BACOLOD CITY — Ten incoming senior high students from various public schools in Negros Occidental arrived in Japan on Tuesday to study General Health and Automotive under a three-year scholarship at Miyakonojo Higashi High School in Miyazaki Prefecture.
The scholarship grant is being implemented through the provincial government’s Negros Occidental Scholarship Program (NOSP).
The grantees include Johanna Rica Lorenzo, Nicole Marie Bersales. Joanna Marie Villanueva, and Leah Marie Encabo of Sagay National High School in Sagay City, Al Edmar Abad of Dr. Antonio Lizares Memorial High School in Talisay City, Krizzel Mae Do-oma of Doña Montserat Lopez Memorial High School in Silay City, Megumi Cleo Gelogo of Negros Occidental High School in Bacolod City, Anthony Esteban of Murcia National High School in Murcia town, Darlyn Blancia of Sofronio Carmona Memorial National High School in Salvador Benedicto town, and Reynaldo Victorama, Jr. of Ramon Torres Dulao National High School in Bago City.
The group were chaperoned by NOSP Head Karen Dinsay and April Duran of the Negros Occidental Investment and Promotion Center during the trip.
They were sent off by Governor Alfredo Marañon and Organization for Industrial Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA)-Bago Training Center Director Shigemi Watanabe with their parents and other family members during a farewell dinner on Monday.
Watanabe told the students to study hard and not give up as he assured their parents that Japan is a safe place to study and to gain good experience.
For his part, Marañon urged the scholars to cherish the great and unique opportunity given to them.
The students attended a week-long Japanese language and culture live-in training at the OISCA Training Center in preparation for their departure.
In June last year, Marañon signed a memorandum of understanding with Miyakonojo Higashi High School, stating that the school management and the Provincial Government share the same vision of providing educational opportunities to motivated and deserving Negrense high school students who aspire to study in Japan.
The provincial government screened, selected, recommended qualified students and provided financial support for their other expenses while the school will shoulder the full tuition, provide three-year full accommodation, ensure the scholars’ safety and security, and provide opportunity for further study after graduation. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
