Aboitiz scholars recognized

MANILA, Philippines – Two college scholars of the Aboitiz Foundation, the social development arm of the Aboitiz Group, earned highest academic honors and were recognized for their commitment to excellence.

Adriel Gamier Sanchez, a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering graduate summa cum laude from the University of San Jose Recoletos, was hailed as one of last year’s Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) at a ceremony in Malacañang.

“We should not focus on our achievements in life but on our character. Recognitions may be forgotten, but the values and the principles that you stand for will surely remain,” remarked Sanchez, who was supported by the Aboitiz Foundation together with Visayan Electric Co. Inc., the country’s second largest privately-owned  utility.

Aside from the recognition, Sanchez, together with his classmates, was also the winner of a P200,000 grant from the 1st Aboitiz Corporate Social Responsibility Proposal-Making Competition. He used this to found the Panlambo Bakeshop, which sustains and nourishes 200 families in Cambinocot, Cebu City.

Apart from Sanchez, Aboitiz scholar Armand Henzkel Canoy, a summa cum laude graduate of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University, also stood out as he topped the November 2015 Civil Engineer Licensure Examination, besting 3,934 other exam passers across the country.

“We are proud of our Aboitiz scholars and their achievements because we truly believe in their capability to succeed. Through them, we are further inspired to continue with our various education initiatives as we advance our efforts to help improve our country’s educational system,” said Sonny Carpio, Aboitiz Foundation executive vice president and chief operating officer.

The Aboitiz Group supports a total of 2,610 scholars nationwide. The Aboitiz Foundation alone supports 330 scholars in Metro Manila and 1,575 scholars in Cebu. In 2015, 39 Aboitiz scholars graduated from college, 23 of them obtaining academic honors.

More than 27,000 Filipino students have benefited from the Aboitiz Foundation’s scholarship and financial programs in the last 28 years.