DFA, FEU grant scholarships

A meaningful partnership in the service of education was formally sealed last Feb. 24 as Far Eastern University (FEU) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), through the International Bazaar Foundation, Inc. (IBF), signed a memorandum of agreement to expand access to quality higher education for deserving Filipino youth. 

The signing ceremony, held at the Carlos P. Garcia Conference Room in Double Dragon Tower, was led by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, Chairperson of IBF. Representing FEU were Dr. Maria Teresa Trinidad P. Tinio, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Michelle S. Acomular, Vice President for Admissions and Financial Assistance. 

Under the agreement, FEU will grant eight full scholarships for Academic Year 2026 at its Manila campus. Each scholarship will cover full tuition, miscellaneous, laboratory, and processing fees. The grants are intended for students pursuing programs in the liberal arts and health sciences, reflecting a shared commitment to nation-building through transformative and relevant disciplines. 

To qualify, applicants must be Filipino citizens aged 25 years old or younger, with a general weighted average of at least 85 percent. They must come from families with an annual gross income of ₱500,000 or below and be prepared to maintain a 2.5 general weighted average per semester throughout their stay in FEU. The IBF, under the DFA’s Office of the Secretary-Special Projects Unit, will oversee the evaluation and endorsement of qualified candidates. 

The signing was witnessed by IBF president Betty Ang, alongside FEU’s Eugeene Emmanuel C. Benicta, Director of Admissions and Financial Assistance, and Jean Pauline Valencia, Assistant Manager for Financial Assistance. 

“This partnership affirms what we firmly believe in Admissions and Financial Assistance—that education must be accessible to every deserving and qualified student,” said Acomular. “Guided by this principle, we will continue to advocate for expanded access to scholarships and actively seek additional partners who can serve as benefactors. Our collaboration with [IBF] reflects that shared commitment to ensuring that no capable student is left behind because of financial constraints.”