SM Employees in the East Metro Lend a Hand for Brigada Eskwela 2024

Mayamot National High School receives cleaning materials from employee and personnel volunteers from SM City Masinag and SM Center Antipolo Downtown for the Brigada Eskwela 2024

SM City Marikina, SM City Masinag, SM City San Mateo, and SM Center Antipolo Downtown joined forces to give back to the community through this year’s Brigada Eskwela. Mall employees rolled up their sleeves and pitched in to revitalize school facilities, ensuring a fresh and welcoming learning environment for students.

From classroom cleaning to sprucing up school grounds, SM Mall personnel dedicated their time and effort to preparing partner schools for the new academic year. Their commitment to improving the educational landscape in the East Metro is a testament to SM’s unwavering support for local communities.

A group of volunteers from SM City Masinag and SM Center Antipolo Downtown work on cleaning a portion of the school grounds of Mayamot National High School

SM’s commitment to education shone through as employees from its East Metro malls rolled up their sleeves for Brigada Eskwela. To support students and teachers recovering from the recent typhoon, SM City Marikina focused on cleaning a classroom at Kalumpang High School.

Meanwhile, SM City San Mateo gave Banaba Elementary School a fresh look with a classroom repaint. Over in Antipolo, SM City Masinag and SM Center Antipolo Downtown teamed up to clean the school grounds at Mayamot National High School and donated essential cleaning supplies. These efforts aim to create a conducive learning environment for students in the community.

Freshly painted white walls for conducive learning for the students of Banaba Elementary School by employee volunteers

Brigada Eskwela is an annual undertaking of SM Supermalls under its corporate social responsibility arm, SM Cares. By actively participating in this nationwide initiative, SM reinforces its dedication to fostering a better future for Filipino students.

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LG Launches Life's Good Library On the Go: Bringing Education to Every Doorstep

LG Philippines named this year’s LG Ambassador Challenge winning project, Life’s Good Library On The Go by Ms. Charlene Aguilar, with the mission to reach children who lack access to libraries, fostering a love for reading and immersive learning. In partnership with Korea Food for the Hungry International (KFHI) to generate significant change through the LG Ambassador Challenge, showcasing the company's commitment to sustainable development in the country.

 
LG Life's Good Library On The Go
The mobile library will tour around the seven (7) barangays in Nagcarlan, Laguna namely Lawaguin, Bunga, Balayong, Sabang, Alumbrado, Talahib and Sulsuguin to reach children living in poor communities that have limited access to basic education and organized learning.

“This mobile library exemplifies our commitment to education and accessibility, bringing books and learning resources directly to underserved communities, aiming to inspire a love for reading and promote immersive, lifelong learning among children. This reflects our unwavering promise to empower individuals and enrich their futures” said LG Philippines Managing Director, Mr. Nakhyun Seong during his opening remarks. Mr. Seong also encouraged the children through a pinky promise to make reading a habit.

Mr. Nakhyun Seong, LG Philippines Managing Director

During the event, LG Ambassador, Ms. Charlene Aguilar also addressed the audience during the turnover and awarding. "This mobile library is more than just a collection of books; it is a beacon of hope and learning. Through LG's help, beyond just books, children in our community will now have the opportunity to see the world through the LG TV, with the LG XL7S Speaker making learning an immersive and interactive experience. This enhancement will allow the kids to provide a richer, and more diverse educational journey."

Mr. Nakhyun Seong, LG Philippines Managing Director, awards the certificate
to Ms. Charlene Aguilar, 2024 LG Ambassador Challenge winner

LG provided Ms. Charlene Aguilar opportunities for learning by funding the Library on the Go TV and speaker to enhance learning, as well as financial support for the vehicle, books, and materials. With LG's support, children can now enjoy immersive learning experiences. This support will ensure we can reach and educate children in underserved communities effectively.

LG UHD TV

LG XBoom XL7S

As Mr. Nakhyun Seong and Ms. Charlene Aguilar finally revealed the Life’s Good Library On The Go, they toured the van’s interiors and exteriors, showcasing its features. The van is equipped with shelves full of diverse books, and advanced learning tools like the LG TV and LG XL7S Speaker to create an immersive educational environment. The tour highlighted additional features such as tents, benches, tables, and mats, all designed to create a comfortable and engaging outdoor learning space. This mobile library provides a versatile setup for various educational activities, emphasizing LG's commitment to fostering a love for reading and lifelong learning.

