Youth in 4th District get scholarship grants

CEBU, Philippines - Fourth District Rep. Benhur Salimbangon the other day urged parents of 22 scholars for a technical course in massage therapy not to believe in speculations that those working in the wellness industry as massage therapists are prone to prostitution.

“Daghan ta nadungang mga ginikanan nga mahadlok ipa-enroll ang ilang mga anak sa massage wellness course kay lagi front daw sa prostitution pero ayaw pagtuo kay kani nga klase nga trabaho gipangita na kaayo ilabi na usa kini ka matang nga pag-relax sa mga tawo nga busy kaayo sa iyang trabaho. Ug labing importante nga makatrabaho ang atong mga anak,” Salimbangon said.

Salimbangon spoke to the parents and scholars after he handed over scholarship grants in the northern towns of Bogo and Medellin. He stressed that the massage therapy course has greatly helped transform massage into a decent profession.

There were 71 beneficiaries of a three-week scholarship grant at the Martin Salimbangon TESDA Training Center in Barangay Curva, Medellin, 22 of which are students of massage therapy and wellness.

One of the beneficiaries, 27-year-old Eleita Destacamento, said she heard about the program from a local radio station and became interested to enroll.

“Wa gyud ko magmahay kay ganahan ko makat-on. Dako unya ni og tabang human unya ko makapasar sa assessment test,” Destacamento said.

Meanwhile, also in Medellin, 25 out-of-school youth received a three-month scholarship grant for a course in consumer electronics.

“Ang akong mama nag-convince moapil ko bisan nga taga Daanbantayan ko. Interesado ko makat-on kay dili naman makapa-eskuwela ang akong mama sa college,” said Junrey Agusto, one of the beneficiaries.

The scholarship is provided through the Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA) program of the Commission on Higher Education.

Abeth Villaflor, PESFA focal person, said the beneficiaries are lucky because TESDA personnel intentionally went to the fourth district to handle the course.

In Bogo, Salimbangon handed 24 scholarship grants to 24 out-of-school youth for household services at the Cebu Roosevelt Memorial College located in the city.

“Gihatagan nato ug importansya ang personality sa mga scholars unya daghang nalipay ug interesado niini nga kurso. Gani sa among record sud sa upat na ka training, mokapin sa 20 ka mga tinun-an ang makatrabaho gyud,” said Roosevelt coordinator Daryl Pepito. — (FREEMAN)