Dear Manong Albert,

Thank you very much for your generous donation of $2,000 for the Stapleton Hall renovation. 

 

To all,

I would like to share with you Dr. Albert Bacdayan's letter where he inclosed his generous contribution to the Stapleton Hall renovation.

   

"I have been very impressed by the spirit of the sons and daughters of St. Mary's School Sagada reflected in the community's internet chatter that I have been following. Although I did not stay for high school, the intermediate education I obtained at St. Mary's was a solid foundation that served me well and the two years I spent there were among the happiest of the many years I subsequently spent in school obtaining an education. I am happy to say that what I missed by way of a good secondary education and good clean fun in the process,

appear to have been realized by my four siblings who attended and graduated high school at St. Mary's.
 

All this is by way of saying that in gratitude, I am herewith sending a check for two thousand U.S. dollars toward the renovation of Stapleton Hall. I remember Father Stapleton coming to Bangaan in 1966 to talk to the community about the junior college he had just started and asking the people to donate lumber from their woodlots with which to construct a college building. He solicited help from other communities as well. What happened to the fine structure that resulted is well known. I trust that the renovation will be tastefully done with an eye toward a resulting very sound building that would stand the test of time to the historic first building of a St. Mary's Sagada College if not of a St. Mary's Sagada University.

 

Warm greetings to the St. Mary's School community."

 

Sincerely,

Albert S. Bacdayan

 

Updated summary of donations for the Stapleton Hall renovations:

 

    Bless you all,

    Inez'55