PURSUIT OF A MORE BIKER-INCLUSIVE SM YIELDS RECORD-BREAKING 36 WINS FROM DOTR MOBILITY AWARDS

  PHILIPPINES – When the pandemic put the country in a standstill, many of the everyday yet vital services Filipinos had access to were revoked—one of which was transportation.

 

The absence of public transportation due to social distancing effectively limited every household's capability to commute for essentials, and many relied on biking as their lifeline. 

 

Recognizing the urgency in supporting its customers and surrounding communities during the challenges of the pandemic, SM Supermalls strengthened the drive for Active Mobility across all of its malls nationwide. Since then, the mall leader has become a home and advocate for Active Mobility, remaining consistent in forging spaces that not only accommodate, but protect bikers. 

 

Because of this effort, SM has won the trust and confidence of its stakeholders in advocating for sustainable travel, culminating in a record-breaking 34-win citation at the 2025 Mobility awards.

 

 "What began as a heartfelt initiative to support bikers during COVID, has now become an integrated bike program spanning every single SM mall in the country," said SM Supermalls Executive Vice President for Marketing, Joaquin San Agustin. "Active Mobility plays a crucial role not just in preserving the environment but in the enrichment of every Filipino. Thus, SM aims to continually foster the culture of biking across its properties by creating beloved places where movement is safe, easy, and inclusive for everyone."

 

Active Mobility Advances Through Coaction

Through a collaboration between its Corporate Social Responsibility arm, SM Cares, its mall operations, and biking communities, SM continues to refine itself as a bike-friendly space championing maxed-out Active Mobility, cycling, and inclusive transport.

 

"It started with us setting up parking spots exclusive to bikes to ease access for cyclists picking up essentials in our malls. Then when the volume of cyclists picked up even as the lockdown eased, we knew we had to do more for them," said Mina Kahn, SM Division Head and Assistant Vice President for Transportation Management. 

 

For the mall leader, this meant improving transport access through sustainable means it could easily replicate across its properties nationwide. This involved carving out dedicated spaces equipped with essential tools to safeguard and repair bikes, protecting bikes from scratches with upcycled tires cushioning racks, the introduction of intuitive bike lanes for biker safety, and the promotion of the culture of cycling.

From there, bike-friendly features have become staples even in recent developments and renovations with plans to implement more secure bike parking, install more racks, and clearer cycling lanes around the malls. Cycling groups also found a conducive haven for activities at SM properties. Biking events were regularly encouraged and hosted, with surrounding tenants adjusting operating hours to accommodate cyclists, further promoting biking not just as a mode of transportation but as a lifestyle and sport one could enjoy. 

 

This in turn earned SM a total of 34 accolades at the recent Mobility Awards: One Gold, 11 Silver and 22 bronze for nationwide mall efforts in promoting and protecting cycling as a culture across its properties.

 

Additionally, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) cited SM's sustainable approach as a demonstration of its leadership, innovation and long-term commitment to making active transport safer and more accessible to Filipinos. Its Pedal Power 2025 program was highlighted for this year's Notable Advocacy Program and the SM Supermalls Sustainable Mobility and Bike-Friendly program received a citation for Notable Development by the Private Sector. 

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About SM Supermalls

Celebrating 40 Super Years: A New Era of SM Supermalls, Evolving With You. SM Supermalls, one of Southeast Asia’s largest mall developers with 89 malls in the Philippines, marks four decades of growing with Filipinos and serving as a trusted space where diverse lifestyles and generations connect. As it enters a new era, SM Supermalls continues evolving with you, redefining the malling experience through sustainability, innovation, and a deep commitment to shaping the future of retail and urban life with inclusive, meaningful experiences for all.

About SM Cares 

As the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, SM Cares is focused on enriching the lives of Filipinos through socially-conscious and environmentally-responsible programs meant to Empower Communities into long-lasting, impactful improvement. 

SM AMPLIFIES GRASSROOTS ICE SPORTS DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THIRD HOSTING OF SEA TROPHY: LARGEST TURN OUT AND PH WINS IN THREE YEARS SIGNALS GROWING POOL OF FUTURE SKATING CHAMPIONS

  

PHILIPPINES – With the Southeast Asian (SEA) Open Short Track Speed Skating trophy's Philippine return, SM hopes the country's success at the international derby captures a crucial window of opportunity to further enrich local skating talent. 

 

Designed as an entry-level international competition, the SEA Trophy gives young and emerging skaters the opportunity to compete, learn, and gain exposure on a friendly yet structured stage.

“We are thrilled with the results of the latest season of this international competition,” said Joseph Silva, Senior Assistant Vice President for SM Skating. “Since its inaugural run, we’ve seen steady growth in participation, and this year marks our highest turnout yet, along with the country’s strongest medal haul to date. Coupled with the surge of interest in ice sports following the Philippines’ recent SEA Games successes, we see this as a pivotal moment to spotlight the potential of our young, emerging athletes and further strengthen support for the development of their talent.”

 

On its third local mounting, the SEA Trophy has registered its largest volume of participants at 90 athletes ages six to 24 years old representing the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, India, and Indonesia. The Philippines emerged with a total medal win of 12 gold, 11 silver, and 6 bronze medals.

