Talisay Mayor Neil Lizares Sunday led the celebration of the 24th anniversary of the Scholarship Para sa Masa (SPSM), the city’s flagship program in education that provides assistance to Talisaynon students, especially those who do not have the financial means to enroll in college.
The “Pasidungog sa Scholars 2022”, held at the Talisay City Hall, was attended by Atty. Weng Lizares, who shared an inspiring message to all the 351 scholarship grantees in attendance, Vice Mayor Nic Jalandoni, the councilors, and other city officials.
Hannie Babe Enderes, who graduated magna cum laude in her BS in Psychology degree at the Carlos Hilado Memorial State University, received an Academic Award and a cash reward of P10,000, during the program.
Ryan Joshua Britanico and Cindy Marie Lacson, both BS in Psychology graduates, and Joemel Guantia, who finished BS in Education, major in Filipino, cum laude, were also given Academic Awards and P5,000 each, the city said.
Eight grantees, who made it to the Dean’s List for school year 2020-2021, received Academic Awards and cash gift of P2,000 each.
The Special Student Award and P2,000 were received by Eljolyn Ponclara, BS in Criminology, 4th year student for being the Student Regent-CHMSU Supreme Government Federation president; Mia Nicole Ruiz, an AB Social Science student for Most Outstanding Club president and Most Outstanding Social Science student; and a Student Assistant Service Award to Romelyn Jardeniano, a BSIS student.
Arnel Mendoza, Althea Penado, and Albert Yangyang, all from the Technological University of the Philippines-Visayas who passed the August 2022 Mechanical Engineering Licensure Examination, were also recognized and awarded P2,000 each.
Seventeen grantees, five of them from TUP-V and 12 from CHMSU, each received P10,000 as financial support for their review for upcoming licensure examinations.
The city has 351 SPSM program grantees, 77 of them in TUP-V, 240 enrolled at CHMSU, 32 under a Special Program for BS in Criminology-CHMSU Binalbagan campus, and two grantees with NONESCOST, to date.
They received their educational assistance, also on Sunday, the city press release said, adding that the 77 TUP-V scholars received their P3,000 third term subsidy, 242 scholars from CHMSU received their second semester allowance of P3,000 each, and the 18 BS in Criminology students, second and third year, each got P2,300 in educational subsidy for their summer class in August.
For SY 2021-2022, there were 66 SPSM graduates, with 17 from TUP-V, 39 from CHMSU, eight finished BS in Criminology from CHMSU-Binalbagan, and two from NONESCOST. All grantees who have graduated each received P1,500, except for the four academic awardees.
Jalandoni, meanwhile, said the scholarship program has been and will continue to give hope, open doors of opportunities, and provide better future to all Talisaynon students, especially those deserving but underprivileged ones to finish college and secure a brighter future for themselves and their families.
“Hats off to Mayor Neil for continuing this project – a brainchild of the late honorable mayor Anthony Lizares – and now making it more accessible to all by extending the scope and increasing each grantee’s financial and other benefits,” he added. “To all the scholars, congratulations and may you all reach your goals, and become successful”. ||
