Shell scholars’ success story in Magpakailanman

MANILA, Philippines - On the occasion of the centennial anniversary of Shell companies in the Philippines, the inspiring lives of two brothers — both former gas station attendants — were featured in Magpakailanman, the biographical TV series hosted by Mel Tiangco on GMA 7. Joel Javier and his younger sibling Jovel were played by matinee idols Aljur Abrenica and Alden Richards in the episode.

Ratings indicate that around 4.7 million viewers tuned in to watch the touching portrayal.

Known among the staff of Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) as the Bakery Boys, the brothers from Isabela struggled to pull themselves out of poverty at the farm, trudged through long nights working the dough at a bakery and eventually became distinguished scholar-graduates of PSFI’s Gas Mo, Bukas Ko (GMBK) program.

Jovel is now station manager of Shell San Fernando, while his manong Joel works as store manager at a convenience store outlet owned by the same Shell dealer, Annalisa Canlas. The mentoring Shell dealer-manager is a pivotal presence in the lives of the two brothers because as their employer, she had the heart and foresight to hire them, initially as pit crew or attendants, and later on promoted them at different times as supervisors and station managers. Like other retailers, she is a pillar of Shell’s GMBK program by helping shoulder the allowance and transportation expenses of her gas station’s scholars.