AdUCSAFI – Adamson University Cocofed Scholars-Alumni: Cycle of Giving

The Adamson University Cocofed Scholars-Alumni Foundation, Inc. (AdUCSAFI) made up of Adamson graduates who were once collegiate scholarship grantees of the Philippine Coconut Producers Federation or CocoFed during the coconut industry global boom from 1975 to 1981 formed a civic organization in 1983 and started providing scholarships to poor but deserving grantees while still themselves pursuing their studies in college. The scholars pooled contributions which they share from their monthly allowance. Over the years, the association supported the studies of education graduates, first from Adamson, nearly all “cum laudes”, then an engineering student also in Adamson, the last grantee, and afterwards, education students from the South Luzon State University, then from the Romblon State University. In the early 2000 the group’s mentor, the late Dean Domingo Bendero, suggested supporting scholars at the Dualtech Training Center. From then on a continuous stream of beneficiaries followed pursuing the 2-year Electromechanics Technology program. Meanwhile, AdUCSAFI, on the side, also supported an Agricultural Engineering student at the Laguna State Polytechnic University and a seminarian for the Diocese of Gumaca.

Last November 5, 2022 (Saturday), the AdUCSAFI entered into a new Memorandum-of-Agreement (MOA) with Dualtech Training Center Foundation, Inc. attended by Dualtech’s Executive Director Engr. Jerry Webb E. Muhi and witnessed by the Head of Scholarships Mr. Jose B. Jacob.

The AdUCSAFI is led by its President Engr. Joseph Rodas (President and CEO of Joratech Corp.) and its Scholarship Committee is chaired by Engr. Manny Veloria (VP at Malayan Bank), and joined by Engr. Cres Maramot (Managing Director of SGS for the Philippines and Guam). Dualtech’s President Engr. Arnolfo S. Morfe is himself a former CocoFed scholar and AdUCSAFI member.

“I’m Jeriel, 23 years old from Marinduque. Our life there is simple, we work alongside my father who is a tricycle driver. I just finished Grade 10, and I was unable to continue my studies even if I wanted to. The Pandemic had also been very hard for everyone. But with the encouragement from my parents and my Kuya Edward, I attended schooling here in Dualtech away from my family. I am fortunate enough to be chosen for a scholarship program with AdUCSAFI which I am very grateful for.”

-Jeriel L. Palomares, AdUCSAFI 2022 scholar

Out of the fourteen (14) new scholars of AdUCSAFI, one of its recipients is Jeriel L. Palomares (23) from Mogpog, Marinduque. Away from his province, he moved to Laguna in the hope of finding a better future through his studies in Dualtech. They shared messages one by one in front of Dualtech’s Engr. Muhi and Mr. Jacob alongside AdUCSAFI’s Engr. Veloria and Engr. Maramot.

Including the latest fourteen (14) students in 2022, AdUCSAFI has been able to support over 40 scholars since it started its social responsibility initiative with Dualtech Training Center Foundation, Inc.. AdUCSAFI hopes that the tradition of giving will also infect its own beneficiaries in the future.