Brods Raise Scholarship for Medical Student Feg Alastra, UPD'06

by Joel Paredes
 

We are well known for our endless jugs, but we are most certainly known because of our TRUE BROTHERHOOD.

Med school is surely considered as a luxury. Not all people can afford all the expenses to become a doctor.

One of our residents, Ferguz R. Alastra, a die hard brother, an incoming 3rd yr student, former UERM medicine student council president, is now on the verge of not making it to the rolls of the class due to financial constraints.

He is a hardworking student, working after classes and sometimes every weekends for his allowance and for his tuition fees. But despite of that work,he still manage to maintain his high grades.

Because of this, Beta Sigma Fraternity UERM chapter cordially invites you this coming May 31, 7pm onwards @ SWEETMOMS to 'JUG FOR A BROD'. We are holding this event for the sole reason of raising money to help our brod Ferguz.

Joel, 5-28-13

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Hi braders,

According to my son Miks, who is a batchmate of Feg in the fraternity and his classmate during their five years as PT students in UP Manila-PGH, Sweet Moms is a restaurant along UERM on Aurora Blvd. near Ramon Magsaysay Ave.

Miks opted to work immediately after graduation while Feg pursued his medical studies at UERM after getting an initial grant from a private donor. I think this was part of philanthropic assistance from their church since his father is a full-time pastor in their community in a workingman's district in Quezon City. Feg had good grades and gained the respect of their religious community after graduating from the State University. But I guess such an assistance was temporary, or may not be enough for him to sustain his studies.

I've always admired him for being very active in UP Beta Sigma Fraternity even if he has moved to UERM. I heard that he was even elected president of the whole UERM student council during his freshman year. One thing I can assure you, Feg is one good brod who is determined to succeed in life. He is also my son's best friend since the day they joined the fraternity in 2006. Let's help him finish his course. He really deserves it.

Brod Ed, ako na bahala muna sa chip-in mo and brod Vic, kontakin mo ako -- cp 09175412926 - 'pag medyo nahihirapan kang makita ang lugar. Small joint lang daw kasi yon. Pupunta ako dun kasama ni Miks para sumuporta.

Sana magkita-kita tayo sa jug para kay Feg.

Cheers!

Joel, 5-29-13

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Hi braders,

Just an update on last night's jug for Brod Feg with the UERM brods.

I learned that Feg was merely getting PhP40,000 (or equivalent $1,000) in grant from a private donor of their church since his first year at UERM, but he was really determined to pursue his medical studies. He had been doing part-time work, being a registered physical therapist from UP. For two years, he was allowed by the school to enroll on the intervention of brods who belonged to the UERM faculty. Finally, this semester he was advised by the UERM management to pay his loan that had accumulated before he can enroll.

According to Brod Dr. Henry Yanes, who acts the adviser of the UERM resident brods, Feg was one of the very few medical students who tried working their way to medical school. "Grabe ginagawa n'ya brod, pero third year na siya baka 'di na niya makaya 'yon," he said.

It was also Brod Henry who helped organize the fund-raising activity at Sweet Mom's (a small joint owned by Brod Dr. EC Valera near the UERM Hospital). The proceeds from last night's activity, hopefully, was enough to pay Feg's school loan. I assured Henry that we, at UP, would also help raise funds for Feg's tuition "para 'di na lang umutang ng umutang uli." I was joined in committing the mother chapter's support by UP brods Mon Mamaril and Butch Madarang so Feg can continue with his studies.

Brod Henry said that tuition alone at UERM is about P150,000 a year. Since there are brods like Feg who might really need help in the future, the UERM alumni brods used the activity to start a campaign for their own residents' scholarship program.

Feg, for his part, said he considered the funds being generated for him as a "fraternity loan". He promised to give it back to the Fraternity once he becomes a doctor so other resident brods can avail of it. I think that inspired the brods to launch a scholarship program for UERM.

Last night, I handed over to Brod Valera P11,500 (P5K from Brod Vic Ramos, P5K from me and my son Miks- a fraternity batchmate of Feg, P1k from Brod Jojo Alejar and P500 from Brod Ed Abon). Brod Jojo said that he was committing P1k every semester for Feg, and I guess we can do the same.

Today, I will ask Miks to hand over to Feg P3k from Brod Rolly Reyes and P1k from Brod Olie Jumao-as.

Brod Mon Mamaril was also handing over to the UERM coffers donations from other younger alumni brods and he would report on it later along with his promise to upload photos for our website. Butch Madarang brought an old artwork by Brod Paqcuing Verano from our previous nude painting session for auction, and the proceeds will be given to Feg.

I told Feg that Brod Aman (the Man) Carolino will also ask the help of SouthCal brods who would be meeting Saturday night in LA.

Cheers!

Joel, 6-01-13

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              -- Turning over of cash received from UP North to BOT treasurer brod Ollie Jumao-as. for Brod Feg's tuition assistance:
                   $100 from kabatch JR and Ernie Tremor, $500 from an anonymous donor
              -- For the UPBSFI Central Fraternity ball:$500 - from kabatch Gene Samson
              -- Seed money for UP North's Tuition Fee Loan Facility project:$200 - from kabatch Gene Samson

               Maraming salamat po!  RGR, 6-17-13

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Dear Brods,

Had a chance to meet Feg last Thursday, 20June, to hand over the funds given by some US-based brods thru Pres. Rolly...
Brod Feg, last 20Jun2013

Funds breakdown:
1. US$ 500 - from a Brod who wants to remain anonymous
2. US$ 50 - from Brod Johnny Regadio
3. US$ 50 - from Brod Ernie Tremor
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Total: US$ 600.00
 

From our talk, Brod Feg confided he was really hesitant to ask for help from brods because he thought he did not need to. When some people previously asked how he will finish med school considering that they (his family) didn't have much, he bravely asserted he will generate funds as working student as he is a qualified PT practitioner. In his first years, he was able to do this, even sometimes cutting-classes to do part-time job. When attendance in classes became a problem, some brods would sign-in for him to keep him out of trouble. But he would be so sleepy sometimes he would forget what time of day it was in certain occasions.

Until some UERM brods decided to go out in the open to solicit help for him, as in the forwarded message-invite below, to a "jug" for Brod Feg. It was only then that most of us (UP brods) came to know of his situation.

Despite the odds against him, Brod Feg manages to maintain high grades, and even became a student council president. He has the most recruits now in the UERM Chapter, which has around 24 brods, all these even as he was working part-time (should be a good lesson for our resident brods!). Now in his 3rd year, however, he admits he cannot anymore afford not to focus on his studies or he will flunk med school. He needs around 150k every semester to sustain his studies. Before, a kind fellow church member extended financial support to partially pay for his tuition. Now, the member's son is also into medical school, and the allowance for Feg has been completely stopped.

Feg's parents are back in Davao, to fend off the difficulties of the high-cost of living here. His Mom works for an NGO that deals with women prostitutes, guiding them to an alternative way of life that they can be proud of. Todate, Feg, beaming with pride for his Mom, says 14 women have already graduated from 2-year courses to even 4-year courses. However, her Mom relies only from grants coming from abroad and there is really barely enough also for the family needs. The 2nd youngest of 5 children, his elder siblings also have no means to extend support to him.

Brods, it was my first meeting with Feg, and I must say I admire his guts and determination to achieve his dream. This is one Tabet worth his salt! Perhaps, we as brothers, can help him realize his aspirations?

For the glory of our brotherhood, let's help Feg!

Cheers!

brodOllie, 6-24-13

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