Mom and dad take the mic: AJHS launches first-ever "Parent Talks"

For the first time ever, the Ateneo de Manila Junior High School (AJHS) held special “Mom & Dad Talks” during the morning formation period on Monday, 15 September 2025. Parents were invited to speak to Grades 7 and 8 students from 8:40 to 9:25 am in a series of classroom discussions focused on building a culture of empathy and kindness—both in person and in online spaces.

While some students initially felt a bit embarrassed to have their own mom or dad speak in front of the class, it was heartening to see how quickly that turned into genuine engagement. The students listened attentively as parents—all of them a classmate’s mom or dad—shared unique perspectives, personal stories, and a welcome dose of humor. Some speakers broke the ice with jokes, others came with slide presentations, and a few "kept it real"—earning laughter with candid language or getting students to jump up and down to shake off their Monday morning sleepiness. In many classes, lively Q&A sessions followed, with students eagerly participating.

One particularly memorable moment came when the topic of school crushes was brought up in one class, prompting giggles all around. But those giggles quickly turned into groans when one mom declared: “Having a crush is okay, but dating is NOT. Not now.”

Each parent was invited to speak for around 15 minutes on two main topics:

1. How they hope their own child would be treated by classmates
2. How they believe every student should treat others—through words, actions, and digital interactions

One of the speakers was Mr. Shio Cruz, father of Aria Cruz from 7-Bobola. Though initially asked to guide students in reflecting on how they would like to be treated by classmates of the opposite sex, Mr. Cruz took a broader and more values-based approach. He spoke about how Atenean pre-teens should carry themselves, grounding his talk in Ignatian values such as Cura Personalis, AMDG (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam), and being men-and-women-for-and-with-others.

To further drive home his message, Mr. Cruz introduced the PEACE acronym—a simple but powerful guide for personal growth and respectful interaction:

• P – Protect and respect boundaries; take care of yourself.
  You are a wonderful and loved person!
• E – Empathize and care for one another.
  Know that you are not alone; you are loved by many!
• A – Acknowledge each other’s victories and support each other in times of defeat.
  Feel good about yourself! You are great!
• C – Communicate openly.
  Feeling anxious, confused, or upset is normal—especially at your age.
• E – Engage in kindness.
  Be kind to yourself!

He challenged the students to grow in PEACE as they journey together as one class. The acronym not only reinforced the Ignatian values he shared but also left a lasting impression on students and teachers alike.

The AJHS’ first ever Mom and Dad Talks became a truly meaningful and impactful experience thanks to the insight, honesty, and warmth of speakers like Mr. Cruz.

AJHS extends its heartfelt thanks to the 40 moms and dads—including single parents—who generously took time from their busy schedules to share their wisdom and values with our young boys and girls. Their thoughtful contributions will surely go a long way in fostering a more inclusive, compassionate, and respectful environment at AJHS.

Organized by the Formation Council of the Ateneo de Manila Junior High School, this new initiative highlights the powerful collaboration between home and school in the holistic formation of students. These first-of-their-kind sessions were designed to reinforce key lessons about the impact of our words and actions—especially in digital spaces. The timely message to Generation Alpha was clear: What you say and do, both online and offline, has real-world consequences. 

Truly, education is a partnership between the school and the parents—and when both work hand-in-hand, students grow not just in knowledge, but in empathy, kindness, and character.