SM scholarship considered God’s gift by scholar alumni
This article was initially published in The Manila Times online edition on July 31
MARY Justine Torres and Luche Angsinco know what it’s like to be poor. Thus, they are thankful for the scholarship granted them by SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI) that enables them to prevail over poverty and live their dreams.
During a recent kumustahan (sharing) with its scholar-grad-scholar-graduates, Justine and Luche shared their experiences s post-graduation and d as members of the e country’s workforce. e.
Justine is the daughter hver of a tricycle driver and a housewife who ho repackages peanuts and nd sampaloc candies for resale to sari-sari store ore owners within their area. rea.
She said her mother othll would stay up till 3 a.m. doing her tasks and household chores doing oing the laundry, cooking their meals including their daily baon and cleaning their small “hole in the wall garage cum living quarters.”
Looking at her uncomplaining mother, Justine knew education was key to escaping poverty.
Justine, a graduate of Bachelor of Science (BS) in Commerce Major in Banking and Finance from the National University (NU) Class 2013, recalled how the scholarship from SM helped pave the way to achieving her dreams.
“Mahirap man ang naging buhay namin noon, naging instrumento ng Diyos ang SM Foundation upang matulungan ang isang katulad ko na makapagtapos ng pag-aaral (While our life was difficult, SM Foundation became God’s instrument to help me finish my studies),” she said.
Justine explained, “Nakapahalaga ng edukasyon para sa akin dahil alam kong ito ang kailangan ko upang magkaroon ako at ang pamily ako ng maganda at maayos na kinabukasan (Education is very important because I know it is what my family and I need to have a better future).”
Justine shared with the SMFI officers one of the most important lessons learned during her
time as a scholar.
“Tinuruan ako ng SM Foundation na lalong magsikap at siguraduhing ibigay ang lahat ng makakaya sa anumang bagay na aking gagawin. Ito ay nadala ko hanggang ako ay magtrabaho na (SM Foundation taught me to work harder and give my all in everything I do. I bring this to my work up to today),” she shared.
She is also thankful to her alma mater for being instrumental in her journey: “‘ Di ako pinabayaan ng NU sapagkat kung nasa dean’s list ako ay binibigyan pa ako ng bonus na itinutulong ko sa pagbayad ng aming ilaw at tubig (NU did not forsake me because every time I was on the dean’s list, it would be give me a bonus that I would use to pay for our electricity and water bills).”
The SM Group of Companies has majority ownership of NU since 2008.
After graduating with academic distinction, Justine was offered a job by a bank during an interview conducted before the Presentation of Graduates to their benefactor Henry “Tatang” Sy and family.
Shortly after, she was recruited by a multinational company. She has since been promoted as a credit support specialist 2. Through hard work and perseverance, she has acquired a townhouse unit for her family and is able to support her parents and a younger sibling’s education.
Meanwhile, Luche is the only child of a company driver and a housewife.
She applied for the SM scholarship in 2001 at SM City Davao, which was still under construction at that time.
Luche obtained a degree in BS Accountancy from the Ateneo de Davao University. After graduating, she immediately looked for a job to support herself and her family. Through hard work and dedication, she rose from the ranks and is now a bank manager.
As a big sister to the scholar-graduates, Luche reminded them not to be picky with their first jobs. Each job is a source of work experience.
“Starting your first venture into the working world early also allows you to use your youth to your advantage. Chances are, your first job is going to be mainly about learning to work as much as working itself. With this, you need patience and perseverance to learn and soon you will genuinely smile as success will always be your twin,” she said.
She continued, “Our job experience will further our skills and knowledge. Getting out there and getting the experience is a surefire way to learn more. It gives us the opportunity to apply the skills that we learned from the academe. And by applying these skills, your significant accomplishments can then be cited on your resume to further your career.”
Now Luche not only supports her parents, but also actively gives back to her community via supporting an orphanage run by sisters in Davao, and organizing and participating in feeding programs for the poor, including the garbage collectors in their area.
Whenever possible, she also volunteers her time to support SMFI’s efforts to reach its stakeholders. She said it was her way of passing on the kindness received from her benefactors.
“I am forever grateful to SMFI. Without my scholarship during my college days, I might not be where I am right now. Now, I am able to provide a comfortable life to my family. Thank you, Tatang. Kahit saan man ako magpunta sa buong Pilipinas, SM mall pa rin ang hahanap-hanapin ko (Wherever I go in the Philippines, I will still look for an SM mall). I am a forever supporter,” she ended.
SMFI, through its scholarship program, provides deserving and qualified students with access to college education and technical-vocational studies since 1993. SMFI continues to uplift the economic status not only of these students, but also their families and communities by providing them with access to quality tertiary education, a major factor to subsequent gainful employment.
To date, SMFI has supported almost 5,500 scholars nationwide.