They should rename the Socialized Tuition Fee Assistance Program (STFAP) to Randomly Selected Financial Assistance Program (RSFAP).
I already qualified for the bracket E (no tuition fee + stipend) based on the criteria. We submitted the complete requirements with authentic documents. Yes, I knew they automatically eliminate you from qualifying in the bracket E if you own a cell phone, even if it is a decade year old. (Who doesn’t own one these days?) Since, I own a very sophisticated and up-to-date (note the sarcasm) Nokia 3100, I was somehow expecting to be classified under the bracket D (P300 per unit) or at least retain my old bracket C (P600 per unit).
But to my frustration, after going through many hardships in getting and submitting authenticated copy of everything needed and a month of waiting, I found out I would still be paying P1, 000 per unit. I almost cried and wanted to shout at the person I was talking to in the phone upon hearing the news that they put me under bracket B, but too bad I already lost my strength when I realized we would have to pay more than P20, 000 for my tuition fee. With both my parents unemployed that time and our small sari-sari store, which was our only source of income, closed, where in the world would we get that amount of money?
To add to my disappointment, I discovered that one of my blockmates who graduated from St. Scholastica’s, owns a laptop and has broadband connection, have a better unit of cell phone, and whose father was abroad, was put under bracket C.
Another blockmate who went to America with her family for vacation (as far as I know) and whose annual income exceeds P1M was classified under the bracket B— the same bracket with me who has no income at all. Can you see the discrepancy?
I still do not know how the people I the STFAP do and did it. One thing for sure, very few students got what they deserve. They should really rename the program to RSFAP. They should stop deceiving and making poor students like me believe there is such thing as a socialized tuition fee assistance program in the University of the Philippines.
Anyway, I still thank God for everything. Through His endless amazing grace, our needs are always satisfied—more than what we ever asked for. I was able to enroll the past semester. What happened was one very good testimony to share God’s faithfulness. Indeed, miracles still happen these days.
