My little football player

Ben started going to a football clinic yesterday. It's a 6-week/12-session module that is supposedly designed to teach them the basics of football. I asked him a couple of weeks ago if he wanted to join and he said yes, so now he's registered to go for the first module. Yesterday, he was ready to give up after running around for some time, saying he was tired, but he made it to about an hour and half, and this morning another two hours. The sessions run every Saturday and Sunday for the next six weeks, well, five now. Today, he wasn't very happy after the end of the session because he felt that his fellow students were upset with him. He said he wanted to quit. I told him that things will get better and that it's just that some of the other students didn't like the fact that he kept goofing off, which he did. Hopefully, the next few weekends will teach him how to get along and make new friends with the other students (most are prep students at Ateneo as well), and allow him to develop his endurance. I have to give him a couple of puffs from his inhaler before each session starts, so as to avoid the possibility of having an asthma attack. He said he felt good today. Well, he's still got a long way to go, but I'm hoping this first shot at learning a sport will start him on his way to developing a good self-esteem and team spirit. Here's a few shots of him wearing his uniform and on the field...

I missed some...

I was looking over some of my blog entries and realized that I missed posting some pictures from when Irip, Girlie and kids came for a visit. We went to 9 Waves before heading to Baler and I thought I'd add some of the pics from that.

Enzo and Miguel

Mothers with sons, Enzo in the background

Ben and Nanay

Girlie and Enzo

Pau, Daniel, Enzo, LJ, Ben, Isa, Girlie, Miguel

Enzo jumping into the water

Ben happily swimming

Enzo and Irip

Pau and Irip

A new school year, a new school

Ben started a new school year today at a new school. He's now Prep in the Ateneo de Manila Grade School, and joins his cousins Daniel and Miguelin the school (although D & M are now in High School). Another cousin, Jovin, is in ADMU.

Of course, since it's his first day in the new school, there are photos...

Proudly wearing his new uniform

With his Kuya Daniel and Kuya Miguel

Nanay and Ben

I went with him to school today, and the plan is to just wait for him in school during these first few days, since they will be dismissed earlier than the regular dismissal time. Next week, he'll just ride to school with Kuya Toti and Jo and the kids and I will just pick him up later. I woke him up at 430am today, which of course, he didn't like. It was a battle through breakfast and bath, but once he was in his school uniform, he was looking forward to going to school. There were a lot of people bringing their kids in today, first day of primary school at AGS. Anyway, we just led him to the cafeteria and he was good to go on his own (well, with the help of the teachers anyway).

He was let out at 930am, and there was a bit of chaos in getting him from his class, but all went well generally. So now begins a new chapter in his life...grade school...here's hoping he'll do well.