148 HS grads qualify for 2015 DOST scholarship
By Mary Grace Tambis
BUTUAN CITY, June 5 (PIA) - A total of 148
graduating students from Caraga have qualified for the 2015 Department of
Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) undergraduate
scholarship.
According to DOST Caraga scholarship coordinator
Meriam B. Bouquia, 1,227 graduating high school students from different private
and public institutions regionwide applied and took the challenge of the
qualifying examination last September 26, 2014 and only 12.06 percent of them
surpassed.
Said result was posted by SEI on March 8, 2015
wherein 30 passers came from Agusan del Norte (ADN), 39 from Agusan del Sur
(ADS), 36 from Surigao del Norte (SDN), 34 from Surigao del Sur (SDS), and 9
from the Province of Dinagat Islands (PDI).
They shall enroll to courses under engineering,
natural, physical, and applied sciences based on the priority courses
enumerated by the scholarship program. Moreover, such grant is allowed only in
universities and other higher education institutions which are recognized by
the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to be centers of excellence or
centers of development. This allows them to pursue their desired fields in
science in leading institutions countrywide.
Scholars are now entitled to receive an increased
amount of monthly stipend and other allowances starting academic year
2015-2016. Students who will be taking up Physics, Geology, Mining Engineering,
Agriculture, and Fisheries will be given a P6,000.00 monthly stipend while
those who will enroll in other priority courses are entitled to P5,000.00
monthly. The program will also provide P1,000.00 book allowance per academic
year, P10,000.00 tuition fee subsidy per semester, and P1,000.00 MS/PE clothing
allowance.
In return, they are expected to maintain high
scholastic grades, based on DOST standards, and moral behaviors so as to
continually enjoy the benefits offered by the program.
The said DOST scholarship provides students the
opportunity to become key players in the country’s development and will help in
creating science and technology-based solutions to contribute to the country’s
economic growth. (DOST-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Cortes women OFWs undergo beauty care skills
training
By Jean Pearl I. Millones
BUTUAN CITY, June 5 (PIA) - Understanding the
rapidly growing economy and the increasing number of tourists exploring the
area brought about by the development of the municipality’s eco-tourism, the
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) together with the local
government of Cortes, Surigao del Sur, has recently afforded the Cortes OFW and
Dependents Organization (CODA) Skills Training on Beauty Care on May 28-30,
2015.
Vincent DueΓ±as, Cortes Tourism Officer, emphasized
the challenge in upgrading the human capital’s capability to meet the area’s
rising demand for more skilled workers and increase Cortesanon’s household
income.
“We are trying to promote and develop eco-tourism,
but the question is: are we ready to cater services to the tourists,” said
DueΓ±as.
The three-day techno transfer was participated in
by some 17 CODA members. Among the skills included in the course were manicure,
pedicure, hair cutting, and a more advanced skill in beauty care and hair
rebonding.
OWWA Caraga regional director Samuel S. Madrid, in
his message, pointed out the government’s action to help alleviate poverty,
“Ang gobyerno ay ginagawa ang lahat upang madagdagan o kaya’y mabigyan kayo ng
panibagong kaalaman upang lalo kayong maging kapaki-pakinabang sa buhay,” Madrid
further expressed his gratitude and lauded the members of CODA for their
dedication and determination in improving their organization.
In response to the agency’s fervent pursuit to
further heighten the empowerment of its member-OFWs and arm them with competency
especially in the outskirts of the region, the members of the organization much
appreciated the agency’s efforts with delight.
Leonora L. Anecoy, a member of CODA and an amateur
manicurist, shared her elation for being granted with the training. “After
availing of the financial literacy training, it is very helpful that we are
given beauty care training to advance our skills where we can generate
additional income from," she said in a local dialect.
After the training program, the participants were
provided with starter kits making them ready to start their own venture to
beauty care and gradually open up a beauty care center. The activity was done
simultaneously with the Information Technology Training catering to some other
members of the organization. (OWWA-Caraga/PIA-Caraga)
Feature: DOLE Caraga scholar now PESO Manager
By Iris Asis
“I wouldn’t be able to finish my studies if not
for the SPES program of DOLE.”
This was the touching statement of Junrey Escobal,
now a 34 years old, living at Pantao, Claver, Surigao del Norte. Junrey is the
only boy among the four children of Mr. and Mrs. Columbus R. Escobal. His
father is a fisherman while his mother, a housewife.
Eager to finish his college education, he sought
help from the Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE's) Special Program for
Employment of Students (SPES) program to subsidize his tuition fee from 2002 to
2006.
“It wasn’t easy for me, sometimes I go to school
without money for food, but I managed to finish my AB English degree at NEMCO
(Northeastern Mindanao Colleges) in Surigao City. Thanks to DOLE,” he stressed.
He was immediately hired at Platinum Group of
Mining Companies as the community organizer for three years.
Claver Mayor Eddie P. Gokiangkee saw his potential
and tasked him to settle labor issues in Claver. Completing the duty
effortlessly, the good mayor designated him as the Public Employment Service
Office (PESO) manager in Claver.
Since 2012, Escobal is among the top performing
PESO managers in Caraga.
“Being a SPES beneficiary truly helped me a lot
not only financially but also in my current job. I am now the one implementing
the program”, he giggled.
“As the PESO manager of Claver, I make sure that
the selection of SPES beneficiaries are for those who truly deserve it,"
he added.
