abb 07 july 1 (ver_ 2) final - International School Manila

Romnick Blanco, one of the newest Filipino Scholars, used to walk across dangerous terrain, not to
mention this river, for four hours every week to get to school. Read his awe-inspiring journey on p. 1.
IN THIS ISSUE
Kamusta?
To be an alumnus of American/ International
School Manila is definitely something to be
proud of—much more so after getting to
know one particular ISM student, the 14-
year-old Romnick Blanco. This young boy
recently made history: In the 92-year history
of our alma mater, Romnick is the first- and
only- child of a rural farmer who has
attended our school. His story ties back to
the story of a promising alumna in ways that
are magical and miraculous. Read their
parallel journeys inside.
There are plenty more reasons to be proud!
An alumna was recently awarded by US
President Barack Obama. A group of alumni,
from the 60’s to present, came out to
support the launch of a library in a public
school. To be an alumnus is to be proud; our
heritage and history dictate us so. But it is
ultimately our hearts that define the legacy
we leave behind.
Ingat,
Alumni Office
International School Manila
JULY 2012
A Journey of Hope
p.1
Class Chowdowns p.8
...and guess who was
awarded by US President
Barack Obama recently?
Turn to p. 6 to find out!

A
JOURNEY
OF
HOPE
How one Filipino Scholar’s story
is inspiring others

How Social Media Helped a Dream Come
True
By Natashya “Ashley” Gutierrez ‘06
Reprinted with permission from Rappler.com
When people ask me why I write, I give them a variety of
reasons. I say I love it, that it's my passion. I say I write
because I find a sense of purpose. I say I am drawn to the
power that writing has, to be able to shape people's
thoughts and ideas.
And I've always told myself that if at least one story I had
written, or a single sentence had been powerful enough
to touch a life, then I would have succeeded.
But never did I imagine that I would, with written words,
be able to change the course of someone's life.
Tears from Twitter
I am about to tell you a story that I think about when I
have bad days as a journalist. It reminds me -- fully and
completely -- about why I do what I do, about not just
the power of articles and news stories, but the power of
the Internet and social media as well.
In January, I wrote a blog on Rappler about how a
scholarship to the International School of Manila turned
my life around when I was 12 years old, and how it paved
the way for me to a fully-funded education at Yale
University. Over a month later, as I was driving through
the streets of Manila on my way to the Rappler office, I
received several tweets from a Twitter user I didn't
know.
They read,
@natashya_g hi natashya, my name is Art Demain, and I
work for Green Earth Heritage Foundation. A farmer's
child named Romnick, who walks for two hours on
unpaved roads and crosses a bridgeless river just to
learn, just made it to the panel interview of ISM for the
Philippine Scholarship.
I sincerely thank you for writing that inspiring article
about your experiences as an ISM scholar. You're
amazing! I really pray that this impoverished kid gets in
because Romnick can really be one of ISM's success
stories. Sorry for the multiple tweets. Take care and
keep on using your talents to inform and inspire people.
From top: 14-year-old boy wonder Romnick
Blanco; Romnick intently studies in a corner of
their humble home
I read the tweets and I cried.

Who was this young boy -- the son of a farmer -- who
walked 2 hours every single day to get to school? How did
he come across my article? And would he get the
scholarship?
I got the answer 10 days later.
On Twitter, the same username sent me a series of
tweets.
@natashya_g hi natashya! hope you're having a great day!
romnick just made it to ISM! the entire rural poor farming
community we serve is overjoyed by the news. he'll start
classes on april 16. i can never thank you enough for
inspiring him. this is indeed a once in a lifetime
opportunity. i hope your paths will cross someday so he
can give you a warm hug. THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
Searching for Romnick
I knew I had to find this boy. The only information I had
were based on the tweets of a total stranger. With bated
breath, I searched online for Green Earth Heritage
Foundation, crossing my fingers that this wasn't a hoax,
praying, hoping beyond hope that there was such an
organization and this Art Demain was a real person.
The foundation exists. I picked up the phone, called the
number I found on Google, and asked for Art. Art exists as
well.
He wasn't there when I called but I got his cellphone
number and a week later, I was en route to meet Romnick
in person. Romnick Blanco is a short, thin, dark-skinned
14-year-old boy with the brightest of smiles. He is quiet,
reserved, but you can tell he is excited -- his eyes are
large, eager and wide. I hugged him as soon as I saw him.
I have a strikingly different background from Romnick but
I feel the strongest connection to him because I know we
will have a shared experience soon, once he starts school
at ISM. I engaged him in conversation and he responded to
me in halted, hesitant English.
From top: Romnick sets off for the two-hour
trek; Some roads are passable, others barely so;
Romnick crosses the bridgeless river to get to
Green Earth’s school
I learned he is the 7th of 9 children, and that unlike his
older siblings who dropped out of school, he stayed on
because he truly wanted to learn. I discovered that he
lives in Bulacan and hikes the foothills of the Sierra Madre
Mountains for Green Earth's onsite education programs. I
learned that it was Art, who teaches English to the kids,
who had shown him my article. I discovered that he
dreams of becoming an English teacher one day.
3

