Note: These are our alumni whom we have seen through their posts on social media. Please inform us, too, if you are an alumni of Learning Circle and graduated college. We’ll be happy to announce your achievements and celebrate your success!​

An article written by Ms. Ana Patricia Bacay

There came a time, not so long ago, when Learning Circle ran a high school department. I was one of those students who were lucky enough to become a part of it. We spent four years building good memories, learning from our bad days, and growing within the four walls of the classroom.

Fast forward to now, some of my fellow high school alumni—including myself—have just graduated from college. It is interesting to find out how they are doing, and so I took the liberty of interviewing some of them!

My name is Nicolo B. Bongolan. And before I became a graduate of A.B. Political Science from the University of Santo Tomas, I was a graduate from the Learning Circle. 

Leaving Learning Circle back in 2014, I knew that I was going to leave my comfort zone. From the four corners of the classroom, I felt safe especially around my friends and teachers. I knew that whatever mistake I've done, I have a support system that would help pick me up. I knew in whatever victory I achieve, I have people who join me cherish every moment. I knew that as I left Learning Circle, I would be leaving my second home, my second family behind in pursuit of a brighter future in the streets of España.

I admit, University of Santo Tomas (UST) was not my first choice. Not even my second choice. Initially, I wanted either University of the Philippines and Ateneo, knowing that both my parents came from those prestigious universities. But then, perhaps fate wanted me to go to UST. I didn't know then, but now I do know why.

I entered UST a little insecure, and I should be. At Learning Circle, only eight of us graduated from our batch. At my block in UST, there was 45 of us in a class, and at least 120 for the whole batch of political science freshmen and over thousands of UST freshmen overall. Thousands of different faces, thousands of different stories. Maybe it was the right time to begin anew. Create a new identity for myself; after all, one of my high school friends enrolled in UST. So entering the University, I was literally a nobody, a ghost, and its okay. I had 4 years to discover who I really am outside the Learning Circle, and inside UST.

So let me write about my first year. I was one of the youngest students in class so I felt like a baby with some of my classmates being 18 to 19 years old. We had professors who would often haunt us with papers and recitations which we as first years feared. I realized that if I knew I was scared, it was normal: everyone in the block was afraid of failing in their first semester. It was our Philippine Government and Constitution, one of my first majors, which taught me not only to respect my professors but to fear them. It was in this class I got a 0 for my paper. I thought that was it, I thought I was a failure. But then, it was just a prelim paper; I knew I could redeem myself. And redeemed myself I did. And I swear, I wouldn't have done it without the friends I made in my first year; friends who I consider family up to this day.

For my second year, I became a member of the League of Filipino Students. I attended my first protest during this time, and amongst the peoples' calls, my personal favorite was the chant "LUPA, SAHOD, TRABAHO, EDUKASYON, AT KARAPATAN, IPAGLABAN!"; and then it hit me: these were basically the basic necessities people need to live. Initially, I was skeptical of these rallies, yet when I immediately heard this chant, it made me realize my privilege. I had a home, parents with decent jobs, education at UST, and my rights protected by law. Yet I also realized that not everyone has a home, work, decent salaries, not able to finish their education, and have their rights continuously violated. Then I thought, why not fight with them for these rights? After all, with my privilege, why don't I step down my ivory tower and fight with the broad masses and join their rage for genuine change and social justice?

My third year, it was more of finding who I really am. I enjoyed studying a lot. I also enjoyed my activism; but due to the demands of time, I only had to choose one. And I chose my academics. Looking back, I could have handled things during my third year better, yet there were some things I knew I had to do. Reconnect with old friends, yes. End a relationship, I had to before things got out of control (which I believe, reached that point hehe) Focus on finding who I really want to be, definitely.

And in my fourth year, that's what I did. After all the internal conflicts in my mind, all the late night study sessions and thesis rounds, I knew what I wanted to be: I wanted to be the champion of social justice, I wanted to serve the broad masses. From labor unions, farmers, and indigeneous communities, I witnessed all their plights- and I want to join them in their struggle for a braver, and bolder future.

So after graduation, I joined Kabataan Partylist and did a number jobs I never thought of doing. I helped write a number of House Bills and House Resolutions for Kabataan Partylist Representative Sarah Elago, the youngest lady legislator in the country. At the end of the 17th Congress, Kabataan had a total of 439 House Bills and Resolutions written, which was most for a neophyte congresswoman. I had also been all over the country, from Marinduque, Davao, Cebu, Bohol, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Pampanga: I bore witness to the plight of our farmers, workers, and indigenous peoples and was more eager to fight for them. From all the endless stories of injustice, to bearing direct abuses to the rights of the poor and marginalized, I just knew that I can do so much more, and I had to.

May I mention that I also have the best girlfriend in the world who has been supportive of every single thing I've done. She helped tapped the child in me, showed me that despite the harshness of this real world, I can make my fantasies of superheroes and magic come to life with her help. She made me believe that I can do great things not just for the people, but for myself as well. And in spite of all the danger I have bore witness to in my life, I realized that by keeping one good memory in these dark times, there will always be hope for a brighter, braver, and bolder future. And that one good memory I have, was the day I told her that I love her.

