The Official Student Publication of St. Mary’s School
The Official Student Publication of St. Mary’s School
Editorial Board
Luigi Quijote | Editor in Chief
Daniel Galuna | Associate Editor
Meah Gabe | Managing Editor
Zyrah Abejuela | Features Editor
Elisha Kyle Canios | News Editor
Summer Temple | Design Editor
Hira Palabrica | Asst Design Editor
Kirsten Gorospe | Photo Editor
Kyubin Park | Head Visual Artist
Writers
Miguel Escudero
Luke Plamor
Dmitri Villarta
Artists
Amber Alejandrino
Erika Rotoras
Photographers
Willian Aguilar
John Canlas
Bianca Razon
Maegan Suazo
Contributors
Sophia Lasque
Bernice Aragon
Moderator
CONTENTS
Margaret Louise Costello 01 EDITORIAL
Main Editorial, Op-Eds, Letters to the Editor
04 NEWS Russia-Ukraine War, Chinese Spy Balloon, What’s Going On At SMS?
08 FEATURE Les Misérables, Fighter: Sir Bong, Paper Plane Films, COVID-19 Stories
16 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COVID-19 POV: Medical Professional, The Future of Clean Energy
18 SPORTS SMS Intramurals
Editor’s Note
Welcome to the 2022-23 issue of Blue Gold Visions!
This issue is a true labor of love: a celebration of experiences and lessons learned these past two years. Throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, much time was lost. However, a silver lining could be found in all the learning and growth we have gone through as an aftereffect of this paradigm shift. Now, we bravely step into the new normal, all things lost and all things gained with us.
In the spirit of this occasion, we at the Blue Gold wanted to commemorate this occasion with a special issue: one that champions the power of embracing change in the face of an uncertain future. This is reflected in our cover; a sapling on the front that grows into a great tree by the end of the issue.
As you flip through the pages of this issue, we hope that you are inspired by every paragraph and image lovingly put together by our incredible staff of writers, artists, and photojournalists. And you, dear reader, are a part of this too. This magazine is now just as much yours than it is ours. We hope it treats you well.
Happy reading!
WhyISNormalcy NOT An Option IN THE 21ST CENTURY
By Luigi Quijote
Last October 2022, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued an executive order that made wearing masks indoors entirely voluntary. This executive order further moves our country into an era of post-pandemic recovery. Reflecting this sentiment is how the general populace has worked to recover a sense of routine as the COVID-19 situation has mellowed out. However, is it even possible to find a semblance of normalcy in such an extraordinary time? In the face of pressing issues like climate change and international conflict, there is a need to learn from the adjustments brought on by the pandemic to further our society. The key to our societal rehabilitation is in embracing the strange circumstances of our present.
To use the various upheavals caused by the
pandemic as a force for good may seem unusual, but this is not unprecedented. Throughout the COVID-19 lockdown period, displays of community solidarity that were uncommon before the pandemic became more prevalent. The most prominent example of this phenomenon has been the open-to-all community pantry projects that strengthened resilience and camaraderie. A downside to all these events occurring during the height of the pandemic, however, is that they have also dwindled in occurrence as the world has entered the “new normal”. It is almost as if these virus-time lessons have slowly been discarded the closer we get to a status quo reminiscent of the pre-pandemic era.
Surprisingly, there is an Occam’s-razor explanation to this issue: the pandemic itself. The
shared difficulties experienced by people under quarantine have been found to encourage more prosocial behaviors, or voluntary acts of compassion, among individuals. However, the return to a semblance of regular life also means that this sense of community has become less of a priority. This is not inherently bad; the problem lies with how we are still dealing with concerns, like global warming and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This inability to carry forward prosocial behaviors into the “new normal” can subsequently lead to indifference regarding problems of both large and small scales.
That being said, this toxic form of resilience and its negative impacts can be offset through one prerequisite: concrete action. As individuals, we have the ability to empower our communities through this and even us students are not powerless in this respect. The simplest steps we can take include taking more active roles as members of our barangays and neighborhoods, alongside keeping up with current events to always be informed. More specific solutions us students can do include joining community-based projects and organizations that contribute to resolving such issues through awareness and support. Finally, the most important thing we can do is raise awareness and encourage action among our peers regarding these issues. Although easier said than done, these will be necessary to address the issues that the entirety of the human fraternity faces.
Only by embracing the unfamiliarity of the new status quo will we be capable of moving forward as a society.
Otherwise, there may not be a status quo for us to return to.
Why HUMSS Makes Us Grow
By Daniel Galuna
Crescere. A single Latin word that may seem nothing at all to almost everyone but for us, St. Marians, it says a lot of how learning should look like in our school. SMS is usually described as one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the whole of Cagayan de Oro, probably because of our tuition fees and the name recognition that is embodied by some of its students. However, despite this status that is being afforded to the school, SMS has been relatively successful in delivering on its unique brand of holistic education coupled with personal wholeness. Despite the world continuing to adapt to the new normal, the school persisted. As a Grade 11 student of SY 2022-2023 and a proud selector of the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand, I can tell you that so far, I have no regrets at all and to be frank, my strand choice actually made me grow.
The K-12 curriculum was first introduced more than a half decade ago, establishing two additional grades of basic education for Filipino students. In these final two years before collegiate studies, students will be required to choose between “strands”, which are technically representative of their career preference. Amidst the bandwagon surrounding the STEM and ABM strands, I did not give in and stayed true to the promise that a 13 year-old Dani once made to himself, which is that no matter what, he will choose HUMSS. Ever since the day I learned how to read and write, I have developed numerous interests which may or may not have been influenced by the environment that surrounded me over the years. To be honest, I was not the conventional Filipino male child. Growing up, I possessed a preference on reading books than playing games, which kind of bewildered some of my conservative family members, especially those who set high expectations for someone who they believed would alleviate them from a marginalized socioeconomic state once the time comes. Of all the passions that I was able to incorporate in my 17 years of existence, only two have consistently been afloat: politics and law. Going back to how I defied traditions and norms as an adolescent, I was able to form a keen interest on how statutes govern over our country, and how these are interpreted and translated into societal patterns. Considering all of these, I do
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear editor,
I’m so excited that SMS finally gets to see the school paper we have been working so hard on the past week! Hopefully we will be able to release more printed issues this school year and bring joy to those who read it. :)
XOXO, Hira
not think it would be surprising that I was that child who did not like to waste my time on getting all dirty in broad sunlight, because I was always going to be in my humble abode, either watching educational shows or writing random stuff.
Now, you are probably wondering right now, am I just promoting HUMSS because it relates so much to my passion? Absolutely not. In fact, if that were the case, I would have not recommended it at all. However, after a semester of learning in the strand, I discovered that it encompassed numerous bits of general knowledge, which could be incredibly helpful for those who are not sure yet of what they want to be or those who just want to gather fragments of everything. In contrast to the majority belief, HUMSS is not purely political, but it will cover politics as part of a tremendously diverse array of subject areas, ranging from creative writing to community engagement. In other words, if you want to grow whilst being a servant of society, choose HUMSS without hesitation. I will warn you ahead that the strand will absolutely require loads of writing and speaking but I am sure that it will pay off because there will be no math or science subjects at all in the last two semesters.
To conclude, I would have to say that we should not really take anything for granted, especially when it comes to choosing a strand. As much as it is just as simple as checking a box in a form, it will completely alter how your education will be presented in your formative years before you take on the big world. This goes to everyone, even tvhose who will not take HUMSS: do not be afraid to follow your passion, even if it may feel like an uphill battle. Remember, no one becomes stronger without facing adversities head on and as someone who has went through a lot in the past five years, I can say to myself that I am proud of what I have accomplished despite all the odds. Just to remind you all, choosing HUMSS does not mean that you failed math and science, it could have probably been because you do not want to stress over at it at all, which is precisely why I chose HUMSS, as I definitely want to grow.
Dear editor,
We are grateful to all of the efforts that you’ve been doing for Blue Gold Visions. Our school paper is more than a piece of paper but it is a legacy that we leave behind. I am looking forward to more projects and memories together.
SMS Fiat!
Bianca
AGAINST ALL ODDS
As it is so obviously tied to business, we must be aware of the world’s and, notably, our own country’s present economic situation as ABM students. A nation’s ability to benefit businesses indicates that its economy is in good shape, but how can one nation benefit businessmen so greatly while its citizens struggle to put food on the table?
This is why individuals need to start considering how a political decision might impact a whole country. Unfortunately, the term “patriotism” now connotes blindly supporting the nation while ignoring its defects. When people take this approach, communities with diverse opinions and political stances become divided. Consequently, one group may be deceived, while the other is steadfast in the truth
Recently, I have observed that it can be really scary to stand alone against a sea of opposing opinions if you are a part of the youth, especially a student. Unfortunately, the world often discriminates against the knowledge that young people possess. When a juvenile simply sticks to their political views, they are unjustly labeled as “rebels” even though it is only valid that it is their fundamental right to engage in politics as citizens of our country. This is an example of a start in community schism.
In my two years as an ABM student, I’ve discovered that influence comes from someone who has a better perspective on the industry, regardless of position, age, experience, social status, etc. Institutes would then follow to help an organization achieve its objectives. The roles and responsibilities of a manager is one of the lectures in my Organization and Management class that I can apply to this idea. Employees and managers cannot function well on their own; they work better together. The idea is that regardless of demographics, it would be best for individuals to cooperate with each other to accomplish a common goal and to be equipped
with the right knowledge.
By Meah Gabe
Here is where the use of learning resources would begin. The school is a resource for students’ education. It can be of service by helping students be informed about national or even international politics. Having students engage in healthy political conversation would benefit communities by reducing conflict.
Additionally, students would benefit from this because they won’t become apolitical. Being politically conscious is far preferable to becoming apolitical for a student. Remaining impartial and watching the nation collapse simply to avoid debates is worse than being deceived by the lies.
It is always preferable to choose a position and join the community. To fight with the intention of bettering the country, as a service of the nation, in both head and heart forges a strong community. Always keep in mind, for the good of the country, that a wealthy president does not necessarily translate into a wealthy country.
Dear Editor,
I’m really excited to see what our team has put together for our school paper! I don’t want to set super high expectations for the school paper, but with the hard work we’ve put in the past few days, I’m sure the results will be incredible! Everyone did great and I’m really excited about the paper!
Sincerely,
Erika
Dear editor,
Excited to see what you have in store for us! Hoping this issue will be a success. In advance, a great job to you all for all the hard work and time you dedicate to the newspaper. Best wishes, Summer
The Russia-Ukraine Conflict in Less Than
By Luke Plamor
The war between Russia and Ukraine has caused significant paradigm shifts worldwide. Ongoing tensions between the two nations started to escalate in 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea, a Ukrainian territory. Since then, citizens have been displaced and thousands of deaths have occurred.
This has divided the international community. Many countries around the world have become involved in the situation, with US President Joe Biden reiterating their complete support of Ukraine and will send military aid to help defeat Russian forces. Recently, Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On the other hand, China has established an alliance with Russia, and has pledged to send powerful missiles to Russia to launch an aerial attack on Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that he will not stop the chaos until Ukraine surrenders to Russia. This conflict has had severe consequences on both nations, as well as the global economy. One of the main issues has been the disruption of trade between the pair, leading to reduced economic growth and wasted business opportunities. At the end of the day, world peace remains to be a utopic dream.
U.S Acts Against Chinese Spy Balloon
By Sophia Lasque
The Chinese Spy Balloon dilemma highlights the ongoing tensions between the US and China over issues of national security and strategic competition.
On February 4, 2023, a U.S fighter jet shot down an anonymous China spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina. The balloon, which was described by the Pentagon as a “large white orb”, has caused major contro versy since its sighting in U.S territory by several residents and local media outlets in early February. When the 200-foot-tall, jetliner-size payload balloon was shot down, authorities discovered various high-tech com munications equipment and solar panels located beneath its main body. The Navy and FBI dive teams subsequently started a search for more unidentified objects. Three more objects were spotted over U.S and Canadian airspace in the following days, although these were found to have no relation to China. The United States called off its search for the flying objects shortly after.
Amid already strained relations between the two countries, the presence of this balloon sparked outrage among members of U.S Congress and prompted the cancel lation of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to China. While China asserted that it was a mere weather balloon that strayed from its intended course, the US believed it had more nefarious intentions. The two countries have been engaged in a geopolitical rivalry for many years, with each side accusing the other of engaging in espionage, cyberattacks, and other forms of malicious activity. Adding to the concern, several other incidents in volving flying objects have occurred since.
The presence of the Chinese spy balloon on American soil highlights the complex and evolving nature of the US-China re lationship, and the need for continued vigilance and prepared ness to address potential security threats. While it remains to be seen what the ultimate purpose of the balloon was, the in cident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of main taining strong defenses against foreign espionage and other forms of malign activity.
Sources: Yilek, C. (2023) CBS News
about
Chinese spy balloon and
other objects the U.S. shot down.
WHAT’S AT SMS?
SMSMarks 36th Anniversary with On-site Foundation Days
By Kirsten Gorospe
After 2 years of celebrating online, St. Mary’s School finally had a chance to celebrate its 36th foundation day face-to-face. This year’s theme is “Living in Harmony with Nature by Caring for our Common Home.” The SMS community celebrated the foundation day on Sept. 8 which also serves as the commemoration of The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The first day began with a Tribute to Mary where preschool students offered their flowers to our school’s patron saint before the mass. It was followed by a kickoff event where several students had an opportunity to showcase their talent. On that same day, Grades five to 12 had a club rally for the Program for Excellence where they signed up for their choice of club. A Visual Art Contest and Exhibit was also held with entries displayed at the MAC Gym. Tara Raffaele Aznar from Grade 11 Gold won third place, Dukie Magto and Daniela Quina from Grade 10 Gold got second place, and Carle Sarraga and Sophia Lasque from Grade 12 STEM B took hold of the first place.
On the second day, there was a roadside clean-up which was followed by a volleyball and badminton game between the alumni and faculty or staff and of course the long-awaited barn dance. Finally, it’s that time of the year, where the batches come together and brainstorm everything, they need to do to highlight the end of every SMS foundation day, the making of a memorable barn dance performance. This year’s barn dance was a little bit different since it was not a competition. Despite having less than a week to prepare for the choreography and formations, everyone gave their all especially the grades 7, 8, and 9 since it was their first ever performance. Before the grade 12 could begin their last performance, the lights went out and the students had to shine their flashlights. Though it was all planned last minute it unintentionally became the most sentimental barn dance performance of the year.
Celebrating the AP-English Week Right Before 2022 Ends
By Daniel Galuna
From November 30 to December 9, 2022, the SMS High School Department took part in the “AP-English Week 2022” event which was facilitated over by the English department of the high school faculty. The event included four distinct activities, which were the Circle Story Contest, the Costume Parade, the Video Essay Competition, and the Blue-Gold Feud, which was originally named as Quiz Bowl but was later renamed because of revised activity guidelines. The event involved the participation of all High School students, both juniors and seniors, with most activities taking place within F2F days, requiring the school to implement shortened classes for the said days. The event took place in various venues within the school campus, ranging from the MAC Gym to the High School Library, with the former serving as the main venue, where the Culmination Activity/Awarding Ceremony also took place. Initially slated to conclude by December 2 of the same year, most of the event activities had to be postponed due to a week-long F2F class suspension that was adopted for all Grade 9 students, with the said students only allowed to return to campus by Tuesday in the week after. Apart from the Video Essay Competition, all the event activities were conducted in person. Video essay entries were to be sent by November 30 (Bonifacio Day), whilst the Circle Story Contest happened on Tuesday, December 6 at the HS Library. The Blue-Gold Feud and the Costume Parade occurred on Friday, December 9, with the Awarding Ceremony transpiring immediately after, with all of that day’s festivities occurring in the MAC Gym. An intermission number was performed by Mia Diana, Kyrhu Geralde, and Sam Palma during the culmination activity, with the trio presenting a contemporary dance number of the song “Rewrite the Stars” by Zac Efron and Zendaya. Ms. Frances Angelie Rebolos, who is currently teaching English 7 and 8, served as the host for the Awarding Ceremony and the Costume Parade, with former SC Presidents Joseph Salas and Mia Diana serving as “quiz-masters” for the Quiz Bowl.
The event marked the return of in-person festivities for English and Araling Panlipunan, which were celebrated virtually in October 2021. The AP-English Week was followed by the Second Quarter Examinations for the JHS students and the First Semestrial Final Examinations for the SHS students, taking place the week after. This served as the last academically related co-curricular event of the school before welcoming the New Year days later.
GOING ON
The Most Wonderful Time of The Year An SMS Valentine’s
By Bernica Araga and Miguel Escudero
The first semester ends with a bang as SMS conducts an onsite Christmas Program after two years of quarantine restrictions. The student’s weariness and exhaustion from the week-long examinations were replaced by excitement at the prospect of celebrating Christmas with their peers and friends.
On December 20, the SMS community came together for the first in-person Christmas Party, and Christmas Program since the pandemic hit the Philippines. This was a special day as for two years we could not celebrate Christmas the way we used to. Now that we are slowly getting back to the way it was before, we can spend this wonderful time of the year with the people we love and care about.
On the morning of that special day, the students took their scheduled examinations. Afterward, classrooms were decorated, and you could hear everyone cheering from the hallways. Each class had its own Christmas party in its own respective classrooms. Students had a hearty meal with their fellow classmates. There they were able to reconnect and spend some time with their friends. Gifts were exchanged, laughter was passed around, and the Christmas spirit was very much felt throughout the school.
When the clock struck at 2 and the parties were all over, all went down to the Josepha Segovia lobby and the Christmas Program officially started. All the performers were ready to give it their all and let everyone else in the audience enjoy how entertaining Christmas can be. In the first part of the program, Christmas carols were sung by a group of teachers and students headed by Sir Roland Rivera. It was a medley composed of English, Latin, and Filipino Carols that signify the birth of Christ. After they sang, there was a ballet performance by Kree Daodaoang accompanied by the amazing voice of JP Romero. Excitement then rose as a dance presentation was shown by our very own Dance Society. The medley they performed really gave us something to recall and something to appreciate as they danced to some of the greatest Christmas hits. From “Sa araw ng Pasko” to “Santa Baby”, “Santa Tell Me”, and “All I Want for Christmas Is You”, the audience enjoyed singing along to the music. To end the program, Sir Roland gave his closing remarks and Mrs. Consuelo Escudero got on the keyboard and played “Kasadya Ning Taknaa.” From there, we all waved each other our goodbyes and it was undeniably an unforgettable moment.
These are the times when we are able to just sit back and enjoy the company of people whom we care about. After the flurry of events, the Christmas Program officially ended, with new memories and smiles etched on our faces. The spirit of Christmas was indeed felt. Well, as expected, it is that special time of the year!
By Sophia Lasque
After almost 3 years of not celebrating events on campus, the St. Mary’s School student body made up for it by celebrating Valentine’s day with multiple activities that embodied the spirit of the holiday. The first activity, a color-coding system for student attire, was sponsored by the High School Student Council. Students went to school in different colors that correlated with their relationship status. Some wore red which indicated they were taken, a lot wore white which meant they were single, and some also wore their uniforms, which stated they prioritized their study first. There were other colors which varied from pink, purple, blue, etc. This system allowed students to be more creative with what they wanted to wear.
The second activity, a project of the Dance Society, was a surprise event. In the afternoon of February 14th, high school students were asked to gather in the basketball court for a batch emergency meeting only to be met with a surprise dance flash mob featuring Kyrhu Geralde, Mia Diana, and Charm Abaigar. This had the goal of eliciting joy and laughter from the school community as Valentine’s Day was being celebrated. The event concluded with teachers and students receiving and giving chocolates and flowers all throughout the campus. Everyone certainly left with their hearts full.
Valentine’s Day is celebrated as a reminder to people to express their love and affection towards their loved ones. It could be with our families, friends, teachers, classmates, and pets, so surely St. Mary’s School could not miss this blissful occasion.
DIRECTED BY SIR ROLAND RIVERA
Les Misérables
St. Mary’s School took to the stage of Rodelsa Hall with its first ever non-musical play after decades.
BE LARGER THAN LIFE
By Earth Ellorin
I joined the play out of boredom. I decided to join the auditions simply because I didn’t have anything to do on one normal afternoon and maybe it was a mere coincidence but during that time, I was reading “If We Were Villains” by M.L. Rio, a book that talks about a group of theatre kids who go on to perform Shakespeare’s plays. From that moment, I knew that joining theatre would affect and change me. The question was whether it’d change me for the better or for the worse. Around the third month of play rehearsals, which was in April, I reached the lowest of my life. Theatre was the only thing that kept me going and it was the only thing that kept me from letting go.
Being part of the annual play has helped me to be more confident, more understanding, and it made me learn to trust myself, trust others and of course, to trust the process. I have grown and improved not just as an actor, but as a human being as well in the past three to four months. Looking back at the initial stages of the play, I’ve seen how much I’ve changed, and this can be a testament to how committed I was to the production. I went from shaking uncontrollably whenever I had to do a scene whilst also getting lost with the blocking, to crying on command and getting lost in my role.
I have always believed that art is political, and that theatre is just another form of it. Les Misérables has made my eyes widen on what is currently happening in the world and how history tends to repeat itself if we continue to be ignorant about our past.
I’ve formed a lot of bonds in the process and I’m just referring to bonds with actual people but also bonds with the story of the play and its characters, especially the one assigned to me, Eponine Thernardier.
Knowing that I won’t be able to play her anymore in front of a live audience hurts. I’ve read and heard about actors getting lost in their roles and getting to embody their character but in all honesty, I never thought that the same would happen to me, especially since it was going to be my first play after all, but it did happen.
To cap things off, I never thought that theatre would really take a toll on me. In other words, I didn’t expect that I’d get this attached to it. There have been a lot of incidents in this brief life of mine so far that may be characterized as life-changing, at the very least. At one point or another, every new experience felt like the first one. Each incident altered my life’s trajectory, for better or worse but nothing could compare to the most life-changing or cathartic of them all, which was my decision to join the play.
IT’S ME AND MY LYSOL AGAINST THE WORLD
By Cynric Dale Ong
Joining the crew for this year’s play production, aka Les Misérables, was the best decision I made this school year. At first, I was reluctant to join the production team especially since I was personally asked to, but over the course of the weeks leading up to the final play dates, I slowly learned to love the role. I gained so much from this alone, with all the experiences I’ve had throughout the entire endeavor allowing me to learn how to manage my time well, with a boost in my work ethic materializing as well. Serving as co-head of the Costumes Department pushed me out of my comfort zone. It forced me to learn more on how to lead a pack and to “take one for the team.”
Participating in the annual play as a crew or cast member is a must-do for those who seek to have the full St. Marian experience. The task itself may draw fear at first but at the end of the day, it was the sense of community and family that made me start to love the play. It was the friends that you meet along the way that made it special. The friendships that under any other circumstances would not have happened, the alliances that it solidified, and the “kailas”-turned-friends all made me appreciate being part of this endeavor. I am sure that the bonds I’ve made in this production will be something that I will cherish and look back on happily in the coming years.
Co-leading an entire department was nerve-racking to say the least because in every comment, critique, or problem the director had to address to us, I was there to take all the concerns he had so that I could relay these to the team. I can remember a handful of times when I wanted to back out for real and for most of the rehearsals, I was so “lutang” or “sabog” as my teammates would often describe me. Surprisingly, I had the least amount of stress during the play dates themselves because on my end, all I had to do was to change the costumes of the cast and inspect of all of these before they enter the stage in their respective characters. On those same two days, I didn’t have to worry about unfinished costumes, missing costumes, and even rejected costumes, because those three alone were what made the daily rehearsals so stressful.
Picking out clothes, canvassing our local thrift stores called “ukay-ukay”, traversing far-flung areas just to find needed materials, and helping the cast change in and out of their apparel. Throughout all these times, everyone was present, and they gave their all indeed. This task wouldn’t have been possible without my fellow team members, namely: the changing crew, Ma’am Rhiza, Ma’am Ces, and the production team, all of whom had to cram and sacrifice precious hours of sleep just to meet the deadlines given and to deliver the costumes ASAP. To the most important member of all: Lysol, my love, my life, I would not have survived without you by my side. Team Lysol 4 life, always.
Fighter: Celebrating the Life of Sir Eduardo “Bong” Itchon
By Luigi Quijote
The only thoughts he entertained were the ones that involved finishing all his performance tasks on time. Setting his weariness aside, he cracked his knuckles and pulled back the chair by his desk, a million things running through his mind. “First, the formatting of our Chapter 4, then the video presentation for PE, and don’t forget the cooking video for—”
A gentle knock from outside interrupted his train of thought. Thoughts of frustration and annoyance at this intrusion bubbled up in his head and he opened the door, ready to passive-aggressively ask for some time alone. At what greeted him, however, the words died on his tongue: his mother, shades of melancholy in her eyes. The eyes of someone mourning. And at that moment, he knew that what he feared had come to pass.
The world had just lost one of its strongest fighters.
Last year, we mourned the loss of one of the greatest teachers to ever grace the halls of St. Mary’s School: Sir Eduardo Itchon, or as we affectionately called him, Sir Bong. A beloved and brilliant teacher of 17 years at SMS, Sir Bong’s passing came as a shock to all of us who knew and loved him. He was a fighter for years, having conquered kidney complications through a transplant and a healthy lifestyle. Sir Bong was admitted to the hospital for a minor heart attack; he passed away on June 11, 2022.
Sir Bong managed to touch not just the hearts of us students, but those of his fellow faculty and staff. He was not just the cool professor who could enliven even a generic sociology lesson about power structures with creative analogies to modern pop culture and PUBG; above all, he was a gentle soul: one who knew that listening held more weight than lecturing. Ironically, anyone who’s spent any amount of time with Sir Bong would know that his deep and soothing voice is something very distinctive about him; his lessons are not only substantial and engaging but also very pleasant to the ear. In fact, most St. Marians, myself included, first met Sir Bong as the voice behind the pre-show announcements for the school’s annual play.
It should be celebrated that Sir Bong has managed to leave such a profound and withstanding impact on all he knows, an impact that has changed many lives for the better. He was a mentor to us students, pushing us to achieve the full extent of our potential in both academic and extra-curricular fields. Not only would you gain motivation from Sir Bong, but also a large swath of vocabulary words to remember, and corny dad jokes with deeper meanings once you actually thought about them. (A hilarious takedown of a terror teacher described as a Bond villain will always be my favorite.)
Fittingly enough, Sir Bong was also a loving father to his two daughters, a caring husband to his wife, and a second dad to many of us, giving advice and comfort to those who needed it most. In times when I doubted my own capabilities, he was there to keep pushing me forward because of his unflinching belief in the greatness we could achieve with the right push. He embodied the values that SMS upholds in every sense: he taught us to love learning and the pursuit of knowledge; he supported us in any way he could to allow our continued growth as human beings; and he inspired us to serve our country and above all, the downtrodden and oppressed. Suffice it to say, Sir Bong will be deeply missed around the campus, and in the lives of all his loved ones.
Having known Sir Bong practically my entire life, I still feel a stab through my heart every time I write about him in past tense. Even as I graduate, I can’t help but grieve that in this lifetime, I won’t get to tell him I made it. That all the days spent on training would lead to me getting to go to ADMU. That my batchmates and I would all be able to graduate and go to college. Deep down in my heart, I know that he would have been proud. Not just of me, but of everyone whose lives he had touched, for doing our best to live as he did and keep his memory alive. There is peace in knowing that Sir Bong is in a better place now, ‘eating all the ice cream and sweets that he loves’, as his daughter Ate Bea so succinctly put it.
And above all, there is comfort in knowing that Sir Bong will never truly be gone; I see him in my classmates when they debate about the best way to bring about societal change in our communities; in my Ate Celine and Ate Bea when they give us advice and help in dealing with matters of college and school stress; and in my teachers when they treat us with gentleness and empathy, teaching with patience and passion. He will live on in the hearts of those he loved, those who loved him, and those whose lives he had changed for the better. Rest easy, Sir Bong.
As he leaves the memorial service, eyes slightly red but drying quickly, he looks at his phone. He opens an instant messaging app, and with a quiet sigh, checks the unread batch group chat. He is immediately greeted by reminders of report cards, requirements to finish for the school year, and general hubbub. But that isn’t what he’s here for.
He scrolls back. First, a few days. Then a week. He doesn’t stop scrolling until he’s back months before. There he finds what he had been looking for. An inspirational quote sourced from Facebook, and an exclaimed “good morning!” written underneath by their beloved adviser. His heart swells, a mix of sorrow and joy in his heart. And as the warm memories come flooding back, he knows that Sir Bong will always be with him.
The night sky had just gained one of its brightest stars.
Life Goes On
By Josh Argayoso
Undoubtedly, the coronavirus had massive negative impacts on the state of our world. It took away valuable lives. Lives that mattered to other people. Lives that could have been spent more. Lives that could have been treasured even more. On the last week of October 2020, a 60-year-old-man lost his life due to the widespread of the infuriating global pandemic.
Manong, as his seven sisters would like to call him, was a very simple family man, who was running his own business to sustain his wife and only son. Unfortunately, he regularly suffered from his asthma and experienced more severe attacks than usual two weeks before his case. On one night, he suffered with his worst attack as his face turned cold and blue. His wife rushed him to the hospital, but he was only admitted after testing positive. He was isolated, incubated alone in another hospital, but unfortunately, due to the lack of attention and the late response to his case, he passed away.
Early morning the next day, the news of his passing reached his seven sisters who were geographically displaced from one another. Instead of the light and cheerful video calls they regularly made with one another, the call on that morning was full of grief. He was cremated, then after two weeks, he was buried. That was how my 60-year-old uncle departed from this world.
We often take life and the people around us for granted, assuming they will also be safe and okay. Despite the pandemic, I believed the people I loved would be safe from the virus, but my unlcle’s unexpected passing shattered that disbelief. My mother had frequent video calls with her siblings, and my uncle always appeard happy and alive. Despite the restrictions of the pandemic, these calls allowed us to stay connected.
Perhaps, the silver lining in this global pandemic and all the chaos that had happened, it imparts a message to all of us that life is limited, and time waits for no one. We must remove the complacency and appreciate those around us, because we never know when it may be our last chance to do so. May it be the richest person or a simple family man, time moves on, life moves on—and so must we.
Photo credits: Luis F Rodríguez Jiménez from Pexels Elderly Man Wearing Face Shield and Mask Writing on a Paper
Teaching in the Time Of Corona
By Luigi Quijote
Interview with Sir Roland Rivera
From the extreme precautions undertaken by the authorities, to socially distancing ourselves from others to keep safe from the dreaded invisible adversary, the pandemic has definitely changed our lifestyles and routines. The monumental shift to online learning has particularly been a challenge for the St. Mary’s community. To gain insight into the challenges of adapting to online teaching in the time of the corona, I sat down with our SMS Senior High School Humanities professor and annual play ditector, Sir Roland Rivera.
What difficulties have you faced with the shift towards online classes?
“To start off, the world is divided into two kinds of citizens right now: the digital citizens, who include you students and the current generation, and the digital immigrants, which I obviously belong to. Technology brings about challenges that are definitely beyond human control. When the internet is down and you’re in the middle of a lecture, it definitely bears much impact on delivery of lessons. We have our machines, our laptops, our phones, our gadgets and yet what are they when it comes to an internet crash? That is something that’s really out of our hands.
Still, a problem persists in some regards, like my students being unable to turn on their cameras for various reasons, etc. That’s where the dilemma comes in for the teacher; “are you even listening?” I call out and it seems like I’m just throwing my voice out into this void, and it’s like there’s nobody there. Yes, I do have difficulty comprehending online classes and using our platform [Microsoft Teams], so I almost always need someone to be beside me for assistance. I feel at times paralyzed by that ignorance.
Has the adjustment to online teaching caused complications in your personal life? If you feel comfortable, please elaborate.
The greatest impact of the coronavirus in my life is losing the human touch. I miss being able to face my students without the aid of a camera. I miss seeing them, and cracking jokes that I can repeat if they don’t get But during online classes, it’s difficult to gauge their reactions because oftentimes you are met with dead silence and I don’t know if I am getting through to them. I miss the noise: I’d rather be in a classroom with some 35-37 students and not worry about the noise, because these are human noises. It’s warm, unlike the mechanical noises that are beginning to irritate me. It’s not cold.
How have your feelings and thoughts about online classes changed in the six months that have passed since the beginning of the online school year?
The idea of online teaching has not really sunk in. I’m not trying to wage a battle against it, but again, it’s the atmosphere of the classroom that I so long to have again. As long as I’m in the faculty room, I feel that I am in school. As a teacher, it means a lot to me to come to school and observe my class schedules so I will have a semblance of normalcy, being in school while delivering lectures to my students.
I am also worried about my students. You are in a situation where not all of you can have that conducive environment at home. Even in the news, you can hear senators saying the quality of education through online and modular teaching is something almost like a threat to our student’s well-being. The more I learn about online teaching, and the better I become in handling the technology, the more lessons I learn, and they are not good at all. The effectiveness of online learning will truly depend on a student’s attitude toward it.
Is there any message you would like to say to your fellow teachers and the students reading this?
For the teachers, I cannot talk about strategies and all that since they are young and technologically more able. However, being one of the oldest teachers in St. Mary’s, I can spot some shortcomings that I hope we can address as soon as possible, and I think we learn from each other’s experiences. For students, I just would like to say, bear with us teachers. We are not as tech-savvy as you are. I would also like to say thank you to the accommodation from my senior high students who understand my predicament. What I feel is the most important thing to remind the students of however, is when I tell you to do something I want, it’s not because I know how to do it myself. I want you to do it, because I feel that, being digital warriors, you are more capable of using technology to better your outputs. Being tech-savvy can produce two things: you can learn better and help yourself more than your teachers can help you. But the other side of it is that you might be waylaid by that knowledge of technology and put your mind off your studies, because of the obvious temptations to spend your time playing video games or use social media. I have the three same prescriptions I give my writing class: number one, read, number two, read, and number three, read, because that grants you the ability to express whatever lies in your head. You already know how to access the different kinds of online media, and I hope it inspires you to produce, rather than just copy-paste.
COVID-19 POV: Medical Professional
By Summer Temple
At the height of the pandemic, medical professionals were faced with extremely difficult challenges and forced to quickly adapt to changing protocols and procedures. In this Q & A article, we will hear from St. Mary’s alumnus Simon Luib, a nurse who has been working on the frontlines since March of 2020.
(Note: this interview was conducted in 2021)
In our current situation, with the spread of COVID-19, how do you feel about your work? How has the situation affected you or your work?
Being a nurse demands passion and commitment. It reminds me that being one is more than taking care of others, it’s about being an advocate for patients that there will still be another day for them. This pandemic made me realize that we still need more manpower. We’re running out of facilities and healthcare professionals. The schedule is too hectic to the point where we transfer from our unit to other areas bimonthly without enough rest. At the end of the day, we have no choice but to bridge that gap because if we won’t, the institution will collapse.
As a nurse at a General Hospital, what are some of the challenges and risks you face?
The risk of contracting the virus is our number one fear. Everyday we encounter patients from all over the region who do not declare their health condition in fear of being judged. In spite of multiple exposure to suspected cases, we’re only considered low risk since we show no symptoms yet. Swab tests are only done for those who are working in the COVID Treatment Facility. For us inside the hospital, we still need to undergo thorough evaluation if we are eligible to undergo a swab test. It’s an everyday battle, to be honest. Everyday we go home without an idea if we have the virus.. The only thing we hold on to is faith—we will overcome this battle soon.
Has your work ever got in the way with your time with your family?
Definitely. From time to time we rotated in the Treatment Facility where we take care of the COVID Positive patients. If we are assigned there, we are obliged to stay in the area for 1 week, and undergo quarantine the following week. With that, we are isolated for 2 weeks, some would spend more than that due to delayed results. Also, in ordinary times, our time to bond with our families becomes limited since our supposed days off are diverted to rest and sleep from an exhausting workload.”
Is there anything else you would like to say about your line of work and the current situation? Or are there any messages you would like to relay to the readers?
Stay at home! The pandemic has taken away too many lives and opportunities. Many people are working hard right now especially in the medical field,w so the least you can do is stay at home, boost your immune system, and support your family and friends. Your mental health is equally important as your physiological health. We are all hoping that this will end soon, and we will.
Interview with Art Simon B. Luib, Emergency Room Nurse at JR Borja General Hospital
Photo credits: Karolina Grabowska from Pexels Close-up View Of Person Holding A Vaccine
The Future of Clean Energy
On the 5th of December, a new chapter was opened for fusion ignition as the US Department of Energy (DOE) announced a breakthrough at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). This has been a long-awaited scientific achievement and, if successful, it could pave the way for an abundance of clean energy to meet the world’s demand.
A team at LLNL’s National Ignition Facility (NIF) conducted the first-ever experiment in history to execute scientific breakeven. That means that the experiment produced more energy than the amount used to recreate the process.
For many years, we have been relying on fossil fuels as our main source of energy. However, the burning of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases, which we know are harmful to our environment. That may soon change in the future as scientists are considering the possibility of using nuclear fusion as our main source of energy as it is not only cleaner, but it can produce a lot more energy than fossil fuels.
This achievement would provide new insights into the possibility of clean fusion energy as the world’s main source of energy. And if implemented successfully, could greatly help the world in its mission to achieve a net-zero carbon atmosphere and to combat climate change.
Nuclear fusion is different from nuclear fission, where an atom is split apart. This process, however is dangerous and releases radioactive waste that is harmful for our planet.
On the other hand, nuclear fusion is a process wherein light atomic nuclei, usually that of Hydrogen, Tritium, and Deuterium, are combined to form a single heavy one. The process, in return produces Helium and large amounts of energy. Our sun and the other stars in the galaxy are powered by nuclear fusion.
For decades, scientists and engineers have been trying to recreate the process and to harness the energy it produces. If done successfully, it can be a very reliable source of energy as hydrogen and its isotopes are abundant in the Earth. However, it is not easy to replicate nuclear fusion because of the strict conditions where it can happen and the amount of energy needed to start the process.
Nuclear fusion can only occur in an extremely hot environment, about
By Bernice Aragon
ten million degrees Celsius. To give you an idea of how hot it is, it is hotter than the center of our sun. This high heat is crucial for the nuclear fusion to happen. The nucleus of an atom is surrounded by a cloud of electrons and in order for the nucleus to combine with another nucleus, the electrons have to be “burned”, and for that a high temperature is needed.
The nuclei must also be confined in a tight space in order to increase the chances of colliding with each other. This is why nuclear fusion naturally occurs in stars as they provide the perfect conditions for the process to occur.
Scientists recreate these conditions in the laboratories by putting a small Deuterium-Tritium (DT) target inside a capsule. 192 laser beams are aligned on the DT target. The laser beams provide the high heat temperature and pressure needed for the Deuterium and Tritium nuclei to fuse together and release energy.
The catch is that, in order to replicate these conditions, huge amounts of energy are needed. What ends up happening is that the amount of energy consumed in the experiment is higher than the actual energy produced by the experiment.
In the latest experiment in the NIF, scientists were able to get 3.15 megajoules (MJ) out of the fusion while only consuming 2.05MJ from the laser beams. This was a roughly 50% gain and was considered an achievement after decades of failed experiments.
With enough investments, Dr. Kim Budil, director of the LLNM said, “few decades of research could put us in a position to build a power plant”. This experiment shows us that nuclear fusion in the laboratory is indeed possible.
However, there are still hurdles that remain. The experiment did release more energy than it consumed but it did not count the energy used to power the laser beams in the first place. If this were to be our main source of energy, the lasers would have to fire at targets multiple times a day, not just once a day. There would also be the cost of the energy to consider and of course, scientists would have to scale up the process to provide enough energy for the world.
We are now one step closer to the possibility of a nuclear fusion powered world, but we still have a long way to go.
Lise Meitner and Otto Hahn
INTRAMURALS 2023
Kicks Off at St. Mary’s School
By Bianca Razon
The Preliminary games for Intramurals 2023 officially kicked of for Junior and Senior High School students, here at St. Mary’s School. These games will help determine the grade levels who will be deserving to move on to the next round. Games officially started on February 3, 2023, Friday, started with Basketball boys and girls.
Each grade levels were eager to win each of their games. For Basketball boys the games between grade 9 and 11 was heated and the audience cheered on, with a final result of grade 11 won against grade 9. The second game started off with grade 7 and 8 dominating the first quarter. But the grade 10 gained back their points until the final quarter. Left everybody with a result of grade 10 earned their victory. Not only the boys were gaining their wins, but also the girls. Started with grade 10 and grade 12 playing against each other. Having a rally of the scores in between quarters. In the last quarter grade 10 finally closed the game and gained their win. The second game was grade 7 and 8 against grade 11. The entire game being dominated by grade 11 and gained victory as well.
The next event occurred on the 9th of March 2023, Thursday, Volleyball boys and girls. Started off with grade 10 playing with grade 7 and 8 boys category. With a final result of grade 10 gained one win. In the second game, girls now take over the court. The grade 9 and 11 play against each other. With grade 11 dominated the game and gained victory. Now to the third game, grade 9 and grade 11 boys category. This game left the audience in awe, as the grade 9 successfully won against grade 11. In the last game the seniors play against grade 10. Both grade levels had a close fight, with grade 10 dominated the 1st set and grade 12 with the second set. But finally grade 12 won the final set.
The 3x3 Basketball event started last March 17, 2023, Friday. With only ten minutes to play for each game, every grade level still managed to try their best to gain victory. For the boys category, grade 7 and 8 had 1 loss and 1 win. Both grades 10 and 12 earned 2 wins and 1 loss for grade 10. Grades 9 and 11 failed to achieve a win for 2 games but grade 9 had won 1 game. Not only the boys played their games but also the young energetic ladies. Each level marked an initial on the score board. The grade 12 students gained 2 wonderful wins. Grade 10 with 3 straight wins and grade 11 closing with a marvelous win.
In the overall standing, grade 10 is in the lead with 8 total wins, followed by grade 12 with 5 total wins, then grade 11 with 4 total wins, grade 9 with 2 total wins and 1 win for grade 7 and 8.
The games aren’t over yet, will these grade levels see each other again in the playing field? From here on we can really see the determination of each grade level to earn a place in the finals of each sport for this school years Intramurals.
Rising Golf Star: John Canlas Wins Pueblo de Oro Junior Open
By Bianca Razon
St. Marian Golf player, John Canlas, secured his victory in the Pueblo de Oro Junior Open held on January 27 to 29, 2023 in Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club. This competition has opened up several doors of opportunity in John’s golf career, as it has helped him earn a spot in the world rank. This experience has motivated him to strive harder.
The Pueblo de Oro Junior Open is one of the biggest competitions in Golf. Around 150 players of the best juniors in the Philippines participated in this event. For John Canlas, participating in this event has given him several favorable prospects, such as officially joining the La Salle Golf Team and being one of the 15 Filipino golf players ranked in the world. This gave him a better chance to get recruited by D1 colleges in the United States.
Although he won multiple times before the pandemic, he faced several struggles, including swing injuries and an overall lack in mental strength. Nevertheless, there were still people who helped him to get through, like his family and coach pushing him to continue and strive even in the face of challenges. To quote him, “I realized that I was one of the best juniors in the Philippines and that I am still capable of winning at the highest level”.
John left the whole school amazed and proud of his victory. This triumph can be an opportunity for St. Mary’s School to invest in different sports categories and the unique talents of every student.
Remodeling of SMS MAC Gym
By Bianca Razon
At the start of 2023, efforts to renovate the St. Mary’s MAC Gym commenced, and were led by Highschool Principal Ian Zapanta. This renovation aims to provide the school with better facilities and attract more students interested in sports.
In February, the floors and walls were renovated, with Principal Zapanta even hand- painting the gym floors with the help of other maintenance members. The installation of the glossy fiber glass board left the students in awe. Since its completion, all the students have been enjoying the freshly painted floors and the round orange rims of the ring.
According to one Basketball varsity player, the renovation provided them better playing environment and has motivated them to do their best. .. It has enabled them to have smoother games during training sessions. “The ring is now evenly placed, making us motivated to score more points”, Prince Cortes said. As they also install the new net, it is now more durable than before, stated by some varsity players.
The MAC Gym remains the home court of the St. Mary’s athletes, where they proudly represent their school with bold colors of blue and yellow roaring through the walls.
