Sambat Trust (UK)

Sambat Trust + easyfundraising.org.uk : Start making a difference...simply by shopping

2012-01-28T06:04:00.003Z

Shop Online and Raise Money!
Have you heard about easyfundraising yet? It’s the easiest way to help raise money for Sambat Trust! If you already shop online with retailers such as Amazon, M&S, Argos, John Lewis, Comet, Vodafone, eBay, Boden and Play.com, then we need you to sign up for free to raise money while you shop!

So how does it work?
You shop directly with the retailer as you would normally, but if you sign up to http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/sambattrust for free and use the links on the easyfundraising site to take you to the retailer, then a percentage of whatever you spend comes directly to us at no extra cost to yourself.

How much can you raise?
Spend £100 with M&S online or Amazon and you raise £2.50 for us. £100 with WH Smith puts £2.00 in our pocket and so on. There's over 2,000 retailers on their site, and some of the donations can be as much as 15% of your purchase.

Save money too!
easyfundraising is FREE to use plus you'll get access to hundreds of exclusive discounts and voucher codes, so not only will you be helping us, you’ll be saving money yourself.

Sign up at http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/sambattrust and start making a difference...simply by shopping.

Thanks!
Anthony

VIDEO: Honolulu Marathon 2011: Thank You for Your Support

2012-01-05T03:10:00.001Z

Honolulu Marathon 2011:Running for Children's Books

Featured Scholar: Joan Miano

2011-12-12T19:22:00.007Z

For ten-year-old Joan Miano, the world is an interesting place to study and discover. At the school library, she seeks to quench her thirst for this knowledge -- one special privilege that comes by being a scholar.

Joan Miano likes reading. She visits the new school library at least once a week. Most of the time, she is reading about other countries. Joan is fascinated about the world -- the different cultures, famous places and festivals.

Cultural Learnings

Joan thoroughly enjoys the colorful pictures she finds in library books, a contrast to the dull pages of textbooks. As she reads up on other cultures, she fills up her notebook in HEKASI (Heograpiya, Kasaysayan at Sibika), the school's Social Studies class, with the things she's learned.

A fourth grade student of Sambat Elementary School, Joan's explorations of culture around the world has encouraged her to become a HEKASI teacher someday. She wants kids to appreciate learning about other groups of people in this world. She also dreams of traveling throughout the Philippines and around the world. “I want to visit Banaue Rice Terraces and Chocolate Hills,” she adds.

For now, Joan happily travels the world by reading as many books as she can. Finally having a functional library (a project realized through Sambat Trust) is a dream of hers come true.

Hope in Hard Times

The library may be the breeding ground for Joan's dreams, but it is her schooling that is her gateway to a better life. Ten-year-old Joan is a beneficiary of an educational scholarship of Sambat Trust, a program that covers her tuition and expenses for school materials.

Life has not been easy for Joan and her family. She is one of seven siblings and she knows that her scholarship helps ease the family's financial burdens.

Being part of a big family with meager means is certainly difficult, and it's tougher with complicated circumstances. Joan's two older brothers have been held back in third grade due to serious illness and Joan's mom is expecting baby number 8. Her dad's main source of income is by selling bread, hardly enough to meet the family's individual needs.

Joan's family is originally from Samar, an island in the eastern part of the Philippines. Life may be hard these days, but Joan's memories of Samar are something even less pleasant. Living in the town of Sambat feels a bit better, but the best part for Joan is the education she is able to receive at Sambat Elementary School.

The Journey to Bigger Dreams

Sambat Trust’s scholarship program has helped Joan and her family tremendously. Joan believes that without the foundation’s help, she won't be able to explore other countries through books nor would she be able to attend school at all. She thinks herself blessed and returns her good fortune by being a good daughter to her parents, a loving sister to her siblings and an obedient student to her teachers.

To help her parents, Joan makes sure that she maintains her scholarship by focusing on her studies. She prudently spends her daily allowance of ten pesos by buying only food or materials needed for school. If she has any leftover amount from her allowance, she saves it.

Sometimes, Joan thinks of ways to make her own income. She thinks she can do so by becoming a masseur. “I would charge my clients ten pesos per massage,” she says, giggling.

By Michael Jude Tumamac. Michael Jude "MJ" Tumamac is a grade school teacher at the Raya School, a graduate of the UP College of Education, and a member of Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA) and Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (Kuting).

VIDEO: Honolulu Marathon...Only 4 Days to Go!

2011-12-08T17:20:00.000Z

You can sponsor my run- click here!

Sambat Trust + JustGiving: Why I'm Running a Marathon

2011-12-04T03:47:00.012Z

Honolulu Marathon: Running for Children's Books

Target: ￡1250.00

Raised so far: ￡996.00

Dear Family & Friends,

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Why am I running a marathon?

As you may know, Sambat Trust started after I treated my Mum, for Christmas 2006, to a trip home to the Philippines.

One story Mum told me from her holiday was of Johaini, a young girl in Mum's village who was not in school and learning because her family couldn't afford the school fees.

Johaini in school

I decided to do something.

I asked family and friends for their support.

That first year, 36 children were able to go to school. Johaini was one of them.

Thanks to you, Sambat Trust is growing: we are establishing school libraries, granting scholarships and training teachers.

Over 2,000 children now have the opportunity to read children's books in school!

But we are just beginning. Every child has the right to a quality education.

