Hear it from a "Buhay na Saksi"

I was browsing through the internet when the excitement for the next OWWA Scholar's conference this coming May etched my mind again. I thought of looking for the friends that I've met during the past conferences in the internet (hoping to find their blogs, etc). But then I came across a posted e-mail about a 22-year-old anak ng OFW pouring her disappointment over the scholarship...it seemed to me that she has doubts on the sincerity of the administration in giving away the scholarship to the OFW dependents.

Let me point out some issues that she raised.

• I discovered that OWWA, according to its new Omnibus Policies, only provides 100 slots for aspiring scholars.

....The scholarship is limited since it could not accommodate the number of OFW dependents that we have. Remember that 60, 000/student makes it 6million pesos of expenses a year. And yearly, another bunch of 100 scholars would add to this...so, limiting the education to a 4-year term, 24million pesos yearly is for scholarship alone. Not to mention this is not the only thing that the departments spends for.

• The OWWA scholarship only covers the youth who are not more than 21 years old. It’s basically useless to apply since I’ll be turning 22 this year. Is it my fault that I only learned about this scholarship benefit only now?

...If your parent is an OWWA member then she is expected to visit the office every once in a while to know of the organization's update, right? Just a thought.

• Yet it seems to me that the OWWA scholarship does not want to show itself to the OFW beneficiaries. For what reason? I could only speculate.

...I, as a scholar, have witnessed the concern that the administration have given us, the anak ng OFW scholars. If they wanted to hide this scholarship in the closet, they should not have gotten 100/year scholars from all over the Philippine archipelago. They should not have let us enjoy the privileges and importance that only us have experienced. If you're thinking that there's something behind this, let me tell you that this is not like what you think. I'm a simple seaman dependent, my family knows nobody in the administration yet I qualified and enjoyed its privileges.

• Another thing that bothered me upon reading the provisions was that I noticed that the process was too complicated and exhausting.

...Have you heard of "No pain no gain?" Have you found a-DOST scholarship qualifier that did not submit the intricate requirements and the thorny exams? Besides, how will the admin know that you are worth the efforts that they are to offer you if you did not pass the test? After all, that's what makes one different from the rest...that's what you call "screening."

• Fine, after having done all the prerequisites, I’d probably expect to get into college the next school year—given that I have passed the stringent processes and examinations. Then, OWWA informs you through a letter or God knows what, stating that you are not qualified!

...If you belong to the upper 100 passers, submitted all the necessary requirements...what's the reason why you won't qualify? Application on a scholarship grant is like applying to be admitted in a good university, submit all the papers, do your best to pass the test, and hope for the best...but never expect, remember that you are always competing with a thousand sharks in the open.

• Considering the incessant tuition fee increases and the skyrocketing prices of basic goods and services plus the Arroyo administrations unjust new taxes, the allotted budget is not enough to cover the quality education that we deserve.

...We have been working out to let the admin know of this grievance...and we are hoping to know the answer on the next conference.

• Then, it came to a point that the student is unable to finish her course for whatever reasons. The OWWA Omnibus Policies states that the student will be ‘compelled’ to reimburse the total amount spent by OWWA in financing the scholarship. Let’s say that you are in your third year and you suddenly have to drop out. It simply means that you have to pay back the amount spent, from your first year in college until the third level. Is this fair?

...OWWA is very considerate, you'll know it when you are a scholar...this is not a problem that you should bother yourself with...take it from a scholar like me.


But before you react on my response to those, let me tell you that I am an EDSP (Education for Development Program Scholarship) grantee who have enjoyed a number of benefits from OWWA. As far as I know, EDSP is not mandated by the constitution unlike CMWSP. In short, this is plainly the efforts of OWWA together with the concerned sectors.

I have been a scholar from the time I entered college until I graduated just recently. To tell you the truth, being an OWWA scholar is so much fun...with this, you'll find a new home, new set of friends, and new and exciting experiences. We have summer conferences at different beautiful spots in the Philippines which does not just make us closer and make us better leaders/individuals but also give us the chance to express our grievances...and the good thing is we see the results. It's true that there are some problems with the admin, but which organization doesn't have?