The Sebastinian Bulletin (Vol. VIII, No. 1)

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by Therese Genota & James Bantigue

ELECTED grade school students won several awards this year at the Children’s Museum and Library, Inc. (CMLI) Graders’ Convention, with the theme: “It Starts with YOUth: The Filipino Youth and Mass Media as Innovators of Social Awareness and Agents of Change” held in Teachers’ Camp, Baguio City, August 31 to Sept. 4, 2013.

For the Talent Variety Show (TVS), all contestants from San Sebastian College-Recoletos d e C a v i t e ’ s G r a d e S ch o o l Department won first runner-up.

For the competitions for entertainment, Jan Patrick Platon, Stephanie Magtoto, Julian Damian, Reinica Calmerin, Aliyah Xyris Peralta, and Caitlin Lu won 2nd runners-up in the Hip-Hop

Dancing Competition, while Beatrice Arayon from Grade 4 topped the Solo Singing Competition.

For the competitions for excellence, Mariella Silvero, from Grade 6 – BMSN, won 2nd runner -up in Extemporaneous Speaking, Filipino. Joshua Buenaventura also won the Best in the Film Appreciation Workshop Award.

On the other hand, Jan Patrick Platon and Danielle Torres were crowned Mister and Miss CMLI Annual Convention 2013.

Aside from the aforementioned competitions, sem inars in the form of commission discussions and workshops were also held throughout the convention.

by Therese Genota

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ccording to a fax message from the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU), the Elementary Department has passed the preliminary survey held last Sept. 19-20, 2013.

The message, dated November 25, 2013, said that the Elementary Department is eligible to apply for a formal survey visit, six months to one year after receipt of the report, if the recommendations of the PAASCU team have been implemented.

The PAASCU is a private, non-profit, governmentrecognized, service organization and a member of the Federation of

Accrediting Agencies in the Phil ippine s (FA AP) wh i ch accredits academic programs that meet the commonly accepted standards of education.

Aside from the Elementary Department, the High School Department is granted initial accreditation for three years valid until November 2016, after passing the PAASCU formal visit survey held last September 5-6, 2013.

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NEWS and EVENTS

SSC-R ranks 2nd runner-up in DSPC 2013

by Therese Genota

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arnering 33 points, SSC-R’s Grade School Department ranked 2nd runner-up in the annual Division Schools Press Conference, held at the 4th Centennial Gymnasium, SSC-R Canacao Campus, on Nov. 2-5, 2013.

For Photojournalism in Filipino, Julian Kristian Damian won 3rd place, Jan Patrick Platon won 2nd place in the Sports Writing Category in English, In Editorial Cartooning in English, Christopher Daryl Cornejo won 1st place, Lauren Karley Ann Domingo topped the Editorial Writing Category in English, Josh Micole Virata won the Science and Health Writing Category in English, 7th place, Alia Medina won 7th place in the Feature Writing Category in Filipino, and Therese Genota and Stephanie Magtoto won the Copyreading and Headline Writing Category in English and Filipino, 1st place and 2nd place, respectively.

Participants from San Sebastian College-Recoletos de Cavite Grade School Department joins the opening parade of the 2013 Division Schools Press Conference. (Photo courtesy of Mr. Bryan Villareal)

In the Radio Broadcasting Category for English, Ahleia Cajilis, Curt Ocampo, Pauline Dela Rosa, Michael Santos, Reinica Calmerin, Dayl Peña, Stefany Sambalilo, members of the SEB News on the Go, won special awards including the Best in Script award, Best in Technical award, and the Best Infomercial award. Stefany Sambalilo also won the Best Anchor award, 3rd place.

DO launches training GS celebrates AP week

by Reinica Calmerin for DSPC winners he Grade School Department held

by Mariella Silvero

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he Department of Education Division Office (DO) of Cavite City conducted a division cliniquing for Division Schools Press Conference (DSPC) winners which is held every Friday from November 8, 2013, to January 11, 2014.

