Digressing from its usual scholarship procedures, the Scholarship Committee of the Foundation did something extraordinary. The committee members voted to provide financial aid to a Seminary Student that is someday going to be a Catholic priest!
“It’s a one-time thing” echoed the Foundation CFO, Marcela de la Vega. “I pushed the idea because I thought it is only right. Hopefully, the good deed will come back to us in many ways”, she added.
To avoid issues with the Foundation donors that are “dental-centric”, the financial aid will however come out from the de la Vega family account and not from the Foundation.
The recipient of the financial aid is John Lester S. Hermida. John completed his elementary and high school education at the Divine Mercy Integrated Academy located at Villareal, Western Samar. He was born and raised in the same municipality at Barangay Lam-awan. Currently he is a first year Philosophy Seminarian at St. Vincent de Paul College Seminary at Calbayog, Samar.
Before entering the seminary, he served as a sacristan at this parish in Villareal as well as at the DMIA where he was the School’s Ministry President. His vocation towards priesthood started when he was in grade 7 when he believed that God has planted in his heart the desire to become a priest and dedicate his life entirely to Him and to his flock.
But going to priesthood entails some expenses, something that was tough to come as his father is just a humble farmer and his mother had to go overseas as an OFW to help support the family. Two of his brothers are in high school and two are in college. With that he was told that he may have to forego his studies due to financial issues. Even so, he never lost hope because he believes that God will provide for his needs in His perfect time.
John completed his first two years in Propaedeutic Stage at St John Seminary at Catarman with honors. He now starts his Philosophy studies at Calbayog. However, he still must pay some balance for the first two years of his studies. And with the additional expenses as he starts his second level, he really needs help to continue.
It is for this reason that the Foundation, at the behest of its CFO, voted to send him financial aid to ease his burden.
The Dentistry for Every Village Foundation, Inc., raises funds by seeking grants and donations to build dental clinics. These clinics are donated to health care institutions that have the resources to house the facility, experiences and expertise to run them efficiently, and whose management is supportive of the cause.
