“I like to eat vegetables now.”

Last June 30, 2008, the Feeding Program of the Tapulanga Foundation started. It is provided for all the scholars and I am one of them. Our viand every lunch is mostly vegetables and some fish or meat. At first I didn’t like vegetables but because of the Feeding Program, I like to eat vegetables now.


by Edcil Buensuceso, 1st year student

A Job Well Done

Sang Hunyo 14, 2008, ang pelikula nga “Kung Fu Panda” nag showing sa Robinson’s Place Movieworld – Bacolod City. Si Ms. Mic naghatag sang oportunidad sa mga scholars nga makalantaw sang sini nga pelikula tungod man ina sang mayo namon nga performance sa pag-obra sa eskwelahan sang summer. Ang mga boys nga scholar nagkiskis kag nagpinta sang tanan nga steel chairs. Ang mga girls naman ya nag obra sa library, pang cover kag pang inventory sang mga libro. Ini nga premyo ang naghatag gid sang dako nga kalipay sa mga scholars. Kag ako isa gid sa nakaagom sang pinakadako gid nga kalipay.

by Romnick Sadio, 4th year student

Welcome New Babies!

The Foundation welcomes 3 new babies to our Infant Feeding Program!

Left photo: Hello baby Nica, second child of Roda Galvez. Nica's father works in Hacienda Tinihaban. She was born on January 8, 2008.

Right photo: Meet the Tagsip family! Maria has 5 children, the last of whom are TWINS William and Willy! They were born on November 20, 2007. The father is a worker in our hacienda but only during milling season (September - March). The rest of the year, he has no work! I really cannot imagine how he can feed his "big" family with only 7 months of work. When I met them, Maria's son was helping her take care of one of the twins!

Mrs. Virgie Ledesma, program director, recommended the twins to the program because she learned that the mother, due to lack of breast milk, was feeding her boys evaporated milk (liquid) mixed in water - to save on cost of milk. It was obvious when I met the boys that they were underfed because at 4 months old, they were "small."

Empty Stomachs No More!

When my grandparents started the school 44 years ago, the farm kids not only studied for free but they were also provided with free meals. I know of several students who work after school selling pork barbecue and the like just so that they can have money for lunch in school. There are even students who go without lunch! And many just skip breakfast and eat rice and dried fish for lunch and dinner every single day! That's not very healthy! The foundation realized that what good would our scholarship program be if the free education being given to the children is wasted on empty stomachs! These students can’t concentrate and study well if they are HUNGRY or MALNOURISHED!

Hence, the Food Program was “brought back” in October of last year where we provide daily free lunch viand to 135 scholars from 1^st grade to 4^th year high school. Mothers take turn in preparing and cooking different nutritious meal each day. Vegetables and meat are sourced from different backyard growers so the program as well provides an extra source of income for the families in the farm. An average meal costs Php5 or US$0.12. We are hoping to generate more funds for the program next school year to include rice and some fruits / snack food. The program is also planning to let the students grow some of the vegetables in the school garden to help further bring down the cost and feed more children!

A Once in a Lifetime Experience!

Lea Salonga, international singing star, after a very long time came back to her mother's home province and gave a concert at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum last January 26. She sang favorites such as "The Promise and "Journey" but captivated the audience with "Ahay Kalisud." Jed Madela, an Ilonggo singer, joined Lea Salonga on stage.

Joining thousands of fans at the coliseum were faculty members Sir Ariel, Ms. Karen and Ms. Leda. Jeremy Deogracias, Micho Santillan and Danica Dimanalata were among the ten lucky students who attended this major event organized by Gawad Kalinga. All the profits will be used to build more houses for the less fortunate in Negros Occidental.

Thanks to the Tapulanga Foundation who sponsored the tickets, 20 teachers and students were fortunate to have experienced this once in a lifetime concert of Lea!

Ang Macaroon

ANG MACAROON


Ang macaroon nga akon natilawan,
Kanamit gid, ang akon nasaboran,
Pareho sang chocolate nga akon nalasahan,
Daw ara lang ako sa heaven nga akon ginaluparan.

Sang ginhikap ko ang macaroon nga ina,
magarasgaras gid kag nagamantika,
Pero sang ginbutang ko na sa akon baba,
Daw gusto ko magsiling kung may ara pa?

Ang macaroon nga akon natilawan,
Sa lubi gid ang iya ginhalinan,
Gintimpla sa maayo nga paraan,
Para ang lasa aton gid manamitan.

Ang isa ko pa gid nga naobserbahan,
Kanami gid sang ila nga ginsudlan,
Lainlain nga color ang ila ginputsan,
Kag kanami lantawon nga daw rainbow tanan.

- written by Elma Acuesa, 3rd year scholar of SFAS
This poem was written for Elma's writing class where students could write in either English or Ilonggo. This option was given to the students to encourage them to express themselves more freely. "Ang Macaroons" is the result of this choice. The Writing class, taught by Ms. Ging Graham, meets twice a week.

An Extra-Special Christmas for Some Children

It was truly an extra-special Christmas for some of the students of SFAS as their sponsors sent Christmas gifts to them. From school supplies to school bags to personal items (e.g. shirt, sandals, hair accessories) to bags of groceries! Some wrapped the gifts themselves. Some even mailed the gifts to the children. It was such my pleasure as I gave each child their gifts! I sure felt like SANTA ... thank you for all of you who remembered your "adopted child" this Christmas season!