Gov. Espino awards P3.3 million worth of financial assistance to 500 PSU scholars

Lingayen- - -Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. awarded  P3.3million worth of financial assistance to 500 students from the eight component campuses of the Pangasinan State University in Pangasinan on February 17, 18 and 19 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here.

The scholarship program which is in line with the province’s education thrust has extended to 500 slots for school year 2009-2010 from its original number of 100 slots in 2002, at the time when the Governor was still a congressman.

The recipients along with their family thanked the Governor for the cash assistance of P6,000 that they received as they commended the provincial chief executive for launching such program.

Teary-eyed, Arlene Bermudez who is a mother of one of the scholars, said, “laking pasasalamat namin sa ganitong program ni Governor. Natutulungan ako nito dahil talagang hirap kami sa pera. Hindi ko mapag-aral ang anak ko kung walang ganitong tulong.”

Leodivina More, fish vendor and mother of PSU Infanta scholar Israel More,on the other hand, has this to say:” Sana dire-deretso itong programa ni Governor hanggang nakaupo siya. Dahil sa tulong niya, may magandang kinabukasan ng naghihintay sa anak ko at may pag-asa na kaming makaahon sa kahirapan.”

The increase in slots, according to the Governor, manifests the administration’s support to the poor but deserving students of the state university which he considered his second home.

The program is also aimed at strengthening quality education in the province by developing and harnessing the talents and skills of the students. Poverty, he said, should not be a hindrance in attaining a dream. “When I was your age, I have my resolve, I have focus and I have the heart to follow and pursue my dreams,” he cited.

Gov. Espino urged the PSU scholars to continue to learn, continue to study because it is only knowledge, he said, that one finds a real treasure.

Maribeth A. Ramos, one of the scholars and is now on her 3rd year Computer Science course at PSU Lingayen, disclosed that she could not have reached her present year level in college if not because of the financial assistance that she has been receiving from the governor since the second semester of 2007.

“Malaking tulong po sa aming pamilya ito. Siyam po kaming magkakapatid at pang-anim ako, tricycle driver ang tatay ko at housekeeper lang ang nanay ko. Nag-aaral po akong mabuti para matulungan ko ang pamilya ko pagka-graduate ko. Nagpapasalamat po ako kay Governor kasi binigyan n’ya kami ng pag-asa sa pamamagitan po ng programang ito,” she said.

Towards this end, the Governor pledged his commitment to the Pangasinense youth thru the implementation of various youth development projects. 

Liga ng mga Barangay President Amadeo Espino, who joined the Governor during the distribution of financial assistance, said that opportunity knocks only once thus he challenged the recipients grab the opportunity given to them and strive for the best.

“In order to succeed in life, one must possess discipline and ambition. Dapat mangarap kayo na makaalis sa kahirapan at mangarap kayo na makamtan n’yo ang tagumpay ,” he said as he added that all the development plans and programs of the province is aimed at providing a brighter future for the Pangasinense youth. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino, Rafael U Manuel III and Angie Villanueva)