May 26 Update

Breaking News
from the Chairman of the Board
May 26, 2004

Dear Everybody,

As of 6:30 Philippine time, May 26, 2004, we already have firm commitments and pledges for the repair and renovation of all eight classrooms. All we need now are pledges for the concrete cistern (100000 pesos) and the security iron grills for all rooms other than the classrooms (150000). The iron grills for the classrooms are included in the 65000 peso per classroom estimate.

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I am extremely delighted that there has been an enthusiastic response to our appeal for donations for urgent repair and renovation at SMS among its alumni.

The check for the for the repair of the girls toilet and construction of the boys toilet from Dan Chalmers of Brent School was delivered to my office yesterday; checks for the repair of two rooms on the 1st floor in honor of Teofilo Killip and Soledad Killip are on the way; the Gulian family, Padi Gomowad, and Class 62 have committed to finance the repair and renovation of three rooms: and the Capuyan family (through Inglay Fokno, SMSAA President) has likewise committed to do the same for another room. This means we have checks/pledges for six rooms. Dennis had earlier scheduled just four to be repaired and renovated this year, but we will gladly repair the other rooms too with financing already committed. This leaves just two more rooms on the 2nd floor, but I am sure that others will also make similar commitments for their repair and renovation too.

Rose Nabert also suggested the possibility of donations in kind (i.e. free labor on an og-ogbo basis), especially from alumni and their relatives living in Sagada. We will welcome this very much. It will be great if we can revive the spirit of og-ogbo, even at this time when Sagada is getting more and more commercialized. This is the essence of sustainable development.

As stated in my earlier email, what we most urgently need now are commitments for the construction of the concrete cistern so that running water will be available (100000 pesos) and commitments for adequate measures (i.e. installation of iron grills, etc.) to secure the renovated rooms (150000 pesos).

Once again, I wish to thank all those who made commitments, or about to make commitments for SMS. I also wish to thank all those who echoed my appeal to the alumni and friends for donations.