Taman Siswa

Some two hundred students from the Catanduanes State Colleges enjoying scholarship benefits from Cong. Joseph Aldea Santiago conducted an outreach and fellowship activity last Sunday, March 18, 2006, at Barangay Marilima in the Municipality of Virac.

The students, beneficiaries of the Congressional Initiative Scholarship Program and the Emergency Fund Assistance for Students, both funded out of the Congressman’s priority development assistance fund, engaged in a coastal cleaning activity along the shoreline of Marilima as well as in a feeding activity for the children of barangays Marilima and Batag before proceeding to Kosta Alcantara Resort for team-building and fellowship activities, where they were joined in by Rep. Santiago.

In his short message, he told the scholars that Catandunganon youths studying in Manila can compete and even exceed their peers coming from other places. JAS also emphasized the value of education to the youths.

“In Catanduanes we also cultivate minds, not just plants,” the Congressman added and stressed that foremost in his priorities as representative of the province to the Congress is youth development and education.

The one-day outreach and fellowship activity was initiated by the scholars themselves when they met with PBM Ariel Molina, the Congressional Consultant on Youth and Education, in a consultation-meeting held at the CSC some two weeks ago. In said meeting aimed at evaluating the impact of the scholarship programs and at the same time hearing from the beneficiaries themselves their concerns and suggestions at further improving the program, the scholars requested for an activity where they could somehow provide some relief to barangays as well as an opportunity to mingle and be acquainted with fellow scholars, and a chance to meet their benefactor and thank him personally.

PBM Molina was assisted by the JAS Young Professional Movement in organizing the activity.