ALABEL, Sarangani -- The Paaral Para sa Sarangan (PPSS) scholarship program continues its goal of helping poor but deserving Sarangan students who desire to pursue their tertiary education.
On August 1, some 57 PPSS graduates from all over Sarangani attended the Scholars' Recognition Day at the Capitol gym.
The graduates of which 13 were Cum Laude were considered by Glenda Revaño, PPSS program coordinator, as "more thriving" since they were the first batch under the K to 12 program, "kaya medyo matured na yung kanilang pag-iisip as they graduated kasi their perspective is employment-ready."
The PPSS scholarship program was established in 2002 through the initiative of then Governor Miguel Escobar and carried on by his succeeding Governor Migs Dominguez.
It was sustained until 2021 by then Governor, now Congressman, Steve Chiongbian Solon, and is currently carried on by Governor Rogelio "Ruel" D. Pacquiao.
The graduates are the 18th batch since the establishment of the PPSS scholarship program. Revaño disclosed that the said batch has the most number of graduates and those with Latin honors.
She described the batch as "resilient" since they went through the changes in the education system due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
"Naging challenge sa batch na ito yung mode of learning dahil yung iba ay from far-flung areas kung saan mahirap ang connection para sa online class, but they were still able to level up and survive the most trying times of their lives as students," said Revaño.
Esmeraldo Sarad, 22, from Glan, who took up Bachelor of Elementary Education at Mindanao State University-General Santos, Cum Laude, expressed his gratitude to the Local Government of Sarangani headed by Governor Pacquiao, Congressman Solon, Vice Governor Elmer De Peralta, and the rest of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan members for giving the less fortunate students "like me" a chance to send themselves to school and "enjoy the privilege to learn in the academe."
Board Member Jess Bascuña, who chairs the committee on education, was also present during the activity and inspired the graduates.
In his address, Bascuña emphasized the importance of attitude in work and reminded the graduates to love their occupation.
The PPSS scholarship program currently has 534 active scholars. (Joshua John S. Pantonial/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)
