Attendance at an in-service training program for school administrators sent Ms. Melit Gustilo, Principal, to Boracay, a beach resort in Aklan known worldwide for its white sands, clear waters and blue skies. Sponsored by the Dept. of Education, the seminar ran from January 21 to 23. One of the objectives of the seminar was to "apprise the ESC (Education Service Contracting) school administrators and principals of FAPE's (Fund for Assistant to Private Education) programs and projects undertaken to upgrade the standards of ESC/EVS schools. Dr. Lolita M. Andrada, Director IV, Dept. of Education - Bureau of Secondary Education, spoke on "Preparing Our Schools for a Competitive Future." Dr. Lourdes Quisumbing, Chair of UNESCO-APNIEVE, covered the topic on revitalizing secondary education for the challenges of the 21st century. Of Dr. Quisumbing, this is what Ms. Melit said, "Dr. Quisumbing is 89 years old but I could see how alive and dedicated she is in upgrading quality education."
Sunday, March 9, 2008
In-Service Training for Principals in Boracay!
Attendance at an in-service training program for school administrators sent Ms. Melit Gustilo, Principal, to Boracay, a beach resort in Aklan known worldwide for its white sands, clear waters and blue skies. Sponsored by the Dept. of Education, the seminar ran from January 21 to 23. One of the objectives of the seminar was to "apprise the ESC (Education Service Contracting) school administrators and principals of FAPE's (Fund for Assistant to Private Education) programs and projects undertaken to upgrade the standards of ESC/EVS schools. Dr. Lolita M. Andrada, Director IV, Dept. of Education - Bureau of Secondary Education, spoke on "Preparing Our Schools for a Competitive Future." Dr. Lourdes Quisumbing, Chair of UNESCO-APNIEVE, covered the topic on revitalizing secondary education for the challenges of the 21st century. Of Dr. Quisumbing, this is what Ms. Melit said, "Dr. Quisumbing is 89 years old but I could see how alive and dedicated she is in upgrading quality education."
A PenPal Program between American and Filipino Kids
Right: Girl scouts in the USLeft: 3rd and 4th graders in SFAS
In the US, school children can join lots of different kinds of clubs to help them to learn how to do things and to help them have fun with new friends. Children in the country often join "4-H" and learn about taking care of horses, cows, and pigs. Children in the city and country can join "scouts," which helps them enjoy the outdoors by camping and hiking. Scouts learn skills like first aid, cooking, and sewing. They also learn about our city and about children in other parts of the world.
Girl Scouts in the US set aside one day each year, called "Thinking Day," to share what they've learned about children in other countries. This year, one scout group at Forest Knolls Elementary School in Silver Spring, Maryland, chose the Philippines, because three of the girls have relatives who live there or came to the US from the Philippines.
Usually, we find out information from books and from the internet. But this time, we thought it would be better if we could actually "talk" to some kids in the Philippines.
One thing we want to find out about is what sorts of houses you have in the Philippines. Our houses are mostly built from bricks or wood and must have heat, because it can get quite cold here--it was 0 degrees C yesterday, and that was warm for January. It can also get quite hot (35 degrees C) in the summer, so many have air conditioning also. The houses are quite close together, because we are near the city of Washington, DC; some girls live in apartment buildings or townhouses. Most girls have their own bedrooms, or they share with a sibling.
Another thing we would like to know is what you do in school, and how big your classes are. At Forest Knolls Elementary School, there are about 550 children in grades K-5. The lower grades (K-2) have classes of about 16 children each; there are about 22 children in each class in the upper grades.
Every day, children here study mathematics, reading, writing, science, and social studies. They also have a half hour of recess--play time with friends, usually outside. There is a cafeteria, so children may buy a hot lunch or they may bring a sandwich from home. There is a gymnasium, so they can learn basketball, volleyball, and lots of other games. They also learn art, music, and computers for one period each week. Some children spend time learning to speak and read English, since they have just come to the US. In third grade (age 8), children learn to play the recorder; in fourth grade (age 9), children can choose to learn to play an instrument like the trumpet, the flute, or the saxophone.
