Sinulog grand parade January 15, 2006
Scenes on the street during today’s Sinulog grand parade in Cebu City. Photos taken along P. del Rosario Street.
Fantasy books and gaming cards January 3, 2006
Two things fascinate my 7-year-old son Dylan at present–books and Yu-Ge-Oh cards. I’m hoping he’d outgrow the latter but not the former. Our present to him during the school Christmas party last month was L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” book, and he has read it at least three times since then.
The first thing he said to me after he finished reading the book was that the wizard was just a “humbug”. He says the word as if he understands it and I could not be sure if he does because he and I have not found the time to discuss the book in detail. I let him read short stories on his own but I usually read books with him. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was the first book he has read on his own.
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Free of POS December 2, 2005
Finally, some good news. My latest ultrasound showed I no longer have polycystic ovaries.
Harry Potter, Triwizard Tournament, Mad-eye Moody….. November 22, 2005
My son Dylan happened to read the great big sign on the roadside near the Ayala Center in Cebu City that said “Now showing: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” while we were on our way to meet with a friend from Australia over the weekend.
My husband and I had initially considered going by ourselves to watch the movie but because Dylan already knew it was showing, we decided to bring him along as well. Since Lennon is only 2, and his capacity to sit still through a 2 1/2-hour movie suspect, we thought it best to leave him at home.
Having read the printed version of this Harry Potter film, I went into the moviehouse not really expecting much. But I was pleasantly surprised. The film was great and I consider it the best among the Harry Potter films. Needless to say, the special effects were spectacular.
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The shepherd’s role November 20, 2005
I was looking through my files and found a photograph of Dylan taken in preparatory, during the class Christmas play. He played one of the shepherds. I remembered having to create a shepherd’s costume for him the night before the event from the Grim Reaper costume he used during Halloowen. I cut the hood and made it into a shepherd’s headpiece. Thankfully, it turned out okay.
I’m not really looking forward to the first grade Christmas party this year. I don’t think I can stand exchanging pleasantries with his first grade teacher.
A day in the public school system November 18, 2005
Finally, my son’s exams are over. The whole thing was very chaotic. I don’t know what made me decide to accompany my son to his classroom but I’m glad I did. I would have remained ignorant of the manner that the tests were given out.
First off, the teacher was not there but left her househelp and her 7-year-old daughter in charge. As can be expected in a scenario like this, the exams were disorderly, with many students stopping to answer to play, mill around, or look at their classmates’ answers.
Now, I know why this teacher told parents during the meeting held before the start of classes that those in the top 10 in the preparatory level would not be the same ones in the first grade honor list.
She knew from the start she would not be teaching, her househelp would be, and that she certainly would have no way of determining who are excelling among her students. The exams would not be a correct gauge because of the disorderly manner that these are given, with students allowed to copy from each other. She’d be picking off the names for her top 10 from her magic hat.
I’m glad my son, despite everything that’s been going on in that classroom, has resisted the urge to join in the bandwagon and cheat.
