We are alumni and friends of St. Mary's School, Sagada, Mountain
Province, Northern Philippines, committed to helping said school
overcome its financial difficulties and avert plans of closing
it.
St. Mary's School, Sagada, is one of the institutions established
by American missionaries to educate and free our people, the
Igorots of Northern Luzon, from the bondage of ignorance and
socio-economic stagnation if not decay. We fully realize that most
of us could never have been what we are now had it not been for the
quality of education we received from St. Mary's School. It
behooves us to try and help the school continue its mission of
dispensing quality education for the benefit of those coming after
us.
As our late SMS alumni president, Mr. Frank Longid, would
often exhort us: "We warmed ourselves with fires built by other
people many of whom we have never met or alien to us, and drank
from wells they dug. We, therefore, should do likewise for those
coming after us particularly as they involve our very own
people."
The guiding principle of our endeavor is borrowed from the St.
Mary's School motto of "Aditako Bokodan di Gawis" which, in Igorot
Kan-kaney langauage, means "Let us share our blessings".
Alumni and Friends of St. Mary's School, Sagada have set up two
organizations to help rehabilitate St. Mary's School:
- St. Mary's School of Sagada Inc.[SMSSI], a non-profit
foundation established under the Laws of the Republic of the
Philippines which has taken over the administration of St. Mary's
School; and
- SMSS Alumni and Friends Foundation, a public charity
organization established under the Laws of the United States to
help generate tax-exempt donations for SMSSI and other "needy
not-for-profit" schools involved in the educational concerns of
indigenous communities in the Philippines.
Our Vision and Mission Statements for the above-named organizations
are as follows:
For St. Mary's School of Sagada Inc. [SMSSI]:
- VISION: SMS best
high school in Mt. Province, Philippines by year 2008 and best high
school in the Cordillera region by year 2013.
- MISSION: To be a
Christian school with strong emphasis on science & technology;
well equipped laboratory and library; highly qualified and well
paid faculty; and serving as training ground for future
leaders.
For SMSS Alumni and Friends Foundation:
- VISION: A reliable/
trustworthy charitable organization committed to helping St. Mary’s
School endure as a source of quality and affordable education for
Igorots and related people in Northern Philippines. A capable
supporter of efforts undertaken by other non-profit schools to
educate Igorots and related people.
- MISSION: SMSS
Alumni and Friends Foundation exists to help generate
tax-deductible donations, grants and aids, bequests, devises,
transfers or gifts in support of educational, scientific and
research projects, including building and facilities improvements,
undertaken to improve the quality of education offered by St.
Mary’s School, Sagada. We will share our resources, to the extent
possible, with other non-profit schools having similar
missions/status as St. Mary's School, Sagada.
On
Saint Mary's School
On the
history of Saint Mary's School
On
articulating the Mission and Vision
On
the second 5-year Development Plan (2010-2015)
On
Priority Projects
The
Board and Officers
The
Contact Persons