FAST 2000-2001 Year-End Report

The outgoing officers of the Filipino Association of Scholars in Tsukuba (FAST), led by its President, Mr. Kenneth V. Tanate, would like to enumerate the activities and goals that the organization has accomplished this year.

March 2000

• Graduation gift - preparation of flowers and gifts for the graduates.
• Trip to Kairakuen Park (Mito) and Hitachi Seaside Park - organized
  together with the previous set of officers.

April

• Welcome and Hanami Party for new students at Tsukuba Univ. near
  the Hirasuna pond
  • Potluck/ barbecue picnic, "initiation" of new kohais, and games

May

• Golden Week Barbecue Party and Games at Yukari No Mori
  • BBQables, champorado and drinks shouldered by FAST
• International Festival - FAST presented 4 well- prepared folk dances (Tinikling, Tacon de Punti, Lanceros de Tayabas and Subli); with new costumes provided by the organization.
  • Photos of FAST's presentation landed on the cover of the Ibaraki Newsletter
  • Video clips on the Philippines were presented at the FAST booth.
  • The FAST booth was well-decorated, courtesy of the Physical Arrangements Committee.
  • Gross income generated: 102,581 yen
• Disco cum Birthday Party at Ichinoya
• Beer sales generated additional income of 2000 yen for FAST.

June

• Independence Day Celebration (Tsukuba Catholic Church)
  • FAST presented the 4 dance numbers mentioned earlier.
  • Beer and juice were sold on this day for income generation purposes.

July

• Month-long "Sagupaan sa Tag-init" Sportsfest at JICA Gym (basketball, volleyball, badminton plus bowling at Daiwas)
  • Culminating activity: Videoke, BBQ/ b-day party, and awarding of prizes to the sportsfest winners as well as to the winner of the logo contest
  • Prizes: solicited wall clocks from PNB Tokyo Branch
  • Official picture-taking of members for the FAST homepage
• FAST Logo Contest
  • Cash prize & wall clock
  • New logo posted in FAST website

August

• Barbecue picnic & sayonara party near the Ichinoya pond
  • First awarding of "Certificate of Appreciation" to departing students

September

• Field Trip to Tobu World Square (hired bus from Tsubasa Kanko)
  • Use of new FAST T-shirt (with new logo)

October

• University Gakkuensai Fair
  • Members used the new FAST T-shirt while manning the booth.
  • Gross income generated: 72,943 yen
• Welcome and Sayonara Party at PE Cafeteria, University of Tsukuba
• General Assembly at Oikoshi 27. Officers presented their midterm report.

November

• General Assembly to tackle amendments to the FAST Constitution
  • The officers proposed amendments based on the members' sentiments. The amendments to the constitution were ratified during the birthday party for November celebrants in the following week.

December

• Christmas Party
  • Caroling Contest (cash prize of \10,000 to the winners)
  • Exchange gift
  • Election of officers for school year 2001 - 2002
  • FAST shouldered all food expenses during the party.
• Representatives of the outgoing and incoming officers represented the organization in the annual Ambassador's Party for Filipino Students in Tokyo. FAST shouldered their travel expenses.

January 2001

• New Year cum Birthday Party
  • A GA to follow-up further amendments to the constitution was attempted, however, a quorum was not achieved.

February

• An online poll was conducted to gauge the members' sentiments on
  other issues regarding the constitution. On whether further discussion on the constitution should be continued, more members voted "no," signifying their satisfaction with the previous amendments.
• Annual Group Photo in formal attire at the university.
• Induction of New Officers/ Sayonara Party / Disco - food and drinks c/o FAST.

Highlights

• Monthly Birthday Celebrations - often held on the last Saturday of every month.
• FAST Homepage Improved (Regular updates, pictures, articles/essays, member/alumni directory/info, members' portraits etc. were included.) (moved from http://www.geocities.com/fast_tsukuba_japan to http://fast_tsukuba_japan.tripod.com)
  • Pinoywebsites.com, MyPhilippines.com, and Yahoo-Geocities Homesteads gave recognition to the FAST Homepage.
• Egroups/Yahoogroups - The FAST mailing list was created in October 1999 but it became fully implemented as the official mailing list in 2000, with subscriptions swelling to 60 email accounts, including the email accounts of friends who have already left Tsukuba.
• 1st Constitutional amendments were proposed and ratified.
• 1st FAST Orientation Brochure was prepared for the October entrants.
  FAST Adviser (Mr. Benny Tutor) was made official.
• Individual members participated in the ERAP Resign Movement.
• FAST CD Vol. 1 was produced, which is a compilation of digital photos and the FAST website. This is our gift to those who are leaving Tsukuba in 2001.
• FAST Circles initiated as a venue to share members' talents and skills to others, with the FAST Photo Circle as the first.

Milestones

• Wedding of Cecile and Daniel De Lisle (July 1, 2000)
• Birth of Erika DeLisle (Dec 22, 2000)
• Wedding of Kathy Develos and Baggy Bagarinao (Jan 6, 2001)
• Birth of Ma. Elaina Isabel Antimano (Feb 3, 2001)
• Engagement of Joey Ibarra and Ning Macahiya (December, 2000)

Other Projects

• FAST T-shirt with new logo
• Sales of phone cards as an income-generating project
• Procurement of new costumes for the annual International Festival
• Procurement of cooking utensils for the annual International Festival and Gakuensai.
• Centralization of FAST properties at Friends International Mart.
• Collection of giveaways to newcomers and distribution by drawing of lots
• Institutionalized:
  • provision of eating utensils and drinks during parties and get-togethers
  • organizational committees (food, transportation, physical arrangements, sounds)
  • regular monthly b-day celebrations (last Saturday of each month)

\Financial Report

• See attached.

Inventory

The outgoing Auditor, Ms. Carlota Cortez, is currently in the Philippines. We expect her to conduct an inventory of FAST properties as soon as she returns to Tsukuba. Such inventory will be promptly given to the incoming Auditor.

Signed:

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