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ZUFI Scholars Spearheaded Clean-up Drive
Project (2009)
Msgr. Verzosa Awarded
ZUFI Plaque of Distinction (2006)
ZUCIR Foundation
Sustains Scholarship Program (2006)
ZUFI Launches Group
Insurance: Additional Scholarship Privilege (2003)
ZUFI's Educational
Incentives and Grants (2003)
ZUFI Goes Online (2003)
PGMA Biggest ZUFI
Benefactor (2002)
College Scholars Chosen; Donaire, PGMA-PSF Scholar
(2002)
Onward Zumarraga
(editorial - 2002)
ZUFI SCHOLARS SPEARHEADED CLEAN-UP DRIVE
PROJECT
By: Manny Versoza
 In
their effort to make their summer vacation productive and meaningful,
the scholars of Zumarraga Circle Foundation, Inc. or ZUFI have organized
a clean-up drive project along the seashores of Zumarraga proper on May
18 and 19, 2009. Dubbed as "Burublig para han Malimpyo nga Kalibungan",
the project aims to protect and preserve the environment; promote safe
and healthy seaside living; and stimulate environmental awareness among
Zumarraganhons.
The said project was sponsored by ZUFI and Mrs. Milagros Roduta who believe and stand for the scholars'
initiative in saving and protecting the environment. It was attended by
more or less sixty (60) participants. A number of them are youth
volunteers from Poblacion 1, Poblacion 2, and Mombon-Arado.
Participants assembled at 6:30 in
the morning for a briefing by Project Coordinators, Enden Omaña and
Manny Versoza. They were grouped into three (3), each assigned to
collect and dispose coastal wastes by class: the biodegradable,
non-biodegradable and
hazardous. Large volume of it
came in the form of plastics, bottles and backyard wastes with barang ay
Poblacion 2 having the highest volume disposed.
To aid the participants do the
work safely and easily, rakes, sacks, shovels, walis ting-ting, dustpans
and disposable hand gloves were employed. First aid medicines were also
made available in case of casualties. Snacks were served for two days
after each activity which was every morning only.
Should resources permit, the ZUFI
scholars plan to make this initiative an annual
 activity
to be jived during Earth Day celebration. They believe that now is
the time to act and fight climate change which affects everyone from all
walks of life. That now is the time to unify and join hands together to
save mother earth.
So far, two barangays have
benefited this project, barangays Poblacion 2 and Mombon Arado.
The project has the full support
of the ZUFI Board led by its Chairman, RAdm Eriberto C.
Varona AFP
(Ret).
MSGR. VERZOSA AWARDED ZUFI PLAQUE OF
DISTINCTION
June 25, 2006 - Quezon City.
In
recognition of his exemplary commitment and invaluable services in the
furtherance of the objectives of Zumarraga Circle Foundation Inc. or
ZUFI, Msgr. Anton Z. Verzosa was awarded a Plaque of Distinction by the
ZUFI Board of Trustees' Chair retired Rear Admiral Eriberto C. Varona on
June 25, 2006 at the Quezon City Sports Complex, Quezon City, during the
62nd Anniversary Fiesta Celebration of the "An Zumarraganhon
Association". Assisted by the ZUFI President, Dr. Teresa D. Solero,
Chairman Varona personally presented the Plaque to Msgr. Verzosa, with
retired Judge Leocadio Ramos, this year’s Hermano Mayor, also on hand to
witness the presentation.
Msgr. Verzosa is a past co-Chairman of the Foundation's local Arm for
college scholarship based
in Catbalogan. As co-Chairman for about three (3) years, he has been
very supportive and dedicated in sustaining the programs and objectives
of the Foundation.
Msgr. Verzosa is the second recipient of this award. Earlier, ZUFI also
presented to Mr. Francisco Amoyo, Chairman Emeritus of the ZUFI local
Arm, a similar award which ZUFI continues to bestow upon
committed and dedicated individuals like them.
ZUCIR FOUNDATION SUSTAINS
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
 The ZUCIR
Foundation, Inc. (ZUFI) is sustaining its commitment to help talented
students of Zumarraga, Samar pursue secondary and
college education
through its scholarship program. This was indicated by ZUFI Chairman,
retired Rear Admiral Eriberto C. Varona during his recent visit to his
hometown of Zumarraga last March 29-31, 2006.