 

SM SUPERMAILS MATCHA FEST 2026: ALL FOR YOU MATCHA MADNESS NATIONWIDE

  SM Supermalls takes Matcha Fest nationwide

 

PHILIPPINES — Building on the first-ever Matcha Fest held at the Mall of Asia last year, your most loved, SM Supermalls returns with a larger, better, and more maxed experience celebrating all things matcha! SM Supermalls’ Matcha Fest 2026 is a great space for specialty cafes to connect with matcha fanatics. Local vendors get a chance to showcase their creativity to eager customers who want to explore the different varieties of the beloved Japanese green tea across your favorite SM malls.

 

 

Through the Matcha Fest, SM Supermalls continues to shape malls not just as spaces for shopping, but as destinations for discovery, community, and food and lifestyle experiences. As a gift to the matcha-loving community, SM levels up the celebration with a festival packed with even more matcha goodness, all thoughtfully curated, all for you.

 

MUST-VISIT FRESH FINDS AND HARD LAUNCH SPOTS AT SM SUPERMAILS IN METRO MANILA 2026

 

PHILIPPINES – The year is officially underway, and it’s looking good. 2026 is already taking shape through everyday moments, familiar routines, and plans that are finally happening.

This is no quiet reset or a low-key start, it’s a hard launch to show up, step out, and strut through the year with confidence.

Across your most loved SM Supermalls, new lifestyle and fashion spaces are opening with firsts and fresh concepts that can easily fit into your routine, giving you more places to go, more things to try, and more reasons to be out and about.

Time to show off our best selves with the year ahead!

LEVEL UP YOUR CRAVINGS IN 2026 – ONLY AT SM SUPERMAILS METRO

 

For the new year, let’s raise the standards.

PHILIPPINES – This is the year you stop making compromises when it comes to your cravings. No rushed decisions. No “this is good enough.” And more importantly, no more meals that feel like an afterthought.

SM Supermalls is starting the year by bringing in new dining spots that can transport you to a new era full of fresher concepts, bolder flavors, and better choices. Proving time and time again why it deserves to be your most beloved mall with spots that raise expectations, break routines, and make eating out feel fun again.

So before your calendar fills up with plan after plan, consider this your ultimate craving promise: to never negotiate when it comes to where and how you eat. Because if there’s one thing we’re not bringing into the year, it’s settling. 

SM CELEBRATES NATIONAL AUTISM CONSCIOUSNESS WEEK WITH GREAT STRIDES IN TRUE INCLUSION

  

First in the country, SM Sensory Lab launch marks a new chapter in inclusive spaces built for people on the Autism spectrum

 

PHILIPPINES — SM Supermalls enters its new era as a truly inclusive Mall for All with ground-breaking milestones launched during this year's National Autism Consciousness Week (NACW).

 

Through its Corporate Social Responsibility arm, SM Cares, SM celebrated acceptance and appreciation with nationwide efforts that aimed to elevate the mall-going experience of Filipinos on the autism spectrum in accommodating spaces built to be loved.

 

"This year's celebration of the NACW is a great step forward for SM Supermalls as we hosted 'Lights Up, Sounds Down' (LUSD) and opened the very first 'SM Sensory Lab'--the country's only dedicated mall space for people with sensory processing challenges," said Steven Tan, SM Supermalls President. "On top of our year-long programs to uphold inclusivity across all malls, these milestones echo our ultimate desire of ensuring every single customer finds their most loved space at SM."

 

SM Sensory Lab: An innovation in accommodating mall spaces  

Crowning the celebration was SM's launch of a ground-breaking innovative space designed to serve children and adults experiencing sensory processing challenges. In partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), and with the support of the Autism Society Philippines, the SM Sensory Lab was officially opened in SM Mall of Asia as the country's first-ever calming corner.

 

"Opening the SM Sensory Lab was a natural next step in our relentless pursuit of making our malls truly inclusive. We collaborated closely with the DSWD, NCDA and Autism Society Philippines to ensure we were making all the right considerations for something that's never been done before," said Tan.

 

STRONG MSME ENGAGEMENT SETS THE STAGE FOR SM SUPERMAILS’ 2026 PROGRAMS

   Nationwide malls drive MSME upskilling, growth, and sustainable enterprise

Under the SM for MSMEs program, MSME Hub owners Alamanga and Rainbow Scoops bring locally made flavors and proudly Filipino products closer to the community—proof that when small businesses are given the right platform, they grow and thrive.

PHILIPPINES — Building on strong MSME momentum in 2025, SM Supermalls is entering 2026 with a renewed and sharped focus on empowering Filipino entrepreneurs, leveraging its nationwide mall network to create tangible growth opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Through its SM for MSMEs program, SM Supermalls empowered 920 new MSMEs and start-ups in 2025, with nearly 10% successfully transitioning into regular mall tenants through kiosks, counters, or in-line stores nationwide. Since its enhanced rollout in March 2024, the program has supported 2,288 unique MSMEs, providing real-world platforms where entrepreneurs can test, refine, and scale their businesses.

In 2025 alone, 28,761 MSME booth activations were mounted nationwide, driven by a growing consumer demand for locally made, experience-led products across food and beverage, beauty, wellness, and lifestyle categories.