According to the DO, there are two schemes for the cliniquing – formal training at the Manuel Roxas Elementary School every Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and online training every day using Facebook groups.

Included in this training are some of SSC R’s grade school journalists, as six of them qualified to be part of the Regional Schools Press Conference to be held at Dasmarinas City; they are Julian Damian for Photojournalism in Filipino, Jan Patrick Platon for Sports Writing in English, Christopher Daryl Cornejo for Editorial Cartooning in English, Lauren Karley Ann Domingo for Editorial Writing in English, and Therese Genota and Stephanie Magtoto for Copyreading in English and Filipino respectively.

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competitions for this year’s Araling Panlipunan Week, October 23 to Oct. 26, 2013 at the SSC-R Canacao Campus auditorium.

This year’s events included the Araling Panlipunan Mind Quest, the Asian Cultural Dance Competition, and the Mr. and Ms. United Nations, which were all open to students from grades 1 to 6.

The highlight of the event was the Mr. and Ms. United Nations, in which contestants from all grade levels paraded around the school grounds before proceeding to the auditorium for the contest proper. For the grades 4 to 6, James Bantigue going as Hawaii, and Francesca Allysa Duque, Indonesia, were crowned as the Mr. and Ms. UN of this year.

Jan Patrick Platon, Uganda, and Stephanie Magtoto as Mexico, won 1st runner up, and Rotin Chamdal, India, and Stefany Sambalilo, USA, won 2nd runners-up.

Grade 5 – BVSA topped the Asian Cultural Dance Competition with their Chinese dance, Grade 6 – BMSA won 2nd place with their Japanese Soran Bushi dance, and Grade 4 won 3rd place with their Thai dance, and also won the Best in Costume award.

NEWS and EVENTS

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Solid Baste takes majority in SC polls

by Therese Genota

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he Solid Baste party took the majority against United Baste in the recent student elections this school year 2013-2014 held July 12 – 30, 2013, taking eight of the 11 positions in the Student Council.

During the campaign period on July 18-29, the candidates of both parties were allowed to put up campaign posters in specified places around the school. On July 29, the platform of all candidates of both parties were presented to the student body at the Miting de Avance held at the SSC-R Canacao Campus Auditorium. On Election Day, July 30, students from grades 4-6 were authorized to vote for their chosen candidate.

The election results were also announced on the same day.

Solid Baste presidential candidate Therese Genota, beat Stephanie Magtoto, United Baste candidate, 81-50.

For Vice President in Internal Affairs, Jan Patrick Platon of the United Baste party notched 80

vo t e s , w h i l e J o s h ua M a r i Buenaventura of Solid Baste only gained 51 votes. Solid Baste Vice President in External Affairs candidate, Josh Micole Virata, scored 71 votes, defeating Reinica Calmerin, 62 votes.

For Secretary, United Baste’s c a ndi dat e , Xa vi e r Al o ysi us Guerrero, won 72 votes, against Allysa Francescsa Duque, who scored 61 votes.

Mariella Silvero, Solid Baste Treasurer candidate, scored 74 votes defeating Karley Domingo who only gained 57 votes.

For Auditor, James Bantigue of United Baste received 78 votes, while Jose Miguel Abella of Solid Baste received 55 votes.

Candidates for Public Relations

Officer, Curt Justine Ocampo, Solid Baste, gained 74 votes against Elisha Cabral, who scored 58 votes.

For Grade 5 and 6 Peace Officers, Nica Bellaflor and Caitlin Lu of Solid Baste scored 101 and 76 votes, beating Ahleia Cajilis and Michael Santos, who scored 30 and 56 votes.

Danielle Nicole Torres and Julian Damian, also from Solid Baste, candidates for Level Representatives in Grade 4 and 5, received 27 and 45 votes from their respective grade levels, while Rakyla Nadine Samuel and Aliyah Xyris Peralta received 10 and 4 votes.

