DTI and SM Supermalls Strengthen Partnership to Help MSMEs Scale

The 2026 DTI–Bagong Pilipinas National Trade Fair concluded at SM Megamall after five days of showcasing Filipino enterprise, creativity, and resilience—bringing together MSMEs, institutional buyers, and consumers in a highly accessible, high-engagement setting that turned commerce into a shared public experience.

DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque and DTI Assistant Secretary Nylah Bautista together with Embassy Officials and stakeholders mark the opening of the DTI Bagong Pilipinas National Trade Fair 2026, highlighting how accessible platforms like SM Supermalls help bring national initiatives closer to the public (Right photo)

DTI Key Officials mark the opening of the National Trade Fair 2026, highlighting how accessible platforms like SM Supermalls help bring national initiatives closer to the public.

Held from February 18–22, 2026 at Megatrade Halls 1–3, the fair featured locally made food, fashion, home, and lifestyle products, business-matching opportunities, and curated exhibits highlighting sustainable production and elevated Filipino design. These on-ground activities supported the Bagong Pilipinas agenda by expanding market access, strengthening value chains, and creating pathways for MSMEs to scale.

SM executives (L-R) Mr. Royston Cabunag, AVP for SM Communities Program, Ms. Liza Silerio, VP for Corporate Compliance Group, Ms. Pats Dy, SAVP for SM Communities Marketing try on hand-embroidered, fashion-forward pieces by an indigenous artisan from Abra—bringing stories from the mountains to the heart of the city. Through DTI and SM, indigenous MSMEs gain wider market access, celebrating culture, craftsmanship, and inclusive growth in one shared space.

"It's rare to find a place where you can get the chance to buy the best of the Philippines, and it's good that it's in a very accessible location."

-Ezekiel Rosales and Michelle Milla - Trade Fair Customers (Left photo)

"Nakakatuwa po na naipapakita namin ang aming mga gawa sa ibang lugar. Kasabay po noon ay kumikita pa kami."

- Jezriff Anni - Zambulu Artworks (Right photo)

"Ang galing po kasi noon, doon lang kami sa bayan namin sa Aklan nakakapagbenta. Ngayon po, two years na kami nakakasali sa trade fairs and lumawak na po ang market namin. May mga orders na po kami galing sa ibang lugar."

-Jezethel Bandiola - Bandiola's Piña Weaving 

(Left photo) 

The staging of the National Trade Fair at SM Megamall highlighted how well-loved, high-traffic urban spaces can function as effective platforms for national programs—giving MSMEs the opportunity to reach new markets, test products in real time, and engage directly with partners and consumers. 

“Our partnership with SM goes beyond providing space—it is about building a full ecosystem for MSMEs. Through SM Supermalls and its retail businesses like SM Department Store, SM Markets, and Kultura, MSMEs are given real market access, visibility, and opportunities to scale. This kind of private-sector commitment is exactly what enables Filipino entrepreneurs to grow, professionalize, and contribute meaningfully to inclusive national development,” said Cris Roque, Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry

By supporting nationally significant trade fairs, SM Supermalls broadens MSME reach through accessible, high-visibility locations, supports business growth through professional environments designed for market readiness, and contributes to nation-building by aligning its mall infrastructure with programs that generate livelihood and strengthen local industries.

The National Trade Fair fostered a powerful sense of shared purpose where commerce, culture, and community converged reinforcing the belief that economic growth is most meaningful when it is inclusive, experiential, and deeply connected to the people it serves. 

As demonstrated by the 2026 DTI–Bagong Pilipinas National Trade Fair, SM Supermalls continues to deliver on its commitment on Max Out Experiences, living out its promise of “All for You.” As your most loved mall, SM Supermalls transforms its spaces into dynamic platforms for entrepreneurship, cultural celebration, and meaningful public engagement going beyond retail to champion inclusive national growth and create experiences thoughtfully designed for every Filipino. 

WE ATE THAT! Best New Eats in the Metro at SM Supermalls

When you know it’s good, you know it’s good. And when it comes to food recommendations that just hit, SM is here to serve and deliver us the best of the best foodie experiences in the Metro.

Get ready to dine with your most-loved mall as we spotlight new dining destinations guaranteed to satisfy your cravings and get you saying, ‘Girl, we ate that!’

It’s giving OG eats from Japan
Nothing beats the real ones! So, when it comes to Japanese flavors, we crave nothing but authenticity.

