One afternoon at SM Aura was enough to show why generations of shoppers have made the Negros Trade Fair a much-awaited celebration. The Association of Negros Producers (ANP), together with SM Supermalls, officially launched BÚTLAK: The 40th Negros Trade Fair with a preview that brought together the flavors, fashion, craftsmanship, stories, and creative spirit of Negros. From September 22 to 27, 2026, the landmark anniversary edition will bring 178 brands from the Negros Island Region to the SMX Convention Center Aura.
Category: Random Musings
SM Supermalls delivered record revenues in the first half the year, expanding 8% to P41.8 billion from P38.6 billion. Its exceptional performance was driven by higher leasable space and tenant sign-ups, along with steady foot traffic.
Total gross leasable area grew 3 percent to 5.1 million square meters from 5.0 million square meters, while the number of tenants rose 4 percent to 23,174 from 22,192. Average daily foot traffic was steady at 3.7 million.
“Our growth reflects the enduring trust of our tenants and shoppers. Despite macroeconomic headwinds, they continue to find value in the variety of our offerings and the strong sense of community in our malls,” said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan. “This gives us confidence to keep investing in spaces and experiences that respond to their changing needs.”
SM’s Transformation Journey
Noting market demand for diverse and unique experiences beyond retail, SM enhanced its spaces with refreshed sports, leisure, and entertainment offerings. The mall operator sustained foot traffic through the addition of 41 Pickleball courts in its first-half inventory, bringing up the number of its courts to 102 courts across 32 properties nationwide.
On June 12, 2026, SM Supermalls also co-hosted the Galaxy Manila Marathon, the first-ever full marathon to take over EDSA, drawing over 25,000 runners across multiple categories.
On top of these, SM also emphasized its corporate purpose of driving value to its surrounding communities through sustainable facilities developed in its malls. From 100 Megawatt peak (MWp) solar power generated through its mall rooftop solar PV system, SM has increased its capacity to 122 MWp with further plans on expansion until the end of the year. SM also recently reached 100% coverage for free EV Charging Stations across all 90 of its malls at 203 EV charging stations.
Because of its sustained innovation and pioneering customer-centric vision, SM Supermalls was heralded as the Philippines’ Strongest Brand for the second year in a row by leading global brand valuation consultancy firm Brand Finance. Fueled by its strong customer, community, and advocacy initiatives, SM Supermalls scored a 95.3 out of 100 on the Brand Strength Index, surpassing its 2025 performance to retain its AAA+ rating in the Philippines 50 2026 report.
The next chapter of My SM
With these milestones, SM aims to sustain its customer-defined transformation through My SM—its five-year platform for evolving SM malls around the changing needs, lifestyles and aspirations of Filipino communities.
“Our growth plan for the rest of 2026 and beyond is to continue evolving for our customers. SM will keep building business momentum through the introduction of exciting new brands, cinema and entertainment acts, as well as leisure offerings that will sustain market interest. With the upcoming opening of our 91st mall, SM Nuvali, we are expanding our business footprint in the emerging growth corridor of South Luzon and Calabarzon with an innovative upscale mall concept never experienced in the Philippine market before,” said Tan.
A coconut may be familiar, but what Filipino entrepreneurs are doing with it is anything but. A college feasibility study has become a Gen Z-run coconut milk business. Surplus coconut shells are being transformed into handcrafted bags while helping provide livelihood to more than 100 workers. And one entrepreneur has developed around 40 products by finding new uses for virtually every part of the coconut.
Every day, over 170,000 commuters board the EDSA Bus Carousel to get to work, school, and everywhere in between – and this passenger count continues to climb. As more Filipinos turn to the EDSA busway as their daily mode of transportation, the infrastructure around its busiest stations is being pushed to keep pace, with one of the initiatives being a direct walkway linking the bus station to SM Megamall.
to 27, 2026, the country’s longest-running provincial trade fair returns to SMX Convention Center Aura, bringing the best of Negros closer to Metro Manila shoppers for its milestone 40th anniversary.
After being rescheduled to August 17–18 due to inclement weather in Metro Manila, the PMAP Mega Job Fair 2026, held in collaboration with SM Job Fair, pushed through at the SM City North EDSA Skydome—connecting jobseekers with employers, career coaches, upskilling opportunities, and employment support services under one roof. The two-day event brought together around 30 employers and hundreds of jobseekers, with several applicants hired on the spot (HOTS).
SM continues its transformation journey beyond its retail and shared spaces, its malls are also evolving to make getting to and from key transport hubs easier for commuters.
Cebu continues to strengthen its reputation as one of the country’s most dynamic travel destinations, offering visitors a diverse mix of attractions, experiences, and activities that go beyond its renowned beaches and heritage sites. As part of its SM for Cebu commitment, the most-loved SM malls in Cebu continue to bring together shopping, dining, entertainment, recreation, and leisure experiences, giving both locals and visitors a maxed-out experience and more ways to discover, dine, play, and make the most of their time in the province.
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This month, SM Supermalls is bringing even more reasons to plan that next mall trip across Mindanao. Think new cafés, fresh dining spots, and exciting brands making their debut! Here’s a quick roundup of the latest openings you won’t want to miss.
Let’s get into the newest arrivals, shall we?
The next great Filipino brand may be closer than you think. Behind every handcrafted accessory, woven textile, artisanal delicacy, sustainable fashion piece, and proudly Filipino product is a woman who dared to turn an idea into a business. Some are preserving generations of Filipino craftsmanship. Others are creating livelihoods for their communities. And some are already making the leap from trade fair booths to wider retail distribution.