School Day Firsts!

It has been roughly a month since most schools opened last June.

As a father who has four blog sites (and several social networking accounts), I felt I would be “remiss” if I didn’t write anything about the inherent joy and pride in seeing your children grow up and experiencing their school day firsts!

It seemed only like yesterday when Junior my eldest son was with his two younger brothers in Mater Carmeli School. This year he has entered college, a freshman at the University of Sto. Thomas (UST) in Manila. He seeks to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Music majoring in Percussion with piano as his minor at the prestigious Conservatory of Music of this pontifical academic institution.

Amidst the spread of the H1N1virus,

UAAP basketball and

knee deep flood waters of Espaňa Ave.,

Junior goes through college life in UST!

He had also been earlier considered eligible for admission to the School of Design and Arts (SDA) of the College of St. Benilde (CSB). There he wanted to take up a degree in Music Production. The steep tuition fees of CSB (all schools of the La Sallian system) however had prevented us from making this dream a reality…at least for the time being. We’ll just have to see what the future brings on this aspect. For now, I just hope Junior enjoys his new found college life!

Ready to face a brave new world of school life!

Likewise, my youngest child and only daughter Faith experiences an important first in her young life. She has entered the brave new world of formal schooling!

Fresh from a preparatory stint at the day care center of the House of Representatives (HOR), Faith just felt so excited and ready to study and at a big school outright!

Faith is the newest Mendoza family member

in Mater Carmeli School – Novaliches!

Unfortunately, Faith didn’t get the chance to be under the tutelage of Teacher Pearl Santos who ran a small school in West Fairview. All her three older brothers who went through Nursery and Kinder in her school were writing and reading proficiently by the time they entered MCS as prep students. Due to Teacher Pearl’s frail health condition, her school had to scale down operations and now I understand handled only tutoring sessions.

Faith prepares to board her school service vehicle – another first!

Fortunately, Faith had enough innate aptitude and Emotional Quotient (EQ) not only to have been accepted at MCS but to have been accelerated and approved for enrollment as a Kindergarten student despite being only four and a half years old.

Nowadays, Faith almost everyday welcomes me and her Mama Odette, at home as we arrive from work, to proudly show off her smiley marks at the back of her hands. They’re placed there by her teachers as recognition of efforts well done! We’re proud of you, Faith!

May God bless, guide and protect all our children as they go through school life!