VOLUME 4 NUMBER 1
JUNE 2015 - JANUARY 2016
S P E C I A L F E AT U R E
GOING TO THE
PERIPHERIES NFD responds to Pope Francis’ challenge, boosts outreach programs Full Story on PAGE 12
T H E O F F I C I A L S T U D E N T P U B L I C AT I O N O F PA R E F N O R T H F I E L D S C H O O L F O R B OYS
Catalyst of UA&P holds writing confab on media ethics MICHAEL RACHO
NFD opens school year with new policies, structural changes
Student Affairs office launches first-ever organization fair EJ TUCAY
ALDO GREGORIO
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
NEWS EDITOR
FEATURES EDITOR
“Omission of facts that leads to the distortion of the truth is a mortal sin to journalists. Content must come before the form.” These were strong statements coming from the veteran GMA broadcaster Mr. Mike Enriquez as he commented on the place of ethics in the practice of journalism and media, in the I Write for Change Conference organized by the Catalyst of UA&P, Li Seng Giap Auditorium, July 18, 2015. The conference was attended by more than 300 student writers from different high schools and universities including other PAREF schools. The journalism confab was aimed at reinforcing the role of ethics in the practice of journalism both in traditional and new media. Aside from Mr. Enriquez, Catalyst also invited other speakers, including other professional journalists to talk about various topics related to media ethics. The first speaker, CNN Philippines newscaster Brian Poe Llamanzares, son of senator Grace Poe, talked about how media portrays reality,
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OPINIONS A Question of Peace: Radical Islamism and the West’s Religious and Cultural Void
As PAREF Northfield opened academic year 20152016, new policies and structural changes welcomed more than 320 enrolled students and their parents. Among the major changes that were implemented this school year are the use of the electronic RF identification and attendance monitoring system, the reform of the standing communication devices and gadgets policy, the use of online services for enrolment, mentoring and academic reports, the tri-term academic year schedule, the renovation of the faculty room and other chat rooms, and the adjustments of some academic demands in congruence with the new K-12 system. Students have been reaping the good effects of the new electronic RF-ID system. New ID scanners and monitors were installed at the gates, together with the introduction of a magnetized RF identification card to the students. Using this digitized system, more accurate and detailed reports on students’ attendance and tardiness could easily be generated by the school’s Discipline Office. Access to these attendance monitoring records are given to Mr. Antonius Umali, the school’s Discipline Officer, which in turn are being compiled and sent to parents through a monthly report. The reports inform the parents as regards their son’s compliance with standing school policy on attendance and tardiness.
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August 7, 2015 – PAREF Northfield had its first-ever organization fair entitled “IGNITE: Start the Spark” in the school’s covered court. To start the academic year for the school organizations, the Personal Formation – Student Affairs (PF-SA) office headed by Mr. Mark Villaluna, and the Student Executive Board (SEB) co-moderator Mr. Dave Manabat, organized an event for NFD students to get to know all the different academic organizations and extra-curricular clubs for them to choose and join. IGNITE started the beginning of a new era in NFD by the increase of organizations that could help the students in developing other aspects of their talents and personality, and at the same time boost the school’s relationship with other schools and with its immediate community. The fair was an event that gave all high school students a preview of what happens in a certain organization, and to understand the purpose and mission of the org. Each club was required to make a booth with a challenge for the students related to
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THE BREW STAR WARS Episode 7 A Force to Behold The Split Screen Saga
AlDub & Filipino Pop Culture
T H E 3 6 T H C AT H O L I C M A S S M E D I A AWA R D S ’ B E S T H I G H S C H O O L P U B L I C AT I O N
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@FortibusNFD
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facebook.com/fortibusnf
HEADER PHOTO BY: EJ TUCAY
Fortibus
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JUNE 2015 - JANUARY 2016
NEWS LEDGE SEB holds first-ever leadership seminar
The Northfield Student Executive Board (SEB) held the school’s first-ever leadership seminar attended by 30 student leaders last August 21 and 22 in The Forest Club Eco Park, Puypuy, Laguna. Dubbed as “I Light the Way Leadership Seminar,” the program aimed to promote a culture of volunteerism and active student leadership in school. Together with select faculty and staff, the students, despite the rainy weather, participated in a number of outdoor team-building activities and trust exercises which helped them strengthen the bond they already have as leaders and members of different organizations in school. Talks on the importance of student leadership and workshops on project management skills were also given by SEB moderators Mr. Mann Rentoy and Mr. Dave Manabat.
Grade 3 students receive First Communion
KEY CONCEPTS. A lecturer in the 2015 National Capital Region Secondary Schools Press Conference gives students some tips in News Writing minutes before the contest proper. Other lectures like this were also held to help students familiarize themselves on the technical know-how of their categories, and the way the theme must be incorporated and delivered in their work. PHOTO BY KEVIN ABELLAR.
Fortibus scribes win big in 2015 QC-DSSPC
Boncan to represent NFD and NCR in 2016 NSPC tilt EJ TUCAY
NEWS EDITOR
Seventeen Grade 3 students received their first communion last November 21 at the Stella Orientis Oratory, University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), accompanied by their parents. The chaplain, Fr. Johnpaul Menchavez, celebrated Holy Mass assisted by the Northfield Servers Society (NSS). Through the advisory of Mr. Josemaria Pascual and Religion teacher Mr. John Juat, the students were prepared spiritually through basic Catholic doctrine instruction. Also, prior to the event, Fr. Menchavez talked to the parents regarding their duties as primary spiritual guides and models to their sons.
SEB launches Project Smile campaign
Four campus writers from PAREF Northfield each won a spot as a top journalist in the 2015 Quezon City Division Secondary Schools Press Conference (QCDSSPC), and one of them will represent Metro Manila in the 2016 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC). First timers Josemaria Raul Boncan, Mikhael Thaddeus Supe, Joshua De Jesus, and Kevin Abellar represented NFD and each won a place in this year’s QC-DSSPC. Boncan won sixth place in the Editorial Writing category, while Supe copped the eighth place in the Editorial Cartooning category. Abellar and De Jesus placed eight and eleventh respectively in the Photojournalism category. They were against more than 200 campus writers and were recognized as one of the best in the competition. Meanwhile, Boncan was the only one who won a spot in the 2015 Regional Secondary School Press Conference
(RSSPC) as the third best editorial writer. The RSSPC is a qualifying competition for the NSPC, where the best campus journalists from the different regions in the Philippines will compete for every category. Having won in both qualifying conferences, Boncan will represent NCR, Quezon City, and NFD in the upcoming NSPC, which will be held on February 21-26, 2016 in Koronodal City, South Cotabato, Mindanao. T he Q C - D S SP C wa s held in Holy Family School of Quezon City last October 6, 2015, while the RSSPC was held in Mandaluyong Elementary and High School last November 14 and 28, 2015. Only schools around Quezon City can join the QC-DSSPC, while all public and private schools in NCR can join the RSSPC. Each school publication can only have two writers to join any category for the QCDSSPC, and only one writer per category coming from the same school for the RSSPC. The writing conferences always started with an opening
program and some remarks coming from experienced journalists. Announcements were also made on where each contest proper would be held and what time it would start. Before each contest proper, a lecture was given about the category. Journalists were only given one hour to finish their articles or cartoons. Photojournalists were also given one hour to finish taking photos, but were required to make a collage of their photos on a different day. They were also required to choose only six photos to present to the judges during the QC-DSSPC and three photos during the RSSPC. The top 10 journalists of each category and the top 15 Photojournalists, who joined the QC-DSSPC, were automatically qualified to the RSSPC; while the top 3 journalists in the RSSPC for each category will advance to the NSPC. The four winners were trained by Mr. Mark Villaluna, Fortibus moderator. The 2015 QC-DSSPC was the second time in a row that Fortibus writers joined and
won a spot as one of the best campus writers in their division, but the 2015 RSSPC was the first time in NFD history that a Grade 9 NFD student won a spot as one of the best writers in NCR. According to Mr. Villaluna, there will be more opportunities that await those who have interests in campus journalism. Next school year, Fortibus will open an audition for aspiring campus broadcast journalists in preparation for the Radio Broadcasting competitions. Also, it was planned that a group from NFD will join the Collaborative Desktop Publishing category. Both are group competitions within the QC-DSSPC, RSSPC and NSPC and are considered the highlight of the conferences. “We have conquered the CMMA and the individual competitions in the press conferences. It’s about time to step up our game and join the group contests, and be recognized as one of the top performing schools in the field of scholastic journalism,” Mr. Villaluna added.
