One day last schoolyear, Ivan came to visit COLF as he usually does at least once a year since he had been in College.

I asked him if he would like to contribute something to the alumni page of the COL website. He sent me this article by email May 29. I would like to share it with you. His recollection of life and learning experiences in COL is wonderfully detailed and accurate. Thank you very much our dearest Ivan.

Teacher Feny

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The quote above was written by a batchmate of mine in one of her reflection papers  on her life in Community of Learners, which my batchmates incorporated into the speech made at our graduation. I use this quote to introduce how my experience in COLF was because this is also the same sentiment, which pops up in mind whenever asked about how my life in Community of Learners is. Why is that? My answer is: My stay in COLF was actually something which I also value as a gift from God when I was a child. I grew up in the school maximizing it’s facilities until I had to head to college and move on to the university.

In fact, being in COLF had always been and will always be a blessing which I treasure in my whole life. It was a huge privilege for me to spend my life in that school beginning Lower school until  High school. Now I am taking up AB Humanities at the University of Asia and the Pacific and I am currently in my fourth year in the university. I am a member of the World Youth Alliance,  a Non-Government Organization that advocates for the defense and the promotion of Human Dignity. And I still look back to COLF, as  my experience in this school  helped me grow in a way that I am able to succeed in my life not just as a college student but also in my later future.

My Academic Life in CL

Looking back to my Academic Life in COLF, It is not as challenging as people say traditional schools are. COLF, as a progressive school evaluates their students based on their strengths and weaknesses every year. These evaluations also provide a basis for determining the workload the student will be taking for the particular year. At the end of each semester, teachers file progress reports, and make notes on how students perform in every subject, and what areas of improvement the students will have to work on the following school year and discuss these with the parents as well. In my situation for example, I may be a person who excels in Social Studies, and the Language Arts which determines that I can handle the challenging workload in the subject of Social Studies. On the other hand, as someone who is weak in Mathematics, the school and I notice that extra help is needed in when I deal with Math, which would mean that I need to be placed in a group which needs at least the minimum Mathematics requirement for preparation for college. These students are given support by a different pacing of mathematical lessons and activities and additional tutorials.

In addition, to this when looking into the academic curriculum of COLF, the school does not have a rigid approach when it comes to their subjects. This is because, COLF gives an integrated approach to students when it comes to the topics in their subjects which gives them an advantage to early exposure to different areas of knowledge, and as they grow, these areas expose us to a broader context of topics with greater depth. Through this integrative approach students are then prepared for bigger opportunities: like getting into big universities, working for huge companies, and getting involved in big organizations. In addition, they use this concept of applied learning for students to learn better and understand what the subjects are teaching. For example, in Math– they do chip-trading, the use of algebra tiles, and get students in crafty art projects which are relatable to Math like the Carton Animals, the Tangrams, the tessellations, the IQ Puzzles, the Christmas Star, the Polyhedron, and the Houses to help students appreciate the subject. Another example of integration  are the Language Arts and Social Studies, which show how most of our schoolwork are project based— they ensure we  are engaged in different  forms and genre like writing a poem, illustrating comic-strips, drawing a character or a scene from a literary piece, making replicas of paintings or other media, or even staging mini-plays and monologues.

In putting this to my experience for example in the field of Social Studies, the subject which triggered my passion for the Humanities, their integrative approach is to expose students  to different countries with different geographical, historical cultural contexts as early as grade school. Studying the different kinds of communities from the first to the third grade, Philippine History and culture during the fourth grade, the ancient Chinese Culture during the fifth grade, Ancient Egypt and the Middle Ages culture during the 6th Grade, and Ancient Greece and Rome during the 7th Grade, also participating in the activities related to these subject matters as early as grade school during the Curriculum Fair, or watching the Chinese Festival done by the fifth graders  and finally facilitating these activities upon reaching these grade levels. We were also tasked to present some flash monologues in Filipino class in High school during the Curriculum Fair which indeed helped me in my growth.  Then each year we created displays of our projects during the Curriculum fair.

 I also will not forget the field trips in some which then helped me even more in gaining knowledge to Social Studies— studying Urban and Rural Communities we went to Barangay Valencia, visited a few establishments in the city of San Juan, and observing some remaining aspects of rural life in San Mateo, Rizal; visiting Cubao in order to observe the life at a commercialized area.  We also went to Navotas and Malabon in order to witness and experience how life in a fishing community. We went to Malolos, Bulacan where my batchmates and I witnessed farming life.

I also remember the field trips to places which exposed us to different cultural and historical settings like Intramuros in the fourth grade for Philippine History and Culture, Binondo in the fifth grade for Chinese Culture.  Then in High school we visited museums like the Art museums in Artists’ homes in Angono, Rizal, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Bagumbayan Lights and Sounds in Intramuros and the Ayala Museum.

