The prevailing statement of the scholar graduates was, “The scholarship programs helped us finish our college degrees.” 

Through the financial support of 28 scholarship programs, 118 UP Diliman (UPD) students finished their undergraduate and graduate programs on July 30.

The private and government-funded scholarship programs were implemented through the Scholarship Section of the Office of Scholarships and Grants (OSG) under the UPD Office of Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (OVCSA).

Of the 118 scholar graduates for academic year (AY) 2022-2023, 76 finished their programs with Latin honors: 16 summa cum laude, 46 magna cum laude, and 14 cum laude. 

Sixty-five of these scholars attended the gathering that the OSG organized on Aug. 9, at the 3F Audiovisual Room of the Vinzons Hall.

There, some scholars shared how the financial assistance supported them in their college life.

Ben, who finished with a degree in film, shared that his “mother is a banana vendor and my father is a pineapple farmer.” Through his scholarship, “Nakatapos po ako ng college. Ako po ngayon ay incoming law freshman student sa UP College of Law,” he added.

Patrick, a BS (geology) graduate, said his stipend was crucial because, “Nakatulong sa field work ko tulad ng pang-pocket money, emergency fund, at pagkain.”

Some used their monthly stipends to assist in their family’s expenses. 

Angelica, a BA (creative writing) graduate, said her scholarship benefited her family. She and her four other siblings were raised by her mother, who is a solo parent.

Christia, a biology graduate, narrated that her dad stopped working in 2018 due to deteriorating health. “Malaking tulong po ang scholarship para maipagpatuloy ko ang aking pag-aaral. Ngayon po ay ipagpapatuloy ko po ang pag-aaral ng medicine.”

Others used their stipends to purchase laptops, which were much needed, especially at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when the mode of learning shifted to online.

In her message to the scholar graduates, Director Jaclyn Marie L. Cauyan of the UPD Office of Counseling and Guidance said, “Mahirap man o mapanghamon ang sitwasyon na hinaharap ninyo, sikapin ninyong tingnan ang mga aral o leksyon sa mga sitwasyong ito. Instead of asking, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ Replace it with ‘What is this teaching me?”

She also advised them to pursue learning, even outside the University. 

“Huwag magsawang matuto at mag-aral. Lagi nating sinasabi na ang pagkatuto ay hindi nali-limit sa four corners of the classroom, lalong-lalo na at lalabas na kayo sa tunay na mundo. Ngayong kayo ay nakatapos na, mas malawak ang mundong inyong tatahakin, mas maraming hamon, at ibang-iba sa inyong nakagisnan dito sa loob ng pamantasan,” Cauyan said.

She reminded them to maintain their life-giving relationships.

“Ito iyong mga healthy relationship sa pagitan ng kapuwa scholar, mga kaibigan, orgmates, kasama sa kolehiyo, at siyempre, mga kapamilya. Mahalaga ngayon ang pagkakaroon ng mga kaagapay, lalo na sa pagsuong sa mundo sa labas ng UP,” she said.

In addition, Cauyan advised adopting “an attitude of gratitude.” 

“Sa inyong pag-aaral dito sa UP, may mga tumulong at sumuporta sa inyo. Sana sa hinaharap ay magkaroon din kayo ng oportunidad na tumulong din sa mga kapuwa scholar, kapag kaya na. Maghanap din tayo ng oportunidad na pasalamatan ang ating sponsors, donors, benefactors kasi malaki ang naitulong nila sa atin,” she said.

Lastly, she asked them to not forget their UP education as they explore new paths.

“Tandaan na kayo ay may malaking responsibilidad na suriin ang nangyayari sa lipunan, gumawa ng mga hakbang upang paglingkuran ang sambayanan, at magsimula ng pagbabago gaano man ito kaliit,” Cauyan said.

Scholarship programs. The 28 scholarship programs are composed of three government-funded scholarship programs (UP Oblation Scholarship, UP Presidential Leadership Scholarship, and UP Presidential Scholarship) and 25 private-funded scholarships (Angelo King Foundation Inc. Scholarship Program, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Scholarship, BPI Pagpupugay Program, Carlos Palanca Foundation Scholarship, CEPALCO Scholarship, Chinese Ambassador Scholarship, Commonwealth Foods Inc. Study Grant Scholarship, Crisologo Cabacungan Scholarship, Dean Armando J. Malay Memorial Scholarship in Journalism, Ester Tanco Scholarship, I.B. Gimenez Scholarship Grant, Insular Life Foundation College Scholarship Grant–Education, and Insular Life Foundation College Scholarship Grant–Statistics, Jenny Ileto-Severino Memorial Trust Fund, Mercedes Gimenez Rodgers Phil. Inc. [MGRPI] Scholarship Grant, Para sa Kapwa Ko Isko at Iska Scholarship, Sun Life Rising Stars Scholarship, UP ACI Philippines Scholarship Program, UP Alumni Quesada-Fulgado and Friends Scholarship Grant, UPAA DCMDVA Scholarship, UPAA Houston Scholarship Grant, UPAA in America Scholarship, UPAA Toronto Scholarship Grant, UT Foundation Inc. Scholarship, and Wharton-Penn Financial Aid Grant).

Interested students can apply for scholarship by visiting the OSG Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/UPDilimanOSG) and checking the scholarship primer for current scholarship application.