Cement firm fetes first scholar grad

TAIHEIYO Cement Philippines Inc. (TCPI) recently honored the first recipient of its college scholarship program who graduated from college in a simple ceremony.
Donalyn Tambacan, 20, of barangay Greenhills, San Fernando town in southern Cebu graduated cum laude at the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Management Accounting.
Tambacan plans to pursue Law after finding a stable job.
Coming from a family of 10 with her father Nestor Sr. working as a fisherman and mother Eulina as homemaker, Tambacan recalled how she deeply prayed to earn the Taiheiyo scholarship.
Taiheiyo, together with  Solid Earth Development Corp. (SEDC), also recognized its fifth batch of scholars who graduated from high school with honors during the annual ceremonies at the Taiheiyo Multi-Purpose Recreation Center in San Fernando, Cebu.
On the same occasion, TCPI and SEDC also announced the addition of three college scholars and 12 high school scholars to its scholarship program, making their total number of scholars to 62 — 14 in college and 48 in high school.
The three new college scholars include Tambacan’s neighbor Mary Luchille Lapuz, 16, valedictorian of Sangat National High School, who takes up BS Mining Engineering at CIT University; Rhendil Catulpos, valedictorian of Pitalo National High School who takes up  BS Mechanical Engineering at USJ-R; and Johanna Sacal, salutatorian of Pitalo NHS who enrolled in BS Education (Major in English), also at USJ-R.
Positive change
“Aspire always to become agents of positive change. Do your best and let excellence be your constant companion,” TCPI president and CEO Satoshi Asami said in his message to the scholars.
“We provide you with the tools, not only to live a good life, but also to help fuel your country’s economy.” SEDC director Takehito Oga said.
“We take pride in being able to keep the torch of hope alive in our community through our social development and environmental programs,” he said.
The joint TCPI-SEDC secondary scholarship program began in 2005, while its tertiary scholarship started in 2009.