OOOOPS, wrong photo, same sentiment... Please see below, the Balay ti Alumni progress report and updates. Please email me if you wish further details about the gate, and some photos.
January 9, 2010
To: MPHS-BCHS-BCNHS ALUMNI
From: Arthur Saldivar-Sali ‘58
Chair, Balay ti Alumni Committee
Subject: PROGRESS REPORT - January 9, 2010
MPHS-BCHS-BCNHS BALAY TI ALUMNI
Dear Kailians,
A prosperous New Year to all!
To bring everyone up to speed on the ongoing construction of our Balay ti Alumni,we are pleased to send this report to the general alumni body.
Status of Construction
As we reported at the end of 2008, the major structural components of the building have been completed. At that time, the building had been properly secured and protected from the weather with the installation of the roof, walls and doors. Since then, however, very little has been done to make the building fully useable as construction slowed down. Not surprisingly, this coincided with the economic crisis that descended upon the globe in 2009, which also brought contributions from alumni to a trickle. Fortunately, at the time of work stoppage, the building could already be used (after a fashion) with its walls, 2 stairs, 2 restrooms, water supply and electricity installed. However, the outside and inside walls, floors, and stairs were still exposed raw concrete making it unsafe for regular use; it has no ceiling making it noisy in the
rain and hot in summer. Nonetheless, it has been used (such as it is) for some meetings of the Board and some batches.
By mid-2009, what remained to be done were the “finishing touches” (which, from experience, have a way of not being finished ) i.e., the floor tiles, wall panels, ceiling, stair railings, outside wall plastering, front décor, etc.
The Good News
Out of frustration at the seemingly desperate situation, we decided to go back to Philex Mining Corp (with hat-in-hand and a thicker skin [1] ) for succor. The good news is that the gambit worked. Dr. Walter Brown, president of Philex, apparently still believing in our cause, released another P500K for the Balay, in addition to their initial P1.5M in 2008.
With the new fund infusion, construction of the “finishing touches” was started focusing on the priority areas, namely: plastering (palitada) of the outside wall and the stairs; installation of stair railings, linings of the gutters, columns, decorative stone façade and rust proofing of roof rafters (Please see attached photos). All of these are designed to further aesthetically enhance the building, as well as make it
safer for eventual use.
Of course there are still several things left to do, which, unfortunately, due to high cost of materials, can not be covered by the new Philex fund, including the tiles for the 1st and 2nd floors, tiles for the stairs, the wood panel for the walls, the ceiling and the painting of the whole building.
The Not-So-Good News
This brings me to the problem brought before us by Dr. Donaal, the school
principal, which is really the main reason I am sending this report.
As those who have the seen the site are aware, the location given to us for the building necessitated the closing of the old exit gate of the campus. This was with the full knowledge of Dr. Donaal, as she was the one who gave the site. We assumed at that time that the replacement gate will be built by the school. In fact, we went as far as opening part of the campus front fence (Please see photo) in preparation for the school to build a gate. Lately, however, Dr. D. has been pressing the alumni to build the new gate as she does not think it’s the school’s responsibility. To be fair to her, there was really no black & white agreement as to who will replace the gate, the school or the alumni. The attached communications between DR. D. and myself will give you a better appreciation of the “issue”. The absence of an exit gate has indeed created horrible traffic problems inside the campus. Dr. D strongly requests that the gate be built before the graduation rites
and reunion next March.
In deference to Dr. D., the Balay Committee has decided to take on the
responsibility of finding a solution to the problem. First, we asked the help of the Alumni Board thru Pres. Ted Depaynos to help raise fund from the locally-based alumni batches. In response, he said he will try last November. Frankly and going by the lukewarm support that the Board and class batches have so far given to the project, it may be prudent not to rely wholly on their “trying”. Up to this date, we have not heard from the Board.
This uncertainty has prompted the Balay Committee to mobilize Plan B. At this late date, any fund raising scheme will not meet the end-March deadline of Dr. D.
Therefore, the only instant recourse I can think of is to go hat-in-hand and “kapalmuks” directly to you, individual alumnus, for outright cash contributions, again.
In truth, we feel bad imposing this burden so soon after all the recent splurging for the holidays. However, we hope that there is still something left to sungkit from your alkansya to help ease the traffic in our beloved campus and improve the safety of the students by building the exit gate.
As in the previous campaign, you can issue a cheque to :
MPHS-BCHS-BCNHS BALAY ALUMNI FUND
Or you can transmit bank-to-bank to our Balay ti Alumni account at:
Metrobank Rockwell Branch Makati:
PESO ACCOUNT:
AC Name: MPHS-BCNHS-BCHS Balay Alumni Fund
AC No. : 442-344207993-6
DOLLAR ACCOUNT:
AC Name : Same
AC No. : 442-244200451-4
Swift Code: MBTC PH MM
Our schedule is to hopefully raise funds in time to start constructing the gate this month for it to be ready by graduation and reunion time at end March.
For the alma mater,
__________________
Arthur Saldivar-Sali ‘58
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