1st SGPPA Students Congress: A Break to Breath

   

        The two-day SGPPA Congress was meant to be a long vacation for the SGPPA Grantees from the bulk and pressure of their academic requirements and a moment of pausing from thoughts of teachers and lessons. The Congress cum SGP-PA Consultation and Meeting was held at Eden Nature Park and Resort in  Toril, Davao City last July 30 -August 1, 2014 with the theme: “Madasigong Kabataan alang sa Madaugon nga Kaugmaon”. The event was highly participated by the SGP-PA grantees in different State Universities and Colleges (SUC’s) together with the partner agencies: Commission in Higher Education (CHED), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s). The congress aimed to identify issues, gaps and concerns among beneficiaries, formulate policies and guidelines for better implementation of the program and lastly, the draft a strategic plan concerning the issues.

         Dr. Raul C. Alvarez Jr., Regional Director of CHED XI, opened the program and generously gave his words of wisdom to the grantees. In the afternoon sessions, SGP-PA grantees showed their prowess and abilities in brainstorming suggestions, opinions and recommendations for SGPPA issues discussed in the group forum. After the intense educational debate, breath taking performances during the “Solidarity Night” among SUC’s grantees put the venue down.

            The next day, the tour around Eden Nature Park and Resort made the grantees held their breath. All participants were amazed with the beauty of nature and considered the experience as one of a kind. “I am so happy that I was chosen to represent DNSC. Experience such as this is worth remembering and made me realize how special is SGPPA to CHED.”, said of one of the DNSC participants of the congress.

The program was closed by awarding and giving of certificates to the participants. 
(Danica Sangilan, 2^nd Yr SGP-PA).

DNSC SGPPA Grantees: Proud CHED Awardees

Prof. Josiedel Santamaria, Reggie Bitas and Jerrynold Escote with CHED Commissioner Patricia B. Licuanan

Out from seven Student Grant  In-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGPPA) awardees all over the country, two were from Davao del Norte State College.  They were Jerrynold V. Escote and Regie S. Bitas, both 2^nd Year BS Information Technology students. Escote and Bitas put the College once again into the glare of public interest as they took pride in receiving the awards given by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) during the highlight of its 20^th Anniversary Celebration with the theme, “Access, Capacity, Excellence: Higher Education for National Development and Global Competitiveness”  last May 19-23, 2014 at CHED Auditorium, UP Diliman, Quezon City. Escote and Bitas and other awardees received medals, certificates of recognition and CHED Pins as fitting tribute for their being student achievers under the SGPPA Program.

     Aside from Escote and Bitas, other grantees who also received the same honors were: Laila D. Campaner, a Bachelor in Special Education student of West Visayas State University (WVSU) Main Campus, Dean’s Lister for 2 semesters; Jonalyn B. Lucena, a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture student of WVSU-Calinog Campus, Dean’s Lister for 2 semesters; Johnny A. Lutrago, a BS Agriculture student of WVSU-College of Agriculture and Forestry, Dean’s Lister for 2 semesters; Glen Michelle Y. Mera, a Bachelor of Secondary Education student of Camarines Norte State College , Dean’s Lister for 2 semesters and the last but not the least, Gay Mayrell P. Abrogena, a fresh graduate of Bachelor of Elementary Education of Mariano Marcos State University  who garnered a grade point average of 1.5 during her last semester in the university. “These awardees provide mirrors to their fellow grantees for them to see that there are a lot of good things life can offer. I am very much proud of Regie Bitas and Jerrynold Escote for bringing the college into the national scene. I am a proud mama now…feel na feel jud nako. Everything worth it.” ended Prof. Josiedel Santamaria, Scholarship Chair, with smile when during an interview upon arrival.

     During the awarding ceremony, Escote was applauded after he told the auditorium his story on how the program touches his life during his 3- minute testimonial speech. He even glimpsed on his reactions when he heard the news that he was one of the grantees. “ Sa araw na iyon, labis ang aking kagalakan, lalong-lalo na ang king mga magulang. Nasabo ko tuloy sa aking sarili na isa akong mapalad na mabigyan ng pagkakataong makapagtapaos, mabago ang buhay, makatikim ng ginhawa, makatulong sa pamilya at maging mabuting mamamayan”, said Escote. Jerrynold Escote is the 5^th child of the 14 children of Mr. Nelson and Ms. Sabina Escote. 

The awardees pose with CHED personalities, Dr. Isabel Inlayo and
Mr. Christopher Fulido

     Prior to the CHED’s awarding, Escote and Bitas were also recognized as Dean’s Listers during the 39^thRecognition Rites of DNSC together with other grantees who excelled in academics. Other SGPPA dean’s listers were Nova Fe Libtuan (BSFi) , Marklin Delos Santos (BSFi), Christy Marie Edaño (BSFi), and Rhea May Acaso (BSIT). Aside from fulfilling its mission of catering the deserving clientele particularly the underprivileged and underserved, DNSC provides more than 400 SGPPA grantees a home and family.

     The Student Grant In Aid Program or SGPPA is one of the STuFAPs Programs of  CHED jointly implemented with the Philippines Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). The program aims to contribute to the National Government Thrusts in effectively addressing poverty alleviation by increasing the number of graduates in higher education among poor households particularly from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) members and to get these graduates employed in high-value added occupations in order to lift their families out of poverty and contribute to national development.