Cum Laude Information Technology graduate Gale Q. Launio, a scholar of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Congressional Migrant Worker Scholarship Program is grateful for the government’s effort in charting better future for the children of the Overseas Filipino Workers.

Gale finished BS in Information Technology at the Western Visayas State University, here expressed his gratitude to the government’s scholarship program during the PIA-CATV program over Cable Star Channel l5. “The program sparks hope for the children of displaced OFWs to raise themselves from the state of idleness to a productive and useful existence”, Gale said.

With Gale during the PIA-CATV interview were Mr. Noel C.Chavez, Overseas Worker Welfare Officer III and OWWO II Marne M. Halanes, who explained the government’s thrusts in helping dependents of OFWs who have finished their contract and have returned home, but were not able to go back for overseas work, as well as those who suffered misfortunes, accidents, illnesses or deaths while serving abroad.

In the case of Gale, he is a resident of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo; the son of Nelson, a seaman and a displaced radio operator of one international shipping line, and Gilda- a high school teacher.

Gale recalled that two of his brothers were in College while he was graduating from high school when his father’s job as radio operator was terminated. “It would have been a great burden then for my mother had I been not awarded the opportunity to continue schooling through the OWWA scholarship program dubbed as Congressional Migrant Worker Scholarship program in 200l”, Gale said.

He said that it was a great relief when he passed the DOST examination for OWWA scholars and enrolled at the West Visayas State University. The school is a thirty-minute ride from his hometown.

“There are three OWWA scholars for Region VI, Gale graduated last March, Renan D. Miranda also of Sta. Barbara will graduate from his BS Electronics Communications Engineering Course from Central Philippine University this school year, but the other was discontinued for not maintaining the general average level required of a scholar”, said Mrs. Halanes.

Gale said that Information Technology course nowadays is very much in demand because wherever you apply for a job, one requirement for an applicant is to be computer literate.

Gale also said that the OWWA scholarship agreement requires scholars to maintain a general passing average but he strived for more and stayed on top of his class and graduated cum laude last March. Now Gale is tapped by the Department of Education’s Regional English Division to lecture on a particular subject in different schools in Region VI and find the work very interesting. Per OWWA requirement, he is still required to render a four-year service in the government before he will be allowed to work outside the country.

“The four-year service in the OWWA scholarship agreement is a way of showing my gratitude to the government where I owed my education. The stint is likewise useful to gain experiences and discover self-fulfilling activities”, Gale said.

According to Mr. Chavez, Gale has received several offers already and it’s up for him to choose the right opportunity that keeps knocking at his door.

Another scholarship program, Mrs. Halanes said, dubbed Education for Development Scholarship Program is offered to dependents of active OFWs. This started last year with two grantees, then thirteen (l3) grantees this school year 2005-2006.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo believes that “the best way for us to express our gratitude to our migrant workers is to remain committed to our pledge that wherever they are and whatever their professional status are, we shall continue to protect and safeguard their interests as well as those of their loved ones back home”.

Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph