Endless summer

RAYMUND FERNANDEZ

We are seeing a bit of confusion on the true beginning and ending of summer. It’s because of the move to begin the school year in August.

Only some schools are doing it. For people with children, this leads immediately to confusion related to enrollment and buying of school things.

And other things besides. Such things as summer trips with the family become a bit more difficult to plan. And there is some argument also as to the correctness of this move.

Some say we should go by climate and the weather.

Others say we should standardize in relation to Asia and the rest of the world. My view is that the latter will win out in the end.

I am biased, of course. We moved the start of the school year to August years ago.

University of the Philippines Cebu might have been some sort of experiment for the rest of the UP System.

We were one of the first UP campuses to make this move.

I was completely pissed at first. Until I realised that to make this move they would have to extend our summer vacation that year when it started.

I was ecstatic. And the more so because of a personal belief regarding time. If someone takes time away from you, it can never be recovered.

On the other hand, if someone gives you time, it can never be taken away. And here was a case when the system gave me something for free that I truly deserved that they could not ever take back. Time.

It’s been years since that wonderful extra summer. But I still do not mind beginning the school year in August. I must admit though that it doesn’t make too much sense by way of weather. Summer is for us the slow beginning of the rainy season.

That can be a bummer. But not too much. The weather has been so unpredictable lately. Only in UP summer are we now experiencing the hottest days of the year.

Even as summer has ended for most other schools and the school year is only now beginning. Overall, global warming has made any argumentation by way of weather a bit less credible.

On the other hand, one has to understand that the reason for the move of the school year to global standards is backed by the most pragmatic consideration. Money. The Philippines, especially Cebu, is becoming an attractive option for foreign students.

The move to August increases the market most likely by a big margin. It will be easier now for students from other countries to enroll here. More will be coming. A big hand, then, for the education industry.

But where I am concerned, August is not a bad time to begin the school year.

It has never been a problem for me personally. After a year or so, one gets used to it. The move becomes one for the “easily forgotten” section of the annals of whatever.

For whatever be the case with weather, it is always summer here, in a way.

There is a monsoon season. True. But the northern and southern provinces of the country always get the brunt of it.

Every shower in Cebu seems always like April showers, surprising, lovely, and a welcome break from too many sunny days.

Where else in the world is it okay to go to the beach even in the months ending with “ber?” The “ber” months never ever really brrr, here. Here is the city of an endless summer.