Rocelda: More than Finances
- Veronica Manalang
- Jun 3, 2017
- 3 min read
The Fighting Chance Scholarship Program was the bridge that connected me from where I came from to where I am right now, a stable job, a better life and of course an all new me. It has provided me pillars of knowledge that I can step on to enable me to move forward, sponsors and co- scholars that were always there to lift up and support me when everything seemed to be on my shoulders and faith that has served as my guiding light as I ventured into this world of trials and temptations. They showed me that scholarship doesn’t stop in financial support but extends to development of your own brand.
Being part of this program is something that I did not expect. This is really a blessing from God and His call for progress. I am a daughter of a laundry woman and a family driver in Tondo. I am third of four siblings, both my first and second brother are hard-working; they always look for ways to help our parents to provide for our needs. Because of this situation I discouraged myself to go to college and focus on helping my family as I graduate from high school not until this program was introduced to me. Seeing it as a blessing, I accepted it and started foundering my life in the shape of progress.
At first I thought it was just financial support but as we attended values formation every year, the National Youth Summit in Marikina, the numerous skills training , I feel blessed thanking God that I found another family among these people. Through this constant building-on, we developed leadership, environmental awareness, social awareness and motivational values that the organizers drilled among us scholars. Developing leadership really helped me not just to lead but be a good follower and team-player. Being aware of my environment had lead me into being a self-starter on how I am going to help maintain good environment as all these are gifts from God and it is our duty to take care of it. Knowing more about society lead me to push myself in having a better life because we once lived as members of society under the shadow of growth and progress and now I am pursuing to move out of the shadows and explore the world above it. But all of these will count for nothing if I did not embrace the greatest knowledge of life, the knowledge of God and His Son Jesus Christ. Knowing and believing in Christ is the greatest gift this program has gave me. From then on, all the things I have been doing, all of decisions I have been making and all of the trials I have gone through, I surrender them in the name of Jesus and rewards have been promising.
As a scholar, we also shares our experience through monthly progress reports. Each month we share stories about our family, school, friends and ourselves. I am very glad because every time I share my problems and achievements, donors and other members are giving me advices, solutions and compliments to help me overcome problems and continue to be better. Some donors also share their experiences that can help us continue to progress and face the hardness of life. My e-mail inbox became my bank of knowledge because of the overflowing experiences, information and advices that each donors, members and scholars share. It is like an encyclopedia written in thoughts and memories of those people.
I finished my studies last 2012 I graduated with the degree of Bachelor in Financial Accounting. I am currently working at Banco de Oro, one of the large banks here in the Philippines. Though I am third of the four siblings, I am deemed breadwinner because my elder brothers have their own family now. I will stand stronger and will support my younger brother and my parents and I will pursue to have a better place to live. Through God I hope and I pray that all of these will be in accordance with His will.
I am a living proof that iBelong Philippines is not just an organization but a family founded by the kind hearts of our donors and their passion to help those children like us, a family that continuous to be stronger through God’s grace and blessings and a family that will continue to grow because of the seeds that we plant on our hearts, a seed of joy, knowledge, wisdom, love and faith. I thank God for giving me an opportunity to join this family and the sponsors and members for being vessels of God’s blessings. I pray that this family will continue to help less privileged Filipino children who are willing to pursue their dreams and will all their means to achieve it.
