In the maiden issue of the CRANE Monitor (April 2006), an invitation was extended to eligible residents of Naga City and its environs to register with the organization. Some thought it was to augment the membership of the organization so that more dues will flow into its coffers for its operations. However, the less visible, and not easily discernible but real objective was to enable CRANE to assist more Caramoanons through its various projects, one of which is the scholarship assistance.
At this writing, information on the positive results of this invitation is not yet available. How many new members have been added to the roster to date? Is it a reflection of the economic climate or of a “Let’s-wait-and-see-more” attitude?
On the scholarship assistance front, a great dilemma faces the committee. This is in the area of finding qualified secondary school graduates. For the importance of getting scholars who possess the required basic academic preparation to do college work cannot be overemphasized.
A good grounding in the core subjects of high school English Grammar and Composition Math and the Science will certainly help ensure that the recipient of the educational assistance will be able to hurdle his/her college course and to emerge a winner at the end of four years. It is then our efforts in CRANE will have been vindicated.
Last year, the Scholarship Committee under the chairmanship of Director Alice Señar Alarkon conducted qualifying exams for graduating seniors in three (3) public barangay high schools in Caramoan. The school principals were informed beforehand to select the top five (5) students of the graduating classes.
On the appointed days, Alice and members of her committee gave exams which consisted of test questions in Math, English and Science. The results were hardly satisfactory.
Now that we are assured of continuing scholarship funding, courtesy of Congressman Villafuerte who allocated Php100,00 of his CDA to be used by CRANE for this project plus the generous donations from US-based “Kahimanwa”, the Scholarship Committee will surely push through efforts to send deserving high school graduates from Caramoan and from families who are registered with CRANE to college. But, needless to say, the able assistance of the mentors of the students in the barangay high schools of Caramoan, from first year to fourth year, is crucial.
That is why we, in CRANE, are appealing to those concerned to give their charges the best possible training in the basic subjects mentioned earlier in order to give these students at least a fighting chance.
Let us all join hands to help Caramoannons, especially the young ones to aspire for a better life for themselves and their families. This way we can do our share to make Caramoan a better place.
