Some 14 FU students who were victims of Tropical Storm Sendong have received financial assistance from local and international donors in a simple ceremony at the Lawak Kauswagan at the FU Main Campus last Tuesday.
The FU Student Government led the selection process and endorsed the names to the Office of University Advancement and the Office of Student Life.
The students who received scholarships ranging from P6,200 to P9,000 were Aaron Abueva, Analou Abueva, Percy Jane Acaso, Rhel Alberio, Donalyn Baybay, Leigh Boncales, Exelyn Cadelina, Je-Ann Carias, Jona Carias, Genesis Co, Elpie Ebarita, Marci lee Guivencan, Ian Jamandron and Charles Macay.
FU Advancement Officer Amy Villanueva said the money came from an on-line fund-raising campaign called the Sendong Scholarship Initiative and from the proceeds of two paintings by FU Resident Artist Hersley-Ven Casero.
Some donors gave not just their money but exhibited their talent to raise funds. A musician, Ryan Villanueva, held a guitar concert in his neighborhood in Cumberland, Maryland, USA and sold CDs of his songs and donated the proceeds.
Casero, on the other hand, was inspired to make two paintings after the storm. He made his biggest painting entitled “2012 (The Year of the Dragon)”. The painting showed a dragon dominating Dumaguete’s Rizal Boulevard, which also showed people of all shapes, sizes and expressions who had gathered there in the afternoon of December 17, after Sendong struck Dumaguete and the Province of Negros Oriental.
Casero also made a smaller painting of photographers entitled “1000 Pictures Per Second.”
The paintings were then sold in Dumaguete’s first-ever auction-benefit last February 26 under the auspices of the FU Advancement Office. Casero donated all the proceeds to the Sendong victims and for victims of the February 6 earthquake, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office in Dumaguete City.
The Advancement Office initiated the fund campaign immediately after the December 17 storm, after concerns were raised that some students may not be able to continue with their studies because of the damage they sustained.
One of the students, Analou Abueva, said they are grateful because while they lost their books, shoes and everything else during the storm, they could still stay in school because of the support of kind-hearted individuals.
Marci Lee Guivencan, on the other hand, said that the money and goodwill donated by people whom they have never even met ”gives us the idea that hope is still around….” She was unable to finish her statement as tears started falling from her eyes.
A mother, Merllene Baybay, also expressed thanks to the faceless donors because they gave hope to her daughter through the scholarship. “My husband lost his job and I support my family by selling banana cue….” She, too, couldn’t finish her statement and sat down teary-eyed.
FU President Dr. Mira Sinco exhorted the scholars to put the money to good use by continuing to do well in their studies.
Dean Marlon Tanilon of the Office of Student Life said he hopes that this initiative planted in the scholars the seed that will encourage them to see their dreams become a reality.
“With this initiative, we are able to show the University’s concern for its students,” Tanilon concluded.
