QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Mar 2026) — SM malls are usually where Pinoys go to shop and eat, but this March, they became spaces where young women and advocates actually got things done.
For its Women’s Month 2026 campaign, SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, teamed up with the United Nations Philippines, the Philippine Commission on Women, and the Quezon City Government to push a clear message: rights, justice, and action for all women and girls.
“At SM, we continue to create the most-loved spaces where women are empowered to lead, grow, and thrive. Our commitment goes beyond opportunity; it is about building inclusive environments where every woman and girl feels supported, valued, and able to reach her full potential,” said Atty. Pearly Joan Jayagan Turley, senior assistant vice president of SM Supermalls and program director for SM Cares for Women and Breastfeeding Mothers.
A purple globe to kick things off
The advocacy visually took over on March 2 when the iconic SM Mall of Asia Globe lit up in purple, the global color representing dignity and justice for women. SM Seaside City Cebu followed suit, using the illumination as a loud, unmissable signal that the month-long campaign had officially begun.
47 youth groups trooped to North EDSA
The main event happened on March 10 at the SM North EDSA Skydome. Titled “Youth Rising: Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,” the gathering pulled in 47 youth organizations and schools, including the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippine Science High School, National University, and the National Youth Commission.
Instead of just listening to speeches, participants joined panel discussions, TED-style talks, and a Challenge and Solutions Lab. The conversations went beyond surface-level empowerment and dug into gender equality, climate justice, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and gender-based violence prevention. SM Prime Holdings Vice President and Head of Design, Innovation and Strategy Jica Sy also addressed the crowd, encouraging students to keep pushing for change.
18,000 ml of breast milk collected in one day
SM Cares also put its focus on maternal health through “Gatas ng Buhay,” a milk-letting activity held on March 20 at SM Fairview. Run in partnership with the Quezon City Human Milk Bank and Quezon City General Hospital, the program included expert sessions on breastfeeding, newborn care, and maternal nutrition.
The result was tangible. The event collected over 18,000 ml of breast milk, enough to feed approximately 75 babies in a single day. That figure is 23% higher than the previous year’s output, a clear sign that more mothers are stepping up to support infants in need.
