AAA PROJECT
Optimistic that more alumni will come forward to help indigent students, the JASHAA-USA foresees the continued implementation of the Adopt An Abadian (AAA) project in school year 2007-2008 which starts in June.
The AAA project was initiated in 2000 in response to an urgent need, as expressed by JASHS teachers, to save at risk students from dropping out due to poverty. With the help of concerned teachers, students from all grade levels (lst to 4th year) who come from extremely economically handicapped families were identified. JASHAA-USA subsequently appealed to US-based alumni to become sponsors. A $100 donation covers the needs of a student scholar for one school year.
A committee drew up the project's implementing guidelines including the opening of AAA account in Metrobank Manila where project funds are regularly remitted, designation of a teacher as coordinator who disburses funds on a monthly basis for the student recipients' monthly allowance and submits quarterly financial report to JASHAA-USA, and a scheme for getting feedback from the students on the benefits they get.
Some 21 Abadians, mostly from the LA area, were the initial sponsors for 30 student scholars in 2000-2001. Noting the very positive outcome of the project, the alumni group committed the proceeds of its major fund raising effort (Christmas caroling) bringing the number of AAA scholars to 70 by the project's third year. Unable to draw funds from JASHAA-USA general fund last year due to the financial needs of other projects, i.e. medical mission, shipping and repair of computers, etc. and the decline in the number of sponsors, current scholars are down to 18.
A group of visiting JASHAA-USA alumni recently met with the AAA scholars. The students expressed their gratitude for the monthly allowances they are regularly receiving. Much to their surprise, cash bonuses of Php300.00 were given to each scholar with the graduating students getting Php500.00 each. The money came from the personal pockets of the alumni, namely Violy Benedicto, Arbella Malong and Ludy Tenorio who generously gave $100.00.
Ms. Myrna Banas, the teacher-coordinator of AAA in JASHS has a long list of students in great need of financial support. We hope that we could entice more US-based Abadians to support this worthy cause. A $10 donation can cover a large portion of the scholar's monthly expenses including transportation, school supplies and meals. For us here in the US, this translates to just foregoing a $10 movie ticket. Hundreds of letters of appreciation from the students expressed how their sponsors are helping turn their lives around.
AN APPEAL TO ALL JASHS ALUMNI: PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY TO ADOPT AN ABADIAN PROJECT. IT'S THE BEST WAY FOR ONE GIFT TO DO SO MUCH GOOD FOR THE POOREST STUDENTS.
ADOPT AN ABADIAN: MOVING TO YEAR 8
Jess Enriquez
The Adopt An Abadian (AAA) project was an offshoot of the one-time financial aid to needy students made in school year 1999-2000, at the beginning of classes. A total of 190 most needy students selected from the four year levels were given Php500.00 each for their school needs. JASHAA-USA allocated $2,100.00 for this project, $500.00 of which came from the Northern California Chapter of the alumni association.
Several alumni were touched by the letters sent by grateful students and thereafter randomly picked some students whom they committed to support financially the following school year. The AAA project was formally launched in the alumni association’s annual dinner dance in June 2000.
In school year 2000-2001, the AAA project, as implemented, was designed at supporting selected “scholars” for the entire school year, instead of a one-shot deal. Also, instead of drawing from the Association’s general fund, it was decided that funding shall come from individual donations of alumni and friends. A $100.00 donation would support a “scholar” for one year. Twenty-one alumni came forward, with an annual donation of $100.00 each, converted into Php400.00 monthly allowances each to the first batch of 21 “scholars”.
In SY 2002-03, additional sponsors were recruited providing financial support to 32 “scholars”.
In SY 2003-04, there was a big jump in the number of AAA scholars. This was made possible following the decision of JASHAA-USA officers to allocate the entire proceeds of the December 2002 Christmas caroling by the alumni choral group in the amount of $1,600.00 for AAA and the donation by an officer (Ben Baligad) in the amount of $1,145.00 representing cash gifts during his 60th birthday celebration. Funded were some 72 “scholars”, including those supported by individual sponsors.
In SY 2004-05, it was decided that henceforth, the project should be funded solely by individual donors. As a result, only 20 students were supported by continuing sponsors.
In SY 2005-06, the number increased to 31 “scholars” as more sponsors signed in.
In SY 2006-2007, 33 “scholars” were supported by 26 sponsors.
Over the years, support to AAA came from the following donors, a number of whom were willing AAA sponsors ever year:
1.
DELY ANTONIO
2.MANNY AQUINO, ‘64
3.VERNON ARBOLEDA, ‘62
4.BEN BALIGAD, ‘60
5.JUN BALUYUT
6.VIOLY BENEDICTO
7.CORA CALANO
8.EMMA CALIMAG
9.JULIAN CORDOVA
10.NOEL DE LEON
11.JOSIE DE GUZMAN, ‘62
12.RUTH DIONISIO
13.JESS ENRIQUEZ, ‘61
14.MANNY ENRIQUEZ. ‘62
15.CONRADO FAJARDO
16.EVANGELINE FERNANDEZ, ‘62
17.ARCIE FERRER, ‘71
18.KEVIN FITZGERALD
19.ZENAIDA DE GUZMAN, ‘61
20.SHIRLEY DE SILVA, ‘62
21.FELY LAO
22.ELLY LISING, ‘61
23.NELSON NAGUIT, ‘62
24.ANTONIO PASCUA, ‘64
25.RON PARCON
26.VICKY PEACH, ‘61
27.CESAR PITEL
28.BIEN RARANG
29.MYRNA RAMOS
30.TONY ROBERTO, ‘62
31.DONATO SANTOS, 71
32.ROGER SARMIENTO, ‘62
33.LUDY TENORIO
34.BITUIN TUASON, ‘62
35.ANTONIO QUIRANTE
36.LOU QUIRANTE
37.FELIX VALDE
38.PABLO VALENZUELA, ‘62
39.ERLINDO VALERA
40.SAMMY YALUNG
41.ROBERT YOUNG, ‘61
It must be mentioned that 100 percent of donations made to AAA are expended solely for the monthly allowances of AAA recipients, except for a minimal amount for stamps for mailing by the JASHS AAA coordinator of the financial reports and letters of the “scholars” to their US-based sponsors. For anyone interested in looking into the current balance of AAA funds, he/she can contact Cora Calano (JASHAA-USA treasurer) at (213)618-1605 or at corrie1014@yahoo.com.
It might be a good idea to find out where AAA “scholars” who graduated from high school are now and what they have been doing. Also, what is the impact, if any, of the AAA “scholarship” on the recipient’s’ life. A survey may be conducted for this purpose by the JASHS AAA coordinators (Grace Santoyo & Myrna Banas) with the help of current AAA “scholars”.
For SY 2007-2008, the AAA screening committee is composed of: Victor de Vera, ’61, Bituin Tuason Betco, ’62, Charry Olego, ’71, and JASHS science teachers Grace Santoyo, ’73 and Myrna Banas. As of May 29, 2007, the following are confirmed sponsors:
1.Antonio Pascua
2.Donato Santos
3.Arcie Ferrer
4.Ben Santos
5.Arbella Malong
6.Robert Young
7.Zenaida de Guzman
8.Dr. Conrado Fajardo
9.Josie Guzman
10.Evangeline Fernandez
11.Ludy Tenorio
12.Minerva Elepano
13.Elly Lising
14.Manny Enriquez
15.Jess Enriquez
