4 Visually-Impaired Students Hope To Be Cebu’s ‘Paglaum’ Scholars

Living with disability is difficult, because everything one needs to do comes with special requirements. For four visually-impaired college students, Jemar Togonon, Roland Christian Faelnar, Roland Christopher Faelnar and Shiela Marie Tiongzon, everyday in school can be a struggle, but because they want to finish their tertiary studies, they continue to pursue their dreams. All four students applied to the Paglaum scholarship program of the Cebu Provincial Government. 

“Paglaum” Scholarships: Giving Hope

The Cebu Provincial Government through its Paglaum (‘hope’ in English) Scholarship is giving the four students hope that they will achieve their dreams soon. The four students are among the 221 who applied and were interviewed recently by Vice Governor Agnes Magpale. According to the Philippine Star, only 150 slots were initially available.

The scholarship program aims to provide educational subsidies for disadvantaged youth: “the differently-abled, the marginalized, the poor, including children of drug surrenderees,” according to Cebu Provincial website. Unlike most scholarships that focus on intellectually-gifted youth, this scholarship only requires the students to pass their subjects.

Visual-Impairment Not A Limitation

The four students study at the Cebu Braille Center which is housed in Cebu Normal University. Togonon and the Faelnar twins are third year students under the Bachelor of Arts in English Language, while Tiongzon is a second year student in the same degree program.

Through the help of the Cebu Braille Center, they have access to “special education programs, special supportive services, resources and adaptive aids” that help them as they become part of the regular school system as well as in a real world work environment, according to the Philippine Star.

Aside from their studies, the group also make up a band called Blindfold Gerroshi which performs in school activities and other events, proving that visual impairment is only a limitation if you allow it to be one.