Capitol University offers scholarship -Learning beyond Expectations

Capitol University offers scholars to some deserving students who want to pursue their education. Academic excellence as well as helping poor but deserving students with special talents and skills. The Capitol Administration has a big heart for these scholarships namely: Academic Scholars, this is open to those intelligent students who have a highest-grade average like valedictorian, salutatorian and honorable mentions.  They just need to maintain their grades without any grade below of 2.25. Non-Academic Scholarship, they are the full scholarships granted with the following types of students. A.) Working Scholars they are poor but deserving students they undergo many requirements and they have various works like school office, laboratories, security forces, and maintenance. They are allowed to carry 18 units only. B.) Performing Arts Scholars they are the dancers and singers they have special talents/skills and like a working scholar they are also allowed to carry 18 units only. C.) Athletics Scholars this scholar is for students who excel in sports at any kind they also allowed to carry 18 units. D.) Government-funded Grants like Private Education student Financial Assistance (PESFA), Study Now Pay Later Plan (SNPLP), Selected Ethnic Group Educational Assistance (SEGEAP), Barangay College Scholarship Program, Civil Service Grant, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office Programs (PVAO). This government scholarship had undergone many requirements and they would maintain their grades.

I am PROUD to say that I am one of the Capitol University scholars. I am a working student assigned at the College of Maritime Education Superintendent Office/Deans Office; I am in my two years serving the said College. Being a scholar help me to pursue my education and help my parents in our financial status. Being a scholar is not easy you will see us roaming around the university holding papers and many things. Study and work is my everyday routine, I need to balance and maintain everything para hindi mauuwi sa wala ang lahat ng pinaghirapan ko. Capitol University really helps students to pursue their education and to reach their dreams come true. Marami na akong kilalang mga S.A na ngayon ay maganda na ang takbo ng kanilang buhay, beyond all their hard work and sacrifices nag-bunga na ang lahat ng kanilang pinga-hirapan. I am happy for them because I know they deserve to what they have right now. They are mold to be a total person as what our school’s mission. I just like to thank the Capitol University Administration for the opportunity to be a part of the Working scholars Association; I learned a lot especially in dealing with people with different characters and different lifestyles, handling difficult situations to be patient and to be strong. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the administration for giving me the chance to work and study in this University, to prove to myself that poverty is not really a hindrance for success.

Teachers learning different languages

As I read the newspaper today (April 15, 2011) from Manila Bulletin page 4 by Ina Hernando-Malipot on her column “Teachers train in a foreign language”. It makes me think; “why teachers learning different languages like Spanish, Japanese, French, German and Chinese?” what is the use of these languages that the DepEd are really pursuing with this training program for the high school teachers? I mean there is nothing wrong to this program but is the learning of the different languages of a teachers help the teacher in his/her field? Para bang ano pa ang silbi ng mga ibat-ibang lengwahe kong hindi mo naman ito palaging ginanagamit this is not your mother tongue and with those different languages it will takes a life long learning to learn and communicate fluently with those countries. Although the DepEd has a point in giving a chance for those teachers to learn a foreign language because in our country nowadays there were many foreign students who wants to study here in our country. Somehow, it can help the teachers in their teaching field like being a part-time job because they can gain extra income. Each one of us has its own viewpoint and on my own, I do not think that this program will be last because as a Filipino we really find it hard to speak and to learn with those different languages. Tayo ngang mga Pilipino hindi pa nga natin alam ng lubosan ang Ingles at madagdagan na naman ng ibat-ibang lengwahe. Correct me if I’m wrong, as what our dearest DepEd Secretary Armin Luisito says” We believe that all students deserve equality education. And quality education should be made accessible to everyone because it levels the playing fields is therefore a great equalizer” as what I understand the Deped should want all the students in our country know how o speak in Spanish, Japanese, French, German and Chinese to be equal with the other countries and to be competent and fluent and share common thoughts and knowledge with those languages. As what we all know, studying a foreign language has its own momentum: The more you learn, the more you want to learn. It depends on the person or any individuals who love to know different languages. Becoming a foreign language teacher in a school is an excellent idea for those who want to share their love of languages. If a teacher generally speaks multiple languages, many schools welcome those teachers whose first language was not English.

Applying SPES for SUMMER

As I read the newspaper Manila Bulletin last April 1, 2011 page 3 by Francis T. Wakefield. It talks about “Pasig offers summer jobs for students” under the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES). This is offer to all government of all cities and barangay nationwide. In which reminds me of a unforgettable experienced as one of a SPES members. Last 2008, I was one of the lucky students who are deserving to have a summer job in our Barangay (Macasandig) and I undergo many requirements ( school ID, report card, birth certificate, parents consent, biodata, cedula, bryg. clearance, income tax and 2x2 pictures.) We are all seven deserving students who are given an opportunity to work in our Barangay. During that time, I was only 16 years old, fresh graduate from High School and the reason why I applied being a SPES employee is to help my parents pay for my entrance exam and tuition in college to pursue my education. Each one of us has given certain tasks like encode (computer base), survey the population in our barangay, sensus, cleaning the office and clerical functions. During the 20 days of working, we had lots of fun and our experience is worthy. During the SPES program, I was the representative in our Barangay and I was crowned as “Ms. SPES SMILE 2008” and “MS. SPES FIRST Runner-Up.”

