Art & Living Achievements

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British Ambassador Stephen Lillie with the 2011 Chevening Scholars (from left) Benedict Carandang, Ana Gella Opong, Anna Melissa Guerrero, Karen Ann Hipol, Irwin Gabriel Lopez, Ray Simon Roderos and Aaron Julius Lecciones.

The UK Government has granted the prestigious Chevening Scholarship to seven young Filipinos who, in the early stage of their careers, have developed the potential to become leaders, decision-makers and opinion-molders in their chosen field.

British Ambassador Stephen Lillie congratulated the scholars during a send-off reception at his official residence last Thursday, August 25.

Lillie said that Britain is a center of global excellence in education, and the Chevening Scholarships are the flagship program.

“The quality of applicants from the Philippines has been consistently high. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to increase the number of scholarships this year, reflecting our commitment to a strong and dynamic UK-Philippine relationship,” said Lilie. “Still, competition for the scholarships remains intense, so my warm congratulations to our seven successful scholars on making the grade. You can look forward to a world-class British education at some of our top institutions,” he added.

Chevening scholars this year are Benedict Carandang, Anna Melissa Guerrero, Karen Ann Hipol, Aaron Julius M. Lecciones, Irwin Gabriel Lopez, Ana Gella Opong, and Ray Simon Roderos. Lilie explained that they will pursue masters’ degrees at different educational institutions in the UK in the fields of health, business, bioscience, public service, sustainable development, and climate change.

Guerrero, a medical doctor and program director at the Department of Health, will pursue a Master of Public Health at the University of Birmingham. She plans to utilize the innovative British education she will gain to contribute to the Philippines’ health policy-making and health service delivery.

The UK National Health Service (NHS), said Guerrero, has been a global model for providing quality and cost-effective healthcare for all of its citizens grounded on the principles of fairness and equity. “This is the kind of expertise that we need in the Philippines to ensure that health care is improved for all of our people,” she added.

Lecciones, a project manager at the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands, is excited to learn from professors and lecturers who are at the forefront of their fields. “UK universities are known to have world-leading research quality, and I will benefit from the international linkages they have with research institutions all over the world,” he said.

He will pursue a Master of Science degree in Practicing Sustainable Development at the University of London.

Roderos, an executive assistant to the Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority, said that the Chevening Scholarship allows him and fellow awardees “to contribute in achieving this dream of a better Philippines.” He is attending King’s College London to pursue a Master of Science degree in Public Service Policy and Management.

Carandang, a consultant for the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), is attending the University of Westminster in London to pursue a Master of Business Administration. Hipol, chief operating officer at Hybridigm Consulting, is pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Bioscience Enterprise at the University of Cambridge.
Lopez, a former consultant at the House of Representatives, is attending the University of London to pursue a Master of Arts degree in Adaptation and Development. Opong, Akbayan campaign and media officer, is pursuing a Master of Science in International Public Health, Planning, and Management at the University of Liverpool.