To excel academically regardless of language, skin color and culture differences is something to be proud of. Thus, foreign students studying in various institutions in the country and excelling beyond numerous barriers they are faced with is something to celebrate about.
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THE FINALISTS AND WINNERS
OF THE 36TH SEARCH FOR THE
MOST OUTSTANDING
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
(from left): Daniel Egurube of
the Univeristy of Santo Tomas,
Kim Sang Mi of UP Los Baños,
Neti Sampson of Assumption
College, Bipin Kumar Jha of
the University of Northern
Philippines, Fang Fang Li of De
La Salle University - Manila,
Prajwol Bhurtel of Saint Loius
University, Sharon Adelina
Limansantoso of DLSU-College
f Saint Benilde, Ma Yaoqiang of
UP Diliman, Ekima Sampson of
Adamson University, Bonifasius
Marvin of Far Eastern Univeristy,
and Hajir Mohamed Shahein of
Virgen Milagrosa University
Foundation. | | To recognize these students’ efforts, the Philippine International Friendship Organization Foundation, Inc. (PIFO) has recently conducted their annual activity, The Search for the Three Most Outstanding International Students in the Philippines, now on its 36th year.
PIFO ended its search with an awarding ceremony held at the School of Economics Auditorium at the University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City.
"Place yourselves in the position of the foreign students, with all the confusing signs, sweltering heat and knowing that you are different from everyone else. PIFO is established to assist these foreign students," PIFO Board member Barbara Wong-Fernandez relates.
PIFO is a private non-profit organization originally called the "Welcome Strangers Club of the Philippines," which was first conceived in 1952 aiming to help all foreign students in the country. It seeks to introduce international students to every aspect of Philippine life and culture, and conversely to expose Filipinos to the life and culture of foreign students.
This is achieved by welcoming, entertaining, and giving all the necessary aid and assistance to foreign students while in the country, taking them on conducted tours of rural and urban communities and providing them with all the guidance and information needed. Generally, it aims to promote social, educational and spiritual fellowship between Filipinos and foreign students as a sound basis for international goodwill and understanding. The search is just one way to achieve the objectives of the organization.
"The search is an annual activity that is open to all undergraduate international students with non-immigrant visas, have not previously earned a bachelor’s degree, and at least completed one semester in a recognized Philippine school," Fernandez explains.
The search is aimed at focusing community interest upon the presence of foreign students in the country. One objective is to promote international friendship and understanding through friendly concern for their welfare and to motivate them to attain quality scholastic performance.
Only 11 foreign student nominees made it through the finals this year and the ones who stood out from the rest and claimed the top three spots as most outstanding international students were Ma Yaoqiang (China) of UP Diliman, Ekima Sampson (Nigeria) of Adamson University and Prajwol Bhurtel (Nepal) of Saint Louis University.
The winners were chosen based on their academic excellence, school and community involvement, and leadership qualities. At the final stage of the search, the students were screened through four different phases: individual interviews, a written test, extemporaneous speech, and a talent portion. Then, the nominees were ranked according to their weighted ranks in academic average, interview, written and oral portions.
Sampson, one of this year's winners, is a 3rd year Pharmacy student of Adamson University (AdU). She has been staying in the Philippines for two and a half years now, after her father was transferred in the country as an expatriate.
Ekima describes herself as "someone who is very adventurous and thirsty for knowledge."
"I love a good challenge and I like to push myself to see how far I can go and what I can achieve. A lot of the time, I really surprise myself. Don’t get me wrong, I also love my chill time just as much as the next person, but when it’s time to sit up, I try my best to do so. I’m also very competitive and I hate to come out at the bottom. The top is a whole lot better, wouldn’t you say?" she exclaims.
After graduation, Ekima plans to move on to medical school. In the meantime, as any student would do whenever there is free time in his/her hands, she loves dancing, reading, shopping, watching TV and movies, surfing the net, swimming, hanging out with friends and singing, which she showcased at the ceremony.
"It’s quite tough being away from some of my loved ones and friends back home but that’s been made a whole lot better by the Internet which allows me to communicate with them very easily. Although Filipinos are very hospitable and I’ve made a lot of friends here who have made my stay more enjoyable and comfortable," she shares.
On the other hand when she leaves the country, "I will miss my friends the most and how funny and silly they can be. They always know how to make me smile without even trying and I will miss their boisterous jokes and laughter," she relates.
Two other special awards were also given to deserving recipients. Neti Sampson, sister of Ekima, won the talent award while Bhurtel won the friendship award.
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