Romeo J. Somera, Esq.
President

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The President met with the SAS Ai scholars, their parents, SAS faculty members, and the Field Team at a luncheon meeting on November 20, 2011. The following is his address to the attendees:

Honored Guests:

We are very glad that you are able to join us in this our luncheon meeting with our SAS Ai scholars. I am truly grateful for the attendance of the parents, and I appreciate very much the time, effort and sacrifices put on by our SAS Ai Field Team under the leadership of Mr. Albert Bunoan.

I must also acknowledge the help extended by our Sales & Mktg Director and Board of Trustee, Melanie Florentino, Promotions Director of FEATI University, and a very outstanding SAS Alumnae.

Special thanks goes to SAS faculties and officials present here. My profound gratitude goes to Sister Connie Gacutan, ICM, who, I must acknowledge, has been very supportive of SAS Ai since day one.

I understand two of our Senior high school scholars, Nesza Queen Camonas and Arthien Pelingen are not here but are duly represented by their Grandmother and Mother respectively. I am told Nesza and Arthien are busy taking their DOST scholarship tests at DMMMSU in San Fernando, La Union. Good luck to both of them.


My remarks in its entirety is an address to our scholars, about their duties and responsibilities as SAS students, as a member of a family, and community and society as a whole. As you grow and develop into adulthood, whether you decide to pursue a career later on, either by going to college or by working right after high school graduation, you have continuing duties, responsibilities and obligations as students. They are really simple and normal codes of conduct to follow. As a student, you must exercise self-respect for from it you command the respect of others. It is your obligation to strive for the best. A sure fire and simple way to do it is by studying hard. Whether you will go to college or not, you will find that education is an ongoing process, ending only when you leave this world at the call of God. You have a duty to respect your teachers and school officials as they are your academic parents.

Here are some ideas - food for thought I hope you will come away with from this meeting and go on to practice in your daily lives as students.

• In education as in most everything in life, you get what you put in. If you put in zero you get out of it a big fat zero.
• You must bring your own motivation (or reason for doing) to school with you. The school will not give you motivation.
• Studying should be fun because learning is the discovery of new things, the revelation of things formerly unknown. Learning is also a change in behavior - from ignorance to enlightenment.
• Understanding requires deep thought. Understanding concepts is much more important than memorizing factoids.
• At the end of a lesson, a scholar must be able to express in his or her own words what exactly was presented. What exactly did you, the scholar, learn from the lesson?
• Keep a firm and disciplined schedule, managing your time wisely. There is a time for everything. A time to study, a time to play, a time to work, a time to socialize and a time to rest.
• Go for the top. Learning is a steep hill, to some it is a mountain, but with practice, your mental muscles will become stronger to deal with the hard climb. Keep your sights at the top and just keep trying to make progress, inch by inch or step by step.
• Never compare yourself with others. You can look at your own progress if you want to find out how well you have been doing.
• In the end, it is up to you. If you want something bad enough you will put all your will, might, resources, attention, heart, soul and effort into getting it.

Honor your elders, respect and help your parents. You are here because they brought you into this world. Allow me to provide you some pointers on this topic. Many successful SAS alumni have been guided by it all the way to their adulthood making their parents proud.

• Remain obedient to your parents. Obedience is the key.
• Cooperate with them. Show your love and respect.
• Do your assigned chores to the best of your ability. You have to earn your keep.
• Don't procrastinate. Remember, you have a schedule to keep.
• Be prudent with your allowance and always remember how hard your parents have to work to support you.
• Make your parents proud of you by maintaining excellent grades in school, by being punctual and not cutting classes

You are a part of your community, not only school community but your Barangay, your town, and society as a whole. Being a member of these groups carries certain duties and responsibilities too. Here are some of them:

• Be a productive member of the community. Get involved in community programs: programs affecting the poor, like feeding the hungry.
• Practice good leadership and followership. A good leader is also a good follower. More importantly a good leader is a good listener.
• Always speak highly and amicably of your fellow scholars. Never put another scholar down in front of others. Never bad mouth or gossip about another scholar no matter if they have made you angry. Always be courteous, polite, and humble.

I know that one of the easiest ways to be a useful citizen and member of society is to just abide and follow the Golden Rule: “Do unto others that which you want others to do unto you.”

I urge also each and every one of you to visit the Virtual Classroom. You are provided the wherewithal via the internet to do that. It doesn’t cost you anything, as SAS Ai defrays the cost of your computer usage through the kindness of two of our Board of Trustees, who are SAS Alumni, Alejandro Ladi from Dardarat now residing in Vallejo, California, and Ms. Wilhelmina Buenavista-Santamaria from Farola now residing in South San Francisco, California. All that is needed is your willingness, time and effort. But let me assure you, that the returns on these little investments are great.


Lastly, I would like to remind you that you are all SAS Ai scholars. You are the face and representative of a classy organization whose membership is worldwide. Members of SAS Ai have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields, continually bringing honor and pride to their Alma Mater, Saint Augustine’s School. You too are all known worldwide via the Internet as very intelligent students, proven by the process by which you were all selected as SAS Ai scholars. You owe it to yourselves to live up to that image. You promised your scholarship sponsors to maintain your grade point averages at a high level and to lead a wholesome and good student life. Keep that promise.

Remember, to the public at large you are a representative of SAS Ai, Inc. Your actions, your behavior, your demeanor, your speech, your personal appearance and countenance all reflect on your being a SAS Ai, Inc. scholar. Be positive instead of being negative. Be optimistic instead of being pessimistic. Be hopeful instead of being hopeless. Be loving, instead of being hateful. Be involved instead of being apathetic. Act smartly instead of ignorantly.

• If people ask you about SAS Ai, Inc. tell them that SAS Ai, Inc. is a non-profit organization in good standing, registered in the state of Florida. SAS Ai, Inc. stands for Saint Augustine School Alumni International. SAS Ai, Inc. is the gold standard as a purveyor of scholarship programs. It leads the field of scholarship providers to St Augustine School. SAS Ai, Inc. is the only organization with a Field Team based in Tagudin and locally in the SAS campus.

I would like also to urge all of you to once in a while keep in touch and keep your sponsors updated on your student life. They will be glad to hear from you. The sophomores and seniors can do this via the Sprengers, Peter and Nora, who represent you with RHW Foundation and the various Sprenger families. By the way, Nora Sprenger is the former Leonora Lucero of Farola. She is a SAS Alumnae. To the freshman, you can convey your updates through Deacon Tom Buenavista, our Vice President and Secretary. You may wish to get a list of the sponsors from him. From memory, here are the sponsors of the 2011 Freshman Class:

• Estrellita & Hermes Purugannan
• Tina Laycano & Brian Macartney
• Leonardjon & Eva Buenavista
• Willie & Ed Santamaria
• Alejandro & Lina Ladi
• Renee & Doug McKenna
• Tanya & Jim Dorley
• Ms. Elizabeth Somera Fajardo
• Atty. Romeo J Somera
• Crisostomo & Grace Buenavista

I would like to point out that all of these donors except Ms. McKenna and Ms. Dorley are SAS Alumni. Ms McKenna and Ms Dorley are generous and kind-hearted Canadian citizens who became sponsors through the effort of Ms. Tina Laycano Macartney of Dardarat. We are feverishly working to line up some scholarship sponsors for new freshmen for the school year 2012 to be added to our present scholars and another new set of senior scholars next year.

I also would like to encourage you to visit our 3 websites: www.sastagudin.webpaint.com; www.sasaiinc.com; and www.sasaaiinc.org. We are also in Facebook, as SASAi International; you can find it at www.faceboook.com/SASAIINC, and SASAIINC has its own blog spot too at www.sas-ai.blogspot.com.

Probably all of you are aware that our Vice-President and SASAi Secretary had recently undergone a successful kidney transplant. Though it will take some time for him to fully recover, he is on his way to full recovery. He is profoundly grateful for your prayers for his deliverance and speedy recovery. He is also deeply grateful to all our scholars and the Field Team. Please continue praying for him.

Finally, let me again thank all of you for finding the time to attend our luncheon meeting. I am glad that we all had the chance to personally meet. And before I forget, I would like to request the scholars before leaving to see Mr. Albert Bunoan so you can get your fare reimbursements. Thank you and God Bless All of You.

Signed...

October 28, 2011

October 1, 2011

My friends, Ladies and Gentlemen:

It has been a while since I communicated with you in this corner. But I have not forgotten you and I hope you didn't. We are still in need of help to be able to addadditionalSASAI scholars for the coming 2012 school year. Your pledge of $2 a day will do it. It will pay for their tuition, their books, uniforms, shoes, computer training and major project expenses. So please, reach in your pocket of generosity and help us. If you prefer, you can individually sponsor our qualifying candidates and can individually monitor their progress through SASAI. To top it all, your donations, if you are a US Taxpayer, are tax deductible.

I would like also to invite you and join me in extending my heartfelt congratulations to three (3) of our scholars: Rocel, Melvie, and Kyle. They have done extremely well in our "VIRTUALCLASSROOM". I would like to invite all of our other scholars and should follow the examples of courage, determination, persistence and willingness these 3 scholars displayed in paying a little sacrifice on matters concerning the pursuit of academic excellence. It would not only help all of you in your future academic endeavors but would have a profound effect in the formation of a very enviable habit of taking the challenge to academic excellence. I have to be very candor and express my envy to all of you for having all these opportunities that I wish should have been available when I was at your time and age, I would have not let it passed up. Rare are these opportunities that I encouraged and enjoined all of our scholars to avail. Not all SAS High School students would get the intellectual training, educational assistance and academic experience being imparted by a proven Master in the field of Education, Deacon Tom. I urged all of you to visit and be active participants of the virtual classroom. Of course, I understand that sometimes the temptation of other social and mundane activities are very hard to resist; I know; I was there too. But the virtual classroom participation is an activity towards academic excellence. Try it. Let me assure you that if you do it, it will make you better, brighter, and smarter students and better grades, without even you knowing it; it will naturally follow. One more other thing. It is a proven reality, then, now and in the future that it is extremely important, if one wants himself/herself to be on that road to success to be prolific and fluent in written and oral English; that early training like the virtual classroom will help you immensely in your English preparation. As you may note, I graduated from SAS. At that time the medium of instruction was English. It was also true when I was in college in Manila. But my preparation was limited to those halls. Computers, internet or Google was not even in the dictionary; so was virtual classroom. But I tell you what? That minimal English preparation enable me to be competitive when I came to America; when I had my MBA my Grade Point Average was 3.96 (Equivalent to A+ or from 96% to 98%); when I had my post graduate studies in Law Enforcement in one of the premier law enforcement academies in the US (US Dept, of the Treasury-BATF Academy), I graduated with honors. That minimal English preparation greatly contributed to my becoming a Juris Doctor (Doctor of Laws) that made me, what I considered a good trial lawyer in the US. Can you imagine, if I had then the opportunity of a virtual classroom? Though by some people's standards, I am successful, sky could have been the limit if I had a"virtual classroom" training like what is being offered to you. Take advantage of it. It is free, and all what you need is your participation.

I tip off my hat in salutation to Rocel, Melvie and Kyle. Keep on doing it. You will never regret you did. In behalf of the worldwide membership of SASAIInc., its officers, the BOTs and the Field Team, Congratulations.MABUHAY !!!!

