The Armed Forces and Police Mutual Benefit Association (AFPMBAI) commends the achievements of its scholarship program, GRAnts for DEpendents (GRADE), as it celebrates the successful graduation of its scholars for the academic year 2022-2023. AFPMBAI, the leading insurance and mutual benefits provider for military and uniformed personnel (MUP) in the country, takes pride in supporting the education of MUP dependents.
BGen Bienvenido Y Regondola Jr PA (Ret), President and CEO of AFPMBAI, emphasized the organization’s commitment to its service mandate for the MUP and its strong corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs. The current school year witnessed the support of 50 collegiate level scholars and 28 secondary level scholars, marking one of the highest numbers of scholars in the GRADE program since its establishment in 2013.
BGen Regondola expressed that the graduates of this year’s batch exemplify AFPMBAI’s enduring devotion to recognizing the sacrifices and service of the MUP to the country. The collegiate level graduates include students such as Satralyn L Abantas, who completed BS Economics at Bicol University, and Jobert H Aniasco, who earned a degree in BS Computer Engineering from Liceo De Cagayan de Oro. The secondary level graduates include Kiana Alexa U Baltazar, who finished the ABM strand at St. Mary’s Educational Institute.
Among the notable scholars, Marc Eulysse Lacson and Satralyn Abantas have stood out for their remarkable journeys. Lacson, whose father, the late MGen Mario Butch R Lacson of the Philippine Air Force, passed away in the line of duty, overcame challenges during high school and received assistance through the GRADE program. He continued his education at the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas and graduated with Latin Honors as cum laude.
Abantas, a back-to-back scholarship grantee, graduated with a degree in BS Economics, with Latin Honors as cum laude from Bicol University. Despite the support she received, Abantas faced her own share of challenges as a dependent of late PFC
Rethar S Abantas of the Philippine Army who passed away in the line of duty. As an introvert, she found it difficult to adapt and establish new connections during the pandemic. Additionally, limited internet access and a lack of personal resources posed obstacles to her academic progress. However, the dynamic Social Services Program Committee of the AFPMBAI Board addressed these challenges by continuously improving the GRADE scholarship program guidelines. This allowed Abantas and other scholars to receive additional support, including laptops, school supplies, uniforms, and project materials.
Abantas expressed her gratitude for the GRADE Scholarship’s assistance, which alleviated her financial burden and allowed her to focus on her studies and extracurricular activities. She emphasized the importance of continuing the program to help financially struggling MUP dependents pursue their ambitions and receive the institution’s well-deserved support.
The AFPMBAI’s GRADE scholarship program, along with its other CSR initiatives, demonstrates the organization’s commitment to providing meaningful social services to MUP members. By prioritizing the education and well-being of MUP dependents, AFPMBAI distinguishes itself as a financial institution dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of its members.
ADVT.