CANDABA, Pampanga – “Do not stop pursuing your dreams. This assistance from your local government and taxpayers honors the hard work of your parents and invests in your future.”
Thus, Mayor Rene Maglanque exhorted 1,070 Candabeño tertiary students from various colleges and universities during the distribution of P5,350,000 in educational assistance to support their ongoing studies. Each student received P5,000 cash grant from the local government unit.
Maglanque imparted in the scholars the value of education as the most powerful catalyst to break the cycle of poverty and secure a brighter future. He emphasized that modest backgrounds or a parent’s line of work – whether as a carpenter, farmer, or fisherman – should never be a barrier to earning a degree and achieving career success.
Community members and student beneficiaries praised the multi-million-peso allocation, noting how critical the cash infusion is for underprivileged households struggling with educational costs.
“First of all, I am so lucky to be chosen as a scholar of the local government unit of Candaba. Thank you very much to everyone who helped and initiated this program,” said Alain James Lagman, a Bachelor of Secondary Education student majoring in English at Bulacan State University. “I believe that the youth should continue to dream. I am deeply grateful to the LGU of Candaba and to all the taxpayers.”
Echoing this sentiment, BSU Information Technology student Reng Cuyugan thanked municipal leaders and local taxpayers for serving as instruments of opportunity, expressing confidence that the initiative will continue to expand to assist future generations of Candabeño scholars.
Manuel Jojie Velasco, a resident of Barangay Dalayap whose two grandnieces are among the scholarship recipients, noted that the grant provides crucial financial relief for families striving to put their children through college. He extended his appreciation to Mayor Maglanque, Vice Mayor Thelma Macapagal, members of the Sangguniang Bayan, and all barangay officials. Joel P. Mapiles