Figure Skater Olympian Michael Martinez signs contract with SM Group

Tweet

Michael Martinez, the 17-year-old Pinoy pride signed contract with the SM Group for a continuous monetary support in his bid to qualify for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. 

(Photo L-R) Mrs. Teresa Martinez; Michael Martinez; Ms. Nicole Deato, AVP – Education and Leisure Centers, SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc; Ms. Linda Atayde, SAVP – Education Programs, SM Foundation, Inc.

The contract is worth P9 million a year for the next four years to finance the Filipino skater’s training. 

SM signed Martinez to a four-year contract extension, the first was inked last year. It was supposed to run for 1 1/2 years and Martinez’ fee was P1 Million for an all-exclusive endorsement. In the extension, SM agreed to cover Martinez’ training and competition expenses of P9 Million a year and allowed him to endorse products not in competition with any SM brand.

Figure Skater Olympian Martinez, left the country last Friday to continue his training overseas. He said he will try to make the Filipinos proud as he joins the Hilton Honors Skate America in Chicago, Illinois from October 22 to 26.

Ranked 27th in the world, the first Filipino figure skater to make it to the Winter Olympics admitted being elated after being one of the chosen few to participate in the event.

During his contract signing with the SM Group at the Mall of Asia Arena last Thursday, young Olympian skater admitted it was difficult for his family to finance his training, that’s why he’s thankful to the SM Group for taking care of his financial woes and allowing him to just focus on competing.

Martinez , who had discovered his love for skating at the early age, honed his skills at the SM Skating Rink. He had joined international competitions such as those developed by the International Skating Institute and the International Skating Union, but his efforts have recently been noticed by the pubic as the only Filipino representative at the Winter Olympics 2014. 

To futher develop his talent, SM Prime Holdings, SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc., and the SM Foundation teamed up to provide Martinez monetary support for the training and needs for skating.

The 17-year old Olympian, Martinez isn’t giving up on someday going back to school. After the Pyeongchang Games, Martinez said he’ll pursue a degree in sports medicine. But he said he wants to take up photography as an alternative field of interest when not training or competing on ice.

His dream is to win a medal for the country at the next Winter Olympics and he’s got a four-year timetable to make it come true. 

The SM Group is proud to support athletes such as Michael Martinez, who has proven that a tropical country can succeed in a winter sports.

The newly opened Sun Mall, finding its place under the Sun

Tweet

SM Prime Opens Retail Podium in Sun Residences

Property conglomerate SM Prime Holdings, Inc. opened its newest retail podium, Sun Mall in Quezon City within SM Development Corporation’s (SMDC) condominium development, Sun Residences. SMDC is SM Prime’s residential development arm. This is the third retail podium attached to an SMDC residential tower after Jazz Mall in Bel-Air, Makati and Mezza Strip in Quezon City.

Sun Mall spans a gross floor area of 15,000 square meters and offers a variety of commercial and retail stores that can accommodate the basic household needs of its residents. The retail podium is designed to provide every patron with a worthwhile lifestyle experience.

With its line-up of service and retail establishments such as flagship SM Hypermarket, Watsons, and BDO, as well food stores and specialty shops, residents will have a variety of options to choose from to satisfy their needs and provide utmost convenience.

Among the food concepts in Sun Mall are The Happy Bakery, the first inline store of Happy Dizon of the Dizon family behind Dizon Farms. Happy Bakery will serve breads, cakes, soups, salads and sandwiches; Chef Lau’s Pugon Roasters of Chef Rolando Laudico is a “fast good” restaurant that serves firebrick oven-roasted traditional Filipino dishes like roast chicken, pork liempo and beef at affordable prices. Gong Cha, the Taiwanese milk tea brand with over 200 branches in Asia is also part of Sun Mall.

“Sun Residences shines brighter with the opening of Sun Mall as this reflects the synergies at work in SM Prime. Through these retail podiums within our residential towers, we aim to provide our residents with access to everything that they will need,” SM Prime Executive Vice President and SM Development Corporation (SMDC) President Jeffrey Lim said.

Launched in 2009, Sun Residences is a two-tower, 43-storey development that offers studio, 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom units with prices ranging between PHP1.8 million and PHP4.6 million.

