SM Supermalls through its SM Cares Program on Disability Affairs treated PWDs with free tickets to the OPM Icons concert at the Mall of Asia Arena recently. The concert featured legendary OPM artists in the country like Freddie Aguilar, Jose Mari Chan, Basil Valdez, Martin Nievera, Lea Salonga and many others. The event also officially launched the Mall of Asia Arena that features state-of-the-art multimedia technology, corporate suites, seating capacity of 16,000 for sporting events, a full-house capacity of 20,000 I, and a 2,000-capacity car park building.

One of the invitees Emerito Rojas, Sectoral Representative – Persons with Disabilities of the National Anti-Poverty Commission and president of the New Vois Association of the Philippines (NVAP), said  ‘It’s an honor for us PWDs to be invited here at the SM Arena for the OPM Icons concert. IWe would like to thank SM and its SM Cares Program on Disability Affairs especially to Engr. Bien Mateo for bringing us here. I’m really glad that PWDs are well taken care of by SM. SM Supermalls is the favorite of PWDs because of its accessibility. No other malls can compare to SM’s dedication and support for PWDs. They do not also forget us in grand occasions such as this.’

Rojas had a laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer due to smoking. Diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, his whole larynx was removed at age 44. Today Rojas is a cancer survivor and uses an artificial electro larynx device that he holds close to his throat in order to project a voice formed from vibrations emitted by his stomach. He founded the New Vois Association of the Philippines Inc., a cancer support group and advocate of the anti-smoking campaign. ‘Quit smoking. Life is too beautiful to let it go to waste,’ he said.

The SM Cares Program on Disability Affairs help customers with special needs to make their shopping experience easier, friendlier and more enjoyable at all SM Supermalls. It is advocating a change in attitude of the community towards PWDs. SM believes that the greatest barrier for PWDs is the lack of understanding about their special needs. This where the SM Program on Disability Affairs comes in. It educates tenants and staff to break away the physical and mental barriers that disable customers with special needs and enable them and their families to have a friendlier and more enjoyable shopping experience. Through this, SM Supermalls have earned the distinction of being the most PWD friendly mall in the country.