Unveiling of the LG Life's Good Library On The Go

LG Philippines Head of Corporate Marketing, Ms. Ana Marie Salapantan, closed the program with the inspiring words “This campaign isn't just about promoting a brand; it's about inspiring all of us to embrace life with a positive mindset. It encourages us to see every challenge as an opportunity and every setback as a chance to grow.”

Other activities during this inauguration ceremony included a free eye check-up provided by Dr. Nathaniel Monloy of Monloy Vision Care Clinic, who offered essential vision screenings for the children. In addition, the event featured interactive storytelling sessions, arts and crafts workshops, to engage and entertain the community while highlighting the importance of education and learning. These activities complemented the launch of the Life’s Good Library On The Go, making the day a celebration of community spirit.

Eye screening c/o Monloy Vision Care Clinic

The LG Ambassador Challenge was launched in 2022, designating individuals as ambassadors who receive essential support and funding from LG to address issues in their local communities.

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Blake Lively Captivates as Lily Bloom in "It Ends with Us"

Blake Lively as Lily Bloom in It Ends With Us

“I saw a window display of her books—Colleen Hoover, Colleen Hoover, Colleen Hoover,” recalls Blake Lively, who knew that she was working with something special with It Ends With Us, the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s #1 New York Times bestseller. “Her name was everywhere. She speaks to an audience—her voice resonates with people. The stories she tells and how she tells them reaches out and grabs so many people.”

Lively plays the main role of Lily Bloom, a young woman who’s determined to break free from her past, but as she falls in love, finds herself falling into the same patterns she grew up with. Lively is also a producer for It Ends With Us, captivated by its story. “I just fell in love with Lily,” Lively says. “I wanted to tell her story because her emotional roadmap was so clear to me, yet there are so many ways she could be portrayed. I knew if I took her on, I would make sure she wasn’t a delicate flower, but a woman with both feet firmly on the ground. Someone in her skin. I thought it was important to see someone you think is settled in themselves get lost. It makes you realize you never really know what people are going through.”

Author Colleen Hoover thinks Lively embodies the best of Lily Bloom, confident in the actress’s portrayal of one of the most important characters she’s ever created, as It Ends With Us is a story intertwined with Hoover’s own experience with her mother and father. “Blake has many of the same qualities I admire in both Lily and my mother,” Hoover says. “To have her playing Lily demonstrates that each situation is unique. There’s no mold to fit.”
Lively shares her interpretation of Lily Bloom, and the strength that resonates within her character. “Lily is not a wilting lily,” says Lively. “She has both feet on the ground and her head screwed on tight—she has real spice and agency. But you can be a woman with confidence and agency and know better, and still not see all of the red flags that you should. When she meets Ryle, she sweeps him off his feet as much as he sweeps her off hers. It was important to create that level playing field, so that when the relationship goes off-kilter, it’s more confusing for her, because she believes in the equality of their partnership and their strength, as individuals and together.”

There was something rewarding in portraying a character that’s going through a healing journey, Lively shares as she explains why she took on the role. “Lily's at a turning point in her life," Lively says. "She's just moved to Boston from her hometown in New England. She’s finally actualizing her dream of opening a flower shop. A major life event happens for her at the start of the movie, which brings up her past in significant ways. While coping with that, she meets someone she falls for almost instantly. She meets two ‘someones’ actually: a man and a new best female friend. Her shop is as wonderful as she imagined it to be, and her whole life is falling into place. Despite having a painful past, her future looks bright. And then, event after event, her life is upended in both beautiful and tragic ways. Her past enters her present in more ways than one, and she has to confront the entirety of her life’s most wonderful and awful experiences, all within the course of this film. It was mammoth to take on but deeply rewarding to tell a story so rich in the full spectrum of emotion.”

Watch the emotional journey of Lily Bloom as It Ends With Us arrives in Philippine cinemas on August 7.

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SM Prime widens the landscape in renewable energy

As part of its net-zero commitment by 2040, one of Asia’s leading real estate and property developers, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), partnered with global integrated energy company TotalEnergies for the installation of a 2 Megawatt-peak (MWp) Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System Rooftop project in Pasay City.

The partnership venture aligns with SM Prime’s efforts in expanding its renewable energy portfolio and affirms TotalEnergies’ commitment to advancing renewable energy solutions in various urban settings.

Designed with a power yield of 3,000 Megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity annually, the solar partnership project has over 3,672 PV panels installed and is expected to provide huge cost savings for SM Prime. Located at the MOA Square in the Mall of Asia Complex, the solar installations are expected to reduce the building’s carbon footprint by about 1,430 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually.

