GMA Network grants scholarships to exceptional MassCom students

Three exemplary graduating college students from UP Diliman and Angeles University Foundation were granted scholarships Friday by GMA Network Inc. GMA Network chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon signed a contract with three handpicked students from the mass communication programs of AUF and UP Diliman, granting them full scholarships on their last year in school. "The purpose here is not only to help very good and deserving students finish their degrees but also (because) we need good people, the industry needs good people," Gozon said after the contract signing held at GMA Network office in Quezon City. New GMA scholars The GMA scholar from AUF is mass communication major Frances Jemaine Gonzales while the scholars from UP Diliman are broadcast communication major Eastword Manlises and journalism major Karlitos Brian Decena. All three scholars have a Cum Laude standing and were deemed by the network to be exceptional students in need of financial assistance. Gonzales, who is an editor of AUF's student publication The Angelenean Pioneer, said she still couldn't believe that she was awarded the grant. "Right now I'm very thankful and very proud, especially my family. When they found out, they shed tears of joy," she said. Decena, for his part, said the scholarship will be a big help to his parents who won't need to worry about funding his last year in UP anymore. Manlises admitted, however, that receiving the scholarship gives them a lot of pressure to perform well academically. "Nakakapressure din kasi may ineexpect yung GMA Network sa amin... hindi lang kami basta tatanggap ng money (There's a lot of pressure since GMA Network expects a lot from us, we can't just take their money)," he said. But Decena, who also worked as an intern for GMA News Online, remained hopeful that they would be able to meet the expectations of the country's leading network. "Sobra-sobra pa ang binibigay ng GMA sana ma-fulfill namin kung ano ang expectations ng GMA (GMA is giving us so much so I hope we will be able to fulfill their expectations)," he said. Manlises is an active member of the DZUP Radio Circle while Decena is the sports editor of the UP Mass Communication's official student paper Tinig ng Plaridel. The GMA scholarship Since 2007, GMA Network has been granting scholarships to qualified students from AUF, UP Diliman, and Don Bosco Technical College. No student from Don Bosco qualified for this year's program. "We are very selective. We just don't hire each and every applicant that files an application here," said Gozon. UP College of Mass Communication (CMC) dean Roland Tolentino, who was also present during the event, said that having such programs will help train future media practicioners. "Nakakatulong dahil nag-seset ito ng benchmark sa quality of news reporting specifically sa Pilipinas (This will help set a benchmark in the quality of news reporting, specifically in the Philippines)," he said after the contract signing. AUF president Atty. Joseph Emmanuel Angeles, for his part, said the fact that another one of their students qualified for the scholarship program will encourage their other students to aspire for the same. "They will certainly aspire for that sort of an honor as well, it's not something that is out of reach. It's not a dream but can be a reality," he said. "I'd like to think that our university has the type of quality that should be affiliated with the best network in entertainment and news in the country," he added. Also present during the contract signing were UP CMC college secretary Patrick Campos, UP CMC Foundation executive director Gina Lumauig, AUF College of Arts and Sciences dean Carmela Dizon, and Don Bosco Technical College Placement Office director Engr. Emmanuel Averilla. — RSJ, GMA News