Shaping Minds and Hearts the Mano Amiga Way: The Story of Integer Awardee Aidan Cordova
Aidan Cordova is a 15-year old Mano Amiga Scholar who received the highest award during the first face-to-face Commencement Ceremonies since the pandemic started.
The Integer Award is the highest award given by Mano Amiga Academy. This award is granted to a Junior Highschool Student who has demonstrated exceptional characteristics assimilating the highest ideals of all four areas of integral formation—intellectual, human, spiritual, and apostolic.
According to Aidan, receiving the highest award was beyond his expectations because the only awards he was expecting were the ones that were academics related. Apart from the Integer Award, Aidan received the Best in Math and Best in Science subject awards as well as the Highest Honors Award for Academic Excellence.
Transformative learning
For Aidan, Mano Amiga not only helped him with academic formation, it also changed him as a person – his character and the way he relates to other people. He admitted that he was not proud of how he acted in his early years in Mano Amiga. “Dati wala akong pakialam sa paligid ko, I only cared about myself, my family and my closest friends. But with Mano, I have learned that every action I do can possibly affect other people,” he added. (Before, I did not care for others, I only cared about myself, my family and my closest friends. But with Mano, I have learned that every action I do can possibly affect other people.) During his graduation speech, he apologized to his classmates in front of the parents, teachers and staff for the way he used to constantly pick fights when he first entered the school. Aidan thanked his classmates and teachers for showing him patience, and for never giving up on him. Even Rochelle Cordova, Aidan’s mother, noticed the gradual transformation. Aidan became more considerate and open to others. “Nabigyan nila ng magandang edukasyon kasi nakikita ko sa Mano na iba yung way nung teaching nila.” (They have given my son a good education because I have seen that Mano Amiga’s way of teaching is different.)
A Safe Place for Growth
For the Integer Awardee, Mano Amiga really lived up to making the school feel like a second home. It has become a place that is free from judgment, and a place where you are allowed to grow and improve. He added, “Imbes na i-judge nila ako, tinuturuan nila ako with the things that I can change.” (Instead of judging me, they taught me the things that I need to change.) The teachers served not just as educators but also as a support system to students.
Even in the midst of the pandemic, where everything was done virtually, Aidan felt that his relationship with his classmate and teacher grew stronger unexpectedly. He believed they overcame all the challenges they faced during the pandemic because they were there for each other. For Aidan, the friendship built with his classmates is something he’s going to cherish even if they all take different paths.
Aidan expressed his gratitude to Mano Amiga “I want to thank Mano Amiga for everything that you have done for me. I am so happy with Mano Amiga. You have helped me so much in life– which really changed me for the better.”
Mrs. Cordova also encouraged other parents to enroll their children in Mano Amiga, “Try nila na papasukin ang anak nila sa Mano Amiga para maranasan nila yung naranasan namin sa school. Hindi lang sa academics, ganun din sa aming mga parents na tinutulungan sa lahat- sa financial, sa trainings, karagdagang kaalaman” (They should try to enroll their children in Mano Amiga for them to experience what we experienced. Not only in academics, they also help parents in other matters including financial, trainings to gain additional knowledge.)
Currently, Aidan is an incoming Senior High School student. He is planning to take the STEM strand because he wants to become an Engineer or a Lawyer in the future.