The different faces of victory in the 2015 QC Press Con In cooperation with 10 other private Metro Manila schools, the Student Executive Board of PAREF Northfield launched Project Smile last August 28, 2015. Attacking the current issues of students, like insecurity and indifference, the campaign aimed to promote a positive lifestyle among the youth. Jars were placed inside each classroom where students can actually donate coins for charity. A smile booth was also put up, with the theme “What Makes You Smile?,” encouraging students, teachers and staff, to take their photos and share to the world using the social media their different motives for staying hopeful and cheerful in life. PHOTOS BY KEVIN ABELLAR & MR. ROMMEL TRINIDAD
NATIONAL QUALIFIER. Gio Boncan will compete in the NSPC 2016 for Editorial Writing.
EIGHT PLACE. Mikko Supe earned a spot in the Editorial Cartooning Category.
REGIONAL QUALIFIER. Kevin Abellar won 8th place which qualified him for the RSSPC.
ELEVENTH PLACE. Joshua de Jesus earned a spot in the Top 15 best Photojournalists. PHOTOS BY MR. MARK VILLALUNA
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NFD opens school year with new policies, structural changes fi PAGE 1 The ID system was not the only aspect that embraced new technology. Prior to the opening of classes, parents were given access to an online portal that can be used for e n ro l m e n t , u p d a t i n g o f student and parent profiles, viewing of student grades and standing, and getting in touch with school events through announcements and updates sent regularly. The new online registrar’s portal has streamlined transactions for parents and simplified the processes for enrolment, and access of student performance reports. The school’s campaign of modernizing communication lines through the use of the Internet has long been planned by the Management Committee (ManCom), and this year, has come to reality. Soon, the school’s official website will be operational, together with other online platforms for students. As regards structural changes, the school’s faculty
room was fully-renovated and refurbished during the summer break, together with the installation of new air-conditioned chat rooms beside it. According to the ManCom, the renovation of the faculty room is a forward step towards greater productivity and efficiency in terms of delivering the school’s academic services. Together with the renovation comes a new policy as regards student transactions with the teachers. Students are now fully-restricted from the faculty offices and all transactions have to be made via the Faculty Assistant, Mr. Ronald Alava. The renovation of the faculty room also provided a minimum of comfort that is due to the teachers. The pantry has been remodelled to facilitate better ambience for faculty members who wish to take a break as compared to how it was before. With this, faculty members are discouraged from taking meals in their desks, and from
having small chitchats which could spoil the professional atmosphere that has to be lived within the faculty room. “The newly renovated and modernized faculty room provides an atmosphere that’s more conducive to working,” said Literature instructor Mr. Oliver Basilio when asked about his impressions about the new faculty room. Some policies as regards student discipline were also reformulated. The most significant is the move of the school to fully-restrict students from bringing communication devices and gadgets. Previously, the school compromised a limited use of smart phones and gadgets within school premises. This allowance, however, was totally removed due to several incidences of missing phones and gadgets within the school last year. To remedy this, the ManCom has approved a proposal to fully-restrict students in brining phones to school.
NEW TECHNOLOGY. A student uses the newly installed RF identification card scanner and attendance monitor located at the school’s main gate. This is only one of the several enhancements introduced by the school’s facilities management this academic year. PHOTO BY KEVIN ABELLAR.
Together with this new policy, the school also invested in improving its landline communication system to solve the issue of communication gap between parents and students. Changes in the academic load and scheduling were also implemented at the beginning of the school year. The most notable development was the school’s decision to shift from a quarterly schedule to a tri-term school calendar. According to Mr. Emmanuel Sator, the school’s Executive Director, the shift was implemented to better organize co-curricular and extra-curricular school events without
sacrificing classroom time for students. The shift, he said, would hopefully encourage students to participate more actively in different student-led and student targeted activities, and in doing more organization work. Aside from the shift to a tri-term schedule, recent K-12 related changes were also implemented in school. For students in Grades 10 and below, new systems were put in place as regards classroom demands, activities and assessments. Following the mandate of the K-12 system, more emphasis is now given to performance-based tasks,
which forms part of more than 40% of the student’s rating, as compared to written works, quizzes, and home works. Also, differences between formative and summative assessments have been explained to parents. The school image and branding was also reinforced by certain changes. The previous Northfield logo was given a face lift to give it a more lively and contemporary look. The school’s collaterals and letterheads were also improved to make it more appealing and standardized. With these changes set in place, the school hopes to deliver more efficient service.
fi PA GE 1 and how the media can alter it and oversimplify or exaggerate the facts with editing, angles and perspective; thus resulting to distorted representations of the news. Mr. Llamanzares emphasized that it is very important for a journalist to “find the right angle”, and to give an unbiased and balanced account. “In the short time I have been working as a journalist, there were really those times when you have to set your foot down, and stand up for what is true about the issue, over the possibility of getting higher ratings. Framing and sensationalizing the news for higher ratings is a form of unforgivable duplicity on the part of media practitioners. Our responsibility as journalists, and your future responsibility as well, is to stick it out with the truth by going to the reliable sources, by weighing the facts carefully, by always having the welfare of the general audience in mind, by defending your principles as a professional, and by being prepared to fight for your story even if it seems that your editors may not agree with it. Many times, in my case, I am able to convince them,” explained Mr. Llamanzares. “All I can hope to teach my son is to tell the truth and fear no man,” he ended and proceeded to take questions from the audience. Second speaker Joachim Antonio, a multi-awarded
Palanca winner and literature professor in UA&P took a more technical and philosophical approach and explained how the art of media is an extension of man as a person. He explained that language is “a system of symbols we use as a group for day to day interaction and that language may be misused through bad grammar and abused through lies. He claimed that “how we use words is an extension of who we are,” and that when we use language, we do not make reality, rather, we acknowledge it. He concluded that “one cannot be a good writer unless he is to be a good person.” The morning sessions were followed up with an open panel discussion consisting of Aldo Manzano, chief editor of DLSU’s The LaSallian; Mimille Guzman, chief editor of UA&P’s The Bosun; and Santiago Arnaiz, features editor of ADMU’s The Guidon. Both Manzano and Arnaiz are former editors of PAREF Southridge’s official school paper, The Ridge, a hall of famer in the Catholic Mass Media Awards. During the panel discussion, Manzano talked about the importance of producing a relevant campus newspaper, while Guzman shared her experiences with story writing and how literature was expressive for you, and how journalism was expressive for your audience, especially to those whose voices are seldom heard. Lastly, Amaiz talked about responsibility in journalism, and the impor-
PHOTO COURTESY OF FRANCIS PEREZ
Catalyst of UA&P holds writing confab on media ethics
NFD REPRESENTS. FORTIBUS and ANG KUMPIT joined forces for the 2015 IWFC confab. In this photo are: (seated, from left to right) Josemaria Calvario, Gian Rodriguez, alumnus Gab Navarro, Alfonso Syquia, Nino Berberabe, (standing, from left to right) JM Unciano, Jiro Mizuse, Francis Perez, Martin Berberabe, Mr. Mark Villaluna, Mr. Enzo Guinto, Bernard Berberabe, Mark delos Angeles, and EJ Tucay.
tance of taking into account various perspectives to enrich the understanding of the issue. Following after lunch, GMA News’ big-shot Mike Enriquez was introduced on stage and began his talk with his trademark “excuse me po” to the laughter of the audience. Enriquez talked about responsibility in journalism, how it is a journalists’ job to report newsworthy events, and how every journalist must have a passion for the truth. He
claimed that the truth must be “comprehensive, objective and accurate”, and that “good or bad, the truth is the truth.” Mr. Enriquez also emphasized that the most important quality of a newsman is credibility, so that people he is serving will be sure of the truth. He also took advantage of the talk to explain the seven core values of his news station, GMA, some of which are “God above all; Viewers are the boss,” and “We value innovation.”
The conference ended with the final speaker author Jerry Siquijor, who explained that journalists have responsibility to defend the truth, and that each man leaves a legacy. “You as young writers have to make a mark, to leave a legacy. The power you wield through your ideas set onto paper can influence a lot of people. May your legacy be a responsible use of this great power to bring positive impact to our society that is
the Philippines,” Mr. Siquijor exhorted to the crowd. The seminar ended with the recognition of the winners for the essay writing competition sponsored by the same event. Prior to the conference, each participating school was asked to send no more than three entries written by the student writers that talk about the how media ethics could be practiced and promoted through the use of new forms of media.
