Paying it Forward

During the Get-together of Benefactors and Class 2019 Scholars at the Hyundai Hall, Areté last May 25, the Office of Admission and Aid presented the Paghahandog ng Sarili Award to three benefactors – two individuals and one alumni group – for their utmost generosity and kindness of heart.
 
The first recipient of the Paghahandog ng Sarili Award was the Ateneo College Class of 1978. The Ateneo College ’78 Scholarship, like all endowments and grants, began with good intentions coming from generous alumni and the desire to help deserving students in need. On the occasion of their silver jubilee in 2003, this Ateneo alumni group established an endowment in the Loyola Schools for students in need who were academically accomplished and with leadership potential. The fund continues to grow and is now able to support two full tuition scholarships at a time from earnings and continuing donations, especially collected on their 40^th year off college last 2018. Being active in the selection process of their scholarship recipients, the group does not only fund the education of academically competent students with leadership potential but also makes themselves available to mentor and support their recipients, hoping to help them grow into well-rounded individuals.  To date, the Ateneo College ‘78 Scholarship has helped eight scholars to graduate. The award given was received by Ms. Tina Legaspi and a select few who represented the Ateneo College Class of 1978.

 
The second recipient of the Paghahandog ng Sarili Award was a full financial aid scholar himself during his undergraduate years. Mr. Edwin Totanes was the president of ACIL, among others, and graduated cum laude with a degree in AB Economics in 1978. He was a reputable individual in the Philippine corporate world, with the highlight of his career being Vice-president for Marketing at Universal Robina Corporation and being recognized for his work and branding of the C2 cool and clean ready-to-drink green tea. In retirement, he was Chief Marketing Strategist for Mansmith and Fielders, Inc, and a consultant for several brands. Mr. Edwin Totanes, still ever giving back as an alumnus, shared his expertise in the field as a member of the faculty of the John Gokongwei School of Management. He also started his own ET Scholarship in 2010 with his donated Ateneo salary. He was able to support two college students to graduate before his sudden passing last November, 2018.

 
Mr. Edwin Totanes actively supported with his own investment, the program of creating a Trust Fund in the University, where the donor donates an amount equivalent to a full endowment in support of scholarships, with the option of withdrawing the amount after a specified period of time or continuing to support scholarships. With much thanks for all he has done for the Loyola Schools, the award posthumously presented to Mr. Edwin Totanes was received by his loving family -- his wife, Mrs. Cynthia Teodoro Totanes, his father, Mr. Andres Totanes, his children Bea and Aja, and his sister Goya Totanes-Sto.Domingo.
 
The third recipient of the Paghahandog ng Sarili Award was Mr. John L. Gokongwei, Jr. who was represented by Mr. and Mrs. Lance Y. Gokongwei. On the occasion of his receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from his alma mater, University of San Carlos in Cebu, last October 2018, Mr. John Gokongwei remarked:

“When I was 13 years old, my father died, leaving me to take care of my mother, my four brothers, and my sister. At the time, my youngest brother, James, was only nine months old. I took care of them all because the family has always been my priority. It was here in Cebu that I first earned my first few pesos. I used to wake up way before dawn to ride my bicycle to the public market many kilometers away. I set up a little table at the market to sell spools of thread, bars of soap, and candles. I earned about twenty pesos a day by working longer and harder than everybody else. But it didn’t matter since I really loved my work. I loved being an ENTREPRENEUR. And so all through the years, I stayed as an entrepreneur, loving what I did and working hard. And always learning from the school of life.”

One could hardly recognize the boy of 13 from the man we highly respect and honor today, 80 years after. Through the values he strongly adhered to and lived out - sheer hard work, frugality, integrity, responsiveness to change and boldness to dream, JG Summit Holdings, of which he is the Chairman Emeritus, is now one of the largest and most diversified Filipino conglomerates. His selflessness and hardwork is a reminder to continue doing good unto others, to pay forward and share the blessings and abundances that we are given.

 
In 1992, the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation was established to have a lasting impact on education in the Philippines through scholarships, training centers and various learning initiatives. To honor Mr. Gokongwei’s passionate commitment in educating the Filipino youth, a part of his generous donation to the Ateneo in 2002 to establish the John Gokongwei School of Management, was set aside to provide scholarships to 8 deserving JGSOM scholars each school year. To date, 25 John Gokongwei scholars have graduated.
 
The stories of these awardees remind us that we live in a society of generous people, a society that can flourish through collective deeds of kindness and service. It is through this award that we recognize all they have done, and strive to follow in their footsteps in whichever way we can.