Security Bankers Raise Funds for 41 Scholars through Year-End, Employee-Led Initiatives

Makati City – Security Bankers rallied together at the close of 2025 to raise funds for 41 scholars under the Regalo Mo, Kinabukasan Ko (RMKK) scholarship program, through a series of employee-led initiatives held during the Bank’s year-end celebrations.

Implemented in collaboration with the Bank’s Learning and Engagement Division, the initiatives generated donations for Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI), supporting the educational needs of the Bank’s agency personnel—including security guards, janitors, messengers, and drivers—as well as their children.

Employees also extended their support through SBFI’s Adopt a Scholar campaign, contributing in various forms including cash, Cheers Points (the Bank’s employee recognition rewards), and Security Bank Credit Card Rewards points. Through these collective efforts, 41 RMKK scholars were adopted for School Year 2025–2026.

“This is a testament to how collective generosity can change lives,” shared SBFI Chairman Rafael Simpao, Jr. “Every contribution brings our scholars closer to realizing their dreams and building better futures for themselves and their families.”

The impact of the initiative was felt during the Christmas season, when adopted scholars wrote letters to their sponsors to express their gratitude and reaffirm their commitment to completing their education.

Trina Ortega, Employee Engagement Lead of Security Bank’s Learning and Engagement Division, shared a particularly moving moment when the mother of an RMKK scholar— herself a bank security guard—visited the office to personally express her appreciation for the opportunity given to her daughter.

Through the continued collaboration between Security Bank and Security Bank Foundation, employee-led initiatives remain a meaningful avenue to expanding access to education and uplifting the communities the Bank serves.

To learn more about Security Bank Foundation’s commitment to education, visit www.securitybank.com/foundation.

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. 

Security Bank Foundation Delivers Strong Education Gains in 2025

Makati City, Philippines – In 2025, Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) strengthened its commitment to education as a powerful equalizer, delivering measurable, nationwide impact amid persistent classroom shortages, disaster-damaged school facilities, and nearly 11 million out-of-school Filipino children.

Through a holistic approach—building and repairing classrooms, supporting scholars, empowering educators, and partnering with communities—the Foundation helped improve access to safe, inclusive, and quality learning environments across the country.

Under the Build a School, Build a Nation program, the Foundation has delivered 901 classrooms in 153 schools across 92 cities and municipalities nationwide and rehabilitated earlier donations to ensure long-term use. Beyond infrastructure, the Foundation invested in people—training nearly 170 principals and teachers, supporting over 300 scholars, and providing eyeglasses to more than 1,000 learners. This impact was strengthened through multi-sector partnerships with government, universities, corporations, and employees, including a 2025 Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Education granting nationwide recognition to SBFI’s training program, and contributions to Senate discussions on improving public classrooms delivery.

Expanding learning spaces nationwide

In 2025, SBFI turned over 62 new classrooms, equivalent to nine school buildings, including:

Sta. Cruz Central Elementary School, Laguna, a pilot site for the Department of Education’s Inclusive Learning Resource Center serving learners with special needs

Tarlac National High School, supporting its Special Program in Sports

Zamboanga City High School Main, equipped with technical-vocational laboratories for Caregiving, Cookery, Drafting, and Dressmaking.

The Foundation also repaired 80 classrooms and rehabilitated 48 disaster- or termite-damaged facilities, ensuring safer and more resilient learning spaces for students and teachers. 

To date, SBFI has donated 901 classrooms to 153 schools nationwide, reinforcing its long-term commitment to education infrastructure.

Investing in educators and scholars

Through its Mentoring Future Leaders for Nation-Building program, SBFI strengthened school leadership and teaching systems by training 79 principals and 88 teachers in leadership and mentoring, and school governance. 

Program participants include Carlo Medrano, who went on to develop a science mentoring initiative now adopted in multiple communities—demonstrating how teacher empowerment creates ripple effects across the education system.

SBFI also supported 302 scholars for Academic Year 2025–2026 and celebrated 103 graduates, including 31 college degree holders. 

Addressing barriers beyond academics, SBFI distributed 1,170 eyeglasses in partnership with Ideal Vision Center and the Rotary and Rotaract Clubs of San Francisco del Monte, helping students—like Jake Prades—improve classroom performance through better vision.

Partnerships that multiply impact

SBFI’s education programs were strengthened through collaboration with corporate partners, government agencies, and Security Bank employees, enabling sustained support for classrooms, scholarships, and teacher development. Key partners include FWD Life Insurance, Jesus V. Del Rosario Foundation, Signify Philippines, and the Department of Education.

Recognition and the road ahead

SBFI’s education initiatives and efforts earned national recognition at the 21st Philippine Quill and 60th Anvil Awards. Among the accolades are:

IABC Philippines’ 21st Quill Award of Excellence for Employee Engagement – “Paint a Classroom, Paint a Brighter Future – Security Bank Foundation's School Painting Activity”

IABC Philippines’ 21st Quill Award of Merit for Corporate Social Responsibility – “Hand in Hand: Partnerships for Transforming the Country's Future, One Classroom at a Time”

IABC Philippines’ 21st Quill Award of Merit for Communication Management – “Mentoring Future Leaders for Nation-Building – Principals Training Track”

PRSP’s 60th Anvil Silver Award for Employee Engagement – “Paint a Classroom, Paint a Brighter Future – Security Bank Foundation’s School Painting Activity”

PRSP’s 60th Anvil Silver Award for Change Communication – “School Building Ko, Aalagaan Ko” Campaign.

Looking ahead, the Foundation plans to build 60 new classrooms, repair 100 additional classrooms, expand educator training and scholar programs, and continue nationwide vision screening initiatives.

“Every classroom we build, every teacher we empower, and every scholar we support brings us closer to a Philippines where progress is inclusive and sustainable,” Simpao added.

Learn more about Security Bank Foundation’s education initiatives at https://www.securitybank.com/foundation/.