Many young Filipinos leave the province for the city in search of opportunity. Mary Rose Esguerra took the opposite route.
After graduating from Ramon Magsaysay High School in Cubao, she left her family in Metro Manila and moved to Laguna, believing that a college education might finally break the cycle of hardship that had defined much of her childhood.
The eldest of four siblings, Mary Rose grew up watching her mother keep the family afloat. The family moved from one rented apartment to another. There were times when the electricity was cut off. At one point, Mary Rose and one of her sisters had to stop attending school because there simply wasn’t enough money.
College slowly became less of a plan than a dream she was learning to let go. “I had already started accepting that my dreams might end there,” she said.
Then came the email that changed everything. Mary Rose had been accepted into the Aboitiz Future Leaders scholarship program. “It came exactly when I needed it,” she said. “It allowed me to keep dreaming.”
While studying in Manila would have been the easier choice, Mary Rose chose instead to pursue agribusiness at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. She wanted to understand how agriculture could become a pathway out of poverty not just for herself, but for the millions of Filipinos who depend on it.
“I chose agribusiness because I want to help improve the lives of Filipino farmers,” she said. “Despite our country’s rich agricultural resources, many smallholder farmers remain poor. I believe more young people should help transform agriculture into something more sustainable and inclusive.”
Away from her family, Mary Rose learned to make every peso count. There were days when she had only P20 left in her wallet and nights when she studied for exams on an empty stomach. While the scholarship allowance helped her stay in school, she said what mattered just as much was knowing that people from Aboitiz Foundation cared enough to check in. “They made us feel seen,” she said. “They regularly checked on us and responded when they knew we were struggling.”
For Aboitiz Foundation President Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, the scholarship is just one part of the Future Leaders program. Equally important is ensuring that scholars have the mentorship, encouragement, and opportunities to develop beyond the classroom.
“We want to help shape leaders with character and purpose. When young people are given the chance to reach their full potential, the impact extends beyond themselves. It reaches families, communities, and even the nation,” she said.
Since 2000, the Aboitiz Future Leaders scholarship program has supported over 1,200 scholars across the country and currently supports 273 scholars pursuing their college education. More than financial assistance, the program combines leadership development, mentorship, internships, and volunteer opportunities that prepare scholars not only for their careers, but also for lives of service.
Mary Rose is among the program’s latest success stories. She graduated magna cum laude, joining a graduating cohort in which all Aboitiz Future Leaders scholars earned Latin honors.
For Josel Bautista, earning a place at De La Salle University would have remained out of reach without a scholarship from Aboitiz Foundation. Raised by a single mother undergoing dialysis, he entered college determined to make every opportunity count.
He initially dreamed of becoming a lawyer. Four years later, that ambition had expanded. “My experiences helped me realize that public service can take many forms,” Josel said. “I want to contribute to reforms, project management, and communications that create meaningful impact.”
Outside the classroom, Josel immersed himself in student leadership, serving for three years in the De La Salle University Student Government before becoming vice president for internal affairs. Representing nearly 24,000 students, he helped lead university-wide initiatives while learning firsthand that leadership is rooted in listening and service.
His scholarship also opened another opportunity—a five-month internship with Aboitiz Equity Ventures, where he gained experience in corporate communications and media relations.
Josel’s perseverance and determination paid off. He graduated summa cum laude last June and received the Student Leadership Award from DLSU.
Hontiveros-Malvar said the impact of the Aboitiz Future Leaders program extends beyond the students it supports. It is reflected in the lives that the scholars go on to influence.
“Every scholar has the potential to become a force for positive change,” she said. When they lead with integrity, compassion and excellence, they create opportunities not only for themselves, but also for the communities they choose to serve.”
For Mary Rose and Josel, that responsibility has become personal.
Josel hopes to pursue law in the future while exploring opportunities in government relations, communications, and corporate social responsibility.
“I want to help create programs that improve people’s lives and tell stories that inspire others,” he said. “If I can pass on the values and resilience this scholarship gave me, then I’ve honored the opportunity that was once given to me.”
Meanwhile, Mary Rose’s aspirations remain rooted in the communities she has always hoped to serve.
“Wherever life takes me, I hope to use my education to help Filipino farmers, strengthen communities, and create opportunities for others, just what the Aboitiz Future Leaders scholarship created for me,” she said.