Fortibus
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NEWS LEDGE NFD celebrates Foundation Day despite Lando’s fury
JUNE 2015 - JANUARY 2016
First parents’ confab focuses on raising millennials MR. KEVIN COLINA PF-CONTRIBUTOR
PAREF Northfield held its First Parents’ General Assembly at the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) last July 4, with more than 165 parents in attendance. Mr. Emmanuel Sator, the school’s Executive Director, opened the program by discussing key developments for the school year: Despite the cancellation of classes that occurred last October 2 due to typhoon Lando, NFD pushed through with the celebration of its foundation day on October 23. Carrying the theme, “Pasicluban,” the event showcased the different clubs and organizations the school has to offer. Starting with a school-wide Mass, the day was followed by performances coming from talented students, while the other orgs provided booths and games for the students to enjoy during the program. The whole program also included a farewell tribute to Gabriel Pineda, a former high school student who passed away earlier this year due to aneurism, and who was supposed to be celebrating his birthday on the same date. The event was sponsored by Krispy Kreme, Sweet Corner and BLV Marketing.
the school’s new management team as well as key academic changes on account of K-12, the new grading system, and the school’s Senior High School program. The highlight, however, were Mr. Tiburcio and Mrs. Vangie Evalle, EDUCHILD’s Vice President Couple and long-time parenting and family advocates, who talked to the Northfield parents about their colorful experiences as spouses and parents.
Their talk, aptly called “When Generation X Raises Millennials,” was punctuated with tongue-in-cheek anecdotes about their attempts to bridge the generation gap between them and their children. While the parents enjoyed the humorous personal stories they shared, the Evalles nevertheless drove home a serious message on the need for parents to engaging more with their children in order to bridge the
digital and cultural divide made more urgent by today’s rapidly-evolving culture. To succeed in connecting with their children, the Evalles emphasized the need for strengthening harmony between spouses, spending both quality and quantity time with one’s children, as well as a more deliberate effort to raise them into responsible Christian adults, espescially in a generation that is getting more technologically-savvy.
FAMILY FIRST. New NFD parents participate in the Family Visioning seminar and workshop as a culminating activity of the schools New Parents Education Program under the Personal Formation office. The participants were walked through the different stages of goal-setting for their own families and on the strategies they need to employ in order to reach those goals. PHOTO COURTESY OF PF OFFICE.
Nick takes over NFD
Nickelodeon invaded Northfield last September 28, concluding the annual Social Science Month celebration. Students from Grades 1 to 9 enjoyed the rewards, games and activities prepared by Nickelodeon, together with the other participating sponsors. Apart from the booths surrounding the covered court, there were mascots, games and an ooze shower that was a big hit among the students. O t h e r a c t i v i t i e s p re c e d e d t h i s c u l m i n a ting treat which included the academic contests in History such as poster making and Historia, the annual NFD History and Economics Quiz Challenge.
NFD junior is finalist in 37th CMMA
New parents attend Family Visioning seminar Vangie Evalle, experienced parenting facilitators, shared MR. KEVIN COLINA anecdotes and first-hand exPF-CONTRIBUTOR periences on effective parThe series of the school’s enting to the young couples, New Parents Education focusing on the need to Program (NPEP) Sessions formulate long term plans culminated with the topic for the family and the chil“Family Visioning” last Novem- dren’s character formation. This year’s NPEP series ber 14 in the Promenade, Sun Valley Estates, Antipolo City. ended with a picnic, where Mr. Tiburcio and Mrs. parents got to mingle more
with the PEER Facilitators and with the school’s ManCom. In the end, eighteen families graduated from the New Parents Education Program (NPEP). Last July 11, the new NFD parents attended the first session of NPEP. Twenty-seven out of an expected 35 new NFD parent-couples were present at the half-day
session, which concluded with two parallel plenary sessions moderated by two EDUCHILD parenting experts. T h e s c h o o l ’s N P E P sessions aim to help young parents in rearing their children based on their developmental needs. In the sessions, experienced couples shared good practices ensure the good upbringing of their children.
sales of more than Php50000, which proved to be a big help STUDENT CONTRIBUTOR to their chosen beneficiary, Nanay Terry from Cainta, Rizal. The Year 5 students of Earlier in August, the Northfield, together with team participated in the pretheir Economics teacher, liminary events composed Mr. Louie Molina finished of three rounds – fundraisfifth place among 16 partic- ing, campus selling, and the ipating schools in the 2015 expo, all of which tested Teenpreneur Challenge or- the skills of the particiganized by the Entrepreneur pants in entrepreneurship. School of Asia (ESA) in SM The NFD delegation Megamall, October 24-25. placed second during the With their innovated fundraising event held at product, “Los Pochos,” the Eastwood Libis where they artisanal-cooked potato chips, sold freshly-cooked sausage the NFD team posted gross meals with free iced tea drinks.
PHOTO BY MR. JOSE BARTOLOME
Seniors join Teenpreneur 2015 DAVID LEE
Francis Perez of Year 4 was hailed as part of the top six finalists in the 37th Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) – Best Public Service Print Ad, Student Category. Together with other entries from Colegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) and First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities (FAITH), Perez’s entry entitled “Mano Po,” was the only high school entry that made it to the final round of nominations. The CMMA was given to FAITH’s entry “Salat.” Last year, Fortibus was awarded as the Best High School Organ by the 36th CMMA. PHOTOS BY KEVIN ABELLAR & MR. MARK VILLALUNA
THE NFD TEENPRENEUR 2015 TEAM.
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Northfield celebrates Buwan ng Wika 2015
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LIST OF WINNERS Tagisan Ng Talino Grades 4-6 First Place – Anton Encarnacion (Grade 6), Second Place - Santi Arenas (Grade 6) Third Place – Andrei Francisco (Grade 6) Grades 7-9 First Place – Undoi Calvario (Grade 9), Second Place – Agu Syquia (Grade 7), Third Place – Lucas Bonifacio (Grade 7) Grade 10-Year V First Place – Mark David Delos Angeles (Year IV), Second Place –Ryle Banog (Year V), Third Place – JM Unciano (Year IV) Pagsulat Ng Tula Grade 5: First Place – Rafa Encarnacion, Second Place – Amanu Syquia, Third Place – Vitan Cabungcal Grade 6: First Place –Anton Encarnacion, Second Place – Santi Arenas, Third Place – Azi Syquia and Klaus Sievert Pagsulat Ng Sanaysay
GRADE 10B IN THEIR WINNING PERFORMANCE
UNDOI CALVARIO
JUNIOR NEWS CORRESPONDENT
“Celebrating the Buwan ng Wika is a clear manifestation of how we have not yet learned to love our own language. We are the only country in the world that holds a celebration for our national language, so that it will be appreciated. I dream of a day when we will no longer have to celebrate the Buwan ng Wika because we have already imprinted in our hearts and minds, the full consciousness and meaning of this language – one that is rich in history, culture, and traditions.” These were the words spoken in the vernacular by Mr. Genaro Gojo-Cruz, a well-acclaimed and multi-awarded children’s literature author in Filipino, who was invited by PAREF Northfield as its keynote speaker and principal judge in this year’s Buwan ng Wika culminating activity. The school celebrated
the annual Buwan Ng Wika last August with the theme “Filipino: Ang Wika Ng Pambansang Kaunlaran.” It aimed to highlight the significance of our national language as a driving force for national progress in addition to uniting Filipinos together. In his address, Mr. Gojo-Cruz highlighted the importance of truly imbibing the Filipino spirit through the practical use Filipino as a language down to the most ordinary exchanges that we have in a day. He stressed that unless we learn to use the language in day-to-day conversations, and not just in moments of festivities and elevated expression, we would never fully identify with what it means to be a Filipino. “To use the language, and not just to appreciate it during the Buwan ng Wika, is to be truly Filipino. And only when we are conscious of our own identity as Filipinos can we say that our national language formed a great part in pro-
GRADE 6
moting progress,” he added. Students also reacted on what they learned i n t h i s ye a r ’s t h e m e. “The Filipino language is the pathway to ideas that can develop the spirit of being a Filipino. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to express our ideas that can lead to the development of our country and culture. There are many words in our language that can express wonderful ideas on how to be a better person, and also a better Filipino,” said Year IV student Francis Perez. In line with this year’s theme, the festivities commenced with various academic activities such as Tagisan ng Talino, Pagtatalumpati, and Paglikha Ng Paskil among others, which were organized by the Filipino department. These activities were held during the days prior to the culminating event. Students from various year levels competed in these academic contests. Aside from the preliminary competitions, the main
I dream of a day when we will no longer have to celebrate the Buwan ng Wika because we have already imprinted in our hearts and minds, the full consciousness and meaning of this language – one that is rich in history, culture, and traditions.
