Rising Above By Lifting Others: Mary Anne’s Story

Growing up, Mary Anne Sagao of Taguig City, Philippines showed an affinity for entrepreneurship which translated into her running several businesses from e-loading (sale of phone credits) to selling liquid soaps by the time she reached adulthood. Then in 2018, she was diagnosed with relapsing polychondritis and received news that she had a small tumour in her brain.

The numerous surgeries and treatments that soon followed forced her to shut down her business operations. And then COVID-19 happened and further upended her life. Saddled with mounting unpaid medical bills, Mary Anne was desperate to find ways to pay those off. As luck would have it, a friend introduced her to the R.I.S.E. programme, thinking the training would reinvigorate her entrepreneurial passion. Mary Anne immediately registered for it!

She was actively engaged throughout the training, soaking up as much knowledge as possible. Modules such as Sales Personalities and Sales Strategies taught her about the most effective ways to reach new customers and get ahead of her competition. Mary Anne also had the idea of offering free delivery services in one of the sessions, especially for bulk orders and adjusted her pricing to help fit the purchasing capacity of her target customers. With all of these tactics in place, she started receiving more orders which, over time, increased her income.

Mary Anne, believing that a good opportunity should be shared, was inspired to share her success with her fellow Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Even though she has graduated from R.I.S.E. and is a successful business owner, she continues to advocate for the programme and wants the PWD community to experience the benefit from it as well. According to Mary Anne, the general reluctance among disabled individuals on joining programmes such as R.I.S.E. stemmed from their intimidation of the training sessions. Shamed for providing the wrong answers and receiving zero guidance on using online platforms rendered them highly cynical about joining yet another training.

Mary Anne made it a mission to persuade PWDs to enrol in the R.I.S.E. programme. She took charge in many aspects: constantly sharing her positive training experience, teaching them how to use Zoom and making sure that the R.I.S.E. trainers made all participants feel welcome during the training sessions. In fact, the majority of the participants’ turnout for the programme can be attributed to Mary Anne as she was heavily influential in changing the mindset of the PWD community.

Mary Anne is thankful that she is now able to sustain the costs of her medical needs and the daily needs of her family with ease, as well as give back to the disabled community. She believes that everyone has the capacity to be successful in their own way and in the spirit of rising together, Mary Anne will continue to advocate for the R.I.S.E. programme so that many more PWDs can realise their potential and achieve their entrepreneurial dreams.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Have questions about partnering with Maybank Foundation for BSAS 2027? Find out more about the programme, application requirements and selection process below.

A. About BSAS 2027

  1. What is the Balai Seni Art Series (BSAS)?
    The Balai Seni Art Series (BSAS) is a Maybank Foundation initiative that supports the development and appreciation of arts and culture through programmes that nurture artistic talent, preserve cultural heritage and create meaningful opportunities for arts and cultural practitioners and communities.

  1. What programmes are open for applications under BSAS 2027?
    Organisations may apply to partner with Maybank Foundation under any of the following programmes:

        • MyTIGER Values Art Competition (MTVAC)
        • Cultural Art Showcase and Bazaar (CASB)
        • Maybank Foundation Artist Fellowship Programme (MFAFP)
        • New Arts & Culture Programme – an open-concept programme for proposed arts and culture initiatives. 

  1. Can an organisation apply for more than one programme?
    Yes. Organisations may apply for one, multiple or all four programmes. A separate proposal, including the proposed approach, implementation plan and budget, must be submitted for each programme applied for.

B. Eligibility and Requirements

  1. Who is eligible to apply?
    Registered organisations with relevant experience and capabilities in arts, culture or creative programme delivery across ASEAN are invited to apply. Applicants should demonstrate their ability to develop, manage and deliver programmes aligned with the objectives of the selected BSAS programme.

  2. Can organisations based outside Malaysia apply?
    Yes. Eligible organisations from ASEAN Member States may apply. Organisations outside Malaysia should submit the equivalent legal registration or establishment documents recognised in their respective countries.

  3. Can an organisation apply if it has not previously partnered with Maybank Foundation?
    Yes. Organisations that have not previously worked with Maybank Foundation may apply, provided they meet the eligibility requirements and can demonstrate relevant experience, capabilities and a suitable approach to delivering the proposed programme.

  1. What should be included in the proposal deck?
    Each proposal deck should be tailored to the selected programme and include the following:

    1. Programme Overview: Proposed concept, objectives and alignment with the selected BSAS programme.
    2. Approach and Value Proposition: Programme design, delivery approach and the needs or opportunities addressed.
    3. Target Beneficiaries and Intended Impact: Target audience, expected reach, key outcomes and measurable impact.
    4. Scope of Work and Deliverables: Key activities, implementation plan, timeline, milestones and expected outputs.
    5. Partnership and Delivery Capability: Proposed team, relevant experience, key partners and resources required.
    6. Budget and Funding Request: Itemised budget, funding requested and any co-funding or other resources, where applicable.
    7. Sustainability and Scalability: Plans to sustain outcomes, extend impact or scale the programme beyond the implementation period.
    8. Monitoring and Evaluation: Proposed indicators and methods to track progress, measure results and report impact.

  1. What supporting documents must be submitted?
    Applicants should provide the required organisational information, relevant legal registration or establishment documents, and a proposal deck for each programme selected. Additional information or supporting documents may be requested during the assessment and due diligence processes.

C. How to Apply

  1. How can an organisation submit an application?
    Interested organisations should complete the BSAS 2027 Partner Application Form through the application link provided on Maybank Foundation’s website. Applicants must select their preferred programme(s) and upload the corresponding proposal deck for each programme.

  1. What is the application deadline?
    The application deadline is 8 November 2026, 11:59 PM MYT (UTC+8). Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications and supporting documents before the deadline to allow sufficient time for review.

  1. What happens after an application is submitted?
    Applications will undergo an evaluation process to assess their suitability for the selected programme. Shortlisted organisations may be contacted for further information, clarification or supporting documents and may be required to undergo Maybank Foundation’s due diligence, compliance checks and procurement processes.

  1. What happens if an application is incomplete or additional information is required?
    Maybank Foundation may request clarification, additional information or supporting documents where necessary. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their submissions are complete and that the information provided is accurate.

D. Evaluation and Selection

  1. How will applications be evaluated?
    Applications will be assessed based on their alignment with the objectives of the selected BSAS programme, the strength and relevance of the proposed concept, expected outcomes and impact, implementation approach, organisational capability, budget and overall feasibility.

  1. Does submitting an application guarantee selection or appointment as a programme partner?
    No. Submission of an application does not guarantee selection or appointment as a BSAS 2027 programme partner. All applications are subject to evaluation and the relevant approval, due diligence and procurement processes.

  1. When will successful applicants be notified?
    Applications will be evaluated from 9 November to 15 December 2026, with the selection outcomes scheduled for consideration by the Maybank Foundation Board. Further information on the announcement of successful applicants will be communicated when available.

E. General Enquiries

  1. Who can I contact if I have further questions?
    For enquiries regarding the BSAS 2027 Partner Application, please contact Maybank Foundation through the general enquiry in the “Who We Are” section provided on the website.