A virtual send-off via Zoom was held last Friday, 29 May 2020, for First Gen’s 21 senior high school scholars who graduated from AMA Computer College and First Industrial Science & Technology (FIRST) School. The 21 graduates are residents of the First Gen Clean Energy Complex in Batangas City, and were the first batch of students who were able to finish their K-12 education under the First Gen Scholarship Program.
The Senior High School (SHS) Scholarship Program is First Gen’s educational program implemented by the CSR team and the Batangas Community Relations team, in partnership with the Lopez Group Foundation Inc. (LGFI), the host barangays of Batangas City, and the aforementioned schools. The program awards K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM), and Technical-Vocational-Livelihood Track scholarships to qualified yet economically challenged residents of First Gen’s host communities in Batangas City.
Mr. Ramon J. Araneta, First Gen’s Vice President for External Affairs and Security, was present in the event and delivered a message of hope and inspiration to the graduates in this time of pandemic. In his speech, Mr. Araneta said, “There will always be new opportunities in this COVID time… Remember this, in all the calamities we are facing, God is always with us. God is telling us to pray harder. He will not abandon us.”
Mr. Darby John Russel S. Garcia, Assistant Vice President for Regulatory Compliance and Community Relations of First Gen Batangas, also shared the humble beginnings of the program in 2018 as he shared, “Ito po ang pangarap natin two years ago. Our program is a product of good vision and cooperation among stakeholders. Marami pong oras ang aming iginugol sa brainstorming at healthy na pagtatalo. In this program, naipakita po namin ang aming sincerity [together with barangays and community leaders] para matulungan ang ating community.”
After the presentation of graduates came a short congratulatory message from Ms. Angela Lopez, Operations Head of LGFI, which was shared by Ms. Monica Tan. She read, “…ang araw na ito ay nagbibigay-tanda ng inyong tagumpay sa lahat ng hamon na dinaanan ninyo para makarating sa araw na ito. Ito rin ang tagumpay ng inyong mga magulang at pamilya na sumuporta sa achievement na ito. Itong yugto na ito ay hindi lamang para ngayon, kundi achievement ninyo na panghabang buhay.”
The scholars then shared their experiences in the two years of their journey as First Gen scholars. Many of them cited their colorful experience under First Gen’s Work Immersion Program. One scholar, Angelica Manalo, said, “Doon po sa work immersion po namin na napakasaya at memorable…thank you po. Hanggang ngayon po, dala dala ko pa rin po ang natutunan ko sa kanila [pertaining to Batangas employees who served as SMEs and facilitators in the two-week Work Immersion in the Batangas site office]. Thank you po dahil inspirasyon ko po sila para maging engineer din.”
Some parents of the scholars have also aired their gratitude and appreciation for the company’s two years of hands-on mentoring, monitoring, and support for the scholars until they were able to graduate with flying colors.
First Gen’s Senior High School Scholarship Program sees K-12 education as a long-term strategy for many young people to be given better education and employment, work immersion, or on-the-job training opportunities for the upgrade or acquisition of employable and technical skills in response to the ever-surging demand from the labor market. The 21 pioneer graduates will form a scholars’ alumni group and will still be further monitored for their career advancement status and academic progress.
First Gen’s Senior High School Scholarship Program sees K-12 education as a long-term strategy for many young people to be given better education and employment, work immersion, or on-the-job training opportunities for the upgrade or acquisition of employable and technical skills in response to the ever-surging demand from the labor market. The 21 pioneer graduates will form a scholars’ alumni group and will still be further monitored for their career advancement status and academic progress.
