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Believing that helping the poor knows no boundaries, First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo has chosen another batch of financially-challenged medical students, this time TEN (10) from the West Visayas State University (WVSU) and EIGHT (8) from the Mindanao State University (MSU), as the new scholars of the First Gentleman Foundation, Inc.’s (FGFI) Bagong Doktor Para sa Bayan (BDB) medical scholarship program.

Western Visayas State University scholars

Four of the eight selected MSU-College of Medicine scholars were Muslims, one was a single parent and another one has a mother stricken with stage 4 breast cancer. Despite lacking in almost everything, these students are the MSU’s best, having a cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 2.0.

They were Najrisah Amaikurut, 21, of Syguiaran, Lanao del Sur; Mary Ann Arboladura, 23, Calamba, Misamis Occidental; Nasjriah Dimasangca, 22, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur; Marifah Maranda, 22, Marantao, Lanao del Sur; Liza Claire Ole, 23, Naawan, Misamis Oriental; Breech Martin Pabas, 24, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur; Aisha-Aziza Ronsing, 23; Marawi City, Lanao del Sur; and Rosemarie Dolores Ruelan, 24, from Malalag, Davao del Sur.

They, along with the 10 students from (WVSU) now compose Batch 5 of the BDB, which currently has 100 medical-student scholars. The First Gentleman last September 15, 2009, announced of having 150 doctors in the country’s remote areas by 2010. The remaining 32 slots will be taken from the University of the Philippines (UP) and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) to complete the BDB Batch 5.

FGFI President Juris Soliman said the FG Medical Board, during the applicants’ screening in Iligan, took all the eight scholars instead of the allotted five.

Mindanao State University scholars

“The FG Medical Board were all touched, impressed and inspired. God’s hand is quite obvious in bringing these students to our scholarship. And FGFI is His instrument in fulfilling their dreams and the dream of the doctor-less communities for quality health,” she said.

Amaikurut, who has a child, is second of the 11 children. The family has an annual income of only P240,000, barely enough to support their basic needs.

Arboladura, on the other hand, has to attend to her sickly parents while studying. In the case of Maranda, an aunt helps in her schooling since the family’s annual income is only P72,000.

Ole graduated cum laude in BS Biology while Ronsing, the eldest in the brood of six, is a consistent Dean’s Lister and number eight in her class. Ruelan, whose father is a farmer, has a mother suffering from breast cancer. A brother died just a few years ago in a car accident.

With the selection of the MSU and WVSU students, FGFI now has 118 scholars selected throughout Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The new WVSU scholars are Cherish Ann Cuadras, James David M. David, Beryl Joy Dela Cruz, Sandra Diaz, Erl Addison Flores, Dreyfus Perlas, Maris May Pillado, Faith Mae Salar, Cheryl Sepada, and Iris Conela Tagaro.

The First Gentleman has now BDB scholars from batches 1 and 2, who have passed their medical board examinations and are now serving as barrio doctors in Abra, Albay, Aurora, Cuyo island, Davao, Dinagat Island, Iloilo, Isabela, Lanao del Norte, Leyte, Maguindanao, Marinduque, Mindoro, Misamis, Nueva Ecija, Palawan, Romblon, Samar, Saranggani, Surigao, and Zamboanga.

The First Gentleman, impressed with the achievement of BDB Batches 1 and 2 scholars, has committed that FGFI’s 150 BDB scholars will serve two years as barrio doctors in far-flung villages until 2014, a legacy he wants to leave behind when President Arroyo ends her term next year.

Inspired by former senator and health secretary Juan Flavier’s Doctors to the Barrios project, Mr. Arroyo launched the BDB program during his 60th birthday in 2006.

BDB scholars are given free tuition fees and medical equipment by the FGFI, including allowances for two years, uniforms and even payment of their medical board exams fees. After passing their medical board exams, they will be deployed as barrio doctors for two years at areas identified by Department of Health.

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