NEXT BATCH Andre Esguerra (right), Jaemie Talingdan (center) and Lau Bacia were chosen from a short list of candidates provided by the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication. 鈥擫yn Rillon
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Three University of the Philippines (UP) students join this year鈥檚 Inquirer journalism scholarship program.
Out of six candidates chosen by the UP College of Mass Communication, third-year students Andre Esguerra, Lau Bacia and Jaemie Talingdan were selected for the grant鈥檚 31st year.
For the latest scholarship, the Inquirer Foundation linked up with its first corporate partner AboitizPower to provide each of the scholars a P50,000 grant per semester for their last two years in UP, totaling P200,000.
Within three months after their graduation, the scholars may be offered to work in the Philippine Daily Inquirer for a year.
READ: Inquirer, AboitizPower partner up for journalism scholarships
鈥淥ur job is to enable you to achieve your dreams, aspirations; that鈥檚 what we want to achieve for each batch of scholars,鈥� Inquirer President and CEO Rudyard Arbolado said in the contract signing program at the UP Diliman University Hotel on Friday.
鈥淲e know you like to study and have a heightened awareness of the role of journalism鈥攚e鈥檙e here to support that,鈥� he added.
AboitizPower vice president for corporate affairs Suiee Suarez told the scholars: 鈥淲e鈥檙e just really pleased to partner with [UP] and with the Inquirer 鈥�. Now, you bring it to fruition.鈥�
鈥淭his is a way to give back and enable the fullest potential of the next generation,鈥� he added.
Pandemic toll
The scholars said the grant would support their families鈥� financial needs. Esguerra and Talingdan themselves had to work while studying to cover their expenses and those of their families.
A big reason behind Esguerra鈥檚 drive is his father鈥檚 death due to cardiac arrest in 2021. Esguerra, then in senior high school, worked the night shift at a call center in Quezon City. Now 20, he takes writing commissions to support his studies.
鈥淸My father鈥檚 death] was a shock. It was the pandemic鈥攐ur family鈥檚 resources were depleted. He was the only one working in our [family]. We were [running] out of money,鈥� he said. 鈥淸Now,] I鈥檓 gonna have the chance to finish my studies. Having this scholarship鈥攖hat鈥檚 my chance to continue.鈥�
Talingdan鈥檚 father died of kidney disease in August 2020鈥攁lso during the pandemic.
鈥淎t the time, we were struggling financially because we took him to dialysis thrice a week. Even with insurance, we were still paying [the hospital bills],鈥� she said.
Talingdan, 21, used to work as an English tutor to young students, but shifted to work as a coordinator for a nongovernment organization to suit her busy academic schedule.
Bacia鈥檚 family was not spared from the pandemic either. His father lost his job as a liaison officer in a furniture company amid the lockdowns. He then worked as a cab driver for a ride hailing-app company.
鈥淸The pay] is not so big, but 鈥� it鈥檚 what keeps us afloat,鈥� Bacia said.
His relatives shelled out money to help his family. Bacia, who is from Bacoor, Cavite, has been staying at his aunt鈥檚 house in Batasan Hills, Quezon City, for college.
鈥淚鈥檓 a testament to the saying that it takes a village to raise a kid,鈥� he said.
Inspiration
The scholars said they want to draw inspiration from their experiences when they enter the Inquirer.
Esguerra said he wanted to cover labor stories 鈥渂ecause I know how it feels. Even my dad, he [faced] the problem of job security. [And] I鈥檓 not the only one experiencing this.鈥�
鈥淲hat interests me are human-interest stories. There are many, many untold stories,鈥� Talingdan said.
The three students will join a roster of more than 80 Inquirer scholars from schools such as UP, University of Santo Tomas, Ateneo de Manila University and University of the East.
Throughout their scholarship, the candidates must maintain a semestral average of at least 1.75.
鈥淎t this age, you have the world at the palm of your hands,鈥� said AboitizPower public relations assistant vice president Abbey Tomas. 鈥淚 hope you take advantage of this opportunity and we look forward to the path that you would take.鈥�
鈥淭here are many responsibilities that come with this opportunity, [but] I decided to push through,鈥� Bacia said. 鈥淚t feels good that you get to do what you love and you鈥檙e supported, and you have the potential to help other people in the future.鈥