May 19, 2011

My Dear Friends,

Last 2010 School Term, we bade farewell to our three (3) Senior high school scholars: Jonas Garcia, Sharen Mae Munar and Jessa Lastimosa. I thought I'd share my response to essentially all three of them as they expressed their gratitude to SAS Ai, to the RHW Foundation, the Sprengers (Gebhard, Emi, Peter & Nora), members of the BOT, Scholarship Committee, and the Field Team. But before I do that, let me make a bold prediction here that these three high school graduates, (and for that matter all successful SAS Ai scholars), will go out to the world and will make a name for themselves that will make their parents, SAS, Tagudin and SAS Ai very proud.

The gist of the message I conveyed to them is that once a SAS Ai family member, always be a family member. Remember, they are SAS graduates that makes them lifetime members of SAS Ai and as long as they are in the Philippines, their membership is free. Now let me put some excerpts of my e mail to them.

" . . . .As you go and move on to bigger and better things in this world, be very persistent. As the world opens up for you, you will find that not all things come easy. For the most part you have to work hard to attain your dreams. I have no doubt you will attain all of them, if not most of them. We at SAS Ai were honored and privileged for having been part of your lives. Although as you said, you are no longer our scholars, to us, forever you are. You made us proud with your very high and excellent academic work validating the efficacy of our decision in selecting all of you as our Senior high school scholars. As you go on with your lives, don't be strangers. We consider all of you as part of our SAS Ai family. So every time you have an opportunity, please visit your websites: www.sastagudin.wetpaint.com; www.sasaiinc.com; www.sasiinc.org and keep abreast on what is going on with SAS. Let us all know what is going on with your lives and do write some news and articles on these websites". Give some educational tips to the other SAS Ai scholars. "We will love to hear from all of you. If you go for a vacation in Tagudin (if you go to other places to continue your education) find your SAS Ai friends and say hello to them; renew your friendship with them. We are all your friends and families forever. . . .

. . . . . The future for the three of you looks very bright and I am sure that this will be true for all SAS Ai scholars. But you are the pioneers and you will be looked up to by those following your footsteps. You are entrusted to set standards and I am confident that there is no barrier that you couldn't tackle or problems that you cannot overcome. You are SAS Ai scholars, not only for yesterday or today but forever. As you already knew, SAS Ai is synonymous to academic excellence. Keep that up as you go up higher in the ladder of education. You will never regret it. One thing, never forget those that were left behind, never forget where you came from, never forget your past. Remember the adage "Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa kanyang pinanggalingan ay di makakarating sa paparoonan". Lastly, you are, as I said, family, so if you feel that when the going gets rough, reach out to the Field Team and if you prefer reach out to any of the BOTs, and remember, you can always count on me. So don't hesitate to reach out to any of us anytime". Tell your parents too that they are part of this family and we would love to hear from them and have them around everytime that we have SAS Ai gatherings in Tagudin. Tell them to get in touch with the Field Team, if only to "makibalita". "Good Luck, God Bless you and your family, and maybe, we will have SAS Ai scholars re-union when it would be convenient for all of us. Thank you".

May 14, 2011

My Dear Friends,

You may have noticed new faces of scholars in our website logo header. These are the SAS Ai 2011 scholars, nine (9) of whom are freshmen/ladies and 3 SAS Seniors. Our pioneer scholars will be going back to school as sophomores, and we bade goodbye to our 3 seniors at the end of the 2010 term. Our pioneers did well academically. We are extremely proud of them and their accomplishments. No doubt we expect our new scholars to perform at the same level or better. We are now getting to be a bigger family. We have not changed in terms of our academic goals, our camaraderie and the friendships that keep on ever developing within and amongst ourselves.

I would like our new scholars to realize that the financial help for our new 9 scholars came from different sources, from people with kind hearts and good will (if you wish to know the scholarship donors/sponsors, please request a list from Deacon Tom). The best expression of gratitude from you should be the achievement of high academic excellence. Please keep your good grades up to the level you tacitly promised to maintain in your application forms. To our sophomores and Seniors, please realize also that we all owe the RHW Foundation, and the Sprengers' (Gebhard, Emi, Peter & Nora) the financing of your scholarships until graduation. Like the rest of you, the scholarship funds include some funds for your shoes, uniforms, stationery and supplies. Your computer (outside SAS) expenses are being funded by the generosity of two (2) members of our Board of Trustees (BOT), Willie Santamaria and Andring Ladi.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees (BOT), the scholarship sponsors and donors, the Scholarship Committee, the Field Team who did excellent work in the scholarship application process, and the entire organization, we welcome you, together with your parents, and communities, as members of our SAS Ai family.

I would like to inform you that SAS Ai is synonymous to academic excellence. All of us have an obligation to live up to that reputation. Let us all strive to maintain the academic excellence you earned since your primary and elementary days. Remember, SAS Ai is there all the way to make sure that you keep your part of the bargain. And never, never to forget the Field Team in all your undertakings. They are your second parents specializing in your academic, scholarly, and social development support. Don't ever hesitate to approach the Field Team for whatever need you may have. You will never regret it. Good Luck to all of you and God Bless you all.

Sincerely,

May 1, 2011

My Dear Friends,

It has been a while since we communicated with each others, Many events have passed like the SAS Commencement Exercises and the Graduation of our 3 Senior Scholars. In fact, we are now procesing applicants for school term 2011. We are very proud of the accomplishments our scholars and we are truly grateful that they all keep their part of the bargain. Thanks also to our scholarship sponsors, the RHW Foundation, as well as the Sprengers'. We are also grateful for all the Mothers of the world, and should honor all of them not only in the month of May but their whole life through. We are very confident that the new batch of scholars will follow the footsteps of our pioneer scholars who are now entering their sophomore year; and of course, we still have our 3 senior scholars.

In my several trips to Tagudin as SASAi President, I have, in my meetings with the scholars, the Field Team, LGU authorities, and SAS authorities, made it always a point and conveyed the information that the funding of our current scholars are from RHW Foundation, the Sprengers’ (Gebhard, Emmi, Peter & Nora) and being administered by SASAi. I made it also a point and stressed in my speech during the scholars’ presentation at the 2010 Tagudin Town Fiesta that the scholarship funds were not from SASAi but are from the RWH Foundation and the Sprengers’ made possible by the works and efforts of Peter and Nora Lucero Sprenger, a SAS Batch 1959 member. The funding is a commitment for our scholars for the entire duration of their SAS HIgh School studies (inclusive of 3 seniors). Our scholars, I am sure, are fully aware where the monies came from not only to take care of the tuition, books, etc but also the uniforms, shoes, stationeries and supplies. I am also of the thought that are scholars are grateful recipients making their parents proud and also grateful.

Speaking of gratitude, I came across an interesting article on the subject. I thought that it would be a good reading for all our scholars and future scholars. It is a reprint of an article on “Discover Your Life Purpose With Gratitude” from – Wings for the Heart-Positive Thoughts of Inspired Living, a weekly publication of inspiriting articles.

Discover Your Life Purpose With Gratitude

A lot can be said for an attitude of gratitude, but did you know it can also help you clarify your life purpose?

If you rarely make the effort to feel grateful, you are probably familiar with a pervasive sense of boredom, frustration, dissatisfaction and emptiness. Even if your life circumstances are bearable for the most part, you might still feel a bit disconnected and aimless on a regular basis.

A shift toward a more appreciative mind-set can trigger incredible changes in your life - one of which is inspiring you to move toward the activities that speak most deeply to your spirit. In other words, your life purpose!

Here's why:

1) Gratitude reconnects you with your authentic self. Whether you call it your soul, your spirit, your essence, or your authentic self, this is the part of you that experiences your life on the deepest level. It is not only who you are, but who you were meant to be. It is the part of you that is most pure and abundant, and from which the rest of your life springs. Your authentic self is the part of you that is naturally joyful, lighthearted, loving, compassionate, generous . . . and yes, grateful. As you focus more and more on gratitude (as well as joy, passion and love!), you automatically shift into this part of yourself. You feel happier and more loving - and express these emotions freely and easily.

Most importantly, your authentic self already knows what your life purpose is! Whether you believe you have a predestined purpose or you can choose your purpose - the deepest part of you understands the activities that make you most happy. The more you can connect with this part of yourself; you will feel inspired to move naturally toward those activities.

2) Gratitude helps awaken you to limitless possibilities. The deepest part of you also knows that for every desire born within you, a corresponding possibility exists. Perhaps you know what you would like your life purpose to be, but your skeptical mind won't allow you to go for it. You make excuses about how hard it would be, how you have too many demands on your time, how you don't have the talent or experience required to do what you really want to do - but gratitude can change all this. The more time you spend being grateful, the more positive you feel and the more easily you can believe in the seemingly impossible. A grateful mind-set convinces you that even if you can't see a clear path to your dreams, a path must surely exist and will make itself known at the right time.

3) Gratitude helps you honor the best parts of yourself and everyone else. The more you can build yourself and others up, the more you will find yourself fulfilling a powerful purpose in life. It has been said that our life purpose has nothing to do with us personally, but with all of the lives we touch through the fulfillment of it. That's powerful! If you focus on expressing gratitude for everyone you encounter, you help them to become better people. You build them up, encourage and support them. Likewise when you express gratitude for yourself.

When you are fully connected to a sense of reverence and gratitude for your life experiences, you cannot help but attract ever greater levels of meaning and purpose in everything you do. Your very focus on the goodness of life triggers a flow of abundance and clarity that can illuminate even the darkest path.

Happy Mothers' Day and God Bless All of You.

November 8, 2010

My Dear Friends,

In three weeks, here in the US, we will be celebrating the feast of “Thanksgiving Day”. While it may be a bit early, allow me to take this opportunity to thank you for a very fruitful and productive year. Your gifts and donations, support, prayers and best wishes made it all possible for SAS Ai to become a model public charity organization, a very strong and sound non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable corporation. Your continued support and prayers will keep SAS Ai moving forward toward its main goal of providing scholarships to bright Tagudinian students but who are financially handicapped, enabling them to finish their high school education at SAS.

Next month, Saint Augustine’s School will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary. We are part and parcel of these celebrations. SAS Ai and its entire membership stand committed to "give back only our best to Tagudin without any strings attached".

Though we believe that we will have made, and are still making, the best preparation to insure that our Free Centennial activities will all be a success, we will still be counting so much on you to assist us in the realization of that goal. As you probably know by now, we have:
. Our Free Centennial Souvenir Give-aways to be held on Dec. 21-22, 2010 at the SAS Plaza campus.

.It will be followed by a Free Community Picnic on Dec. 23, 2010 to be held at Dardarat/Farola Beach.

Our Centennial participation culminates on Dec.27, 2010 with a Free Community Centennial Ball in the Municipal Auditorium. Aside from the all-night dancing, the evening festivities will be highlighted with the drawing of raffle prizes conducted throughout the night.

As you can see, the Field Team, the officers, and the Board of Trustees shall be very busy in the following weeks preparing for these activities. Even with such pre-preparation activities please know that SAS Ai has all of you and your families very much in mind with fervent prayers and sincere wishes that all of you will have a Blessed Christmas and the Best of the coming New Year.

With the New Year comes a new school term and we are committed to send more scholars to finish their high school education at SAS. And we cannot do it alone. We need your financial support in order for us to be able to send deserving intelligent students but otherwise financially indigent to SAS. It costs only $1.50 a day for a deserving student to finish his/her 4 years of high school education.

