Education is one of the most essential parts of our lives. To acquire quality education, one must overcome the obstacles along the way, such as poor health, teenage romance, family problems, financial crisis and poverty. It is a long journey through mountains of challenges—to which we, the youth, must respond—in order to achieve our dreams. Thank God there are people like Bro. Eli Soriano who lend a helping hand to those who need it and deserve it, in the name of true education, and for the sake of the youth.
It is a common principle that before one can earn money to supply his needs he has to gain good education first. Thus it is nice to hear of young people who are very dedicated to their studies. There are those who are passionate in doing school works because they want to uplift themselves and their families from poverty. However, there are cases when their frail bodies cannot take the toll of studying hard, especially when they lack parental love.
Two kinds of youth from a broken family experience health problems while going to school: one who quits; the other one who keeps pushing forward. The first one is the kind who does not exert effort toward his studies. He covers his loneliness through vices, tends to neglect responsibilities and finds leisure after school. Later on, he contracts not only health problems.
On the other hand, there are those who spend almost all their time studying, getting involved in extracurricular activities and other social events in order to mend their broken hearts. They don’t eat balanced diet, living in such a way that they jeopardize their health as well. Later on, instead of getting a job for a better living, they badly need to earn just to continue breathing.
Early marriage is another challenge to education; an obstacle, rather. There are youth who, at an early age, choose to follow their hearts—building their own families, becoming husbands, wives and parents—albeit unprepared. This is not uncommon nowadays, which makes it very alarming.
Also, it is no longer surprising to hear that many of our youth do not continue college anymore because of the low employment rate in the country. Even college degree holders have a hard time finding jobs that could really satisfy them. “So why finish college if I can be employed at the age of 18?” This is their common mentality. Low employment rate imposes a somewhat less obvious challenge to education, but of equal repercussions.
In some cases, however, youth are willing to turn their back from education to be more involved in church activities. Deciding to serve God is undoubtedly the most intelligent decision we can make. I have to admit that I am one of those youth. Nevertheless, when I heard Bro. Eli Soriano answer a question from a sister abroad during a Thanksgiving Day about a child who would not want to take up schooling in order to serve God, I was enlightened. He said that if he would have a chance, he would go finish his studies.
The logic there is: will we be able to easily spread the words of God if we are less educated? We can still serve God while studying. It’s just a matter of time management.
Of all these challenges and obstacles, most people think that the biggest is poverty. Due to the impoverished and corrupt nation we live in, people tend to reach only for what is already at hand. On instances when we have our time and willingness to study, we are unable to do so because of financial instability. It is possible to finish high school, but how about college? All of us want to finish in high-standard universities in order to get a good job after graduation, but even public universities require payment, from entrance exam, to registration and miscellaneous fees. Yes, they offer low payment; but how about those who really can’t afford to pay? How about those who cannot sustain? To this challenge, Bro. Eli responds.
In the Members Church of God International, we can see a bright future for our Filipino youth. Bro. Eli Soriano and Bro. Daniel Razon, MCGI Presiding and Vice-Presiding Ministers, have taken up the responsibility of helping the youth respond to the challenges of education through a Full Scholarship Program provided in La Verdad Christian College. It aims to help students not only academically, but in all possible ways. It is non-sectarian and accommodates hundreds of deserving students who cannot sustain their studies from all over the Philippines.
La Verdad Christian College offers full scholarship grant from tuition fee, to miscellaneous fees, uniforms, books, dormitories and even luncheon meal. It has two branches: one in Pampanga and one in Metro Manila, which is currently under construction. The courses offered are Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting; vocational courses such as Mass Communications Technology, Computer Programming, Office Management, Nursing Assistance, and International Cookery.
In case students might need medical attention, LVCC Pampanga branch is just walking distance from the church polyclinic, which provides free medical assistance. The branch in Metro Manila, on the other hand, is near Bro. Daniel’s clinic, popularly known as Clinic ni Kuya, which also provides free medical assistance. The clinic is located inside UNTV 37 Studio along EDSA.
La Verdad Christian College has a high academic standard because the students should maintain the subject grades not lower than 2.25 with the total average not lower than 2, but it has a forte not found in other schools. A part of its general curriculum is the subject Christian Living (CL), where the students are introduced to the highest standard of morality and godliness. This learning is vital even after graduation, wherein students will have to choose where and how to best use their education.
No other congregation in this nation offers this kind of opportunity to the less privileged. If only other and much bigger organizations will follow Bro. Eli’s lead, we will see a brighter future for the next generation. Providing a full college scholarship grant with free medical assistance and moral guidance is indeed a great response to the challenges of education.