At the closing exercises
of the Zumarraga Central Elementary School (ZCES) on March 30, during
which occasion he was the Guest Speaker, Admiral Varona awarded ZUFI’s
certificates for a 4-year scholarship in the local high schools to the
top five (5) Class 2006 graduates of ZCES, namely: Ma. Karen V.
Paturbos (Valedictorian); Cendie B. Caro (Salutatorian);
Janille V. Villaflor (1st Hon. Mention); Angelica V.
Nacionales (2nd Hon. Mention); and, Leslie A. Niedo (3rd
Hon. Mention). Annually, ZUFI supports at least twenty-five (25)
scholars pursuing secondary education at either St. Anthony’s Institute
or Zumarraga Integrated School, with each scholar entitled to a monthly
stipend of P50.00. The ZUFI Chairman has announced that the number of
high school scholars may be increased to accommodate new applicants from
those who earned top honors (1st, 2nd and 3rd
honors) but are not yet ZUFI scholars.
Likewise, during the
First Commencement Exercises of the Zumarraga Integrated School (ZIS),
the following day, March 31, before he delivered his message to the
graduates, Admiral Varona awarded certificates of scholarship for a
4-year degree program to Shallaine D. Dante and Ariane J. Donaire,
Valedictorian and Salutatorian, respectively of the ZIS Class 2006.
Similarly, the ZUFI Chairman awarded certificates of scholarship to
Marlon D. Costo and Debbie Lalaine P. Pacayra, Valedictorian and
Salutatorian, respectively of Class 2006 of St. Anthony’s Institute. For
the Mualbual High School, the Chairman requested the Local Foundation
Arm Chair, Vice Mayor Eddie O. Versoza, to present ZUFI’s certificate of
scholarship to Jemmalyn C. Llanza, Valedictorian this year in that
school. For the college program, ZUFI is committed to support at least
ten (10) scholars per year, with a stipend of P5,000.00 per semester for
those studying in the province and P10,000.00 per semester for those in
the Greater Manila area.
ZUFI’s certificate of
scholarship entitles the recipient to a four year scholarship, in high
school or college as appropriate, provided that the recipient maintains
an average grade in any grading period of at least 85% (2.0) with no
grade in any single subject lower than 80% (2.5).
Meanwhile,
ZUFI’s
trustees and officials were delighted over the excellent performance of
its scholars at the Samar State University. Two (2) of its scholars who
just graduated received cum laude honors, namely: Julie Ann J.
Donaire (B.S. Applied Statistics) and Nanette A. Labro (Bachelor
of Secondary Education). Two (2) others merited inclusion in the
Dean’s List: Lyza D. Minoro (3rd Yr, BSE) and
Edilbert Conde (1st Yr, BSE). These achievers are
entitled to an additional incentive of P5,000.00 each over and above
their normal stipends.
ZUFI
Launches Group Insurance: Additional Scholarship Privilege
As further incentive to its college and high school scholars, the ZUCIR
Foundation Inc. (ZUFI) has launched a group insurance plan for its
scholars and qualified staff (those within allowable age limit),
starting this year. In its recent Board meeting, the Chairman with the
approval of the Board requested Mr. Ireneo S. Buñales, the Executive
Director, to make a canvass from among reputable private insurance
companies in Metro Manila. In turn, Mr. Buñales conferred with
representatives of PHILAM Life Insurance Company and the Manila Bankers
Insurance Co., both in Makati City, to find out the most reasonable and
most advantageous plans the two firms could offer. Initial negotiation
has already been set between PHILAM Life and ZUFI, through its Executive
Director.
In
this regard, PHILAM Life has requested ZUFI to submit its Foundation
Profile; the number of persons to be enrolled, their present ages and
other pertinent data. In compliance with this requirement, the
Foundation has conducted a survey among its SAI scholars as well as its
four (4) college scholars presently enrolled in St. Mary’s College and
Samar State Polytechnic College (SSPC) in Catbalogan Samar.
The group insurance plan will cover
life and/or accident for each assured for a certain amount. The
corresponding premium for accident insurance will be paid by the
Foundation either on a quarterly on annual basis, as maybe agreed upon.
The project is another manifestation
of the Foundation’s concern not only for the educational and upliftment
of our poor but talented youth of Zumarraga, but also for their physical
health care.
Hopefully, it is
envisioned that should this project be successful, (there is no reason
for it to fail), plans and programs affecting our ZUFI scholars as
direct beneficiaries thereof, will follow, financial resources,
permitting.
