SM Supermalls in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) strengthened their long-standing partnership to once again transform malls into venues of opportunity, hope, and new beginnings through the nationwide Araw ng Kalayaan Job Fairs mounted across 20 SM malls nationwide, bringing together over 800 employers and over 21,000 job seekers, with more than 1,900 hired on the spot—highlighting the continued impact of accessible, community-based employment initiatives that help Filipinos move forward.
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SM in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) hosted the Araw ng Kalayaan Job Fairs throughout SM’s nationwide network of most-loved malls. |
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(L-R) Pasig Coun. Hon. Angelou De Leon(in black); Dennis
Martel; Dannah Majarocon, Jobstreet by Seek;
Martin Jesse Hererra, SM Regional Operations Manager; Pats Dy, Senior
Asst. Vice President for SM Communities Marketing; Ronald Allan Brosas SM
Senior Asst. Vice President for Operations; Royce Cabunag, Asst. Vice President
and Lead for SM Communities; Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto; Pasig Vice Mayor Dodot
Jaworski; Councilor Simon Tantoco(in black); Councilor Boyie Raymundo;
Councilor Ryan Enriquez; Councilor Warren Incencio; and Councilor Paul Senogat
with representatives from SM, the Pasig city LGU, and Government sectors |
By combining DOLE’s extensive labor network and
employment programs with SM’s accessible community spaces, the collaboration
succeeded in empowering local communities—bringing jobs, crucial government
support services, and future-ready skills directly to the doorsteps of everyday
Filipinos.
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“Samantalahin natin ang lahat nang programa ng pamahalaan
lalo na’t habang nandito tayo. Sa SM maraming salamat–ang importante
nagtutulungan po tayong lahat at ginagawa natin ang lahat nang ating makakaya,”
said Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto. |
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"By partnering with the private sector, mas naging
convergent ang ating approach para mas maibigay ang serbisyo ng pamahalaan sa
ating mga kababayan. Maganda ang pakiramdam na makita ang ganitong turnout at
pagkakaisa lalo na ngayong Araw ng Kalayaan," shared Ryan Roberto Delos
Reyes, Supervising Labor Employment Officer of DOLE NCR. |
For Patrick Tamayo, who secured a position as a Mobile Promoter, the opportunity meant being able to help his family.
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"Masaya po ako na hired-on-the-spot ako. Matutulungan
ko na po ang pamilya ko. Hindi ko po inaasahan na mabilis po ako
matatanggap," he said. |
For Ma. Jamaica Pabunan, Independence Day became more than a
celebration—it became an answered prayer. "Naghahanap
po talaga ako ng trabaho kaya pinagdasal ko po talaga na matanggap ako and
answered prayer po," she shared after being hired on the spot
as a Pharmacy Assistant. "Pangalawang job
fair ko po itong napuntahan, pero iba po dito sa SM, organized po talaga."
Their stories were among the many success stories that
unfolded during the SM Araw ng Kalayaan Job Fairs, mounted nationwide by SM
Supermalls and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
A Partnership That Creates Opportunities
The success of the initiative reflects the enduring
partnership between SM Supermalls and DOLE, united by a shared mission of
making employment opportunities more accessible to Filipinos.
By combining DOLE's labor programs and employment network
with SM's nationwide presence and community reach, the partnership continues to
bring jobs, government services, and workforce development opportunities closer
to where people live.
Across participating malls, applicants explored
opportunities from industries such as retail, banking, IT-BPO, hospitality,
logistics, food service, education, healthcare, and customer service. Through
face-to-face interviews, employers were able to connect directly with qualified
candidates while applicants gained immediate access to job openings.
For participating employers, the event also provided an
opportunity to support a larger cause. "We
joined the job fair not just to fill available positions but also to be part of
SM's advocacy this Araw ng Kalayaan. We know there are many Filipinos looking
for opportunities," shared
Hermie, Talent Acquisition Specialist of Home Credit.
Lisa, Assistant Human Resource Manager of Mesco, Inc.,
echoed the importance of bringing multiple employers together in one accessible
venue. "It's an opportunity for jobseekers
to see and apply to different industries in one place. Mas malaking chances for
jobseekers," she said.
From Job Fair to Career Growth Hub
This year's Independence Day Job Fair also continued SM's
growing focus on workforce readiness and future-ready skills. In partnership
with TESDA, DICT, Jobstreet, and other stakeholders, selected venues featured
learning opportunities in AI prompting, cybersecurity awareness, Canva basics,
digital skills, and livelihood development programs.
"Here at SM Job Fairs, we promote the freedom to
grow, the freedom to upskill, and the freedom to find the job that suits
you," said Dannah Majarocon, Managing Director of Jobstreet by SEEK.
The impact of these learning opportunities extended beyond employment.
For Rhodora Felipe of Pasig, learning how to create doormats
and potholders opened new possibilities to support her family. "Malaking tulong po itong skills na ito sa amin
dahil pwede kong gamitin ito para makatulong sa gastusin at baon ng mga bata," she shared. Linalyn Calingasan, another
participant, hopes to turn her newly learned skills into a livelihood
opportunity with support from local partners.
More Than a Job Search
To make the experience more convenient, SM Job Fairs also
featured a One-Stop Government Service Express through participating agencies
such as SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, NBI, PESO, and other institutional partners.
Applicants were able to process employment requirements,
seek guidance, and access support services in a single venue—saving both time
and resources.
This integrated approach reflects the continuing evolution
of SM Job Fairs from traditional recruitment events into community platforms
that connect Filipinos not only to jobs, but also to skills, services, and
opportunities for long-term growth.
Creating Real Impact Nationwide
Mounted simultaneously across SM malls nationwide, the Araw
ng Kalayaan Job Fairs demonstrated the power of public-private collaboration in
creating meaningful opportunities for Filipino communities.
Behind every application submitted, every interview
conducted, and every job offer extended is a story of determination, hope, and
aspiration.
For some, it meant securing their first job. For others, it
meant starting over, supporting a family, or discovering new skills that could
open additional sources of income.
These are the stories behind the more than 1,900
hired-on-the-spot applicants—and the reason why SM Supermalls and DOLE continue
to strengthen their partnership year after year.
Because freedom is not only celebrated—it is empowered
through opportunities. And when opportunities are brought closer to
communities, lives are changed, families are uplifted, and the nation moves
forward.
More Opportunities Ahead
For those who were unable to attend the June 12 Independence
Day Job Fair, SM Supermalls continues to mount job fairs year-round across malls
nationwide—bringing opportunities closer to communities every month.
JOB FAIR SCHEDULE IN JUNE:
June 16 - 17 - SM City Novaliches
(QC University Job Fair)
June 16 - 17 - SM City Iloilo (ICT
companies)
June 17 - SM City Calamba
June 18 - SM City Bacolod
June 18 - SM City Daet
June 19 - SM City Baliwag (NU Job
Fair)
June 25 - SM City Trece Martires
June 27 - SM City Bataan (Trabaho
at Negosyo)
June 30 - SM Center Muntinlupa
Note: Schedule may change without prior notice. For updates, visit SM Supermalls Job Fair Page or follow SM Supermalls on social media.
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