THE Mandaluyong City government held its second college fair at the event center of the SM Megamall.

The “Be Academically Aware: A Scholastic Guide to Shape Our Future” is a project of Mandaluyong City Mayor Ben Abalos, Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos, and the office of Councilor Benjie Abalos which is open to all Grade 12 students regardless if they are studying in or out of Mandaluyong.

The project started in December of 2022 with the goal to gather colleges and universities in one venue and showcase their course offerings to potential Grade 12 students who will enter college next school year.

Last year, the college fair was participated by more than 30 colleges and universities around Metro Manila.

For this year, the number of school exhibitors reached 40, including Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines-Manila, San Beda College, De La Salle University, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Mapua University, and the newly-opened Mandaluyong College of Science and Technology.

Councilor Benjie Abalos, the brainchild of the program, said before he graduated high school he experienced travelling to several universities before landing at the right school and college course.

To avoid students from spending a lot of time and money to commute or travel to search for their preferred college, he proposed the college fair program to Mayor Abalos.

In response, Mayor Abalos approved the idea since he believes a person who had gained an education has a better edge in life.