PDSI: Current Scholars

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_Current Scholars

Margie at her practicum

[ MARGIE EMAG ]

Margie is a Tagbanua from the foothills of the southern town of Aborlan. She impressed her family and others in her community by consistently graduating as Valedictorian of her class in elementary and high school.

___Margie has just graduated from the Palawan State University (PSU) with a degree in Business Administration double majoring in Finance and Marketing. She says she pursued a business course because she knows that this experience will enhance her negotiation skills and will help her in the future not only in selling products but in selling "ideas" in general.

___ In school she was the youngest member of a new school organization called Bankers 2000, a group with plans of setting up a micro-lending program for urban poor. Margie draws energy from her active faith life and in organizing initiatives for the youth sector of her municipality.

[ SUZETTE SAGAD ]
Suzette's favorite subject is Math. She was interested in pursuing a degree in accounting but decided on a degree in Agri-business at the State Polytechnic College of the Philippines (SPCP) which could provide a more wholistic approach to livelihood development for her fellow Indigenous Persons and farmers.
___ She says that studying has given her opportunities to be involved in other activities such as intramural events, but she says that she doesn't let this affect her focus on her studies. The results are evidence of the truth of that statement and after her first semester, Suzette ranks in the top 5 of her class in several subjects. If she finishes her course, she will be the first in her family to have a college degree. Her most humble wish is that she may also help her other brothers and sisters through school.

Maricel at her capping ceremony as a nurse

[ MARICEL LACSON ]

Ever since her father was hospitalized and hooked up to an oxygen tank for his severe asthma attacks, Maricel knew she wanted to become a nurse. She knew if she could provide first aid and basic health services to family and community members, then she could make a difference.

___Maricel is now a 4th year nursing student at the Holy Trinity College (HTC). Her high school education was supported by a Japanese grant and she proved her discipline and academic excellence by graduating in the top ten of her batch. Though only in her first semester, Maricel already does community field work as well as hospital duty.

___ At this early stage she is already forming ideas on how to help the less fortunate Palawenos in terms of health care. She hopes to be one of the first Indigenous People to graduate from HTC with a degree in Nursing.

Margie and Maricel: Scholars, Volunteers of today… Leaders of tomorrow
An article written by JVP Palawan-PDSI member Crissy Guerrero

On a cold summer day, at 1,200 meters above sea level in the Caraballo mountains of Nueva Vizcaya, Margie Emag was elected by over one hundred indigenous youth representatives to be the Vice Chairperson of their national youth leadership organization.

We were so proud. It had all been worth it. [[Read More]]

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