The Surprise Project

It came as a surprise to everyone in Mindanao State University-Sulu Laboratory High School (MSU-Sulu LHS). The old, ugly and almost neglected façades of the Grades 7 and 10 were transformed into newly repaired and repainted ones in just one weekend! Only a few knew about what happened and who were those behind it. And those who have no idea where left amazed and yes, surprised.

This was how it was planned, and just as how we wanted it to be. The First MSU-Sulu LHS Alumni “Give-Back” project was the first ever project done by the high school alumni for their alma mater without soliciting even a single centavo from their school. It was a spur-of-the-moment event that started from just mere concern for their beloved alma mater to a sudden, successful project, Alhamdulillah.

Yes, we started from nothing. It started with the statement “This makes us sad, what can we do?” to “Yes, maybe we can do something small first” until “Let us make it happen then!”. At first, we only thought we could only do the repainting (estimated expenses at Php 3,000) and yet, Alhamdulillah, after two short days, we were able to do far more than that! We were able to receive more than Php 15,000 (!) from different donors and these were the things that we were able to accomplish:

1.       Repaired and repainted the rotten and destroyed fascia board “sanipa” of the Grade 10 building

2.       Repainted the Grade 7 building

3.       Repainted the Grade 10 building

4.       Repaired some destroyed walls 

Kah Noenyrie Asiri (one in white shirt) handing the plywood to replace the old fascia boards.  (Photo from N.Asiri)

Trying to remember our Chemistry class on how to mix paints. (Photo from N.Asiri)

Oh, everyone went through the Vandal Wall at the back of Grade 10 building. Sorry guys, gotta say bye-bye to your love ones. (Photo from N.Asiri)

Volunteers working together to finish the job in one day. (Photo from N.Asiri)

Cleaning up the walls before repainting. (Photo from N.Asiri)

Of course, lunch must be served! Nothing beats a feastive lunch after a long, exhausting work. (Photo from N.Asiri)

Atty. Meltino Sibulan (standing, leftmost) the President of the MSU-Sulu LHS Alumni Association discussed matters with the Principal, the DSA Chairman, the Librarian, the volunteers and the carpenter. More projects are being planned right now, Alhamdulillah! (Photo from N.Asiri)

 

Starting the repainting of newly replaced fascia boards (sanipa), showing the alumni volunteers how it's done. (Photo from N.Asiri)

  

Dr. Abdurajak, the Principal stayed with us until we finished everything. Such a great father he is. Photo by A.Hajiri

The Principal surveys the newly repainted Grade 7 (First year) building. Photo by A.Hajiri

The Grade 7 building before repair and repainting. Photo by A.Hajiri

The newly repaired and repainted Grade 10 (Fourth year) building. Looks better now. I am sure the students will be surprised. Photo by A.Hajiri

This was how it looks like before... so depressing right?

Photos by A.Hajiri

 

The exhausted yet very fulfilled Alumni volunteers strikes a pose with the Principal after their long day working. Their finished work at the background. (Photo by A.Hajiri)

 

Indeed our greatest thanks to all those who helped out and made this humble project a success—given the short time of planning (3 hours) we had. Indeed this taught us as Alumni that what we need is just a headstart, a little push at the back and things will roll on its own through Allah’s help. Even if we contribute little things at the start, if we are united and we all do it with great sincerity to help and not asking for anything in return, surely He will make things easy for us. All praise is indeed to Allah!

It is our pleasure somehow to mention these names (although most of them insist that we don’t) who made this project possible:

1.      Atty. Meltino Sibulan, batch 1997 and current President of the MSU-Sulu LHS Alumni Association. He never hesitated in providing whatever we need from buying the paints and painting materials, he even gave more than what he should have. And we know his time (as an attorney at that) is so precious to him and yet he was always ready to give us a part of them, just for the sincere intention of helping to his beloved alma mater. Indeed he is one person that is worth being inspired with.

2.      Kah Noenyrie Asiri, my “partner-in-crime” for this sudden project. My adviser and partner in crime hehe. He mobilized the recruitment of volunteers (USCC), the delicious tiyapa ista' and keeping us updated with the "now happenings". Please keep on supporting all his projects.

3.      The very generous Alumni of MSU-Sulu LHS who are now working in the far, faraway places and yet their hearts remain with us at home.

