Call for Submission: 2nd Asian Short Film Fund (ASFF)

The second edition of Asian Short Film Fund (ASFF), a continued collaboration between 香港國際電影節 Hong Kong International Film Festival and Nowness Asia, is now open for submissions!

The ASFF invites aspiring directors and producers to submit short film proposals from 10 April to 5 June 2026.  Three selected projects will receive up to US$35,000 in funding, mentorship from veteran filmmakers Lav Diaz, Oh Jung-Wan, and Yeh Ju-Feng for support in script development and production. 

Ten shortlisted projects will participate in an online open-pitch session in July.  Following the pitch, representatives from the three selected projects will be invited to attend one-on-one meetings with the mentors, with the results announced later in August.

SUBMIT NOW: https://asff.hafapplication.com/

香港國際電影節協會（HKIFFS）與 NOWNESS ASIA 攜手推出第二屆「亞洲短片基金」，今日開始徵件！

亞洲區內新銳導演及製作人可於2026年4月10日至6月5日期間提交短片企劃。最終獲選的三個項目將各獲最高35,000美元資助，並由拉夫狄亞茲、吳姃琓、葉如芬擔任導師，提供劇本開發、技術製作及國際發行等全方位支援。

評審團將甄選十個入圍企劃於7月初舉行網上公開提案會。最終獲選項目將於8月下旬公布，入圍團隊將與導師於香港進行一對一交流，為作品面世作準備。

立即投件：https://asff.hafapplication.com/

Egg hunts, parades, and more: Easter comes alive at SM Supermalls

 

Bring out those bunny ears and celebrate Easter in SM Supermalls around the country.

This Easter, SM Supermalls transforms into a vibrant playground filled with egg hunts, parades, and colorful photo spots until April 5, 2026. Whether you’re bringing the kids or planning a fun day out, there’s something for everyone to enjoy to the max.

Expect a full lineup of activities, from interactive games and creative workshops to lively performances, delivering a memorable Easter experience for families and friends alike.

After all the Easter fun (or even before you start), take a break and refuel with a satisfying group dining experience at these must-visit spots:

Gather around the table and enjoy authentic Taiwanese hotpot at Ninepot.

Simmer into richness at Ninepot (SM North EDSA and SM City Clark)

Perfect for group dining, Ninepot brings people together over warm, flavorful broths and customizable sets perfect for sharing.

Share a comforting bowl and good conversation at Mak’s Noodle.

Indulge in a timeless bowl at Mak’s Noodle (SM Megamall and SM Mall of Asia)

Craving something comforting? Enjoy authentic Hong Kong noodles, known for their flavorful broth and signature thin egg noodles—ideal for a quick yet satisfying meal together.

Make your Easter gathering extra special with a refined Italian feast at Osteria Antica.

Savor rustic Italian flavors at Osteria Antica (The Podium)

For a more elevated group dining experience, treat the family to refined Italian dishes like the Pompano Al Forno—perfect for special Easter gatherings.

Indulge in perfectly cooked steaks and rich, satisfying sides at Mamou.

Enjoy steakhouse comfort at Mamou (The Podium and S Maison)

A go-to spot for group dining and special occasions, Mamou serves hearty steakhouse favorites best enjoyed with your loved ones.

Slow down and savor quiet moments over coffee and desserts at Hoshino Coffee.

Experience Japanese elegance at Hoshino Coffee (SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, and SM City East Ortigas)

End the day with hand-brewed coffee and fluffy soufflé pancakes that are perfect for relaxing and sharing sweet moments after a full day.

After a satisfying meal—or even before you start—make the most of your visit with these Easter activities:

(Photo from SM Supermalls)

Strike your best pose at the Bunny Photo Corner

Snap photos at vibrant Easter setups filled with pastel colors, bunny props, and playful backdrops—perfect for capturing fun family moments and colorful Easter memories.

Dress your kids in their cutest Easter outfits and let them shine at the Easter Runway Costume Contest at SM Supermalls nationwide.

