Unique Marinduque provincial scholarship program

Provincial scholarship grantees and their parents line up at the Boac residence of Gov. Carmencita O. Reyes.

A random survey of provincial scholarship programs in Philippine provinces shows that applicants have to take a qualifying examination or must pass set criteria to obtain the necessary government support. In Cavite, some 5,228 took the exam and only 519 qualified. In Aklan, students passing the qualifying exams are entitled to scholarship for four-year courses. There, students who maintain grades not lower than 2.5 per semester are provided P1,000.00 allowance, while those with grades lower than 2.5 receive P500.00 allowance per semester.

But for the provincial scholarship program in Marinduque, applicants do not have to pass qualifying exams or pass set criteria as those undertaken in the other provinces. Applicants for scholarship are merely asked to submit a Personal Information Sheet (PIS), provide character references and provide names of at least 20 persons who would be willing to support ‘Nanay’ (Gov. Carmencita O. Reyes) and her daughter ‘Ate Gina’.

“Isulat ang at least 20 mga pangalan ng mga tao na puwede mong himukin o hikayatin na sumama sa magandang layunin ng ating lalawigan sa pamamagitan ni Nanay at Ate Gina,” the PIS form states.

The same PIS form are filled out by those seeking employment or medical assistance.

‘Ate Gina’ referred to in the PIS form is Regina Victoria O. Reyes, a lawyer. She currently holds no position in the provincial government but has assumed the responsibility of turning over the cash payments to grantees.  As a must, grantees are accompanied by a parent when claiming the scholarship grant. The amount of cash, anywhere from P 3,000 to P 5,000 are paid at the Governor’s residence in Boac. “Himukin o hikayatin na sumama sa magandang layunin” apparently refers to the fact that the governor’s daughter has recently filed her certificate of candidacy for the position of Congressman of Marinduque. Gov. Reyes has, likewise, filed her bid for another second term as governor.

Meanwhile, in Bukidnon, scholarship applicants must be high school graduates who belong to the upper 10% of the graduating class with no failing grade in any subject in the senior year as certified by the high school principal and must have passed the college admission test with a grade of 85% and above or its equivalent to qualify. In Cebu province, college scholarships are awarded to the top 10 of the graduating class from public high schools for students whose family income must not be higher than P220 daily. Additional incentives are given to graduates, those who graduate with honors and Dean’s awardees.

In Batangas, Benguet and Pangasinan, similar scholarship programs are undertaken by the provincial government to indigent but qualified grantees to enable them to have access to quality education.