4.      The United Sulu Chess Club (USCC) who volunteered to help from day 1 even though they were not alumni themselves

 5.      To kah Ameera Omar, for cooking the tiyapa for us

6.      To maam Misba Musahari (my beloved mother), who prepared our lunch and snacks (apam mapasuh pa hehe)--important things that a naive person like me would always forget.

7.      To Sir Said, our next Principal who never gets tired in making things happen for our beloved alma mater. He never stops thinking about things to make our school a better place, physically and academically. He stayed with us for that two long days, he even helped out even though he is fasting! masha Allah.

8.      To Sir John and the SSGs, for letting us borrow their equipments and helping out as well (when they realized we cannot do it alone anymore, hehe)

9.      To all the young Alumni from different batches who came and physically helped. Iyulanan na hiyapdi-hiyapdian pa, sa wayra sila nag-give-up laung. Magsukul tuud kaniyu mga manghud. Amuna sa yan in legacy kiyabiyn niyu be proud, paibuga niyu in mga way naka-attend hehe.

Magsukul kaniyu katan. In sha Allah ha susungun project isab, mammayan labi mataud pa in makaagad. Iban magsukul ha pagTrust niyu ha taymanghud niyu ini. Alhamdulilah, misan inut2 yan na nagmumpaat in miyaksud sin kitaniyu anak-bata sin MSU Lab high.

Even if we are miles away, we can always be proud to say: "I AM AN MSU-LABHIGH ALUMNI!"

Financial Statement

I. Pledges and Donations (all received)

Name, Batch	Amount
Atty. Meltino Sibulan, 1997	P 3,000
Ms. Proserfina Hassan, 1997	5,000
Noenyrie Asiri, 1998	2,000
Anonymous, 2007	1,000
Anonymous, 2007	1,000
Mrs. Ibbang, 1986	200
Mustapa I. Bakil, 1997	2,100
(Non-Alumni)
Dr. Raden Ikbala	500
Said Abdurajak, PhD (Principal)	500
TOTAL	Php 15,300.00

II. Expenses

Name, Batch	Amount	Inclusions/Notes
Materials for repair and repainting of fascia board	P 8,680.00	construction materials, paints, etc.
Material for repainting of 2 buildings (Grades 7 and 10)	3, 697.00	paints, paint brushes, thinners, etc.s
Carpenter Labor for 2 days	1,000.00
TOTAL	Php 13, 377.00
Funds	Php 15, 300.00
Balance	Php 1, 923.00	(turned over to the next Project Head)

III. ALUMNI AND VOLUNTEERS who went to help in the repainting

(No payments nor allowances for them save for the snacks and lunch provided by another loving donor, the “Mother” Librarian, Mrs Misba Sampang)

Name	Batch
Atty. Meltino Sibulan, 1997	P 3,000
Ms. Proserfina Hassan, 1997	5,000
Noenyrie Asiri, 1998	2,000
Anonymous, 2007	1,000
Anonymous, 2007	1,000
Mrs. Ibbang, 1986	200
Mustapa I. Bakil, 1997	2,100
(Non-Alumni)
Dr. Raden Ikbala	500
Said Abdurajak, PhD (Principal)	500
TOTAL	Php 15,300.00

MAGSUKUL TUUD KANIYU KATAN!

In sha Allah, we are hoping that this is only the start of a greater project the Alumni have for our beloved alma mater. This is just the beginning. A “Phase one” of a series of many more projects to come. In fact, this coming weekend (August 1-2, 2015) we will be continuing with the “Alumni Give Back Project Part 2” focusing on repairing the falling ceilings outside the same buildings. (too bad I would no longer be in Jolo by then).

We may do this little by little, because our funds are limited and subject to the number of available “donors” from our generous alumni ^_^ still, this is indeed a one big step for us, Alhamdulillah!

By this time, whenever we are right now, we can easily say that we are “PROUD TO BE AN MSU-LABHIGH ALUMNI!”

Salam Kasilasa!

Ahmad ibn Hajiri

PS.

If you are an MSU-SULU LHS ALUMNUS/ALUMNA or you know anyone who is, kindly visit and joing our FB Group here. If you are not an alumnus/alumni and yet you want to know how you can help, please kindly PM sir Noenyrie Asiri (the current Project head) in his FB account here.