Kapawa Vol. 4 Issue 3 (January–April 2020)

THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

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One blood battles Lasallians strengthen solidarity in InterLaSalle ‘20 Nicole Kaye E. Lipa

Though unsure of what school was really meant when people scream “Go, La Salle!”, it did not hinder the 566 Lasallian athletes in hyping up InterLaSalle Sports Camp 2020, themed: “Embrace the Legacy, Uplift the Spirit”, at the University of St. La Salle (USLS) on Jan. 27–31.

Fourteen different La Salle schools held their heads high as they clashed on six major sports events,

namely basketball, volleyball, chess, swimming, football, and table tennis, both in male and female categories, in the premises of USLS, St. Joseph School-La Salle (SJS-LS), and Lopue’s Table Tennis Association (LOPTTA).

“I’ve noticed that most sports camps are about competing and winning.

However, InterLaSalle is not that kind of camp, it’s more about bonding with my fellow Lasallians […].

We enjoyed every bit of our

Parmenie spoils Rheims’ 4-peat bid, clinches first cheerdance crown Charging comeback.

It would offer the pack some taste of blissful triumph, then shedding a tear is just more than enough—tears as for deep angst for last year’s heartbreak.

A legacy was created by the House of Parmenie after notching their maiden cheerdance title on the opening day of this year’s Liceolympics at the St. La Salle Coliseum, Feb. 18.

“It was with great pride and honor to be part of the squad who brought the cheerdance trophy to the house for the first time,” uttered Cheerleading Captain Ken Rianne Baran.

The three-time defending cheerdance champion, the House of Rheims, settled for a bridesmaid finish as they took the crowd to Spain with their Paso Doble-inspired performance; the houses of Rouen and Paris prevailed as the 2nd and 3rd runners-up, respectively.

Meanwhile, it took four years of championship drought before the sacrifices

and hard work finally paid off with the Vogue-inspired routine, which was fit to win the title for the Green Griffins.

“We incorporated Vogue in our routine because we knew that it was new to the eyes of most people and it would create a great impact, especially that this dance genre requires certain techniques that we worked hard to learn,” said Baran when she gave her thoughts on their theme.

The catwalk, the death-drops, and the daring performance paved a grand exit for Baran and the rest of the graduating members of the squad.

“The whole journey in completing the routine was never easy. There were lots of trials and struggles, but it has given us [a] new set of friends and lessons that we will forever carry in our lives,” Baran concluded.

Before the muchawaited competition, the athletes took part in a pep rally, and the candidates for Ms. Liceolympics engaged in a battle of beauty and wits, wherein the Chimeras eventually nailed the title.

AVANT-GARDE. Soaring greater heights were the Mighty Griffins with their Vogue-inspired routine in the St. La Salle Coliseum.

photo by Kirstin Nicole K. Bueno

Jan Kristoffer J. Hinolan

games because we didn’t really care about winning at all,” said Clyde Humphrey Bacolor, the team captain of La Salle Green Hills’ (LSGH) football team.

Anchored not only on honing the skills of young athletes, Kat Tan, former basketball team member of De La Salle Zobel (DLSZ), along with Bea Tan and Giselle Tan, USLS alumnae and Philippine volleyball stars, fueled the participants’ determination in finding their purpose as an athlete during the Lasallian Formation series and team-building activities.

The athletes also went to Magikland, a theme park in Silay City, together with select volunteers during the penultimate day of the event.

“Two factors made InterLaSalle successful. First, the support of the USLS

administration led by our Brother President and the De La Salle Philippines Basic Education Commission. [….] Second, and probably the most important factor, was the devotion of almost 300 teachers and student volunteers from Integrated School and Liceo during that one week,” Basic Education Principal Br. Francisco “Sockie” de la Rosa VI, FSC remarked.

Behind the event were 357 volunteers who worked hand-in-hand to make this year’s InterLaSalle as successful as the last time USLS hosted the camp in 2015.

“InterLaSalle taught us to go back to the basics. The objective was for Lasallian athletes to bond through sports. We achieved it through thorough planning, superior logistics, and devoted hard work,” de la Rosa concluded.

Paris seizes historic House Cup victory Lance Rafael M. Lazaro

With a notable feat of remaining unbeaten throughout the year, golden beams shone the brightest as the House of Paris was hailed as this year’s House Cup champion during the awarding ceremony at the St. La Salle Coliseum on Feb. 5.

Roaring cheers from the victorious Golden Chimeras filled the coliseum as they amassed a total of 2,095 points, leaving the houses of Rheims, Parmenie, and Rouen in a runner-up trail with 1,880.5, 1,805, and 1,760 points.

The first major event that pitted the houses was the Mr. and Ms. Wellness 2019, a pageant primed to promote holistic wellness in celebration of the Nutrition Month, wherein the houses of Paris and Rouen reaped the titles, respectively.

The houses came face-to-face once more in the literary-musical events of the Patimpalak sa Literari at Sayawit and Patimpalak sa Musikal at Katutubong Sayaw during the Buwan ng Wika celebration, with the Golden Chimeras still

snatching the overall top spot.

Moreover, the Red Phoenixes of the House of Rheims reasserted their supremacy in the field after banking multiple wins in various Filipino games, clutching the Larong Pinoy 2019 crown as part of the Buwan ng Wika festivity.

Leaving another legacy, the House of Parmenie gained a 2-peat title after dominating the different events of the LiterarySpeechfest 2019, themed: “English: Language of Diversity”, organized by the Liceo English Department to strengthen competencies in the English language.

The final match of the four houses took place in “Liceolympics 2020: The Quest for Glory”, wherein the House of Paris accumulated just enough points to dethrone the reigning champion, the House of Rheims.

The Chimeras’ performance in the year-long competition came to a successful run as they set the bar high for the houses vying to claim the mostcoveted trophy next year.

THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE — SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL • VOLUME 4 ISSUE 3 • JANUARY TO APRIL 2020

WHISTLE-STOP. Gerhard Moreno (in white) from the University of St. La Salle (USLS) overtakes his opponent from De La Salle Santiago Zobel (DLSZ) in a football match on Jan. 29. photo by Charlize Reyanette T. Nicasio

JANUARY TO APRIL 2020 • VOLUME 4 ISSUE 3

4 2 SCIence & TECHnology editorial Infectious and lethal.

These are the words tagged to the 2019 coronavirus disease that has engulfed the world in a pandemic.

Despite the attempts to circumvent the spread, the virus has set itself in over 150 countries, leaving illness and death behind.

However, these words are also fit to describe something just as dangerous: fake news.

In late February, when the virus began to make its way across the globe, an alarming number of people ingested rubbing alcohol as a “cure”. If it disinfects your hands, imagine what it can do to your internal system; this idea circulated on social media as a joke, untrue and conceived “just for fun”.

This joke has killed more than 50 people.

Misinformation has been the root of numerous complications; this is a prime example of things getting way out of hand. They can happen by accident, but all actions have One of the tallest walls standing between us and gender equality is the continuing silence toward priced menstrual pads.

Biology decided that when puberty dawns, women are bound to undergo their menstrual period—to which the rest of the world responded with peso signs in its eyes.

Since tampons and pads are necessary, capitalists see it as a booming opportunity to sell.

Excreting wastes is deemed as a natural process, which is acknowledged by the majority due to the constant availability of free toilet paper. However, when it comes to a natural process only applicable to women, how come it is default to make some profit out of it?

Half-Meant

consequences and some of them happen to be truly grave.

What good do posts like these do?

They’re good at getting laughs out of people, sure.

It is agreeable that people need a pick-me-up in these dark times, but this does not seem worth it when people get mortally hurt by them. To spread a dangerous concept with the knowledge that it can cause bodily damage is downright sinister, not to mention criminal.

The saying goes, “speak only when your words are better than your silence.”

This is applicable especially when your words have the potential to land you in trouble with the law and cause someone harm. In this modern age, fake news spreads as fast as a virus —even if made in jest. Be careful with the information you share; what you take to be a gag can lead someone else to hurt themselves.

Jokes are funny, but not when they put people in danger.

illustration by Earl Joshua A. Estores

Period.

The worst part is, the prices vary depending on the bells and whistles your preferred toiletry has. If you prefer a tampon over a pad, you have to pay the extra fee.

The only differences between both are that menstruation only applies to

women and that it only occurs three to seven days a month, wherein excreting urine and feces would drop by any time of the day. Both toilet paper and pads serve the same purpose—but not the same master. However, these differences aren’t even close

People run around and put price tags on menstrual necessities as if every single woman on Earth asked for menstruation.

to being enough in justifying why women can’t have free pads or tampons stationed in public bathrooms, when biology was never in their control.

Equality seems to be a banner raised in a number of places these days.

However, cowering behind it is the crippling principle of menstruation that exposes its rift; the controversial issue that unravels the boundaries of human rights, or should I say, women’s rights. Due to the grips of capitalism and inequality, young girls pay the price when their period comes unexpectedly or when they forget to bring extra tampons or pads.

People run around and put price tags on menstrual necessities as if

every single woman on Earth asked for menstruation.

However, what if both men and women had periods?

I bet we wouldn’t be having this conversation in the first place.

I’m With ‘Them’

“That’s my friend Justin.

They are coming to visit next week.”

The singular form of the pronouns they, them, and their have long since been in use throughout written history. Numerous works of literature have been published detailing these examples; however, they are taking a new form—a pronoun for nonbinary people.

Nonbinary people are individuals who identify as neither male nor female.

Although people have generally accepted this fact, many still fail to comprehend that they, too, deserve a pronoun of their own.

One argument that

people have always leaned on to debacle the use of these plural pronouns as a singular form would be that “it would destroy ancient and universal linguistic distinctions of gender and distinction between the singular and the plural”. In contrast to what this misconception states, language, by definition and usage, is an entity that changes and morphs accordingly with its speakers.

Therefore, the need to adapt to modern times is exactly what the lexicon needs.

Another bullet for non-supporters of them is that this trans propaganda of abolishing differences in gender would further complicate thing—this is nothing short of a mere

misconception. By advocating a universal pronoun, it paves the way for people to freely express themselves.

We have long since overcome prescriptive usage of the lexicon. One example would be the 1970s’ invention of ‘Ms.’, which gave women the option not to be defined by their marital status.

Should modern phraseology disgust the listener, the problem would fall to something a little more than the language itself—prejudice.

If they condemn modern usage, one could only imagine what they would have to say for Shakespeare’s iconic use of syntax, but let’s not go there—yet.

That one calls for an entirely different topic all on its own.

Should modern phraseology disgust the listener, the problem would fall to something a little more than the language itself— prejudice.

THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE — SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL • VOLUME 4 ISSUE 3 • JANUARY TO APRIL 2020

3

opinion

Feeding Failure’s Wrong Way of Correct a Failure

If you speak to comfort yourself, speak only in front of the mirror.

I was taking a break from a deadly three-hour review session when I encountered something on my newsfeed for the nth time: Grades do not define your intelligence. I fought the urge to click that red reaction button. Why can’t people stop using this card to comfort themselves?

Unknowingly, this pulls them down harder, deeper.

Grades may not define your intelligence, but it does define you as a person— making them even more important.

It’s tiring to see people romanticize failure as if it’s a requirement for success.

You will never know what people had to go through just to avoid failing. Some had it easy, but some had it in ways you can’t fathom. Behind those high grades are not just skipped meals and sleepless nights but missed reunions, family pressure, and self-doubts.

It may not be the intention, but by putting failure on a pedestal, you are also depriving these people of the credit they deserve.

Not everyone has the privilege to not need those high grades.

I have a friend who is a scholar of the university, and I can’t count the times that she panicked because of our teachers posting initial grades without prior notice. For scholars like them, high grades determine their time in the university —it’s either go big or go home.

Stop ruining what could happen by romanticizing what just happened.

Everyone moves at a different pace. The moment you stumbled may be the

The idea that failure is the first step to success may be true, but it’s not universal.

A villain is a victim whose story has not been told.

Some of you might read that line in Chris Colfer’s The Land of Stories; but this time, it came to life in a ninehour hostage situation at the Greenhills Shopping Center.

The hostage-taker was Alchie Paray, a former security guard at Greenhills Virra Mall; it was revealed that he was discharged from his post and was about to be “reassigned”.

However, it seemed that his ‘reassignment’ was his bosses’ way of saying “you’re fired”.

Paray let go of the 30 hostages with nobody hurt and expressed the situation he was in. He was offered 1,000,000PHP, but

time someone finally had the courage to stand up.

By idealizing failures, you could have discouraged someone who is a step away from that coveted distinction. Do not further drag others and yourself into a demise many have already fallen into.

The idea that failure is the first step to success may be true, but it’s not universal. Not everyone has the same circumstances, so don’t compare yourself to Bill Gates, who, despite being a drop-out, is one of the world’s richest men.

The thing is, Gates dropped out from Harvard —not senior high school.

he refused. All he wanted was to be heard—for every Filipino employee to be heard.

One thing that Paray shared was the evident corruption in his workplace and how the patronage system prospers.

At the press conference arranged at his request, he mentioned that his reassignment was ordered when his bosses were allegedly bribed with 5,000 PHP by a tenant, taunting him for implementing the mall’s “No ID, No Entry”

policy before mall hours.

Being discharged for doing his job properly, there is so much reason for Paray’s outrage.

What’s more interesting was how the people reacted to this statement of Paray.

Instead of throwing criticism because of the incident, the people understood how desperate and unheard he was; how the security guards, and the employees in general, experienced bias—it only indicates how provoked people are with this system.

“Bago ko po ito ginawa, alam ko na yung kahihinatnan ko. Pinaplano ko pa lang ‘to, patay na ako.” Paray expected to die.

Instead, he became the hope—the hope of every Filipino employee, waiting to be heard.

The security guard may be a villain by law; but now that his story is told, he became the people’s best kind of hero.

He was offered 1,000,000PHP, but he refused. All he wanted was to be heard—for every Filipino employee to be heard.

Hang-guardian ka na lang!

More is not always merrier —at least not in this case.

The University of St. La Salle security guards hold the key to our entrance; we become familiar with these “guardians of the gates” as we enter and exit from the school.

However, this familiarity may

exceed the regular prescription—it could pose security threats to the university and the personnel thereof.

Hallways echo with the various nicknames of the staff.

Giving nicknames is our way to be friendly, but by breeding such “friendly” bonds among the students and security guards, the guards may be coaxed to allow a student to enter the campus without an ID, considering them “familiar”.

This poses a threat to the people inside the university if the guards assumed wrong.

Another danger is that the university staff may become excessively close to the security officials.

When professionalism is overcome,

such interaction may yield a dark agendum. A specific example: In Dasmariñas, a trusted employee of a pawnshop was accused of participating in the robbery of 500,000 PHP worth of assets by opening the gate for the two accused robbers.

In a similar way, the

inappropriate familiarity between the staff and the guards could undermine the university’s security.

Such individuals may together conspire to commit a felony—which is punishable by law under Article 8 of the Philippine Revised Penal Code.

Showing respect and

Showing respect and politeness to the workers in the university are good qualities of Lasallians, but, to avoid unwanted consequences, let us keep it professional. illustration by Michelle C. Tupas

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politeness to the workers in the university are good qualities of Lasallians, but, to avoid unwanted consequences, let us keep it professional.

The more they know about us, and vice versa, is not exactly merry. However, the more we know about our actions and the consequences they bring is merry, indeed.

4 SCIence science & technology TECHnology the e ’ s toward happiness Karen E. Pico

Disclaimer: This guide does not necessarily guarantee happiness for all types of people. These techniques are just results of numerous studies conducted, but it does not erase one’s sadness and generate instant happiness in a trice.

How do you define happiness? I bet you cannot exactly put it in words, but you know it when you feel it. Fortunately, Courtney Ackerman did the research for us: Happiness is a state of feeling or showing pleasure or contentment. During these dark moments in our lives, we are forced to think that happiness is out of our reach—only to realize that it thrives in the simplest ways imaginable and can be done in our daily lives.

1.Eat Healthy Breakfasts

As active citizens of society, our schedules are most likely jammed with priorities, thus having no time to eat breakfast. However, it is not called “the most important meal of the day” for nothing. Studies show that eating healthy breakfasts boosts one’s energy, resulting to productivity and confidence throughout the day. Lauren Blake, a registered dietitian, provided a tip on how to create one: It must consist of high amounts of protein, fats, and complex carbohydrates. Recipes of perfect combos are available online, but wouldn’t it be great to have some of ‘em eggs and nuts for breakfast?

2.Etch that Smile on Your Face

Bojack Horseman has one secret to share about happiness: “Just pretend you are happy, and eventually, you’ll forget you’re pretending”. Well, according to science, he is not wrong. Neurologist Isha Gupta explained that a smile prompts a chemical reaction to the brain, thus releasing certain hormones including the happy hormones: dopamine and serotonin. The act can also help reduce stress, lower heart rate, and strengthen immunity. Oh, what a mouth can do. Fake it ‘til you make it, sis.

3.Encourage and Help Others

Just do it. It wouldn’t only help your well-being but your fellows’ as well. Studies have shown that one should dedicate at least two hours each week to help another creature. May it be teaching a classmate with a subject he struggles with, offering a hand for an elderly to cross the street, or feeding a stray cat. After conducting an experiment, Martin Seligman explains that “kindness produces the single most reliable momentary increase in well-being.” So go ahead and spread your light—you never know what your spark can do.

4.Embrace and Cuddle

I know. I get it. The COVID-19 pandemic had made us terrified of being with another person within six feet, let alone snuggle up against them. However, if you have been in quarantine together, know that cuddling with someone you care about releases oxytocin from your brain. This warm, love hormone promotes feelings of love, bonding, and well-being. Today, it might still be dangerous, but once we settle ourselves into the new normal, cuddle with your loved one; never forget that there was once a time that to love means to keep your hands to yourself.

So, there you have it, the E’s toward achieving a certain human emotion using techniques supported by science. As the current situation slowly darkens our vision, never forget that the light is within you. Never let it stop burning. It’s not E-sy to follow through, of course, but go ahead and give it E-try!

Royal Blue

illustration by Mary Andrea S. Geolingo

Khriztyl Grace J. Bulao

Wo r ld War Z Kim T. Diaz

MAR. 19, 2019—The academic year has come to a close.

All that remained were the last few weeks, but it was announced that exams were cancelled and everyone should go home. School’s over, kids.

This dream-come-true scenario is uppercut by the sinister fact that routine life has halted because of a global pandemic: the new coronavirus disease.

While the 2019 outbreak turned our lives upside down, it isn’t the first time it’s happened.

Two deadly afflictions with mortality rates higher than Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), are also classified as coronaviruses. What makes COVID-19 a true force to be reckoned with is that it’s spread so far—with much haste.

Despite closed borders and travel bans, the virus

illustration by Mary Andrea S. Geolingo

has made its way to over 150 countries, leaving terror in its wake.

Holistically-fit people infected with the disease have testified that it’s nothing worse than a bad cold, characterized by sore throats and runny noses, but that’s not the problem.

What about people with compromised immune systems?

The virus is especially lethal to the elderly and individuals with pre-existing conditions. Its 3% mortality rate is innocuous at first glance. That’s nothing to worry about, right? MERSCoV had a rate of 35%, and we were fine—this is a sore misconception. Infecting 2,506 people and leaving 862 dead, it doesn’t hold a candle to the fact that COVID-19 has spread to more than 200,000 people and killed over 8,000.

In serious cases where it doesn’t result in death, it can leave behind a myriad of health issues, like organ failure, pneumonia, and other respiratory complications.

With this disease, prevention really is better than cure; once it sets in, it might be too late.

Primary attempts to combat the virus remain to be the most effective. Social distancing, when carried out completely, effectively slows the spread.

Fundamentally, the steps to fighting the virus are as simple as dodging other diseases: practice proper hygiene, stay at home, and avoid other people.

However, predominantly in Third World countries like the Philippines, this is difficult to do. “Staying at home” reveals the problems within complex societal issues, class gaps, and structured lifestyles that further enable the virus to run rampant, especially among the poor.

Here,things can’t be dealt in absolutes; we only do what we can.

Think twice. Even if you deem yourself safe from the virus, do what you can to fight against it; your life isn’t the one on the line.

