Inspiring Narratives of SM Foundation Scholars
Renowned poet and civil rights champion Maya Angelou once said: “Every great journey starts with a single step.”
Angelou’s 1993 book, Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now, provides a poignant reminder of the significance of taking that first step toward embarking on a significant journey to personal and professional success that goes beyond wishful thinking.
Such sentiment is reflected in the narratives of SM Foundation College Scholarship Program scholars Erickson Quijano and Jobelyn Intan.
Erickson is an alumnus from 2007 who has been serving as a consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Jobelyn is a cum laude graduate of 2004, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, major in Financial Management.
Both remarkable individuals have embraced the educational pathway to success through the SM Foundation, a journey they now share with the 200 new scholar-graduates of 2024, who joined a vibrant community of over 4,000 alumni.
ERICKSON QUIJANO: NAVIGATING SUCCESS
Seventeen years after graduating as an SM Foundation scholar in 2007, Erickson has charted what he describes as an “unconventional” career path in accounting.
While many of his peers pursued traditional routes by joining auditing firms and climbing the corporate ladder, he took a different turn into academia and the gig economy.
He began his career as an associate at SyCip Gorres Velayo (SGV) & Co., but transitioned to a seven-year teaching career in Accountancy as an assistant professor at San Beda University and a lecturer at De La Salle University.
Following this academic chapter, he embraced freelance opportunities that led him to become a consultant for the ADB, where he impressively managed up to eight projects at a time.
The success he has today has much to do with his experiences through the SM Foundation, according to Erickson.
FIRST REAL JOB
Asked about some of his memorable moments as a scholarship recipient, he shares one time when he got to work at the SM Department Store during Christmas and summer breaks.
His first post was at the Boys Teens’ Wear section at SM Manila. Scholars are not required to work, but it was a choice he made and never regretted.
It was his first “real job” as a first-year college student and his “first experience working with people,” Erickson recalled.
While in high school, he tutored pupils and helped his mother sell fruits. He learned to work early, doing his share in augmenting the family finances.
When he worked at the SM Department Store, he “learned the value of working with people.”
“I am patient with salespeople because I experienced it,” Erickson said.
From assisting customers to wrapping 100 pieces of mugs, he learned the importance of having a strong work ethic, respect, and, most especially, the value and dignity of work.
GIVING BACK
As an established certified public accountant (CPA), Erickson emphasized a purpose beyond mere earnings. He started giving back.
“Giving back starts with the family,” he said as he shared how he supports some of his relatives in their studies.’
As a freelance CPA, he provides pro bono services in auditing for foundations that have projects in education and spiritual formation, two advocacies that are important to him.
Erickson explained: “I give my talent and time,” which he believes is more difficult to give than treasure or money.
“In this day and age, it is not just to earn money. It is a way to contribute to the greater good,” he added.
Through his work with ADB project beneficiaries across 20 countries, Erickson said he has been able to witness the tangible impact of their efforts.
One particularly fulfilling project was a health sector initiative in Mongolia in 2016. During project reviews, he ensured that recommendations were implemented accurately, preventing “any fault and corruption” in execution.
“It’s been a good 10 years,” he remarked.
Reflecting on his experiences, Erickson expressed a desire to engage in more projects for the Philippines, specifically in community-building. “Sa Pilipinas pa rin ako magre-retire [I will retire in the Philippines]. I want to serve the country.”
The SM Foundation Scholarship Program alumnus is open to various opportunities, including returning to teaching or serving in the government, though not through an elected position.
TALENT, HARD WORK, CHARACTER
Addressing potential SM Foundation scholars and those who aspire to succeed, Erickson has this to say: “Talent matters only in the first levels of your career. The next level is hard work. If you want to succeed, you have to work hard and have character.”
He stressed that his work at the SM Department Store was where he learned about talent, hard work, and having character. Everyone who succeeds has these three things, according to Erickson.
When it comes to character, the most difficult part is how to deal with “people of a different character, a different upbringing, different inclination, and different biases,” including unconscious biases, Erickson added.
“You have to learn how to work with people you work for, with people who work for you, and your peers,” he elaborated, saying that one thing is to be open to feedback because “we are not perfect people.”
This significant experience was a detail he succinctly captured in a haiku he wrote for his 30th birthday:
Talent’s cheap like salt Hard work beats it, no doubt—but Character trumps both.
GRATITUDE
Another key to success, according to Erickson, is gratitude. “I’m big on gratitude and giving back. I will never forget this very first thing: that the SM Foundation contributed to where I am now.”
“Gratitude doesn’t just mean giving back. But whatever the things that are given to you, you should multiply them like the parable of the talents. Pay it forward,” Erickson said as he continues to encourage SM Foundation scholars to make the most of what is given.
JOBELYN INTAN: FAITH AND FAMILY
Growing up in a family where financial stability was never a privilege, Jobelyn took the first step and applied for the SM Foundation Scholarship.
