Above are pictures of newly installed computers in the SMS computer laboratory. In the first picture, Mr. Kent Sinkey can be seen  inspecting the newly installed computers with an Octagon Corp. salesman [Octagon, a computer vendor, supplied the computers].   Kent is some sort of computer missionary who is devoting his retirement years attending to the computer concerns of three Igorot high schools in the hinterlands of Northern Luzon, Philippines,  namely: St. James High School Besao; National High School, Sagada; and St. Mary's High School, Sagada.

According to Kent, the newly installed computers are loaded with  Microsoft Windows XP Professional (Service Pack 2), Microsoft Office 2003 which includes Access, Excel, FrontPage, InfoPath, Outlook, Power Point, Publisher and Word. There is also Typing Master, Tune-up Utilities 2004 and a few odds and ends for Kent's maintenance use. According to Kent, if  the SMS students  learn ½ of the programs on the computers they will be doing very well indeed. I agree. I do not even know how to use Access, Power Point,  Excel and InfoPath. I have been looking at specialized courses on Microsoft Office Productivity softwares here in the New York - New Jersey area and they are quite expensive. Nagan-nagasat nan SMS students idwani. Ala, e-esten yo ay mang-adal esdatona. LBS
 

Above are pictures of SMS Computer Laboratory prior to being equipped with computers.   The construction / renovation works consisted of [among others]: the installation of computer and power cables, computer desks and chairs, whiteboards and bulletin boards. 

•  the positive response of alumni and friends to the funding initiative towards the purchase of SMS computers started by SMSSI President, Engr.  Rufino Bomasang; and
• the generosity of Dr. Dennis Faustino, the incoming Principal of St. Mary's School, Sagada.

The response from alumni and friends was so encouraging such that  Eng. Rufino Bomasang,  guaranteed to Dr. Dennis Faustino that the computer purchase funding initiative will definitely come up with the required amount for the computer purchase [and perhaps more]. 

With President Bomasang's assurance, Dr. Dennis Faustino went ahead and advanced the money required to purchase the computers from his own funds so that the computers will be installed in SMS on time for the start of classes in June of 2005.

A computer funding campaign was initiated by SMSSI President Rufino Bomasang to generate the needed amount to buy 16 to 18 computers for the SMS computer lab. This include the creation of a SMSSAFF computer funding assistance committee headed by Raymond Alipit [an SMS alumnus in Saudi Arabia] and a Fund raising Golf Tournament in Metro Manila.