Profit Over Protection? SM Store Draws Flak for Children’s Shirts Depicting Foreign Wildlife as Filipino

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In a country blessed with some of the richest biodiversity on Earth, a glaring oversight has sparked a wave of outrage from conservationists, educators, and concerned citizens alike. The SM Store—one of the largest retail chains in the Philippines—is under fire for selling children’s shirts that inaccurately depict foreign animals as part of the nation’s native wildlife.

Instead of proudly showcasing the Philippines' own unique fauna, the designs on the shirts feature species that have no place in our forests, skies, or grasslands: the European hedgehog, the American bald eagle, an Australian sulfur-crested cockatoo, and what appears to be a Kouprey—an extinct species of Indochinese wild cattle that hasn’t been seen in decades.

"Waddahek! How can you sell children’s shirts with such inaccurate depictions of our native wildlife?” was the impassioned reaction from netizens, echoed in reposts of a statement originally shared by Dr. Mundita Lim, a renowned wildlife expert and vocal advocate for Asian biodiversity. The outcry was not merely about aesthetics. It was about truth, education, and respect for the natural heritage we so often take for granted.

This wasn’t just a design flaw—it was a missed opportunity.

In a time when Philippine biodiversity is under serious threat from deforestation, climate change, poaching, and urban sprawl, every chance to raise awareness counts. The SM Store’s shirts, targeted at young impressionable minds, could have been tools of enlightenment. Instead, they’ve become examples of how profit often trumps purpose, and how a lack of basic research can lead to damaging misinformation.

“We appreciate the idea of promoting wildlife conservation,” many commenters shared. “Basta paki ayos lang po. Just get the facts straight.” It’s a fair ask. After all, a simple online search could have introduced designers to the Philippine eagle—the majestic national bird now critically endangered, the adorable but vulnerable Philippine tarsier, or the rare Visayan warty pig. There’s no shortage of charismatic, beautiful, and real Filipino species to feature.

And yet, what made it onto those shirts were animals kids might only see in foreign documentaries or zoos abroad—none of them representing our country’s ecological identity.

This is more than a critique of design—it’s a wake-up call.

We must stop allowing laziness to dictate how we educate our youth. From textbooks to T-shirts, truth matters. Every image, every story, every message leaves an impression. If we're serious about building a generation that will protect our environment, then let’s ensure we’re giving them the right information. Otherwise, we’re not just failing the children—we’re failing the future.

In a country where environmental destruction often takes a backseat to economic development, it’s easy to dismiss this controversy as trivial. But symbols matter. Representation matters. Accuracy matters.

To the SM Store and other brands with the power to influence minds: you can do better. Use your platform not just to sell, but to inform, inspire, and ignite action. Our wildlife—and our children—deserve nothing less.

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