CEBU, Philippines - At least four visually-impaired students from Cebu Normal University were among the first applicants in the Capitol's Paglaum Scholarship Program. 

Despite their physical limitations, there is no stopping for Jemar Togonon, Roland Christian Faelnar, Roland Christopher Faelnar and Shiela Marie Tiongzon from achieving their dreams of getting a college diploma.

The four joined the 230 other applicants of the scholarship grant from all over the province during the screening last Friday. Togonon and the identical twins Christian and Christopher are all third year students taking up Bachelor of Arts in English Language. Tiongzon is a sophomore and is taking up the same degree program.

 They were interviewed by Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, Jeddah Sumigan of the Cebu Provincial Women's Commission and former PB Member Grecilda "Gigi" Sanchez- Zaballero, who is now personal consultant to Magpale.

 The Province's "Paglaum Scholarship Program" provides P10,000 tuition and payment of miscellaneous fees as well as P1,500 subsistence allowance to handicapped, marginalized and poor students. Among the program's beneficiaries are children of drug surrenderers and dysfunctional families.

 The province has set aside P1 million as initial budget to send 70 qualified scholars, 10 beneficiaries from each of the seven districts, to college once the second semester opens this month.
 

Togonon,21, hopes that they would be among the province's scholars to help ease their parents' financial burden.

 "Unta gyod maaprobahan ang among scholarship applications," he said.

 All of the four visually impaired students have been attending school in a mainstreamed educational setting with the help of the Cebu Braille Center.

Cebu Braille Center, located at CNU, provides special education programs, special supportive services, resources and adaptive aids to enable the blind and the visually impaired to be mainstreamed into the regular school system and eventually in the world of work.

 Roland Christian showed Capitol reporters how they read, write and learn with the use of braille, a writing system that allows blind people to read by touching dots on embossed paper that represent letters of the alphabet. He wrote his name in braille as he demonstrated how the braillewriter or slate and stylus is being used.

 Togonon said acquiring education has always been a challenge for them, visually impaired individuals, because of society's discrimination and bullying.

He said it is no fun to be on the receiving end of bullying but they learned to stand up from the bullies.

 All of the four are members of the musical band called Blindfold Gerroshi, an acronym of their names. Togonon said their visual impairment has never been an obstacle to their dreams, particularly on acquiring a college diploma and showing their talents. (FREEMAN)
Source: http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2016/10/10/1632135/4-visually-impaired-want-be-capitol-scholars