The Foundation is also
pleased to announce the extension of scholarship grants to former SAI
high school scholars. ZUFI has approved during its last meeting, the
extension scholarship privilege to any college student who graduated
from SAI whose general average grade in SY 2002-2003 is at least 85% or
equivalent, or better, provided he/she has no grade lower than 80% in
any subject. This is to encourage our SAI graduates to work harder to be
able to enjoy this opportunity being offered by ZUFI. Interested
students are requested to apply in writing to the Board, through
Chairman EC Varona. The ZUFI Scholarship Committee headed by Dr. Teresa
D. Solero will review/evaluate and recommend to the Chairman for final
action.
Let our battlecry, “USWAG ZUMARRAGANHON” be our beacon light to
progress through education!!!
ZUFI's Educational
Incentives and Grants
The ZUFI Board of Trustees had recently approved the operation of
added scholarship programs starting School Year 2003-2004 and the
awarding of monetary educational incentives to outstanding achievers.
These are:
Undergraduate (College) Scholarship Expansion
Program (ZUSEP); and
Continuing Education Program (CEP).
Undergraduate Scholarship Expansion Program
Preferred courses of this program includes Nursing, IT/Computer
Science, Engineering and short-term technical/vocational programs.
Detailed information on how to avail of this program is embodied in
a primer formulated for the purpose among others. Grantees are entitled
to the following monetary grants:
P 5,000.00 per semester for those who will be studying in Region
VIII only.
P 10,000.00 per semester for those who will be studying in Metro
Manila.
On its
May 31, 2003 meeting, the ZUFI Board acted and approved the
application of Mr. Ralph V. Castillo and thus becomes the first
recipient of this program. Ralph was among ZUFI’s high school
scholars. He graduated Salutatorian last April 2003 from Saint
Anthony's Institute. He intends to take up Nursing at the Our Lady of
Fatima College of Malinta,
Valenzuela City this current School Year 2003-2004. Congratulations
Ralph!
Continuing Education Program (CEP)
This Program is designed to help produce competent Secondary
Teachers in the fields of Science, Mathematics and Language Teaching.
It offers the following Post Baccalaureate Programs. These are:
Diploma in Science Teaching (DST)
Diploma in Mathematics
Teaching (DMT)
Diploma in Language Teaching (DLT)
This program is tied-up with the Open University of the University
of the Philippines
for recipients to enroll and obtain the above diplomas without leaving
their places of work and residences. As distance education students,
they will indulge in self-study with the help of sophisticated
educational technologies. Details on who may avail and how to avail of
this program are embodied in a primer formulated for the purpose.
Monetary Educational Incentives to Outstanding Achievers
ZUFI awards educational incentives to deserving sons and daughters
of Zumarraga who have obtained any of the following outstanding
achievements with its corresponding monetary incentives. These are:
Dean’s Lister - P 5,000.00
Cum Laude - P 10,000.00
Magna Cum Laude - P 15,000.00
Summa Cum Laude - P 20,000.00
This special educational monetary incentive is designed to boost
the morale and strongly motivate the recipients to further cultivate and
activate their inherent potentialities so they could be productive
assets not only to their families but to the society as well.
Miss Mary Grace Diez Gatil, daughter of Engr. And Mrs. Anastacio
Gatil, who graduated Cum Laude at the De la Salle University Health
Sciences Campus, College
of Physical Therapy last April 14, 2003 was ZUFI’s
first recipient of this special educational award. Congratulations Mary
Grace!
For more inquiries and desired assistance on the matter,
interested parties may contact any ZUFI Trustee or email us at zufi_info@yahoo.com
or bertvar@pacific.net.ph.
ZUFI Goes Online
In line with its objective to become globally accessible, ZUCIR
Foundation Inc. (ZUFI) has recently launched its website on January 2003
with its official address at
www.zumarraga.faithweb.com.
ZUFI believes that having an online
presence in the web is an important new tool for every Zumarraganhon.
This is one way of providing an environment where Zumarraganhons can
connect and communicate anytime to any part of the globe. This would
make transactions, information and services much more accessible to the
ZUFI clientele worldwide.
Using the ZUFI website,
Zumarraganhons can easily access information on scholarship benefits which they
can avail of, browse relevant information regarding ZUFI and Zumarraga
and get updated with the latest news about the Foundation. It also
connects users to other sites which provide information about the
government and educational services available in the country.
To facilitate
communication exchange, ZUFI maintains an email address of zufi_info@yahoo.com
in addition to its other email address of bertvar@pacific.net.ph which
is readily integrated in its website.
