RAIZA A. GANZON, daughter of an OFW working in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and a student of the Future Generation Philippine International School in Saudi Arabia topped the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) administered in November 2012.

Aside from Ganzon, two other students from KSA landed in the top 20. Another 11 students who took the competitive exams qualified for the OWWA’s Scholarship Program. Under the Scholarship Program, the OWWA provides scholars with a maximum of Php60,000.00 financial assistance per school year for courses leading to a four or five-year baccalaureate degree in any college or university of his/her choice.

OWWA Administrator Carmelita S. Dimzon announced that out of the 4,506 qualified dependents of OWWA members who took the exams, 105 Top Examinees were selected for School Year 2013-2014. Sixteen (16) examinees tied for Rank Number 90 and this resulted to an increase in the number of beneficiaries from the usual Top 100 to Top 105.

“We should not deprive these intelligent, diligent OFW dependents who want to achieve their goals through our scholarship program. More than anything else, they need our support and guidance,” Dimzon added. As a teacher herself, Dimzon looks at the program as a way to empower the youth. “After all, education is the leverage between the rich and the poor. These scholars should serve as an inspiration to other OFW children whose ultimate goal is not only to help their parents, but make them proud of their achievements,” the OWWA Administrator said.

Every year, the EDSP is given by the DOST-SEI simultaneously in Manila, Batangas, Pangasinan, Cavite, Davao City, Laguna, NCR, Iligan City, Tagbilaran City, Naga City, Iligan City, Negros Occidental, Butuan City, Bataan. Same examination is administered in Riyadh and Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and State of Bahrain.

The OWWA grants scholarship to qualified dependents of OWWA members to equip them with knowledge and skills to serve as passports to a bright future. The OWWA EDSP helps the dependents of OFWs to be gainfully employed once they finish their studies.

In 2012, 20 OWWA scholars graduated cum laude with degrees in nursing, public health, and occupational therapy. From among honor graduates, 11 passed the licensure exams in nursing with one of them landing among the top ten placers and one passed the licensure exam for Accountancy.

Last March 2013, the Agency is very pleased to have in its list of EDSP graduates who garnered accolades and honors because of their exemplary skills in studies that include one (1) Summa Cum Laude, (OWWA Region 6); nine (9) Magna Cum Laude one (1) from OWWA Region 5, one (1) from OWWA Region 6, and seven (7) from the National Capital Region (NCR); eleven (11) Cum Laude one (1) from OWWA Region 11, one (1) OWWA-CARAGA, three (3) OWWA–Region 7; one (1) OWWA-Region 5; and two (2) Honorable Mention one (1) OWWA-Region 3, and one (1) OWWA-NCR. These scholars finished their degrees in Electrical Engineering, B.S. Computer Engineering, BS

Math/Accountancy, BS Biology, BS Behavioral Science, among others. They studied in the most prestigious schools such as the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, Far Eastern University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos where the Summa Cum Laude came from, to name a few. OWWA sees more honor students in the roster of its Scholarship Program in the years to come.

TOP 20 OWWA- EDSP Scholars for year 2012-2013 are the following:

1. GANZON, RAIZA ALMONTE, Future Generation Philippine International School, Murooj Area, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;

2. VALERIO, PARDA LAARNIE PAMAN, Philippine Science High School, Calamba City, Laguna;

3. DELA CRUZ, SUMMER J LEN REESE AVELLONES, Cavite National High School, Naic, Cavite;

4. PALILLO, CARMELLE THERESE AQUINO, San Pablo City Science High School, San Pablo, Laguna;

5. VIVO, JORAM NELSON ll PARRAS,Muntinlupa Science High School, Muntinlupa City;

6. MONDOÑEO, RANNIKA ANN SALVATIERRA, Philippine Science High School-EVC, Tacloban City;

7. DALUMPINES, ANGELIKA FERRER, Makati Science High School, Manila;

8. BRUAN, MA. TRIXIA JOYCE CHAVEZ, Philippines Science High School, Quezon City;

9. BUNAC, FELISA JOANNA LUCES, Pampanga High School, San Fernando, Pampanga;

10. ARANZANSO, CLIFFORD ARDUO, Muntinlupa Science High School, San Pedro, Laguna;

11. LOSANES CHRISTINE ANGELICA LEAL, Philippine Science High School-Western Visayas, Iloilo City;

12. AZUR, ROMIE ANGELO GRANJA, Philippine Science High School-Western Visayas, Passi City, Iloilo;

13. QUINDOZA, RISSA GRACE MARIE MENDOZA, Philippine Science High School-Southern Mindanao, Davao City;

14. GARCIA, CARLOS EMMANUEL PASAGUI, International Philippine School-al Khobar, Al-Khobar, KSA;

15. BORROMEO, JAMIE ALGARA, Elite International School, Riyadh, KSA;

16. YAP, MARIA BETINA CLARISE OLIVERA, St. Benedict School of Novaliches, Caloocan City;

17. BARCELON, RAMIL JOHN BIONG, Regional Science High School lll, Olongapo City;

18. ROBERTO, RAFEY JHAY SANGKULA, Pilar College, Zamboanga City;

19. BAKGUS, ALLEN JOHN SANTOS, Manila Science High School, Navotas City

20. POLLENTES, MARC ANGELO URBINA, Muntinlupa Science High School, Muntinlupa City

Region 4-A (CALABARZON) topped the other regions in terms of number of passers, followed by National Capital Region (NCR), Regions lll and Vl and Middle East.

Below is the complete list for this year’s successful examinees. The new entrants for OWWA-EDSP will be presented to the public during a press conference in their honor to serve as inspiration to the other children of OFWs. xxx

ADVOCACY AND SOCIAL MARKETING DIVISION (ASMD)
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)
Tel. No. (632) 891-7601 loc. 5414, 5603 or (632) 891-7741
Email address: [email protected]/ [email protected]
Website: www.owwa.gov.ph