01 Jul 2004
At an award ceremony held at the Singapore Embassy, the Ambassador Lim Kheng Hua, presented the Singapore International Foundation-ASEAN Student Fellowship awards to nine outstanding Filipino students.
The nine, who have been given the opportunity to study for a semester at the universities in Singapore are from the Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas. They have shown excellent academic results and an active interest in organising community and student activities.
This year's Fellows are: Ms Angela M Constantino, Mr Christopher D Daguimol, Mr Gabriel Francisco A Holigores, Mr Patrick Wilson Ong Lim, Mr Roy S Mendoza, Mr Richard Rubman Pact Que, Ms Victoria Christian F Rivera, Ms Maida Marie A Salcedo and Mr Wilfred Oliver B Segovia. They will join the ranks of some 90 young Filipinos who have already benefited from this Fellowship.
At the ceremony, the guest-of-honour, Hon. Teodoro Locsin Jr, Representative of the 1st District of Makati, spoke of his own experiences as an overseas scholar, and he advised the Fellows to "feel how to be part of Singapore, to take part in the Singapore educational experience, and to learn to interact with the best of Singaporeans". In congratulating the scholars, Congressman Locsin also uged the fellows to put their experience to good use when they return to their respective universities in the Philippines.
Background
The Singapore International Foundation (SIF) is a non-profit, non-government organisation founded on 1 August 1991. Its mission is to enable Singaporeans everywhere to think globally, feel Singaporean, be responsible world citizens and foster friendships for Singapore. The mission is realised through five core programmes - Singapore Volunteers Overseas, Youth Expedition Project, Humanitarian Relief Programme, Friends of Singapore, and Overseas Singaporeans. SIF's programmes are funded by contributions from the public and private sectors.
The SIF-ASEAN Student Fellowship aims to develop closer ties and promote friendship among tertiary student leaders from ASEAN countries, including the Philippines, through the experience of living and learning together. Outstanding Singapore students and their families will join in the programme and act as hosts to help their Filipino Fellows to adjust to campus life and to get to know Singapore better. The Filipinos Fellows will also be involved in community service projects, camps, visits to government agencies and civic organisations, and participate in the annual Singapore Symposium. These activities are arranged to help the Fellows from ASEAN countries understand Singapore better. The Fellowship would last for one semester and is tenable at either the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University or the Singapore Management University.
Now in its twelveth year, the SIF-ASEAN Student Fellowship has developed an alumnus of just under 500 members from Southeast Asia. Student Fellows can look forward to joining the growing network of outstanding youth leaders who share a unique experience in the Fellowship.