attraction was still the Buwan ng Wika’s culminating activity that took place last August 14, 2015. The entire PAREF Northfield family; students, teachers, parents, and guests gathered in the school’s covered basketball court to witness the performances of each class, showcasing the best every class has to offer as a result of weeks of intense preparation for their Sabayang Pagkukwento (for the upper primary levels), Sabayang Pagpapakahulugan ng Tula (for the intermediate and junior high school levels) and the Sabayang Pagbigkas (for the upper high school levels) presentations. Students from Grades 1 and 2 did not join in the competitions. Instead, they gave intermission numbers which drew loud cheers and applause from the audience. “It was very hard and tiring,” said Julio Balagtas, Grade 9 student, of his class’ practices. “We practiced a lot and it was stressful for the most of us. We weren’t
GRADE 1
Grade 9: First Place – Daryl Jacinto, Second Place – Alfonso Syquia, Third Place – RJ Garciano and Jed Gutierrez Paglikha Ng Paskil Year IV: First Place – Nicholas Concha and Mikko Supe, Second Place – Francis Perez, Third Place – Martin Berberabe Year V: First Place – Ryle Banog, Second Place – Michael Uy, Third Place – Bernard Berberabe Pagbigkas Ng Tula Grade 1: First Place – Javier Encarnacion, Second Place – Santino Badillo, Third Place – Iñigo Barnachia Grade 2: First Place –Nalo Alonzo, Second Place – Gabriel Braganza, Third Place – Eros Gutierrez Grade 3: First Place –Francisco Estrella, Second Place – Juan Santino Fernandez, Third Place – Joaquin San Luis Grade 4: First Place – Raffy Buendia, Second Place – Benjamin Dechavez and Lance Alonzo Malikhaing Pagkukuwento Grades 5-7: First Place – Anton Encarnacion (Grade 6), Second Place – Rafa Encarnacion (Grade 5), Third Place: Lucas Bonifacio (Grade 7)
GRADE 7
Pagtatalumpati Grades 8-9: First Place – Alfonso Syquia (Grade 9), Second Place – Jasper Sioson (Grade 8), Third Place – Daryl Jacinto (Grade 9) Biglaang Pagtatalumpati
Genaro Gojo-cruz PHOTOS BY KEVIN ABELLAR & MR. ROMMEL TRINIDAD
able to win, but I think it [the practice] still helped us, in a way, because it taught us some discipline and how to be more patient.” he added. The Grade 4 class of Mr. Lorenzo Guinto were declared champions for their presentation of Mr. Gojo-Cruz’s “Ang Malaking Kahon Ng Sorpresa” in the Sabayang Pagkukuwento category. The Grade 7’s widely-applauded interpretation of “Ako’y Wika“ by Kiko Manalo landed them in first place in the Sabayang Pagpapakahulugan Ng Tula category with the assistance of their adviser Mr. Raul Arenas. Meanwhile, the Grade 10-B class of Mr. Mark Villaluna emerged as victors in the Sabayang Pagbigkas category for their spot-on interpretation and ethnic-inspired performance of Pat Villafuerte’s “Wikang Filipino: Simbolo Ng Kultura at Lahing Filipino”. The festivities were capped with the traditional “salu-salo” ” where everyone partook in the sumptuous meals prepared by every class.
Grade 7: First Place – Agu Syquia, Second Place – Lucas Bonifacio, Third Place – Quenzo Agravio
GRADE 4
Grade 10-Year V: First Place – CJ Sanchez (Year IV), Second Place – Bernard Berberabe (Year V), Third Place – Migo Lacsamana (Year IV)
Fortibus
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JUNE 2015 - JANUARY 2016
SCHOOL ORGS
ORG FAIR LAUNCHING
PHOTOS BY KEVIN ABELLAR & MR. KEVIN COLINA
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LEMNISCATE BOOTH
KA-TRIBU MODERATORS
Student Affairs office launches first-ever organization fair outside the campus; Ka-tribu, an organization that promotes the organization’s activities, socio-civic awareness among mission and vision. The stu- its members by organizing dents were divided into teams outreach and extension proand were given a passport to grams for those who were collect stickers given by the affected by natural disasters, handlers of the booths once for the sick, and for the indithey finished the challenge. gent families of an adopted There were three stickers: community; and the NFD white, green, and orange; Drumline, the first-ever NFD each corresponds to a certain battalion that aims to promote amount of points. The first an active school spirit among three teams who have the most the students, and liven up number of points were de- every game of the NFD varsity clared winners and were given teams through the group’s a prize by the Student Affairs. awesome stunts and cheers. Other organizations that The teams were not allowed have been long present in the to repeat the same booth. school are: Fortibus, NFD’s Among this school official school publication in year’s newest organizations English; Ang Kumpit; NFD’s are: Lemniscate, a Math and official school publication in Science club for students who Filipino; the Northfield Servers would like to be challenged by competing in contests Society (NSS), an organiza-
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tion that trains students to be altar servers, to help prepare masses, and to organize outreaches especially for the poor; the NFD Mayhem, the school’s modern dance varsity; UnaVox, the school’s vocal ensemble; Ilaya Arts Guild, a club for students who have a passion in the literary and creative arts; the Ilaya Music Section, a guild for students who have a passion in singing and in playing instruments; and HaVoc, the official debate society of NFD. The Student Executive Board (SEB) also made a booth during the fair. Aside from these organizations, the students also have an option to join sports varsity teams under the Sports Activities Desk headed by Mr. Raul Arenas. Aside from the NFD basketball varsity, the
sports desk also formed new prospective varsity teams for swimming, fencing, and taekwondo. Also, Volaticus, the Ultimate Frisbee squad of NFD, was formed at the beginning of the school year. According to Mr. Arenas, they Sports Activities Desk targets to expose more of our students to outside school competitions and leagues. High school students were required to join at least one org or sports varsity and a maximum of two; but some students who think they can handle more activities were allowed to join more. Grade school students were not required but were given an option to join any of the org. The fair was also the start of getting new recruits for the orgs, and meetings
to be held every first Friday of each month. This was an opportunity for NFD students to find out what fields of interest they are good at, to step up in manifesting leadership skills, and to develop a deeper appreciation of what they are passionate about. “The IGNITE organization fair is only the beginning of several student-targeted activities that the PF-SA office has in store for the rest of the school year. This fair is a forward step in building a student body that is more engaged and active in different school activities. We are hoping that with this initial step, more initiatives will be proposed by the students through their respective organizations,” remarked Mr. Villaluna.
NFD supports Catalyst of UA&P’s Real Love Revolution 2015 GIO BONCAN IN-FOCUS EDITOR
Catalyst of UA&P took again another opportunity to impart lifelong lessons to the youth when it comes to living a chaste and happy life. This year’s Real Love Revolution held at the Ynares Sports Center, Pasig City last November 7, 2015 featured internationally-acclaimed inspirational speakers Sarah Swafford and Matt Fradd to talk about the importance of living a chaste life in a society that is constantly challenged by the threat of mistaken notions about human sexuality. The RRL 2015 conference was divided into both morning and afternoon sessions with most PAREF Northfield students attending the later session. Lasting about 2 hours, Sarah Swafford kicked off the conference as first speaker. Speaking primarily on what she called “emotional virtue”, Mrs. Swafford stressed its importance in a relationship between a man and a woman. Making use of a slide-show
presentation, Mrs. Swafford also presented concepts pertaining to role of virtue in attraction and what she called the ‘Emoti-coaster’ and the ‘Cycle of Use’, with the former pertaining to emotion-driven actions and the latter referring to how people in a relationship often use or abuse each other as a means to selfishly satisfy one’s physical urges. She also emphasized the need for both young men and women to understand the needs and wants of each other, and the importance of educating one’s emotions. “Emotions are in themselves not bad. But, to make
our emotions as the sole factor of our life choices and decisions is a big mistake… Therefore, we need each study how we handle different circumstances, and how we should react towards certain attractions, which includes our attractions to the opposite sex. Adolescents experience a sort of an emotional rollercoaster that is hyped up by new forms of media, and without proper guidance, young people may lose control of their own social behavior,” explained Mrs. Swafford in her talk. Immediately after Sara Swafford’s talk, Australian Matt Fradd, founder and ex-
ecutive director of The Porn Effect, an online coalition of experts who advocate living a chaste life; took the stage and opened his talk with flare and good humor. Speaking primarily on the topic of authentic masculinity and the negative effects of pornography, Mr. Fradd explored multiple aspects of both subjects including myths related to porn and how it currently plays a negative role in modern-day culture that serves to undermine true masculinity. Another such aspect he spoke of was the element of ‘self-denial,’ which he affirmed plays a key role in manhood.
