383 beneficiaries now with Sarangani scholarship program

ALABEL, Sarangani (October 28, 2009) - The number of beneficiaries in the "Paaral Para Sa Sarangan” (PPSS) scholarship program has increased to 383, this was bared during the first ever Sarangan Scholars Day held Tuesday (October 27) at the Provincial Capitol.

Dubbed with the theme, "PPSS, Bridging Sarangani into a Brighter Future," the activity was highlighted with the turnover of the YACAP (You Against Corruption and Poverty) Foundation Scholarship Program by Rep.

Carol Lopez of YACAP Partylist to the local government unit (LGU) of Sarangani as its partner to continuously support the dreams of poor but deserving students.In her message, Lopez said there was a need for some collaborations in order for the program to grow, thus YACAP welcomed the idea of forging partnership with the LGU of Sarangani.

The YACAP Foundation was organized in 2006 and presently has 10 scholars, while PPSS started in 2002 with only 20 scholars for an appropriation of P100,000.

From 20, the number of PPSS scholars significantly increased to 152 in 2005. Currently, the program has a total of 383 scholars, 129 of which are already graduates.

Governor Migs Dominguez said that scholars should be inspired to keep on moving despite failures. He challenged them to be the pride of Sarangani as they "owe their education to the people of the province."

"I am not the one paying for your education, but the people of Sarangani are paying for your education. You must see yourselves as the seed of your crop, you must be the champion in your own barangay, municipality, and province," the governor said.

He pointed out that of the 100 students who finished high school, only 20 to 25 of them enters college, and only 10 actually finishes a degree. This is the reason why the PPSS scholarship program was initiated to produce more quality graduates that could someday lead Sarangani in the future.

Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon said they expect that the number of outstanding PPSS scholars will increase in the next coming years.

He said the program has already produced one magna cum laude and seven cum laudes in various fields of interest."We expect that we could bring out more magna cum laude and cum laude. Hopefully, next year, we could have our own Sarangani State College, we try to make education more accessible so there will be enough qualified students to enter college," he said.

Rehna Joy Sotto, a PPSS scholar who graduated as a cum laude and who is now working with the provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Ariston Cortel, a certified public accountant now working with the Provincial Accounting Office, both shared how the program made their dreams come true.

They disclosed the importance of the program in their studies."I used my allowance to start a small business. I sell foods in school so I could use the proceeds for my requirements. I even helped my parents to buy rice and groceries for our consumption at home when I had extra money," Sotto said.

"I consider myself very lucky that I am a scholar of the PPSS. So, students who are also beneficiaries of this program, study hard and strive for your goals and don't let this opportunity to slip away," Cortel said. (Joy Sevilla/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)