During the summer of 1853, the Buckingham Palace had wracked with wails and bawls of a newborn baby that eventually brought forth a wreckage to the royal family itself. Gifted with a newborn prince, the castle entrapped the boy within its walls, giving him the only place to live through his childhood.

Being a particularly clumsy child, it worried the queen for the prince took days to recover from minor incidents. One of the oddest things that caused a ruckus, were mysterious bruises that appeared on his skin, leaving him slumped in bed with an unknown fever. It caused a major stir to the kingdom, especially to doctors, because of this unusual condition of the young royal.

The reason for these bruises was a disease called Haemophilia discovered in the 19th century. The people found themselves entitling it overtime as “royal disease” for it caused a mishap to the blue lineage.

It happens to be a rare occurring disorder that prevents the blood to clot properly. Basically, it lacks the attention of the blood-clotting proteins.

A mutation takes place in one specific gene that is responsible to send a message to clotting proteins to form a blood clot.

Fingers can be pointed to this mutation for it is the one solely responsible for preventing the proteins to work properly. Basically

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letting blood flow freely without proper consent.

Marriage within the royal family had become the norm, hence their weird obsession in keeping their blue bloodline, resulting in a disease that comes close to a consequence.

Thus, Prince Leopold inherited the disease from his mother, Queen Victoria, and passed on to his lineage that eventually ravaged the royal houses in Europe.

Haemophilia has been known to originate from heredity, but the root of all causes comes back through the time where blue blood wished to remain blue.

If you ever think about being a royal comes in the form of perfect manners, perfect posture, or perfect life. Look a little closer, behind the castle walls is a throne lined with more imperfections than you think.

illustration by Mary Andrea S. Geolingo

science & technology 5 A

B

One Giant L eap For

O Ma nkind

Justin Andrei D. Tanilon

Living on Earth has been an absolute blast.

Hate to burst one’s bubble, but the problem is, along with the pleasures of existing on this life-filled planet, comes pollution, limited resources, and a lot of other modern-day problems. Believe it or not, only the pouring of the hourglass can tell when humans, as smart and as advanced as we are, will run out of solutions.

Fret not! What if one were to tell you that we need not face a certain doom?

What if the solution lies beyond what beholds our very eyes when we gaze at the sky?

In the 2014 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science

Plan, the administration described “The Search For Life”, a program whose primary goals are to discover planets around other stars, characterize their properties, and identify planets that could harbor life.

Before we delve deeper into this futuristic adventure, let us take a few steps back to 1995.

When NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope science team was doing a 10day trial run, one thing had caught their attention—the detection of a rocky, Earth-sized planet outside the solar system. Kepler-10b, the planet that was sighted that day, was the buena mano to an incoming rush of exoplanet discovery. Skyrocketing exoplanet discovery two decades after,

No, Do illustration by Chelsea Anne A. Rallos

Kyna D. Hosillos Let’s be honest—we all hate chores. After all, don’t we have better things to do? Have no fear because your personal assistant is almost here ! Indeed, it’s only a matter of time before a private robo-butler come s knocking by yo ur doorstep.

Just to give you a heads up, anything humans do, machines can do better.

Recently, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers have designed a system that allows androids to learn these menial tasks—all through the power of artificial intelligence

thousands of other possible Earths have been discovered, existing right under the Milky Way’s nose. Since the discovery of the first exoplanet, now known as 51 Pegasi b, and only a small percentage of our galaxy ventured, it is safe to say that we have found not only one nugget but a whole treasure box.

Exoplanets, by definition, are planets found outside the solar system that orbit a star, much like Earth orbits the sun.

Most exoplanets discovered were detected with the use of two methods: the transit method and radial velocity.

The transit method looks for evidence, such as dips, that would suggest that a planet is across a star. On the other hand, radial velocity

You It!

(AI).

Although these prototypes can barely set a dining table, robotic advancements are still being made every year.

Aside from that, American Aeolus home-bots have emerged into the global market. These model Asian humanoids could recognize family members, operate cleaning equipment, and store various objects. It can even serve you some cold beverages, as you sit back and watch.

Despite the lack of a medical degree, these personal healthcare assistants are surely qualified to nurse the elderly as well.

Say goodbye to burnt breakfasts and hello to Michelin-star dinners!

Thanks to UK-based company Moley Robotics, humans would never have to cook again.

The company’s remote access system features two sleek, mechanical arms;

both of which store thousands of recipes and h and l e f re s h ingredients. So you can count on flavorsome feasts to await your arrival home.

Besides, nothing else flexes more than a robotic kitchen.

Looks like origami -ing fabrics would be rituals of the past, especially with the Foldimate. This California home-bot folds your laundry within seconds and even features unlimited capacity.

Similar to a copy machine, clothes are clipped and fed through the pincher trays, to be neatly stacked at the bottom of the device. The initial 1,000USD price tag would intimidate anyone.

So for now, the best folding gadgets are still your hands.

With some blue bills, our Baymax dreams could finally become reality.

One thing is for sure: This marks the beginning of the e nd of humanity’s household chores.

observes repeated wobbles in a star’s movements, which may be caused by the planet’s gravitational pull affecting its movement.

With these methods, thousands of other exoplanets have been found.

Unless mankind could bend the fabric of the space-time continuum, it’s sad to say that there is no way to actually set foot on these planets. Why? Because they are thousands of light-years away from our own.

Decades after, in 2016, the closest Earth-like alien planet was discovered hanging around the nearest star, Proxima Centauri. Proxima B, the planet who circles in the “habitable zone” of the star, has a huge possibility to have liquid water

w

Q

and life on its surface. In some accounts, others claim that 20 to 30 years from now, given the rate at which human technology is advancing, there is a big possibility that humans could actually take a giant step and land on the surface.

For now, with cutting-edge technology and fuel for intergalactic travel, the rate of finding new and thrilling exoplanets continues to rise.

Come to think of it, we’ve only discovered the smallest tip of the iceberg; the whole universe awaits. Who knows, maybe a few centuries from now, humans could be chilling in their backyards, grilling barbeque, and talking about some ancient history—a time where mankind once lived on planet Earth.

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Disconnection in Connection Krisla Gail J. Batac Aren’t you glad you live in a time where technology exists?

Technology has opened up doors that led to easier and smoother ways of communicating, helping us cover even larger scales. It is common knowledge that back then, communicating was a bit tedious to do.

It took days up to weeks to send a message to someone—late night talks were not a thing then. To be updated, you would have to wait for the newspaper to arrive; even then, the newspaper will not deliver news as fast as the internet live news updates nowadays. Since you can only directly talk to people at arm’s length, it also took a lot of effort to reach out to many people when necessary.

There are more examples of convenient communication thanks to technological advancements.

A single post can reach hundreds and thousands of people—you can go viral in a matter of hours. A message

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can be sent as fast as lightning— maybe even faster. A click can do so much for us that sometimes, we fail to comprehend how convenient technology is.

However, it has become too convenient.

It is disheartening that some people would choose a stronger internet connection than real life social connection. People are so used to everything being instant and easy that you don’t take the time to create meaningful relationships with people around you.

However, it is not too late to improve. Look up from your gadget. See if there is a person in front of you and talk to them. If not, look for someone and have a chat with them.

Sure, connecting with people through technology is faster and easier, but connecting with people in real life is more meaningful. Besides, technology is just an accessory.

It should be medium for connection, not a reason for disconnection. illustration by Chelsea Anne A. Rallos

4 6 SCIence & TECHnology news photo by Charlize Reyanette T. Nicasio

No awarding due to COVID-19

DAUNTLESS. Arts and Design students take the challenge of “Lakbay: All for One, One for All”, an amazing race prepared by the strand’s council to unite the arts community.

Strand Week emphasizes career path significance Josie Ann H. Apdol

To aid the students in establishing concrete career plans for the future, “Strand Week 2020: Inspiring the Generation of Tomorrow” was made possible by the Student Activities Council (SAC), together with the five strand councils, to nurture the aptitude and skills of the Liceo community on Jan. 28–31.

Upon the first day of the celebration, SAC conducted “Liceo Hunger Games”, a week-long activity that tested the camaraderie and competitiveness of each section as they battled to find as many hiding section representatives as possible around the campus.

On the other hand, the Arts and Design Council organized “Arte: Find your Style” workshop, while the TechnicalVocational and Livelihood (TVL) Council relived “Liceo Masterchef Season 2”.

The following day was composed of Arts and Design’s amazing race entitled “Lakbay: The Strength of One is the Strength

of All” and the Humanities and Social Sciences’ (HUMSS) “Talktorook”, a talk about awakening the passion within.

During the third day, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Accountancy and Business Management (ABM) councils conducted a Robotics Workshop and “Ignium: Kindling Victorious Futures Within” seminar, respectively.

“The main goal of the Robotics Workshop was to expose STEM students to programming and other STEM concepts, which are not part of the school’s curriculum. These concepts are especially relevant to our technology-driven society,” former STEM Governor Marianna Pepingco said.

Furthermore, the ABM Council arranged three different competitions on the last day: “Wandering the Negros Wonders”, “Accounting Quiz Bowl: The Showdown of Eminence and Intellect” and “Marketers’ Expo: Battle of the Business Minds”, all primed on honing the abilities specialized by the aforementioned strand.

Liceo names top students, orgs in first Laurier de La Salle Micholle P. Cortezano & Lance Rafael M. Lazaro

Acknowledging the efforts exerted by the students for Academic Year 2019– 2020, the Student Activities Council (SAC) instigated the first-ever “Laurier de La Salle”, an awardgiving program primed to recognize outstanding Lasallian individuals and organizations in the fields of arts, service, and leadership on Mar. 25.

Among the accredited clubs for Academic Year 2020 –2021 were Argumentum, the Liceo Debate Society, Berdeng Parola, Kapawa, Liceo Discipline Marshalls (LDM), The Liceo-De La Salle Yearbook, Young Educators for Service (YES) Club, Mimesis – Media Arts Club, Eco Warriors – Environmental Service Club, Sci-Kicks, and Liceo Math,

Sports, and Dance clubs.

“The purpose of Laurier de La Salle is to honor and celebrate the hardships and achievements of the student leaders here in Liceo. [They] should be [awarded] for [the] knowledge, talents, and skills that they have [shared for] the entire school year,” Martina Ferrer, previous SAC executive secretary, stated.

