Some questions, will I get an answer, I wonder...

The headline below flagging off an item which may escape many Malaysian eyes catches my eyes -- and what comes into Desiderata's mind immediately is that THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT KNOWS HOW TO DANGLE CARROTS to attract THE YOUNGONES from its neighbours.

How many YoungMalaysians have crossed the Causeway on Singapore's Government Scholarships? I wonder...

And does our Government even bother? That's the question.

Okay, the arresting item...

She's studying bio-science at NTU... and she's only 15


Oct 23, 2005
The Straits Times

AT 15, Renee Athina Publico is the youngest student at Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

A first-year undergraduate, the Filipino whiz-kid is doing a four-year biological sciences degree that requires her to tackle such subjects as biology, chemistry and genetics.

'I had initially wanted to be an engineer like my father, but in secondary school, I did a lot of work in the lab and found that I liked it,' she said, adding that her ambition is to be a research scientist.


Here on a Singapore Government scholarship, the young teen has a focus that is atypical. She has a strict timetable that she has followed unwaveringly since the age of eight. Five hours each day are spent on studying her university subjects. When that is done, another learning curve starts.

She is teaching herself Latin, Japanese and Italian from phrase books and dictionaries.

The only time she is not buried in books is on Friday night, when she plays table-tennis.

Her relentless approach to her studies sometimes frustrates her friends such as Derek Yao, 22, who is also from the Philippines.

Said the final-year engineering student: 'It is impossible to get her out for supper. You really have to coerce her.'

However, her hostel roommate, 20-year-old chemistry student Tan Li Huey, appreciates her dedication. 'For the subjects we have in common, she provides a lot of answers for me. She is really good.'

Though Renee is least five years younger than most of her course mates, most are not aware she is so young. 'I don't really like to go out. And I know I'm not popular with the boys. But I think I'd rather do well in my studies than be popular with boys,' she said.

Her chemistry lecturer, Assistant Professor Rupert Charles Wilmouth, said: 'If you didn't know her age, it would be hard to tell that she is so much younger than the other girls in the class.'

And Renee does not see any need to correct those who assume she is older. 'I don't want to tell them because they might treat me differently.'

Being the youngest in her class is not new to her. She started reading at three, skipped kindergarten and went into a primary school in Luzon one year early, at age six. She topped her class each year, and was given a double promotion from Primary 2 to Primary 4.

At the end of secondary school, she applied for the Singapore Government scholarship to study in NTU and arrived here in July. And though it is her first time away from home, she says she doesn't get homesick. 'My parents call me about once a week. That's enough,' she said.

Her father, a civil engineer and mother, a clerk, live in the Philippines but do not fret about their daughter being away from home - and alone.

Said Mr Rene Publico, 45: 'We've never had to worry about Renee. She has always been very independent.'

Now, they are hoping their other daughter will follow in her footsteps. The 10-year-old has skipped a year in primary school. 'I hope she can follow her sister and go to Singapore,' said Mr Publico.

DESIDERATA: Singapore has been awarding a number of ASEAN Scholarships every year to attract Young Persons who excel in both academic and extra-curricular fields. I've read such advertisements and they really stress MERIT. And there are always more applicants that the number of scholarships offered, based on Secondary Three and Five public examinations results and their school extra-mural activities records.

This is a long-term investment by a smart government who believes in hunting down the best from all corners of the world, so it's no surprise that many Young Malaysians have been LOST to its southern neighbours. I used that bold-ed word as last night I saw another episode of a thought-provoking episode, especially a wheel-chair bound plane crash victim survived with a blessing -- he could raise himself up to walk again!"Sorry" for side-tracking -- so, s-kay, it's OK here, acceptable because we feel LOST some times...)

I wish these youths now guests of the Singapore Government the best of everything in their endeavours.
I just wonder sometimes, had it not been for such opportunities -- like what the 15-year-old RENEE ATHINA PUBLICO has just garnered through her scholarship, what would have been their destiny in life?

I sometimes wonder, and can't map out even an educated guess. Maybe I can turn to the Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia for an answer?
Will Desi can an answer if I write in to them? I wonder.


A TUN who is also a former DPM asked for an appointment from some MBs and still did not get an answer in months.
He got an answer for an appointment with the Kelantan MB though -- Nik Aziz, a true WAKIL RAKYAT! --within 48 hours.


Mayhaps I can seek an answer from the Jabatan Pelajaran Negeri Kelantan on the number of Kelantanese students who were given such Asean Scholarships. I may just try. Will I get an answer, I wonder.


FUN CHALLENGIA:


If you were in Renee's shoes, on graduation, which country you would work for in order of priorites, from the following options:

(a) THe Philippines

(b) Singapore

(c) Further Land


TASK: Number your priorities as 1, 2, 3 with 1 as the TOP CHOICE,
Hey, give me thy RAT-ionale!

DEADLINE: one or two days hence.

PRIZE: Ain't Desi's efforts in rocking thy brain -- helping you in crtitical cum rational thinking, PRIZE enough?
Okya-lah, thee TehTariks for getting the three options coinciding with Desi's. Remember, it's termed a FUN chalengia not for nothin'!