PHINMA fun run for Mano Amiga!

June 5, 2010

The Grove, Ortigas

Registration: P350

For more info: please contact Hernan at 8700581

MA Milestone: First batch of Prep graduates!

In 2008, Mano Amiga Academy opened its doors to deserving children from low-income families living in Taguig.

On May 18, 2010, two years after the school opened, Mano Amiga Academy celebrated the graduation of its pioneer batch of Prep graduates. The ceremony was made even more special by the stage that the parents volunteered to construct and design. Several Mano Amiga partners graced the event to partake in the celebration and witness their scholars finish preschool.

After the opening prayer and introductions, the 26 graduates sang You Raise Me Up, an inspirational song they dedicated to God and their parents.

The children beamed proudly as Mano Amiga Academy inc. President Amb. Jose Macario Laurel IV and School Principal Ramon Austria presented them with their diplomas. A number of students also received medals for academic achievement and special awards.

Students in Mano Amiga are provided with 14 years of education (preschool until high school). We look forward to the next 12 years when our Prep graduates finally finish high school, excited and well-prepared to pursue higher opportunities because of the quality formation they received.

Congratulations to Mano Amiga Academy's first preschool graduates!

Batch 2010 Awardees:

Leadership award: Zycareine Mae Benigay

Apostolic Service award : John Mark Ebero

Effort Award: Jhonny Canares and Jika Villaflor

Subject Awardees:

Math: John Mark Ebero

Science: Joshua Dave Waras

English: Zycareine Benigay

Catholic Formation: Joshua Dave Waras

Art: Mary Grace Aquiler

Academic excellence:

First Honor: Joshua Dave Waras

Second Honor: Zycareine Benigay

Third Honor: Lovely Villar

Small actions, Big change

Angeline Nadera and her classmates squealed excitedly as they searched the classroom for hidden seashell cut-outs. Volunteers tried to keep up while the students crawled into every nook and cranny to gather as many paper shells they could and win the Underwater-themed Scavenger Hunt.

The exercise was a part of a Saturday activity in which volunteers of all ages spent the whole afternoon teaching the students the beauty of Marine life and the importance of Ocean conservation. The activity featured songs, stories, games, and arts and crafts to teach the students about the small things they can do that actually have a big impact in protecting marine life.

"It takes so little to make a difference. Efforts like this open the children's imagination and instill values that last for a lifetime," Mano Amiga volunteer Jamie Silva said.

For more information on Mano Amiga Academy and its activities, you may contact Lynn Pinugu at 09063361663 or send an email to lpinugu@altius.org

More Home Cafe Coverage

Home Cafe got featured in Heart 2 Heart!
For the full article click on the link:
http://heart-2-heart-online.com/2010/04/10/home-cafe-for-mano-amiga/

English Month Campaign

Mano Amiga Academy recently concluded a month-long campaign designed to help the students learn and appreciate English both in and out of the classroom. During English month, the teachers increased the use of English in the songs, stories, lessons, and in classroom instruction and motivation. School principal Ramon Austria, also offered classes in basic conversational English to interested parents.

The students had the chance to show the great improvement in their ability to comprehend and use the language in the recently held culminating activity. The Kinder students opened the program by reciting the poem “Three Little Kittens,” with matching kitten ears and painted faces.

Afterwards, chosen class representatives were interviewed. Some of the questions asked were “Who is your favorite cartoon character?” and “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Answers ranging from Spongebob to Dora, to nurse and pilot were given. Additional points were awarded to the students who answered in complete sentences. The audience, mostly composed of Mano Amiga parents, cheered them on. Mano Amiga chaplain Father Daniel Polzer, LC served as the guest judge, together with the homeroom teachers.


As they were deciding on on who the top 5 best speakers are, the Prep kids closed the event with their own take of “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly”- a humorous poem performed enthusiastically by the children. Their performance featured a big tarpaulin of an old lady’s face in the background that kids would enter whenever they got “swallowed!”

Arzel Sumalinog, Carlos Saguran, Emerlyn Cecilio, Sheryl Gerarcas and Andrey Miranday were selected as best English speakers for Kinder; Zycareine Benigay, Lovely Villar, Daisy Mae Nieva, Jenicel Gustilo and Jika Villaflor were chosen for Prep.

But in the end, with outstanding performances from both classes during the month-long campaign and the culminating activity, there is no question that all of them emerged as winners.