ICA nga.

Assumption, Miriam, Poveda, St. Paul. These are the answers you're likely to get if you ask "Name a girl's school nga?" Unless you're Chinese. Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA)  Greenhills is the only all girls Chinese school in Metro Manila and the only answer you'll get. Seriously. And for most Chinese parents who are protective of their precious china dolls, ICA is the only choice.

As an ICAn myself, I've heard a lot of opinions and stories about us - mostly bad. So, to clear misconceptions and admit truths, let me talk about ICA and ICAns.

1. You have to be Chinese to enter ICA. False. If I'm not mistaken one of the questions asked in the application form is if Chinese is spoken in the family. You can answer no and your child can still get in. Chinese is in the curriculum so if you're not Chinese it may be difficult but not entirely impossible. I used to have Filipino classmates who did better in Chinese than me. They studied hard and hired tutors to help them out after class. On average, the school population is still 95% Chinese.

2. It's an expensive school. Not really. It's competitively priced, around 90k. Xavier, La Salle Greenhills and Poveda charge around 100k to 120k.

3. ICAns are sheltered. True. There are two parts to this fact.

Part 1: ICAns are mostly products of Chinese parents who have either worked their ass off to become rich or inherited a thriving business. The saying "I want to give my children everything I didn't have" is so true for most ICA parents of my generation. On the other hand, the new generation of ICA parents say "My kids should have everything I've had and more." Some people perceive this negatively, but honestly, regardless of whether you're Filipino or Chinese, as parents don't we always say "We want what's best for our children."

Part 2: The Chinese are a protective, collective, and culturally knitted bunch. As much as possible they like to stick together which means they like their children to stick with other Chinese kids as well. But it doesn't mean they won't befriend a Filipino classmate.

4. ICAns are spoiled, bratty, flirty, snooty bitches. Not entirely true. There are some but not all. Besides, all schools have them.

5. ICAns are less intelligent compared to their Binondo counterparts. Not true. There are a lot of ICAns who graduated with honors in colleges/universities both here and abroad.

6. ICA doesn't have a good Chinese curriculum compared to the Binondo/Manila based Chinese schools. True. Your daughter will have more Chinese classes if she's enrolled in either St. Jude, Hope Christian, St. Stephen, or Sakya. In ICA, when you're in Grade School, you have two Chinese subjects - Chinese Reading and Chinese Language - each lasting about 50mins. In High School, it's just one 50 minute Chinese class daily.

ICA doesn't mind not being a "popular" school - it actually thrives in its relative anonymity - and ignores the nasty labels given by those who don't really know what goes on inside its hollowed walls.  Having been a student of ICA I know that its spirit will be with me till I die, blue and white banners raised high.