Summer’s scratch

Her name originally took from her place or origin. “She is from Samar [in the eastern region of the Visayas]. But the kids in our neighborhood could not be stopped from pronouncing it ‘Summer,’” shared 10-year-old Zap, referring to his three-year-old cat and how the its name came to be changed.

Zap said Samar, who’s now Summer, is a gift he received from his maternal grandmother, his Abuela Lila. Abuela is Spanish for grandma, commonly shortened into lola. Abuela Lila believes that cats are a lot smarter than dogs. In fact, she keeps close to a dozen cats in her house.

“Abuela Lila encourages me to bring [the cat] to Cebu so I would be able to find it out for myself [how smart a cat is],” Zap said. True enough, Zap found that with just a shoe box filled with soil, Summer learned potty training quickly. “I love cats because they can’t stand their own fecal matter. They cover it properly before leaving it behind. What sense of responsibility!” Zap narrated.

There are days when Summer would display her independent cat-titude. She does not care about a mouse chase. She just lazes on the window sill or takes a nap under the sun on the roof deck. She doesn’t need to be walked unlike dogs.

Then Summer demonstrated how cats are such “walking, furry, purr-fect smoke detectors.” One night, Summer sensed there was smoke coming from the ground floor of Zap’s house. The cat kept on scratching the boy’s tummy. Cats would claw on tree trunks, sometimes on the wall, as their way of sharpening their nails. But this time, Summer clawed Zap’s tummy safely without pointing in its nails; it was just like fingers tapping on piano keys, only a little harder such that it woke up Zap eventually.

It was around two a.m. Zap noticed smoke coming from downstairs. He got alarmed, and immediately went down to check what it was. Then, to his horror, the boy saw that a mosquito net, used by a househelp, had caught fire from a lit mosquito coil nearby. Zap immediately woke the maid up and they moved quickly to put off the fire.

Summer’s scratch saved the day!

Sing, Act, Dance, and Play!

A theater workshop is both a great learning experience and a fun way for kids and teens to spend the summer.  Working and playing theater games together, they develop creativity, discipline, a sense of accomplishment, and learn other life skills that last long after the summer is gone.

For the eight consecutive year, Little Boy Productions holds summer theater workshops for kids and teens ages four  to12 years old. “Our workshops are under the supervision of actors from Repertory Philippines and Trumpets, working with local music teachers and performers from Little Boy Productions.   That’s years and years of experience teaching and doing professional theater in Manila and Cebu” says executive producer Hendri Go.

The classes for younger kids focus on music and movement, and creative activities such as art, storytelling and games as a way to channel their energies creatively. The classes for teens introduce improvisation, creative dramatics, and basics of musical theater. 

The workshops run for a total of 12 sessions, on May 5—7  at the Bright Academy in Talamban. Registration is now open and slots are limited. Contact person is Miss Cindy, phone  416-1500.

learn french, drums and other skills

This summer, kids may enroll in classes to enhance budding skills or learn new ones. Workshops are being offered at Abbey Park Academy, a new school geared at imparting Bible-based and God-centered education.

Basic French, Drum, Photography, and Arts and Crafts programs are for students ages 6—15. The Reading and Math sessions are for 2—10 year-olds. Enrolment is open until April 16. The workshops run from April 21 to May 16.

Abbey Park Academy is located at 31-A Pres. Magsaysay St., Kasambagan, Cebu City and at the back of Sarrosa Hotel, occupying the old Gloria Maris school building. The school’s website is: www.abbeyparkacademy.com. (MEEV)