ILOILO – Around 70 past and present beneficiaries of the Iskolar sang Iloilo Program (ISIP) paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. to show their gratitude before his term ends, and to also share their stories of success.
Atty. Jordana Mari Jaco, 26, from Sara town said the provincial government paved the way for her to reach her goals.
Jaco of ISIP Batch 2013 is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Management at the University of the Philippines Visayas.
She took up Bachelor of Laws at the University of San Agustin as a working student. She passed the Bar Examination in 2018.
“If not for the program of the provincial government, we will not have this privilege to go to college for free. I am now a practicing lawyer but I always find time to go back to the capitol,” she said.
Ruperto D. Sayson II from Sara is now a Teacher II at Sara National High School. He was part of Batch 2005 and a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Statistics and Research at West Visayas State University.
Maria Cecilia Dayao-Galupar of Batch 2008 is now a professor at Iloilo National High School. Hailing from San Joaquin, she finished Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education major in Physics, magna cum laude, at West Visayas State University.
Roughly 10 of the scholars who visited the governor recently are now employed at the capitol. Some are working at the Provincial Planning and Development Office, Provincial Population Office, Provincial Engineer’s Office, and Provincial Accountant’s Office, among others.
Defensor was beaming with pride as he witnessed how the scholars excelled in their chosen field.
“You will forever be part of the basket of my memories,” he said.
ISIP started in 1995. As of 2018, the program has produced a total of 763 scholars.
Qualified beneficiaries must be enrolled in various state colleges and universities in the city and province.
Each scholar is entitled to P3,500 monthly stipend and P2,000 book allowance. (LHC, Capitol News/PN)
