Better Days at SM Brings Hope Closer to Youth
SM Cares' multi-mall mental
health caravan created safe spaces for young people to share, connect, and
build resilience
MANILA, Philippines — Young
people need room to be heard — to know their voice has weight and their lives
matter. Right now, that kind of space matters more than usual.
As part of its work to empower
the next generation of Filipinos and build stronger communities, SM Cares
mounted Better Days: A Youth Mental Health Caravan, hosted with Mental Health
Youth Hub PH, I AM MAD (Making A Difference), the National Youth Commission,
and Global Peace Foundation Philippines.
Where the Caravan Went
The multi-mall initiative gave
young people a welcoming setting to talk openly about what they're going
through, pick up practical ways to look after their mental well-being, and see
for themselves that they don't have to carry hard days alone.
The caravan opened at the SM
North EDSA Skydome on July 3, with further stops at SM Center Pulilan Atrium
and SM City Molino Cinema 1, all under the theme “A Space for Sharing of Hope,
Creating Connections, and Building Better Communities.”
In Their Own Words
“At SM Cares, we believe a
stronger nation begins with young people who know that their lives matter, that
their voices have value, and that there are people and communities ready to
stand beside them,” said Joaquin San Agustin, Executive Vice President for
Marketing of SM Supermalls. “And when young people feel heard, valued, and
supported, they become better equipped to face challenges, care for others, and
take part in building the communities they want to live in.”
What Happened at Each Stop
Through panel discussions,
group activities, and talks from youth advocates and resource speakers,
participants worked through what a better day could actually look like — and
what part they could play in creating one, for themselves and for people around
them. The program pushed young people to open up about their struggles, build
resilience, and treat self-care as a daily habit rather than an afterthought.
Broadcaster and TV personality
Kuya Kim Atienza joined the roster of speakers at the SM North EDSA leg, adding
his own perspective on well-being and resilience to the conversation.
Building on a Formal Partnership
The caravan followed a June 24 memorandum of understanding
signed by SM Cares, the National Youth Commission — represented by Commissioner
Undersecretary Joseph Francisco “Jeff” Ortega — and Mental Health Youth Hub PH,
formalizing the group's shared commitment to youth mental health and laying the
groundwork for the initiative. Better Days was powered by the Global Youth
Summit.
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