Veco offers grant to deserving students

THE Visayan Electric Co. (Veco) is inviting the poor but deserving students living within its franchise area from Lilo-an town in northern Cebu to San Fernando town in southern Cebu to apply for a scholarship.

Applicants must belong to the top five of the graduating class with a general average of not below 88 percent. Their parents individual annual income must not exceed P150,000, as reflected in their income tax return.

The scholarship application forms are available at Veco Full Service Centers in SM City Cebu and Bulacao Talisay, Veco collection offices at Piazza Elesia in Talamban and Ermac Arcade in Cansaga, Consolacion or through website www.veco.com.ph.

The Veco scholarship program started in 2009 with eight students as its first batch of beneficiaries.

One of the scholars, Michael Ray Lapasan, takes up Accountancy at the University of San Carlos.

Lapasan’s parents separated when he was seven years old. His mother decided to leave their father because of his vices.

Lapasan saw the sacrifices of his mother and he knew that the only way for him to help his mother and two other siblings rise out of poverty is by finishing his studies.

After his high school graduation, Michael applied for a scholarship program under the Aboitiz group. Unfortunately, the competition was tough and he was not among those chosen. He thought that was the end of his dream.

“Instead of surrendering, my mother told me to avail of the full scholarship offered by the University of San Carlos for high school valedictorians, but first I myself would have to pay for the tuition during the first semester,” he said.

But before the school year started, he said he received a call from his mother informing him that he qualified to the Veco scholarship program.

“I did not even apply for it, but I guess my scholarship application was referred to Veco since the power company is a subsidiary of the Aboitiz Group,” he said.

Lapasan, who will be graduating in March 2014, has been on the dean’s list since first year, maintaining a grade above the required 85 percent or 2.0.

His two other fellow scholars, meanwhile, were dropped from the program for failing to comply with the required grades.

Lapasan is outgoing president of the Cebu Federation of the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants.