Taguig valedictorian owes achievement to city’s free education
Achiever awarded with educational financial assistance and incentives
Samrain Umpara received a one-of-a-kind gift during her graduation day: a P30,000 educational financial assistance from the city government of Taguig.
The 17-year-old deserved it. She graduated at the top of 227 graduates from Taguig Science High School last April 6. Aside from that, she also received the Senator Renato “Compañero” Cayetano Leadership Award.
The gift was given out as part of a merit scheme that grants financial assistance benefits ranging from P10,000 to P25,000 to high school students graduating with honors.
Other incentives came the way of students that exhibited excellence in school. Incentives ranging from P2,500 to P5,000 were also given by the Senator Renato “Compañero” Cayetano Foundation and House Deputy Speaker and Taguig 2nd District Rep. Pia Cayetano.
“Who wouldn’t be encouraged to study when everything you need — from school uniforms to school supplies — is already given for free?” Umpara said.
That is all part of the city’s agenda to make education a realistic choice for all Taguigeños.
At the center of this is the city’s touted Lifeline Assistance for Neighbors In-need (LANI), a scholarship program designed to cater to all Taguigeño youth who want to pursue their dreams.
The LANI scholarship has eight types: Premier, Full, Priority, Basic, SUC/LCU, Basic Plus, Leadership and Educators Advancement and Development (LEAD) and Review.
Last July 2017, the city government of Taguig increased the allowances of city scholars which now ranged from P15,000 to P60,000, depending on what type of scholarship the student has availed of — Premier, Full, Priority, Basic, SUC/LCU, Basic Plus, Leadership and Educators Advancement and Development (LEAD) or Review.
Those availing of Basic, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs)/Local Colleges and Universities (LCUs) and Basic Plus scholarship types receive assistance ranging from P15,000 to P20,000 per school year.
Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano also expanded the coverage of the Merit Incentive Program of the LANI scholarship program by extending it to those in Basic; SUCs/LUCs; and Basic Plus scholarship types. Prior to this, only those under the Full; Premier; and Priority scholarship types enjoy the P5,000 per semester Merit Incentive.
The Merit Incentive Program is for scholars with semestral weighted average (WA) of 1.75 or higher (or its equivalent). Thus, one whose WA is 1.75 or higher every semester gets additional P10,000 on top of their allowances. This means that those under these scholarship types can receive as much as P25,000 to P30,000 every school year depending on their WA.
Additionally, Taguig graduates who are preparing for their licensure or bar examinations receive P20,000 if they are taking the law, medical, bar and board exams; and P15,000 for other professions.
The city-run Taguig City University (TCU) continues to offer free college education so high school graduates can pursue education up to the tertiary level. TCU students are also full scholars of the city since the local government shoulders all their tuition fees and miscellaneous expenses.
So what’s next for the third of four kids of a local government employee at that?
“I’ve taken several entrance exams at universities such as De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas where I already passed; but I am currently waiting for the UPCAT results,” she said, smiling. She is hoping to become a doctor someday.
To the leader who made sure she and the many other young people in Taguig could study free of charge, Umpara said: “To Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, thank you very much for making sure that the city’s programs and services are always felt by Taguigeño students. I hope you continue to inspire us as we take on the challenge and pursue our dreams.” ###
FILIPINO VERSION
Taguig valedictorian inalay ang tagumpay sa programang libreng edukasyon ng lungsod
Labis ang saya ni Samrain Umpara dahil nakatanggap siya ng kakaibang regalo sa kanyang graduation day: Isang educational financial assistance mula sa Taguig City government na nagkakahalagang P30,000.
Marapat lamang ito para sa 17-anyos na estudyante dahil nagtapos siya ng nasa top honor sa listahan ng 227 na graduates mula sa Taguig Science High School noong April 6. Sa kabila pa nito, nakatanggap din siya ng Senator Renato “Compañero” Cayetano Leadership Award.