Walk proudly at the Easter Runway Costume Contest

Dress up in your most creative Easter outfits—bunny ears and all—and strut your stuff at the Easter Runway Show. Kids and families can join in for a chance to win fun prizes.

Hop into the Easter Eggventure Game

Go on a digital egg hunt around select SM Supermalls, where hidden QR-coded eggs unlock points and exciting rewards through the Play at SM website. Make sure to explore every corner for a truly exciting adventure—it’s a fun, high-tech twist on a classic Easter tradition.

Unleash artistry at Easter Art Lab

Let kids get creative at the Easter Art Lab, where they can paint, craft, and bring home their own colorful creations—a fun keepsake from a full day of Easter fun.

Celebrate Easter with a full day of excitement, featuring fun-filled games, a creative costume contest, and amazing prizes.

March in the Easter Parade

Watch beloved Easter characters come to life in festive parades across select malls. Dance along, interact with mascots, and soak in the cheerful atmosphere as the whole family celebrates together.

Honor tradition with a meaningful Easter Blessing

For families who want to celebrate the deeper meaning of Easter, select malls will hold Easter Sunday Mass on April 5, offering a quiet moment to pause, reflect, and give thanks.

Whether you’re dining with loved ones, hunting for eggs, or enjoying a full day of activities, your most loved mall, SM Supermalls, is the place to be this Easter. Don’t miss out—plan your visit and make it an Easter to remember.

Instant jobs, real impact: Stories from SM Group Job Fair at SM North EDSA

With 25 participating employers, more than a thousand job seekers, and 236 or 22% hired on the spot, the annual SM Group Job Fair at SM City North EDSA once again proved to be a powerful platform for connecting Filipinos to real and immediate employment opportunities.

SM Coastal Cleanups go beyond trash, teach communities to care

In celebration of World Water Day, SM Supermalls, through its corporate social responsibility arm, SM Cares, organized coastal cleanup activities across six locations with seven participating malls across nationwide, reinforcing its long-term commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable waste management in its most-loved malls.

United in the common goal of protecting the environment and diverting waste away from the oceans, Coastal Cleanups were organized across SM City La Union, SM City Urdaneta Central, SM City Tanza, SM City Daet, SM City Consolacion, SM Seaside City Cebu, and SM J Mall

This year’s coastal cleanup emphasized enhanced waste segregation education to deepen understanding among volunteers and communities on proper sorting, recycling, and disposal of collected waste. It also underscored that everyday actions—from responsible waste disposal to recycling—play a critical role in protecting marine ecosystems. 

The coastal cleanup activities took place across SM City La Union, SM City Urdaneta Central, SM City Tanza, SM City Daet, SM City Consolacion, SM Seaside City Cebu, and SM J Mall, bringing together communities in a shared effort to protect local coastal environments and divert waste away from the ocean. 

During the cleanups, collected waste was carefully sorted and categorized, allowing participants to see firsthand the types of materials commonly found in coastal areas—from plastic packaging and beverage containers to other discarded items that threaten marine life and coastal habitats. 

By focusing on waste analysis and segregation, raised awareness on the impact of improperly managed waste and encouraged Filipinos to adopt more responsible environmental practices in their daily lives.

These coastal cleanup activities form part of SM Supermalls’ broader environmental sustainability programs, aligned with the SM Green Movement and the company’s Waste-Free Future campaign. 

“Protecting our coastal and marine environments requires a more proactive, end-to-end approach with the cleanups starting with education, deepening awareness, and sustaining collective action,” said Engr. Liza Silerio, Vice President for Corporate Compliance and Program Director for Environment and Sustainability of SM Supermalls. “By helping communities understand the importance of proper waste segregation and responsible waste management, we hope to inspire long-term behavioral change that benefits both people and the planet.”

The initiative also highlights the spirit of bayanihan, bringing together mall communities, environmental partners, and local stakeholders in a shared effort to care for the environment.

