Today is our first day of class. This would also be the first time we really meet our pupils. When we arrived at the barangay chapel at 7 o'clock, Saturday morning, we found the children already playing around outside the chapel. Of course, we didn't really know yet if they were our pupils. However, once we got inside the chapel and started setting up the benches the children started to stand right outside the chapel, peering inside probably curious who their teachers are going to be.

Some of them were obviously prepared for this special day. Most of them were fresh from the morning bath, others had their school bags with them, and others were wearing what appears to be their best attire. In a moment, some of them were already sitting inside with us with overflowing excitement. We immediately took down their names and made some name tags for them.

On the other hand, while most of the pupils were inside the chapel eager for their first class with us, a lone boy was standing outside hesitant to come in. We knew he was going to our class because he was wearing shoes. However, when we asked him to come in and join the others, he immediately shied away, turning instead to the sand and started mixing the soil up refusing to show his face. We tried to talk him out of it but to no avail. Some people nearby told us to just leave him alone, but we could not possibly leave him to play in the garbage- littered sand. Some older pupils told us he was really like that. Some reasoned his parents hit him at home. This was an instant challenge to Eureka! After a few one-on-one storytellings among the sand, a demo on how to make a paper plane, a little drawing, and a few flights of the plane, light finally shone on his face and eventually, he joined the rest of the children.

Back at the chapel, the children started pouring in. In fact, they poured in so much the tiny chapel was filled, stuffed almost literally. We had a full attendance of 35 pupils. After asimple prayer led by one of the pupils themselves, our first activity was to introduce each pupil to the rest ofthe class. Each one of them was given their name tags in front of the class so each was properly introduced. One of them of course was the boy who was playing amongst the sand earlier. Though still extremely shy, he is now with his classmates inside.

To further acquaint the children with us, we divided them into five groups with some Eureka! members serving as teachers. Since the chapel was too crowded, most of the groups went out. Some went to the nearby beach while others stayed under the shade just outside thechapel. It was not easy getting the pupils to talk, especially the 3-year olds. Some were obviously bored since they were already running around, away from the group. Still, others mentioned they were getting hungry.

Because of this, after a while, we made our pupils line up outside the chapel before getting back in to sit. We then served them some bread and juice which they apparently enjoyed. It was a little messy since some of the children didn't know how to handle their drinks yet, but we hope they'll learn anyway. After snack time, we decided to tell them a story to entertain them. We told them the storyof "Alladin and the Magic Lamp" using a pop-up book. We were surprised at how attentive the children suddenly were. The story even seemed to be interesting enough to attract the attention of the children's parents who all this while, were looking in the chapel at us, listening to the story.

Pretty soon, noon has drawn close and it was time to say goodbye to the pupils. Of course, not without teaching them first to say"...goodbye... hope to see you again...." This ends our first day of class. It was exhausting, and we learned a lot. We look ahead to our future classes with hopes of improvement.