WATCH: Celebrities And Influencers Gather To Celebrate SM's 60th Anniversary
Founded in 1958 by Henry Sy, Sr., SM (formerly known as Shoemart), undoubtedly paved the way for the so-called malling phenomenon in the Philippines. The first Shoemart store was built in Manila, brought about by Mr. Sy’s goal of selling a pair of shoes to every Filipino.
Just two years into the business, the shoe store chain saw expansions in Makati and Cubao. About ten years later, in the 1970s, Shoemart went beyond just selling shoes and evolved into a department store that became known as SM. Come 1980s, SM embraced its one-stop shopping concept further by expanding to supermarket and appliance businesses.
In 1985, the first SM shopping center, SM City North EDSA, was opened, much to the delight of Filipino families who were then just discovering the fun experience that comes with malling. Today, SM has close to a thousand retail stores and 70 malls in the Philippines, and 7 malls in China. It’s truly hard to imagine what Filipino lifestyle would have been without SM, which has obviously been a part of people’s day-to-day lives.
READ: SM Celebrates 60 Years With A Star-Studded Launch Party
SM Chairman for Executive Committee Hans T. Sy (left), SM Markets Vice Chair Herbert T. Sy (2nd to the left, front), SM Investments Vice Chair Teresita Sy-Coson (2nd to the right), and SM Hotels and Conventions Corp President Elizabeth T. Sy (right) during the ceremonial toast at the launch of SM’s 60th anniversary celebration at the SM Mall of Asia
The success of SM has carried over to other industries such as real estate (SM Prime Holdings), banking (BDO), and even hospitality (SM Hotels and Convention Centers, which include world-class hotels, a state of the art arena, convention and exhibition centers, and premier beach and mountain resorts).
As a way of giving back and as part of their corporate social responsibility, the company also put up SM Foundation, through which they conduct educational, health, and livelihood training programs, and SM Cares whose initiatives are geared towards building green spaces in its malls.
All aspects considered, there is indeed a lot of awesome reasons to celebrate the company's 60th anniversary.
The celebration kicked off by lighting the iconic globe at the SM Mall of Asia with the “SM Celebrates 60” logo. This was followed by a #AweSM launch party at the same venue last May 21, which gathered SM’s partners, tenants, celebrity supporters, and valued stakeholders.
The grand stage, dressed up like a dreamy candy land with super sized balloons, saw SM’s roster of ambassadors walking the ramp, representing its different brands such as Parisian, SM Kids, SM Woman, SM Men, SM Youth, SM Accessories, SM Supermalls, SMDC, SM Cinema, and SM Supermarkets.
“The little boy’s dream has evolved into what SM is today, with positions in retail, malls, residences, and banking. My father taught us his six kids to work like him. He was very demanding, and it was always what you always hear, ‘Build, Build, Build.’ For us, it was ‘work, work, work,’” SM Investments Vice Chair Teresita Sy-Coson said of her father, Henry Sy, Sr. during the #AweSM launch party, adding that "yes, we are a senior citizen now; it allows us to be nostalgic. But it’s not the history that we’re celebrating today. We’re celebrating our future.”
Watch what went on at the launch party here:
See more photos of the celebrities, influencers, and other esteemed guests who graced the event:
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In photos: Event host Raymond Gutierrez; Gerald Anderson for SM Supermarkets; Xian Lim for SMDC; Marlon Stockinger for SM Men; Fabio Ide for SM Men; Janeena Chan for SM Woman; Bettina Carlos and her daughter Gummy for SM Kids; Miss Fire Philippines 2018 Jean de Jesus, Miss Earth Philippines 2018 Sylvia Celeste Cortesi and Miss Water Philippines 2018 Berjayneth Chee for SM Woman; SM Youth ambassadors Richard Juan, Kaila Estrada and Tommy Esguerra; SM Little Star winners Gaea Mischa Salipot, Yessha Hilkiah dela Calzada and Sheen Kirtsten; models showcasing SM Men’s latest collection; Bituin Escalante, Radha and Frenchie Dy; Mrs. Felicidad T. Sy and Mara Coson; Suyen Corporation’s Ben Chan; SM Chairman for Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, SM COO Steven Tan with Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho; McDonald’s Kenneth Yang and wife Cindy; National Bookstore’s Vice President Presentacion Ramos; Jollibee’s William Tan-Untiong and SM’s SAVP for mall-based units Froilan Manotok; Max’s Group Inc.’s Chairman Sharon Fuentebella; Sandy Prieto Romualdez and Tessa Prieto-Valdes; SM SVP for Marketing Millie Dizon and Tonichi Nocum; Ces Drilon, Gabby Concepcion; Herrera sisters Victoria, Rosaria and Teresa; Joey Mead-King; Annabelle Rama, Teresita Sy-Coson, Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho; Carla Concio with daughters Julia and Talia; Margarita Fores; Teresa Herrera; and SM Investments Vice Chair Teresita Sy-Coson
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