In closing, on behalf of SAS Ai, we wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving Day Holiday. I hope to see many of you in Tagudin come Centennial Celebration time. And don’t forget to join in all our free centennial activities. Be a part of those who, like SAS Ai, are going to "give back only the best to Tagudin without any strings attached." Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

October 29, 2010

Two days ago, I sent an email to the Board of Trustees and our Philippines Field Team. I would like to share that e mail with all of you.

" The whole town knows who we are, what we are and what we are existing for. Drawn from these observations, we established not only a perception but a reality that SAS Ai is a professional and classy organization. I am not saying this just to make you feel good. After all, it was not me who said it. Tagudin's Mayor Jun and Vice Mayor Rogelio said it publicly during our scholars' presentation last May 4, 2010. In fact, they dared others to be like us. Though we took these compliments (don't get me wrong, we truly appreciate them) in stride as we are used to it, we, casually also took things for granted as our fiesta scholars' presentation was our ordinary way of dong things, our usual way of doing business; clean, simple, transparent and wholesome. But in my opinion,Tagudin has never seen such a" presentation" before, and as such, would unlikely be easily forgotten. With that kind of accomplishment, our cailians would expect, at least, the same kind of "out of this world" presentations, but for sure, better, in all of our forthcoming Centennial Activities and with all your help we will all make it and it shall be. For where would have they seen such sincerity and eagerness from somebody to give something back to Tagudin without strings attached? The fact that ours are FREE, we are extraterrestrially different and eons apart from any of the others, by a gazillion miles away from those who, if I may call, trying to catch up to be like us.

With that, I am truly confident that with all your assistance our centennial activity presentations will be the talk of the town for years to come. I can imagine people sitting at the barbershops, tiangges, tercenas and in internet cafes in Tagudin recalling the SAS Centennial celebration with a contented sigh

". . . . those SAS Ai are something else . . . and adding something like . . . . why can't we have annual centennial celebration, so we can have SAS Ai participation every year?.

We all built SAS Ai to be an institution all of you can be proud of, and proud you must be. Remember, however, that all of us have the responsibility to keep that honest, clean, and caring image we are all now known for. Let us nurture, maintain and keep that integrity that is synonymous to SAS Ai".

What I can assure is this. If you feel proud with our scholarship presentation last May, with the help of the Almighty, and considering all the talents and human resources we are throwing and be utilizing, you will be prouder with what we will accomplish this coming centennial celebration".

Happy Halloween everybody and and on all Saints/Soul Days, please don't forget to pray for those who went ahead of us. Thank you.

August 23, 2010

On Scholarships, SAS Centennial Celebration, and Projects.

(AN APPEAL TO REMEMBER)

www.sasaiinc.org/presidents-desk.html

June 19, 2010

A Letter from Cora Kelley-Fajardo to the SAS AA Mother Unit Copying the SAS Ai President

Dear SAS AA Mother Unit Board of Officers:

Thank you for your reply. I've acted accordingly to process info you've just shared in your email.

I applaud achievements and current plans and projects of the SAS AA Mother Unit, especially efforts devoted to preparations for the Centenial Anniversay. You all deserve a pat on the shoulders. All the other selfless affiliations of the Mother Unit deserve the same recognition.

I strongly suggest you visit, if you haven't yet, the Tagudin Seaside Community Board, to be updated with Tagudinian buzz. I have a post that I particularly like you and your co-officers to read.

I also suggest you visit the SASAI website to get your records straight about its community goings . It is the accountability of every person to do justice to anyone who is a subject of talks/opinions to always rely on well researched facts before joining in the buzz. I suggest all officers of the SAS AA Mother Unit and all the other SAS AA affiliations abroad, be it here in the USA, Canada, Europe, et al. to do the same.

In testament, I am writing you as a profoundly concerned alumna of our beloved school, St. Augustine. These escalating unresolved conflicts among the SAS AA Mother Unit and her sister affiliations terribly create animosity and polarization among members of the SAS community. It saddens me greatly.

Conflicts among all the above is unproductive, demoralizing, repudiating, and destructive. I am of the conviction that it is the utmost responsibility of the Mother Unit to foster and nourish vibrant, harmonious, dynamic and collaborative team efforts with and among all its affiliations.

The outright negativity emanating from inter-group and inter-personal relationships among all concerned destroy our collective reputation as members of the Mother Unit. The reflection that combative leaders, as movers of the SAS community, project is shameful, repulsive, debasing, and detracting to those who are willing to actively participate.

I seem to lose sight anymore of the reason for being, and the vision of the Mother Unit. Getting the whole community united in one goal, direction, aspiration or dream, and leading members from a point of hesitancy and mediocrity to places and heights they've never reached before; and as well as erasing doubts and regrets about their decision to follow- this is the Mother Unit's ultimate mission. When members have reached those heights or places, movers inspire hope, faith and unmitigated action that elicit a desire and willingness to give one's best, working in progressive momentum until goals are met and visions have taken form.

Everyone looks up to the Mother Unit for inspiration, encouragement, courage, determination and tenacity to work collaboratively for common welfare. The Mother Unit is the enduring miracle glue to the SAS membership.

Let us move forward as transforming agents and beacons of light to the conmunity.

Thank you for your attention and time,
Corazon Kelley-Fajardo


Part of Ate Lita's email addressing my inquiry about the SAS Ai controversy: These are the answers to your questions re: the SAS Ai controversy:
1. The SASAI membership under the umbrella of the SAS AA Mother Unit was cancelled because the vision-mission is different from the SAS AA Mother Unit.

2. During our meeting last Dec. 12, 2009,Mrs. Leonora Andaya received an e-mail that Atty. Romeo Somera was questioning the accounting of the money donated by the SAS USAA for the sister convent's repair under the leadership of Mr. Roger Belmonte, the President. There were feedbacksthat SAS Ai made it a cost of controversy amongthem and caused the resignation of Mr. Belmonte.

3. Cristeta Lapitan, Tang Binoy's daughter was present during the Nov. 17, 2009 meeting when Atty. Romeo Somera attended also the same meeting of the SAS AA Mother Unit held in school. Rudy Lamadrid, the brother of Mrs. Leonora Andaya, has an active communication with Mrs. Andaya regarding issues relative to the SAS USAA and AA Canada.

The President of SAS Ai Atty Romeo Responds

No one could have put it, or said it better Cora. For our part at SAS Ai, we have made it clear to all concerned that we are not in competition with anybody. May I emphasize, we are not in competition with any individuals or organizations. In our own way, we are helping SAS. We assist the school by populating it with students via our scholarship project. Time and again, whether be it with AA or any alumni related organization, we have consistently maintained and practiced the policy that ours is not to compete but to complement, supplement, coordinate, and if need be, assist any individual or organization achieve their goal of helping our Alma Mater, SAS.

Even our participatory activities at the 2010 SAS Centennial Celebration, has been well thought out, scheduled in consideration and with due respect to the scheduled activities of other organizations. Our planned activities were coordinated with AA, the central clearinghouse on date activities. We also cleared these activities and the dates they will be held with Sister Connie, not just once but several times, and we also cleared it with the Office of the Mayor, not once but several times and as current as last month when I was in Tagudin during the town fiesta.

Now, let me make a small correction to a misconception regarding the Nov. 15, 2009 AA meeting I attended. I was invited by Sister Connie, Atty Lica and other AA Officers to attend the meeting. I was invited by Atty Bobby Lucero to attend. At Mayor Jun’s urging and request, in compliance and to honor all these invitations, I attended that meeting. It was there that I told them what I just said about SAS Ai: We are not competing with anybody.

I have no intention of opening old wounds should there be any. I am just going to set the record straight.In that November 2009 AA meeting. I corrected the wrong impression going around that I am, or that SAS Ai is questioning the accounting of the money "donated" by SASAA US to SAS. We did not question any of the accounting nor demand an accountability of what SASAA US gave to SAS. I made that very clear in the meeting.

Here is what I said in that meeting: "I am not in a position to question how the money was spent nor am I asking for any accounting. I couldn't care less how SAS spent that money. I am sure it was spent wisely and for a good cause." What I told them I was questioning was the retention of $26,000 that rightfully belongs to SAS.

You see Cora, the 2007 LAS Vegas Fund raising was for SAS; that all proceeds of that fund raising was to go to SAS. Yet some amount was retained by a newly formed organization that was not even in existence prior to the fund raising event. And so in that November 2009 AA meeting, I raised the question that I had raised before: By what right does SASAA US have to retain monies that rightfully belong to SAS? The fact that not all monies due SAS were not turned into SAS was what I was questioning. And what is wrong with that question may I ask? And finally, other organization’s activities are not our concern unless SAS Ai is affected. For whatever reason Mr. Belmonte resigned from SASAA US is not my concern or SAS Ai's. We have our own projects (with the ultimate goal of helping SAS) to keep us more than busy and for sure would have no time or the slightest interest in the affairs of others.

Cora thank you very much and may I reiterate my offer. If other SAS Alumni related organizations needs us,SAS Ai stands ready to complement, supplement, coordinate, assist if need be, in their endeavors to help SAS. All we ask is openness, clear accountability, honesty and candor, transparency and professionalism in all our dealings. Those are SAS Ai characteristics and we are very proud of it.More power to you. God Bless and keep up the good work. Thanks.

June 18, 2010

MY FINAL UPDATE ON THE SCHOOL YEAR 2010 SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS

If you may recall, I was assigned the task of coordinating the transmission of the Scholarship funds for the school year 2010. It was an honor and a privilege assigned to me by Peter and Leonora Sprenger to whom we of SAS Ai are deeply indebted and forever grateful. They were very instrumental in shepherding this program to fruition; let me put it this way, without them, we wouldn't have 12 scholars now attending High School at SAS. For our nine (9) sixth grade graduate scholars, their scholarship funding is assured until they finish their high school education at SAS. Additionally and of course annually, for the next three years, we will have three (3) SAS High School Seniors that shall be selected to receive a one-year, non-renewable, partial scholarship assistance. The Sprenger's facilitated this one too.

We have come a very long way in a very fast, rapid and sometimes furious but always thoughtful manner. Who would have believed that an idea put into action less than a year ago would successfully emerge as a reality this fast? The idea we were thinking about was for two (2) or at most, three (3) scholars for the school year 2010. But beyond our wildest dreams, we have 12. Is the number 12 perhaps a coincidental sign or is it a reminder wrought by divine hands to us of the 12 Apostles of Christ?

Aside from the Sprenger's a lot of credit goes to the Field Team. They are, Ma. Victoria Dauz Chua, Albert D. Bunoan, Remedios D. Sagun, Yvonne Pagaduan Lascota, and Alfredo J. Somera. I would like to make special mention of the great personal and financial sacrifices rendered by Engr. Leonardjon L. Buenavista, - actions which immensely, impactfully contributed to, and ensured the success of our first scholarship awarding process.

The introductory chapter of our scholarship project is a resounding success. As a result and most important of all, SAS Ai, in Taguidin has become a term not only synonymous to "scholarship" but unarguably, leads in the fore front - if not the epitome of what a true non-profit organization is all about. I know that in the years to come, our scholarship program will yield similar successes.

