 Albert Bunoan poses with scholars 2011-12 Photo at left (L-R) Scholars Jonel Leal, Karen Paola Makil, Field Team Leader Albert Bunoan, Mariella Tacho, Melvie Legaspina and an unidentified SAS Teacher
Congratulations to our Scholars who made it to the Honor Roll. Absent from the photo were high school seniors Arthien Pelingen and Nesza Camoñas.
Proof that hard work pays off. Proof that highly motivated, bright and promising students though they may come from underprivileged families can do well in school. SAS Ai, Inc. proudly presents these smart students for your scrutiny and support. Thank you to all our sponsors, generous supporters and contributors. To you we raise our glasses and cheerfully, gratefully acknowledge your continued sponsorship of these young scholars. Thank you and may God bless you!
 Thinly cut pork chops Ever tasted salt and cracked black peppercorn pork chops? You are in for a treat. Here are the things you will need:
Ingredients
4 thinly cut pork chops bone in
1 cup flour in a bowl
1 cup of olive oil
Dash of Salt
1 Tbsp Cracked Black peppercorn
8 stalks Chopped fresh cilantro
3 ea Sliced fresh Jalapeno peppers
Procedure
Wash the pork chops under cold running water. With a paper towel remove most of the water and lay each chop flat on a serving platter but not piled atop each other. Sprinkle salt and the cracked black peppercorns. Turn each chop over and repeat sprinkling with salt and cracked black peppercorns.
Meantime, in an iron skillet heat the olive oil. Observe caution when working with hot oil. Use a skillet large enough so that the oil fills the skillet only halfway. Test the oil temperature (approx 375 degrees) by dropping a tiny piece of fresh white bread in the oil. If the piece of bread boils, crackles and rises to the top browned, the oil has reached the correct temperature.
Dust each pork chop with flour, tamp the excess flour. Using a pair of tongs lay each chop in the skillet. Let one side fry until golden brown. Flip over and fry the other side though for not as long a time as the first side. The chops should twist a little bit as they are fried. Remove from frying pan and place each chop atop a paper towel-lined serving platter. Turn the chops over to de-fat the other side. Arrange the chops on a bed of fresh cilantro and sliced Jalapeno peppers. Sprinkle the remaining salt and the cracked black pepper corns atop the fried chops. You should be able to smell the combined aromas of the cracked black peppercorn, the chopped cilantro, and sliced Jalapeno.
Eat the chops with steamed rice. A good vegetable side dish is pickled okra, steamed green beans or steamed asparagus spears. On the side you can have Malt Vinegar with minced fresh garlic to use for a dip. The entire cooking process and preparation takes about 30 minutes. The dish is good for two people.
Good cooking!
 Will she attend high school this year? April-May 2012. Registration days at St Augustine's School (SAS). All tuition fees are payable at the time of registration. Who will help send this young bright girl (photo at left), who comes from a poor family in Tagudin, to SAS high school this school year 2012?
At last count so far, we have successfully solicited 4 sponsors for our planned 9 freshmen - we need to find 5 more sponsors if we are to meet our goal for the year 2012. How are we doing with the solicitations?
I know how hard it is to solicit sponsorships but we need to keep thinking about these bright young kids. What kind of a future do they face? A good high school education, such as the one offered by our Alma Mater SAS is what they need at a bare minimum in order to remain competitive in this global market for labor.
Once again I am asking all of us to intensify our search and our campaign to find sponsors for our student candidates. If we believe that education is freedom, then nothing could be more important than a good high school education. Join me in this sobering and most serious mission. We need to find those 5 sponsors!
 Lamborghini La Rioza _ God truly listens and responds to our prayers… at the right time; in HIS time!!!
One thing I have always wished and prayed for is to own a vehicle in mint condition. Well, let us qualify that statement – I mean a vehicle in mint condition that my tight budget will allow me to purchase, one that can comfortably accommodate and sit at least all my 4 kiddos when they all come visit me here in Houston.
And you know what? My prayers were answered!
I was browsing the net while savoring my freshly brewed hazelnut flavored coffee last Saturday, Dec 24th @ about 9 AM when I came across a newly posted ad online describing this vehicle for sale. By 4 PM that very same day I drove the vehicle home… but not after some trying times. Here’s the chronology of my Saturday adventure:
(1) After I checked out the vehicle from front to back, roof down to the rims of the tires, I decided not to buy it because the seller wanted $2K more than I could afford and willing to pay. Being a prudent shopper the price I offered to pay was way below the trade-in value. Daydiay ti makuna nga nairot la unay diay siniglotna nga sinsilyo… uray la nga agtiritir pay diay piwis diay aglako.
(2) I was about to walk away and back to my truck when I realized that I didn’t have my car keys with me. I left them in my purse – in the truck of course – when I stepped out upon my arrival. So now I am locked out of my truck. The rain that started as a light drizzle has now evolved into a full blown torrential downpour. I am used to a little rain – why, in Ambalayat we used to have a deluge each and every monsoon season. But the stiff wind blowing added to the chill factor. Checking my jacket pocket all I had with me was a credit card, my driver's license and my iPhone!!! Everything else I left in my purse. I whispered, "Lord this is not funny at all...Paskua pay Apo … apay ngay nga KillJoy can sa metten?”
(3) I called three close friends who lived nearby where I was stranded. Would you believe not a single one was available to respond? I got their message machines. Okay, so they were all busy preparing for the Noche Buena, but come on, not even one could pick up and answer the phone? As a side note, they all called back later that evening. Not being able to raise any help I again whispered, “God please stop teasing me, I need to get back home!!!”
(4) I was stuck there alone in the rain, in the cold. Dusk was quickly falling. I took a quick muster of the actions I could take and in what order. I could call a locksmith to come open my Ford Ranger pickup truck – but that would cost a steep $100 dollars and that could buy one pinugpogan nga kalding. So I gave up on that thought. I was mentally rearranging my priorities all over again when the seller tapped me on the shoulder and said he had an idea. I was all ears.
He said, “When you made your first offer, I countered with $2,000 more. Well I have been thinking and I would be glad to take just $500 more instead. That's about $1500 less than I expected to get. Can we make a deal?”
Without any more haggling we sealed the deal, I ran to the bank and asked for a manager's check which is the only payment option other than cash the seller wanted, did all paperwork required, called my insurance and the vehicle was mine. I whispered finally...”God, thank you!”
When I got home, my two other children (kadwa da ni Amang da), just barely arrived after spending more than 40 hours on the road driving mostly in bad weather from Los Angeles. My daughter felt so traumatized with the experience of driving during and right after a snow storm she swore never to do long driving again!!! My inaunaan and the kim-ot took the plane last Monday and were already home.
Again, I firmly believe that GOD TRULY LISTENS AND RESPONDS to our prayers. As a side note, I am still waiting for Him to give me my ultimate dream car....a brand new LAMBORGHINI. I see the Lord shaking his head in disbelief. Oh well, you all continue to enjoy the holiday season. Be safe in your travels and God bless you!
 The 2001 Toyota SR5 4Runner La Rioza
 "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of good will." _My father never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.
It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Dad wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible.
After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Dad to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Dad didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing in self-pity. Soon Dad came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard.
"Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight."
I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Dad was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Dad was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Mom gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what..
Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Dad was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy. When I was on, Dad pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed.
"I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. "Here, help me."
The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high side boards on. After we had exchanged the sideboards, Dad went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood - the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something. "Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?"
"You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I'd been by, but so what?
"Yeah," I said, "Why?"
"I rode by just today," Dad said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of firewood, Matt."
That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Dad called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and he took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand.
"What's in the little sack?" I asked.
"Shoes, they're out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy ."
We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what my father was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Dad buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had neighbors who lived closer to them than us; it shouldn't have been our concern.
We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?"
"Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt, could we come in for a bit?"
Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.
"We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Dad said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Dad handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children - sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at my father like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out.
"We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Dad said. He turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up."
I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak. My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before, filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.
I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Dad handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us."
In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I'd never thought of my father in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than my father had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Mom and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it.
Dad insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes. Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Dad took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their father, and I was glad that I still had mine.
At the door Dad turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell."
I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away.
Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have to say, May the Lord bless you, I know for certain that He will."
Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Dad turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your Mom and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your Mom and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that, but on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand."
I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad my father had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Dad had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children.
For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside my fatrher that night. Dad had given me much more than a rifle that night; he had given me the best Christmas of my life."
 Karen Paola Makil, SAS Ai Topnotch Scholar _Karen Paola Makil (photo at left) was chosen as SAS Ai, Inc.'s Most Outstanding Scholar at the 11/20/2011 recognition day proceedings held at Tagudin Seaside Park and hosted by the SAS Ai president, Atty Romeo J Somera.
The basis of her selection is her cumulative record of excellent performance from the period beginning November 15, 2010 to the present time.
For starters, Karen holds the highest grade point average of her sophomore class based on her first grading period performance.
She is a member of the SAS Honor Roll.