I wanted to tell him so much! I wanted to tell him
about how his life is about to change, about how he
can be anything he wants to be. I wanted to tell him
I am incredibly proud of him and that I am rooting for
him.
And I did, at least I tried to.
But I know he will not understand until years from
now, like I did, the impact of the scholarship. Instead
I know I must leave him to learn for himself, to
navigate his new world. The least I can do is tell him
to reach out to me if he needs anything, anything at
all.
Two sentences
Romnick attended ISM for 6 weeks before summer
started. He will be back next school year to enter as
an 8th grader.He said he was surprised by the sheer
size of the school, the buildings, the classrooms, the
resources. He started playing sports and said classes
were okay so far, although he needs a little work on
Math. I am told he struggles to understand one of his
teachers who has a thick British accent. He no longer
needs to walk 2 hours to and from school because a
free bus service picks him up.
Right now he lives with a host family associated with
the Green Earth foundation where he is closer to
school, and has a sensational support system at
GreenEarth that guides him every step of the way.
I am grateful to have somehow been part of his
dream. And that mine -- of touching a life with words
-- has come true too.
Art says there was a sentence or two that inspired
Romnick the most when he read my article. It said, "I
write this in the hopes of inspiring other young,
simple adolescents who are what I was 13 years ago.
I wish for them to take a stab at a dream they might
never have known they had."
From top: Romnich with his parents Renato, a rice
and vegetable farmer, and Imelda Blanco,
homemaker, from San Miguel, Bulaca; Romnick and
Natashya meet for the first time
If you would like to know more
about the Filipino Scholarship
Program and the Vicky SyCip
Herrera Scholarship Fund that funds
the ISM education of an additional,
truly deserving Filipino student,
please send an inquiry to
alumni@ismanila.org.
Two simple sentences.
And I am reminded, this is why I write. - Rappler.com
Article reprinted with permission from
Rappler.com
Pictures courtesy of
Green Earth Heritage Foundation

MIT-bound Chris Ong ’12, one of
the Filipino Scholars, recently
made history! He joined the ranks
of a elite few by getting a PERFECT
International Baccalaureate score
of 45! That means he got a perfect
7 on all his 6 I.B. exams plus 3
points for his Extended Essay
and Theory of Knowledge.
Congratulations, Chris!
Chris follows in the footsteps
of former Filipino Scholar
Paolo Yap ’03 who also got a
perfect 45 and went on to
Harvard on a full scholarship!
A BIG congratulations also to
Class of 2012’s Angela Sy and
Matt Borja for bagging 44 on
their I.B. scores!
Share with us your stories
of success! Landed that
dream job? Bagged that
award? Just got married
to the love of your life, or
became a proud parent?
Tell us! Shoutouts to
alumni@ismanila.org.
Antonia Martel ’02 makes
stylish waves in New York
with the launch her
minimalist fashion line
Martel. The line will soon hit
the racks of Univers at
One Rockwell in Manila.
More at alumni.ismanila.org.
GREEN
& GOLD
Whether a wise Indian or a bubbly
Bearcat, there is just so much to
be proud of for being an ISM alum!
Tim Cone ’76, celebrated
basketball coach, is
featured in The Philippine
Star. More at
alumni.ismanila.org.
Scott “Gutsy” Tuason
’86 swims with sharks
for a living. Need we say
more? As a travel and
wildlife photographer,
he scours the world for
the most dazzling of
images. His hard work
paid off: He was given
the most prestigious
award in underwater
photography. More at
alumni.ismanila.org.
5

