GLOBAL GOALS
Teaching the next generation of learners
‘I will keep this cycle of giving alive, both inside the classroom and within my own home, just as Mr. Henry ‘Tatang’ Sy, Sr. envisioned.’
The SM College Scholarship Program founded by Henry Sy Sr. was envisioned to help one son or daughter to graduate so they could support another sibling and create a better future for their whole family. One of its thousands of beneficiaries, Science teacher Niño Carl Parado, is now fulfilling the program’s mission.
With the support from the scholarship, Parado earned his Bachelor of Secondary Education, major in General Science, from the Visayas State University’s main campus in Baybay City, Leyte, in August 2024. By June 2025, he passed the board examination, officially becoming a licensed teacher. Today, Parado 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.
“As soon as I began my career as a Science teacher, I took pride in supporting our youngest sibling’s education, covering his school supplies and daily needs so he can pursue his dreams without the financial struggles I once faced,” he shares. “I also contribute to our household expenses and help renovate our home, steadily raising our family’s quality of life.”
Parado sees his narrative as the program’s vision brought to life.
“I am living proof that when one is blessed, the whole family rises,” he says. “I will keep this cycle of giving alive, both inside the classroom and within my own home, just as Mr. Henry ‘Tatang’ Sy, Sr. envisioned.”
The scholarship gave Parado 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.
“Today, 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,” he says. “I 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.”
In a classroom in Lapu-Lapu City, teacher Parado stands before his students. What began as a single educational opportunity now supports a brother’s education, strengthens a family, and inspires a new generation to dream bigger and give back.