True to SMDC’s promise of providing five-star homes in prime locations, Sun Residences features a list of stellar features and amenities- a hotel-like lobby, a swimming pool, a clubhouse with multi-purpose hall, function rooms, a student’s lounge, children’s play area, barbeque area, and a landscaped garden with gazebos and a jogging path.

Located along España Boulevard corner Mayon Street – Welcome Rotonda, Sun Residences is the ideal abode for university and college students of the educational institutions along the university belt, and for professionals working in and around the area.

For a stress-free living experience, Sun Residences through SMDC Property Management offers a menu of services to address the various needs of its unit owners – front desk for hassle-free package acceptance and delivery processing; housekeeping and services for home improvements; and for investors, leasing services to help them achieve the best return for their investments.

Sun Residences is among 22 condominium brands by SMDC, the residential arm of SM Prime. These brands are Chateau Elysee Residences in Bicutan, Paranaque; Mezza Residences and Mezza II Residences on Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City; Berkeley Residences in Katipunan, Quezon City; Grass Residences and Fern at Grass Residences in Quezon City beside SM North EDSA; Sea Residences in the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay; Field Residences in Sucat, Paranaque; Princeton Residences in New Manila, Quezon City; Jazz Residences in Bel-Air, Makati; Light Residences near the BONI-EDSA MRT Station in Mandaluyong; MPlace@South Triangle in Quezon City ; Blue Residences in Katipunan, Quezon City; Shine Residences in Pasig; Green Residences on Taft Avenue in Manila ; Shell Residences in the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay; Grace Residences in Taguig; Breeze Residences in Pasay; Trees Residences in Novaliches, Quezon City; Shore Residences in the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay and Wind Residences in Tagaytay.

Grow A Million Trees (Earth Day Y2013)

Tweet

Trees are vital for a greener earth and healthy environment as they provide shade, clean the air and help cool the environment.

A commitment drafted and signed by SM Group of Companies and affiliates in the presence of DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) representatives held last Monday, April 22 at The Block, SM City North EDSA on the occasion of Earth Day 2013.

"SM's campaign for healthier and greener earth has never been this big." - Mr. Joey Mendoza

For years, SM has been an advocate of environmental conservation. The structures have evolved as the way new structures are designed not for aesthetcis alone. They are designed  in such a way that it also contributes to SM's vision. 

SM has a well-planned waste disposal system in every SM facility. SM has always been at the forefront of protecting and rehabilitating the planet. Programs for reforestation, coastal clean-ups and other environmental efforts have been created.

SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket and Savemore's "Join the My Own Bag (Join the MOB) Campaign" started year 2009 as part of the vision of the Sy family to intensify the institution’s commitment to the 3Rs – Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle.

This was a bold move for SM Supermarket to take but SM was determined and prepared to endure the birth pains of pioneering such a program that aims to change aims the shopping habits of SM customers in exchange for the welfare of the environment.

Encouraging people to bring their own reusable bags in exchange for incentives for doing this. SM charged the costumers for every plastic bag request with a super minimal fee. Sm pushed the campaign that the people see and feel a big change with a small adjustments in their shoppng habits. People can see the bigger picture and in the end it was all worth it.

There are already 13 million people who regularly use the SM Greenbags preventing 39 million plastic bags from being released in circulation.

“The campaign rests in our hands; you, me, everybody. The key to success is for us to work together towards one goal,” Mendoza said.

“The money we've raised from the plastic bag sales during the M.O.B days have already begun funding several tree plantings and clean-ups nationwide but this time we've dreaming bigger. Just try to imagine how much trees we're targetting not just to plant but to nurture and to ensure that they grew into full healthy trees. 1 million trees ! That's enough trees to fill 500 soccer fields or almost 8500 basketball courts.” 

To ensure the longevity of the trees, SM will be planting them in DENR protected areas located in provinces: Nasugbu, Benguet, Calatagan, Cagayan De Oro, Banatocan, Bulacan, Cebu and Davao.

To date, the SM Group of Companies and Affiliates have already reached a third of the goal since 2009. They successfully planted almost 300,000 trees.

SM Group of Companies and affiliates come together towards a common goal - to make the dream of one million trees to make a reality.

More photos @ Facebook.