Manila Business College (MBC) graduate Angiela Mae Deligero, and current students Jeannie Malenab and Abegael Ramos came from different backgrounds and took different paths to where they are now. Angiela, 29, stopped her college education from a different school as her family ran into financial problems; forcing her to sacrifice her studies to become the family’s breadwinner.
Abegael was forced to drop-out from the university run by the government of Manila as she was unable to buy the textbooks required in her subjects. Despite not paying any tuition, the cost of miscellaneous fees and not having access to the required readings caused Abegael to have low grades, and eventually expulsion.
As an incoming college freshman, Jeannie wanted to take engineering but due to the high cost of tuition, she needed to find an alternative school and program that can cater to her situation. On the same day she took the National Achievement Test (NAT) in Tabaco National High School in Albay, Jeannie also took the entrance exam administered by MBC representatives and passed.
The common denominator for all three cases revolve around the lack of financial resources; causing both Angiela and Abegael to stop schooling in favor of joining the work force, and Jeannie to take a different direction from her dream job of becoming an engineer. All three women also came into MBC determined to maximize the school’s scholarship programs for a better future for themselves and their respective families.
Angiela, MBC’s first graduate from the Knowledge, Experience, and Income (KEI) program, juggled work as an employee in green products manufacturer Messy Bessy together with the demands as a student of BS Accounting Technology in MBC. Aside from her passionate intent to re-enter college and finish with a degree, what motivated Angiela even more is being a living proof the KEI program works and that anyone in similar situations can achieve what she has accomplished.
From an initial batch of eight Messy Bessy workers who took entrance exams to enter MBC in 2012, Angiela overcame the initial hardships of integrating with her younger classmates, relearning how college students act and think in classroom environments, and continuing her tasks as an office staff for Messy Bessy to finally getting a diploma in June 2016.
Graduating and getting a college degree have not only given Angiela, currently serving as corporate sales supervisor, financial rewards and opportunities through salary increases and promotions, but have also widen her perspective regarding her future plans as well. Besides continuing to take accounting subjects to complete a BS Accountancy course, one of the Angiela’s goals in a couple of years is to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
None of these could have happened without the right partnership between MBC and companies like Messy Bessy Cleaners. Another program offered by MBC involves a similar trainee-study arrangement between the school and one of the top food companies in the Philippines, Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC).
The Skills Enhancement and Educational Development for Students (SEEDS) program, of which Abegael is a part of, allows student-trainees to pursue a degree through a financial assistance as well as earning a decent wage, acquiring real-world competencies, attitude, and work values through in-store training.
Naturally inclined towards service and hospitality work, Abegael wanted to become a flight attendant when she was growing up. This led to her choice of taking Tourism during her first take in college, and now BS Hospitality Management at MBC. Her in-store training as part of a Chowking branch, not only helps her deal with live customers but also allows her to apply concepts and theories learned from the classroom to real-world scenarios.
Already named as a SEEDS Top 1 for being the top student-trainee for a semester, Abegael aims to further pursue a career in hotel management or fulfilling her dream of becoming a flight attendant once she finishes her on-the-job (OJT) training and remaining subjects in MBC.
Despite having the largest food chain in the Philippines as partner and benefactor, there are still ways and programs that MBC want to pursue in order to fulfill its mission of helping the country’s economy grow by producing internationally competitive graduates, entrepreneurs, and businessmen.
The Unlimited Scholarship Program (USP) is designed for scholars, student-achievers, and students who excel academically through self motivation and driven passions. Jeannie, a member of USP and a holder of a Chairman’s Scholarship, is a full-time MBC student unlike Angiela and Abegael. A consistent dean’s lister and soon to be graduate, Jeannie also aims to take the required accountancy subjects in order to receive a full BS Accountancy degree and eventually be a licensed CPA.
Since 2000, there are have been numerous MBC students and alumni who have gotten the chance to get a degree despite their difficult origins and circumstances. The cases of Angiela, Abegael, and Jeanne show that with the right opportunity, motivation, and determination, any willing student can pursue a higher education for a brighter future and a better life.