But are we to be content in seeing just the nine scholars finish high school knowing that there are more of these financially needy, bright and intelligent, promising Grade Six students in Tagudin? So far, we have lined up three new scholarship sponsorships for the school year 2011. These will become an addition to the 12 that we have so far. Are we willing to consider an additional three new scholarship sponsorships good enough? Wouldn't it be wonderful and helpful to our needy youth in Tagudin if we can convince and enlist sponsors for even just half of our 2010 scholarship offerings for the coming school year 2011?

The other challenge is this: can we carry that success to make our planned SAS Ai Centennial Activities a success too?

As I am closing my "scholarship transmission final update," I have been informed that the last remittance is now in the hands of our Field Team Local Liaison Officer and Scholar Coordinator, Vicky D. Chua.

To each and everyone, God Bless all of you, and like I have always said, there is no such thing as a "small donation". Thank you very much.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

June 12, 2010

AN OPEN EXPRESSION OF SAS Ai DEEP APPRECIATION

Allow me, on behalf of SAS Ai, to extend my profound gratitude to Mr. Ernesto Laza (and his family), a SAS Batch '59 batch mate, who without much fanfare but with humility and sincerity donated generously to SAS Ai scholarship funds. HIs donation was spurred by his intense desire to assist financially indigent but bright students finish their high school education at his Alma Mater, mine, and almost everyone of us, SAS. Erning (he prefers "Estong") served the U.S. Navy honorably and is now a retired U.S. Federal employee, living with his family in "paradise" Hawaii".

You too can be a donor by following the lead of Erning. Donate to the scholarship fund; better, be a sponsor of one student. It is not that expensive. For the whole 4 years of high school, it would cost you only $1,800, and you can pay in installments. You can even pre-arrange the installment payments via your credit cards. It would only cost $1.24 (less than a cup of coffee) a day, or a just $37.50 a month. Just imagine what your donation can do to the future of a bright young student - limitless, if I may say. And your donation is tax deductible.

There are other ways too to donate. Take for example, Andring Ladi and Willie Santamaria. They were very impressed with the progress of our first 12 scholars in the use of computers and Internet navigation that both started a computer fund for all our scholars. You too can contribute in that fund, and there is no such thing as a small donation. With the able tutoring and supervision of our Field Team, Albert Bunoan and Vicky Chua, our scholars started from knowing practically nothing to now being very proficient computer users and net surfers. Donations, large or small, are always welcome, greatly appreciated and you will have the undying gratitude of our students.

Would you please help? Thank you

Happy Independence Day.

June 8, 2010

A SPECIAL REQUEST TO MY SAS BATCHMATE OF 1959.

Allow me to use this column to make a special plea to my high school classmates.

I am calling on all members of SAS Batch 59 who may come across this request, to get in touch with me or Nora Lucero Sprenger either through this website or my e mails : romeojsomera@yahoo.com; president@sasaiinc.com so we can put our heads together to have a re-union or get together (that we missed last year's golden jubilee) or do some type of activity for ourselves. By the way, even though we didn't have any Golden Jubilee activity last year, following the footsteps of earlier Batches, we abided and carried the tradition of giving something to our alma mater, SAS. Through the efforts of Nora Lucero Sprenger, the sum of $1,000 was donated to SAS on 12/13/2009, delivered by our classmate, Amelia Las Marias Dy, in the name of SAS Class (Batch) 1959. For the Centennial, what is on the proposal table right now is "potluck" and if you have some other suggestions in mind please let us know. SAS Ai has 2 planned community activities in December, 2010 a FREE Community Picnic at Dardarat beach on 12/23/2010 and a FREE Community Ball at the municipal auditorium on 12/27/2010. You are all invited. Also please visit our booth at the SAS Campus starting 12/21/2010 for some SAS Ai centennial souvenirs and be sure to enter our raffles for great prizes that are to be awarded on the night of the community ball. By the way all these activities are open to the public with no strings attached nor fees to pay.
or

Allow me also to do a commercial about SAS Ai. By this time, a lot of you might have heard that we awarded 12 SAS High School scholarships for school year 2010. It was made possible by the Sprengers', Peter and Leonora Lucero Sprenger (Batch '59). We would like to go on with this project, and right now we already have for school year 2011, three (3) scholarships lined up. We would like to add some more, and this is where you can help. As you may see elsewhere, any amount will be appreciated and you can even charge it to your credit cards. As you may know, our scholarships are for financially indigent students that are intellectually gifted. So please give it a thought and help these kids.Take care and I hope to hear from all of you. Thanks.

Sincerely,

Romeo J. Somera, Esq. CPA
SAS Ai President


May 27, 2010- Updates

On my May 22, 2010 report, I mentioned at that time that the funds were in transit and therefore, Vicky has not received them yet. Well, I am very happy to report to all of you that she has received the bulk of it and has already made the necessary settlement with SAS and also the providers of the uniforms, shoes, stationery and supplies of our scholars. On top of that, even with her hectic schedules, Vicky has, with Albert (he has also his own hectic schedules) managed somehow to teach our scholars how to use computers and surf the net. Guys, I salute you. With the little remaining amount to be transmitted, I would be able to render an accounting of all the scholarship funds transferred by the Sprengers for school term 2010. I am awfullly glad that I am a part of the whole process of which without the Sprengers', it would not have been a reality. Thank you for letting me be a part of the whole thing.

May 22, 2010 - The latest on the money transmissions

I would like to report to the BOT and the Scholarship Committee that as of 4:30 AM Central Standard Time (CST), the transmission of the scholarship funds in its entirety, covering tuitions, books, uniforms, shoes, stationeries and supplies has been completed. The process started with Peter wiring the scholarship funds to my bank account in the US, which I, in turn, transmitted to Vicky.

It was a first “real” experience for me, which of course came with some minor, albeit "growing pains". As of this writing, none of the funds have yet reached the hands of Vicky. She attempted to pick-up the first transmitted amount at Rang-ayRural Bank and also at Lluhilier-Tagudin. Both financial entities did not have enough funds to pay her. She tried Lluhilier in Santa Cruz but they also did not have enough funds.

I made a phone call at around 3:30 AM CST and got a hold of the transmitting company. They advised me that, in this case, only Banco De Oro (BDO) might have that kind of money on hand. I suggested to Vicky, because of the enormity of the money, to just get a manager's check payable to Saint Augustine and hand it to Sister Connie. Understand that the first 2 remittances will not beenough to cover our entire accounts payable to SAS so there are 2 more remittances in the wings, one of which should be ready for pick up probably by Friday, May 21, 2010. That should cover the remaining balance to SAS and some leftover for the shoes, uniforms and stationeries. The last remittance would probably be ready for pick up sometime next week but not later than the end of this month.

Through this entire process I have learned quite a bit and now I have a better understanding of my way around and for sure, next year it will be much smoother sailing. You guys must congratulate yourselves that inspite some minor snags and problems, we are almost done with this year's scholar commitments. I was closely working with Vicky starting 2:30 AM CST to see this through and hopefullyshe will encounter no more problems when she does the pick up at Banco de Oro (any Banco de Oro Branch). She stated however that she will go to the BDO Candon Office. I will have a full accounting upon hearing the news from Vicky that she has received all monies transmitted.

Thank you.

May 18, 2010 - The President's Report

INTRODUCTION

Let me provide you a glimpse of what transpired and what I witnessed and experienced during my last trip (during the 2010 Town Fiesta) to Tagudin. My home base is San Juan, La Union. Bert and I were staying with Fred there in San Juan.

I will do this presentation in chronological order.

May 2, 2010 - THE REHEARSAL

The presentation rehearsal was scheduled to start between 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. It was held at Vicky’s Residence. Bert and Fred accompanied me. Except for Fred, this would be my first time to meet the rest of the Field Team. We arrived a little after 3:00 PM. Albert, Yvonne and Remy were already there and Vicky was busy running around making sure the merienda was ready when it was time. I found the Field Team members very sharp, patient, and down to earth. As a matter of 20/20 hindsight, the idea of having a rehearsal was a stroke of genius. I was very impressed with our scholars. Speaking of punctuality, almost all of the scholars together with their parents were there and on time. Those that were not there never made it to the rehearsal. But I thought that this “absence at the rehearsal” could be used to test how smart and quick on their feet those scholars who could not be present were.

May I say ahead, the absentees performed excellently as if they attended the rehearsal. After the little preliminary talks to the scholars and parents from Albert and Fred, we began the rehearsal in earnest. I told them the things that I will be doing or covering:

• I will be having a short talk
• I will recognize the dignitaries present
• I will introduce the members of the Field Team
• I will call each one of them up to the stage (at this time the members didn’t know that they would be receiving a Certificate of Appreciation and Incentive money).

Off we went. The scholars were instructed that when their names were called, to come up on the imaginary stage with their parents. And as they are coming up the stage, members of the Field Team will take turns in reading their short Bio (for each of the scholars). Upon reaching the stage, somebody will hand them their Certificate of Appreciation and Lapel Pins (In the actual presentation, this chore was gladly discharged by Sister Connie).

Scholars and parents were advised to remain up on stage until everybody had been called. It came to me that having each scholar say a few words to introduce their parents would add flair to the presentation. So we all went through this exercise starting with my presentation speech, followed by the scholars coming to the stage with their parents, the imaginary presentation of certificates and the scholar’s short talk.

These kids are all smart, we only had to practice the proceedings once. At the end of the exercise, the scholars were advised not to leave after the actual presentation. They had to see Vicky for their incentive and transportation monies. It was $20 from Deacon or Estrell and I added $5 per scholar (in US Currency). I brought along with me a bunch of baseball caps of varying colors and we distributed the caps to the scholars during the rehearsal. I also had ballpoint pens and key chains from my employer and these too we gave to the kids. Because the practice only took us one take, we got to the merienda early. The spread that the Field Team prepared consisted of piping hot savory arroz caldo seasoned with pepper corns and fresh ginger roots, moist pancit bihon noodles with sweet peas and calamansi and some kind of obscure Italian Tamale (I have never seen such a thing before in my life), chilled sodas, iced juices and beverages.

After the scholars and their parents left, the Field Team and I had a little wrap-up session while we were enjoying the rest of the merienda. Fred and Albert questioned the idea of the scholars giving a little talk on stage because it seemed to them that that would be redundant because the scholar’s short bio was going to be read anyway. Vicky’s husband Arthur joined us briefly at the merienda but soon left us to rejoin his party hot on the campaign trail. We wrapped up the presentation rehearsal and determined who among us were going to be in attendance at the meeting with the Mayor the next day and a meeting with Sister Connie Gacutan in the afternoon of that same day. It turned out that Albert, Remy and Yvonne would be unable to attend the Mayor’s meeting. I also met with some friends from the neighborhood before heading back to San Juan at around 12:00 midnight.

May 3, 2010 - THE MEETINGS

Early in the morning, we received word from Vicky that the breakfast meeting with the Mayor had been moved to be held over lunch. Vicky was busy running around in Santa Cruz but we were going to pick her up at her place of business between 11:00 AM and 12:00PM. We arrived in Tagudin at 10:00 AM and we proceeded to the residence of Meliang Lasmarias Dy to carry out the mission Manang Nora requested me to do concerning SAS Batch 59. I conveyed to Meliang Manang Nora’s suggestion about a pot luck to be held at Corazon Lubina’s house and also Manang Nora’s request that Meliang invite any and all SAS Batch 59 to come to our Community Picnic and Community Ball. We then proceeded to pick-up Vicky and we headed to a new, just-blessed building near the Shell Gas station on the National road.