For the individual categories, the council awarded Jose Diaz, Arh Jay Perez, Ian Malapitan, and Tatiana Pono as the most outstanding students for culture and the arts, environmental advocacy, spiritual advocacy, and community service, respectively.

In addition, Danielle Alambra, Aislin Sabusap, John Alejano, Kyle Mayo,

and Marianna Pepingco were consecutively acclaimed as the most outstanding class mayor, club member, club president, house coordinator, and strand governor.

Moreover, for the group category, SAC hailed the House of Paris as the most outstanding house committee, Argumentum as the most outstanding club, and the Accountancy and Business Management (ABM) Council as the most outstanding strand council.

The announcement of winners, which was supposed to be on Mar. 27 at Sugarland Hotel, was done virtually due to the community quarantine imposed throughout the country in response t0 the coronavirus d is e as e 2019 (COVID-19).

Jed Emmanuel M. Reysoma Armed with wit and wisdom, challengers from the four houses clashed in the first-e ver Liceo Academic Festival initiated by the Student Activities Council (SAC), in partnership with the Argumentum, the Liceo Debate Society; Kapawa;Sci-kicks,the Lic e o Science Club; The Liceo Math Club; and Young Educators for Service (Y E S) Club, on Jan. 8–10 at the Moot Court and MM Audis A and B.

The festival comprises five competitions, namely the Battle of the Brains, “Big Brain Time”, “House Wars 2020”, “Social Science - YES!” , and “Wiz Bee”, which tested the intellect of the contestants in the fields of Science, English, History and Contemporary La Salle, Social Scien ce, and Mathematics, respectively.

“It is the Liceo Academic Festival’s primary intention to provide a fun and effective venue for the enrichment of academic knowledge,” remarked Franz Robert

Alolod, former SAC executive president.

The three-day event commenced with the Golden Chimeras and the Green Griffins topping off the other houses in the “Big Brain Time”and the Battle of the Brains, correspondingly.

Asserting dominance on the second day were the Blue Hydras as they conquered their opponents in the “Social Science Y E S !” quiz bee at the Moot Court.

The “Wiz Bee” and “House Wars 2020” were held during the concluding day of the festival, wherein the Blue Hydras and the Golden Chimeras consecutively roared for gold.

“We hope to empower every student’s academics by inspiring and motivating them to give importance to their studies and do better to reach academic success. Liceo [does not only] make talented kids and effective leaders, but it also molds bright learners who value academic excellence so much,” Alolod concluded.

photo by Charlize Rezanette T. Nicasio

Liceo houses battle in Academic Festival debut CIRCUMSPECT. Students of Liceo-De La Salle create change through ink and paper during the SAC elections at the Choa Co Siu Hoo Lobby.

LUPAD reclaims supremacy in SAC elections Nicole Kaye E. Lipa & Zoe Milabeth B. Bacnutan

Taking the next Liceo-De La Salle flight to better destinations, the Lasallian Union for Progressive Advocacies and Development (LUPAD) prevailed against the Association of Model Lasallians for an Improved Government (AMLIG) as the former secured 18 positions in the Student Activities Council (SAC) during the 2020 General Elections on Mar. 7.

The Liceo-De La Salle Commission on Elections (COMELEC) officially announced LUPAD’s landslide victory for the executive board consists of Kemuel Semillano, Stacy Caña,

Brian Mesada, Catherine Seminio, and Airis Serantes as the executive president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and public information officer (PIO), consecutively.

“It was a memorable journey that developed me as a leader and enlightened me as a person. [….] Just focus on the goal, have the courage to make a change […] and the faith in God that everything will turn out for the best,” said Semillano.

Moreover, the Big Four of the five strand councils, composed of a governor, vice governor, secretary, and treasurer, were dominated

by LUPAD, whereas AMLIG managed to snatch the Technical-Vocational and Livelihood (TVL) Council; Humanities and Social Sciences

THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE — SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL • VOLUME 4 ISSUE 3 • JANUARY TO APRIL 2020

(HUMSS) secretary and treasurer; and the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) governor.

“I look forward to meeting the standards and overall intentions of the student body, and to [implement] sustainable projects that would further advance the holistic development of Liceo,” STEM Governor Miguel Sanson stated.

Meanwhile, LUPAD’s house coordinators had a clean sweep with Kathleen Baldonado, Jhon Roland Padua, Renzy Capillo, and Andrea Sagario as the respective heads of Paris, Parmenie, Rheims, and Rouen.

“If you have a certain goal, you have to compromise some things in life. […] and if I did not sacrifice my time, I wouldn’t be elected,” Baldonado expressed.

prepared by Anastasia R. Alcantara, Rieden Denielle N. Cuadra, and Hannah Nicole R. Esblaca THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE — SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL • VOLUME 4 ISSUE 3 • JANUARY TO APRIL 2020

4 8 SCIence & TECHnology feature Aleia Nichole M. Tayo Art, in its purest form, is a masterpiece scathed with either blissful memories or abject wounds of its creator—it could even be both.

Sometimes, what we see in a painting isn’t all there is; sometimes, grotesque images hide behind the beautiful strokes; but most of the time, each piece of art holds a symbolic anecdote.

A madman. An utter failure. A lost cause.

Virtually unknown throughout his entire lifetime, this was how most people back then perceived the postimpressionist painter—Vincent Van Gogh—to be. Raised in a religious middle-class family, he was a serious yet expressive individual who gravitated toward brush strokes and colorful canvases.

Multiple shades add sophistication and character to a single color—something Van Gogh already knew. Made in Arles (south of France) in the years 1888 and 1889, the painting “Sunflowers” was only

NEW LIGHT

composed of three shades of yellow and nothing else. It symbolized a story of happiness and gratitude, especially to his friend—Paul Gaugin. However, not long after, the two found themselves thrown in a pit of quarrels that ended with Van Gogh severing a part of his ear.

The kind of gravity that drew Van Gogh closer to the majesty of his art, was the same kind that led him to the brink of insanity.

When Van Gogh began suffering from hallucinations and was sent to a mental asylum, there was a shift in the tone of his works. An epitome of this would be the dark shades exhibited by “Starry Night”, which was based on the artist’s view from his window. Fragments of his internal conflicts were cast in the painting; a work that depicts how the universe engulfs human settlement in a menacing way.

The painting also bridged the gap between dreamscape and reality with a subtle contrast—the swirling brush strokes forming the sky and the rigid lines forming the buildings of the town.

Strokes of psychopathic episodes; lines of lingering depression; and paintings of paralyzing anxiety. Theories regarding his specific illness clash in a battlefield of mere uncertainties. Some said he had bipolar disorder, others claimed he had temporal lobe epilepsy, and a number even said that he had more than one.

Though, one thing’s for sure, whatever Van Gogh suffered from drove the tone and message reflected in his works.

Although Van Gogh only sold one artwork in his lifetime, his legacy will forever be etched in art, the same way that a part of his soul is embedded in his masterpieces.

He aced the art of expressionism as he carved every crevice of his image into his paintings; to the

photo courtesy of IMDb

Grace Kay L. Milan

century roots—with recurring themes of women’s oppression, patriarchal marriage, and gender stereotypes.

However, the difficulty with such an intricate and analytical view of the story’s era was its presentation on

with a number even mimicking his own style. He not only altered the course of art history but also of other people’s dreams.

Chapfallen, a man embraced every bit of his humanity and created the most real form of art. Art that gripped reality’s embers; art that hid no darkness; art that gave a new light.

illustration by Eli T. Gozon

L i t t l e Wo m e n ( 2 01 9 ) : A Movie Review 9/10

She wanted the whole world or nothing at all.

This beautiful retelling of an old literary classic has captured the hearts of many in its depiction of the constraints faced by four sisters—in an era that held them in low regard.

Written and directed by Greta Gerwig, an American actress and filmmaker, this adaptation found an elegant balance between modernity and its 19th

extent that every exaggerated stroke was able to give art a new light.

His expressive use of color and brushwork influenced Expressionism, Fauvism, and early abstraction, along with other aspects of 20th-century art. Even until today, his legacy continues to shape the way mankind perceives the persona and beauty in art and literature. Van Gogh inspired countless to delve into a canvas,

the small screen. The timeless rearrangement of events was an imaginative tool used to express the March sisters’ stages of growth and development.

Unfortunately, this very characteristic posed a possible flaw. With loopholes and rooms for confusion due to the constant flash-forwards and flashbacks, the storyline can’t be deeply appreciated as the interpretation of the pieces is wholly up to the understanding of the viewer.

Nonetheless, the film was excellent in every aspect, most especially in terms of its cast and production.

Starring Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) along with her sisters Meg (Emma Watson), Beth (Eliza Scanlen), and Amy (Florence Pugh), the film portrayed their harmonious dynamic from teenage years to their coming-of-age in society.

With each sister carrying a different temperament, talent, and dream that seemed to complement one another, the overlapping of their personalities was exhilarating to say the least. Accompanied with handsome romance, Theodore “Laurie” Laurence (Timothée Chalamet), their spectacle of clamorous intimacy, wide ambition, and unorthodox nature were truly what made the movie an enjoyable and worthy watch.

Carrying the same sentiment, its production was exemplary as it added to the immersive elements of the film— with its stunning portrayal of high society and timely fashionable costume designs.

Inspiring countless women to make a breakthrough in a society that continues to underrate them, these ladies have made their marks loudly and fearlessly —breaking the prejudicial standards set upon them. In contrast to its diminutive title, these (be)little(d) women have made one of history’s biggest comebacks yet.

Rieden Denielle N. Cuadra Fear is a big player in our lives—the reluctant trigger preventing our eventual shot to the stars.

Although we’re pretty much hard-wired to fear, the best thing about it is we get to decide what nillies our willies. So, to defend ourselves from these lurking monsters, here are five not-so-fantastic fears and how to get over them.

Fear of Failure

Getting beat up by ourselves is what happens during our episodes of this fear, which is just us second-guessing on something we know we can do. Remember when we started walking for the first time? We fell again and again—until one day, we walked.

Fear of Public Speaking

Walking through this may be a recipe for disaster, but we often forget that this fear is entirely internal. It’s our fear of embarrassment—maybe we’ll stutter inside, mess up, or space out. To be fearless in front of a crowd, we need to rise above these thoughts.

