Momshie Buzz

   Jayson and Juanito proudly showcase a selection of produce at the SM City Clark’s Weekend Market. While modern agricultural techniques boost yields for some, there remains a number of Filipino farmers who struggle to keep pace. These experienced hands find themselves falling behind in a market demanding higher production, clinging to familiar yet often inefficient methods passed down through generations. One farmer from Pampanga, Jayson Garcia, sought to disrupt this prevailing narrative in his family. He knew that he had to chart a new course forward for his farm and innovate to remain competitive within the rapidly evolving landscape of modern agriculture. “Noon, mahirap ang magtanim,” he recalled their life before joining SM Foundation’s Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan. “Para bang tsambahan, basta pag itinanim mo ‘yan, hintayin mo na lang mamunga. Mas mahirap pa lalo kapag nagkaroon ng kalamidad,” he added.  SM Foundation’s training program focused on high-value crop culti...

  SMFI Health and Medical Programs Senior Project Manager Albert Uy inspects the water catchment to ensure it reliability. In line with the SM Green Movement, the SM group, through SM Foundation , recently established a rainwater harvesting system at the Brgy. Irawan Birthing Facility in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. The initiative aims to strengthen their goal of preserving the environment and ensuring the health and wellness of future generations. To enhance water conservation and management in the facility, the system collects rainwater from the roof and gutter, passing it through vinyl-coated mesh filters to help ensure water quality. With an 800-liter storage capacity, the harvested water serves the facility’s non-potable needs like watering plants, cleaning, and toilet flushing. The rainwater harvesting facility also operates without electricity and features labeled faucets for intuitive recycled water use. Midwife Narcisa Jagmis, who leads the said birthing facility, said t...

      SM City North Edsa This Urban Farming initiative is led by the SM Foundation through its Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan on Sustainable Agriculture Program (KSK-SAP). It’s about uplifting the farmer community, fostering environmental consciousness, food security, and creating livelihood and income opportunities for marginalized urban communities. Through the KSK-SAP, a comprehensive program of urban farming techniques, product development, marketing, and basic accounting are offered in strategically-located field schools. SM City Roxas The KSK program has successfully conducted over 260 sustainable agricultural trainings, benefiting a total of 28,550 farmers. These trainings have taken place in both rural and urban settings, where participants have been exposed to sustainable farming modules that promote the cultivation of nutritious, high-quality vegetables and fruits.  SM City Clark   Partnering with the SM Foundation, SM Supermalls, and SM Markets are the follow...

     KSK-SAP farmers and partners from San Pablo City, Laguna.    SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI)  has taken another step in its mission to enhance the agriculture and entrepreneurial skills of farmers. The organization recently launched the  Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan on Sustainable Agriculture Program (KSK-SAP)  across various locations in Calabarzon.   Beginning with its launch in Padre Garcia, Batangas on April 13, 2023, the program has since been extended to Silang, Cavite, Batangas City, San Pablo, Laguna, and Calamba City. SMFI is also set to provide free agri-skills training to local farmers in other parts of the region to help other beneficiaries uplift their families and communities.   Empowering local farmers   The local farmer-beneficiaries will undergo a two-phased program, spearheaded by its partner school  Moca Family Farm RLearning Center, Inc.      The said program  kicked off with an immersive 14-we...

  In 1971, the Philippines launched the Community Health Organization Program to classify health services into primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. As part of this initiative, barangay health stations were created to ensure that primary healthcare improves the overall health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities.   Since then, these local health centers have played a crucial role in improving the health outcomes of Filipinos. They have not only provided general healthcare services but also served as agents during the COVID-19 pandemic and helped with the vaccination rollout. Additionally, they continue to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent diseases, particularly among vulnerable populations. Adequate facilities for improved healthcare   SM Foundation (SMFI) has made it its mission to provide adequate facilities and upgraded equipment to boost health centers as they fulfill their mandate of delivering quality health care, even amid the pandemic. ...

   Continuing its  commitment to helping elevate the country's education system, SM  Foundation, Inc. (SMFI), in partnership with SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SMPHI) and the Department of Education (DepEd), have recently collaborated to construct two new school buildings in Laguna and Batangas. Upon the completion of the joint initiative, two two-story four-classroom school buildings will be donated to the  Laguna Resettlement Community School  in  San Pedro City, Laguna  and the  San Antonio Elementary School  in Sto. Tomas City, Batangas. Each of the school buildings is set to be equipped with learning materials, armchairs, handwashing facilities, emergency equipment, and PWD-friendly facilities to ensure that student s, especially from low-income communities, gain access to modern, safe, and conducive learning facilities. Formalizing the partnership, representatives from the SMFI, DepEd, and the local government units of said provinces at...

  While access to quality healthcare continues to be hampered by challenges, medical missions have become an increasingly vital source of support for low-income communities. Through time, they have gone beyond providing medical care and have taken up a new role: transforming the lives of individuals and communities. The  SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI)  recognizes just this, so it has made its mission to travel from Luzon to Mindanao to provide free medical care and services to thousands of patients from various hard-pressed communities. Just recently, the medical mission team headed to the cities of Tuguegarao and Cauayan in Northern Luzon and provided services to thousands of low-income families. Two of them are  Roland Bariuan and Angeline Cacanindin .   Strength to do more Roland Bariuan takes home free medicines after his medical check-up. Roland has been a tricycle driver in Tuguegarao City since 1994. But, two years ago, he suddenly felt weak and had to spend ...

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....