The Mayor was most cordial and he introduced me to the owner of the new building, and of course we were the first ones to hit the buffet. There was a ton of food and boatloads of drinks (Stateside Whiskey Blue Label) which, because of the afternoon meeting, we refrained from touching. Mayor Jun and I had a moment just on our own and he asked me what was it that I wanted to meet him for and so I told him. First of all, to extend my courtesies and that of SAS Ai. I told him that I was going to give him an update on the scholarship matter but being that Vicky had been keeping him up to date, that I found that part altogether unnecessary. However, I delivered the punch line when I recalled to him that in our meeting last November 2009, he suggested maybe 5 scholars, and I reminded him that we had more than doubled his target wishes with our 12 scholarship offerings. I also reminded the Mayor that the planned SAS Ai participation in the 2010 Centennial activities as I presented to him last November 2009 remains intact and basically unchanged and therefore SAS Ai will proceed as planned. After exchanging pleasantries and well-wishes (Vicky took some pictures), the Mayor and Arthur and the rest of their crew went back campaigning and we dropped Vicky off at her place of business - only to be picked up a little before the 3:00 PM meeting with Sister Connie.

As we traversed the plaza Vicky received a call from the Mayor asking where we were. When Vicky replied that we were on our way to the convento, the Mayor informed us that Sister Connie was at his office because she thought the meeting was going to be held there (?????). We headed to the Mayor’s office and had the meeting there. We exchanged pleasantries with Sister Connie and handed her gifts from SAS Ai: a designer bag and a pair of designer sun glasses. Sister Connie seemed giddy, pleased and tickled to death with the gifts. From SAS Ai were Vicky, Remy, Yvonne, Bert, Fred and I in attendance, with Sister Connie and Mayor Jun on the other side. We informed them that the funds are already in the hands of SAS Ai sent from a generous foundation that was realized through the efforts of Leonora and her husband Peter Sprenger, Leonora being the former Leonora Lucero from Farola and an alumna of SAS, Batch 59. The rest of the scholarship funds were also from members of the Sprenger Family. We explained that 9 of the 12 scholarships fund the entire 4-years of high school, with the scholars coming from Public School Sixth Grade students and from SAS. The other 3 are for SAS high school seniors. We will be transferring funds because there is a dedicated bank account solely for the scholarship and not mixed the with general funds of SAS Ai. We also reminded Sister Connie that her presence the next day (May 4th) at the auditorium for the scholars presentation is extremely important and very critical. She inquired about the Certificate of Appreciation to be awarded to the scholars. I informed her that SAS Ai is very appreciative of the academic accomplishments so far our scholars accomplished from primary to elementary. She understood and promised to be there but she begged off from speaking. I assured her of a professional presentation and confided to her that we had a rehearsal the day before. She and the Mayor were very impressed. There were other minor matters that were discussed before we adjourned the meeting close to 5:00 PM. We left the meeting reassured, satisfied and feeling contentment with accomplishing what we had set out to do.	When we are made certain as to how much is to be sent to the SAS account, such monies will be transferred from the Scholarship account to the general account of SAS Ai to SAS. Sister Connie was asked as to her preference of frequency of transmission: a) twice a year, b) once a year, c) in the middle of the school term beginning or end. She thought it would be nice if all of the remittances be made at the beginning of the year. The Mayor begged to interject and gave his endorsement to the idea of making one remittance at the beginning of the year. In return for such a transaction, Sister Connie is willing to register the scholars without the money up front. She is willing to wait for a couple of weeks or so for the remittance. I assured Sister Connie that her wishes will be conveyed to the Scholarship Committee and that I see no reason that would hinder SAS Ai from complying with her wishes. Then there was the matter of the $20 bank fee (per transaction) charged by the Bank of SAS (Metrobank). Sister Connie cited what had happened with the donation of Dr. Mario Lopez’ Batch 59 donation whereby Metrobank charged SAS $20. I assured her that SAS shall be reimbursed on that. Continuing along the same matters of discussion, I raised several scenarios which basically boiled down to: What happens if a scholar cannot continue to come and attend school for whatever reason? Both the Mayor and Sister Connie looked at me in bewilderment, as if to seemingly say, “Why on earth would the kid stop wanting to come to school?” So I further explained that anything can happen to any of the scholars, explaining, “Iyad-adayo ni Apo Dios, ket no cas pagarigan maatalan wenno madesgracia diay ubing,” what would happen with the money we paid in advance? Sister Connie explained that it would be credited to our SAS Ai account provided the school year has not yet started because if the school year started, that chair can no longer be sold as it has already been closed to registration. I said fair enough. Both Mayor and Sister Connie were informed that SAS Ai has already lined up 3, full 4-year scholarship offerings for the school year beginning 2011 with all SAS Ai officers working feverishly to increase the number of offerings
There were some clerical and administrative discussions until I brought up the upcoming Centennial Celebration. I told both the Mayor and Sister Connie that the SAS Ai planned activities presented last November 2009 has not changed and SAS Ai will go through its Centennial participation activities of giving away freebies, promotionals, host a Community Picnic and a Community Ball. I asked Sister Connie (mind you, when I asked the same question in November 2009, I did not get a firm answer) if she will let us put up our SAS Ai Kiosk/booth (a maximum of 2) within the plaza compound of SAS. I got a resounding and an immediate “yes” for an answer. I asked also if she is willing for us to put a raffle box by the elementary school department, in the convento and in front of the church, and Sister Connie presented no negative responses. We went to the plaza and did a walk through looking for the Kulog-Kulog, Sa pula at Sa puti and all those carnival games that evoke memories whenever there was a town fiesta.	Please let me take a pause here and share with you my personal observation and perception. The lukewarm, if not skeptically-charged atmosphere that I felt in November 2009 emanating from Sister Connie was no longer there. I feel that those feelings of skepticism changed to feelings of trust and confidence with SAS Ai and had grown so strong. I believe most of the credit goes to the leadership and hard work of Leonard and the members of the Field Team. Between you, me and the lamp post, I can tell you without any equivocation or doubt in my mind that members of our Field Team were the ones who have done an excellent job in all aspects of the scholarship process. Their hard work and dedication have resulted in enhancing the good reputation of SAS Ai, cemented its name recognition, instigated the vigorous display of public sincerity, and created the genuine feelings of care and affection perceived and recognized by the whole town.
We also sauntered inside the Auditorium to get an idea of the layout for the May 4th presentation of our scholars. There were several activities going on inside but what caught our eye was the Melanie Florentino designed SAS Ai Banner tarp securely tied spread-eagle at the southeast corner of the auditorium. As we did our walk around we also noticed yet another SAS Ai Banner mounted at the top of the RTC building at the plaza close to the SAS compound.	Before we knew it, it was almost 3:00 PM and so we went and picked up Vicky and walked towards the convento.

We strolled to the plaza toward the direction of the parked car, a couple of people approached Vicky mentioning something about the scholarships. Oh, we had come a very long way in such a short time. We went back to the old neighborhood and distributed the leftover baseball caps (there were still maybe a dozen left).

May 4, 2010 - THE BIG DAY FOR SAS Ai AND THE SCHOLARS

THE PRESENTATION OF THE SCHOLARS.

It is an exciting day for everybody including the members of the Field Team, and for me - but most specially, our scholars. You can just imagine my excitement for those kids. Even though the program for the afternoon festivities were slated to begin at 1:00 PM, I was, and so with Bert and Fred, raring to go that by 11:00 AM, we are already in Tagudin. We proceeded to my niece’s house, and believe you me, due to my excitement, I did not and could not eat lunch. My nieces and nephews must have sensed either my excitement or nervousness and they kept on reminding me that fiesta programs do not ever start on time. I thought they were kidding when they told me that the program would probably start at 2:00 PM or even later. I kept mumbling to myself that we are the programme opener so we have to be on time and be there before 1:00 PM. In short, I refused to believe them and at a quarter to one, we were on our way to the municipal auditorium. All our scholars were already there seated with their specially prepared shirts for the occasion. With them were their parents. They were beaming with pride. What a sight to see. They were being attended to by Albert, Yvonne, Remy and Vicky. Just out of curiosity, I asked one of our scholars what time they were there and she told me “12:30 PM”. They were told at the rehearsal that the presentation will start promptly at 1:00 PM and therefore everybody should be there before 1:00 PM.

A few minutes before one, Sister Connie came in and walked towards us. After exchanging pleasantries, I briefed Sister Connie on what she was going to do to assist us in her part of the proceedings. I asked her to hand out the Certificates of Appreciation and the lapel pins to the Field Team and to hand out Certificates of Appreciation and Lapel Pins to the scholars. I also briefed her on how the presentation will proceed and informed her that it will run like clockwork like what we did at the rehearsal a couple of days before. My nieces and nephews were right. That place was hot, I am telling you. Thanks again for the thoughtfulness of Vicky and the Field Team, our scholars and their parents were provided with cold mineral water to drink.

The program was opened by the Committee de Festejos and the program officially started a little after 2:00 PM. Only minor dignitaries were around, and the Mayor and Vice Mayor came in during the presentation. Anyway, once we got started with the presentation, true to form, it went like clock work. After the introduction and Certificate Presentation of the Field Team members, we called and presented one by one the scholars and their parents. Sister Connie did the honors of handing out the Certificates of Appreciation as well as the Lapel Pins. And as they were called to the stage, the Field Team, except for Fred, took turns in reading the Bios of the scholars. We were approaching 4:00 PM and for the sake of time I unilaterally decided not to go through the scholar speeches. So after we presented the group, we had them back to their seats.

The Vice Mayor made his remark lauding SAS Ai for what we were doing for the town and for SAS. The Mayor also echoed the same in his remarks and challenged other organizations to follow SAS Ai’s lead. Those remarks, I believe reverberated not only in the entire auditorium but throughout the expanse of the whole town of Tagudin. “SAS Ai has just awarded 12 scholarships to very deserving students.” After the Mayor’s speech (no higher dignitary came), and sensing that it was growing late (most of our scholars hail from the distant barrios), and that our scholars were probably thirsty and hungry (having been there from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM is a long time for young kids) we brought them out of the auditorium. We had some picture taking and I suggested to Vicky that we should give them merienda. Vicky is just so full of surprises because she replied, “Manong everything has been taken cared of.” I thought, “the woman is a magician… making bread out of stones and multiplying loaves and fishes.”

After the picture taking, she led the scholars and their parents to the nearby carinderia where they were served with pancit and sodas. Before the food arrived I did a little pep talk, reminding the scholars and parents to see Vicky for any questions that they may have, be it on registrations, uniforms, or shoes, school supplies. Vicky informed them that the parents need to go with their scholars to register at SAS as they need to sign some papers. Everything has been taken cared of as far as SAS is concerned and all they had to do was show up and register. Their names and other administrative matters had been taken care of in advance by SAS and the Field Team. I informed the scholars and their parents that we are going to need their help come Centennial Celebration and I laid out all our planned community activities that are on the drawing board. They all seemed to be enthused and excited and got some questions from them.

As an aside I forgot to tell you, I was so excited that I had to change my soaked T-Shirt and get into my newly purchased Polo Barong (for the occasion of course) somewhere between Bio and Lacong while the SUV was cruising along.

