Bandales, 12, received awards for excellence in language arts, science, math, social studies and the bilingual program.
She is this year’s top student of San Vicente school.
“My daughter is a consistent honor student since she was in kindergarten,” her proud father John Bandales told Variety.
Joann Bandales’s mother Juanita accompanied her as the student received the school’s highest award presented by school principal Joaquina Salas, Education Commissioner Rita Sablan, Board of Education member Galvin S. Deleon Guerrero, Vice Chairman Herman T. Guerrero, and PTA president Agnes McPhetres.
The second highest honor, the Principal’s Award, was given to Ann Jeline Manabat, while the Teacher’s Award went to Seo Yoon Solomon Ko.
According to Albert and Josephine Manabat, their daughter is a consistent honor student.
“She is very diligent and hardworking,” the father said.
Teacher Tara White gave the inspirational reading during the ceremony while Commissioner Sablan told the 117 newly promoted students to maintain a good academic record, a good attitude and practice good behavior by disciplining themselves and taking a positive outlook in all undertakings.
In her speech, Bandales said their success would not be possible without the support of their teachers, parents, friends, families and school administrators.
“Our teachers have recognized us for our unique talents, whether we tried to hide them or not. They accepted our overdue homework and pretended to believe our lame excuses. They’ve recognized our potentials and helped us to fulfill them. In our young minds we would say that teaching is the most essential job in the world, yet our teachers are satisfied just to see our eyes light up when we finally understand what they’re trying to say. Without teachers, we’d be all in the Dark Ages,” Bandales said.
Manabat, in her speech, also thanked the teachers, the parents, her classmates and friends who kept her motivated to learn and study.
“What I can carry from San Vicente school are the knowledge and wisdom that I need for the next and harder level of my life,” she said.
Manabat said she has been striving for excellence throughout the whole school year, “but the most important thing I will carry on is to be a Canary at heart.”
The canary is the school’s mascot.
The top five students of Class A-6 were Seo Yoon Solomon Ko, Daa Mying Jeung, Htsuko Bearden, Rachel Manzano and Janine Savellano.
For Class A-8, the top students were Jude Lizama, Jemima Manibusan, Gerald De Guzman, Molena Masga and Norman Tanghal.
Class A-9: Ann Jeline Manabat, Jazmin Rayphand, Mykki Carakut, Clarissa King and Gayatri Nandwani.
Cass A-10: Joann Bandales, Jacklyn Garote, Emmanuel Huertas, Nathaniel Cruz, and Sarah Fe Dela Cruz.
Class A-11: Shizelle Pua, Sabrina Pangelinan, John Paul Taquero, Benjamin C. Sebangiol and Shawn Acopiado.
