SM Investments: A powerhouse of growth and stability

At an early age, I became aware of Shoemart Carriedo or SM. On my birthday, my moth-Ler would bring me to Quiapo church to hear mass, after which we walked over to the Brown photo studio on Dasmariñas street for my solo por-trait.

- ENDEAVOR SONNY COLOMA

Then we would go to Carriedo, one of the first SM shoe stores that were established in the late 1950's (the first being on Avenida, Rizal).

Fast forward to 1985 when SM opened its first mall at North EDSA Quezon City. I was then working with Far East Bank (that was merged with Bank of the Philippine Islands in 2000) which opened a branch within the mall. That marked the inception of malls, as they are known today, in the Philippines.

Recall that it happened during a time of turmoil that culminated with EDSA People Power in 1986.

Such was the SM founder's profound belief in the resilience of the Filipino spirit. His entrepreneurial drive was undeterred by convention-al wisdom that militated against in-vesting substantial business capital at risk in a period of turmoil.

The rest is history.

In retrospect, Mr. Sy's wisdom has been validated. His flagship company, SM Investments Corpora-tion (SM Investments) has long been a pillar of the Philippine economy, playing a pivotal role in the country's consumer-driven growth.

SM Investments Corporation is more than just a conglomerate; it is a cornerstone of the Philippine economy. With its strong funda-mentals, expansive geographic foot-print, synergistic business model, and high-quality assets, SM Invest-ments continues to create long-term value for investors. These qualities not only highlight the company's strength but also justify its recent decision to embark on a P60-billion share buyback program—an initia-tive that signals confidence in its future growth potential.