by: Flordelis E. Jackson
NAVAL, Biliran – Some 451 Pantawid Pamilya High School Graduates of 2015 in the province of Biliran were honored and given recognition by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office 8 in ceremonies held at the Naval Gymnasium in Naval, the capital town of Biliran province on Monday, June 8.
The occasion dubbed as “Pagdiriwang Para sa Pantawid Pamilya Graduates ng 2015” was graced by Naval Mayor Susan Parilla and Vice-Mayor Redentor Villordon.
Also present were the teachers and school heads of schools where the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) student-beneficiaries finished their high school education; representatives from the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Biliran; DSWD 8 officials and 4Ps staff and the links of the program in the province and in the municipalities of Biliran.
The parents and families were also present to witness the occasion.
The presentation of 4Ps student-beneficiaries to the guests and to the audience was done by Marichu Bustillos, regional program coordinator of 4Ps in Eastern Visayas representing DSWD 8 Regional Director Nestor Ramos.
The graduates in their school uniforms were applauded as they stood up to be honored and recognized.
According to Ms. Bustillos, Biliran province has a total of 451 Pantawid Pamilya High School Graduates of 2015. Of the total number, 117 were achievers, meaning, they graduated valedictorian, salutatorian, first to third honorable mention and other special awards.
Vice-Mayor Redentor Villordon who was the keynote speaker of the occasion, congratulated the graduates for the achievement they have reached in life.
He told the first batch of Pantawid Pamilya Graduates of 2015 in Biliran province to follow his simple guide to success.
First, he said, is to strive for simplicity, as he told the graduates to follow a simple life and buy only the things they need most in their daily life as students.
The second guide he said, is to practice gratefulness. “Don’t forget to thank all who have helped and touched your lives and God who is instrumental of what you are now”, he said further.
“Be generous and share your blessings as you reach the peak of your success when you have more in life and most of all focus on positivity – look at the good things in life as this will help you make good decisions for a better future”, he said.
Vice-Mayor Villordon adviced the Pantawid Pamilya High School Graduates of 2015 in Biliran province to continue their studies in college, saying, the government has various programs to help students from poor families pursue their studies.
For her part, Mayor Susan Parilla in her message, likewise congratulated the first batch of Pantawid Pamilya Graduates of 2015 in the province for having finished their studies in high school.
She said, their graduation in high school will open better opportunities ahead.
“Never stop learning and find comfort in educating yourselves. The choice is at the tip of your fingers. To be educated means more potentials, so continue the road to progress because the government will continue to support your education”, she said.
On the other hand, Marichu Bustillos, regional program coordinator of 4Ps of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office 8 in Tacloban City in her closing message informed that there is a scholarship program called the Expanded Students Grant in Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGPPA) where national agencies like the Department of Labor (DOLE), DSWD, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) and the students work in partnership to break the poverty cycle affecting the poor but deserving Filipino youth and their family.
“At present, there are 2,031 ESGPPA scholars in the region. These scholars are enrolled in courses aligned with the government’s key priority areas such as agriculture, education, fishery, environmental management and engineering”, she informed.
“Now we have eight ESGPPA graduates in Eastern Visayas and one of them is Milanne Salas, 4Ps beneficiary from Dagami, Leyte who graduated cum laude with the degree of Bachelor in Secondary Education major in Mathematics from the Leyte Normal University (LNU) in Tacloban City” she said.
During the program, the graduates who were achievers gave their testimonials and messages of how they were able to finish high school through 4Ps.
Ms. Salas who was invited to attend the occasion likewise shared here experience as 4Ps beneficiary.
Region 8 in Eastern Visayas, according to Bustillos, has a total of 11,425 Pantawid Pamilya High School Graduates of 2015. Of the number, 2,394 were achievers.
She informed that DSWD will continue to support the rights of children to education through the various poverty alleviation and human development programs which empower children and even families and the entire community.
In closing, she told the graduates “Ang pagtatapos ninyo ay tagumpay ng Pilipino dahil Kaya Ko, Kaya Mo, Kaya Natin ang Pagbabago”. # (PIA 8 Biliran)
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