As SM Cares continues to strengthen its sustainability programs throughout the year, the public is encouraged to participate in upcoming environmental initiatives, including World Oceans Day Cleanup Drives in June, International Coastal Cleanup activities in September, and National Environmental Awareness Month initiatives in November.

Through sustained efforts like these, SM Cares continues to empower communities to take part in protecting the environment—all for Filipinos, and all for the planet. 

Call for Application: Episode 3, Philippine Graphic Literary Workshop (PGLW)

The third episode of the 2026 Philippines Graphic Literary Workshop (PGLW) is now calling for applicants for works of fiction. This is free.

The April episode of the PGLW will take place at the Luxent Hotel in Quezon City, from April 17 to April 18. 

SM Supermalls delivers a maxed out race weekend with 32,000 Runners

Major race events at SM malls in Cebu and SM Mall of Asia bring runners together through SM Active Hub lifestyle and sports programs

SM Supermalls strengthened its position as one of the country’s premier running destinations as more than 32,000 runners filled two major race events in Cebu and SM Mall of Asia this weekend.

From large scale road races to women led running communities, SM spaces transformed into vibrant race venues where runners gathered to compete, celebrate milestones, and connect with fellow enthusiasts.

As running continues to surge across the Philippines, many runners now look for venues that offer safe routes, accessible locations, and strong community support. Across its nationwide network, SM Supermalls has become a natural hub for runners, hosting major race events while providing everyday spaces where communities can train and grow. Today, this ecosystem spans 24 malls with dedicated running paths, supports 45 active running clubs, and has mounted 55 running events to date, reinforcing SM Supermalls’ position as a leading platform for the country’s growing running community.

SM2SM RUN ENERGIZES CEBU’S RUNNING COMMUNITY

In Cebu, the SM2SM Run 2026 gathered 15,500 runners for its 14th year, marking historic highs for the event and reinforcing its place as one of the region’s biggest running events. Women made up 40% of participants, a record share that reflects the growing participation of women in the country’s running community.

The race connected two iconic landmarks, starting at SM Seaside City Cebu and finishing at SM City Cebu, turning the city into a high energy celebration of fitness and community.

The excitement extended beyond the finish line when one lucky participant won the grand raffle prize, a BYD Shark 6. The prize also reflects the growing shift toward electric mobility in the Philippines. 

Across more than 90 malls nationwide, SM Supermalls has built one of the country’s largest electric vehicle charging networks, allowing guests to conveniently charge their vehicles for free during mall hours while they dine, shop, or spend time with family. Through this integrated network, SM actively promotes the shift to cleaner mobility by making EV adoption more practical, accessible, and part of everyday consumer behavior.

WOMEN’S RUN CELEBRATES STRENGTH AND COMMUNITY

Meanwhile at SM Mall of Asia, 16,500 runners joined the 2026 Filipina CEO Circle (FCC) Women’s Run PH in celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s Month. Of the total participants, 90% were women runners, highlighting the strong and growing movement of women embracing running as a lifestyle.

Now on its third year with FCC as title sponsor and SM Supermalls as co presenter, the run continues to grow as a national platform that promotes women’s health, empowerment, and community through running.

Thousands of women ran along the scenic seaside roads of SM Mall of Asia under the theme Strength, Grace, and Honor, creating an inspiring atmosphere of encouragement and shared achievement.

SM ACTIVE HUB ANCHORS RUNNING COMMUNITIES

Supporting these growing events is SM Active Hub, the sports and wellness platform of SM Supermalls that builds active communities across its malls.

From everyday training routes to major race weekends, SM Supermalls continues to create spaces where runners can move, connect, and experience life to the max.

Your most loved mall, SM Supermalls. Where lifestyle, community, and maxed out experiences come together. All for you.

Sun‑powered spaces: How SM is transforming malls into energy hubs

SM Group now generates the largest capacity of clean energy among property developers in the Philippines

To reduce congestion to the power grid and improve power availability to the communities it serves, SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SM Prime) has implemented the use of rooftop solar power systems across its properties and nationwide network of SM Supermalls.

