SM continues to champion social, economic inclusion
THE SM group is staying true to its commitment of partnering with host communities and being a catalyst for responsible growth through sustainable enterprise development and livelihood programs.
SM Group Diversity Officer Lizanne Uychaco shared: “All business units within the SM group are expected to develop their respective sustainability commitment, policies and initiatives. Aligned with our commitment to equal opportunity for all, we continuously engage with external stakeholders, including host communities, to advocate for social and economic inclusion and development.”
SM’s group-wide initiative on diversity and inclusion goes hand in hand with environmental stewardship and SM, through SM Hotels, is taking a bigger step on these advocacies through concrete programs and initiatives.
“How do we make sustainability tangible, something that our customers and stakeholders can touch?”
The answer to this question, asked by Leah Magallanes, vice president for Sustainability and Quality Assurance of SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC), is the Tela Tales.
It is an initiative that aims to convert pre-loved linens of SM Hotels and Convention Centers into beautiful bags with handwoven patterns through the communities of Barangay Bulihan in Batangas and Kalingap Casa de Sueno in Tagaytay with the guidance of designer and social entrepreneur Zarah Juan.
Magallanes says the program is named Tela Tales since the community members share their stories while weaving the patterns for the bags.
SMHCC provides the preloved linens and other materials for the bags, while Zarah Juan pays the community members, who weave the patterns on the bags.