Balitaan Newsletter 44, Spring 2007 www.rpcvphilippines.org PO Box 100114, Arlington, VA 22210 14 scholars graduate Hobbit House renewed News from scholars PCVs in English project Julia in the Philippines Saving letters to home Fourteen scholars A Manila institution Excerpts from essays by Philippines 266, Letters Home From supported by the started by a PCV from current scholars (and counting 64 new PCVs, Peace Corps will be one PCAFPD won diplomas Group ! finds a new one from the ‘90s) give arrived in the country way for Peace Corps from a variety of location in Ermita a picture of student life May 12 with a mission, Writers to preserve the institutions all over the Page 6 on several different among other tasks, of history of the Peace Philippines. Philippine campuses. improving the quality of Corps. Page 5 One scholar talks about English teaching as part Page 2 the state of English in of the country’s overall Friends remember the the country. development. contributions made by a Page 3 Page 5 volunteer whose life showed great promise. Page 7 at UP/Los Baños, who has volunteered as group developed an important initiative--the identification coach and mentor. of “cluster leaders” in provinces where there are concentrations of PCAFPD scholars and graduates. PSAA on Nevertheless, PSAA is at a crossroads. The The cluster leaders would promote membership organization has to date been centered in the Ma- and create local support networks. To execute the nila area. Scholars and alumni throughout the plan will require financial support. the move, country need to know about PSAA. An active net- work of scholars and alumni will add important PCAFPD will seek a proposal from PSAA with dimensions to the work of the Foundation. The specific plans and estimated costs for moving the group can provide mutual support as scholars earn organization to expanded membership in the if you help their degrees and as they seek employment oppor- provinces. We also will consider applying for a tunities following graduation. It can become an grant for the organization to reach its full potential. A small band of creative and energetic current important resource to the Foundation in setting In the interim, we need help from you. Might you scholars and alumni created the Philippine Scholars policy and direction, and can assist in scholar re- be willing to send a donation earmarked for the and Alumni Association (PSAA) in 2006. Under cruitment, selection and mentoring. PSAA to cover meeting and communications ex- the leadership of President Ariestelo Asilo, PSAA Most important, however, is the potential of penses? (We are reluctant to designate current has met six times, written a constitution, conducted PSAA, as stated in its Constitution, to become an contributions to the scholarship fund for PSAA a leadership retreat and, through it all, demon- organized force promoting the purpose of the support.) Or, do you know of any foundations or strated the spirit and the talent that we seek in Foundation—the education of bright young Filipi- organizations that might be interested in a grant PCAFPD scholars. nos to contribute to Philippine development. application to support the PSAA? The rationale for Vice President Roland de Jesus, Board Members support would be leadership development for Phil- PSAA needs financial help to move the organiza- Alex Romero and Hans Groot have provided guid- ippine development. We also welcome comments tion beyond Manila. The current officers and ance and in-kind or financial support to the group. and suggestions, which can be sent to members even need help to sustain their current Recently, Geri Maiatico, an RPCV and former staff level of engagement; few have the extra money it [email protected] staffer in PC/Philippines, hosted the group at her takes for transportation, Internet connections, farm in Batangas. The group has also benefited etc. At the recent meeting in Batangas, the group Maraming Salamat! from the assistance of Lowela Padilla, an instructor B A L I T A A N response from 111 households, or from more than eral large contributions so that the effort paid for 37% of those who received the invitation. Fifty- itself plus some. Most important, we added some Foundation's four households, or 18% of the total, made a regu- new supporters to our database who are likely to lar annual or semi-annual contribution in addition give again in future years. The Board has decided 'extra' appeals to the contribution they sent in response to the that sending out 600 more letters this year will be a invitation. worthwhile activity. are productive We estimate that the effort netted slightly more PCAFPD will continue efforts to expand the than $3,700 in funds that were over and above database and to increase Foundation