Three scholars thank Garcia

CEBU, Philippines — Some scholarship beneficiaries of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia during her term as a congresswoman expressed their gratitude to her on her birthday last October 12.

According to three former scholars, Garcia's Tulong Dulong Scholarship and Student Financial Assistance Program (StuFAPs) changed their lives for the better.

Clyde John Caubabas, a beneficiary of Tulong Dulong Scholarahip program, said he started schooling as a working student but his income then was not enough to sustain his needs in college.

Upon learning that there was a scholarship program offered by the office of the then congresswoman, he grabbed the opportunity. He no longer paid for tuition as it was deposited directly to the school.

“From the time that I’ve been accepted in the scholarship, then everything changed. So those allowances that been offered to me for my tuition, I no longer saved them up for my tuition. Instead, I can use them for photo copies, snacks, and everything,” Caubabas was quoted as saying in a report published on the Capitol-run website Sugbo News.

Lyndie Baraga, on the other hand, said she is grateful for Garcia because of her efforts to build an extension of a school campus in Pinamungajan town.

Because of this, students like her will no longer find it hard to access school as they won’t spend for boarding house and transportation just to study in a city.

Baraga’s brother was the one who benefited from the Tulong Dulong.

"It changed our lives specially kami nagikan mi sa indigent family intawon nga akong papa welder, akong mama daycare worker, and then unom mi ka magsuon,” said Baraga.

Julian Cumad, another beneficiary, said it was hard for their parents to send him to school as they were a family of farmers.

"Our family, my parents in particular, could not afford to send me to college. So actually I graduated when I was 15. And I stopped schooling because of that reason -- financial incapacity. That is why upon knowing that there is such program which would help us poor or underprivileged to continue studying in college, that is why I grabbed the opportunity," said Cumad.

Caubabas is now teaching at a public school in Aloguinsan, his hometown. He graduated with degree in secondary education.

Baraga, who was among the first batch of students to graduate from CTU Pinamungajan, now works at a hotel. She finished hospitality management.

Cumad, meanwhile, is currently teaching in the town of Tuburan. — JMD (FREEMAN)