Building the Bridge Between Graduation and Employment
Bernales Foundation is a Philippine foundation focused on supporting underserved graduating students during one of the most important transitions of their lives. We believe talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.
Many capable students reach their final year of university only to face financial challenges that can threaten years of hard work. But there is another challenge that is often less visible.
Many young people reach graduation academically qualified but still uncertain about how to enter the professional world. They may have limited exposure to employers, few professional connections, little experience speaking with business leaders, and uncertainty about interviews, workplace expectations, and career decisions.
Most importantly, some simply do not yet recognise how capable they are. Bernales Foundation exists to help address both gaps.
We provide financial assistance to help students complete their education, mentorship to help them learn from experienced professionals, and career support to help them move from university into meaningful employment.
Our Mission
To provide financial aid, scholarship programmes, mentorship, and career support to underserved Filipino students in their final year of university, helping them complete their education and successfully transition into employment.
Our Vision
To develop confident and employment-ready Filipino graduates who believe in their own potential, build meaningful careers, uplift their families and communities, and contribute to nation-building.
Building Confidence Alongside Opportunity
A university degree is important, but qualifications alone do not always give young people the confidence to pursue opportunities. Bernales Foundation believes that graduates need to trust themselves, recognise their abilities, and understand the value they can bring to employers and society.
Helping young people develop this confidence can have an impact beyond their first job. When individuals gain the confidence and opportunity to become economically independent, they are better positioned to support their families, contribute to their communities, and help address broader challenges such as poverty, unemployment, inequality, and other social injustices.
Meet Our Founder
Dean Bernales is a Filipino entrepreneur, philanthropist and founder of Bernales Foundation, an initiative dedicated to empowering underserved Filipino students through scholarships, professional mentorship and access to employment opportunities. He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Uniquecorn Strategies, a public relations and marketing firm established in the Philippines in 2021. Under his leadership, the company has expanded its international presence, earned multiple awards and catapulted itself into the ranks of the top 10 local PR firms in the span of four years.
His entrepreneurial achievements have earned him international recognition as one of Tatler Asia's Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow in 2024 and a Campaign Asia 40 Under 40 honour in 2026. Coming from humble beginnings, Dean is a proud product of the public school system, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Journalism. Having risen through the ranks, Dean pursued a Master's degree in Entrepreneurship at the University of Cambridge, where he is a member of the highly selective King's College.
His experience at Cambridge reinforced his belief in the transformative value of mentorship and access to professional networks. Combined with his experience interviewing fresh graduates seeking employment at his own business, this inspired him to establish Bernales Foundation. Through the Foundation, Dean seeks to bridge the gap between university education and employment by providing graduating students with financial assistance, professional mentorship and access to career opportunities.
His vision extends beyond supporting individual scholars. He aspires to build a sustainable network of Filipino professionals who, having benefited from the Foundation, will pass their knowledge, experience and opportunities forward to future generations. At the heart of his philanthropic vision is a simple belief: empowering one person to succeed can create opportunities for countless others.