SU and UTF ink four-year MoA for a full scholarship program

Silliman University (SU) and UT Foundation, Inc. (UTF) inked a four-year memorandum of agreement (MoA) on June 7, 2024 that will support a total of twenty-five (25) eligible, incoming first-year students for a full scholarship, which covers tuition and miscellaneous fees and living allowances for their four- or five-year studies, as endorsed by the Student Scholarship and Aid Division (SSAD).

Pledging a sum of PHP 16,500,000 to SU, the UTF Scholarship will be providing PHP 4,125,000 each year until all 25 scholars will have finished their degrees. At present, ten (10) scholars have been accepted for the scholarship for SY 2023-2024.

Officially signed on June 7, 2024 by Dr. Betty Cernol McCann, SU president, and Armando S. Alberto, UTF trustee, at the Leopoldo T. Ruiz Hall, the agreement comes two years after both institutions began laying the groundwork for partnership, through then Vice President for Development, Enterprise, and External Affairs (VPDEEA) Asst. Prof. Jane Annette L. Belarmino.

Other signees from SU were Dr. Earl Jude Paul L. Cleope, vice president for Academic Affairs and Research (VPAAR); Atty. Ebenezer Y. Lim, Finance Office chief; and Dr. Edna Gladys T. Calingacion, Office of Student Services (OSS) dean.

Belarmino, who was also present during the MoA signing on Friday, explained the significance of nurturing this relationship with UTF, which began in 2022. It was through her office and the SSAD that the negotiation between SU and UTF started.

“The objective of the [VPD] office is to “seek and provide more scholarships for our students,” Belarmino said during a quick interview with her shortly after the signing.

UT Foundation Inc. is the charitable arm of UT Global Services Limited, a privately held company with a Regional Headquarters in Manila and affiliated with All Asia Customer Services Holdings Ltd., an investment holding company. They offer university scholarships not only in the Philippines but also in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. In 2010, they started offering scholarships in the country.

In 2022, according to Alberto, they were tasked to add more schools to their list. One of the schools selected in the Visayas region is Silliman University.

Along with Alberto representing UTF were Jeane Rose B. Tandoc and Divine Veronica Gomez, both UTF Operations staff.

OSS Dean Dr. Edna Gladys T. Calingacion thanked UTF for personally meeting the scholars at the Conference Room of OSS, emphasizing that among the scholarship programs being offered, UTF Scholarship is one of the very few existing programs that accommodate a large number of scholars and cover full tuition, miscellaneous, and housing benefits.

“We thank UTF for the generosity for supporting and sending [students] here at Silliman University,” Calingacion said.

She also encouraged the scholars present to make the most of the opportunity.

“What is given to you is a big opportunity but then in return, you really just also have to do your part, and that is to study and make it,” she said.

At present, the scholars include Emmanuel A. Abal (AB Political Science), Sarah Isabel Bandoquillo (BS Architecture), Cheska H. Dayuday (BS Medical Technology), Kyle Peter Josh B. Deluvio (BS Medical Technology), Kristine Mae D. Facundo (BSBA Financial Management), Stancy Marielle R. Pacilan (Special Needs Education), John Chelo P. Real (BS Nursing), Edrian Genesis Seblero (BS Accountancy), April S. Verano (BS Medical Technology), and Alexia Jannah S. Yu (BS Nursing) for SY 2023-2024.

The OSS invites interested incoming first-year students to apply for the First Semester of SY 2024-2025 where 15 more scholarship slots are available for eligible students.