Not really fun to be going to the mall at this time. Too many people shopping for school supplies. You will be there for the long haul. Some people from the province come here to buy the school supplies. Can’t blame them,with the economy right now, people are really hunting for a bargain. I think if big families, better to be buying in the city to get the cheaper prices, especially if you shop at the bargain place like in Uyanguren here in Davao, it’s like the Divisoria in Manila. You’ll find good price in those areas. Uyanguren also has an NCCC shopping center which famous for the shopping place for the sari-sari store owners. They also have good price/bargains there. Only downside – too many people. It will take you forever to get out from the counter.
I do my shopping at the NCCC mall here in Matina, it’s just walking distance from our house. Much easier for me to shop there. Don’t have to fight the traffic. With our 5 kids in the house that need lots of school supplies. They also had good bargains there and they pretty much have all the kids school requirements and the uniforms. Shopping for 4 kids and my niece was really something else, let me tell you. My eyeballs almost popped-out with too many supplies to chose from and with so many people there shopping, it’s really exhausting. I bought school supplies after enrollment. Got to have the requirement list first from the school before buying, which they had a longer list. After paying for the school and the school supplies, wow my wallet was really damaged though. 😉 lol.
I think my kids they are not yet ready to be back to school, though. They still are in the vacation mode. But some have to get back now, school is starting. Well 2 of our kids in the house were back to school now. Two will be back next week and one college after that week. It’s going to be busy again here in the house every morning. As you know kids start school early morning here and end later in the day. Last year our youngest in the house starts her day in school like 6:30am for flag ceremony (so she had to leave the house by 6am to not be late) and she comes home like 5:30pm. She was so exhausted by the end of the day. We could tell that she’s not happy there. She’s now transferred to a different school. So far, so good for her.
We are excited for our 2 graduating students right now (Aaron and Jean), both will be senior students this year. We were talking to both of them last night and told them to enjoy their last year in high school. I could tell they are both excited about being senior students this year. Jean is most excited too because they will have air-conditioning in their classroom now. Wow, it’s about time for them to have it. We are so proud of them, they’re both good kids. Jared is going to be 6th grade this year. Here in the Philippines, he should be graduating from grade school year. But with the 7th and 8th grade that they are adding, we are not sure if he is graduating this year. Will see what happen then. I don’t think all the schools have the curriculum and the facilities for the adding grade yet. I hope they are not making the kids have class under the tree though. It’s going to be uncomfortable for the kids.
Starting school here which means starting to be so traffic too in the city during morning and late afternoon. Kids have to be early then in getting up and getting ready for school, it’s going to be a challenge to wake up the kids in the morning. I’m not looking forward to it. Big sigh…
It’s more fun to live in the Philippines!!!!
Yep school has started. We live close to the major grade school here in Tagum City and all the kids are on their way to school early in the morning. It is fun to watch them come home in the afternoon…when it is raining! 😀 The kids has a ton of fun playing in the water and getting wet. I wonder if Mom and Dad have as much fun when they get home soaking wet?
Still lots of kids don’t go to school because of the cost. That is sad. 🙁
Hi Gary Wigle – Yep, the public schools (grade school & high school) already started school early this week and some other private school too. It’s going to be a little noisy then at your place during school? I agree it’s fun watching the kids playing. I think parents would not mind seeing their kids having fun playing with water, but not everyday though. I’m sure they will get tired of it then.
Yes, lots of kids still have problems going to school even with almost free schooling at the public schools for grade school here. The school requirements and uniforms were the big problems of the parents. Really sad!
Nice to see you again here. Have a good day!
Has the K-12 change affected your school? Also, in the first paragraph, mentioned that the economy is difficult. Is it really down in Mindanao as the Philippines is rated in the top 3 best performing in ASEAN, surpassing India, so wondering why there is no trickle down effect yet.
Hi Don – I think the public school will be affected on the K-12 change. They don’t have the facilities yet. To have more classrooms will cost more and they don’t have money for that yet.
The Philippines is really moving ahead. But still we still have so many poor people here with so many kids in one families. Hopefully the government will educate (about family planning) the every less fortunate couple to not to have much kids.
Glad you swing by at our site. Thank you for your comment!
I went school supply shopping last month with my wife, my sister in law and the 9 nieces/ nephews who were starting school this month. The total bill came to just over 4,000 which Tito Mark dutifully sponsored ;-). I have a 12 year old boy in the US. That doesn’t even come close to covering his school expenses. Never ceases to amaze me the low, low prices for this type of thing in the Philippines but still it’s out of reach for too many low income families.
Hi Feyma,
Sheryl starts back next week, she has just spent a week organising and structuring her classroom before the kids attack, lol.
Reflecting back on my school days, i used to do a 1hr newspaper delivery round on my bicycle before school, needed the money lol.
Take care,
Chas.