Employees of SM Supermalls bring smiles to less fortunate via ‘KriSMiles’

MANILA, Philippines - Touched by a letter from a school principal, the SM City Rosales staff treated the Valdez family – who had never been to a mall – to a day of fun and gift giving. 

Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a 14-year-old girl with acute lymphocytic leukemia at the Baguio General Hospital was reunited with her family for a memorable day at SM City Baguio.

Employees of SM City Taytay pooled their resources together to assist families affected by the recent fire in Barangay San Juan.

Children of SM City Naga’s janitorial and security personnel enjoyed a program and gifts at the mall. Victims of typhoons “Pablo” and “Quinta” received relief and cheers from the SM City Davao, SM City Lanang, and SM City Iloilo staff.

These were just some of the heartwarming scenes over the Christmas and New Year holidays at the SM Supermalls when employees took part in the KriSMiles volunteerism program. 

KriSMiles is an initiative of the SM Supermalls’ human resources department, which organized it to put into action the Christmas message of SM Prime Holdings president Hans Sy, who encouraged them to “make more people smile this Christmas. After all, the word SMILES begins with SM.”

Taking off from this, SM Supermalls vice president for human resources Julie Miteria encouraged employees of 46 supermalls nationwide to forego their usual Kris Kringle and instead pool their resources together to help the less fortunate and make them smile.

People are, after all, greeted by warm smiles of the SM staff when they enter the malls, but over the holidays, the SM employees went a step further by extending their smiles to the less fortunate.

Many of the mall staff, like those from SM City North EDSA who visited the Child Haus, a temporary shelter for indigent patients with cancer and other diseases, played Santa to less fortunate children.

They brought cheers to orphanages with fun programs, food, and gifts:  the staff of SM City Manila, SM City San Lazaro, and SM City Sta. Mesa to the Hospicio de San Jose; the SM City Baliwag and Marilao group to the Bethany House Santo Niño orphanage; the SM City Lipa staff to the Sr. Maria Vangelista Foundation; the Cavite malls to the Children’s Joy Foundation; the SM City Bacolod staff to the Haven Home; and SM City GenSan employees to the Marcellin Foundation.

Others chose to give a smile to the elderly: SM City Cebu staff to the Home for the Elderly; SM City Fairview, Novaliches, Valenzuela, and Marikina to Golden Acres; SM City Masinag to the St. Camillus Mid Haven; and SM City San Pablo to the Bahay Pag-ibig of Nazareth.

The physically and mentally challenged also received KriSMiles:  the Sanctuary Center from the SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, and The Podium staff; the Holy Trinity Special Education Foundation from the Pampanga mall staff; the Elsie Gaches Villages by the SM Southmall group; and the Camiling Central Elementary School for SPED by the SM City Tarlac employees.

Some employees chose to take a more community-based approach: the barangay of Consolacion by employees of SM City Consolacion; resident children at the DSWD Macanhan by SM City Cagayan de Oro; the Helping Hands Healing Hearts Ministries by SM City Olongapo; the DSWD children by SM City Lucena; Bahay Parola by SM City Santa Rosa; and the Lingap Pangarap ng mga Paslit Center by SM City Batangas.

All in all, these simple gestures brought smiles to thousands of Filipinos all over the country.