"SM Prime is proud to work alongside TotalEnergies on this project. This partnership is our commitment to sustainability and achieving Net Zero by 2040. We are also taking a proactive stance in supporting the Department of Energy’s (DOE) target of reaching 35% renewable energy by 2030. Together, we’re driving meaningful change towards a more environmentally conscious future," said John Nai Peng Ong, SM Prime Chief Finance Officer.

“We are thrilled to announce the successful deployment of solar rooftop installations at the Mall of Asia in the Philippines, marking a significant achievement in both environmental and economic sustainability for SM Prime,” said Elodie Renaud, Managing Director of TotalEnergies Renewables Distributed Generation Asia.

For the past few years, SM Prime continues to grow its partnerships with key clean energy players, leveraging its relationships and earned experiences to drive its environmental stewardship campaign. Capitalizing on these partnerships has provided for SM Prime huge economic, environmental, and social dividends.

In 2022, SM Prime secured a long-term deal with AboitizPower for its clean energy supply. Under the agreement, AboitizPower will provide reliable and responsibly-sourced energy from Tiwi-MakBan Geothermal Power Plants, and PV Sinag’s Power Plants, operated and managed by AboitizPower subsidiary, Aboitiz Renewables, Inc. (ARI).

The following year, SM Prime signed a memorandum of agreement with Citicore Renewable Energy Company (CREC), wherein SM Prime will source 90 megawatts (MWac) from CREC’s upcoming Lumbangan Solar Power Plant in Tuy, Batangas.

Apart from contributing to the DOE’s 35% renewable energy goal by 2030, all these partnerships are aligned with the energy department and Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) policy of expanding the adoption of Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) in the energy industry.

To date, SM Prime currently sources at least 50% of its electricity utilization from clean, renewable energy.

 
SM Prime supports the Philippine government’s aim to increase the country's renewable energy supply component to 50% by the year 2040. It remains committed to its role as a catalyst for economic growth, delivering innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities, thereby enriching the quality of life of millions of people. SM Prime is pursuing the next horizon on integrated property development and onward to building sustainable cities of the future.

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Kublai Millan’s "Land of Premise" Unveiled at The Manila Hotel’s Art Gallery

Acclaimed artist Kublai Millan’s latest exhibit, Land of Premise, was officially inaugurated at The Manila Hotel’s Art Gallery on August 1, 2024. This solo exhibit, featuring a compelling collection of 14 paintings, invites guests to explore the untapped potential of Mindanao and envision a future where its promises are fulfilled.

Kublai Millan

In his remarks, Kublai emphasized that Land of Premise is more than just an artistic showcase; it is a bridge to understanding Mindanao’s rich heritage and future possibilities. “Words cannot build a future, only actions and resources can. Know the premise so we can conceive a fulfillable promise,” he stated.

The opening reception featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Kublai Millan, along with Marvin Kim Tan, The Manila Hotel’s vice president for sales and marketing, Jeremy Barns, Director-General of the National Museum of the Philippines, Cecile Guidote Alvarez, founder of Philippine Educational Theater Association, Nancy dela Rosa, wife of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, and Flora Chua, member of the Board of Philippine Cancer Society. The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests including Dr. Jaime Laya, president of Philtrust Bank, Atty. Elba Cruz, CEO and chief curator of Manila Clock Tower Museum, as well as representatives from the office of the Vice Mayor, City of Manila, and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts of Manila. Guests enjoyed an afternoon of cocktails and conversation amid the vibrant display of Kublai’s artistry.

Land of Premise is on display at the Art Gallery through August 31, 2024. Admission is free, and the artworks are available for purchase at Php 440,000 each (shipping not included).

For further details or to inquire about purchasing, please call +632 8527 0011 or +632 5301 5500, or email r.lo@themanilahotel.com.

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Harold and the Purple Crayon comes to life starring Zachary Levi

Lil Rel Howery, Benjamin Bottani, and Zachary Levi set off on an adventure in Harold and the Purple Crayon

Countless families have enjoyed Crockett Johnson’s Harold and the Purple Crayon since its publication in 1955. The book tells the story of an adventurous toddler who can create entire worlds with his purple crayon. The adaptation puts a twist on the story, as in the movie Harold has grown up in his fantastical world, and decides to draw a door into the real, modern world.

