Run for gifted kids

CEBU, Philippines - If you had sacrificed much during the Lenten season, but have not compassion, the observance is kaput. More than religious rituals, we are called to be of service.

Prior to the Holy Week, Exceptional Children's Educational Center (in cooperation with the Sisters of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration) announced of a "Run for Gifted Kids" in the hope that through the popular sports of running, extremely gifted but financially challenged kids will be put to a proper school. It is at ECEC or EC2 that exceptional students would enjoy what it's like to be individually guided in the formative years of their education.

"Most of the runs I've observed are meant for the physically and mentally challenged kids, but we also have brilliant kids --- hope of our nation --- who are considered special kids who need a special curriculum. These are very intelligent kids who suffer from namedropping, labels and tags that they have certain behavioral problems, when in fact, it's their energy that's not channeled properly," said EC2 director Teacher Ray Nobleza during the presscon last March 29, 2012 at Caravan Coffee Shop, Piazza Elesia in Talamban.

On the third founding anniversary of the center, they intend to run for scholarship funds to support applicants who can't go to school.

"We have parents who eagerly inquire about our programs, excited at the thought of our four-kids-to-one-teacher class ratio, but the moment we mention of our rates (which can go as high as P5,000 a month), their enthusiasm just dies down. They won't come back. Some would even pretend they came to the place by mistake," Teacher Ray added.

And for every time a parent goes away, there is a smart kid out there who is deprived of the opportunity to shine just because he or she is economically challenged! Such a waste of human resource to the nation, indeed!

Teacher Ray also said that if five hundred runners would join this Sunday, April 22, that would mean putting three of these smart kids to a proper program next school year.

"It's true that because of the high standards we set, as we are no ordinary classroom setting, we can't afford to accommodate everybody. We have to be honest, our methodologies entail money," he explained. "We observe a 4:1 student:teacher ratio, that way the class size is manageable. Which means costs will be divided among the parents of these four students. Such include foreign trips just like what we did recently at the Macau Science Center where we had to expose students to the concept of weightlessness."

This came after a student asked as to why astronauts float in space. "Paano mo i-explain sa kanila yun if they are in a room controlled by gravity. The nearest facility is in Macau, so dinala namin sila doon. At wala na kaming kailangan pang ipaliwanag after, because there they tried it, enjoyed it, and learned from the experience," Teacher Ray pointed out.

The event is open to all types of runners. The child-adult tandem run will only take a kilometer (P450). Other categories: 3K (P250) and 8K(P300). Race will start at Piazza Elesia and will take Mandaue routes designed by race technical director/coach Priscilliano "Precing" Capangpangan.

There is already a registration booth set up at Runnr in Ayala Center Cebu for registration. Those who live in - or near - Talamban and Mandaue City may inquire at the EC2 facility (across the newly constructed Gaisano Grand Mall - Talamban).

Find EC2 on Facebook by typing: Exceptional Children's Educational Center. (FREEMAN)