Henry Sy Sr., together with wife Felicidad, joined their children Tessie, Hans, Harley, and Debbie in hosting a testimonial dinner in honor of this year’s 256 scholar graduates of SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI) at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City recently.
The SM Foundation, led by its Executive Director for Education Linda Atayde, presented the scholar-graduates to the Sy family during the event. The graduates were among the 1,300 scholars that the SM Foundation maintains in partner-universities nationwide. They were presented with gift certificates and tokens or gifts by the family.
The scholar-graduates were either flown in together with their parents or guardians, or transported to Manila by bus or train and billeted in nearby hotels to enable them to practice for their traditional presentation.
In the morning of the same day, human-resource managers of the different companies under the SM Group gathered at the SMX to offer jobs to those who may want to work with them. Graduates usually avail themselves of these offers, although some opt to enroll in review classes for board examinations, while others may prefer to work in other companies.
As in previous presentations of graduates, the graduating class gave a musical performance as a gesture of gratitude to their benefactor, Henry Sy Sr., and his family. Selected students likewise spoke of their experiences as SM scholars.
Savemore President Jojo R. Tagbo was the guest speaker at the 21st Presentation of Graduates. Aside from the Sy family, the traditional dinner was attended by officials of partner-colleges and universities, Department of Education (DepEd) officials, members of the academe, business associates of the Sy family, SM scholar-alumni, executives of the SM Group of Companies, and partners and friends of the foundation.