Panay SM scholar-alumni share stories of gratitude, triumph

Through the SM College Scholarship Program, SM Foundation (SMFI) offers equal education opportunities for students in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. From free tuition to enrichment activities, from job opportunities during semestral breaks to exclusive job offers upon graduation, SMFI got that covered.

In the Visayas region, one of the covered areas of the program is Panay, which is comprised of Aklan, Antique, Capiz and Iloilo – and the sixth-largest and fourth most-populous island in the Philippines. During a kumustahan session with the program beneficiaries, some SM scholar alumni from the region shared how the social good program changed the economic status of their families.

SM scholar alumna Glenda Tayongtong finished a degree in commerce, major in management accounting in 2002 from the Central Philippine University.

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 Top 10 of my class was a plus factor, one of the requirements called for,” Glenda recalled.