ELENA ENCIO: A CHAMPION FOR THE SCHOLARS

Much like anything worth achieving, becoming a SKIL scholar was no easy feat. Scholars had to study hard and act accordingly, inspiring each other to be the best versions of themselves while studying to be deserving recipients of the program.

“Under training kasi talaga, disiplinado dapat kami. So kailangan ‘pag sinabing by 8:00, Monday to Friday, we need to attend, if not, hindi talaga kami makakareceive ng allowance from Shell. So ayun, discipline is a must and tiyaga kung gusto mo talaga.”

While there were difficulties and challenges, Elena found pleasure in getting to know the other SKIL scholars and developing a bond with them. They worked with each other to get to the finish line and did whatever they could to support each other in times of need.

“Talagang tulungan kami. Kung sino ang nangangailangan, ‘yun yung tutulungan. May mga scholars kami na from the province, yung as in nauubos na nila yung pera nila for food—so ginagawa namin since from Manila kami at may family kahit papaano nagssupport—binibigyan namin sila tig-50 para makasurvive.”

All was going well and Elena was right on track. When she finished her 6th month of studying, her OJTs kicked in. She and the other scholars started working with partner companies and were compensated for their services rendered. She was about to finish her scholarship while working at an electronics firm, but an opportunity knocked on her door and she had to answer.

“In the middle, running for regularship na ako, pero kinuha ako ng kapatid ko na pumunta ng Singapore para mag-aral. Nagresign ako.”

While her experience with PSFI was cut short, it was not all in vain as all her training and learnings would follow her wherever she went. Her discipline and resolve would always be with her, and she would forever be a PSFI SKIL scholar at heart.

She’d return to the Philippines later on in time for PSFI’s 20^th anniversary in 2002 where she would attend and see what the Foundation had been up to since she left. At the time, PSFI’s scholarship graduates were asked to fill out their profiles and she submitted hers.

“After how many months, may tumawag sa akin, pinapapunta daw ako sa Shell. Yung grupo ng mga scholars ng alumni, nagform sila ng grupo non, SHELAPI, yung isa doon tinawagan ako.”

In 2004, Elena became the focal person of SHELAPI and she was assigned to manage the database in Pandacan. In the same year, she would be absorbed into PSFI where she’d climb the ranks from being an admin assistant, to program assistant, to project officer for SKIL. At this point, she had come full circle. Aside from handling SKIL, she’d soon become the program officer for other PSFI scholarship programs as well.

“Mahal ko work ko dito kasi nakikita ko sarili ko sa mga beneficiary. For me, ang work ko dito sa PSFI ay payback. Tinulungan ako ni Shell noon, tutulong ako para naman sa iba.”

Elena believes in the importance of pushing through with education and hopes that her story can inspire PSFI scholars the way they inspire her to keep going and supporting the next generation.