VIA GRAPHIC PLUS ā In many Filipino families, a college diploma is a shared achievement. It carries years of sacrifice, late-night side hustles, scholarship applications, and the constant support of family members who gave whatever they could.
Behind every effort is a simple hope: that the first to graduate will help lift the rest of the family up. For Science teacher NiƱo Carl Parado, that hope became a reality.
NiƱoās journey gained momentum through the SM College Scholarship Program. Founded by Henry Sy, Sr., the program was envisioned to start a ripple effect, helping one scholar graduate so they, in turn, could support a younger sibling and create a better future for their whole family.
NiƱo took that vision to heart. With the support from the scholarship, he earned his Bachelor of Secondary Education, majoring in General Science, from Visayas State University Main Campus in Baybay City, Leyte, in August 2024.
By June 2025, he passed the licensure examination, officially becoming a Licensed Professional Teacher. Today, he inspires young minds at San Lorenzo Ruiz School, Inc., a private institution in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
Before long, the benefits of his opportunity began to reach his family.āAs soon as I began my career as a Science teacher, I took pride in supporting our youngest siblingās education, covering his school supplies and daily needs so he can pursue his dreams without the financial struggles I once faced,ā he shared. āI also contribute to our household expenses and help renovate our home, steadily raising our familyās quality of life.ā
He sees his narrative as the programās vision brought to life. āI am living proof that when one is blessed, the whole family rises,ā he says. āI will keep this cycle of giving alive, both inside the classroom and within my own home, just as Mr. Henry āTatangā Sy, Sr. envisioned.ā
The scholarship gave him far more than financial assistance for tuition. The discipline, resilience, and values he gained as an SM scholar sustained him through college and months of board exam preparations. Today, those same principles guide how he leads his classroom.
āToday, SM Foundation has helped shape who I am as a teacher: dedicated, compassionate, and always striving for excellence, because I carry not just my name but the name and values of the Foundation wherever I go,ā he says. āI share my passion for Science and lifelong learning, and above all, I strive to teach not just lessons, but values, just as SM Foundation taught me.ā In a classroom in Lapu-Lapu City, a teacher NiƱo stands before his students. What began as a single educational opportunity now supports a brotherās education, strengthens a family home, and inspires a new generation to dream bigger and give back.
Started in 1927, the Philippines Graphic is the longest-running printed magazine of national circulation that provides relevant news and features and promotes Philippine literature.
