Punzi's Corner Blog

Yesterday morning, I was slaving away on paperwork for a case I was handling, bouncing/rebouncing email and redrafting pleadings submitted by our associates.

Actually, the day was uneventful at that point and I was still reeling from the nightmare week that was and the actual nightmare I had the morning before. I always figured, when one is down and out like that there was no way to go but up.

So after finishing up, I had to report to my consultancy, because I had not done so for the entire week and the workday before (on account of my bum foot, of course). As I was about to go, I chanced upon the new letter deliveries on our mail bin near the front door. I saw the Ateneo 150th Anniversary logo on one of the envelopes. No biggie, I thought, since I always get alumni material in the mail.

But then, it was addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. Punzi." That's rather unusual for alumni mail. It was rather thick, and as I opened it, I noticed there was some sort of a form I had to fill up. At first, I thought those were just forms to update alumni information.

Then it dawned on me. This is probably the results of Nico's application for admission to the Ateneo Grade School. Conventional wisdom says when this kind of letter is quite thick, it means Nico got accepted. Hence, I was not really nervous when as I forced the envelope open.

Well guess what? Conventional wisdom is true:


So there will be two Ateneans in the house; three if you count my dad's one year stint in the Ateneo Master's Degree in Business Administration program. And there will be a second-generation (or third generation, depending on perspective) Atenean with the same shot at what I had at an Ateneo education, as my parents had given me (and for which I am so grateful to this day).

From the start, I had a lukewarm attitude towards Nico's application. I know a lot of parents would kill for a chance to have their sons study there. They even try to exert their influence just to force admission into this prestigious school.

But not me. I always believe that if Nico did pass, he had to pass on his own merit. It is not as if I cannot exert my own influence to force Nico's admission. I most certainly can. But forcing his admission will only be counter-productive and even traumatic for Nico in the long run. I will not force the issue if Nico failed to make it in. If Ateneo says he can't make it there, then I'm humble enough to agree and not force my way.

But I think he passed on his own merit this time. During the examinations, we were told that the results would come out in December. The fact that I got the results this early indicates he has passed convincingly, as his assured slot would presumably be given to wait-listed applicants should I fail to enroll him early December.

I sincerely hope Nico and I can live up to our respective tasks. I hope Nico gets educated "in the Ateneo way" as a close friend said. And I hope I can give it to him.

This is total relief from the nightmare I have been experiencing these past few days. And I hope it only gets better from here.

And for this, I'm truly grateful.