Saab Magalona Highlights Inclusivity As Pancho And Vito Move Up To Kinder

Jim Bacarro and Saab Magalona and their family marked a significant milestone last Monday as they celebrated Pancho and Vito’s Moving Up Day from Pre-Kindergarten to Kindergarten.

Saab shared a heartfelt Instagram post to reflect the important day, including a video with clips of the two boys dancing and having fun during the school program, and receiving each of their certificates. Pancho was awarded the Sunshine Smile Award, while Vito received the Master Musician Award.

In the caption, Saab shared, “Last Monday, Jim and I attended Pancho’s and Vito’s Moving Up Day! We got a little emotional celebrating the end of our kids’ first official school year Pre-Kindergarteners.

“It seems like only yesterday that I checked out schools for the boys.”

Saab’s gratitude

Saab also expressed her deep gratitude to her sons’ school, the Bannister Academy, for embracing inclusivity and providing her sons with a nurturing educational experience. She specifically thanked the admissions head, Teacher Therese, for recognizing the potential in her children, and the school principal, Mrs. O, for her unwavering support and understanding.

“To Bannister Academy: Thank you for giving Pancho the opportunity to be with his peers even if you did not have any prior experience in handling students with cerebral palsy. To the admissions head, Teacher Therese (Tracee to me hehe), THANK YOU for seeing great potential in my kids. To the principal, Mrs. O, I appreciate our talk so much–thank you for your support and for letting me shamelessly cry out of happiness in your office that day,” Saab wrote.

Saab also extended her thanks to Pancho and Vito’s teacher, MK, for her dedication and patience, and to the security staff for their daily assistance. She acknowledged the crucial role played by Teaching Assistant Ms. Angela and Pancho’s Yaya Liza in ensuring a successful year. Her message also included appreciation for the kindness and support from her co-parents and classmates of Pancho and Vito.

“To Pancho and Vito’s Teacher MK, thank you for your tireless love and patience for all your students!! To Kuya Noy and the rest of the security staff, thank you for helping us carry our bags to the classroom every morning! To the Teaching Assistant Ms. Angela and Pancho’s Yaya Liza, thank you for being instrumental in our children’s successful first school year. To all of their classmates and my co-parents, thank you for being so sweet to Pancho and Vito,” she added, concluding with a heartfelt, “My heart is so happy [smiling face with hearts emoji].”

‘Proving naysayers wrong’

Aside from the caption, Saab also expressed gratitude to those who believe in inclusivity in the text she included in her video, writing, “Thank you to everyone who believes in inclusivity and to educators who work hard to prove naysayers wrong.” Her message underscores the importance of supportive and inclusive educational environments for all children, regardless of their physical or developmental challenges.

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A post shared by Saab Magalona-Bacarro (@saabmagalona)

Jim and Saab are open about their family’s journey, and Pancho, who has cerebral palsy, has been a focal point of the couple’s advocacy for inclusivity and understanding. In a previous Instagram post, Saab shared the shocking comments they received about Pancho and said that they don’t need anyone’s pity because Pancho is their “pride and joy.” She wrote at the time, “Believe it or not, in just the past few weeks, we’ve been told ‘sayang naman,’ ‘gwapo pa naman,’ or ‘awang awa kami sa anak niyo… We thought we were prepared for this. That we would take it as a chance to educate people to choose a better way of saying things.”

Saab has always been proud of her son, saying, “Pancho is our pride and joy. He’s our source of happiness.” She also said, “He [Pancho] may be dependent on us but we are also dependent on him. He makes life easier. Pure joy is no longer sought, instead it’s something we experience on a daily basis.

“Being parents of a child with special needs can be challenging, but it is also a privilege and honor with rewards beyond our wildest dreams.”

Truly, Pancho and Vito’s moving up day was not just a personal family milestone, but also a testament to the power of community, inclusivity, and the dedication of both family members and educators. Congratulations to Pancho, Vito, Saab, and Jim!

Read here to learn about mainstream in special education.