CEBU -- "Do not be discouraged...because economic recovery is expected to come this year or for the coming years," said Dr. Enrique P. Esteban, Chairman of the Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE).

This was Esteban's message to CITE scholars during Saturday's 18th Scholar's Day celebration.

CITE provides a three-year training in technical skills and entrepreneurship, values formation, and social services to the less privileged youth, their families, the local community and the industrial sector of Visayas and Mindanao.

It aims to develop a high sense of professionalism and a deep Christian and social-oriented spirit among its scholars.

Saturday's celebration acknowledges the scholar's benefactors for their continuing support and effort to quality education for the underprivileged.

Recognized as scholarship grantors were 19 perpetual scholarships, nine government scholarships, and 12 NGO/Foundation Scholarships.

These are A.B. Soberano International Corp., Alejandro T. Escaño, lawyer Federico J. Jarantilla, Benjamin and Carmela Du Foundation, Don Julian Teves, Don Lorenzo Escaño, F.A. Realty Corp., Guillermo and Rafaela Du, Hiroshi K. Nator, ITP Alumni Scholarship, Jose Ben R. Laraya, Jose Cupino, Juanito I. King, Luther D. Bersales, Mariano Pilar G. Saberon Foundation Inc., Mel and Delsey Borja, MFI Foundation Inc., Prof. Hideo T. Yamada, SC Johnson and Sons Inc., Aloguinsan Municipal Council, Barangay Council of Pulpogan, Department of Social Welfare and Development-Central Visayas (Lapu-Lapu City), San Remigio Municipal Council, Priority Development Assistance Fund, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-Private Education Student Financial Assistance (Tesda-Pesfa), Rotary Club of Cebu East, Rotary Club of Mactan, Saint Peter Academy of Alegria Foundation Inc., SOS Children's Village-Cebu, and United Families of Northern Cebu for Genuine Dev.

Reuel Jose V. Zapata, CITE business manager, said "the Scholars' Day is an annual affair to present students to their benefactors and vice versa and also, for the benefactors and sponsors to know where their money go and who benefited from it."

CITE students belong to the lowest income families in Cebu and other provinces who hoped to study further after high school and earn a job to help their families, Zapata added.

A graduating student of the Certificate Information Technology, Nojeboy Mercado said he believes that with the knowledge and skills he acquired from the school, he will be able to land a job after, and the Scholars' Day is a perfect avenue to thank the sponsors for their support.

Christopher B. Ortega, first year student of the Mechanical Technology program, said: "Without the support from the sponsors, we would have not enjoyed a quality education for a minimal fee." Ortega said he's excited to start the certification program.

CITE Scholarship Officer Jun Capuyan said the global economic crisis did not affect the sponsorship fund for the school since the grantors continually give their pledges.

Esteban, in ending his speech, said the "more you learn, the more you realize there are much more to learn."

With this the teachers encouraged their students to pursue their education and become the leaders to lead the change for the better tomorrow.