Ms. Gerlen Herrera, current adviser of the Student Council, oversaw the election.

Nursery tops GS family day tilts

by Therese Genota

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rganized by the Parent-Teachers’ Association, the competitions for this year’s Family Celebration was topped by the Nursery level, held at the 4th Centennial Gymnasium, Canacao Campus, on November 16, 2013.

The celebration included game s, competitions, and prizes for each grade level from the Nursery level up to Grade 6.

Aside from the annual yell competition, wherein each grade level prepared and showcased their yells to the judges, this year’s Family Day celebration also included a Showcase of Talent competition for each grade level, and were required to decorate their assigned “areas” in the gymnasium, wherein the three grade levels with the best “areas” were awarded a certificate of recognition.

In the Yell Competition, the winners were the

Nursery level, the Grade 2 pupils, the Grade 4 pupils, and the Grade 6 pupils.

The Nursery level topped the Showcase of Talent competition, while the Grade 6 pupils came in 2nd place, and the Grade 4 pupils came in 3rd place.

After the judging of the “areas” of each grade levels, the Nursery level’s “area” was recognized as the best “area” in the Grade School Department, the Grade 4 pupils took home the 2nd place, while the Grade 6 pupils came in 3rd place .

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EDITORIAL

Editorial Uprooting the weeds

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ast November 2013, supertyphoon “Yolanda” devastated most of the Visayas region. Donations have been pouring in from international organizations, other countries, individuals, and fellow Filipinos, including our very own politicians and local officials. But it seems that these officials use these donations as an opportunity to campaign for themselves in the upcoming 2016 elections, or even worse: to steal the goods and money themselves.

There have been cases of local officials taking goods from contributors and repacking them in their names. TV Patrol news anchor Korina Sanchez, wife of DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, was bashed by netizens for printing her name on the slippers she donated. Netizens also blasted Vice President Jejomar Binay, pointing to a video on the Internet, showing Binay’s staff repacking hundreds of relief goods for the Yolanda victims in Central Visayas, claiming that he was using this video to advance his political interests.

Although many are angry over these reports of politicization and theft by government officials, it is not unheard of. Back in 2009, $20.7M funds for rebuilding towns destroyed by a storm were stolen by local officials via bogus non-official government agencies. Incidents like these have made some doubt where their donations and money are going. Even the United Nations (UN) is skeptical about giving calamity funds directly to the government.

Easier said than done, but it’s high time that our President eradicate corruption and bring back the faith of our people and the world in our government. After proving to the world that the Philippines is slowly rising from corruption, and PNoy’s goal to completely eliminate corruption in the government is now seemingly a reality, we fall back to the bottom of the ladder again, even being dubbed as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, all thanks to the politicians taking advantage of the people.

Instead of letting the corrupt in the government run scot-free, the President could have them investigated and punished accordingly. Or better yet, take the funds out of their reach, just like what UN did, encouraging people to donate to private sectors such as the Red Cross instead of donating directly to the government. As for the officials who try to influence the people to support them, it’s good to discourage those kind of people to run for office, but it’s better to take out the problem from the root. The best way is to educate the people about choosing their leaders wisely. After all, it is partly our fault for electing the corrupt and uneducated into office.

After everything the corrupt has done to the country and its people, they have to be punished.

Although, educating the people about voting wisely is the better way to uproot the weeds of corruption. Corruption is mainly responsible for poverty, and it has spread long and far enough. It’s time that PNoy introduce bigger and better change to our corruption-riddled justice system.

Perfect Balance Stephanie Magtoto, Associate Editor

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n our country, we have about more than 175 dialects. Ilocano, Cebuano, and Tagalog are some of the many dialects we have here in the Philippines. Our schools help us learn more about those languages through the Filipino and Araling Panlipunan subjects. But those are not Most schools nowadays launch an “English-speaking Campaign” in order for the students to learn more about the English language and be aware of it.