She is the most prolific participant in extracurricular activities outside of the classroom. Activities, such as, the Journalism Symposium held in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
Lastly, Karen is the most active participant in the SAS Ai Virtual Classroom, doing all the assignments and being part of all activities.
Additionally, Karen has consistently kept up her excellent performance all throughout her freshman year.
We are proud of all our SAS Ai scholars. They work hard at their studies in addition to helping with household chores.
Congratulations to Karen Paola Makil on her selection as the Most Outstanding Scholar topnotch scholar of her sophomore class.
 My dear friends,
You can't see it in the photo but I have a tin cup sitting by my right foot. It is for the $2 (two dollar monthly pledges) we are asking our supporters and fellow Augustinians to finance our school year 2012 scholars.
We are relying on your sense of generosity, your deep desire to help these bright and promising sixth graders who come from very poor families in our community of Tagudin get a good high school education at SAS.
We all know that charity and altruism do not totally and solely belong to the province of the wealthy. Time and again we have seen our poor brethren come to the aid of those who don't have any. Yes, a $5 dollar bill here, a $10 dollar bill there - why even a $20 dollar bill that has lost its way to the casino would come in very handy.
And please help us by spreading the word to all your friends and contacts. We are not asking for much. More importantly we are asking for your volunteered financial support. Let it come from your heart. Let us help these bright kids make something out of their lives. Education, after all, is freedom. Be a freedom fighter. Help us with our mission. God bless you.
 Albert Bunoan, leader of the SAS Ai Field Team held the very first meeting of the year with the scholars last Friday, June 10, 2011. He filed the following report:Meeting was informal. We had to hold it as briefly as possible so that Jonel Leal and Mariella Tacho (from Ambalayat) and Michelle Pera (from Pula) will still be able to get a ride home. A small problem arises when once the bulk of students and employees have gone home, finding a ride to the far barangays is close to impossible. The cost of chartered transportation ( arkila) is about PhP60.00. - I opened the meeting by reading the important message of the Scholarship Committee Chairman, VP/Secretary Deacon Tom Buenavista to the scholars.
- Extended your congratulations to the scholars
- Field team members Annie, Aleli Mae, Michelle and yours truly talked about what SAS Ai expects from the scholars, the very reason why they are in SAS, team unity and cooperation, discipline, role of the Field Team and more importantly, being grateful to their generous sponsors.
- Asked them to create their own email accounts and assigned the sophomores to assist the freshmen on this matter.
Louella and Remy did not attend the meeting due to prior commitments. Other issues and concerns: - The freshmen need additional notebooks, specific notebooks required by their teachers. I immediately notified Hely and made arrangements with her. Payment will be charged to the proceeds from sale of souvenir items.
- Noel and Louella informed me that they are experiencing some difficulty accommodating the scholars (even in batches) in their computer shop. They only have 5 units available.
- The immediate need for USBs to be used by the freshmen and the seniors. I think this will be taken cared of by Jingle.
Photo Gallery
 (Top Row L-R) Maiah Dauz, Everilyn Jamandra, Geraldine Layco, Kyle Zyra Lazo, Melvic Legaspina, and Stephanie Taay.
(Bottom Row L-R) Mariella Tacho, Krisha Teodosio, Rocel Ann Vinluan, Angelita Ang, Nesza Queen Camonas, and Arthien Lovell Pelingen.
We congratulate ALL our new 2011 scholars. They have worked hard to garner this prestigious if not most highly coveted scholarship award. They are very deserving of this opportunity and privilege. Let us help them learn, grow, and become successful by our support and example.
 Jessa Lastimosa Jessa Lastimosa is one of our three senior high school scholars. She is graduating high school this April 1st with honors. It was readily apparent from the very start of the school year that Jessa had what it takes to be an honor student. She excelled not only in her academics but also in CAT as a member of the honor guard. Jessa shows leadership qualities that separates her from the crowd. Not only is she a follower but also an unquestionable leader. We congratulate Jessa and wish her all the best as she embarks upon her secondary voyage into the college world.
 Karen Paola Makil Karen Paola Makil is one of our nine freshmen who started their SAS scholarship in school year 2010. She is also the only sixth grader who graduated from SAS elementary. Karen Paola achieved her high grades very easily. Of course in the background she worked very hard to maintain such good marks but she did make it look easy. Ready with her bright smile, Karen is a very charitable person, giving aid to her fellow scholars whenever they needed it. She has big dreams and with academic performances such as she has displayed here, she should be on the ascent for most of the four years of high school. Congratulations Karen Paola.
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