SAS Ai Scholarship Program – How it Works


"It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness."

“It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”

Like the word “love,” the term “scholarship” has undergone many a metamorphosis. Take love first. When people mean to say they “like” mangoes, they rather exuberantly blurt out, “I love mangoes”. The same with scholarships. Even though the student recipient of the financial aid does not do well academically or at a scholarly level, that some group finances his or her studies makes the aid-recipient a scholar. Many groups profess to do good works, even charitable works, such as, giving aid to student recipients for a myriad reasons – all mind-boggling just the same. The announcement clamor and din is deafening.

The SAS Ai scholarship program stands high and above this loose amalgamation of “handout” programs masquerading as scholarships, as the gold standard scholarship program to help bright students who come from poor families get a good high school education at SAS through financial aid.

The program uses this twofold criteria with no strings attached:

  1. The student applicant must come from a disadvantaged family with a gross annual income of less than P50,000, or $1167 USD depending on the exchange rate
  2. The student applicant must have a grade point average (GPA) of 85% or better

And here is where the SAS Ai scholarship program leaves the rest of the pack huffing and puffing in the dust. SAS Ai offers the most generous package ever. For every sponsored scholar, the annual financial aid pays for:

  • Tuition – matriculation costs
  • Books, reference materials and publications
  • School uniforms – Skirts and blouses for the young ladies and a pair of pants and T-Shirts for the young men
  • Pair of shoes and socks – patent leather shoes for the young ladies and a pair of rubber shoes for the young men
  • Athletic wear for PE and intramural sports – (the scholar’s family pays for special uniforms for volleyball and/or basketball teams)
  • School supplies – stationery, writing tools, notebooks, sewing kit, crayon kits, paper
  • Computer Lab fees, family fees, miscellaneous fees
  • Internet Cafe fees for online research and eMail services
  • A USB storage device for every scholar to store computer school work

Refinements of the SAS Ai program that sets it far and apart from the “random acts of kindness” dubbed as scholarships:

  • If accepted to the program after a battery of pre-tests, interviews, home visits to establish need, parental guarantee of coöperation, scholars are held accountable for maintaining their grade point average to 85% or higher.
  • The local SAS Ai Field Team headed by Director Albert D Bunoan stays on top of all scholars:
    • taking care of their school supply needs,
    • looking after their personal safety and welfare
    • disseminating pertinent information from corporate.
    • The Field Team also regularly files update reports to the board of trustees (BOT) on periodic exam results, and on status of scholar’s school work and attendance.
  • If accepted to the program, all scholars are held to a high standard of personal behavior, active community involvement, and exemplary social, spiritual, and emotional development.
  • If accepted to the program, all scholars must acquire skills in the use of current technologies to electronically communicate and to develop a good oral and written command of the English language used in business communications.
  • We recruit prospective applicants from all over the public school system, in Tagudin, Santa Cruz, Sudipen and Bangar, La Union, Suyo, keeping the competitiveness for acceptance tight and keen
  • When recruiting prospective applicants we look for inner-drive and reason, maturity and a dire financial need with no strings attached. More specifically, SAS Ai does not expect or need everlasting loyalty, allegiance and/or payment in kind from the families of accepted scholars.

If you know of anyone – a family in need who may want to send their bright and highly motivated child to attend SAS high school, please let us know. Click on this link to find out more about SAS Ai, Inc. and how to make a tax-deductible donation to support the scholarship fund. We solely rely on our generous donors and mission supporters to send these bright scholars to Saint Augustine School.

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A Time For Bonding – by Maiah Genelle Dauz


Maiah Genelle Dauz

Maiah Genelle Dauz enjoys the summer with her siblings and her Mom… it was a time for bonding and good times

TinaLaycanoLG

Tina Laycano, SAS Ai sponsor

Maiah Genelle Dauz (photo at left) is a SAS Ai scholar sponsored by Tina Laycano of Canada (photo at above right). Tina worked for the Canadian government as a computer and networks analyst and has since retired. Like Maiah, Tina hails originally from Barangay Dardarat.

Maiah sent us this short article she wrote about her summer vacation spent there locally in Barangay Dardarat.

“Summer vacation affords us time for myriad activities. Some activities involve long road trips to the metropolitan city of Manila, certainly a sojourn accented with detailed plans for elaborate evenings of dancing and fine dining.

Other activities include visits with relatives who work and live far away – some as far away as Australia and Canada. I heard about a couple of friends who spent time with relatives in Mindanao – a long way from Tagudin. Mindanao is the southern most island of the Philippine archipelago. I heard stories of them eating large pineapples, duhat, Guimaras mango, santol, rambutan, jackfruit, and dorian. My mouth watered at the mere mention of these exotic fruits.

For me, summer vacation was necessarily kept simple but loaded with fun. My older brother and sister came home to spend a couple of days with us. They took breaks from their work – something I knew they could ill-afford at this time. Yet they were there; it made my mother very happy.

This summer school break I realized that this time of year isn’t only for vacations. It is also a time for making memories with family; it is time for bonding. I dearly love spending time with my mother – no matter what we do – it could be as simple as a trip to the public market, or a short trip to the rice mill to buy a ganta of rice. When I am with my mother I feel like I am walking on soft cotton clouds. I just love my mother’s company.

I made sweet memories this summer – not only with my mother but also with my siblings.

A famous saying goes, “Time flies when you are having fun.” This summer was no different for me – my family and I enjoyed boatloads of fun. The couple of days my older brother and sister spent with us were gone even before I could unpack their handbags and tell them my stories. Good thing I bonded with them. With their busy schedules who knows when we will all get together again?

Soon the school year begins. Once again we will work hard with our studies. This year I want to make sure my generous sponsor, my Tia, Ms Tina Laycano will feel proud of my accomplishment. I made up my mind to write her to let her know how I am doing. I will also write to the members of the board to thank them and assure them of my ongoing drive to succeed and to be in the honor roll.

Summer’ been way too short. Where has the time gone? By the way, did you get to bond with your family?”

Is That All There Is?


weaver

She spins the lightly starched yarn, gawgaw rendered sag-ot threads… it is her occupation… it is her life.

The poem begins with, “Scorn ye not man’s humble trade…. For honest work brings honest wages…. We only need enough for our daily bread…. Life is short; we leave behind faint illegible traces.” The poem implores the reader to judge not a person by his or her occupation. The person’s character or lack thereof will uplift or indict the person soon enough.

But in the world, people stay intoxicated with labels, drunk with titles, People with no titles get stuck in the rut of peasantry. These peasants work in domestics – mundane, menial, and mental-less labor, what upwardly mobile young people call “no-brainer” jobs. Often their work settings demean human dignity, erode self-esteem, and cut them to sub-human status.

I can hear the coconut husk scrubbers scraping the cotton threads strung tautly on a Tagudan stretch easel. From the top of the roll the scrubber engages the threads and pulls in a downward motion – up and down, two hands with scrubbers alternating. The rendered threads dry in the bright sun then gathered to be spun. Given to a weaver at the loom, soon a colorful blanket or richly designed sheet of cloth emerges. The cycle goes on. The woman embraces her daily occupation without emotion. Life must go on.

For the bright child born into this peasantry who wishes to attend school this scenario must seem rather tedious and non-challenging. The child would have a point. Weaving takes manual labor and the child dreams of science and mathematics. She sees a spider’s web in geometric designs and admires the advancing dark clouds heavy with rain. She wants to know why eggplant is purple and cucumber is green. This child doesn’t accept that is all to life. She wants more.

Watching the child grow I feel a strong urge to help her realize her dream. What will it take to free her mind – a mind-set anchored in poverty and given to despair? A spark of hope glimmers behind her mental and emotional curtain of anxiety, worry, and angst caused by the most basic of human needs – hunger. I ask you dear friend, would you join me and others help this child attend school? So that she can meet and realize her full potential, let us together get behind the mission to help these bright kids who come from poor families attend high school through financial aid. DONATE to the scholarship fund today.