Because of that campaign, usually one’s English-speaking skills and grammar could improve. After a while, you could really get used to English and it’s not really that much of an effort to speak the language.

But still, not everyone speaks English when conversing with classmates and teachers. The schools should administer this problem, because English is an important language, as it is considered as the most commonly spoken language in the world.

On the other hand, we also need to deepen our skills in speaking and writing in our national language, Filipino. Aside from this, it would be great if Cavite City could bring Chabacano, a language used in the old days, into the schools’ curriculum.

Strengthening our speaking and writing skills in the languages we know, like Filipino and English, and learning a new one, Chabacano, is not only fascinating but also a good way to expand our understanding of our history and culture.

Now, I ask our school, possibly the first place where a child

really learns in a community, to balance and use these languages as a medium of instruction. English is a global language, many speak it, and it is often used in formal situations here and around the world, therefore we must never stop learning more about it. Same for the Filipino language. It may not be the language of the world, but it is the language of the Philippines, and we must never forget our roots.

The Filipino people have many dialects, but it is essential that we are fluent in two languages: Filipino, our mother tongue, and English, considered as the most commonly spoken language around the world. Since the school is key to the learning and development of a child, they must not only encourage speaking and writing in English, but also in Filipino. These two languages must balance each other out in our curriculum. To some, learning and enhancing our knowledge of these two languages may seem like a daunting task, but after you get used to it, you’ll realize it’s not that hard. Learning more about English and Filipino will become a passion that teaches us more about understanding and connecting with others, our history, and ourselves.

OPINION

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Harmonious Development Josh Micole Virata, Correspondent

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ifferent schools have a variety of school activities for every school year. There are schools that promote sportsmanship and athleticism through various sports fests and other programs.

These schools also develop and enhance arts and the Filipino culture through numerous socio -cultural p r o g r a m s . S c h o o ls t h a t enhance not only the academic abilities of students, but also social awareness, love for our culture, and physical capabilities, help in making students well developed.

Students who are multi-faceted can cope with

life’s demanding aspect of inconsistencies. Schools play a major part in developing the mental, social, physical, and psychological aspects of students. The variety of programs that enable the students to grow and develop their talents and abilities will be of great help to them in growing individuals. Schools must therefore promote and balance the different attributes to create quality students.

Voice from the Outside Marco Sebastian Ybañez, Alumnus

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he proposal by the four of the top universities in Manila to change the academic school year and synchronize it with other ASEAN countries and the United States is said to be an excellent idea. They also say that the Palace should not think twice about agreeing with this.

Do they not understand the effect of this change?

Moving the academic school year from June to March to August or September to June?

The students will not be able to enjoy their summer break if you can still call it that.

Having a vacation during the monsoon season sounds pretty dull. Many will be forced to stay home and not truly get a feel of the vacation. People won’t be able to go to the beach on a bright sunny day when the coastline is being battered by storm surges caused by recent typhoon.

The only thing people can expect during this type of school break is a trip to another

country but not everyone can afford that now can they?

They may or may not realize that our country is prone to storms during those months.

A few are strong ones at that.

Yes, the Philippines is a little behind in terms of proper education but isn’t the K-12 system, an educational system adopted in most parts of the world, enough? K-12 system has been used in many countries for a reason.

It is effective! It has made many successful people from third world countries who use this system. By changing the academic school year, the Philippine government, saying that they do not trust the system and believe it is not enough?

Dear Editor, Thank you for always informing the grade school department of current events and happenings. I would also like to congratulate you on your recent win at the Division Schools Conference 2013.

I have an inquiry to make. This school year, SSC-R started to use tablets to replace the conventional books in the classroom. It was available to the students as an option to use the tablet for this school year.

I’m here to report that in using the tablet provided by EdgeComm for months, we are always experiencing technical difficulties. It’s really annoying whenever it has a problem just before an exam, and you can’t review your lessons because your tablet is broken in some sort of way.