Congratulations to Dixie (Manson) Ross '81 who was
recently awarded by US President Barack Obama for
her excellence in teaching and service for 28 years.
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in
Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)
recognizes individuals who bring teaching to life in
their classrooms. Screened thoroughly by an
esteemed panel of educators, mathematicians, and
scientists, the Presidential Award is the most coveted
recognition given to K-12 educators in the fields of
math and science annually.
Dixie, an Advanced Placement calculus teacher at
Pflugerville High School, has this to say about the
prestigious award: "I think this Presidential Award
not only recognizes me, but also the hard work of our
Pflugerville students and their many teachers who
set high standards and provide the support necessary
to get students to perform at high levels."
"America’s success in the 21st century depends on
our ability to educate our children, give our workers
the skills they need, and embrace technological
change. That starts with the men and women in front
of our classrooms. These teachers are the best of the
best, and they stand as excellent examples of the
kind of leadership we need in order to train the next
generation of innovators and help this country get
ahead,” said President Obama.
Presidential Awardees receive $10,000 from the
National Science Foundation as well as an invitation
to the capital for an awards ceremony and a
succession of celebrations with members of Congress
and the Administration.
Congratulations, Dixie! We are very proud of you!
Dixie, second from top left, poses
for a yearbook picture with the
very apt heading “Freshmen- Great
Achievers”! Coincidence?
ALUMNI
SPOTLIGHT
Dixie (Manson) Ross ’81
achieved the unthinkable.
Her excellence in teaching
has earned her the coveted
Presidential Award signed
by no other than US
President Barack Obama.
How’s that for Indian Pride?
Source: Statesman Thanks to Teresa McCarthy-Greene '81 for breaking the news!

BEARCATS TO
BOOKWORMS
An enthusiastic band of alumni and
current students visited Tagaytay, two
hours south of Manila, for a very special
Saturday to launch Vicky Herrera’s
second library, this time for the benefit
of Mendez Crossing Elementary School.
Hundreds of books donated by our very
own alumni from all over the world flew
off the shelves as public school students
selected their favorite titles. Diary of a
Wimpy Kid, anyone?
Michelle Palmer-Alvino '79 has brought it
to our attention that Beth Rhodes Wenck
has hit the jackpot! Beth came across
tons of books, including brand new
classroom sets! She has ten (10)
Balikbayan boxes full that need to be
sent to the Philippines and has collected
enough to get three (3) out the door.
They're looking for donations to send the
other seven (7) boxes. It costs $100/box
for shipping and packing materials. If you
can help sponsor a box or even just a few
dollars towards part of a box, let us know
at alumni@ismanila.org.
Maraming salamat to all alumni donors,
alumni attendees and students who made
this event very successful!
Want to get involved in raising Filipino
youth literacy? Drop us a line at
alumni@ismanila.org.
A VERY special shout out to Vicky
Herrera ‘68 and Jos Ortega ’78 for
organizing the event and for the
pictures!
From top: Mendez Crossing elementary students surprise ISM alumni with a welcome song; Susan Isorena-Arcega
’77 (inset) performs for the students, teaching them a thing or two about the environment as- what else- a colorful
bumblebee! Big picture books up for grabs; Sam Ramos-Jones ’10 bond with the kids; Students break in the new
books!
7

Alumni and ISM students join public school officials. Alumni and students in attendance: Sam Ramos-Jones ’10, Jos Ortega ’78,
Angel Ramos ’73, Vicky Herrera ’68, Susan Isorena-Arcega ’77, Nell-Armin De Pano-Raralio '77, Aarsi Sagar '02, Rose Sagun ’05,
ISM teacher Vicky Huang, and students Bernice delos Reyes, Angelo Manaloto, Ethan Alcid, Gaea Morales, and Bianca Fuentes.
Mabuhay from Down Under! Sydney chowdown last May saw, from left, Suzanne Fava '86, William Bonney '85,
Tony Breckner '88, Bobby Villanueva '85, Rosalie De Ubago, Celina Breckner, Rod O'Connor '82, Kristin
(Erlandson) Ginnivan '82, and Rob Ginnivan in attendance. Salamat, Suzanne, for the photo!
Left: A June 23 mini-reunion at Gerry's
Grille in Artesia, CA with, from left, Judd
Mercado '76, Maria King Santopoalo '80,
Eric Tan '90 (who organized the meetup!),
Harold Tyrone DeCluette '82, and
Ira Sinlao '84 . Thank you to Judd for the
picture!
Bottom: Old friends spend a New York
minute to catch up with each other. From
left: Aileen Haugh ’05, Aimee Sison ’05, Ji
Hoon Park ’05, Abhay Sagar ’05, Chun-
Yai Wang ’05, Harshi Hettige ’05, and
Paolo Servado ’06.
CLASS CHOWDOWNS

