By John Noel E. Herrera
The Iloilo provincial government recognized 27 Persons with Disability (PWD) scholars under the Iskolar sang Iloilo Program (ISIP) for successfully graduating in School Year 2021-22.
The recognition was held during the celebration of the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week on July 29, 2022 at the Capitol.
Among the 27 PWD scholar-graduates, 16 attended the program with six of them graduating with Latin honors.
Raniel James Adolacion, Vanessa Arsenio, Jyvi Espadon, Raphy Galgo, and Joy Joy Penepona all graduated as cum laudes while Kristine Kaye Camino, who took up Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management at Iloilo Science and Technology University-Lapaz Campus, graduated as magna cum laude.
PWD scholar-graduates who graduated as cum laude received P3,000 cash gift while Camino received P5,000.
Adolacion, who took up Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, said in an interview that it is important to work hard to reach one’s dreams.
“Continue gid sa paghimakas, continue sa pag hope kay malab-ot mo gid ang handom. Mag-pray lang always,” Adolacion said in an interview.
(Just continue to work hard and be hopeful because you will surely reach your dreams. Just continue to pray)
Adolacion’s father has already passed away while his mother works as a teacher.
Camino said she is thankful for the scholarship they received from the provincial government.
She also said PWDs should not let others belittle them.
“Sa mga kapwa ko nga person with disabilities, I know my time nga gina bully kita, gina discriminate kita pero hindi gid naton ra pag-i-mind kay may mga abilities kita nga indi nanda makaya. Kinanglan lang gid naton nga mag think positive always kag i-prove naton kay nanda nga ang ila gina hambal is hindi kita amu kara. I-prove naton kay nanda nga kaya naton kag masarangan naton ang tanan,” Camino said in an interview.
(To my fellow PWDs, I know how we get bullied and discriminated against sometimes but let us not just mind it because we also have abilities that they cannot do. We just need to think positively and prove to them that what they say to us is wrong. Let’s prove to them that we can do everything.)
Since 2018, the 27 PWD scholar-graduates received a total of P41,000 cash assistance yearly, together with book and uniform allowance.
The funds for this project came from the provincial government through the Office of the Governor which was facilitated by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PSWD) Office since it was started in 2013.
