PASIG CITY, March 21, 2017 – In collaboration with the Department of Education, STI Foundation awarded full scholarship grants to the children of PO1 Gary Cabaguing during a turnover ceremony on March 9, 2017.

Cabaguing was slain when he was about to serve a warrant of arrest to suspected drug pusher Ernesto Gonzales in Barangay Logero, Marabut, Samar in 2016. The police left behind his wife, Abigail Cabaguing, and their two children, nine-year-old daughter Gareth Gail and three-year-old son Brent Goran.

On behalf of Cabaguing’s family, Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali and DepEd External Partnerships and Linkages Director Margarita Ballesteros received the certificates of scholarships from STI Foundations. Cabaguing’s children, who are currently in Samar, are granted with scholarships for Senior High School and four-year college course at any STI campus nationwide.

Umali thanked STI for providing the children with an opportunity to create a better future through education. He further noted that it is a personal directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to extend assistance to the families of uniformed men who were killed or wounded while performing their duties.

“We are grateful for STI’s partnership on initiatives like these, where we can work together to help enrich Filipino families through education. What happened to the family and children of PO1 Cabaguing was a tragedy and we appreciate the educational assistance STI has provided for the family of a fallen hero,” Umali said.

DepEd recognizes the vital role of private organizations and individuals in maximizing the resources and amplifying the government’s efforts in carrying out its endeavors. “STI serves as an example to other private organizations by demonstrating that any kind of support extended to the family will help rebuild their lives,” he ended.

Meanwhile, STI AVP for Academics Aisa Hipolito said that STI has and will always be DepEd’s partner in educational causes. “It is humbling that we are able to help these children and contribute to the various projects and efforts of DepEd. We believe that education can lead us to a better life that is why we always seek for opportunities where we can reach out to as many disadvantaged youths in the country,” she said.

STI continuously engages in partnerships with various organizations to better the lives of the Filipino youth. Last year, STI teamed up with Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI), a Manila-based port operator, to create an awareness program on the pervasive effects of illegal drugs and educate the Filipino youth through a drug prevention campaign.

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