SM scholars from the Cordilleras share their journey

May 1, 2021 Community Billboard

SM founder Mr. Henry Sy, Sr. believed that education is the greatest equalizer and the key to end the intergenerational cycle of poverty among Filipinos – which also includes our youth in the Cordilleras.
According to studies, students in the Cordilleras are geographically challenged because of the terrain and location of their region – which makes it hard for them to attend school. Not to mention the extreme climatic and meteorological events that they usually encounter such as landslides and earthquakes.
But despite of these challenges, these SM Scholars, with the help from SM Foundation were able to achieve their dreams – and here are their stories. Testimonials of Scholar Alumni One of the scholar alumni from the Cordilleras is Joanne Marie Buan, a graduate of BSBA major in Financial Management from the Saint Louis University (SLU) in Baguio.
Buan shared that one of her most memorable experiences as an SM scholar was when she met the Sy family, especially Tatang Henry Sy Sr. “I had a lot of fun experiences as an SM Scholar but I think the most memorable experience that I have was when I met Tatang and the Sy Family during the Presentation of Scholars Graduates to the family and other benefactors.”
Buan’s first job was as a personal banker, a job offer that she got right after her interview during the Presentation of Scholar Graduates – where a job matching activity is usually done after the recognition of the scholar graduates. This activity intends to link SM Scholar Graduates to their dream jobs within SM and is implemented by SMFI together with HR representatives from different SM business groups.
On the People Helping People concept of Mr. Henry Sy Sr. being advocated in the education program, Joanne expressed: “I believe that sharing is tantamount to caring which is the core of Tatang’s Education Program. Just as how Tatang helped me fulfill my studies during my University days, I have decided to pay it forward by helping some of the deserving students from my public high school. Currently, I support three scholars every year by paying for their tuition fees.”
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 more than 3,400 college scholar-graduates nationwide.
Aside from the scholarship grant, SMFI prepares their scholars holistically for their chosen paths by equipping them with necessary knowledge and skills. To achieve this, SM Foundation conducts various engagement activities for their scholars which includes general assemblies, recollections, and socials. It is also during these activities when the scholars get to know Henry “Tatang” Sy, Sr.—through “Tatang’s” life lessons that SM Foundation integrates with each event.
By incorporating life lessons from the SM Founder, SMFI hopes that these engagement activities will also serve as their guide as they venture the real world.