We can start by raising a couple more hands in the classroom.

Fear of Rejection

Whatever form it took—such as getting shot down after asking somebody out, sending a friend request, or giving an idea for a project—rejection stung the same way. Perhaps we balled out a bit, but we have to keep going for it. Rejection is always better than regret; the world where we got rejected is better than the world where we did nothing at all.

Fear of Missing Out

These are the times when unstoppable forces—sleepovers, parties, events—meet immovable elements: strict parents, lacking economy, or limiting curfews. When met by incidents like these, it’s good practice to reflect for a bit—if the event was as good as we thought it was, we always have friends to tell the tale.

Fear of Fears

They say the worst thing to fear is fear itself. To be wildly chased by street dogs might be the bane of our existence, but we have to admit—they make for great stories. So, in order to conquer our fear of fears, we just have to embrace them.

For a long period of time, we’ve scoured in creative turmoil— endlessly postponing our plans for greatness. It’s time we unmask these fears as opportunities, and maybe then, we could finally shoot our shot—to infinity and beyond.

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feature O D D There are two major types of people in the society: One who fits the mold and another who is the mold.

Whether we like it or not, some things can only be acceptable if the majority agrees with them. With a certain standard being set by the masses, you might just want to keep yourself from opposing the norm. Because then, that would mean going against the justified—and being labeled as obnoxiously weird might be the last thing you’d fancy. However, a number of people seem to be

O n e immune to what others have to say about being the odd one out. Turns out, it’s not as bad as we thought it would be.

Take Madeline Stuart as a perfect example. While proportional bodies and flawless faces are emphasized by the fashion industry, this woman put on some stilettos and strutted down the runway despite having down syndrome. At the age of 21, she’s now become the “world’s most famous model with down syndrome”, as what people dubbed her. With a number of contracts from Vogue,

O u t Bea Rose M. Celo

Cosmopolitan, and Elle, she is now renowned as a supermodel —who has been changing society’s perception of beauty and “disabilities”. This just goes to say that beauty isn’t always 36-24-36―beauty is more than just numbers and symmetry.

To add another member into the “I’m-BreakingStereotypes-Club”, let us meet Japan’s Princess Ayako of Takamado. If you’re a fan of tiaras and thrones, you’ll surely love to know this royal. Talking about wealth, status, and title, this princess unquestionably

illustration by Charlize Reyanette T. Nicasio

possesses these. Yet, she was willing to sacrifice splendor in exchange for the love of her life―Kei Moriya, a commoner of Japan. In the good old traditional way, she lost her crown and the privileges that came with it, but she did find her happiness in a simple life.

In another controversy, K-pop girl group Mamamoo’s Ahn Hye-jin (also known as Hwasa) had something to point out, too. Last November, Hwasa stirred uproar from the netizens regarding her “no-bra” fashion in the airport; showing up with what

seemed like a “provocative” braless white shirt. She has then addressed a number of questions online, simply saying: “I’m dressing comfortably.”

To add, Mamamoo’s music video entitled “Hip” really shut down haters all the while empowering women to be comfortable in their own skin. Don’t we just love stanning an unbothered queen?

The society we live in today is the mold we try to squeeze ourselves into.

However, the odd ones will never ever fit in, but oh well, the great ones never do anyway.

THE EVERLASTING SH BT Anastasia R. Alcantara

Have you ever experienced something so beautiful you wanted it to last forever?

Through the advancement of technology combined with our natural inclination to the arts, any moment can be kept alive with the flash of a camera. Matt Dorimon Parreñas of Arts & Design 12-A moves this further with every picture he takes.

Due to light pollution, clouds almost always seem to obstruct your view at night—to the extent that you can count all the stars visible with your own two hands. However, if you’re lucky enough to stumble on a cloudless night with a camera in hand, the entire Milky Way could appear in your viewfinder. Matt seized this exact opportunity in Silay City, where he took his favorite piece last May 2019. He believes that you don’t need to go out of the country for that breathtaking shot—even Negros has its own share of interesting scenes.

“One of the most common issues with beginner photographers is the belief that gear equals amazing photos,” Matt stated when asked about advice he could give to those who are just starting out in the field.

This stands true, as there will always be a time wherein the weather just can’t seem to cooperate with your camera. Maybe you’ll have ideas for a beautiful shot during golden hour, but end up getting grey cumulus clouds instead, or maybe you envision your model’s long hair flowing in the wind, but end up with the location suffocating you with the lack of air. Matt believes that even if the environment is against you, you have to learn how to work with the conditions.

“They should first invest their time in learning as much as they can because most of the time, they give up when they fail. What they don’t realize is that failing is simply part of the process,” Matt continued his statement on beginners in his field.

Photography may not be a flashy talent like singing, dancing, or acting, but when you look at a picture up close, there’s a chance that you’ll have trouble looking away. Why? Maybe to a normal person taking photos is simply clicking a button and pointing it at whatever subject they desire. However, to Matt and to many photographers out there, it’s so much more than that. It’s an art to be taken seriously, since it is learned through hard work and dedication to improve oneself every day.

“I can do better in my field by knowing my stuff, understanding my camera, and attending workshops. It is important that I can accept critiques on my work and to never be lazy,” stated Matt as he clutched a camera in his hand.

Making memories last forever is no easy feat—though, taking a look at any photograph shot by Matt would make it seem to be that way. Who knows, with Matt’s advice maybe you, too, could make memories like him.

photo courtesy of Netflix

ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES: A MOVIE REVIEW Krisla Gail J. Batac You’ve been there before, right?

The place where darkness seeps through the cracks; the place where grotesque thoughts linger; and the place where light is but a mere fantasy.

Earlier this Feb. 2020, the world was gifted with the movie adaptation of Jennifer Niven’s novel, All The Bright Places. With the charming duo Violet Markey (Elle Fanning) and Theodore Finch (Justice Smith), the film received positive feedback from critics and movie lovers. Aside from the good old high school love story, its success was because of the underlying yet evident focus on the important role of mental health in our lives.

In the beginning, Theodore encountered Violet in her most vulnerable state as she stood at the edge of a bridge, pondering if she should take the leap out of life. After talking her down, they started to share a cherished bond as they opened up more to each other, showing the brightest and the darkest parts of their mind and soul.

This instance, along with many others, gave the movie a chance to showcase how

THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE — SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL • VOLUME 4 ISSUE 3 • JANUARY TO APRIL 2020

teenagers like them deal with their own mental health—through finding an environment devoid of judgment.

The Netflix original explored the ropes of mental illnesses with care and nuance, while still being enjoyable. It also featured a black teen, which shot down racism, especially in conversations about mental health.

It was about time we saw more variety—more representation. However, the movie failed to dive deep into Theodore’s story as much as they did Violet’s—his wasn’t given the depth that it deserved.

The film showed us how much weight one’s mental health has. One wrong event from our early years can affect the rest of our lives, like dominoes falling one after the other. Intangible thoughts can leave tangible damage if not dealt with properly. Dwelling on the dark parts of our minds can cause us to dwell into dark places.

However, there is always sunshine after night. Amidst the darkness, there’s always a tiny glow that leads to light.

Always look for the bright place. If you can’t seem to find one, be one.

prepared by Aleia Nichole M. Tayo and Martha Julian Samantha P. Jamero

12 4 SCIence & TECHnology literary

illustrations by andrea ymanuelle cervales THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE — SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL • VOLUME 4 ISSUE 3 • JANUARY TO APRIL 2020

literary

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14 4 SCIence & TECHnology news NSPC 2020 pushes through

Lasallian press represents WV amid COVID-19 Justin Andrei D. Tanilon

After the postponement of the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) 2020 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), three Lasallian journalists from Kapawa, the official Engli sh student publication of Liceo-De La Salle, repre sented the Western Visayas in NSPC 2020 on Mar. 9–13 at Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

Aaron Paul Infante, Jan Kristoffer Hinolan, and Karen Pico, from STEM 12-I, STEM 12-C, and ABM 12-A, re spectively, took a bet in copyreading and headline writing, science and technology writing, and sports writing competitions,correspondingly.

“Since the event was moved to a different date, we had to make several adjustments.

Athough I wasn’t able to bring home the bacon, representing my school and Western Visayas was an absolute pleasure, nonetheless. Fellow student journalists from all over the country were as stoked as we were,” remarked Hinolan.

NSPC 2020 was initially set on Feb. 17–20, but was moved to a later date, Mar. 9–13, due to the uprising threat of COVID-19.

“Participating in NSPC had always been a dream for me, and I couldn’t be any happier when it became a reality in my last year. It was remarkable—the thrill

of competing against every region’s finest campus journalists was one thing I will always want to feel again.

Yes, it could have gone better, especially if the parade and awarding ceremonies weren’t cancelled, but the people in Tuguegarao definitely compensated for what was affected by COVID-19. [… .]

I didn’t win, but I— everyone—was treated like a champion. And, for me, that speaks remarkably,” Infante stated.

Previously, Infante, Hinolan, and Pico bagged the 3rd, 1st, and 2nd places in their respective categories in the Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) 2019, earning them a spot in the nationals.

Argumentum clinches silver in national debate Dominic Jude C. Ciocon & Athena D. Ledesma Uplifting the criterion of Lasallian debaters, Argumentum: The Liceo Debate Society, was acclaimed as the 1st runner-up among 13 rival schools and universities during the 6th Iloilo National Intervarsity Debate on Feb. 23 at the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV).

The debaters from Liceo-De La Salle were divided into two competing groups: Team Argumentum with John Edward Alejano, Joseph Patrick Ledesma, and Chrysian Rae Montoro and Team Liceo Debate Society with Bonifer Gotas, Rien Nillos, and Eazel Sevilleno, along with Johmeil Monsale and Rhea Maristella Ramos, the

adjudicator and appointed researcher, correspondingly.

Team Argumentum prevailed in the high school category, snatching the 2nd spot with Alejano, Montoro, and Ledesma as the prime minister, deputy prime minister, and government whip, respectively.

“When we feel like we can’t trust ourselves in a battle, all that we have to think is that, we don’t have to face it alone. [….] Every time I feel anxious seconds before every debate, all that I tell myself was that I wasn’t only representing myself; I was there to represent Argumentum and the entire Liceo community. ” Alejano stated.

