While education is globally acknowledged as a right and not a privilege, it is not always accessible to a large number of aspiring students, especially when it comes to college.
According to the latest data gathered by Unesco Institute for Statistics in 2016, some 263 million children and young individuals around the world are out of school.
Locally, almost 10 percent of an estimated population of 39 million Filipinos, aged six to 24, were also recorded to be out-of-school children based on the Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2016 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey.
Moreover, of the 3.8 million out-of-school youths in the country, a majority 87.3 percent comprised the ages of 16 to 24, which is the average age range for tertiary education.
While there remain to be a good number of state universities and colleges which extend the lowest rates; not to mention the signing of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act into law this year by the Duterte administration, granting full subsidy to enrollees at 112 state universities and colleges and 78 provincial universities and colleges nationwide, students and parents have more than just tuition fees to think about. The cost of pursing a degree includes food, transportation and other school-related expenses, as well as housing for others who live far away.
This reality is what generally hinders low- to middle-income families from sending children to tertiary education after high school. Rogin Paul Gopez, Jeff Moises Hontoria, Ma. Danica Castillo, Ric Jason Pangilinan, Eugenio Permejo Jr. and Japhet Dadap know this situation all too well since the six of them needed lots of help to become the new college graduates they are today.
Gopez is the son of a jeepney driver; Hontoria, of a farmer; Castillo, a pastor; Pangilinan, a tricycle driver; Permejo Jr., carinderia owner; and Dadap, a small-sized product distributor. Determined and worthy to earn a degree, these hardworking youths are grateful that despite their families’ financial limitations, a truly benevolent foundation recognized their potential and helped them earn their respective degrees.
Fueled by a relentless commitment “to help build a better tomorrow for deserving youths,” SM Foundation Inc.—the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Group of Companies—has been giving outstanding students whose families are unable to afford tertiary education access to colleges and universities for the past 25 years.
SM Group Founder, Henry Sy, Sr. and SM Foundation Trustees proudly present the 333 graduates of the foundation
Linda Atayde, Executive Director for Education and Trustee of the foundation
In fact, the young achievers featured today in The Sunday Times Magazine are but six of this year’s 333 graduates of the SM Foundation who were feted by no less than SM’s Sy family at the 22nd Presentation of Graduates at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
This year’s batch comprises the largest batch of graduates since the scholarship program began in 1993. The group is all the more remarkable this 2018 what with the presence of students who survived the devastation of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Typhoon Haiyan) in 2013.
“I have always believed education is the best defense against poverty. As a kid, I had the will to strive for excellence and to overcome the hard environment,” read part of the message of “Tatang” Henry Sy, Sr., SM Group’s founder, during the momentous event.
As a tribute to the foundation and to inspire students who have just begun the new academic year, The Sunday Times Magazine shines the spotlight on the journeys of Gopez, Hontoria, Castillo, Pangilinan, Permejo Jr. and Dapdap in their own strife for excellence.
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Yolanda ‘graduate’
Eugenio Permejo, Jr.
Bachelor in Secondary
Education Major in English
Leyte Normal University,
Magna Cum Laude
A genuinely jolly young man, it was hard to believe Permejo, Jr. experienced the horrors of Typhoon Yolanda when it struck his hometown in 2013.
“Nakatira kami malapit sa dagat tapos may sapa ‘dun sa likod ng bahay namin. Noong nag-Yolanda, hindi kami agad lumikas pero nung umabot na hanggang dibdib ang tubig kinabahan na kami dahil wala kaming mapupuntahan. Thankfully nakaligtas pa rin kami kahit naaanod na yung bahay namin,” he recalled.
Surviving the typhoon was one thing but getting back on their feet was a totally a different story for the young student and the rest of his family.
By a stroke of luck, however, the same freezer they had been using in their humble carinderia managed to survive as they did.
“Kahit washed out talaga lahat, yung bahay, yung tindahan namin, yung freezer naman na naanod ay hindi napasukan ng tubig. Sa loob noon hindi rin nasira yung baboy, inumin at mga sangkap kaya naka-survive kami. A few months after Yolanda, we became the first eatery to open in our area so we were fortunate to attract customers,” he shared gratefully.
Through the efforts of each family member, they slowly rebuilt their former business as well as a new home.
Meanwhile, another challenge faced Permejo alone—to go back to school and graduate from college. It would have been easier just to give up and help the family rebuild their life but the boy remembered how much his parents wanted him to go to college because they never did.
Taking to heart his parents’ dream to spare their children from poverty through education, Permejo persevered.
Deciding to take up education like his two older siblings—both full-pledged teachers already—the 19-year-old hit a snag when he failed to make the cut for the SM scholarship.
