CENTER for Brighter Beginnings Inc. (CBB), the pioneer in specialized Early Childhood Education in Davao City, celebrates its 25th founding anniversary this 2017.
"It all started with a small dream of having a preschool with various learning areas, a simple playground, and developmentally appropriate materials for the classroom. I soon realized that the only way to dream is to dream big. And, these big dreams cannot be rushed," said CBB president and school director Rossa Charissa Omac-Gavino who is fondly called as "Teacher Chari."
So, she took trainings and employed research-based programs to create a curriculum that incorporated tested and brilliant strategies in determining what to teach and how to teach young minds.
"Perseverance, passion, teamwork, and the constant pursuit for excellence have brought CBB to be regarded as the city's premiere preschool that it is today. Our success is a manifestation that teamwork makes the dream work," said the CBB president.
"I genuinely believe that excellence is what CBB stands for because I have seen the exceptional human beings who have all learned the CBB way and I have heard first-hand testimonials from parents attesting that our way works. It is this constant and consistent striving for excellence that has gained the trust of stakeholders and propelled CBB along these twenty-five glorious and remarkable years," she added.
Homage
To pay homage to CBB's success in the last 25 years, a grand alumni homecoming entitled "CBB @ 25: A Homecoming, Tribute, and Celebration," with Chelsea Logistics as the event presenter, was held at the Davao Convention and Trade Center with no less than President Rodrigo R. Duterte as the guest of honor.
"It was truly a night of nostalgia through songs and dances, as all the presentations allowed the audience to look back and reminisce on CBB's humble beginnings and its successful journey to its first 25 years," said Teacher Chari.
CBB alumna Chelsea Denise Uy talked about how CBB has been part of her life. And, how in the future, when they, CBB Babies, all have their own careers and making a big impact in Philippine society, will make CBB proud and represent their first school in a good way.
In her speech, Chelsea said: "I truly envision a future of women and men working hard, changing the Philippines for the better, and for the child in them to always remember being a CBB student. That once, they themselves were learning and striving in this school and they were making their parents and teachers proud as they were growing up."
Beautifully styling the anniversary venue was Annie Paz-Lim and her dynamic team. On the other hand, LCB Performing Arts Center Foundation Inc. amazingly choreographed the various production numbers.
Giving back
The homecoming, considered as the highlight of CBB's year-long observance of its anniversary, also helped fund the heart of this celebration -- service to the community.
Traditionally, CBB has conducted several trainings, for free, to assist public school and daycare center teachers in teaching preschoolers and pupils in the early grades.
"CBB has been steadfast not only in providing the best early childhood education to its students but also in committing itself in uplifting preschool education for the marginalized sectors of our community and even in the far-flung provinces of Mindanao," said Teacher Chari.
Through the offices of the city mayor and the 1st District Congressman of Davao City, the local government units of Digos City, Mati City in Davao Oriental, Davao Del Norte and Compostela Valley, CBB has conducted trainings for public school and daycare center teachers and provided them with the necessary classroom materials and resources to implement specialized programs in beginning reading and writing.
For this momentous 25 years, CBB conducted this training on a grander scale with the support of Chelsea Logistics and the City Government of Davao.
"Six hundred and fifty teachers from the City Social Service and Development Office, the beneficiary of the anniversary show, representing all the daycare and child-minding centers in Davao City were given free six-week training sessions on Early Literacy. The topics included the Lindamood Bell Learning Processes, the Handwriting Without Tears, and CBB's very own 'Musical Letter Sounds' program," said Teacher Chari.
"CBB would not be what it is today without the people who played such important roles in this journey to silver. My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude to my teachers who have been with me since the very beginning and to the team that I have now; the loyal CBB parents who believed in our vision and who always support us even after their children have graduated, and to our CBB babies who continually make us proud. Thank you, everyone. I look forward to more years of sharing this exciting journey!" she added.
E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit www.momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com.