Beginning Academic Year 2026-2027, three qualified UP Diliman (UPD) students will receive assistance through the newly established Philippine Global Explorers (PGE) Gabay Support Grant helping them start the school year with greater financial security and confidence.
Thea Angela Magana and James Macky Saludes, both BS tourism students, and Sherleigh Amara Llacer, BS hotel, restaurant, and institutional management student, are the recipients of the said grant.
(PGE) is a non-profit organization with a diverse membership of highly traveled and accomplished Filipinos from various corners of the globe. One of their goals is “contributing to the advancement of the Philippines’ travel and tourism industry and to make a positive impact on education and international relations.”
The grant provides financial support for financially challenged but academically qualified third-year students in travel-and mobility-related programs such as UPD’s tourism and hotel, restaurant and institution management degree programs.
Each scholar will receive a monthly stipend of PHP3,000, disbursed five times per semester, for a maximum of four regular semesters. Continued support is subject to maintaining the required level of academic excellence and having no disciplinary record with the Office of Student Ethics.
A memorandum of agreement signing ceremony was held on Sept. 2 at the Office of the Chancellor with UPD Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II and PGE President and Co-Founder Rambi Francisco signing for UPD and PGE, respectively.
Speaking at the ceremony, Francisco said many of PGE’s diverse and successful members owe their ability to represent the Philippines in the world of travel to their education, and the PGE grant is one way of paying that success forward.
“Yung edukasyon po talaga ‘yung naging passport namin na makita ‘yung mundo. Yun po ‘yung gusto naming ibahagi sa ating mga grantees. Ang gusto po namin is to give back to the future of the Philippines,” he said.