In furtherance of its advocacy to uphold the rights and welfare of children, SM has partnered once more with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to empower children with disabilities (CWDs) through a photo exhibit and a stage a play on the   advocacy.

The photo exhibit entitled “See What I Can Do”, held in collaboration with Camera Club of the Philippines, was formally launched Monday (July 18, 2016) at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall and opened by Vice
President Leni Robredo, UNICEF Deputy Representative Julia Rees and SM Supermalls President Annie Garcia.

The exhibit featured photographs of CWDs and the outstanding achievements they have done despite their condition. The exhibit will be on display at SM MOA until July 23. It will also be shown in SM City
Clark from July 18 to 28, SM City Cebu from August 13 to 19 and SM City Davao from August 22 to 29.

After the opening of the photo exhibit, the play, entitled “Sandosenang Sapatos”, was staged also at the Music Hall of SM MOA. The musical play, staged by Tanghalang Pilipino, is based on Dr. Luis
Gatmaitan’s Palanca Award-winning children’s book of the same title. It tackles the love between the father and his daughter who was born without legs.

The play will again be shown for free at the MOA on July 23 (11am and 4 pm) and SM City Clark on July 24 (11am and 4 pm).

Garcia said the objective of the campaign, which coincides with the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week, is to help raise awareness and create an inclusive environment wherein CWDs’
abilities are highlighted instead of their disabilities.

 “It is said that children with disabilities are oftentimes misunderstood in society, facing discrimination at times. With society’s lack of understanding, these children and their parents find it hard to realize their
full rights and potentials,” Garcia said.

She added, “(t)hat needs to change, and now. We, at SM, extend a helping hand to reach out to them in the most affectionate means we can muster to bring fun, laughter, a bit of gladness to touch their
hearts.”

Garcia further stated that the play is just one of the collaborative projects SM has with UNICEF, being partners since 2008. “This event even becomes more special because it also touches on an advocacy
close to our hearts – the rights of children. And we are very honored to be partners once again with the United Children’s Fund for this momentous event,” she stated.

Other notable partnership projects of SM and UNICEF include the WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Project wherein a portion of the sale of SM’s bottled water goes to the organization’s efforts to provide
clean drinking water to various provinces in the country. To date, it has already helped more than 113,000 school children across the country.

Various PWD partner groups such as the Autism Society Philippines, Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, AKAP Pinoy, and National Council for Disability Affairs (NCDA) also attended the event.