A Trip to a Bakery Shop

The Homemakers' Club of SFAS went on a field trip last Sept. 11, 2007 to Bong Bong's bakery shop in Bacolod City. Bong Bong's is known for making different Bacolod snacks for "pasalubongs" (for tourists or balikbayans), e.g. piyaya, pinasugbo, etc.

Preschool Kids Learn How to Take Care of their Hair

The SFAS Preschool students went on a field trip last Sept. 12, 2007 to a beauty parlor in Bacolod City. They were taught on how to take good care of their hair and a couple of students got an actual hair-cut. This was part of their lesson in personal hygiene in their Religion class.

Our Very First Teacher Who Studied in SFAS, Too!

It was in the year 1987 when I first enrolled at SFAS as Prep. My teacher was Ms. Cañal. She was an effective teacher and was very kind. I also found my classmates very friendly. Since then, I liked and enjoyed schooling until I graduated in Grade 6. Ms. Elena, my grade 3 adviser and Ms. Melit, my grade 6 adviser, are still of dedicated service to the school. I finished my college degree at Colegio San Agustin- Bacolod as a working scholar. There I took Bachelor in Secondary Education.

Right now, two of my siblings are studying here in SFAS, my younger sister in Prep and my younger brother in Grade 6. Even if we were poor, I persevered to study. My mother took care of us and my father was a company driver. This has been my fourth year of teaching in SFAS. At first, I was a substitute teacher until the school hired me as a regular teacher. This year, I am the Grade 5 adviser and am teaching Language 4 and 5, Reading 4 and 5 and PE 4 -10. Teaching the kids is enjoyable though its tiresome often times but its compensated when I see my kids learning, eager to learn, and show positive attitude towards education.

Sir Armando Gayatenia, Jr.

YES . . . It’s really worth it! 35 Years in Retrospect

Watching the SFAS’ “After 40 Years” video, I felt so emotional. It was a sentimental journey back in history . . . having started my elementary education with SFAS in 1972 and completed it in 1978. I was my Class valedictorian then.

I would like to highlight very familiar faces in that video . . . foremost, the late Inday Maret (Ledesma), Ms. Teresita Mallorca (our Grade II Teacher) and Mr. James Ledesma who vividly narrated “the making of SFAS”. Admittedly, transforming SFAS into an ever fortified institution in the service of farmer’s sons and daughters was a noble mission by the Ledesma’s. Hence, I give tribute to them, SFAS, my Teachers, Classmates and old Friends who became part of my entire person of today.

I grew up in Hda. Lonoy and spent my first 20 years in that farm. Born to ordinary farm workers, I dreamed that one day, I enjoy the simple comforts in life. Finishing my elementary education – 100% free at that - was my top priority. I made it! That paved the way for me to pursue further on – finishing highschool and college with the highest honors until I made it to the employment world. That dream became a reality!

I am a product of the Ledesma’s and SFAS’ investments on me. Every penny of that investment resulted in a good yield.

For now, I can only try to emulate the value that SFAS and its patron Saint, St. Francis of Assisi had instilled in me. I always strive that the Lord continue to mold me as an instrument of His peace. For me, that peace can be realized through the emancipation-out-of-poverty-cycle process in which finishing (quality) education is the key.

I am currently working with The Boeing Company based in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as an Executive Office Administrator. This November, I will pursue my MBA course with the Open University United Kingdom.

“Madamo gid nga salamat!”

A note to SFAS Students: “Poverty should not be a hindrance for success. It’s an inspiration!

- Rene Sellado, Class of 1978

LASSO visit

Last Sept. 4, 2007, Sr. Joy Luz and Dr. Herminia Torres of De La Salle Philippines visited our school, a supervised school of USLS. Shown in photo (from left to right): Ms. Doris Dumaran, high school level Vice Principal of USLS Bacolod and La Salle Supervisor to St. Benilde School; Ms. Tina Navarro - La Salle Supervisor to St. Francis of Assisi School; Dr. Herminia Torres; Sr. Joy Luz and Mr. John Cabalo, LASSO coordinator of Visayas.

A Learning Experience

I learned a lot from the two seminars I attended on Physics and Safety Measures in the Laboratory. The speakers were very good because they explained the topics very well. I also met and became friends with teachers in other schools. We shared ideas about our subjects and the school where we work. I am happy and thankful that I was chosen by the school to attend the seminars.

Mrs. Edna Taganile
High School Science teacher

Note: Ms. Edna graduated from SFAS in 1993. This is her first year to teach in SFAS, but she has been teaching for 6 years already.

