SM SUPERMALL should be dubbed “Super Mabait Supermall” and not just its original name of Shoemart.
Yes I am talking about SM Supermalls that is owned by SM Prime Holdings which everyone back home in the Philippines is aware of as a chain of 58 shopping malls that is still growing and had expanded to China.
Maybe one of this company's trade secrets that made it the biggest mall operators in Southern Asia is how it treats its employees.
Stories of companies helping their employees even outside the Philippines are rare but not with SM of which I have a personal experience worth telling.
This is no puff public relations piece for SM since they don’t need it. SM does have many programs for the community. As a former media practitioner in Cagayan de Oro City, I've seen these programs at work like their mothers' breastfeeding program, environment awareness and persons with disabilities (PWD) outreach among others.
When I was home in Cagayan de Oro two months ago, SM City Cagayan de Oro even allowed the use of its facilities for Catholic Mass for free.
I am just amazed at the magnitude of their sharing of their resources to the public at large. I know of one person who works there. Edgar Baisas is my son-in-law and the father of my beloved granddaughter.
I've become quite a follower of SM online and when I worked at the Cagayan de Oro College TV radio network, they paid for small commercials. Anyway, Baisas just returned back to work last May after his heart surgery at the Philippine Heart Center sometime in February this year.
Ed as he is known to family and friends is a loyal and devoted SM employee and he never stops talking about the company to family and friends. Ed is a good man, a good son and a person who cares for others.
I may sound biased because he is my son but I can truthfully say that his work habits are exemplary. He started work in SM City Cagayan de Oro in 2006 and that's where he met my daughter who became his wife.
Then he was called back to SM Cagayan de Oro in December last year and two months after Ed was admitted to a local hospital for chest pains. He was advised to undergo a heart bypass. I can only commiserate with my daughter and Ed about their situation. They had to decide on whether he should undergo surgery in Cagayan de Oro or at the Philippine Heart Center since finances was a problem at the time. Then Ed received a text from the president of SM Shopping Center Management Corp. informing him that they would help him in his ordeal.
The regional HR manager Ruby Sano initiated a “pass the hat” to SM employees in Cagayan de Oro, Davao and General Santos cities. It was s show of bayanihan (community/neighborhood) spirit of SM employees to Ed along with their prayers for his recovery.
HR manager Rowena Ramos helped in the paperwork and visited Ed at the Philippine Heart Center. In this fast-paced business environment, SM is being awesome in helping others.
The regional employees in SM's National Capital Region (NCR) branches, with special mention SM San Lazaro branch management and employees for the prayers and financial aid since Ed considers SM San Lazaro branch his home-base.
Thank God the surgery went well and with a new new lease in life, Ed wants to spend quality time with his family and a renewed sense of dedication to his work at SM.
When I heard his story, I told myself that must be the secret why SM keeps on growing because it shows its sincerity in helping and ensuring the well-being of its employees. The big dreams of SM to establish an SM in every city and province in the Philippines works side by side with how its management motivates and engages its employees to work harder for the company first which eventually redounds to their benefit.
It isn’t just the money, it is the overall feeling that the company cares and pays attention to their employees in need. For that I thank SM for taking care of my son-in-law.
