Girl Power

Four young Mindanaonan scholars share their hopes and dreams for their land.

Four young Mindanaoan scholars share their hopes and dreams for their land.

Mindanao has long been hailed as the “Land of Promise” owing to its vast natural resources and rich biodiversity. In recent years, it was also proven to be an encouraging environment for homegrown world-class talents such as boxer Manny Pacquiao from General Santos, Miss Universe 2015 Pia

Wurtzbach from Cagayan De Oro, and 2016 Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz from Zamboanga City. Despite the sweeping headlines on peace and order that mar Mindanao’s potentials, the region’s beauty and contribution to the Philippines cannot be underestimated.

Several young women are intent on changing public perception on how Mindanao is and tell the world that there is so much more to their region than what the people read in headlines which, more often than not, do not necessarily define their land.

These young women bent on representing Mindanao in another, more favorable light are Angel Sabellano, 17; Cindy Ela Felix, 20; Joysee Threeneedad Longakit, 22; and Irene Luntayao, 20. They are suffused with passion to battle negative impressions by arming themselves with high hopes and education, thanks in large part to a scholarship from a homegrown private company, the Alsons Power Group, which is the first independent power producer in Mindanao.

Alsons Power has provided scholarships to students from the areas that it operates in that include Zamboanga City, Iligan, General Santos, and Sarangani Province.

The scholarship program is supported by Alson’s subsidiaries, and the company has empowered over 4,000 scholars like these young women who have the passion and determination to rise above poverty, eventually transforming the tales of tension that have been associated with Mindanao into stories of hope, success, and a sense of accomplishment.

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.— Nelson Mandela