By: Fredolin P. Aguinaldo - Doha, State of Qatar
The unveiling of the New School Project of the Philippine School Doha was held yesterday at 8:00 A.M. inside the current school gymnasium at the Saad Bin Surara, Al Messilah area in Doha, Qatar. In order to boost-start the activity - attendees assembled at gate 6 of the school where enthusiastic student and teacher usherettes guided participants to their designated place. Everyone was impressed by the agility and beauty of majorettes who swayed like swans with the accompaniment of the lively PSD school roving band.
To give a little twist on the occasion - a lion dance was performed by the PSD student body with the help of their monitor teachers who painstakingly guided performers navigate the tight corridors of the school. Both amateur and professional photographers were delighted with the sight that they couldn't stop clicking their cameras to take mementos. The ceremonial releasing of balloons by the PSD Board of Directors, PSD Parents Teacher Association team, founding parents and other community organizations was also a highlight event along with the well executed field demonstrations. After all the outdoor festivities everyone was directed inside the brightly lit and fully air-conditioned school gym.
The invocation/Doxology was performed by Yara Leanne Fabricante and
Dominique Vicencio whilst the singing of the “Prayer” was done by students that will most likely
hit the You Tube screen soon and become the next singing sensation next to Charice & Jessica (who both lost their respective singing contest but became household names internationally). I
would like to ask all voice coaches within the PSD school campus and
even those from outside to please help these students hone their talent so that maybe-just maybe one of this days PSD can produce one professional singer.
Of my 20 years attending PSD's Foundation Day ceremonies – I have seen so many good
memories of the school that is already etched in my heart forever, however I have
not seen any speaker nor school official who breaks down during a very crucial
speech but Dr. Alexander S. Acosta – the best speaker in town that I have known do just that. I had the chance to browse the audience's reaction but everyone was
also in a state of shock - everyone was eagerly waiting for the good principal’s
next set of word to be uttered. At that particular time: the school gym was at its full capacity- in-fact, excess attendees had to content themselves with exploring the different kiosks at the school ground which included those that offered various snacks and PSD memento by the
student body. The Pag-Ibig Fund, a government program was also present. Back inside, the
presence of the not-so-young former parents and new-current parents of the
school, old friends and acquaintances was remarkable – the overwhelming support of everyone for the school was probably the reason that
triggered such a raw emotion from the principal.
The Chairman’s message by Mr. Gerardo P. Macasa Jr. highlighted their plan to
put-up a world class educational institution in Doha. They are planning to have the first accredited Philippine Science School in
the Middle East (Qatar) and around the world outside of the Philippines. The proposed school would not only compete to be the one of the best in academic excellence but in sports as well.
Celebrating PSD@20
The real highlight of the event was the unveiling of the proposed school's miniature scale
model. As part of Al-Mana’s design consortium, a miniature sculpture of the
building was an integral part of their services to the school. Everyone was
invited to the auditorium stage in order to witness the sneak peek of the future school. I learned that the
school project will be constructed to the estimate of Qr 180M - an uphill task had just begun.
After the unveiling of the New Philippine School Doha building miniature, a female Canadian national delivered a speech and shared a story. One day a curious foreigner followed a
group of students during their class breaks - these students happened to
be from Philippine School Doha at the then Al Saad campus. The man
never hesitated and started to look for the school principal until finally he met Dr. Alexander S. Acosta and become friends with him. She then shared with us the quote: "an educator is always an educator", she was telling the story of her husband, Harry and his fondness for PSD. One can guess what the man's profession was after hearing her story.
While working at the College of North Atlantic-Qatar, Harry devoted his time and expertise by sharing his knowledge of vast services in the educational field. He also held conversations with ordinary parents as well as the students at the school campus of PSD. He was loved by his fellow educators and parents of the school until KIESWETTER, HARRY beloved husband of Sue, father of Tyler and Kirby, passed away unexpectedly in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday, October 23, 2011, at the age of 62 years. His legacy will never be forgotten in the hearts of people from all walks of life as well as his PSD family whom he shared his life and story. His loving wife SUE KIESWETTER traveled back to Doha Qatar during the 20th foundation celebration of the school to hand-over a donation of Qr 73, 624.30 for a much needed start-up as a booster fund-raising campaign to the realization of the future PSD campus. I was so touched with her story that I never really got a chance to click my ever trusted camera - until the whole event was over.
During the same event, a Filipino group leader and former PSD Board of Director - Engr. Fidel Escurel also handed-over another donation worth Qr 50, 000.00 on behalf of his group - the PInOC 2012 who caters mostly in overseeing and running of events during Philippine Independence Day celebrations in Qatar.
Now, it is up to you my dear friends to come-forward and join the bandwagon and share your blessing to the realization of the new Philippine School Doha - a school that we can proudly call "our own".
