By MERLINA R. HERNANDO
Basically, this is an evening for celebration of education,” says British Ambassador Paul Dimond during the Chevening Scholarships Awards held at his residence in North Forbes park, Makati recently. Explaining how his government acknowledges the Filipinos' great importance to education, the ambassador enthuses, “That is basically why we continue to encourage them to study in Britain to help them in the development of their certain fields.”
Each year, a group of carefully selected Filipinos from a wide-range of backgrounds are given the opportunity to join over 2,500 other new scholars from all parts of the globe who are looking also forward to studying in the United Kingdom.
According to Gill Westaway, director of British Council, the Chevening Scholarships programme is one way of offering present and future leaders, decision-makers and opinion formers around the world the opportunity to benefit from a British education. “Every year we chose young bright Filipinos who are outstanding in their fields but who also works in an area which is going to bring the Philippines into a long lasting relationship with the UK typically studies in international affairs, environment and development, politics, law, business, economics, human rights, child rights and other related subjects,” she says.
Having almost 800 applicants in almost all fields of expertise this year, Westaway emphasized on the fact that the program gave wider opportunities to the field of journalism. “That is because we believe that they are going to influence the country in the way they think.”
EDUCATION ENHANCED IN BRITAIN
One of the most significant contributions modernization has brought to man is bridging geographical barriers. Since man has an unending zest for having greater knowledge, there is no reason why anybody must not try to find whatever they are yearning for completion.
Helping the Filipinos reconstruct learning that would enable them autonomously to seek that completion, the British Embassy grants the infamous Chevening Scholarships award to 11 deserving Filipino scholars who will be taking courses in British colleges or universities for a maximum of one year for a master's degree for a short, vocationally oriented studies.
This year's batch of scholars from the Philippines for academic year 2004-2205 are Maria Cynthia Castillejos of NEDA, Kane Errol Chia of Senate of the Philippines, Nińa Marie Corpuz of ABS-CBN channel 2, lawyer Rodel Cruz, undersecretary of Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, Fe Marie De Sagon of Office of Rep. Florencio Abad, House of Representatives, lawyer Enrique De la Cruz Jr. of Ponce Enrile, Reyes and Manalastas Law Offices, Charithie Joaquin of Institute for National Security Studies, Rodrigo Manicad Jr. of GMA 7, Datu Ishak Mastura of DTI-ARMM, lawyer Andre Palacios, associate secretary of Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel. Most of them will leave to the UK in September to take a year of master's degree and the journalists will take the short courses.
“We want to raise the profile of UK studies in the Philippines and we encourage more Filipinos to try it,” Westaway ends. The event was also attended by past Chevening scholars and members of the Bristish Alumni Association (BAA) which also honored their jubilarian alumni with medallions and certificates of recognition.
Certificates of recognition were also awarded to last year's batch of scholars which include Sarah Lou Arriola, International Human Rights from the University of Essex, Norietta Balderrama, Clinical Observer in the Department of Forensic Psychiatry, King's College London, Maricar Bautista, International Broadcast Journalism from the Thomson Foundation, Gerlyn May Catangui, MBA from the University of Birmingham, and Vinia Datinguinoo, Environment Development from the University of Reading. Other awardees were Edna Gapuz, Environment and Development from the University of the East Anglia, Zimbodillion Mosende, Demography and Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Sheila Oviedo, International Relations from the University of Lancaster, Nawal Nasreena Sampaco, Development Studies from the University of Manchester, Rowena Tan, Child Law and Policy from the University of Brunel, and Eleuterio Diao IV, General Studies from the University of Bristol.
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT
“It was an amazing experience!” exclaims Dr. Risa Yapchiongco, one of the jubilarian as she narrates her vivid memories when she was sent to the UK nine years ago. She was nominated by the Department of Health and was chosen as one of the scholars after the final interview. She took a short course on Health Education and Promotion for Primary Health Care at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. “It was the right time because the department needs some theoretical backgrounds and ideas on how to go about and improve the Primary Health Care program we launched back then,” she shares.
The present chief health program officer from the Bureau of Local Health Development also reveals that they were exposed to various methods of promoting health and education. “When I came back, I presented the plan and we implemented what we developed during my stay and I can say that what learned there is very applicable for a developing country like ours.”
Being there for the first time, Yapchiongco recalls that the first adjustment she had gone through is with regards to the weather. “We went there at the height winter, living in a tropical country all my life, I wasn't used to that so I had to wear so many layers of outfit.”
There was also a rich exchange of experiences and sharing of various approaches in health. because her classmates also came from different countries and nationalities. “Aside from theoretical courses, we also had visits to the agencies promoting health as well. It was very helpful because we learned how to apply them properly,” she adds. They go to school Monday to Friday and even on Saturdays when they have field works. “Sundays are meant for our assignments,” she laughs.
Yapchiongco also encourages the young people to take scholarships like these because they would provide a broader perspective in their field of perspective. “It's very interesting that Filipinos can go there and look at the British culture and lifestyle not actually to copy them but to study the principles and concepts that would contribute a lot for our improvement,” she ends.
LOOKING FORWARD
Rodrigo “Jiggy” Manicad Jr. of GMA 7 enthuses, “I'm excited and happy at the same time because among so many applicants, I was chosen to be part of this prestigious scholarship program.” Out of so many applicants, 30 of them were chosen for the final interview. “I'm really thankful for this because despite the very tough selection process, I was still able to make it,” he reveals.
Jiggy thinks that by taking the preliminary interview lightly, he was able to convince the final interviewers that include Wesatway and Katie Parker of the British Council. “Since I'm applying in either documentary production or international war reporting, I just told them my experiences during my coverage especially in Iraq and Baghdad,” he explains.
This is his first time to apply in any international scholarship program. He will be taking the short course for three months and he's leaving on the first week of June. “I think the program will be extensive since we will only take it for a short period of time. And I think my training there will really help me on how to produce stories that would measure up to international standards,” he ends.
By that using the information gained through education properly to the extent of his greatest capacity, one could undoubtedly make a big difference single-handedly.
