When Monsters Come to Haunt

It has been 2 weeks since the boys started going to school. Hunter has been crying every morning when we bring them to school.  At first I thought, he must be missing his dad a lot. He cries before he goes to sleep too, even after they talk to their dad via facetime. What could be bothering him?  Is he just using his dad as an excuse?

   I have been observing them for a week.  Holiday does not cry in the morning on the way to school, but I noticed that he is always not in the mood when I pick him up In the afternoon.  Hunter on the otherhand seem so happy after I fetch him. Getting worried, I tried to ask them what's been going on in school.  Do they have friends? Who are they? How is their teacher? Do they like them? Is someone fighting them in class?  There it is! I got the answers to my questions.
My kids are being bullied in school!
Holiday was being called "names" like potato head by one of his classmates.  I brought this up with the teacher during the PTC and she said that she did saw Holiday crying but he didn't want to tell her the reason why.  This incident happened again a few weeks after.  This time it was worse.  He said that the boy behind him always calls him stupid while hitting him on his head.
Hunter went through something worse.  He said that one of his classmate would always punch him, push him off the playground, bump him with his bag, and so on and so forth. I didn't waste any time.  I immediately sought the help of his teacher.  An investigation was done and they were all called by the councilor at the Child Development Center. It is a good thing that Hunter has a really good memory, so he was able to tell everything in detail and he had witnesses.
   Since I was picking up the kids from school everyday, I was eyeing on the parents of the kid offenders.  No luck!  They only have their nanny and drivers to fetch them.  When I got the chance, I talked to one of the boy's nanny.  I told her what was going on with Hunter and the boy he was caring for.  I wasn't angry that time.  I calmly told her to please talk to the boy and tell his parents that I am going to bring this up to the attention of the teacher for further investigation.  The following day, the nanny approached me and said that the mom talked to boy and the boy told them that even if they hurt him, he didn't do such things.  The nanny also reminded me that the boys' parents were both lawyers. Ooh, so what?  I already did my research and I found out that they were still students of law.  So, I just laughed at her. It takes more that that to intimidate me. The next day, the nanny went to ask for my number because she said that the mother would like to apologize to me.  I declined.  I told her that she didn't owe me an apology because I was not the one offended, it was my son.  And that the best thing they can do is to talk to their son and tell him to stay away from mine. 
      For a few weeks, Hunter was still crying every time we enter the school gates.  He is always apprehensive, anxious, and terrified of things that could happen while he was there.  Holiday on the other hand, would put his hand on Hunter's shoulder, tells his brother to stop crying and that he will be there to protect him.  Spoken like a true "kuya"!
     I thought the nightmare would never end.  I was getting worried because it is somehow affecting their behavior. Finally, it came to a halt.  No more bullying.  I was relieved.

First Day in Primary School

There is nothing more exciting for a parent than to see our sons go to the big school for the first time.  Will they like it? Are they going to be scared? Maybe, mommy has more apprehensions than the boys.

June 3, 2013, first day of school for grade 1.  The boys woke up early, had a bit of breakfast and off to school.  

Holiday 1- Makisig

Hunter 1- Maginoo

As we were approaching Gate 1, I can see them looking around, as if confused as to why there's so much cars going in.  When we reached the drop off point, they just went down from the car, carried their bags and asked me to walk them to the gate.  Maybe, still a bit confused, they wondered where did all this people come from? I kissed them goodbye and watched as they walk away.  No crying, no fussing around! I may have been the one who got more emotional.  Shame on me. Proud of you, boys!

My little Blue Eaglets, before I sent them off.

Happy after school.

School Searching

It's been 2 years since my last post, already? The boys are now back in Manila.  It was just last August when Holiday and Hunter took their Primary School entrance exams.  I just want to say that when we came home last year, the boys didn't know anything. I mean, they don't know how to read and to write properly.  I don't really know how we will be able to pass the exams.  And so, days before the scheduled exam at Lourdes School in QC, I started  teaching them to write their names properly, review the alphabet and numbers, colors, shapes and everything under the sun. Their first exam was a disaster! The examiner said that since they both don't know how to read yet, they will be tested for entrance to Kinder and not for Grade 1. Imagine my dismay. How can they expect 5 year olds to read the instructions and follow accordingly.  I guess, when the K2-12 program was implemented, they did not adjust their tests to fit the age of the students.  As I would put it, they were lazy! Lazy because they still gave the exam that was supposed to be given for the old grade 1 curriculum.  We left with a heavy heart and promised not to go back to that school again no matter what the result may be.  You can just see the shock on my kids faces.  That was an awful day.