Wawa Primary School Library

With your help, Sambat Trust can continue to provide the resources required for children to thrive in school.

￡10 puts 10 local children's books in a library

￡20 buys a year of school supplies for 5 children

￡100 places 70 Scholastic books on a library shelf

So why have I sponsored myself?

I can only ask you to do something if I'm also willing to do it :)

Sambat Trust scholars ready for the new school year

Love, thanks and salamat po!

Anthony

You can sponsor my marathon run here

.

Featured Scholar: Vivienne Claire Opulencia

2011-12-03T20:12:00.003Z

It's like life imitating art. Eleven-year-old Vivienne Claire Opulencia likes to give old items new life. As a scholar, her old life burdened by financial worries has been given new hope.

Flower vases made out of tin cans, wrapped with paper and painted in colorful designs is one of the products of the imagination of Vivienne Claire Opulencia. Obviously possessing a penchant for creative endeavors. Vivienne displays a fondness of lines, shapes and colors in her work.

Art and Work

Vivienne inherited her artistic talent from her father, a painter and charcoal portraitist. She enjoys watching her father paint and draw the faces of his clients using various media. She loves how colors or the lack of it can create magic in an artwork.

Through the help of her father, Vivienne has learned a few tricks of her own. She has also learned that work as an artist can be quiet unstable. Her father's income relies heavily on the number of commissions he receives.

“If there are many clients, there’s a lot of money,” she explains. “If there is few or no client at all, we have to tighten for days.”

Vivienne’s mother, on the other hand, works at the quality control department of a clothing factory. Though her mother’s income is regular, it is not enough to cover all the costs of their needs. Their main financial problems oscillate between school expenses and different sorts of bills.

A Redesigned Life

Last year, Vivienne acquired a scholarship from Sambat Trust Foundation last year.

When their principal at Sambat Elementary School announced that scholarships to less fortunate children were available, Vivienne got to work. She immediately applied -- and got accepted.

As a scholar, her school fees, uniforms and school materials are subsidized. As such, her family's expenditures have been considerably trimmed down.

“Masaya maging iskolar, nakakatulong ka sa magulang. (I feel happy to be a scholar because I am helping my parents.)” She adds, “I will be forever grateful to the sponsors of Sambat Trust Foundation. They make many things possible for me.”

A Canvas for Possibilities

When Sambat Trust established a library at the school, Vivienne was ecstatic. She loves reading books in the library. She is particularly captivated by the beautiful illustrations that she finds in picture books. This has cultivated a dream to become a book illustrator someday.

While art will always be part of Vivienne's sphere of interest, she is also thinking of other possible options. For one, she has discovered a love for numbers and mathematical operations. Perhaps, she thinks, she can become an elementary math teacher.

Vivienne also imagines she can put up a restaurant. Or maybe a clothing store; she can employ her mother this way.

Right now, Vivienne has a blank slate to draw her plans on. As a Sambat Trust scholar, she has her studies to help her realize anything she can imagine herself doing.

By Michael Jude Tumamac. Michael Jude "MJ" Tumamac is a grade school teacher at the Raya School, a graduate of the UP College of Education, and a member of Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA) and Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (Kuting).

Meeting the Scholars

2011-12-03T08:18:00.035Z

Photographer Berkley Bedell is a Sambat Trust volunteer who has come all the way from Colorado, USA. He has come to the Philippines to explore and document the life of the schools, the students and the town that have been benefitting from Sambat Trust's programs these past years.

Here, Berkley relates his first meeting with some of the program's scholars.

I arrived in the Philippines several days ago on my mission to tell the story, photographically, of the Sambat Trust and the people it helps. Since my arrival I have used my time to adjust and learn about the culture from my host. Today though, I had the pleasure of meeting a few of the kids I will be working with during my time here, the scholars.

They came to my host’s house today, as they do every Saturday, to work on their School Fund profiles and to respond to emails and comments from sponsors.

Mark Anthony, Jonna Pecho, Jazmin Vivas, and Mary Joy Gualvez appear bright, hard working, and determined upon our first meeting. They were on this occasion though, very shy of me and my camera, often giggling and hiding their faces when I tried to take their picture.

I’m looking forward to learning more about each of them, and getting to see more of their personalities as they get more comfortable with my presence.

Scholars Mark Anthony and Jonna Pecho at work on their School Fund profiles.

Scholars Jazmin Vivas and Mary Joy Gualvez at work on their School Fund profiles.

Scholars (pictured from left to right) Mark Anthony, Jonna Pecho, Jazmin Vivas, & Mary Joy Gualvez.

VIDEO: Sambat Trust + Giveacar: Thank You, Jose and Charles

2011-12-02T02:48:00.000Z

Learning the Craft of Creative Storytelling

2011-11-24T23:44:00.084Z

Last November 6th, 2011, the Sambat Trust Foundation invited a team from Adarna House, the oldest and leading publisher of children’s books in the Philippines, to train teachers in creative storytelling.

Training teachers in Tanauan is one of the programs of Sambat Trust Foundation to promote literacy. Its flagship program is the installation of functional libraries in different schools in Tanauan City.

55 teachers from various schools in the Tanauan North City district attended the workshop. They were headed by their supervisor, Dr. Cecille Carandang.

Beginning with the Basics

The first half of the training was a lecture facilitated by renowned storyteller and children’s literacy advocate Jay Menes. He discussed the importance of storytelling especially in children’s literacy development and as a springboard for lessons. He enumerated the aids and techniques for storytelling, such as the storybook and the storyteller’s voice and movements.

