Insider Spotlight
The Aboitiz Foundation is strengthening its Aboitiz Future Leaders Program by working closely with business units across the Aboitiz Group. The goal: combine financial support with real-world work experience, mentorship, and leadership training.
Instead of focusing only on tuition, the program now connects scholars to internships, volunteer work, mentoring sessions, and learning workshops inside Aboitiz companies.
This gives students a clearer view of how their courses apply to actual jobs and industries.
How it works
In partnership with AboitizPower, 36 scholars across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are studying fields such as technology, data, communications, environmental studies, and agriculture at UP campuses in Baguio, Cebu, and Mindanao.
With Aboitiz Foods, 12 scholars are taking up animal science and forestry at Pampanga State Agricultural University, with access to industry mentors and internships.
Hedcor, an AboitizPower subsidiary, is supporting 12 Computer Science and Journalism students at UP Baguio.
Beyond tuition, scholars receive monthly stipends, gadget support, academic incentives — including recognition for Latin honor graduates — board exam assistance, mentoring, and internship opportunities across the group.
“The strength of the Aboitiz Future Leaders Program lies in collaboration,” said Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, president of Aboitiz Foundation, in a company statement.
“By working together across the Group, we are able to support scholars not only academically, but also in developing the values, confidence, and practical experience they need to lead and serve.”
The impact can be seen in graduates like Monalizza Ecat. The daughter of a domestic helper, she once thought college was out of reach. Through the scholarship, she earned a chemical engineering degree from UP Diliman, graduating summa cum laude in 2025 and recently passing the board exam.
“Being an Aboitiz scholar is an honor that truly changed my life,” Monalizza said. “The scholarship eased my family’s burden and allowed me to focus entirely on my path to becoming an engineer.”
Since 2003, the foundation has supported more than 1,300 scholars nationwide. For the 2025–2026 academic year alone, 199 new scholars were added.
The bottom line
Aboitiz is treating education as a long-term investment — not just in individual students, but in building a skilled workforce and future leaders who can help drive industries and communities forward. —Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