Most of the girls in our group of sixteen are ages 8 and 9. They like to do lots of different things! Many play soccer; some take dance lessons or piano lessons; three are learning to figure skate, and some are on a swim team. Many have pets like cats, dogs, fish, and turtles. Most like to play games and read books. Most also have to help their families with chores at home. What do children there do with their time out of school? - by Mrs. Karen Nelson Maisto, teacher
We have also started a pen pal program between other school kids and children of the donors living in Bacolod, Manila and the U.S. If you have a son or daughter ages 6 - 16 years old who is interested to meet and be friends with one of our students, email me so that I can "assign" a "pen pal." The program is very interesting because children learn from each other as they write to each other, e.g. different culture and way of life. And our students "put into practice" writing in English!
We have also started a pen pal program between other school kids and children of the donors living in Bacolod, Manila and the U.S. If you have a son or daughter ages 6 - 16 years old who is interested to meet and be friends with one of our students, email me so that I can "assign" a "pen pal." The program is very interesting because children learn from each other as they write to each other, e.g. different culture and way of life. And our students "put into practice" writing in English!
A Carmelite Nun Visits SFAS
Sr. Madelaine Ledesma from the Order of the Discalced Carmelite Sisters of Cagayan de Oro City (in Mindanao), daughter of the founders of the school, visited SFAS last March 3, 2008. With her was a companion from Cagayan, Ms. Letlet. She met up with her cousin as well, Ms. Ging Graham, who just finished giving a class with the 3rd graders. Students enthusiastically welcomed and greeted her. It's not every day that they meet a contemplative nun!
Special Graces from St. Therese of the Child Jesus
The relics of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (a Carmelite nun) visited the Philippines. High school students were able to visit and ask for "special blessings" from the saint as her relics were displayed in San Diego Parish church in Silay for several hours last March 7, 2008.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Ang Hampang nga Soccer
Ang Hampang nga Soccer
Masadya ang hampang sang mga kalalakihan
ang bola sang soccer amo ila ginaagawan.
Perti pa ang bubo sang mabaskog nga ulan
apang masadya man sa gihapon ang ila nga pinagagawan.
Madasig ang pagsipa nila sang bola
nga daw indi gid masapar sang kuntra,
gani ang bantay sa kada goal ya
eksido gid nga indi makascore ang kuntra.
Lantawa kung kis-a sila nagakatumba pero madasig
man sa gihapon ang ila nga pagtindog.
Tungod ang bola balik-balik nga nagabinurahog
sa pagsipa sang bola ini perti gid kabaskog.
Gani sila tanan nga mga players sang soccer
gusto gid nga magdaog.
by Romnick Sadio, a 3rd year student-scholar
He wrote this poem after he watched a game of soccer being played in the school field.
Masadya ang hampang sang mga kalalakihan
ang bola sang soccer amo ila ginaagawan.
Perti pa ang bubo sang mabaskog nga ulan
apang masadya man sa gihapon ang ila nga pinagagawan.
Madasig ang pagsipa nila sang bola
nga daw indi gid masapar sang kuntra,
gani ang bantay sa kada goal ya
eksido gid nga indi makascore ang kuntra.
Lantawa kung kis-a sila nagakatumba pero madasig
man sa gihapon ang ila nga pagtindog.
Tungod ang bola balik-balik nga nagabinurahog
sa pagsipa sang bola ini perti gid kabaskog.
Gani sila tanan nga mga players sang soccer
gusto gid nga magdaog.
by Romnick Sadio, a 3rd year student-scholarHe wrote this poem after he watched a game of soccer being played in the school field.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
A Beautiful Friendship
Chad and I have been best friends since Grade I. I was a new student at St. Francis and I needed a close friend. I heard there was someone whose name sounded like mine. So, I introduced myself. I saw we were both short, smart and naughty. We decided to become best friends based on our similarities. We did not know then the real meaning of friendship.
Year after year, we became closer. We are partners in class presentations, dramatizations, and report preparation. We have lunch together and walk home together
Chad is helpful, funny and understanding. Although we have our fights, they never last more than a day. In sadness or happiness, in success or failure, Chad and I will always be friends. Til death do us part.
By Charles Justin B. Hilado, a 1st year student in SFAS
Both Charles and Chad are scholars of the Tapulanga Foundation and members of the Writing class.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Books from a Teenager in the US
Article from the Visayan Daily Star (February 29)
Teenager making a difference for others
A 17-year-old student in Tucson, Arizona, has started a campaign to collect books for needy schools in Negros Occidental.
