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Nile Kris Jan Banga aka Coach Nile grew up in a simple family, the youngest of three siblings, in a small city of Iloilo where survival was a daily battle for the marginalized.
Nile shares his journey and tells us how SM Foundation helped him achieved his goals in life.
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My mother, a pillar of strength and resilience, worked tirelessly to keep us all alive. By day, she was employed at the Registrar’s Office at Western Institute of Technology. By night, she became a financial advisor and a tailor, squeezing every ounce of energy she had to provide for us. I can still picture her, slumped over the sewing machine, fighting sleep to finish all that needed to be done. She worked harder than anyone I knew, pushing herself to exhaustion. Her sickness came from those very sacrifices, and cancer claimed her life when I was just 13.
Losing my mother at such a young age left me shattered. My father, who had been distant, stepped into the role of raising us, but it was a hard transition for all of us. Many people labeled our family as imperfect and dysfunctional. But now that I am older, I have come to realize my parents were simply doing the best they knew how. My mother especially, they gave all they could with the knowledge and tools they had at the time.
As the last quarter of my senior year in high school approached, I found myself at a crossroads. My dream of going to college seemed impossible, overshadowed by the reality that we couldn’t afford it. It felt like a dead-end—until a glimmer of hope appeared in the form of SM Foundation.
My aunt, my mother’s sister, heard about SM Foundation from a friend. She brought home a registration form from SM Delgado, the last one on that day, and I made the bold move to apply. My friend and I even photocopied the form so we could both try our luck. Miraculously, we both got in. That moment changed the course of my life. I am proud to be one of Tatang’s Isko, a scholar of the SM Foundation. I felt like a door had opened, offering me a chance to build something better for myself and my family.
Looking back now, all I can see are the footprints of God’s grace, goodness, and love. And Tatang, together with SM Foundation, is one of those footprints.
There’s one memory from my days as a scholar that still sticks with me. During my second year at Central Philippine University in Iloilo, I found myself in a panic. I had scored an 84 in one of my subjects and was convinced that I had lost my scholarship. With my heart pounding, I rushed to Ma’am Jel Orian in SM City Iloilo, the program manager in Iloilo City, breathless and terrified. To my relief, she smiled and reassured me, "Don’t worry, your scholarship is safe." It turned out that the scholarship was based on my average mark, not individual subjects. Ma’am Jel, with her kind heart, didn’t stop there—she took the time to ask why I had received that grade when the rest of my marks were high. I poured out my struggles to her, and she offered comfort and encouragement, urging me to keep trying and never give up.
That’s what I’ve come to understand—my life is a product of the kindness of God and the people He uses to extend that kindness. SM Foundation, Ma’am Jel, and countless others have been vessels of grace in my journey. Today, I have the privilege of serving businesses across Iloilo and the country, providing brand consultancy, marketing, and business development through my technical team, Identity Branding Team.
In the competitive, dog-eat-dog world of business, Identity Branding takes a different approach. We don’t just help businesses grow—we help them align with their core values. We believe that when a business is true to its identity, success naturally follows. Our goal is to not only drive profits but also
create brands with heart, soul, and purpose. We help companies build genuine relationships with their customers, which leads to long-term success.
On the side, I dedicate my time to mission trips as a life coach putting up Coach Nile International, where I help create safe spaces for God to touch communities both locally and abroad. It’s fulfilling work—watching families and individuals find hope, healing, and faith. Through these missions, I’ve seen firsthand how a community can be transformed when it comes together in love and purpose.
One of the values Tatang and SM Foundation instilled in every isko is the responsibility to pass kindness forward. The kindness we’ve received is not meant to stop with us—it’s our duty to extend it to others whenever possible. Today, I have dedicated my life to service-based industries as my divine calling—brand consultancy, life coaching, and missionary work—to continue spreading that love of God, kindness and impact lives, just as it was done for me.
My journey—starting from that small city, losing my mother, becoming a scholar, and now running a business and serving communities—is a testament to the power of faith, kindness, and perseverance. It’s a journey that wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance and support of God and the people He places on my path like Tatang and the SM Foundation, whose heart and soul are felt in everything they do. Salamat, Tatang! Salamat, SM Foundation Inc! Glory to God
