SM Blind Awareness Campaign made even wider, goes all the way to Cavite

The Blackout Zone opens at SM City Tanza from April 24 until May 14

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. 

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.

Student participants from Tanza National Comprehensive High School at The Blackout Zone booth at SM City Tanza

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.

(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. As such, we humbly invite everyone to visit ‘The Blackout Zone’ to show solidarity, appreciation, and inspired action to the blind community.” ~Engr. Bien C. Mateo, SM Cares Program Director for Disability Affairs 

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.

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.

SM Blind Awareness Campaign

To learn more about these programs, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares.

Experience the unseen at SM Southmall’s The Blackout Zone

First batch of participants trying out the Blackout Zone challenges.

SM Cares recently launched its first-ever immersive exhibit that aims to promote blind awareness, The Blackout Zone, as part of its goal of creating a welcoming and caring environment for persons with disabilities, including the blind and the visually impaired, in all of its developments. The launch was held last October 6 at SM Southmall in Las Pinas City.

“On October 13 we will be celebrating World Sight Day, which focuses on global attention on vision impairement, including blindness With SM Cares, and through your help, we want to create a different kind of exhibit called The Blackout Zone. Through this, we will be able to experience the daily challenges of our fellow Filipinos who are visually impaired. This will allow us to broaden our knowledge on how we can help create an inclusive environment for them.” ~Engr. Bien C. Mateo, senior vice president of SM Supermalls and program director of SM Cares Committee on Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)

Engr. Bien Mateo, SM Supermalls SVP and Architect Jaime Silva, United Architects of the Philippines

The Blackout Zone is open until October 16, except October 10, at the 3^rd level of SM Southmall for free. Inside the Blackout Zone, participants take on different challenges in total darkness that unleash the power of their senses like tying a shoe, creating a sandwich, making their own coffee, and watching movies.

The goal of the exhibit is for the general public to develop a sense of care and affection for the blind, whether it is a loved one, a colleague, or a stranger; and to realize that in the world of the blind, things are possible. 

First batch of participants trying out the Blackout Zone challenges.

The Blackout Zone is just one of the many ways SM Cares is supporting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, particularly "SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities."

Other initiatives in line with this include the annual Angels Walk in partnership with ASP, held every January in celebration of National Autism Consciousness Week; the annual Happy Walk in partnership with DSAPI, held every February in celebration of National Down Syndrome Consciousness Month; the annual Sensitivity Training for Customers with Different Needs, which educates mall staff and security personnel on how to care for PWDs; and the annual Emergency Preparedness Forum which educates PWDs and senior citizens on what to do during emergencies.

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.

To learn more about these programs, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares.