The Movers 2023-2024

Better home for the Dragons BIAA RENOVATES GYM

This 2024, BIans went back to school expecting familiar sights and faces: the buildings, classmates, students, and teachers strolling around the campus, and the beloved canteen. But, Bayanihan Institute welcomed the students with a pleasant surprise: a brand-new gym!

News Analysis

The idea for the project was conceived during the Grand Alumni Homecoming of the school on December 4, 2022.

As the venue, the gym’s outdated facilities were noticed and noted by the Bayanihan Institute Alumni Association (BIAA), thus giving the alumni officers thought on a worthwhile project. Backed by the numerous member-alumni, Mr. Elle Lee, the president gave the green light to commence the renovation on May 2023.

Full story on page 03

THE REIGN CONTINUES

BI mathletes win medals, awards in int’l stints

Bayanihan Institute has long been revered in the field of mathematics competition both locally and abroad. This year, the culture of excellence is once again ablaze as BIans continue to bring home medals and awards from international math competitions.

From traditional to digital: the 21st Century Teacher

When attachment and love know no form  page 10

bronze medal during the Hua Xia Cup 2023 China Mathematical Olympiad Contest on May 28, 2023.

Uy likewise bagged the silver award for secondary math during the national round of the Philippine International Math and Science Olympics last August 27, 2023 ,where Brina Isabel Chua and Bryce Iñigo Chua, both from elementary, also won silver medals for science.

During the final round of HKIMO, Jacob Co again won the gold medal while Justin Chua reaped the bronze medal.

Meanwhile, Anniqa Ginelle Uy from Grade 10 brought home the

Before the start of the current school year, Jacob Co (Grade 7), Justin Chua (Grade 9), and Adam Joaquin Chua (Grade 10), began collecting awards as they successfully won gold medal, silver medal, and merit award, respectively during the heat round of the Hong Kong International Math Olympiad (HKIMO) on May 26, 2023.

Scouts make a blast revival after decades of dormancy begins with a successful backyard camping

After almost 4 decades of inactivity, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) make a comeback to Bayanihan Institute this school year, starting with the much-anticipated backyard camping on November 24-25, 2023.

The backyard camping featured activities and teambuilding sessions that challenged the teamwork and discipline of the scouts.

The BSP scout master, Ms. Adelyn Dela Cruz, led the scouts

in setting up their tents as well as cooking their dinner afterward.

The different scout outfits prepared skits and designed banners which they presented during the bonfire activity. The first day ended with melodies to campfire songs accompanied by scouts dancing in the light of the ceremonial fire.

Full story on page 03

Story by: Yohan Sotto, Matthew Aquino, & Bienne Chua

Full story on page 03

The Movers photojourns, writers win in TCPEIA presscon

Winning 3 out of 5 slots to the Division Schools Press Conference (DSPC), The Movers photojournalists prevailed in the photojournalism and caption writing competition during the Tarlac City Private Educational Institutions Association (TCPEIA) press conference at Creston Academy, January 12-13, 2024.

Grade 10 students Angel Mei Lin, Martin Redmond Ong, and Liangliang Zheng bagged second, third, and fourth places, respectively in the secondary English category.

Meanwhile, The Movers' Pen warriors also grabbed two awards which added to the haul of the publication with Annika Gabrielle Chua (Grade 10) finishing 8th in Column Writing English and Eison Jan Cutero (Grade 10) securing the 10th place in Sports Writing Filipino.

Story by Eliana Riane Co

Final touches. Students await the finishing of the gym as this worker applies final coating to the court.

Photo courtesy of BIAA.

Story by: Christian Anthony Ho

Tents up Scouts set up and prepare their tents during the backyard camping activity of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.

Photo by Redmond Ong

Question: Do you visit the school library?

Question: What is the reason why you do not visit the library?

Only 10% of BIans go to the school library - survey says

Story by Kyna Siazon & Marquee Ong

Additional report by Jayden Bermudo & Rhianna Yuson

The Movers surveyed 100 random Bayanihan Institute students to find out whether they visited the school library or not. The results are shocking, but definitely not surprising.

Out of the 100 respondents, only a mere 10% go to the library, while a massive 90% say they do not visit the library.

Additionally, the students were directed to answer more questions to determine the reasons why they don’t frequent the library. The results are as follows: 51% say the books are outdated and uninteresting, 24% say the furniture is uncomfortable, 21% say there’s no Wi-Fi or weak Wi-Fi signal, and 4% say the lack of computer facility.

To better understand the reasons of the students, The Movers interviewed the teachers who stay in the library.

Outdated and Uninteresting Books

The library is a haven for readers, but only if it contains books to be read. The majority

Chinese classes begin in the midst of teacher shortage

By Karlo Yvan Siazon

Despite all odds, Bayanihan Institute starts this school year’s Chinese classes in person with three teachers from China, in addition to locally hired teachers.

The current school year commenced on July 24 with full implementation of face-to-face classes. Notwithstanding the already ongoing English classes, Chinese classes were delayed due to some complications.

Several teachers were unable to join due to Visa issues from the ongoing tension between China and the Philippines regarding the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Fortunately, three teachers applied earlier, kick-starting classes for the elementary department on September 10, 2023. However, due to the lack of additional teachers, Chinese classes in the high school department were delayed.

After many complaints from parents of the high school department, the school decided to hire local teachers, thus starting the high school department’s classes on November 6, 2023.

Bayanihan Institute is known for its comprehensive Chinese classes, that is why many Filipino-Chinese or even pure-Chinese families send their students to study here. According to Ma’am Eliza Chua, the school will continue to deliver quality Chinese education despite all the challenges.

As a way to make up for the lost time, the school imposes Saturday classes starting January 6, 2024, to April 5, 2024.

of the books in the library are textbooks, according to the library coordinator Ma’am Adelyn Garcia. There’s only a tiny fraction of fiction and literary books. Additionally, she said a lot of Chinese books are in the library but they are not organized so students do not have access to them.

Uncomfortable Furniture

According to Ma’am Roxanne Abellanosa, the ideal space for a reader is a cozy, comfortable corner. Students do not find this desirable corner in the library since the tables and chairs are quite uncomfortable and hard to sit on. Better furniture including sofas, chintz, and even bean bags or plain carpet will do. Ma’am Roxanne also added that the more comfortable students are, the more they’ll read.

No Wi-Fi or Weak Signal

In this era where internet connection is already considered a necessity, students rely much on it when they need to know something, according to Sir Billy

Mendoza. He added that since the library is a place for learning, it is logically sound that internet connectivity must be in it. Libraries of the modern age must adapt to the needs of the modern learner.

Lack of Computer Facility

Sir Billy further explained: related to the lack of WiFi connection is the lack of computers in the library dedicated for student use when they search for information online. Some students do not have gadgets, so one way for them to access the net is by using a computer. The library should be a source of such computers.

It is an uncontested fact that libraries are essential in a school environment. But a library, to be called a proper library, must serve its purpose. If it can’t be used by students the way they see its purpose, then it is just another room in the building. The BI library must not become just another room.

B.I. IMPLEMENTS ICL employs academic breathers on Friday siesta

By Yohan Sotto

An innovative move by the admin, Bayanihan Institute implements Independent and Cooperative Learning (ICL) sessions every Friday afternoon.

The bold move aims to provide students with the opportunity to engage in collaborative and independent learning activities.

ICL represents a departure from traditional classroom structures to serve as breathers for the laden students.

During ICL, students

engage in various extra- and intra-curricular activities such as clubs, sports, and the like. This expands students’ horizons and promotes social skills to contribute to their overall development, preparing them for lifelong learning.

David Chua, Grade 9, stated, “I am glad about ICL since it provides opportunities to learn. ICL encourages students to develop curiosity and responsibility thereby making them take ownership of their education.”

Other students also welcomed the change, acknowledging the potential advantages of a more flexible and varied learning approach.

This move reflects the school’s dedication to innovation and studentcentered approaches to education.

With ICL, the school not only welcomes a more versatile model but also nurtures an environment where students can develop academically, personally, and socially.

Bayanihan procures Solar Panels towards a sustainable future

By Kyle Spencer Sangueza

The Bayanihan Institute Alumni Association (BIAA) funded the procurement and installation of solar panels for the school, making it the firstever project of the school to use renewable energy sources. Solar Pro Tarlac was contracted by the BIAA to provide all materials for the project, making sure the installation process goes smoothly.

During an interview, Mr. Elle Lee, the president of BIAA, stated the main purpose of the project is for sustainability and also for fund generation as excess energy produced by the panels will be sold to Tarlac Electric Inc., the main electricity distributor in Tarlac City.

Mr. Lee also added they wait to make a memorable and useful souvenir for their Alma Mater that’s why they pushed the project to fruition.

When asked about the school’s plans, Dr. Noel Mallari, the principal said the school plans on expanding the panels to the preschool

school’s electricity needs. With the electric consumption reduced, the admin is planning to add the extra cut to procure equipment and other materials for the benefit of the students.

Better late than never Ma’am Eliza Chua (left) and Cheng Jian Laoshi are seen fervently teaching students in the Chinese Department. Photo by Liangliang Zheng.

Power of the Sun. Electric consumption of BI reduced by a fraction since the installment of solar panels. Photo courtesy of Solar Pro Energy Solutions

MAke the curriculum relevant to produce job-ready, active, and responsible citizens.

TAke steps to accelerate the delivery of basic education services and provision facilities.

TAke good care of learners by promoting learner well-being, inclusiveness learning, and positive learning environment.

Give support for teachers to teach better.

DepEd launches MATATAG Curriculum

By Anniqa Ginelle Uy

Directed to address alarming basic education woes, Department of Education Secretary and Vice President Sara Z. Duterte officially launched the MATATAG curriculum in Pasay City on August 10, 2023.

During her speech, Duterte discussed several revisions to the current curriculum which include decongesting the curriculum, focusing on literacy and numeracy, and the feature on peace education that highlights teaching of non-violent actions and conflict resolution skills. She also emphasized the intensification of learners’ values formation and character development by reinstating the subject Good Manners and Right

Conduct (GMRC) with adherence to the Values Education Act.

Duterte believes that the new curriculum will be important in DepEd’s MATATAG agenda which is highlighted by their slogan “MATATAG: Bansang Makabata, Batang Makabansa,” which means DepEd implements programs and reforms geared towards competent, job-ready, active, responsible, and patriotic citizens.

Duterte claims that this revision is a by-product of the extensive and painstaking review of the current curriculum that demanded the participation of all education stakeholders.

“Pursuing these reforms has been marked by foresight and

demonstrated DepEd’s desire to change the learning landscape of the Philippines for the sake of the future of our learners,” she commented.

The new curriculum shall be implemented in phases, that is, for SY 2024-2025, it will be enforced to Kinder, Grades 1, 4, and 7. Come SY 25-26, it shall be carried out in Grades 2, 5, and 8 with the curriculum application to Grades 3, 6, and 9 in SY 26-27. The grade 10 will finally join the implementation on SY 27-28.

The MATATAG curriculum will inevitably be implemented in Bayanihan Institute, thus BIans must become aware of the change that is to come. With the faculty and admin doing their best to

prepare, BIans will surely be ready to face this new challenge.

Source: Philippine News Agency

Mallari: We must make sure we’re ready Conduct of annual earthquake drill a success

By Gabby Chua

To ensure the safety of students, teachers, and staff in case of an earthquake, Bayanihan Institute conducted its annual earthquake drill, November 24.

The drill was perfected in a series of mini or practice drills before flag ceremonies November, engraving the drill into the minds of every learner.

Dr. Noel Mallari, the principal, emphasized the importance of preparedness in

instances of natural disasters especially earthquakes, justifying the need for the drill. The faculty fully supported this, taking an active part in the preparation and the drill itself.

The Philippines is one of the countries very prone to earthquakes, experiencing an average of 20 quakes daily according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOLCS).

BIAA renovates gym... from

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The reign continues... from page 1

Moreover, in the heat round of the Thailand International Math Olympiad (TIMO) on October 22, Jacob Lucas Co and Andrelle Pachakkil gained the gold medal while Bienne Chua (Grade 9) bagged the bronze piece.

Last December 8, three students namely Jacob Lucas Co, Andrelle Pachakkil, and Keith Nielsen Ang carried home three silver medals during the Guangdong Hong Kong Macau Greater Bay Area Math Olympiad (Big Bei Bay).

The latest in the win streak is Jacob Lucas Co’s campaign in the World International Math Olympiad Finals held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on January 10, 2024, where he successfully won the merit award.

After achieving this much in international math competitions, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) bestowed upon Jacob Co the Award for Youth Excellence in Science on December 30, 2023.

During an interview, Jacob Co said that he will join more math competitions, in fact, he’s already up for the next set of international competitions for 2024.

Bayanihan Institute commits to giving quality education to students. These outstanding achievements of students are evidence pointing to the aforementioned goal. The school has no plan to afield in this regard and will continue its reign in mathematics education and competitions.

90% of Filipino learners aged 10 struggle in reading comprehension

16% of Filipino learners attained basic level of math proficiency

Source: World Bank

24% of Filipino learners reached basic reading proficiency Source:

23% of Filipino learners attained basic science proficiency

Scouts make a blast... from page 1

The idea for the project was conceived during the Grand Alumni Homecoming of the school on December 4, 2022.

As the venue, the gym’s outdated facilities were noticed and noted by the Bayanihan Institute Alumni Association (BIAA), thus giving the alumni officers thought on a worthwhile project.

Backed by the numerous member-alumni, Mr. Elle Lee, the president gave the green light to commence the renovation on May 2023.

According to Mr. Lee, the project serves as a remembrance of the centennial milestone of the school. He also added that it is to uplift BI's sports facility and for students' safety.

When asked for his message to the users, Mr. Lee remarked: “Enjoy and be a proud BInian. Just balance studies and sports and develop a positive attitude towards it.”

The construction lasted until August, and finally on September 2 during the Buwan ng Wika Celebration, the gym was turned over to the school in a meaningful ceremony.

The Movers photojourns, writers win... from page 1

“It was especially difficult this year as we just revived campus journalism after two years of inactivity,” Ma’am Roxanne Abellanosa, The Movers adviser commented.

“Despite a mere one week of training, winning is indeed a sweet reward for our writers and photographers,” she added.

The coaches of the participants are Mrs. Roxanne Abellanosa, Ms. Nica Jimenez, Ms. Jona Teleg, and Mr. Billy Joe Mendoza.

“We will begin training to better prepare for the Division Presscon,” Sir Billy said when

“I believe this is the path towards a tomorrow filled with athletes. With equipment and resources plus the safety and comfort of the gym, students will develop their physical abilities and strength,” Redmond Ong spoke in an interview.

This year, the BI Dragons have soared higher than ever since the uplift of their home court. With triumphs in several sports competitions, they will continue to dominate the skies as they take off toward a future of power, strength, and fitness.

asked for their plan for the next level of competition. The first to fifth-place winners will proceed to the Division Schools Press Conference on February 23-24, where they will compete with other students from the entire division of Tarlac City.

On the second day, the scouts enjoyed the teambuilding activities where they showcased their ability to lead amid pressure as well as their creativity in solving challenging tasks presented to them. The outfit Tropang Lobo snagged the overall championship of the games, thanks to the remarkable leadership of the troop captain Lhian Jay Binuya from Grade 9. “It is my first time joining Boy Scouts and also my first time participating in backyard camping,” Lhian Jay said in an interview. “I enjoyed all the activities and I’m looking forward to more from the Boy Scouts,” he added. Ma’am Adelyn later said that the BSP is preparing more activities for the scouts as the school year progresses,

adding that the investiture is already taking shape.

“The main goal of the BSP is to help the youth develop values and acquire competencies to become responsible citizens and capable leaders of the community,” Ma’am Adelyn said. She further added, “To that end, we’ll do everything in our capacity to meet this goal.”

Dr. Noel Mallari, the principal, made the initiative to revive the scouting program, citing the need for it for the total development of students as scouting prepares the youth to become agents of change in communities as embodied by the Scout Oath and Law.

Currently, the BSP has a total of 74 scouts members. The admin is positive that this membership will grow as the years pass by.

Duck, Cover, and Hold.

BIans walking briskly with hands over their heads during the earthquake drill.

Photo by Angel Lin

BIans represent. Jacob Co (Grade 7) poses moments before the nerve-wreaking final round of WIMO in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Photo courtesy of Mrs. Yvette Co

Photo from: facebook.com/MayorIndaySaraDuterteOfficial

Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Z. Duterte during the launching of the Matatag Curriculum.

Tarlac City Dialysis Center officially opens its doors to public

Mayor Cristy Angeles, together with Health Undersecretary Maria Francia Laxamana and the rest of the city government of the city, inaugurates the newly built Tarlac City Dialysis Center on January 18, 2024.

The facility is located beside the city hall at the heart of Tarlac City. The goal of this center is to provide accessible medical treatment and healthcare, especially chronic kidney diseases.

Chua family leads SSC A dynasty in the making?

By Bienne Chua

After three school years of no election, the Student Supreme Council (SSC) held its election of officers last August 5, 2023, where the Chua cousins won the top-ranking positions. With the SSC held at its neck, will the school year find itself run by a dynasty?

The election period started with students dividing themselves into political parties. The event followed with room to room campaign, ending with a miting de avance in the auditorium.

The 5th of August saw the BInian decision as they voted for their bets. The results followed the next day with the winners proclaimed afterwards.

Leading the team is the unopposed president, Adam Joaquin Chua (Grade 10). Beside him stands his brother David Justin Chua (Grade 9), who was elected as Vice President (Chinese). Completing this trio is their cousin Gabrielle Anika Chua (Grade 10), Vice President (English).

These high-ranking officials are cousins who will govern the study body as a whole. The studentry, however, does not mind the results as they proclaim that their vote is their choice and that they are happy and satisfied with the outcomes.

Moreover, the other 16 elected officers are Zoe Gomez (Secretary), Eliana Riane Co (Treasurer), Claire King (Auditor), Marquee Ong (PRO Internal), Rhianna Yuson (PRO External), Anniqa Ginelle Uy (Academic Coordinator JHS), Sabine Chua (Academic Coordinator Elem), Alexie Dimen and Liangliang Zheng (Club Coordinators), Winnie Chu (Sanitary Coordinator JHS), Cyd Chua (Sanitary Coordinator Elem), Redmond Ong (Male Sports Coordinator), Grainne Hsu (Female Sports Coordinator), Angel Lin, Vrielle Lo, and Gail Mohammed (Photographers). The SSC is the voice of the students hence

By Anniqa Ginelle Uy

According to Mayor Cristy Angeles, the completion of the center is a step towards the city government’s goal to ensure a healthy life for all, especially indigent patients.

“The establishment of this dialysis center underscores our city’s unwavering resolve to address the healthcare needs of our indigent residents. Access to medical quality services should never be a luxury but a fundamental right,”

they should stand for the students. If the elected officers work only for themselves, then BIans would not benefit and the trust they bestowed on the Chuas would go to the dumpster. The Chua cousins hailed from a family of student leaders as their older brothers and sisters were past SSC presidents.

Del Rosario talks about Column, Editorial Writing

By Bienne Chua

Maria Althea T. Del Rosario, an alumna of Bayanihan Institute (batch 2019), returned to her alma mater to share her experiences and insights on column and editorial writing in the school library on January 10.

The talk held at the school library is part of the preparation of The Movers for the presscon for private schools.

Del Rosario featured an engaging lecture to the scribes, discussing detailed steps on writing columns and editorials. She also presented excerpts from her winning pieces as samples.

Del Rosario emphasized the importance of creativity and taking a firm stand on

social issues, highlighting that column writing is more than just a compilation of facts -- it’s a platform for writers to express themselves.

The visit served as an inspiration for the writers, making them ready for the presscon.

Del Rosario won the gold in the first-ever competition in column writing during the Division Schools Press Conference 2020.

she said in an interview.

The mayor also recognized all the stakeholders like healthcare professionals, volunteers, donors, dialysis team, and the Department of Health (DOH) for the support of this project.

The DOH Undersecretary Maria Francia Laxamana congratulated the city government for its collaborative efforts with its stakeholders to improve the well-being not only of Tarlac City

residents but also of residents in neighboring municipalities.

Latest estimates show that around 2.3 million Filipinos have chronic kidney disease, BIans and their families are not immune to such illness. The establishment of the dialysis center provides additional facilities for treatment of such that can surely benefit students and their families. (Source: Philippine Information

)

B.I. canteen is now fully airconditioned

By Christian Anthony Ho

With the comfort of the students in mind, the administration of Bayanihan Institute decided to install air conditioning units in the school canteen last September 2023.

The decision is spearheaded by the Board of Trustees president, Mr. Delmo Cutero in consultation with the principal Dr. Noel H. Mallari. The two decided to put up aircon in the canteen so that students having their lunch there would be comfortable.

Mrs. Marites Sicat, commonly known to students and staff as Ate Tess, said the project would “be of great comfort and help, not only to the students but to the canteen staff as well.” Ate Tess is the proprietor of the school canteen.

Students also welcome the new improvement will open arms. A random student said that now that there is aircon in the canteen, he can enjoy his lunch comfortably, away from the scorching and humid atmosphere outside.

Teachers and staff also find the project appropriate and comfortable, especially for the younger students of Bayanihan. Ma’am Adelyn Garcia said that the new canteen environment will spell comfort for the students and teachers.

“The decision to procure and install air-conditioning units for the canteen is inevitably for the students’ benefit,” said Dr. Noel Mallari in an interview.

20 kph speed limit imposed in school vicinity

By Bienne Chua

Additional

Report by Pablo Ibarra & Matthew Aquino

Just recently, a unanimous decision has been made by St. Mary’s Subdivision homeowners to implement a 20 kph speed limit throughout the subdivision, aimed at promoting safety in the community, especially in areas near the school.

This measure not only enhances safety but also fosters a sense of shared responsibility among residents to prioritize the well-being of everyone in the subdivision.

“For safety measures of all the residents of the subdivision. Residents and children are walking and playing around, so implementing the speed limit is the best policy to avoid accidents,” a local homeowner and parent stated.

Tarlac City Vet Office conducts spay, neuter program

By Eina Co

The Tarlac City Veterinary Office (TCVO), in cooperation with the International Wildlife Coalition Trust (IWCT) conducted a free spay and neuter program for more than 50 cats and dogs in Tarlac City at the City Veterinary Office, Binauganan, Tarlac City on December 16, 2023.

The program was headed by City Mayor Cristy Angeles to provide free veterinary services to the Tarlaqueños as part of the City Government’s mandate to promote safe and responsible pet ownership.

The spay and neuter program aims to lessen and mitigate the large number of stray cats and dogs in the city that may cause problems in the community.

The imposition of the speed limit ensures added safety for the students of BI as the school is located inside the subdivision.

Several BIans expressed positive feedback regarding the program.

“The free spay and neuter program of the City Government is done very professionally by the staff,” a Grade 8 student said.

“Programs like this directly affect

In addition to the spay and neuter program, the TCVO also provides monthly rabies awareness and responsible pet ownership seminars to all residents of the City. The IWCT Philippines is a nonprofit organization that supports and gives protection to animals. The City Government of Tarlac expresses gratitude to the organization for its continued support.

pet owners and show the dedication of the City Government in the service of all residents of the City,” Keno Chua, Grade 10, commented.

In the Facebook post of the Tarlac City Information Office, anyone interested in the program may contact the TCVO through their email address cvotarlac@gmail.com or through their FB page www.facebook.com/ TarlacCVO or through cellphone numbers 0921-3623-632 / 0919-0955742.

(https://www.facebook.com/tarlac.cio?locale=tl_PH)

Agency [pia. gov.ph]

Beginning of a new era in health care services. Mayor Cristy Angeles together with other officials of Tarlac City inaugurates the newly built Tarlac Dialysis Center through the ribbon cutting ceremony on January 18, 2024.

Photo courtsey of Tarlac City Information Office FB page.

Over a cup of coffee. Canteen staff enjoying their talk over a cup of coffee in the cool and comfortable canteen equipped with airconditioning units. Photo by Liangliang Zheng.

An act of giving back. Del Rosario shares experiences, tips in column writing to the eager scribes of The Movers. Photo by Angel Lin

Triumphant Smile. SSC president Adam Joaquin Chua confidently addresses the BIans after his unopposed win. Photo by Angel Lin

Centennial Plus One

BI Celebrates Foundation Day, Teachers’ Day

By James Uy

In dedication to the institution’s proud century-long legacy and the faculty who helped create it, B.I. held performances, academic competitions, and various booths around the school on October 24-25, 2023.

Despite the postponement due to scheduling issues, B.I. celebrated in full with classic songs and group dances to pop music in Sing-Galing/ Just Dance, class-wide displays in the Ground Demonstration, Teacher’s Day’s instrumentals with guitars, ukuleles, and violins, and the Quiz and Spelling Bee’s intellectual challenges. In between, students played party games and snacked in booths while avoiding capture by the Love Chain and Jailers.

“I think it was successful. Primarily because the students participated with the support of the parents of course,” said Sir Mallari. Many students displayed skills in their performance in competitions such as singing, group dance, Spelling Bee, and Quiz Bee as part of the festivities. Grade 10 received the title of the Ground Demonstration’s champion thanks to their lively High School Musical-themed demo. Regardless of the competition, B.I. adhered to the theme of unity in ‘heart, mind, body, and spirit’ and remembering its history. Accompanying Foundation Day,

Teacher’s Day had its fanfare with songs by young pupils to high schoolers. Ending with Grade 10’s rendition of ‘Salamat sa Iyo’ homage to each teacher using illustration boards plastered with a unique trait and occasional pun.

“To love the past, never to forget it and if possible learn from it. There’s a saying that if you want to prepare for the future, you have to understand the past. And most importantly, love your institution, love your Alma mater,” Sir Mallari said.

BIAA continues to give back Initiates construction of Sports and Recreational Activity Building

By Bienne Chua

The Bayanihan Institute Alumni Association (BIAA) keeps its pledge to better the sports facilities of the school by initiating the construction of the proposed sports and recreational activity building in January 2024.

The building is located on the right side of the main building where the TLE garden was once located.

The sports building will house badminton and table tennis courts equipped with facilities for storing sports equipment.

It can be remembered that on May 2023 the BIAA officers together with the Bayanihan Institute Board of Trustees (BIBT) did the ground-breaking ceremony in front of the supposed location

Bayanihan Institute alumna wins Miss Chinese World 2023

By Pablo Ibarra

Ms. Annie Uson of batch 2013 was crowned Miss Chinese World 2023 on May 20, 2023 at Berjaya Times Square Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

With the theme "The Beauty of Hearts, The World of Wisdom," the contestants showcased their talents and personalities while advocating for Chinese values and history.

Among the 17 finalists, Joan Angelina of Indonesia and Yoong Jia Yi of Malaysia won first and second runners up, respectively.

of the new building, however, due to some changes in plans, the construction took place in its present location.

According to Mr. Elle Chua, the president of BIAA, the project is part of the continued support of the association to sports development in BI which began this school year.

“We hope that with the added sports facilities, the program for sports development initiated this year will continue in the succeeding years,” Mr. Chua added.

Mr. Mallari, the principal, said that the new building will be an asset for the school which can potentially positively impact enrollment in addition to its primary purpose.

“The school administration expresses its gratitude toward the BIAA for their continued support in the sports development program of the school,” Mr. Mallari

expressed.

The students of BI also expressed their joy in the project, saying the new courts will add to the facilities available for students who love sports.

“I’m already excited about the completion of the badminton and table tennis courts, a lot of students will surely play there,” Grade 7 student Caden Lee, a badminton player, said.

"We will not be able to see its completion since we're already graduating this year, but I'm sure the lower grades will enjoy it," Karlo Siazon, table tennis player, said.

The sports and recreational activity building is a project that would benefit BIans for several generations to come, it is also a tangible monument of the BIAA’s gratitude towards their alma mater.

Remember me. Grade 9 renders their own musical version of the Film Coco. The performance anchored on family values and the importance of love for family. Photo by Angel Lin

Beauty with a heart and wisdom. BI alumna Annie Uson stands proudly wearing the Miss Chinese World 2023 crown. Photo from instagram.com/chenyuni_

The beginning of sports progress. Members of the BIAA and BIBT during the ground-breaking ceremony for the proposed Sports and Recreational Activity Building. Photo courtesy of BIAA.

Under the scorching sun. Construction workers labour amidst hot weather to finish the New Sports and Recreational Activity Building on time. Photo by Liangliang Zheng.

EDITORIAL

Matatag…more than just being ‘sturdy’

When one hears the word ‘matatag,’ the first translation one can think of is ‘sturdy.’ It can also mean steady or unchanging. When this word describes something, it takes in positive meaning because the majority of people desire security, firmness, calmness, or even in the deepest sense of the word, commitment.

The Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Z. Duterte must have been enthralled by one or two of these definitions that’s why in the next six years, her agenda for Philippine education is encapsulated in this one word: MATATAG.

The MATATAG curriculum is part of the bigger agenda of VP Sara launched last August, Matatag: Bansang Makabata, Batang Makabansa (A nation for children, children for the nation). This MATATAG curriculum aims to break down the current curriculum so that it fits the students’ educational needs and avoid unnecessary and redundant competencies, to avoid distraction from the important skills they need to develop.

It is in everyone’s best interest that Filipino students be held high in international standards in addition to being able to compete globally. However, despite the endless efforts of teachers, stakeholders, and the government, this goal seems to be very elusive. Recently, Filipino learners performed dismally in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In the said assessment, 15-year-old Filipinos were ranked 77th out of 81 countries

in reading comprehension. This is a slight improvement from PISA 2018 where the country ranked 79th out of 79, nevertheless, it remains a worrisome outcome.

One of many probable reasons why Filipino learners lag behind other countries is the curriculum itself. According to education specialists, the K-12 curriculum is too congested with redundant and disconnected competencies. The MATATAG curriculum addresses this by reducing the number of competencies, from more or less 11,000 to just 3,000. This is a huge difference in the number of learning competencies. It remains to be seen, but the sheer difference seems to already prove the decongestion goal of

Recently, Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, has announced that priests are now allowed to bless samesex couples. The goal of this new announcement was to make the church seem more inclusive while still maintaining bans on same-sex marriages. This however, confused people. The people do not see the difference between a blessing and actual marriage. The Pope highlights the church’s view that male-female couples are more superior to samesex couples.

What is the difference?

Marriage is a sacred sacrament that binds a man and a woman under God to be, well, together forever. A blessing, on the other hand, is an onthe-spot prayer that may be said for someone or something like during the start or end of an event. The blessing for same-sex couples is to just bless the people in the union to have a healthy relationship with one another and does not entail a lifelong commitment like marriage.

What’s the issue? The church views male-female couples as superior than same-sex couples. Because they view it as such, Catholics have been more divisive

and discriminatory against what they thing is “inferior” or “abnormal.” The issue is the discrimination of Catholics to gay people, alienating and hating them. From my point of view, it is not “superiority” or “normality” that we want, but acceptance as fellow people who have feelings and emotions.

As a person whose feelings are not considered “normal” by most people, the division between my faith and my personality has always been a huge gap, one I’d probably never see myself bridging. This decision has helped many people who are homosexual Catholics who have been struggling internally with whether to be themselves or change themselves entirely. Although I was surprised by the sudden move of the Pope, I’m still nonetheless supportive of it. People like myself who’ve had big gaps between their faith and their feelings can finally bridge these gaps. Since the church’s move, we can now move freely while still abiding by the boundaries of our faith.

Its effects on the world is not that profound, I just think many people are making such a mess out of it so not everyone has the chance

MATATAG.

Before its pilot implementation, stakeholders showed enthusiasm and support for the new curriculum. During the said implementation, DepEd received positive feedback, reassuring the agency of the initial acceptance of the stakeholders. These news are promising since they provide some evidence of the envisioned goal of the curriculum.

Despite the amiable reception of the stakeholders, the common Filipino still scratches his head on whether or not this new curriculum will solve the education crisis in the country. Some activist groups called it ‘premature’ while others call it ‘equally problematic with K-12.’ A lot of factors indeed contribute

The church and same sex couples

to digest it. The views of the church do should not exactly dictate what people are supposed to think, do, or say. However, in a country like ours where people can be very difficult when their faith is clouding their empathy, it is hard to be yourself when your personality is not aligned with what they believe is natural.

In my opinion, regardless of what anybody says, we are all still God’s children. We are free to love whoever we want. The person who love is, at the end of the day, just another person and this should not be complicated further.

Students of Bayanihan Institute must keep an open mind especially when issues like this come out. The new generation has become more open to a myriad of contemporary ideas, one of these is sexuality. BIans must exercise caution when tapping on conversations deemed sensitive by people.

It’s best to remember that the problem does not lie within the church, but the people who compose it. The church cannot be inclusive if its members cannot be inclusive, and the church cannot take a step forward if its members stand still.

to the ailing quality of education in the country like poverty, teacher competence, school facilities, and more. However, intending to alleviate the most pressing concern which is the congestion of competencies, the MATATAG curriculum is a genesis in solving the entirety of the crisis. It must be remembered that every journey of thousands of miles begins with the momentous first step. The MATATAG curriculum is that momentous first step.

This new curriculum is more than just a sturdy one. It represents the commitment of the government to the betterment of the country’s educational system. It embodies the agenda of VP Sara and DepEd that is rooted in the vision that the Filipino learner is taken care of by the nation and for the nation.

Bayanihan Institute students must brace themselves for the upcoming nationwide implementation of the MATATAG curriculum next school year.

The path to success is seldom straight. Most of the time, it leads to a crossroads where the traveler must choose and take a road. It will oftentimes be the case when the traveler thinks of the road not taken and all the myriad possibilities that lie within. But the road taken also offers many eventualities. Whether they are good or bad, it is to the traveler to remain steadfast and continue. The path is the country’s educational system and the Filipino is the traveler. The MATATAG curriculum is the road taken. The first step has been made, now it is up for the traveler to continue the journey. Let us not dwell on the road not taken, let us be matatag and ready for the coming odyssey.

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@Gabby_Chua | [noises and voices] With a second chance practically spoon-fed to the higher sitting officials, they should not waste the trust once built by the people in the hopes of enhancing their living situation.

Not so confident in the

“Kung sino man ang kumokontra sa confidential funds ay kumokontra sa kapayapaan. Kung sino man ang kumokontra sa kapayapaan ay kalaban ng bayan” (“Whoever is against the confidential fun is against peace. Whoever is against peace is an enemy of the land.”) This is the controversial statement of DepEd Secretary and Philippine Vice President Sara Z. Duterte on the issue of confidential funds. How is it that people asking the government where they spend the people’s money oppose peace? What’s with confidential fund that takes people’s confidence in the people who propose it?

In Article II, Section 28 of the Constitution clearly states that all transaction that involve the public’s interest must implement full disclosure. Taxes are paid for by the people so that the government can use it to improve the livelihood of the masses. When the government is fully transparent in the liquidation of the people’s money, it give the people confidence and trust that their hard-earned money is not going in the wrong people’s hands who spends it recklessly, without any caution.

In the period of controversies and issues, the rapid loss of 125 million pesos of confidential funds in just 11 days has brought attention to the media. This is equivalent to spending about 11.4 million pesos in a day. It leaves people wondering, what in the face of the country did they spend this large sum of money on? This news is not improving the views of people about the confidential funds and rightly

so, this money is the people’s money after all.

A lesson most parents teach their children is to put value in anything, big or small. As inflation makes prices of commodities high, people start to feel the burden of even buying everyday needs of the family. For a minimum wage earner, this is especially worrisome. This and all other financial issues of families can take a toll on student’s lives. Instead of spending millions of money in whatever God-forsaken thing is, why not spend the money is meaningful projects to help alleviate the people’s suffering?

The promise of escalating teachers’ training and education and improving students’ safety in schools is not very promising. DepEd is not willing to give information as to where they’ll spend another millions of pesos in their proposed confidential funds. Students in private schools like ours do not see

“Ibelieve that a journalist should write only what he holds in his heart to be true.” This is from Walter Williams from The Journalist’s Creed. A mantra that all journalists must keep in their heart and mind.

The recent suspension of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) was argued to violate press freedom. Invalidating the claim, SMNI’s peddling of fiction and fake news rather than facts seems to rationalize the decision. From a history of false claims such as red-tagging LGBT activist Irish Inocento to accusing Speaker Martin Romualdez

of spending 1.8 billion pesos on travel, abuses against this “freedom” should not be tolerated.

Attacks on free press are rampant in our country. Duterte’s crackdown on critical coverage to our government’s charges against Rappler CEO Maria Ressa prove so. Aiding this siege is fake news, obscuring the truth and misleading Fiipinos by one-sided narratives.

Examples are the various pro-BBM vloggers during the election or SMNI’s uncritical pro-government programs, all serve private rather than public interest.

As students and Filipinos, we depend on truth whether in class or in the news. Our young minds are

direct benefits from this. How is it democratic and fair when the private schools, who also pay taxes by the way, do not even known where the funds go, not to mention the gains they get from it.

Now that issues like this are surfacing, people goes back to the May 2022 elections. When millions of Filipinos lost hope and left with no choice but to question the morality of the 61% who voted, is the overwhelming support still worth what we as a country is experiencing? Did the Filipinos let go of the country’s most-suited candidate in favor of another who would make the people question their decision? With a second chance practically spoon-fed to the higher sitting officials, they should not waste the trust once built by the people in the hopes of enhancing their living situation. They should at least avoid the cycle of history and its fate that people once saw.

Limits of Press Freedom

vulnerable. The outcome of this issue decides if the fake news continues to hide behind press freedom and if we grow up in a country of a reality or propaganda. SMNI’s suspension proves that fake news should not be covered by press freedom. The country must exert effort to combat it through relentless factchecking and promotion of proper journalism. Banishing the notion that false narratives can be freely used to hurt and influence others. Remember the quote from Oliver Wndell Holmes Jr, “your right to swing your arms ends just where the other man’s nose begins.”

With students raising concerns about the examination schedule, The Movers conducted a survey to get the pulse of BIans regarding said schedule.

Question: How would you like it if students make the examination schedules?

On October 30, 2023, the Filipino youth came out and exercised their right to vote. After 5 years of dormancy, the Sanguniang Kabataan (SK) and Barangay Elections were held again amidst several announcements of postponement. Some citizens and civic groups question the need for the SK Council, stating that the council has just become a nursery for future corrupt officials. For the youth, however, the SK Council is a platform, a pedestal from which they could voice the concerns of the youth. With the previous SK Council still under fire from all the issues of corruption and inactivity, is the SK Council still relevant in today’s era?

The simple and short answer is yes. The role of the Sangguniang Kabataan in the Philippines is still as important as it has ever been. In a world where the youth are facing numerous challenges and changes, the SK provides an avenue for the young to express their thoughts and ideas that are important to them. Through the years after its reestablishment in 2018, the SK has proven to be an essential part of promoting the rights and welfare of the youth. The organization has played a crucial role in advocating for initiatives and policies that serve the interests of the youth.

Moreover, the SK can also help young people develop their leadership skills, learn about civic engagement, and participate in decision-making processes. These skills are vital in preparing young people to be active citizens and leaders in the future.

Not only that, but the SK also provides opportunities for young people to engage in community service and participate in projects that address local and national concerns. These experiences

can help develop a sense of responsibility and empathy for the community, as well as a passion for making a difference in the world.

Students of Bayanihan Institute are of course very much eligible for the SK. In their very own barangays, BIans could benefit from projects, programs, activities of the SK. What they’ll learn from these engagements can then be transferred to leadership of the student body, especially those serving in the Student Council.

In the end, it is my belief that SK is still relevant in the present times, in fact it plays an important role in promoting youth development and preparing the next generation of leaders and community servants. It is clear that the SK is an important part of the community and I am sure it will continue to make a difference in the lives of young Filipinos for many years to come. Would you rather our youth to spend their time in vices, addiction, and community troubles, or would you like them in SK where they’ll develop to be good citizens of the country?

DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERN, ISSUE, SUGGESTION OR COMMENTS?

Do not hesitate to contact us!

email: bayanihaninstitutemovers@gmail.com

fb: @themovers_bi

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It cannot be stressed enough that improper garbage management is the bane of people.

The problem of garbage in the country has long been a source of dismay and frustration among people of all walks of life. The most pressing consequence of it is in the health of people. No matter what angle we look at it, improper garbage disposal negatively impacts all of earth’s inhabitants.

It cannot be stressed enough that improper garbage management is the bane of people. From mountains of garbage to micro plastics, the garbage we incorrectly throw always finds its way back to us. And when it does, people suffer.

There is only one root for this problem, really -- not segregating garbage. According to studies, 52% of solid waste produced in the Philippines is biodegradable. This means if people just separate biodegradable, that’s more than half of the total garbage going to fertilizers, feeds, etc. Moreover, 28% of the waste is recyclables. Which leaves us with only about 20% residual and other waste. Imagine if every household segregated their waste, only 20% needed to be disposed of. This could be an effective solution as 57% of all solid waste comes from residential areas.

Stats show that about 12% of waste comes from institutions such as schools. But this low number does

Unceasing Problem, Simple Solution “

not mean it is not a big problem. It is ironic that schools, where children are supposed to be taught proper waste management, produce unsegregated waste. This is very obvious in Bayanihan Institute. No matter how many times the admin implements waste segregation, the ending of it all is still the same -unsegregated pile of rubbish.

It’s almost funny that teachers always tell students to throw garbage properly -which a lot of students follow, by the way -- yet the school has no working materials recovery facility. So where does the garbage end up? In a garbage bag and all mixed up. The effort of most students and teachers comes to no avail.

The solution to this perennial problem comes from the discipline of everyone. From students to teachers and finally the maintenance crew, if everyone strictly follows waste management properly, then the school will be one

The jeepney is already a cultural trade mark of the Philippines and taking them out means disregarding their importance in the Filipino culture.

problem less for the country. To do this, the school must commit to the idea. It must establish a materials recovery facility where the garbage is separated and stored. The recyclable waste can be turned to useful projects or they can even be sold.

Furthermore, a general compost facility must be established to manage biodegradable waste. The by-product can then be used as organic fertilizer for the plants around the school. Which leaves only the residual and other waste to be disposed via the garbage truck of the city.

This is the practice of some known institutions, and it works. If they can do it, why can’t BI? It only takes commitment and consistency to make it happen. But above all, it should start with every single one of us. It must always be remembered that earth is the only planet humans have. If people won’t stop abusing it, it can result to the doom of us all.

Keeping a Cultural Heritage

An approximately 19% of Bayanihan Institute (BI) teachers commute when going to school via jeepney. One of the preschool teachers, Teacher Arlene, owns a jeepney that operates with route from Concepcion to Tarlac City. Although BIans do not commute via jeepney, teachers are. And with the on-going plans of the government to implement a jeepney phase-out, commuters including teachers in BI will inevitably affected.

This plan of the government to ‘modernize’ public transportation, including jeepneys, started way back in 2017. Although it did not get much attention until recently, when a deadline was announced to the public. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), on February 2023 released a memorandum that was approved by the president. The memorandum highlights individual operators of Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs), including jeepneys, are allowed to operate only until June 30 of this year unless they join a “consolidated entity.” This deadline has since been extended to December 31. This sparked unrest and dissent from the operators and drivers of jeepneys, and rightly so since the memo is an upright blow to them. Even commuters express their sentiments in favor of the drivers.

The plan is unacceptable to operators and drivers for a number of reasons. The obvious reason is the high

cost. Simple drivers and operators cannot possibly pay a large sum of money amounting to 2.4 to 2.6 million pesos. The subsidy promised by the government is merely 160,000 pesos which about 5.7% of what they need to pay. Another reason is the ‘modernization’ part where the current jeepneys will be phased out in favor of modernized jeepneys. Yes it is true that these modern jeepneys are more environmentally friendly, but it should not be forgotten than lives of millions of Filipinos will be put in jeopardy because of this. Another reason is the cultural significance of the jeepneys. They are already a part of the Filipino culture. A highway without these jeepneys will look foreign to the people. The jeepney is already a cultural trade mark of the Philippines and taking them out means disregarding their importance in the Filipino culture. Instead of making drivers and operators tip-toe a slim line through this plan, the government must think of

ways on how progress must be implemented without sacrificing millions of livelihood. One way to do this is to authorize local jeepney manufacturing industries to improve their jeepney so they become environmentally friendly. The price of locally manufactured jeepneys is way cheaper than foreign or imported ones. The current jeepneys can preserve their ‘look’ and become modern at the same time. This way, the cultural significance of these jeepneys will remain and be preserved.

BIans must always be vigilant about community movements and updates that affect the society as a whole. They must involve themselves, speak up, and express their sentiments. It is not enough reason that they are just students. BIans are capable of thinking and has their own opinions. One issue that must be kept in mind is this jeepney phase out and modernization. After all, if a movement can affect a large portion of the society, then it will surely reach BIans.

beauty, brain, and grace

By Caitlyn Gail Mohammed & Kailey Mei Jad Salvador

allet is one of the most artistically presented dance styles to music, with precise and highly structured set moves and gestures. Classical ballet, which originated in Renaissance Italy and gained popularity in the nineteenth characterized by its use of pointe shoes and light, elegance, and flowing movements. and graceful art captured the heart of Bayanihan’s

Dustine S.

Kyleigh Dustine S. Chan is a high-ranking student at Bayanihan Institute when it

comes to academics. She is very passionate about her studies and also about dancing, in fact, she has been a member of Performing Arts since then. Aside from winning different medals in Math and Science, she has also won numerous medals in ballet.

it. To have an unforgettable performance requires grace, technique, and emotional expression.

Your teacher assigned you to make a class report on climate change. To get the information that you needed, you walked 1 kilometer to reach an old library. You started rummaging for encyclopedias, atlases, and other reference books. After 3 hours of tedious reading, you finally finished your draft. Now you have to buy cartolina or manila paper so you can write your report. It took you a total of 5 hours to finish your climate change report. This is how students fared three decades ago. Today, you don’t need that much effort and perseverance to make a class report on anything. You get a device, type your keywords, and in an instant, boom! Your report is ready for presentation. Such is the life of students in this information age. Gone were the days when you had to flip books and periodicals. Everything is instant nowadays. Children learn best using gadgets, this is the fact of today’s education.

Teachers must learn to adapt so they can become relevant in the education of Gen Z learners. As the adage says: teachers cannot teach what they do not know. In an era where technology shapes the way learning occurs, teachers must know how to effectively use technology. Teachers must take advantage of this to maximize

Kyleigh Chan started ballet at the age of 4 on April 15, 2013, when her mom signed her up for ballet classes at Little Steps Ballet School. She stated that ballet is very fun and enjoyable, but sometimes she gets stressed especially on hectic schedules. She enjoys ballet because dancing is her passion. It might not be her favorite genre but she has a lot of fun doing it. It requires grace, technique, and emotional expression to have an unforgettable performance. To maintain her high grade, she studies at night, but during those times when she has a lot of projects/PETA’s or when it’s exam week, she studies during her breaks or she would be absent for a day or two in ballet to focus on her exams. She enjoys dancing ballet because it is her passion. It might not be her favorite dance genre but she has fun doing

Because of ballet, she made a lot of friends and traveled a lot for different competitions, and those were her favorite memories which she could never forget. Her experience at her latest recital was very stressful. They only had a short amount of time to practice and it was exam week, she had to make sure that she could balance both academics and ballet. The recital was a lot more stressful, they lost things in the dressing room, had a minute of costume changes, and forgot their dances were the most stressful of all. But then, she is very thankful for everyone who went and supported her at her recital, it means so much to her that people came and supported her, and her bad mood and stress during her recital faded away.

Kyleigh Dustine S. Chan has accomplished a lot at a very young age because of her hard work and passion for ballet. In her future competitions, she said she will do her best and achieve more medals as she is Bayanihan’s

most treasured ballerina. She is truly the embodiment of the great line from Martha Graham: “Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.”

From traditional to digital the 21st century teacher

by Pablo Ibarra and Chloe Chua

learning. Teachers must learn how students learn using technology.

One of our teachers at Bayanihan Institute does just that: learn how to use technology. She is one teacher that we can call a 21st-century teacher.

through online classes. Ma’am Jona began making video lessons. At first, they were only intended for her students, but later on, she realized that she could reach more people if she used social

technology to extend and enhance her teaching style to better accommodate learners. She is none other than Ms. Jona M. Teleg, the grade 5 adviser.

Ma’am Jona started learning how to use technology in teaching during the pandemic. It can be recalled that during that time, everyone was forced to shift to distance learning and the most convenient way to do that is

YouTube channel of Ma’am Jona. She uploads video lessons that she personally made in this channel.

Although most of her lessons are from the Filipino subjects, which is her specialization in BI, she’s open to other lessons in other subjects.

Ma’am Jona makes her video lessons using PowerPoint, then she adds voiceovers and finally

saves the presentation in video format. Her lessons are quite easy to understand, which is why Teach and Print gained a lot of followers and subscribers. The channel was launched on May 31, 2020, and by September of the same year, it reached a milestone and gained 1,000 subscribers. Now that is a testament to the quality of the material she makes!

The goal of Ma’am Jona in making these lessons is to ultimately help students, especially those who are struggling in Filipino subjects. It is a common fact in Bayanihan that students struggle with Filipino, what with the English campaign and all. Hence, Teach and Print truly made a difference in the way BIans learn the subject. The lessons are available anytime, so students can just go and learn anytime they want to.

If all teachers strive to understand the Gen Z learners, it can be inferred that students will learn a lot easier. Sadly, some teachers are afraid, if not hesitant to unlearn the old ways and relearn teaching in the light of the new generation. Ma’am Jona is a true inspiration in this regard. She is not afraid to try new things if it’s for the sake of Visitteaching. Ma’am Jona’s YouTube channel at TeachAndPrintwww.youtube.com/@ . You can also visit her website at www.teachandprint. com for more updates and lessons in Filipino.

Dance with prowess ChanKyleighpose gracefully after winning yet again in an international ballet competition. Photo courtesy of Little Steps Ballet School.

Happy teaching. Ms. Jona Teleg makes video lessons in Filipino using the technology available to her. Photo by Liangliang Zheng

When attachment and love know no form

By Pablo Ibarra

It’s midnight on December 31. The air vibrates with excitement from people anticipating the coming of yet another year, readying their firecrackers, torotot, and coins. Some have already set up the volume of their Bluetooth speaker to the max. Then the hour has come and the clock ticked its last second of 2023. It’s New Year. Loud bangs and colorful sparks dominate the otherwise clear sky. Nearly deafening music bursts from all sorts of speakers. People are happily welcoming 2024. But not everyone joins and enjoys the cacophony. In a corner, something has curled up into a tight ball. Ears back. Body trembling. The telltale signs of a scared pup. In a surge of panic, she flees. Running away from all the noises. From home. From family

The next morning, the sun rises to greet a worried Del Rosario family. Calling the dog’s name out loud. Peeking at every corner and crevice possible for hiding. But she’s gone. Guin, the three-legged dog is missing.

Guin is a rescued dog of the Del Rosario family. Teacher Agnes, the Grade 9 adviser, said they felt an urge to adopt her the moment they set eyes on the poor dog. Despite her missing hind leg, Guin is an active dog who loves running. She always loves to play with Arthur and Thea, the son and daughter of Ma’am Agnes. She is a family from the moment she enters their home. And her missing causes stress and anxiety to the Del Rosarios.

The first day of the new year was spent looking for Guin in the neighborhood. Calling her name with a sense of urgency. The family fears what might have happened to her. In a neighborhood where killing and eating dogs is seen as normal, the anxiety becomes greater as each hour passes without any sign of Guin.

The family posted Guin’s missing poster in every conspicuous place possible. They also posted on social media, like Facebook, where they hope to reach more people. A lot of people shared and reposted the missing poster with people sympathizing with the already anxious family. Days have passed, and still no sign or news of Guin’s whereabouts.

A week later, a Facebook comment caught the attention of the Del Rosarios. Guin has been spotted in a barangay, going to the next town of Victoria. The family immediately rushed to the site and fervently looked for Guin, asking every random person if they had seen the dog. All this to no avail. Guin is still nowhere to be found.

The family has now been questioning their decision to adopt Guin. They think that Guin’s fate has worsened because of their negligence. They cry just by thinking what dark fate has befallen their beloved Guin. Until a silver lining appeared. Guin has been sighted at McDo Motorway. With renewed hope and quick heartbeats, they raced to the place only to be brokenhearted once again, as the witness described Guin

as dirty and still nowhere to be found.

A lot of people continuously shared the poster of the missing dog. With no sign of Guin, the family is losing hope little by little. They pray and hope that Guin is safe and that somebody somehow is feeding her. This is the only thing they could do: pray and hope.

One faithful evening, Guin was sighted again, this time, in the family’s neighborhood. They immediately went to the area. Their hope getting higher and higher every minute because eyewitnesses say they tried to grab the dog but Guin is agile and wary of people. It so happened that during the search, they took with them Koka, another pet dog of the Del Rosarios. Koka has been leaving dog marks as they go, which proved to be the key later.

On the 16th day, at around 11 pm, Guin found her way home. She started pawing at the door of the family house. The family was awakened by the scratching and when they opened the door, Ma’am Agnes burst into tears as Guin excitedly rushed inside to greet her family. At last, the brave dog has been found.

In a world where humans treat every other living creature as things to be destroyed, used, and abused, the story of Guin is a perfect example that humanity still has hope. A lot of people joined the effort to find her. The Animal Kingdom Foundation, where Guin was fostered after being rescued and later on adopted, shared the anxiety of the family. Guin’s story has even got the attention of fellow animal welfare advocates, none other than

nearly 7.6 million companion animals, including dogs, enter animal shelters each year, with more pets going missing around New Year’s Day. There’s nothing wrong with merry-making and celebration during occasions like New Year. However, people should always take into consideration the effects of their actions not only on other people but more so on other living things we share the world with, like pets. There is no harm in being considerate and kind to others, let us nurture a culture of respect and love for all the dwellers of our only planet and home, the Earth.

13M cats and dogs are recorded as stray in 2022

A Happy Dog. The Del Rosario family with their dog, Guin during the adoption day. Photo courtesy of Ma’am Agnes Del Rosario.

movers

Publication of Bayanihan Institute

95-97% of animal cruelty criminals handled by PAWS get convicted

You must have seen him roaming the first floor of the building. Sometimes sitting on the chairs in front of the cashier’s office. Sometimes resting on the railings in front of the TLE lecture room. You might see him observing students going about their daily school lives. On rare occasions, you might even interact with him and see his gentle side. Behind the calculating stares lie a life story most BIan do not know. This is about Pascal: his home and untold story.

If you’re thinking about Blaise Pascal, the mathematician credited for Pascal’s been abused by humans before. This is clear in the state of his body and demeanor. What horror did the poor cat go through is not clear. And honestly, when I first met Pascal, I can still sense the trauma he’s

experienced. It pains me that an innocent life suffered at the hands of the so-called “guardians” of all God’s creation. No matter what inhumane trauma befell Pascal, one thing is obvious: he’s a survivor. Slowly, Pascal accepted the genuine care of the people around BI. He started allowing teachers and staff to feed him. There’s this one time when Pascal actively thanked a teacher by purring at her while circling her legs. This was the first sign of Pascal’s healing. Pascal suffered from several diseases. He was extremely malnourished and underweight. There were signs of mange in his coat. He even developed skin rashes due to excessive scratching. Luckily, Ma’am Elisa, the supervisor in the Chinese department and a pet lover, took notice of Pascal’s condition. She immediately gave him food and water with medicine. She even left food for Pascal on weekends. I think Ma’am Elisa is a guardian angel, at least to Pascal she is. Pascal went through yet another challenge when the management learned about his stay in school. Since the start of face-to-face classes, students have been putting themselves around Pascal. Petting him, giving him some of their food, and even playing with him. As an educational institute, I understand that it is just the admin’s best interest to protect students at all costs. Even at the expense of Pascal.

The admin decided that Pascal could not be permitted to be around children, both for his and the students’ sake. It was ruled that Pascal must be expelled from the campus vicinity. In what means and manner, no one knew at the time. The teachers, especially Ma’am Elisa got worried for Pascal. I perfectly understand them, what would happen to Pascal if he once again becomes a stray cat? No one will take care of him, feed him, and make him feel loved. This is especially painful for the few who knew Pascal during his trying times. Then one day, no one saw Pascal anymore. He’s not in his usual chair in front

of the cashier. Not in the corner where his food tray is. Not in the railing in front of the TLE room. He’s nowhere to be found on the campus. It was a heavy and gloomy day for the people who loved Pascal. Worried about what happened to the cat but at the same time not having any way to find out is especially frustrating. The empty cat bed and the half-finished cat food look eerie without Pascal.

Everyone was starting to lose hope, until one day, the familiar “meow” of Pascal was heard in the school. Pascal is back! He survived yet another challenge. However, just like the worries of the teachers, Pascal’s health is once again in peril. His healing coat has new wounds. His mange is starting to get worse again. But the good news is that his spirit is not broken. It can be seen in his eyes that says “I want to live.” This time, the administration showed compassion and decided to let Pascal stay on campus. He is now a permanent resident of Bayanihan Institute, his home.

Not all cats are as lucky as Pascal. The Compassion and Responsibility for Animals (CARA) Welfare Philippines reported a staggering 3,000 cases of animal cruelty in the year 2020 alone. Common acts of abuse are beating, kicking, burning, and “katay” of animals. Mistreatment and negligence of owners are often let off the hook easily or even go unnoticed. One of the foundations that reinforce the animal welfare aspect of the nation is the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 (Republic Act No. 8485). This legislation criminalizes various forms of animal cruelty, such as maltreatment, negligence, and abandonment. However, despite the existence of this law, there are still individuals who evade appropriate punishment for their acts of animal abuse and cruelty. Animal cruelty remains an ongoing problem that impacts vulnerable animals who are unable to protect themselves (Source: https:// hapihumanist.org).

Pascal: His Home and Untold Story

By Krishna Mallari

Source: Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)

Attention to Pascal. Students regularly checking on the welfare of Pascal the cat.

Photo by Redmond Ong.

A student and a teacher: Grainne Laoshi

By Kyna Siazon and Marquee Ong

Grainne Hsu is a sixteen-year-old young woman who enjoys her duties in acquiring knowledge as a grade 10 student and her extra hobby as an assistant teacher of Chinese. She teaches her fellow BIans in elementary knowledge, values, and competence that she already possesses. Grade schools look up to their ‘tongxue’ and ‘laoshi’ at the same time.

Her journey started when the grade 4 adviser in the Chinese department offered her the rare chance to be part of the teaching force in the department. Initially hesitant, Grainne sought advice from her father, who encouraged her to embrace the opportunity since it would afford her valuable experience. Although Grainne’s primary focus is in her academics, upon hearing her father’s empowering advice, she made up her mind and took the offer. She, after all, trusted her father’s guided judgement and wisdom.

Her way of thinking is very heartwarming. In an interview, she stated that teaching benefits both the teacher and the student. This is a fresh point of view especially for many students. She added that teaching is enjoyable especially when you learn from your students, realizing that you once started just like them.

“The process of learning is a collaborative effort. Good teaching makes complex ideas simple so students can understand them better. This is a very crucial part of the process,” she emphasized. She further stated that teaching is a shared effort between students and teachers to make learning accessible.

One notable aspect of her unique experiences is the crucial role of students’ confidence in their ability to learn. When students believe in their capacity to learn, the entire educational process

becomes smoother. The key often lies in fostering a positive mindset and a genuine desire to learn. It’s common for her to hear students say ‘I can’t do it any longer, laoshi.’ But witnessing them succeed in accomplishing their tasks is truly rewarding for her.

Looking forward, Grainne contemplates the possibility of teaching as a future career. While she acknowledges that exploring teaching could be an option if it aligns with her destiny, she remains open to the idea.

Grainne enjoys teaching younger students, helping them during their important early years. She wants to contribute to their learning journey and help them develop a love for learning. Grainne shows passion for teaching, combined with her ability to work well with others and her dedication, she is an inspiration to most students and teachers.

“Teaching is one of the few professions that could be called noble. It needs a lot of patience and love of learning. It can be said that teaching is not for the faint hearted,” Grainne said. She added that teachers are truly remarkable because they can do an extremely difficult job all day, five days a week.

Grainne laoshi truly has a bright future ahead of her. She will carry on trying new things. She will strive hard and continue to do things that she is deeply passionate about.

Ma’am Joyce: ‘Music is My Life’

By James Uy

Report by Tawny Nadulpit

Mrs. Jocelyn de Rama Timbol, more commonly known as Ma’am Joyce, is perhaps the most strategic addition to the faculty of Bayanihan Institute. She is a 52 year old mother who inspires BIans to learn, enjoy, and play music. The Movers had the chance to interview this one-of-a-kind music teacher. Presented here is the interview.

The Movers: What is your course in college and where did you graduate?

Ma’am Joyce: I finished Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Management from the College of the Holy Spirit Tarlac.

The Movers: Do you have any post graduate degrees?

Ma’am Joyce: Yes. I finished Masters in Management from Tarlac State University.

The Movers: When did you start your teaching career?

Ma’am Joyce: I actually started teaching individual music (instruments) lessons when I was in College. Then as a college general instructor at Skill Power Institute. But as music teacher from Grades 3 to 10, I started in 2009. During vacant times teaching individual students piano, guitar, voice, ukulele, violin.

The Movers: Is teaching really your first choice as a career?

Ma’am Joyce: Yes and no. I wanted to put up my own music school teaching instruments not teaching in school preparing paperworks (chuckles) checking papers and a lot of miscellaneos bulk teachers’ works. But I think this is my mission in life. God making me an instrument to share His gift of talent. Likewise, making “music my fife” literally since this is now our family’s bread and butter.

The Movers: How much do you like teaching music?

Ma’am Joyce: I like it. No, I love it. I feel so fulfilled and accomplished whenever I see my students learning and performing well.

The Movers: What motivates you to continue teaching music?

Ma’am Joyce: A friendly environment, interested students and most of all the students learning so easily.

The Movers: Why is it important to teach music to students and young kids?

Ma’am Joyce: Based on studies, music helps develop both the left and the right brain. It also helps boost children’s confidence. Studies also show that music helps develop one’s multi-tasking ability and the ability of a child to develop skills in solving difficult problems in their later life.

The Movers: What advise can you give to students who really like music but are afraid to try?

Ma’am Joyce: There is no difficult nor hard skills or talent to develop. If there’s a will, there is a way. In studying music, the saying Patience is a virtue applies. Just give time practicing. Practice makes perfect.

The Movers: Do you enjoy teaching in Bayanihan Institute? Why?

Ma’am Joyce: Yes, I enjoy it so much. Everyone, from the guard, maintenance, faculty, administration, and staff, and the students are so friendly and always wearing a smile. So courteous, generous, and polite.

BIan music lovers and enthusiasts find the music classes from Ma’am Joyce fun and engaging. Kudos to the admin for actually adding her to the teaching force of the school. Ma’am Joyce has a music school where students can enrol to. Just give a visit in the office during free time. “Joyz Arteskwela offers piano, voice, violin, guitar, flute ukulele, and drums lessons. Give your child the best start,” she said.

Music lover. Ma’am Joyce actively engaging students during one of her music lessons in the junior high school department. Photo by Angel Lin.

Strangers at Home

By James Uy

Every October until the end of January, Macabulos Drive is crowded with camote, ginger, and bananas. From mountainous Bamban, San Jose, Capas, to as far as Pinatubo, the indigenous and once widespread Aeta come to sell their harvest or beg in Tarlac City’s streets.

Their produce: a variety of vegetables, fruits, and root crops are fresh from family-run farms. They’re the cheapest available. The low prices with the seasonal and perishable nature of agriculture, make it a struggle to turn a profit. Indeed, what little is earned spends quickly on basic needs and the return trip’s fares.

Therefore, families spend months vending in the Capitol’s park, sitting under trees or tarpaulin covers for shade while waiting for passersby to take interest in their goods. By night, they gather in a former playground turned compound. Their sack tents are uncomfortable shelter compared to the concrete houses and sturdier huts back home but serve their purpose. There, they huddle in the dark and the Ber months’ cold.

To maintain order among them, the Aetas have a headman or organizer. Each community has their own, whether in their rural sitio villages or the city responsible for coordinating and watching over their people. Indeed, many different tribes from Tarlac’s own Abellen, Pampanga’s Magantsi, Zambales’s Ambala, and more fall under the ‘Aeta’ umbrella. All with as much variety in their cultures and

languages as the Austronesian majority of our country.

True to Tarlac’s title as the ‘Melting Pot’, these various groups intermingle with each other in the city. Being found not only in the park but in camps under Ninoy Aquino bridge or trailing MacArthur Highway for alms.

Despite years of discrimination, neglect, and poverty, the Aeta (or Agta, Ayta, and Dumagat depending on location) are determined to hold onto their ancient identities. The vendors of Maria Cristina are a small part of this picture, familiar to being treated as foreign in their land and being dismissed as dirty ‘baluga’.

Help goes a long way, efforts and programs by the government, nonprofits, and good samaritans assist these marginalized communities in the tumultuous modern world. Although much progress is to be made in ensuring equality and welfare for the Aeta, the hope to one day shed their disadvantage in society is clear.

So next time Maria Cristina’s paths become home to rows of upland crops, take a look and support the livelihoods of our indigenous countrymen. After all, they’re not strangers but fellow Filipinos as you and me are.

Diligent student with a passion for teaching. Grainne Hsu patiently teaches grade 5 Chinese student during a lesson in Mandarin. Photo by Liangliang Zheng

Once in a year. The Aeta people go down to the City during December to sell local produce. Photo from https:// www.facebook.com/tagatarlackakung

Alumni Assoc equips sci-lab, donates new apparatus

By Karlo Sizaon & Kyle Sangueza

The Bayanihan Institute Alumni Association (BIAA) headed by the president Mr. Elle Lee gives back to their alma mater, donating newly purchased scientific equipment, apparatus, and supplies, September 2, 2023.

The project is part of a series of school improvements of the BIAA including the gym renovation and the on-going construction of badminton court, aimed at improving the overall quality of science and sports education in the school.

The association donated the following, among others: 12 sets of compound microscopes, 3 boxes of measuring instruments like beakers and flasks, sets of beam balance, bar magnets, glass cover slips, glass stirring rods, and graduated pipette.

“The addition of these materials and equipment will really help us teachers in delivering our lessons as we can show the students the concepts at work,” Sir

Billy, the Science 10 teacher said.

When asked about the purpose of the deed, Mr. Lee expressed: “It is of course for the benefit of the students, so they’ll learn science in a fun and interactive manner.”

“I just ask that students and teachers take care of the equipment so the next generation of students can still use them. Otherwise, just enjoy learning,” he added.

The addition of new equipment and apparatus is surely a great help in the improvement of science education in Bayanihan Institute for the end goal of developing scientific minds among BIans.

Philippine AI revolution begins

DOST-ASTI leads with innovative DIMER Model Hub

By Karlo Siazon

The Department of Science and Technology – Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) unfolds their plans for the DIMER Model Hub during the ASTI-Automated Labeling Machine (ASTI-ALaM) Decentralized Intelligent Machine Exchange Repository (DIMER) End User Training and Stakeholders Meeting held from 30-31 August 2023 at Timberland Highlands Resort.

DIMER, an AI model hub that is being developed by DOST-ASTI through the ASTI-ALaM Project, aims to make optimized AI models accessible to everyone.

“With DIMER, our model store, we aim to democratize access to advanced AI technology and catapult the Philippines into new technological advancements,” DOST-ASTI Director and ASTI-ALaM Project Leader, Dr. de Leon, said.

AI has unlimited potential, its impact will affect the educational system with its innovative and efficient ways.

“AI has unquestionably emerged as one of the most disruptive and transformative technologies of our time. Its potential to revolutionize industries, redefine the way we live and work, and reshape the fabric of societies cannot be underestimated. With the convergence of big data, advanced algorithms, and computing power, AI is instrumental in unlocking solutions to some of the most pressing challenges we face as

a nation,” DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum stated in a video message to stakeholders.

The meeting ended with Ms. Joanna G. Syjuco, Chief of DOSTASTI’s, Computer Software Division, calling out to all Filipinos to collaborate, innovate, and adapt.

The development of technologies like this is of importance to Filipino students like the BIans since they live in a fast-changing era of the information age. It is noteworthy that in the future, the next innovation in AI may come from one of the students of BI today.

Grade 10 student Kyle Sangueza said he’s very facinated as well as interested in AI and it’s incredible potential in almost all aspect of human life.

“AI is now changing the landscape of our lives, from learning to entertainment. As students, we should make ourselves abreast with these technologies,” Sangueza said in an interview. (Source: asti.dost.gov. ph)

Uy bags silver medal in PIMSO Science

By Karlo Siazon

Anniqa Ginelle Uy from Grade 10, brings home the silver medal during the national round of Philippine International Math and Science Olympics (PIMSO) held online on August 27, 2023.

PIMSO is an annual competition for students with challenging Math and Science olympiad-level problems.

The success of Uy in Science show the aptitude of BIans in Science, whether in school or in competition.

According to Uy, joining in competitions such as PIMSO hones her scientific and mathematical problem solving skills. She also added that her experiences in competing makes her a critical thinker.

BIans are known for their high performance in Math competitions, but it is also worthy to note that their affinity for Science is something to be proud of.

PAGASA announces El Niño Advisory urges public to make precautionary measures

By Kyle Sangueza

With the weak El Niño detected last March 2023 showing signs of strengthening, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) upgraded the El Niño Alert announced on May 2023 to El Niño Advisory on July 4, 2023.

El Niño is a phenomenon that increases the likelihood of belownormal rainfall conditions which could bring about adverse impacts such as dry spells and droughts in some areas of the country, which can then negatively affect climatesensitive sectors like agriculture, water resources, energy, health, and public safety.

The effects of the El Niño are expected until the first half of 2024 according to PAGASA, thus, all concerned agencies and the general public are advised to take necessary precautions to mitigate the adverse effects of El Niño.

With the El Niño affecting the country, water resources will inevitably be at risk of shortage and will definitely have ripple effect in

the field of agriculture and food security.

The City Government of Tarlac through the Information Office encourages prudent water usage, suggesting some simple ways like turning off faucets when not in use, storing and reusing laundry water, and cleaning vehicles using wet washcloth instead of hosing it down.

The Bayanihan Institute administration likewise reminded students to use water wisely, reiterating proper hand-washing techniques to conserve water.

“All of us are affected by the El Niño, so we must do our part to mitigate its effects,” the principal, Dr. Mallari said.

(Source: bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph)

SCIENCE PHOTONEWS

Testing, testing. Grade 8 studes get hands-on experience with the new micrscope in the science laboratory. Photo by Redmond Ong

Winning smile. Anniqa Uy proudly showing her PIMSO awards. Photo by Angel Lin

Safe water for all. The provincial government of Tarlac, with the help of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) conducts water testing on January 12, 2024 to ensure clean and safe water for the people of Tarlac.

Photo from https://www.facebook.com/GovSusanYap

Tarlac receives hightech disaster relief vehicles from DOST

By Gabby Lo

To help improve local disaster preparedness capacity in the province, the Department of Science and Technology-Central Luzon (DOST-3) formally handed over the Mobile Command and Control Vehicles (MOCCOV) to the provincial government of Tarlac on October 30.

The MOCCOV is an invention by Filipino inventor Dennis Abella that can plan, direct, coordinate, and control assets and forces to ensure the accomplishment of missions during disasters or emergencies.

The vehicle is equipped with high-tech features like its own weather station system, drone, satellite phone, and other surveillance equipment, in addition to rescue equipment and medical apparatus.

Co, Alumni receive DOST

YES Award

By Tawny Nadulpit

Grade 7 student Jacob Lucas Co together with alumni Kevin Mathew Mariposa and Max Ricmond Sangueza, both from Batch 2022, is given the prestigious Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Youth Excellence in Science (YES) Award at the school auditorium on January 29, 2024, as part of the English Era culminating program.

The DOST YES Award is given to Filipino students who won awards in international mathematics and science competitions.

Co, Mariposa, and Sangueza successfully brought home winning medals in international competitions such as the Hong Kong International Math Olympiad, Thailand International Math Olympiad, International Mathematics Wizards Challenge, and others.

The YES Awards bestowed to BIans is in recognition of their winnings during the school year 20212022. According to the DOST representatives, the awards were delivered late due to logistical challenges.

"I am so happy I finally got the YES Award from last school year," Co expressed after receiving his medal.

The YES Awardees for the year 2023 have increased with an impressive 17.31% increment from the previous year. A total of 2,114 students received the award, the first time in the program’s sixteenyear history to reach over 2000 awardees.

Among the 2,114 awardees, 147 came from Central Luzon with 4 awards (including Sbethlana Mallari from Elementary) coming from Bayanihan Institute.

The YES award is a medal of distinction given by the DOST Secretary or the DOST Regional Director to deserving Filipino students, signifying DOST’s high regard for excellence and competitiveness in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The MOCCOV is also equipped with a Mobile Water Treatment System (MWTS) that can treat water from any source through the process of reverse osmosis.

Reverse osmosis is a process that eliminates solid and other foreign particles and removes the bad smell and taste from water.

According to DOST3 Regional Director Julius Caesar Sicat, the MOCCOV is a mobile hub for command and control in times of crisis.

Science Update

How Bowhead Whales Increase Their Cancer Resistance

Cancer is one of the leading chronic diseases in humans nowadays. To scientists, the rate of cancer is still a mystery. Statistically speaking, larger animals should get cancer more frequently due to the large number of cells in their body. However, looking at elephants and whales, this is not the case. Even though these animals have literally hundreds of times more cells than humans, their rates of cancer are much lower.

This scientific inconsistency is called Peto’s Paradox, and scientists have no answer to it. In the past, research revealed that there is a gene in elephants capable of suppressing tumors, giving a hint at an answer to cancer. This 2023, scientists found two proteins in bowhead whales that could be linked to DNA repair. According to bioRxiv, this increases the animal’s cancer resistance. Interestingly, bowhead whales could live up to

more than 200 years. The discovery of DNA repair could be the key to the whale’s long life.

In the study, both strands of the DNA molecule in cells are severed. This “double-strand break” is known to increase the risk of cancer. In the experiment involving human, cow, mice, and bowhead whale cells, more than twice as many bowhead cells were able to repair their DNA compared to the other specimens.

The whale cells,

Science Update

By Gabby Lo

according to the study, did a better job of fixing the DNA accurately, whereas the other specimens showed sloppy repairs. The inaccurate DNA repairs made wrong additions or even deletions of DNA sequences, raising the risk of cancer. The team discovered that two proteins called CIRBP and RPA2 were more common in bowhead whales and they played important roles in the gene repair observed. The

According to a study published in June, the monarch butterflies’ wing patterns might give them a boost. The monarch butterflies’ deathdefying migration is so incredible it is unique in their species. Going south for the winter and then returning north when temperatures warm is not a feat found in any other butterfly species. They could cover 100 miles in a day, making a total of 3,000 miles in the entire trip. This journey would strip them of all their energy,

hypothesis od scientists now is, perhaps, regulating such proteins in humans could mitigate DNA damage.

An evolutionary ecologist at the French National Center for Scientific Research—who was not involved in the study, said that we probably have the solution to cancer medicine out there in nature, we just have to find it.

(Source: www.biorxiv.org; www. smithsonianmag.com/innovation)

thus they ride air currents to save it. The contrasting dark and light colors on the edges of their wings create uneven patterns of heating and cooling creating eddies that may provide some extra lift for the butterflies and reduce drag on their wings. Mimicking the monarchs’ white spots could help engineers create more efficient drones, the researchers say.

(Source: www.smithsonianmag.com/ innovation; www. journals.plos.org)

Photo from Smithsonian Institution

Ready for calamity. The high-tech Mobile Command and Control Vehicle is expected to be a game-changer in Tarlac's disaster preparedness and resilience.

Photo from Philippine Information Agency, James M. Elaco/PIA-10/Camiguin

‘Magkanu, Bap?’ (How much, Uncle?)

By Angel Mei Lin

Beeepppppp! Beeepppppp! Beeepppppp! It’s your alarm clock blaring. It’s Monday morning again. You drag yourself up from your bed. You take a shower, eat your breakfast, and ready yourself for school. Outside you waited for a tricycle, you’re in luck because one has just turned around the corner. You wave at it and in a few moments, you’re on your way to school. When you arrived, you asked Manong how much is your fare. He says 60 pesos. In shock, you said yesterday another Manong only charged you 50! The Manong is explaining about oil prices and what not, but you’re not listening. Instead you give the 60 pesos and went on inside the school with a sigh.

Such is the life of tricycle commuters in Tarlac City.

The daily commute in the city is no walk in the park, with

Environment

Growing a green thumb

get their estimated fare from a specific origin to a destination based on the current Tarlac City LGU tricycle fare guidelines. The app name ‘Kanubapp’ is a word play from ‘Magkanu bap?’ (How much, uncle?) which is the common phrase for commuters when asking how much is their tricycle fare. The app is created by Tarlac City resident Aaron Dungca who is

The idea came to Dungca one day when he’s pissed off while riding a trike because the fare has changed again. Dungca thought that jeepneys and buses follow a regular and fixed fare matrix, so why can’t trike do the same? The city has a fare matrix for tricycles, so as a software engineer, he thought that he can make an app that will compute the estimated fare given the distance of travel. And so he started working on it as soon as he got home.

“I made it within my

personal time, after my work hours. All in all it took me about 4-5 days. I also used my personal devices in creating the app,” Dungca recalls during an interview. “The app is made from ReactJS and Google Maps API. It’s also a PWA so you can basically install it on any modern device,” he added.

Kanubapp is made to help Tarlaqueños have a correct and fair tricycle fare. It can prevent abuse from tricycle drivers who blatantly raise the fare. Students and other residents will find the app useful especially when their main mode of public transportation is tricycle.

“The problem I usually encounter when I commute by trike are the traffic and the high fare. Most of the time the fare is inconsistent and a lot of drivers charge too much for the distance travelled,” Ma’am Adelyn Garcia said about the trike fare. “With Kanubapp,

I can now just pay the right

Manong Richard’s dedication in keeping the school clean and green

By

The surrounding gardens are in full bloom and papaya trees are full of fruits. Plants burst in green patches around the buildings. All thanks to Manong Richard. Under the scorching sun, he tills the soil and water the garden. In the early morning or late afternoon, you’ll see him going about weeding the plants. In his free time, he’s cleaning rooms. Such is his diligence and perseverance in doing the work he loves.

Kuya Richard is one of the school’s janitors whose job is mainly cleaning classrooms and maintaining the greenery of the school. He began his career in June 2008 and is employed for almost 15 years now. His green thumb and affinity in planting made him as the gardener of the institution per recommendation of the directress and principal.

At the age of 15, he took interest in gardening. His love for plants led his brothers to tease him but for him, gardening is like a person’s life. As you talk, love, and take care of plants, they would arise and bloom magnificently. His skills in gardening allowed him to nurture beautiful plants which also grew his affection for gardening.

The best feature about gardening is the beautiful view as the flowers bloom, giving a wonderful aura to the school. According to Manong Richard, gardening takes much of his time but he has to manage his time well to do his arranged work of cleaning different rooms. Even though his other colleagues share work shifts in gardening, it still led to the plants withering as they kept missing their owner’s green thumb.

Some of his tips about gardening include patience. Patience will lead the plants to flourish. Another is to treat plants like a person, because as you spend your quality time talking and taking care of them, they will shine and live longer. Positioning

is also important as flowers bloom. If the correct placement is satisfactory, it will please our eyes when we look at the colorful and beautiful plants.

He accepted his job wholeheartedly, endured every hardship he has taken, and followed a common Filipino saying “kung may tiyaga may nilaga.” His example is a motivation to us to do our best and we will receive a reward.

He and his colleagues display unity, whatever tasks they receive in the office, they would all help each other. They would pick every piece of trash on the ground as unity surrounds them. “If parents would ever see the school dirty, they would think badly about the school, so we have to be diligent,” he stated.

Fifteen years in his service to Bayanihan Institute and he still loves his job. He takes inspiration from his family, specially his children to do his best in his job. The number one rule he follows is being honest. Whenever he sees money scattered he would hand it in to the office and return it to the owner.

Manong Richard a true blessing to Bayanihan. He not only keeps the grounds clean, but he keeps the school beautiful with his gardens. But probably the best thing he does is inspiring people. “Let’s keep our school green,” he says.

2% of all rabies cases in the Philippines are due to cats and other domestic animals

Rabies: Rabies: CATS ARE AFFECTED TOO

By Karlo Siazon

On January 28, 2024, a 51-year-old man in Ilocos died of rabies almost two months after being bitten by a cat. Arnel Marcos was bitten by a cat on October 28, 2023, but he did not consult with a doctor and relied on self-medication. According to his wife, Arnel washed the wound and applied papaya extract.

The case of Arnel is one example of death due to misinformation. In rural places in the Philippines, superstitions around the treatment of dog or cat bites are still practiced. Such practices include rubbing garlic on the bite site, applying papaya extract, or sometimes going to an albularyo to perform tandok. There are even folk stories that say dog bites are the only way of getting rabies.

Although the majority of rabies infections in the

Philippines are caused by dog bites, cats can also cause rabies transmission. A small bite or even a scratch from an infected cat can transmit rabies virus to a human. Thus, fur parents of cats must also be aware of the risks associated with bites and scratches from their fur babies. Fortunately, there are ways how to detect when pets, such as cats, contract rabies. The graphics below summarize the symptoms of rabies infection in cats.

Rabies is a vaccinepreventable disease. Vaccinating cats, including kittens, is the most cost-effective strategy for preventing rabies in people because it stops the transmission at its source.

Education on cat behaviour

Promordial Stage – change in temperament

Furious Rabies – nervous, irritable, and vicious; muscle spasm, drooling of saliva

Paralytic State – comatose and death

and bite or scratch prevention for both children and adults is an essential extension of rabies vaccination programmes and can decrease both the incidence of human rabies and the financial burden of treating cat bites and scratches.

Kailey Salvador and Matthew Aquino

Plantito on the job. Manong Richard pose for The Movers while carefully transplanting an ornamental plant in one of the many plots around Bayanihan Institute. Photo by Angel Lin

PhotobyRedmondOng Graphics courtesyof Mr. Aaron Dungca Graphics from



FREE INTERNET FOR ALL NO CONNECTION!

What do you do when you need to know the difference between an RNA and a DNA? Where do you turn up to when you don’t get why sin2x + cos2x = 1? Who do you ask if you want to know the basic steps of folk dance? If your answer to all these questions is Wi-Fi or Internet, then welcome aboard, you’re a GenZ learner!

It is a common knowledge that the generation of learners in this era are very inclined to using the internet for almost anything they wanted to learn. Rightly so, since almost everything can be found in the internet nowadays. Just find a spot where there’s Wi-Fi and you’re good to go.

Education has turned a sharp curve because of the information age. It is no longer the case where the teacher is the sole source of academic knowledge. Anyone can now learn anything with the use of internet.

This fact has led schools to adapt to the innovation. A lot of educational institutions, including Bayanihan Institute, opted to offer Wi-Fi to students and teachers. This move not only made the school at par with other modern institutions, it also shows tha commitment of the school to provide quality education.

However, what good is the commodity that is Wi-Fi if it can’t cater to its target audience? Is there really a change if the supposed internet connectivity is not even accesible to all? Such is the case in Bayanihan Institute. Yes, the hardware is there in the form of internet routers in each classroom. However, WiFi has no signal! The advertised internet connectivity in the school is non-existent. It defeats the purpose of purchasing and installing internet hardware around the school if the connection is bad. It is so frustrating on the part of students and teachers. It is like an open door that one cannot enter.

There were multiple occassions when teacher have prepared engaging activities for students, but due to the lack of signal, the class ends up doing the usual classroom discussions. There were also times when teachers are forced to use personal data just to pursue online-based

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It does not matter whether Chat GPT is viewed by people as a boon or bane of education, it is here and it already started a revolution in learning.

@Kyle_Sangueza | [tech savvy]

Who wouldn’t be enticed by the allure of Chat GPT? A simple line of text and voila, your essay has been done! It is a revolution, a drastic change in how students do their homework. But, what learning does it provide? Does it really help students in the long run? Or is it just a quick way to escape homework?

The recent boom of Chat GPT created a new culture among students: a culture of AI dependence. When the teacher announces an assignment, as if a switch inside the brain is turned on, the student immediately thinks of using Chat GPT. Who wouldn’t? When it offers a quick answer to virtually anything? It could be viewed as working smart versus working hard, but it does raise the question: is using Chat GPT considered cheating?

classroom activities.

Upon investigation, The Movers found out that the bandwidth of the Wi-Fi in the school is merely one hundred Megabytes! No wonder the signal could not cater to the entire school. An educational institute with almost 500 students and personel must use commercial-level bandwidth to be able to cater its constituents.

One possible solution to the dismal Wi-Fi signal in the school is to apply for a better bandwidth to cater the large user population. The school is a private school where students pay hefty fees, if it is a must that students pay additional fee for internet connectivity, so be it. Internet is already a part of student lives and is now a crucial component of modern learning. If the issue is students going to inappropriate websites, the school could maintain a search screening program that would limit students from getting in such websites.

The school administration should acknowledge that in the quickly changing society, failure to adapt means failure to provide students quality education. With the advent of AI technology, it won’t be long until the educational landscape changes again. It is a must that schools teach students how to adapt, how to solve problems not yet in existence.

The GenZ learners are a different breed of learners. They are tech-savvy, and they learn differently from the previous generations. Providing good internet connectivity will give the GenZ learners a thriving community where free flow of information is the source of all learning. This will also help them to experience education that is relevant to current situations.

bot supplied. Another one is to just ask Chat GPT to provide a list of resources that could answer your questions. Then follow these resources and do your homework. One teacher even deliberately allowed the use of Chat GPT in class so that students could get

If one copies the answer this bot provided verbatim without understanding, it can be considered cheating. This is because copying directly without trying to learn what it provides simply defeats the purpose of having assignments. Teachers assign homework as a way of following up on a previously taught lesson, a head-start on a new lesson, or simply a search for information. If Chat GPT answers for the student, then the student will not learn anything from the homework. One way to take advantage of this innovation is by using it smartly. For example, instead of directly copying the answer, one analyzes the results and synthesizes his or her own answer based on what the

input from it that they then used in the discussion. Now that is a good way of using Chat GPT.

Any technology can have potentially bad or good side depending on how it is used. Chat GPT or any AI technology available today is not exempted from this. It can potentially bring about great change in the learning process, but it can also cause deterioration of thinking skills of students. It is really just a matter of properly using it.

It does not matter whether Chat GPT is viewed by people as a boon or bane of education, it is here and it already started a revolution in learning. Students and teachers must adapt, they should not shun or prevent it from entering the learning environment. Instead, they must integrate it to enrich learning. Who knows, it could be one of the solutions to the education crisis that we as a country suffer from.

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Learning science by doing is not a new concept. It is backed by learning theories

and research in education.

@Eina_Co | [the visionary]

Science and Hands-on Learning

A science lesson where the teacher lectures is a boring one. Science must be learned by doing. Hands-on activities and experiments let students see what they’re learning in action. This way, students develop a deeper understanding of scientific concepts.

In our school, it is rare for students to learn science by doing. Yes, there were instances where we did experiments and made projects, but the frequency and quality were not enough. The school has a functional science laboratory with equipment, chemicals, and other scientific materials. However, the teachers say it is not enough to have a comprehensive set of hands-on activities and experiments.

There’s a lot of research out there that says when science is learned through experience, the learning is more meaningful to students. According to the theory of learning by Mayer called the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning, when the brain takes in and processes information from multiple channels, it allows learners to process new material in their tactile, sensory, and visual memories. This makes learning to be deeper.

For example, have you ever had a food that you hadn’t had since you were a child, and with that first bite, your brain is flooded with pictures and emotions from the last time you tasted it? Whether you’re spending a day at the beach, or a sports

tournament, the scent of a particular sunscreen, the taste of a beverage you were drinking, or once again hearing the music you were listening to can trigger strong memories of a snapshot in time.

Another researcher, Dr. John Medina argues that because we’ve evolved to process multiple senses at once, our brains learn and absorb information best when it involves more than one sense. Studies show that people who learn using multiple senses retain information better than those who use only one sense—even 20 years after first learning the information.

In addition to remembering information better, multisensory learners, according to Dr. Medina, also showed much greater problem-solving skills than single-sense learners. For example, if you remember a recipe, you probably did more than just read it. You likely remember it because you engaged the senses of smell, touch, and taste by cooking it.

If you’re learning something new, then, it can be helpful to use multiple senses. For example, if you’re learning

a new language, you could reinforce it by watching films in that language, in addition to reading and speaking it. Using only one sense, on the other hand, can make learning more difficult. Listening to a lecture, for instance, might leave you less likely to retain information than watching a documentary since it only involves auditory stimuli. To make science learning in our school lean towards experiential learning, the school must fully develop the science laboratory. Additional equipment and apparatus must be procured. Also, chemicals and other science-related materials must be purchased so that teachers can maximize hands-on activities. The teachers must also be trained further in science teaching, especially in crafting hands-on activities and experiments suitable for learners.

Learning science by doing is not a new concept. It is backed by learning theories and research in education. The school must exert maximum effort to take advantage of the possibility of better science education for all BIans.

AI-generated photo from BING

Digital cartoon

by Angel Lin

By Bienne Chua

“

The year was 1990, and two masters were facing each other on the opposite side of an eight-by-eight board. White started with e4 which was met by black’s e5. The exchange of moves continued with Nf3 from white and Nc6 from black. Then white moved with Bb5 followed by a6 from black. Ba4 from white then Nf6 from black. White then castled with O-O and the opening salvo was done. It was the Spanish Game, Closed Variation.

The above recollection is the immortal game between Kasparov and Karpov, two chess grandmasters, during the World Championship in New York City. Not all people experience excitement and exhilaration just by reading the above paragraph. In fact, not many would even understand what’s happening, let alone be motivated to continue reading. The game of chess is often seen as complex and difficult. Only a handful of people are interested in analyzing and understanding the game. But not the person featured on this page, for him, chess is a whole new world.

Ian Vincent A.

Lim, fondly called Vincent by his peers and teachers, has found the love of his life in the game of chess. He is often seen playing chess with his fellow students or his chess teachers. Sometimes one could see him analyzing a game or reading theories about the game. Such is the passion of this person in the game.

Vincent first learned chess when he was still in grade 5. There was an ongoing chess tournament in school as part of the Intramurals and Vincent happened to watch the players. He immediately got interested and asked the chess coach how to play it. It was Sir Billy who first taught Vincent the rules of the game.

“

As soon as he learned

"Chess keeps me busy, and it provides much-needed distraction. When I play chess, the world around me becomes blurred out and I’m like in a different world where I can be the best in what I do."

the basics, Vincent started to play the game fervently. He often challenges other students in a friendly game. He consistently wanted to learn more, to get better in the game. It was the start of an era for Vincent, and he was about to dive into a whole world where he would discover more and more about himself.

Despite his great potential in chess, Vincent has not joined any official tournaments outside the school setting. His first win in the game was during the intramural chess tournament where he got the gold medal. He was already caught by the momentum and Sir Billy was about to let him loose into the world of chess tournaments when the pandemic struck. Everybody went into lockdown. But that did not deter Vincent from playing. He kept playing online games and improving his skills. He could now play and sometimes beat high-rated players.

incent’s love and determination to be better in the game go way beyond just playing it. He wanted more, so he started to study chess theories. He

“

"Online

chess tournaments became my staple during the lockdown. It was advantageous since I didn’t need to go places just to play good chess. I even met some friends and we constantly play online chess."

bought chess books online and started to read and study them. His skills grew exponentially with this. He started learning tactics in the deep sense of the theories behind them. Vincent’s passion for chess grew deeper and he was ready to conquer the world with it.

When face-to-face classes returned, sports events also began their comeback. The school organized a summer chess tournament in support of the growing popularity of the game on the campus. Sir Billy spearheaded the event and invited high school and elementary students around the province to participate. The tournament was wellreceived and in this tournament, Vincent met the best high school chess players of Tarlac.

During the tournament, Vincent faced the reigning number one high school chess player in Tarlac City who represented the City in the previous Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association (CLRAA) Meets. Vincent did not make it to the gold podium, but he definitely enjoyed the tournament, especially playing against the best in the city.

“

"I realized in this tournament that there’s still room for improvement. There are a lot of players who are better than me in chess and I want to belong in their group. I enjoyed the tournament very much and I made new friends who also like playing chess."

This year’s Tarlac City Private Educational Institutions Association (TCPEIA) Athletics Meet Chess tournament is a milestone not only for Vincent but also for Bayanihan Institute (BI). Out of 28 participating athletes, Vincent got the Bronze medal. This is the first time in years that BI won any medal in chess. It was such a glorious moment for the team, especially since BI also garnered second place in the team category.

Chess is not just a game for the ‘smart,’ as many people perceive it, it is more than that. Chess is a game that

offers peace for those with troubles in their mind. Nowadays, depression and anxiety have found their way to affect the young generation. Vincent is not exempted from these. Like a lot of high school students, he also experiences problems like pressure and anxiety. Vincent admitted that there were times when he could not control his temper. When things happen and his anxiety is triggered, Vincent turns to chess. And in this world, he is only concerned with one thing: the chess game.

“

"Chess has been my zone for quite some time. It offers me peace of mind when everything else seems chaotic. I could not stress enough that mental health needs to be taken seriously, and I could say chess is my salvation."

Vincent plans to continue playing chess even after he graduates from BI. He has already started looking for schools that offer chess education. In the future, Vincent might have a game that chess enthusiasts will analyze, just like the game of Kasparov and Karpov which continued after white castles and reached the following positive after the 36th move, with white to play:

Kasparov made a mistake and took the queen with Bxg6+, an immediate mate would follow if his move was Rxg6+. Kasparov later said this move was an unforgivable mistake. The game continued and after the 41st move, Karpov resigned. These two legendary masters and this immortal game inspired Vincent to pursue chess in deeper sense of the game.

@Eison_Cutero [sporty scribe] With the administration and alumni association working together to develop the sports program of the school, the future is already bright for future BI athletes.

Students Need Sports, Too

In the past, Bayanihan Institute did not give any priority – or even an afterthought – to sports development. The school’s flagship is on academics. But sports is needed, too, if holistic human development is the aim of the institution.

Several studies have shown that sports activities positively affect people, whether physically, emotionally, or socially. That is why integrating sports into any curriculum is a must. The Department of Education (DepEd) supports this and it is evident in their main sports activity the Palarong Pambansa where studentathletes all over the country compete.

The physical effects of sports are very obvious. Students get to develop their bodies when they engage in sports activities. The more important effects of sports on the new generation lie in their social and emotional benefits. When students join sporting activities, they gain friends. That is one plus factor, especially in an era

where the number of introverted students is getting higher each year. Sports also reduce stress and anxiety which are arguably the worst feelings for Gen Z.

Another positive effect of sports is it improves concentration. This one is based on research and it has been proved that students who engage in sports activities before any lesson improves their academic performance in these subjects.

On the other hand, students who do not join any sports activities are more likely to be anxious especially when they are confronted with campus socialization situations. Poor concentration is also a bad effect of no physical activities. Students are more likely to develop social anxiety and introverted

characteristics when they lack social activities like sports.

It is now very obvious that sports development programs are a must, especially in a school. Sports programs need not be expensive or complex. The school has a newly renovated gym, in addition to the quadrangle. Athletes could use these facilities for sports practices. Sports equipment is not even a problem since most of the students own equipment. The school could just give time for athletes and other students to engage in sports.

With the administration and alumni association working together to develop the sports program of the school, the future is already bright for future BI athletes.

By the numbers

97% of students said they want a comprehensive sports program

95% of students approve the school's sports rehabilitation program

100 junior high school students were asked, and their voices are transformed to the numbers above.

Gilas Pilipinas triumphs in Asian Games 2023

WINS FIRST GOLD SINCE 1962

By Christian Ho

Justin Brownlee carried Gilas against Jordan in the final match of the Asian Games men’s basketball at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium, October 6.

Brownlee showed a stunning performance with his 20 points, 5 assists, and 10 rebounds within his 38 minutes 25 seconds court time leading to Gilas win over Jordan, 70-60.

The game began as a lowquality game with Jordanian's failed three-point shots, going 3-for-21 on field goal attempts in the first quarter. Shooting has improved for Jordan, scoring four out of nine attempts from outside the three-point line, but Brownlee snagged point after point leveling the score 31-31 before the second quarter ended.

The third quarter saw a lead trade in the early minutes, with the local crowd jeering at Gilas’ free throw attempts. But Gilas showed composure and focus with Brownlee sinking three free

throws.

Gilas finally managed to go on a 14-4 scoring run, steering away from 37-37 to lead by a clear 10 points. Jordan, despite the vocal backing of the crowd, could not break the Gilas, defense picking up boards on the rival’s misses.

The long faces on the Jordania one grew yet longer as the cheer went loudly on the PH bench. The crowd grew quieter as their chosen team desperately regained possession, resulting in multiple fouls.

It didn't matter that the game was low on quality, or that it was one of the lowest-scoring Asian Games finals ever. All that mattered was that the Philippine anthem would sound out over the arena, and gold medals placed around the Gilas players' necks.

Heads Up, Chess Enthusiasts

Are you good at chess? Wanna try The Movers' chess puzzles?

Below are chess puzzles designed to tickle your chess minds. If you think you have a solution, send your answers to us! The Movers will publish your name and solution in the next issue.

Puzzle 1

White to win in 4 moves.

This puzzle is created by the chess coach, Sir Billy.

Message us if you have the solution!

Puzzle 2

White to move and win the game.

This puzzle is found in an online chess group.

Message us if you have the solution!

The hero of the game, Brownlee paid tribute to his teammates, saying “We knew that we would have a hard chance of playing in the game, especially when we lost to them earlier in the tournament.”

"The Filipino heart, the Filipino pride…there is nothing like it. We displayed it in this tournament. We were down in some games, and we were up, and then we came back. The Filipino heart toughened us up a lot, especially in this gold medal game”, added.

The Gilas’ victory is a muchneeded retribution for the disappointing performance of the PH national team during the FIBA World Cup hosted in the country from August 25 to September 10.

BI Alumni Wins Gold in New Zealand Chess Tournament

By Karlo Siazon

Jian Aldy B. Torres from last year’s Grade 8 showed Kiwis the BIan chess prowess, crushing six opponents to win the gold medal in the Oamaru Schools Chess Tournament held at the Waitaki Boy’s High School Library in Oamaru, New Zealand on November 6, 2023.

Torres is a proud chess player from the Bayanihan Institute who trained under Sir Billy Mendoza during his stay in school from Preschool until Grade 8 last school year.

The Torres Family migrated to New Zealand to join the father who is a Dairy Farm Worker there.

The Torres boys Jian Aldy and Zijgian Andy needed to transfer to New Zealand schools and are performing well after their few weeks of adjustment according to Ma’am Diana Torres, their mother and former Filipino teacher of BI.

“The participants in the tournament are all good and I had a hard time strategizing how to win, but I remembered all the chess techniques I learned when I was still in BI,” Torres said in an online interview.

Torres is one of the many students who are living proofs that BIans are good at what they do whether it be academics, sports, or even arts.

Filipino Athletes Clear Roads to Paris Olympics 2024

By Christian Ho

Four of the best Filipino athletes have already qualified to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, aiming to multiple the country’s first gold by Hidilyn Diaz in Tokyo 2020.

Among the four, EJ Obiena, Carlos Yulo, and Eunir Marcial are returning to the Olympics while Aleah Finnegan will be making her first appearance after becoming the first Filipina to qualify in the Olympics sinceYulo1964.secured his ticket to the Olympics by triumphing as the highest-ranked in men’s floor exercise at the 2023 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Belgium on October 7.

Meanwhile, Obiena has no plans to downgrade

as he cleared six meters twice already, setting his new personal best. This is on top of his magnificent performances in both Southeast Asian and Asian Games, winning gold in both events. Obiena also made history with his silver medal in the World Athletics Championships pole vault event in Hungary last August.Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Marcial comes back for Paris 2024 by winning the silver medal in the Asian Games middleweight division.

Finnegan took her ticket to Paris in the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championship women’s all- around, becoming the first Filipina gymnast after Floro and Magluyan at the 1964 Olympics.Hidilyn Diaz is still on the lookout for her fifth and possibly last Olympics appearance. Diaz has already impressed by delivering the country’s first Olympic gold in Tokyo.

(Source: https://sports.inquirer.net)

GOLD AT LAST. Gilas proudly show the gold medal they just won at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Photo from https://images.gmanews.tv/webpics

ON THE WAY TO PARIS. Four Filipino athletes qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, aiming to multiply Diaz's gold in Tokyo. Photos from https://olympics.com

By Eina Co & Gabby Chua

Armed with powerful dance moves and dressed in dazzling blue, the Grade 10 Azure Dragons outperformed the other three teams and grabbed the 2024 intramurals cheer dance competition championship.

The lively and exciting dance routine of the Azures got the entire gymnasium gasping as they tossed their fliers here and there, performing amazing stunts up to the second level.

Seemingly overreaching the sky, the pyramid of cheerers was done beautifully, darning the gym atmosphere with awe coupled with loud applause from the mesmerized audience.

With their last intramurals in BI, the grade 10 students gave their all and took all as they left

their legacy as the 2024 champions, carving their names in the hall of cheer dance elites.

“We just did our best and enjoyed the rest,” cheerleader Ayesha Batacan expressed.

According to Eison Cutero, one of the grade 10 cheer dancers, the routine was a challenging one since it was composed of complex stunts that required careful planning and execution.

“We have to think about the safety of our classmates when doing the

stunts,” Cutero added.

The team adviser, Ma’am Nica Jimenez expressed her gratitude and pride to the grade 10 as they performed “better than expected.”

“To be honest, their performance is better than I expected,” Jimenez stated in an interview.

She added that the safety of all the dancers is what mattered to her most and performing all the stunts without any injury is the better outcome she is thankful for.

Ong, Lim bag silver, bronze in 1st Tarlac National Age Group Chess Tournament

By Christian Ho

Eiron Ong (Grade 9) and Vincent Lim (Grade 10) took home the silver and bronze medals, respectively, at the 1st Tarlac National Age Group Chess Tournament held at the Magic Star Mall, December 8.

The tournament was organized by Tarlac City’s leading chess organization JHC Chess Club and joined by more than 50 players from all over the province.

Ong succeeded in the Under 17 category, scoring a total of 5 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in the 7-round Swiss game while Lim ranked third in the Under 20 category with 4 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss in the same Swiss System.

The two chess players further bagged awards as their combined scores qualified as the third place in the team category.

“I just joined the tournament to have fun,

the win is just a surprise bonus for me,” Eiron Ong said in an interview. Lim likewise expressed joy in his win as playing with better opponents in tournaments is his primary goal in joining. “I will get better at the game if I keep on playing with good chess players,” he added.

In a show of power and strength, Angel Lin crushed her Montessorian opponent in the second round of the Tarlac City Private Educational Institutions Association (TCPEIA) Athletics Meet badminton tournament at the Sunrise Badminton Court, November 8.

Having missed by a notch the championship last TCPEIA Meet, silver medalist Lin is dogged in outgunning all her opponents this year.

The highlight of her campaign presented itself in the second round when Lin got paired with a Montessorian challenger poised to climb up the leaderboard, but Lin got more rounds of bullets in her pocket as she began scoring points in the genesis of the match.

Lin performed better than ever, delivering powerful smashes as the opponent struggled to send back the bird rendering the match an easy one for the experienced Lin.

In the middle of the match, the winner is as clear as a cloudless sky as Lin’s opponent succumbs to drastic measures just to return the shuttle but to no avail as Lin mercilessly makes drives and flicks to further the score.

In the end, Lin was declared the winner over a whimpering opponent, 35-6.

Lin’s campaign ended up with yet another silver medal after losing against last year’s

gold medalist, missing her last chance to compete in the City Meet.

Meanwhile, Thierry Bernal took home the bronze medal after defeating most of his opponents in the same tournament.

Lin and Bernal who are both Grade 10 students, are the senior badminton players at Bayanihan Institute and are moving up this school year, leaving Grade 9 Earl Li as the captain next school year.

After being declared Most Valuable

"I did not expect these awards, after all, I'm still just in Grade 9. But I am very happy because this means my efforts were not in vain."

"To be successful in a game, you have to trust your teammates. You have to rely on them because in a team game, team work is the best strategy."

Player (MVP) in volleyball men and basketball men during the 2024 Intramural Games, Jonaz Alfred C. Leung of Grade 9 proved himself as the player of the season.

Drive to Success Jonaz Leung confidently handles the ball during the finals of Basketball Men. Photo by Angel Lin.

Poised for the win. Grade 10 cheerdancers pose moments before running their final routine for the Cheerdance Competition. Photo by Redmond Ong.

AngelLin . Phot

MV

Students Need Sports, Too Filipino Athletes Clear Roads to Paris 2024

Siazon shows how it’s done, Chua settles for silver

By Eison Cutero

Siazon snatched the golden cup at Tarlac City Private Educational Institutions Association (TCPEIA) Athletics Meet Table Tennis Match at Don Bosco Technical Institute (DBTI) Gym, November 8.

Siazon took the lucky coin as his first opponent made a no-show act, giving him an easy step up the winning bracket. He made easy work against CLDH, crushing his opponent fearlessly, 2-0, after which he faced the home court player of Don Bosco. The Bosconian ate dirt on his own turf when Siazon showed a no-mercy winning spree, 2-0. The Bosconian rose back from the loser’s bracket to face off once again with Siazon in the finals, this time with unmatched determination for redemption as he rendered Siazon’s first defeat in the tourney.

“The loss was my fault, I underestimated my opponent and gace a lot of east balls and bad placement for myself." - Siazon

Having the advantage of twice to beat, the BIan dragon had a renewed thirst for win on the table, chopping his path to

victory in a decisive battle for the gold medal. Siazon proved himself worthy of the championship tilt when he prevailed in the intense final game, 3-2.

“This is my first ever TCPEIA tournament, and although this is also my last, I learned a lot from this game." - Chua

Meanwhile, Chua faced ECC after getting an easy win in game 1. Not relenting in intense rallies, Chua backhanded his way to a comeback victory after being down 2-0.

Chua suffered his first loss of the tournament at the hands of the TFBCS player who made confusing side serves, 2-1, rendering him second class as Chua’s run for the gold medal got cut off.

Meanwhile, in the women’s division, Grainne Hsu (Grade 10) and Kyna Siazon (Grade 8) took home the silver and bronze medals, respectively after grinding their

BIan swimmers win in TCPEIA Meet

By Christian Ho

Grade 9 students Christian Anthony Ho and Santino Angelo Suba packed their bags with multiple awards in the TCPEIA Swimming Competition at Tarlac Recreational Park, November 25-26, 2023.

Despite being a newbie, Ho garnered a total of four awards in his first ever swimming stint for BI. He took home 3rd place for 100 m freestyle, 5th place for 50 m butterfly, and 6th place both for 50 m and 100 m breast stroke.

Meanwhile, experienced Suba

didn’t disappoint with a 5-win haul. He successfully grabbed the silver medal both in 200 m individual medley and 200 m freestyle, while snagging the bronze medal both in 400 m freestyle and 50 m back stroke. He ended his campaign with a 4th place finish in 100 m back stroke.

Tan kicks her way to silver, bronze

Mikayla Candice Tan (Grade 10) wowed the crowd and judges with beautiful kicks and poses to garner the silver and bronze medals in Kyorugi and Poomsae, respectively, during the Philippine Taekwondo Association Region 3 Interschool Championship at Tarlac State University Gym, August 26.

Tan showed her prowess in Kyorugi with a series of kicks and punches to her opponent’s trunk protector, collecting points to eventually win over the cowering challenger.

Being the Chung of the match, as soon as the center referee shouted Char-yot and Kyong-ye, Tan swiftly outdid herself with a series of turning kicks and punches, rendering the challenger unable to come at her. Tan took the second lead with a splendid performance to receive the silver medal in Kyorugi.

Meanwhile, in Poomsae, Tan’s crisp exhibitions got the attention of the judges, gaining their muchcoveted approval which landed her in the third podium seat. Tan is committed to continue refining her skills in the Taekwondo disciplines, not only to hone herself but to inspire the younger BIans to pursue martial arts.

"Discipline and hardwork are the key in any martial art sport. I trained hard for this and I am happy with the results."

Lim ends medal drought in chess, wins the bronze piece

By Karlo Siazon

After decades of no wins in chess, Vincent Lim (Grade 10) made history after snagging the bronze medal during the TCPEIA Athletics Meet Chess Tournament at Don Bosco AVR, November 7.

Lim began his campaign for the first-ever medal of Bayanihan Institute by winning 3 games in a row, keeping his cool amidst zeitnots.

In game 4, the TCPEIA chess giant from Don Bosco cuts off Lim’s win streak. Not letting go of his drive to win, Lim came back after a series of zwischenzug and managed to draw his 5th game.

Lim’s final game is against ECC’s best chesser who displayed tactical prowess, rendering Lim with a chain of blundered moves. Lim however, displayed an ever more brilliant chess play after delivering an elegant checkmate, winning until the last tick of the chess clock.

Lim garnered a total of 4 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss, only outranked by last year’s champions from Don Bosco and

earning the third spot on the podium.

Meanwhile, Eiron Ong (Grade 9) and Chloe Bermudo (Grade 10) equally displayed honor-worthy game plays, solidifying Bayanihan’s rising chess prowess.

Ong’s final stats are 4 wins, 2 losses, while Bermudo earned 3 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses.

With the impressive performance of the BIan chess players, Bayanihan Institute clipped the second overall champion in the Men’s category, another first time in the history of the school’s chess varsity team.

"You have to love the game. Play as much as you can, pay attention to your coaches, and learn the basic principles."

The crowd went wild as the drum rolls ended with the names Redmond Ong and Erin Chua announced as Mr. and Ms. Intrams 2024.

Among the 8 candidates for Mr. Intrams, Ong from Grade 10 captured the eyes and hearts of the judges and audience during the production number of the pageant, garnering the sweet crown afterward.

Chua from Grade 9 likewise dazzled in her racer sportswear and elegant performance, collecting the favors of everyone watching.

The other winners are Jeremy Tan (G8) 1st runner up (RU), Uel Lee (G8) 2nd RU, and Ellis Tiu (G9) 3rd RU for Mr. Intrams;

Kyleigh Chan (G9) 1st RU, Shane Gamboa (G8) 2nd RU, and Jhaera Martinez (G10) 3rd RU for Ms. Intrams.

By Pablo Ibarra

Pingpong Duo. Siazon (left) and Chua sow fear in their opponents as they drive their way to top podiums in TCPEIA Table Tennis Match. Photo by Angel Lin.

Checkmate! Lim brought home the first medal of Bayanihan Institute in chess after decades. Photo by Angel Lin.

Winning smile. Tan pose after winning medals in Kyorugi and Poomsae.

Photo by Angel Lin.

Photo by Angel Lin