A Fulfilling Summer Break – by Melvie Legaspina


Melvie Legaspina, SAS Ai Scholar Class 2011-12

Melvie Legaspina, SAS Ai Scholar Class 2011-12

Toward the end of the school year all my friends and I could enthusiastically talk about was the coming summer vacation. We all needed a break from school. Homework assignments, classroom activities, school projects, not to mention the never-ending pop quizzes and periodic examinations have all but sapped the last ounce of our energies. The mere mention of summer vacation electrified the atmosphere. We dreamed and we kept on talking.

All Green

Home Sweet Home – in the middle of green fields with banana trees, at the edge of a lush forest

Some of my SAS Ai scholar friends talked about escaping with family to faraway places. Others talked about trying new adventures and visiting relatives who lived in nearby provinces. A couple of classmates declared their upcoming trip and break to the big city. I felt a tingle up my spine when they mentioned the “Big City”. They were talking about the big city of Manila. Blinking neon lights danced in the back of my head, tall buildings rising up skyward, and rows upon rows of them adorning the city skyline. I swallowed hard as I tried to mask my intimidated pride and feelings of envy percolating to the surface. I was happy for them and I told them so.

For me, I knew my parents couldn’t afford such trips. I resigned myself to the idea of staying local. Indeed I will spend my summer vacation in my home sweet home – right in the middle of the green rice fields, accented with banana trees and edged by a lush forest of mangoes, santol trees, longboy and sarguelas.

ditches

The irrigation water flows by the coconut trees and banana trees through the property

Besides, my father had planted new cash crops and he needed help not only in making sure the irrigation system flowed unimpeded but also in making sure the seedling beds were properly watered and weeded. My mother, bless her heart, also expected me to look after the vegetable garden out back, watering it and making sure the goats didn’t break in to ruthlessly feast on the morangi leaves and sweet purple yam shoots.

In between trips to the fields I managed to read two books. I did some deep thinking too about the coming school year. I have set my priorities, the most important of which is to learn all that I can learn and be the best scholar.

The little help I gave my parents during the summer break made me fill good and fulfilled. I noticed how my father would usually work in the fields starting early and working until sunset, walking home in the darkening dusk of twilight. During my summer break my father was able to come home earlier, joining us for family dinner. What a great feeling that gave me.

Every good thing comes to an end. The summer vacation is no different. Summer must leave so that the new school year can begin. So with a sad heart I bade my friend, Summer, farewell. Until next year… until next year.

Manila, Manila – by Mariella Tacho


Rizal Monument

Rizal Park in Manila

The highlight of my summer vacation stay in Manila was my visit to Rizal Park. I think all Filipinos ought to see this place and spend some time admiring the artwork, examining the structures, and reliving the country’s history presented in the many exhibits. I entered the walled city called Intramuros with awe and great excitement. The towering walls appeared old, dark and looming and in some spots crumbling. There were splotches of green moss thriving in some places. The heat and humidity do a splendid job of eroding even the mightiest brick and mortar structures ever built by man. This fungi-action aging process became very clear as I entered the pavilion. The dank smell of mold and mildew assaulted my nose. I guess that was part of the draw… realism the place provides for the tourist and spectator to enjoy.

wall

Mi Ultimo Adios by Doctor Jose Rizal

Termite eaten wood framed the old pictures hanging on the walls. The black and white photographs themselves must have been taken with old daguerreotype. What stories of bygone days they tell. Their voices may be mute but they tell of the days when the Spaniard Conquistadors ruled the islands and demanded blind loyalty and allegiance to the King of Spain. I believe this is what got Dr Jose Rizal, our Philippine National Hero killed – his refusal to personally submit to Spanish subjugation – and his rallying cry to all the Filipino people to revolt. I almost became teary eyed when I saw his famous poem, Mi Ultimo Adios, presented on the wall.

Dr Jose Rizal

Re-enactment of the death of Dr Jose Rizal by Firing Squad

But this last photo reenacting the death of Dr Jose Rizal by firing squad is the most poignant of all the show photographs. I must have spent a couple of hours just reflecting on his personal sacrifice all because he wanted the Philippines to be free. All in all, I will always remember my visit to Rizal Park. What a high point it was to my vacation visit to the great city of Manila. Everybody should go visit Rizal Park. There is so much history, tradition, culture, and heritage to see.

