From scholar to CEO, Marlyn Castro has never forgotten the transformative power of education. Now at the helm of Pinas Group of Companies, she is using her platform to uplift the lives of underprivileged youth—extending a personal scholarship program that once focused on Filipino students to include deserving individuals from other nationalities.
This year, three new scholars—representing India, Pakistan, and Malawi—have been added to the roster of students whose dreams are being made possible by Castro’s generosity.
Among them is 21-year-old Aryan Surti from India, a B.Tech Computer Science student at BITS Pilani in Dubai. Aryan, whose father Mahendra Surti has worked as a Senior Accountant at Pinas Cargo for six years, was chosen through a raffle conducted exclusively for children of company employees. He described the moment he learned about the scholarship as life-changing.
“Finding out that Ms. Marlyn would cover my university fees completely took me by surprise. A huge weight was lifted off my chest—and my parents’—in an instant,” he said. “It’s more than just financial help; it’s knowing that someone believes in me.”
Another recipient, 20-year-old Abdul Basit from Pakistan, is in his first year of Nursing at Crescent College of Nursing & Allied Health Sciences in Kohat. His father, Qalam Badshah, is Pinas Cargo’s long-time Transport Manager and PRO. Abdul, like Aryan, was chosen through the same employee raffle and expressed deep gratitude for the chance to pursue his dream of becoming a nurse. Qalam, in turn, described the scholarship as a blessing that brings immense hope to their family.
The youngest of the three is 16-year-old Michael Ungweru Nyirenda from Malawi. A student at Chaminade Boys Catholic Secondary School under the St. Bernadette Parish of the Mzuzu Diocese, Michael has long aspired to become a Catholic priest. His story reached Art Los Baños and Rachel Salinel, Couples for Christ missionaries, who shared it with Ms. Castro. Touched by Michael’s commitment and sincerity, she offered him a full scholarship, giving him the chance to pursue his spiritual and academic goals without financial burden.
To date, the program supports 14 scholars in the Philippines, two of whom graduated this year. But Castro’s decision to extend the initiative to foreign nationals reaffirms her belief that compassion transcends borders.