Kaiju Ramen

Serving authentic Japanese ramen, the soon-to-open Kaiju Ramen offers broths and noodles that hit just right. Their tonkotsu and shoyu bowls? Absolutely ate. First in the PH, every bite is a moment of pure, slurp‑worthy satisfaction at Level 5, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall.

Yappari

It’s giving classic. It’s giving rich. It’s giving TASTE! Known for its premium steak offerings, this new Japanese restaurant in Upper Ground, SM Southmall, turns every slice into celebration.

Slayin’ the soft life, one sip at a time

Life’s solid when everything’s just chill, with vibes that leave you feeling happy, unbothered, and completely in your lane.

Super Matcha

For soft-life vibes, watch out for the first-in-PH Super Matcha, soon to open at Ground Level, Mega Fashion Hall-SM Megamall, and indulge in drinks that are as aesthetic as they are delicious. Enjoy matcha lattes, iced blends, and visuals that are giving 10s across the board.

These Crowd Flavorites are a SERVE
Eat it, eat it, eat it! Category is: global dining faves! We’re here to serve you meals perfect for your discerning taste.

PoBros

Here’s a bowl deserving of a star-studded applause: known for its loaded rice bowls, hearty portions, and bold flavor combos, PoBros at Level 2, SM Southmall, is sure to keep you coming back for that mouth-watering comfort.

Goobne

Here to serve Korean flavors with unclockable finesse, Goobne specializes in oven-roasted chicken with juicy, perfectly seasoned meat. Find your satisfying match at Upper Ground Floor, SM Southmall.

Ate and left no crumbs—LITERALLY! That’s just how good food in the Metro is when experienced with the best. From Japanese classics to global cuisines, SM Supermalls is your most loved mall for all things foodie. 

 
Follow @smsupermalls on social media or visit www.smsupermalls.com for the latest updates and events.

Take small steps for big change: SM Waste-Free Future illustrates doable actions for a cleaner, greener planet.

Becoming part of the solution toward better waste management practices has been made easier by SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SM Prime) with The SM Waste-Free Future (WFF) Manual. 

 

Launched at SM’s first Sustainability Expo, the 17-page visual guide offers a simple and easy-to-follow resource on how everyone can engage with waste management touchpoints available in their most-loved SM Supermalls. 

 

"The easiest way to adopt sustainable practices is a two-pronged approach," said SM Supermalls Vice President for Corporate Compliance and Sustainability, Liza Silerio. "The first is building the avenues that make waste management accessible and easy to do. The second is ensuring that these are easy habits to build and practice in our daily lives.” 

 

The manual combines text and visuals to enhance the "Learn - Practice - Champion" workflow, a three-step approach to make these practices easy to adapt and eventually pass on, with additional green tips and trivia.  Understanding how even small, thoughtful steps can make a huge difference is key to helping reduce waste sent to landfills. 

Back to Basics

To further understand the composition of our waste, SM Prime led a Waste Analysis Characterization Study (WACS) in its largest development–the SM Mall of Asia Complex. The top 10 most common waste items were identified:  

 

1. PET Bottles

2. Plastic Cutlery

3. Single-use plastic

4. Plastic cups from coffee or milk tea

5. Soiled coffee paper cups

6. Soiled food containers

7. Food packaging and sachets

8. Soiled tissue or napkins

9. Soiled diapers/ sanitary products

10. Food waste

 

The SM Waste Free Future manual encourages everyone to properly dispose of waste by using designated Recyclable-Disposable-Compostable (RDC) bins made accessible in all SM Malls.

PET Bottles are categorized for the Blue "Recyclable" Bins to help return these to factories for recycling.

Disposable items and containers such as plastic cutlery, single-use plastic, plastic cups from coffee or milk tea, soiled coffee paper cups and food containers, food packaging and sachets, and soiled tissue or napkins, diapers, and sanitary products are for tossing into the gray "Disposable" Bins. 

Finally, all food waste with no packaging and cutlery are guided to the green "Compostable" Bins.

 

As one of the fastest-growing solid waste streams in the world, Electronic Waste (E-Waste), ranging from batteries to broken gadgets and technological accessories, gets special mention. SM Supermalls promotes proper disposal of e-waste through special bins in SM Cyberzone areas as easy drop-off points for recycling or processing before disposal of small, used, and defective electronic devices. 

 

Take-action, join the movement

Every first Friday and Saturday of the month from 10:00am to 2:00pm, mallgoers can bring their trash and convert it to cash. Trash-to-Cash encourages household segregation by bringing clean and dry recyclables in designated Trash-to-Cash areas in exchange for economic incentives. The program promotes sustainable systems and the advancement of the circular economy. 

