Winnerson Ingreso receives his First Technical Award

Ten of the scholars supported by overseas donors under the Commission on Filipinos Overseas’ Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino’s Adopt-a-Scholar project graduated on 25 October 2008, at the Don Bosco Youth Center in Tondo. Of these ten, four were recipients of special awards. Winnerson Ingreso received the First Technical Award, Ricky Tana the Conduct Award, Francis Yuri Egera the Second Technical Award and John Edward Dela Cruz the First Technical Award and Conduct Award.

The six other graduates were Arnel Baldisimo, Ericson Encarnacion, Fernando Alvarez, Ronaldo Bolito, Rona Carissa Catacutan and Roela Ian Sosing..

The scholars were supported by the Centre for Philippine Concerns – Australia (CPCA), Ms. Andrea Balaag Niblett, Deutsch-Philippinischer Kulturkreis, e.V. (DPKEV), and the Progressive Alliance of Filipinos and Americans, Inc. (PAFAI).

The scholars expressed thanks for the support given to them and the opportunities that are now accessible to them after graduation. Rona Carissa Catacutan, a scholar of the PAFAI and a graduate of the Seafarers Rating Course, came from a destitute family in Cavite and didn’t have the means to complete a college or practical education. She said her benefactors have opened opportunities for her and now, she is in the process of applying for work at different companies.

John Edward Dela Cruz was left to his grandmother at age ten when his parents separated. He never saw his parents thereafter and his grandmother also didn’t have the means to support his higher education. With the help of DPKEV which paid for his tuition, he finished Welding Technology with two special awards. He is now applying for a job.

Winnerson Ingreso, a scholar of the CPCA who graduated from Industrial Electronics with the First Technical Award, is the youngest of six siblings. His family came to Manila from Mindoro and his parents are both jobless. Now that he has graduated from a vocational-technical course, he is searching for a job so that he can help his family.

Fr. Ferdinand Camilo, Rector, and Fr. Jerry Santos, Father Catechist, both of the Don Bosco Youth Center, expressed their deep gratitude to the CFO and the benefactors for the support extended to the students. Fr. Santos said that the remaining scholars who are taking up the Seafarers Rating Course are about to undergo an on-the-job-training program.