LEGAZPI CITY, ALBAY (PIA5/Albay)—Through its international exchange program, three (3) Bicol University (BU) students were given the opportunity to experience both academics and culture in South Korea and Taiwan.
Two international student exchange programs were offered by the Global Korea Scholarship at Dongseo University in South Korea and the Youth Elite Exchange Program under the New Southbound Policy International Study Program at Quemoy University in Taiwan.
In a press statement from BU, it explains that the international exchange program provides full scholarship and covers all expenses of the students except for their personal needs.
Beneficiaries were Summer Jan Forrest Untalan who spent four months in South Korea from August 25, to Dec. 23, 2022 and John Olan Gomez and Francheska Lubelle Perez in Taiwan on Sept. 21, 2022 to Jan. 9 this year.
WAVING FLAGS. Bicol University student from College of Business, Economics, and Management Francheska lubelle Perez and John Olan Gomez proudly wave the Philippine and BU flag during the 2022 New Southbound Policy Elite Study Program opening ceremony in Taiwan. Photo coutesy: Dimson Moral Rivero
‘’Filipino learners have so much potential, skills, and talent. Grants such as the Global Korea Scholarship will be more than beneficial and life-changing for those of us who aspire to be better and achieve greater in our fields of expertise,’’Úntalan stated.
He noted that he experienced quality education from well trained professors in South Korea.
Untalan is a third year student from the BU College of Arts and Letters taking Bachelor of Arts in Communication.
‘’As a film student in Korea, I was immersed in the field of filmmaking and animation, attended the Busan International Film Festival and witnessed outstanding films and met exemplary award winning actors and directors who played a significant impact in my pursuit as an aspiring Filipino filmmaker,’’Untalan said.
Consequently, on January 6, 2023, ’’I was one of the three (3) students who was given an Excellence award by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) during the exchange student program in Taiwan,’’Olan Gomez stated.
The students were also exposed to the cultures and lifestyles of the countries where they spent time, as well as interacting with foreign people.
“I hope this experience can inspire other students. They should perceive that we can also travel the world, not because we are rich, but because we (Filipinos) have talent, we are intelligent, and we have the capability,”Perez stated.
Perez stressed that students should grab every opportunity that were offered to them. (PIA5/Albay)
Cover photo: Courtesy of Dimson Moral Rivero
