SM Foundation (SMFI) invites all incoming college freshmen in Panay to apply for the SM College Scholarship Program, with its online applications coming to a close on March 20, 2021.
The SM Scholarship Program started from the vision of the late SM patriarch, Henry “Tatang” Sy, Sr. He believed that if you send one child from an economically challenged family to college, that child would have more opportunities to have gainful employment and later on uplift the economic status of his/her family.
Aside from free access to tertiary education, SM scholars are also engaged in various enrichment activities where they can learn life skills such as problem-solving and decision-making – which can prepare them in their track of being leaders of tomorrow. This stems from SMFI’s belief that college education is more than just attending classes and passing exams – that it’s also an avenue to teach them a path for life and shape their framework of values, morals and ethics which prepares students when they leave the realm of higher education.
In the Panay area, comprised of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo, SM partner schools are Capiz State University, Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion, Filamer Christian University, University of San Agustin, Central Philippine University, University of the Philippines-Visayas, and West Visayas State University. In nearby Negros Occidental, partner scholls are Colegio San Agustin, Technological University of the Philippines-Visayas, University of Negros Occidental Recoletos, and University of St. La Salle.
There are now 216 scholar graduates from the Panay and Negros areas and 64 are currently enrolled in different degree programs.
Farmers’ Daughter Now A Business Development Manager
SM scholar alumna Glenda Galino Tayongtong finished a degree in Commerce Major in Management Accounting in 2002 from the Central Philippine University (CPU). With the minimal earnings of her parents as farmers, there was no way they could send her to college, especially in a private University.
“Central Philippine University is one of the best schools in our area. If it wasn’t for my SM scholarship, my parents couldn’t really afford to send me to this school,” she said. It was fortunate that her sister, who was then working as a sales clerk at SM Delgado, saw a poster announcing the SM scholarship program. “Graduating as Top10 of my class was a plus factor, one of the requirements called for,” Glenda recalled.
She also credits her alma mater for the big help in her education. According to her, the CPU had been supportive of SM scholars. “I remember we’re given an advanced exam pass because our tuition was paid for by SM,” she pointed out.
Right after graduation, she immediately landed a job. “I was immediately accepted as Marketing assistant of SM Supermalls because I was an SM scholar. I got this title na ‘magaling yan kasi SM scholar,’” she shared. Today, she works as Business Development Manager of Avon Cosmetics, Inc., handling Iloilo branches. She attributes where she is now to SM Foundation.
“I think they accepted me because of my work experience at SM. I was able to build a career path which I really like. Believe it or not, every time I pray, I always include SM in my fervent prayers, dahil utang ko kay SM ang maganda kong buhay ngayon,” she further added.
A Proud SM Scholar and TUP-Visayas Alumnus
For Evan John V. Balsomo, application to the scholarship program was not a simple walk in the park. He heard of the scholarship program from an aunt who was working in Bacolod. He, along with other high school seniors, were looking for scholarship opportunities at that time.
“It is seldom that graduates from our school could make it to college, thread the process, and successfully graduate.” Sharing his journey, he said there were more than a hundred students from all over the province who took the admission exams. “The process stretched until the evening, and I began to worry if I could still catch the last bus going home,” he recounted.
Balsomo is from the municipality of Cauayan, which is a three-hour drive south of Bacolod. “My money was only enough for that day. I thought my chances were slim since most of the applicants are familiar faces from competitions I’ve joined, but I was very grateful to hear my name called as part of the handful to undergo the interview,” he shared.
“I remembered being greeted by a warm smile by the interviewer,” Ms. Ling Lansang. After a week, I received a call from her telling me that I was accepted, and I could not help but be teary-eyed. I was delighted and grateful that I could help lessen the financial burden of my parents and that I was a step closer to my dream to become an Engineer. At that time, I could not be more excited to be part of the SMFI family!” he further shared.
Balsomo studied BS Mechanical Engineering at the Technological University of the Philippines-Visayas. He is now employed as Maintenance Planner at Maple Leaf Consumer Foods, Inc. in Winnipeg, Canada.
Furthermore, Evan mentioned that his confidence was bolstered through the various enrichment activities provided by the SMFI to its scholars: “I gained more confidence after I joined the activities and enrichment programs such as the yearly gathering of scholars. I also volunteered in assisting during the scholarship admission test. These surely boosted my people skills, as well as my organizational and multi-tasking skills.”
Beating the Deadline
Krishna Dolar was among those who turned in their application on the last day. “It was the last day of application for SM Scholarship, 10 pm, when I decided to go to a computer shop that late night and tried my luck to submit my requirements in haste via email. I actually got surprised when it was quickly approved with the qualifying exam schedule sent to me which I was going to take the next day,” she recalled.
Currently, Krishna is a second year BS Civil Engineering student at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos. With the scholarship, her parents are unburdened from spending for her college education expenses such as her monthly room rental in Bacolod City. She was even able to replace her old mobile phone after saving portions of her monthly scholarship allowance. More so, she was also able to afford internet connectivity for her online schooling.
She shared that without the scholarship, it would be hard for her to achieve her dream of becoming an engineer. “SM scholarship is not just important for me but also to my family. It’s already taking a big portion of my heart and my life. I’m beyond grateful for the all the help of SM Foundation and the Sy family,” she expressed.
Like Glenda, Evan and Krishna, you may also achieve your dreams in life through the help of the SM College Scholarship Program. The online application for SY 2021-2022 is open until March 20, 2021. To apply, visit https://scholarship.sm-foundation.org.
For more updates, follow SM Foundation’s official social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube): @SMFoundationInc.
SM Foundation, through its Scholarship program, provides deserving and qualified students with access to college education and technical-vocational studies since 1993. To date, SMFI has produced almost 5,500 scholar-graduates nationwide.
