SM STORIES FROM THE SOUTH

My Story, My SM” continues its journey with stories from Southern Luzon. This time, get to see how art, music, food, family and SM bring people together in the provinces of Laguna, Batangas and Quezon.

These are stories from customers, business partners and prominent personalities from cities where SM has malls and serves the community. Along with their stories, get to know more about our country’s rich history, diverse culture and its many talented and inspiring people who have brought much honor to the Philippines.

First stop is at San Pablo in Laguna, the City of Seven Lakes, known for its scenic beauty and timeless history. Nesting at the foothills of Mount Cristobal and Mount Banahaw, it is an urban agricultural community rich in coconut plantations and aqua culture. With its breathtaking beauty and rich culture, San Pablo has been a source of inspiration for many artists.

It is home to members of the San Pablo Weekend Watercolor Group, who got together through the “My City, My SM, My Art” event at SM City San Pablo. Prominent members of the community such as Villa Escudero president and general manager Ado Escudero, artist and designer Patis Tesoro, visual artist Lito Ballaran and restaurateur chefs Day and Gel Salonga share how their passion for the arts, food and SM has brought them together.

Next stop is the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA), which is part of the National Arts Center, a sanctuary for young and aspiring Filipino artists located amid the legendary Mount Makiling in Laguna. A government-run secondary education institution for artistically gifted young Filipino artists, PHSA is committed to the conservation and promotion of Filipino artistic and cultural traditions.

As head of a school that is always in search of talented and gifted Filipino youth, PHSA director Vim Nadera says that SM’s cultural programs “opened a lot of doors for our students.”

The southern journey continues in the province of Batangas, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Philippines. Beautiful beaches and excellent diving spots attract nature lovers; while the town of Taal, one of two most culturally preserved sites in the Philippines, draws history lovers of all ages.

Atty. Antonio Pastor, a man with many gifts and interests, and his nephew Raymund shared how SM has become an important part of the lives of Batangueños — serving customers, bringing together families and friends, and providing so many jobs for residents — in their family’s beautiful and historic heritage home. They also showcased their musical talents.

This week’s journey makes a final stop in Lucena City in Quezon, one of the country’s busiest fishing and domestic passenger seaports; a gateway to the Southern Tagalog and Bicol regions, as well as to nearby island provinces like Marinduque and Palawan. Once called Buenavista by the Spaniards because of its awe-inspiring scenic beauty, it retains much of its countryside charm despite growing urbanization.

The family of Calixto Zaballero’s ancestral home, the first floor of which has been transformed into a restaurant, has become the center of family gatherings similar to the way SM provides a place for families and friends to bond and strengthen ties.

Ado, Patis, Lito, chefs Day and Gel; Vim and the PHSA; Atty. Pastor and Raymund; and the members of the Calixto Zaballero family join in SM’s 60th anniversary celebration by sharing their inspiring stories in the “My Story, My SM” series featuring 60 lives touched by 60 years of SM. With its roots in retailing, SM has over the years become part of the lives of millions of Filipinos — customers, business partners and employees — each with a wonderful story to tell.

Discover more about their inspiring stories at the My Story, My SM microsite at https://mystorymysm.com and get a glimpse of how members of the San Pablo Weekend Watercolor Group combine their love for art, food and shopping at SM; how SM opened doors for the students of the Philippine High School for the Arts; why Atty. Pastor and Raymund say that SM is like manna from heaven for Batangas; and why the Calixto Zaballero clan say that they share the same family values as SM at https://www.youtube.com/ MyStoryMySM.

The Calixto Zaballero Family: “If we were to list the areas in SM most visited by the family, this would be the supermarket, department store, restaurants and movie houses.” Vim Nadera of the Philippine High School for the Arts: “For the past five years, SM has been so generous to the PHSA. From the bottom of our hearts, please allow us to commend you.” The San Pablo Weekend Watercolor Group: Ado Escudero: “I have always been supportive of SM’s cultural programs because I want San Pableños to be open to the finer things in life, to know how rich San Pablo is with arts and culture.” Patis Tesoro: “Everything is in SM and shopping there is convenient.” Lito Ballaran: “As an artist, the best thing about SM is how they support local artists, reaching out and touching our hearts.” Chefs Day and Gel Salonga: “SM malls give us the convenience of not having to travel far to shop.”

Atty. Antonio Pastor and Raymund: “SM has changed lifestyles for the better in Batangas City without really obliterating its old charm. SM principally gave economic progress, but this goes hand in hand with the cultural and spiritual needs of the place.”