He advised the marginalized students to never give
up hope in continuing their studies. Help is just around, you just have to open
your eyes. DOLE's SPES Program can help. (DOLE-13/PIA-Caraga)
Feature: The legendary mover
By Marie Angela A. Conde
What does it take to become an “Outstanding
Multi-grade Teacher” and an honorary school Principal?
“From small dream come great realization,” says
the dreamer with the promising passion to lead and become someone big. Passion,
honesty, perseverance, hard work and faith are few of the ideals that ma'am
Robina O. Agan possesses to become an ideal teacher and a model Principal at
M.L. Pineda Memorial Elementary School at Florida, Butuan City.
Despite her bitter past from struggling to finish
her primary until tertiary education, poverty never weakened her faith. She
strived to graduate in college of her dream course – BS in Elementary Education
at Caraga State University formerly NORMISIST. It is such a leap of faith to
make a dream come true and for Ma’am Robina, if one believes in the power of
his dreams, he will never wander rather will find happiness and passion.
With her guts and determination, she served and
shared her expertise in teaching as a multi-grade teacher in grades one and two
at West Tungao Elementary School for eight years. Her ardor to serve the
children opened a more challenging journey towards excellence as she was
awarded second runner-up outstanding multi-grade teacher.
Becoming a teacher is just the start of the
journey. The award she received awakened her to dream bigger and so with her
guts and prime knowledge she composed her confidence and search for greater
opportunities. Leadership was what she targeted so she enrolled her Masters
degree in Elementary Education major in Teaching English as Second Language at
Cebu Normal University and completed her academic requirements.
Conquering your fears is simply fighting for your
dreams and that is what ma’am Robina exactly did. A big crowded city of Cebu
did not even move her to fear. She fought the challenges, she tried and made
the best to learn in the long road way forward to success. Her dream and
passion led her to the executive ladder as head teacher and not long was hailed
as Principal.
Becoming a principal is like becoming the mother
of the school and she portrayed what an ideal mother does for her children.
Thus, a good mother does not only focus on her children’s good (Teachers and
Students) instead she should also be able to manifest good character and
relationship to her neighbors (the people in Florida and the Barangay
Officials). For most teachers under her, residents and Barangay Officials in
Florida, she was notable for her honesty, kindness, ingenuity and sociable
character.
Few of her remarkable works and projects were
remembered and talked about, as such she repainted the school building,
cemented the school fence (boundary) and posts. Her ingenuity has added beauty
to the school and to the principal’s office with her stimulus in encouraging
the parents to donate and raise money for the beautification of the school.
Thus, she successfully purchased a sofa set and grass cutter machine for the
school year 2011-2012.
Apart from planning and implementing school
programs and projects, she never fails to observe classes, check lesson plans
and evaluate the teacher’s performances in teaching. She also never misses to
give advises to students, teachers, parents and even barangay officials. In
addition, she is very keen from keeping the school clean. All these works are
commendable and will always be remembered by everyone she served.
Her influence to the school and to the community
is noteworthy, from a dreamer, teacher and up to becoming a principal, her
service is winning. It is ideal to say that a person who shares her highest
attainment for the good of all is a legendary mover. Thus, for ma’am Robina as
a teacher and a principal she affected goodness and will never stop inspiring.
(DepEd Butuan City Division/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
Butuan villagers join Brigada Eskwela
By Marie Angela A. Conde
BUTUAN CITY, June 5 (PIA) – Stakeholders from
Mariana L. Pineda Elementary School in Barangay Florida continue its support to
the government-initiated “Brigada Eskwela” by repainting walls and blackboards,
cleaning windows and doors, or repairing fences
to the annual “school maintenance week” project.
This year, it ran from May 18 to 23 under the
theme "Tayo para sa Kalinisan, Kaligtasan, at Kahandaan ng Ating mga
Paaralan (Stand for the Cleanliness, Safety, and Preparedness of our
Schools)."
"Our vision is transforming lives. And I feel
together with my councilmen that the best way to transform lives is through our
advocacy which is education. That is why, I as a father of this community is
active in activities relating to education,” said Florida brgy. captain Danilo
E. Tuso during the Brigada Eskwela’s opening program.
Through the initiative of Ma. Aurora A. Ecoben,
the school principal, several private partners such as One Network Bank and
Eastwest Bank are given the opportunity to contribute resources for the effort.
Local government units and community members provide manpower and volunteer
services during this week-long activity.
(DepEd Butuan City/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
TESDA bares 2015 scholarship program in SurSur
By Greg Tataro Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, June 5 (PIA) – A
total of P11,565,681.84 is set aside for the implementation of 2015 Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) scholarship program in
Surigao del Sur.
Rey Cueva, TESDA provincial chief here, broke down
the amount to P1,591,784 for Private Education Student Financial Assistance
(PESFA); P1,825,000 for Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP);
P6,434,597.84 for Special Training for Employment Program (STEP), and;
P1,714,300 for Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB).
Correspondingly, he cited the number of slots for
each program, particularly for PESFA-196, TWSP-200, and STEP-530.
However, Cueva has yet to indicate the number of
slots for BUB.
In addition, 13 technical-vocational (Tech-Voc)
providers have been identified to cater for the various skills training and
qualifications enumerated under the said scholarship program. (NGBT/Radyo ng
Bayan-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
