Kick that Ball

The fame and glory of the Ateneo grade school soccer varsity players, stories of triumph from Jico and Mica, both Gboy’s good friends, about their trip to Alabang last year where they happily competed and won, and the flurries of medals that these youthful champions received during recognition day, all spurred Gboy’s interest in Soccer. When he expressed desire to play the ballgame and hoped to be with the varsity team next school year, I offered to enroll him to the Ateneo Soccer clinic this summer. With all excitement and willingness, he said yes.

7 April 2008, the first day of practice, was the day he had been longing to come. It was a holiday, so I had the opportunity to accompany him on this first day. He had previously packed all the things he needed for practice—his cleets, high socks, shorts and shirts. Armed with a tumbler of cold water and freshly baked brownies, we were off to Ateneo.

At the main soccer field, there was a number of older students racing with each other and chasing the ball. I figured they were high school students having a match. Some students, in full soccer gear, were jogging along the oval. Others were gathered on one side conferring and perhaps readying for another day of challenge.

At the open field adjacent the grade school building was a couple of kids each with a soccer ball. A young girl quite big for her age, and a young boy perhaps in his pre-school were trying out the ball game. A stocky man was explaining how to handle the ball. He must be the coach, and well, I learned that he was. I then endorsed Gboy to him.

Other children joined in, they were sufficient to constitute a team. All attention was to focused on the coach, who was giving instructions on how to play the game. On the last hour of the session, they had a fungame. Gboy must have a good time playing the game. I see that he was all smiles and oozing with excitement and thrill. I could hear his laughter while he came running and kicking the ball. He was appointed striker, that is the one responsible for shooting the ball to the goal.

He was happy and fulfilled going home.

When

Star Gazing

Saturday, 8 to 9 p.m. is earth hour in our home. All power and electrical connections are switched off during this period. This is our way of paying tribute to mother earth, to help bring back its shining glory endangered by global warming.

At few minutes before 8 p.m., we prepared our candles for another experience of earth hour. There was a explosion from outside, and the light suddenly went pfft. The entire Acacia Lane was suddenly covered with darkness. The main line to our street got busted, which caused the power failure. Woodridge assured that Davao Light’s emergency unit was in on its way.

It was earth hour for real. I took my yoga mat and spread it on the terrace. Gboy and I lied on our backs.

The sky was moonless and dark. Specks of shimmering stars big and small adorned the night like glowing balls on a Christmas tree. White nimbus clouds surrounded the skylines and applauded the dances of the stars. The flicker of our candlelight was nothing compared to the illumination that these heavenly studs emitted. Indeed, we felt the grandeur of the universe and our pettiness and insignificance.

The breeze was warm and gentle, and mosquitoes began to sting. We lighted more candles around us to ward off the unwanted visitors.

Then, we searched for constellations. Some stars were in groups, and others in isolation like some outcast of the community. There were figures which looked like a dipper, or an animal, or flower, or child. Other stars were formless and merely scattered in the sky as if some gods had strewn them in a fit of anger. A couple was conspicuous and steady. We figured they were our neighboring planets Venus or Mars. Gboy wished we had a telescope.

The more prominent images were those depicted by the clouds which began to accumulate in volume. In one corner, a picture of 2 lovers in passionate embrace was captured in the sky. In another was a stuffy animal some sort of a bear beckoning its paw. Easily and surreptitiously, the clouds took a lead to the center stage of the sky, ending the showdown of the stars. The stars shied away in complete surrender to the mighty invaders.

It was curtain call, when the power and lights returned.

Lying flat on the ground
Staring at the skies
Star gazing
To one, it is a childish play
To another a waste of time
Whatever one says
To me, it is communicating with the universe
A slow waltz with the moon
Before the envious stars
In the grand ballroom of the sky
Heavenly
Who could have painted such breathtaking landscape
Of mystery, grandeur and awe
But the greatest author of life
The source of all power and might
Man is nothing compared to nature
A speck in the space
A dust in the wind
Yet man is fortunate
In his hands he wields the reign of control
Over all creatures big and small
To relish, to cherish
To embellish to the fullest
He is accountable to his creator.
To the universe
And to all mankind.

5 April 2008

Grade IV Recognition Day

2 April 2008 is Ateneo Grade IV recognition day. It is the day when Ateneo honors the achievements of Grade IV students in curricular and extra-curricular endeavors. Gboy is one of those students who would receive a Distinguished Progress Certificate. A Distinguished Progress Certificate is awarded to students who maintained a general average of at least 89%, with no grade lower than 87%.

Gboy started his day restless as a bee. He woke up early, and was moving all around. He constantly reminded me to be home at 11:00 a.m. He wanted to be early for the 1:00 p.m. program. When I arrived home at about 11:00 a.m., he was already in the bathroom, and in few a minutes, he was all set. True enough, we were early for the affair.

At the Martinez Hall, rows of white Monobloc chairs were arranged in every space of the hall. Seats were especially cordoned at the center, which I supposed were reserved for the awardees. Chairs were also lined in rows at the back part, and on both sides, of the hall. Gboy ushered me to the seats on the left side, where I was to be seated, and told me that we would be meeting in that place after the program. I was amused at how my boy was manifesting maturity and responsibility to give such sweet instructions to me as if I was a child! I smiled to him and said yes babe.