“Pornography actually does to a man the opposite that it initially claims. It doesn’t at all make a man more masculine, nor does it satisfy the deepest yearnings of being a man. What it does is to deprive a guy the opportunity of learning how to be a strong and responsible man by making him weak, a slave to his selfish physical urges,” Mr. Frad emphatically stated. Catalyst’s crusade to help young people live chaste and fruitful lives has been running for several years now. Founded by Mr. Emmanuel Rentoy, instructor in the University of Asia and the Pacific and the founder of Character Education Philippines, together with a handful of young students, Catalyst has organized numerous conferences on properly understanding human sexuality and the virtue of chastity that featured international speakers and experts in the field. Aside from this, Catalyst has also organized several leadership seminars and programs for different high school students nationwide.
VOLUME 4 NUMBER 1
IN-FOCUS
JUNE 2015 - JANUARY 2016
Philippine
ELECTIONS 2016 FRANCIS PEREZ CHIEF EDITOR
O
n May 9 2016, the Filipino voter will once again practice his right to choose the country’s president. This seemingly easy task is, in fact, the complete opposite for everyone involved because the present state of our nation is in demand of someone who not only is intellectually capable, but someone who has the moral and political will to deal with the numerous challenges we are currently in. As of now, we are presented with the top five presidentiables, and here is a visual guide to help us get more acquainted with the candidates and their position on some issues of national concern.
HEADER PHOTOS FROM GOOGLE IMAGES INFOGRAPHS FROM GMA NEWS ONLINE
VICE PRESIDENT JEJOMAR BINAY He was the first to signify his intention to run for the Presidency. His main battle cry is that he performed well in Makati; therefore, he can be a good President. He was appointed OIC in Makati city by the late President Corazon Aquino in 1986, and remained at the helm of the government until October 2015 when his son, former Makati Mayor Junjun Binay was disqualified to hold office perpetually by the Ombudsman for alleged wrongdoings. His political opponents claim that while extending assistance and doleouts to his constituents like birthday cakes to senior citizens, free movies, health services, and educational assistance; he also makes money on the other side through corrupt practices. These allegations prompted the Sandiganbayan to conduct an investigation, although VP Binay has never appeared in these investigations, claiming that these are plain political harassment. Plunder cases have been filed by the government against his
son, causing the vice president’s survey rating to dip.
SENATOR GRACE POE Topped the most recent senatorial elections, she was persuaded to run for the presidency. Her main campaign agenda is to continue the good works of his late father Fernando Poe Jr. During her official announcement of candidacy, Senator Poe outlined her “dreams” for the country, which were deemed by some as rather ambitious coming from a political neophyte. At present, she is battling a disqualification case brought against her at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). The COMELEC has recently disqualified her but the case is still on appeal.
DILG SECRETARY MAR ROXAS The incumbent President Noynoy Aquino endorsed the candidacy of Secretary Mar Roxas to continue his program of the "Daang Matuwid". The critics of the administration claim that there is really no “Daang Matuwid” to speak
of. Integrity-wise, Secretary Roxas tops the rest of the candidates, since he has not been linked to any irregularity. His main handicap, however, is his not-too-impressive performance as the DOTC and DILG helmsman, and his rather weak response to the Yolanda crisis way back 2013.
SENATOR MIRIAM DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO She is making another attempt for the presidency. Her main political strength is her fierce and categorical stance on issues of national concern, her sense of credibility, and her impeccable humour that caught popularity among the student and young voter population. The main problem though is her health issues, having been diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Cancer; but she claims that she has already been cured, though she refuses to publicly disclose her medical records. It is believed that she is the most brilliant among the presidentiables, and considered by many as the one with the cleanest track record.
DAVAO MAYOR RODRIGO DUTERTE He is the last candidate to join the race. Initially declaring in interviews that he would not run as president, the rumours were suddenly hushed when he confirmed his candidacy for the top position very recently. He catches the eye of the public because of his ability to maintain Davao peaceful and orderly, and because of his no nonsense and pistol grip outlook and demeanour. For most of the Filipinos who favour a more iron-hand approach to leadership, Mayor Duterte qualifies as the most popular choice. Having recently ranked first in the surveys after confirming his candidacy, the authoritative mayor’s ratings dipped after making uncalled for and impious comments against the Pope and his political rivals, and his too-often use of expletives. His "extraordinary" way of eliminating criminals is also being questioned by human rights watch groups. Just like Senator Poe, he has a pending disqualification case with the COMELEC.
Fortibus
8
IN-FOCUS
JUNE 2015 - JANUARY 2016
AVID SUPPORTERS. Women from the Muslim communities of Metro Manila, together with other groups, rally behind Senator Grace Poe in front of the headquarters of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in Intramuros. The rally was staged in response to the different disqualification cases filed against Sen. Poe on account of her dubious citizenship. PHOTO BY MR. MARK VILLALUNA
The Curious Case of Senator Grace Poe And What It Teaches Us About True Citizenship
ALDO GREGORIO FEATURES EDITOR
A
s a potential president of our country, especially in such a tumultuous time, we need our next president to be a strong candidate and capable of proposing attainable solutions to our country’s problems; this person also has to at least be a Filipino. Such may not be the case with presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe, who announced her candidacy earlier this year. She was officially disqualified from running for the position of president after the decision of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), despite having secured the support of the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET). Yet, what is the importance of these developments? Should she have been outright disqualified as a candidate for allegedly not being a natural born Filipino? And one most important question, is she a natural born Filipino at all? To people paying attention to Grace Poe prior to the disqualification, this comes as no immediate surprise, as her citizenship has been in question for quite a while.
She has always had this issue hounding away behind her, as she continually ran for office in the country. In fact, in the past, she was investigated about this very issue, but the Supreme Court ruled in her favor that time, this time she’s not maybe going to be that lucky. Why then has her case suddenly taken a turn for the worse, and she is suddenly no longer Filipino enough to be our president? Could it be an inconsistency in the system or has she lied to us in the past? This has been of great contest in the past, but now with the elections looming, it has risen in relevance. The curious case of Grace Poe, is now one of the focal points of the entire country as elections roll through. Does she deserve disqualification; is she truly lacking in credentials to a legitimate stake for the presidency? We might not know, at least for the time being. But one argument that she can cling on to is the fact she was already allowed to run for senator and the SC voted in favor of her in a similar case once before. With these events behind her, she can argue, that she already has the legitimate claim, as she was already in Philippine office, thus being eligible.
Yet that doesn’t completely justify her having an American passport, the passport being a point of contention of her true nationality. On these points, even Senator Poe may not fully know what the truth may actually be, as her story as an orphaned child with no known parents, gives little insight to her beginnings. Although her adoptive father was Fernando Poe, a Filipino cinema legend and later presidential candidate, it is unknown what her biological parent’s nationalities were. Grace Poe has claimed that she is a true Filipino, with no other allegiance, with our country’s best interest at heart. Yet it is for the SC to decide with her possible appeal, and in fact it has started so with her securing Temporary Restraining Orders (TRO) from the highest court itself and with the backing of 12 SC justices. With the technical truth aside, whether or not she is a natural born Filipino, another equally important question may be raised. Does Filipino citizenship matter so much in the run for presidency that it may warrant disqualification? This poses a gray area around the issue, with both sides against and pro having legitimate claims.
True citizenship is manifested in one’s conscious identification with the state or country he or she serves. It lies in the way a person breathes in the richness of one’s history and culture. More so, it lies in the fact that one contributes as an active agent of social justice and an advocate of promoting the common good.
