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Showing posts from March, 2023

No Need to “Play Safe”: How to Switch Up Your Sex Life the Safe Way

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  When done right and with proper caution, very few things feel better than sex with your partner. But with all the misconceptions and inaccuracies surrounding the topic, many couples tend to be tentative with their approach, likely compromising the quality of their sex life. For one, a lot of people are too afraid or conscious to do more adventurous things with their partner simply because they don’t know what counts as “too much” or “safe enough”. Are dotted or glow-in-the-dark condoms safe to use? When is it okay to add sex toys and devices into the mix? Will your partner welcome the idea of using a lubricant? These are examples of often-unanswered questions that can lead to more inhibitions, which in turn cause you to play it safe for the sake of, well, being safe. When it comes to safe sex, there’s no such thing as too safe. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make room for new ideas and experiences that can help invigorate your sex life. Here are some things you can do to swi

Choosing to give a voice amidst the silence

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    Teaching surpasses the realms of jobs or professions–it encompasses service, vocation, and life mission.  Proving this day and night are millions of Filipino teachers who stand as second mothers to students. One of them is  Rosalie Macaspac , an  SM scholar alumna  who chose to pursue a career in Special Education (SPED). Life’s work Choosing to teach, especially pursue SPED, is a path less travelled. Out of over 800,000 public school teachers, only about 4,000 are in SPED, and Rosalie is one of the few who took the path. For 21 years now, the SM scholar alumna has dedicated her life to teaching SPED students. She wanted to empower and give special children a voice by advocating the welfare of deaf learners. Rosalie Macaspac (left) interprets the contents of the program for her students. With much dedication and determination to have the right skills for her students, she pursued graduate studies in special education and Filipino sign language at the  Philippine National University

Gaining solid ground through Education

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Stability is the foundation of a well-lived life. With basic needs fulfilled, people have the opportunity to develop themselves, explore various facets of life, and contribute to the welfare of the community. When aspiring youth, especially those from low-income households, are given the chance to stand on solid ground, they readily take the chance. They utilize it as a seedbed where they can cultivate their dreams and aspirations. One testament to this is  SM scholar alumna Jonnah Jane Sacamay , who grew up in a family where stability seemed like an uncharted territory. Years back, Jonnah’s family’s main source of living was flower farming. This made them walk on a thin line as the demand for flowers was seasonal, and they were also often affected by unpredictable weather disturbances. But while they had journeyed through life with uncertainty, they had always planted in her mind the power of education. “ Given that the nature of farming is very seasonal, our income is not stable. Asi

SM Supermalls, SM Cares to join Earth Hour 2023

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  SM Supermalls , together with its corporate social responsibility arm  SM Cares , is joining the rest of the world in observing  Earth Hour  this coming  March 25  as the company renews its commitment to environmental stewardship. This year's Earth Hour is all about  "creating the Biggest Hour for Earth,"  and those who want to participate in the global activity are encouraged to spend  60 minutes  doing something positive for the planet, in addition to switching off their lights. SM Supermalls has been supporting Earth Hour and the WWF since the initiative was first held in the Philippines in 2008. This year, customers, tenants and employees at SM malls nationwide are once again encouraged to  “Give an Hour for Earth”  as SM Supermalls joins the  annual Global Lights Switch Off  from  8:30 PM to 9:30PM  on March 25. SM Facade Lights off This day also marks the start of the  World Wildlife Fund’s Virtual Earth Hour Run , a self-paced run supported by SM Cares, to be hel

SM Foundation aids quake-hit Türkiye, Syria

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In solidarity with earthquake-hit countries Türkiye and Syria , SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI) sent aid through the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) last Feb. 27, 2023. Represented by SM Foundation Health and Medical Programs Executive Director Connie Angeles, SMFI handed 200 units of gasoline generators to PRC to provide power to the quake-stricken Türkiye and Syria . Additionally, the social good arm of SM also donated Php5 million to help address the needs of earthquake victims. The aid comes after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southeast Türkiye and northwest Syria. The disaster was followed by a magnitude 6.3 earthquake, hitting southern Turkiye, which led to additional casualties and damages. To learn more about SM Foundation’s social good programs, visit www.sm-foundation.org or follow its social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube): @SMFoundationInc. SMFI’s Connie Angeles (second from left) hands the donation to PRC chairperson Dick Gordon (third from left). Jo