Sustainability has become a driving force across every industry. For SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), one of Asia’s leading integrated property developers, sustainability is elevated through a strategic framework that leverages the company’s extensive operations, significant economic impact, and cultural influence.

As typhoon season begins, recent severe weather has highlighted the Philippines' susceptibility to these conditions.

As the country faces possible consequences, it's clear that engaging in global efforts to achieve net zero emissions is crucial. This typhoon serves as a reminder of the urgent need for the Philippines to take an active role in combating climate change, both to reduce future risks and to contribute to worldwide solutions.

The concept of net zero refers to balancing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted with an equivalent amount removed from the atmosphere. For the Philippines, a country frequently in the crosshairs of severe weather, achieving net zero is a crucial step towards enhancing climate resilience. The recent typhoon has made it evident that the country cannot afford to be a bystander in the global efforts to combat climate change. Instead, it must be a proactive player, advocating for and implementing strategies that contribute to the global net zero target.

SM Prime Holdings (SM Prime) played a pivotal role in advancing sustainable urban development by hosting the 7th annual Association of Pacific Rim Universities – Sustainable Cities and Landscapes (APRU-SCL) 2024 Conference and 3rd International Conference on Human Settlements Planning and Development (ICHSPD) at SMX Convention Center Aura. This prestigious event, organized by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), brought together over 300 experts to discuss innovative solutions for building greener and more resilient cities. Focused on the theme "Advancing Sustainable Cities and Communities Through Science, Technology, and Innovation," the conference highlighted the importance of collaboration in addressing urban challenges.

 

HONOR, the eminent global provider of smart devices, clinched the top spot among leading smartphone brands in the latest study conducted by the International Data Corporation (IDC). According to Antonio Wang, Vice President at IDC, HONOR secured a remarkable 17% share in the charts, with a staggering Year-over-Year (YoY) shipments surge of 123.3% in Quarter 1, 2024.

The recent debut of the HONOR Magic6 Pro in China witnessed First Quarter shipments surpassing the combined shipments of its predecessors in the initial two quarters. This achievement is attributed to its cutting-edge AI functionalities. Excitingly, the HONOR Magic6 Pro is set to hit the Philippines market on May 8.

"Being part of a prestigious and competitive global technology company like HONOR, it's truly an honor for us. We're excited about the challenge ahead and fully committed to bringing technological breakthroughs and innovation to the Philippines. We aim to achieve significant milestones in this dynamic market,” said Stephen Cheng, Vice President of HONOR Philippines.

Moreover, HONOR’s overseas market has gained significant growth during the past year with a 200% growth rate. By Q1 2024, HONOR has entered more than 100 markets and ranked Top 5 in many markets including Europe, Midde East, Latin America and Malaysia.

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), a prominent property developer in Southeast Asia, is launching a comprehensive waste management and segregation campaign to tackle the escalating global waste issues. The initiative, tagged #SMWasteFreeFuture, aims to rally all its property groups and stakeholders towards a sustainable solution.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) highlights a staggering statistic: humanity churns out over 2 billion tons of municipal solid waste every year, with a troubling 45 percent being poorly managed. If left unchecked, this figure could balloon to nearly 4 billion tons annually by 2050. Recognizing the severity of the situation, the United Nations General Assembly designated March 30 as the International Day of Zero Waste on December 14, 2022.

The subsequent year saw the inception of the inaugural International Day of Zero Waste by UNEP, designed to galvanize efforts in combating the global pollution crisis. This day serves as a platform to spur worldwide action and draw attention to the importance of striving for zero waste.

Strong foundations

SM Prime’s founding leader, Henry Sy, believed that “business growth and social development must go hand in hand.” The company follows this guiding principle and has formed a sustainability policy that commits to the following: Resource Conservation and Efficiency, Disaster Resilience, Climate Advocacy, Social Integration, and Transparent Reporting.

