BACOLOD City – Ten incoming senior high school students from various public schools in Negros Occidental arrived in Japan on Tuesday for their three-year scholarship at Miyakonojo Higashi High School in Miyazaki Prefecture.
The students will study general health and automotive there.
They include Johanna Rica Lorenzo, Nicole Marie Bersales, Joanna Marie Villanueva, and Leah Marie Encabo of Sagay National High School in Sagay City, Al Edmar Abad of Dr. Antonio Lizares Memorial High School in Talisay City, Krizzel Mae Do-oma of Doña Montserat Lopez Memorial High School in Silay City, Megumi Cleo Gelogo of Negros Occidental High School in Bacolod City, Anthony Esteban of Murcia National High School in Murcia town, DarlynBlancia of Sofronio Carmona Memorial National High School in Salvador Benedicto, and Reynaldo Victorama Jr. of Ramon Torres Dulao National High School in Bago City.
Negros Occidental Scholarship Program head Karen Dinsay and Negros Occidental Investment and Promotion Center personnel April Duranchaperoned the students.
Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Director Shigemi Watanabe of the Organization for Industrial Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA)-Bago Training Center led a ceremonial sent-off for the students on Monday.
Watanabe told the students to study hard in Japan and assured their parents that the country is safe.
For his part, Marañon urged the scholars to cherish the “great and unique” opportunity given to them.
The students attended a week-long Japanese language and culture live-in training at the OISCA-Bago Training Center before their departure.
In June last year, Marañon signed a memorandum of understanding with Miyakonojo Higashi High School, declaring that the school’s management and the provincial government share the same vision of providing educational opportunities to motivated and deserving Negrense high school students who aspire to study in Japan.
The provincial government screened, selected and recommended the qualified students.
It also provided financial support for the chosen students’ other expenses.
The school will shoulder the full tuition and three-year full accommodation of the students in Japan. It also pledged to ensure their safety.
The school will also provide opportunity for the students to further study after graduation. (With PNA/PN)
