UK Chevening scholars named

MANILA, Philippines - Seven Filipinos have been awarded the prestigious Che-vening Scholarships by the UK government this year.

British Ambassador Stephen Lillie congratulated the scholars during a send-off reception at his home last Thursday.

“Britain is a center of global excellence in education, and the Chevening Scholarships are our flagship program. The quality of applicants from the Philippines has been consistently high. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to increase the number of scholarships this year, reflecting our commitment to a strong and dynamic UK-Philippine relationship,” he said.

This year’s recipients are Benedict Carandang, Anna Melissa Guerrero, Karen Ann Hipol, Aaron Julius Lecciones, Irwin Gabriel Lopez, Ana Gella Opong and Ray Simon Roderos. They will pursue Masters degrees at different educational institutions in the UK in the fields of health, business, bioscience, public service, sustainable development and climate change.

“The UK National Health Service (NHS) has been a global model for providing quality and cost-effective healthcare for all of its citizens grounded on the principles of fairness and equity. This is the kind of expertise that we need in the Philippines to ensure that health care is improved for all of our people,” said Guerrero, a medical doctor and program director at the Department of Health.

Lecciones, a project manager at the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands, is pursuing a Master of Science in Practising Sustainable Development at the University of London.

“The Chevening Scholarship allows me and my fellow awardees to contribute in achieving the dream of a better Philippines,” said Roderos, executive assistant to the Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority. He is attending King’s College London to pursue a Master of Science in Public Service Policy and Management.

Carandang, a consultant for the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), is attending the University of Westminster in London to pursue a Master of Business Administration. Hipol, chief operating officer at Hybridigm Consulting, is pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Bioscience Enterprise at the University of Cambridge.

A former consultant at the House of Representatives, Lopez is attending the University of London to pursue a Master of Arts in Adaptation and Development. Opong, Akbayan campaign and media officer, is pursuing a Master of Science in International Public Health, Planning and Management at the University of Liverpool.

Chevening Scholarships are granted by the UK government to young individuals in the early stage of their careers who have the potential to become leaders and decision makers. The scholarships were named after the Chevening House in Kent, the UK Foreign Secretary’s country residence.