Producer John Davis talks about the adventure that Harold is thrust into in Harold and the Purple Crayon. “Harold and his friends are transformed from characters on the page to adventurers on a journey of self-discovery,” Davis says. “Their story is brimming with passion, imagination, and a sense of heart.” Watch the trailer:
Oscar-nominated director Carlos Saldanha had his children grow up to the tale of Harold and the Purple Crayon. “The original story is very simple and charming,” he says. “I really love the way that this movie takes it further. In the book, Harold is very sheltered, but coming into the real world exposes him to the harsh realities of everyday life. He discovers all these new emotions that allow him to become a more complete and fuller human character, all while retaining his innocence.”

Playing the role of the intrepid Harold is Zachary Levi, who feels that more than an adaptation, Harold and the Purple Crayon is a love letter to imagination itself. “There is no Harold without imagination,” Levi says. “The power of imagination is just as integral to the movie as it is to the book.” Asked what he’d draw if he had Harold’s purple crayon, Levi opted for convenience. “The airplane scene was a lot of fun,” he says. “Maybe I’d draw a plane.”

Zachary Levi lets his imagination literally take flight in Harold and the Purple Crayon

Levi’s co-star Zooey Deschanel also has a personal connection to the book as she also read Harold and the Purple Crayon to her kids. “I’ve been reading the book to my kids since they were really little,” says Deschanel. “It’s a much beloved book in my house, and I think this is the type of movie parents will want to go see with their kids.”

Director Saldanha finds magic in something as mundane as a crayon, and invites audiences to share that magic and rediscover the power of imagination. “Pick up a crayon, and the possibilities are endless,” he says. “With everything happening in our daily lives, we forget the power of the imagination, the power of believing, the power of dreaming, and the power of ‘drawing’ your way into a better place. This film invites audiences to rediscover that magic.”

Grab a friend and set off into a world of adventure as Harold and the Purple Crayon opens in PH cinemas on August 21.

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August 2024 movies

Don’t miss these movies, opening in cinemas in August!

August 7 - It Ends With Us (Columbia Pictures)
Cast: Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate
Directed by: Justin Baldoni

“It Ends With Us”, the first Colleen Hoover novel adapted for the big screen, tells the compelling story of Lily Bloom (Blake Lively), a woman who overcomes a traumatic childhood to embark on a new life in Boston and chase a lifelong dream of opening her own business. A chance meeting with charming neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni) sparks an intense connection, but as the two fall deeply in love, Lily begins to see sides of Ryle that remind her of her parents’ relationship. When Lily’s first love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), suddenly reenters her life, her relationship with Ryle is upended, and Lily realizes she must learn to rely on her own strength to make an impossible choice for her future.

August 21 - Harold and the Purple Crayon (Columbia Pictures)
Cast: Zachary Levi, Jemaine Clement, Alfred Molina, Zooey Deschanel
Directed by: Carlos Saldanha

Inside of his book, adventurous Harold (Zachary Levi) can make anything come to life simply by drawing it. After he grows up and draws himself off the book’s pages and into the physical world, Harold finds he has a lot to learn about real life – and that his trusty purple crayon may set off more hilarious hijinks than he thought possible. When the power of unlimited imagination falls into the wrong hands, it will take all of Harold and his friends’ creativity to save both the real world and his own. “Harold and the Purple Crayon” is the first film adaptation of the beloved children’s classic that has captivated young readers for decades.

August 21 - Blink Twice (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Stars: Channing Tatum, Naomi Ackie, Adria Arjona, Christian Slater, Geena Davis
Directed by: Zoë Kravitz

When tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) meets cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) at his fundraising gala, sparks fly. He invites her to join him and his friends on a dream vacation on his private island. It’s paradise. Wild nights blend into sun soaked days and everyone’s having a great time. No one wants this trip to end, but as strange things start to happen, Frida begins to question her reality. There is something wrong with this place. She’ll have to uncover the truth if she wants to make it out of this party alive.

August 28 - Look Back (Encore Films)
Voice cast: Yumi Kawai, Mizuki Yoshida
Directed by: Kiyotaka Oshiyama

Based on the award-winning manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, creator of “Chainsaw Man.” “Look Back” is a heart-wrenching and impactful story of growing up, a story about the overly confident Fujino and the shut-in Kyomoto, who couldn’t be more different. Their love of drawing manga is the one thing connecting these contrary girls. One day, however, something happens to them that shatters everything…

*Schedules are subject to change without prior notice.*

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