Great moments to remember Lea Salonga Philippine Daily Inquirer
July 01, 2009
AS I WRITE THIS, I am filling out paperwork: a few sheets for personal information; a separate checklist of requirements; immunization records; a birth certificate; passport photos — all this in preparation for the next step in my daughter’s development: pre-school.
Gym program
To be honest, I wasn’t sure if she, at 3 years old, was even ready for anything remotely academic. A few of my friends had already sent their children to “play schools,” but I opted to keep my child at home a little while longer. I don’t know, call it paranoia or whatever, but I felt it best for her to stay out of school for another year.
When she was 2, my husband and I enrolled her in a parent-and-child gym program to help in socialization with other children her age, as well as increase her physical ability, fitness and motor development.
Crying and clingy
At first she held on to us like a monkey on a tree, not wanting to participate. She was crying and clingy. After a while, she joined in. A few weeks later, she started to open up and enjoy herself. She explored the equipment, ran around like crazy, and had a blast.
Early in June, it came time to move her up to another program, with no adult companion in the room with her. This opened up another list of anxieties in my mind. Can she do it? Will she be clingy all over again and ask for either Mommy or Yaya? Will she cry? Her teacher assured us that it was normal for a child this age to call out for the adults in her life, but that it wasn’t a cause for concern.
Ready for pre-school
We headed to her gym, opened the door, and in she ran without so much as a backward glance. Ha! She was more ready than even I was.
She would from time to time look at us through the large picture window, strike a pose and smile, the little ham that she is. She would pretend to be in trouble and got the attention of a boy or two.
Her teacher reported how imaginative and creative she is, which made me proud of her. One full hour without Mommy or Yaya ... and she had fun.
It’s that initial hour that let me know that she’s now ready for pre-school. And I think I’m ready, too.
So here I am, late in the evening, going through a checklist to see what she needs, and what we’ll need to hand over to the school to get things started. Yes, I’ll probably experience a little separation anxiety of my own, but it’s a moment that I’ll always remember.
Rest in peace, King of Pop
Michael Jackson is gone. My brother and I idolized him when we were growing up. Not only did we perform some of his songs on “Love, Lea,” but my brother at the age of 11 would imitate Jackson’s famous dance moves — the multiple, blinding spins and that iconic moonwalk. Gerard even had me sew sequins on one of his golf gloves.
“Thriller” and “Off the Wall” are two albums I can listen to in endless loops all day, something that comforted me when I learned of his passing.
One of my good friends whom I saw at the gym that day said, “I feel lost.” He also expressed anger that “when Michael Jackson was alive, he was crucified and criticized … now that he’s dead, only good things are being said. Life can be so unfair.” I had to agree.
There are already countless articles that commemorate Jackson’s life: His star on the rise as the lead singer of the Jackson 5; his solo career; how “Thriller” is still the biggest selling album of all time; his eccentricities; the changing appearance; the controversies, legal battles and financial woes that plagued him until his passing; and the possible comeback that, sadly, we’ll never get to see.
Much can and will be said about him in the days and weeks to come, some complimentary, others critical, but there is one thing that we can all agree on: his exceptional music and incredible gifts as a performer. I was always in awe of him as a singer, dancer, and musician, and his achievements can and will never be equaled.
We miss you, Michael Jackson. We’ll always remain your fans.
