One of the flagship programs of SM Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of the SM group, is its scholarship program. Aside from the college education offerings, the program also provides venues for students who would like to pursue a career in the skilled labor industry.
The
gradual reopening of economy not just in the country, but around the world,
brings hope to more job opportunities for Filipinos who lost their jobs because
of the health crisis. Indeed, the support for individuals eyeing to be part of
the skilled industry is needed now more than ever.
It
was in this light when SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), together with SM
Foundation (SMFI), Don Bosco One TVET Phils. Inc., and the city government of
Pasay partnered to give educational support to 20 deserving youth coming from
Pasay. To date, SMFI has already produced more than 4,500 tech-voc graduates
who are now gainfully employed.
A dream to be fulfilled
One
of the current SM tech-voc scholars from Pasay is Stephen Parina. His dream is
to put up his own automotive shop since aside from his interest in cars and
motorcycles, he intends to uplift the economic status of his family. Both of
his parents are temporary employees at the Pasay City Hall.
“Nakita ko sa Facebook post ng SM Foundation na nandun ang aking gustong course kaya dali-dali akong pumunta sa city
hall ng Pasay para alamin ang mga detalye
nito at kinabukasan ay nagpasa na ako agad ng mga requirements,” said
Stephen, who is now studying Automotive Mechanic course at the Don Bosco
Makati.
SM-Pasay tech-voc scholar Stephen Parina
“Gusto
kong matuto kung paano mag ayos ng mga sasakyan at makatapos ng pag-aaral dahil
hirap kami sa aming pamumuhay. Alam ko na makakatulong ang edukasyon, kagaya ng
techvoc upang matupad ang aking pangarap na makapagpatayo ng sarili kong
automotive shop. Magiging susi ito upang mai-angat ko ang antas ng pamumuhay ng
aking pamilya” he added.
“Taos
pusong pasasalamat sa SM at sa Sy
family dahil nabigyan nyo ako ng pagkakataon
na makabalik muli sa pag aaral. Hinding hindi ko ito malilimutan. Dadalhin ko
ito hanggang sa aking pag tanda,” Stephen said.
Ticket
to success
Another current tech-voc scholar is
Jeorge Angelo Madrid. He is also studying Automotive Mechanic course at the Don
Bosco Makati. His father works as a painter of houses and buildings while his
mother works at the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Jeorge is the
youngest and most of his five siblings already have their own families.
SM-Pasay tech-voc scholar Jeorge Angelo Madrid
According to Jeorge, he sees this
opportunity of going back to school as his ticket towards achieving his dreams:
“Nag-apply ako sa SM Foundation kasi wla po akong kakayahan na makapag aral
at makapagtapos. Wala po akong pagkukuhanan ng pang tuition para maipang bayad
sa eskwelahan.”
Jeorge is adamant to find a gainful
employment right after he finish his studies. “Salamat po sa SM Foundation. Kung
hindi dahil sa inyo, hindi madaragdagan ang kaalaman ko tungkol sa
automotive. Magagamit ko ito sa aking
paghahanap ng trabaho at kinalaunan, masuportahan ang aking sarili, mga
pamangkin at ang aking mga magulang,” Jeorge further shared.
Reaping
the fruits of his efforts
Anthony Andales, an SM tech-voc
scholar alumnus, also took the time to share his inspiring story. He graduated
from the Dualtech Training Center in 2019 and is now employed as a staff
technician in a known company which manufactures various electronic products
for home and office use.
SM tech-voc scholar alumnus Anthony Andales
“Bago ako mag-training sa Dualtech,
nagtrabaho muna ako bilang isang helper sa isang refilling station. Ang aking
arawang sweldo ay P220 lamang. Akala ko dati, wala na akong mararating sa buhay
at hindi na makapagtatapos ng pag-aaral,” Anthony recalled.
“But God gave me the privilege to be
chosen as one of the SM Foundation scholars para
makapag-aral ako nang walang binayaran kahit piso. Ang tanging puhunan ko lang
ay ang aking lakas ng loob at ang aking mga pangarap sa buhay na balang araw, makatutulong
ako sa aking pamilya upang kahit papano ay makaahon sa buhay,” he further
added.
Right after his on-the-job training,
he was absorbed by the program’s OJT- partner company and was given a job as a
staff technician because of his skills and work ethics.
“Napagawa na namin ang bahay kahit papaano, hindi man bato pero at
least maayos at safe kapag may bagyo. Hindi po kagaya dati na pag
umuulan ay may pa-shower kami kasi
butas-butas na ang bubong at tagpi-tagpi ang dingding ng aming tahanan. Walang
imposible kapag ikaw ay may pangarap at determinasyon upang maabot ito sapagkat
maraming tao at institusyon na handang tumulong. Kaya sobrang thankful po talaga ako sa mga taong tumulong sa akin
para magkaroon ng maliwanag na kinabukasan.” Anthony concluded.
SM Foundation,
through its Scholarship program, provides deserving and qualified students with
access to college education and technical-vocational studies since 1993.
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