Students in the Cordilleras are geographically challenged because of the terrain and location of their region, making it hard for them to attend school.
Despite these challenges, SM Scholars, with the help from SM Foundation (SMFI), were able to achieve their dreams.
One of the scholar alumni is Joanne Marie Buan, a graduate of business administration from Saint Louis University (SLU) in Baguio.
Buan shared that one of her most memorable experiences as an SM scholar was when she met the Sy family, especially Tatang Henry Sy Sr.
Her first job was as a personal banker, a job offer that she got right after her interview during the presentation of scholar graduates — where a job matching activity is usually done after the recognition of the scholar graduates.
She believes that sharing is tantamount to caring — the core of Tatang’s education program.
“Just as how Tatang helped me fulfill my studies during my university days, I have decided to pay it forward by helping some of the deserving students from my public high school,” said Buan who supports three scholars every year by paying for their tuition.
Michael Angelo Parel was not able to attend in the graduation ceremony at the Mall of Asia due to some urgent business, deeply regretting it as he did not know that it was his last chance to meet Tatang alive.
Perel, who became an SM scholar of Batch 2013, is the youngest among six children whose parents used to be kakanin and puto vendors during his student days. They were originally from Negros Occidental but moved to Baguio in 2007.
He took up accountancy from the SLU, graduated in 2018, passed the certified public accountant board exams the following year, and is now employed as accounting associate at SM City Baguio.
Perel shared that he can relate with the ‘people helping people’ philosophy in his current job.
“We are all affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but we still have to continue with our everyday roles in order to survive,” he added.
For college freshman and future educator Dustine May Garcia, her mind was already set to apply for the SM scholarship the moment she learned about it from a post on social media.
Despite poverty, Garcia is a dean’s lister at the University of the Cordilleras. She has a very supportive family who encourages her to prioritize her studies.
Because of the pandemic, SMFI’s onsite activities for SM scholars are on hold. The SMFI ensures to still engage the SM scholars through various online activities.
The pandemic also affected the income of their sari-sari store. With the scholarship allowance, her family no longer worries for her school expenses.
“Since SM already shoulders my college tuition and allowance, our savings for the past few years went to the reconstruction of our home, where our sari-sari store is also located” she noted.
