Mizpah
Grace G. Castro
PGIN-CMO
Laoag CITY—“Eventually, I'll help Ilocos Norte. Kung
mayroon mang mga trabaho na pwedeng makatutulong sa development ng
Ilocos Norte, I will choose to be a part of it.”
Czarina Berlynne Donne M. Agustine
is the second of four children of a tricycle driver and an office clerk. A
resident of Laoag City and graduate of the Ilocos Norte National High
School-Special Science Class (INNHS-SSC), she is now a freshman at the Mariano
Marcos State University-College of Arts and Sciences (MMSU-CAS) in Batac City,
and a beneficiary of the "Iskolar ni Manang Imee" scholarship
program.
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| Czarina Agustin (Reu A. Flores) |
According to Berlynne, she initially
qualified for and was accepted into the Sirib Academic Scholarship program
funded by the Sirib Youth Office (SYO). When Sirib officers noticed her latest
general weighted average (1.25), they encouraged her to apply for the
"Iskolar ni Manang Imee" scholarship instead.
The "Iskolar ni Manang
Imee" program was launched in 2012 and has since benefited thousands of
Ilocano youth through a stipend every semester covering tuition fee,
transportation allowances, daily expenses, and board and lodging, if necessary.
It is funded by the Provincial Education Department.
In the past, Ilocos Norte Governor
Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos had stressed that such assistance should be given
not only to students with high grades and educational achievements, but also to
those who are eager learners but due to economic hardship have small chances of
finishing their studies. She emphasized that Ilocanos should work together as
one family, uplifting each other to realize their fullest potentials in the
service of Ilocos Norte.
"It [being a scholar] has a big
factor in my studies dahil nakatutulong 'yon sa ‘kin not only
financially, but also as a spring, kumbaga, na mag-aral akong mabuti
para ma-maintain ko yung grades and yung scholarship, kasi
hindi naman lahat nakapapasok sa scholarship program. It's a big
opportunity,” shared Berlynne.
With her parents' limited income to
support four children, she recognizes that she has been given a huge privilege,
describing the program as being “very helpful and very beneficial to us
teens, kasi mahirap nga talaga ang buhay. It's very helpful as well
to our parents.” Hence, she also harbors a desire to give back to Ilocos Norte
when the time comes for her to look for a job that could possibly aid in the
development of the province.
Berlynne further urges fellow
students and scholars not to waste their opportunity to earn an education:
"Mag-aral nang mabuti, aim for the best, and help your parents.
Give back all the sacrifices that they've been giving you, and reach for your
goals always. Focus on your studies."
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