My son's 7th Birthday - June 12, 2013

June 12, 2013 - It's Philippines Independence Day and so as my son Marty's 7th Birthday.

Time really flies so fast, he is now a big boy. Doing his assignments, eating,
taking a bath  and dressing-up by himself.  He loves going to school, never
get tired of his Taekwondo sessions and loves to dance and sing. 
That is my Marty boy.

The celebration started off with a lunch in Mangetsu, Jupiter, Makati for my
son's favorite Tempura with his cute cousins.

Spent the afternoon at Rockwell Club for fun swimming.

He also treated his classmates in school. 

Back to school S.Y. 2013-2014(June 10, 2013)

Starting the school year with enthusiasm and a good start, my son Marty
woke up early on his first day of school.

Finishing off with an academic achiever award on his Grade 1 level,
he is excited to meet his new teachers, new and old classmates,
see their new school building and ready to face more and harder
challenges in Grade II. 

The rules which we agreed upon:
1. Study, do assignments and review lessons on weekdays.
2. Can play his toys on weekends.
3. Gadgets can be played only on weekends too.
4. Attend Taekwondo sessions  regularly.

Moving-up recognition day of my son (Mar 25, 2013)

Another year has passed in my son's golden years and I'm proud to say
that he was able to hurdle all the challenges in Grade 1 level as he finishes off
with an Academic Achiever award.

Aside studying and doing his assignments on his own, he actively participated
in all their school's events.  He was also into sports where he garnered
3rd place in the SMART Taekwondo National Competition last August
and their blue team in basketball won also during their Family Olympics.

He got 3rd place on their story telling contest on their English-Math-Science
Literacy Month and was also one of the representatives to the MTAP
competition last January.

This is the 2nd year which he was selected to perform in their Doxology and
he really performed very well.

 

Another performance from the Grade 1 pupils. 

 

And this is Marty on his self-introduction - To be the youngest and best engineer

in the field of Robotics.

 

 

And these are the proud parents who work hard to give Marty the best

education they can give.

Marty's First Story Telling - The Turtle and The Monkey

My son made us proud again!

Their recently concluded English-Math-Science Festival held in Story Land
SM Fairview last Sept. 28 paved the way to make my son speak in public.

He got 3rd place in their story telling entitled The Turtle and The Monkey
for the 1st graders.  His awesome props - courtesy of my friends in the office.
Big Thanks to you my friends....

For a playful and shy 6 year-old kid, it was really hard to memorize and
have him recite the story this long.  Surprisingly, my son did it. He was
able to memorize the whole story in 2-nights session + the action
for another night.  What made him more interested and memorized it easily was
that I let him wrote it down in a brown paper and posted it in our bedroom wall.
I told him that was my way of  reviewing when I was in of his age so that it will
easily stick into my mind and will never forget it.

Though I was a little bit disappointed when he did not act what he practised
during the contest, thank God, he finished the story.

It was really a first big step for Marty.

What's playin' in my mind? What if I enroll him on their theater acting
club?

After the event, all kids were treated with a Ride-All-You-Can ticket
in the Story Land rides.  It was really a tiring but enjoyable day for my son
with his classmates.

In the Train ride...

The Carousel ride...

Walking Animal ride...

 

And the 4D X-Rider experience.  Marty was the one in the middle.

Nutrition Month and Buwan Ng Wika Celebration(Aug.31)

The long awaited events in my son's school were held just last Aug.31 - joint 

celebration of Nutrition Month and Buwan Ng Wika. 

It was another special day for the Whiz Kids to show case their talents - singing,

dancing, cooking, ballet, & in games. 

Overall, it was a simple yet awesome experience for the Whiz Kids. 

Some activities that my son actively participated into.

Salad-making contest...

Games...

And the MSA Whiz Kids TKD Club demo...

Taeguk 3 demo...

TKD Kicking demo...

2012 National Poomsae Taekwondo Championship

Congratulations to my son Marty for garnering the 3rd place in the
2012 National Poomsae Taekwondo Championship Toddler Category
for blue belters held at Ninoy Aquino Stadium last July 22, 2012.

This was his first competition - competed in the Toddler category for
blue belters demonstrating Taeguk 3.

The stadium was jam-packed by TKD players from all over the Philippines.
It was our first time to this place and to attend to this national competition
so my attention was all with my son. And it would be hard to be looking for
someone since all kids were all in their TKD uniform. So all parents had their
all eyes on their kids.

As parents, we just wanted Marty to experience and make him see how
other kids perform and enjoy their TKD which could somehow inspire
him to do more and do his best.  But we were surprised for what he has
shown the judges on his demo.  Ignoring all distractions and as the first one
to perform, he went to the court, listened to the instructions and performed well.

When his name was announced as the third placer, Marty jumped
in joy and I was just one proud mama with teary eyes.

Taekwondo: My son's TKD Promotion to Low Blue Belt

Marty on his new low blue belt.  Promotion went well last May 26, 2012
at Ateneo de Manila.

It was almost half a day of waiting for Marty's turn to start.  Kids from
different summer TKD sessions came to town  for this promotion.

Astoria Plaza Suite, Ortigas - A Father's Day Plunge

It was our 2nd year of celebrating Father's Day @Astoria Plaza Suite
last June 15-17.

What we love here is the homey and relaxed feeling of just staying in the hotel 

with the full-serviced amenities - kid and a lap pool, gym, SPA services and

free shuttle going to nearby commercial hubs. 

Father and Son had a taste of their buffet breakfast for a buy 1 take 1 offer 

of PHP400++.

And what my son really enjoyed - a plunge on the kiddie pool where he 

overcame his fear of dipping into the water.  This was so memorable to him

because he got the confidence to float by himself.

Maybe by next summer, I will enroll him to swimming class. 

Our 1-bedroom accommodation...

 

 

 

 

Excited for Grade 1 (SY 2012-2013)

June 18, 2012 - Back to School...

After more than 2 months of school and summer vacation, my son is more
than excited to be back to school - meet new classmates, reconnect with
old friends,  meet new teachers and face new challenges.  

As promised, he kept his favorite toys in our attic to give way to his studies.

He very well knows his priorities - do assignments and review on school days
and Saturday, and Sunday will be a free day.

Having no housemaid, this is again the start of  max. of 5 hours sleep everyday
which means sleeping by 11PM and waking-up at 4AM to prepare for breakfast,
meryenda and lunch of my son. 

Good luck son in your new endeavor.  Enjoy your schooling and Taekwondo.
Mama and Papa are always here to support you for whatever your heart
desires.

Happy Birthday Marty!

Dear Marty...Today is June 12, 2012 and it is your 6th birthday..We want you
to know that you have made Papa and Mama very proud of you... Just enjoy
your studies and enjoy life....We are always here for you....Just follow your
dreams...

Celebrated his 6th birthday with his Cousins @ Max's Roces + his cake(Dayap
chiffon cake) from Chocolate Kiss.

Taekwondo: My son's TKD Promotion to High Yellow Belt

My son took his TKD promotion to high yellow belt last March 18 at
St. Paul College, Pasig City.

The assessment consisted of their Taeguk 1 form, self defense, different kicks
demonstration and the sparring. Results usually comes out 3 weeks after the
assessment.

With focus, strength, power and determination that my son is showing, we will
surely support him for his love to this sport. 

 

My son's sparring with his MSA TKD team mate Basty.

 

The MSA Whizkids TKD CHAMP and PRIDE!

Taekwondo: My son's first TKD Demo

My son on his first ever TKD demo during their Family Olympics school event.

Warming-up before the demo and photo-ops with the team and
coach Jec Panotes.

They had their group demonstration, followed by per belt-color presentation,
self defense and lastly the breaking of the board.

For the yellow belters group, they presented the Taeguk 1 form with my son
in front.  I was more nervous than my son that he might commit mistakes but
he proved me wrong.  He did it with focus and power.

He was also selected to be one in the self-defense demo.

And in the breaking of the board, he broke it for the 2nd try.

My son's preparatory graduation - with honors

Another one great proud mama moment - I was in teary eyes when my son Marty
was announced as one of the cream of the crop of the preparatory. At 5 years
old, he graduated prep with honors. 

I never expected it maybe because of the so little time and effort that I spent with
him doing his assignments and on his exam reviews.  Thank God for his wisdom
intelligence.

His self-introduction - "Good afternoon.  You are braver than you believe.
You are stronger than you seem and you are smarter than you think.  I am
Samuel Marty C. Santos.  I am 5 years old.  I like to be a Mechanical
Engineer.  Thank you."

 

Here is his medal.

He was also one of the selected students who performed on their Doxology presentation.

Time really flies so fast.  Last year, he completed his Kinder 1 as Top 3.  

He passed his acceleration exam and now he is graduating from pre-school.  

Surely, next year will be more challenges and more things to learn in Grade 1. 

His classmates that he will surely miss.  Some will go to big schools but some
will stay.  Marty will still stay in MSA Whizkids. We are very happy with the
quality of education that MSA Whizkids is providing to our son - 1 academic
level advance, develops critical thinking and maintains just a number of students per class.  

Kumon Chronicles: Back to Kumon

After 2 months of rest from Kumon due to my son's 3rd quarterly exam and
Christmas and New Year holidays, he is now back in action.

He resumes his worksheets for the Reading - A1 level.

 

 

 

In A1 level, introduces students to the structure of simple sentences, learn

expressions which convey attitude or intention (i.e. can, must, may and should).

Students also learn to write negative sentences, questions and sentences using

the past tense.

See how excited and happy he is in answering his worksheets...