SM Blind Awareness Campaign Made Even Wider, Goes All the Way to Cavite
SM Cares just
launched the latest leg of “The Blackout Zone”, the organization’s highly
successful exhibit designed to simulate blindness in SM City Tanza, Cavite last
April 24, Monday.
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Influencer The Young Juanderer trying out the
challenges inside The Blackout Zone |
Present at the
launch were Engr. Bien Mateo, Senior Vice President of SM Supermalls, Arch.
Jaime Silva from the Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the
Disabled, Inc., Marlo Lucas from the Resources for the Blind Inc., and Jayme
Marino of the National Council on Disability Affairs. Also present during the
launch are Dr. Florencio Costa of the Tanza National Comprehensive High School,
Mr. Joebert Guzon of FEAPITSAT, and Coralyn Perez of Tanza Municipal Social
Welfare and Development representing Mayor Yuri Pacumio.
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| Student participants from Tanza National Comprehensive High School at The Blackout Zone booth at SM City Tanza |
“The Blackout Zone”
is the first exhibit simulating the blind experience in the Philippines which
is mounted inside a mall, promising an immersive and experiential tour of a day
in the life of a blind person for free. Participants get to fulfill simple
tasks, like tying a shoe, creating a sandwich, making coffee, and watching
movies in a safe setting without sight. At the end of the tour, the
participants are debriefed by the blind master, a representative of the blind
community who shares their personal insights and how the challenges within the
exhibit reflect the daily experience of blind people. In this way, mall-goers,
tenants, and employees are encouraged to have a deeper understanding and
affection for members of the blind community.
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| The Blackout Zone opens at SM City Tanza from April 24 until May 14 |
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| (L-R) NCDA Information Officer Jayme Marino, Resources for the Blind, Inc Marlo Lucas, SM Supermalls SVP for Operations and SM Cares Program Director for Disability Affairs Engr. Bien C. Mateo, United Architect of the Philippines’ Arch. Jimmy Silva, SM Supermalls SAVP for Operations Jason T. Terrenal, FEAPITSAT Academic Head Joebert Guzon, and Tanza National Comprehensive High School Principal Dr. Florencio C. Costa. |
“We at SM Cares
firmly believe that empathy and awareness are crucial to enabling a
barrier-free and disability inclusive environment,” said Mateo during the
launch. “As such, we humbly invite everyone to visit ‘The Blackout Zone’ to
show solidarity, appreciation, and inspired action to the blind community.”
Following the
success of “The Blackout Zone” from previous legs in SM Southmall and SM City
Clark, SM City Tanza’s setup is the biggest one to date. First launched in
October of last year, “The Blackout Zone” has been visited by almost 2,000
attendees. The Tanza exhibit will be open until May 14, and plans for future
exhibits in different SM malls around the country are already underway.
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| The Blackout Zone blind master Andrew Perez briefing the first batch of participants |
The Blackout Zone
is just one of the many initiatives of SM Cares under its Program on Persons
with Disabilities. Others include the annual Emergency Preparedness Forum for
PWDs and senior citizens; the annual Happy Walk for Down Syndrome in
partnership with the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines; and the
annual Angels Walk for Autism in partnership with Autism Society Philippines.
Through The
Blackout Zone, SM Cares supports the United Nations' Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), particularly "SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities."
SM Cares is the
corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, supporting initiatives
focused on communities and the environment. Aside from the program on PWDs, its
advocacies include Programs for the Environment, Women & Breastfeeding
Mothers, Children & Youth, Senior Citizens, and the SM Bike-friendly
initiative.
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