STEM, Business Students form Newest Batch of GrabScholars

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, 14 January 2026 – Grab Philippines officially welcomed its fourth batch of GrabScholars, awarding full four-year scholarships to a fresh cohort of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), Business, and Sustainability students. 

Along with tuition coverage at renowned institutions like Mapua University and the Cebu Institute of Technology University, the scholars also receive a monthly stipend, a brand-new laptop, and other school essentials.

The new cohort — Harvey Blaize Ramirez, Reign Quiñones, Lloeby Xyra Semana, Dainty Jurzhail Balde, Wrench Maxenne Singcol, and Chrislyn Bacalso — brings the program’s total number of existing full college scholars to 23. 

Grab Philippines Managing Director Ronald Roda emphasized that investing in these students is an investment in the country’s tech capabilities. “The world is moving at breakneck speed, particularly with innovations in tech and AI. To better prepare our country towards important advancements, we need young Filipinos who aspire to be the next shapers of the STEM space,” Roda said. “GrabScholar is about ensuring Filipinos are empowered to be the builders and leaders of tomorrow’s tech landscape.”

The GrabScholar program is a cornerstone of the GrabForGood agenda, the superapp’s social impact initiative aimed at promoting socioeconomic mobility of communities in Southeast Asia.

Children of Grab and MOVE IT partners find a path to college

For several of the newest scholars, the scholarship is tied closely to their parents’ daily grind on the road, linking gig and platform work to longer-term aspirations for families in the Grab and MOVE IT ecosystem.

At Mapúa University, 18-year-old Harvey Blaize Ramirez is tackling AI Engineering. His father’s journey — evolving from a GrabFood rider to a GrabCar driver — serves as his blueprint for success. Harvey dreams of one day joining Grab’s engineering team or launching his own tech venture.

Reign Quiñones, an Industrial Engineering freshman at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), is no stranger to the hustle. While her father delivers for GrabFood, Reign balances her studies with freelance layout and editing jobs. A former campus journalist, she aims to become a Process Designer creating apps focused on social impact, such as disaster risk mitigation. 

The program also welcomed new scholars from cities in regions outside of Metro Manila. In Cebu, Dainty Jurzhail Balde is pursuing Civil Engineering at the Cebu Institute of Technology University. With her father, a MOVE IT rider, serving as the sole breadwinner for their family of five, Balde is determined to pay it forward. She plans to start a foundation to mentor aspiring engineers from underprivileged backgrounds. Hailing from Davao City is Wrench Maxenne Singcol, a Computer Science student at the University of Mindanao. 

GrabScholar’s new batch includes students outside Grab’s partner ecosystem. Lloeby Xyra Semana, who aspires to be a CPA-lawyer, is a freshman Accountancy student at PUP. Before the scholarship, she was supported by her mother, who works as a public school teacher and is the family’s sole breadwinner.

Chrislyn Bacalso is taking Business Administration at Xavier University–Ateneo de Cagayan. Her father is a person with disability, while her mother — a vegetable vendor—provides for the family. Bacalso is aiming to become the first college graduate in their household.

Going beyond scholarships: one-time bursaries for K–12 learners

Apart from full college scholarships, Grab said GrabScholar also extends one-time bursaries to more than 300 underprivileged elementary and high school students to help cover school-related needs. The financial assistance reaches up to P2,500, typically released through GrabPay as reimbursement for eligible expenses such as books, uniforms, and school supplies. 

PLDT, Smart Enable Young Innovators to Serve more Filipino Communities through Technology

PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) equip more young innovators with skills, serving more Filipino communities through inclusive and sustainable technology.

“PLDT and Smart, through their network and technology, have long extended technical support to help the youth turn their plans into actions, and eventually change the world they live in for the better,” said Stephanie Orlino, AVP and Head of Stakeholder Management Team at PLDT and Smart.

The PLDT Group’s Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP), the first and longest-running Philippine industry-academe linkage, and Innovation Generation (InnoGen), an innovation grant program, have served as platforms for the youth to become digital changemakers in their respective communities.

Team SEER from Bataan Peninsula State University, one of the finalists from InnoGen season 2, recently received a financial grant from the US ASEAN Smart Cities Partnership (USASCP) in the Philippines for Kloudtech, an IoT-based weather and coastal flood monitoring system.

“Kloudtech’s goal is to enhance disaster resilience among Filipino communities and support government initiatives, assist business owners, and protect coastal communities and residents in low-lying areas. Kloudtech is here to make cities smarter and more livable,” shared Kloudtech CEO Patrick Gozun.

“We discovered the USASCP grant through our university mentors and their extensive research on available funding opportunities. The application process was driven by our team's proactive efforts, along with guidance from mentors and online resources needed to submit a proposal,” added Patrick.

Kloudtech also showcased its technology in a symposium in Jakarta, Indonesia called "A symposium on Accelerating Science, Technology and Circular Innovation" and the 2023 edition of Prototypes for Humanity in Dubai, exhibiting its innovation alongside prestigious universities from 47 countries around the world like the University of Oxford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, Harvard University, and Standford University.

“Securing the grant has opened avenues for Kloudtech to scale up and make a more substantial impact. We anticipate using the funds strategically to enhance our technology, expand our reach, and ultimately contribute to positive change in the areas addressed by our app,” said Dan Martinez, co-founder of Kloudtech.

“The learnings from our InnoGen experience served as a foundational knowledge base. While we did not secure the grand prize, the experience ultimately inspired us to further enhance and refine our product. We are enthusiastic about the journey ahead and remain committed to bringing our innovative idea to fruition,” said Gil Cruz, another Kloudtech co-founder.

Through the years, the PLDT Group has underscored the value of inclusive learning and industry-academe linkages to promote STEM education in the country. This commitment also supports UNSDG #4: Quality Education and is aligned with the vision of the Philippine Government-mandated Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC).