Ten new Palaweno scholars are now set to go to Hainan to study on a full scholarship under the Hainan-Palawan Sisterhood Agreement. The scholars belong to the second batch who qualified under the said scholarship.
For this batch, there are two scholars who will take up master’s degree and eight scholars will be enrolling for college degree programs.
The two master’s degree scholars are Carl Louis N. Dela Cruz, a magna cum laude graduate of B.S. Tourism from the University of the Philippines Diliman, and Michael John C. Villarosa, a Petroleum Engineering graduate from Palawan State University. Carl will be taking up master’s degree in Ecology and Michael will take master’s degree in Organic Chemistry.
For the undergraduate program, three came from the Municipality of Quezon: Ranier Baldonado who will take up bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Christian Marc Garcellano who will take up bachelor’s of Law and Allbert Endencia who will take up bachelor’s degree in Mechanical and Electrical Integration.
Two scholars are graduates of Aborlan National High School: Jubilee Hope Cajiles who will take up bachelor’s degree in Accountancy and Ruperto Lasting Jr. who belongs to Tagbanua indigenous tribe will take up bachelor’s degree in International Economics and Trade Finance.
Other scholars are Cleford G. Rano, who hails from the Municipality of Taytay and will take up bachelor’s degree in Applied Chemistry, Andrea Joy B. Tatoy, a graduate of Roxas Comprehensive National High School and will take up same degree with Ruperto Lasting Jr., and Cielo Sustal from Puerto Princesa City will take up bachelor’s degree in International Chinese Language Education.
The screening of scholars started last January of this year where the Provincial Government sent notification to different schools in Palawan for the schedule of qualifying examination.
On February 27-28, 2019, the technical working group (TWG) of the Hainan Scholarship Program conducted qualifying examination at PSU Narra and PSU Roxas. And on March 4, 2019 another qualifying examination was conducted at VJR Hall, Capitol Complex, Puerto Princesa City.
Those who qualified in the screening were subjected to two interviews and thereafter, were asked to submit documents for online application for review of Hainan Normal University (HNU).
After receiving confirmation from HNU for the ten applicants, the list of ten scholars under the Hainan-Palawan Sisterhood Agreement was finalized.
The scholars were immediately presented to the Governor Jose Ch. Alvarez.
During the presentation, the Governor was extra surprised and happy that one scholar belonged to an indigenous tribe further saying that “Provincial Government will work double to provide more opportunities to Palawenos. We target to increase the number of tourists in Palawan and the ability to speak Chinese is an advantage.”
The Governor gave the technical working group of the scholarship program to also make sure that island-based municipality will be given opportunity to apply for the scholarship. He further gave instructions to arrange for different basic skills be given to the new scholars similar to what were given to the first batch.
With the instructions of the Governor Jose Ch. Alvarez, the Provincial Government provided trainings and seminars on Chinese ethics, basic self-defense, basic hygiene, lessons in English, Math and Science and basic conversational Chinese language. The scholars also practiced Filipino dance and songs including one Chinese song.
Last July 31, 2019, the Provincial Government arranged a meet and greet event for the 1st batch of scholars sent last year to China who are on mid-year vacation in Philippines and the ten new scholars who will be leaving for China this end of August.
During the activity, the first batch of scholars shared their experiences and provided guide points for the new scholars. This event was witnessed by no less than Vice Governor of the Province of Palawan Hon. Victorino Dennis M. Socrates and the Provincial Administrator who is the Chairman of the Hainan Scholarship Atty. Joshua U. Bolusa. The ten new scholars will be presented to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Palawan on August 6, 2019.
According to the Hainan Scholarship Project TWG, screening for the 3rd batch of scholars will commence middle of January 2020. Notification will be sent to different schools and social media. The scholarship will cover full tuition fee, accommodation, round trip airfare from Palawan to Hainan, comprehensive medical insurance and monthly allowance. Should there be questions on the scholarship, the Provincial Information Office is available to provide more details.
In relation to scholarship under the Hainan-Palawan Sisterhood Agreement, another university in Hainan visited Palawan to offer academic related scholarship.
Hainan Tropical Ocean University offers four kinds of academic related scholarship – The first is a five-day visit to Hainan for 15 students currently enrolled in grade 11 and 12 with one faculty teacher wherein all expenses of the delegation once in Hainan will be shouldered by the University.
The second is like the scholarship provided by Hainan Normal University except that applicants must pass the Chinese proficiency examination prior to being accepted in the scholarship. This scholarship is proposed to start next year. The third is a one-year non-degree scholarship specifically for Chinese language and the last is for th eUniversity to send a Chinese language teacher who will teach language lessons here in Palawan.
The proposal of the University is being reviewed by the Provincial Government.