A Success Story


Jonel Leal

Jonel Leal (center) shows his certificate of recognition award, flanked by his Mom Mrs Monica Leal (left) and the Field Team Director, Mr Albert D Bunoan

The Field Team was at the Leal residence back in 2010 talking to Mrs Monica Leal and Jonel Leal about the scholarship program. It’s been a long, hot day and their trek to Ambalayat, where the Leals live, was long and tiring. The pre-qualifying process progressed slowly but they persevered and are they glad they did.

Today, Jonel Leal is an outstanding student at SAS high school going into his fourth and senior year.

During the first interview Jonel appeared too quiet, shy and even timid. The Field Team took a break to compare notes. Of the three Field Team reps, a couple gave Jonel an average rating. One remained high on Jonel. He observed that Mrs Monica Leal leaned heavily on her son, encouraging him to be more animated.

Jonel is a quiet young man who goes into deep thought when asked a question. He is not given to flashy exhibitions of flamboyance and open cockiness. He took his time answering questions. Sometimes going into a trance-like phase Jonel took his time giving cogent and well articulated answers.

When the Field Team politely asked Mrs Leal to leave them alone with her son, Jonel seemed to come alive. He appeared liberated, even emancipated. The Field Team left the Leal home late in the afternoon united in recommending him for the scholarship program. That was three years ago.

SAS Ai is so glad we gave Jonel an opportunity to attend high school with the scholarship program. He shows and typifies a SAS Ai scholar – in intelligence and in persistence.

 

My American Friend


Bamboo Shoots

“But what will happen to the Pandas?” my American friend asked.

I still remember one hot summer day (during Cuaresma - Lent in the Ilocano language) we spent in the Philippines. Our ship moored dockside at Alava Pier, NAS Cubi Point for a couple of days of rest and recreation en route to the Indian Ocean. Sunshine drenched the countryside and the weekend beckoned.

“You want to come with me to the public market?” I asked a shipmate buddy who was folding his freshly washed laundry.

veggies

Squash and katuday flowers, eggplants, camote, ginger roots and bittermelons

“Why? What’s there to see?” he replied never taking his eyes off the linen he splayed in front of him.

“You might be surprised,” I said, quickly grabbing my baseball cap to leave. I thought I’d share some Filipino culture with my American friend. And the public market would be a good place to begin such enculturation.

“Wait,” he said. “Give me a second and I will go with you.” I knew he was just trying to be nice. He probably figured I needed company.

Carabao

Getting ready to haul stuff

Before long we were off to the public market, dodging weaving tricycles, avoiding wobbly ox-carts piled high with rice straw, and politely turning down independent shish-kebab merchants lining the sidewalks hawking their wares.

Entering the open bazaar we first came upon the fresh vegetable stalls. “Whoa… are those things what I think they are?” he exclaimed pointing at a stack of freshly cut bamboo shoots. “They look like 16 millimeter projectiles.”

“You’re right. Them’s bamboo shoots – not projectiles,” I shot back.

“But what will happen to the bamboo plants if you take the shoots? What will happen to the Panda bears who eat bamboo? Who buys that stuff anyway? What is wrong with this picture?” My friend went on and on. He was Mr questions. I smiled contentedly. Here’s our cultural teaching moment.

Sausage

Sausages – Sorizo – Longaniza

We walked deeper into the center of the bazaar. The air became staid. Different odors met our nostrils, some sweet and some downright repugnant. Then we came by the salted-fish merchant stall. “Eeeeks…” even I felt repulsed by the fish left fermenting in those huge gray clay jars.

My friend loudly protested. “What in the heck is this place? Let’s get out of here. I’ve had enough of this &%^#!” (the euphemism is my choice since his very words are unprintable here). I felt embarrassed for my friend but what could I do? We hurried back to the ship.