Faculty and Staff Development Program SY2007-2008 First Quarter

• April 9 - 12, 2007
  

Mr. Ariel and Mrs. Lina Gabino attended a FAPE in-service training for 3rd year High School Science and English at Punta Villa Resort, Iloilo City.

• April 10 - 19, 2007
  

Our preschool teachers, Mrs. Maricel Navigar and Ms. Karen Omero, attended an 8-day training course on Early Childhood Education at CHMSC, Talisay City.

• April 15 - 17, 2007
  

Mrs. Emilie Sales Diaz attended PRISSAAP's 2007 Guidance Counselor Training Workshop in Bacolod City.

• April 22- 24, 2007
  

Sir Armando Gayatenia, Jr. attended PRISSAAP's seminar-workshop on Reshaping the MAPEH Teachers for the School of the Future at Mambucal Resort, Murcia, Negros Occ.

• June 1 - 3, 2007
  

Mrs. Sheila Buenconsejo attended the FAPE in-service training for 2nd year High School Filipino at Bacolod City.

• June 6 - 8, 2007
  

Mrs. Janice Caspe and Mrs. Maryrose Amador attended the USLS seminar on Instructional Improvement in Bacolod City.

• June 8 - 10, 2007

Sir JR Abello attended the FAPE in-service training for 2nd year High School Math at Bacolod City.

• June 22 - 23, 2007
  

Mrs. May Santillan attended the PRISSAAP Librarians' Congress in Iloilo City.

• July 13, 2007
  

All teachers attended the seminar on the Life and Works of St. John Baptist De La Salle in Silay City.

• July 20 - 21, 2007
  

Mrs. Carmela Golez attended the Workshop on Instructional Leadership for Lasallian Basic Education Coordinators in Bacolod City.

• July 27, 2007
  

Sir Ariel Gabino, together with two students, Trina Parreno (3rd year) and Henry Navarette (2nd year) attended the NOPSSCEA Dance Sports workshop-seminar in Bacolod City.

• August 1, 2007
  

Preschool teachers Mrs. Maricel Navigar and Ms. Karen Omero and Mrs. Maryrose Amador attended the NOPSSCEA's seminar on Accomplished Teaching Across the Domains of Learning in Bacolod City.

• August 10, 2007
  

All teachers attended the seminar given by the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod City on
Formative Teaching in Silay City. Speakers were Ms. Jo Tero and Ms. Tina Navarro.

Lutong Pinoy

One of the highlights of the Buwan ng Wika celebration was the Lutong Pinoy contest. The parents of each grade level from Kinder to 4th year high school was assigned a Filipino dish to prepare: Chicken inasal (Kinder), Escabeche (Prep), Tinolang Manok (1), Pangat (2), Adobo (3), Bicol Express (4), Sinigang (5), Pinakbet (6), Batchoy (1st), Kare-kare (2nd), Mongo (3rd) and Dinuguan (4th).
Criteria was 75% pallatability, 15% presentation and 10% team work. Our judges were Hacienda Lonoy owner Mrs. Sally Ledesma, retired SFAS teacher Ms. Tess Mallorca and owner of a known catering business in Bacolod Mrs. Michelle Gerona. The dishes that won 1st prize were the chicken inasal and sinigang. As winners, the Kinder and Grade 5 classes get a free day.

Buwan ng Wika Culmination Festivities

The school ended the Buwan ng Wika (the month of celebrating our national language) with many activities from Aug. 29 to 31, 2007. A variety of contests were held like: bulletin board display, vocal solo singing of original Pilipino music (OPM), Filipino declamation, chorale tula (poem), folk dance, pop dance to the tune of OPM, lutong Pinoy, and parlor games (e.g., planting rice, crab race, sack rack, tug-o-war, bunot (coconut husk) race, and tomato relay).
Students, teachers, staff and even parents dressed up in Filipiniana attire on all Fridays of the month of August.
The theme for the month was "Maraming Wika, Matatag na Bansa" (Many Dialects, Strong Nation).

Like my sponsor, I want to help others achieve their goals ...

I am Elthon Buensuceso. My friends call me "Ton." I am now in Grade 9 (3rd year high school) at SFAS. I was born on Nov. 19, 1992 and am now 15 years old.
My parents are Antonio and Elena Buensuceso. My father works as one of the field managers (“kabo) in Hacienda Tinihaban while my mother works in the farm office as cashier. I have one brother who studies in SFAS also. His name is Marc Dence. I am the youngest.
During my free time, I like to play basketball and listen to music. My favorite subject is CLE (Religion) because I like to know how God loves me.
I dream of becoming a nurse someday because I want to help my family and other people. And like my sponsor who is now helping me achieve my goal, I’d like to help others one day to achieve their goals, too.