A beautiful journey worth relishing
Glenda Galino – Tayongtong is now a successful Business Development Manager for Avon Philippines and was able to travel the world because of her job.
But she admits that she will not be in her current situation if not for her college education.
For a provincial little girl born in a small far flung barangay in Lemery in Iloilo Province, Glenda was full of dreams. “Growing up, I was a very energetic and talkative child. I was always playing outdoor games, and since I was young I would always play the role of the “mother” or the “manager” with my playmates. I would not settle to be the follower. I excel in academics during my elementary years at Almenana Elementary School and I eventually graduated Valedictorian in my batch.”
The search for excellence continued as Glenda was awarded 1st Honorable Mention during her graduation in Highschool at Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (now Iloilo Science and Technology University(ISAT-U) last March 1998.
Glenda’s parents were farmers, and so their income always required hard labor. Sending children to college was very difficult for them. To make ends meet, they opted to engaged in various businesses like Sari-Sari Store, billiards and game board rent, buy & sell of scraps, and even buy and sell of fish, just to be able to provide for Glenda’s education together with her brother and two older sisters.
”When I was about to graduate in high school, my father said that I should take up an Education course and become a teacher, but more than this reason, was really the challenge of sending me to a private school. I want to take up any business course and it was my desire to enroll in a big university.”
That is when Glenda searched for ways to be able to go to college, despite the challenges and uncertainties during that time.
“With my desire to enroll in a private school, I asked around for options, my advisers told me to apply for scholarships. My sister who was then working at SM Delgado as a sales clerk, saw a poster about SM Foundation. I tried submitting my application, and I passed the exam.
“I decided to enroll at Central Philippine University and took up Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Management Accounting.”
“SM Foundation helped me with everything in my college education. SMFI paid for my tuition fees, and had given me monthly allowance for my books.”
Glenda always cherish her SM Foundation family and have fond memories of her scholarship journey.
“The most memorable was when the director called me with my parents, I saw how proud my father and mother were during that time.
Another fond memory is our Sunday get together with my co-scholars in front of Museo Iloilo. We see each other and would be helping lower year scholars in their assignments.”
“But the proudest moment was when I recently got invited to speak before the scholars and share my experiences.”
Glenda Galino-Tayongtong’s journey was never easy. But with perseverance and focus on her goals, she was able to achieve her dream to succeed.
Before landing her current job, Glenda worked as Marketing Assistant of SM City Iloilo and later a Department Manager at The SM Store.
Glenda’s favorite saying perhaps sums up her principle in life, which eventually led her to achieve her goals in life.
“My past doesn’t define who I am now. My success is very special for me because this is something that I’ve worked for. My journey was not a walk in the park, I’ve been through very challenging times, but those are all experiences which made me who I am today. “
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SM Foundation, Inc.(SMFI) serves as the heart of the SM group of companies focused on social inclusion by nurturing and caring for underserved communities where SM is present. Established in 1983 by Henry Sy, Sr. and Felicidad T. Sy, SMFI continue to pursue its mission which is anchored on its founding principle of PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE. SM Foundation is committed to serve by supporting and empowering its host communities through education, healthcare, shelter, disaster response, farmer’s training, environmental programs and care for persons with special needs.
Aside from the SM Scholarship program, SM Foundation helps provide underprivileged children with better quality public education by donating school buildings and classrooms in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd). DepEd identifies areas in need to help address the backlog of classrooms in accordance with national requirements. With the new and conducive environment for learning, children perform better in school and are more inspired to learn, while teachers also become more effective.