PSD Prom-time “A Royal Evening of Stars”

By: Fredolin P. Aguinaldo – Doha, Qatar

Prom, short for promenade, is a formal gathering of juniors along with their graduating or senior peers and is highly regarded as a popular social event during high school. It is normally held during February-March.

It is an occasion wherein students take a break from their uniforms and casual clothes and become young adults adorned in the latest formal fashion. Boys usually dress in black formal attire with their boutonnière while girls don exquisite dress designs along with a corsage, given to them by their dates as evident during the Philippine School Doha junior and senior prom at Al Dafna Hall, Sheraton Doha Resort and Convention Hotel last night. 

Choosing a prom outfit is a daunting task for those attending - not only to the student but to their parent's as well; in some cases colors' matching their date's dress is a must to have a better chance of being spotted by judges.

My youngest daughter Anna Mae who is currently a junior opted to buy her prom dress while vacationing in the Philippines last summer. Usually boy's suits and girl’s gowns are purchased from specialized shops in Doha but nowadays some have opted to purchase via internet retailers worldwide or asked their friends or cousins to source-out their outfit in the Philippines becomes a popular trend.

As prom finally approaches, I saw a lot of participants running around various malls here in Qatar doing their last minute shopping for accessories, makeup and other what-nots to complete their "perfect look". I can picture them busy during that time doing dress rehearsals at home after getting everything they need.

Before prom, girls will typically get their hair styled, often in groups as a social activity at a near-by saloon. My daughter, Anna Mae and some of her friends contacted saloon employees and availed home service at one of her classmate's residence. Afterwards I drove them to their final dress set-up at a different residence of another classmate of hers.  Prom dates arrives as well at the designated house for photographs – Micah’s dad transported the group to the prom venue at Al Dafna Hall, Sheraton Doha Resort and Convention Hotel.

The hotel reception lobby was swarmed by well-dressed lads to where a designated photo-booth was specially set-up to cater to prom participant's individuals as well as group photographs for prosperity which of course will definitely end up being posted on their face book and tumblr accounts later.

At prom, a Prom Queen and Prom King are chosen by a panel of judges. These honorary titles are usually awarded to graduating students. Juniors may also be honored, but would be called "Prom Princess" and "Prom Prince" respectively.

Royal Stars of PSD 

Lady MVP of the year

Charmaine Garcia

MVP of the Year

Darrel Rosales

Ms. Personality of the year

Trisha Panzo

Mr. Personality of the year

Mark Tugade

Ms. Darling of the crowd

Joyse Sison

Mr. Darling of the crowd

Andross David

Ms. Winsome smile

Mary Montenegro

Mr. Winsome smile

Isaiah Benedicto

Ms. Trendsetter of the year

Chin Torrijos

 Mr. Trendsetter of the year

Isaiah Bayani

Music Virtuoso

Lorena Hidalgo

Epson Virtudazo

Campus Heartthrob

Shaira Navarro

Ericdan Alayon

JS Prom Venue - Sheraton Doha Resort and Convention Hotel.

Doha, Qatar Travel Log: A family Adventure November 25, 2011.

By: Fredolin Pagdilao Aguinaldo, Doha Qatar.
.

My Daughter Anna Mae at the top-most.

After changing my office-working attire at 2:30 PM Doha time, I started loading clothes to our ever-hard working washing machine in preparation to our travel back-home in the Philippines. Aside from these, I need to empty our freezer and refrigerator unit as well in order to get rid of those unwanted food stuff that are stored there since my wife Evelyn left home to the Philippines some 2-months ago.
.
Meanwhile, my youngest daughter who stays with me in Qatar called a while ago requiring additional budget for her despedida and Christmas blow-out to her 29-classmates and teachers at Ponderosa, Doha.
.
It all started last night when I jokingly told her that She can invite some of her close friend to a "mini-mirienda" session at home since I always bake waffle apart from those of take-away food-stuff their heart desires and didn't realized that her plan will be broadcast-ed  through FB as in Tumblr by her classmates. Couldn't do anything now, they are heading to Ponderosa just after school.

.
Hohoho, me and my big mouth, but since Christmas is fast approaching it is one perfect time to be with her classmates to wind-up from their busy school schedule as well as practice session for their up-coming JS prom as well. At Ponderosa, I have a chance to talk to her teacher and assures that He will closely coordinate to his co-teacher about Anna Mae's periodical exam when she come-back in Qatar after our vacation.
.
Life abroad is not that easy as you think, one has to do house chores all by himself in order to have organize living condition. Raising kids by yourself is the most challenging job-ever. But so far, my eldest daughter Rea Lynne who was born and raised in Qatar is now a Registered Medical Technologist who work as Phlebotomist at the Saint Luke's Medical Center Global City, Taguig. My son Fredolin II is taking-up entrepreneurship in Manila and Anna Mae is attending her final years at The Philippine School, Doha.
.
Our vacation this year was timely where I can able to use the whole 37-working days annual leave in the Philippines apart from that of my sick-leave spent at Saint Luke's last summer.
.
Our balikbayan box are now ready and our travel document checked and just waiting for my college to drive us to the Doha international airport later.

New Philippine School Doha Campus, Qatar: The Groundbreaking Ceremony

By: Fredolin Pagdilao Aguinaldo – Doha, Qatar
.