She saw it as a lifechanging opportunity and hoped that the program would be the bridge to achieve her dream of becoming the first college degree holder in her family—something that she felt seemed beyond reach.
She was overwhelmed with gratitude when she found out that she had been chosen to be one of the SM scholars.
A product of a broken family, Jobelyn developed independence at a young age, saying that she “saw the world through a lens shaped by responsibility.”
In her mother’s absence, her father—who did not finish elementary because he worked in a farm where education was not a priority—took on both parental roles and worked tirelessly as a flower vendor to provide for the family.
HARD WORK
As early as five years old, she learned the value of hard work and the importance of earning money by helping her father sell flowers.
When she was in high school, she worked part-time at a flower shop, making flower arrangements for special occasions. This helped her earn, and more importantly, eased her father’s burden by allowing her to contribute to buying their needs.
Her father was always loving and supportive, never pressuring her academically.
Still, she set high expectations for herself and promised to finish college, determined to be the first in her family to earn a degree.
Without much guidance, she taught herself through self-study from elementary school all the way through college.
Her determination to strive was also influenced by people who looked down on their situation. Her negative experiences fueled her drive to keep going; to prove them wrong and show them that despite unfavorable circumstances, she could create a brighter future for herself, with the support her father gave her. This is also the reason she dedicated her achievement to her father. “To me, he is the real summa cum laude,” she said.
BREAKING THE POVERTY CYCLE
Taking all these into account, the scholarship was more than just financial support to Jobelyn. It was a lifeline and a chance to work her way toward her dreams despite the financial challenges her family faced.
She aspired to break the cycle of poverty by pursuing her education and making the most of the opportunities she has been given through the SM Foundation Scholarship Program.
“It felt like a beacon of hope during my darkest time, reminding me that there are opportunities available even in the hardest circumstances. Through this scholarship, many doors have opened for me,” she said.
Looking back, Jobelyn shared that one of the best lessons she learned while being an SM Foundation scholar was to view setbacks not as obstacles, but as opportunities for growth.
During the pandemic she took a part-time job as a virtual assistant to earn money for a laptop she needed for her online classes. She tutored her juniors and batchmates in finance-related subjects to help with her needs.
“Life’s challenges are often the very first things that shape us into stronger individuals,” Jobelyn said.
Journeying through, there were many times she wanted to surrender, but she pressed on and grew significantly as a person.
Throughout her university years, she balanced academics with leadership roles, gaining experience in budgeting, cash flow management, disbursements, and liquidations. She even defended their budget proposal to the university president and coordinated with the finance department on cash balances.
The skills she acquired as an SM Foundation scholar have been invaluable for her career opportunities, she noted.
LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES
Through her scholarship, Jobelyn had the opportunity to take part in the SM Christmas Job program. For a few days at a time, she gained work experience and met the dedicated staff of SM Butuan. She was able to build connections within the SM community.
Jobelyn learned that “life offers life-changing opportunities to those who persevere,” relating this to the Visayan word, padayon, which means to keep going, to keep moving forward, and to stay resilient no matter the challenges that life may present.
With her experiences as an SM Foundation scholar, she now sees herself and her fellow scholar-graduates as individuals driven “to positively influence both academic and social spheres,” understanding that the opportunities received are not only for personal benefit, but also for the benefit of others.
Today, Jobelyn wants to continue to inspire others to believe that education is the key to success by showing its impact.
Earning her degree gives her the foundation on both the technical and strategic aspects in business, according to Jobelyn.
Now, she looks forward to working in the financial sector to “help shape businesses’ financial success and drive informed decision-making.”
Beyond that, she is committed to giving back to those in need in the community by using the skills, knowledge, and values she gained from her experiences.
Inspired to spread social good, one of her future goals is to organize a community outreach program where she hopes to provide students with school supplies and to teach them foundational learning skills.
“Through this, I also want to create a similar program where I can help students in the simplest way possible. I also want to extend the same support I received from the SM Foundation, an organization that truly values education,” she said.
Jobelyn encouraged aspiring and potential scholars to join the SM Foundation family because she believes that “it has the power to change lives,” just as it has changed hers.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” she said, quoting Philippians 4:14.
She further reflected: “It is truly inspiring to reflect on how much God has transformed my life through the SM Foundation Scholarship Program. From the moments of prayer to witnessing those prayers answered in ways I never imagined, I am certain that God has been with me every step of the way. I am living proof that through God’s strength, I have achieved what I once thought was impossible. Just as the SM Foundation believed in me, I hope to be a source of encouragement and a living example that change is possible, regardless of one’s circumstances.”
Jobelyn made a promise to herself that she would make SM Foundation proud for their kindness and generosity. “I’m beyond blessed and grateful for the life-changing opportunities they have offered me. Truly, their tagline, ‘We’ve got it all for you,’ will always be remarkable, as they truly have gotten it all for me.”
