Honourable Armenius Silva, Vice Mayor of Sto. Tomas, Batangas
Honourable Cornelio Balingit, Municipal Counsellor of Calumpit, Bulacan
Khun Chaowalit Ekabut, President of SCG?s Paper Group
Distinguished Guests,
Parents, Teachers, Students,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, let me extend my sincere thanks to SCG in the Philippines for inviting me to join this special occasion. It is my great pleasure to witness the Ceremonial Check Turn-Over of the "SCG Sharing the Dream" Scholarship Program this morning. This event is a part of a series of the SCG's continuous effort to return the benefit to the society and community in the Philippines. SCG, one of Thailand's largest business conglomerates is well known in its commitment to corporate social responsibility for nearly 100 years of establishment.

Just to give you a brief background of SCG's presence in the Philippines, SCG's investments are manufacturing of industrial paper packaging products, ceramic tiles for household and industrial use, and various building materials. Harnessing state of the art, and environment-friendly technology, and in particular, initiating the use of alternative energy by using heat from coconut waste, rice husk, corn waste, hay, wood shell, decayed wood and many surplus materials to produce energy in the factory. SCG has been established in the Philippines since 1969 and provides employment opportunities for more than 1,000 Filipinos. Indeed, SCG's business presence here of over a decade indicate that SCG values Filipino human resources and believes that we can work together as one family towards a common interest. Thus SCG, is a good example of an admirable foreign investment in the Philippines.

In its current programme, I would like to commend SCG?s initiative in further promoting human development, through various scholarship programs for less-privileged students. I am very happy to learn that in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), 200 incoming second year high school students from urban households in Batangas, Bulacan and Metro Manila, who are present here today will benefit from SCG?s support. Meawnhile, SCG?s donation of a TV Satellite to an elementary school in Calumpit, Bulacan earlier this year will allow Filipino students to experience cyber-education. Moreover, the SCG Foundation also provides scholarships studies in Thailand for Master?s Degree in Manufacturing System at Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology and Master of Arts Program in International Development Studies at Chulalongkorn University.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Looking at the bigger picture, the Royal Thai Government? also continues to give priority to ?Education for All? since we believe that human resource development is fundamental for social and economic progress. The Royal Thai Government is determined to cooperate with our friendly neighboring countries to enhancing educational cooperation. For several years, Thailand has offered various kinds of scholarships to the Philippines. The programs cover areas ranging from health care, environment, tourism, trade and investment, etc.

As part of these efforts, the Royal Thai Embassy in Manila share the same vision with SCG in promoting better access to education, particularly for less-privileged Filipinos. In 2005 and 2006, the Embassy donated to the Munting Kalinga Foundation, Inc. (MKFI) for training facilities and materials for special children and supported its Ongoing Educational Assistance Project to 20 scholars in completing their studies for the school year 2006-2007. The Embassy has undertaken the renovation and reconstruction of the Sucat Day Care Center for the benefit of the pre-school children in Muntinlupa. And last year, we provided undergraduate scholarships to students under the Pathways to Higher Education Program of the Ateneo de Manila University (Ateneo-Pathways).

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Indeed, better access to education is one of the best tools in fighting poverty. I would like to encourage the participants and local community together with the initiation of SCG and with the Royal Thai Embassy to mutually consult and work together so that we can determine other needs of the communities wherein SCG has established presence. To achieve this common goal, I envision that further assistance which SCG and the Embassy will make available in the future are in the areas of healthcare, sanitation, skills trainings and livelihood programme to empower the community, to mention a few. We welcome? all? of? you? to? be? part? of? planning? our? future? projects and programmes. Our common efforts will improve human resources and eventually the quality of life which will create sustainable growth. Thus, it is my desire that we work closely together as one family so we can help each other and realize our goal to return the benefit to the people.

Last but not the least, as cooperation among all stakeholders is valuable, I am pleased to see all of you today, the local government, teachers, parents, donors and students, to witness an important step for the selected 200 second year high school students which SCG wishes to see their bright future. Nobody knows, my dream may come true if some Filipino students here today may work at SCG?s headquarters in Bangkok in the future. Lastly, let me congratulate all of the students and their families who received this unique opportunity from SCG.? Truly, I am one with you in ?Sharing the dream.?