“Hindi talaga ako pumasa noong una, I wasn’t even part of the short list, I was on waiting list. Unfortunately, maraming hindi nakapagpatuloy ng schooling after Yolanda so that’s when I was given the slot during my second year in college to become a scholar,” he openly shared.
Bent to show his appreciation for this valuable opportunity, he completed his degree Magna Cum Laude.
Currently preparing to take the Licensure Exam for Teachers, Permejo said he could hardly wait to become “a shaper of young minds.”
“I know that to become a teacher is a rewarding experience from when I had my year-long practicum. Iba yung effect kapag nasasabi ng mga students, ‘Ganyan pala yan.’ I’m inspired and energized to share my knowledge when they show they are eager to learn.”
* * *
Driven by childhood dream
Rogin Paul Gopez
Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering
Holy Angel University
Magna Cum Laude
Young as he was, Rogin Paul Gopez knew that someday, he will achieve a title to his name.
“Bata pa po ako, gusto ko na pong may malagay sa pangalan ko. And at that time, I wanted to be an engineer, like my uncle,” the 21-year-old recalled to The Sunday Times Magazine.
A consistent honor student, the diligent Gopez earned the admiration of his teachers and became one of their top choices to apply for SM Foundation’s Scholarship Program. As the foundation does each year, they announce dates for screening, which included Gopez’ hometown of Angeles, Pampanga.
“When I first heard about it from my teachers, I immediately told my parents [I was applying] and they eagerly encouraged me to try out. My father processed all the requirements even if I hadn’t asked him to so that in the end I had nothing to think of but to pass the screening and become a scholar,” Gopez detailed.
A son of a jeepney driver and a housewife, Gopez said he was aware that without the scholarship, his parents would face difficulty in sending him to college, much more take a five-year engineering course
“When I took the exam, naturally I felt really nervous. But I went past that by praying and by reminding myself na gustong-gusto din ng parents ko na makuha ko ang scholarship. Ito lang yung way para makuha ko yung dream title ko lalo pa’t yung napili kong kurso ay mahal.”
His prayers were soon answered.
“Nung nakuha ko siya, first year ko palang sinet ko na sa mind ko na dapat grumaduate ako with honors. Nandyan na yung chance, may naka support na sa aking foundation, bakit ako mags-settle sa pasado lang kung alam ko namang kaya kong galingan pa,” Gopez beamed in recollection.
Now the magna cum laude is preparing to take his board exam in October to become a full-pledged electronics engineer. And when the time comes he finally sets foot in his industry, he said he plans to give back to his earliest supporters.
“I want to give back to those people na nag-support sa akin in the middle of the struggles, specifically my parents. Gusto ko mapasaya sila bago naman i-achieve yung aking personal goals,” he finally noted.
* * *
Father’s wish fulfilled
Jeff Moises Hontoria
Bachelor of Science in Accounting Technology
Central Philippine University, Iloilo City
Cum Laude
A student leader, grade school valedictorian and honorable mention in high school, Hontoria is the epitome of every parent’s dream.
Unfortunately, his father did not live long enough to see his youngest among a brood of six to excel in his studies. Hontoria’s father died of heart attack when the latter was barely two years old.
“Syempre medyo mahirap ang buhay kasi yung mother lang namin ang nagtaguyod sa aming pagaaral. Nabuhay niya kami sa pamamagitan ng pagsasaka sa maliit na farm ng aming pamilya,” Hontoria shared with The Sunday Times Magazine.
With his mother providing for the family on her own, to describe their situation challenging is an understatement. Things became tougher in fact when Hontario was diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease—the very condition that took his father’s life—and the medical bills piled up.
When they got through the ordeal, however, Hontario, rather than dwell on what happened to him, picked up where he left off and proceeded to fulfill his father’s dying wish—that he finish school.
“Medyo mahirap ang school but I strived because sabi raw ng father ko on his deathbed, mag-aral daw ako ng mabuti at alagaan ko nang mabuti ang nanay ko. Thankfully, the hard work paid off,” he shared.
It was through a student leadership organization that Hontario was granted an SM scholarship. He was simultaneously named one of the Kabayan 10 Outstanding Students of the Philippines following a stringent screening process.
“I carried on with my leadership training in college, becoming president of our organization and running for student council,” he related.
“Outside school, I was voted Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman of our Barangay and was further elected as vice president of the SK Federation of our municipality.”
Now a cum laude graduate, the young leader is ready to join the corporate world and set to work for the company that helped him fulfill his father’s wishes.
“We’re very welcome to join SM now that we’ve finished school. In fact, before I left our province to attend this event, the general manager of SM Mandurriao already offered me to be department supervisor when I return,” the 21-year- old said with much optimism.
* * *
All for mom
Ma. Danica Castillo
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
University of the Philippines-Los Baños
Cum Laude
Like all children who witnessed how their parents enjoyed their work, Danica Castillo was inspired to become a teacher like her mother.
