CEBU, Philippines - At least 313 beneficiaries of the Cebu City Task Force on Street Children graduated this year.
Crisanta Marrie Jao, 21, was thankful to her benefactor, Share a Child Movement, one of the supports of the CCTFSC, for sending her to college for free.
Jao graduated Magna Cum Laude at the University of Cebu-Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue Campus with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Accountancy.
“Nagpasalamat g’yud ko og dako nga gitagaan ko nila og scholarship ug natagaan ko og chance makaeskwela. Naa ko’y scholarship sa school, but nakatabang sad g’yud ang mga external assistance nila nako,†said Jao.
She said that by being a scholar of Share a Child Movement, a member agency of CCTFSC, she has attended school for free and was given transportation, uniform, books, and other allowances.
Jao lives in Lapu-Lapu City and was the only scholar accommodated by CCTFSC outside Cebu City. Her mother works as food vendor.
She was among the 25 honor students recognized by the Cebu City Council yesterday.
Second among three siblings, Jao is currently looking for a job while preparing for the Certified Public Accountant licensure examinations on October.
Councilor Margarita Osmeña, who chairs CCTFSC, said Jao was among the 313 graduates for the school year 2013-2014. Among the scholars who graduated 160 were elementary, 94 in high school, 49 in college, and 10 in short term courses.
The other honor students and beneficiaries of CCTFSC who graduated Cum Laude were Lorelyn Arejola, Bachelor of Science in Social Work in St. Theresa’s College; Jovelyn Dabu, BS in Hotel Management in Cebu Technological University; Sharmaine Jabagat, BS in Management Accounting in University of San Carlos; and Vienna Mae Borces, BS in Industrial Engineering in Cebu Institute of Technology-University.
Other Cum Laude graduates include Julius Entera, BS in Mechanical Engineering, also of CTU; Nadiene Cydel Fajardo, BS in Elementary Education-General Content of CTU; Sharmaine Manigos, BS in Secondary Education-Business Technology in CTU; and Olcinda Mena, BS in Education in CTU.
CCTFSC, a brainchild of Osmeña, is a nonprofit organization that provides educational assistance, residential care, and other psychosocial intervention for children’s growth and development. — (FREEMAN)