Nine Negrense Senior High School scholars were among the 170 students, who graduated at the Miyakonojo Higashi High School in Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki Prefecture in Japan Feb. 19.
They are Reneleen Apatan of Silay City, Faustinne Mar Bulanon – Talisay City, Mark Amiel Doriman – Hinigaran, Zion Orven Gallo – Victorias City, Helena Grace Gasataya – Sagay City, Hans Philippe Gubaton – La Castellana, Trisha Mae Lucio – San Carlos City, Curly Joyce Palacios – Sagay City, and Lorraine Tudillo of Binalbagan.
These students comprise the second batch of scholars at MHHS studying General Health and Automotive.
Lucio and Tudillo got the Eiken First Grade and award for Perfect Attendance for three years. Doriman and Gallo got the Perfect Attendance for three years, Palacios and Apatan awarded a prize for Good Attendance, while Bulanon and Gubaton have Perfect Attendance for one year.
Gasataya, Palacios, and Tudillo were active members of the School’s Brass Band Club as flautist, hornist, and clarinetist, respectively. Bulanon was a member of the school’s Student Council, Gubaton, Gallo, and Doriman have certificates in Gas and Arc Welding, while others engaged in sports and extracurricular activities, a press release from the Capitol said.
After three years in Japan, most of them passed the Nihongo Proficiency Level 2 and 3. Those who passed the second hardest Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) or N2 are Lucio, Bulanon, Palacios, and Tudillo while Gallo and Doriman passed the third hardest JLPT, or N3.
These students went to Japan in 2019 as scholars of the province of Negros Occidental to pursue their Senior High School studies through a counter-parting scheme with the Miyakonojo Higashi High School.
The provincial government provided financial support for the students’ other expenses while the school shouldered the tuition, three-year full accommodation, and ensured the security of the scholars.
Seven students will remain in Japan to pursue higher education and vocational courses.
Lucio was awarded 100 percent scholarship on tuition at the Asia Pacific University in Oita, Japan, and she will take up Asia Pacific Studies and work part-time in the school while Bulanon, who passed the entrance examination of Tsuru University in Yamanashi Prefecture, will take up English Literature and also work part time to support herself.
Tudillo, Gasataya, Palacios, Apatan, and Doriman will study for two years at the Houshin School of Healthcare and opted to pursue a national license for careworkers in Japan.
They will also work part time to support themselves.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson expressed his gratitude to Miyakonojo Higashi High School chairman, Brian Wee, and to the entire Shimizu family for the partnership that they continue to uphold and for taking good care of the Negrense scholars in Japan in the past three years.
He said that this collaboration is a proof that international cooperation can be successful and is the surest way to help young people achieve their dreams.
He congratulated the scholars for a job well done and he hopes that they will pursue their chosen paths with vigor, determination, and faith.
He will give educational assistance to the scholars, through their parents next month, to pay for their other expenses as they start a new life as college students in Japan.
This scholarship is one of the 18 categories handled by the Negros Occidental Program Division, under the Office of the Governor. — NND
