All five SM Supermalls in Mindanao joined hands with the Department of Education (DepEd) to help rehabilitate public schools in the island.
Guided by the 2017 theme Isang DepEd, Isang Pamayanan, Isang Bayanihan, Para sa Handa at Ligtas na Paaralan, SM Supermalls recognized its role as a catalyst for development in the immediate communities it serves.
“Our bayanihan spirit is driven by our corporate mission to undertake initiatives that benefit the community,” said SM Lanang Premier mall manager Therese Lapena Manalo. “We are happy to join hands with DepEd in bringing basic quality education for the same community that we serve by creating conducive learning environments for school children.”
Over a hundred employees from different SM Malls volunteered in Brigada Eskwela, the 14-year-old program of DepEd that aims to improve the learning condition and environment for students for the school year.
In Davao City, 25 SM Lanang Premier volunteers and 52 mall security personnel helped clean and repaint classrooms in Lapu-Lapu Elementary school, while 31 SM City Davao employees and 82 members of mall security force did the same to classrooms in Kabacan Elementary School.
The same bayanihan spirit brought 28 SM City General Santos volunteers to Jose Lansang Elementary School in Barangay Lagao where they helped with minor repairs of school buildings.
Dozens of employees from SM City Cagayan de Oro also joined the Brigada activities in full force at the SM- and BDO-donated building in Lumbia Elementary School to clean up and refurbish furniture and fixtures.
The collaborative efforts demonstrated by private sectors in activities like this pave a bright future for Philippine education.
SM City Davao employees at Kabacan Elementary School
Volunteer employees of SM Lanang Premier helped beautify Lapu-Lapu Elementary school classrooms