The pillars of a foundation

MANILA, Philippines - A sheet of paper carelessly thrown away changed the life of one bright young man. Riel Gomez picked up what turned out to be an application form for the SM Foundation’s scholarship program. He applied, was accepted, and he graduates this month with a degree in  computer engineering from the Far Eastern University-East Asia College in Manila.

Over the past decades, the tremendous growth of the SM Group has been marked by the rapid expansion of its network of shopping malls. Alongside this growth, the reach of its corporate social responsibility arm, SM Foundation, continues to extend, helping individuals from different parts of the Philippines for 30 years.

The foundation is built on several pillars – education, health, environment and livelihood, each having a hefty number of programs and initiatives.

“We read about them in newspapers and see the advertisements in our malls, but behind each story or ad is a real person whose life has been changed or hope renewed,” says SM Foundation executive director Connie Angeles. “The story of the SM Foundation is built upon layers and layers of stories from real people who believe in themselves and what they can achieve.”

The Liciada Elementary School, located in a rural barangay in Bulacan, is home to farmers, sewers, fish culturists, and migrants from other provinces. Like schools in far-flung communities, it lacks classrooms.

In 2013, enrolment reached 1,034 from 900 the previous year. Principal Erlinda Salazar says the school hired four new teachers, but the problem was they had no classroom big enough to fit 50 students.

Early this year, Liciada Elementary School was chosen to be given a new classroom through SM Foundation, under the Department of Education’s Adopt-a-School Program.

The 63-square meter classroom with colorful murals became the new home of the school’s Grade 1 pupils, composed of two sections with 50 students each. “This is a great help to our school children,” Salazar says.

Apart from building classrooms, SM Foundation is also known for one of the most established scholarship programs in the country. on its 20th year, SM Foundation’s college scholarship program has helped more than 1,500 poor students acquire college degrees. Gomez is one of its beneficiaries. He knows what it is like to have very little. “Everything was very limited,” he says, “even food.” His mother sold merienda to make ends meet, and he worked while studying to earn his own money.

What he lacked in resources, he made up for in guts and perseverance. From a lower section in his third year in high school, he earned his place in the top section on his senior year. “I was not that confident at first, but our situation motivated me,” he says.   

Even with the high expectations placed on him by his mentors, Gomez enjoys being an SM Foundation scholar. “I met a lot of friends from other universities in the program,” he says. “We meet every time we work during summer or Christmas.”

But of all his experiences, his trip to Taiwan was the most special. “I was able to study for four months in the National University of Kaohsiung.”

Gomez says that he would probably be taking a vocational course or working were it not for the grant. “A formal education is one of the best gifts that one can give to a person,” he says.

The Foundation is quick to deploy relief operations whenever natural disaster strikes. Using SM malls as a base of operation, the group can quickly address the immediate needs of a large number of people. But its health program is also involved in something more permanent.

“Our facility was relatively new even before our encounter with SM Foundation,” says Alvin Isidoro, municipal health officer of Los Baños, Laguna. “But it was the typical health center: monotonous colors, not well-lit, and there were areas that are under-utilized.”

A staple of barangays across the country, a health center is the main provider of basic medical services in the community, especially to indigent patients who cannot afford private clinics or hospitals.

With the approval of the local government, the Los Baños health center was given an unexpected facelift. In 2011, the Los Baños Health Center was adopted by SM Foundation and became the 66th Felicidad Sy Wellness Center, a uniquely designed multi-center that features various activity areas in addition to a fully repaired and renovated health facility. The new facility allows Isidoro and his staff to offer new services for children and women’s health. A room was allotted for cervical cancer screening using cryotherapy, and a social hygiene clinic for sexually transmitted infections is now open. The play area is now used for behavioral therapy for children with special needs.

Before the refurbishment, an average of 40-45 patients visited the health center monthly. That number is about a hundred per day. “And that’s just for consultation, not including special services.”

The intangible benefits of the Felicidad Sy Wellness Center are also noted by Isidoro. “It’s not the usual public clinic, it’s beautiful and spacious. Mere perception contributes to the well-being and can hasten healing,” he says, adding that the attitude of the staff was also improved. “Before they were content with giving the usual services, but now they are more open to innovation.”

As the Christmas of 2012 drew closer, the people of Mindanao were unprepared for what nature was about to bring. Typhoon Pablo left the island devastated, with more than 600 fatalities and billions in damage.

The storm’s aftermath left many without any source of livelihood. “The crops were gone, the trees fallen,” says Jeanette Viel, a resident of Monkayo, Compostela Valley. During a relief operation in her hometown, she met SM Foundation for the first time.

With private sector and government agencies, they set out to establish the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmer’s Training (KSK-FT) program, which introduced new technology on vegetable farming to participants to create an alternative livelihood for Pablo’s victims. It works much like backyard farming, only it is enhanced by new technology to produce better results. KSK-FT has a 12-step program that teaches farmers seed culture and propagation, irrigation, and fertilizer application, among other relevant skills.

From the 170 participants who joined, 154 completed the training, planting in a 5,000-square meter demo farm. “Other members planted in their own areas,” Viel says.

Their produce includes cucumber, tomato, squash, ampalaya, honeydew, sweet melon, and Ilocos gourd, which they consume or sell in the local market.

Two tons of crops can be harvested in an area of 500 square meters, with harvest taking place two or three months after planting. Viel’s group also attracted the attention of SM Davao and the Provincial Capitol, which gave them an area where they can sell to government employees.

KSK-FT members are already going out and sharing what they know about fruit and vegetable gardening to other barangays. One member has taught 44 new students. 

 Before, they would often neglect their backyards,” Viel says. “They are more eager to plant now because of all the things they have learned.”