Monday, March 26, 2012

Educating Bea: Recognition Day


To those of you who received honours, awards and distinctions, I say well done. And to the C students, I say you, too, can be president of the United States. – George W. Bush

Last week was Bea’s Recognition Day. It was separated and held a week after her school’s Graduation Ceremony because of time constrain. But my family went home after the Grade 1 and Grade 2 class finished their acceptance, skipping the rest of the event. I felt “guilty” and it’s quite unfair to parents of older students to stay late in the afternoon, some took “under time” at work, to witness their children received their award. Even I was culpable of sneaking out for a couple of hours and returned back to work after Bea’s class concluded their rites. I have to be present since it’s kind of important for her to see her daddy clapping, waving and giving her the “thumbs up” while accepting her medals and certificate. She got two medals by the way; over-all top one and Quiz Bee champion (General Information category) of Grade 1 (sorry can’t help it, I’m one proud daddy!). Not bad for a child who sit and sulk under her desk when teachers reprimand her for being noisy and playful during class.

Nursery and Kindergarten ate up a big chunk of the program and the reason was because they gave each pupil in prep-school a medal. Unlike in Bea’s former prep-school where only the top 5 students and those who excel in Math, Spelling, Reading and Writing gets a medal, here, they also “invent” awards so every child gets a chance to go on stage. I don’t know how these are evaluated. But on the lighter side and to pass the time away (while waiting for Bea’s turn), here’s how I appraised it:

Most Active        - “Hyper” ang bata.
Most Artistic       - Knows the sky is blue, plants are green, the sun and 
                             moon are yellow and draw people that don’t look anorexic.
Most Attentive    - Doesn’t have ADS.
Most Behave      - Socially inept.
Most Courteous - Says “Good morning Miss Magtanggol” to teacher every day.
Most Friendly     - Got plenty of candy na “baon”.
Most Helpful      - Bossy and act as class monitor when teacher leave the 
                            classroom.
Most Improve    - Late bloomer.
Most Neat         - Doesn’t sit and roll in the hallway during recess or parent is a 
                            stay-at-home-mom.
Most Obedient  - Hindi pasaway.
Most Organized - Doesn’t misplace pencil, eraser, scissor, paste and 
                            especially crayons.
Most Polite        - Knows how to use “po” and “opo” in a sentence.
Most Punctual    - Dropped at school before 7 even thought class starts at 8 
                            because parents goes to work early.
Most Popular     - Palaging nag papa “blow-out” ang parents.

I hope parents don’t get upset if their child won in any of these “awards”. I’m just lightening up what some considers an exercise in mediocrity.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Pinoy Tales In the Kingdom

The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore. – Vincent Van Gogh

I’ve seen Pinoys in almost all trades and occupation imaginable in the Kingdom. From house helps and nannies tagging their wards in malls, agricultural workers while traveling on remote assignment, building maintenance people, skilled craftsmen, medical personnel and professionals in their respective field of expertise. But I never expected I’d met some Pinoy fishermen!

I’m not talking about those “shore fishermen” we often see along the coast of Dammam and Al Khobar. They are hobbyist and recreational fishermen; willing their time away during weekends. I’m talking about “deep-sea fishing” fishermen.

Most of them came from the same town in Batangas and doing the same job as fishermen in the Philippines before they came here. They’re independent, don’t have a Saudi “boss” and takes care of each others safety. They don’t have medical insurance, cash allowances or a regular monthly salary like the rest of us. What they have is a percentage of the catch they make of which a portion is given to their Saudi “sponsor” as his “share”, rental for using his boat and other expenses necessary to make their stay in the kingdom “legal”.

But there is a downside to this kind of agreement. Fishing in the Arabian Gulf is seasonal. There is a moratorium on fishing around the territorial waters of the kingdom to preserved and sustain the resources of the gulf. They avail of this by going home to the Philippines for vacation which last from three to five months a year. Quite a long R&R, if you ask me, especially if you don’t have any other means to augment your income and depending solely on your savings for your expenses. But judging from their outlook and their material possessions, they seem to be satisfied of what they have or where they are. I even suspect they earn more than our average Pinoy workers in the medical profession.

These brave souls never question that they are thousands of miles away from home or working in one of the most perilous occupation. To them, the sea is what fields are to farmers. They go there to reap their sustenance. 

To each his own, ika nga!