Tampakan, South Cotabato — Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI) continues to strengthen its commitment to community development and responsible mining through PANAGTAPOK 2025. Held on December 13, 2025, at the Liberty Core Farm, this significant activity served as a foundational gathering of the core SMI scholars alumni, establishing the event as a critical rallying point for future, wider gatherings of the growing alumni network.
The gathering brought together scholars from different years, united by a shared mission to lead and serve. Over the years, SMI’s education and scholarship initiatives have benefitted a total of 30,000 learners and scholars from its host communities, indigenous peoples’ communities, and nearby areas, reflecting the company’s long-term investment in human capital. SMI views education as a genuine legacy of the Tampakan Project, something that families will forever treasure and take pride in, as it opens doors to better opportunities for present and future generations.
Ambassadors of Truth and Development
Participants were encouraged to pay forward the support they received not only by contributing to community well-being but by actively serving as ambassadors of the project. The gathering defined key responsibilities for the alumni, emphasizing their role in promoting accurate information and responsible practices related to the Tampakan Project. A major focus of the discussion was the alumni’s role in the digital space. The group committed to contributing meaningfully to SMI’s social media presence, engaging with official posts to share success stories, and helping counter misinformation in a respectful and factual manner to build community trust.
Partners in Community Engagement
SMI continues to uphold education as a strategic pillar of its sustainable development framework. Through its scholarship program, the company supports students while nurturing values of accountability, stewardship, and service. To further these values, the alumni network aims to collaborate closely with SMI’s Community Relations and Communications teams. By participating in project-related Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns and dialogues, these alumni will serve as credible voices from within the communities, helping to facilitate smoother stakeholder engagement and reduce conflict.
A Legacy of Shared Responsibility
Beyond the numbers, the 30,000-strong SMI education beneficiaries and scholars represent families whose sense of dignity and pride is strengthened each time a child completes school or earns a degree. Many of these scholars are now professionals and community leaders, proving that education is a lasting inheritance that can never be taken away. Today, SMI already counts among its ranks several employees who were once SMI education beneficiaries or SMI scholars, a testament to how the program is creating a cycle of opportunity and empowerment. Preferential consideration for future employment is given to qualified SMI Scholars Alumni, reinforcing the message that hard work, perseverance, and community-grounded values are rewarded within the company.
SMI scholar alumnus Pinky Simbag emphasized the importance of shared responsibility in sustaining community progress:
“The support we received from SMI goes beyond education—it comes with a responsibility to give back. We have a duty to help our communities understand that responsible mining is possible when development is conducted with care, transparency, and respect for people and the environment. As beneficiaries of the SMI Scholarship Program, we strive to pay it forward by supporting initiatives that show responsible mining can create meaningful and sustainable impact in our lives.”
Looking Ahead
PANAGTAPOK 2025 concluded with a renewed commitment among scholars and alumni to serve as ambassadors of positive change. Future plans for the association include mentoring current scholars, organizing community outreach programs, and promoting employment opportunities within the company. By consolidating this core group, the alumni are creating a lasting legacy, ensuring that accurate information, the life-changing value of education, and the benefits of responsible mining are clearly understood across the region. (30)