    Review, review, and teach new things.  I got hold of a lot of age appropriate preschool activity books to use as a guide.  Then came the time to take the test at Ateneo.  Ooooh...daddy's big school is coming up.  I think I was more nervous than them.  I think we are more prepared this time.  And so after having some photos taken, we proceeded to the testing area near the Child Development Center.
While waiting for the boys to finish, I had an interesting chat with one of the moms.  Apparently, in the school where her son is studying, they have a review class for those who will take the AGS exam.  Most of the things she said was spot on. Even the jellyace-thank you test.  Doesn't it seem unfair, that some kids already knew what to expect during the test and were prepped to respond appropriately.  Deep breath.  I just hoped that the boys did well.

The last exam they had was at Lasalle Greenhills.  By this time, the boys were more confident and
more equipped to take the test.  Of all the schools, the boys are more pleased with their experience here.  I guess I could say the same.  The students and personnel were more friendly and respectful.  That's just my opinion.  Anyway, Holiday and Hunter came out happy during that exam and that's all that really matters.

The waiting game has started.  What a long and grueling time.  When the test results came out one by one, the choosing part became the hardest thing.  What we decide now will affect them in a huge way.  These are the formative years afterall. The most important and influential part of their young lives.  It was a hard decision.  Do we take the easy way and just let the kids have little difficulties so as not to add to the stress of being away from their dad or do we go for the winding road and let the kids overcome whatever hurdles that come their way? We eventually decided to take the latter. That's just us.  We don't always have it easy.  Whatever we have, we have to work hard for.  Perseverance and hard work are the things we wish to teach them. The school we chose...Ateneo! Their daddy was beyond happy.  He got his own blue eaglets to take care of.  We are thankful.

We Love School

You know that you're getting old when your kids start going to school.  The boys are now 4 years old and just started going to playschool.  No first day blues and long dramatic goodbyes.  I guess I prepared them well.  So well that they always ask to go to school. 
On their second day, their nanny told us that the teacher was so surprised to see that they're the only kids in class who knows their phonics.  I mean, these boys do know a lot now.  I'm afraid they might get bored with their lessons. 
Everyday when we pick them up, they're so full of stories to tell.  I'm glad they have a very positive attitude about schooling.  After all, we want them to enjoy it and get educated.

Child Learning Center, Kenabot, Papua New Guinea

First Project

Christmas in November

Guess what the boys got?  Christmas came early!  I delivered Santa (Lolo Ben)'s present all the way from my recent trip to Manila.  They will be busy for the weeks to come.

Goodbye, Kitties

Today is a sad day.  Holiday and Hunter's pet cats have gone.  Alicia was unfortunately catnapped by a guest.  We couldn't find her anywhere.  I just hope that she's being treated well by her new owners.  On the other hand, Diego had a really tragic passing.  Somebody was stupid enough to feed him with leftover food that he choked with.  He was beyond help as the chunk of food probably obstructed his bronchi.
When the kids asked where their cats went, we just told them that they went back home to their mom.  Oh, men!, they replied.  I know how much they loved their cats and I'm sure that they will miss them.
In memory of Diego and Alicia, here are some of their last photos.  Happy days.

Menacing Malaria

Last September, Holiday had P. Vivax Malaria.  It was the worst I've seen him get sick.  Poor boy couldn't eat, and when he can, he just vomits it or go straight to the toilet.  To top it off, he's been difficult during medicine time.  I don't know what the hell happened!  He used to be very good at drinking meds.  Anyway, we just have to force him or else it's going to take him a long time to heal. 
It was a pitiful sight. I just wished that it would just be me who's sick and not the children.  He recovered after a week, thank God for that!
Three weeks later, it's Hunter's turn.  He caught another type of Malaria...P. Falciparum.  It's good that we caught it early on the disease so he didn't suffer much from the vomiting and fever. On the flip side, he's been having diarrhea for 3 days now.  Very bad for the first 2 days with 30 minutes sometimes less interval between bouts.  I got a little bit worried when I saw some blood streaks and some other foreign body in his stool.  Quite curious, disgusting as it may seen, I picked up that object and discovered that it was a toy (Swiper's styrofoam figure) that he chewed on.  That kid!  He's diarrhea is a lot less compared to the past days, probably because he was able to take the toy out of his system.  I just hope things get better soon for the kids.  They deserve a break!