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Spotlight
VISITACION MENDOZA, MBM 1984:
A PROMISE FULFILLED “How many times have we [the AIM alumni] declared that we love AIM, that AIM helped transform our careers? How many of us have stated that we love AIM? I believe it is time to put these statements into action and prove it by giving back to the Institute that helped shape our future.” Ms. Visitacion Mendoza, MBM 1984, Vice President for Health Services at the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), talks candidly when asked about her donation to the AIM Alumni Scholarship Fund. “I initially did not want to be interviewed for this AIM Leader feature. On second thought, the article may serve as a reminder to my fellow alumni to give back to the Institute that shaped their management and leadership roles, that’s why I decided to share my story.” Siony, as Ms. Mendoza prefers to be called, reveals that her involvement in philanthropy started when she viewed a film about giving back. “This ‘paying it forward’ mission started when I saw the film ‘Pay it Forward’. The message of the movie moved me. It made me look back on the things that happened in my life, and reflect on where I was at present, and I realized, I am blessed. I knew then that I want to give back and share this blessing with others. It is my way of leaving my legacy. I asked myself, what would be the best thing to accomplish this? I thought immediately about giving scholarships. “I started with sending students to college. I asked for help from my officemates, relatives and friends, some of whom are from AIM, and we pooled our resources to provide scholarships to deserving students. Our first batch of scholars graduated in 2011. Giving to the AIM Alumni Scholarship Fund was always on my mind, but I always put it off. I thought I would wait after my kids finish school, and I should concentrate on sending my scholars to college first, but then I read an article in the AIM Leader Magazine. I was prompted to make good my promise.” She shares that an article she read from the AIM Leader magazine reminded her to
Scholarship Changed My Life
“All my life, I was a scholar. I was a scholar until I finished college. My parents prioritized school and education and instilled in us that having a good education is crucial to succeed in life. My siblings and I were made to appreciate the value of education, even more than shelter, food and clothing. This is why we really strove to study hard. In hindsight, it is very admirable that my parents instilled in us the value of education even if they did not have college degrees themselves. donate to the AIM Fund for Scholarships. “When I was a young girl growing up “I always get the AIM Leader magazine and in Cebu, Philippines, I only had one goal in I like reading through all the stories. One mind: I wanted to improve my family life and of the articles featured this alumnus who give a better life for myself and for my family. donated to the Scholarship Fund for one I saw studying at AIM as an opportunity to do scholar. In the article, he shared that he just that. I was working in William Lines for wanted to give back to the school because he wanted to provide the same opportunity two years when I took the entrance examination for AIM. I took Math in college, and I for a better life, the very same opportunity he enjoyed after he finished his AIM degree, knew that it’s not enough. I felt inadequate. I knew I needed to learn more about the whole to a promising candidate. This was my aspect of the business. wakeup call.” “It was AIM or nothing. I did not even She acknowledges that the amount consider other schools at that time. I didn’t required to send scholarship candidates to school is a consideration for most. “It is true, have enough funds when I applied. I had savings, but it was not enough to pursue further money is still important, and I am not saystudies. When I received my acceptance leting that I do not value that money. It is not ter, I informed my supervisors that I wanted like I have a lot of money and I could just give it away. However, this is for education. to pursue a Master’s degree. It was a very Education changes lives. It breaks the cycle fortunate coincidence that William Lines at of poverty for some. It creates opportunities that time was awarding scholarships to its staff. I was able to study in AIM as a William for better and more fulfilled lives. In my Lines scholar.” opinion, you can either use money to buy Once Siony became a student in AIM, stuff that you do not need or you can spend she admits that she found it very challenging money to provide a better life to someone at first. “The method of teaching was new who deserves it. and different. It was intimidating. It was not “That article prompted me to contact the AIM Alumni Relations Office and pledge something I was used to. However I appreciated it because I realized that AIM taught a my donation to the AIM Alumni Scholarship Fund. When I signed the check for the holistic approach to learning about managedonation to AIM, yes, it was admittedly a big ment. AIM developed the totality of a leader amount, but it brought me joy when I finally that is essential for a management role. When I got out of AIM I thought I was very did it. I realized I really love AIM. It is ready to take on leadership and management nice to have done something like this. The thought of changing someone’s life through roles. AIM prepared me to be a total manager. providing them an opportunity to study at “A Promise Fulfilled” cont. on page 53 >> AIM makes me happy.”
W O R D S B Y K R I Z I A E L E N I R . PA T R O C I N I O