Women Empowerment and Resilience: SM Supports Breastfeeding Awareness At Work and In Communities
In support of our SM advocacy on women empowerment and resilience, employees across the SM Prime Group promoted Breastfeeding Awareness with SM Cares last August 2021.
“August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month and it is a great opportunity to promote the health, wellness and resilience of empowered women and nursing mothers,” said Atty. Pearly Turley, AVP for Corporate Compliance and Chair of the Women’s Committee of SM Supermalls.
To create a more inclusive workplace for moms at work, employees were encouraged to send motivating e-cards to breastfeeding colleagues via the SM Life mobile app. An online photo contest also enabled moms at work to inspire others by sharing their best breastfeeding photo on social media. The contest was extended to Super Dads, Titos and Titas who sent shout-out posts proudly sharing a touching memory with their breastfeeding loved ones. The top post from Ms. Maria Soriano of SM Cinema generated 846 likes.
In empowering women resilience, “Mom’s Health” was at the forefront of the Wellness Learning Series webinar last August 25. Featured guest speakers were Coach Mindy Lagdameo, fitness recovery coach and the Philippines’ first certified postpartum core and pelvic rehabilitation specialist, and Ms. Bing Guevara, trained breastfeeding peer counselor and co-founder of popular moms’ group, Breastfeeding Pinays. 60 attendees spanning moms, dads and immediate family learned tips on how moms can repair their core, get proper nutrition and exercise while breastfeeding and sustain breastfeeding and milk supply while at work. One of our attendees shared, “This session encouraged me to think that breastfeeding at work is normal and that, as a mother, giving breastmilk to our babies is one of our special abilities.”
To further raise breastfeeding awareness in our communities, SM Cares mounted an online art exhibit participated by 31 multi-generational artists across the country and abroad. The artworks were promoted through an online social media contest won by 17-year old Keisha Barnuevo of Caloocan City. Her artwork, “A Child’s Haven” garnered the most number of likes.
“We are proud of our AweSM moms who remain committed to breastfeeding and to all our employees who support their colleagues and loved ones in their breastfeeding journey as well. Truly, SM cares and we look forward to engaging more with our employees and communities in empowering women,” said Mr. Chito Bauzon, AVP for Sustainability & Corporate Resiliency of SM Supermalls.