We went to the Malipayon Farms and the GK Enchanted Farm for our Economics   and Culinary classes to understand the lives of farmers and their  work which clarified  “farm to table processes” for us.  We were exposed to different techniques of organic farming and product development.  

We were required to record our observations for each of these trips as we were given trip-charts to jot down notes, draw some maps, and other materials we see in these places. Now as I take up the Humanities and as a member of the World Youth Alliance a Non-Government Organization that promotes and defends Human Dignity through promoting the importance of culture and solidarity I am able to understand the capability of the human person. 

Exposed to this type of pedagogy, CL has been trying to form me into getting ready to face the different challenges the world can offer me; while on the other hand, learning how to set my boundaries in these challenges. This is because my early childhood days in COLF, and growing up in the school, CL helped me when it came to exposing myself into different opportunities but getting myself grounded as well. When the time came for me to look for colleges and courses, I did not hesitate to limit myself to my interests in the field of academics, and what I can become after graduating.

In addition, the school system of CL helped me practice the virtue of temperance because, in terms of finishing requirements we have to make sure we meet the deadlines and get cleared before taking up the periodical exams or what we call “assessments.” This system is organized with the use of the TMC (Task Monitoring Chart), which students use to record the submitted tasks, quizzes, homework, and certain progress scheduled for each project. All have to be completed before the assessment period and validated by the signatures of the teachers. Most of the time, teachers double check our requirements just to make sure we do them right, they want to make sure we do not cheat. In the case that “cheating” occurred, the student has to repeat the work. These processes are helpful as it gives the students an opportunity to develop discipline by training them to follow instructions and giving them second chances.

COLF also encourages one to practice the virtue of honesty and humility. This is because, whenever a student struggles in a subject, teachers are always willing to lend a helping hand to the student. There are many times, teachers would approach students if they need help or whenever they are struggling on a certain subject just to assure that they are fine. If things go wrong, the teacher calls the student’s attention just to help the student become aware that there he/she is starting to struggle. Sometimes also, students never hesitate to approach their teacher and the teacher openly helps their students in the areas in need of help. Teachers even say it themselves that when we struggle to approach them. This is why, we were motivated by them to ask for help and not be ashamed that we need it.

Looking into my life as a college student currently, as the workload is heavier, and the skills expected from students are higher. I had to go through tough adjustments, as I was expected to read texts from different angles, and sharpen my analysis skills as well. Also, it is the student’s own calling to organize their study systems as well. Despite these adjustments I had to undergo upon entering college, I was still able to manage my workload better. This is because, I try to organize myself by creating a system of organizing my workload. It also helps that I seek guidance whenever I consult with my professors in terms of academic requirements, or talk to my mentors about helping me organize a system, also on how to reach the expectations of my professors in the university such as learning the professional standard when it comes to academic writing for example which in fact is way different from High School.

My Social Life in CL

Aside from the academic life, COLF helped me socialize with others because as a small school, it made interacting with other students easier. Moreover, as a school with a small population, students get to know each other from the senior levels down to the elementary levels and even preschool. In addition to this, the faculty and the administrative staff of the school know the faces and the names of every student; this is why I was able to interact with people of different age groups and people of every position. One example is socializing with the Ates and the Kuyas who work in the canteen, those who would call us if our ride has arrived, or those who would assist lower and middle school homeroom teachers manage the class. It is always a fun experience interacting with them because they know what is happening within the school. I am also able to get to develop myself around people who offer much needed help to students. They keeping us safe from danger and prepare the food we eat in school.

As I entered college, as it is a non-typical COLF situation, it became a habit for me to interact with the guards who inspect my school bag, the personnel at the reception desk, and the Ates who cook the food I consume in school. It is rare for these personnel to greet the students by their name and just greet them as sir/mam. Also, I greet almost every student I meet in the hallways. I do the same thing whenever I would sit in canteen tables during lunch while just plainly eating my food, or while making friends with my Ates and Kuyas from the upper batches. Because of this, a lot of people know me as a friendly person who is flexible in socializing with his fellow students. These experiences are very important for my future as I deal with people because, upon entering college I become classmates with people of higher and lower batches, I can decide to not eat with my block mates, or sometimes spend my free time with other people who may not be part of my block. Heading to post-graduation life, I will be meeting with different people with different personalities as well.

Aside from the friendly cordial interaction with higher and lower batches, COLF taught us to form brotherly and sisterly friendships with fellow classmates.  As a small section, we are always together, and sometimes we get to know the families of our fellow classmates when they attend school events, such as the Homeroom Potlucks which is always the first event of the school year, wherein the families of each students meet and get to know the classmates of each one. Through the Homeroom Potlucks which is the first event during their academic year, I am able to learn how to interact with my classmates and in the process, I get to know and to be friendly with their family members.

