Sunday, May 27, 2007

SM Cares, but...



Sent to us by the Autism Society of the Philippines:

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In July 2004, Phil Daily Inquirer columnist Conrado Banal III wrote in his "Breaktime" column about how a then 17-year-old person with autism (PWA) was "mishandled" by SM Megamall's security guards.

SM, thru then-VP now President of Operations Ms Annie Garcia, immediately acknowledged their " responsbility in extending full assistance" to ALL their customers, and assured the training of their guards about autism "to better appreciate" their customers.






But SM did not just conduct one training session on autism for their guards. They started a series of orientation on almost-all disabilities, beginning with their mall managers from SM branches nationwide. And then orientation in different branches followed. These were attended by a total of more than one thousand guards, janitors, and tenants.






Last May 22, SM started again another series of the same orientation program in Mega Trade Hall. At least 300 security guards, janitors, and mall managers listened to speakers from ASP, Downs Syndrome Association of the Phils (DSAPI), and the National Council for Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP). More branches will hold the same program in time for the celebration of the Disability Month in July.

Asst VP for Operations Liza Silerio told the participants the incident of the 17yo PWA. She said that what touched the management most about the incident is the mother's unconditional love for her special son. With limited resources, she did not stop searching until she found, after 15 hours, her son who ran out of the mall.

We can only agree with Ms Annie Garcia when she said that the success of SM's 28 branches is not because of beautiful buildings and modern facilities. It is because of people who truly care.

ASP National President Dang Koe explained what is autism, its symptoms (with examples in mall settings) and how to handle special situations involving PWAs. She ended her talk by reiterating that while our PWAs do not need special ramps, parking spaces and rest rooms, a little love and understanding from the guards, the janitors and everyone can change a PWA's life forever.

More power to SM. Truly, you've got it all for us...and you serve 'em all for us...including our children with autiSM.


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I am actually anti-SM, especially after their hostile takeover of EPCI, and because of their self-serving terms and lack of support for struggling suppliers who would want to have business with their retail chains.


But because of their efforts to please certain sectors of society... well well well. I still hate them! Anyways, I would just continue visiting their Supermalls. Visit lang ha, palamig sa aircon, makiinom ng tubig, maki-CR, etc.... I do not need to buy from SM if I do not need anything.

The public loves SM, and this is what is pretty visible, but hope you understand where I am coming from. There are small entrepreneurs who could not make money because of SM, and there are smaller guys out there (vendors, butchers, bakers, e-loaders, lotto operators, etc.) who are gravely affected by dwindling sales of their used to be "kumikitang kabuhayan", because SM has dominated all aspects of retail, killing all competition, no matter how big or small they are.

9 comments:

Ary said...

Mala-pelikula pala ang SM!!! Pang maala-ala mu kaya. And about its stock price, Para sakin masayang bumili ng stock price ng SM kasi laging nagsskyrocket

Anonymous said...

wehehehe... sky rocket ang stock price coz they are dominating most industries.... retail, banking, and even food! wawa talaga lahat ng ibang businessmen...

pero wag ka ha.. pag nakarma ang SM.. sabay bagsak din ang mga stock prices nila...

Tsk. tsk. tsk.. sinong kawawa... smaller businessmen pa rin!

SSS and GSIS lost a lot of money when they sold their holdings in EPCI.. sinong nakinabang? SM Group pa rin! Sinong kawawa? Taong Bayan!

Ary said...

Aktibista! hihihi

THE ANiTOKiD said...

Simply put: I LOVE THE POST! And Bubwit's comment too! I think most of us are "Laking SM" - and now, anywhere you go, there's a SM mall waiting! WOOOOO! Sa amin lang eh 4 kms away from each other ang SM Bicutan, SM Sucat, and SouthMall! Yun nga lang trapik minsan! (Lagi pala) If one takes away SM from the picture, who will take its place? Robinson? StarMall? SM na ako! Besides, my mom is a pioneer in the construction company that builds the SM Malls (hi hi hi) and almost all my GodDads and GodMoms are too. Laking SM to! eS Mapugay :)

THE ANiTOKiD said...

And on a personal note, Mr. Henry Sy is a cool guy - a nice person! And I kid you not! Mabuhay ang SM! may kasabihan kasi, "Kung di tayo, iba. Eh di tayo na lang." SM! SM! SM! Rustans! Rustans! SM! SM! SM!

Anonymous said...

Sy Henry and dapat Sysyhin. My pagpakSynungaling KaSy..... Tsk.. Syla lng ang yumayaman..... TakSy....

Anonymous said...

I unwittigly attended a rally against SM once. I was going to SM to eat. On my way there, may nakasalubong akong aktibista na kaibigan from college. Viola, instant rally-ista recruit! I'm sure nasa database pa ko ng SM branch na yun dahil nakita ko may nagvivideo-tape sa amin. (I was accosted months later by a guy na mukhang police character inside the mall once while rushing to catch the last full show. He said "kilala kita. Ingat ka sa mga pinag-gagawa mo.") The SM security force were able to disperse "peacefully" (few bruises) the sit-in I attended. It may have something to do with the fact that we were fighting for the regularization and additional benefits of SM's contractual employees (like the guards)and that there's a TV crew nearby.

DOLE helped Henry Sy and other moguls by coming up with a policy that de facto criminalizes rallies and unions.

I literally grew up with SM and had many good experiences in its malls (rally aside). However, I realized later that its growth and profitability sacrifices the well-being of individuals and small businesses.

Henry Sy may possibly be a good person to those who he knows but he is apathetic to the plight of his employees.

I hope that the next generation of Sy adopts a more socially-responsible mindset than its patriarch.

Anonymous said...

I find it more alarming now that BDO acquired EPCI. Imagine the small retailers' earnings all coursed through BDO, less the commissions. BDO also swallows up Equitable Card Network, making it more difficult for small businessmen to maximize their earnings.

Anonymous said...

Even big institutions such as banks and credit card issuers will be gravely affected by BDO's supremacy. The new and more powerful BDO Card Network may get the privilege of controlling all retail store transactions (through their own POS terminals) in SM Malls, eating up the commission that are supposed to be for the other issuing banks.