The Angelus. At about a few second after noon-time,
we stood to say the Angelus lead by manang Catherine Carlin. The
older alumni certainly enjoyed that.
Dr. Albert Bacdayan's Sharing.
Responding to an
invitation by
 the
SMSSAFF President to share his thoughts on the prognosis that "with
the advent or proliferation of public schools in the Philippine
Cordilleras, SMSS has outlived its usefulness", Dr. Albert Bacdayan graciously acceded
with a speech entitled "Harbinger
of Hope: Remembering St. Mary’s School Shortly after World War II ". I must
say that manong Albert had the audience's attention notwithstanding
the fact that many were visibly hungry. Most members of the
audience easily empathized with the events and personalities
mentioned by manong Albert in his talk; and were certainly elated with his arguments that SMSS should
continue to survive even in the context of the proliferation of free
public schools in the region. To read the full text of Dr.
Bacdayan's speech, click on the foregoing hyperlink [the
colored fonts].
Sport's Complex Report/Update. None of the SMSSI delegation made it to New
York so part of their time allotment was given to Norman Longid who
gave an inspirational talk for the SMSSI Gym project.
Norman rallied the SMSS alumni and friends to continue supporting
the gym project. To sort of give the Gym Committee Project moral
support, Lambert Sagalla shared related information that one of the
purpose of Engr. Rufino Bomasang's decision to go to Singapore for
the Asean Business Forum instead of the SMSS conference in New York
was to find donors to the Sports Complex, the Principal's Salary and
other projects of SMSSI. Lambert likewise shared information from
Engr. Bomasang, that they are planning a golf tournament in November
2008 purposely for the Sports complex project; and that former
President Ramos will again do the ceremonial tee off. The main
target participants to said golf tournament are CEOs and officers of
oil exploration industries and other corporate friends of manong
Rufino. Construction of the foundation and roof of the
gymnasium should be ready and on time
for the SMSS grand alumni homecoming on March 27-29, 2008, according
to the SMSSI Chairman of the Board.
The Sponsor-A-Faculty Chair followed
the Sports Complex related talk of Norman Longid. The
SMSSAFF Treasurer,
manang
 Inez
Saley, presented a table depicting who have so far pledged to the
Sponsor a Faculty Chair Program, who have made good their pledges,
who still have to make good their pledges, and what faculty
chair/years has yet to be filled up.
Questions were raised on when
will the Sponsor-A-Faculty-Chair [SAFC] program end and whether it
was already time to give more focus on the endowment program.
 The SMSSAFF President explained that the SAFC program was primarily
intended to bridge the gap between the true cost of quality
education and subsidized tuition fees for a period of 5 years.
During that 5-year period it is expected that the quality of
education at SMSS [in terms of facilities and curriculum
improvements] will have been such that enrollment at SMSS will
become very hard to resist by parents wanting good quality education
for their children, even if they have to pay for it. Moreover,
during that 5-year period it is expected that projects in the
pipe line towards the endowment fund build up such as the
development/sales of land donated by Dennis Faustino and the late
Frank Longid will have become a reality - i. e., the financial gains
will have been deposited in the name of SMSS. Tuition fees at SMSS
will continue to be subsidized in conjunction with the schools
commitment to provide affordable quality education to the
economically marginalized indigenous people in the hinterlands of
Northern Luzon hence, the importance of the endowment fund.
After some more questions and
answers, 4 new SAFC program years
 were
pledged by Class '57 [ Math teacher for school years 2008-2009 and
2009-2010]; Dr. John and Josephine Alipit [Science teacher for
school year 2008-2009]; and class '75 [for a yet-to-be-determined
faculty/year]. Class representatives of classes who pledged and were
present during the meeting rallied their classmates to make good
their class pledges.
It was also pointed out by the SMSSAFF President, albeit in
not so clear words, that everybody's participation/support to the
3rd SMSSAFF sponsored SMSS conference in North America was in direct
support to the SAFC program, the intended beneficiary of fund
raising efforts during said conference.
The Business Session followed at
around 4 PM. After determining the existence of a quorum,
the body accepted the minutes of the 2nd SMSS Alumni and Friends
Conference last August 25-27, 2006 in Alhambra, California. With no
business arising from the minutes, the proceedings went on to tackle
new business. Aside
 from some fund-raising tips by Dr. Cora Aguilar,
the most important matter brought out during that "business
session" and "open forum" was the idea of a data base.
The importance of a socio-economic data base for coming
out with a socio-economic profile of the Cordillera Administrative
Region - the indigenous population of which will comprise the main
source of SMSS students - is a must for tapping corporate donors. Dr. Albert Bacdayan rose to inform
the audience that a very good source of information for coming up
with a socio-economic profile of the Cordillera Administrative
Region is the UP Baguio Libarary.
Another highlight of the meeting was the
approval of Vancouver, Canada as the next host for the 2009 SMSS
conference in North America. In 2008 most of us will be in Sagada
for the grand reunion-homecoming. Thanks to Ceasar and Eliza Castro
for volunteering to spearhead the Vancouver SMSS conference.
Many conference participants rose to
articulate what their respective classes have done or will do or to
share their impressions
 of what so far transpired in the conference.
It was a spirited and inspiring session. Time
was running fast so we had to end the business session and prepare
for vespers, dinner and the crazy night.
|
