“Start them young on the road to world peace and friendship.” These were the first words from a 1961 Manila Chronicle article announcing the establishment of the Filipino Scholarship Program at what was then the American School Manila, now International School of Manila.
The Filipino Scholarship Program has allowed over a hundred hopeful students to study at the International School Manila, who upon their graduation gain entry into top colleges and universities in the Philippines, as well as in renowned universities abroad, such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, Cornell, and Princeton, among others. These scholars have gone on to pursue successful careers as entrepreneurs, humanitarians, lawyers, doctors, and architects.
Now on its 57th year, the legacies of over 150 Filipino scholars of the program continue to inspire the next generation and make the ISM community proud.
In 2012, ISM expanded the scholarship in honor of former guidance counselor Vicky SyCip Herrera and her 38 years of service to the school. The Vicky SyCip Herrera Filipino Scholarship seeks to fund a fifth student with exceptional ability in each grade level from 8 to 12, in addition to the four that the school directly funds.
Moreover, the VSH Filipino Scholarship offers additional assistance to the school’s four internally-funded scholars by underwriting the costs involved in their continuing education in sports and academic competitions held locally and overseas, among others.
Scholars are selected by a committee composed of school administrators and counselors on the basis of academic merit, extra-curricular promise, and financial circumstances. Extra consideration is given to those who come from especially underprivileged backgrounds.
To support the VSH Filipino Scholarship, Gavel&Block, a subsidiary of Salcedo Auctions, and the ISM will be mounting an auction, entitled benefit, on May 5 at The Peninsula Manila’s The Conservatory.
Some of the pieces to go under the hammer are artwork by Angelito Antonio, Norma Belleza, Ronald Ventura, and Fernando Zobel de Ayala.
There will be a four-day preview from May 1 to 4 at The Gallery in Peninsula. A catalogue will be up online at salcedoauctions.com starting April 16.
Deadline for consignments is on April 6. Offers may be sent to info@salcedoauctions.com or alumni@ismanila.org. For inquiries, contact Salcedo Auctions at (02) 659-4094 or International School Manila at (02) 840-8606.