SM Cares empowers Marikina Persons with Disabilities and Elderly to become disaster-ready at 2024 Emergency Preparedness Forum

As a country that is vulnerable to natural calamities due to its geographic location, SM Cares knows the importance of empowering Filipinos to become better prepared for these unforeseen events, especially senior citizens and PWDs, which is why SM Cares has programs like the Emergency Preparedness Forum which are aimed towards these sectors. As part of its activities in line with National Disaster Resilience Month this July, SM Cares recently held the third leg of the 2024 Emergency Preparedness Forum in the City of Marikina to help senior citizens and persons with disabilities become more prepared for disasters and emergencies.

Launched in 2015, the forum features expert-led lectures and practical drills tailored for these vulnerable sectors.

The Emergency Preparedness Forum aims to empower the most vulnerable groups in the community be more prepared during emergencies

Since the forum first began in 2015, SM Cares has been able to provide training to 7,417 senior citizens and PWDs across the country since the forum’s conception and was awarded Gold in 2020 and Silver in 2023 at the Public Relations Society of the Philippines’ annual Anvil Awards.

EPF participants become champions for preparedness where they can share their emergency preparedness knowledge with their families and communities.

SM Cares is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, supporting initiatives focused on communities and the environment. Its advocacies include Programs for the Environment, Persons with Disabilities, Women & Breastfeeding Mothers, Children & Youth, Senior Citizens, and the SM Bike-friendly initiative.

To learn more about these programs, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares.

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TWISTERS movie review

I can still remember a scene wherein we are able to see inside the eye of a tornado in the 1996 version of Twisters. In this remake from the same producers, Warner Bros. Pictures, Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, our characters are braver to get into it and apparently were able to find a solution to "tame" nature's wrath.

In Twisters, it advances the technology of forecasting a tornado and tracking its course which somehow our characters would be able to prevent its destruction and help in the survival of the communities it may hit.

The difference between the 1996 and this versions, is that they injected a love factor between Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Tyler (Glen Powell) while they are pursuing their passion with science. And what's more scary if a tornado hits at night? If I remember correctly, the 1996 version sends you in the experiences of the characters and it's very original at that time. That would make it a hit especially when played in a 4D theater house.

Daisy Edgar Jones and Glen Powell's on screen chemistry was at least not cringey and lines were not cheesy. Anthony Ramos at least got his character arc which I also thought if he was ever going to be in a love triangle with Kate and Tyler. But are conversations in Kate's old lab and scientific explanations accurate? Hope someone can explain to me in the comments.

Twisters is now playing in theaters.

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Beetlejuice is back! Coming to theaters September 4.

Beetlejuice is back! After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened. With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

Tim Burton, a genre unto himself, directs from a screenplay by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar (“Wednesday”), story by Gough & Millar and Seth Grahame-Smith (“The LEGO® Batman Movie”), based on characters created by Michael McDowell & Larry Wilson. The film’s producers are Marc Toberoff, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Tommy Harper and Burton, with Sara Desmond, Katterli Frauenfelder, Gough, Millar, Brad Pitt, Larry Wilson, Laurence Senelick, Pete Chiappetta, Andrew Lary, Anthony Tittanegro, Grahame-Smith and David Katzenberg executive producing.

The film stars Michael Keaton (“Batman,” “Birdman”), Winona Ryder (“Stranger Things,” “Little Women”), Catherine O’Hara (“Schitt’s Creek,” “Corpse Bride”), Justin Theroux (“Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi”, “The Leftovers”), Monica Bellucci (“Spectre”, “The Matrix” films), Arthur Conti (“House of the Dragon”), Jenna Ortega (“Wednesday”, “Scream VI”), and Willem Dafoe (“Poor Things”, “At Eternity’s Gate”). Watch the trailer here:

In cinemas September 4, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Discovery company.

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