcasing the company’s dedication to long-term environmental care.

Looking ahead, SM extends an invitation to the community to join its major cleanup efforts on June 7, which will be a celebration of Philippine Environment Month and World Oceans Day; September 20, which is International Coastal Cleanup Day; and November 24, which will empower youth participation in the National Day for Youth in Climate Action.

“Everyone has a role to play in achieving a cleaner, healthier planet. For us at SM, we always encourage Filipinos to be active participants in environmental preservation by joining our cleanup activities, segregating waste responsibly at home, and supporting the SM Waste Free Future campaign through our Recyclable, Disposable, and Compostable (RDC) bins found in our malls,” said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan.

Volunteers from SM Supermalls—including employees, customer relations staff, and janitorial personnel—come together after a successful coastal cleanup at SM By the Bay, united by a shared commitment to protecting our oceans and building a #SMWasteFreeFuture.

As part of its weekly coastal cleanup operations, SM By the Bay rallied 272 staff members and volunteers to gather 1,147 kg of trash throughout the month of April, demonstrating its dedication to environmental care.

The company’s appeal for community-driven, communal action was reinforced by the weekly cleanliness drives along the Manila Bay shoreline, which were conducted by SM employees, customer relations staff, and custodial staff. In addition to bringing back the natural beauty of the shoreline, the project promoted environmental responsibility and ocean protection.

The campaign continues to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #14: Life Below Water, which emphasizes the protection of marine life and coastal ecosystems from pollution and degradation. As plastic and debris continue to threaten ocean biodiversity, efforts like these demonstrate that consistent community engagement can create long-term impact.

SM volunteers in action during the April coastal cleanup at SM By the Bay, working together to remove marine debris and protect our shoreline—one bag at a time.

Over a ton of trash collected by SM volunteers during the April 2025 coastal cleanup at SM By the Bay—each bag a step closer to a cleaner, healthier marine environment.

Through a spirit of volunteerism and purpose, the initiative also promoted camaraderie among SM stakeholders, who worked together toward a #SMWasteFreeFuture.

Participants from SM Supermalls take part in the April cleanup at SM By the Bay, showing that teamwork and purpose go a long way in protecting coastal communities.

Step by step, bag by bag—SM employees move with purposealong the SM By the Bay, turning their mornings into a meaningful mission for the environment.

To sustain this momentum, SM Cares is inviting the public to join the upcoming Coastal Cleanup in celebration of World Oceans Day on June 7, 2025.

Participating malls include: SM City Manila, SM City San Lazaro, SM City Sta., SM By the Bay. Mesa, SM City CDO Downtown, SM City Tanza, SM City Lucena, SM City Lipa, SM City Bacolod, SM City Iloilo, SM City Davao, SM City Rosario, SM City Batangas, and SM Center Dagupan.

Because taking care of the Earth starts on our shores, let’s keep making every bag of trash collected matter.

Seniors and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are vulnerable during emergencies and disasters because of anxiety, health, and mobility limitations.

Months after the events, the aftershocks in Thailand and the 7.7-magnitude earthquakes in Myanmar are still having an impact. The most important query is posed: Are we ready for “The Big One”?

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), the top integrated property developer in Southeast Asia and one of the most catastrophe and climate risk-vulnerable nations, keeps reaffirming its dedication to disaster resilience and increased climate action.

The role of education

To increase the capacity of readiness within the institution and its communities, SM Prime continues to advocate for emergency preparedness and the general public’s continued education.

SM Cares, SM Prime’s foundation arm, facilitates the annual Emergency Preparedness Forum to help mallgoers learn about emergency procedures, putting importance on staying calm to reduce panic and anxiety, basic first aid, life-saving techniques, and preparing senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD) in an actual emergency.

As the largest and fastest-growing residential sector developer, SM Development Corporation (SMDC)’s disaster preparedness training, Ready to Rescue, covers essential topics from fire and earthquake drills to water safety and first aid training programs to help residents face an emergency should it arise.

SM Development Corporation (SMDC)’s first aid and water safety training help residents respond effectively until first responders arrive.

Through SM Prime’s role within the Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies Philippines (ARISE-Philippines), training and education opportunities on disaster risk reduction and resilience are made more accessible within the local network.

Together with ARISE Japan and India, two of the largest in the global community, knowledge sharing on the latest technologies in disaster risk reduction helps toward understanding large-scale disaster prevention and identifies opportunities for further improvement and response.

ARISE India, Japan, and the Philippines during the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR).

Collaborations for the climate

In a Climate Fresk Workshop with The Transmutation Principle, SM Prime, together with host SM Hotels, gathered friends from the corporate and non-profit sustainability space to learn more about the science behind climate change–its drivers, mechanisms, and consequences–including mitigation, adaptation, and circular economy principles.

Sustainability champions from corporate and non-government agencies together for a Climate Fresk Workshop at the SMX Convention Center Aura.

“It was an exciting and valuable experience for us, given our advocacy for climate change resilience. The workshop succeeded in making it more accessible and relatable, particularly for individuals who are already aware of its effects on their respective industries,” says Oscar M. Lopez (OML) Center participant Charmaine Vitan.

The gamified workshop originated from a French non-profit organization and is based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports. Facilitated by local Philippine Freskers, it teaches the fundamentals of climate science – mapping key interdependencies between nature, biodiversity and human activities to ‘solve’ the complex narrative of climate change. The workshop was held at the SMX Convention Center Aura.

“It invited everyone–not just one sector–to collaborate and participate in fields of knowledge that are seemingly not connected at all. To quote a groupmate, the immediate causes and effects of market actions are clear, but the bigger picture is clear when we collaborate with one another,” says World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Philippines participant Joaquin Campos.

Building a resilient tomorrow

Constantly ahead of the curve, SM Prime proactively considers what might lower risk and increase long-term value rather than just what the industry need right now.

An Environmental, Social, Governance, and Resilience (ESG + R) plan for SM Prime guarantees that the business is constructing for the safety of coming generations. In order to establish institutional preparedness and aid in educating and influencing public opinion, SM Prime is still concentrating its efforts on catastrophe risk management techniques, infrastructure resilience, preparedness and quick reaction, and capacity building.

SM Prime Executive Committee Chairman Hans Sy addresses members of ARISE Philippines during the first annual general meeting for 2025.

“Resilience is a way of life. It is a commitment to ensure that we act on our responsibility to care for others so that no one is left behind,” said Mr. Hans Sy, SM Prime Executive Committee Chairman.