Mr. Menes asked the teachers to participate in the workshop through exercises that illustrate the lecture's main points.

Vocabulary and word usage drills were only the beginning. The teachers also had to work on their storytelling skills. They had to try their hand at holding a a book properly, using gestures, and changing their voices to suit a story's character and situation.

How to tell a story

At first, they were shy to participate, but they soon exerted more effort after Menes told them that shy teachers will never be good storytellers.

The teachers appreciated learning these storytelling techniques and strategies -- new ideas that they know they can put to use in their own classes.

Setting the Scene

The participants were nervous and excited for the second half of the training. Nervous, because they knew it was time to perform a storytelling session; and excited, because they were eager to apply the things they have learned in the lecture.

Jay Menes assigned each group to portray a classroom scene where a teacher tells a story to the students using the storybook given to them. Not all members were required to act but they were required to help in brainstorming and in understanding the assigned story.

Ergoe Tinio and Fiona Fajardo of Adarna House helped the participants in preparing for their presentation.

Acting out

Each group then presented a storytelling session featuring stories published by Adarna House, such as Papel de Liha and Bruhaha, Bruhihi. After initial moments of unease, the teachers worked at employing the storytelling techniques they had just learned.

Takeaway Stories

To reward the participants’ efforts, Adarna House gave away free books to the participants.

Books!!!

The day-long workshop ended on a high note with Dr. Carandang reinforcing the importance of storytelling in the classroom as a creative way of imparting lessons.

The teachers, too, provided positive feedback on their experience. Besides realizing that storytelling can be an effective tool to capture and motivate students, they expressed their hopes for even more teacher trainings from Sambat Trust and Adarna House in the future.

By Michael Jude Tumamac. Michael Jude "MJ" Tumamac is a grade school teacher at the Raya School, a graduate of the UP College of Education, and a member of Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA) and Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (Kuting)

Featured Scholar: Erwin Valencia

2011-11-14T04:43:00.049Z

Just like any teen, Erwin Valencia endures school with a sense of responsibility and looks forward to weekends with friends. But unlike other students, his scholarship gives him a clear sense of direction and hope to fulfill his dreams.

Fourteen-year-old Erwin Valencia is not very fond of reciting in class. His shy, reserved demeanor belies how he performs academically – his school projects and exams boast of good scores.

Outside of school, Erwin comes out of his shell and loosens up. On weekends, you may find him playing computer games or hanging out with his barkada (friends).

The Studying Game Plan

Erwin’s attitude towards school and friends is quite typical. Just like any kid, he likes to have his fun and attends school dutifully.

But unlike other kids, Erwin can’t help but look at his studies differently. He is a beneficiary of a scholarship from Sambat Trust, so that he can continue his schooling at Tanauan City High School.

As a scholar, Erwin’s expenses for tuition, school supplies and uniforms are covered for four years. In return, he studies hard.

Aiming for Better

He sees that studying is not just about the scholarship. For Erwin, getting good grades in high school will help him fulfill his dreams.

“We need to study for our future,” Erwin says. “We also need to study the things we like, such as computers.”

Erwin likes computers. He wants to be a computer technician someday. He plans to take a computer engineering course at STI College, an educational institution that specializes in IT (information technology).

Erwin has always wanted to be a computer technician. Initially, it seemed like a tenuous idea. To be able to go to college, one does not just need to get good grades, one must be able to attend school. Money for tuition was difficult to come by. His father’s income of being a barangay tanod (community police) is the lone source of money for the family and is not enough for all of their needs.

More than being interested in computers, Erwin’s desire to become a computer technician stems from the hope that it will allow him to help with his family’s income. He is the panganany (eldest child); earning a good salary means he can support his two younger brothers’ schooling.

School-Fun Balance

Like any teenager, there were times Erwin was tempted to quit school, but he never did. He always reminds himself that completing his education is important for him and his family.

As much as Erwin enjoys the company of his friends, it is clear to his barkada that his his responsibilities at school trumps play. It’s all about having everything in the right perspective, it seems. Erwin shares, “As long as I do not do anything bad, my parents are okay with me having a lot of friends.”

In fact, Erwin is handling many things quite ably. Aside from computers, Erwin also loves sports. He participates in track and field events. He is also a member of the school volleyball varsity and has competed and won in inter-school tournaments.

Erwin hopes that things will continue to go his way. “I really owe so much to the sponsors of the scholarship. Even though I have not seen them, I think that they have a good heart to kids like me. I thank them for choosing me as their scholar and for providing my educational needs.”

By Michael Jude Tumamac. Michael Jude "MJ" Tumamac is a grade school teacher at the Raya School, a graduate of the UP College of Education, and a member of Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA) and Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (Kuting).

School Leader Speaks on School Libraries

2011-11-08T04:39:00.005Z

Every time Dr. Cecille G. Carandang convenes with the school heads, the development of each school is her main concern. She envisions her district as a community of readers and confident learners. She fulfills this vision by addressing the problems of the ten schools under her. She started as the Tanauan North district supervisor on May 2009.

She treats the whole district as a big family. By family, she means, that each school should not compete and, instead, should help out with each other. Hence, during their meetings, it is always in their agenda to share best practices, to point out problems in each school and to give suggestions to solve those problems. When asked how she faces problems, she probes first the root cause of a problem. She then consults the school heads, gather suggestions and plans a solution. For instance, she thinks that each school should specialize on things that they do best so as not to waste time and resources.

