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| PLDT-Smart Foundation Gabay Guro scholar Shella Marie Namalata Aclon, graduated Cum Laude at Bohol Island State University (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/PLDT-Smart Foundation) |
PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), the social outreach arm of PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and Smart Communications Inc. (Smart), in partnership with Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) and Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF), recognized one hundred forty-five (145) Gabay Guro scholars who graduated in 2023. "The flagship program of PSF, Gabay Guro is run by volunteers from the PLDT Managers’ Club. For the past 16 years, the initiative has established itself as a pillar of support for Filipino teachers and aspiring educators,” said PSF President Esther O. Santos.
Under Gabay Guro’s scholarship pillar, PSF grants financial aids to deserving Education students enrolled in state colleges and universities across the Philippines. The grant includes book and uniform allowance as well as monthly stipends that scholars may use for school projects as well as everyday expenses. This year, eighty-six (86) of the 145 Gabay Guro scholars completed their Education degrees with Latin honors. Shella Marie Namalata Aclon, who was born with clubfoot, thought it was too ambitious for her to dream of going to college despite being a consistent honor student since grade school. Raised solo by her mother who sold peanuts in their community after her father passed away, Aclon grabbed the opportunity to apply for a Gabay Guro grant. “Gabay Guro made it possible for me to pay for school expenses. By saving enough of my allowance, I was also able to purchase a laptop which became a necessity at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Aclon, who graduated Cum Laude at Bohol Island State University.
Going to college was supposed to be a certainty for young achiever Max June Estomagulang. After all, he is a graduate of the government’s special education program for fast learners and gifted students and completed secondary education at a science high school. But financial struggles weighed heavily on his future. “I took the risk to enroll at a state university which is three hours away from my home. Gabay Guro supported my schooling. It provided me with wings to take flight and surrounded me with the right guidance to pursue my dreams,” said Estomagulang, a Summa Cum Laude from Negros Oriental State University. Since its inception in 2007, almost 2,000 scholars from 57 universities nationwide have completed their Bachelor of Science in Education degrees with the backing of Gabay Guro. More than 500 of them graduated with academic accolades. Currently, the program is supporting around 400 scholars currently studying to become teachers.
“We remain committed to Gabay Guro and our pledge to help the country further education through our scholarship programs and other pillars. We encourage everybody, especially our scholars, to have the same pay-it-forward mentality and compassion,” said MPIC Chief Finance, Risk and Sustainability Officer and Gabay Guro Founding Chairperson June Cheryl Cabal-Revilla. Anchored on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG) No. 4 (Quality Education), Gabay Guro aims to provide programs that will hone the skills and improve the welfare of Filipino teachers nationwide. PLDT and Smart, together with PSF, support initiatives promoting inclusive quality education to help build a “MATATAG” nation.