Inabraw

Vegetable stew – Inabraw

Since it was already past noon, we stopped by the Exchange Cafeteria for a cup of coffee and some lunch. I paid all charges; a peace-offering. My friend couldn’t stop telling me how much he enjoyed the Filipino food items I ordered for lunch. He said the vegetable stew tasted like something he ate in Thailand, and the soup was reminiscent of the seafood soup he ate in Vietnam. He went on and on about how much he liked the fish lightly battered and cooked in sun-dried tomato sauces. I listened intently.

Bagnet

Bagnet for Sitsaron (Chicharon)

I told him about the basic food ingredients used, the seasonings and spices that made the dishes tasty. I told him also that he saw all those ingredients in the public market place when we went there earlier.

He took a gulp of chilled coconut juice but largely remained silent. I wondered what he could have thought. “Didn’t he like the food?” I silently asked myself.

Then he said, “I have concluded that Filipino people are good cooks. And I can eat this food all day.”

TIKANLU Festival Tagudin Town Fiesta 2013 – by Fegie Yvette Layco


Fegie Yvette Layco, SAS Ai Scholar Class 2011-12

Fegie Yvette Layco, SAS Ai Scholar Class 2011-12

It is the fourth day of the Tagudin Town Fiesta 2013 Tikanlu Festival. This most awaited annual event turns the entire town of Tagudin into a veritable wonderland.

There are bands playing, people dancing, cotton candy machines whirring, kids crying – lost and frantically looking for their mothers, halo-halo ice shavings packed into overflowing glass cups topped with scoops of ice cream to stave off the heat, the town is rocking.

Visitors from adjoining towns, relatives from distant provinces, and some native Tagudinians who work overseas have come home to join in the fun. Goody – they have come home to spend some of their hard-earned money. Good for the local economy.

Ifugao

An Ifugao Warrior dancing

Early this morning, we watched the Folk Dance competition. This competition event affords every school in Tagudin time to present its own dance number. Each school had its own highly trained dance troupe, bedecked in colorful costumes, holding and waving exotic props that included native swords, spears, and colorful loin clothes.

Audience

People line the streets

People lining the streets joined in the revelry and celebration. In the afternoon, my cousins and I watched the exciting Acrobatic Show. There must have been close to a thousand people inside the covered court.

The place became so crowded and packed to standing room only. As the inside temperature rose people unfurled their fans and furiously stirred the stale, unmoving air for relief. Their wrist movements flicking their multi-colored fans added more color to the scene as they coaxed the still air to move.

Acrobat

Acrobat flips in the air – a difficult maneuver that defies gravity

Showing great physical agility, strength and prowess the acrobats performed intricate stunts to the beat of the music. The most interesting stunt was the quadruple jump and twist. The acrobats executed flawlessly. Thundering applause raised the roof and shook the glass panes. The acrobatic presentation proved amazing to watch.

And that should bring you up to date with what is happening at the Tagudin town fiesta. Wish you were here!

My Summer Vacation – by Kyle Zyra Lazo


Kyle Zyra Lazo

Kyle Zyra Lazo, SAS Ai Scholar Class 2010-11

Summer is synonymous with adventure. And adventure includes exploring, finding and discovering new places off the beaten track and doing fun things.

I joined my parents and siblings this past summer on vacation in Pugo, La Union. “Heaven on earth” aptly describes Pugo, my favorite place in the world. When I am here I am stress free.

Pugo’s quaint towns and Barangays, all accessible by paved roads, sport huge public market places with its small shops, cantinas and cafes. Small farming enclaves sprout in the middle of vast rice fields and in the thick of limited forests. A beautiful river flows and winds its way to the open sea. To the east stands a line of foothills studded with rocky promontories resembling far pavilions. Beyond the hills, mountains rise so high their peaks disappear into the low-lying clouds.

Vacation wouldn’t be complete without our yearly family reunion with the Salvo Clan in Barangay Labayug, in Sison, Pangasinan. Speaking of reunions, we managed to squeeze into our busy schedule a get-together with the Sigman family last April 22nd. Let me tell you about these family reunions. There were endless trays of food, coconut sweets, mango and pineapple ice cream and party favors. A couple of talented cousins who played guitar and sang entertained us. We attempted to sing along and to be honest, wildly and off-key most of the time, we were politely ordered by the elders to pipe down – which we did, albeit begrudgingly. Oh well, that was all part of the fun.

