PLDT-SME Nation SMEs support scholars through Gabay Guro program

MANILA, Philippines - 19-year-old Ginno Dosdos of Cebu used to dream of becoming a merchant seaman — primarily to give financial support to his parents. His father is a driver while his mother is a housewife. Ginno knows how difficult it is to get an education if funds are lacking: there was a point when he had to stop his schooling. His mother even pawned her most treasured possessions to continue his studies. But his life changed when he became a scholar of PLDT-SMART Foundation’s Gabay Guro Program. He eventually regained his mother’s possessions back with the help of the allowance given to him by the foundation.

“Other college courses still have high tuition fees even with scholarships. So at first I wanted to try to get into a teaching course because it’s not so expensive,” Ginno explained. But he said that as he studied to become a teacher, his practical considerations gave way to idealism and a new dream.

“Today, I want to be a teacher because it’s my chance to shape the values of my students and help them become good persons some day. It’s a chance to change the lives of students for the better. And I’m so inspired that PLDT through the Gabay Guro Program is helping me and others to fulfill our dream to be teachers,” said Ginno, who is on a full scholarship under the program. The Gabay Guro Program was established by and is being implemented through the PLDT-SMART Foundation in partnership with the PLDT Managers Club, Inc.

The noble mission of the Gabay Guro Program is also receiving full support from PLDT marketing segments and subsidiaries/affiliates. Among them is PLDT-SME Nation, which is a provider of communication and Internet connectivity business solutions to small-and-medium scale enterprises or SMEs.

Ginno is just one among many scholars that will one day be the nurturers of the minds and hearts of the next generation of Filipinos—thanks to PLDT-SME Nation and its partner SMEs.

“PLDT-SME Nation not only gives SMEs the opportunity to grow their business but also provide an avenue for them to give back,” says PLDT-SME Nation vice president and Head Kat Luna-Abelarde.

PLDT-SME Nation and its partner SMEs are providing scholarships to Ginno and other education students through the Gabay Guro Program. The ultimate aim of such scholarships is to improve the state of education in the Philippines by giving opportunities for more students to become teachers. Gabay Guro will also provide scholars quality training to upgrade their knowledge and teaching skills.

More scholarships

At the recent PLDT Negosyo Boost launch at the NBC Tent, PLDT-SME Nation announced that 18 deserving students are set to receive scholarships to help them fulfill their dream of becoming teachers. The 18 students would receive their four-year scholarships courtesy of the Gabay Guro program of PLDT-SMART Foundation.

Each of the 18 students will receive their scholarships under the name of 18 SMEs that partnered with PLDT-SME Nation for the Negosyo Boost launch. Each of the 18 partner SMEs of PLDT-SME Nation had the prerogative to choose a scholar from a roster of eight schools.

These schools include Bicol University ; Eastern Samar State University ; Mt. Province State University; Negros Oriental State University; Philippine Normal University Agusan; Philippine Normal University Isabela; Philippine Normal University Quezon; and Western Mindanao State University.

The 18 SMEs who partnered with PLDT-SME Nation include Aquabest, Binalot, Pansit Malabon, Brothers Burger Zagu, Buns N Pizza, R. Lapid’s Chicharon, Silverworks, Hen Lin, Reyes Haircutters, Bo’s Coffee, Potato Corner, Tonton’s Thai Massage, Bibingkinitan, Fern-C, Mister Donut, World of Wellness, and YSA.

Wanted: More teachers

“The problem with education right now is not the lack of schools or classrooms but the lack of teachers. We want to bring people to start teaching,” says PLDT first vice president and PLDT-SMART Foundation treasurer Chaye Cabal.

Cabal explained that sponsoring a teacher’s education and training has a multiplier effect: you don’t just help an individual teacher but all the students that will benefit from that teacher’s knowledge and skills. The number of students that will potentially benefit, once enough teachers are helped, could number in the millions.

PLDT through the PLDT-SMART Foundation established the Gabay Guro program two years ago to provide educational grants, teacher training, teacher tributes and livelihood projects to education students and teachers. Through Gabay Guro, PLDT supports the Department of Education’s goal of improving the quality of education in the country.

The Gabay Guro program has more than 150 education student scholars in four schools nationwide - Cebu Normal University , Mindanao University of Science and Technology, Philippine Normal University Manila, and University of Southeastern Philippines .

Now with the program expanding and offering grants to more students, Gabay Guro is now expanding to 13 provinces and has included eight more universities in its scholarship program.

Support from SMEs

“Aside from the scholarships, we also do training which involves out-of-the-box teaching methods and computer learning,” says Cabal. “We’re also really big on English proficiency because the trainers from our call center group, ePLDT Ventus, do the training with them.”

Pointing to the benefits of sponsoring a teacher, Cabal emphasized that when you help a student pursue a teaching profession, that student has the potential to help millions in the time she’ll be the one teaching.

“There are no specific criteria for choosing the schools. We’re open for others who would like to endorse a school they want to sponsor a scholar in,” says PLDT assistant vice president Gil Garcia. “The foundation will be the one to approach the school for parties who would like to sponsor a scholar.”

From the four school partners mentioned, the 18 SMEs were able to choose their scholar from eight more schools nationwide.

One of the business owners Rey Lapid, owner of R. Lapid’s Chicharon, chose to sponsor an education scholar at the Philippine Normal University Manila.

“I’m glad that there are programs that give importance to the value of education and teachers,” says Lapid. “We hope to see more scholars who could take part in this kind of scholarship, both for the public and the private divisions.”

For more info on what PLDT-SME Nation can offer your business, you may call 101-888 or visit www.pldtsme-nation.com.ph.