Two hundred twenty-five La Verdad Christian College scholars marched to receive their diplomas at the end of the school year 2012-2013. The college graduates include 154 from Apalit campus and 71 from Caloocan City branch.

Scholars have finished a 4-year degree  in Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting and 2-year studies in Computer Programming, Healthcare Services, International Cookery, Mass Comm Technology, Nursing Assistant, and Office Management.

The graduation exercises were held on March 6 and April 2, 2013 at La Verdad Caloocan auditorium and at ADD Convention Center in Apalit, Pampanga.

This year’s scholar graduates comprise roughly one-fourth of at least 1,000 recipients of Kuya Daniel Razon’s free education program to the poor yet deserving pupils. Kuya Daniel is the chairman and president of the school.

The free education initiative renders full scholarship grants to students in grade school, high school, and college. Apart from the Apalit and Caloocan branches, the school also opened branches in Liberia and Ghana in Africa in 2011 to teach kindergarteners and grade schoolers.

In the Philippines, a poor family that sends one student to a government-funded college or university has to raise at least 10,000 pesos (approximately US$250) for one semester’s tuition fee alone. As well as the miscellaneous fees, other school-related expenses include books, allowances, uniforms, lodging, food, and school projects of which total price exceeds that of the tuition fee.

La Verdad was launched to help some of the poorest families in the country to cope with the high cost of sending their children off to school. The tuition-free school was founded by its president emeritus, Bro. Eli Soriano of Members Church of God International, who is known for leading a number of charity works nationwide and abroad.

La Verdad’s scholarship is one of several free education programs of Kuya Daniel. His other projects geared to empower the youth and Filipinos include Dunong-Gulong, an on-wheels school teaching to remote provinces; Manibela Academy, a mobile learning school for drivers; and Aksyon ni Kuya free short course that sends hopeful learners to a 3 or 6-month vocational trainings, among others.

Written by: Hazel Chavez-David