Gabay Guro has always been about changing the lives of every Filipino. PLDT-Smart Foundation and PLDT Manager Club’s welcomed its new set of Gabay Guro scholar graduates through Simpleng Handog 2018. These students are education major graduates from different Gabay Guro partner schools nationwide.
PLDT and Smart Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan underscores the continued passion of every Gabay Guro scholar graduate to pursue the path of change. “Congratulations to this year’s batch of Gabay Guro scholar graduates – ten of which are Magna Cum Laude and 50 are Cum Laude. May you continue your passion to serve the nation by enriching the minds of the future generation,” Pangilinan said.
PLDT SVP and Gabay Guro Chairwoman Chaye Cabal-Revilla recognizes the vital role education plays in the lives of today’s youth. “Each of you, our dear Gabay Guro scholars, are truly the great embodiment of generation change. May you continue to shape the minds of the future generation and be reminders on how education can become a powerful tool in strengthening our nation,” Cabal-Revilla said.
A timeless pursuit of dreams
Hailing from Santander, Cebu, Jerome T. Aguilar, 26, shares a story of perseverance, hard work, and a strong will to never give up. His story is one that inspires hope amidst life’s struggles.
Growing up as the eldest among six siblings, Aguilar grew up in a simple household with his father working as both a fisherman and a farmer to provide for the family. For Aguilar, poverty was never a hindrance in achieving one’s dream. “I decided to send myself to school as a self-supporting student because I believe that my situation should never stop me from making my dreams happen,” Aguilar said.
“I worked as a dishwasher in a small eatery. I was a caregiver, a house-boy and a yaya or babysitter. It was hard, but I never lost hope,” Aguilar added.
Aguilar has always faced life’s challenges head-on. With his bright optimism, he often finds a silver lining amidst difficult situations. When his mother was diagnosed with a rare cancer of the blood called Polycythemia Vera, his faith never wavered. Despite being an out-of-school youth for five years, he believes that God has His own plans. “I never regretted those five years of being an out-of-school youth. It was during those years that I learned to be stronger and braver. I worked relentlessly, saving enough to help myself go back to school and pursue my dreams,” Aguilar said.
Indeed, it is a fate destined by God as Aguilar was chosen by PSF and Gabay Guro as one of its scholarship program recipients during his second year in college. “When PSF and Gabay Guro found me, I was already a self-supporting sophomore student taking up Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Mathematics in Talisay City College. I am beyond blessed to be one of Gabay Guro’s scholars. Through their help, my dreams are realized and it motivated me to study well and achieve my goals,” Aguilar said.
Aguilar did not only graduate college, but he did so with flying colors. A proud Gabay Guro scholar, he graduated Magna Cum Laude in Talisay City College.
The journey of Aguilar is a true testament of God’s unfailing grace. Truly, dreams are timeless. There are no shortcuts and timelines in achieving one’s hopes and dreams. In his speech, Aguilar, already close to tears, said, “Wherever life may take me, I will forever be a proud Gabay Guro scholar. If I could give anyone just one piece of advice, it would be to never give up. Never give up on your dreams.”
Unforgettable night
Simpleng Handog 2018 is truly an unforgettable night for this year’s Gabay Guro scholar graduates. The night was filled with delicious food, great company, and brilliant musical performances. Putting smiles on everyone’s faces, the crowd was serenaded by the one and only Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, the amazing Sam Milby, and the powerful songstress Jona Viray.
Addressing this year’s scholar graduates, PSF President Esther Santos underscores the importance of education and volunteerism in changing the lives of many people. “With volunteerism at the heart of Gabay Guro, education plays a big part in our program. It is through education that we greatly invest in each of your future. May the same spirit of volunteerism live in each of you as you embark on your new journey towards realizing your dreams,” Santos said.
An education arm and flagship project of PSF, Gabay Guro is a program run by volunteers composed of the PLDT Manager’s Club Inc. The program has six components which include scholarships, training, computerization and broadbanding, teacher’s tribute, livelihood, housing, and educational facilities. This year, Gabay Guro recognizes the achievements of its over 150 scholars – ten of which are Magna Cum Laude and 50 are Cum Laude. Since the start of the program, Gabay Guro has supported over 1,300 scholars – more than 800 of which graduated. Of the 800 scholar graduates, 41 are Magna Cum Laude and 194 are Cum Laude.