SM OPENS 50TH MALL IN THE ART CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES

SM Prime Holdings recently marked a milestone when it opened its 50^th mall SM Center Angono, in the Art Capital of the Philippines. It is SM’s third mall in the province of Rizal, after SM City Taytay and SM City Masinag.

            Everyone was in a celebratory mood when SM Prime Holdings President Hans T. Sy – in the SM tradition – opened the mall to the first wave of shopper.  Happy Rizalenos quickly crowded the mall, which was in a festive spirit with a parade of Angono’s iconic Higantes and a performance by cultural performers.

            Located on a 12,650 square meter property along Manila East Road and Quezon Avenue in Barangay San Isidro, Angono, Rizal the 42,000 square meter three level mall will serve customers in Angono and Binangonan as well as other towns in the province of Rizal like Cardona, Teresa, Morong, Baras, Tanay, and Pililla.

            With its rich natural and indigenous resources, rich cultural heritage, as well as all-out government initiatives, Rizal today is a first class province. It is envisioned to be the country’s next business capital with its strategic geographical location, artistic and talented work force, dynamic small and thriving large industries, and an expansive infrastructure.

            SM Center Angono creates a memorable identity along Manila East Road with a bold, varied, and dynamic exterior wall; a vivid backdrop for two strategically located and prominent entrances.  A series of brightly colored art pylons located along the front of the center highlight Angono as the Art Capital of the Philippines.

            Colors in the mall’s design are bright and memorable, creating visual interest as well as a memorable retail icon.  Whether entering the mall from the street or from the parking ramp, all customers will have convenient access to the heart of the SM Center Angono experience.

            SM Center Angono is organized around a soaring pedestrian mall, generously sized and configured to allow a clear to line sight to every shop and restaurant at all levels.  Conveniently placed bridges and balconies provide convenient access to all portions of the mall; while elevators and escalators enhance customer convenience.   

            The mall is illuminated from above via continuous clerestories, which provide ample daylight without glare.  A custom-designed ceiling feature – especially designed for SM Center Angono – add additional visual interest and texture.

            SM Center Angono has Savemore as its major anchor along with SM mainstays like Watsons, Watsons, and BDO.  It has fashion boutiques like Shapes,Mint, and Aksesoriz; jewelry stores like Jewels, Silverworks, Imono, and Unisilver Time; eyewear stores like Executive Optical and Ideal Vision; sports stores like World Balance and Toby’s Sports; and a National Bookstore branch.  Also scheduled to open soon are SM Appliance Center, Simply Shoes, and Bench.

            The mall will also have services, wellness centers, amusement centers like Worlds of Fun for kids, and an IT Zone for techies.

            Eating out options include Razon’s, Classic Savory, Coco Fresh Tea, Katsumi’s Cocoro, Turk’s Shawarma, Potato Corner, and Dorothy’s Waffle House.

            SM Center Agono’s design team includes DSGN Associates, mall designer; G&W Architects, Architect of Record; Don Lee Builders; DA Abcede, Construction Manager; and EDD Construction, Project Managers.

Rizal Governor Rebecca Ynares, Vice Governor Frisco San Juan, Congressman Joel Duavit, Angono Mayor Gerardo Calderon, and Most Reverend Bishiop Gabriel Reyes were the guests of honor during the ribbon cutting ceremony of SM Center Angono. They are shown with Mrs. Felicidad Sy, SM Prime Holdings President Hans T. Sy, and SM Supermarket Vice Chairman Herbert Sy.

Rizal Board Member Teddy del Rosario, Amando Villamayor and Vice Gov. Frisco San Juan, Jr.

Congressman Joel Duavit, (center) with Prudential Guarantee’s Roberto Coyuito, Jr and Celestino Ang

SM Prime Holdings president Hans T. Sy welcomes the first wave of shoppers of SM Center Angono.

Angono Mayor Gerardo Calderon and TV young actress Jasmine Curtis join SM Prime Holdings Inc president, SM Supermarket Vice Chairman Herbert T. Sy and SM Supermarket Vice Chairman Herbert Sy in opening the SM Center Angono doors to the public.

Renowed artist, Nemiranda

A parade of Rizal’s iconic Higantes.

These performers make the event more festive with their cultural performances all around the mall.

SM Prime Holdings president Hans T. with the Barangay San Isidro officials.

SM Center Angono is SM Prime's 50th mall and the third in the province of Rizal after SM City Taytay and SM City Masinag.

A custom-designed ceiling feature – especially designed for SM Center Angono – adds additional visual interest and texture

The mall is illuminated from above via continuous clerestories, which provide ample daylight without glare.

