SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC) Launches Tela Tales in Iloilo and Bacolod
After the success of its Manila launch, SMHCC brings Tela Tales to the “City of Love” and “City of
Smiles,” in partnership with Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo and Bacolod. Led by SMHCC’s Vice
President for Quality and Sustainability, Ms. Leah Magallanes, this groundbreaking initiative aims
to empower local communities and promote sustainable practices through the upcycling of
discarded linens and fabrics from Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo and Bacolod, as well as other hotels
and properties under SMHCC.
Tela Tales Visayas is a project designed to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for local
artisans. In Iloilo, the initiative collaborates with the Homeless People’s Federation of the
Philippines – Iloilo (HPFPI), empowering local artisans to create unique products using upcycled
linens. Tela Tales Iloilo’s pioneering products will showcase a design by renowned social
entrepreneur and designer, Zarah Juan. In Bacolod, the initiative partners with Negrense
Volunteers for Change (NVC), a non-profit organization dedicated to community development
and environmental sustainability. Tela Tales Bacolod’s pioneering products are decorative
Christmas ornaments with embellishments made from empty Nespresso pods collected by
Nespresso Philippines.
The finished products will be showcased and available for purchase at Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo
and Bacolod, providing a platform for the artisans to generate income. Proceeds from the sales
will directly benefit the respective organizations’ charity programs, such as NVC’s Mingo Meals
Nutrition Program in Bacolod.
In conjunction with the launch, Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo and Bacolod hosted special lunches
prepared by their culinary teams headed by Chef Rufino “Fines” Dungca of Park Inn by Radisson
Bacolod and Chef Diego Trillana of Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo. These lunches were part of
SMHCC’s “Plate for the Planet” program, inspired by the World Wildlife Fund’s “Sustainable
Diner.” The special menus showcased the hotels’ commitment to sustainable dining practices,
emphasizing local sourcing, reduced meat consumption, and minimal waste. The events also
highlighted the company’s dedication to the circular economy through food waste repurposing
and local farming initiatives.
SMHCC Executive Vice President Peggy Angeles said that “Tela Tales is SMHCC’s way of giving
back as the company continues to grow, build, and operate more hotels in the coming years. It is
a testament of SMHCC’s thrust as a socially responsible entity that looks after the welfare of the
communities it operates in, because business growth and social development must go hand in
hand.”