Additionally, four representatives were among the top 10 Best Speakers of the competition, with Montoro, Alejano, Ledesma,

and Gotas consecutively claiming 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 8th places.

“To be precise, I was excited about two things: meeting different debaters from other top universities in the Philippines and having a fruitful and wholesome discourse with them. It was truly empowering to be able to discuss social issues, theories, and concepts with the most brilliant minds of today’s generation. Not to mention, all of these led me to feel the most honored and privileged,” Alejano concluded.

Team Argumentum netted the award against Iloilo National High School (INHS) during their final deliberation regarding the educational system’s focus on shaping the students in becoming global citizens in the future.

photo courtesy of Charina Puentevella

SHREWD. Representatives from Argumentum, the Liceo Debate Society, reaps the wit that they sowed in the 6th Iloilo National Intervarsity Debate at the University of the Philippine Visayas.

photo by Charlize Reyanette T. Nicasio

KNITTED. The four house colors fused together as students, parents, and faculty and staff play Bingo during the Liceo Family Day.

One La Salle mantra prevails in Liceo Family Day Anastasia R. Alcantara The Liceo Parents Association (LPA) and the Student Activities Council (SAC) gathered the students, parents, and faculty and staff of Liceo-De La Salle for the annual Liceo Family Day celebration on Feb. 23 at the St. La Salle Coliseum.

The participants were adorned with their respective house colors and played games such as bingo, dodgeball, and a 3x3 basketball tournament at a race to gather the most house points.

After an official opening ceremony for the event, bingo cards were distributed to the players with prizes reaching up to 5,000PHP and gift cards from SM City Bacolod.

The Green Griffins reigned in dodgeball, garnering a total of 10 points for their house, whereas the Fiery Phoenixes followed suit with eight points, along with the houses of Paris and

Rouen in the 3rd and 4th places, respectively.

Exhibiting their tenacity in basketball, the House of Rheims set the court ablaze during the 3x3 basketball tournament, bringing home the championship and leaving the other houses in a runner-up trail.

“Due to their loss in the final match of men’s basketball with Rouen during Liceolympics, [which is a] day prior to the 3x3 men’s basketball tournament, the boys were motivated to win this and prove that we can and we want to make our parents and our house proud,” said Karlou Santillana, House of Rheims moderator.

Following the Family Day celebration, the closing program for Liceolympics 2020 was held in the evening with various dance competitions and the announcement of the Liceolympics and the House Cup champions.

COVID-19 delays graduation Kim T. Diaz Ending the academic year was the postponement of Liceo-De La Salle’s third Graduation Ceremony, which was primarily scheduled on Apr. 3 but was dropped in light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, affecting the 1,310 graduating students.

Of the graduates, 626 were from the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) strand, 441 were from the Accountancy and Business Management (ABM) strand, 168 were from the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand, 44 from the Technical Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) Home Economics in Cookery, and 31 from the Arts and Design track.

“We decided to postpone because at that time we were not sure about the dangers of the virus and we wanted to err on the side of safety.

Also, our local government, if I remember correctly, asked that no graduations be held,” said Basic Education Principal Br.

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Francisco “Sockie” de la Rosa VI, FSC. The community quarantine placed in the city of Bacolod halted the graduation rites, which include the receiving of diplomas, awards of distinction, and special awards.

“Graduation is the goal of every student. [….]

Hearing the cancellation of our graduation ceremony is disappointing since we made efforts to pass every subject to make it to the end of the school year. Graduating without the graduation ceremony is like a puzzle with a missing piece—it’s incomplete. We may have our diplomas and certificates but the feeling and experience isn’t the same as marching and receiving them on stage,” remarked STEM 12-N student, John Mark Lapastora.

However, the Graduation Ceremony will still be held but with strict implementation of social distancing, while the fixed date of the event is yet to be announced.

entertainment

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prepared by Eli T. Gozon, Charlize Reyanette T. Nicasio, Kayla Angelique D. Castillo, Mary Andrea S. Geolingo and Hannah Nicole R. Esblaca

photo photo byby:Karen KarenE.E.Pico Pico

SPORTS

GOLDEN. The house of the champions proudly holds up their trophy.

Paris reclaims Liceolympics title Jan Kristoffer J. Hinolan

Comeback is real.

After the House of Rheims incinerated the three-peat dreams, this year, the Golden Chimeras from the House of Paris roared louder and unleashed their golden victors from within tallying 1,306 points to reclaim their crown as Liceolympics champion.

The defending champions, Rheims, trailed by only five points; Parmenie ended their campaign with 1,236 and Rouen with 1,209 to win as the 2nd and 3rd runners-up, respectively.

Despite pocketing victories in othello and Ms. Liceolympics, the House of Paris suffered a huge blow in the cheerdance competition and placed last along with the House of Rheims in the opening day tally with 115 points.

“We never really thought that we would land on the 4th place. Nonetheless, despite such unexpected turn of events, we never allowed ourselves to be discouraged. [….] The result served as our motivation to do better in the remaining days knowing that we needed to maintain our lead

in the House Cup,” remarked House Moderator Jade Alarcon.

After three days into the competition, the path to the top became more treacherous for the Golden Chimeras earning only 517 markers, finding themselves at the bottom of the standings—again.

“It was indeed an agonizing experience since it was almost impossible for us to redeem ourselves and win the title. Yet, we knew one thing is for sure, that we need to give justice to all their efforts through winning the other remaining events and if possible, secure our

tickets to the championship rounds,” remarked Alarcon.

The Golden Chimeras shook off the cobwebs of their shaky start Liceolympics campaign and secured several championships under their belt during the fourth day.

Crucial points coming from victories in the hip-hop competition and the Modern Standard category in dancesport during the closing ceremony sealed

Paris, Rouen dominate dancesport ‘20 Anastasia R. Alcantara

Ben Joseph L. Maido Checkmate. Ah, every time that dialogue is spoken, my intestines shamble, every hair in my body salutes and the smell of victory is once again felt.

KRING!! That loud five second bell rings and there you realize, books in, shades out as another chapter of an amazing summer is about to start. Out the door and people start to formulate exciting activities to do. During these sweaty summers, people usually stick to going to the beach, swimming, or finding an indoor sport to play. However, an underrated alternative and simple sport that can satisfy the need for fun without requiring rigid movements during these summer days is chess.

Most will never consider chess as an actual sport. Let alone call its players ‘athletes’.

However, as much skills are

needed for well-known sports like volleyball and basketball, the same goes with chess. Skills must be possessed to show assertion and dominate the game. The playing field may not be as big as that of a basketball court, but it is certain that it is able to give you the same intensity and rollercoaster ride as that of a finals ball game.

While many stress the need to get outside during the summer, playing chess is easy and accessible. Unlike other sports that require huge equipment to settle, chess boards can be brought to the beach, on a road trip, or even on a plane. Each move is critical and a single mistake could be fatal in your match.

The rules behind chess are simple. The two players are given multiple pieces each with a different purpose and how far they can shift. Tracks such as the complex “L” knight pieces can

move, the straight path rooks can conquer, and the great lengths a queen may travel.

With that, the 16 pieces and 64 squares will surely enhance your strategic capabilities.

The test of wits and intelligence make this sport more challenging. The ultimate dilemma one feels when sacrificing a piece. A consistent and reappearing question whether a sacrifice is well deserved, if eating a piece is worth it. Thinking moves ahead is what makes the game so intricate.

What stops you from trying chess? A board is not necessary. A quick download on your phone will surely give you the full experience. Summer will be over before too long, so while lying on the beach, or just relaxing at home, give chess a try. It won’t be long ‘til you beat someone and cockily say, “Checkmate”.

Shining brightly above the rest at the St. La Salle Coliseum, the houses of Paris and Rouen triumphed over their competitors in the Modern Standard and the Latin American categories of dancesport, respectively, on Feb. 23 during the Liceolympics closing ceremony.

The golden duo of the House of Paris, Patricia Tupaz and her partner Kenny Anlap, showcased their superior skill set in a medley of dances such as the waltz, foxtrot, and tango.

“My motivation in Modern dancesport is aiming to gain experience, always striving harder, and doing my best. Bagging the championship in Modern Standard was just a bonus because what really matters to me is the learning I gained from the competition,” stated Kenny

Anlap when asked upon what motivated him to win the championship title.

Following the House of Paris in 2nd place were the Blazing Phoenixes of the House of Rheims, the legacy creators of the House of Parmenie, and last but most certainly not the least: the hydras of the House of Rouen.

The Latin American category opened with the explosive music used in pasodoble; and athough all pairs exhibited talents not many possess, dance partners Chaira Juarez and Julianne Espinosa of the Blue Hydras were the greatest masters of the dance.

The Green Griffins of the House of Parmenie clinched the 2nd place title, followed by the Golden Chimeras’ duo on 3rd place and in fourth, the phoenixes of the House of Rheims.

photo by Chelsea Anne A. Rallos

Checkmate!

the deal for the Golden Chimeras.

“Teamwork became the foundation of our success. It is what bound us together until we became one family. We’ve stood, fought, and won the battle as one.

In addition, we do [believe] that [we’re] blessed to have members and committees who are passionate and committed [to] what they do,” uttered House of Paris Coordinator Kyle Jules Leonardo.

PIZZAZZ. Dancesport contestants dressed in extravagance vie for the crown.

THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE — SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL • VOLUME 4 ISSUE 3 • JANUARY TO APRIL 2020

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sports

Hydras conquer tides, bag swimming title

photo by Alyssa M. Rosales

photo by Alyssa M. Rosales

Ben Joseph L. Maido

DIVE. Swimmers from the House of Rouen take the plunge to victory.

One head after the other, the hydras of Rouen emerged from the seas as they conquered the overall swimming competition and ultimately bagged the championship on Feb. 29 in the “Liceolympics: The Quest for Glory”.

Furnished in royal blue, the swimmers from the House of Rouen started their victorious feat early in the morning and walked circles around their competitors until the afternoon and left the houses of Parmenie, Rheims, and Paris submerged underwater to secure their championship.

After placing a disappointing 4th place in the previous year, the Mighty Hydras of Rouen bounced back from their continuous losing streak in the swimming competition and proved that water is indeed their domain.