SM TURNS OVER 200 NEW HOUSES FOR YOLANDA SURVIVORS IN BOGO, CEBU

Just in time for the first anniversary super typhoon Yolanda, SM Foundation through the SM Cares Housing Program gave hope to typhoon victims by turning over 200 homes at the SM Cares Village in Brgy. Polambato, Bogo City in northern Cebu.

The 200 houses is the first of the 1,000 disaster resilient homes that will be given for free to chosen beneficiary survivors of super typhoon Yolanda. Another 200 homes will be built in Çoncepcion, Iloilo, as well as 400 in New Kawayan, Tacloban City. SM Foundation is also set to break ground for another SM Cares Village with 200 houses in Ormoc City.

Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (PARR)’s Secretary Panfilo Lacson, United Nations Chief of International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Asia and Pacific Margareta Whalstrom, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, and Bogo Mayor Celestino Martinez, Jr. led the ribbon cutting ceremony and unveiling of the donor’s wall and village marker together with SM Prime Holdings President Hans T. Sy and SM Foundation Executive Director Debbie Sy, and members of the Fernan family who donated the lot.

Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Trustee Fr. and  Ernesto Javier led the blessing of the houses.  Keys and certificates were then distributed to the families to officially identify them as beneficiaries of the program.

 “These houses send the message that indeed, there is light at the end of the tunnel,” said Mayor Celestino Martinez. “These homes provide a start for these families- a new beginning.” He also thanked the Sy family, the Fernan family who donated the land, and “all those who worked hard to make this dream come true for the beneficiaries of the project.”

Governor Davide thanked the SM Group for partnering with the local government unit in giving not just houses, but a village to the community. “Now I can say that Bogo City has risen. Life goes on and we are determined to bring the northern part of Cebu to full recovery.”

Secretary Panfilo Lacson, on the other hand, was happy to note that, “SM followed the standards with the structure of these houses, and we are classifying these housing units as permanent shelters because they followed the 250 km per hour wind resistance.

Each of the 20 x 23 square meter houses is designed to exceed the requirements of the Building Code and mandated standards, each house can withstand the winds and strength of a Category 5 super typhoon without any major material damages.

The village has utilities, basic amenities like streetlights, community center and basketball court. In addition to its disaster resiliency features, the houses will also have heat resistant painted roofing to help lower interior temperature and increase energy efficiency.

The turnover ceremonies brought a lot of joy to the beneficiaries. Ernesto Orque, who works in a fishpond, luckily saved all his ten children but lost his wife during the typhoon. They lost their home, too and for a year lived with friends and neighbors. Ernesto thanked SM for “providing my family a new shelter and a new hope to pick up the missing pieces of our lives ".

Eufrecina Tepait and her family lived in a shanty and lost hope after the typhoon badly damaged their house. After we learned that we are one of the beneficiaries of the housing project, our hearts leaped with joy,” said Eufrecina.

"After the program, donors were able to meet with the different beneficiaries who were all survivors of the super typhoon. Families thanked the donors for the early Christmas gift they received.

Among the very generous donors present were Ramon Aboitiz Foundation President Robert Aboitiz, Rotary International Past District Governor Ed Chiongbian, and Bernie and Alice Liu of Golden ABC. Also present were FCB Manila’s Nikki Diyco, Jun Young Bang and Tony Park of Tony and Jackey Beauty Salon; as well as executives from  the SM Store, Watsons, SM Appliance Center.  Also present were USEC Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Danny Antonio and SM Supermalls President Annie Garcia.

The village’s streets are named after the major donors –Fernan Street, Acre Aircon Street, All Around Street, Asya Design Street, SM Appliance Street, Watsons Street, Boysen Street, Rotary International Street, and Paul Harris Street. British model David Gandy, also a donor, had the street named after his grandmother Doreen.

The SM Cares Housing project is fully privately-funded by SM, its business partners, stakeholders and by the communities it serves.

The SM Cares Housing Project is on top of the P100 million SM has already committed to rehabilitate areas hard hit by super typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda in the Visayas.

       Beneficiaries of the homes in the SM Cares Village in Bogo Cebu receive their keys and certificates from SM Prime Holdings president Hans T. Sy, SM Foundation Executive Director Debbie Sy, UNISDR Margareta Wahlstrom, Governor HIlario Davide III, Secetary Panfilo Lacson and Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez, Jr. 

      Beneficiary Enersto Orque with UNISDR Chief Margareta Wahlstrom stand in front of his new home at the SM Cares Village in Bogo City, Cebu. One of the 200 beneficiaries, he considers his new home “a new shelter and new hope.”

