The University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) High School Batch 1983 successfully held its maiden PARENTalks: Conversations About College Application last May 4, 2024 at the GCEB training rooms.
In collaboration with the UP High School in Iloilo Guidance Office, the batch project is the first-ever Mentoring Series that involves parents of Grade 11 UPHSI students who are applying to take the UPCAT in August 2024. Over 50 Grade 11 parents attended the half day session.
The program was opened by Senior High School (SHS) Coordinator Dr. Jonny Pornel, on behalf of UPHSI Principal Prof. Edelia Braga. UPVHS ’83 Class President Marnie Fernandez-Mañalac briefly introduced what the Mentoring Series is all about, that it is an annual activity composed of parent and student sessions aimed to help students make informed decisions in their college application by discussing factors affecting course and campus choices and experiences.
A Parent Survey was sent out before the session and results were discussed by UPVHS ’83 alumni and Mentoring Series lead Rex Aguado, to get a sense of how parents influence their child's college application choices, among other factors. UPHSI Guidance Counselor Juvy Janeo further enlightened the parents about the UPCAT and the various scholarships and other financial support resources that are available.
The main segment called REALTalk was hosted by UPVHS ’83 alumni Florence Joy Octaviano. Five UPVHS ’83 batch members, namely UPV Chief Legal Officer Atty. Nellie Jo Aujero-Regalado, Dr. Alexis Fillone PhD, seasoned Sales Leader Julius Nafarrete, Fernandez-Mañalac, and Aguado shared their college application journeys, focusing on specific factors influencing course and campus choices. They purposely veered away from talking about their professional successes, and instead shared their (mostly amusing) experiences about college application, admission, and their freshman year, that revolved around the following:
* Financial challenges
* Parental pressure
* Peer influence
* Unsure of course choice and had to shift midway
* Unsure of course choice after passing UPCAT but qualified for non-quota course only
* Fear of relocating, homesickness
* Desire for independent living
The open forum that followed was neither TikTok nor Fast Talk; they were candid conversations that were insightful. The timing of the session gave everyone just the right lead-time for parents to have conversations with their students on course and campus choices before the UPCAT application deadline last May 15.
Future sessions to be conducted annually hope to also include parents of students from other schools who would like to take the UPCAT and benefit from a strong and future-ready UP education.