River

Tapuacan River in Pugo, La Union

We enjoyed and had the most fun swimming with my siblings and cousins in the deep pools and swirling waters of the Tapuacan river. Compared to the waters of the huge Amburayan River and the massive Abra River, the flowing waters of the Tapuacan River qualify as the most pristine in all of Northern Luzon. As a side note, the name Tapuacan in Ilocano means “jump off point”. This name appropriately describes the high cliffs that rim the river. Swimmers would literally stand at the edge of the cliff and “jump off” or dive into the deep and crystal clear water pools.

Later we needed to replenish the firewood stack. We walked up to the foothills early in the day to collect and gather firewood. Trekking through narrow gullies and extended ravines – waterways for torrential downpours – our gradual climb was long and our hike arduous. But the scenery… As we stopped to catch our breath we looked back and saw from our high vantage point the lowlands stretched for kilometers, a patchwork quilt covered with moss-like green. I enjoyed the ascent but the walk home proved harder since we each had a cord of firewood to carry. I have developed new respect for the woodcutters and gatherers who sell firewood in the public market.

Like all good things, the summer vacation came to an end. So soon, I thought to myself. But there will be next year. I really love Pugo. When I’m here I feel I’m stress free. Someday soon, I hope to give you a personal tour of “Heaven on Earth” – Pugo, La Union.

Joyful Realization


poor

The Family of one SAS Ai scholar

Three years ago, our field Team spoke with this family about their eldest daughter who was about to finish elementary school and graduate sixth grade class Salutatorian.

Field Team Leader Albert Bunoan began the conversation, “Mr and Mrs Sotero, we are here because your daughter Soledad expressed interest in applying for financial aid to attend SAS high school.”

“Who are you?” Mr Sotero sounded skeptical. “Why would Soledad want to attend SAS high school? All her friends are in public school.” Mr Sotero seemed bothered about something. His wife Calixta was fixing sweet potato stew in the kitchen. She listened intently even as she stirred the pot.

Mr Bunoan smiled and calmly explained to Mr Sotero about the SAS Ai scholarship program. “SAS is the premier private school in the province. It would certainly be to Soledad’s advantage to attend high school there. The faculty is very capable and the facilities are up to date. Soledad can apply her smarts and learn a lot from what SAS has to offer.”

“Isn’t that school only for the rich?” asked Mrs Sotero finally getting into the conversation. “One of my aunts attended that school and graduated in the late forties. Yes it is a great school.”

Mr Sotero chimed in, “So are you going to pay for Soledad’s tuition? How about her books and lab fees?”

Mr Bunoan showed the Sotero’s the SAS Ai program documentation. “Mr and Mrs Sotero, we will take care of Soledad’s registration, books, school uniforms, shoes, socks, school supplies but you will have to take care of her lunches and transportation.”

“How you doing that? You got money or something?” Grandma spoke her broken English. She was rocking the cradle in the other room. “You taking my Soledad and keeping her in dormitory? She needed here helping with the field and pasture.”

“Grandma Sotero, no, we are not taking Soledad and putting her in a dormitory. We are enrolling her to attend high school at SAS,” Albert said with a smile.

That was three years ago. This year Soledad will begin her fourth and senior year of high school. She has done well, staying in the honor roll after each year. She expects to graduate with high honors.

At the annual parent-Field Team meeting, Mr and Mrs Sotero reminisced with Mr Bunoan. “Remember when you first came to see us about Soledad attending SAS high school?” Mrs Sotero said.

“Yes. I thought Mr Sotero was going to do me bodily harm,” Mr Bunoan lightheartedly replied. “SAS Ai is very happy for Soledad and proud of her accomplishments. And so must you be…”

“Mr Bunoan thank you so much for not giving up on us,” Mr Sotero said in a very humble and subdued voice. “We couldn’t have given Soledad this kind of good education.”

“Yes we are most grateful to the donors of SAS Ai. And of course we love SAS Ai and all the volunteers who run the organization,” Mrs Sotero’s eyes misted.

It was such a different meeting than the one that happened three years ago. Such joyful realization…