Anchored on these sustainability commitments are the SM Supermalls’ Environmental Programs on Waste Management. Through its corporate social responsibility arm, SM Cares, SM Supermalls has pioneered longstanding programs such as the Trash to Cash recycling market, and provided support to the annual International Coastal Clean Up, among other national events.

Here's an interesting news from one of the SM Supermalls!

City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office awards SM City San Pablo guard SG Hassan Pasco a plaque of recognition for his selflessness and courageous efforts in saving a life during a critical and life-threatening situation on June 25, 2023. 

SM Supermalls has planned a variety of activities from February 1st to 14th that are perfect for everyone, regardless of your relationship status. Whether you're single but not spending the day alone, in a committed relationship, or simply in love with your family, SM Supermalls promises to make your Valentine's Day the sweetest one yet! So if you're searching for ways to celebrate the occasion, SM Supermalls has got you covered!

Keep the love burning with the sweetest dining deals
They say food is the way to a man’s heart. So why not treat your SO to a sumptuous dining experience? With hundreds of restaurants to choose from, SM got lotsa lovin’ vibe to share and the sweetest dining deals to offer. Plus, there are very cute dining spots and IG-worthy outdoor hubs to dine into. But if you want a more romantic ambiance, there are also alfresco spots available for you!

Self-love is the best kind of love
Experience the euphoria of self-love at your favorite SM mall when you gift yourself with a few pampering items. From skin care packages and discounts on fashion items to solo dining promos, SM will definitely shower you with tons of sweet self-love deals to enjoy a love-filled month.

Sweets for your sweet at the Sweet A-fair
What’s Valentine’s Day without a Sweet A-fair? If you’re looking for the sweetest Valentine’s gifts, there’s no need to scour far and wide just to get them. Check out SM Supermalls’ pop-up bazaar and get your hands on sweet items like chocolates, cakes, and other treats to spoil your loved ones.

Dance to sweet beats and retro nights
This season of love, give your fangirl/fanboy self a sweet reward at the mini-concert held every weekend from February 1 to 14. Your favorite DJs and Tiktok artists will play beats from the 1980s to the 2000s so be there and catch their one-of-a-kind performances.

When was the last time you had an outdoor activity that is pack with a thrilling and exciting adventure? Well, the last one that is memorable for me was my college days, where we (my organization) did a mountain trekking in a nearby province. It was a real adventure where we stayed up the mountain area for five straight days. We set up a campsite where no one has ever visited. We eat, sleep, and enjoy the trees for five days. We look for water and other food necessities. Our only time was the sun and the moon.

It was like experiencing a tactical training where you need to survive for some time and where you are required to survive only with your tactical gears. Though in our case, we had a few gears with us that is basic enough to go through that five days in the mountain.


It was an unusual experience, but of course, there were few downsides. At that time, we don't have gears like Salomon Outdoors Footwear to protect our feet. There are quite few Tactical Distributors back then. If ever that I'll do it again, I would prefer to use a Salomon Tactical Boots, it is much safer when doing a trek in the mountain. You can avoid hurting yourself with sharp and pointed stones. You can enjoy the view with less worry.

I hope I can do it again and enjoy the adventure, but probably this time, I would love my kids to join me in this kind of journey. I'm planning to be more equipped, with the right gear to protect ourselves at the same time enjoy the views and Plantshed sceneries of the place. I'm sure they will look forward to this kind of activity.

Giving honor to our country is one the highest way a person can declare his nationalism, and there are lots of different ways to show that love for the country. You can give honor by winning in athletic events or other competitions. There is also the easiest way to serve the country, become a soldier.
No one knows much how hard it is to become a soldier, especially now that Citizen's Army Training (CAT) and Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) are not part of the school curriculum. While others view it as irrelevant to be part of the training in school, others see its importance - the value of leadership, the bond of camaraderie, and the need to be resourceful.

Interestingly, TV networks now are showcasing Pinoy Soldier themed TV Series. It's not only to let viewers know their struggles and hardship but also the worth of what they are doing. Of course, there are always two sides of the coin, the good and the bad, but we'd rather see the good part than the evil one.