On top of that, it also becomes an obstacle to learning, because many students download and play games on their tablet. It gets so bad that they even play games in class. What should we do about this problem, and how can we solve it?

-Blackberry

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Dear Blackberry, No fear. Times are changing. The school may look forward and take a big leap of faith, like the implementation of using the tablets to eventually replace books. But sometimes, that big leap doesn’t end up so well.

If you want to prevent technical difficulties in your tablet, avoid bringing it to places where it can easily fall or be sat on. But even if you’re very careful with your tablet, and it still experiences problems, have it fixed, if you can’t do it yourself.

The internet is always there to help. You can try researching and studying your lessons online instead. The web offers many options for learning many new things.

As for the students and classmates who use their tablets to play games in class, try telling them off. If they still persist in playing games, tell your teacher or adviser.

Remember, there are always other sources of information other than one’s textbook. For the meanwhile, please bear with the tablets you have right now for just a few more months. Hang in there!

-The Editor THE SEBASTINIAN BULLETIN | A.Y. 2013-2014 Editor-in-chief: Therese Genota Associate Editors: Stephanie Magtoto, Jan Patrick Platon Section Editors: James Bantigue (News), Gabriel Lalisan (DevCom), Joshua Buenaventura (Feature), Xavier Guerrero (Sports), Jhustin delos Santos (Art) Correspondents: Ahleia Cajilis, Alia Medina, Anfernee Del Rosario, Crisanto Guevarra, Giulene Ronquillo, Josh Virata, Julianne Dela Rosa, Lauren Domingo, Liam Reyes, Mariella Silvero, Reinica Calmerin, Sean Bartolome Photojournalists: Erin Garcia, Julian Damian, Lysander Base, Michael Santos, Mikkel Gallardo, Sir Charles Campo, Stefany Sambalilo, Allysa Duque Cartoonist: Christopher Daryl Cornejo Moderator: Mr. Jonald Justine Itugot

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FEATURES

by STEPHANIE MAGTOTO

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or the 34th time, the Children’s Museum and Library, Inc. (CMLI) hosted the annual Graders’ Convention at Teachers’ Camp, Baguio City, Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, 2013, with the theme “It starts with YOUth: The Filipino Youth and Mass Media as Innovators of Social Awareness and Agents of Change”. Grade school students from all over the country joined the five-day event to meet new friends and learn new things. The convention, primarily for commission discussions, seminars, and workshops, also had competitions of different categories.

Almost all of the events were held at the Mess Hall which was the main meeting place. The everyday schedule, and the delegates who passed the elimination round for the competitions were also posted there.

The first day was highlighted with an orientation and acquaintance socials, where you will be oriented for what will you do and whom you’ll be with the entire convention. At night, we started the official opening ceremonies, where almost everyone was in the Philippine national costume.

Considered as the main events of the convention, the two types of competitions were called the ‘competitions for excellence’ and the ‘competitions for entertainment’. The competitions for excellence focus on the competition of the minds such as news writing, extemporaneous speaking, pop quizzes, and many more; on the other hand, the competitions for entertainment focus on the talents and entertaining skills of a delegate such as the pageant of the convention, the Mr. and Ms. Graders’ Convention, the Talent Variety Show, Solo Singing, Hip-hop dance, Radio Drama, and Character Portrayal.

Aside from the competitions, the commission discussions and the workshops were the everyday activities of the delegates in the convention.

Commission discussions inform the delegates more about the topic of this year’s theme, which was about the youth and mass media’s participation as innovators of change and social awareness. Each commission discussion group had one or two facilitators, who explained how mass media influenced the youth and how does it help us in our everyday lives through fun games and sharing of ideas.

the time to say goodbye to everyone who had made the convention even more memorable. After the ceremony, each delegate dressed in the costume of their favorite anime character for the disco social, held to celebrate the final night of the event.

