Illuminating the path of excellence
On its 14th year, the MVP Academic Achievement Awards (MVPAAA) in 2024 honored academic achievers of dependents of rank and file and supervisory employees of Meralco and its subsidiaries. The annual recognition program recognized 210 academic awardees and 110 top achievers.
Among those recognized was high school level awardee and Grade 12 student Katherine R. Swarens, whose father, Denver Swarens, works as an Operation Leadman at the Meralco Sta. Rosa Sector.
"The year I was born was also the year my dad found a great career opportunity in Meralco. But Meralco blessing our family did not stop there. We have been given an opportunity too as his children. The MVP AAA is one of the pillars that gave us stability with the educational assistance provided for us," the 18-year-old student shared during the awards ceremony.
Mark Ernest N. Fampulme, a Meralco Networks Organization Support Staff, is among the many Meralco employees whose children were recognized at the MVP AAAs. His son, Lamarcus Nathan, was the first of his children to be recognized in 2018. Meanwhile, his daughter Mckayla Jean was among the 210 academic achievers in 2023. She went again onstage for the ceremony in 2024 as one of the Top Achievers. The proud father shared that his daughter's academic excellence shone internationally, receiving a Silver Award at the Southeast Asian Math Olympiad (SEAMO) 2024 Competition and and recognized as a merit awardee at the SEAMO X 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
"We feel the One Meralco Foundation's support through these awards has truly inspired Mckayla to study harder and strive to achieve even more. It's a wonderful motivator and we deeply appreciate their commitment to fostering academic excellence," Mark Ernest said.
OMF and Meralco Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, speaking at the ceremony named in his honor, called on students and Meralco employees to continue illuminating the path of excellence with unwavering passion.
He said: "Your commitment and hard work, and all that you do to bring positive results and impact to yourself, your family, and those around you give us hope that there is a brighter future ahead for all of us."
"To our incredible employees, thank you for demonstrating the Meralco way of life beyond our workplace. We hope that through the MVP AAA, we continue to inspire you to further your future for excellence as well. You serve as very good role models to many of us here, and we are honored indeed to be working alongside such excellent individuals.”