“My mom told me though that teaching is about passion so that if I wanted to earn more money, I’d have a difficult time doing so as a teacher,” Castillo confessed.
“So when it was time for me to choose a career, I took her words to heart because at that time, hirap kami sa buhay and my priority was to earn for my family.
“And since my interest lies in Science and Math, I considered taking up Engineering,” the young lady began her story.
A consistent honor student, finishing both elementary and high school as valedictorian, Castillo wanted every special moment on stage with her dad and especially her idol, her mom.
Unfortunately, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was in high school and was too weak to be at her high school graduation.
“During her last few weeks, she could no longer speak but I knew she could still hear our stories because she’d respond with gestures,” the loving daughter recalled.
“Then when I got the news that I passed the UPCAT [University of the Philippines College Admission Test] I happily shared with her, and I heard her call me by my nickname. I knew then she was happy for me too.”
With Castillo’s father working as a full-time pastor at their church and the family’s funds depleted by hospital bills for her mom, the joy she felt in landing a spot at the prestigious university’s Industrial Engineering program became short-lived. She worried about the cost of college.
“I knew we barely had funds left but seeing my mom’s reaction over the news I was accepted in UP, I knew I had to find a way to do it. And somehow, I couldn’t explain it but I felt that a blessing was coming my way,” she added.
True enough the SM Foundation’s Scholarship Program landed on Castillo’s lap what with her stellar school records.
“Of course the first person I went to with the news was my mom, and even if she couldn’t speak, I knew how happy she was because my future was already secured.”
Castillo’s mother passed on a few days later, and devastated as she was, she knew she sent her mother off to heaven content she would be OK.
Going up the stage as a Cum Laude last summer, Castillo had her mother in her heart.
* * *
Challenge-ready
Ric Jason Pangilinan
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
Finma Araullo University
Academic Distinction Awardee
The youngest among the three children of a tricycle driver and a housewife, Rick Pangilinan was given an SM Foundation scholarship when he needed it most.
“My mother suffered a mild stroke and so huge chunk of the finances went to her medicines and therapy. That’s when I realized why I was given that SM Foundation scholarship. Had it not been the case, I might not have been able to continue my studies,” Pangilinan recalled.
“I appreciated the scholarship even more at nakakataba ng puso na nakakatulong ako sa magulang ko kasi hindi na ako nakadagdag sa problemang iniisip nila,” he shared.
Further contemplating his life’s biggest blessing so far, Pangilinan has realized he needs to inspire others to complete their education.
“Kung iisipin, bakit pa ako bibigyan ni Lord ng scholarship kung wala naman akong magiging purpose? So now, it has become my goal to give light to others, lalo na sa mga kab ataan na nawawalan ng pag-asa na makapag-aral because of financial restrictions. Kung gugustuhin lang talaga nila, kahit pa gustuhin nilang maging doctor or engineer, makakahanap sila ng paraan.
* * *
An unlikely scholar
Japhet Dadap
Bachelor of Science in Accounting Technology
St. Paul School of Professional Studies
Like his townmate Eugenio Permejo, Jr., Tacloban’s Japhet Dadap also experienced the super typhoon’s devastation.
“We did not evacuate because we really didn’t anticipate the strength of Yolanda. Kahit yung matatanda sa amin, na nakaranas na ng napakaraming bagyo noon, hindi inakalang ganoon kalakas si Yolanda,” Dadap recalled.
And if images of destructed houses and family members struggling to stay afloat amid currents of floods were merely scenes from a movie before, they became a frightening reality for this the teenaged boy.
“Ang lakas nung agos, nawala yung bahay namin. Buti na lang may naghagis ng kawad ng kuryente kaya kami isa isang nadala sa evacuation center,” Dapdap painfully recalled.
Thankfully, his whole family survived Yolanda but was hardly left with anything to go on.
Moving to nearby Samar to start over soon proved to be a win-win situation for Dapdap and his family. For besides his parent returning to their business of distributing tires and roofing products, Dapdap also came across the SM Foundation.
Admittedly not an honor student through and through, Dapdap plucked the confidence to take the scholarship exam out of necessity.
“Hindi na rin ako kinabahan kasi alam kong hindi ako makakapasok,” he said in jest.
Nevertheless, Dadap gave his best in the exams and made it to the list.
“Naging malaking tulong sa family ko na nagkaroon ako ng full scholarship, na may monthly allowance pa lalo na’t malayo ang bahay namin sa school.”
Had it not been for SM Foundation, Dadap said he would have ended up choosing a two-year technical-vocational course just to earn a diploma.
“Ngayon, nakakatulong na ako sa family ko, pati sa pag-aaral ng bunso naming kapatid kasi nakakuha na ako ng trabaho even before graduation. For that, I am forever grateful to SM Foundation Scholarship Program,” he ended.
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