The scholarship grant, which is part of the Asia America Initiative's (AAI) program for students of the Sulu National High School, will continue until the grantee graduates from college, provided he or she shall abide by the rules and regulations embodied in the terms and conditions promulgated by the Committee on Scholarships of the said high school.

Along with Kadi, Fauzir Noramin, Padar Anji, Dermalyn Saladdin, Ma. Luisa Romero, Berhamma Amilussin, Jr., and Tutoh Al Alih received from AAI senior vice-president Albert Santoli grant certificates last June 22 at Sulu National High School, in the presence of Department of Education Division Superintendent of Schools Dr. Amy Malbun, among others.

Sulu National High School has over 1,700 students officially registered this school year, said principal Ms. Dulling Pintasan in an interview. It is the first school in the province ever favored with the scholarship grant through the AAI's Asia America Initiative.

Santoli said the Asia America Initiative scholarship program remains part of the humanitarian aid to educational institutions in Sulu as partners in the peace process in Muslim Mindanao.

In response, SNHS teacher Hilario Abuda welcomed the support and thanked the "United States government's help and concern for the Tausugs."

MORE BOOKS, COMPUTERS FOR MSU-SULU, MTES

20 boxes of books and several sets of computer units were donated by the US-based Muslim Women's Organization and the McGraw Hill Companies to the Mindanao State University-Sulu and the Mohammad Tulawie Elementary School, through the Asia America Initiative, in cooperation with the Department of National Defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (the Southern Command, in particular), and the Philippine Airlines Foundation. The books were mostly general references, books on biology, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, social studies, fiction, and Islam studies.

The donations were transported to Jolo last week, and the first boxes that arrived were personally turned over by Santoli to the administration officials of the state-owned university in the island-municipality.

Santoli likewise handed over in simple symbolic ceremonies books, maps, globes, computers, white monoblock chairs, teachers' desks, writing chalkboards, air conditioning units, audiovisual learning materials and equipment to the Mohammad Tulawie Elementary School. MTES has over 1,900 bona fide pupils this school year.

Meanwhile, about 40 students are being evaluated as the next scholarship grantees of the AAI for the coming term.

Asia America Initiative

A lot of people are now asking about the AAI. For those who do not have the time to surf the Net, here's something about the AAI, from www.asiaamerica.org:

The Asia America Initiative (AAI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting democratic ideals, strengthening international security and mediating in conflict-plagued areas throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Through combining model humanitarian programs with traditional policy forums and pro-active strategic reports, AAI takes a unique approach in finding solutions to seemingly intractable challenges.

AAI operations are rooted in the belief that U.S. national security and the defense of international human rights are inseparable. Therefore, victory over terrorist movements requires the foresight to provide humanitarian assistance in at-risk, impoverished communities. As a catalyst for policy innovation, AAI's field programs deliver direct aid to populations targeted by terrorist recruitment. In the Philippines, the Initiative is networking private U.S. humanitarian and educational organizations with local NGOs to support the peace process in Muslim Mindanao. These efforts are intended to enhance the quality of life, reinforce opportunities for women, offer alternatives to conflict and to deny militant networks the ability to recruit. The Initiative is in the process of expanding these grassroots programs into other key communities across the region.

The AAI, through its analytical writing and weekly Monitors, presents a coherent and comprehensive strategic view of the vast Asia-Pacific region, which extends from the Silk Road to the West Coast of the United States. The Initiative seeks to find common ground among this vast mosaic of terrain and cultures by cultivating cooperative and mutually beneficial long-term relationships between the United States and our Asian neighbors by hosting forums with Asian and American prominent policy experts. In addition, the Initiative provides timely and insightful information to policy makers and the public on emerging trans-national security trends.

The Initiative is directed by founding Director Al Santoli.

"Having been with Mr. Santoli since last year, I would like to add that the bottomline for all these efforts of the AAI, and its partner organizations is because, America cares."

To be continued...