As for the workshops, each delegate was allowed to choose where they wanted to join. These were Film Appreciation, Hip-hop Dancing, News Writing, Painting, and more. After the workshop sessions, the delegates are expected to have an output of what they have learned from the workshops.

In last year’s convention, Graders’ Con 2013, some of our schoolmates brought home awards from the said convention. They were: Mariella Silvero for Extemporaneous Speaking Filipino, Stephanie Magtoto, Jan Patrick Platon, Julian Damian, Reinica Calmerin and Aliyah Peralta for Hiphop Dancing; All delegates from SSC-R for the Talent Variety Show; Bea Arayon for Solo Singing; and Jan Patrick Platon and Danielle Nicole Torres, who were awarded as the Mr. and Ms. CMLI. Joshua Buenaventura was also awarded as the Best in the Film Appreciation Workshop.

The most nerve-racking part of the convention, the awarding ceremony, was held on the last day. Wearing one’s formal outfit, this ceremony is where the winners of the competitions were awarded, and where those who performed exceptionally in the workshops were awarded. This was also

Everyone had fun this CMLI Graders’ Con, where we learned from workshops, commission discussions, competitions, and made friends with different kinds of people from all over the country. It was an interesting experience for all, and everyone surely enjoyed the incredible convention.

FEATURES

by THE SEBASTINIAN BULLETIN

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enifer Lawrence once again stole the spotlight with Hunger Games winner Katniss Everdeen in their new movie ‘Catching Fire’.

After she and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) won the 74th Hunger Games, leaving them scarred for life, the star-crossed lovers went on the annual victory tour done by the winner of the Hunger Games. After a few exciting moments including a one-on-one talk with an angry President Snow (Donald Sutherland), a heartfelt speech for the late Rue ( Am a n d l a Stenberg) at District 11, and a few killings in the said district, Katniss, overcome by grief and anger, pushed Peeta even farther away from her.

In a sinister plot to kill Katniss, who was beginning to be a symbol of revolution in the districts, the tributes for the 3rd Quarter Quell, or the 75th Hunger Games, will be chosen from past victors in each district, leaving Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) devastated at the thought of going back to the arena again.

After a glamorous party at President Snow’s mansion, a training session with the experienced tributes, Katniss and Peeta were back in the arena, but this time, they were not alone. Forming an alliance with Finnick Odair (Sam Clafin) from District 4, Johanna Mason (Jena Malone) from District 7, and a few others including an expert with electronics, Beetee Latier (Jeffrey Wr i g h t ), and Wi r e s s ( Am an d a Pl u m m er ), together they figured out that the arena was based on a clock, and formed a strategy to eliminate the remaining victors in the arena. Due to a foiled plan, Katniss got separated from her allies, and had to sacrifice herself to destroy the arena. But our favorite girl on fire isn’t dead. Yet. This movie grossed $307.7 million in its global opening weekend. That’s 45% better than how much the first movie grossed in its opening weekend. The cliff hanger sent fans excited to see the finale to this actionpacked trilogy: Mockingjay.

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SCIENCE

by LAUREN KARLEY ANN DOMINGO

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e all know that laughing has a huge health benefit, as it reduces tension, even the risk of heart attacks, but it also has its risks.

“Laughter is not purely beneficial,” according to Robin Ferrer from Birmingham City Hospital and J.K. Aronson of the University of Birmingham.

If you think that laughing has no dangers, think again!

It is said in an article, “Laughter and MIRTH (Methodical Investigation of Risibility, Therapeutic and Harmful)” that laughter has risks like headaches, jaw dislocation, epilepsy, and asthma attacks.

Like almost everything, laughter should be in a controlled and regular rate. It’s good and beneficial to laugh, but it has its own risks, as proven by Robin Ferrer and J.K. Aronson from Birmingham and “Laughter and MIRTH”. Keep in mind that laughter can relieve stress, but it has bad side effects!

SCIENCE

by THERESE GENOTA

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s the first planet that we, humans have been trying to reach, Mars, has piqued the curiosity of scientists since the 1960s.

We know that Mars had water 3.7 billion years ago, but disappeared because Mars lost its air. But why did the Red Planet’s atmosphere change so suddenly?

About a month ago, the National Aeronautics and S p a c e A d mi n i s t r a t i o n (NASA) launched the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile E v o l u t i o n ( M AV E N ) spacecraft to study the remains of Mars’ air and find o u t mo r e a b o u t i t s atmosphere.

The spacecraft is the first of its kind to be made to study Mars’ atmosphere. It was launched last November 18 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Since it will take MAVEN about 10 months to get to Mars, it is scheduled to go into orbit on September 2014.

MAVEN is equipped with eight different tools to help it measure and study the atmosphere of the planet. It will fly in orbit as fast as 5275 kilometers per hour, or as slow as 149 kilometers per hour, to collect information.

Once it arrives at Mars, MAVEN will not be alone. Even now, the rover Curiosity, landed August 2012, is still zipping around studying the planets’ geology and chemistry of Mars. Also, India launched its first unmanned mission early November. NASA has several orbiters capturing uncommon angles and views of Mars.

All these missions are slow but steady steps to uncovering the mystery of the Red Planet. Even if the end may be unclear to us for quite some time, interesting and exciting explorations lie ahead.

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SCIENCE

by THERESE GENOTA

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very year, about 10,000 to 100,000 animal species die off. They join the millions of species that have gone extinct over the course of Earth’s history.

But now, scientists have discovered a new way to bring back extinct species from being, well, extinct. Researchers need the DNA, the chemical that has the structure of a living thing, of extinct animals to be able to ‘revive’ them through cloning. Much to our disappointment, scientists cannot resurrect dinosaurs, because they’ve been gone far too long to have any DNA left in their fossils.

Put dinosaurs aside, there’s a real chance that we can revive species that have recently gone extinct. This could even go as far back as the Ice Age animals such as the woolly mammoth and saber-toothed cats. In 2003, a group of Spanish and French researchers re-created the Pyrenean ibex, which had gone extinct three years earlier. It didn’t last very long, but technological and scientific advances could improve the success rate. In January 2013, Australian scientists announced that they were trying to

bring back the extinct gastric brooding frog.

Reviving species has its own benefits and disadvantages. Some view this as an opportunity to correct mistakes done by humans in destroying nature. Others view this as a course to stop the hard work of conservation. Even if we can revive extinct animals, and ultimately correct our mistakes, we still do not know if the previously extinct animals will fit in with the environment with existing animals.

Business and environmentalist Steward Brand recently said, “Humans have made a huge hole in nature. We have the ability now ... to repair some of that damage.”

Although there are many dangers and disadvantages in reviving extinct species, many find it our fault that these species are extinct in the first place, and that we should be the ones to correct it.

SPORTS

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by JAN PATRICK PLATON

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onnie “Ahas” Nietes defended his WBO Light Flyweight crown with a sensational third round knockout of the Mexican pride Sammy Gutierrez at 2:58 round mark at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, December 1, Sunday night.

Nietes finished their match with three solid right hands, two in the first round and one in the third round. Gutierrez tried to get up on wobbly legs but referee Celestino Ruize wisely ended the match.

“Tingin ko first round pa lang, kaya ko na siya.” Said Nietes who improved his

record to 32-1-4 with 18 knockouts.

Gutierrez, the former WBO Minimum Weight Title holder fell to 33-10 with 23 KOs. Nietes’ impressive win came after Merlito Sabillo’s split draw decision against Carlos Buitrago to retain his WBO title.

Typhoon-hit areas cheer for Pacquiao’s win

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yphoon-hit Central Visayas broke out in joy after boxing hero Manny Pacquiao beat Brandon Rios, winning the WBO welterweight crown in Macau.