 Another factor that helped me develop my social interactions with others was a civic related requirement I was tasked to do. It was called the High School Social Action Program or the HSSAP. During the HSSAP, we visit orphanages, construction areas, or homes for the elderly, and interact with people residing in these places. We’d play games, listen to  their stories, and give them some treats. In these HSSAPs, I was able to interact with people of different backgrounds: the children residing in Barangay Valencia, those living in children’s homes like the Virlanie Foundation, the street children who live in Manila North Cemetery, who sleep on top of the tombs, and the elderly who live in a Home for the Aged. I was able to develop my social interactions with other people through these outreaches because here during HSSAP activities, I learned how to understand the circumstances of other people, know why their mode of behavior is different, as seen through the varying social and cultural backgrounds they belong to. Now in college, I also participate in outreach activities which are not on-campus activities, as we visit urban communities, and orphanages. Also, I interact with people who came from backgrounds like this as well. Through these interactions, this helped me as well in my formation into my WYA Membership because as the NGO advocates Human Dignity, it is also seen the organization as well does teach the value of Human Dignity even into the rural provinces as well.

My Extra-Curricular Life in CL

COLF also helped me in terms of involvement with extracurricular activities: which in COLF we called our Student Committee work and After-School special programs.  Each student was required to sign up and pick one in order to help and contribute to the life of the school as a community. These committees were Performing Arts, Green Thumbs, InfoComm, Community Partnership, Artists Pool, and Networking. In addition, we also had after-school special groups like the Choir, Dance Team, and the Basketball Varsity Team. As we were required to sign up for a committee even ever since grade school, I signed up and joined different committees, switching them every year until I finally settled in the Performing Arts back in High School.

I started joining COLF’s special after-school groups back in 7th grade as I joined Choir, added with the Dance Team back in first year, then being part of the pioneer batch of the High School Book Club in Fourth year High School and stayed in these orgs until I graduated. In joining these orgs, I learned to discipline myself in balancing my academics, and my extra-curricular activities which is important as the extra-curricular workload in COLF is as valuable as our academic life. In addition, through balancing the times allowed for these, COLF helped me to value commitment, and dedication. 

COLF also held different events throughout the school year through which we were able to share our talents and skills. I participated during their sporting events namely: Intrams, and Family Day. I also facilitated my fellow students during our School Fairs particularly the Multiple Intelligence Fair and the Curriculum Fair. In addition, I performed during our School Dance events such as the Music and Dance Festival, and the Dance Olympiad. I also performed during their school wide shows like the Community Day and the Christmas Bonfire. I also joined some section contests such as quiz bees related to Social Studies back in second to fifth grade, visual arts and poetry writing contests, back in grade six, Chorale recitations (Sabayang Pagbigkas) from grade 1 until fourth year high school, and some Slam poetry in Fourth Year. Finally, I also played some songs during their musical events: the Acoustic Night and the Himig.

In joining these orgs, and participating in COLF’s various events I became courageous when it comes to exploring different fields for myself development, and my professional and career growth. Upon entering college I tried for The Bosun, which is UA&P’s Student Publication where I became a Contributing Writer. Later on, I supported Universitas, a foundation that aims to form future principled leaders and now attending some of their events. I also  tried for the World Youth Alliance, so I am now one of their accredited members and am currently taking their Master Class Training (as well as attending a few of their parties.) Then, I also joined UA&P ANIMA which is the longest running Political Party in UA&P and volunteered for the Logistics committee. I also participated during sporting events near the school community such as the InterCenter which is almost an annual sporting tournament of the different study centers and played a few sports. Because of my active participation in and out of my current school community, I am sure these will lead me to bigger opportunities for my professional and my career growth.  For this I thank CL because it was CL who first trained me into becoming an active person through my participation in school events, committees, and the special orgs.

Overall Experience

Being a Batang CL indeed, is the most significant experience I ever had in my whole life because of the way they approach learning, addressing the needs of each student, their way of moulding students into getting into the best versions of themselves was a big success. I have to say that,  where I am now, as a college senior exposed to dealing with great opportunities like having friendships with professionals such as accountants, lawyers, and taking classes under those who hold Ph.Ds., it is actually CL that molded me into this and having reached this far. In fact, there are still a lot of many more ways into which COLF helped me into becoming a successful person; and I still thank the school for this. Though, I may now be called a Dragon, as my current university calls their students,   my title as a “Batang CL” still remains, as what students and alumni say, “Once a Batang CL, always a Batang CL!