After the merienda, I reminded the scholars to approach Vicky before leaving for their per-diem and transportation money. We let our scholars leave around 5:30 PM. I advised them that if they would like to go back and watch the rest of the afternoon’s programme, they may do so. I have to let you know that from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM my brothers Bert and Fred ganged up on me, became shrill with their criticism and bombarded me with loaded questions casting aspersions as a result of my action of pulling out the scholars after the Mayor’s remarks. They think it was rude, impolite and that we should have stayed a bit longer. They insisted that I must have do something to resolve what they perceived as my mortal transgression. We proceeded back to my niece’s house to wait for the night festivities (Coronation, Trophy Presentation and Ball) that was supposed to start at 7:00 PM. Did I eat dinner? No.

THE PRESENTATION OF THE QUEEN'S TROPHY

I changed to my formal Barong, and still not listening to my nieces and nephews, proceeded to the Municipal Auditorium at around 7:30 PM. The orchestra was in full blast and people were dancing to the music. We had one of the best table locations, if not the best. We were there ahead of Vicky, Remy and Yvonne. Albert was attending his Batch event so he skipped out. We had, displayed prominently and proudly on the SAS Ai table, a quart of 12 year old VSOP Fundador Brandy and a bottle of Red California table wine. The first dignitary to come in was the Vice Mayor, Rogelio Lorenzana. I exchanged pleasantries, apologized for my action of pulling out the scholars but at the same time explaining the rationale of what I did. He understood. I did the same when the Mayor came in and informed him that the awardees were there at 12:30 PM, that majority of them were from the barrios and had to go home before dark, but more importantly I thought that they were hungry and thirsty. The Mayor fully understood what I did and why I did it.

Before I forget, during that afternoon presentation of our scholars, the Secretary of AA, Mrs. Itable was there present as part of the audience. I want you guys to imagine how she must have felt sitting down there witnessing how grand the presentation was being conducted, how publicly and elegantly we presented our scholars. And in the end I am sure as you are sure that accounts of the event – down to the most minute detail reached the ears of the members of the other SAS Alumni organizations.

Around 8:45 PM, Vicky, Remy and Yvonne joined us. The orchestra kept on playing and people danced. I noticed the presence of the SASAA legal counsel. I approached him and extended my courtesies but I got a very, very cold reception. Which came as no surprise to me.

The formal coronation program started close to 10:30 PM (Again, I should have listened to my nieces and nephews). Vocal Pepito Bunoan stayed with us at our table most of the night saying that our table’s location probably is one of the best as we have two electric fans criss-crossing that gave us cool ventilation during the entire proceedings, compared to those at the middle and at the auditorium entrance who were sweating it out. Boy was is hot and oppressively humid too. Again, thanks to Vicky for her foresight.

My part of the program, the trophy presentation was next to the closing remarks (the last part), so you can just imagine that we had to stay there until the early morning. By midnight, our own Cinderella, Yvonne, disappeared. I guess she didn’t want her coach to turn into a pumpkin but the two ladies, the two troopers Vicky and Remy were busy sipping their red wine. Vocal Pepito, Bert and Fred started on the Fundador. If not for my role for the night, I would have joined them early but I just had to swallow my thirst for the Fundador until my job was completed. And that finally came at almost 2:00 AM the next day. Any way, as we whiled the night away, Fred started doing some dance steps with his batch mate (who is a member of the Programme committee for the night) and to throw away our antok, we all joined in the dancing, up to the time when my turn in the program came.

Having accomplished my mission, we resumed the dancing and I had my share of the Fundador. Before, we set out back for San Juan, Vicky requested us to join her and her husband for a lunch at their business place the next day-May 5TH.

May 5 - LUNCH WITH THE CHUA FAMILY

At around 11:00 AM we were back in Tagudin at Vicky’s place. They were busy entertaining their campaign workers and providing them lunch. We had our share and for years and years that I ignored (remember the red-tide), this time I had the ar-arosip. There were other dishes served but that one I enjoyed very much was the ar-arosip seaweed. Yvonne was there too. After lunch we drove to my nephew’s house and advised him to bring his karaoke machine on May 8th at his sister’s house, as SAS Ai was going to give a party for the Field Team. We proceeded to our niece’s house and advised them of the same that a party will be held there for the Field Team and asked both nieces to prepare additional dishes of pakbet, pancit and embutido to go with what we were bringing, kilawen calding, sinnanglaw kalding, calderretta and lechon.

May 8, 2010 - THE PARTY FOR THE FIELD TEAM

You noticed by now that Albert was not with us a lot after the May 4th presentation. In fact, his stay with us after the presentation was cut short because of his SAS batch on-going reunion. Please take note however, that without the work of the entire Field Team, it would have not come out as successful as it was. In San Juan, we are all up bright and early. After breakfast, we started preparing the rekados we purchased the day before. I decided that of the calding (goat meat chevon) we will have to two types of kilawen. Well done and rare. We will also have calderetta and sinanglaw. Our work was made easier because of the able assistance of Fred’s youngest son, Eric, his manager, Rowena, and Millett, his restaurant cook who was requested to work overtime that Saturday.

By 8:00 AM, we went and picked up the calding and made a follow-up on the lechon, making sure that it would be ready by noontime. And so we prepared the calding as planned. By 11:30 AM Fred picked up the lechon and by the time he was back, we were already at the tail-end of our calding preparations. We had a short lunch and started tackling the lechon, deboning and sorting it out. By 4:30 PM, we were ready to go and off we went to Tagudin. Guess what, and apparently excited, we forgot to bring the calderetta, the dish I took pains to prepare almost the whole day, with all the trimmings. Fred tried everything to no avail that it be delivered via “Partas” and dropped at the Shell Station. Sayang isu pay ti kaimasan and the culmination of what I consider myself as a good chef.

By 5:45 PM we reached Tagudin. Along with the calding, lechon were 4 cases of Mig Light. The calding and lechon were joined by pakbet, pancit and embutido. The 4 cases of Mig light were joined by 3 cases of soda. And the party started with the Karaoke in full blast. By 7:00 PM, Vicky, Yvonne, and Remy arrived and the party went on. We were joined by close relatives and selected neighbors. The party went on through the night and I thought that everybody had a good time. I did.

End of President's Report

CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS TAKEN BY CRIS LAPITAN OF THE PRESIDENT'S MEETING WITH THE MAYOR AND THE AA.

Friday, April 09, 2010
(Date)
Atty. Angelica V. Somera
President, Alumniana Augustiniana
Tagudin, Ilocos Sur 2714
Philippines

Dear Atty. Angelica:

This is to acknowledge receipt of the letter sent by Mrs. Elita F. Itable, AA Secretary, stating inter-alia that SAS Ai’s membership was “repealed” or “revoked,” or “abrogated” due to:

1) Differences of objectives (was termed Vision-Mission);
2) SAS Ai, Inc. is a non-profit, tax exempt corporation, its creation and existence as a juridical person has been conferred not only by the State of Florida but by the United States of America. As such, SAS Ai, Inc. cannot, and may I stress, could not be a member of any organization, but as a legal person, SAS Ai, Inc. may confer and authorize membership to others so that they may be officially affiliated with us, including other judicial entities that could be considered as SAS Ai, Inc. affiliates or subsidiaries.

Please don’t misconstrue my method and means of replying (via electronic-mail) as a sign of disrespect. On the contrary, my personal regards to all officers and members of AA is unsurpassed. Using the Internet is in keeping with SAS Ai’s appreciation and use of modern communication technology, thus ensuring timeliness and instant worldwide dissemination.

Clearly, Mrs. Itable’s letter comes as no surprise to the officers and to the general membership of SAS Ai, Inc. worldwide. The reason is, that part of the November 15, 2009 AA meeting I attended, in my personal assessment, was totally immaterial and not relevant to the conduct of affairs of SAS Ai, Inc. nor would it have rendered assistance to SAS Ai, Inc. in the achievement of its mission, goals and objectives.

My point in writing you is to set the record straight. I want to make it clear to everybody within, or outside of SAS Ai, Inc. how this whole notion of “SAS Ai becoming a chapter of AA” evolved or came about. For starters, while my agenda included a meeting with AA, I was at first ambivalent not knowing the type of reception I would be accorded. Given the opportunity to attend the meeting, my purpose was to inform AA that SAS Ai, Inc. planned various “free” community activities in the forthcoming 2010 SAS Centennial Celebration. More importantly I wanted to assure everyone that our activities will in no way conflict with or interfere, or be held during days when other AA related groups were engaged in their own scheduled activities.

In the end, the Nov. 15, 2009 AA meeting became moot since I had already met with Sister Connie Gacutan the Tuesday before; I had already delivered my message. Sister Connie, as well as yourself invited me to attend and personally inform or share with your members of the “good news” of SAS Ai’s planned participation in the Centennial Celebration. One of your officers, your PRO, Atty. Bobby Lucero, also invited me to attend the meeting. I received the same strong urging to attend from his Honor, Mayor Jun Verzosa. Besides, had I not attended, I would have reneged on my promise to you, that I made at Puerto San Juan, to attend. Recall that you and some of your officers accepted and honored me with your presence in our SASAi/AA luncheon - meeting at Puerto San Juan the Wednesday preceding the Sunday AA meeting.

In the flurry of these myriad invitations, I must tell you that initially I had doubts and apprehensions of attending. Those fears and doubts were cast aside when I met with the Mayor. He convinced me to attend the meeting if only to convey to Sister Connie and the AA that there is more than $26,000.00 (Twenty six thousand dollars) of money, rightfully belonging or due SAS that has not yet been turned in. This money is a leftover amount from the 2007 Las Vegas Grand Reunion, the purpose of which was to raise funds for the repair of the Sister’s Convent and to fund other projects. This $26,000.00 should and ought to be sent post-haste to SAS to ameliorate the financial burden of the ongoing major capital construction and repair work. And so I informed everybody of this fact at that meeting.

At that meeting, a hundred questions were asked; I answered most of them to the best of my ability. Others also took the opportunity to air out or vent whatever burdened them about SAS Ai, Inc. Under your leadership, AA accorded us an unbelievably warm and most cordial reception; I am very grateful for that. Towards the tail end of my participation at that meeting, without my request, prompting or even a hint of any wishes or desires, AA introduced a resolution that was immediately seconded. The resolution adapted SAS Ai, Inc. as a chapter of AA. Wasting no time, the motion was voted on, was unanimously approved and passed. Euphoria erupted and most of those in attendance openly celebrated.

I could have put a stop to the sudden burst of happiness, elation and gleeful celebration by respectfully declining the resolution right then and there. But I was there representing all SAS Ai, Inc. members and officers (who are all SAS Alumni worldwide), professionals, learned, intelligent and well-educated people in their own right. Declining the AA’s offer would not only have been impolite, inconsiderate and discourteous but would have been very rude considering the warm and friendly reception AA accorded our organization. Besides, such a unilateral action by AA could bring no harm to SAS Ai, Inc.

I took the liberty of sending a copy of this email message to Sister Connie Gacutan and I am asking our Vice-president and Secretary, Deacon Crisostomo L. Buenavista to prominently publish this e-mail message in all of our websites:

www.sasaiinc.org; www.sasaiinc.com; www.sastagudin.wetpaint.com

so all of our officers and members will know what happened and what is happening, as SAS Ai, Inc. is an open and transparent organization. We have to, as we are a tax-exempt and a non-profit organization accountable not only to our members but to all citizens of the United States.

