We faced many challenges last year – Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng devastated Metro Manila and Northern Philippines, but the alumnae response was quick and heartwarming. Right away, alumnae comforted their classmates or co-alumnae whose houses were flooded. A Disaster Response Team was created deploying teams to find out if any of the alumnae residing in Cainta, Pasig and Marikina and other known areas that were flooded were victims and if they needed any assistance. Three medical missions were organized in Barangays Matandang Balara, Sto. Cristo, and in the STC Gawad Kalinga site in Sto. Domingo, Quezon City. Donations coming from generous Theresians from here and abroad were distributed to ICM supported communities in Baguio, Cavite, etc…and to STC staff.

As we collected goods for Typhoon Ondoy – food, clothes, household materials and personal hygiene kits – we realized that we do need our own home for sorting, packaging, deploying. The little STAA room that we currently have is much too cramped for the growing number of alumnae volunteers working on the newsletter, planning outreach activities, designing the Bahay Teresa, selling STC memorabilia, storing art and writings of alumnae, or just keeping in touch with each other face-to-face or through virtual cyberspace.

Bahay Teresa – All plans to launch the fundraising event for Bahay Teresa were set – a Golf Tournament at Camp Aguinaldo in November… but then Ondoy came wreaking havoc to Manila. A golf tournament did not seem proper. So it is now moved to February 10, same time at 6am to 8am for tee-off, same place.

Ingrained into the molding of a Theresian is the sense of social responsibility, the passion for service, for sharing what one has – be it her thoughts and innovative ideas, her talents, her resources, or simply her presence for others in need of consoling and encouragement.

On their own, Theresians individually or by batch have adopted various outreach projects -- HS 70, for example has been supporting the STC Don Manuel Gawad Kalinga feeding center. HS 71 a couple of years ago organized a Halloween Party for the children with cancer confined at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center and last year, organized another complete with clowns and games for the children with disabilities residing at Cottolengo, in San Mateo, Rizal. Marlene Datu-Lopez HS 69 C 73 visits people with disabilities in Bahay Pangarap and other houses established by the late Sr. Teresita Aranda, ICM to share friendships and be enriched by their courage and perseverance. Menchu Sarmiento HS74 of PAL Foundation has made a call for support for the Banawe half-way house for orthopedic patients and their families before they finally are able to go to their home.