In addition, during our salary the city government shoulders only 60 percent and 40 percent for the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). The 60% was in cash but the remaining 40% was in a Land Bank cash card and it really takes four (4) months to get the cash card and its very “koti” we always went to the Land Bank to inquire and ask about the cash card but they always says that there is no exact day to get the cash card and so by that we always go there without any assurance with the cash card. And it came to a point, na di mo nalang kukunin yong natitirang 40% dahil nakakapagod na magpabalik-balik without any formal discussion with the remaining 40%. Yes, the government can help those deserving students for the summer job but they should also put into their minds that they should give the full 100% cash to the student’s because we worked hard for it. Not all the things that we have done during the job were easy but we showed patience and understanding. And after for almost four months of waiting we get the cash card which contains 40% of our salary. I was happy when I received my cash card and it really helps me pursue my education. My experiences being a SPES help me to become better people who have a self-confidence and ready to face people. The experience helps me a lot in the field of my work today as a student assistant. The government should expand the program so that there were many deserving students who will give more opportunities to earn and help their family’s income.

Education means improving the Quality of Learning

We all know that education is very important to each one of us because only Education is the greatest treasure a parent can gave to his/her children. Education is the key to our success and with this, we can make all our dreams came true. Education is important so that we can learn new things that will help us to be open-minded and understand the world around us and it is means of obtaining knowledge that will develop the people lives as well, through their knowledge they will become professionals in their fields. This is the only “kayaman na hinding-hindi makukuha ng iba”. Ang Edukasyon ay walang pinipiling estado ng lipunan mayaman ka man o mahirap basta gusto mong mag-aral ay maka-pag-aral ka. But ang problema ay yong mga taong may mga pera para makapag-aral ay hindi naman nag-aaral ng mabuti. Sila paying mga taong hindi pinahahalagahan ang kanilang pag-aaral dahil para sa kanila “aanhin pa nila ang Edukasyon kung may maraming pera naman sila.” Pero aanhin mo pa ang pag-karaming-raming pera kung wala ka namang karunungan. Kaya maraming mga kabataan ngayon na anak-mayaman ay nalulong sa mga masasamang bisyo at barkada dahil hindi nila pinahahalagahan ang kanilang pag-aaral at maraming mga businessman na bankrupt dahil hindi nila alam kong paano nila malalago ang kanilang hanap-buhay/negosyo. At yong mga taong walang pera maka-pagpatuloy sa kanilang pag-aaral ay gumagawa ng paraan para lang makapag-aral at makatapos. For example, me my family cannot afford to send me in college because of financial problem but I want to finish my studies, I have many dreams for myself and for my family. So I used my initiative, I applied as a student assistant in this University (Capitol University) and luckily I was hired and now I’m in my two years serving the College of Maritime Education. Lahat ng hirap ay kinaya ko pressure and stress to pursue my education. There were times that I want to quit because “hirap na hirap na ako” study and work is my everyday routine. Being a student assistant is not easy but I know deep within me, for all these sacrifice and effort, I will finish my studies and make all my dreams come true. Education is the quality of learning because it teaches us to learn new things, observe, and experience things around us we need to study so that we can know and explain it briefly. Like now in our century/years, there are many new technologies in learning by which we got more information and knowledge for the no stopping global developments. Thinking and learning go hand in hand or they must be equal to the challenge and all the opportunities of the unfolding global world.  We must pursue the ultimate goal of education, which is to enable our children to attain the fullest realization of their potentials and their dreams. We should realize that education contributes to the liberation of people and their full development. It is very essential to achieve progress and to the building of a democratic society where people can participate consciously and critically in national decision-making.

Can students’ hands-on laptops in public school?

Manila Bulletin newspaper dated last March 2, 2011 page 2 by Ina Hernando-Malipot on her column “Laguna public schools get laptops”. When I read this one, I was happy for the fourteen public high schools in Laguna who received each new ten Toshiba Laptops with the partnership of the GILAS- Gearing Up Internet Literacy and Access for Students program. As it, aims to” promote students equalize access to information beyond the four corners of school and classrooms and equality education for learning in rural areas” as what DepEd Secretary Armin Luisito. This aim is good because the students in the rural areas can learn and have the same opportunity of learners in urban. As we all know, we are now in the 21^st century and there were many technologies in learning by which we got more information and knowledge. However, the question is can really the students’ use/hands-on the laptops in school? Are the students allowed to use laptops? Are the teachers taught the student is how to use correctly the laptops? Why laptops instead of computers? As what I observed and experienced when I was in High School when there were new computers received by our school, the principal and school head will get the half of the numbers of computers and put it on their office for personal use and the remaining computers are for students but not all the students are giving opportunity to use/hands-on the computers in the laboratory. Only the students who are intelligent have a privileged to use the computers and those slow learners who must need attention to access new more information sila pa yong hindi pwedeng maka-gamit ng mga computers. Although the school, school principal which has the ownership of the laptops will develop its own policies and guidelines in the usage of the laptops. As they will make a policy about the distribution and usage of the laptops, it should be equal to all students matalino ka man o hindi dahil lahat tayong mga estudyante ay may karapatang matuto kong paano gumamit ng laptops (computers). Na hindi sana nila ipag-maramot ang magamit ng mga estudyante ang mga laptops para sa kanilang pag-aaral. In addition, the teachers should train well how to use the laptops for effective teaching learning inside the classroom. To create educational opportunities by self-empowering learning and for the students they can learn on their own way of learning by getting engage to learn, share, create and collaborate with their own ideas. The used of the laptops in school must be in proper and appropriate for the lesson tackle by the teachers.