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PHOTO ● ALLEN RABIN
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PE professor donates computers to 17 students ABBY GAIL TABERNILLA
Even before the start of the academic year, many groups and private individuals have initiated donation drives to aid struggling students. One of them is Dr. Minerva Atanacio-Brillante, a Physical Education professor at Philippine Normal University Manila. Functional gadgets and stable internet connections are necessary to accomplish online academic activities. This has become a problem for most of the underprivileged students of the university. Upon hearing the alarming posts regarding students who are selling private photos to fund their education, Dr. Atanacio-Brillante communicated with the students and started giving out secondhand computers and free monthly data allowance to 17 students, mainly comprised of freshmen, sophomores, juniors and PE majors. "My heart was heavy with their situations, so I communicated with some of them and offered my help," Dr. Atanacio-Brillante said. According to the professor, student beneficiaries sent her request letters and have gone through background checks followed by interviews. "I also do a background check from their classmates and friends. My decision was based on their needs and how it can help them in online classes," she added. Students with mobile phones but cannot afford to buy internet data will be given a monthly data load for three months.
The given set of computers came from Dr. Atanacio-Brilliante's former Scholars’ Nook Internet Café and PNU Business Center. Allen Rabin, one of the beneficiaries, expressed his gratitude to Dr. Atanacio-Brillante, stating that the fully-functioning computer set will surely help him get through this academic year. "As a beneficiary, this is very helpful for me- who don’t have enough means to join online classes, and for my siblings as well. This would also lessen the struggles of my parents in looking for ways to getting the education we need," Rabin shared. Dr. Atanacio-Brillante also mentioned that helping other people is not new to her. "This is part of me whom most people do not know because they are blinded by what they hear, especially by being branded as one of the seven dragons of PNU," she explained. The professor also added that she started helping people even before her social work in Baguio City and her life as a Franciscan missionary. She expressed her happiness with positive feedback from the student beneficiaries because they will be able to use the gadgets in their online activities. The professor reminded the students to be proud of themselves, to be resilient. She urged them to cope with extreme circumstances that will lead them to become the best version of themselves.
PHOTO ● EZRA GALAURAN
PHOTO ● ALLEN RABIN
PHOTO ● MINERVA ATANACIO