Here are our eight (8) reasons why you should watch A Soldier's Heart.

1. Gerald Anderson - aside from being the lead star of this TV series, let us see him as the character of Alex. Without spoiling much, Alex perceives the military men as heroes who are risking their lives so that others may live.
2. Yves Flores - playing the role of Benjie who's brother died in action has set his mind to be like his brother. To serve and protect the country.
3. Carlo Aquino - portraying the role of Abe is probably challenging. Abe is a Moro who wants to be a soldier to protect the country. With this, we can all learn a different view about life.
4. Nash Aguas - gave everyone a bit of a scare during their training. He almost quit playing the role of Michael, aka Striker. Yes, according to them, all of the lead stars undergone a three (3) day training to familiarize them with the military. His character enlists in the military to have a decent job.
5. Jerome Ponce - plays the character of Phil. Not much background yet about him, but he'll be one of the soldiers wanting to prove something.
6. Vin Abrenica - playing the role of Elmer, the brother of Alex. The first to become a soldier just like their father. He's always competing with Alex, especially with their parents' attention.
7. Elmo Magalona - Mistah or body of Elmer, just like Elmer he's seeking the attention of his father, who's also in the military.
8. Sue Ramirez - played the character of Lourd, the sole woman in the group who is out to prove that serving the country is genderless. 

These are your weeknight's reason to watch A Soldier's Heart. Expect each character to unravel their stories and their reasons for joining the army.

iWant features a lot of series and movies these days, and it's releasing one series or film after another. One of its upcoming releases is "My Single Lady," which is produced by the star of the series herself, Ms. Jodi Sta. Maria.

This iWant series features a charming and enlightening take on the life of a single mother with a romantic twist in a modern family comedy setting. The comedy series stars Jodi Sta. Maria, Ian Veneracion, and Zanjoe Marudo. My Single Lady will start streaming on January 22, 2020 (Wednesday).

The comedy series will give you four (4) reasons why watch it and not miss its stream.

1. Ian Veneracion - yes, his character Mayor Chester will sure get your attention. Not only the hunk dad actor but the role that he portrays. Intriguing assumptions as to why he left Chona.
2. Zanjoe Marudo - perhaps you have seen him paired with other stars and played the role of a father, which is, by the way, a great addition to this series. It creates a more complicated situation for the lead character Chona. He plays the role of BG, who is a sweet, reliable electrician.
3. Ynigo Delen - plays the role of Red. The son of Chona who takes much of the attention and the main reason of Chona's being a working single mom.
4. Jodi Sta. Maria - of course, the main character of this comedy series Chona. An intriguing title to why it is called My Single Lady. 

To have a brief background. Jodi is a hardworking and devoted single mother to a six-year-old Red and an avid Regine Velasquez fan.



Amid various jobs and PTA meetings, a spark starts when she meets sweet, reliable electrician BG, who then vies for her affection. The situation becomes more complicated as running mayor Chester - Red's Missing In Action (MIA) father - returns to the picture and wants to be involved in his son's life. Although adamant at first, Chona eventually allows father and son to bond upon seeing how Red wants to get to know his dad.

Chona further becomes conflicted as Chester also attempts to woo her back. In her confusion, she finds comfort in her three best friends.


Torn between two handsome men, how will this single mother choose?

The six-part original series features original Regine Velasquez songs and is directed and co-written by Carlo Catu, written by Janina Gacosta, and produced by Jodi Sta. Maria, B617, and Dreamscape Digital.

"My Single Lady" is the comeback project of the well-received Jodi-Ian tandem since "achy Breaky Hearts," and is the first team-up of Jodi and Zanjoe.

The Cast also includes Iyah Mina, Brenda Mage, Vitex Paguirigan, and Carla Martinez.


Find out how Chona's love life unravels in "My Single Lady," streaming for free on iWant starting January 22, 2020 (Wednesday).