SM and PMAP Mega Job Fair: Building an Employment Ecosystem, Not Just a Hiring Event

Neither rain nor a disrupted schedule could keep jobseekers from showing up for their next opportunity.

FROM JOBSEEKER TO HIRED! Successful applicants proudly mark their new beginnings after being hired on the spot at the PMAP Mega Job Fair 2026, where SM Job Fair and PMAP brought employment opportunities closer to Filipino communities.

After getting pushed back to August 17–18 due to bad weather in Metro Manila, the PMAP Mega Job Fair 2026 still went ahead as planned at the SM City North EDSA Skydome — bringing jobseekers, employers, career coaches, upskilling programs, and employment support services together under one roof. Held with SM Job Fair, the two-day event drew around 30 employers and hundreds of jobseekers, with several applicants hired on the spot.

A jobseeker meets directly with a recruiter at the PMAP Mega Job Fair 2026, bringing meaningful career opportunities closer to the community.

A Fair Built Around More Than Hiring

Held in celebration of the People Management Association of the Philippines' (PMAP) 70th anniversary, the fair carried the theme “HumanITy Forward 2026: Empowering Talent in a Digital World” — putting the focus not just on getting Filipinos hired, but on helping them actually keep up with a fast-changing world of work.

SM Supermalls' Royston Cabunag, 1st District Councilor Hon. Charm Ferrer, PMAP President Gilbert Camasura, PMAP Past President Obet Policarpio, PMAP's Ghie Lara and Jemai Duque-Gomez, and DOLE QC Director Rowella Grande, officially open the PMAP Mega Job Fair 2026, reaffirming their shared commitment to creating more employment opportunities and building a future-ready Filipino workforce.

More Than Getting Hired

For Ghie Lara, Chairperson of PMAP's Employability Committee, the event was really about a broader shift in how Filipinos build sustainable careers.

“What we have here is not just a job fair but an employability ecosystem which includes our employer partners. This year, we also have the upskilling zone and the career-coaching zone where volunteers can give guidance to our jobseekers. We are here not only to employ but also to upskill,” she said.

HIRED ON THE SPOT! Newly hired applicants celebrate their career milestone with Ghie Lara, Chairperson of PMAP's Employability Committee, at the PMAP Mega Job Fair 2026. Their success reflects what the event's employability ecosystem is all about — connecting Filipino talent with employers, career support, and opportunities that can lead to meaningful employment.

That approach fits neatly into where SM Job Fair has been heading — bringing employment opportunities closer to communities while giving jobseekers real pathways to build the skills and confidence they need to compete in today's job market.

Showing Up for Opportunity, Rain or Shine

For the jobseekers who showed up despite the weather, the payoff was personal. Richmond Carl Bello arrived determined to find work and left hired on the spot as Administrative Staff at Readyman.

“Pumunta po ako ngayon kasi kailangan po talaga ng work. Umulan man o bumagyo, kailangan ng trabaho,” he said.

Hired-on-the-spot applicant Richmond Carl Bello celebrates his new opportunity with SM Supermalls executives Royston Cabunag, Asst. Vice President and Head of SM Communities; Pats Lim-Dy, Senior Asst. Vice President for SM Communities Marketing; and Cedrik Forbes, Lead for SM Job Fairs, at the PMAP Mega Job Fair 2026.

Sweet Ehricka Toledo, hired on the spot as a Cashier at SM Hypermarket, said having the fair inside the mall made the whole process easier despite the weather outside.

“Hindi ako mapipigilan ng ulan sa paghahanap ng trabaho. Buti po dito sa SM ang job fair, secured po mula sa panahon at maayos ang lugar,” she said.

Their stories point to something fairly simple: when opportunities are closer and easier to reach, more Filipinos actually get the chance to pursue them.

HIRED ON THE SPOT! A successful applicant proudly celebrates landing a new job at the PMAP Mega Job Fair 2026 — turning a day of job hunting into a fresh career start.

Connecting Employers With Community Talent

The benefits went both ways. Jhane Unciano, Administrative Manager of Dewan Architects and Engineers, said the event helped the company build up its talent pool as it grows its Philippine presence.