THROUGH
THE YEARS
Former Guidance Counselor
and fellow alumna Vicky
Herrera ‘68 welcomed former
and current Filipino Scholars
into her beautiful and
expansive Tagaytay home last
June 16 for the annual Filipino
Scholars Potluck. Alumni from
the 60’s all the way to the
recent graduates and current
students, as well as former
faculty, attended the event.
Special shoutout to our beloved faculty who attended the event:
Ms. Vicky Huang, Ms. Idoy Limcaoco, Ms. Lilia Tantoco, and
Senora Pia Escalante!
1st row, L-R: Patti (Soto) King '69, Ike Estallila '69, Nell-Armin De Pano-Raralio '77, Susan (Isorena) Arcega '77, Bianca Fuentes
'14, Gaea Morales '14, Bernice delos Reyes '16, Angel Ramos '73, Liah Gomez '16 2nd row, L-R: Jojo Sacro '83, Tiny Meneses '69,
Jesus Salazar '85, Vicky SyCip Herrera '68, Gene Nisperos '86, Rose Sagun '05, Mel Macaraig '77, Mark Chan '00, Ethan Alcid '16,
Vicente Jaime Constantino '09, Kimi Rodriguez '11, Jem De Los Santos '10, Jos Ortega '78, Ms. Vicky Huang
It was a special Saturday afternoon as the pioneering Scholars got to
meet their current counterparts for the first time. Since 1961 the
Filipino Scholarship Program has witnessed over 150 students
become academic topnotchers as well as leaders in student affairs,
athletics, and community service.
The Filipino Scholarship Program awards an ISM education to bright
and promising Filipino children who otherwise would not have been
able to attend the school. Many of the Filipino Scholars move on to
the most prestigious universities (Harvard, Yale, University of
Pennsylvania, among many others) on scholarship.
Without a doubt, the Filipino Scholarship Program has remained one
of the school's proudest and enduring legacies.
From top: A house with a view
overlooking the Taal Lake; Kimi,
currently attending New York
University-Abu Dhabi on
scholarship catches up with her
Guidance Counselor.
9

UPCOMING REUNIONS
SALI NA!
American School Portland Reunion
September 10-14, 2012, Portland, OR
Class of '62 50th Anniversary Reunion
September 27-30, 2012, The Caribbean
First South American AS/ISM Reunion
February 2013, TBA
Euroreunion VII
June 14-16, 2013, Copenhagen & Malmo
Any questions about these events? Wanna start your own class
reunion? Drop us a line at alumni@ismanila.org. Let us help you!
SCHOOL SPIRIT
.
To all animal lovers
out there!
I am making a plea for all ISM alumni to please help! CARA is now
caring for 175 rescued pit bulls from the raided Korean Dog Fighting
ring in Laguna. We are a small animal welfare organization, and this is
a major endeavor for us to take on. We consume 4 to 5 large bags of
dog food daily which we mix with rice. It is also costing us roughly
200,000 pesos a month to maintain the site.
These dogs are abused, but they have a lot of love to give. They are
sweet and friendly despite the hardships they have endured. Our plan
is to rehabilitate them which will take about six months and adopt
them out to good homes. This will be a slow process since we have to
screen potential adopters heavily. It is imperative that the dogs remain
healthy, and a proper diet is the key to preventing illnesses on site.
If every ISM family donated just 1 large bag of dog food, we would
have thousands of kilos to stock up for the next few months.
Many thanks in advance,
Tanya Guerrero ‘93