Angelo “Angeo” Tirambulo, a student at St. Gregory College Preparatory School in Tucson, who visited Negros last year said he has always believed that books are important to one’s education but discovered that many students, especially in remote areas in the province don’t have access to enough of them.
“I was happy to rediscover my roots in Negros Oriental and Occidental where my parents come from and realized that perhaps in a small way I could make a difference for others,” he said.
“So when I returned home to the States I decided to gather up the books I had to send back to Negros with educational videos,” he said.
Tirambulo said he works as a cook at an old folks home on weekends and is saving a large part of his earnings to be able to send more books home.
The beneficiary of the books he sent home recently was the St. Francis of Assisi School in Silay City that is ran by Tapulanga Foundation and the educational videos were given to the Department of Education for use in public schools.
The books were given to Carmela “Micmic” Abello Golez, Tapulanga Foundation executive director, and the videos, to Tina Orbecido of the Governor’s Office who turned them over to the DepEd.
The videos are very educational and helpful, said Orbecido, who has been tasked by Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon to help teachers upgrade the English proficiency of their students.
While Golez who was glad to receive the books for her school said “we need more kids like him (Tirambulo) who have compassion for those who have less or none. This is what true sharing and giving is about.”
The St Francis of Assisi School in Silay was started by Abello’s family to help children of farm workers break free from the cycle of poverty.
Teachers at Tirambulo’s school in Arizona heard of his having sent books to Negros and his campaign has caught fire among fellow students at St. Gregory now competing to gather more books, he said.
But this also means he will have to work harder on weekends to save more money to ship the collected books home, he said.
The satisfaction is in knowing other students in Negros will enjoy these books, he said.
Although he was born and raised in the States, he has spent a lot of time researching on Filipino music and in the process learned about the culture and dialects of the Philippines, he said.
Tirambulo said it is important for him not to forget his roots and he fell in love with Bacolod City and its food when he visited last year.
Tirambulo who is into golf, photography and cooking plans to major in history and anthropology in college.
He is the son of Tucson entrepreneurs Grace and Angelo Tirambulo of Negros Occidental and Oriental.
Teenager making a difference for others
A 17-year-old student in Tucson, Arizona, has started a campaign to collect books for needy schools in Negros Occidental.
Angelo “Angeo” Tirambulo, a student at St. Gregory College Preparatory School in Tucson, who visited Negros last year said he has always believed that books are important to one’s education but discovered that many students, especially in remote areas in the province don’t have access to enough of them.
“I was happy to rediscover my roots in Negros Oriental and Occidental where my parents come from and realized that perhaps in a small way I could make a difference for others,” he said.
“So when I returned home to the States I decided to gather up the books I had to send back to Negros with educational videos,” he said.
Tirambulo said he works as a cook at an old folks home on weekends and is saving a large part of his earnings to be able to send more books home.
The beneficiary of the books he sent home recently was the St. Francis of Assisi School in Silay City that is ran by Tapulanga Foundation and the educational videos were given to the Department of Education for use in public schools.
The books were given to Carmela “Micmic” Abello Golez, Tapulanga Foundation executive director, and the videos, to Tina Orbecido of the Governor’s Office who turned them over to the DepEd.
The videos are very educational and helpful, said Orbecido, who has been tasked by Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon to help teachers upgrade the English proficiency of their students.
While Golez who was glad to receive the books for her school said “we need more kids like him (Tirambulo) who have compassion for those who have less or none. This is what true sharing and giving is about.”
The St Francis of Assisi School in Silay was started by Abello’s family to help children of farm workers break free from the cycle of poverty.
Teachers at Tirambulo’s school in Arizona heard of his having sent books to Negros and his campaign has caught fire among fellow students at St. Gregory now competing to gather more books, he said.
But this also means he will have to work harder on weekends to save more money to ship the collected books home, he said.
The satisfaction is in knowing other students in Negros will enjoy these books, he said.
Although he was born and raised in the States, he has spent a lot of time researching on Filipino music and in the process learned about the culture and dialects of the Philippines, he said.
Tirambulo said it is important for him not to forget his roots and he fell in love with Bacolod City and its food when he visited last year.
Tirambulo who is into golf, photography and cooking plans to major in history and anthropology in college.
He is the son of Tucson entrepreneurs Grace and Angelo Tirambulo of Negros Occidental and Oriental.
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