Inquirer welcomes 3 new scholars

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Daily Inquirer, through the Inquirer Foundation, welcomes three new grantees under its journalism scholarship program.

For school year 2022-2023, joining the list of Inquirer scholars are Gabryelle Dumalag, Renz Joshua Palalimpa and Luisa Angela Sandoval, all fourth-year students taking up journalism at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman and who are in the running for magna cum laude.

Since its establisment in 1993, the Inquirer Journalism Scholarship Program has extended financial assistance to almost 80 students from major schools such as UP (Diliman and Los Baños), University of Santo Tomas, Ateneo de Manila University and University of the East.

Over the past few years, the foundation has partnered with the UP College of Mass Communication to come up with a shortlist of candidates. To qualify, student applicants must show a passion for journalism as a future career and must have maintained grades not lower than 1.75. They are to undergo assessment regarding their need for financial assistance in their studies.

Selected scholars will receive a monthly stipend on top of allowances—for books, school supplies, telco and internet services, and board and lodging—plus a graduation gift.

The program is also designed to give them a deeper exposure to the media industry through internship or volunteer work. Within six months after graduation, the scholars will be offered employment in the company for at least one year, after which they may decide to stay or explore other opportunities.

Empowering

Palalimpa recalled being drawn to journalism because his uncle, a banana cue vendor, was a regular Inquirer reader himself. The scholarship, he said, inspires him to study harder and prepare himself for a calling beset with many challenges, such as the proliferation of fake news and disinformation.

“I am deeply honored and grateful to be given this scholarship as it would help me in my academics and [future] career. It is empowering [for students] like me who wish to develop the needed skills amid a changing media ecosystem, while alleviating our financial burden,” Palalimpa said.

For Sandoval, “the Inquirer scholarship presents a great opportunity for me to hone my writing skills which I can use to amplify the voice of the marginalized.” When still a child, she was “fond of listening to stories of other people and writing about them” and this made her consider majoring in journalism, she added.

Giving back

Dumalag, whose mother currently works abroad, hopes that aside from becoming a media professional she can also “give back” by being a teacher as well.

The scholarship, she said, “is a welcome opportunity for aspiring journalists like me to learn more about the field we are entering… especially in these trying times for journalists and the Filipino people.”

“As we welcome our new batch of exceptional Inquirer scholars, we hope that our humble support can help them realize their full potential,” said Connie Kalagayan, Inquirer assistant vice president for corporate affairs and executive director of the Inquirer Foundation.

“We pride ourselves in the achievements of our scholars both past and present. Their passion and determination continually inspires us to further our advocacy,” Kalagayan added.

(The reporter is from last year’s batch of Inquirer scholars –Ed.)

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