Just when you thought you got me all figured out...
It was my youngest sister, Kassandra's, graduation yesterday. Straight from work, I headed towards the same familiar institution, where I, myself, had spent the first seven years of preparatory and primary studies. Seeing our bunso accepting her diploma on stage is one moment I felt I should bear witness to. But there's another reason why I was so intent to see my sister's commencement exercise.
I first heard of Kenzo on our third year highschool Filipino class, as taught by his mother, also our section's adviser. She would time and again tell us how her son, Kenzo, had learnt his ABCs and 123s at age two. How she wished that us, her class, would have the same interest and perseverance to study like her son. But since her subject is one of the most boring subjects in high school, her plea fell on practically deaf ears.
Our adviser live four streets away from us, and one time she requested me to carry some things for her, I finally met her darling son, Kenzo. And there he was, quite absorbed in his basic ABCs, math and coloring books. He even enthusiastically showed me some of his finished coloring books and sportingly answered my 1+1 questions. He may not be a genius but what I witnessed is definitely exceptional for a two-year old.
Kassandra and Kenzo belong to the same batch. I found out the first time I read their school's organ.
Kenzo was always on the front page, winning contests and quiz bees left and right. So it was kinda a surprise when Mom told me that my ex-adviser's son only finished as the salutatorian.
Mom further narrated that during the last PTA meeting, where the officers announced the names of students graduating with honors, my former adviser, learning of his son's feat, stormed out of the room, and made quite a scene.
She scolded her son just outside the meeting room, to the dismay of the parents and teachers present. She can't quite accept that her son finished only second and not the valedictorian. Mom, also told me, that my former adviser grabbed her son by the collar and shouted so that everybody could hear:
"Kung hindi ka magiging valedictorian, hindi ka na mag-aaral!"
She went as far as filing a formal complaint at DepEd office and forbade her son to attend the graduation ceremonies rehearsal and even the formal commencement exercise.
My ex-adviser was a no-show yesterday. But her son did attend - alone. I was observing Kenzo the whole time. He would engage in some conversations with his classmates but just the same, not as animatedly as most of the twelve year olds around him. In the middle of a festive and joyous atmosphere, there he was, quiet and staring blankly at the stage most of the time.
He received his diploma alone, the part where the graduates will walk up the stage with either their mother or father to hand them the certificates. But it was when the honor students were to receive their medals that Kenzo's predicament touched everyone's hearts.
All the top graduates had their parents with them on stage, except Kenzo. When it was time for him to receive his', emotions got the better of him, the boy began to cry. The guest of honor who is giving the medals wanted someone to give the medal to Kenzo, unaware of the stunt that Kenzo's mother just pulled the recent week. One of Kenzo's teachers volunteered to be the surrogate guardian, but was too overwhelmed by her own emotions, began to cry as well.
The bond between the two is quite noticeable. It's a testimony a that adage "Teachers are your second parents." As the two hugged on stage, everyone stood up and gave an appreciative applause. Some were even teary-eyed. My visions were starting to get blurred that time but I certainly won't forget that gradution.
***************************************************
Education, they say is the most valuable gift our parents can give us. All the material things can be taken away but the knowledge we gained and nurtured by our teachers, will always be there with us. Education makes a man a right thinker and tells him how to make a decision. Because of our country's current socio-economic situation, not everybody is given the chance to proper education. It saddened me to learn that some are just wasting their opportunities, which view the four corners of their classrooms a torturing prison cell.
If you happen to be a student reading this:
Pursue the knowledge and maximize your potentials. Study. Be educated.
My salute to the graduates of year 2005.
I first heard of Kenzo on our third year highschool Filipino class, as taught by his mother, also our section's adviser. She would time and again tell us how her son, Kenzo, had learnt his ABCs and 123s at age two. How she wished that us, her class, would have the same interest and perseverance to study like her son. But since her subject is one of the most boring subjects in high school, her plea fell on practically deaf ears.
Our adviser live four streets away from us, and one time she requested me to carry some things for her, I finally met her darling son, Kenzo. And there he was, quite absorbed in his basic ABCs, math and coloring books. He even enthusiastically showed me some of his finished coloring books and sportingly answered my 1+1 questions. He may not be a genius but what I witnessed is definitely exceptional for a two-year old.
Kassandra and Kenzo belong to the same batch. I found out the first time I read their school's organ.
Kenzo was always on the front page, winning contests and quiz bees left and right. So it was kinda a surprise when Mom told me that my ex-adviser's son only finished as the salutatorian.
Mom further narrated that during the last PTA meeting, where the officers announced the names of students graduating with honors, my former adviser, learning of his son's feat, stormed out of the room, and made quite a scene.
She scolded her son just outside the meeting room, to the dismay of the parents and teachers present. She can't quite accept that her son finished only second and not the valedictorian. Mom, also told me, that my former adviser grabbed her son by the collar and shouted so that everybody could hear:
"Kung hindi ka magiging valedictorian, hindi ka na mag-aaral!"
She went as far as filing a formal complaint at DepEd office and forbade her son to attend the graduation ceremonies rehearsal and even the formal commencement exercise.
My ex-adviser was a no-show yesterday. But her son did attend - alone. I was observing Kenzo the whole time. He would engage in some conversations with his classmates but just the same, not as animatedly as most of the twelve year olds around him. In the middle of a festive and joyous atmosphere, there he was, quiet and staring blankly at the stage most of the time.
He received his diploma alone, the part where the graduates will walk up the stage with either their mother or father to hand them the certificates. But it was when the honor students were to receive their medals that Kenzo's predicament touched everyone's hearts.
All the top graduates had their parents with them on stage, except Kenzo. When it was time for him to receive his', emotions got the better of him, the boy began to cry. The guest of honor who is giving the medals wanted someone to give the medal to Kenzo, unaware of the stunt that Kenzo's mother just pulled the recent week. One of Kenzo's teachers volunteered to be the surrogate guardian, but was too overwhelmed by her own emotions, began to cry as well.
The bond between the two is quite noticeable. It's a testimony a that adage "Teachers are your second parents." As the two hugged on stage, everyone stood up and gave an appreciative applause. Some were even teary-eyed. My visions were starting to get blurred that time but I certainly won't forget that gradution.
Education, they say is the most valuable gift our parents can give us. All the material things can be taken away but the knowledge we gained and nurtured by our teachers, will always be there with us. Education makes a man a right thinker and tells him how to make a decision. Because of our country's current socio-economic situation, not everybody is given the chance to proper education. It saddened me to learn that some are just wasting their opportunities, which view the four corners of their classrooms a torturing prison cell.
If you happen to be a student reading this:
Pursue the knowledge and maximize your potentials. Study. Be educated.
My salute to the graduates of year 2005.
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