Nescafé Soundskool supports college students

MANILA, Philippines - Nescafé Soundskool is best known for honing and discovering the next big artists in the music industry. Unknown to many, though, it also helps support college students through school.

“I appreciate very much the initiative of Nescafé Soundskool in taking a step toward social responsibility by giving financial assistance to poor but deserving students, enabling them to continue with their college studies. This financial assistance gave them hope,” said Dr. Mary Sylvette Gunigundo, education supervisor II of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-National Capital Region.

“Just hearing their simple thank you makes my heart swell with joy because there is at least this company that looked beyond profit and saw the need to help these students,” she added. 

The 10 college students who received financial assistance were selected by CHED, which has actively supported the Nescafé Soundskool competition in the past four years.

CHED chose currently enrolled students whose parents’ combined annual income is below P150,000.

“We also identified students who are studying in different schools in terms of size and type of institution,” Gunigundo said.

Eileen Bangcoro, marketing and promotions manager of Nescafe, said Nescafé Soundskool has always wanted to help students who need financial assistance for their education.

She said, “We have realized that there are many good students out there who cannot finish their degrees because of financial problems so we came up with the program.”

“I’m really grateful to be one of the awardees. The financial assistance is really a big help for my education since the course that I’m taking is quite expensive,” said Charmaine Angeline Calimlim, a third-year nursing student at the University of Perpetual Help.

Christian Señora of St. Clare College of Caloocan, for his part, said the money he received from the program could help him graduate this semester.

“Now, I don’t have to worry about my project expenses and other miscellaneous fees this semester,” said the BS Business Administration student.

Lourdes Consuelo, another recipient from St. Clare College of Caloocan, said, “The financial assistance inspires me to study harder. I promise to do well in school so I can find a job and help my family once I graduate.” 

Other recipients of the financial assistance include Marika Young (Polytechnic University of the Philippines), Alain Tongson (Mapua Institute of Technology), Janella Ann Marie Domingo (Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig), Dezerry Alina (Colegio de San Juan de Letran), Al John Miradora (Polytechnic University of the Philippines), Imarie Fernandez (Colegio de San Juan de Letran), and Nico Patayan (Our Lady of Fatima University).

Now on its second year, the Nescafé Soundskool wants to further expand the financial assistance program by helping students from other regions.

“Hopefully in the coming years we can also help scholars outside Metro Manila,” Bangcoro said.