Filipinos in temporary shelters, including displaced families, aid workers, and soldiers jumped out from their seats and broke into applause as Pacquiao beat his younger and taller opponent.

Supertyphoon Yolanda struck on November 8, leaving more than 5,200 people dead, and destroying P12B worth of crops and

infrastructure.

Communications Secretary Hermino Coloma congratulated Pacquiao, saying that "victory will serve as a fountain spring of strength and insipration for the country after the typhoon devastation."

Pacquiao took the upper hand in all 12 rounds, leaving Rios' eyes swollen and bloodied.

Local authorities set up wide screens in three areas in Tacloban City, including one at the destroyed airport for foreign and local aid workers, and for security forces helping clear debris and colllect dead bodies.

by JOHN PATRICK PLATON

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an Sebastian College Recoletos d e C avi t e, G r ad e Schoo l Department, bagged nine gold, seven silver, and four bronze medals, totaling to 20 medals in this year’s city meet.

For swimming, Josef Adolfo J. Ylagan wins 2nd place at 50-meter freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke.

In taekwondo, Jan Patrick N. Platon captured a gold medal for sparring.

Aliyah Xyris C. Peralta again received a total of four gold medals in

taekwondo, for Solo Baston Category B, Team Double Baston, Mixed Double Baston, and Combative Category B. In Gymnastics, all competing in the city meet for the first time, Stephanie Magtoto of Grade 6 – BMSN won a total of three gold medals f or Freehand Routine, Balance Beam Routine, Springboard Routine and one silver medal for Floor Exercises Routine and a overall champion for individual. Romina Protasio of Grade 4 also won a silver medal for the Balance Beam Routine

and two bronze medals for Floor Exercise Routine and Springboard Routine, and won 3rd place for the overall ranking for individual.

Mariella Silvero of Grade 6 – BMSN won a silver medal for the Freehand Routine, Rakyla Nadine Samuel of Grade 4 won a silver for Hoop Exercise and a bronze medal for Freehand Routine, and Ian Damian of Grade 5 –BVSA won 1st place for the Floor Routine for boys.

The Sebastino Gymnastan won as the overall champion for the said event.

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ormally, the victories of the eight-weight division champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao brings on cheers and happiness from the Filipino people, here and abroad. But now, it seems that his wins also bring hope to those who suffered the wrath of supertyphoon “Yolanda”. The boxing superstar’s recent victory in Macau gave the people of the nation a chance to smile despite losing their loved ones and being in the midst of the country’s many crises.

Pacquiao’s victory inspired the survivors of typhoon Yolanda to pick themselves up from the ruin and start anew.

In Tacloban, a screen was even rigged up so that people, including aid workers and soldiers could take a break from their work to watch the fight. The victory had the crowd jumping out and screaming in triumph. Because of Pacquiao’s win, officials were also optimistic about the recovery of traumatized victims, who were given time to take their minds off the devastation wrought by the typhoon.

The boxer did not knock Rios out, but instead won by unanimous decision.

Pacquiao, coming from the first consecutive losses of his career in which he was world champion in eight weight divisions, dedicated the fight to his compatriots, and visited Tacloban and the outlying regions a

few weeks after his fight.

Aside from Pacquiao’s dedication, there was also the PBA Stars Charity Game, that raised more than P100,000 for the victims of supertyphoon Yolanda.

Actions like these give the devastated a time to smile and the belief that a better life will come to them.

The year 2013 brought on one disaster after another: the worst-ever finish at the SEA Games, the pork barrel scam, the Zamboanga standoff, the terrible floods brought on by typhoon “Maring” and the southwest monsoon, the Bohol earthquake, and supertyphoon Yolanda’s deadly blow to the Philippines. These calamities dampened the spirits of many Filipinos, but Pacquiao’s victoy gave his countrymen the simplest message and reminder that set us on the road to recovery: hope.