ILOILO City – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 6, through its S&T Scholarship section, feted 329 scholar-graduates – with Latin honors and board topnotchers – from different universities in Western Visayas.
“Ang expectation naton kay they are pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, nga mag-work sila sa mga industries, sa academe, even sa private sectors, or to become entrepreneurs. Ang mga kurso nila gamiton gid to respond to societal problems like agriculture – food security, and sa health – health security,” said Dr. Josette T. Biyo, director of DOST-Science Education Institute (SEI).
The “2022 in Touch with Excellence” awarding program was also graced by OST-6 regional director, Engr. Rowen Gelonga.
Biyo also noted that many DOST scholars are teachers and this corresponds to the need of the Department of Education (DepEd) because of the Kto12 program.
“We have an arrangement with DepEd, a program nga pagkatapos sang mga scholars graduate, automatic may plantilla position sila sa DepEd in response to the need for science and math teachers,” said Biyo.
Presently, DOST has 1,790 scholars in the region.
Meanwhile, 62.92 percent or 207 of the total DOST scholar-graduates this year have Latin Honors. Nine are summa cum laude, 78 are magna cum laude, 109 are cum laude, and 11 have academic merit awards.
“Happy gid kami nga nagatuon sang maayo ang aton mga scholars. In fact, I’m encouraging them to pursue Master of Science kay priority gid ang aton mga scholars nga mag-pursue sang graduate studies indi lang diri sa Pilipinas but in specialized areas abroad. Daku ang budget nga ginahatag sang gobyerno to develop our human capital,” Biyo added.
On the other hand, Dr. Jerry B. Sanguillosa, Batch 2007 and RA 7687 Scholar of DOST-SEI scholarship program and currently the university secretary of Pamantasan ng Cabuyao, inspired the new scholar-graduates with his keynote message.
For someone who grew up from a poor family in Nabas, Aklan, Sanguillosa described the DOST-SEI scholarship program as a blessing from God.
“I am thankful to the DOST-SEI for the nine years of scholarship privileges and benefits in supporting my UP education. Kung may loyalty award ang DOST-SEI, isa na ako sa magiging recipient,” he told the scholar-graduates.
Sanguillosa pursued Master of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology in the University of the Philippines Los Baños through the DOST-SEI Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (ASTHRDP), and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Plant Breeding with cognate in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology under the same scholarship program, with the intention to do research for corn biofortification.
“When I was invited as the speaker during the Scholars Exit Conference in DOST Region IV A, I shared to them the remarks of one of the Graduate School staff, ginawa mo nang pangkabuhayan showcase ang DOST scholarship. Ang sagot ko naman, bakit hindi, kung nag-aaral naman ako ng mabuti at kayang tapusin ang nasimulan para hindi masayang ang suporta na bigay ng gobyerno. Hence, I am encouraging our scholar-graduates to consider pursuing graduate studies in your chosen field to further upgrade your scientific and technical skills. Ika nga ng iba, pag-bored ka, mag-Masters ka na,” he said.
He also emphasized that DOST scholars were instilled with core values of “Service, Excellence, and Innovation”.
Scholar-graduates are being challenged to respond to a call to serve as well as inspire others to serve and strive for excellence and pursue innovation in their respective field of expertise so that long-lasting significant change and social reforms will be achieved down to the grassroots level, said Sanguillosa./PN
