Last November 2018, Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the official Philippine distributor of Hyundai vehicles, celebrated the graduation of the pilot batch of 45 Hyundai Dream Centre Philippines (HDCP) scholars alongside partners Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) and Plan International at the Hyundai Logistics Center in Calamba, Laguna.

The HDCP, inaugurated in April 2018, is a world-class scholarship program that provides bright, young Filipinos with comprehensive training on Hyundai vehicle repair and maintenance. HARI and Plan International, a global humanitarian organization, collaborated on the design and implementation of TESDA-certified training courses adapted to the diverse educational backgrounds of the 45 pioneering scholars.

HARI Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer Ladislao Z. Avila, Jr. said at the ceremony: “Today we celebrate something very special, the fulfillment of our shared vision for the Dream Centre Philippines: Inspiring Dreams, Empowering Abilities. Forty five young people—thirty eight men and seven women—will soon fulfill their own dreams and begin careers as People of Hyundai.”

In recent years, HMC has established Dream Centres in collaboration with local vocational schools in Ghana, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Vietnam. HDCP is the first Dream Centre established in partnership with a local distributor.

Among the 45 program graduates, three were recognized for their exemplary performance in written and practical exams and in their conduct throughout training. Dominic Lorenzo Paunilian finished top of his class, with Montemar E. Joson and Eric Jayson Cornico placing second and third in their batch, respectively.

HARI President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo congratulated the first HDCP graduates and the three top performers on their hard work and success: “When HARI, HMC, and Plan International joined forces to build the HDCP, we wanted to empower deserving young Filipinos to build careers for themselves and lift the bar of the country’s automotive industry. It brings us great pride to see that the Dream Centre has given these youths the skills and expertise they need to accomplish this. These pioneer graduates are now part of our After-Sales teams at selected dealerships as General Job and Preventive Maintenance Technicians, with the potential to sustain our award-winning service performance.”