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12/07/2025

11/07/2025

Lessons from the parable
of the Good Samaritan

THE obvious lesson we can immediately gather from the parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10,25,37) is that we should have true empathy and compassion with everyone, irrespective of how those involved are, whether they are friendly or not, of our type or kind or not, likeable and lovable or not, etc. We should try to have a universal heart, quick to serve anyone, irrespective of who or how one is.

The more subtle lesson we should draw from it, however, is that we should be wary of our tendency to rely mainly on our titles, status or whatever privileges and entitlements we have. This reliance may not be openly seen, and that’s the problem to face and resolve.

Very often, even if we profess ourselves to be truly and entirely Christian, in reality there are some hidden things that would belie such claim. We may talk a lot about charity and show in some external acts that we are living it, but very often if not always, we can always find ourselves in some inconsistent condition, because there are times when we fail to live charity truly.

We can be choosy as to whom to be compassionate as well as to the kind of conditions that would prevail in a certain occasion. We expect that all the conditions be favorable for us to show charity. When sacrifices are involved, especially the extraordinary ones, we tend to turn a blind eye, just like what the priest and the Levite did in the parable.

This is not to mention that we all have certain biases and preferences that would prevent us from having a heart that would show and give love at all times, irrespective of the circumstances around.

We truly need to address this problem realistically. And the first thing to consider is to acknowledge our deficiencies with respect to the charity expected of us as true children of God. This may take a lifetime, but it is worthwhile to keep doing something to make our heart resemble more and more like that of the Good Samaritan, or to put it bluntly, a heart like that of Christ.

In our prayers, examinations of conscience and other spiritual and ascetical exercises, let us identify those items or aspects of charity where we are failing or lagging behind. It could be that we are still dominated by what and whom we like and dislike, or by the fear of more sacrifices especially if they are occasioned by surprises.

Definitely, we need to ask for grace, but we also need to develop a certain discipline that would enable us to truly have a charity, empathy and compassion that have a universal scope.

It is also helpful that we avail ourselves of some help from someone who can truly give us guidance in our pursuit for personal conversion. Obviously, in this regard, we need to be open, sincere and transparent, putting all the cards on the table without hiding anything.

We have to learn how to discipline our feelings and passions, teaching them to go along the true spirit of charity as Christ himself has shown, commanded and enabled us to have. This can mean that we learn, for example, how to convert difficult and humbling moments into moments of graciousness and magnanimity.

In our pursuit to have this kind of charity, we should have the sensation that we are becoming “all things to all men” as St. Paul once said (1 Cor 9,22), willing to “bear one another’s burdens.” (Gal 6,2) This is when we can truly be a Good Samaritan to anyone, whatever may be the circumstance.

To read more article. Click the web link:
https://businessweekmindanao.com/lessons-from-the-parableof-the-good-samaritan/

10/07/2025

SM enables customers in uplifting communities

PASAY CITY, PHILIPPINES, 09 July 2025 — The synergy of the SM group ecosystem goes beyond its business as it works hand in hand with its customers and different business units in uplifting communities. Through Shop & Share, a flagship advocacy of the SM Store, the department store business of SM, almost 90,000 students, youth, farmers, women and children have received retail items specially curated for their needs.

The program has also expanded, and now focuses on addressing critical needs in education, livelihood and health. To date, the program was also able to provide a brand-new pair of shoes to 31,000 students, 11,00 brand new learning toys, 1,200 agricultural tools, and 5,000 hygiene kits to various communities across the country.
This school year 2025, the Shop & Share program will be giving out 15,400 back-to-school kits to more than 70 plus public schools across the country. Tapping into the nationwide reach of the business of the group, Shop and Share heavily utilizes the 77 SM Store branches across the country.
“Since its inception, SM Store’s Shop & Share program has enabled customers to take part in purposeful giving. It brings to life SM’s commitment to being a catalyst for positive change, rooted in the Filipino spirit of bayanihan, where compassion and community move hand in hand. As part of the larger SM Group, we serve as a bridge that connects our customers’ generosity with the needs of our communities,” SM Retail, Inc. President Jonathan H. Ng said.
Just like how SM started, the Shop & Share program also started with shoes, inspired by the business’ humble beginnings.

The Shop & Share program partners with SM Stationery for their back-to-school CSR campaign, with SM Fashion for their Share Shoes initiative, and Toy Express, under Toy Kingdom, for Share a Toy. This year, the program will be working with SM Beauty in creating family essential kits following hygiene kits distributed last year.

In December 2024, the program collaborated with Toy Kingdom, SM Foundation partner public schools, World Vision Philippines, Good Neighbors Philippines, and the Rotary Club to distribute 6,000 brand-new educational toys to SPED schools and typhoon-affected communities.

Last September 2024, Shop & Share also launched the Tech Education campaign by partnering with Mastercard to establish four digital learning hubs with around 19 computers in SM Foundation partner schools. This benefited nearly 10,000 students and teachers, improving digital literacy and technical education ratings.

“As SM Store expands, we strive to grow with and for our communities. Through Shop & Share and in collaboration with SM Foundation, we go beyond building classrooms, helping nurture learners by supporting their broader educational needs. This reflects SM’s advocacy to uplift lives and invest in the next generation of Filipinos,” Mr. Ng said.

To further empower customers, SMAC, the premier loyalty program of SM has also partnered with Globe on their Hapag Movement starting in 2022. This was also a collaboration with SMAC members and SM Retail partners including SM Store, SM Beauty, SM Appliance Center, Kultura, Our Home, Surplus, Crate and Barrel, and more.

Alongside its different businesses, the SM group remains committed to strengthening its platforms in supporting its advocacies in education, health, and livelihood.

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About SM Investments Corporation
SM Investments Corporation is one of the leading Philippine companies that is invested in market-leading businesses in retail, banking, and property. It also invests in ventures that capture high growth opportunities in the emerging Philippine economy.
SM’s retail operations are the country’s largest and most diversified, consisting of grocery stores, department stores and specialty retail stores. SM’s property arm, SM Prime Holdings, Inc., is the largest integrated property developer in the Philippines with interests in malls, residences, offices, hotels, and convention centers as well as tourism-related property developments. SM’s interests in banking are in BDO Unibank, Inc., the country’s largest bank, and China Banking Corporation, the fourth largest private domestic bank.
For more information, please visit www.sminvestments.com.
For inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Photo Caption: Students of Balatong Elementary School received their shoes from the Shop & Share program.