Being a district supervisor does not only involve communicating with the teachers. Dr. Carandang also needs to check the students’ concerns. She points out that everything she and the teachers decide are for the students. One program for students she really supports is the building of functional libraries by Sambat Trust. As of now, three schools in her district were chosen as beneficiaries of Sambat Trust's school library project. These schools are Tanauan North Central School, Pantay Bata Elementary School and Sambat Elementary School. She hopes to have a library in every school in the district. She has faith in the power of reading and libraries.

Dr. Carandang believes that libraries develop confidence among students. She notices that students become confident if they see that their school has a library and other facilities. She narrates that a few years ago, she could tell which kid is from the bukid (farm) or mountain by examining their appearance. The bukid (farm) kid usually looks down and has diffident eyes. But now, students from the bukid (farm) can look straight and has more confidence. She attributes this to Sambat Trust Foundation’s project of installing libraries. She also recalls that before, the students and the teachers hide during school visits, announced or unannounced. But now, they have the confidence to say that they have a new library and other facilities.

Confidence brought about by the libraries sums up her program: Read Today! Lead Tomorrow! She insists that reading contributes positively to every child’s self-esteem and confidence. To reinforce Sambat Trust library installations, she has also launched programs that promote reading such as putting up mini-libraries inside each classroom. Elementary students also have DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) time, where each student is expected to grab a book and just read. They also have DEAS (Drop Everything and Share) time, where students share to their classmates what they have read during DEAR time. It ensures that students did read and would have a meaningful learning after reading. Sharing, Dr. Carandang adds, helps in acquiring confidence.

She also shares that libraries were not only a great help in confidence-building among students and teachers, but also to their academic standing during the National Achievement Test (NAT) last school year (2010-2011). According to the district’s NAT data, those with functional libraries improved their standings. For instance, Pantay Bata Elementary school got the highest percentage in English among all the schools in the district. Tanauan North Central School, on the other hand, maintained its high standing. Dr. Carandang cautions, however, that the district should not expect high leaps in NAT scores.

She is really grateful for these little yet significant improvements. She also expresses deep gratitude to Sambat Trust for the libraries. Building functional libraries, nevertheless, is not the panacea to the schools’ problems. She enumerates the things each school should also have: uniform textbooks, manuals, workbooks, LCD projectors, educational TV package, experiment materials, teacher training, library computers and librarians. Though the list is long, Dr. Carandang always puts a smile on her face, a sign of confidence and faith that these things will be achieved, if not now, in the sooner future.

*This piece is written by Michael Jude Tumamac. Michael Jude "MJ" Tumamac is a grade school teacher at the Raya School, a graduate of the UP College of Education, and a member of Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA) and Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (Kuting).

Photo: The School Fund Welcomes Sambat Trust

2011-11-03T04:44:00.001Z

Two of our four students are already fully funded for next year!

Partners: Sambat Trust + The School Fund

2011-11-01T07:58:00.004Z

GREAT NEWS! Sambat Trust is now partnered with The School Fund, a person-to-person site that links students in the developing world directly with funders around the world.Within just 2 years, The School Fund has funded students in 12 countries around the world. And the Philippines is the latest!

A Time for Reflection

2011-10-25T04:58:00.000+01:00

The school library at Pantay Bata Elementary School is nearly complete. By end of October, Sambat Trust will be sending the last batch of books there. Thanks to Adarna House for making this possible.At the same time, linkages and partnerships have been established to further assist Sambat Trust scholars in their studies.

Four scholars made it to the School Fund. Estan Cabigas finished his photo shoot in Sambat. Cindy Bajema had a photo shoot there as well, and soon we will have these photos available so you can have a better idea of our projects in Tanauan City. Adarna House has provided us a fantastic PowerPoint presentation on the books we bring closer to the kids there. Watch out for this!

We've been in contact with other non-government organizations in the country and talks of bringing books to their area/province are underway. Lastly, the team is reviewing its operations and strategies. After five years, we pause for a while and evaluate how Sambat Trust can truly make an impact on literacy and education in the Philippines.

Visit the blog every now and then!

VIDEO:Sambat Trust + JustGiving: Dad's Party

2011-10-19T07:06:00.002+01:00

We threw a party this month to celebrate Dad's retirement. Instead of gifts, we asked our family and friends to make a donation to Sambat Trust on Dad's justgiving page.

We raised over ￡1,000!

Do you have a party coming up? You can start your own online fundraising page for Sambat Trust right here.

Featured Scholar: Juby Bravante

2011-09-25T08:13:00.004+01:00

Young Juby Bravante has not had an easy life. In the midst of the great trials she has had to face, a scholarship gives her reason to let life to go on and a way for things to get better.

Juby Bravante vividly remembers the days of January 2010. She recalls how her mother was rushed one night to the hospital. After a few days, her mother passed away because of breast cancer.

“I thought that she only had difficulty breathing,” she explains. “It was more than that.”

Unexpected Trials

With her mother's illness and death, Juby's family's life took a drastic turn for the worse. There was hardly any money to purchase the needed medicine, the hospitalization and other expenses. Her dad's meager income as a tricycle driver was simply not enough. The family became severely indebted to friends and relatives.

