URDANETA CITY – Historical ties brought a big surprise to local folk as Ordizia City in Spain committed to give about 150,000 euros (about P9.3 million) worth of college scholarships to poor but qualified high school graduates of this Pangasinan city.
Urdaneta City Mayor Amadeo Perez Jr. told The STAR that the scholarship package came as a surprise to him when he visited Ordizia City earlier this month to forge a sisterhood pact upon the invitation of Ordizia City Mayor Jose Miguel Sta. Maria.
Last Nov. 15, Sta. Maria visited this city after a search was made by his administration to look for a place anywhere the world named after Spanish friar Fr. Andres Urdaneta, their revered hero.
The forging of the sisterhood pact coincided with the 500th birthday of Fr. Urdaneta after whom this city was named.
Ordizia City is located in the Basque region of northern Spain.
Perez said Sta. Maria will visit again this city in March next year.
“Everything came as a surprise to us. The bonanza that we will receive from Ordizia City was something voluntarily made by its officials led by Mayor Sta. Maria,” Perez said.
Aside from the scholarship grants, the two cities will also have an scholarship exchange program, he added.