New uniform

Today is Dr Jose Rizal's birthday. I thought there should be some kind of commemoration, especially since he's the national hero, but apart from some editorial, there didn't seem to be much mention. I remember when I was in grade school, there was a fuss about Rizal's birthday celebration. Oh well, maybe there is still in the schools.
Speaking of schools, Ben wore his new school uniform today:


So far, he's doing good. He had his first star stamp this morning, and while I didn't speak to his teacher, I assumed he was good in class today.

It's back to school time

Today (14 June) is Ben's first day in his new school, Claret Child Study Center. I went with him today (and will accompany him again tomorrow). As usual, the kid was very hyper. I guess it's the excitement of the new school year (yeah, wait a few more years...).
His section is Maamo (not exactly a very apt description of him), and there are 14 of them in his class. I just can't remember how many girls (I think there are five). Seems like he's already made a new friend, as one of the boys and him were playing together for some time during the play period.
Of course, when circle time came, he couldn't sit still. He stood up a lot, and then laid down on the floor. He did participate though while the teacher was reading a Blue's Clues book (small wonder).
I'm posting the picture I took before he went to school today next to the one I took of him during the first day of school last year, just to compare. My, he has grown.

















Today


Ben on the first day of school in 2005

It's been too long

Been a while. Either there were too many things to do or I was just too lazy to sit down and type something up. I had meant to put up a couple of entries and a few photos since my last entry, but somehow, I just couldn't sit down and type up. My other two blogs have suffered too.
Anyway, since my last entry, I've spent a week in Cagayan de Oro, gone swimming twice in 9 Waves/Ciudad Christia Resort in San Mateo (a few minutes away from Kuya Toti's house), and pretty much stayed home. At least I don't recall doing anything else particular.
So, I'm posting a some photographs from the two 9 Waves visit. The first time we went, we were joined by Jovin, and the second time, by Janina and Josella.
First pictures were taken April 23, when Jovin joined us.
I am too big!
Ben ready to swim
On his own
What a dive!
Here I come!
With Kuya Jay, Kuya Daniel, and Kuya Miguel

This next set was taken June 2, when Janina, Josella, and Iñaki joined us.
With Ate Siobe, Ate Janina, and Kuya Miguel in the wave pool
With Ate Janina and Ate Siobe in the banga, Auntie Jojo sitting outside the banga

The next few pictures are of Iñaki and the kids in the deep end of the wave pool during one of the wave episodes:







Last May too, the black Honda finally got some fixing. Here's Ben in front of the cleaned up car.


Next photos were taken during Ben's last day of summer school at Fremont. They had a pajama party, which explains why he was wearing pajamas to school.

Back from Baler

Following one glorious week in Baler, where we spent the Holy Week, we're back in very hot and humid Manila.
We had a relaxing time, as usual. Ben and I went swimming with Jovin in our first two days there, then pretty much just stayed at home until Saturday when we joined Kuya Toti and his family and friends for a picnic, which was when the following photos were taken.
Ben made new friends, Alex and Rachel, who are Cecille's (Kuya Toti's friend and Papa's goddaughter) kids who are visiting the Philippines with their mom from New Jersey.
Oh well, now back to work (after posting of course).
With the kids of Kuya Toti's friends
Me and Ben (boy, I'm too big now)
Ben with Kuya Toti
Enjoying the river
With new friends Rachel and Alex
The picnic kids

Fun rides

We went malling last Thursday and Ben wanted to take some rides. Here are a couple of photos:

riding the firetruck in the car carousel

roundabout in a plane-like ride

Ben docs

I thought I'd share Ben's certificate, report card, and assessment, with those who may be interested.

School's out

Yesterday, Ben's school had it's Moving Up Day. It's kind of like a graduation, where students are given certificates. A number of the kids, including Ben, are moving on to the "big" schools. Next school year, Ben will be going to Claret School's Child Study Center. He wasn't accepted to the kindergarten level because of his age (they require kindergartners to be at least 4.5 by June and Ben only turns 4 in July), so he's going to be in Senior Nursery level. Hopefully, he won't get bored.

Anyway, back to the Moving Up celebration, I've got the pictures here. All the pictures will be posted at the fotopic site too (Ben's Moving Up Day).

He was up on stage four times, when he received his certificate, and when the children sang songs. When they were singing the "Vaseline Shampoo song," I felt so bad for the little girl he was holding on to, because he kept pulling her back and forth. The pictures won't show it, but we've got video that proves otherwise. And at times, he was scratching his head and Kuya Tony was joking that he had dandruff.

All in all, he had lots of fun, and was smiling most of the time he was up on stage. Enjoy the pictures. I've sized them down, which I hope will make loading time for the page faster. If anyone wants the better resolution files, let me know.

Ben just before we went to school for the Moving Up celebration
Ben again
That's me, Ben, and his Lola Iring
Waiting for his name to be called
Benjamin Gabriel Querijero Tan, bow
Taking his place for the song number
Singing "The More We Get Together;" the little girl next to him is Aya, and poor kid pulled around all over the place by Ben
Singing the Vaseline song
Singing the Fremont song

Other pictures:

taken in his classroom just before the event
Ben's official school picture
Ben's class

So now, Ben's on vacation for about a month. He'll attend a summer program in school for reading and writing, but just for a month and just for a couple of hours each day. It'll be more to have time to play with other kids during the summer.