Maya Playgarden and Daycare Center

Parting is such sweet sorrow but at Maya, we focused on the sweet!

Unknown to me, a sweet parent and sweet former Maya teachers planned a sweet closing reunion for the school! They reached out to some parents and voila - the Maya Playgarden Closing Verse!

It was a day filled with love and warmth as we reminisced about our Maya days! Some of our former students are now in high school so it was also a day of reckoning that indeed we are old! There were tears shed and it was such an emotional experience - needed for closure, I guess. As always, there was food to share and while the parents are all into the drama, the children are all into the games! And what do you know, we had an impromptu handbell choir concert!

Thank you, Tita Jomai Caceres for the very thoughtful gesture. Thanks, Ms Jerlyn Loma for leading the program and for the reassuring presence of our Maya Titas who took the time to be with us - Tita Jam, Tita Therese, Ms Nana, Tita Lucel, Tita Lotis, and Tita Lyn. Thank you to all the parents, guardians, and children who joined us and sent us off with their good thoughts! Thanks for the food that was generously shared among all those present and the neighboring children! Thanks to all the messages we likewise received from all the parents and teachers who weren't there with us physically but with us in spirit!

Thanks, Nanay and Tatay (+) and my family!

NOTE: We will be maintaining this FB site for sometime with occasional updates. There's a lot of memories in here and we can't let go of that yet. However, we can no longer entertain private messages. Should you wish to contact us for official or business reasons, please send an email to mayaplaygardendotoedatgmaildotcom.

"All my doing now has ended,
What I have learned may rest.
When I have done my best, Wisdom, love, and strength may grow, And I shall bless all those I know."

Maya Playgarden was born out of love for my son, Trey, the inspiration for the establishment of the school. He was my raison d'etre. The goal was celebrating his wonder years as well as the other children whose families shared the same vision with us.
At 12 turning 13, Trey is now moving forward to High School and a new adventure!

And, so do I.

At 50, there are some things that I still need to do, places I need to explore, new dreams to pursue. Alas, it would mean saying goodbye to Maya.

The logo of Maya started as a bird perched on a tree reminding you of a child still not confident to fly off into the world. When we opened the grade school a few years back, we updated it into a bird flying off the tree representing a child ready to make that initial flight. Now, I imagine this bird in-flight, soaring in the sky until the next tree sighting where he or she will perch anew. Didn't expect to realize that perhaps that maya bird is also me.

Yes, effective this school year 2024-2025, Maya Playgarden will close its doors. Apologies to all the interested parents who have been sending us messages inquiring about our programs during this transition period. We didn't mean to ignore you; we just didn't know what to say yet. It breaks our hearts not to offer the space for you and your children.

To all the Maya Titas and Titos and to all the families who at one point became part of the Maya Playgarden family, thank you so much for joining our journey towards mindful Waldorf-inspired parenting and early childhood education.

To all benefactors, friends, family, students, schools, interns and guests of Maya, thank you for the time, help and generosity!

Lastly, to Nanay and Tatay (Tatay passed in 2021), madamo guid nga salamat. You paved the way in making my dreams as an early childhood educator come true! Without your support, Maya would have just remained a dream. Look at what you've helped me do, Nay, Tay - amazing parenting of the new generation of mindful and conscious parents.

Currently, we are processing the closure but we will still be open to accommodate inquiries for access to records of our students.

This is also an open invitation to visit us at Maya should you wish to check out some items that we are planning to sell.

We will also be open to entertaining inquiries about the lease of the space which will now be managed by Jaruda Properties, Inc. Our priority would still be schools, training institutions or offices.

To close, let me just thank Maya Playgarden and how it has honed me as a person, as a teacher, as a colleague, as an administrator, and as a parent. The past 12, almost 13 years, was a great ride! Will always keep those memories aflame in my heart.

Madamo guid nga salamat. Paalam.

- Tita Jorvy

Happy Earth Day celebration at the Atria with Ayala partner schools in Iloilo City!

