ILOCOS NORTE Governor Imee Marcos awarded scholarships to 100 MMSU students in a simple program held at the University Oval on the eve of her birthday, Nov. 11. The program, meant to assist poor but deserving college students, seeks to contribute to manpower development in line with the province’s Millennium Development Goals in education. The priority courses under the scholarship program include business administration, computer engineering, biology, secondary education (major in physical sciences), elementary education (major in biological sciences), marine biology, computer science, and hospitality management. Amounting to Php 15,650 per semester for every scholar, the benefit includes tuition, miscellaneous and other fees, support on board and lodging and transportation (Php 750/month), and monthly stipend (Php 1,500/month). During the awarding ceremony, Governor Marcos promised to increase the number of recipients in the next academic years. Capitol sources say there could soon be as much as 1,000 provincial scholars from MMSU.