Five Filipino students from various provinces have been awarded scholarships to prestigious universities in the United States, opening doors to world-class education and opportunities.
Kyle Andrew Abello, a student from the Philippine Science High School – Eastern Visayas, is among the recipients. He will attend Princeton University on a full-ride scholarship worth $366,800, majoring in Engineering. Abello plans to return as a civil and environmental engineer to aid in his hometown of Tacloban, Leyte, which was devastated by Typhoon Yolanda when he was eight.
“Since I was a Yolanda survivor, I experienced firsthand the environmental degradation that we have… I could help with the Philippines like, typhoon-resilient buildings po, because there are a lot of mga bahay na madali lang masira sa typhoon,” Abello shared in an ABS-CBN News report.
His mother, Josephine, expressed pride and surprise at the opportunity. “Nagulat din ako, tatlong university ang kanyang na-scholar siya po… Princeton University, Notre Dame University, at saka Yale University, but pinili niya ‘yung Princeton University… Mami-miss ko siya dahil bunso namin siya. Of course, we hope that when he comes back he will serve our country.”
Ellen Faye Ann Yabut, another Philippine Science High School student from the Western Visayas Campus, was awarded a Caroline and Daniel Werther Scholarship and Penn Grant amounting to $361,152. She will study Biochemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. Yabut aims to return as a Balik Scientist to serve the Filipino community through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) programs.
“Actually, one of the biggest plans I have right now is to be a Balik Scientist and would serve the Filipino people through the DOST programs that would also equip the youth, or like be an inspiration to the youth to pursue STEM careers and give back to the community through Science and Technology,” Yabut said.
Her parents were astonished by her achievement. “Na-surprise lang kami eh… Holy Week ‘yun tapos na-open niya ‘yung laptop niya and then sabi niya, ‘Yeah, nakapasa ako.’ ‘Yun pala sa UPenn nakapasa. Hindi namin inakala,” said her father, Charlemagne. Her mother, Michelle, emphasized the importance of her daughter’s education for the Philippines, “You have to bring back all the learnings for the Filipino people, alam mo naman ‘yan. We’re very nationalistic and mahal na mahal namin ang Pilipinas. This is for the Philippines.”
These students are part of EducationUSA’s College Prep Program (CPP), which aims to assist students likely to receive financial aid from US colleges. The program, supported by the US Embassy in the Philippines, offers mentorship, coaching, and resources for application costs, preparing students for tests like the SAT and TOEFL.
US Ambassador to the Philippines Marykay Carlson highlighted the significance of these educational opportunities. “The people to people ties including student programs, student exchanges, are absolutely essential to maintaining that trust and understanding so that we can be partners in prosperity and be ironclad allies,” Carlson said.