Village Connect
By Debbie Sy
Individually, we are one drop, but together, we can create ripples of social good. Today, more than ever, there is a profound need for collaboration in service of the greater good.
As SM Foundation charts its course for the coming years, we are fortifying our initiatives with the power of collaboration. By uniting diverse stakeholders—from community voices to resource partners—we combine our collective strengths behind a shared vision, uplifting the lives of the communities we happily serve.
Through synergistic efforts in education, health, livelihood, and disaster response, we aim to amplify our reach, drive sustainable change, and continue Henry “Tatang” Sy Sr’s lasting legacy in social good.
In education, the SM Foundation College Scholarship Program has helped over 4,200 graduates launch their careers and uplift their families. Through strategic partnerships within the SM Group, our scholars gain invaluable work experience and a robust career launchpad through our internship or scholar-to-professional programs.
Working hand-in-hand with partners, the Department of Education, local government units (LGUs), and educators, the School Building Program has constructed 108 new schools. This initiative aims to improve student learning and create a more fulfilling work environment for teachers.
In health and wellness, we continue to collaborate with our partner communities, medical professionals, healthcare providers, LGUs, volunteer health workers, and partners to make community-based healthcare more accessible. Our synergistic efforts have led to the upgrading of over 200 public health centers complemented by medical missions that have served close to seven million patients across the country.
Our #CollabForSocialGood initiatives actively cultivate synergies with public, private, civil society, and community partners to implement our program in livelihood and agriculture. This equipped over 30,300 farmer-beneficiaries with modern farming techniques and entrepreneurial know-how. Paving self-sufficiency and opening livelihood opportunities, we went beyond with SM Supermalls by facilitating Weekend Market, aiming to enhance their access to broader markets and sustainable income streams.
Our disaster response efforts further exemplify the power of collective action, enabling us to rapidly deploy urgent relief alongside local volunteers and authorities in times of crisis.
Together, we have delivered Kalinga Packs to over 800,000 families in disaster-stricken areas nationwide.
At every step, we have witnessed how collaboration amplifies our ability to understand challenges, design contextually grounded solutions, and ensure those solutions create a genuine, life-changing impact. Through our initiatives with partners, we aim to inspire communities and individuals to spread social good in their own unique ways.
Debbie Sy is the Executive Director and Trustee of SM Foundation.
