Stories of inspiration

The Shell–PhilDev Scholarship Program: Investing in STEM and Empowering Futures

Launched in 2013, the Shell–PhilDev Scholarship Program was created to strengthen the Philippines’ STEM talent pipeline by expanding access to quality tertiary education for high-potential students with limited financial means. The program is implemented by Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. in partnership with Science and Technology Foundation Manila, combining academic support with industry-linked development to prepare scholars for long-term careers in science and engineering.

The scholarship supports qualified students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees in partner universities across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Assistance begins in the scholars’ second year of college and continues through graduation, ensuring sustained support during the most critical years of their academic journey.

Beyond financial aid, the program was intentionally designed with a holistic development framework. PhilDev plays a central role in reinforcing academic excellence with mentorship, leadership development, and exposure to professional environments, helping scholars bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application. This approach responds directly to the country’s need for STEM graduates who are not only technically capable but also industry-ready and socially grounded.

As of 2025, the program has supported 215 scholars nationwide, with 194 graduates to date. Academic outcomes demonstrate strong performance, with 52 percent of graduates earning Latin honors. Employment outcomes further reflect the program’s effectiveness, as 88 percent of scholars are now employed or engaged in business, while others are pursuing further studies or preparing for board examinations. Notably, 34 graduates have been hired by Shell, contributing directly to the country’s STEM workforce and strengthening industry capability.

What distinguishes the Shell–PhilDev Scholarship Program is its sustained emphasis on mentorship and community. Through coordinated coaching and guidance from PhilDev, Shell, PSFI, and partner organizations, scholars develop professional confidence, leadership skills, and a strong sense of purpose. This support network continues beyond graduation, fostering a community often described by scholars as a lasting professional family.

Through its partnership with PhilDev, the program demonstrates how targeted investment in STEM education can generate measurable outcomes, from academic excellence to workforce participation. More than a scholarship, it is a long-term commitment to developing Filipino talent and enabling scholars to contribute meaningfully to national development.

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Growing What Matters: From Nutrition to Livelihood, Communities Take Root in Pasacao

Communities in Pasacao are growing more than just vegetables. Through the Roots to Shoots: Pasacao 2.0 program, families are strengthening child nutrition, building sustainable livelihoods, and learning how to produce food from their own backyards. In 2025, the program supported 50 children through nutrition rehabilitation, empowered 43 caregivers with livelihood opportunities, and trained 18 caregivers in home gardening, helping communities cultivate healthier futures and stronger resilience.

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.