In a fitting show of adaptability and resilience, children of PCG Xiamen personnel drew awards and distinctions in separate graduation/moving up ceremonies of the Manila Xiamen International School in Xiamen, People’s Republic of China held in June 2021.

Lakan Kalinaw Laruan Hernandez,   5 years of age, got Best in English, Most Eloquent and Deportment awards from his Kindergarten class.  Lakan Kalinaw, who was born in the Philippines, was only 8 months old when her parents, Vice Consul Elaine Mae V. Laruan-Hernandez and Ianne Mher Hernandez, brought him to Xiamen in 2017.

Elijah Jerald Rodriguez is the son of Collecting Officer Josephine Pritchard-Rodriguez and Jefferson Rodriguez.   Elijah got eight (8) medals from his Preparatory class at MXIS. Seven-year-old EJ received With High Honors, English Gold Award, Science Gold Award, Reading Silver Award, Mathematics Silver Award, Neat and Clean Award, Deportment Award, and Loyalty Award.

Finishing his K-12, IB Program at MXIS, Francis Emmanuel Bautista came to Xiamen in July 2019 but graduated With Honors and with Academic Distinctions in History and Mandarin Ab Initio. Francis is the son of Political & Economic Officer Faith P. Bautista.

The awards earned by the above-named PCG kids are a fitting testament to how Filipino children can easily adapt to ‘difficult’ environments (considering language and other cultural differences) because of their hard work and perseverance and the guiding hands of their parents who help them cope with difficult situations. END