PARTING WORDS
A former student recently wrote to us to share her life after ISM, and
the new chapter that is about to take place.
Superintendent Toze,
Society has taught us to write to institutions when an issue has been encountered, and not
enough when there is positive feedback. It is with that mentality that I write to you today.
I have just completed a Master’s Program in New York City, which served as a career change
from corporate advertising to a Child Life Specialist career in a hospital setting.
Let me take you on my journey.
Like many students at ISM, my father’s job moved us around every few years. When I
arrived in Manila in August of 1997, I began my 8th grade education. Always interested in
volunteerism, I was thrilled to find out that ISM not only encouraged it, but required every
student to partake in the experience of ICARE (community outreach).
Fast forward to Sophomore Year- The non-governmental organization, Operation Smile,
came to the Philippines. I was able to meet the founder and was invited back to a volunteer
mission the following year. It was there that I met a Child Life Specialist for the first time.
ISM had a fantastic college fair that was held in the Little Theatre. Walking around and
seeing what different colleges had to offer made it personal for me. It felt like ISM brought
colleges to us, as opposed to applying to an endless abyss of schools.
It was here that Wheaton College was brought to my attention. My older brother who also
graduated from ISM had previously applied and was accepted to Wheaton, but ended up
taking a more business-oriented route. While he attended college somewhere else, he felt
without reservation that Wheaton College would be perfect for me. Given the opportunity at
ISM to explore Wheaton College’s offerings, I was sure my brother was right.
When I toured Wheaton College the summer between Junior and Senior Yeasr, the beautiful
New England campus pulled me in. I was unsure how a small town college would be, coming
from an international background, but the size was one of the things that made me choose
this school. I understood that because Wheaton was small, I was not a number, but a
person. My upbringing was acknowledged, and I was invited to an international student
orientation. I was brought to campus a few days before the general student population, so
that specialists from Wheaton who understood what it would be like leaving home for the
first time, or the ninth time, could help us adjust to a new setting. We were taken to explore
surrounding cities like Boston and Providence, and were helped to set up US bank accounts.
Wheaton gave us the tools we needed to succeed as international students. Wheaton also
offered many student organizations that brought together a variety of interests, ranging
from community service, to local outreach, to others who were also away from home.
Wheaton helped expand my love for volunteering and working with children with healthcare
needs. Through Wheaton’s Urban Studies class I was able to secure an internship at Hasbro
Children’s Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island in their Child Life department.

Graduating with a psychology degree from a tight-knight program and college, I felt ready to
tackle the world. Being one of many graduates around the country looking for jobs at the same
time, and being stubborn to want to find one without networking and “on my own”, I spent
several months looking. I quickly realized that our world has changed from when my parent’s
generation was job searching, and with online modalities and vast career opportunities,
networking was the way of the present.
I got a postcard in the mail from Wheaton with a networking opportunity for alumnae in the
New York City area interested in Marketing/Advertising. When I got to the event, there were
three different advertising executives who had graduated from Wheaton and were now
working at well-known agencies. It was there that I made the connections I needed to keep in
touch, attended informational interviews, and stayed on their radar when an opportunity for a
job came up.
When the phone rang, I was told that there was an opportunity to interview for a position. I got
the job. Not only did Wheaton spend four years preparing me and honing skills that helped
secure the job, but it was also Wheaton that got me the opportunity for the interview.
I worked at the ad agency for almost five years and continued to volunteer in a hospital once a
week. While I loved the people that I worked with and the department I was able to help build, I
decided to turn my volunteering into a career.
I reached out to staff at Wheaton College with whom I had maintained a relationship after
graduating, to see if they would serve as a reference for me. I applied to Bank Street College of
Education, the only school that offers a Child Life program in New York City. Fingers crossed, I
decided if I got in I would make the change, and if I didn’t I would stay where I was.
I got in.
Two months ago I finished a two-year program and a 29-week Internship at The Children’s
Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx. (It was the) hospital that made international headlines
when a series of surgeries successfully separated conjoined twins from the Philippines.
As you can see, I feel that my education from stellar places such as International School Manila,
Wheaton College, and now Bank Street College of Education, has brought me full circle- from
ISM helping me find my passion, Wheaton College helping me explore it, and Bank Street
putting me in the field.
Sincerely,
Vanessa (Galan) Finnerty '02
Editor’s note: Should you wish to know more about Wheaton College or Bank Street College of Education,
email us at alumni@ismanila.org. Portions of the letter have been edited for brevity.

Daniel Roland ‘73 urges fellow fiduciaries to attend upcoming APAFS events.

For inquiries, contact Leigh at leigh@brandspeakasia.com or visit www.apafs.org
.

Want to promote your business, latest project, or
advocacy?
Looking to (re)connect?
Or simply want to share your story with us?
We would love to hear from you!
Drop us a line at alumni@ismanila.org.