BPI Foundation Presents P400,000 Education Grant to Winner of Doodle 4 Google

Beyond investing in the country’s financial future, BPI, through the BPI Foundation, also invests in the country’s young and promising talents. And the hope is that they become tomorrow’s leaders and innovators.

The BPI Foundation recently partnered with Google Philippines for the first Doodle 4 Google (D4G) competition in the country. Launched last July, D4G encouraged students and learners to look beyond themselves and imagine what they can do for the country by designing their own Google Doodle. The entries were judged in three categories: artistic merit, creativity, and theme communication.

From 51,000 entries from all over the country answering the question, “What can I do for the Philippines?” Kim Patrick Saren of Nabunturan National Comprehensive High School of Compostela Valley was declared the winner.

“This is a sarimanok-inspired idea,” says the Kim about his work titled “Sari-Jeepney.” “It symbolizes Filipino culture with deep appreciation of hard work and creativity. The concept is created to solve problems like traffic, economy, education, and basic needs. The key on the tail signifies the solutions to the problems that we face, inspiring us to fly high with pride and honor.”

As the overall winner, Kim received a P400,000 educational grant from BPI Foundation to be used at a Philippine school or college of his choice. “We at BPI Foundation are happy to support talented, determined, and motivated young Filipinos like Kim in achieving their dreams,” says Fidelina A. Corcuera, SVP and executive director of BPI Foundation Inc. “We hope that this educational grant will be the first step to a successful future for Kim, his family, and—when the time comes—to the country, as well.”

It’s a challenge as well as a gift, Kim admits. But he seems up to the task. He says, “As a young Filipino, I shall strive to share my talents and blessings to others, and to use these to spread the message of hope and hard work to all our countrymen for years to come.”

Kim’s winning doodle was displayed on the Google Philippines homepage on November 10, 2014. He also took home a specially designed trophy by Google, an art kit from National Bookstore, and an Acer C720 Chromebook. PLDTSmart Foundation will also provide a PHP 350,000 connectivity grant for Kim’s school, Nabunturan National Comprehensive High School.

Kim recalls the moment he saw his own creation on Google Philippines’ homepage: “I was so happy; it felt like a dream—a dream that I didn’t want to wake up from.” He adds, “Google Philippines has given me this once-ina- lifetime experience and I’d like to thank them for that.”

According to BPI Foundation’s Corcuera, “”BPI believes in the potential of education to contribute to nation building, as well as create a difference in the lives of students, schools, and the country. Through the BPI Foundation, we invest in programs, like Doodle 4 Google that promotes responsible citizenship and enhances quality of education. What is different about this program is that it reaches out to our youth across the nation and helps inspire creative thinking. Through the contest, we are able to teach the creative process by allowing students to imagine possibilities, and enable them to generate ideas, ask questions, find answers, and develop possible solutions. To solve our key issues today, we need our youth to explore the creative process to discover new solutions. In this case, they are able to practice the creative process through a colorful doodle that represents how they can make a difference for the Philippines.”

Meanwhile, according to Ryan Morales, Google Philippines country marketing manager, “Through the competition, we saw the depth of the Filipino youth’s insight, creativity, and innovation. They are very keen on the idea of nation-building. The doodles reflect the aspirations of the nation over pressing issues—from solution to flooding to environment protection to food for the poor, value of education, culture preservation, and global competitiveness.”

When asked what he plans to pursue in college, Kim replies, “To be honest, I still haven’t decided since there are just too many to choose from and all of them are interesting to me.”

“Whatever he may choose, we’re confident that Kim will continue to make a difference,” says Corcuera.