Eleven years ago, Typhoon Yolanda devastated the Philippines, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The hardest-hit area, Tacloban City, was a symbol of the storm’s catastrophic power. Yet amid the devastation, a group of young survivors found a beacon of hope through education, their path to recovery shaped by the SM Foundation College Scholarship program.
For these survivors, the scholarship was more than just financial support. It became a lifeline—allowing them to rise from the rubble, rebuild their lives, and transform tragedy into triumph. With the foundation of education, these scholars now stand as symbols of resilience, their stories offering hope to others facing adversity.
Mark Vincent Fuentes, a Bachelor of Science in Accounting Technology graduate, was one of the first to receive the SM scholarship after Yolanda. He vividly recalls his family’s struggle to survive in the aftermath of the typhoon. With limited access to food, clean water, and basic shelter, the immediate challenges were clear. Yet the emotional scars left by the storm were even more enduring.
“The trauma lingered,” Mark says. “Whenever heavy rain fell, I’d feel a wave of fear come over me, remembering that day. Nights were the hardest—I would lie awake, terrified another storm might come. The fear was real, even when we were safe.”
Despite these challenges, Mark found solace in the SM Foundation scholarship. “It wasn’t just financial help,” he explains. “It gave me a sense of community. We helped each other through the tough times, offering emotional and academic support. We became a family with a shared dream—one that extended beyond survival.”
Jessica Tacuyo, a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, faced similar hardships. After Yolanda destroyed their home, Jessica’s family had to rely on neighbors for meals, and clean water was scarce. “If we couldn’t find bottled water, we’d boil water from a leaking pipe on the street,” she recalls. Despite the odds, Jessica pressed on, and today, she is an accounting professional. Her education allows her to manage her family’s finances, support their farmland, and invest in her nieces and nephews’ education.
Similarly, Jessabelle de Paz Animos, another SM Scholar who earned a degree in Accounting Technology, describes the scholarship as a “lifeline.” “The SM scholarship wasn’t just financial aid; it gave me access to resources that eased the burden on my family. It allowed me to focus on my studies and allowed me to grow as a person, not just a student,” she says.
For Engr. Dian Agner, who pursued Civil Engineering, returning to school after the typhoon was a challenge. “We lost almost everything—our livelihood, our home,” Dian recalls. “Classes resumed months after the typhoon, and some of my classmates didn’t make it. The cost of basic items tripled, and money had little value.”
Now an engineer, Dian uses her education to support her family. She helps send her sister to college, and together with her mother, they are saving to open the first bakery in their barangay. “I can now afford to provide essentials like food and electricity, which were once out of reach. I also help fund my sibling’s education, and she just passed her board exam on the first try,” Dian shares.
Today, these scholars support their families and show how education helps people rebuild their lives and inspire their communities.
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