After years of preparation the Philippine School Doha permanent building project held its ground breaking ceremony today.
.
"We are extremely exited. This has been a long time coming," said the Principal of the School Dr. Alexander S. Acosta, who along with the school board of trustees carefully draw-up a master plan of a modern-expatriate school that can level those of Western International and well-established expatriates school in term of academic excellence and able to cater the ever-growing populace of Filipino community children's education in Qatar.
.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held this morning at 7:00 a.m. at the premise of the proposed permanent Philippine School Doha at Mesaimeer area, just beside the Birla School and in the vicinity of the Roman Catholic Church of our Lady of the Rosary, Qatar.

PSD Campus Ceremonial Dig

The ground breaking ceremony is in contrast with the informal opening of the then Philippine Embassy School on its humble beginning in 1992 with only 33 students to boast-start the school operations. Now, more than 2530 students are currently enrolled for the school year 2011-2012.
.
"Initially, only 10,000 sq. mtrs was allotted but H.E. Crescente R. Relacion, Philippine Ambassador to Qatar in his capacity, continued his effort to negotiate with the Qatar government until clinching the deal and has been rewarded about 14, 375 sq. mtrs of prime-land to his effort", the New school building is designed to accommodate about 7,000 students complete with all amenities fitted for a modern institution.

.
The growth of the Filipino community in resent years, and the strengthening the ties between Qatar in the Philippines leave Relacion looking forward the need to expand the capacity of the Philippine School Doha to accommodate worker's children education into a more relax environment.
.
On the other hand, the School Building Committee held various event to collect seed-money and continuously negotiating with various local partners for possible collaborations.
.
Mr. Gerardo Makasa Jr., BOT Chairman said so far everything is going as schedule. "We are on time and also busy sourcing-out additional budget and looking forward to the full-cooperation of the whole Filipino community in Qatar in the realization of this project in 2004.
.
"Guest of Honor during the event is H.E. Crescente R. Relacion, Philippine Ambassador to Qatar, the Philippine School Doha board of Trustees headed by its chairman Mr. Gerardo P. Macasa Jr., as well as parents, teachers and students of the school and local dignitaries are also present.

 

The author, Fredolin P. Aguinaldo is a Loyal Founding Parent of the school. 

Gulf Times

Our own school abroad, the Philippine School Doha

By Evelyn L. Aguinaldo Investor / Cyber Real Estate Seller

Way- back in 1992, a Filipino community leader & philanthropist, Philippine Presidential Awardees, Mr. Roberto Abit came-up the idea of putting up a Filipino community school in Doha for the ever-growing Filipino children. With the then active participations of   Miss Cynthia Acuna, some parents from Hamad Medical Corporation, other individual, who came out to help including Mrs. Evelyn Fernandez, Mrs. Corazon Medalla, now the current Philippine School HR Officer, to name a few are then actively participating during fund -raising activities.

Photo credit to Ms Cora Medalla

On October 2, 1992, the Philippine School Doha was formally opened at a small villa in Bin Mahmood located near the center with 33 students with whom two original teachers namely Mrs. Evelyn L. Aguinaldo - yours truly, Mrs. Nenita Cabral, teacher assistant Mrs. Charlita Price, Sergio Rivera as utility officer and the administrative officer in-charge was then Miss Cynthia Acuna.

(L-R) Mrs. Aida Mendez * Mrs Evelyn Aguinaldo * Mr. Sergio Rivera * Mrs. Nenita Cabral * Mrs Rowena Santos

The school offered only Pre-school during the start-up operations and I was tasked to handle nursery and kindergarten but opt to do business in Real Estate Acquisition & Rental later. Mrs. Nenita Cabral continues to serve and now act the capacity of intermediate coordinator of the Philippine School Doha, was tasked to handle all other enrollees. Few months later, Miss Rowena Cansino, now Mrs. Santos & the current registrar of the Philippine School Doha, and Mrs. Aida Mendez, now the NPK coordinator of the Philippine School Doha, joined the school as teachers.

The founding parents of the Philippine School Doha were: Mr.& Mrs. Roberto Lacuna, Mr. & Mrs. Mila Morales, Mrs. Liway Navarro, Mr. & Mrs. Ferdowsian, Mr. & Mrs. Edgardo Bondoc, an active officer of the school board until now, Mr & Mrs. Fredolin Aguinaldo and few other community leaders who came up to lend their support  to the realization of a community school of their own.

Photo credit to Ms. Cora Medalla

Being a founding parent and pioneer teacher of the Philippine School Doha, I am extremely happy to see that most of my former students are now professionals in their own rights including my daughter Rea Lynne Lopez Aguinaldo R.M.T who graduated at the Philippine School Doha and now a Registered Medical Technologist who work as phlebotomist at the St. Luke’s Medical Center Global City, Taguig. The latest addition on the Philippine School roster graduates is Dra. Shiela Marie Macatuggal Reyes who passed her Physician Licensure Exam recently.

Please click pic to bigger image

To date, more than 2500 students are enrolled at the Philippine School Doha and are in the process of building a permanent school structure of their own into a parcel of land acquired from Qatar government in Abu Hamoor area.

   Let’s keep the torch burning and please do help in your own way in the realization of a permanent community school compound of Philippine School Doha.