One thousand alumni of the SM Foundation
scholarship program flocked to the SMX Convention Center Sunday (January 6) to
reunite with SM patriarch Henry Sy, Sr, matriarch Felicidad T. Sy , eldest daughter
Tessie Sy-Coson, youngest son Harley and
granddaughter Mara Sy-Coson. Also present at the gathering were Executive
Director Debbie P. Sy and Executive Director for Education Linda Atayde, AVP
for scholarship Eleanor Lansang, members of the Board of Trustees, Lydia Echauz
& Chito Macapagal and SM Executives led by Paul Arcenas and Ronald Tumao.
Harley
Sy , extended the family’s heartfelt congratulations to the alumni and mentioned
the lessons he learned from
his father , such as , “You have
to have a dream, whether big or small. Then plan well, work hard, and be very
determined to achieve your goals. Hard work is always part of success”. Harley
described his father as more than a dreamer. He was a doer and stayed
focus on his goals. The other lessons were
about maintaining a simple life
despite success and the importance of
helping others . His father continued to work hard not for himself but for others . He created more projects , thus generating better opportunities for employment and opening avenues to support our communities.
The
college scholarship program is
now 25 years and he thinks that a mentoring program by the alumni for the current scholars is timely because the latter can
benefit from the
former’s life experiences and collated wisdom as SM scholars. “You all
know this. You have gone through these tough times yourselves so help the
current scholars in whatever means you can—tutor them where they are weak and
make them feel that they are not alone. SM Foundation after all is also your home,” Harley said.
This
statement generated a loud applause and
approval from the alumni.
He
ended his remarks with an encouraging note, “Continue making things happen. Your story goes
on and we cannot wait to hear what else you can do. The world needs more
dreamers and doers like you.”
All wearing the blue jackets given them
by the foundation , the former scholars rendered song and dance numbers and
heartwarming testimonials from Ericson Cabrera, 2010 graduate, now school
principal, Junnair Manla 2014 graduate now network engineer based in Singapore,
Novelyn Beboso, 2005 graduate now Certified Public Accountant,
& Ellyson Bala 1999 graduate, now a SAVP in the IT Department of SM Prime.
Their stories drew tears of joy in the eyes of listeners. An alumna, schoolteacher
Gemma Gutierrez, 1998 graduate sang an
original thank you song which she composed for Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sy Sr.
Alumni joined her in singing this song .
After the alumni’s musical number five representatives from various batches
presented the alumni’s gift to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sy Sr. – a wall art depicting
“Scholars for Scholars” a project of “Tatang’s graduates” (SM
scholar-alumni) to pay tribute to the
founder of SM Foundation and to pledge to “pay forward” the generosity of the
Sys to other less-fortunate but bright students (who were once like them). The
five gift presentors, Emylou Cadalzo, Loida De Vera, Elly Bala, Novelyn Beboso,
Jeffry Manhulad turned over to Debbie
Sy, executive director of SM Foundation,
the “seed fund” of over P100,000 that they raised amongst themselves to sponsor
one college scholar for schoolyear
2019-2020 and pledged to increase the number in the future. They also distributed voluntary pledge forms during the program.
Further entertainment was provided by
the Act Seven band and Tatang’s graduates let their hair down so to speak and
jammed with the band. The event closed
at five pm with takeaways
for them – their inspiring stories
began at SM and will continue to be handed down from them to their next
generations. For Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sy Sr and family and
SMFI - Tatang’s vision of
educating the youth to fight poverty was not made in vain; in fact it is a true
and tested formula.
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