ZUFI Chairman, RAdm Eriberto C Varona AFP (Ret) believes that putting
the latest technology in the service of his townspeople is a great
stride forward to meet a higher standard of service for a more
progressive Zumarraga.
PGMA Biggest ZUFI
Benefactor
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (PGMA) donated to ZUFI the sum of
P140,000.00 from the President's Social Fund (PSF) to support a 4-year
college scholarship program at the Samar State Polytechnic College (SSPC)
starting the current school year, SY 2002-2003. The PGMA-PSF scholarship
grant is stipulated in a deed of donation which was co-signed on March
22, 2002, by Secretary Silvestre C. Afable, Jr., on behalf of PGMA-PSF,
and RAdm (Ret) Eriberto C. Varona, on behalf of ZUFI.
The biggest single donation so far, President Arroyo's grant raised the
asset base of ZUFI about four-fold during its four years of operation.
From a seed fund of P200,000.00 generated by the ZUFI Chair during his
hermanidad in 1997, ZUFI's assets would sum up to about P800,000.00 by
the end of June 2002, compared to last year's total assets of over
P475,000.00. Other donations for FY 2001-2002 were solicited from the
Chairman's personal friends who poured in a combined total of
P189,000.00. Last FY 2000-2001, donations from like sources amounted to
P166,300.00.
College Scholars Chosen; Donaire, PGMA-PSF Scholar
The Board of Trustees, acting on the
recommendation of the local Foundation Arm chaired by Ex-Mayor Francisco
L. Amoyo, has named four (4) college scholars for the current school
year. They are:
Name Level Course
School
Julie
Anne J Donaire 1st Yr BS Statistics SSPC
Ma.
Isabel B. Lucero 1st Yr BSED SSPC
Rosalyn D. Bulan 2nd Yr BSED SMC
Leo Z.
de Luna 3rd Yr BS Accountancy SSPC
Mr. De Luna
and Ms. Bulan have been ZUFI's scholars since high school. Ms. Donaire,
this year's SAI Valedictorian, was selected as PGMA-PSF scholar. Ms.
Lucero, having graduated as Salutatorian, was chosen as the ZUFI college
scholar for this year.
With the implementation of the Basic Education Curriculum that
integrates elementary and secondary levels starting this year, the Board
decided to limit the secondary scholarship program to that of supporting
the top three secondary students for each level, or a total of twelve
grantees, with stipends at P100, P 75 and P 50, respectively, per month
for ten months.
Continued scholarship support at both college and secondary levels
are subject of course to the grantee's compliance with ZUFI's
scholarship standards. Academically, the grantee shall maintain a
general average of at least 85% with no grade lower than 80% in any
subject during a grading period, either quarter or semester, as
applicable. Furthermore, the grantee must be of good moral character,
with no criminal record and remain single for the duration of the
scholarship.
With secondary education virtually accessible to all, the ZUFI
Board intends to support more college scholars in the future to the
extent that corporate funds would allow. As a matter of fact, for the
current school year it decided to fund one additional college scholar to
be selected from participants in a competitive essay writing examination
among the remaining SAI honor graduates for SY01-02. To date, however,
no one has registered for said exams.
Meanwhile, Msgr Anton Z. Verzosa, Parish Priest of the Catbalogan
Parish, graciously accepted the request of the ZUFI Chair to help the
local Foundation Arm as co-Chair for College Scholarship in monitoring
both academic and non-academic performance of ZUFI's scholars studying
at Catbalogan.
Onward
Zumarraga
Visiting Zumarraga is refreshing - certainly because of its natural
beauty and the big heartedness of its people. Comparing this town with
other communities, however, would lead one to wonder why progress -
economic, social or otherwise - is hardly felt by its residents over the
years. Yet, it prides itself with a host of successful professionals and
other talented hands, whether in the country or overseas. Reasons for
this could be found in the lack of livelihood opportunities principally
because of its geographic and climatic circumstances. Not only is it
remote from the urban areas; its hilly land could hardly sustain
agricultural productivity with its surrounding marine wealth depleted by
illegal fishers. Therein precisely lies the challenge for every Zumarraganhon. If other communities similarly situated could upgrade
their quality of life why can't we?
In
its humble attempt to help attain this vision, the ZUCIR Foundation,
Inc. thus projects a slogan to dramatize the crying need to awaken our
beloved hometown from its quite long slumber - USWAG ZUMARRAGANHON!
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