Literacy and Disability Inclusion Advocate Zacarias Mansing Jr. Crowned Cebuana Lhuillier’s 2025 Happiest Pinoy Among 500,000 Entries Nationwide

Cebuana Lhuillier has officially named Zacarias Mansing Jr., a passionate literacy and disability inclusion advocate, as the 2025 Happiest Pinoy. His remarkable journey of transforming personal adversity into a nationwide mission for children’s literacy resonated deeply across the country. Selected from more than 500,000 entries, his win marks one of the most extraordinary achievements in the history of Cebuana Lhuillier’s pioneering advocacy.

The awarding ceremony, held last December 2 at Dusit Thani Manila, highlighted the depth and diversity of this year’s competition. Zacarias first emerged as one of the ten national category winners before advancing to the final round, where he stood alongside inspiring finalists representing youth and senior citizens, entrepreneurs, persons with disabilities, OFWs, members of the workforce, the LGBTQ+ community, creatives, indigenous peoples, and Cebuana Lhuillier clients.

SM Prime: Living in Tomorrow’s Water-Resilient Future

At SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), water stewardship has come a long way since its early initiatives. As part of its environmental sustainability strategy, the programmatic Water for Tomorrow campaign looks beyond water recycling and efficient water management. 

For SM Supermalls, this urgent call to action to protect and preserve a valuable resource makes any large-scale investment in water security a sound opportunity to do good for both people and planet.

SM Southmall in the late 90’s. Located in the water-challenged area of Las Pinas, the mall was the first to have a sewage treatment plant (STP) for water recycling. It opened to the public in 1995, followed by SM Bacoor in 1997, saving a significant volume of water otherwise used for flushing. 

SM Prime: Shaping a Decarbonized Future for Malls

With the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) taking place in Belem, Brazil, this November, the momentum to focus on lasting solutions for the planet’s climate crises comes at its most critical time. 

For SM Prime Holdings, Inc., this means that the journey to Net Zero by 2040 becomes more than a unifying force across its portfolio; it is the goal for strengthened implementation, sound partnerships, and collective resilience. 

The 2MWp rooftop solar photovoltaic system installed at MOA Square—developed with TotalEnergies—generates approximately 3,000 MWh of clean energy annually, reducing an estimated 1,430 tons of CO₂ emissions each year. 

Securing Tomorrow’s Supply: SM City Baguio Turns Rain into Resource

As water security continues to challenge communities across the Philippines, SM City Baguio is showing how innovation and sustainability can flow together. Through its rainwater treatment facility, the mall treats rainwater to convert into potable water, helping secure tomorrow’s water supply for its operations.

Nestled in the highlands, SM City Baguio showcases how natural abundance can be harnessed sustainably through its rainwater treatment facility.

Baguio City experiences frequent rainfall but limited water resources. Water supply from the Baguio Water District is rationed, with some neighborhoods receiving water only twice a week, which they use to fill up their water tanks. When this runs out, residents depend on deliveries from private water companies. 

SM Prime: Smarter Water Management for a Resilient Future

Water is a limited resource, and many Philippine cities face pressure on their  supply due to rapid urbanization and climate change. SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), one of the  largest integrated property developers in Southeast Asia, prioritizes water efficiency as a core  operational strategy to pave the way for a water-resilient future.  

One of the world’s largest shopping malls, the SM Mall of Asia remains a sustainable marvel  thanks to its water-saving solutions. 

The result is a portfolio-wide water intensity of 0.44 m³/m²/year, already surpassing water efficiency  standards of some of the leading global benchmarks. 

SM Supermalls Celebrates DOLE’s 92nd Anniversary and Marks 30,000th Hired-On-The-Spot Milestone

SM Supermalls, in strong partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), commemorates the agency’s 92nd Founding Anniversary with a landmark achievement: celebrating the 30,000th hired-on-the-spot (HOTS) during a job fair at SM City Tuguegarao.

SM Supermalls and DOLE marked a major milestone as the SM–DOLE Job Fair program celebrated its 30,000th hired-on-the-spot at SM City Tuguegarao, symbolizing thousands of lives changed through accessible employment opportunities and meaningful partnerships with industry employers.

MDPPA strengthens call for consumer vigilance with ‘No to Counterfeit’ campaign

As the motorcycle industry in the Philippines continues to grow, the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association (MDPPA) is doubling down on its efforts to fight the proliferation of counterfeit parts in the country. In partnership with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), MDPPA recently launched the “No to Counterfeit” campaign, an initiative aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of counterfeit motorcycle parts.

MDPPA and IPOPHIL experts, together with guest speaker Nagasue-san from JAMA, pose for a group photo during the Product & Brand Identification Seminar at the IPOPHIL office.