SM Scholars Aspire to Share the Gift of Education

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



New SM scholars recently joined the contract signing event in Pasay.

"I desire to become an educator not just to fulfill a dream but also to be a blessing to the next generation."

These inspiring words come from 18-year-old Princess Eunice Motel, an SM scholar currently pursuing her education at the Philippine Normal University. She is one of two children of Hildajane, an on-call factory re-packer, and Richard, a set man, hailing from Caloocan City.

Princess' dream of becoming a teacher has been a lifelong aspiration, deeply rooted in her heart and mind since her childhood. This calling became even more pronounced when she embraced her Christian faith.

SM Scholar and aspiring educator Princess Eunice Motel

"My unwavering commitment to becoming a teacher is directly inspired by the Kidz Life Ministry, a cherished initiative of our church dedicated to teaching children about God's word. I aspire to be a vessel for sharing knowledge, instilling hope, and nurturing a brighter future for the next generation," she said.

To pursue her dreams, Princess has chosen to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education at the Philippine Normal University, her dream institution. "PNU is renowned for its ability to nurture exceptional teachers," she remarked. "As I aspire to become an educator, I also strive for greatness and excellence, and there's no better place to achieve that than at PNU."

Following in her mother's footsteps, Jhona Bolinas is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Education with English as her major. Born in Baliuag, Bulacan, she passed entrance exams at other universities but opted to enroll at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela due to its proximity to her family.

Despite considering other career paths, Jhona opted education, drawing inspiration from her mother, who is also an educator. "Watching, observing, and listening to her, I learned the basics," she shared. Driven by her love for reading and writing, she also chose to specialize in English.

When asked if she plans to work abroad after graduation, Jhona keeps her options open, recognizing it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. "But right now, I want to ensure that my mother enjoys a good life before making such a significant decision," she explained.

Another aspiring educator is Krissa May Oquindo. Her father, a cable technician, is the family's sole breadwinner while her mother dedicates her time to caring for the family. Krissa completed her senior high school education at the Universidad de Manila. She applied to four State universities and ultimately chose to enroll at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), known for producing graduates highly sought after by employers, as per a recent survey.

SM scholar Krissa May Oquindo (right) aspires to be a teacher for her family and community.

When asked about her motivation to become a teacher, Krissa responded, "Being an educator has always been my passion. From the moment I set foot on a school campus, the idea of standing in front of students and sharing knowledge excites me." She has selected Science as her major to deepen her understanding of the subject and to enlighten others about it.

Krissa has no plans to teach abroad. She believes that while there is demand for teachers overseas, the same holds true in the Philippines: "My passion for teaching is rooted in caring for the next generation, especially for the youth of our country."

Through the years, the SM college scholarship program has empowered 3,791 graduates who have enrolled in over 120 partner colleges and universities across the nation. These scholars enjoy full tuition benefits, monthly allowances, part-time work opportunities during semestral and Christmas breaks, job offers from the SM Group upon graduation, and engaging activities and enrichment programs.

Additionally, SM's tech-voc scholarship program has produced 4,669 graduates, further contributing to the development of skilled professionals in various fields.

SM Prime explores potential partnership with Japanese firm for waste-to-fuel solutions

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IN PHOTO (Left to right): SM Supermalls Vice President Liza Silerio, SM Prime Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy, GUUN Chief Executive Officer Shinji Fujieda, GUUN Philippine Branch Senior Managing Director and General Manager Takeshi Konishi

Leading real estate developer in Southeast Asia, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime) recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan’s GUUN Co. Ltd. to explore a potential partnership to implement waste management solutions by recycling waste paper and plastics as an alternative source of energy called ‘fluff fuel’.

Fluff Fuels are one type of RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) which are produced from shredded and compressed plastics, papers, and fibers. These are used as fuels in cement manufacturing, paper mill companies, or power companies in Japan.

SM Prime Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans T. Sy is positive that a partnership with GUUN will contribute to the waste reduction goals of the country. “Today, Japan’s waste management and recycling technology is among the most advanced in the world,” he said. “There is no better partner for SM because we do not just talk about being big, we make sure we do it; we do not talk about being environment friendly but we do take bold steps to save the environment. I am looking forward to growing with GUUN as among leaders in solving environmental issues in the Philippines.”

GUUN Co., Ltd., founded in March 2001 and headquartered in Yokohama City, Japan, piloted the production of fluff fuel from plastic waste in Inayawan, Cebu in 2014 and recently inaugurated its P200-million, 2,400-square meter waste recycling plant in Tayud, Consolacion, Cebu.

