The SM Blind Awareness Campaign goes all the way to Cavite

“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 

Influencer The Young Juanderer trying out the challenges inside The Blackout Zone

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. 

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

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 in the Philippines that simulates being blind and is installed inside a mall. It offers a free, immersive, and unique tour of a day in the life of a blind person. Participants get to complete simple chores in a safe environment without sight, such as tying shoes, making sandwiches, coffee, and watching movies. After the tour, the guests receive a debriefing from the blind master, a member of the blind community who offers their own perspectives and explains how the difficulties in the exhibit mirror the daily struggles of blind people. This fosters a greater appreciation and understanding of the blind population among mall visitors, tenants, and staff.

(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.

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 Blind Awareness Campaign

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.