3 PFI scholars ‘grateful’ amid pandemic

Three PASAR Foundation Inc. (PFI) scholars were grateful after successfully graduating from college despite years of struggle due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Angelica Teves and Elanie Castillano, who both took Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME), finished their degree in 2021, while Lovelyn Bregildo, who took of Bachelor of Secondary Education, major in English (BSED-English), completed her course last August 5, 2022. The three scholars, who graduated from Visayas State University Isabel-Campus, shared how they overcame the unprecedented times with the help of the foundation and the people around them.

Teves and Castillano, who both dreamt of becoming engineers when they were young, admitted that they almost did not get the chance to study college because of their lack of financial means. “Financial jud ang lisod sa college maong nakatabang jud ang PFI ba,” Teves expressed. The pandemic and its effects changed what Teves and Castillano thought they would do after graduation. Instead of taking the very straightforward path of taking the Mechanical Engineer Licensure Examination, they realized they were meant to get a job first. Now, they are employed at Esguerra Mappala Associates Inc. “During the pandemic, na-stuck mi. Nawa among idea unsa among sunod buhaton,” Castillano shared.

Meanwhile, Bregildo, who graduated Cum Laude and was a pioneer of the BSED-English program in VSU-Isabel, also shared how the pandemic impacted her schooling. “Challenging jud kaayo siya kay nagpandemic to unya di baya lalim akong course kay dagha’y major subjects [during the pandemic], nya nag-answer mi’g modules ta’s struggle na pud sa online class,” she imparted.

Despite the struggles, the scholars expressed their gratitude to PFI, their families, and the people around them. To them, they would not have reached this important milestone in their lives had it not been for the support that they received. “Dako kaayo ko’g pasalamat nila [PFI] kay dili lang financial ang ilahang nahatag nga tabang kundi support nga dili lang makuha sa kuwarta,” Castillano shared that the foundation allowed her to gain confidence in herself as she was not confident back then. She also thanked her parents and her sponsor for supporting her journey. Teves, who also made it with the help of her mother and sponsor, was also grateful. She said, “Tanan nakong financial needs dili na siya problema tungod sa PFI, dili lang ako ilang gitabangan apil sad ang akong pamilya.” In addition, Bregildo said she is thankful for the support she has gotten from the foundation and her family. “Thank you sa akong parents ug sa Foundation kay sila man jud ako foundation to overcome [the challenges] ngano’ng niabot ko karon sa kung asa ko, sila [PFI] gyud ang nagsupport sa akong college kay ang part na lang sa akong mama ug papa kay moral [support] nya sa finances wala na ko’y problema,” she said. The cum laude graduate also added that what she received from the foundation was more than just monetary support, as she was regularly monitored and checked by the foundation to check on her studies and other needs. This made her even more motivated to work hard.

Teves, raised by a single mother, learned about the PFI scholarship when she worked in PASAR under the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES). Her mother, working as a janitress at GGC, encouraged her to apply for the scholarship. They approached Mr. Ruben Cajigas, the executive director of PFI, who introduced the sponsorship from the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) – Isabel Chapter. On the other hand, Castillano, whose father did a lot of jobs like fishing and welding, to name a few, got help from her brother’s Science teacher, Mrs. Villaflor. After knowing that she had stopped studying, Villaflor assisted her in getting a scholarship from PFI to pursue her college studies, which made Castillano grateful to her. Bregildo, who came from a broken family, got the scholarship after asking help from her catechist as to how she could apply for it. Sea Pine Shipping Corporation sponsored both Bregildo and Castillano.

The journeys of these three scholars were proofs that poverty and even the pandemic should not be a hindrance in one’s pursuit of success.