30 aspiring medical technologists receive full scholarships from Safeguard and PAMET

Ever since Nicole was young, she knew she wanted to pursue a profession in the medical field. The only problem was she was not sure which, among the many programs available, should she choose. But when she entered senior high school and got to know more about her options, she realized she wanted to become a medical technologist.

For Nicole, there’s a certain beauty in this career that can’t be found in any of the other health allied programs

“It is a balance of both theoretical and practical skills which always makes learning dynamic and engaging. Moreover, medical technologists are very important members of the hospital because they provide the test results that serve as the basis for a doctor’s diagnosis. Hence, providing the patient with the right treatment is highly dependent on how well a medical technologist performs his or her job. This is why I have so much respect for what medical technologists do, and it would make me extremely proud to call myself one as well in the future,” she said.

Nicole is one of the 30 aspiring medical technologists who received a full scholarship from P&G Safeguard Philippines and the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists (PAMET) last December.

For the past 30 years, Safeguard and PAMET have been searching for hundreds of students from all over the country who aspire to become scholars and awarding 15  worthy ones with full scholarships. Last year, they doubled the number to celebrate their 30th year of partnership.

The scholarship aims to not only to help students achieve their dreams of becoming medical technologists but to eventually produce outstanding medical professionals that will serve the Philippines and its people with quality healthcare.

 That’s what Owen Paul Tagarda is currently doing. He works as a medical technologist at Damulog Municipal Health Office. Owen said that the scholarship program became his advantage in finding a job as it’s widely acknowledged by medical institutions.

“The program enabled me to become the person and public servant I am today in our municipality – an active advocate for health,” he said. 

Another notable Safeguard and PAMET scholarship graduate is Ernesto Nistal Quider. After passing the board exam, he became a successful part-time board lecturer in a review center and taught in the Health Sciences department in a Muntinlupa college. He also worked in the Department of Health – Research Institute for Tropical Medicine before he moved to Dubai and eventually to the United Kingdom to pursue his dream.

“The scholarship award has indeed helped me immensely in achieving where I am now, and will continue to be sincerely grateful for the scholarship committee that had given me the great opportunity to inspire other students, not just in medical laboratory science, but to those who continue to strive hard towards achieving their dreams in whatever career path they choose,” he said in his testimonial. 

As Safeguard and PAMET move on to a new decade, they’re looking forward to seeing how medical technology can evolve from a profession to a driving force of innovation. 

“I trust that with the guidance of Safeguard and PAMET, the scholars will take the profession to new heights,” said Lester Estrada, P&G Philippines Country Marketing Director. – Rappler.com

#GoodRap is a column published every Friday that aims to feature lighthearted yet meaningful stories from here and around the globe. We hope this provides an oasis for anyone who wants to take a quick escape from the gloom and doom of the everyday world.