COTABATO CITY – The Aboitiz-owned Cotabato Light and Power Company (Cotabato Light) has granted scholarships to 33 students of different public schools in its franchise area as part of its corporate social responsibility, officials said.Anna Lea Lee Nataño, Cotabato Light Human Resources and Reputation Enhancement Head, said the power firm strongly believed on education as a way to bring out the best among poor yet deserving students.“Through the Aboitiz Foundation, we are extending this assistance to top students of public schools in the city as a way of helping future leaders,” Nataño said.“Education is one of the best gifts that every youth deserves to have,” she added.Over the weekend, at the Cotabato Light conference room, 33 students from various public secondary schools received cash assistance ranging from P4,000 to P7,000 as educational assistance to qualified and deserving students.Students must maintain a grade point average of 88 percent every school year, for them to continually avail the said assistance, Nataño said. “We believe that with your passion and determination in life, you can be very successful someday.Continue the good thing that you have been doing, because there's a bright future ahead of you,” she said. “Your dreams will turn into reality. And Cotabato Light and Aboitiz Foundation are with you as we provide this assistance to pursue that dream.” Nataño told the scholars.For the beneficiaries, words were not enough to appreciate the firm’s program.“On my three consecutive years as beneficiary of this scholar, it great help on my studies. I would like to thank Aboitiz Foundation and Cotabato Light for this privilege. I didn't expect that I would pass the exam,” said James Perez Jr, Grade 9 from Cotabato City National High School (CCNHS – Main Campus.Another scholar was as optimistic as the Cotabato Light that she could attain her dream.“Without this Cotabato Light scholarship, I may not be in school today,” Sahraman M. Sabandal, Grade 11– J. Marquez National High School, said. Sabandal added: “With this scholarship, we can build better future.”A mother of two scholars did not stop dreaming for her children. Two of them availed of Cotabato Light scholarship program. They are brothers Romel and Romer Antiporda.“Like other mothers, I am as happy because if not for the scholarship, I cannot imagine how to fund the education of my children,” mother Zenaida Antiporda said.Nataño said Aboitiz Foundation and Cotabato Light are expecting these scholars to maintain high academic performance to continue the scholarship grants.