Ang financial gift ay inihandog sa kanya ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Taguig bilang bahagi ng merit scheme na layuning magbigay ng benepisyong P10,000 hanggang P25,000 sa mga high school student na magtatapos na may honor.
Ang iba pang incentives para sa mga estudyanteng nagpakita ng kagalingan sa akademiya sa eskwelahan na may halaga mula P2,500 hanggang P5,000 ay malugod na ibinigay ni House Deputy Speaker at Taguig 2nd District Rep. Pia Cayetano, at ng Senator Renato “Compañero” Cayetano Foundation.
“Wala na tayong rason para mawalan ng pag-asa na makatapos ng pag-aaral dahil lahat ng pangangailangan ng isang estudyante sa Taguig–mula uniporme, school supply at mga gamit sa eswkela–ay libre lahat,” wika ni Umpara.
At ito naman talaga ang pangako ng lungsod, na mabigyan ng libre at dekalidad na edukasyon ang mga Taguigeño.
Sa gitna ng lahat ng pag-alalay sa mga estudyante ay ang programang Lifeline Assistance for Neighbors In-need (LANI), isang scholarship program na dinisenyo para sa mga estudyanteng Taguigeño na nais makamit ang pangarap ng makatapos ng pagaaral.
Ang LANI scholarship ay may walong kategorya: Premier, Full, Priority, Basic, SUC/LCU, Basic Plus, Leadership and Educators Advancement and Development (LEAD) at ang Review.
Noong July 2017, itinaas ng city government ng Taguig ang allowances ng scholars na ngayon ay aabot na mula P15,000 hanggang P60,000, depende ito sa kategorya na inaplayan kagaya ng Premier, Full, Priority, Basic, SUC/LCU, Basic Plus, Leadership and Educators Advancement and Development (LEAD) o ang Review.
Sa mga na ilalim ng Basic, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs)/Local Colleges and Universities (LCUs) at ang Basic Plus scholarship, sila ay makakakuha ng assistance mula P15,000 hanggang P20,000 kada school year.
Pinalawig din ni Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano ang coverage ng Merit Incentive Program sa ilalim ng LANI scholarship program sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalawak nito sa Basic; SUCs/LUCs; at Basic Plus scholarships. Noon kasi pawang mga nasa Full; Premier; at Priority scholarship types lamang ang nakakakuha ng P5,000 per semester na Merit Incentive.
Ang Merit Incentive Program ay para sa mga scholar na may semestral weighted average (WA) na 1.75 o mas mataas pa. Samakatuwid, ang mga merong WA na 1.75 o mataas pa kada semester ay makakakuha ng karagdagang P10,000 sa kabila pa ng kanilang nakukuhang allowance. Ibig sabihin nito ang mga nasa ilalim ng scholarship types ay nakakakuha ng P25,000 hanggang P30,000 kada school year depende sa kanilang WA.
Bukod pa rito, ang mga Taguig graduate na naghahanda para sa kanilang licensure o bar examinations ay merong karagdagang P20,000 kung sila ay kumukuha ng law, medical, bar at board exams; at P15,000 naman para sa ibang profession.
Ang Taguig City University (TCU) ay patuloy na nagbibigay ng libreng college education upang ang mga high school graduate ay magpatuloy ng pagaaral hanggang sa tertiary level. Ang mga TCU students din ay pawang mga full scholar ng lungsod dahil sagot lahat ng lokal na pamahalaan ang tuition fees at miscellaneous expenses.
So ano ang kasunod na plano para kay Umpara?
“I’ve taken several entrance exams at universities such as De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas where I already passed; but I am currently waiting for the UPCAT results,” masayang sinabi ni Umpara. Balak din niyang maging duktor.
Kanyang mensahe sa mga halal na pinuno ng lungsod, sinabi ni Umpara na: “To Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, thank you very much for making sure that the city’s programs and services are always felt by Taguigeño students. I hope you continue to inspire us as we take on the challenge and pursue our dreams.” ###