Shell station manager shares how ‘Gas Mo, Bukas Ko’ program fueled his success

MANILA: The Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) "Gas Mo, Bukas Ko" (GMBK) program provides career paths for mobility station employees to drive their success out of poverty.

Richard Sazon, who currently supervises Shell Clark Pampanga, is one of the graduates of the program. “Ang GMBK ay isang programa na nagbibigay pag-asa sa mga forecourt service attendant (FSC) or pump attendant na katulad ko dati. Pinagbubuksan ulit ang pintuan ng pag-asa ng mga FSC ng bawat Shell station sa bansa (The GMBK is a program that gives hope to the FSCs or pump attendants, like me before. It opens doors of hope for every FSC in each Shell station in the entire country).”

PSFI started GMBK in 1983, and it is now nearing its 40th anniversary. Since then, more than 5,000 scholars have benefited from it; the majority of them went on to live productive lives by applying the technical-vocational skills they obtained via the program to good use.

Sazon struggled to make a living as a Shell FSC-in-training at the time. He couldn't use a computer, couldn't read properly, and had trouble getting along with his coworkers. It was not until his manager in Pampanga offered him another chance to show that he was serious about his job. In 2009, his outstanding ratings as an FSC earned him a spot in the GMBK scholarship program. Participants learn vital technical-vocational skills such as structural welding, consumer electronics, food and beverage service, automotive mechanics, bookkeeping, and basic computer skills during the training.

The scholars, however, must first attend a Leadership Enhancement and Attitude Development (LEAD) session to boost their confidence and self-esteem before they can improve their skills. When Sazon was asked to draw his dreams, he realized he didn't have any because he was so preoccupied with surviving. His GMBK teachers encouraged him to set bigger goals for himself.

Sazon recalls them telling him, “Imposibleng wala kayong mga pangarap. May mga pangarap kayo pero kinalimutan niyo pansamantala kasi naging busy kayo sa mga buhay ninyo. Ngayon, nandito kami para buksan ulit ang mga pangarap ninyo at tumulong na maabot ninyo ang mga ito balang araw (It is impossible that you don’t have dreams. You do have them, but you temporarily forgot them because you have been busy with your lives. We are here to revive your dreams and help you reach them someday).”

Pilipinas Shell also provided material support to scholars like Sazon, including school supplies, transportation allowance, and other resources needed for their training. Unsurprisingly, many GMBK graduates have stayed with Shell and, like Sazon, are now in supervisory and management positions.

“Bilang scholar ng Shell, tumataas ang respeto mo sa sarili mo at nagiging responsable ka sa trabaho. Mas ramdam mo ang pagmamahal ng Shell at ng dealer mo sa iyo dahil sa dagdag kaalaman na ibinigay nila sa iyo (As a Shell scholar, your self-respect increases as you become more responsible at work. You greatly feel the love of Shell and your dealer through the added knowledge that they give you),” Sazon stated.

Photos from Pilipinas Shell

Also read: 400th Shell Helix Oilchange+ outlet opens in C5 Southlink