Juby's studies felt the brunt of the sad events. Not only has she lost her mother, but she lost her chance to attend school. Slowly, she began losing vigor and optimism about her future as well.

A Welcome Surprise

Last year, another unexpected event affected the family: Juby was offered a scholarship at Sambat Elementary School.

Life is still tough for the Bravante family, but Juby's scholarship has eased a great deal of the family's financial troubles. With her scholarship, Juby has found the encouragement to continue with her studies.

The scholarship comes via the program of Sambat Trust and its sponsors. Besides answering her tuition, the program covers the expenses for school materials and uniform sets at the start of every school year.

“I thought that I should not waste this opportunity," Juby says. And so she strives to perform well in school and receives high marks in her exams, projects and quizzes.

Dealing with Disappointments

The 11-year-old, though thankful for the turn of events, is reserved and quite withdrawn. Many friends express that Juby's new demeanor is a far cry from how she was before her mother's death. The grief is still too fresh for the young girl.

Still, Juby strives to lessen the burdens her family continue to face, especially with her mom gone. At home, Juby always volunteers to take charge of household chores. She takes it upon herself to remind her brothers to study well. She acts as if she is the eldest among the siblings. As it turns out, it seems that Juby will be the first to graduate from high school and eventually get a job. Her oldest brother, she explains, had to stop schooling for a year due to an illness.

Future Prospects

The future remains unclear for Juby. These days, she still finds herself trying to cope with her mother’s death. She does know one thing for sure: she wants to have a life free from the hardships she has encountered. For now, she plans of working immediately after high school. If things get better, however, she would like to enter college.

Juby still cries when talking about her mother. But more than a source of grief, Juby looks to the memory of her mother as a source of inspiration. She wants to do the best she can in honor of her mother and for the benefit of her father and brothers.

While it might take more time for her to finally accept that her mother has already left them, she says. What Juby does not know is that her mother will always be a part of her. In fact, she is constantly reminded of her mother's impact on her life. All Juby has to do is remember her own name and where it comes from: Juby for Jun, her father’s name, and Abby, her mother’s name.

By Michael Jude Tumamac. Michael Jude "MJ" Tumamac is a grade school teacher at the Raya School, a graduate of the UP College of Education, and a member of Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA) and Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (Kuting).

Featured Scholar: Mark Anthony R. Renales

2011-09-23T07:38:00.001+01:00

Mark Anthony R. Renales loves to read. The books he has read are The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry, a reference book on Greek mythology and other titles he cannot remember. One thing he can clearly recall is that reading for pleasure is a rare experience for him, and even rarer to most of his classmates.

Mark and his classmates go to the library twice a week not to read but to have their class in science. He laments that their school library does not provide opportunities for leisure reading. There were very few novels and story books. Most of the books were textbooks on science and mathematics. He comments that a library should be for reading. He has no choice, however, but to swallow information from his textbooks.

Mark longs for stories to read aside from dealing with numbers and chemicals. The short stories in his English textbook are not enough to satisfy his yearning for narratives appropriate for his age. Hence, he wishes that Sambat Trust would soon come to his rescue and vivify their library. Sambat Trust is known for building functional libraries in public schools in Tanauan City.

Sambat Trust already came to his rescue four years ago. As a third year student of the Engineering and Science Education Program (ESEP), he enjoys the benefits of the Sambat Trust scholarship. He gets free uniform and school supplies at the start of the school year, besides the fact that his tuition is covered by the scholarship. The scholarship is already a great help, especially to his parents, whose income from painting houses and washing clothes is not enough to send three children to school.

In return, Mark studies seriously. He always finds time to study his lessons. During recess and lunch breaks, after eating his food, he does his assignments and reviews his lessons. Every night, after doing house chores, he also checks his assignments and lessons. He also goes to the library to refer for his science and math lessons and to practice solving word problems. Marks’ efforts pay off; as of today, he has no grade below 83.

Mark is really thankful for having a scholarship. His ultimate wish, however, is still having a library that provides rich and diverse reads. He says leisure reading can serve as a break to his serious academic daily routine. It can also open avenues to exploring new interests and knowledge. The popular belief that reading makes you wander to different places is not really true to him as he reads technical science and math books.

Mark has really high hopes for his ultimate wish, even if it means that is not feasible for now. He plans to take education as his course in college, with a major either in Filipino or Science. He says, he will stress the love of reading to his future students. For now, Mark has to content his self with borrowing novels from his friends, reading his textbooks in the school “library”, and dreaming of a reading generation.

*This piece is written by Michael Jude Tumamac. Michael Jude "MJ" Tumamac is a grade school teacher at the Raya School, a graduate of the UP College of Education, and a member of Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA) and Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (Kuting).

Featured Scholar: Jonna J. Pecho

2011-09-08T05:27:00.004+01:00

14-year-old Jonna J. Pecho needs to be prudent in spending her daily baon or allowance. Her parents give her P40.00, or less than USD 1.00, to cover all of her expenses for the day: P20.00 for the tricycle fare to and from her school, snacks, school contributions and materials for projects. She knows that her baon is not enough for these expenses, so she devises ways to budget it and earn more money. Instead of buying lunch, she cooks food in the morning and brings it to school. She also allots only P10.00 for her snack. During weekends, she helps in tending her aunties’ sari-sari store and she is paid P5.00 to P10.00 in return.