“We are also trying to promote our company's needs for Architects and Engineers... and we think this partnership with PMAP and SM is helping us tremendously with this,” she said.

Joaquin Feliciano, University Relations Partner and Talent Sourcer at Meralco, likewise pointed to the strong turnout despite the weather, crediting the collaboration between Quezon City LGU, PMAP, and SM. By putting employers and jobseekers in the same accessible venue, SM Job Fair helps close the gap between available talent and available opportunity.

Making the Employment Journey Easier

Jobseekers were also able to access digital government services through eGovPH, helping speed up requirements like TIN, Pag-IBIG, and SSS.

Pauline Faye Agtarap, Project Development Officer II of DICT, said the service takes a real burden off jobseekers' plates.

“Happy po ako kasi natutulungan natin ang mga naghahanap ng trabaho, bawas po sa pag-asikaso nila. It's a great opportunity to have SM as a partner in promoting the programs of DICT in helping Filipino jobseekers,” she said.

That reflects the broader direction SM Job Fair has been taking — making the road to employment more convenient, not just by bringing jobs closer, but by connecting Filipinos with skills training and support services along the way.

OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN REACH. Jobseekers connect directly with recruiters at the PMAP Mega Job Fair 2026, exploring career opportunities from multiple employers — all under one roof.

Opportunities Closer to Home

The PMAP Mega Job Fair is part of SM Supermalls' ongoing nationwide employment advocacy, bringing employers, government, and industry partners together to make career opportunities more accessible across different communities. From a jobseeker braving bad weather for an interview to an applicant walking out with a new job, what it comes down to is individual lives actually moving forward.

Sometimes the distance between looking for an opportunity and actually finding one comes down to something simple — having the right people, support, and opportunities within reach.

ONE HANDSHAKE CLOSER TO A NEW CAREER. A jobseeker connects with a recruiter at the PMAP Mega Job Fair 2026, where face-to-face conversations open doors to new career possibilities.

More SM Job Fairs Ahead

Following the PMAP Mega Job Fair's success, SM Job Fair keeps its nationwide hiring lineup going:

●        August 25 — SM City Davao | SM City Tuguegarao

●        August 26 — SM City Fairview | SM City Cabanatuan

●        August 27 — SM City Pampanga | SM City Bacoor | SM City Trece Martires | SM Center Muntinlupa

●        August 29 — SM City Baguio

●        August 31 — SM Center San Pedro

●        September 1 — SM City Sto. Tomas

●        September 3 — SM City Manila

●        September 4 — SM City Sta. Mesa

●        September 7–8 — SM City Butuan

●        September 8–9 — SM City Iloilo | SM City Davao

●        September 9 — SM City Baguio

●        September 9–10 — SM City Cebu | SM CDO Downtown Premier

●        September 10 — SM City Trece Martires | SM City Tuguegarao | SM City North EDSA | SM City Zamboanga

●        September 12 — SM City La Union | SM City San Pablo

●        September 14 — SM CDO Downtown Premier

●        September 16–17 — SM Seaside City Cebu

●        September 24 — SM City Trece Martires | SM City Calamba

●        September 29 — SM City Bacoor

Schedules and participating malls may change without prior notice.

Each event gives jobseekers direct access to employers across different industries — a chance to explore career options, submit applications, and go through on-the-spot interviews, all in one accessible location.

About SM Supermalls – Job Fairs

SM Supermalls is one of Southeast Asia's largest mall developers and operators, with 90 malls in the Philippines and 9 in China. For generations, SM has grown alongside Filipino communities by creating destinations where people, businesses, and opportunities come together. Through SM Job Fairs, SM continues to evolve with the aspirations of Filipino jobseekers by making employment opportunities more accessible across its malls nationwide. Designed for diverse jobseeker communities — from fresh graduates and career shifters to experienced professionals — SM connects talent with employers through meaningful partnerships that support workforce development and inclusive economic growth. My SM. Your Most Loved Supermall.