P495 makes three cups of Starbucks or Milk Tea. It could also be a few entrance tickets to a movie, or a dinner for two in Bon Chon. Add a little more and it's even a cute dress from Forever 21. Maybe you already know that.
But did you know that P495 is also the enrollment fee public schools charge for each high school student? And that, in Manicahan, Zamboanga, children of fishermen and farmers stop schooling because they cannot provide for this enrollment fee and for the other costs a high school education entails?
However, thanks to the sacrifices of our tireless donors, these children have been given hope. For school year 2011-2012, they were given the privilege of becoming scholars of KRIS Library-Zamboanga; they were able to receive an ample amount of money for enrollment and other school costs. I am so glad to report that, yesterday, most of them had graduated with flying colors.
Some topped their respective batches. Some were specially awarded for service and leadership. There was even this one brilliant girl who almost couldn't breathe because of the weight of the many, many medals she received that day.
When I saw the graduation pictures myself, I couldn't help but get teary-eyed. This is who they are right now; this is a promise of how bright their futures can be. But what if we were not there to help them? What if they had stopped schooling? I dread to think of what futures will remain for them if that happened.
Sometimes, we're not thankful enough. On the other side of our world, students our age clamor and suffer to have the little things we're not thankful enough for. Our dinners and clothes and snacks are worth so much more to them than these things are to us. And the cost of our education, no doubt, rises way above P495.
So, today, as we stand at the end of yet another academic year, let us not forget to be thankful. Let us not forget who had worked and perspired to bring us here. This is to be done so that we, ourselves, will work and perspire towards the goal of a fulfilled education.
Let's not take it for granted.
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But did you know that P495 is also the enrollment fee public schools charge for each high school student? And that, in Manicahan, Zamboanga, children of fishermen and farmers stop schooling because they cannot provide for this enrollment fee and for the other costs a high school education entails?
However, thanks to the sacrifices of our tireless donors, these children have been given hope. For school year 2011-2012, they were given the privilege of becoming scholars of KRIS Library-Zamboanga; they were able to receive an ample amount of money for enrollment and other school costs. I am so glad to report that, yesterday, most of them had graduated with flying colors.
Some topped their respective batches. Some were specially awarded for service and leadership. There was even this one brilliant girl who almost couldn't breathe because of the weight of the many, many medals she received that day.
When I saw the graduation pictures myself, I couldn't help but get teary-eyed. This is who they are right now; this is a promise of how bright their futures can be. But what if we were not there to help them? What if they had stopped schooling? I dread to think of what futures will remain for them if that happened.
Sometimes, we're not thankful enough. On the other side of our world, students our age clamor and suffer to have the little things we're not thankful enough for. Our dinners and clothes and snacks are worth so much more to them than these things are to us. And the cost of our education, no doubt, rises way above P495.
So, today, as we stand at the end of yet another academic year, let us not forget to be thankful. Let us not forget who had worked and perspired to bring us here. This is to be done so that we, ourselves, will work and perspire towards the goal of a fulfilled education.
Let's not take it for granted.
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The girl being awarded with a medal is Jovelle Czerina Ramos. In her first year at Manicahan National High School, she was the fifth highest-ranking student academically. She had also garnered the prestigious Service Award.
Judith Ann Pangan, meanwhile, is Jovelle's friend. Judith was the third highest-ranking student in her batch.
Jheo Jimenez, the son of a public school teacher, graduated from Manicahan Central School as the Top 5 in his batch. He also received a special Journalism Award.
Sitti Nurhanina Bahasuan also graduated from Manicahan Central School with flying colors; she was the 8th highest-ranking student.
This is the brilliant girl I was talking about.
She is Joan Claire Pangan. She graduated as valedictorian of Manicahan National High School and was also awarded the Young Peace Weaver Recognition, the Golden Crescent for Academic Excellence, the Golden Crescent for Leadership, and merits from the Philippine Senate, Vice President Jejomar Binay, the American Career Training Institute, and the Universidad de Zamboanga.
Someday, she wants to be a teacher
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