07/01/2026
๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐ || ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ฌ โฑ๐.๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ง๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ
For nursing scholars of the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences (CNAHS) of the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP) โ Main Campus, the start of the second semester of Academic Year 2025โ2026 was made brighter with the release of their semestral scholarship benefits.
On January 6, 2026, the Provincial Government of Northern Samar (PGNS) formally distributed a total of โฑ1.33 million to 31 nursing scholars during the โRelease of PGNS Nursing Scholarship Stipend and Other Allowancesโ held at Sumuroy Hall, Provincial Capitol.
Each scholar received โฑ43,000 in stipends, book allowances, and uniform allowances โ financial support aimed at easing their academic expenses as they pursue their nursing education.
๐๐ซ๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ง๐๐ฐ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ง๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ
Building on its Medical Scholarship Program, the PGNS launched the Nursing Scholarship Program (NSP) to strengthen staffing in provincial hospitals, support nursing education, and help meet the Department of Healthโs recommended 1:12 nurse-to-patient ratio.
โMy adviser po when I was in Grade 12, sent the link about the program in our group chat po since she knew na damo an magnu-nursing sa amo section,โ said Ike Kent Caimol, a second-year nursing student who had to forfeit his DOST scholarship as nursing falls outside its priority courses.
Meanwhile, third-year nursing student Renz Celespara shared, โNaaraman ko ini siya sa ak ate, gin-send po niya an posted link san PGNS NSP. Sugad niya sa ak, mag-try la ak, waray man daw mawawara.โ
Financed through public funds, the scholarship covers Related Learning Experience (RLE) fees of up to โฑ15,000 per semester, a โฑ35,000 stipend, โฑ5,000 for books and paraphernalia, and โฑ3,000 for uniforms. Additional support is provided for third-year summer affiliation and board review, including up to โฑ20,000 for review fees and a โฑ40,000 stipend.
๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ
While the application process was generally smooth, several scholars faced challenges compiling the required documents and completing all the application requirements.
โMedyo makuri po an application process kay makuri ma-compile an iba na requirements lalo na an about sa grades kay mayda iba na subject nga waray pa maghatag,โ admitted Kate Balanday, a third-year nursing student scholar.
Caimol aired similar concerns, citing the financial burden of document processing. โMagastos lat, kadamo ba naman sadto. Ten ata adto including drug test tapos original copy of PSA live birth na I needed to get a [new one] kay gin pass ko na sa college. Strict lat sira sa documents, pag insugad true copy, authenticated. Kun original, original dapat.โ
Nevertheless, he noted that the scholarship office was accommodating, making it easier to submit forms once the requirements were complete.
๐๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ข๐ง๐
Despite the hurdles, scholars were driven by a shared goal: pursuing nursing education without placing another financial burden on their families.
โNag-decide ak na mag-apply sine nga scholarship kay aram ko nga dako an mahibubulig sini sa ak [labi na] sa ak pamilya,โ shared Balanday. โAkon papa nala an nagpapa-eskwela sa akon kay waray naman akon mama. That time san pag-apply ko, graduating lat akon ate, medyo magastos kay nag-o-OJT lat siya, natutunga saak ngan kan ate an gastuson ni papa.โ
In the same vein, Celespara recounted a similar story: โA very big help po sa ak, especially ak mama is a single parent,โ he said, adding that being selected made him feel โblessed and thankfulโฆ sa kadamo namon nga nag-applyโฆ sayo ak sa napili nga maging scholar.โ
Out of around 200 applicants, only 70 had complete requirements, culminating in 31 qualified scholars following a series of assessments.
๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐๐โ๐ฌ ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ
Funded by taxpayersโ money, scholars emphasized the broader significance of the program in serving the masses and strengthening Northern Samarโs healthcare system.
โImportante ine nga program para sa healthcare system san province kay para maka-produce pa sin damo nga nurses na makabulig ngan makatrabaho sa aton province,โ Balanday noted.
Caimol added that the return-of-service requirement addresses nurse shortages in Northern Samar: โMas madamo ato nurses sa province, male-lessen an workload and ma-i-aid an understaffing.โ
For every year the scholar benefits from the program, they are required to render two years of return-of-service to the province, with restrictions on practicing outside the province to prevent conflicts of interest.
๐๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฌ๐
โMiscellaneous fees, like uniforms, class contributions, paraphernalia, and extra-curricular activitiesโmas feel ko siya knowing na delayed an amo stipend,โ voiced Caimol, as this release only covered the first semester, with the second semester already underway.
For Academic Year 2024โ2025, the same batch only received their initial scholarship aid on June 2, 2025, covering both the first and second semesters, a few days before the classes ended.
๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ฌ
Facilitated by the PGNS NSP Technical Working Group, the event also served as a venue for scholars to share academic updates, exchange study tips, and discuss financial management strategies.
For Celespara and Caimol, itโs all about trusting the process, with the latter expressing: โAlmost half a year kami nagwait kun sin-o makaproceed sa interview, [kaya] be true to yourself kapag mainterview ka na. Itโs worth the wait.โ
Balanday, meanwhile, pointed to academic commitment as non-negotiable, advising aspiring scholars, โPag aram la sin maupay. Dapat makakuha sin good grades kay mayda kasi ginmi-maintain na grades sa pagiging scholar. An sugad pa saam, an need la namon na scholars is โmag-aram sin mag-aram.โโ
For the scholars, the release of stipend goes beyond financial assistance, it affirms their perseverance and connects their personal aspirations to a broader commitment to serve the people of Northern Samar. ยถ
Words by Ed T. Almasco
Photo courtesy of PGNS
