VIA GRAPHIC PLUS — When SM founder Henry “Tatang” Sy Sr. established the SM College Scholarship Program, he envisioned something bigger than just one graduate obtaining a diploma. He envisioned a graduate who could help send a sibling to school too and improved their whole family’s standard of living in the process.
Decades later, that vision is still playing out one family at a time.
Last July, former SM Scholar Emma Elarde joined her family at Visayas State University to celebrate her younger sibling’s graduation. The occasion held special meaning for Emma, who had always dreamed of seeing more of her siblings earn college degrees. With her sibling’s graduation, three of the five Elarde siblings have now completed their college education.
“It was a truly fulfilling moment to witness my sibling receive the gift of education and to see my parents proudly celebrating another milestone in our family’s journey,” Emma said. “Seeing their joy and sacrifices rewarded reminded me why I continue to work hard.”
For Emma, the moment also brought her back to her own college journey, when an SM scholarship helped make her education possible.
She graduated from Western Leyte College of Ormoc in 2023 with a degree in Accounting Information Systems. Today, she works as an Accounting Assistant at BDO Unibank in her hometown of Ormoc City.
Her experience as an SM Scholar also shaped her decision to build her career within the SM Group.
“I wanted to give back by becoming part of an SM company that has played a meaningful role in my journey,” she explained. “Working at BDO has allowed me to develop professionally and gain valuable experience in the banking industry. I’m grateful to be part of an organization that continues to invest in the growth of its people.”
Two of Emma’s siblings are still in college, giving her another reason to keep moving forward in her own career. For Emma, building a better future for her family remains one of her biggest goals.
“I’m still in the early stages of my career, but my goal is to help them finish their education and improve our family’s quality of life,” she said.
Being an SM Scholar, Emma says, taught her that success was never meant to end with her. It came with the values of discipline, gratitude, humility, and perseverance, and, more than anything, a responsibility to keep the cycle of opportunity moving forward.
For Emma, one scholarship never really ends with just one graduate. It can help a younger sibling stay in school, open doors for a family, and keep a story of opportunity moving forward.
Her story is one of many SM Scholar journeys that continue long after graduation. Last September 21 at the 2026 Presentation of the SM College Scholar Graduates, the Foundation welcomed its newest graduates as they begin their own journeys, carrying with them the opportunities, values, and dreams that brought them this far.
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