A happy day for Libis Elementary School’s Kumon Math awardees as they pose with their medals at Ateneo’s Lee Irwin Theater, together with Bing, Victor Claravall, Principal Thelma Co and teacher Imelda Bernadas

Last July 27, 2008, the Libis Elementary School Kumon Outreach Center joined eight other Quezon City Kumon centers in celebrating the centers’ own Advanced Students Honor Roll (ASHR). The event was patterned after the annual National Kumon ASHR, which celebrates the achievements of Kumon gold awardees all over the country. By definition, gold awardees are Kumon students who have attained math proficiency three or more grade levels beyond their current school grade. Last year, the National Kumon ASHR, sponsored by Kumon Philippines, was held at the PICC. This year, the venue was SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia complex. The major difference of the Quezon City ASHR, which was a brainchild of Kumon center manager Victor Claravall, is that it includes even the bronze (Kumon math proficiency is one grade level higher than school grade) as well as silver awardees (two grade levels higher than school level) of the eight participating centers.

Based on attainment as of May 31, 2008, Libis Elementary School had 28 awardees, led by gold awardees Jamea Siasoco (currently Grade 6) and Mark Barilla (currently 2nd year at PSHS). The silver awardees included:

New gold awardee Jamea Siasoco joins Mark Barilla

Mar 08 Grade Level Silver Honor Students May 08 Kumon Level Grade 6 Jeylord Julao H200 Grade 5 Arantxa Bade G200 Grade 5 Raul Mendoza G200 Grade 3 Dhane Villegas F050 Grade 3 Jason Mendoza F030 Grade 3 John Catacutan E200 Grade 3 Angeline Labuguen E200 Grade 2 Gracelyn Marbella E100 Grade 2 Mariel Baliza D200

And there were 17 Libis Elementary School bronze awardees. These included: Marlon Aclon, Jane Alfonso, Elmer Gasper, Vanessa Aguilar, Joniel Aquino, Janthe Banila, Caryl Barimbao, Andrea Bunao, Jonalyn Catedrilla, Jamille Gammad, Joan Lubrin, Khent Paez, Jessica Quite, Jessabel Sabejon, Richmon Trance, Maurice Talaue, and Francisco Tadeña.

The Kumon teachers and Bing del Rosario are keeping their fingers crossed that by next year, five new faces will be added to the Kumon Gold Award Honor Roll. They express high hopes for Gracelyn Marbella, Mariel Baliza, Dhane Villegas, Vanessa Aguilar, Reign Labuguen, Jason Mendoza and John Catacutan. For sure, these seven will all be already doing algebra next year – and they’ll only be grade 4 or 5!