The “Istorya ng Pag-asa” national project spearheaded by Vice President Leni Robredo aims to “inspire, empower and be a source of hope for all.”
The Province of Negros Occidental has responded with its 20 nominees for INP Champions who were honored and awarded on June 14, 2018 by no less than VP Leni herself during the recent celebration rites held at the St. John Vianney Hall of the Diocese of Bacolod.
Out of 20 champions, 3 are scholars from the Sugar Industry Foundation, Inc. (SIFI) namely, Jundel Toriano, Youjay Garzola and Dr. Mary June Seneres.
Mr. Jundel Toriano is the eldest of four siblings who struggled with poverty in his youth. But his parents who are farm laborers believed that education could conquer poverty and persisted to send Jundel to school. His father labored as a tricycle driver to add to the family income. With the help of SIFI, Jundel was able to proceed to College and graduated as Cum Laude in BS Secondary Education. He is now a Communications educator, a multi-media specialist and successful teacher in Bacolod. Through his own efforts and perseverance, he was able to help send his siblings to school.
Mr. Youjay Garzola was once a farm laborer to help his parents, who were also working on the sugarcane fields. The difficulties he faced and the poverty made him pursue his dreams to have a better life. He was a full scholar of SIFI taking up Civil Engineering and later on passed the Civil Engineering Licensure Examination. At the age of 27, he became a successful civil engineer with an impressive portfolio and stable job.
Dr. Mary June Señeres was a SIFI scholar and now a successful Medical Officer V at the La Carlota City Health Office. Her father, Jeremias, a sugar mill worker, struggled to make ends meet so that his five children could go to school. He sometimes ended up with a zero payslip just so Mary June and her twin sister could finish college. Dr. Mary June often finds time to “give back” to SIFI by joining SIFI medical missions as volunteer physician rendering free medical consultations.
SIFI joins the Negrense community in congratulating these three Istorya ng Pag-Asa Champions for inspiring us with their amazing journey toward success and achievement!
