THE ABOITIZ  Group continues to assist hundreds of high school and college students by giving them financial assistance and moral support during the pandemic.

The Aboitiz Foundation has nearly 860 students enrolled in its scholarship program.

Aside from giving them financial assistance, the foundation also granted monthly allowances to be converted to laptop subsidy for students who have limited means to purchase gadgets for online learning.

Aboitiz Foundation President and Chief Operating Officer Maribeth Marasigan said the foundation has to innovate to provide relevant support to its scholars.

The foundation recently launched the Aboitiz Scholarship Portal, a one-stop hub for its scholars that contains updates, advisories, learning materials, and a scholar’s profile dashboard.

“As the world continues to change due to the pandemic, Aboitiz Foundation also made its education programs adapt by establishing online platforms, and conducting online learning sessions that will keep our scholars stay connected, engaged, and informed,” Marasigan said.

The Aboitiz scholars gathered online in August for the Aboitiz Beyond Classrooms Learning Series, the first virtual general assembly.

”The session taught us to see weakness as our strengths and channel positivism in our mindset. In whatever situations we face, we should always instill a positive and flexible outlook,” Aboitiz scholar Jarixa Balbuena, an incoming Grade 12 student at Southwestern University, said.

For this school year, the scholars attended a learning session with the topic “Building Resilience for a Flourishing New Normal” with Dr. Sheila Marie Hocson, former president of the Philippine Guidance and Counselling Association.

The webinar taught scholars to learn and capitalize on strengths that can help them navigate through online learning and studying at home. The participants were also asked to identify sources of  inspiration that can be their anchor as they face the adversities and challenges brought by the pandemic.

Since the Aboitiz Senior High School Financial Assistance Program started in 2003, it has benefited nearly 3,000 students nationwide. The Aboitiz College Scholarship Program meanwhile has supported 970 scholars since its inception.