Dreamers & Movers

They came from the full stretch of the archipelago, from north to south, from town and city, with big dreams and bright plans for a better life for the people of their communities. But first they needed further training in order to be more effective in the development work that they were undertaking. But with the high cost of education–especially higher education and specialized training abroad–that was almost an impossibility.

Not anymore.

In October 2001 the International Fellowship Program and the Ford Foundation-Manila office through the Philippine Social Science Council (PSSC) announced the opening of the first Inter-national Fellowship Program for Filipinos (IFP-Philippines). Being the biggest funded project of the Ford Foundation, IFP was designed to train future leaders from the various sectors with special emphasis on those coming from the socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged groups of society.

The program is administered by the International Fellowship Fund (IFF) created by the Ford Foundation to administer the $280 million fund for advance education, meant to support 3,000 Fellows worldwide. Last year, there were 700 selected out of 20,000 applicants from countries in Africa, the Middle East, South America and Asia. At present, IFF has 13 working partners in 21 countries.

From April to June last year, screening and selection committees evaluated through documentary review and personal interviews hundreds of applicants and finally settled on 34 fellows designate. They were, in turn, endorsed by the Philippine committee to the IFF office in New York for approval. Once approved, there is a waiting period of at least a year, during which time pre-graduate training assistance is provided to the fellows-elect who are still awaiting admission to the schools of their choice. This training is provided by the PSSC staff.

A look at the composition of the initial batch of the Filipino Fellows shows that 76 percent come from outside Metro Manila and 23 percent from ethnic minorities, including an Ayangan, a Barlig and an Ifugao from Northern Philippines and from Mindanao, three Lumads from the Sama Bangingi, Higaunon and Iranon tribes, as well as one Maranaw and one Magindanao. While the average age of the group is a relatively young 33 years, there was no discrimination against 54-year-old Evelio Escleto, a teacher from Cagayan de Oro who was given the chance to pursue a master’s degree in sociology. Nor did his young 23 years disqualify Assad Banto from Lanao del Norte, who as a volunteer taught math to fourth year high school students in North Cotabato in preparation for the UP College Admission Test.

There was one thing the Fellows had in common: be instruments in the upliftment of the social and economic well-being of their fellowmen.

Journalist Yasmin Arquiza, now pursuing a course in Development Management at the Asian Institute of Management (aim), is an ardent environmentalist. She has written several pieces on the protection of the now fragile Philippine ecosystem for local and international publications. She helped set up Bandillo ng Palawan, a monthly news magazine and a weekly newspaper devoted to environmental issues in the island province. Though now busy with her studies, Yasmin still manages to be involved in setting up the Palawan Heritage Center with two other organizations.

Like Arquiza, Police Chief Inspector Carlos Gadapan and naval pilot Lt. Commander Noel Cunanan are also into Development Management. Both were recipients of several awards, with the former being part of the PNP contingent in the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cambodia and the latter involved in mercy and relief missions. They are hopeful and fully confident that their on-going graduate education will help in their advocacy work with regards the promotion of reforms in the respective law enforcement agencies where they belong.

Capt. Oliver Maquiling of the Philippine Army used to conduct catechism classes for kids living in slum areas. Coming from a poor family himself, he finished his elementary and high school education on scholarships given by Xavier University and spent his college years at the Philippine Military Academy. He felt that pursuing advanced studies in peace and conflict resolution coupled with his experience in working with the poor in depressed areas will substantially help in addressing the problems of peace and order in the country.

For Carolina Amper, who teaches plant pathology at the Central Mindanao University and whose family depends solely on corn farming, getting the IFP scholarship was heaven sent. Once she gets her doctorate degree in agriculture and rural development either from the University of Hawaii or the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, she is determined to help combat the corn diseases that have brought untold misery to numerous farmers in Bukidnon and other parts of Mindanao.

For Gaspar Angihan, the fellowship comes literally over hills and mountains. An Ifugao who serves as Bible translator for the Ifugao Bible Churches and an advocate of the preservation of the world-renowned rice terraces, he heard of the IFP through the local radio station. When the regional screening committee tried contacting him, there was no telephone or telegraphic service in his area, and mail from Manila would take at least two months to reach him.

But Dr. John Tayaban, an educator from Nueva Vizcaya’s St. Mary’s University and a member of the IFP regional network, volunteered to travel by bus and on foot, walking several hundred kilometers, just to inform Angihan of his inclusion in the group of applicants. Involved in adult education night classes (the students are farmers so classes are held from 7 to 9 pm), Angihan, 46, knows that getting additional knowledge in community development will help him in his chosen mission among the poor communities in the Cordillera region.

Recent Manila visitor Joan Dassin, IFF executive director, gave high marks to local Ford Foundation officers David Chiel and Milwida "Nene" Guevarra who, together with the PSSC led by Criselda Doble, made the Philippine debut of IFP a success.

"It is simply inspiring, very gratifying to see how many committed people there are in this world," enthuses Dassin who is involved in education policies in Washington. She was very emphatic in stressing the importance of preserving the independence of the program so that no one from Ford Foundation Manila or the PSSC sits in the selection committee.

Next year’s program will focus on applicants coming from municipalities in the 4th to 6th categories and cities from 4th to 5th classes. According to Dassin, "It is important to level the playing field for candidates coming from these areas who otherwise will not have the chance to attain higher education that will benefit not only themselves but a greater number of people."