SM Foundation (SMFI) announced the start of the online application period for the SM College Scholarship program for School Year 2021-2022 which will open on January 1 and end on February 28, 2021.
The SM College Scholarship Program started from the vision of the late SM patriarch, Henry “Tatang” Sy, Sr. He believed that if you send one child from an economically challenged family to college, that child would have more opportunities to have gainful employment and later on uplift the economic status of his/her family.
The SM scholarship program is open to the following:
· Grade 12 public high school graduates from schools in the areas covered; or
· Grade 12 graduates from private schools in the areas covered (given that they have Department of Education (DepEd) voucher and finished Junior High from a public school)
– General Weighted Average grade of at least 88% or its equivalent for Grade 12 – 1st semester
– Total household income of at most P150,000 per year.
The program covers the following field of studies: Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Computer, and Electronics), Education (Elementary and Secondary); Accountancy, and Financial Management, among others.
For more information about the SM College Scholarship program, visit www.sm-foundation.org and follow its social media accounts @SMFoundationInc (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube).
SM Foundation, through its Scholarship program, provides deserving and qualified students with access to college education and technical-vocational studies since 1993. To date, SMFI has supported almost 5,500 scholars nationwide.
On the other hand, SMX Convention Center, the largest privately-owned meetings and conventions facility in the country since 2007, opens its 1st managed venue in the north, Olongapo City Convention Center. The 2,130 square meters of leasable space is located on the 4th level of the new SM City Olongapo Central in Olongapo City, a 1 hour and 15 minutes’ drive from Clark International Airport. It can hold a total of 2,400 guests on a regular setting and up to 1,900 guests with the new normal.
Olongapo City Convention Center can accommodate any type of event set up from theatre, banquet to cocktail with 5 flexible Function Rooms, 7 Meeting Rooms, 6 Kitchens or preparation rooms, 1 car lift and 2 freight lifts and 1 passenger lift. Parking slots are available at the mall parking building. The new venue will provide its brand and quality of service to local professional event organizers, associations, corporate and government sectors and will address the demand for facilities that would cater to the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (M.I.C.E) market.
“Olongapo City Convention Center will be the pillar of exciting events in the city and nearby. We can cater to a range of events – from small intimate gatherings, social events, meetings, incentives, and conventions to the biggest exhibition the city has to offer,” said SMX Convention Center Vice President- General Manager, Agnes Pacis.
“We are looking forward to hosting events and sharing the SMX hospitality that we have built over the years to the city of Olongapo and to all the Olongapeños.”
Olongapo City Convention Center and the mall have put in place stringent preventive measures under the New Normal such as no face mask and face shield, no entry; temperature checks, foot baths and hand sanitizers at all entrances; frequent sanitation of high contact surfaces and physical distancing in all areas including restrooms, lifts and escalators. Guests’ and employees’ safety, security and wellbeing are its utmost priority and concern. Olongapo City Convention Center has also required its accredited caterers, contractors and event organizers to follow its strict regulations before entering the facility, #SMXsafespaces.
The other 6 SMX Convention Center properties are strategically located in key cities across the country – SMX Manila in Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City; SMX Aura on the 3rd and 4th levels of SM Aura Premiere in Taguig City; SMX Bacolod on the 3rd level of SM City Bacolod in Bacolod City; SMX Davao on the 3rd level of SM Lanang Premiere in Davao City; Sky Hall Seaside Cebu on the 3rd level of SM Seaside City Cebu in Cebu City and Megatrade Hall on the 5th level of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
“Having more event venues in bustling cities like Olongapo, Clark, Laguna and Cebu will only reinforce our company’s commitment to having a presence in key Philippine gateway cities. With our continuous expansion, SMX Convention Center will continue to dominate the M.I.C.E. (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) segment and remain as the brand for eXciting events, eXtraordinary locations and eXceptional service.” said SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation Senior Vice – President for Operations, Walid Wafik. (with reports from DANTE SALVANA)
IN PHOTO: Olongapo City Mayor Atty. Rolen Paulino Jr.(center) Led the ceremonial ribbon cutting for the opening of SMX Convention Center, the first managed venue in Olongapo City. Also, in the photo former Mayor Rolen C. Paulino Sr., (4th from Left), SM Hotels & Conventions Corp. Senior Vice President Walid Wafik (4th from Right), SMX Convention Center Vice President-General Manager Agnes Pacis (3rd from Left). (DANTE SALVANA)