Since then, Japan’s Ministry of the Environment has adopted GUUN’s waste-to-fuel technology as a model for advanced low-carbon technology innovation for further deployment in developing countries.

“This will be a milestone partnership for us,” GUNN Chief Executive Officer Shinji Fujieda said after the signing ceremony. "I understand very much how important waste management is for SM and for the Philippines and we look forward to more projects we can do with the properties of SM Prime.”

SM Prime’s initiatives for waste management include waste reduction and effective waste collection and segregation. Over the years, it has implemented programs such as Trash to Cash, Plastic Waste Collection, and E-Waste Collection that have contributed to reducing the total solid waste generation across its real estate portfolio.

Through its pioneering Trash to Cash recycling market, SM Prime has collected and recycled 1.4M kg of plastics, paper, metals, and others in 2022. “We have saved 16,766 trees from the 986,222 kg of paper recycled,” SM Prime disclosed in its 2022 Integrated Report to shareholders.

Meanwhile, SM’s Plastic Waste Collection program, a partnership with the Plastic Credit Exchange that was launched in February 2021, has accumulated 42,541kg of plastic waste from 14 mall sites. Also present in all its 83 SM Supermalls is the E-Waste Collection program for the responsible disposal of WEEE (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment). This drive has helped process close to 7,000 kilograms of e-waste. 

Advocates support the Senate in the swift passage of Maritime Zones Bill

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Maritime specialists, development workers, scientists, and advocates send their unequivocal support to the Senate in swiftly passing the Maritime Zones Bill as it conducts the second hearing to discuss the legislation under the Senate Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones (Special Committee); they likewise laud the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) for including the Philippine Maritime Zones Act (MZ Act) among the priority measures that will be adopted within the year 2023.

President Marcos met with the LEDAC last 20 September 2023 for the inclusion of the declaration of the Philippines maritime zones in the Common Legislative Agenda of the 19th Congress. The MZ Act is among LEDAC’s new priority legislations.

The group backs the Senate on its sense of urgency in adopting the MZ Act amidst the varying issues arising in our maritime domain, including escalating tensions on the West Philippine Sea and the continuous destruction of our marine wealth and natural resources, among others.

Earlier this week, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva released a statement on the installation of floating barriers in the Scarborough Shoal and reiterated the importance of the immediate passage of the MZ Act: “Kaisa po tayo ng Presidente Bongbong Marcos sa paniniwalang prayoridad ang agarang pagpasa ng Philippine Maritime Zones Act na naglalayong magdeklara ng mga maritime zones na nasa pamamahala ng Pilipinas kabilang ang internal waters, archipelagic waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, EEZ at continental shelf.”

“Congress needs to pass the Maritime Zones Act to clearly delineate the geographical extent of our maritime jurisdictions and define the applicable powers and authorities over our marine waters consistent with international law.”, said Dr. Jay Batongbacal⁩ of the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and the Law of the Sea (IMLOS).

The MZ Act will declare the country’s maritime zones based on standards set by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It also reinforces the Philippines’ victory in the South China Sea arbitral ruling which declared illegal the nine-dash line, among others. Mr. Julio Amador⁩, CEO of the Amador Research Services, further emphasized that it is imperative to fortify our claims through the Maritime Zones Act in order for us to effectively protect what is ours.

“Time is of the essence. Everyday we are confronted with news about aggressive and assertive activities that undermine our rights over our own waters. Policymakers should firm up policies and strategies that protect the country's status as an archipelagic and maritime nation. They can by passing a foundational policy clearly defining and declaring the extent of what is ours. The time to pass the Maritime Zones Bill is not after the next incident, not towards the end of the year; it is now.”, adds Amador.

The House of Representatives approved House Bill 7819 or the proposed Philippine Maritime Zones Act in May 2023 while eight (8) versions of the Maritime Zones Bill have been filed in the Senate, as to date. In August 2023, the Senate created the Special Committee to focus on measures in connection with the country's maritime and admiralty zones. This is led by Senator Francis Tolentino with members Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa, Robin Padilla, Christopher Lawrence 'Bong' Go, Juan Edgardo 'Sonny' Angara, and Risa Hontiveros.

In August 2023, Senate President Miguel Zubiri committed to prioritize the passage of the measure: "We commit to you by the end of the year, before December, we will deliberate it during the budget deliberations. Isasabay namin to, ipapasa namin ang Maritime Zones Act ni Sen. Tolentino and several senators. We are going to pass it."

During the Senate Special Committee hearing today, Senator Tolentino emphasized: “What we’re doing is for the Filipino people. Ang ginagawa natin, para sa Pilipinas.”