“Because I was the team captain in swimming for Rouen, I told myself that we will be the overall champions this year. And for it to actually happen,

with all the efforts put into every practice and the different trials I have faced and also what the team had faced, it was all worth it in the end,” Team Captain Gabriel Jalandoni uttered when asked of his inspiration for the title.

Despite falling short and only placing 1st runner-up in the women’s division, the men’s team of Rouen captured the championship in their own department and brought the total number of medals to 37 with 24 gold, 10 silver, and three bronze medals, respectively.

With Rouen on the top, the Blazing Phoenixes of Rheims were unable to defend their crown and eventually slid down the ranks, placing third in the overall competition.

Regardless of their championship in the women’s division, the Mighty Griffins of Parmenie were unable to bag the title and were put in 2nd place and left the Golden Chimeras at the bottom of the pack.

Aleia Nichole M. Tayo In this year’s Liceolympics, two houses caught the winning discs.

The Blazing Phoenixes and the Golden Chimeras dominated the field as they snatched the championship title in women’s and men’s frisbee, with the scores 5–4 and 9–6, respectively, at the Br. Roly R. Dizon, FSC Sports Complex on Feb. 21.

“Our win was made possible by the collective effort of each member of the team. We rose as champions in the spirit of camaraderie, trust, and cooperation,” stated the House of Rheims’

frisbee girls team captain, Shelby Mae Jeanjaquet, when asked what made their team bear the ch ampions’ crown.

Trailing behind the House of Rheims were the Mighty Griffins, the Golden Chimeras, and the Blue Hydras, respectively; for men’s frisbee, the Golden Chimeras bested the other houses as they threw their best disc out in the field.

When asked what made them win, a member of the team, Carlo Abaya, stated, “My team and I worked on doing our best in every single game, and just enjoyed ourselves

every time we stepped on the field. We didn’t let errors keep our hopes low, instead we took it as a challenge to do better.

Also, we practiced months before the event, grinding until the sun went down, and in my opinion, it really showed once we competed.”

Garnering 2nd place for men’s frisbee was the House of Parmenie, followed by the houses of Rheims and Rouen.

The houses of red and yellow triumphed against all odds and gained the upper hand as they ended their quest for glory.

photo by Kirstin Nicole K. Bueno

Phoenixes, Chimeras dominate frisbee tournament

FOREHAND. Rouen’s first singles player sends a forehand down the lane.

Rouen, Paris take lawn tennis crown

photo by Lucille Marie L. Magcumot

William Khalid Vibar

FACE-OFF. Matthew Benedicto (L) and Mark Riego (R) clash in the frisbee men’s finals.

With the power to conquer the tides and the blinding shine of the Golden Chimeras, the houses of Rouen and Paris clinched the championship title in men’s and women’s lawn tennis, respectively, during Liceolympics 2020 at the Lawn Tennis Court on Feb. 20–21.

The hydras’ decisive matches against the House of Paris sealed the win for them after winning both the first singles match and the doubles match led by Karl de Vera in nearly straight sets.

In a post-game interview de Vera commented, “I believe what made our team win the tournament was because of the trust we have within ourselves and the trust we gave to each player of the team.”

De Vera continued, “As the captain, if my efforts were minimal, then I would have [set] a bad example for the team—to which they would set my actions as the standard subconsciously.”

The House of Rouen

THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE — SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL • VOLUME 4 ISSUE 3 • JANUARY TO APRIL 2020

was undefeated during the entire tournament.

The houses of Rheims and Paris took 2nd and 3rd places, respectively, while the House of Parmenie took fourth, leaving without a single win against a house.

Meanwhile, the ladies of the Golden Chimeras took on more gold as they secured the women’s lawn tennis championship title for themselves.

Led on by Team Captain Jess Alba, the chimeras took no prisoners and reigned undefeated throughout the competition.

Kayla Castillo, a team member, mentioned in an interview, “Each member of our team gave their all starting from the practices up to the final games. We did our best and it turns out, our best was more than enough.”

“I think every aspect of our team, including our flaws, is what made us win, and I wouldn’t change them even if I could go back,” Castillo continued.

18 4 SCIence & TECHnology sports Parmenie, Rheims complete table tennis sweep Jed Emmanuel M. Reysoma

Paddlers from the houses of Parmenie and Rheims, respectively, finished the men’s and the women’s divisions of the Liceolympics 2020 table tennis competition in a clean slate after surviving all of their matches at the ICAfe Lobby on Feb. 19–20.

In the men’s division, the dominance of the Mighty Griffins was highly evident in the elimination stage as they tampered the confidence of the other three houses, enough to enter the finals and face the second-seeded chimeras.

Entering the championships, composure remained in the spirits of the griffins as they effortlessly took the first two games of the championship match, 3–1 and 3–0, to finally claim the men’s table tennis title.

“I am really happy because the flow of all the games is in favor of Parmenie,” remarked Jose Armando Agudo of the House of Parmenie.

On the other side, another story was written by the Red Phoenixes in the

history books as they managed to duplicate their notable win last year to claim back-to-back championships in the table tennis tournament women’s division.

The Red Phoenixes also maintained to finish all of their elimination games in the win column, 3–0, to be able to enter the championships and face the Golden Chimeras.

In the championship match, the phoenixes had to pass through the needle hole for they entered the doubles game with a 1–0 match deficit; however, the phoenixes found their flame in the second game to extend the championship to a deciding singles game where they snatched their two-peat title.

Chimeras assert domination on beach volleyball Rieden Dienelle N. Cuadra

Reigning undefeated during their Liceolympics 2020 run, the House of Paris women’s beach volleyball team flexed their dexterity within the shifting sands better than anybody else—winning all three matches with almost no sweat, concluding with sets of, 30–18, 25–11, and 25–9 for the second consecutive year.

“The two-peat title [was] one of our drives to work hard and play hard. The House of Paris community also played a big role […] they opened the doors to those who had the passion to play,” relished Ella Marie Semillano, the team captain of the women’s beach volleyball team.

On the other side of the spectrum, the men’s beach

photo by Bea Rose M. Celo

FOCUS. Men’s table tennis contestants of the griffins (L) and the chimeras (R) put their game faces on in the finals.

Rheims claims Liceolympics badminton trophy The shuttlers of the Fiery Phoenixes of Rheims refused to drop a game on their way to a double championship win securing the title for both the men’s division and the women’s division in badminton during the Liceolympics 2020 at the Pohang Badminton Center on Feb. 20.

Led by Team Captain Ady Concepcion, Rheims’ men’s badminton team clinched 1st place in the tourney.

When asked about what sealed their championship victory, Concepcion commented, “[It was our] dedication and teamwork.”

Concepcion added, “the victory of my team proved

volleyball tourney championed a familiar face as the Golden Chimeras, too, grasped the winning trophy after siphoning the blood, sweat, and tears of the hydras in the final brawl, which ended in a competitive 30–21.

When asked about the soaring significance of the win, Japheth Benedict Busbus, the House of Paris team captain outpoured gratitude,“We were very happy. Our hard work and determination paid off, we were really hungry to get [the championship win], especially with the support of the Paris community. That game was dedicated to my family, friends, God—and to my grandmother who passed away one week before our beach volleyball game.”

William Khalid Vibar that the House of Rheims’ badminton teams are stronger than [that of] the other houses.”

The Mighty Griffins took second, while the houses of Rouen and Paris took third and fourth, respectively.

Meanwhile, spurred on by the cheers from the crowd and with utmost focus, the women of Rheims’ badminton team also took the top podium position in the tourney.

Reve Denize Pia, the women’s team captain, got her teammates in line and led them to a well-earned victory.

“My team won because of teamwork, motivation, and

a good understanding of each other. Discipline, good fighting spirit, and hard work led to our success. Also we asked for God’s guidance throughout the game,” Pia mentioned.

She continued, “This victory is the result of our hard work. Our inspiration to win is God, first of all, because without him, we will have no guidance at all, and of course to our fellow housemates who did not give up and stayed with us all throughout the day. As a team leader, I salute my teammates and to our very own house coordinator for the undying support and loyalty.”

photo by Hannah Nicole R. Esblaca

photo by Kirstin Nicole K. Bueno

SWEEP. The undefeated House of Paris men’s and women’s volleyball players glide through the tournament.

prepared by William Khalid Vibar and Hannah Nicole R. Esblaca THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE — SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL • VOLUME 4 ISSUE 3 • JANUARY TO APRIL 2020

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sports

Paris clinches volleyball crown Krisla Gail J. Batac

photo by Josie Ann H. Apdol FLAWLESS. Hydras and phoenixes shoot the ball with precision to bag the basketball titles.

Rouen, Rheims bag basketball tourney William Khalid Vibar

With the force of water and fire, the cagers from the hydras of Rouen and the phoenixes of Rheims claimed the championship titles for men’s and women’s basketball, respectively, amidst the roaring cheers of the crowd during the Liceolympics 2020 at the St. La Salle Coliseum on Feb. 18–21

As vicious as a riptide, the jocks of the Blue Hydras drove home their victory against the boys of Rheims, barely hanging on to that one-point lead, 71–70.

The hydras led by

Reymund Cabaybay clinched the nail-biting finish, securing a four-peat for Rouen.

“I gave my best with all of my strength and determination in order to sustain the team’s lead until the last second of the last quarter to win each game,” Cabaybay commented in an interview.

Cabaybay added, “I would change nothing [about our performance] because I did my role in the team and we took the fourth championship title—I think that is already a good exit as a team captain.”

The Mighty Griffins

claimed a podium position after a heated battle for 3rd place against the Golden Chimeras.

On the other hand, the underdogs, the fiery house of the phoenixes beat Parmenie in the neck-and-neck women’s basketball championship match that left the scoreboard at 31–30.

“We just enjoyed the game, did our best and trusted that God will guide us throughout. [….] We also went to the [main] chapel before every game to pray for guidance,” Nichole Delprado, Rheims’ team captain mentioned.

The House of Paris were indeed the golden victors, earning the championship title for both men’s and women’s volleyball after defeating every team that crossed their path, showing off their prowess and well-thought strategies during Liceolympics 2020 at the College Covered Court.

Both teams took on their opponents bravely, claiming victory with Ella Marie Semillano as the women’s team captain and Japheth Busbus as the men’s team captain.

