Postcard wins Singapore-based Pinoy teacher study tour in Australia

A colorful, quirky postcard won a Filipino teacher the chance to improve the education of special needs children.

Mark Gil Caparros, a Special Education teacher working in Singapore, became one of the seven finalists picked by the Australian Government's Future Unlimited contest, securing him a two-week study tour in Australia in December.

If he is picked to win the competition after the study tour, Caparros will win a year of study in Australia, plus flight, tuition, and accommodation fees, an internship, and a stipend of AU$15,000.

"The ‘Win your Future Unlimited’ competition is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. I am hoping that my journey to Australia will give me the chance to soon fulfill my dream of a world-class postgraduate education, so that I can reach out and give back to more children with special needs,” said Caparros.

Anthony Weymouth, Austrade’s Senior Trade Commissioner to the Philippines, said Caparras was picked for his noble and clear rationale for wanting to study in Australia.

“There’s growing awareness of the global opportunities an Australian education can open up for Filipino students. I think the high volume of entries we’ve received reflects that. Filipinos are very creative and we look forward to even more superb entries in the succeeding weeks… perhaps even more finalists,” Weymouth said.

Children with special needs

Caparros believes that an Australian postgraduate degree in Special Education will help him improve the life of children with special needs

“Empowering children with special needs through life skills training will unleash their fullest potentials. With accessible and sustainable educational services, and with the social awareness of the local communities about their condition, every child will be better equipped for independent living,” he said.

Caparros earned a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education and graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines.

During his internship days as a teacher, he wrote the 2010 Carlos Palanca Award-winning essay “Sina Bunso at ang mga Batang Preso” based on his experiences with children-in-conflict from Quezon City's Molave Youth Home.

Only in its second week of competition, the Australian government already approved 426 postcard entries from the country, which also recorded 10,960 total site visits, the highest among all participating countries.

The competition started on October 1 and will end on November 18. To learn more about the competition, interested parties can visit the website www.futureunlimited.com.au. — Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News