Fueling dreams: Shell scholars inspire TV bio

MANILA, Philippines - With the wealth of success stories among the millions of beneficiaries of Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. (PSFI) – the social development arm of Shell companies in the Philippines (SciP) – one wouldn’t be surprised to find at least a few that are dramatic enough to be cinematically inspirational.

Indeed, one such tale involving two brothers with humble beginnings as gas station attendants proved perfect material for a well-known biographical television series on GMA Network.

The true-to-life story of Joel Javier and his younger sibling Jovel was recently portrayed in Mel Tiangco’s popular Magpakailanman primetime show.

In time with the centennial anniversary of Shell companies in the Philippines, the inspiring lives of the two siblings was a fitting tribute to their fellow PSFI beneficiaries, especially the graduates of the “Gas Mo, Bukas Ko” (GMBL) scholarship program.

The brothers from Isabela struggled early in life to pull themselves out of poverty, through work at a farm and later on at a bakery, and eventually at a Shell retail station in San Fernando, Pampanga owned by Annalisa Canlas, a Shell dealer with a mentoring nature. With prodding and guidance, Joel and Jovel availed of Shell’s GMBK program to enhance their technical knowledge, as well as their interpersonal skills.

GMBK is one of Shell’s most impactful and widely recognized capacity-building programs whose goal initially seems anathema to most corporations – to help entry-level employees such as pump attendants (also called forecourt attendants) break out of the cycle of short-lived jobs, through additional skills training in partner academic institutions. However, for SciP chairperson Ed Chua who conceptualized the program, it is a realization of the company’s belief that authentic social advancement should start from within the company.

“Whether these graduates stay within Shell or seek employ elsewhere, what matters is that we concretely contribute to nation-building,” explains Pilpinas Shell vice president for communications Roberto Kanapi. In fact, to the contrary, the greater majority of GMBK scholars do end up staying within Shell, finding growth organically or within the ranks.

GMBK is also a valuable opportunity for dealers to share in Shell’s vision of giving back to society. In fact, two pioneer dealers Ping Sotto and Desi Tomacruz were instrumental in jumpstarting and conceptualizing the program in 2005. The idea is for dealers to nominate deserving employees within their stations, and they are required to shoulder allowances and provide schedule concessions to accommodate the schooling sessions and activities. The cost of schooling per scholar comes to about P40,000.

Scholars can choose courses ranging from auto mechanic and repair, to basic computer learning and even bookkeeping. A batch of 28 scholars was trained at the La Salle Night School in 2006, and the GMBK program was formally launched nationwide in 2007. To date, the program has registered a total of 1,228 graduates, including the determined former panaderos and gas station attendants Joel and Jovel.

Jovel has risen through the ranks and is now station manager of Annalisa’s Shell San Fernando branch. Meanwhile, Joel, who was formerly in the position as Annalisa’s trusted right hand in her Shell stations, now works as store manager at a convenience store outlet also owned by her. The Magpakailanman feature details the two brothers’ struggle against poverty and Joel’s pivotal role in paving the way for his younger brother.

As Shell celebrates its 100th year in the Philippines, the global leader in power, energy, and gas technology not only strives meet increasing energy demand and supply challenges by delivering smarter products, promoting cleaner energy, and developing new energy sources. Most importantly, Shell seeks to continuously contribute to nation-building through its social development projects in PSFI, touching on various advocacies from youth and community development, to road safety and environmental management.