At the age of fifteen, my son Bryle Keanu, like other teenage boys, has a good eye for fashion and trends. The weirdest thing that he asked me to buy for him was a yellow contact lenses. I was really in awe when I heard him begging me. But, he was 13 then, maybe it was just out of curiosity. I couldn’t stop but wondering what was going through his mind or how was he influenced by such trend. My son goes to the same Catholic school as I did during high school(Colegio de San Francisco Javier). Therefore, I am well acquainted with the school’s policy.
One day he pierced his earrings without my permission. He felt that I wouldn’t make a big issue out of it. Presumably, he believed that as long as he has good grades and maintains his good character at school, he thought I would not get angry. As a mother, I was concerned because I wouldn’t want him to get in trouble with the Sisters (Daughters of Charity) . Anyhow, he got his piercing but he hardly wears earrings for he knows he has big responsibility as President of their class and other religious organizations. Just like him, I was a member of a couple of school clubs and religious organizations. I was a COM and an SSVP member and I used to wear the Miraculous Medal (with Green & White Ribbon Necklace(photo#10))
My son has his own way of adding a touch of fashion to himself without breaking the rules. The photos were taken during their Caroling for a Cause, the day before Christmas last year. He’s going punk with the black rubber wrist band yet so modest . However, the badge pins on his ribbon necklace/ID badge holder are not out of fashion. It is his expression of his faith, for the love of his alma mater and for his service to the community. He loves spiking his hair up but he does it when out of the school premises.
After the day’s caroling, he arrived bragging about the 1000 pesos he just received from my retired teacher’s sister for making the wildest guess, her age. Seeing his face filled with glee during that day is so memorable for both of us. I know that it made him so excited because I was there physically at the moment.
C.O.M. - Children of Mary
SSVP - St. Vincent de Paul
Badge pin 1 – Image of the recently canonized San Pedro Calungsod
Badge pin 2 – Images of St. Louise de Marillac & St. Vincent de Paul
Miraculous Medal(Green & White ribbon Necklace) – worn by Children of Mary
Pink Ribbon Necklace/medal – St. Vincent De Paul
Photo#1 & #2 – My son with his schoolmates at the school premises .
Photo#3- While singing christmas carols. -
Photo 4 – My retired highschool teacher in CSFJ.
Photo#5  - His COM schoolmates with the street children .
Photo#7 – A closer look at my son and his schoolmate while playing the keyboard.
Photo# 8 – My retired teacher’s sister, handing him the award.0026
Photo # 9 – Sister Superior leading the group while carling at a hardware store.
Photo# 10 – A shot of my scrap book (I was awarded with a credit of merit as honor in Christian Living during the 2nd Grading Period)
All photos taken in Palompon, Leyte, Philippines