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.
SM-Pasay tech-voc scholar
Stephen Parina
“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.
“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.
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.”
SM-Pasay tech-voc scholar
Jeorge Angelo Madrid
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.
Hands on training of SM
tech-voc scholars
“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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