Waves of Change: Thousands Join SM Cares’ Coastal Cleanup

Demonstrating sustained commitment to protecting the environment, SM employee volunteers return to SM by the Bay to help protect the shoreline.

In celebration of World Oceans Day 2025, over 5,000 volunteers from all walks of life united on June 7 for a massive nationwide coastal cleanup led by SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls. Collectively, they removed an astounding 30,000 kilograms of trash from shorelines across the Philippines—proving that when a community comes together, real impact happens.

This year’s theme, “WONDER: Sustaining What Sustains Us,” resonated deeply as volunteers took to coastlines in Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, armed with gloves, sacks, and a shared mission: to protect the oceans that give us life.

Beyond fostering community collaboration and promoting environmental responsibility, SM Cares’ coastal cleanup initiative played a vital role in cultivating healthier environment, enhancing the overall quality of life for local residents, and contributing to the long-term preservation of marine ecosystems.

Volunteers from SM City Manila assemble at the coastal cleanup site to remove marine waste and protect vital waterways in celebration of World Oceans Day 2025.

Stepping up for a cleaner tomorrow, volunteers from SM City San Lazaro join the coastal cleanup drive---picking up trash and protecting our shores, one piece at a time.

With gloves on and bags in hand, volunteers at SM City Lucena take part in SM Cares’ Coastal Cleanup drive, reaffirming their commitment to environmental stewardship and ocean conservation.

Employee volunteers from SM Center Dagupan take action for the environment during the coastal cleanup drive, shoveling sand and debris to help restore the shoreline.

SM City Iloilo volunteers join hands with the local community of Brgy. Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo in a coastal cleanup drive, working together to preserve the shoreline and promote environmental sustainability.

SM City Davao volunteers are out on the shore, turning dedication into action as they clean up the coast and care for the planet.

Beaming with pride, volunteers at SM City CDO Uptown and Downtown hold up the coastal cleanup banner, standing united as ocean defenders in celebration of World Oceans Day 2025.

“The oceans sustain us every day, and now it's our turn to give back. This coastal cleanup isn’t just a one-day event—it’s a symbol of our shared duty to preserve biodiversity and inspire action for a sustainable future, while bringing lasting positive impacts to the community by advancing healthier coastal spaces, and uniting people through shared environmental action.” ~Engr. Liza Silerio, SM Cares Program Director for the Environment

A National Movement for the Seas

From students and teachers to LGUs, NGO partners, employees, and security and janitorial teams, the cleanup drew a diverse wave of ocean defenders. SM Cares worked closely with local government units, environmental organizations, youth groups, and coastal barangays to stage cleanups across several major sites nationwide.

These collaborations not only ensured the success of the initiative but also highlighted the power of inclusive, community-driven action. Volunteers gathered to remove tons of waste from shorelines, raise awareness about marine conservation, and inspire long-term behavioral change toward environmental care.

Students, teachers, and partner organizations join forces with SM Cares during the Coastal Cleanup drive—demonstrating a shared commitment to environmental stewardship.

Building an #SMWasteFreeFuture

The June 7 cleanup is part of SM Cares’ broader sustainability vision through its #SMWasteFreeFuture campaign, which also includes weekly cleanups at SM by the BAY. 

This May 2025, SM employee-led cleanups have mobilized a total of 279 volunteers, collecting over 4,493 kilograms of waste—highlighting their firm commitment to keeping our coasts clean on a weekly basis. These sustained efforts contributed to creating a safer, more enjoyable coastal spaces for customers, while encouraging a stronger culture of environmental volunteerism.

SM Cares’ Coastal Cleanup also supports and aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably SDG 14: Life Below Water, by directly reducing marine pollution and protecting ocean ecosystems. It also contributes to SDG 13: Climate Action, by raising environmental awareness and promoting community-led climate resilience, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through its collaboration with LGUs, NGOs, schools, and communities.

With two more major cleanups planned for the year, SM Cares remains determined in its mission to inspire Filipinos to take action—one shoreline at a time. For more stories and updates on how you can be part of the movement, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares or follow @OfficialSMCares on social media. 

SM Cares, SM Prime lead turnover of food carts to SM PadyaKabuhayan Program beneficiaries

SM Cares and SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime) recently led the turnover ceremony of bike food carts to the pioneer beneficiaries of the SM PadyaKabuhayan Program, an initiative that aims to provide sustainable sources of income to those in need with a focus on sustainable mobility. 

The ceremony was held last Dec. 5 at Pasay City Hall and was graced by representatives from SM Cares, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the City's local government unit, and Kalye Negosyo.

Six women beneficiaries were awarded SM PadyaKabuhayan bicycle carts by SM Prime and the Pasay City Government.

Among the attendees were Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano, Pasay City Social Welfare Development Head Angelica Yu, Pasay City Social Welfare Development Officer Evelyn Marquez, DTI Chief of Trade and Industry Development and Area Director Olivia Rivera, Think Bizz Trading Corp. President Neil Sicat (for Kalye Negosyo) and SM Supermalls Senior Vice President & SM Cares Director for Bicycle-Friendly SM Bien Mateo.

PadyaKabuhayan is a livelihood program for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries that provides a means of earning for families in need, highlights the economic benefit of environment-friendly bikes, and enables the private sector to extend resources for the greater good.

