For the first time, University of Makati College of Maritime Leadership Innovation (UMak CMLI) accommodates scholars from Bohol.

Third District Rep. Arthur Yap convinced UMak CMLI to send a team to Bohol to open opportunities for those who aspire to pursue a course in Maritime education.

Out of the 34 applicants and after several qualifying rounds, 11 eventually passed and are now enrolled at UMak CMLI in Makati.

The qualifying rounds included family interview through Skype, medical exam, and summer program in Manila.

As part of his HEART Program, Yap is continuously find ways to help students who want to pursue their college education but has no means to finance their studies.

UMak CMLI, in partnership with the Office of Cong. Arthur Yap, accepted qualified applicants who are residents of the third district.

Department of Eduction (DepEd)-Bohol also assisted in informing secondary schools for information dissemination to interested and qualified graduating high school students.

For the written exam, the UMak CMLI team conducted tests in two venues–Jagna Central School on March 6 and at Carmen West Central Elementary School on March 7.

At least 34 students trooped to the venues to take the qualifying written exams.          Once the 11 scholars graduate college, they are assured of employment in the Southfield fleet of vessels.

Among them are Alvin Tinampay, Jhosua Orang, and Lhoutter Oray of Candijay; Roy Bucio of Mabini; Niel Tadle of Sierra Bullones; Bryan Jay Saliot of Carmen; Ginped Alba and Peter Paun Aclan of Jagna; John Vincent Dahan of Garcia-Hernandez; Paul Regin Tagac of Lila; Jason Budiongan of Batuan.

Yap said it is the first time that Bohol students avail of this scholarship.

UMak CMLI offers a ladderized degree programs for Diploma in Marine Transportation Leading to a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Transportation, and Diploma in Marine Engineering Leading to a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Engineering

In the 3-1 curricular design, the students undergo a three-year university instruction at UMak CMLI and a one-year shipboard training with Southfield Agencies, Inc.

The scholarship benefits include free tuition if grades are maintained, study-now-pay-later scheme for miscellaneous fees, guaranteed shipboard training, and guaranteed employment in Southfield’s fleet of vessels.

Under the academic training, students are required to communicate in English even outside class hours and have increased weight of recitation component in all subjects to provide opportunities for students to develop self-confidence.

The training also exposed them to integration of maritime examples in general education classes, physical training activities, and Saturday formation classes.

Formation classes cover a series of seminars to complement the development of cadets into “men of character, competence and confidence”.

Non-Makati students are also housed in the Southfield dormitory and are provided meals even on weekends.