Since its pioneering installation of solar panels over SM North EDSA in 2014, clean solar energy generated through SM is now large enough to power a city as large as Mabalacat, Pampanga or Mandaue, Cebu.

Women entrepreneurs shine at SM Supermalls this Women's Month

Women-led businesses took center stage as the WomenBizPH Trade Fair successfully opened at SM Lanang Premier from March 12–14, celebrating the creativity, resilience, and growing impact of Filipina micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Organized by WomenBizPH in partnership with SM Supermalls, the three-day trade fair brought together inspiring women entrepreneurs showcasing a vibrant mix of proudly local products — from artisanal pastries and handcrafted accessories to healthy snacks, woven apparel, delicacies, and wellness products.

Successful Women Strong Network event launched at SM Lanang showcasing women-led MSMEs. (From left0 Irene Boey Lin Fong, chairperson of AWEN Singapore; Toukta Chounramany, focal point of AWEN Laos; Rhoda Caliwaran, chairperson of WomenBizPH; Maika Nurhayati, focal point of AWEN Indonesia; Baby Montemayor, trustee of Women Biz PH Davao; Mylene Abiva, trustee of WomenBizPH; Lin Fong; and Russel Aldaba, SAVP for Marketing in Mindanao of SM Supermalls.

More than just a marketplace, the event highlighted the powerful stories behind the brands, demonstrating how women entrepreneurs continue to transform passion into purpose and innovation into livelihood opportunities.

'Trabaho o Negosyo' launches at SM MOA

What if one day could shape both how you work and how you earn? Trabaho at Negosyo brings employment and entrepreneurship together—redefining the job fair as a career launchpad that connects Filipinos to jobs, mentoring, and skills for what comes next.

Thousands participated as Go Negosyo, in partnership with SM Supermalls, mounted the March 6 Trabaho at Negosyo at SM Mall of Asia—transforming a single day into a career crossroads all for Filipinos. Fully supported by SM Job Fairs and SM for MSMEs, this comprehensive event created vital community opportunities by matching job seekers with employers and providing aspiring entrepreneurs with expert mentorship and clear pathways to success.

“MSMEs like us contribute to the economy because as we expand, so does our requirements – like manpower, so we are able to contribute through creating jobs.” – JORGE WIENEKE of Tokyo Tempura

At the heart of the event was a large-scale job fair connecting applicants with employers from key sectors including BPO and IT, manufacturing, construction, real estate, healthcare and medical services, retail, financial services, tourism, hotels and restaurants, and the academe. Just steps away, aspiring entrepreneurs received practical mentoring on how to turn business ideas, side hustles, and small enterprises into sustainable ventures—demonstrating how trabaho and negosyo can grow side by side.

With SM Job Fairs providing the platform and reach, employment opportunities were brought closer to communities—making job access more immediate, practical, and inclusive. Meanwhile, SM for MSMEs highlighted the vital role of micro, small, and medium enterprises not only as businesses, but as job generators and engines of inclusive growth. While many participants were hired on the spot, others left inspired to build enterprises that could create jobs for others.

“Nakakatuwa po, ang bilis. In-expect ko po babalik pa ako. Masaya po ako, hindi na ako tambay! Sa tingin ko po mago-grow po ako sa bago kong work.” – MA. FLOREBEL QUILILAN, Hired on the Spot by Hi Precision

To further streamline the journey from application to employment, SM Government Service Express enabled participants to process key requirements on-site. Participating agencies included the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Social Security System (SSS), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth), and the Pag-IBIG Fund—making essential services more accessible in one convenient location.

“Maganda po na nandito sa ganitong event, kasi we’re not just hiring, but we’re also on the lookout for opportunities for our business with the other businesses here, para po to compliment each other.”- MELODY ADVIENTO of Clinica Manila

Trabaho at Negosyo tells a bigger story—today’s job seeker can become tomorrow’s employer. By combining job matching, MSME mentoring, and government services in one space, the initiative reflects a forward-thinking approach to workforce development where employment and entrepreneurship reinforce each other.