I invite you to check the above mentioned websites. Please feel free to extend my invitation to all members of AA as well as AA affiliates. You are all welcome to use any or all the websites to spread any news affecting SAS. I would like to invite everybody to join us in our various forums and ongoing online discussions. Bottom line is, it is all about SAS and Tagudin. I assure you that you will find our websites both informatively enjoyable and educational.
In closing let me assure you that the schedules I laid out at the Nov. 15, 2009 AA meeting regarding SAS Ai, Inc. Centennial activities will go through as planned.

Thank you, my best regards and good luck with your on-going quests and endeavors.


Very truly yours,


Romeo J. Somera, Esq., CPA
President, SAS Ai, Inc.
Email address: President@sasaiinc.com


Today, February 18, 2010- Welcome VICKY D CHUA to the Board of Trustees and the Scholarship Committee

My fellow SASAi Members:

On behalf of SASAi, the Board of Trustees and the Scholarship Committee, I am extremely honored to announce the addition of Ms. Vicky Chua as a Member of the Board of Trustees and as a member of the Scholarship Committee. Vicky's accomplishment as a business person speaks loudly of her sterling qualities as a SAS Alumna and as a caring mother. Let me acknowledge the splendid job that Vicky has been doing for SASAi for the past several weeks. She has been brilliantly and capably representing SASAi with the Tagudin community beginning with SAS, Tagudin Public School, and Office of the Mayor to name a few. She has been very active in communicating our scholarship program and had made great strides in informing all about the various and sundry issues regarding that SASAi program. Vicky is a very welcome addition to the Board. Please join me in welcoming her to the Board of Trustees.


Today, February 7, 2010- Let us welcome MELAI FLORENTINO to the Board of Trustees and the Scholarship Committee

My fellow SASAi Members:

It is my pleasure and honor to announce our newest Member of the Board of Trustees and our newest member to the Scholarship Committee. I am very proud to welcome Melai Florentino as member of the BOT. She is bringing into SASAi a wealth of knowledge, experience and dedication. She is based in the Philippines and holds a very responsible position at FEATI University. She deals with student needs daily. If you browse her profile, you may find her to be a lady of top caliber, intellectually gifted, and a true professional. I told her that she will find her BOT co-members intellectually interesting, very engaging and fun loving group of people with varied and tremendous backgrounds and experience and all deeply committed to the objectives of SASAi. Please assist me in welcoming her to the Board of Trustees.

Today, December 10, 2009 My Christmas Greetings

My fellow SASAi Members:

In the coming days all of us will be very busy attending to all the chores brought forth by our celebration of the birth of Christ and the entry into a New Year. We here at SASAi are truly blessed as the plans we’ve laid out to accomplish in 2009, such as, our presentation of our planned activities for the Centennial Celebration in December 2010 before Sister Connie (SAS), Office of the Mayor (Mayor Jun) and the Alumniana Augustiniana (Atty. Lica, et al) were well received, even though we only had a relatively short time to prepare. So too with our Typhoon fund raising; we did it in a relatively short time, but we delivered.

In Tagudin, those that count and matter started recognizing and realizing that SASAi is vibrant, alive, kicking and truly a classy international organization comprised of various members connected, or at one time affiliated with Saint Augustine School. Our organization stands as a symbol of integrity, honesty and fair dealing. I know all of us will keep it that way, for we should be known as such that others may trust, rely and be confident of what we do and plan to do. Ours is of giving and not of taking.

In our Tagudin presentation last November 2009, we made a lot of promises which we are expected to deliver when the time comes. For example, we promised to give out during the centennial celebration, souvenirs/giveaways like tee-shirts, baseball caps, ball pens and tote bags. I succeeded in getting every listener excited about those give-aways. We informed them also of the various raffles, scholarships and all kinds of goodies we will be giving out during the celebration. We informed them of our unofficial theme at the Centennial: “We are here to give back and wish that the Centennial Celebration will last in your memories forever.” We told them of our planned “free community picnic” as well as the “free community ball,” and let me assure you, any Tagudinian who heard our presentation was very excited, and, if I may add, seemed eagerly awaiting for those days to come.

We had our Typhoon Relief fund raising and we handed to the Municipality of Tagudin through our Mayor Jun, Php 56,000, and a little of the flood relief fund to SAS through Sister Connie, in the amount of Php 6,000. And while our mini-fund raising for Arthur Narcisa was just that, we were still able to send some help to him.

These may be small, insignificant successes but they are nevertheless successes. If you sit back and look at them, they were all done mostly within a few months time. Not much ado and needless back and forth but mostly with sheer determination that bodes well for future endeavors SASAi may embark upon.

We must, however, realize that all those promises we made we intend to deliver, and we must, will need funding. As I reported earlier to your Board of Trustees, we need to raise at least $6,500 to $7,000. To be clear, this is quite a lot of money, but if we put our minds and work cooperatively together, we can raise these funds through all sorts of fund raising events. We need to start now, not tomorrow, but yesterday, for time is of the essence if we are to deliver on those promises we made in November 2009. We are quite fortunate in that most of our raffles and money awards already have sponsors to provide the funding but the give-aways, the community ball, some of the expenses geared toward the free picnic must still be raised by us.

Your Board of Trustees is open to any ideas/suggestions that any of you out there may have in mind to raise the much needed funds. So far, many of you have helped either with money, in kind, materials, and with physical and/or mental contributions. Please be very generous as we need all the financial help we can get and believe you me, we badly need it.

The year 2010 looks very rosy for SASAi, and it is all because of the quality of members that we have. All are very professional, intelligent, interested and very engaging. If all of you will keep all these attributes up, we will have a good New Year.

On the personal side, quite a few of you have been asking as to what all the acronyms that follow my name and signature in my emails mean? I am somewhat embarrassed but with all humility here’s what those acronyms stand for:

CFE – Certified Fraud Examiner
CFF – Certified in Financial Forensic
CFS – Certified Fraud Specialist
CFSA – Certified Financial Service Auditor
CPA – Certified Public Accountant
DBFA – Diplomate of the Board of Forensic Accountants
MBA – Masters in Business Administration
J.D. – Juris Doctor

These are “certifications” given by various accredited professional organizations in the United States, of which I am a member, like the American Institute of CPAs, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the Institute of Internal Auditors, the American College of Forensic Examiners, to name a few. And what is Esq.? It is “Esquire”. After I passed the bar, every time my Alma Mater, The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois, sent me correspondence, it is addressed Mr. Romeo J. Somera, Esq. In England, it is a rank below that of a Knight. In this country, it became a practice to append “Esq.” after the names of lawyers, and also in England, I believe all attorney’s names (they call them “barristers”) are affixed with the title “Esq. or Esquire”.

Having said all that and before I forget, I sincerely wish each and every one of you and your families the Merriest Christmas and the Best New Year. God Bless All of you.

Your friend and colleague,


Romeo

November 27, 2009

My Last Report on my trip to the Philippines and my meetings with the Mayor's office and Sister Connie Gacutan of SAS

I disseminated a tremendous amount of information at the AA meeting. On top of that, we distributed some of our SASAi newsletters and a few of our BOT pamphlets. Somebody in the meeting who is related to Seny mentioned her name; I took note of it.

At the AA meeting I took pains to explain to them what the 2007Las Vegas SAS fundraising Extravaganza was all about simply because I was made the subject of the SASAA October 9, 2009 meeting (per the distributed minutes of their Oct. 9th meeting).

They asked me point blank what business was it of mine to be questioning why, what, how and where the money donated to SAS was spent, disbursed and transacted. I explained that that was not the crux of my question – that they were missing my point.

I informed them that they should realize that the 2007 Las Vegas SAS Fund raising Extravaganza was just that - a fund raising event for SAS. I told them that it is my personal and legal opinion that if there was anybody entitled to the proceeds of that fund raising event (to the last penny), it is supposed to be SAS, the fund raising beneficiary.

No organization or group of people can rightfully keep and/or withhold even a cent from the proceeds of that fund raising event - not even and least of all SASAA, as technically SASAA had nothing to do with that fund raising event. It was a group of people who made that event successful, not SASAA, I repeat, not SASAA. SASAA did not come into existence until almost a year after the 2007 Las Vegas fund raising event was held.

So I told the AA audience that the money they withheld cannot and does not rightfully belong to SASAA and furthermore they don't have the legal right to keep even one red cent from the proceeds of that particular fund raising event.

I then went on and urged Sister Connie to be transparent regarding the expenditure and use of donated money to SAS, if SAS wants people to keep on donating. I offered Sister Connie the use of our SASAi website to publicize any information and/or accounting of donated monies used and expended for projects.

Sister Connie responded saying that she gave an accounting of expenditures to Belmonte. I emphatically assured Sister Connie that apparently whatever accounting report she submitted to Belmonte has not seen the light of day and is being kept away from interested people, such as, myself.

I also shared with Sister Connie of the fact that I informed Belmonte’s SASAA group that being a SAS alumnus, I have all the rights to ask for information and inquire about matters affecting the school particularly regarding those donated monies and the spending of same. I told them that there are other questions involving financials with SASAA but that I could not discuss them at that time not only because of certain technicalities but that I made a promise to Engr. Apolonio Villanueva III, (at his request) to give SASAA some time as queries of the same nature being directed at Belmonte were already intensifying.

In agreeing with my assessment, Sister Connie said that she is fully aware and cognizant that more than $26,000 was retained by SASAA from the 2007 Las Vegas fundraising Extravaganza. On my urging that she ask for the money from SASAA, she replied, "Mabainac Manong nga mangimtuod wenno mangdawat iti daydiay dida inyentrega nga cantidad. Tinolungandacami metten with the $40,000 ket casla cababain no dawaten mi wenno saludsoden mi no adda pay nabati."

I assured Sister Connie that there is no embarrassment in asking SASAA for the SAS money, after all,that money rightfully belongs to SAS per the stated and publicized purpose of the 2007 Las Vegas Fund Raising Extravaganza.

She then repeated what she had already said to me in our 11/11/09 meeting, that SAS had borrowed some monies to continue the capital improvement project. At the close of the meeting I reiterated my offer to Sister Connie that we are ready and willing to publicize whatever SAS-related matter she wants to see publicized at our SASAi website.

November 15, 2009

There is a lot to tell you guys. But I will let you in on the nitty-gritty as soon as I get back. Suffice it to say, with Cris, Fred, and Bert, we met with the Mayor and jointly watched the Pacquiao fight via cable. You all know the results of that Manny Pacquiao fight.

We had lunch with Mayor Jun (of course we have pictures). Mayor June was extremely nice to us, very attentive and very interested on our planned activities, award and souvenir-giving. He asked a lot of questions on our mission, in short, he had engaged us in a sincere dialogue in all the areas we presented. Besides, the Mayor let us watch with him the Manny Pacquiao fight and provided us with an extremely variegated spread of delicacies for lunch.Throughout the day I was feeling a little down as the onset of a sore throat began to manifest itself and as the day grew older it got worse. By the time we attended the AA meeting, (same group attended - Cris, Bert, Fred and me)I could barely speak. I forced myself to talk albeit in a squeaky voice because of several questions that were asked about SASAi (actually apprehensions). Cris can partly provide you with the details of what happened.

