Mindanao scholars gather in Pagbulas
CMDI Tagum City Campus – Seventy two scholars of CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI), a social development organization, from the different provinces of Mindanao recently gathered in a three-day youth summit dubbed as “Pagbulas” or awakening.
“Our focus this year is on leadership hoping that our scholars will be able to discover, enhance, and fuel their potentials for social awareness and community development,” said Marilyn M. Manila, director for CARD MRI Community Development Group.
Pagbulas has been a regular scholars’ summit of CARD MRI since 2012 and this is the fifth summit organized of its kind. “We first hosted a “Merienda Cena” back in 2004 for our first batch of graduate scholars under the CARD Scholarship Program (CSP). Then we opened the gathering for our incoming junior and senior college scholars, hence, the realization of Pagbulas,” Director Manila added.
During the summit, the scholars were able to interact with the founder and managing director of CARD MRI, Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip. “CARD MRI scholars are very close to my heart,” said Dr. Alip adding that the establishment of their education programs is in recognition that microfinance plus community development programs such as education, health, and other capacity-building services when combined can be the best tool to eradicate poverty.
Dr. Alip also challenged the scholars by telling that the future of CARD MRI will be determined by them.
Present also during the summit was Christian Lauron, Partner at SGV & Co., who talked to scholars about education and financial literacy. He also emphasized the value of time and giving back. “Time is more valuable than money; give back to your family and community,” said Mr. Lauron.
Other key persons present during the summit were Dr. Josephine Fadul of Deped Tagum City who talked about K-12 Program, Mr. Julius Gutierrez of National Youth Commission-Davao Chapter who talked about youth awareness and advocacy, Dr. Sharon Manzanilla who inspired the scholars to realizing their dreams, and Dr. Edmund Centeno of UP Los Baños who processed the overall insights of the scholars.
“Pagbulas V was a conglomeration of great thoughts and talents. Despite our differences, we managed to work with others while not missing the fun – in one way or another,” shared Kalph John Masing, BS in Accountancy at Assumption College of Nabunturan. Kalph John’s mother is almost nine years member of CARD.
CARD MRI has been granting scholarships and educational support to CARD members and their children who are qualified to the program for high school and college through the CSP since 2000. CSP is now on its 17th batch of scholars with 7,549 total supported scholars in high school and college. In Mindanao, CARD MRI already supported 1,316 scholars.
Lumin Petallo, one of the participants, thanked CARD for giving her the opportunity to finish her schooling under the Balik Eskwela program. Mrs. Petallo graduated at Northern Mindanao Colleges with a degree in elementary education. She looks forward to taking and passing the licensure examination for teachers this coming September 2016. Mrs. Petallo is a mother of five and a CARD member for eight years.
The sixth leg of Pagbulas next year will gather the CARD MRI scholars from Visayas.
SCHOLARS IN ACTION. CARD MRI scholars in Mindanao actively participated in all the activities introduced during the Pagbulas V, annual scholars’ summit of CARD MRI, held in Tagum City, Davao del Norte. This year’s summit is focused on leadership hoping that CARD MRI scholars will be able to discover, enhance, and fuel their potentials for social awareness and community development.