Starting last August, Jonna joined her nine other classmates for a paluwagan, a saving system related to a sinking fund. Every day, each member pays P10.00 to the savings group’s treasurer. At the end of the week, a member gets her sahod or wage of P500.00, the group’s total saved money for the week. The member who gets his/her wage can spend it on anything he/she wants. The benefit of their paluwagan, Jonna explains, is that they can spend it to buy new things, like clothes. Jonna, however, does not plan to purchase new clothes or other things. She joined the group to save for the expenses in their school field trip in Manila.

Since childhood, Jonna has wanted to travel to other places. It is a big dream for her to go to Manila and visit its historical and commercial places. In fact, she dreams of taking tourism in college and becoming a flight attendant. Her dream is now becoming a reality with the help of Sambat Trust Scholarship. She says, “My penchant for school would be worthless if I was not in school. I really thank Sambat Trust for putting me in school.” She also explains that if she did not have the scholarship, she would not be able to go to college or even continue high school.

Deep poverty is what Jonna pinpoints as the culprit. It is not surprising, therefore, that she needs to devise ways to budget her allowance and earn more money. It is also a way of helping her parents, who have greater problems in budgeting. Her 42-year-old father and 45-year-old mother need to provide for her five other siblings. Her father’s wage on painting houses and her mother’s on vending snacks are not enough to subsidize all of the family’s expenses. Fortunately, Jonna’s oldest brother no longer stays with them and her oldest sister, a machine operator, allots a part of her salary to the family.

The financial support from her sister is still not enough, however. Hence, Jonna is really grateful to have a scholarship that pays her tuition and provides her school materials and uniforms. Her family’s expenses diminished. If things go like this in the future, Jonna remarks, she will be the first in her family to enter and finish college. After ten years, she envisions that her future family lives in their own house, complete with all the things that they need. “And I will only have two children,” Jonna jokes, thinking of all the economic hardships that she has faced.

*This piece is written by Michael Jude Tumamac. Michael Jude "MJ" Tumamac is a grade school teacher at the Raya School, a graduate of the UP College of Education, and a member of Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA) and Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (Kuting).

Featured Scholar: Jasmin M. Vivas

2011-08-26T03:04:00.005+01:00

Jasmin M. Vivas dreams of traveling around the world. The farthest place her feet brought her was Pampanga, which was a two-bus ride from Batangas. To realize this dream, she plans of taking tourism as a college degree. She will then apply as a flight attendant for work.

Jasmin is the youngest among three siblings. Her eldest ate (big sister) is working as a call center agent in Taguig. Her other ate is a first year Information Technology student at La Consolacion College of Tanauan. Her parents, on the other hand, do not work. This means that the only income they have is from the oldest sister. This also means to Jasmin that her studies and her dream are not the priorities of the family. They have to suffice their basic needs first while the rest of the funds go to the school expenses of her other sister.

As a third year high school student at Bernardo Lirio Memorial National High School, Jasmin believes that she will be able to reach her dream. It starts with good grades and good study habits. She is currently enrolled in Section B but used to be in Section A, the star section. She requested to be transferred because of the pressure that she experienced in Section A. This does not mean, however, that she has no penchant for studies. In fact, she loves studying so much and will do everything to get high grades. Section B, she says, is not bad after all since it is just one level lower than Section A. She is, anyway, still eligible to graduate with honors while in Section B.

However, graduating from high school would not even be achievable if Jasmin did not have a scholarship. Last summer, she applied for the Sambat Trust scholarship and was accepted. She used to accompany her friend, a Sambat Trust scholar, to get money for tuition at Ms. Wilma de Rojas' house. She got curious about the scholarship, so her friend introduced her to Sambat Trust and its advocacy. She grabbed the opportunity and is now one of the newest Sambat Trust scholars.

“I am really thankful,” she always says when asked about what she feels as a Sambat Trust scholar. She should really be grateful. The scholarship covers her tuition and other school fees. Ms. Wilma, the scholarship coordinator, also provides her with school supplies every year. What’s more, the scholarship can support her up to her college studies.

Jasmin does not worry about anything now aside from doing her best in studies. In fact, she does not have a single failing grade. Her parents only take care of her daily allowance. They allot a portion of her eldest sister’s income. “If not for the scholarship, I would have already quit school.”

She wishes and she believes that Sambat Trust will continue to offer scholarships to poor children who are not in school due to poverty. She also promises that she will stay in school, graduate from college and become a flight attendant. “Their (the sponsors) efforts would be meaningless if I quit school or do not take my studies seriously.”

*This piece is written by Michael Jude Tumamac. Michael Jude "MJ" Tumamac is a grade school teacher at the Raya School, a graduate of the UP College of Education, and a member of Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA) and Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (Kuting).

Have you heard of Giveacar?

2011-08-25T02:17:00.001+01:00

Do you own a banger that’s merely gathering dust in the garage? Then you can do your bit for charity!

Giveacar is a UK based fundraising organisation that specialises in donating unwanted and scrap cars to charitable causes throughout the world, including Giveacar:Sambat Trust.

They provide a FREE service which is available throughout the UK, and can work with you hand-in-hand in the following ways:

· They can arrange the collection of the vehicle;

· Depending on its age and condition, they can either send it for environmentally safe disposal and recycling at an Authorised Treatment Facility, or to a salvage auction;

This means that a large portion of the proceeds are donated to a nominated charity of the vehicle owner’s choice!

Since Giveacar was set up in 2010, the organisation has already raised over £450,000 for over 500 charities!

