Go Go Back To School! Rufa Mae's Message To Daughter Is Relatable

As every Filipino parent adjusts to the start of school year 2024-2025, so do celebrity parents like Rufa Mae Quinto.

The comedienne and mom of one shared on Instagram photos of her daughter, Alexandria Athena, announcing the she is enrolled in a Philippine school.

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A post shared by Rufa Mae Quinto (@rufamaequinto)

"Go go Back to school! Hello my Grade 2! Welcome to the Philippines. Go, grow, glow!" she wrote in the caption. 

Both Rufa Mae's husband Trevor Magallanes and her daughter were previously based in the United States, and she shared that Athena is here to learn how to speak Filipino.

"That's the go go goal," she added in a comment.

In an exclusive interview with Smart Parenting during the GMA Gala Night 2024, Rufa Mae shared that she is trying to be a good role model to Athena by letting her see her do ordinary things, like cooking and other chores.

"Natuto akong magluto, lalo na sa America, pinakita ko sa kanya [Athena] [paano] maging nanay. Nakikita niya akong nag-la-laundry, kasi gusto ko gayahin niya ako as ordinary, na pag lumaki siya, babae siya, makita niya na pinagsilbihan siya ng nanay—pinakain, nag-go-grocery, nag-laundry. Kumbaga lahat ng normy [normal], nakita niya. Ngayong seven-years-old na siya, balik na ulit ako sa work para pati siya mag-work na din," she teased.

On August 6, Rufa Mae shared an Instagram reel with photos of her daughter over the years. She said, "Mahal ma [sic] mahal ko ang aking family. Miss na miss ko sila Lalo na kapag nasa work ako . Lahat ng ginagawa ko para sayo Anak. Go, grow, glow!"

She continued, "Pasukan na naman and I can’t wait to see you and be with you on the next chapter of our lives in the Philippines! Go go gold! Go go goals ! The tourist!"

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A post shared by Rufa Mae Quinto (@rufamaequinto)

Online safety reminders for school parents

Aside from Rufa Mae's lighthearted message to her daughter about going back to school, it's also a reminder for all of us parents to be mindful of the details that we share about our children online, especially regarding their school.

To keep our little ones safe, here are a few guidelines on what information we should avoid posting on social media.

1. Your child's full name, school, grade, and section

As parents, we love to take photos of our kids' first day of school outfits, often comparing them with photos from previous years. However, experts warn about the risks of sharing such information online.

"A lot of parents are unaware that when they post things like photos or identifying information, such as school uniforms, they are creating a digital identity for their children," Dr. Valeska Berg said in a scoping review published on JMIR Publications.

She recommends blurring out your child's face or taking photos where the child is facing away from the camera. "The less information you can put out on your child, the better," Dr. Berg added.

2. Other kids' faces and names

Content creator and educator Lyka Maravilla emphasized in a video that teachers should not post photos or videos on social media. This is a violation of the Data Privacy Act. This guideline applies to parents as well, who might be tempted to share photos of their kids and their classmates without other parents' consent. 

If you have a parent chat group with your kids' teacher, it's best to keep the photos shared there private and not post them on social media.

3. Your child's certificates or report cards

Regardless of whether your child received high or low grades, sharing their records online is a no-no. Keep report cards, including certificates, for yourself or share them only with immediate family.

4. Your child's class schedule

Avoid posting photos of your child during school pick-up or drop-offs in real time, as online predators and lurkers could track your child's schedule.

Recently, news about missing children has become more frequent, and keeping your child's details off social media is one way to keep them safe.

These are just a few reminders for us parents on what we should avoid sharing on social media about our kids. Nevertheless, offline, take lots of photos and cherish these moments, as they are only little once.

Read a mom's open letter to her child's preschool teacher here.