income PCAFPD undertook two “extra” fund-raising what we might have received without the extra through an annual special appeal. Look for a spe- efforts in 2006 — efforts beyond the usual semi- effort. We were thrilled by the response and re- cial mailing in the fall. annual newsletter appeal. One, the "No-Show lieved that the extra income would help us to man- We count on and appreciate your unflagging 45th Anniversary Barrio Dance," was sent to regu- age rising scholar costs and a few more scholars. support for the work of the Foundation. And, as lar supporters. The other, an outreach letter to The outreach letter has been mailed to 391 ad- you know from scholar letters to PCAFPD, your RPCVs who had served in the Philippines but were dresses so far (we are using the NPCA 2006 Direc- generosity makes it possible for them to achieve not current supporters of PCAFPD. was designed tory and have identified more than 600 addressees their dreams of a college education and a better life to bring new supporters to the foundation. that we have not yet contacted). Although the re- for themselves and their families. The invitation to the "No-Show Barrio Dance' sponse was small (3%), and a number of letters Maraming salamat! -- Maureen Carroll went to 294 frequent contributors. We received a were returned as undeliverable, we received sev- Corps experience: Making the decision to join, For the 50th: training, Peace Corps service, friends, host country Foundation income up nationls, family visits, after the Peace Corps, life as 12.5% in last fiscal year 'Letters Home an RPCV, returning to the host country. Send us no more than three of your best letters or The Foundation’s income grew 12.5% to $29,226 From Peace Corps' e-mails. Select the letter(s) that mean the most to in the fiscal year ending April 30, Treasurer Stu you; that tell a story you want to tell. Taylor reports. Donations accounted for $27,682 from mailed contributions; $292 came from on-line Peace Corps Writers has agreed to edit a collec- Mailing us your correspondence for the first donations and $1,253 from the Foundation’s per- tion of Peace Corps letters to be published as part round of selection by Sept. 1 of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the centage from the National Peace Corps Associa- Peace Corps. For letter(s): Send a legible photocopy or typed tion. transcript. If we have trouble reading your hand- We are happy to say we will be advised in this writing, your letter will not be considered for pub- PCAFPD's fiscal year, which corresponds with project by Andrew Carroll, editor of the best- lication. the school year in the Philippines, recorded costs of selling book War Letters: Extraordinary Corre- $24,034, of which direct scholar costs were spondence from American Wars, featuring letters of • Please do not send original letters. We cannot $$22,345 or 93%. Taylor credits the work American soldiers from many eras. return anything sent to us. of Roland de Jesus, the Foundation's vice president in the Philippines, for keeping overhead costs to Andrew Carroll is the executive director of the • Send to: Marian Haley Beil, 4 Lodge Pole Road, 7%. He and his assistant, Daisy Mejia, are vital to American Poetry & Literacy Project, a nonprofit Pittsford, NY 14534 the Foundation's work, Taylor said. Scholar ex- organization he co-founded with the late Nobel For e-mail, send to: penses include tuition, fee, books, uniforms, and laureate Joseph Brodsky, which distributes free cost of living expenses (33% of costs). books throughout the country to promote literacy. [email protected] Letters Home From Peace Corps will be one way • Please put in the subject line: Expenses in this country came to $4,362, almost for Peace Corps Writers to preserve the history of totally for newsletters production and mailing, plus Letters Home From the Peace Corps the Peace Corps. We believe that personal corre- mailings soliciting donations. Other costs were spondence offers a valuable insight into the experi- Please include for either letters or e-mails: Website fees, a membership fee to the NPCA and ence we all shared. new-scholar mailings. • Information about yourself or the PCV/RPCV or Selecting your letters for submission staff member who wrote the letter (e.g., where and The Board has has stated that no scholarship will when he or she served, and any other important be awarded unless there are funds to cover the The first deadline for letter selection is Sept. 1. personal and/or background information), entire four-year costs of a new scholar. Taylor said While we prefer to see previously unpublished • Your e-mail address, mailing address and phone the Board was pleased to report that there are funds material, letters and/or emails that have already number.