The observance of the United Nations (UN) Day every 24 October has always been highlighted by the Parade of Nations held in almost every school in the country. Primary, elementary and high school students represent countries of the world through its respective national dress during the parade to symbolize the unity, equality and shared purpose of all countries that make up the international organization co-founded by the Philippines 80 years ago.

Participating in the parade also lets young children imbibe the culture of the organization by acting as ambassadors of peace, goodwill and harmony in the world.

One of the staunchest supporters of the UN, its advocacies and agencies is SM Supermalls, which hosts the annual UN event of various schools.

“It should really start from the kids to be kind and to be aware that you may be from different religions, from different ethnicity, from different countries in the world, but we are just one. It's a small world after all wherein we are connected somehow, and we need to ensure that peace, justice, sustainable development, inclusivity and the work of the UN will go on,” said Atty. Pearly Joan J. Turley, program director for women and breastfeeding mothers of SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of the SM Supermalls.

Turley joined students, parents, teachers and UN Philippines representatives led by resident coordinator Arnaud Peral in the parade and the 80th anniversary celebration of the peace body, at the SM City BF Parañaque on 24 October.

“We in SM are very proud to celebrate such anniversary and to be partnering with the UN because we believe also in their commitment of peace and security, sustainable development, inclusivity, and to making this planet a better world to live in, which is also what we are trying to do in SM through our corporate social responsibility, which is SM Cares,” Turley said.

SM malls have been hosting the UN Parade of Nations for some 20 years already, according to Turley.

“It started because some schools do not really have their own gym, or they do not have their own facility where they can mount the Parade of Nations. So they approach SM if they can do it inside the malls,” Turley said. “So we also partnered with these schools knowing the significance or the value of having this Parade of Nations and other UN activities.” 

All over the Philippines, SM shopping malls announce in its LEDs and the Mall of Asia globe the UN Day to remind the Filipino people that it has been here for 80 years and hopefully for another 80 years, according to Turley.

SM Supermalls is also a partner of various UN agencies in implementing various educational, health and social programs.

“When we started our breastfeeding stations, we consulted the UNICEF,” she recalled.

Turley revealed that SM Cares have just launched its campaign on human milk donation. 

“On October 21, we partnered with the Quezon City Milk Bank, Quezon City General Hospital, and Quezon City Government to have four of our malls' breastfeeding stations converted into human milk depots, which means that breastfeeding mothers may opt to donate their excess breast milk to be processed by the human milk bank and be given to vulnerable infants, those who are premature, those who have lost their parents, those who are adopted, those who are sick, or those whose mothers are sick and cannot give them milk,” she said.

Turley said SM Supermalls will continue to support the UN to encourage everyone to be attuned with its vision and mission.

She added that SM Supermalls caters to families, communities and government agencies.

“We are a mall for all” and we welcome everyone and everything that would bring people together inside SM,” Turley said.