Taiheiyo Cement, Solid Earth now support 23 valedictorians

SAN FERNANDO, Cebu (June 23) -- Taiheiyo Cement Philippines, Inc. (TCPI) and Solid Earth Development Corporation (SEDC) now support 23 scholars after both companies granted 12 more scholarships to students who graduated valedictorian last March from the elementary public schools in this town.

Officials of the company awarded the certificates of scholarship to the 12 incoming first year high school students and certificates of scholarship renewal to the first batch of 11 scholars who are now incoming second year high school students in simple ceremonies at the TCPI Penthouse last May 31.

Toshio Komatsu, TCPI president and CEO, also gave recognition to those in the first batch who performed well during the first year of their grant, along with Takahiko Imachi, senior vice president for finance, and SEDC COO Hideki Yanagita.

San Fernando Mayor Antonio L. Canoy and Councilor Lakambini G. Reluya, chair of the committee on education of the Municipal Council, along with barangay officials and the scholars' parents, witnessed the awarding as the TCPI-SEDC scholarship program entered its second year.

"I hope you'll continue being scholars and maintain the standard set by Taiheiyo and SEDC," Canoy said in his message for the scholars, as he lauded the two firms for their initiative: "You are the perfect example of the kind of companies we welcome who are not only here to make money but demonstrate social consciousness."

Both companies granted the scholarship under the Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) that is administered by a social development management committee tasked to closely monitor the performance of the scholars in school, according to Dr. Meliton A.S. Delos Santos, Ph.D. in Geology, SEDC general manager.

Opportunites

The TCPI CEO said it is the character of the Taiheiyo Group to uplift the living of host communities, and that TCPI gives prime on education as "it is the foundation that enables anyone to build a better future for oneself and the community. a pathway towards achieving goals and aspirations."

But Komatsu stressed that what both TCPI and SEDC are giving are "only opportunities." "Success (in this scholarship program) lies in the support of the community, the encouragement of the parents and the guidance from the teachers," he pointed out.

The new batch of scholars again represent the original 11 barangays in San Fernando that both companies, as determined with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), consider as their direct stakeholding communities, plus North Poblacion that has been included this year.

They are: Ruthchiel Mae G. Geraldizo of South Pobacion, Jennifer P. Cañas of Panadtaran, Sarah Mae C. Tapuyao of Tonggo, Vanissa Rose L. Sasil of Tinubdan, Christian R. Baricuatro of Magsico and Julieto A. Causapin of Bugho;

Jackylyn P. Alsa of Basak, Annabelle P. Manugas of Cabatbatan, Analie C. Malabago of Ilaya, Gina S. Embolode of Tañañas, Jessa Mae L. Tañajura 0f Tabionan and Mary Eve E. Barayoga of North Poblacion.

Geraldizo, Cañas, Tapuyao, Embolode, Tañajura and Barayoga have been enrolled and are now studying at the Notre Dame Academy in San Fernando. Baricuatro, Causapin and Manugas are at Magsico National High School, while Alsa is at Balud National High School and Malabago at Pitalo National High School.

Among the first batch of 11 scholars, seven have been studying at Notre Dame Academy,. while four of them are making waves at the Magsico National High School. The most promising among them is Bernarda M. Panilagan of Cabatbatan who is studying in Magsico and intends to become a Math teacher.

Future leaders

According to Jerome N. Paz, TCPI senior manager for human resources and administration manager, who oversees the SMDP implementation, each scholar gets an annual fund of P10,000.00 released at P1,000.00 per month.

"The scholars will only need to maintain an 85 percent average by the yearend and must not have any failing mark on any grade," he said. "We also want them to be model students that they will have to demonstrate satisfactory GMRC."

Esther P. Cola, SEDC administration manager, also stressed that the scholars must not be involved in any violation of school rules and laws of society. "We are hopeful that our scholars will grow to become future leaders of San Fernando, and even in our province," she pointed out.

The children said they were very happy of the grant they got and vowed to maintain their grades as they know it would lead them to fulfilling their dreams to become successful professionals or entrepreneurs. They said they and their parents are very thankful for the support TCPI and SEDC are giving them.

"Tungod sa Taiheiyo ug Solid Earth, makab'ot na unya nako ang akong mga pangandoy," remarked Charise Genon, a scholar in the first batch from Magsico.

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SCHOLARS. San Fernando Mayor Antonio "Abe" Canoy (2nd from right) and Councilor Lakambini G. Reluya (leftmost) join (from left) TCPI SVP-Finance Takahiko Imachi, CEO Toshio Komatsu and SEDC COO Hideki Yanagita with their 12 new scholars. Expressing their gratitude for the support they are getting from TCPI and SEDC are (top, from left) scholars Bernarda M. Panaligan of the 2005 batch and Mary Eve E. Barayoga of the new 2006 batch, and parents representing both batches.