Cagayan de Oro City — Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries are now proving to the public that they are worth the government’s investment.

Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries John Paul Ambaic, 17, and Mae Ann Ternate, 17, are among the eleven academic achievers of the 56 grantees of Expanded Student Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA) who were declared by MSU-Naawan as awardees for the 1st semester of the school year 2014-2015.

In a simple ceremony inside the campus’ function house, the university administrators conferred the award with the presence of all Pantawid Pamilya college scholars, DSWD and other stakeholders during the recently concluded ESGP-PA Family Day on February 27, 2015.

A spark of hope

John Paul, a native of Barangay Mahayahay, Manticao, Misamis Oriental and a freshman student of MSU-Naawan taking Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, Major in Mathematics, is ‘thankful to the national government, especially to DSWD, for giving me a chance to achieve my dreams.”

Holding back his tears while talking and sitting beside his mother, John Paul disclosed that when he graduated from high school, he had doubts that we he would be able to attend college because his parents could not afford to pay for the tuition fees.

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Now that he is a Pantawid college scholar, John Paul said he is assured of his future. “Makatabang na gyud ko sa akong mga manghod ug ginikanan kung makahuman ko.” (I can help my younger siblings and parents if I finish my studies.)

John Paul is the eldest of three Ambaic siblings, a fate that made him realized that he has a responsibility to finish studies and help his younger siblings finish their study as well.

John Paul’s mother, Lucel, also shared that having his son finish a college degree would mean that  supporting the whole family to lift out from poverty is possible.

With the high expectations coming from his parents, John Paul is not only determined to finish his studies, but, determined to maintain academic achievement.

No more promissory notes

Mae Ann feels a sigh of relief knowing that she will no longer be making promissory notes to the school registrar and cashier after being placed under ESGP-PA this second semester.

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Mae Ann, resident of Barangay Gimaylan, Libertad, Misamis Oriental, disclosed that her excellent performance in academic is not guarantee her to finish her studies because her parents could hardly send her to MSU Naawan, a state university in Misamis Oriental, due to financial instability.

Now that she is a scholar, Mae Ann assured her parents and MSU Naawan Board of Regents that she will finish her study with flying colors.

A freshman Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Mae Ann said ‘maka-relax na jud ko, maka-focus nako sa akong pagtuon.’ (I feel relaxed and I can focus on my studies now.)

Third of the four Ternate siblings, Mae Ann considers Pantawid Pamilya as an instrument of the national government to help poor deserving students achieve their dreams. “Gihimo jud nga instrumento ang Pantawid Pamilya aron makatabang sa mga pobre.”

ESG-PA is a college scholarship program of DSWD, Commission on Higher Education and Department of Labor and Employment for Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries.

In Northern Mindanao, there are 2,037 scholars under the Program enrolled in eight CHED accredited state college and universities.###smu

Written by Oliver Badel Inodeo, DSWD Northern Mindanao

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