At least five deserving and qualified incoming Cebuano freshies will have a better start in UP Diliman (UPD) with the establishment of the Sidlak Sugbuanon Foundation, Inc. (SSFI) Scholarship Program.
The SSFI is a Cebu-based foundation that provides scholarships to outstanding students from Cebu Province and Cebu City who passed the UPCAT, and/or qualified to study at UPD. The name Sidlak Sugbuanon means “a Cebuano who shines.”
A memorandum of agreement (MOA) and deed of donation and acceptance (DODA) signing ceremony was held on Aug. 25 at the UPD Office of the Chancellor providing over PHP2 million in supplementary financial assistance.
Starting the first semester of AY 2026-2027, each scholar will receive a monthly stipend for a maximum of 10 months, travel assistance, and other material benefits.
To qualify, applicants must be Filipino residents and bona fide residents of Cebu province for at least three consecutive years prior to application; graduating Grade 12 students, eligible for admission to degree programs at UPD; possess a final Grade 12 GWA of at least 90% or its equivalent; have no record of major disciplinary offenses from their current school; and have an annual household income not exceeding PHP360,000.
SSFI President Luis Ramon Arcenas said the partnership with UPD aims to help talented and deserving students across the province of Cebu who may otherwise think that studying in UPD is “beyond their reach,” gain equal access to opportunity, and broaden their horizons by learning and growing outside their province.
“We hope our scholars will excel in many different fields, whether as scientists, engineers, artists, educators, entrepreneurs, public servants, or leaders; through this agreement between SSFI and UPD, and with the support of the UPD Office of Scholarships and Grants (OSG), we hope to open more doors for Cebuanos to study, grow, and ultimately, Sidlak, to shine in their chosen fields,” he said.
Signing the MOA were UPD Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II and Arcenas. Standing as witnesses were UPD Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jose Carlo G. de Pano, OSG Director Christine Hernandez, OSG Senior Scholarship Affairs Officer Aileen Reyes, UP Theater Technical Director Maree Barbara Tan-Tiongco, and SSFI Executive Assistant to the President Brian Jayson Delos Santos.