Parent-child arts and crafts activity, circle time, and storytelling with the Maya Titas!

Thanks Ayala and Thrive Art Gallery for the chance to spread love for the Earth through crafting sensibly, music and movement, and storytelling!

And that’s our Green Story!

What do you know? It's March! We celebrate Women Power with a shout-out to all the mothers, aunts, grandmothers, nannies, and our early childhood educators who are all making a difference in the lives of our children!

Our parent-child classes for Tuesday and Thursday and Friday are full but we are opening new slots for Monday and Wednesday!

Send us a message now!

What a great (and long!) start to the year! Thank you, January!

Hello, February! What do you know? You're longer, too! It's a leap year!

With 29 days this month, we can actually complete a block of our parent-child classes for both Mondays and Wednesdays as well as Tuesdays and Thursdays groups! We also have once a week parent-child classes every Friday.

Send us a message to reserve a slot!

It's Iloilo City's annual city festival, Iloilo Dinagyang Festival!

As the City and Province celebrates this devotion to Senor Sto Nino through dance and prayer, please be advised that our City Mayor has announced that there will be no classes on January 26 (Friday) as well as on January 29 (Monday).

Enjoy the festival!

Hala bira, Iloilo!

“Come,” said the pencil to the boy, “and draw with me.” So the boy reached for the pencil, about to touch it to his sketch pad. “But I can show you a three-hour drawing condensed into three minutes,” said the Smartphone.

So the boy watched the drawing of a world map, complete with oceans, seas, and capitals, finished in three minutes.

“Come,” said the paintbrush to the boy, “and paint a river with me.” So the boy picked up the paintbrush, about to dip it into the sky-blue watercolor paint. “But I can show you a river in India, one in Alaska, and the largest waterfall in the world,” said the Smartphone.

So the boy watched videos of the Rivers Ganges and Alsek, and clips of Victoria Falls tumbling 5,600 feet into volcanic dikes.

“Come,” said the books, “and read about a lion that battles a witch and a ship’s journey into heaven.”So the boy opened one, curled up on the couch and began reading. “But I can give you the movie,” replied the Smartphone, “and a soundtrack that stirs your soul.”

So the boy closed the book, got up from the couch, sat at the counter, and watched the video.

“Come,” called the trees and birds outside. “Climb us, and listen to us sing.” As the boy stepped outdoors, the Smartphone called, “But with me you can play a game where you scale mountains while dodging man-eating vultures.” So the boy stepped back inside to play the game.

With his face glued to the Smartphone, the iPad next to him dinged: a text. The boy glanced at the message. Returning to his game, he heard a ping: an e-mail in his inbox. He read it and returned to his Smartphone, where a flashing Snapchat announcement obscured a bloodthirsty vulture.

Next to his iPad, the pencil lay motionless, and next to the computer, the paintbrush untinted.
And beside his Smartphone, “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” lay with uncreased pages, the lion’s roar stifled, the witch’s cackle silenced, and the gate into Imagination closed.

💪 Delay the smartphone with the Wait Until 8th pledge. Wait until 16+ for social media.

💪 Encourage creativity, exploration, reading, outside adventures, art and movement.

This story is by Jill Thomas and was in the Star Tribune.

Advisory:

In view of the uncertain power situation we currently have in Panay Island, as well as the Opening Salvo tomorrow for Kasadyahan sa Kabanwahanan 2024 in celebration of Dinagyang 2024, please be advised that classes resume next week instead.

Have a restful weekend and may our days be brighter next week!

Happy 2024!

EDITED:

Classes resume as soon as the Mayor of Iloilo City gives a go-signal in light of the power interruptions.

For Duyan and Puya, please check out the schedule below for your guidance.

Wishing you all a new year filled with love and excitement!

Your Maya Titas

From your Maya Titas, malipayon guid nga Paskua!

May you all have a meaningful Christmas celebration!