THE energy was high as 296 Carmen Copper scholars from the 17 barangays of Toledo City gathered during the first Carmen Copper Scholars Congress on July 28, at De La Salle-Andres Soriano Memorial College in Barangay Don Andres Soriano, Toledo City.
The scholars from Grade 7 through college have reason to be hopeful as they now possess the greatest weapon they need to break free from extreme poverty—quality education.
The Scholars Congress aims to develop the leadership traits and practical life skills of the Carmen Copper scholars, as they face their challenges and opportunities during this critical season in their growing years. Topics tackled during the congress include the crises confronting millennials, such as the pressures of social media, digital technology, peer pressure, emotional intelligence, leadership and finding one’s identity and path.
“Carmen Copper is committed to actively raising the quality of life for each of you,” said Engr. Ignacio B. Alburo, Carmen Copper assistant vice president for Safety, Health, Environment, Community Relations and External Affairs. “We want all of you to achieve your full potential and reach your dreams so you will have a brighter future.”
Carmen Copper’s scholarship program is one of its efforts in providing inclusive and quality education for all, as part of its Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) commitment. To date, the company has supported 305 scholars, whose lives were changed for the better. Five of them shared how:
A ray of sunshine
Leon Abella, a fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering student, lost both his parents when he was eight. He was then left to fend for himself. With hard work and determination, Leon found a way to go back to school at the age of 15 and graduate high school at 22. He had to work odd jobs just to make this possible.
Being a Carmen Copper scholar, he said, set the path to a brighter future for him and, most especially, gave him the sense of belonging. “With hard work and strong determination, nothing is impossible. Life has been tough indeed for me, but the hard times shaped me to be the person I have become today. If I were able to overcome the challenges of the past, I cannot see a reason why I cannot handle tough times in the future.”
First-year Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering student Joan Margallo received not support, but resentment from her family when she begged them to send her to high school. “My grandparents said we are just poor and that elementary is as far as I can go just, like my mother, who gave birth to me out of wedlock at the age of 16. I cried and begged a hundred times, sought help from my friends and teachers. One of them informed me about the Carmen Copper scholarship.”
She barely made it to the qualifying exam and when she passed and was admitted to the program, she brought the good news home. “I thought they will be happy, but they remained indifferent. I was 12 years old, but for the first time I had to stand my ground and convince them that I am doing this not only for my own future, but for them as well.”
At a young age, Joan already believed that education is her ticket out of poverty. She is a Carmen Copper scholar from Grade 7 until today as a civil engineering student. “I want to build roads and highways and improve access to isolated communities and pave the way for underprivileged children like me to a brighter tomorrow,” Joan said.
Jonalyn Juarez, a first-year Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering student, may be skinny and petite, but she has the weight of her whole family’s future on her shoulders.
Her father is a carpenter who almost cannot make ends meet as he had to take care of her mother suffering from a kidney disease. “I remember it was very difficult at that time. My father had to buy expensive medicines for my mother. Then I learned about Carmen Copper’s scholarship and things started to get better,” she said.
A scholar since Grade 7, Joan is now in college and aspiring to be a chemical engineer one day. Being a Carmen Copper scholar, she said, helped her develop her self-esteem, find her courage and become resilient in the face of adversities.
Grade 11 student Cherry Mae Dejora is a proud daughter of farmers from Barangay Bagakay, a mountain village in Toledo City. Despite lacking in material things, she is, however, rich in familial love and support. It was her parents who taught her the value of education.
“Since I was young, I always believed that as long as I can get quality education, I can go a long way in life,” she said. But with the meager income the family earns from farming, she was almost forced to leave school. “That was when my parents learned about the Carmen Copper scholarship program and urged me to apply. The scholarship was a ray of sunshine for me and I knew then I was a step closer to becoming a chemical engineer one day,” Cherry Mae said.
Meanwhile, poverty forced both of Grade 11 student Alex Sander Alfante’s parents to find jobs to raise their family of six. Like in many poor families, parents often needed multiple sources of income to get by. When he was five, his mother worked as a nanny taking care of other people’s children. It was simply unfair, Alex thought.
As he matures though, he realized that his parents were doing everything for their survival. “Only after much later I realized that it is hard to find better jobs if you are just an elementary or high-school graduate. I cannot blame my parents, but I promised myself that to the best of my abilities, I will break this cycle.” Alex believed that education is the great equalizer.
“With my scholarship, I will work hard to become a successful educator someday and help more children from poor families get quality education. No more children should be deprived of their parents’ love and attention because of poverty.”