To arrange collection of a car, visit Giveacar.co.uk or call 020 0011 1664, quoting Sambat Trust as your preferred charity.

Mary Joy Gualvez's Valedictory Speech

2011-08-24T06:43:00.004+01:00

Below is the translation of Mary Joy Gualvez's Valedictory Speech which was originally written in Filipino. Mary Joy is one of Sambat Trust's top scholars. She is now a freshman in high school at the Tanauan National High School. She remains to be as studious as she was in grade school keeping in mind the value of her scholarship and a college degree.

To my teachers, Ms. Crispina Perez, Ms. Elena Mercado, Mr. Jospe and Ms. Zharra Tapia, and to our principal, Ms. Emelda Delante, thank you so much! If not for you, I would not have taken my studies seriously. I owe you and the school a deep gratitude for accepting me in this learning community. I sincerely thank you, my teachers, for sharing your knowledge to me and to my batch-mates. Without you, we are not in this graduation ceremony.

For nurturing the person who I am now, for sacrificing things, for being patient despite my naughtiness, and for believing that I and my classmates could learn with fear in God, let me repay you, my teachers, with a promise. I promise to strive harder in my studies and to give honor to my alma mater. I will continue to cultivate the knowledge and skills you imparted on me. I will share these to all children who dream of a bright future. My teachers, thank you again!

To Mr. Anthony Mariano, Ms. Wilma de Rojas and to other people behind Sambat Trust, I also thank you. Thank you for financing my schooling. For that, I owe you my future.

Mama, I owe you a thankyou for everything – for relentlessly waking me up every morning, for cooking nutritious meals for me, for preparing my school uniform, for providing my needs, for soothing me with a lullaby before sleep, and for looking after me when I am sick. I thank God for blessing me with a mother like you. You served as and will forever be my inspiration in life. You inspired me to display and enhance my capabilities. You strengthened me from my toddler years until now, when I am already a teenager. Mama, I really owe you so much. If you did not adopt, dress and claim me as your own child, I would not witness the beauty of this world. Even though you did not give birth to me, you considered me as your daughter in heart and in mind.

Education is really important to every one of us. It is the key to a better future and the path to success. It determines our future dispositions in this world. It is also our assurance of a quality and peaceful life. Education will lead us to a place where we will experience great joy and prosperity.

Preparing for the future is a means to secure success. We cannot deny, however, that there are obstacles that can hinder our dreams. Hence, it is important to become punctual, industrious, determined and faithful to God to overcome all of these. As most people say, poverty is not a limitation to success. We must always remember that we make our own destiny. We must lean on God in every moment of our lives.

To my fellow graduates, this is the moment we are waiting for, the day that a new chapter of our student life unfolds. This is the time we can offer our diplomas to our parents who guide us every day (from the time we were born to the time we became who we are now). Let us prepare our mind and spirit to battle future tests in life. Let us continue to strive in obtaining knowledge and skills to help our parents and our society. These are our obligations as children blessed with wisdom and knowledge. We are the new generation of youth. We will initiate change in society. We will respond to the challenges of our nation. Through the education bequeathed to us by our parents and teachers, let us treasure the things that make us who we are as persons. To our parents and teachers, please accept our gratitude.

Mama, I remember the first time we stepped on this place. I was ten years old then and we did not have a permanent house. You also had no work. We borrowed money to sustain our food and my school expenses. I am also grateful to my uncles and aunties for helping us. Mama, time really made us strong!

Mama, I know your hardships. These are evident in the amount of dirty clothes you wash every day, in every strip of soap that wrinkles your hands, in every sickness that you try to ignore, in every scorching work day, in every sweat... You sacrifice to provide for my needs. Mama, thank you!

I offer my diploma to you, Mama, as well as the honors I received. These are repayments to the goodness you have given me. These are not possible without your help and of God’s grace. Mama, always remember, that I love you very much! You are the only Mama Lina in my life.

Salamat!* Salamat! Salamat!

Once again, good morning to everyone!

*Thank you!

Featured Scholar: Jenica Unico

2011-08-19T03:04:00.008+01:00

College freshman Jenica Unico has three wishes. With the help of a scholarship grant and through hard work, she's finding a way to make them all come true.

Jenica Unico is turning 18 years old this August. For her special day, she has three wishes that one does not normally expect from 18-year-olds. Many young girls celebrate turning 18 with a grand debut, a party with plenty of food, a gown, dancing with guys during the 18 roses ceremony, and expensive presents.

Jenica's wishes are far from those.

A student's wish

Every day, Jenica leaves home at 6 in the morning for school. When she has free time, she chooses to study and finish her homework at the college library.

As a first year student at the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities, Jenica is intent on her studies. She is working on a bachelor's degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management (BS HRM).

Jenica wishes to do well in her studies. More than that, she wishes to graduate without ever acquiring a failing grade in four years of college -- and even to graduate with honors.

To supplement her studies, she is thinking about joining the school organization for HRM students.

All this may leave little time for Jenica to relax and have fun, but when she does have a chance, she chooses to enjoy the company of her friends. On some occasions, you can even find Jenica on stage, performing a song or two for special events.

A daughter's wish

One reason for Jenica's single-minded drive to achieve well in school and finish her degree stems from her family's plight.

