Laoag City—Vanessa Mae C. Palalay, a beneficiary of the Sirib Young Leader (SYL) Scholarship proudly offers her achievements to her family and the youth as she is one of the 175 Latin honors recipients for the Mariano Marcos State University 40th Commencement Exercises.
The SYL Scholarship is one of the three scholarship programs offered by the Provincial Government thru the Ilocos Norte Youth Development Office (INYDO).
She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Technology as a cum laude. According to her, the scholarship paved way for her to gain not only quality education, but also holistic growth.
As a scholar, Vanessa is a youth volunteer at the INYDO and is the incumbent deputy chairperson of non-government organization Sirib Ilokano Kabataan Association, Inc.-Burgos.
“Napakaganda ng scholarship at programang ito ni Governor Imee Marcos. Marami itong natutulungan—hindi lang ang mga kabataan kundi maging ang kanilang mga pamilya at sa kani-kanilang komunidad. Napakasayang makilahok sa mga programa at aktibidad na pinapangunahan ng gobyerno probinsyal. Ito’y napakalaking tulong sa akin, kaya naman, sinisigurado kong palitan ang kabutihang binibigay sa akin sa pamamagitan ng pagvo-volunteer at sa pagiging organizer minsan ng mga programang pangkabataan,” she explained
Graduating as an honor student back in high school, Vanessa made her way to college easier with discounted tuition fees. However, maintaining her stand as a college scholar became more challenging in her sophomore year when she found herself shortlisted in the grade requirement for a college scholarship.
Her classmates then encouraged her to apply for the SYL scholarship. She noted that she saw improvements in her friends’ academic, extracurricular, and leadership performance, which spiked her curiosity and willingness to apply for the program.
Vanessa also saw this as an opportunity to lighten the financial burden on her parents.
“Kayatko met a saanda [nagannak] unay a marigatan. Tallo kami nga agbasbasa, duwa a high school. Dagitay itedda kaniak, itedda latta kadagiti kakabasatkon,” she said
Vanessa also expressed her gratitude to the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, led by governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos, with the hope that the scholarship program will continue helping and inspiring the youth to excel in all aspects of their lives.
The INYDO has a total of 160 SYL scholars for the academic year 2017 to 2018. The office continues to offer the scholarships up to this date.
Vanessa is among the 2,553 students that marched on June 8, 2018 at the Mariano Marcos State University Sunken Garden. (PGIN-CMO)