Filipino wins Australia study tour

MANILA, Philippines - Mark Gil Caparros, a Filipino Special Education teacher working in Singapore, has won a two-week study tour of Australia as part of a global competition to win a year of study in Australia.

Caparros’ entry in the “Win Your Future Unlimited” competition beat over 3,000 postcard submissions from 137 countries. The competition, run by the Australian government, offers the major prize of a fully-funded year of study in Australia to commence in 2014. Seven finalists were flown to Australia for a two-week study tour this month, meeting with 22 of Australia’s leading institutions.

Applicants were asked to create a digital postcard that describes how studying in Australia will help them achieve their ambitions.

The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade), the Australian government’s trade, investment and education promotion agency which is project managing the competition, congratulated Caparros for his highly admirable submission.

“Looking at his entry, it’s evident Mark’s future ambitions are very noble and he wrote a very clear rationale for wanting to study in Australia. Australia has real strengths in child development and special education. And the judges obviously found the imagery fun and innovative, as well as being creatively aligned with his written content,” said Anthony Weymouth, Austrade’s Senior Trade Commissioner to the Philippines.

The Philippines recorded the highest number of postcard entries during the second week of competition (426 approved entries) and the highest number of visits to the website among all participating countries. In total, the competition attracted more than 13,000 entries.

“There’s growing awareness of the global opportunities an Australian education can open up for Filipino students. I think the high volume of entries we’ve received reflects that. Filipinos are very creative and we look forward to even more superb entries…perhaps even more finalists,” Weymouth added.

Originally from Alabat, Quezon Province, Caparros graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, majoring in Special Education.

He is also a Carlos Palanca Awardee for Literature in 2010. His award-winning essay, “Sina Bunso at ang mga Batang Preso,”  deals with his experiences in Molave Youth Home, a rehabilitation facility in Quezon City for children-in-conflict with the law, during his internship days as a teacher. 

Caparros believes an Australian graduate degree in Special Education can help him better serve children with special needs and greatly improve their quality of life.

 â€œThe ‘Win your Future Unlimited’ competition is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me.  I am hoping that my journey to Australia will give me the chance to fulfill my dream of a world-class graduate education, so that I can reach out and give back to more children with special needs,” Caparros said.

 â€œEmpowering children with special needs through life skills training will unleash their fullest potentials.  With accessible and sustainable educational services, and with the social awareness of the local communities about their condition, every child will be better equipped for independent living,” he added.