Happy Birthday LoloCow!

Today is my father's birthday. February 20, 2010.

Thirty three years ago, something wonderful happened on my father's birthday- he married my mother.

What a fantastic lifelong present!

Happy wedding anniversary, you old kids!

Table Talk: The Tale of the Preschool Table

I went to pay our Meralco bill near the Makati fire station and from just across the street, I saw a man selling wood tables.

I immediatedly approached him and inspected his tables, some of which he was still sanding to a smooth finish. He told me his name was Mang Danny and that he was from Bagong Barrio Caloocan (which means The New Village in Caloocan). Mang Danny looked really tired as it was really hot that day and Caloocan where he lived was around 2 hours from where we were. But he was gracious enough to answer more of my prodding questions.

I asked him, why I hadn't seen him before near Meralco. He told me he carries the tables around from spot to spot wherever he is permitted to and not shooed away by security guards. He is like the Aparador sellers (Cabinet sellers) the ones that carry huge shelves or beds on their backs peddling from street to street. This thought really tugs on my heart strings, such labor is not easy to endure. But as Mang Danny puts it, at least he has work.

On closer inspection, the tables look rough and raw on the edges. The kind I like because they really look handmade. Then Mang Danny started sanding the table I was checking up close. I told him not to bother because I like his tables as they are. For they look natural and wonderful!

The table may look rough, but not that bad that my son would get splinters from it. I think it's the perfect portable preschool table for my boy. And it only cost me P350! ($7.50) I think that's rather cheap for a wood table considering the alternative would be a plastic table which I'm not so thrilled about.

Next month, I hope to find Mang Danny sitting on the same spot under the tree. As I hope to buy more wood tables from him. He has bigger ones that fold, such a table would be perfect for my laptop when outdoors or as a craft table when I'm sewing.

Happy Valentine's Day to Mommies Everywhere!

Today is a great day to hug and kiss everyone you love ♥ well, every day is! ♥ I wish you all the best kind of love the whole year round wherever you are :)

"Let love be your highest goal..."
1 Corinthians 14:1

♥ Happy Valentine's Day! ♥

My Niece Goes to a Casting Call

My niece's Sasha went to her first casting call. She's hardly ever shy anyway and very makulit. After much egging from grandma Lola Cow, my sister gave in and took her daughter to this casting agency in the Salcedo neighborhood.

I just think she's adorable in the video :)

Click here if you are looking for a list of Philippine Casting Agencies

Preschools in Makati: KIDS (Kids in Day School)

I'll be doing a series of posts about Preschools in the Makati area .  I hope some Moms can give their feedback especially if you have a child going to one of these preschools.

If you live in the Pasong Tamo area or San Antonio Village area, KIDS is accessible via a tricycle ride from Shopwise, Pasong Tamo. 

 

KIDS (Kids in Day School)
a place where kids can be kids
http://www.kidsindayschool.com
Located at:


Click to enlarge map to Calantas Street via Pasong Tamo

9388 Calantas Street
San Antonio
Makati CityTel. No. 895-1105

"Our school recognizes the fact that the first six years of a child's life is very crucial. It is when his basic character, personality, skills and knowledge are formed. It is also the most critical in terms of providing proper stimulation for physical, intellectual, social and emotional development."

Looking for the Most Suitable Preschool

February seems to be the right month to make the rounds of Preschool visits.

I am hoping to find a good school for my son, one that would further inspire his curiosity and encourage him to be sociable with kids his age. Too idealistic perhaps?

My sister during her nursery days in the 80s, my niece in playschool 2008

My main concern would be an availability of an enrollment slot for my child at his appropriate learning level. My other concerns would be the school curriculum, teaching methods, tuition fees, facilities and the travel time from home. Well, its my first time to enroll my child so I'm practically a newbie and believe me, the whole scenario is so overwhelming for me and its not even the first day of school yet.

My son Enzo is 5 years old. He's bright, smart, playful and cheerful. My son can read on his own. He can write his full name and the rest of the alphabet. He can count, but he can't do addition yet; It doesn't interest him right now. He loves to sing and draw people in blue crayon. He's not shy to approach other kids, but he still can't handle being turned down very well. He doesn't have play mates his age where we live, the kids at our building are mostly gradeschoolers, tweens or babies. So I'm hoping on a social level, a preschool can help my son interact and get used to being around other kids.So far, the schools I went to have been very accomodating. Thank God no one was rude (or masunget). I remember 'horror stories' about school searches which end up with the mom in tears.

So right now, I am on the prowl for the most suitable Preschool. I wish I could say I'm looking for the best one- but I think the best ones are beyond my reach, the progressive ones I like are in Quezon City and not in Makati where we live. The exclusive ones in Makati, may have the best facilities (their own playground, a huge playroom) but are beyond my price range. So what's left out there that is suitable?

My target is a preschool with good teaching methods, within my financial means, and the one with the closest proximity to my home.  I did my research, asking moms around the neighborhood (and the online mommy forums) about their kids' schools and the feedback I got from these moms has been invaluable.

I'm going to check out another school in the neighborhood tomorrow. Ayayay! Wish me luck.