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A person may not be truly connected to a country, its national consciousness, and its historical wealth if they are not born in it, or do not grow up within it. But if this candidate, though not being naturally-born has in his or her heart a real desire to serve the country, how could it hurt? Many people could say that nationality is a little more than a title; others believe that nationality is an obligation. Yet in the case of Grace Poe, she has not seemed to act in behalf of or in the favor of other countries besides ours. Then does her situation properly reflect the importance we put on natural citizenship, or should we be more lenient on these rules, and allow people like her to take charge? It is common knowledge that citizenship is one of the basic requirements to run for public office because it also safeguards a country’s truly sovereign character. However, it is also illogical that people who meet the standards of our country and who are Filipino citizens (natural or naturalized) should not be put into places of power. What this issue has probably taught us is a revisioning of what true citizenship is all about. True citizenship lies in
not just being merely labelled with a nationality, what one may call a citizenship on paper. True citizenship is manifested in one’s conscious identification with the state or country he or she serves. It lies in the way a person breathes in the richness of one’s history and culture. More so, it lies in the fact that one contributes as an active agent of social justice and an advocate of promoting the common good. We cannot truly say what the motivations of Grace Poe are, whether they are pure or not, but with her potential, and service to the country, letting her run at the very least could be a wise choice. A situation that brings out the specifics of nations and nationality like this can easily be addled in unknown details, like Poe’s biological parents. But as of today’s modern world, we have learned that people need not be born into certain nations to be great. So the choice lies in whether or not we have put enough trust into the human race as a whole; if we are ready to put someone whose true nationality we are uncertain of (for the meantime) but has lived and has consciously identified oneself as Filipino, in a potential position of transformative power.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT
1
NATURAL BORN citizen of the Philippines
2
REGISTERED VOTER in one of the precincts
3
LITERATE CITIZEN
able to read and write
4
ATLEAST 40 YEARS OLD on the day of elections
5
RESIDENT FOR 10 YEARS
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in the country prior to election
DATA FROM www.philippineelectionlawyer.com
VIRTUS IN VERITATE
IN-FOCUS
VOLUME 4 NO. 1
9
Victims seek justice over tanim bala fiasco Palace brushes off issue after initial investigations; Senate initiates probe UNDOI CALVARIO
JUNIOR NEWS CORRESPONDENT
N
ews broke out last September 2015 that passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the country’s premier gateway, were being fined for the possession of bullet ammunition. The scandal is widely believed to be part of a scheme to extort money from innocent passengers by airport security personnel planting bullets (popularly known as laglag-bala or tanim-bala) inside the passengers’ baggage. Reports of the scandal first surfaced when an American missionary named Lane Michael White accused NAIA security personnel of placing a bullet in his baggage and attempting to extort Php300,000 from him. He faced charges for illegal possession of ammunition and was jailed for six days. A day later, a Filipina balikbayan fell victim to the same incident when she was detained for allegedly carrying bullets in her luggage and was forced to pay Php500. During the ensuing weeks, more reports of such incidents surfaced, and along came increasing amounts of public attention and outcry. The victims called for justice as they claimed that the bullets allegedly retrieved from their baggage did not belong to them. “God knows I am a victim of the tanim-bala modus in the airport by these unscrupulous OTS (Office for Transportation Security) personnel who only wanted to earn easy money,” said Gloria Ortinez, an overseas Filipino worker based in Hong Kong who was nabbed after a bullet was allegedly found in her bag in NAIA. State response lacking? The government initially responded to the scam by decrying it. Senators then called for probes and a task force to be conducted on the issue. Then in late October, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III ordered Secretary Joseph Abaya to launch an investigation into the tanim-bala fiasco. However, the president later downplayed the incidents by citing statistics, which was met with strong criticism from netizens. An inter-agency team that would assist OFW who were victimized by the scam was set up. Three lawmakers also
want Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Jose Angel Honrado fired for his ‘incompetency’ in tackling the issue. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed in early December that there is indeed a bullet-planting scam at the airport, although those behind the scam did not work as a syndicate. Criminal charges were filed by the NBI against two OTS personnel and four officers of the Aviation Security Group (AVSEGROUP) for the tanim-bala scandal. However, the NBI should have done more investigations as they have yet to determine how the scheme came to be, and why it continues to exist now. Because if there is indeed no syndicate behind the modus and only the six security personnel are solely responsible, then we could be sure that the scheme would no longer happen. The MIAA , on their part, put up cubicles called the ‘last check booths,’ where passengers at the airport can take a last look through the contents of their baggage to make sure they are not carrying contrabands so that they won’t have to be interrogated and harassed should a prohibited item be found in their belongings. When reports of the bullet-planting scandal emerged, public reaction to the incident was quick. Many decried the actions made by NAIA’s security personnel as they detained the innocent victims, calling it unjust and cruel. And many also called out the government for not taking immediate action. Drastic actions and reactions U n f o r t u n a t e l y, t h e scandal also affected the morale of other airport security personnel who had nothing to do with the incidents. These innocent employees became subject to ridicule and shaming as the public, thanks to reports of the scandal, demonized airport employees in general. One could not blame the public; they are just concerned for their safety and security. But must they go far that they would send death threats to the innocent workers? Many travelers who were well aware about the scandal have taken their own steps in assuring that they will not fall prey to the bullet-planting scheme. Several wrapped their luggage in tape
AIRPORT MAYHEM. (Top to bottom) 1. Passengers at NAIA overly protect their luggage by availing of the clear wrapping service at the airport. 2. Nanay Gloria Ortinez, one of the first victims, testifies at the Senate probe. 3. Other victims of tanim bala scam, including foreigner Lane Michael White attends the probe.
or in plastic, with some even scribbling notes on them to say that they are not carrying bullets. Many also took advantage of luggage wrapping services available at NAIA. Others also put a little creativity in voicing out their dissatisfaction by creating hilarious tweets and Internet memes out of them. Even a game developer created a mobile game application named Tanim Bala, whose gameplay was inspired by the scandal. Local issue gone international The airport fiasco has also snowballed into an international issue. It has grabbed the headlines of international news agencies, putting our country in a bad light. Greta Van Susteren of Fox News commented on the issue on her program On the Record, criticizing Filipino airport authorities said to be involved in the scandal. Even a Japanese television program satirically dramatized how the tanim-bala scandal worked. This tanim-bala scandal has added to the list of problems the Philippines’ transportation system is currently facing. Among them are the monumental traffic plaguing the streets of Metro Manila and other cities every day, and the deterioration of the country’s railway systems. It is also admittedly shameful that this scandal has become an international embarrassment and a threat to our country’s tourism industry. The scandal is already causing fear among travelers, especially foreign tourists and OFWs who are coming home for the holidays. The government should have taken immediate action and should stop saying that the scandal is a scheme to put the Aquino administration to shame. It is our country that is being put to shame. As it turns out, this modus has been going on for many years, yet no immediate action was taken until recently. The more the government delays action, more innocent lives will be victimized by scammers. Moreover, downplaying this matter by dismissing it as an “everyday occurrence” or “sensationalized” certainly won’t help. It may be such, but does that mean we should just turn a blind eye to it? One bullet found is one bullet too many. Thankfully, though, some progress is already being felt as suspects are being prosecuted.
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PHOTOS FROM Inquirer Online | INFOGRAPH FROM ABS - CBN News
Fortibus
IN-FOCUS
JUNE 2015 - JANUARY 2016
PHOTO FROM www.Megacitizens.com
10
CONGESTED FOREVER. EDSA, the main thouroughfare of Metro Manila, remains to be one of the most traffic congested streets of the world together with Jakarta, Indonesia and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Recently, the government removed from the hands of the MMDA the task of traffic management and created the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), giving the country’s police force the onus of enforcing traffic regulations.
“Worst traffic on earth” ALFONSO SYQUIA SCIENCE EDITOR
T
his was the terse phrase given in a report by CNN Philippines last October 2, in cooperation with Waze, a widely-used GPS application for traffic monitoring, to describe Manila’s worsening traffic situation and management. The Philippine’s capital was followed by cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Jakarta in the rankings. Moreover, Manila scored a measly 0.4 in the traffic index, and the Philippines also ranked ninth as the worst place to drive. Traffic is a problem that continues to spread and worsen up to this day in different countries around the world. Sometimes, it takes hours for people to travel to a nearby destination, which can be devastating to some.
Until now, there are still many problems that have yet to be solved, as well as new ones that are just arising. In the Philippines, we are not an exception to this ongoing problem. We can see that our country is also facing this current situation, which can be consequential to many. There are many reasons as to why our cities are experiencing horrible traffic. Some of these include poor road planning, poor road q u a l i t y, u n c o o r d i n a t e d traffic lights, and simultaneous road construction. This is why it could take over an hour to travel along the 23.8 km stretch of EDSA, which would translate to an average speed of 15 km per hour. It is not, however, only the infrastructure that is at fault. We, the people, also have ourselves to blame. Just notice how many cars cut through traffic, how many
public utility vehicles drop off and take passengers in places where they are not allowed, and how many people cross the road in prohibited areas. Traffic adversely affects everyone. Aside from causing people to be late, the traffic can also cause entire companies to lose money, such as those that rely on deliveries and tourism. Though there are many ways to address this ongoing issue, we still have to get the funds, the proper people, and the political will to enact the proper solutions. However, in spite of these setbacks, we are starting to witness the government’s actions regarding this matter. The government has already implemented certain rules and regulations to ease the traffic problem. For example, the number coding scheme was designed to lessen the volume of traffic during certain hours of the
But we should not only let the government do all the work. In addition to this, the people should also abide by the traffic rules and regulations. This is a matter of practicing civic virtues.
