Thursday, May 26, 2011
The Philippine Star

 Ditchella & Hernandez

MANILA, Philippines - Henry Sy Sr. together with sons Hans and Harley proudly presented to business associates, bankers, government officials, SM executives led by Jose Sio, CFO of the SM Group, members of the academe, clients and guests the 125 SM scholar graduates with 52 of them graduating with honors. Led by Jay-Ann Ditchella, Bachelor of Science in Accounting of the University of Negros Occidental Recoletos and John Adreau Hernandez, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science of UP-Diliman who both graduated summa cum laude, the students clearly took center stage at the testimonial dinner in their honor held at the SMX Convention Center.

Aside from the two, there were 10 students who graduated magna cum laude, 35 who graduated cum laude while five graduated with academic distinction. Graduates from the provinces were treated to an all-expenses paid trip to Manila to take part in the afternoon program climaxed with a song rendition by the graduates thanking their benefactor and his family for giving them hope through a college education in spite of their poverty. The graduates were each given an expensive watch with their names engraved, gift certificates ranging from P10K to P3000. And most important of all, most of them had job interviews with human resource heads of the various SM companies and were assured of jobs starting June of this year. Others were encouraged to take review classes for Board examinations and were told to report after the examinations.
 
SM scholars are high school graduates of public schools with a weighted average of 88 percent and whose family income does not exceed P150,000 annually. The scholars undergo rigid screening from a team of volunteers from the SM Group and once taken in as a scholar, are cared of and “nourished” by the foundation from their first year up to the end of the course; they undergo guidance counseling, regular assessment of school performance, take training programs, educational field trips and are given employment opportunities with SM during their breaks. Aside from free tuition from partners schools in NCR or in the provinces, they get a monthly allowance for miscellaneous expenses.
 
 Henry Sy Sr. envisioned the scholarship program as a way of helping underprivileged high school graduates pursue a college education because by arming them with a college degree, a scholar-graduate will be able to help his family economically and most important of all, assist in sending another sibling to school. Debbie Sy, SMFI executive director, said many of the scholar graduates are gainfully employed with SM and in other companies, teaching in universities and colleges while many of them have opted to work abroad. But even so, they manage to send funds to their families in the Philippines to be able to send other siblings to school.
 
Because of the success of the program, 1,200 graduates have so far benefited from it since its launching 15 years ago. The program has likewise attracted a number of sponsors who have partnered with SM Foundation in sending students to school with SM Foundation managing the program for them. During the afternoon ceremonies, these scholarship sponsors like LCJ Garments, Edmark, Jinhungbijou Arts Inc., RSC Garments & DMD Collection were given recognition. In fact, a scholar sponsored by LCJ Garments, Paula Rizza Rugayan graduated magna cum laude, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the FEU-East Asia College.
 
Teodoro Ocampo, president and CEO, National University who was guest of honor and keynote speaker advised the scholars to “sustain the momentum of the hard work” that they started and grab the opportunities that come their way. Like their benefactor, Henry Sy Sr. they were encouraged to “dream and dream big” and meet the challenges head on to learn something new each day. John Andreau Hernandez, graduate of UP-Diliman seemed to be on the right path. Son of a jeepney driver and a housewife-mother, he had set a goal for himself upon graduating valedictorian from the City of Mandaluyong High School; he aimed for passing the entrance exam in UP; aimed for the highest honors by studying day in and day out. He relied extensively on the SM Foundation for counseling coupled with his parents’ moral support and this got him the summa cum laude honors. Hernandez and his mother, Mrs. Rowena Hernandez paid tribute to the one person who gave them hope in spite of their poverty.

None of the guests were dried-eyed as they listened to the countless stories of hardships and struggles due to extreme poverty, yet full of hope to overcome all obstacles and now full of gratitude to the Sy family who literally saved them from the “hole” of decay. They were one in saying that the one reason that made them persevere four to five years of college studies was to prove to their benefactor that he was not remiss in choosing them as scholars, “hindi siya nagkamali”, and we all made sure we made good in our studies to make him truly proud of us. “Today, we stand tall and we offer our diplomas to Mr. Sy and his family while honoring our parents for sacrificing for us”!