SM City North Edsa, the first SM mall now celebrating its 40th anniversary, has opened the country’s third Book Nook, continuing SM Cares’s program to provide inclusive, community-centered learning spaces for Filipinos.
Located near schools and universities, the Book Nook is free and open to the public, designed to encourage reading, storytelling, and cultural exchange. The launch on Aug. 14 coincided with Buwan ng Wika and featured a Baybayin workshop led by journalist and documentarist Howie Severino.
The seasoned broadcast journalist discussed the importance of preserving Filipino scripts and identity, noting, “Baybayin is not just our native script—it’s a window to our pre-colonial civilization. We were a literate people long before the Europeans arrived.”
Buwan ng Wika
Book Nook pioneer Shereen Sy joined the event and spoke on the role of stories in connecting communities.
“The Book Nook at SM City North Edsa reflects our deep belief in the power of education and culture to build inclusive communities,” she said. “We are proud to support initiatives that not only promote literacy but also celebrate Filipino heritage and identity, especially during Buwan ng Wika.”
Severino and Sy also took part in the first learning session at the new space, which drew attendees for an exchange on reading, heritage, and culture.
The Book Nook at SM North Edsa follows earlier launches in other SM malls. SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, has positioned the program as part of its advocacy to promote literacy, education, and inclusive access to learning.
SM Supermalls, one of Southeast Asia’s largest mall developers with 88 malls in the Philippines, is marking four decades this year with programs that highlight its role in sustainability, innovation, and community development.
