June evokes not just the start of classes, but of identity — how we first learn to belong.

The Jose Abad Santos Memorial School (JASMS) is where I, wide-eyed, started Grade 1. Lunch was usually corned beef or fried chicken — a treat back then. When chicken hotdogs became available in the market, it felt like we had entered a new era.

Also feeling like these were my best buddies, the late Abdul Asiz Dianalan and Amir Hassan P. Diron. Together through Grades 1 to 7, we shared a quiet bond and heritage which made our journey more grounded.

At JASMS, being Muslim was never something to explain. It just was, and that was enough.

In retrospect, JASMS stood out not only because of the teaching style but because of the environment. We never felt like outsiders or tokens of diversity. There was no pressure to conform or explain our faith. We were not made to sit out activities uncomfortably. We were simply treated as part of the whole. There was authenticity in the respect.

JASMS graduates are familiar with the JASMS way — PEACE. We held activities that encouraged us to embrace peace. We buried “war toys” — a symbolic rejection of violence. We even went to Congress to appeal to the legislators — idealistic, yes, but sincere.

For young Filipino Muslims like me, it was an affirmation. Islam, after all, is a religion rooted in peace.

Our principal, Mrs. Luciano, believed in these values deeply. Seeing the world now — especially regions in cycles of war and division — I realize how prophetic those early lessons were. Those childhood campaigns may have seemed simple, but they quietly shaped my path and convictions.

Primary education isn’t just about academics. It’s where a child’s sense of self, purpose and possibility begins. Those early classrooms are important — where we first learn how to think, relate, imagine the world, and what we can contribute to it.

Hence, the need for a solid primary education that starts them young — building both knowledge and skills: creativity, empathy, critical thinking, and respect for craftsmanship, including the need to integrate digital-forward training that prepares learners for a future shaped by technology.

I’m encouraged by TESDA under Director General Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez — a member of the Benitez clan whose legacy includes JASMS. TESDA recently launched AI-powered initiatives, including an AI‑generated course builder and job-matching tools, efforts aimed at standardizing, scaling and future-proofing skills education for all.

For Filipino Muslims, this is a meaningful opportunity. Bringing our unique traditions, values, and contributions to nation building, a forward-looking, inclusive and digitally capable skills ecosystem ensures that our voices — and talents — have a place on the national table.

I thank my parents for choosing JASMS as it gave me more than an education. It gave me a foundation rooted in peace, inclusion and confidence — teaching me, quietly but clearly, that I mattered and that difference was never a disqualification.

With school bells ringing again this June, remember how powerful the early school years can be. We need schools that nurture not just knowledge, but values and skills that prepare every child to participate meaningfully in society. For every young Filipino, education must not stop at access — it must uplift the youth.

Sometimes, it’s as simple as a memory: Mang Pabling at the gate, calling out that Mang Pinong in the school bus was ready for the second trip. That, too, was part of the education that shaped me.