​Perhaps its a superhero complex, but I'm going to law school this August. I found it hard at first, well I do find it hard now but then, it's a sacrifice I have to make. I don't know if it'll be worth it, leaving work and leaving the masses, but if I do every thing just right, then maybe it will. Maybe out of the 14,000,065 futures Doctor Strange saw, I'll end up doing the right thing which will lead me eventually to help win the struggle for "Lupa, Sahod, Trabaho, Edukasyon, at Karapatan" which I long have been fighting since 2016. But one thing's for sure, the road to becoming a "Makabayang Abogado" will start the moment I enter law school, and will end once genuine change and social justice reigns in our country. 

Growing up, spelling was not my strongest suit (aside from math), and back then I knew that I was running a little behind in class when it came to spelling quizzes and written exams. It was one of my insecurities back then. Not being able to spell simple words such as “house,” “and,” “end,” “like,” etc., at the age of 8 made me feel inadequate. I remember getting zeroes and ones on 10-item spelling quizzes and going home feeling down for not being able to spell the simplest of words. Aside from reading, I loved writing as well growing up, and there was nothing back then that I hated more than not being able to express myself clearly through words, because of the fact that my spelling confused my teachers and readers. 

My mother recently told me a story about my spelling dilemma back then. Seeing me run behind everyone else in class when it came to spelling, she told me that there came a time when she started to get worried as well; wondering why I couldn’t grasp the basic concepts. Until one day she finally decided to consult Teacher Minnie—our school directress—about my problem. My mother recalled Teacher Minnie’s response; it was something along the lines of “Every child learns differently; they will bloom in their own time.” My mother trusted those words. She became patient with me, the same way my teachers patiently taught me when I struggled.

Rather than making me feel inadequate and pressuring me to be like the other kids my age, my teachers helped me overcome my difficulties in my own timing; they made me realize that though I’m not the best at some areas in life at the moment, I am great in many other things as well. Several years and spelling errors later, I was assigned to be the school’s representative for a spelling bee competition when I was in my 2nd year of high school. It was the very first spelling competition I’ve ever competed in, and it scared me. 

Aware of the fact that I wasn’t the best at spelling, I wondered why I was chosen to be the representative. As I practiced for the competition (and made a lot of errors), I grew more doubtful of my abilities, and I wanted to back out. But through the encouragement I’ve gotten from my teachers, especially from Teacher Wenine, I got through the competition. Finishing at second place, it was the best recognition I’ve ever gotten out of my spelling abilities my whole life, and it wouldn’t have been possible without my teachers who believed in me even when I hadn’t proven anything yet. 

I guess what I’m trying to say here is that, what sets Learning Circle apart from other traditional schools is the fact that I have never felt like I was placed in a certain category or in a particular rank in class. My teachers never placed me in a “not good at spelling” or “not good at math” box, never considering to give me a chance to try out for competitions in those fields in the fear of losing; rather, they even went so far as to let me compete outside of school even if those were my weakest points. The fact that they trusted me made me feel that I am capable of getting better, even if I’m not good at the moment. Those small recognitions made me believe in myself, and that means a lot to me.

Learning Circle made me realize that even though I’m not good at some things, that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t stop myself from trying to get better at them. That stuck with me until I graduated from high school. When I entered college, I was well aware of my weak points, but if it weren’t for my humble upbringing in Learning Circle, I might’ve just stopped at knowing that I’m not good at something; but instead, I did what my teachers taught me back then: try anyway. I realized that if I didn’t try and just accepted that I’m no good, the odds of me getting better at a certain subject or skill are slim to none, but if I try, there is a chance that I can be better. I have nothing to lose but everything to gain if only I believe in myself and try. 

Yes, Learning Circle might not be a traditional school in many aspects. It may be short in numbers of students, small in space, etc., but I’d like to think that Learning Circle is strong in foundation. It gives all its students the chance to shine in their own way. I have learned everything I needed to learn academically in the past 11 years that I’ve studied in Learning Circle, but over and above that, I think that I have garnered so much more than what my mother bargained for when I first set foot in Learning Circle 15 years ago: character, value, and passion. 

Getting a glimpse of the real world as I am now on my way to graduating from college in a few weeks, I think that though smarts and wits are important, those three things that I’ve learned during my stay in Learning Circle made me realize that the real world doesn’t always run on numbers, grades, and ranks; sometimes it’s about knowing and believing in yourself as well, in order to take the leap of faith. 

It is now 2019, I am turning 20 in a few months, but there is still a part of that wide-eyed 5 year old girl that lives within me, all thanks to Learning Circle—for never making me feel like I should change myself, and instead, for letting me know that my unique qualities are what sets me apart from everyone else.  

Going back to Teacher Minnie’s response to my mother several years ago: she was right, I have bloomed in ways I have never expected—not just in spelling, but in life.  

Good News!

Mrs. Damasco, mother of Anthony Damasco, went to visit Learning Circle.  She is very happy to inform us that Anthony Damasco passed the board examination in Accountancy, on his first attempt. He is now a certified public accountant. She came to say thank you because Anthony's foundation was here and we did a good job. She treated the faculty and staff for snacks.

Anthony graduated from Learning Circle in 2009.  We're still waiting for Anthony to come and give us a photo :) 

Two alumni athletes competed at the Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association (CLRAA)  meeting held on February 26 - March 2, 2018,  in Bulacan, both for Taekwondo.    Our alumni Taekwondo athlete, Lei Almay D. Mendoza won a Gold medal in Team Poomsae and a Bronze medal for Individual Poomsae.  Another alumni Taekwondo athlete, Alexa Pagalilauan, competed but lost against a Grade 10 athlete with a score of 15-13.