From SM Scholar to Daily Tribune Layout Artist: Vermeil Caspillan’s Story

For SM Scholar-graduate Vermeil Chern Caspillan, the scholarship gave him more than tuition support. It gave him stability when his college plans changed, and he now works as a layout artist at the Daily Tribune, one of the country’s largest national newspaper and multimedia organizations.

Caspillan, 22, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Batangas in July 2026. He is one of the 274 SM Scholars who completed college this year, the batch recognized by SM Foundation at its annual scholar-graduates presentation.

A Journalism Dream That Started in Grade School

Caspillan’s interest in journalism began in elementary school in Calamba, Laguna. He grew up as a campus journalist, chasing stories and later winning medals. What stayed with him most was a question his trainers taught him to ask of every story: “So what?”

When it was time for college, he enrolled at The Manila Times College of Subic. A school administrator there recommended him for the SM Scholarship, which eased the financial burden on his family.

When his course was discontinued?

After his first year, the school discontinued his course. Caspillan chose to transfer to the University of Batangas so he could stay on a communication track. His new program was not among those the scholarship usually covers, and his family braced for the possibility of losing the grant.

Instead, SM Foundation’s education team walked him through the transfer process, and he kept his scholarship for the remaining three years of college.

During his time as a communication student, he trained at Brigada News FM Batangas, one of the newsrooms that helped keep his journalism dream within reach after the change of schools.

Read: SM Foundation Reaches Highest Number of Active Scholars to Date

What this SM Scholarship meant to him

Caspillan says being a scholar gave him more than financial help. Hearing the stories of fellow scholars made him realize how privileged they all were to receive any support, and he learned to treat help as something to be grateful for, never something owed.

As a transferee who preferred his own company, he also pushed himself to build real friendships with classmates, juniors, and teachers.

From Student Journalist to Layout Artist

Today, Caspillan designs newspaper pages at the Daily Tribune. He describes layout as its own kind of storytelling, and he hopes to write again someday as a contributor.

His advice to students who want to enter the industry is that talent isn’t enough. Genuine passion, he says, drives the dedication needed to learn media skills and keep going over the long term.

About the SM College Scholarship Program

The SM College Scholarship Program is run by SM Foundation, which established it in 1993. SM Foundation reports that it now supports 3,492 active scholars, the highest number in the program’s history, with 274 scholars graduating this year.

Congratulations, Vermeil Chern Caspillan!