To further divert plastics from the environment, SM implements its Plastic Waste Collection program across all of its properties. Since its integration in 2019, 70,000 kilograms of clean, empty, and dry consumer plastics have been collected.

Through SM Cares, SM Prime’s corporate social responsibility arm, regular coastal cleanups are organized for communities to mitigate the problem of marine pollution by removing waste before it spreads further in the seas. Last year, volunteers were able to divert 200,000 kilograms of marine litter from the ocean through three major coastal cleanups organized nationwide on top of weekly cleanups done by SM Estates.

Another Coastal Cleanup drive has been scheduled this year on March 22 across SM La Union, SM City Urdaneta Central, SM City Tanza, SM City J Mall, SM City Daet, and SM City Consolacion for World Water Day.

  

"Communicating waste management practices clearly and easily helps our stakeholders support our vision for a Waste Free Future. When we all come together and choose to help save our planet, even the smallest actions toward the right direction yield great results," said Silerio.

 

Setting the scenes for Mindanao’s main characters at SM Supermalls

 

Let’s be honest, Mindanao–we’ve never been background characters. There’s a certain confidence in the way we move. We’re sharp, bold, and sure of what we want. We don’t need to be loud to show who’s the leading character.

And since we know what iconic-ness we bring to the table, the place we spend our time in? Well it has to keep up. The vibe, the energy, the experience. The good news is that across Mindanao, new firsts are arriving, firsts that can keep up and set the scene at your most-loved mall, SM Supermalls–the mall of firsts.

The Opening Act: Serving Cravings And Lewks

Because once the plans are locked, it’s never just about the food. It’s about how you show up. The table becomes the backdrop, the look comes together, and suddenly your first act is in full motion

• Soul Kitchen / Fast Fresh 

Some scenes call for comfort, and at the first soon to open Soul Kitchen/Fast Fresh in SM at the expansion wing, level 1 of SM City Davao, that comfort is about to come plated just right. The Banana Pecan Pancake will bring that sweet, indulgent moment, while the White Chicken Rice can keep it classic and satisfying. Ez great food down, so you can keep your main character on.

• King’s Feast 

Some scenes call for royal treatment–and at the first soon to open King’s Feast in VisMin at the level 2 expansion wing of SM City Davao, it will begin with an all-you-can-eat spread fit for main characters who don’t do small portions. This is where plates will stay full and tables will feel like your own feasting hall. Because if you’re stepping out in full looks, the food should rise to the occasion.

The Second Take: Brewed and Booked

Every great story has an in-between moment, a pause before the climactic scenes–the kind where things slow down just enough for the main character to decide what happens next. At the 2nd level, expansion wing of SM City Davao, the first soon to open ZUS Coffee in Mindanao will offer exactly that kind of reset: good coffee, a solid spot to regroup, and just enough caffeine to cue the next scene.

The Turning Scene: Confidence In Center Frame

It’s time for your close-up with a glow up. At the lower ground level of SM Lanang, the first Idara Aesthetics in Davao will bring advanced aesthetic treatments closer so you can step into frame polished, confident, and fully in your main character energy.

The Final Shot: Go All Out, Icon

Every main character needs a great ending, and the first DJI in Northern Mindanao at the 3rd level of Cyberzone in SM CDO Downtown Premier–makes sure yours is nothing short of cinematic. Because in every story worth telling, it’s the final frame that can turn something good into a masterpiece.

From the opening act to the final shot, the scenes are set–and now it’s your move. Because when you know you’re the lead, you don’t wait for the spotlight. You step into it.

Main character energy? Fully secured–only at your most-loved mall, SM Supermalls.

Follow @smsupermalls on social media or visit www.smsupermalls.com for the latest updates and events.

Instant Jobs, Real Impact: Stories from SM Group Job Fair at SM North EDSA

“Hindi ko po akalain na matatanggap ako ngayon,” shared Felo Garcia, hired on the spot as a Sales Associate. “Salamat po SM dahil makaka-provide na ako sa mga pangangailangan ng anak ko at pamilya ko.”

Another hired-on-the-spot applicant, Joel Azores, emphasized the credibility and impact of the event, saying, “One hundred percent ka po matatanggap sa Mega Job Fair dahil puro legit na company dito.”