         SM Prime Holdings president Hans T. Sy, UNISDR Chief Margareta Wahlstrom and Secretary Panfilo Lacson lead the unveiling of the Donors’ wall and Village Marker at the SM Cares Village. Also shown in the photo are (left to right) Lot donors Nena Fernan del Rosario and Eloisa Fernan, SM Foundation Executive Director Debbie Sy, Rotary International Past District Governor Ed Chiongbian, Governor Hilario Davide III, Provincial Board Member Tining Martinez, Tony and Jackey president Tony Park, SM Prime Holdings Vice President for Vismin Marissa Fernan.

         Eufrecinia Tepait, one of the beneficiaries of the SM Cares Housing Project in Polambato, in Bogo City, Cebu, is very thankful to the Sy family for her family’s new home.

         The 200 homes in the SM Cares Village in Bogo, Cebu is the first of the 1,000 disaster resilient homes that will be given for free to chosen beneficiary survivors of supertyphoon Yolanda. 

SM SEASIDE CITY CEBU LAUNCHES LANDMARK CENTERPIECE

SM Seaside City Cebu recently opened The Cube, the landmark centerpiece of the world- class mall, which set to open on October 2015 at the South Road Properties in Cebu City.

The Cube is the second landmark to open in the much-anticipated mall after the Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod, which was launched just in time for Thanksgiving Mass following the canonization of the Visayan saint. The first of its kind urban development at the SRP, SM Seaside City Cebu is envisioned to dramatically change the landscape of the city with its nautilus inspired design of expanding, concentric arcs from a central multi-purpose space.

Located on a 304,544 sq. m. site fronting the Cebu Channel, SM Seaside City Cebu is very much like the SM Mall of Asia, which has Manila Bay and its glorious sunset as a picturesque backdrop.  And The Cube is envisioned to be an iconic landmark to the mall in the same way the Globe has been to the SM Mall of Asia.

A steel 21 -meter by 21 meter sculptural piece, the Cube is a symbol of strength and stability. It is a tribute to the resilience of the Cebuanos in particular and the Filipino people in general.

Viewed from any angle and perspective, The Cube consistently appears the same. This consistency reflects the philosophy of the SM group to bring to its customers the same high level of quality service in all areas it operates. Interestingly, the letters of the word Cube when re-arranged, from the word Cebu.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama was the guest of honor during the landmark’s launch. SM Prime Holdings EVP and CFO Jeffrey Lim, SM Supermalls President Annie Garica and SM Prime Vice President Marissa Fernan joined him along with the mall’s future tenants. Msgr. Vicente Tupas, Jr., rector of the Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod, officiated the blessing of The Cube.

Mayor Michael Rama expressed his appreciation to SM for launching of Cebu City’s the newest landmark, which coincidentally coincided with his birthday.

SM Prime Holdings EVP and CFO Jeffrey Lim, meanwhile said that the SM Group remains confident in the potentials of Cebu City with its “dynamic population and flourishing business landscape”.

He added that, “The launching of The Cube is just the start of many exciting features coming to SM Seaside City Cebu. The public will now begin to experience the unfolding of a whole new Cebuano lifestyle that will transform the way people live, work and play in this community”,

SM Seaside City will be the third mall in the Queen City of the South after SM City Cebu in the North Reclamation Area and SM City Consolacion in northern Cebu. When open, the mall will have over 800 food and retail shops, including international brands.  It will also have furniture zone and a fashion boulevard to showcase the talent of Cebu’s many local designers.

The 460,791 square meter mall will have multiple anchors, including a two storey The SM Store and SM Hypermarket, a four-theater Cinema, 2 theater Director’s Club, Centerstage, a large format Cinema, and 16-lane SM Bowling and Amusement Center, a Food Court, an Ice Skating Rink, and a Roof Garden.

With SM Seaside City Cebu’s landmark centerpiece leading the way, visitors can now take photos with The Cube as perfect background for pictorials such as weddings, debuts, and photo shoots, among others.

The Cube is open daily. For mall developments, like SM Seaside City Cebu (Official) on Facebook.

     Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama (center) was the guest of honor during the ribbon cutting ceremony of The Cube at SM Seaside Cebu. He is shown  with (L-R) South Road Properties Manager Roberto Varquez, , SM Prime Holdings, Inc. executive vice president and chief finance officer Jeffrey Lim,  Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod rector Msgr. Vicente Tupas, and SCMC president Annie Garcia.

       A steel 21 -meter by 21 meter sculptural and landmark centerpiece of SM Seaside Cebu, the Cube is a symbol of strength and stability. It is a tribute to the resilience of the Cebuanos in particular and the Filipino people in general.

       SM Seaside City will be the third mall in the Queen City of the South after SM City Cebu in the North Reclamation Area and SM City Consolacion in northern Cebu. It is envisioned to  dramatically change the landscape of the city with its nautilus inspired design of expanding, concentric arcs from a central multi-purpose space.