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day. Lately, cars are prohibited from parking on the sidewalks of certain streets. Aside from these, the government has tasked the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) to take charge of the traffic in the metropolis, which was previously in the hands of the MMDA. An example of their work can be seen in the barriers which were setup along EDSA, which is a common place for traffic to occur. The government has also setup some alternate lanes and routes as a way of easing our traffic woes. But we should not only let the government do all the work. In addition to this, the people should also abide by the traffic rules and regulations. This is a matter of practicing civic virtues. There should be no “special favors” granted to VIPs that would exempt them from certain traffic rules. Public utility drivers should be ever mindful of where they
stop their vehicles to load or unload passengers. Passengers should alight or board buses and jeepneys only at designated areas. Pedestrians should only cross over pedestrian lanes. These are simple and commonsensical measures, which if followed well, can develop into a driving culture that positively reflects a high regard for the common good. We can already feel the results of our government’s efforts to alleviate the traffic problem. There is less congestion in some of the major choke points in the metropolis. Travel time along EDSA has shortened, even if just by a few minutes only. Hopefully, with the continued effort of our government, coupled with the discipline of the populace, traffic in the country will continue to lessen, giving the people a better travelling experience and a much improved quality of life.
A LOOK ON METRO MANILA TRAFFIC BY THE NUMBERS
9TH 2.5 78% MILLION
total motor vehicles in Metro Manila as of 2015
ROAD SPACE is being used by private vehicles even if 69% of traffic demand is covered by PUVs
137.5 BILLION
pesos was lost by the country as revenue since 2011 says the national center for transportation studies
85% OF AIR POLLUTION
IN METRO MANILA
comes from vehicles as a result of congestion
WORST TRAFFIC IN THE WORLD
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DATA FROM www.faq.ph and CNN Philippines
VIRTUS IN VERITATE
IN-FOCUS
VOLUME 4 NO. 1
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K-12 full implementation set for A.Y. 2016-2017
NFD prepares for academic adjustments; fortifies Senior High School program MILO ANDRES MANAGING EDITOR
W
ith the aim of uplifting the standards of basic education in the country, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III approved the Enhanced Basic Education Act, more commonly known as the K-12 program, into a law last May 2013. The most notable change promulgated in the law is the overhaul of the previous basic educational system to the K-12 system, which extends basic education from the previous ten years to twelve years; six years of Primary Education (Grades 1-6), four years of Junior High School (Grades 7-10), and two years of Senior High School (Grades 11 and 12). The Department of Education (DepEd) has been gradually implementing the K-12 system since 2013. The changes started with the enhanced grade school curriculum finally culminating in the complete implementation of Senior High School by 2017. The Senior High School program has been referred to as the most talked about and ambitious change that DepEd made to the educational system. The program, in essence, brings the first two years of introductory collegiate learning into High School. In addition to the core curriculum, Senior High School adds four tracks (in preparation to more specialized college courses) to the High School curriculum: an Academic Track, a Technical-Vocational Track, an Art and Design Track, and a Sports track. The idea behind implementing this is that by choosing one of these tracks, students can be assured some level of competency in a few fields of work even without going to college. In PAREF Northfield, the direction of the school’s Academic Council went in favor of offering a single yet more flexible Academic Track for
its current and prospective students. It was decided that the school shall offer the General Academic Strand (GAS) but with more specific sub-strands for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math strand (STEM), Humanities and the Social Sciences strand (HUMSS), and the Accounting, Business and Management strand (ABM). With the initial consultation with DepEd officials, NFD was allowed to offer sub-strands of the Academic Track as course electives for the GAS rather than as fullblown programs as they were originally conceived. Compared to other schools, NFD together with other schools under the PAREF system did not have much of a problem in dealing with the K-12 transition challenge in terms of curriculum adjustment. “Together with PAREF Southridge, Northfield enjoys the position of being part of the network of schools in the Philippines that has long followed the K-12 structure even years before its implementation in the country. This is because ever since these two schools were put up, we have been offering a full 12-year academic program, and have been recognized as a model K-12 institution for private schools,” said Mr. Floyd Batongbakal, NFD’s Associate Director for Academic Standards in a get-together with parents. The major objective of implementing the K-12 system is to uplift the quality of education in the Philippines so that the graduates will be easily employed. In addition, it also aims to meet international standards of basic education to make it easier for Filipinos to work overseas. The reaction to this is largely positive with many people recognizing the need for change in the Philippine’s school system. The Senior High School program is also a godsend for many Filipino youth because it allows them to find work right after grad-
uation without having to wait because they are still underage. That is not to say, however, that this system is flawless. There are bound to be problems on the side of both the government, and the school administrators and its students. The major problem in this case is funding. Our education system has a history of being under-budgeted. Drastic changes to a system as large and important as the educational system is bound to be quite expensive. As of now, there is still difficulty in providing the basic educational needs. School supplies, properly furnished classrooms, and even effective teachers are considered to be a rarity in public schools; and they really should not. The family’s finances should also be taken into c o n s i d e ra t i o n . Eve n i n public schools, two additional years of High School is very expensive. Add that to the additional costs of education like textbooks, food, and transportation and you have expenses that many families might not be able to afford. The government, on the one hand, has tried to remedy this by instituting financial support systems that could ease part of the burden of indigent households. Our educational system is at a tipping point. We have been using the ten year system for decades and this change will be beneficial once it is implemented, especially with the plans for the ASEAN integration.. It can be expected that there will be quite a few dropouts after Grade 10 because of the expenses of Grades 11 and 12. The implementation of the K-12 system might also be brought into question; especially during the transition period when the schools are trying to get on their feet. When they do, however, the criticism will go away and people will start to appreciate the positive returns of the new system. It just has to make it past that initial stage.
K-12 IN FULL THROTTLE. (Top to bottom) 1. The newly put up Northfield Sun Valley is the first K-12 all-boys school in Antipolo City. 2. Northfield QC Campus prepares its incoming senior high school students through seminars on academic tracking. 3. Book fairs from Scholastic Inc. is one of the K-12 readiness efforts in school.
