MANY dreams remain unfulfilled without a little push. But not for the youth of Iloilo City.
Through the Uswag Scholarship under the administration of Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, many aspirations were made less challenging to reach.
It is one of the flagship education programs of Treñas wherein qualified beneficiaries get P5,000 in cash assistance per semester. This started in 2010 during Treñas’ stint as a congressman, and he continued the program when he returned as city mayor in 2019.
Among its beneficiaries was a 29-year-old working adult who said he owes being able to access better job opportunities to the scholarship grant that helped him get through his studies.
Jethro E. Importado of Barangay Sooc, Arevalo district, and a recipient of a house and lot in Gawad Kalinga Village, is currently an Araling Panlipunan teacher at Jaro National High School.
Importado graduated cum laude in 2015 with a Bachelor of Secondary Education, Major in Social Studies degree at Central Philippine University (CPU) in Jaro district.
He became an Uswag scholar in 2011 through Iloilo City’s first lady, Mrs. Rosalie Treñas. It was after he became the first awardee of the city government’s Search for ‘Huwaran nga Anak’ through the Iloilo City Task Force on Street Children and the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
“Kon wala ang support sang Uswag scholarship basi kon indi ko mabal-an kon diin ako makuha sang akon gasto for transportation especially nga wala man daan si mama kag papa sang stable job. Si papa is a carpenter and si mama sa balay lang man,” Importado told Panay News.
Importado was also awarded the following during his college graduation:
* Most Outstanding College Graduate – Rotary Club of Iloilo
* Circle of 5 Awardee – The Outstanding Students of Iloilo Awards
* Regional Finalist – Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines
* Recipient of Dr. and Mrs. Nelson A. Pomado Leadership Award
* Most Outstanding CPUR Representative
* Plaque of Recognition – Rotary Youth Leadership Award
“Ako as an educator, as a teacher, I always say this to my students nga there is hope as long as you look for opportunities. Do not allow yourself nga mag-stay ka lang sa sina nga situation. Magbangon ka adlaw-adlaw kag i-inspire mo ang imo self,” Importado told fellow and aspiring Uswag scholars.
Also an Uswag scholar alumna, Christine Mae P. Tan is as much as thankful. The 22-year-old is from Barangay Lapuz Norte, Lapuz district and a magna cum laude graduate of Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management at Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U) on July 2023. Her younger sibling is an Uswag scholar, too, currently taking a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at the University of San Agustin.
“It’s a big help, especially sa everyday allowance ko kay even though naga-eskwela ako sa free tuition school, I have daily expenses which ang scholarship nakabulig gid,” said Tan.
She sometimes shares an extra amount from her grant with her parents for their house bills and other unexpected expenses. Their mother gets income through buy-and-sell, and their father works abroad.
Tan became a recipient of the Uswag scholarship in her fourth year after a slot opened in their barangay, while her sibling has been a scholar since her first year of college.
“Don’t waste their opportunity; give your best and show them nga ang gin-provide ni mayor Treñas is worth it,” Tan said.
She added: “Kanami sa feeling kay naging proud man si mayor sa amon achievement, indi lang sa may latin honors but sa tanan nga naka-graduate. Gani, keep doing your best, never doubt yourself, and then padayun lang sa kon ano ang handum nila sa kabuhi.”
To inspire the Uswag scholars to strive for excellence, the city mayor gives cash incentives to those who graduate with Latin honors.
So far, 315 Uswag scholars have finished their college degrees with Latin honors – Cum Laude, 233; Magna Cum Laude, 79; Summa Cum Laude, three.
Uswag scholarship has become more than an aid to educational needs for Aimee Louise A. Icoy. The 31-year-old resident of Barangay Sto. Domingo, Arevalo district, said it lessened the financial burden on her father, who worked as a driver.
Icoy graduated cum laude with a degree in Bachelor of Cooperatives Management at the West Visayas State University (WVSU) in 2012.
“The scholarship was a big help to my family since only my father was working at that time. Even though WVSU offers much lower fees compared to other universities, for someone who only depends on the income of my father and our small sari-sari store to get through our everyday needs, the Uswag scholarship allowed me to help my parents by lessening their burden financially. It also motivated me to maintain my grades and keep the scholarship,” she said.
Icoy works at the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the scholarship was a stepping stone for her current job.
Mrs. Treñas offered her to be an office staff to former congressman and current City Mayor Treñas under the livelihood unit program.
Icoy believed the Uswag scholarship was a great help to students since the educational system in the country sometimes gives more opportunities to the privileged ones.
“Never stop dreaming. If you think you’re far from what you want to be, always think that you are now also far from what you were five years ago. Don’t lose that passion to keep you going. Always see the opportunity of being a scholar to be one step closer to reaching your dreams,” she advised current and aspiring Uswag scholars./PN
