San Miguel and Dualtech Center ink MOA for a scholarship program

San Miguel Brewery Inc., together with San Miguel Foundation, signed a scholarship agreement with Dualtech Center last July 11, 2023. On hand to witness the agreement were San Miguel Brewery as represented by Mr. Enrico M. Mariano (Plant Manager, Santa Rosa Brewery) and Ms. Emilie Anne T. Gatmaitan (Business Affairs and Communications Manager), and Dualtech as represented by President and Executive Director; Engr. Jerry Webb E. Muhi, with Manager of Sponsorship and Alumni Relations, Mr. Rommel T. Tejada. Also present were San Miguel representatives Ma. Elizabeth Alfanza-Fetalco (CSR Officer) and Dindo T. Macayan (Human Resources and Administration Manager, Santa Rosa Brewery), Voltaire A. Dela Cruz (Communications Manager, South Luzon Operations), and Alejandrino M. Pigao, Jr. (Human Resources and Administration Manager, South Luzon Area) from the San Miguel Brewery.

San Miguel Brewery conceptualized this scholarship program after hearing inspiring stories from Dualtech trainees during their visits, while conducting a job fair at Dualtech and also through the help of the inspiration of their employees, some of whom are Dualtech alumni. Dualtech trains them in skills and values, which enables them to work after training. San Miguel Brewery in turn, is looking forward to their scholars to work for the San Miguel brand after the latter finish their studies from Dualtech.

Plant Manager Mr. Mariano vouched for Dualtech graduates, in his own remarks in the program: “We are very happy and impressed by the performance of your graduates. That is why we keep on coming back to attest to the quality of the program that you have developed with your graduates. It is a combination of not only the technical training but also coupled with values formation and that gives it a premium… Yon naman ang alignment sa aming needs in our company. Not only to contribute technical aspects of their job but also the alignment sa values namin… that’s why we have some programs that involve the graduates of Dualtech in giving back to the institution. Today we are very happy that the discussion we had last year… kasi we explored the possibility of entering into a partnership with Dualtech. Today we are happy to announce that we are finally sealing the partnership for this scholarship program.”

In this new agreement, San Miguel will support 5 initial scholars, who are from Antique, Bohol, Cavite and Surigao Del Sur. For Julito Libres Jr. of Pilar, Bohol, the scholarship is the answer to his family’s prayers and the one thing that can radically uplift their situation: “Pinagdadasal ko na magkaroon ako ng scholarship, kasi malaking tulong para sa akin at sa aking pamilya. Lalo na ngayon na wala na ang aking tatay, at may tatlo akong kapatid na nag-aaral sa Senior High School. [I really prayed to gain this scholarship, because it will be a big help to my family. Most especially now that our father has passed away and I have 3 siblings studying in Senior High School. ]”

Jay Anthonie G. Bongabong of Tagbina, Surigao Del Sur, took time to explain how providential his coming to Dualtech has been: “Pagkatapos ko ng Senior High School, napag isipan ko nang magtrabaho [pero] sinubukan ko ulit mag-aral kahit mahirap, kinausap ko ang aking magulang. Nakatungtong ako ng 1st year pero hindi talaga kaya ng aking pamilya at natigil din ako dahil sa financial challenges… Pumunta ako sa Manila para magtrabaho at nakapasok ng trabaho bilang construction worker at natapos din ng maaga dahil nagkasakit ako… Hanggang sa bumisita ako sa kamag-anak ko at may pinsan ako na may kaibigan na Dualtech trainee… napag usapan namin ang Dualtech at ako’y naging interesado sa sinabi niya na marami kang matutunan hindi lang technical skills pati ang pag develop sa sarili at maganda ang maging future mo at makapagtrabaho ka ng maganda pagkatapos sa Dualtech… Sa hirap ng aking pamilya, lalo na at 12 kaming magkakapatid itong scholarship, itong tulong ng San Miguel Brewery ang maging daan para mabago ang buhay ko at ng aking pamilya. [After finishing Senior High School, I went to look for work but still I wanted to find work even if it was difficult. I was able to reach first year college but had to quit again because we were hard up. I went to Manila to find work as a construction worker, but I had to quit after some time due to sickness. But fortunately I visited relatives who knew someone studying at Dualtech. I learned they not only learn technical skills but also self-development. They also get to secure their future by finding stable work. We are just a poor family, and I have 11 siblings. This scholarship is a huge help for me and my siblings to change our family’s situation.]”

For Dualtech President and Executive Director, Engr. Jerry Webb Muhi, this agreement is not only about helping 5 scholars, but help for 5 families as well: Ang maganda doon sa pagtulong natin sa kanila hindi lang natin nakikita na limang bata ang ating natulungan. Limang pamilya ang ating nahagip at nabigyan ng pagkakataong maayos ang kanilang buhay.… Pag nakita namin yong suporta, nagkakaroon kami ng drive, pagsisikap, at inspirasyon na lalo pang tumulong at lalo pang lawakan ang pwedeng pupuntahan, matulungan at mabago na buhay ng Dualtech. Maraming salamat at sanay ito’y umpisa pa lamang ng ating magandang pagsasama. [The great thing is that we not only see helping 5 young people, but we got to help 5 families and we gave them another opportunity for a better future. My message to our partners is, when we see the support you give, we get to have that drive, perseverance and inspiration to help even more, and widen our networks, and reach more towns we can visit, help and change for the better. We thank you once more, and we hope this is just the start of a wonderful collaborations and partnerships.]

As regards support for the school, San Miguel Brewery also donated last March 28, 2023 sacks of rice and alcohol as part of their projects. The rice donated came from their employees. The intention is to help the Dualtech trainees, especially those who stay in boarding houses that came from provinces to lessen their financial challenges for their sustenance in a week. The donation of rice was distributed to more than 200 Dualtech trainees.

San Miguel Brewery Inc. (SMB) is the largest producer of beer in the Philippines, with nine out of ten beer drinkers preferring its brands. Its parent company; San Miguel Corporation, is the country’s biggest diversified conglomerate. As of 2010, the acquisition of San Miguel Brewing International Limited (SMBIL) enabled SMB to achieve full integration of its domestic and international beer business. SMB is now at a greater advantage to champion the iconic San Miguel brand across the Asia-Pacific region.