Photo: Yolanda ‘Nanay Yolly’ De Jesus is flanked by Consul General Paul Cortes and wife, Dr. Yasmin Balajadia Cortes. Nanay Yolly was among 10 recipients of the Ulirang Ina Award recently launched to celebrate Mothers Day.
“I am very thankful for the help of OWWA because with their assistance I was able to have my youngest daughter graduate in college,” she said
DUBAI: Hailed from Bicol and a mother of four, Yolanda De Jesus is one of the OFW parents who were able to avail the scholarship program of POLO OWWA. Her youngest graduated tourism and is now currently working in the airport in the Philippines.
“Hearing about the scholarship of OWWA came at a very opportune moment as my youngest at that time was asking if she can still continue her studies,” Nanay Yolly recounts. She said that when she was renewing her passport in the consulate, she met another OFW who was able to avail of the scholarship program by OWWA. The man said that through the program, he was able to have his kids finish college. And so Nanay Yolly inquired with the office about the program for her youngest daughter.
“The officer at the consulate was very helpful. She told me about the program and instructed me how I can avail of it. When I went for my vacation, I did all she said. The entire application process was easy. I went to Region 3 OWWA office in Pampanga and they helped me with all the procedures. My daughter and I were interviewed and luckily my daughter passed the examinations and was given the support she needed. She studied at Bulacan State University and finished a degree in tourism,” narrated Nanay Yolly.
“I am very thankful for the help of OWWA because with their assistance I was able to have my youngest daughter graduate in college,” she said.
Going 11 years now, Nanay Yolly has been in the UAE working as a nanny for a Lebanese family. She left her family to work abroad as her husband was diagnosed with a rheumatic heart disease – at that time her four children were all in school. Her husband takes care of the kids back then. Now, she is very happy as all of them have finished studies. Her twins who graduated college is currently working in the UAE and her two children who left in the Philippines also has their jobs.
According to Atty. Felicitas Q. Bay, labor attaché at the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Dubai (POLO-Dubai) OFW parents can avail of the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) for their dependents enrolled in college as long as they meet the requirements.
The scholarship program is granted to qualified beneficiaries of active OWWA members who intend to enroll in a 4-5 year baccalaureate course in any preferred colleges/universities. It provides P60,000 financial assistance per school year. The EDSP is only provided once per family. If membership is expired, it should be within the six-month extension period.
The applicant should have a general weighted average of not lower than B letter grade or 85 percent equivalence in all subjects in the last school year attended in full load.
