When it comes to challenges as big as climate change, businesses and communities have to work together and consumers need to have concrete, practical options that can allow them to go green in their everyday life.

SM Supermalls President Steven Tan acknowledges that “People already know about the importance of sustainability. Their question is ‘What can I do?’ SM helps them find a way to make a difference.”

SM, the country’s largest retailer, is taking the lead in offering accessible eco-friendly options to their consumers through the recently launched Green Finds. Consumers simply need to spot items and products with a Green Finds badge.

The SM Green Finds initiative helps customers develop a sustainable lifestyle through affordable and easy-to-find eco-friendly products showcased in convenient pop-up stores.

These kiosks feature several green shopping options from 22 participating brands which includes SM Home, SM Fashion, Watsons, The Body Shop, Kultura, Baby Company, Ace Hardware, Supplies Station, Sports Central, Toy Kingdom, and Signature Lines.

Supporting local businesses

Many products featured in the Green Finds pop-up stores are made by local businesses. This is part of SM’s long-standing commitment to support Filipino small and medium enterprises—driven by its origins as a small shoe store in downtime Manila in 1958.

Today, SM works with almost 25,000 small and medium enterprises representing 27% of the total SMEs in the country. Aside from helping them reach consumers through several retail channels, it also gives free training on sustainability and social and environmental topics through the Green Movement Sustainability School.

Empowering consumers

SM is also offering multiple channels where consumers can pick out green items: from brick-and-mortar stores to online spaces.

“As the country’s largest shopping platform—with malls nationwide, the ShopSM website and app, and services like Personal Shopper and Click and Collect—we are in a unique position to make it easier for people to spot green finds,” says Cathy Ileto, VP for Corporate Communications, SM Retail.

“Our platforms empower consumers by giving them more choices, which drives the movement towards a green lifestyle.”

Community Engagement through the SM Green Movement

The SM Green Finds is part of a comprehensive program called the SM Green Movement, which brings together the customers, suppliers and partners, and communities in a joint effort to help protect the planet.

“The goal of the SM Green Movement is to get everyone involved in the effort to stop global warming and protect the planet,” Tan further stated.

For several years, SM has engaged the local communities in environmental programs. This includes recycling programs like Trash to Cash Market, SM Electronic Waste Collection, and coastal cleanups.

SM has also encouraged customers to use more eco-friendly transportation, through bike lanes and electronic vehicle (EV) charging stations in several of its malls.

Join the Green Movement

The SM Green Movement is a collective effort of SM, its customers, communities, and partners to promote green living, green culture, and a green planet. For more information, visit this website.

Singlife Philippines, a mobile-first savings and protection company, launched its partnership with Moovr, the country’s first bike and e-scooter sharing app.

With this partnership, Moovr riders in BGC, Makati, and Filinvest Alabang are offered FREE PHP100,000 coverage when using bikes or e-scooters.  They can sign up to claim this free coverage through the Moovr app.

Teaming up to solve customer pain points

Singlife and Moovr are both start-ups that solve challenges customers experience by using the most innovative technology.  Singlife offers easy access to solutions that support the middle class to protect their financial future by ensuring there is money when needed. The company has made products for income protection, medical cost protection, and solutions that help prepare for education expenses available on mobile devices. They’ve been specially designed to fit customers’ needs and budget.  Moovr is dedicated to making commuting in key business areas easier, and more sustainable. 

Both companies are disruptors in the established industries they belong to, offering alternatives that better fit customers’ needs and preferences. This is the shared belief that initiated this partnership. 

“We are in the business of helping today’s movers and shakers get to where they need to be, faster, safer, and in a more sustainable manner.  We are thrilled to partner with Singlife to offer an added layer of protection to all our riders” said Anna Moncupa, CEO of Moovr. 

“Both Moovr and Singlife Philippines believe that technology is a game-changer for solving customer pain points and providing better services. We are happy that through this partnership, we make commuting and being financially protected–things that were such a hassle in the past — more accessible and better” Moncupa added.

“Very few Filipinos own life insurance products, and this is because the traditional ways of getting insured are tedious, complicated, and expensive. We partnered with Moovr to show people that getting the protection you need can be as easy, budget-friendly, and fast, just like riding a bike or e-scooter!” said Rien Hermans, CEO of Singlife Philippines.

Mooving around the city protected with Singlife

More than 1,000 people have already been protected since the start of this partnership. Singlife Philippines helps Moovr users protect themselves against the financial impacts of accidents with FREE P100,000 coverage. In less than a minute they can apply for their coverage and start their ride on a Moovr bike or e-scooter.

“Being financially protected means that unexpected events do not have to lead to big financial setbacks. Be responsible, be financially ready, and protect your family’s financial future” added Hermans.

Garmin Philippines launched the new Forerunner 255 series, which builds upon the popular Forerunner 245 series, now providing full triathlon support, new training metrics, enhanced smartwatch features (when paired with a smartphone) and more, while introducing the Forerunner 255S and Forerunner 255S Music in a more compact 41mm sized case. 

“Garmin always innovates with the athlete in mind,”  says Mr. Scoppen Lin, Assistant General Manager, Garmin Asia. “With the Forerunner 255 series, we have always wanted to ensure that our customers are provided with the best tools that will help them improve their performance and achieve their goals.” 

“What makes this series special is that the Forerunner 255 was designed by runners for runners, providing our customers– our athletes with everything they need right on their wrist,” says Sheena Sim, Regional Marketing Manager for Garmin Philippines. “So instead of you figuring out how to analyze the data on your own, you’ll have your smartwatch, providing the insights for you.”

Here’s what’s new:

• Full triathlon support: Switch up a workout routine with triathlon and multisport activity profiles. During races and brick workouts, easily toggle between sports with a single button press.
• Morning report: Receive the day’s weather and daily workout suggestion, as well as information about last night’s sleep and HRV status.¹ The report can even be customized so athletes can view only the details they want to see.
• Race widget: View race prep information – including a race day-specific performance prediction, race day weather and a countdown clock – all in one widget. Once a race is scheduled, daily suggested workouts will adapt based on an athlete’s race plans.
• HRV status: Track heart rate variability while sleeping to get a better handle on recovery and an overall wellness picture. 
• Daily workout suggestions: Provides an entire week of day-to-day training guidance on what workout is most effective for overall wellness and will adapt based on race plans that are set up using the new race widget. 
• Garmin Coach: Train for a 5K, 10K or half-marathon with free training plans that adapt based on a runner’s goals and performance. 
• Multi-band GPS: Garmin’s reliable GPS accuracy just got better. By enabling multi-band, multi-satellite-system tracking on the watch, athletes can receive more accuracy in their run data, even in the most challenging environments.
• Native running power: When using a Running Dynamics Pod (sold separately), receive real-time metrics of how much power is being exerted on a run, built into the watch – no app required.

Offering personalized training and recovery insights, the Forerunner 255 series includes performance monitoring tools to help athletes push the limits. Athletes can also switch up workouts with dozens of built-in sports apps, including triathlon, cycling, pool and open-water swimming, track run, and more. The series also features a Wrist-based Pulse Ox³ and the Body Battery™ which shows current energy levels to help athletes find the best times for activity and rest. It also aids women by featuring menstrual cycle tracking and pregnancy tracking, helping them adjust their training to plan for upcoming races.

Whether working out alone or with friends, built-in safety and tracking features include incident detection, assistance and LiveTrack to let loved ones follow along on a run or ride. Following a workout, the Forerunner 255 series will automatically upload activities to Garmin Connect, a no-cost, subscription-free platform where athletes can view all of their health and fitness data, connect and compete with friends, sign up for challenges and more.

Packed with connected features, the Forerunner 255 series lets users get the most out of their smartwatch with smart social and SMS notifications, as well as built-in music that can store up to 500 songs from Spotify^®.

The Forerunner 255 and Forerunner 255S is now available at Garmin Brand Stores, kinetic.com.ph, Lazada, Shopee and the Garmin PH Viber Community, and retails for P21,975 while the Forerunner 255 Music is also available for P25,115. With any purchase of the Forerunner 255 series from any official Garmin store, customers can avail of a 20% discount voucher for ASICS. Terms and conditions apply while stocks last.

For more information on the Forerunner 255 series, visit Garmin’s virtual pressroom at ph.garmin.com/news/pressroom and on our blog at garmin.com/en-PH/blog. For other promos, follow us at Facebook, Instagram, YouTube.