There was something that caught my attention when I leafed through the programme. Unlike in the previous years when almost half of the students in class are recipients of academic certificates, this year, there were fewer awardees. The awardees number an average of 10 students per class. And, were it not for the students-winners of outside school competitions, the number of honorees could have been fewer.

There were also few recipients of contest awards. Even the contest categories are limited—Storytelling, Spelling, Public Speaking, Mathematics, and Science. Was it because Ateneo has limited the awards to gold medals only, omitting the silver, bronze or certificates? I could only surmise. I recall that when Gboy was younger, he got a certificate in Spelling. He felt so proud, that until now, he did not forget the experience.

I likewise noticed that most of the non-curricular awards are from sports-related activities. Many students were outstanding in soccer, swimming, volleyball, and basketball. I felt surprised that there were few recognitions on public speaking or oratorical contests, when, in the past, Ateneo led and dominated these fields. Where is now the glory of Ateneo rhetorics? I also felt sore that there was little attention or recognition for exemplary work in arts, such as singing, dancing, theater arts, painting, literary writing, etc. Despite this, I see that Ateneo is not oblivious in developing the aesthetic potentials of its students.

While Gboy does not manifest exceptional inclination in the field of arts, he has his peculiar way of expressing himself through appreciation of art. I recall that on the last day of school, he came home with a painting he did in class. There were streaks of blue and green and gray. The image of what he wanted to depict is not so clear, but he said that it is a picture of the sky meeting the see. He darkened certain portions (which became gray), because he said it was a bit cloudy. “Yes, it is beautiful”, I assured him.

At the recognition day, Gboy was a picture of bliss. The moment the students seated in his row were called to prepare to parade to the platform, with all pride, he stood, together with the other students, gazed on me, and dispatched that “look-ma-I’m-on-top-of-the-world” confidence. He was all smiles as his name was called, and as he received his certificate from Mrs. Alino, Ateneo grade school headmaster.

There was a riser down the stage allotted for the pinning of medals, and for picture-taking. Incidentally, this area is in the opposite side where I was seated. Gboy did not receive any medal, so I did not go near the platform. However, when Gboy came down the stage, he stayed at the pinning area and summoned me to come near him to take his picture. I had to rush to the other side of the hall, while he, with all flares, maintained his million dollar pose, patiently waiting for me. I managed to capture his winsome smile.

Not all the students of Grade IV are qualified to be present in that joyous occasion. Gboy is so blessed to be included in the circle of Ateneo young achievers. Indeed, I am so grateful that I could not ask for more. I treated him to a big-time meal of double chicken, pizza, and garlic sticks at Greenwich.

Earth Hour

Much has been said about global warming and its ill effects to the planet earth. Surely, it poses a great threat to life and all mankind.

To advert the pernicious effects of global warming, Earth Forum was calling all persons, natural and juridical, community and country to observe earth hour, i.e. to put off all electrical power for 60 minutes on 29 March 2008 at 8 to 9 o’clock in the evening. It was an invitation to all and sundry to voluntarily black out all power for the purpose of saving energy, and consequently, mother earth.

I found the objective novel. Spurred by the environmental spirit in me, I decided to accept the invitation of Earth Forum and to observe Earth hour on the said date.

Thus, I indulged in a little campaign to my husband and my children. It was not difficult to convince Gboy, who had always been excited about engaging in anything new. Butch found the idea weird, but did not give much fuss. Dane was a little receptive. Adrian said he would still not be home at that time. I was determined to espouse earth hour, for a large number of reasons, principally to save on electrical cost. As each day passed, I prodded and reminded them about Earth Hour, so that the idea could sip into their system, and they would appreciate the whole idea.

In the morning of 29 March 2008, Gboy and I were busy preparing for the event. We placed the candles on the colorful candleholders in brass I earlier bought from the 99 Store at Victoria Plaza, and put each on the center table and on the dining table. I also had one candlestick in the living room and in the family hall upstairs. Dane got one for her room. I wanted to line the stairways with attractive candleholders, but since I did not have enough cups or handlers, I decided to reserve the arrangement for some other time. To spur the romantic spirit in my children and husband, and to make the experience more eventful and memorable, I specifically used scented candles, and spread aromatic oils on poutpourris positioned all over the nooks and corners of the house. We had early dinner at 6.

Earth hour came. I thought of a total black out, as in switching the main power line off, but Dane to spare the TV. Butch also suggested to exclude the refrigerator. So, we simply switched off the lights and all other electrical connections, and lighted the candles. Indeed, the atmosphere was soft and romantic.

Butch had a friend who he was supposed to meet at home, but since we were on candlelight, they preferred to go to the clubhouse of the subdivision. Dane was watching TV. Gboy and I went to bed and told stories of Filipino legends or “alamat”. He also shared jokes he learned from K-Zone. We had a grand mother-son bonding.

It was a bit steamy in the bedroom. I was suggesting to Gboy to open the windows, but he brushed it aside, and said that earth hour would be over soon. He was counting each passing minute of darkness, was always looking at the clock on his cellphone, and retorted “__th minutes na lang!” We had such a good time that we momentarily forgot to watch the passing time. When we noticed the clock, it was 8 past 9. Yes, earth hour is over; we finally passed it! I immediately put on the aircon. I kissed Gboy and Dane, and thanked them for cooperating with me.

Earth hour experience is wonderful. Others might think it bizarre, but I am determined to continue observing it. Practicing it is not only helping save mother earth. It is also an effective moment to bond with the kids, and hopefully to share special moments with Butch too.