Scholars vow to serve Sarangani

By JOY R. SEVILLA

ALABEL, Sarangani (April 10,2014) – There is no greater joy for the batch 2014 graduates of the Paaral Para Sa Sarangan (PPSS) scholarship program of the provincial government than to finish college after all the afflictions that they had gone through.

As a payback, the graduates of PPSS, a scholarship program under the Sulong Karunungan component of Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon’s flagship program, the Sulong Sarangani, have taken their pledge of commitment to serve their community in the best way they can.

Glenda Revaño, PPSS coordinator, said this is the first time that PPSS scholars have taken a pledge of commitment after the program was implemented 12 years ago.

PPSS Scholarship Program was implemented through Executive Order No. 11 Series of 2002 under then Governor Miguel Escobar. Former Governor Migs Dominguez also implemented PPSS during his 2004-2013 tenure.

“Since it was implemented in 2002, wala pang nangyaring ganito, the scholars have taken the pledge of commitment at na-gather din sila for the first time,” Revaño said in an interview during the PPSS Graduates Thanksgiving celebration Monday (April 7).

Revaño said that for this year alone, there are a total of 110 PPSS college graduates also supported by different partners who were invited in the thanksgiving celebration. However, more than 50 graduates were only able to join the gathering.

“Ang iba kasi nag-change na ng number kaya hindi na nakarating at bakasyon na rin ngayon kaya hindi na na-gather lahat,” she explained.

From 2005 up to 2013, PPSS has produced a total of 289 graduates, 13 Cum Laudes, and 1 Magna Cum Laude. Taking account of the 110 graduates this year, PPSS has a total of 399 graduates since 2005.

Of the 110 PPSS scholars who graduated this year, 58 are from the regular program; 30 are from the off-campus program in Malandag (these graduates are all Indigenous People scholars and have finished their college for five years since they only attended classes thrice a week); others are sons and daughters of Sarangan Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) whose monthly income is only pegged at 400 dollars; and, some are scholars at the UP School of Sciences in Koronadal City.

Revaño said that 20 percent of this year’s graduates came from the disparity or poorest barangays of the province.

“Binigyan talaga ng priority yung mga nanggaling sa mga disparity barangays natin. PPSS is under the Sulong Karunungan, a component of the Sulong Sarangani Program of Governor Solon,” she said.

She added that Governor Solon just continued the gains of PPSS considering the impact it brings not only to the lives of Sarangans, but to the whole community as well.

PPSS Program has already produced three doctors, nine midwives and several graduates of Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, who are willing to serve their respective communities.

“Ang next challenge sa mga graduates ng education course ay ipasa ang kanilang board exam,” Revaño said.

This year, PPSS also produced the second Magna Cum Laude from the municipality of Kiamba.

Blanca Marquez, who graduated as Magna Cum Laude from the Notre Dame Dadiangas University, said that she is forever grateful to the people behind PPSS.

“Malaking tulong po ang allowance na natatanggap namin. Hindi kami ganito ngayon kung wala ang PPSS,” Marquez said.

Marquez also encouraged other PPSS scholars saying that education is not about grades, but attitude. It’s not about knowing it all, but about sharing what you have learned.

Marquez, Revaño said, will get a P5,000 cash incentive from the provincial government. Incentives, she said, are given to graduates with academic awards.

Meanwhile, Governor Solon stressed that the objective of the program is to really give opportunities to poor but deserving students to finish school and attain a degree.

“Education is very important that is why our battlecry is that every student in Sarangani should finish college. It has a lasting impact in the lives of the people and in the community because those who graduated and were able to work can serve their community in return,” Governor Solon said.

It is during Governor Solon’s administration that there is an increase of allowance of scholars under the regular program making it a significant component of his flagship program, the Sulong Sarangani.

“Dati, P1,200 lang ang allowance ng mga scholars every month, ngayon ginawa ng P1,500. As a coordinator, I am also thankful sa mga board members natin dahil sila yung nag-approve ng budget,” Revaño said.

She added that with the help and convergence of the officials of Sarangani namely, Congressman Emmanuel Pacquiao, Governor Solon, Vice Governor Jinkee Pacquiao and all the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, it is possible that partnership from other external donors could be forged so that the implementation of the PPSS program will be intensified in the coming years.

Today, PPSS external partners are the Phinma Foundation Inc., Alcantara Foundation Inc., University of the Philippines Koronadal, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Sagittarius Mines Inc., and the YACAP Party-list organization. (Joy R. Sevilla/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)