The Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, under the visionary leadership of Governor Luigi Villafuerte, remained committed to the continuous grant of the Ka Fuerte Scholarship Program to deserving youth and students in Camarines Sur. On July 22, 2022, over 900 students, who are new and old scholars of the province, gathered at the Capitol Convention Center for the official release of their scholarship covering the past school semester.
Governor Luigi personally awarded the cheques amounting to P8.4 Million to different colleges and universities of the province.
Thirty-one-year-old Angel Jacobe from Hobo Minalabac, one the provincial scholars since 2017, shared, “Dakula pong orgulyo asin tabang an naitao po sakuyang scholarship nin huli ta life changing po ini sakuya na hale sa tios na pamilya. Sa paagi po kaini, napadagos ko an sakuyang ambisyon na makatapos sa pag-adal. Dai ko po namatean an labi-labing problema sa pinansiyal lalo na sa tuition fees huli ta yaon po an asistensya kan provincial government na padagos na itinatao sa mga kajovenan.”
She added, “Nagpapasalamat po ako ki Governor Luigi sa saiyang marhay na obheto para sa samuyang mga kajovenan orog na sa mga pangangaipuhan mi sa edukasyon. Salamat po sa programang ini na itinatao mo tanganing kami mag-asenso bilang sarong tawo.”
Jacobe’s family’s earnings on farming is not enough to sustain her schooling in a private university. Thus, her scholarship for five years was a huge relief for her family because they no longer had to worry for her school expenses.
Jacobe recently graduated Cum Laude at the University of Nueva Caceres with a degree in Bachelor of Elementary Education. The educational assistance that she will receive will be used to refund the money consumed for her college expenses.
Another proud scholar is 24-year-old Nenibeth Beloy from San Francisco, Goa, who shared how beneficial her scholarship is to her studies. According to her, “Tuwang-tuwa po ako nang maging scholar po ako kasi anlaking tulong po talaga ang naibibigay ng financial assistance. Hindi ko na po iisipin yung pambayad sa mga school projects kasi minsan po nakaka-refund pa ako. Sobrang saya kasi every sem [yung scholarship] na talagang nakakatulong lalo na ngayong pandemic.”
Beloy is the eldest among her eight siblings. Almost all of them were studying and struggling with their studies. Being a provincial scholar allowed her to pursue her studies up until now that she is a graduating student of Hotel and Restaurant Services.
“Malaking tulong po itong scholarship lalo na sa pamilya ko kasi halos naitawid rin namin yung pang-araw-araw. Mahalaga talaga ang education para maka-secure din ng work after. Masaya po ako, thankful, and proud na kasali po ako sa programang ito. On behalf of the many scholars, sa pangunguna ni Governor Luigi, malaking tulong po yung naibibigay ninyo sa buong pamilya namin dahil po sa scholarship program ninyo. Salamat po sa tulong ninyo sa aming mga estudyanteng hindi ganun ka-financially able,” she added.
The Ka Fuerte Scholarship Program is one of the top priority programs of Governor Luigi Villafuerte to help the youth and students of the province. In fact, on his first week of being a Governor, he talked to the heads of scholarship office for the revision of scholarship plans, including the dates for the application and release of scholarship grants for a faster, hassle-free, and easier process of scholarship.
