In its commitment to serve the community and provide programs for persons with disability, SM was recognized during the 2013 Apolinario Mabini Awards held last August 28, 2013 at the Heroes Hall at the Malacañan Palace.
Twenty-two of its malls were awarded as the Disabled-Friendly Establishment of the Year. SM City Marikina and the Mall of Asia Arena were awarded with Gold awards while SM Megamall and SM City Lanang were given the Silver awards. Likewise, Bronze awards were given to SM Molino, Southmall, Olongapo, Consolacion, General Santos, Las Piñas, Fairview, SM Department Stores in Marilao, Megamall, Southmall, Taytay, Makati, Baliwag, Marketmall Dasmariñas and SM Supermarkets in Makati and Mandurriao.
Additionally, the company bagged the Special Mapagmahal sa May Kapansanan Award through the SM Cares Program on Disability Affairs. To date, its advocacy for PWDs have merited 59 citations from the same award giving body.
President Benigno Aquino III led the ceremony together with Milagros Drilon, Zeny Tanada, and Manuel Agcaoili of the Apolinario Mabini Awards.
The 39-year-old award-giving body, launched by the Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Inc (PFRD), was named after the Filipino hero known as the Sublime Paralytic. Apolinario Mabini’s resilience amidst obstacle encouraged his countrymen and his creative genius helped inspire the Philippine revolution.
SM has endeavored to make the malling experience enjoyable for every differently-abled customer through the installation of wheel-chair ramps, PWD elevators, phone booths, comfort rooms and other facilities. Mall employees, tenants, security and maintenance personnel are all trained to address the concerns of persons with disability. The company continues to strive in improving its customer service and ensuring that each and every SM mall is a mall for all.
To know more about SM Cares and their various advocacy programs, visit and like SM CSR Program on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/smcsrprogram.