“Our key element is hard work and determination in practices. We respect the opinions of one another; we communicate inside the court; we trust one another. We stand out apart from the other houses because we unite, we perform as one and we aim one goal and it’s to be the champion,” Busbus shared how they were able to stand out from other houses.

“It is a given that all houses make an extreme effort when training but for me, what made our house stand out amongst the others is our

willingness to protect the crown that we have and claim the two-peat title.

It wasn’t easy though,” Semillano said in a post-game interview.

Sharing more about their road to victory, Semillano added, “throughout our journey we faced all tons of problems and misunderstandings, but the good thing was that we always turn back to our goal as a team and the reason we started this. We’ve known each other for a longer period of time since we began our training early. One thing I’d never forget is our bond.

They became my family, but one of the many reasons behind our triumph is our supportive house. Since day one, they were with us, providing us what we needed and always kept us in check.”

The other houses managed to put up a good fight, with the houses of Rheims, Rouen, and Parmenie trailed behind the houses of Paris, placing 2nd, 3rd, and last place, respectively, in both the men’s and women’s divisions.

Phoenixes eye silver lining in athletics, gain 2-peat

UNWAVERING. Rheims leaps their way for a two-peat in athletics.

photo by Kirstin Nicole K. Bueno

[itself] to provide the best athletes for athletics, and our house never failed to do so. We are now the back-to-back overall champions. […] we always [try] to provide the best runners, jumpers, and throwers in athletics,” said Karlou Santillana, House of Rheims’ moderator.

On the other hand, strengthened by the spirit of the phoenix, the women’s team of the House of Rheims breezed pass their towering competitors in 4x200M relay, 200M dash, and 4x100M relay, throwing in three additional gold medals to Rheims’ coffer in the said category, bringing the house’s total highest podium wins to 10.

Trailing closely behind the phoenixes were the Blue Hydras after securing eight photo by Kayla Angelique D. Castillo forefront places, nullifying the other houses’s attempt in Nicole Kaye E. Lipa bringing their A-games in Flying above hurdles of the stout men’s and women’s triple jump, road to glory, the House of Rheims men’s 100M dash, women’s refused to be vanquished by the long jump, men’s 400M dash, rain as they blazed to the finish women’s 2000M walk, men’s line, swooping the championship 200M dash, and women’s in both men’s and women’s shotput. athletics at the Bro. Roly R. Dizon, Meanwhile, the Golden FSC, Sports Complex on Feb. 19- Chimeras refused to confine 20 as part of “Liceolympics 2020: the golden victors within as The Quest for Glory”. they tried to step up their game,

The men’s team of the toppling off their contenders Blazing Phoenixes burned their in women’s classical relay, competitors into ashes as they women’s 400M dash, men’s sealed the deal, heaving six gold 1500M run, women’s 4x400M medals in the track and field relay, and men’s discus throw. events, specifically in the 4x400M Additionally, the Green relay, 800M dash, classical relay, Griffins struggled to create 3000M walk, 4x200M relay, and another legacy, hitting three solid 4x100M relay, along with another wins in women’s 1500M golden snatch in the throwing run, men’s discus throw, and event, shot put. women’s 3000M walk, relegating

“Forthepast[two]years,the the chimeras, phoenixes, and House of Rheims has been pushing hydras in the remaining spots.

THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE — SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL • VOLUME 4 ISSUE 3 • JANUARY TO APRIL 2020

20 4 SCIence & TECHnology sports Griffins, Chimeras domineer boards

Golden Chimeras, Blue Hydras occupy thrones in chess

Ben Joseph L. Maido

Khriztyl Grace J. Bulao things that we enjoy. Playing chess in Liceolympics really gave us the opportunity to go back and reminisce hobbies and skills we knew and proud to have,” Ijie Feb M. Tenerife, Rouen’s team captain, stated.

On the other hand, the Golden Chimeras managed to

maintain their ownership over the crown against the rivals.

Applying that certain prowess on each round, the team was able to claim no losses in the final results; bearing two wins under their belt, with one draw to follow, the Golden Chimeras sat on their throne once more.

Rouen as they defended their crown and became the first house to have a backto-back championship in the men’s division of othello.

“Having to face the House of Rouen for our first game was indeed nerve-wracking […] [winning] felt good, honestly since attaining the first win gave us the momentum to maintain the winning streaks against other houses,” Paris Othello Men’s Team Captain Ralph Andrew Tiu said.

“I have been part of this team since my first stay in Liceo and I can say that I am proud to be part of the team, and it is such an honor to leave this victory before I part with this senior high,” he added.

In the women’s division, the houses of Rouen, Paris, and Rheims placed second, third, and fourth respectively, while the houses of Rouen, Parmenie, and Rheims landed on spot number two, three, and four, correspondingly, in the men’s division.

photo by Karen E. Pico

Thick with silent resolution, the ladies clad in blue trounced their opponents with sweeping finesse over the four corners of the board while the Golden Chimeras conquered the dominion of the other three houses crowning themselves kings in the Liceolympics 2020 chess tournament at the Forum on Feb. 19.

Despite the few losses taken by Rouen, they managed to slink back and proceeded to dominate the other three houses with enough competence; after a slow start in battling for the throne, Rouen ended up casting a draw on the first round.

Driven by the first draw, Rouen set a purpose to encompass their rivals and managed to undertake their ultimate intent, and eventually succeeded to outstrip the other houses.

“It was really a comeback for me. Most of us had gotten too occupied working for our future selves that we unconsciously drift away from doing the

Mighty Griffins of Parmenie and Golden Chimeras of Paris added another championship to their belts as they dominated the women’s and men’s division, respectively, in the sport of othello on the first day of the “Liceolympics 2020: The Quest for Glory” on Feb. 18.

The University Forum was filled with contestants —five for each house in each division—to compete for the title, and after a test of strategy and intelligence, the championship was ultimately bagged by Parmenie in the women’s and Paris in the men’s.

Embellished in green, the players of Parmenie entered the arena with the hopes of bringing home a second othello championship and were successful in doing so as they flipped the boards on the aspiring hydras of Rouen.

Unleashing the golden victors within, the House of Paris once again disappointed the House of

BRILLIANCE. Chess players of Rouen and Paris clinch a victorious feat.

Jed Emmanuel M. Reysoma and was succeeded with the final match of the tournament.

The most-anticipated championship game became a neck-and-neck battle between the Mighty Griffins and the Golden Chimeras, but it was the composure of the men in green that led them to inch a single point at the last whistle of the match to finally snatch the gold, 4–3.

Meanwhile, in the women’s division, dominance was displayed by the Golden Chimeras as they swept the elimination stage, keeping their slate immaculate upon entering the finals to face the second-seeded Mighty Griffins.

Failing to proceed to the finals, the third-seeded Red Phoenixes faced off the winless Blue Hydras in the battle for third match wherein they managed to keep the

hydras hanging on the right side of the win-loss record to claim the bronze medal.

Aiming to finish the tournament in a clean record, the Golden Chimeras were once again challenged by the Mighty Griffins in the championship match of the women’s division.

Claiming the gold was no-easy for the ladies in gold for the Mighty Griffins would not allow finishing the tournament without a fight; but the Golden Chimeras’ eagerness became evident in the concluding part of the game to finally claim their hard-earned tournament sweep, 2–1.

“Winning this year’s football tournament is such an overwhelming feeling because all of our sacrifices were paid off,” remarked Anezka Joan Andren, House of Paris’ goalkeeper.

photo by Nonie B. Gallernero Jr.

Adding their share of gold to their respective houses were the kickers of the Mighty Griffins and the Golden Chimeras as they outplayed their opponents in the football tournament of the Liceolympics 2020 at the Br. Roly R. Dizon, FSC, Sports Complex on Feb 18–21.

A climactic roundrobin elimination was witnessed in the men’s division with the Mighty Griffins and the Golden Chimeras both finishing in a 1–2–0 record, leading them to a championship game, while the Red Phoenixes and the Blue Hydras settled for a battle for the bronze match as they concluded the eliminations in a 1–1–1 and 0–1–2 record, respectively.

The last day of the men’s division kicked off with a battle for bronze, wherein the Red Phoenixes managed to claim the podium finish,

FINESSE. Griffins and chimeras secure the goal to take home the championship.

photo by Karen E. Pico

Parmenie, Paris seal football gold

INGENUITY. Bedecked in green and yellow, Parmenie and Paris rule othello.

Parmenie bags inaugural Esports league title Lance Rafael M. Lazaro The Mighty Griffins exhibited their dexterity in the virtual field as they emerged as champions after overpowering the Esports tournament of “Liceolympics 2020: The Quest for Glory” held at TheNet.com (TNC) Cyber Café on Feb.18–22.

The three-part league consisted of Defense of the Ancients (DotA) 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), and League of Legends (LoL), wherein the House of Parmenie garnered the highest number of wins, followed by the houses of Paris, Rouen, and Rheims, respectively.

Creating another legacy, the griffins began with a 3–0 run in the DotA 2 competition, courtesy of their victories against the houses of Paris, Rheims, and Rouen who were left in a runner-up trail.

The roster was composed of Audric Toledo (6th man support), Christian Sevillana (captain/midlaner), Juan Mayuga (safe laner), Gabriel Lopez (offlaner), Gliff Gasuyon (support), and Leonard Huxleigh (support).

THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. LA SALLE — SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL • VOLUME 4 ISSUE 3 • JANUARY TO APRIL 2020

Conquering the tides of the CS:GO game was the House of Rouen who kept a 3–0 standing, leaving the houses of Rheims, Parmenie, and Paris to settle for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places, consecutively.

The squad consisted of John Milano (support), Gio Vasquez (rifler), Jose Rojo (rifler/secondary AWPer), Martin Torre (rifler), and Miguel Failma (captain/AWPer).

Securing another victory, the Golden Chimeras dominated the LoL match, 3–0, with the houses of Parmenie, Rouen, and Rheims landing on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th seed, correspondingly.

The team comprised Marco Cornejo (top), Josrod Villanueva (jungle) Rieden Cuadra (midlaner/captain), Xyrex Salazar (bottom), and Shane Marayan (support).

The Esports competition was added to the set of games in this year’s Liceolympics to fully integrate it within the campus and promote a healthy environment for Esports and video game enthusiasts for the Lasallian community.