Two of the scholars of the Aboitiz-owned Cotabato Light and Power Company (Cotabato Light) wanted to be an accountant and a teacher or a journalist.

Bai Zehan B. Kalim, of Barangay Rosary Heights 3, Cotabato City and Ace Christen Tanghal, Grade 12 pupil of Barangay Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, both studying at Cotabato City National High School (CCNHS-main campus), wanted to be a certified accountant and a teacher/journalist, respectively.

Kalim and Tanghal were among the 35 scholars of Cotabato Light who received P7,000 monetary allowance for school year 2017-2018.

“I am good in numbers and I wish to be a certified accountant someday, thanks to the Aboitiz scholarship,” Kalim, a consistent honor student since grade 6, said.

Kalim said she valued education more than anything else. “This is the best I can do to repay the sacrifices of my parents,” she said. Her mother is a sidewalk vendor while her father is sick and stayed at home.

Tanghal said the monetary allowance she received would help her finance school projects.

“This is very helpful for me because we have a lot of projects that I need to comply,” Tanghal said in Filipino as she opened the envelope that contained the monetary allowance.

Kalim said the scholarship grant “gave me the opportunity to excel both in and off school.”

Anna Lee Natano, Cotabato Light’s media affairs department, said students need to maintain an 88 percent average grade per year level to stay in the scholarship project.

Speaking during the turnover of cash assistance, Natano urged the students “to continue to excel in your studies.”

“Cotabato Light is only a catalyst for your success,” she told the pupils. “This is for your future, soar high, continue dreaming,” she said.