The meeting started at 2:00 PM and was done at about 5:45 PM. I took advantage of a good portion of that time even though I was losing my voice to try and reassure everybody of what SASAi is all about. By the way, we had the party. Cris was there and Angelica came too in the dinner portion of it. I was invited to crown one of the princesses and Angelica agreed to do the honors of escorting me but unfortunately by that time, I was totally out of it. I told Angelica that I could not possibly make it because of my obvious condition and that my sore throat was getting worse. So we went to the committee of the Festejos and apologized for not making it to the fiesta. As of this moment, I have a slight fever; I am taking antibiotics but could barely talk. So, guys, bear with me.

From my vantage point, it seems that now that they very well know about SASAi, there seems to be an atmosphere of concern, apprehension, and fear. I hope I have allayed their fears at the AA meeting. Believe you me guys, they are all excited and happy about our intended activities (you guys better start thinking of the funding).

One possible snag: The Mayor informed me that Dec 31st for our planned community ball has already been taken by the Tagudinians of Southern California through a request from Ms Rossana Lirio. Angelica verified it and the auditorium was already reserved. So we need to come up with another date for our community dance. Please let me know your choice between 12/27/2010 and 1/2/2011 so that I can apprise the Mayor about it. Thank you.

That is all for now guys.

November 12, 2009

Yesterday, we (Fred, Bert and I) met with Angelica Somera, two other officers of AA, and Meliang Lasmarias Dy. I did a presentation to Angelica similar with that which I did for Sister Connie. I assured her that our planned SASAi, Inc. centennial celebration activities were only to augment and not compete with their AA planned activities. For that very reason, we will be doing those activities on 12/23 and 12/31. I was assured that SASAi, Inc. will have those days cast in stone.

I gave Angelica and the other lady officers of AA copies of all SASAi newsletters, brochures and other SASAi pamphlets and Corporate literature. They, like Sister Connie, were very impressed with the quality and content. Angelica’s group asked me similar questions that Sister Connie asked me, which made me think that they were collectively already talking about us (SASAi) even before my visit with them indicating deep concern, or that they can’t help but notice us, perhaps even with apprehension and trepidation – certainly feelings of fear which I hope I helped allay after our meetings.

There is a scheduled meeting on 11/15, Sunday at 5:00 PM slated to be attended by all who are involved in the planning of the 2010 centennial celebration. I was invited to attend that meeting by Atty Bobby Lucero, their PRO, Sister Connie and Angelica. I will attend the meeting as it is an opportune time to further inform practically everybody on who we are as an organization and what we intend to do.

Angelica offered an "olive-branch" gesture when she expressed her concern that we should not be competing but cooperating in the 2010 centennial endeavor. I assured her that we are in agreement, and that the fact that we would like to ask her to do some awarding of prizes is a manifestation of our good intentions in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation. Our vision and mission is to give the Tagudinians an affair worth remembering for a whole lifetime.

In a few minutes, we will be going out to canvas the cost of our planned giveaways/souvenirs of t-shirts, ball pens, baseball caps and tote bags. I will get back to you on the cost estimates. Of course on Sunday 11/15, we will be meeting with the Mayor’s Office with Cris Lapitan.

Tomorrow, Saturday, I am hosting a get together party in Tagudin for anybody and all who would like to attend. For sure, Angelica and officers of AA will attend. Of course, my nieces and nephews and a good number of the Magsaysay District boys will also be attending. The party will start at noon going into the evening. Cris will be dropping by and we will go over our Sunday presentation with the Mayor. Note to Pepito: I have around16 baseball caps for the MD boys and some t-shirts for a select few.

In case you are wondering what’s on the menu allow me to whet and tickle your appetite: Lechon, Dinardaraan, Kilawen calding, Caldereta, Pansit Bihon and Seared fresh Tanguigue for shasimi complete with wasabi sauce and pickled ginger slices. Sorry guys that you are going to miss this one. Of course with plenty of well chilled San Miguel Light and soft drinks, we will have a blast; that I can assureyou.

Special note to Manang Nora: Here is Meliang’s cell phone #, which if the call was made from the States it would be 011 63 092 852 4850. You might have a different international number from Canada (not the 011 63).

That is all for now guys. Let’s all keep our fingers crossed that our sailing continues to be smooth and that our SASAi ship of state enjoys favorable trade winds and full sails.

November 11, 2009

Happy Veterans Day to all you vets! Thank you for your service to our country.

Allow me to provide you with a preliminary report. I met with Sister Connie Gacutan, SAS Principal this afternoon at 4:00 PM. At the meeting with me were Malou Villanueva (thanks to her as she was the one who set up this meeting), Fred, and my other brother Bert, SAS Batch 60. I gave Sister Connie some of the SASAi, Inc. brochures, together with the other publications from Manang Nora. Sister Connie is very excited aboutthe whole thing. I laid out our plans, activities, venues, etc. Liza, Sister Connie is very excited with your Teacher’s Award idea. I will be going back to see Sister Connie again on Sunday after our meeting with the Mayor to pick up the cost of the scholarship award. As a side comment, Sister Connie gently suggested that we talk "peace in the valley" and I told her that I have a dinner meeting with Angelica Somera. I emphasized to Sister Connie that since SASAi, Inc.’s goal and mission is to give back to the people of Tagudin, our centennial activities would, except for certain items, include anybody and everybody from Tagudin (translation: SAS is synonymous to Tagudin). I discussed with her at length about our picnic, raffles, awards, prizes and the community dance. She became quite visibly excited and I promised that I will keep her posted as we get down closer to the nitty-gritty. Tomorrow we will be meeting with Angelica and I'll report back to you the results. If the meeting goes smoothly the same way as it did with Sister Connie, we will be just fine. We had some pictures taken which I shall share with you when facilities allow for transmission. I handed Sister Connie 6000 pesospayable to SAS. Lisa, I will send you the documentation of the transactions when I get back. I also gave her the candies as you had requested. There is more to report and I shall keep on updating you.

October 24, 2009 2:46 PM EDT

Greetings Everyone,

Allow me to update you on the “goings-on” with SASAi, Inc.. But before I do that, let me just acknowledge the great “behind-the-scenes” work of your Board of Trustees (BoT). I can’t find the right words to describe them in what, so far, they have done. Suffice it to say, I am very proud to be associated with a very engaging intellectual group that does not say much but does a lot. It is because of them that I can confidently predict . . . SASAi, Inc. has a very bright and rosy future.

For the past couple of months, your Board (BoT) has been feverishly working with me on several projects, foremost of which is the Typhoon Relief Fund. According to PAGASA, there could be three or more typhoons visiting the Philippines before the year is done. As such, we shall continue the project and we might just even make it an on-going one. So, to those who can give, please do so generously.

While the money, that we have raised so far, amount-wise is not eye-catching, the spirit of your willingness to help, coupled with your prayers for the typhoon victims particularly those in Tagudin, is something of great significance.

Next month, I will go to Tagudin. For and on your behalf (SASAi, Inc.), I shall turn over the proceeds of your donations to our beloved Mayor Jun Verzosa to assist and to provide some comfort to those affected by typhoons in our home town. We shall do so also via SAS through Sister Consuelo (Connie) Gacutan. I will, or your Board shall, keep you posted on our progress in this endeavor. At this juncture, I would like to express my profound gratitude to Mayor Jun Verzosa for giving SASAi, Inc. the opportunity to visit with him, giving up some precious time from his busy schedule to receive us. I am also indebted to Sister Connie who also is giving up some of her precious time to accommodate and meet with us. Your Board is churning out great ideas and Cris Lapitan has a concept that I envision (if successful), would increase SASAi, Inc.’s membership five fold. I am so envious about it that I keep mumbling to myself, “Why did I not think of that myself?” It is so basic an idea only a person of great intellect can conceptualize it.

In both meetings (the Mayor’s Office and with Sister Connie), we intend to present our plans, activities and our intent to participate to make the 2010 SAS Centennial Celebration an event of a lifetime worth remembering. As you are all fully aware, our plans will require a sizable amount of funding and your early and continued financial support will go a long way for us to achieve certain success in the 2010 SAS centennial celebration. In future reports I shall, or your Treasurer shall, render “blow-by-blow” financial reports to fully account for what happened to and/or how your financial contributions were handled. After all, one of the pillars of what SASAi, Inc. stands for is, “Transparency” under all circumstances.

Lastly, I must take off my hat and salute our VP/Secretary/Historian, Deacon Tom Buenavista. He has literally been moving mountains and as a result our organization has already been registered, and granted State and Federal recognition. Other fantastic legal recognitions are not far behind. These necessary legal moves cost money and he has personally and willingly helped to defray these costs up front and I must insist that he be reimbursed these expenditures. Also, I must recognize the untiring efforts of our Treasurer, Liza Fajardo who has been awesome in the performance of her duties. We are blessed with the work of our able Local Liaison Officer, Fred Somera, who has been doing all the legwork and initial contacts getting these meeting appointments confirmed and SASAi, Inc. represented. There will be more good news coming. I keep on saying, “We are moving way too fast, but in the right direction….” To which I can only conclude, “Somebody up there watching us must like us.”

Keep your spirit up but please realize that funding is needed to achieve success and sending your $5 membership fee (US and Abroad members only) to our Treasurer is a good first step. God bless all of you and thank you.

President's Message October 16, 2009

I would like to personally welcome you to SASAi, Inc. You will find exchange of ideas here very intellectual and educational and we would of course be very elated if you can join in the various discussions. Thanks.

We also need to begin thinking about holding the first board meeting to be held after I get back from vacation. I would be glad to show you New Orleans, if we should all agree to hold the meeting there. Send in your ideas and agenda items for the meeting. You can send them to our Secretary via email or comment here on this page.

Just the other day, our Auditor, Tina Laycano from Canada posted the following comment: "I just emailed an update to my friend and batchmate in Toronto who just arrived from her trip to Europe regarding our fund raising/charity work and hope that she will send her donation as well and also to complete her profile on this site." Here's an example of outreach worthy of emulation. This is most excellent work Tina and we salute you for your efforts!

Here's an open invitation to all current SAS students - boys and girls, SAS Faculty and Staff -

Today get on your computers and join our online community! Do it now. Be a registered user and community member of the St Augustine School Alumni International, Inc. organization! We would love to have all of you here participating with us in the ongoing discussions about things that pertain to our school and Alma Mater - SAS, our hometown of Tagudin and about issues/things that are important to us. Here's what you need to do:

1. Open the website home page. Click here SASAi, Inc.

2. At the top right hand corner of the webpage click SIGN UP. This will take you to the registration page.

3. Type in a USER NAME. Please use something that you will be able to remember. Do not use vulgar or slang terms. This is a family website and no bad words and terms are allowed.

4. Type in your EMAIL address. If the system tells you that what you have typed in is an email address that is already in use, create another email address by going to Yahoo, Google, Hotmail, or any other email provider.

5. Type in a PASSWORD. Use a password that is easy for you to remember but not too easy to be hacked.

6. You will be asked for your gender and your birthday. These questions are to make sure that you are old enough to be doing what you are doing.

7. Last step click SIGN UP NOW. It will take you to your profile page. Make sure to fill in the blanks and post your photo. Make sure that you do not post illegal, unacceptable photos, or lewd photos and such.

Make sure to write down all these information. You will need them later when you log in in the future. Good luck!!!


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