Stories of inspiration

Investing in Healthcare Providers, Strengthening the Nation: 513 Scholars Moving Forward Through MSP

March 26, 2026

In many parts of the Philippines, access to quality healthcare is still shaped by geography and income. For thousands of families, becoming a doctor, nurse, or caregiver is not just difficult. It is often out of reach.

The Medical Scholarship Program (MSP) of Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc., in partnership with Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, Inc., is changing that reality. By investing in future healthcare professionals, MSP is not only opening doors for scholars. It is helping build a stronger, more inclusive health system for the country.

Today, 513 scholars across the Philippines are pursuing careers in medicine, nursing, allied health, and caregiving. Each one carries both a personal dream and a shared responsibility to serve.

From Opportunity to Outcomes

Now on its third year, MSP has moved beyond providing access. It is delivering results.

In 2025 alone, the program supported 513 active scholars across 16 sites nationwide, translating investment into real, measurable impact:

99 scholars from the Technical-Vocational Caregiving (TVC) track successfully graduated
99% of caregiving scholars passed the TESDA certification assessment
20 out of 20 nursing graduates achieved a 100% passing rate in the November 2025 Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination (PNLE)
One scholar from West Visayas State University placed 5th in the 2025 PNLE

These milestones reflect more than academic success. They signal readiness. MSP scholars are entering the workforce equipped with the competence, discipline, and confidence needed in real-world healthcare settings.

Building a Strong Healthcare Pipeline

MSP strengthens the country’s healthcare workforce through two strategic tracks:

STEM and Health Courses (SHC)
Supporting future doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals across leading institutions such as the University of the Philippines Manila, Saint Louis University, Batangas State University, West Visayas State University, and Davao Medical School Foundation, among others.

Technical-Vocational Caregiving (TVC)
Equipping scholars with TESDA-accredited caregiving skills to meet both local and global demand for healthcare workers.

Beyond financial support, MSP invests in the whole person. Through mentoring, board review assistance, and the LEAD workshops, scholars develop not only technical expertise but also empathy, resilience, and leadership.

They graduate not just as professionals, but as individuals ready to serve communities with purpose.

From Foundation to Momentum

If 2024 focused on building the foundation of the program, 2025 marked a clear transition to impact. Graduates, board passers, and topnotchers now stand as proof that the model works.

Building on these results, MSP continues to grow. In 2026, the program is set to expand its reach by supporting more scholars in private Higher Education Institutions while strengthening partnerships with State Universities and Colleges.

This signals a shift from implementation to long-term sustainability.

Education That Multiplies Impact

At its core, MSP is about more than scholarships. It is about expanding opportunity and strengthening systems.

Each scholar supported represents a family uplifted.
Each graduate represents a community better served.
Each healthcare professional added to the workforce brings the country one step closer to accessible, quality healthcare for all.

Because when education is made accessible, it does not only change individual lives. It builds the foundation for a healthier, more resilient nation.

With support from Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, Inc. (BCFI), Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) is helping communities in Bamban, Tarlac grow more than vegetables through the Roots to Shoots SACOBIA Program by cultivating food security, healthier lifestyles, and hands-on learning through school gardens.

PSFI and SPC Support Brigada Eskwela Through Bayanihan Bulilit in Pasacao

Through the Bayanihan Bulilit initiative, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), Shell Pilipinas Corporation (SPC), and volunteers from the Shell Pasacao Terminal joined community partners to prepare Child Development Centers in Pasacao, Camarines Sur for the new school year. The collective effort provided learning materials, improved classroom facilities, and created better learning environments for 243 young learners.

Makulay Dahil Bahagi Ka: When Representation Opens Doors and Saves Lives

This Pride Month, PSFI celebrates Basha Cancillar, a community leader whose journey from a young volunteer to an HIV advocate is helping create safer, more inclusive spaces for people affected by and living with HIV. Through PROTECTS UPSCALE and partnerships with community organizations, Basha champions representation, dignity, and access to healthcare, proving that when people are seen, heard, and empowered, lives can be transformed.

More Than a Reunion: Celebrating Four Decades of the SKIL Legacy

More than four decades after receiving the opportunity to build their futures through the SKIL Program, alumni from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao came together to celebrate a legacy of transformation, achievement, and service. Their stories stand as a testament to the enduring power of education, skills development, and the belief that true success is measured not only by what we achieve, but by how we help others succeed.

Project PASA Strengthens Sustainability and Community Impact Through MOA Signing

Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), Shell Business Operations Manila, and Shell Pilipinas Corporation formalized their partnership for Project PASA (Passing Along Sustainably used Assets), an initiative that gives used furniture, mobile devices, and equipment a second life. Through the partnership, pre-loved assets are redirected to underserved communities, advancing sustainability, circularity, and social impact by ensuring valuable resources continue creating opportunities where they are needed most.

Makulay Dahil Bahagi Ka: How Joan dela Cerna is Building a Future Rooted in Care

After years of working abroad to provide for her family, Joan dela Cerna returned home with a renewed determination to build a future closer to her children. Through the Medical Scholarship Program (MSP) supported by Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) and Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, Inc. (BCFI), she is pursuing her dream of becoming a caregiver while balancing her roles as a mother, student, and breadwinner. Her story is a reminder that when people are given the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute, they can create meaningful change for themselves, their families, and their communities.