By Dorreen Lim-Paez
To help pursue the aspirations of high-achieving students from low-income families, the Ilonggo Association of Victoria, Inc. (Australia) (IAVIA) awarded financial aid and recognised 42 scholars at Central Philippine University, Iloilo City last 26 January 2018.
A stipend of PhP5,000 was awarded to each of the scholars by IAVIA President Elaine Soriano, Vice President for External Affairs Melvin Espiga and Adviser Nedela Sarcepuedes. Certificates of Recognition were awarded to the donors by CPU President Teodoro Robles, Vice President for Student Affairs Rev. Joniel Howard Gico and Director for Student Development and Programs Margen Java. Also present during the Scholarship Awarding Ceremony were some IAVIA supporters and donors namely Angelito and Susan Rodriguez, Murray-Stark family, Norma San Diego Santos, and representatives of Gloria Kerr and Jennifer Yunsay Welk.
Aside from the donation made by IAVIA as a group, there were also other organisations that donated through the Association. These are the Ilocano Association of Victoria Inc., Sista Club Inc., St. Peter’s Chanel Parish Church, Claretian Missionaries of Melbourne, CPU Alumni Association of Victoria Inc. (Sarah Defeliz Sammut) and Divine Outreach Program Philippines (Divine and Christelle Lebanan-Carreon).
The generosity of the following individual donors allowed the IAVIA to continue and to strengthen its annual scholarship project: Anabel Tabanquerao, Angelito and Jesusa Rodriguez, Aurelia Cerdana, Bedalia Agius, Ben Tabanquerao, Carmi Clark, Carwel, Sarah and Alexia Casimiro, Gloria Kerr, Ivan Monte, Jack Moffat, Jennifer Yunsay Welk, Jonathan and Michelle Batey, Julie and Wayne Norling, Marigold Espiga, Marithes Dumapias, Melvin and Frances Espiga, Wenifredo Catilo, Murray-Stark family, Engr. Orville Lim and Mrs. Cecilia Lim, Rafael Alamo, Roger and Nenita Wallis and Sherley Hart.
In 2017, IAVIA granted financial aid to 19 students in the same institution.