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Ten (10) new “lumad” or indigenous people college scholars are being recruited for school year 2010-2011 by the Mindanawon Initiatives for Cultural Dialogue (Mindanawon), a Jesuit-run non-government organization (NGO) based at Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) in Davao City.
Even as the recruitment was completed the Aboitiz-owned electric utility Davao Light and Power Co., a major supporter of Mindanawon, released yesterday its P100 thousand financial subsidy to the scholarship program.
Bienamer D. Garcia, Vice President for Administration and Retail Services Group, handed over the check to Fr. Albert Alejo, S.J., Chairperson of the Board of Mindanawon. The hand-over was witnessed by Fr. Marcel Remon S.J., of the University of Nanur in Belgium who is also handling social action work for the Jesuit community in that European country.
Aside from Fr. Remon also present to witness the release of the financial subsidy for the Lumads’ college education were Ms. Perpy C. Tio, Mindanawon Executive Director, scholars Emman Dapaing of the Mansaka tribe (2nd year Law, Ateneo de Davao University); Sheena Mae Onlos, Mansaka (2nd year Law, Ateneo); Krizza Feb Udal, Bagobo Tagabawa (1st year Office Management – Holy Child College); and Jennifer Manial, Arumanen-Manobo (March 2009 graduate and now a Mindanawon Training Assistant).
The other newly recruited Lumad scholars besides Dapaing, Udal and Onlos, are Jenefer Ambe – Bagobo Tagabawa; Jonathan Amban – Obo Manobo; Jethro Anta – Obo Manobo; Anelie Balong – Mangguangan tribe; Joan Basoc - Mandaya; Carl Malinog – T’boli; and Kevin Malinog – also a T’boli. They join other indigenous people scholars recruited in the earlier years and are now in different year levels in various universities and colleges in Davao City
The Lumad college scholarship program is implemented by Mindanawon, in cooperation with other private colleges and universities in Davao, and supported mostly by corporations and generous individuals. The scholars are housed in a residential place in downtown Davao closer to the schools they are studying. They are being brought to the city from their respective upland dwellings.
Participating schools provide tuition privileges to the scholars while some corporations and individuals give subsidies to the lumad students' other requirements in their studies and stay in the city.
Davao Light for its part, subsidizes the scholars book and research material needs in each school year of their scholarship.
Meanwhile, a good number of lumad graduates under the Mindanawon scholarship program are now gainfully employed in various institutions. Some are teaching in public and private schools, some in non-government organization (NGO) work, in call centers, one in the Middle East doing social work, and one connected with the Islamic Bank of the Philippines (formerly Amanah Bank) based in Cotabato City
Caption for photo:
Davao Light Vice President for Administration and Retail Services Group Bien D. Garcia (left at center) hands over to Fr. Albert Alejo, S.J., the check for the company’s financial subsidy to the Lumad college scholars studying in various universities and colleges in Davao City under the education program implemented by the Mindanawon Initiatives for Cultural Dialogue. Fr. Alejo is the group’s chairperson. Witnessing the occasion is another Jesuit priest from Belgium, Fr. Marcel Remon, S.J. (second from left) and Davao Light ComRel Manager Vic Sumalinog (far left). Also with Fr. Alejo’s group are Mindanawon’s executive director Perpy Tio, and four of the Lumad scholarship beneficiaries.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 29 July 2010 14:13 )
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