The youngest of four kids, Jenica wishes to be able to help alleviate her family's dire predicament when she graduates. It hasn't been easy for the Unico family. Two of her siblings are neither in school or working -- it's a rather helpless situation that can make anyone feel helpless. It's like a dead-end cycle: her parents did not finish school and can't find work either.

There's an extra glimmer of hope in Jenica's oldest sister; she's the only other Unico child who has made it to college. For the family, having two siblings enter college is nothing short of a miraculous achievement.

Jenica's sister graduates this year. After graduation, Jenica plans to work immediately to help her sister in providing for the family.

A dreamer's wish

Four years ago, these wishes were nothing but a pipe dream.

And then one day, a cousin told Jenica about a scholarship program. That cousin was a teacher at Sambat Primary School, an institution benefiting from the support of Sambat Trust.

Without hesitation, Jenica grabbed the opportunity. She applied and, fortunately, was granted a scholarship.

The Sambat Trust scholarship program has been sustaining Jenica's academic needs since second year high school, providing for her school supplies and covering her tuition and other school fees.

It has also given her the chance to think beyond money worries. Whatever small allowance she receives for her parents, Jenica spends frugally, a practice she has learned early in life. She doesn't consider the scholarship funding as a luxury that frees her up to spend on other items as much as an opportunity to save.

“If the Sambat Trust scholarship did not come my way,” she says, “I would not be in school today.” She is really grateful to the sponsors, whom she has never seen.

Now, she only needs to fulfill her third dream – to pay the kindness forward.

“If I become successful," muses Jenica, "I will also offer scholarships to poor children as a way of paying back. They (the sponsors) do not ask anything in exchange for the scholarship, and I should do the same.”

By Michael Jude Tumamac. Michael Jude "MJ" Tumamac is a grade school teacher at the Raya School, a graduate of the UP College of Education, and a member of Linangan sa Imahen, Retorika at Anyo (LIRA) and Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (Kuting).

MJ Tumamac, Writer for Sambat Trust

2011-08-17T06:22:00.010+01:00

This month, Sambat Trust is joined by MJ Tumamac. MJ teaches at Raya School and writes on the side. He is a member of Kuwentista ng mga Tsikiting (KUTING), the premiere writing group of Filipino writers for children in the country today. But there is more to MJ than these credentials. Get to know him better! Read on!

Why do you write?

I write because I have so many stories to tell. Most of them are from my experiences. Basta, nasasayangan akong hindi isulat ang mga nakakatuwa o kakaibang bagay na na-encounter ko. Natutuwa rin akong isulat ang mga kakaibang imagination nila. ‘Yung tipong anlayo na sa isa’t isa pero pag sila ang nagcompare, parang iisa lang ang dalawang bagay. It's a waste to lose the essence of children's imagination so I try my best to capture them in writing. Children's imagination may be different and varied, but the wonder is one and the same when you think about it.

What stories, poetry have you written so far?

I started writing short stories in one of my organizations in college. During workshops, they would tell me that I write stories fit for children. So I decided to focus on stories for children. I found out later there are so many fiction writers for children. Pero hindi ako sa prose nagsimula. (I did not start on prose writing). When I was a child, my brothers and sisters had a session every weekend to write poems in English. So, there. I pursued writing poetry and attended LIRA’s Poetry Clinic. They invited me to become a member, and I accepted their offer (how can I refuse LIRA?). Some of my poems are published in LIRA anthologies/chapbooks.

What story or book you wish you had written and why?

I wish I had written ‘Sol’ by Agay Llanera. The story is so romantic and the way it’s written is so fluid. I feel I’m dreaming whenever I read the story. I also envy Sir Rio’s (Virgilio Almario) Ang Dasal ng Orasan (The Prayer of a Time Piece). Ang galing lang ng imagination ni Sir Rio! (Sir Rio has a fantastic imagination!)

You also teach, what has been the most rewarding experience you had as a teacher, so far?

If my students finish their tasks, super happy na ako. Pag nagkusa sila sa isang task (If they show initiative), happy din ako. I don’t care sa grades nila, as long as I see... they’re doing their best.

What struck you when you visited Sambat, Tanauan?

The night before going to Sambat, my impressions are 1) it’s so far (according to the map I consulted), 2) it’s a remote place. I was surprised it took me two hours and 30 mins of bus ride. And I forgot it's a city! Tanauan just looks like Manila without the skyscrapers. I was also surprised to see many Muslims in the city. Ms. Wilma told me that the first scholar was a Muslim.

What is your message to scholars, their family and sponsors?

For the scholars, take studies seriously. That doesn’t mean I’m compelling you to get high grades; that means that you do your best in order to learn the things you need. For their families, please support them. A scholarship is worthless if you don’t support your children. It has a big impact on them. For the sponsors, I’m in total awe. It’s a rare opportunity for me to work with an organization that provides scholarship to elementary and high school students.

Salamat!

VIDEO:Our Story: Sambat Trust

2011-08-16T09:13:00.001+01:00

Books for My Birthday Project

2011-08-14T12:10:00.000+01:00

I have registered in JustGiving for my Books for My Birthday project. Click the badge below to see what JustGiving is all about.

This fundraising is for the school library project of Sambat Trust. The UK based charity's current project is the development of the Pantay Bata Elementary School library. As of writing, the library needs more books! So I'm pitching in a book donation effort.

There are two ways to help. One, you can donate old books and we can meet for pick up. I can also send a drop box address for this purpose. Two, go to my page in JustGiving and donate a few bucks. Your donation will go along way!