Reedley Blog

Here is Reedley International School’s statement on the government’s proposed mandatory random drug testing among Filipino students. This article is from GMAnews.tv:

MANILA, Philippines - An international school in the country on Monday said the random drug tests currently being conducted by the government for students is not an effective solution to the rising drug problem among Filipino youth.

In a statement, Reedley International School said that although laudable, drug tests will not provide students the proper tools to cope with drug addiction. 

“Random drug testing is laudable, but it’s just a cosmetic way of identifying how many addicts we have right now,” said RIS director for school development Emil Ong.

Ong said the best way to approach the menacing drug problem is for schools to teach life-skills to students. 

“Life-skills is a program where students learn the best tools to strengthen their character and leadership skills, and enhance relationships with peers, parents, and society,” Ong said.

The program emphasizes three things: values formation, self-regulation, and working with others, all of which significantly contribute to shaping competent, integral and consequently, successful individuals. 

“Many students lack the decision-making skills needed to enable them to cope with life’s challenges. Without options, many of them succumb to hallucinogens to escape from the pressures of everyday life,” Ong said.

The school official added that building character, values and equipping students with the right tools to self-management will greatly help in weaning students away from drugs. - GMANews.TV

It was just fortunate for me to have watched the biggest “RTV7: Reedley Icons” show last Sunday, 8 February 2009. The experience was overwhelming. Those Reedley kids really kicked butt. Their performances were a blast! It was an amazing feat for famed Ateneo director Ron Capinding to have brought out the best from more than 500 talented students of Reedley International School.

The performances were seamless, yet, if you just looked backstage, you’ll find that everybody’s very excited and enthusiastic. Reedley’s Director for Student Development Emil Ong was there like a cool manager. He went backstage, along with at least fifteen journalists from different newspapers who were covering the show. Emil was a picture of coolness. He didn’t even sweat and the last time I saw him, he was among hundreds of doting parents, friends and onlookers inside the AFP theater. Emil was all smiles.

And why would he not smile? Those students performed above par. I overheard a reporter asking two happy parents. One of them, I think it was a wife of a reputable businessman, told the reporter that she’s very proud of her beautiful daughter who acted as one of the fairies in the show. Another one, this time a parent of one of the Reedley “rockers” who performed one of the hits of the US band U2 said that she was so proud and so surprised that her son sang those high notes.

The show is definitely amazing. Imagine, Emil and Ron and the rest of the Reedley people were able to bring out the best of the kids, despite language barriers. I saw Japanese, Korean and American students among the performers. You could just imagine how hard it was trying to explain those acting and singing instructions in Japanese or Korean! Well, I think it was just an easy thing for Emil and the rest to do. Why?

Because I think everybody who studies at Reedley International School knows how to behave before people. The school has a unique teaching subject called “lifeskills” that develops the good character of their students. That’s why you’ll notice that all students were well-behaved and respectful of each other and especially to their parents.  Foreigner or not, students try to understand each other and they live in harmony with each other. No airs. No braggarts among those kids. Just Reesians, sans the color of the skin, sans the economic condition, sans what language or dialects they use. All helped each other to make the show a critical success.

Last Sunday’s show is definitely the biggest. But, I think it will not be the last. Reedley International School continues to grow by leaps and bounds. I would not be surprised if I see the school growing to a thousand by this year and two thousand by next year. Reedley International School continues to be different. It continues to innovate. It continues to improve itself.