With 25 participating employers, more than a thousand job seekers, and 236 or 22% hired on the spot, the annual SM Group Job Fair at SM City North EDSA once again proved to be a powerful platform for connecting Filipinos to real and immediate employment opportunities.

Led by SM Retail, the job fair gathered companies from across the SM Group’s diverse businesses—spanning malls and real estate, retail, food and beverage, logistics, education, and banking. More than just high foot traffic, the event delivered high intent, high engagement, and strong hiring outcomes.

From application to employment—on the same day

One of the strongest highlights of the job fair was the number of applicants hired on the spot (HOTS), showcasing the efficiency and accessibility of SM’s hiring ecosystem.

For many job seekers, the experience was nothing short of life-changing. Through on-site interviews and real-time assessments, applicants were able to move quickly from application to employment—removing the long waiting periods often associated with traditional recruitment.

A job fair that works for real people

For many first-time job seekers and breadwinners, the SM Job Fair offered not just jobs—but relief, speed, and hope. “Makakatulong yung ganitong pa-event sa mga pamilya,” shared Joshua Bulauitan, hired on the spot as a Sales Clerk. “Kung wala kang trabaho at nagigipit ka na, pumunta ka lang dito—may instant trabaho ka.”

This immediate hiring momentum reflects SM Retail’s consistently strong hiring demand and absorption rates, ensuring that SM Job Fairs translate into real jobs—not just applications.

Employers meet job-ready talent, faster

Employers likewise cited the effectiveness of SM Job Fairs in reaching the right candidates efficiently.

 “Sumali po kami dito because we are looking to hire more employees,” said Lyka Sababan of SM Appliance Center. “Alam po namin na maraming jobseekers ang pumupunta dito, and effective po talaga ang job fairs para sa mga companies na naghahanap ng new employees.”

Meanwhile, financial services firms highlighted the long-term success of hires from SM Job Fairs.

“The candidates we hired from our last job fair here at SM North EDSA have good profiles,” shared Tia Macatlang of BDO Life, “and we see that they are now successful financial advisers.”

Strengthening employment through public-private collaboration

The job fair was held in partnership with key government agencies, including the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Public Employment Service Office (PESO)—underscoring the value of public-private collaboration in employment generation.

 

“Malaki ang tulong ng SM Supermalls sa PESO at DOLE,” said Jon Tito, Group Leader of QC PESO. “Kinakalat nila ang opportunities para sa mga naghahanap ng trabaho.”

SM Government Service Express: making hiring easier, faster

To further simplify the employment journey, the job fair featured SM Government Service Express, a one-stop hub where applicants could process pre-employment requirements in one location.

Participating agencies included the Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG Fund, PhilHealth, and the Philippine National Police for police clearance.

“Pinapadali ng ganitong job fairs ang mga oportunidad para sa jobseekers,” explained Adolf Hernandez of PhilHealth QC. “May hired on the spot ka na, at nandito na rin ang mga government agencies para sa requirements.”

SSS echoed this, emphasizing accessibility: “Importante na sumasali ang mga government agencies sa job fairs,” said Ava Michelle Estrella of SSS, “kasi on the spot, natutulungan namin ang applicants sa pagkuha ng requirements.”

Bringing opportunities closer, nationwide

Following the strong turnout at SM City North EDSA, SM Supermalls continues to bring job opportunities closer to Filipinos with a series of job fairs nationwide this March:

• March 4 – SM Center Antipolo

• March 6 – SM Mall of Asia

• March 11 – SM City Davao

• March 13 – SM City Trece Martires

• March 20 – SM City North EDSA

• March 25 – SM City Urdaneta Central

• March 26 - SM City Tuguegarao

• March 27 – SM City Trece Martires

• March 27 – SM City Cauayan

Job seekers are encouraged to bring multiple copies of their resume, valid IDs, and other basic pre-employment requirements, and to arrive early to maximize interview opportunities. Admission to SM Job Fairs is free and open to the public, unless otherwise specified.

For updates on schedules and participating employers, applicants may visit SM Supermalls’ official social media pages or inquire at the customer service desk of participating malls.

Turning malls into platforms for opportunity

The continued success of the SM Job Fair highlights how the country’s most loved malls are evolving beyond retail becoming platforms that deliver real-world solutions for Filipinos.

By bringing together employers, job seekers, and government agencies in one accessible space, SM Supermalls continues to max out experiences—turning malls into hubs where careers begin, requirements are completed, and futures move forward.

At SM Supermalls, opportunities don’t just exist—they feel possible.