City Scholar Soirée: A Night of Celebration and Gratitude

In gratitude, we discover the simple beauty of what we have, and in learning, we understand the potential of what we can become.

Hello, Hive friends! Christmas is just around the corner, the season of get-togethers and reunions! And just like they say, it's also known as the season of giving. And, I also have something to share—talk about perfect timing. Last Sunday, December 15th, our city decided to hold a Thanksgiving and reunion event for all its scholarship grantees—a night filled with fun, gratitude, and many surprises!

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A Night of Triumph

This event was a wonderful reminder of how far I—and my fellow scholars—have come. Thanks to the program, it is heartening and inspiring to see some scholars from previous batches employed. The city brought us together on this night not just to celebrate the holiday season but also to honor the collective effort, determination, and present and future of Danao City. And I attended the event with my friends (Alexa, please play Birds of a Feather by Billie Eilish, hahaha).

_{We're not a fan of "Filipino Time," so we decided to come earlier, saving us from standing in long lines..}

The event started with a registration with a large number of scholars, which was quite surprising (I honestly didn't expect everyone would attend). The youth officials and volunteers who led us gave us a small piece of paper and instructed us to write our names on it since there would be a raffle draw. Happy to hear such great news; we wrote our names with our manifestations in it! We then choose a spot near the stage, hoping it will make our manifestations closer to the prizes, LOL.

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A Generous Gesture
Since the number of attendees was quite large, the event started later than the scheduled time, and they decided to skip some parts and go straight to dinner. Each scholar was provided with food—the treat we all loved: Jollibee C1, complete with its crispy chicken joy and drinks. It was simple yet satisfying—nothing beats a free meal.

While waiting for the next part, some of us noticed how pretty the sky was as if telling us good luck with the raffle draw that was about to happen, so we decided to take some snaps as well.

The city officials welcomed us warmly and acknowledged every grantee's hard work and success; they also gave credit where it was due. It was a heartfelt moment that made us feel valued and appreciated, especially since the emcee always emphasized that we are our beloved city's future and the present foundation.

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Raffle Draw

Then came the part everyone had been waiting for—the raffle draw. Everyone, me included, is very excited about this, so why not? The prizes are great! Laptops, tablets, and mobile phones, and the grand prize? A brand-new motorcycle with helmets and a license (if the winner doesn't have one). Doesn't this make you recite a prayer as the announcements are nearing? The emcee told us to shout louder so that our manifestations would become reality, so we did. It was chaotic fun! The excitement was electric as names were drawn, and the lucky winners stepped up to claim prizes. Unfortunately, much to our dismay, our group won nothing this time—quite heartbreaking, hahaha. Still, cheering for my fellow scholars as they celebrated their wins was so much fun. To our surprise, we each received a gift pack (a pear-shaped ham perfect for the holidays), so there are no losers here. We all won!

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Reflection: Grateful Beyond Words

As I sat there, surrounded by hundreds of fellow grantees, aside from feeling happy with all the fun--I couldn't help but feel a deep gratitude. You see, I've always been a scholarship grantee since I started high school, and honestly, it's something I've always been proud of (although sometimes it also acts as a chain as I'm getting weighted down by expectations). Coming from a household that's not precisely financially well-off (but I also recognized that I have privileges), I've learned to grab opportunities when they arrive. Being a scholar has always been more than just financial aid—it's been about doing my best, upholding discipline, and unlocking doors to brighter opportunities. And it is a great feeling to buy things for school without burdening my parents.

While it's true, and I firmly believe, that grades don't define who we are, they open windows of possibilities—or even doors, if you're lucky. Back in 2021, as I was starting college amidst the pandemic, I applied for the Danao City Scholarship Program with the help of my friends and classmates. I'll never forget how grateful, happy, and blessed I felt the moment I learned I had made the cut.

This night is a gentle reminder, not just to me but to everyone, that being a scholar or a student doesn't end with academic achievement and career success. It's about giving back to the community and pursuing dreams with a grateful heart.

Here's to another year of growing and learning! Happy holidays, Hive friends!