To help start-up their new business, beneficiaries received training from Kalye Negosyo and financial assistance from DTI. 

During the ceremony, a total of six beneficiaries from Pasay City were each awarded with PadyaKabuhayan Carts, which are bike food carts outfitted with food storage and cooking equipment. They were also given cash assistance from the DTI amounting to P10,000 per recipient. The beneficiaries were selected in partnership with the Pasay City Social Welfare and Development 

Prior to the turnover, the beneficiaries were provided with free technical training through a three-day Entrepreneurial Bootcamp, where they were taught how to think like an entrepreneur, how to do product development, product costing, and food preparation, and how to do accounting and marketing while understanding financial literacy, among other topics.

SM PadyaKabuhayan carts promote how bicycles are a means for eco-friendly and sustainable livelihood.

SM PadyaKabuhayan carts promote how bicycles are a means for eco-friendly and sustainable livelihood.

"SM Cares is about ‘Supporting Communities’ and this project aligns perfectly to our advocacies for the Environment and a Bicycle-Friendly SM as we promote the use of bikes as eco-friendly means to improve the quality of life of Filipinos. Isang padyak ng bisikleta; Isang padyak patungo sa kaunlaran. For our beneficiaries, we hope to plant the seed of entrepreneurship, perseverance and hard work, as inspired by the story of our Founder, Mr. Henry Sy Sr. As he famously said, 'You have to have a dream, whether big or small. Then plan well, focus, work hard, and be very determined to achieve your goals.'" ~Mr. Bien Mateo, SM Supermalls Senior Vice President and SM Cares Program Director

The SM PadyaKabuhayan Program is in line with SM Cares' Programs for the Environment and the Bike-friendly SM initiative, and supports the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals SDGs, particularly "SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth," and "SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities." 

SM Cares is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, responsible for initiatives focused on sustainability and community development. Aside from its Program on Environment and Bike-Friendly SM initiative, its other Programs include those on Women and Breastfeeding Mothers, Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens, and Children and Youth.

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

Global Peace Foundation, SM Cares to hold virtual Global Youth Summit from Aug. 29-30

Filipino students and youth leaders are in for continued learning and development as international non-profit organization Global Peace Foundation, together with SM Cares, Consuelo Foundation, PLDT, and SM Youth, gear up for this year's Global Youth Summit (GYS) on August 29 and 30. Global Youth Summit will be held via Zoom and will be shown through live streaming at select social media channels. 

In its 8th year, GYS will contribute to the UN 75 Dialogues, the world's biggest conversation on building a better future. The topics selected by youth gather diverse perspectives and creative ideas on what is needed to address emerging risks and opportunities to achieve sustainable development. The views and ideas generated in the virtual summit will be presented to world leaders and senior UN officials on September 21, 2020, at the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

For this year, the discussions will focus on five critical topics that matter most to the Filipino youth: Health amid the COVID-19 pandemic; Protection and conservation of the environment and natural resources; Educational system reform; the impact of new and digital technologies; and inequality across different aspects of life.

Mental health issues are also a significant concern affecting countless Filipino youth. The 2015 Global School-based Student Health Survey report by the World Health Organization reported that about 17 percent of Filipino high school students aged 13 to 15 had attempted suicide at least once in that year. Health experts also see this concern continues to be worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic in the coming months.

Environmental issues are another primary concern among Filipino youth. Many of them are now participating in initiatives toward environmental protection and preservation, such as the International Coastal Cleanup organized by SM by the BAY and SM Mall of Asia, and other community-based recycling or tree-planting initiatives. 

These and other topics will be at the forefront of the talks during the two-day online summit, which hopes to educate the youth and encourage them to think of solutions for these pressing concerns.

Industry leaders and prominent personalities make up this year's roster of Global Youth Summit speakers. These include Head of PLDT Corporate Communications Group Cathy Yang, Environmentalist and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, President and CEO of Consuelo Foundation Greg Auberry, National Chair for Youth for Mental Health Coalition Dr. Raymond Naguit, Director of OECD Paris Andreas Schleicher, television host Kim Atienza, and Agon Hare of popular YouTube Channel "Project Nightfall.”

Global Youth Summit is an annual gathering of students and youth leaders from all over the country and abroad, bringing them together to facilitate meaningful discussions about global issues. The initiative is part of SM Cares' Program on Children and Youth, which aims to empower the youth to become more immersed in the community and nation-building.

SM Cares is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, dedicated to supporting the community through partnerships with stakeholders in the private and public sectors. SM Cares has been a long-time partner of the Global Peace Foundation, a non-profit organization whose goal is to promote "an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding."

Global Peace Foundation engages and organizes a global network of public and private sector partners who develop community, national and regional peacebuilding models as the foundation for ethical and cohesive societies.

This year, five outstanding alumni of the Global Youth Summit will be recognized. They embody the spirit of the program and who have actualized concrete initiatives that spark change in their respective communities. They shall receive a grant of Php250,000.00 for their selfless dedication and contribution to the betterment of society.

Interested participants may sign up for this year's virtual Global Youth summit through www.globalpeacephilippines.org. To know more about the Global Peace Foundation and SM Cares, you may visit www.facebook.com/gpfphilippines/ and www.facebook.com/smsupermalls.