Yesterday, a meaningful partnership was formally sealed between Notre Dame of Dadiangas University and the Notre Dame Schools of General Santos City Alumni Association through the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Pilar Palacios Pe Scholarship Fund.

This scholarship supports a four-year Bachelor of Elementary Education major in Early Childhood Education and is a testament to our collective belief in education as a life-changing force. An initial amount of Php300,000.00 was turned over to NDDU in March 2024 to jumpstart this fund.

Gracing the MOA signing were:
Orman Ortega Manansala, Alumni President
Ruben Tugari, NDDU Alumni Coordinator
Joan Java, NDDU Finance Officer
Dr. Ersweetcel Servano, Dean, College of Education
Alvin Francis Ambe, NDDU Scholarship Coordinator

Also present were scholarship recipient Gayle C. Caballero and her mother, Mrs. Sonieta Caballero, a public school teacher. Both signed the MOA and expressed heartfelt gratitude. It was an emotional moment—Mrs. Caballero’s tears said it all.

Before the signing, Alumni President Orman Manansala shared the story behind the scholarship, encouraging Gayle to focus on her studies, excel academically, live the ideals of Notre Dame, and most of all — pay it forward.
Scholarship Coordinator Alvin Ambe then walked everyone through the MOA, emphasizing the shared commitment between the scholar and the university.

In her response, Gayle humbly thanked everyone who made this opportunity possible. Her sincerity reminded us all why we do what we do.

To cap the event, Mr. Manansala happily announced that the alumni group is working toward supporting another scholar very soon.

Through this scholarship, we don’t just fund education — we invest in futures, fuel dreams, and carry forward the Notre Dame spirit of service and excellence.