Tarlac State University’s Scholarship and Financial Assistance Unit (SFAU) forged a partnership with Aslag Ning Pag-asa Tarlak Inc. on Thursday morning (February 15) at the Main AVR.
Aslag Ning Pag-asa Tarlak Inc. is a non-governmental organization focused on development work inspired by Atty. Leni Robredo's Angat Buhay Foundation.
This NGO is composed of volunteers from different professions united by a common goal to help people from the marginalized sector and improve the lives of Tarlaqueños.
Through the partnership, each student will receive 16,000 pesos of financial assistance per semester under the Aslag Ning Pag-asa Tarlak scholarship program.
The beneficiaries of the scholarship grant are fourth-year student Shiela Ayyen S. Lacuata from the College of Science and first-year student Lanie L. Anabo from the College of Education.
“After class po, three times pa po ako sa ospital. Nakakapagod po talaga. Talagang ang aim ko po ay makagraduate po ako kahit may sakit po ako… Thank you so much po sa TSU at sa Aslag Ning Pag-asa Tarlak dahil kahit last year ko na po ay may swerte pang dumating,” Lacuata said in an interiew.
23-year-old Lacuata is currently undergoing dialysis three times a week because of stage five kidney failure.
Meanwhile, Anabo, a member of the Aeta tribe from Sitio Calangitan in Capas town, also shared her determination to excel academically and make her parents proud despite financial difficulties and the challenges of commuting to the university from a remote sitio.
“Hindi kami naghahanap ng kapalit sa inyo. Ang hinihiling lang namin ay paghusayan ninyo at tapusin ninyo ang sinimulan ninyo. 'Yung giginhawa pa lang ang pamilya ninyo, bayad na kayo sa amin,” Aslag Ning Pag-asa Tarlak Inc. Chairman Dominic Savio C. Maglalang said in his message to the beneficiaries.
Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Agnes M. Macaraeg thanked the NGO for giving hope and serving as “angels in disguise” to the students.
“Makulimlim man po ang panahon pero inside this venue, mayroon po tayong nakikitang ray of hope na napakaaliwalas because of the Aslag Ning Pag-asa Tarlak Inc… This scholarship would mean a lot to the students and to their parents because after their education, they could do more to help other people,” VP Macaraeg said.
Likewise, TSU President Dr. Arnold E. Velasco thanked the NGO for their initiative to assist the students in need.
“You can expect that more blessings will be coming to you from God dahil bukal po sa puso ninyo ang pagtulong sa mga estudyante,” Pres. Velasco said in his speech.
Also present during the ceremony were Dr. Niña G. Valentin, SFAU Head; Dr. Dexter L. Manzano, Institutional Student Programs and Services (ISPS) Unit Head; and Mr. Allan S. Santos, International Differently-Abled, Indigenous, Marginalized Student Services (IDIMSS) Unit Head. (jlmm-OPA)
Photos by Franc Lewis R. Juanatas
