Testimonial Speech during the "Simpleng Handog" Program for 2G Scholars

My utmost respect to the chairman of PLDT Group of Companies/PLDT-Smart Foundation, Mr. Manuel V. Pangilinan, Mr. Napoleon L. Nazareno, our PLDT President,

Ms. Esther O. Santos, the President of PLDT-Smart Foundation, Ms. Chaye A. Cabal-Revilla, Chairperson for Gabay Guro Program. To the 2G Volunteers, School Representatives, to my co-2G Scholars, ladies and gentlemen, a greetings of good evening.

            First of all, I would like to express how please I am to speak in this gathering tonight. Among the recipients of the scholarship grant, to stand in behalf of my co-2G scholars is such a distinct honor for me.

             I can’t help but to be nostalgic when I remember my childhood. Perhaps because my mother was a teacher before, since I was a child, I regard education as a very powerful tool that a man can use to live this life, achieve what he wanted, and eventually succeed. Maliit pa lamang po ako, tinituruan na po ako ni Mama kung para saan at bakit kailangang mayroong sapat at tamang edukasyon ang isang tao kahit ano pa man ang katatayuan niya sa buhay. For her, nothing should stop a man to be able to get himself educated. Until today when the prevalent psyche of the people is that it is not poverty that should hinder one who wants to make a difference in life.

However, in a world threatened by turmoil and economic crises, achieving or even having an access to quality education remains to be an elusive dream for some of our countrymen due to negligence of the people who ought to let them experience this human right. Tila ba nagiging madamot ang mundo para sa ilan sa atin. Dumarami po ang mga out-of-school youth natin. In fact, being out of school has become a phenomenon in the Philippines so much so that it is a reality lived by almost 1/3 of our school-age children and youth - they number 5.8 million in 2004. The Department of Education (DepEd) reported that in school year 2007-2008, only 84.44% of children ages 6-11 years old had been enrolled and for secondary level, only 61.91% of youth ages 12-15 had enrolled. What more to those who were able to enroll in college. Even more unfortunate, one out of three of these students end up dropping out of school. They become innocent victims left in the arid and barren field of ignorance, misery and intellectual deprivation.

While public education is free, a student would still need an average of P20, 000 per school year (Kabataan Partylist computation) to cover transportation costs, food, school supplies and other operational expenses whilst schooling. The government, on the other hand, in 2009 allotted inadequate P2, 502 a year or P6.85 per student per day, for education. This figure has not improved since.

Moreover, based on the latest Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FEIS), Filipino families opt to spend more on food and other daily basic necessities over their children’s education needs. Most Filipino families, unfortunately, are forced to make a choice between sending their children to school and spending their scanty income on food and other basic necessities in order to survive. Poverty and government neglect have made education a luxury to many of our Filipino families.

I’m not pointing it all to the government alone. While nobody is willing and courageous enough to accept the blame, there is still something to thank for amidst time of predicaments. Indeed, we are more than lucky that we belong to the 14 percent of students who finished taking up a college degree out of 100 pupils who enrolled in Grade 1 (Licuanan, 2011). Thanks to the people who remain devoted in considering the gravity of the problem and truly care for the future of our nation’s hope through scholarship grants and aids.

            I can still remember the day that I received the letter confirming that my application for scholarship was approved. I can’t express the feeling that day. It was an answered prayer. When my mother heard this news, she was very thankful that the challenge (I don’t want to call it a burden) of sustaining her three college students at the same time will no longer give her much reason to cry at night. Meanwhile, my father –who was a housekeeper - was filled with the same feeling that, for the following days in our life, nothing can obstruct his sons in seeing their dreams coming into reality.

Sila po ang aking mga magulang na nagturo sa amin na mangarap na di inaalintana ang aming katatayuan sa buhay. Sila rin po ang umagapay sa amin na lumaban at humarap sa bawat hamon ng buhay. Sa panahon pong tulad nito, ang tulong po na naibigay ng PLDT-Smart Foundation sa mga tulad namin, na ang makatungtong sa kolehiyo ay isa ng malaking hakbang para maiahon ang aming mga pamilya, ay aming habambuhay na ipagpapasalamat. To Sir Manuel V. Pangilinan, Ma’am Esther O. Santos, Sir Napoleon L. Nazareno, Ma’am Chaye A. Cabal-Revilla, and to the rest of the 2G volunteers – the working force behind this program, we can’t find the exact word to express our gratefulness for sharing with us your generosity. The privilege of being a 2G Scholar has made a lot of difference in our life for the past 2 years in my case. It inspired us in all of our academic endeavors and motivates us to excel scholarly. Thank you for giving us the reason to hope for a brighter tomorrow; special thanks from Philippine Normal University Quezon Campus for being our working partner in helping to reach less fortunate but deserving students to pursue their education. Ang Diyos na lang po ang bahalang gumanti sa inyong kabutihan.

As they say, from much more is given; much more is expected. For our part, what we can promise in return is nothing less than our commitment to our profession as teachers. We will try our best to propagate the benevolence that we experienced by touching lives to make a positive impact on our pupils especially those that are poor. Count on a promise that we will be catalysts of change in a nation that needs to address its problems as far as education is concerned.

Out there are more stories of struggle, fearlessness, and courage. Many students like us still face tight spots in their lives just to attend school. Though I was not able to experience the same, I know it is not easy to review for your exams, make your project and term papers, and listen to class discussions while worrying your meals for the day, house rentals, and the likes. They need a helping hand to ease their burden. We will be so glad if they could also experience the privilege of being a 2G scholar.

Finally, in behalf of our families, please accept our sincere thanks and appreciation for giving this opportunity. You will be forever be a part of our teacher hood. May God bless us all!

Mabuhay ang PLDT-Smart Foundation!

Mabuhay ang mga Gurong Filipino!

Mabuhay po tayong lahat!