Stories of inspiration

John Carlo’s First Mission: A Scholar’s Way of Giving Back

John Carlo Alvarez, a fourth-year Instrumentation and Control Technology student and a proud scholar under the Science and Technology Education Program (STEP), recently found a meaningful way to give back by volunteering at the REACH medical mission held on May 31 in Barangay Libjo, Batangas.

The mission provided free medical and dental consultations, fasting blood sugar (FBS) testing, and essential medicines to 278 residents. Now in its third year, the REACH initiative continues to bring accessible healthcare to communities through collaboration among volunteers, local government units, healthcare workers, and partner organizations.

For John Carlo, volunteering was more than just lending a hand. It was a heartfelt return to the community that shaped him.

Having grown up in Libjo, he understands how vital access to healthcare is for families like his. As a STEP scholar supported by Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), he receives a monthly allowance and regular mentoring to help him grow both academically and personally. Taking part in the medical mission became his way of giving thanks for the support he continues to receive and honoring the people who have guided his journey.

REACH, short for Reliable Access to Community Healthcare, is a PSFI initiative supported by Shell Pilipinas Corporation (SPC). It brings essential medical services closer to communities in Batangas City, particularly those within the Shell Import Facility Tabangao (SHIFT) host and fenceline areas, through the power of volunteerism and partnerships.

As a first-time volunteer, John Carlo assisted in setting up the venue, carrying tables, chairs, and medical kits, and distributing meal packs to fellow volunteers.

“Taga-rito rin po ako kaya gusto kong makatulong sa aking hometown,” he shared.

Despite the early morning call time and the physically demanding tasks, John Carlo felt nothing but fulfillment. He saw how his small efforts contributed to something greater, bringing care and hope to those around him. The experience sparked a deeper desire to continue serving.

“Definitely, I’ll volunteer again,” he said with a smile.

For John Carlo, this is just the beginning of a lifelong journey of service. He realized that when you give from the heart, you don’t just make a difference—you also grow in ways you never imagined.

Click to see how compassion and collaboration brought healthcare closer to home through the REACH medical and dental mission!

Related stories:

Planting Seeds for Food Security: 26 Grade 12 Learners Achieve 100% in Agricultural Crop Production NC II

Twenty-six Grade 12 learners from Sulpicio A. Roco Memorial High School achieved a 100% passing rate in the Agricultural Crop Production NC II assessment after completing 320 hours of classroom instruction and farm immersion at PSFI’s Shell Training Farm in Bombon through DepEd’s JDVP. Certified as Competent in core crop production and essential workplace and safety skills, the fourth batch of graduates is now better positioned for employment, entrepreneurship, or further studies in agriculture, supporting stronger youth participation in food security and sustainable farming.

Cultivating Future-Ready Problem Solvers: PSFI Celebrates the Impact of the Shell NXplorers Program (2019–2025)

From 2019 to 2025, the Shell NXplorers Program, implemented by Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc., equipped 2,716 students and 421 teachers across 101 schools with the skills to tackle complex real-world challenges. Through systems thinking, scenario planning, and sustainability-driven problem solving, young Filipinos strengthened their confidence, creativity, and collaboration. With 97 student-led projects generated through the Bright Ideas Challenge, NXplorers leaves behind a generation ready to shape solutions for food, water, and energy challenges.

A Promise Fulfilled: Arlene Yago’s Journey as a 2025 SKIL Scholar

At 28, Arlene Yago chose to return to school, carrying with her the words her father once told her: “Mag-aral ka para sa akin.” A young mother from Pasacao, Camarines Sur, Arlene became a 2025 scholar of the Sanayan sa Kakayahang Industriyal (SKIL) program in Electronics NC II, stepping into a field she never imagined for herself.

Shortly after her training began, she lost her father. Instead of stopping, she pressed on, honoring his dream through perseverance and hard work. Today, Arlene’s journey is more than a certification earned. It is a promise fulfilled and a future steadily being built for her family.

Shell LiveWire 2025: Growing Enterprises, Powering Possibilities

From 2020 to 2025, Shell LiveWire supported 157 Community Enterprises and 26 Tech Startups nationwide. In 2025 alone, the program reached 47 community enterprises, provided startup capital to 42 enterprises, and awarded equity-free grants to five tech startups across 10 sites nationwide.

Through structured training, mentorship, and partnerships with LGUs, national agencies, and innovation hubs, Shell LiveWire helps Filipino entrepreneurs strengthen livelihoods, create jobs, and develop solutions that enable communities to thrive.

Building Better Pathways, One Ecobrick at a Time

In Batangas City, discarded plastic was transformed into safer walkways for children through an Ecobrick Laying Activity led by Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), together with Shell Business Operations and Shell Import Facility Tabangao. With 5,000 ecobricks turned over and 57 volunteers working side by side, school pathways at Tabangao Ambulong Elementary School and San Isidro Day Care Center were strengthened—creating cleaner, safer spaces for learning and play.

The initiative forms part of PSFI’s Community Activity Support (CAS) program, which has reached over 30,000 individuals nationwide since 2023 through education, health, and environmental efforts. Read how sustainability and partnership are building better pathways for communities.

Nourishing Young Lives: Thaison Volunteers Bring Care and Nutrition to RTS Light in Mabalacat City

On January 27, 2026, the Family Care Center in Marcos Village, Mabalacat City, became a space of shared care and learning through the Roots to Shoots (RTS) Light Program. Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), with the support of Thaison Builders and Developer, Inc. (TBDI), Clark Development Corporation, Barangay Nutrition and Health Workers, FCC teachers, and parent volunteers, conducted a nutrition-focused feeding activity for 25 pre-school children.

Building on hands-on volunteerism, TBDI staff helped prepare and serve nutrient-rich meals, then led a storytelling session that reinforced positive values and healthy habits. The activity also strengthened parental awareness through short, interactive nutrition education led by health workers, reflecting RTS Light’s goal of nourishing children while deepening community participation and ownership.