Through collaborations like this, SM Supermalls continues to strengthen its commitment to empowering Filipinos—championing both livelihoods and local enterprises, and proving that when trabaho and negosyo move together, communities move forward.

SM Waste-Free Future illustrates doable actions for a cleaner, greener planet.

Becoming part of the solution toward better waste management practices has been made easier by SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SM Prime) with The SM Waste-Free Future (WFF) Manual. 

 

Launched at SM’s first Sustainability Expo, the 17-page visual guide offers a simple and easy-to-follow resource on how everyone can engage with waste management touchpoints available in their most-loved SM Supermalls.

"The easiest way to adopt sustainable practices is a two-pronged approach," said SM Supermalls Vice President for Corporate Compliance and Sustainability, Liza Silerio. "The first is building the avenues that make waste management accessible and easy to do. The second is ensuring that these are easy habits to build and practice in our daily lives.” 

 

The manual combines text and visuals to enhance the "Learn - Practice - Champion" workflow, a three-step approach to make these practices easy to adapt and eventually pass on, with additional green tips and trivia.  Understanding how even small, thoughtful steps can make a huge difference is key to helping reduce waste sent to landfills. 

Back to Basics: Familiarization

The base for effective waste management is Thinking before Tossing.  After SM Prime’s sustainability team conducted a Waste Analysis and Characterization Study (WACS) across the SM Prime Headquarters and the Mall of Asia Complex, the top 10 most common waste items were identified:  

 

1. PET Bottles

2. Plastic Cutlery

3. Single-use plastic

4. Plastic cups from coffee or milk tea

5. Soiled coffee paper cups

6. Soiled food containers

7. Food packaging and sachets

8. Soiled tissue or napkins

9. Soiled diapers/ sanitary products

10. Food waste

 

The SM Waste Free Future manual encourages everyone to properly dispose of waste by using designated Recyclable-Disposable-Compostable (RDC) bins made accessible in all SM Malls.

PET Bottles are categorized for the Blue "Recyclable" Bins to help return these to factories for recycling.

Disposable items and containers such as plastic cutlery, single-use plastic, plastic cups from coffee or milk tea, soiled coffee paper cups and food containers, food packaging and sachets, and soiled tissue or napkins, diapers, and sanitary products are for tossing into the gray "Disposable" Bins. 

Finally, all food waste with no packaging and cutlery are guided to the green "Compostable" Bins.

 

As one of the fastest-growing solid waste streams in the world, Electronic Waste (E-Waste), ranging from batteries to broken gadgets and technological accessories, gets special mention. SM Supermalls promotes proper disposal of e-waste through special bins in SM Cyberzone areas as easy drop-off points for recycling or processing before disposal of small, used, and defective electronic devices. 

Take-action, join the movement 

Every first Friday and Saturday of the month from 10:00am to 2:00pm, mallgoers can bring their trash and convert it to cash. Trash-to-Cash encourages household segregation by bringing clean and dry recyclables in designated Trash-to-Cash areas in exchange for economic incentives. The program promotes sustainable systems and the advancement of the circular economy. 

To further divert plastics from the environment, SM implements its Plastic Waste Collection program across all of its properties. Since its integration in 2019, 70,000 kilograms of clean, empty, and dry consumer plastics have been collected.

Through SM Cares, SM Prime’s corporate social responsibility arm, organizes regular coastal cleanups for communities to mitigate the problem of marine pollution by removing waste before it spreads further in the seas. Last year, volunteers were able to divert 200,000 kilograms of marine litter from the ocean through three major coastal cleanups organized nationwide on top of weekly cleanups done by SM Estates. 

Another Coastal Cleanup drive has been scheduled this year on March 22 across SM La Union. SM City Urdaneta Central, SM City Tanza, SM City J Mall, SM City Daet, SM City Consolacion for World Water Day.

  

"Communicating waste management practices clearly and easily helps our stakeholders support our vision for a Waste Free Future. When we all come together and choose to help save our planet, even the smallest actions toward the right direction yield great results," said Silerio.