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PHOTOS FROM PAREF NORTHFIELD FACEBOOK PAGE
DEPED CAMPAIGNS. Infographics like these were printed by the Department of Education and were given to the K-12 point persons in schools nationwide as part of the various ways to prepare the incoming Senior High School Students next school year. INFOGRAPHICS FROM DepEd Website
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t has been several months since Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines, yet the “Francis effect” still resonates among the minds and hearts of the Northfield community. Responding to the challenge of the jovial Pontiff during his address to the youth in the University of Santo Tomas last January, NFD took steps in beefing up its outreach and social extension programs. Headed by the Personal Formation office and the Student Executive Board, the school reviewed and realigned the social initiatives to make them more appealing to students, and more far-reaching to the communities that were adopted as beneficiaries. “The Pope’s message in UST was both a challenge and a wakeup call for us. It presented to us a fresh perspective in designing and implementing the initiatives and programs that we have been organizing for the less privileged. We realized that we do not simply organize for the sake of being able to help, but that we primarily set up these initiatives as venues for our students to develop a sense of common good, of civic responsibility, and a preferential option for
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those who are in greater need,” said Mr. Mark Villaluna, head of the Students Affairs office. Response to a Call The upsurge of several outreach activities this academic year is a testament that the Northfield community, most particularly its student body, is ready to carry out the challenge that Pope Francis has been echoing to young people. In his moving speech at the encounter with the youth at UST, the Pope urged all young people to embrace the challenge of loving, and not just to be accumulators of information. To love truly, according to the Pope, means to know exactly how to transform all the information and knowledge into good deeds. “For this the Gospel offers us a serene way forward: using the three languages of the mind, heart and hands – and to use them in harmony. What you think, you must feel and put into effect. Your information comes down to your heart and you put it into practice. Harmoniously. What you think, you feel and you do. Feel what you think and feel what you do. Do what you think and what you feel. The three languages,” exhorted the Pope. “Real love allows you to
S P E C I A L F E AT U R E
GOING TO THE
PERIPHERIES NFD responds to Pope Francis’ challenge, boosts outreach programs REPORTS FROM
FRANCIS PEREZ CHIEF EDITOR
spend yourselves, to leave your pockets empty. Think of St. Francis who died with empty hands and empty pockets but with a full heart. Remember: no young museums, and wise young people. To be wise use three languages: think well, feel well and do well. And to be wise allow yourselves to be surprised by the love of God. That will guarantee a good life,” he added. Carriers of the Message This year’s Student Executive Board headed by Martin Berberabe (President, Year IV), and with the assistance of Mr. Dave Manabat, SEB co-moderator, became the prime movers to put the Pope Francis’ message into effect. This was concretized through the SEB’s Mag-BIGay program (Magbigay at Iabot ang Grasya na Inalay ng Diyos), where classes from the senior high school levels were paired with the junior high school levels in implementing a soup kitchen program for the homeless near the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Cubao, Quezon City. Aside from the free breakfast meals and other donated supplies, the students from different classes also teach Catechism to the younger ones. The program has continued
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Real love allows you to spend yourselves, to leave your pockets empty. Think of St. Francis who died with empty hands and empty pockets but with a full heart. Pope Francis
on for the rest of the high school levels every Saturday morning since August 2015. “Since NFD boys have lived in a century where technology reigns and where the youth get more attached to worldly things and more detached to the people around them, the SEB decided to push more outreach activities this year beginning with the Mag-BIG-ay program. Also, with all the horrid things that had happened in the country - Yolanda tragedy, and even outside the country (Iraq and France); the school, through the SEB, wanted to raise generous and more compassionate boys,” remarked Mr. Manabat when asked about the objective of the program. “The Mag-BIG-ay program relates to Pope Francis' insights
because it exemplifies the true meaning of mercy and compassion. It shows the students the joy in giving and helping others,” added Martin Berberabe. Ka-tribu Initiatives Aside from the SEB-led initiatives, other outreach programs were also carried out by various student organizations within the school. Last November, Ka-tribu, the school’s socio-civic organization went to an indigenous resettlement area for Agtas in Porac, Pampanga to give material assistance for those who were victimized by Typhoon Lando. The relief goods were donated by families from the Northfield community and were deployed in Kamias Resettlement Integrated School
through the trucks lent by the municipal government. “We were moved by the conditions of those Agtas who were displaced by the calamity. I believe that by going there to deploy the relief goods, Ka-tribu was able to open the minds and hearts of our students and volunteers about the plight of the less privileged sectors in our country, particularly the indigenous peoples,” commented Mr. Mark Andrew Fietas, moderator of Ka-tribu. “We are planning to go back next year to focus on helping the students of the public school where the families were relocated. We are considering proposing to the ManCom that we formally make this beneficiary our adopted community,” Mr. Fietas added. True to Its Name Meanwhile, the Northfield Server’s Society (NSS) remained true to its name and mandate by being one of the most active organizations this year in terms of implementing extension programs. Known as the organization that trains qualified students to become Holy Mass servers, NSS has also played its role in forming its members spiritually. “We do not simply ask stu-
dents to serve at Mass, we want them to truly serve God and his people down to the most ordinary activities that they do, hence, our motto: Para servir, servir. In order to be useful, serve,” said Mr. Kevin Colina, moderator of the organization. NSS has organized various outreach programs like visits to the poor and the sick around Barangay Sacred Heart and Tomas Morato. Moreover, they also launched their flagship program, PROJECT Knowtbooks, last August to campaign for funds that could support other initiatives for the poor students of Kamuning Elementary School, a public school near Northfield. The program asked students to donate used books, notebooks, folders, and other paper scraps that could be recycled or sold for a fee in junkshops. Also, NSS held a simple Christmas party and gift-giving for the service personnel and maintenance staff of NFD and their families. The program was organized by the student members of the club, who also campaigned for gifts coming from generous parents. “We also want to give back to our service personnel who have been breaking their backs all day to make sure that our
school is clean and safe. They deserve our appreciation and small token of gratitude,” said EJ Tucay, president of the NSS. Future Plans With all the recent initiatives, NFD through its Personal Formation office plans to systematize the way outreach programs are to be organized by different units within the school. A masterplan was devised to aid organizers reach certain objectives, while at the same time making sure that the initiatives are sustainable. “We created an outreach masterplan that could be fully implemented next school year. We expect that more initiatives will be carried out not only by the students but also by the school’s teaching and non-teaching staff, and by families. For example, we plan to synergize some of the initiatives with the current Religion classes as performance tasks, while at the same time encouraging each class adviser to voluntarily propose and implement exposure and outreach activities with their own classes,” Mr. Villaluna explained. “Our ultimate goal is to make Pope Francis’ challenge and message be fully integrated in our school culture,” he added.
PHOTOS BY MR. ROMMEL TRINIDAD
S H U T T E R S PA C E
A SMALL SCHOOL WITH BIG HEARTS. Heeding the call of Pope Francis and in celebration of the first anniversary of his pastoral visit in the country last year, KA-TRIBU in partnership with the Student Executive Board and the graduating Year 5 students, brought smiles to the younger Agtas of Camias Resettlement Elementary School in Pampanga. The NFD boys prepared some games and refreshments, and taught Catechism to these students.
SEB, KA-TRIBU & YEAR 5
OUTREACH PROGRAM 2016 CAMIAS RESETTLEMENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PORAC, PAMPANGA 13 JANUARY 2016
PHOTOS BY KEVIN ABELLAR & MR. ROMMEL TRINIDAD
VOLUME 4 NUMBER 1
OPINIONS
JUNE 2015 - JANUARY 2016
EDITORIAL
A Question of Peace
Radical Islamism and the West’s Religious and Cultural Void
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eavily armed men simultaneously launched shootings all over the French capital Paris, including several restaurants, the Stade de France, and the famous Le Bataclan concert hall last November 13. After firing off all their ammunition, the perpetrators detonated strapped-on explosives. In the end, nearly 130 people were dead, hundreds wounded, and the country was placed in a state of emergency with its borders closed. Shortly after these attacks, the Iraq-based terror group ISIS claimed responsibility for the atrocity, even launching an official statement attempting to justify the incident. There is no doubt, however, that this truly was an atrocious attack on innocent people from all walks of life. We strongly condemn such massacre. But together with this condemnation comes a renewed call to end global terrorism, and while it is a good goal, it truly is easier said than done. In order to better understand these terrorists, we must first look at their origins. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or simply the Islamic State, came about as a splinter group from the terror organization Al-Qaeda, most famous for the 9-11 attacks in New York. Nevertheless, while these groups seem very much similar on paper, they are fundamentally different in certain aspects such as the origins of the terrorists themselves. While the core members of the ISIS are likely to have lived in their current region of operation (Iraq) for years, a large number of recruits come from families who have immigrated to Western nations such as France, Belgium, Britain, and Germany and where inspired the group’s radical ideology. Some of the alleged perpetrators of these attacks were said to have lived in Europe itself for many years. Others were alleged to have come to Europe through the huge influx of refugees that had come streaming from the Middle East just this year. All in all, there should be a significant cause for alarm for European authorities, and the world over, seeing as how radical elements were so easily able to penetrate through society due to their being technically citizens of various states. Despite this, one must know that it is not entirely the efforts of these radicals that allowed them to bypass security and attack innocents. No. In reality, the governments are at fault as well for their lack of effort in certain aspects including the lack of integration of many Muslim immigrants, and the lack of prior security screening toward refugees coming from the Middle East. Many of these radicals too could have been discouraged from entering and growing in the first place had these governments championed their original Christian roots and culture as opposed to the liberalism present today. This, combined, with a falling birth rate and lack of population growth are reasons behind the ease and stealth these radicals were able to exploit in their quest for the fulfilment of the ambitions of their terror groups. Seeing these, one can certainly see the fact that the present-day culture of Europe has left a vacuum in their society. But what does it mean to have a vacuum in society? Such a vacuum forms when a certain element in a chain or system is taken away. A good example of this is the increased separation of religion in the modern-day Western world. When the element of religion is taken away in society, most often negative events will kick off as a result such as a loss in morality in a society, which may then lead to immoral acts to become the norm such as abortion, sodomy, same-sex marriage, etc. Once this happens, it takes time for a new element to fill in the empty spot. In this case, radical Islamism, together with the failure of European states to promote religious and social integration, is now filling the void. The recent article in The Economist entitled “Battlefields of the Mind” (January 9, 2016) discussed the importance of combatting Islamic extremism by curtailing the most important tool used by terrorists inspired by corrupted ideology, that is, radicalization. The article featured the British efforts in lessening radicalization among British Muslims who have been very moderate and religiously tolerant, while promoting the importance of mutual respect and understanding among the other non-Muslim citizens. The British government, who has been one of the most lenient in welcoming Muslim immigrants, said that the best way to combat terrorism inspired by radical ideology is by helping people to hold on their sound principles for generations. For them this would also mean “reversing the decline of religious studies,” a measure that has been unheard of in more liberal Western societies. Therefore, there is only one way for us to stop this inbound destruction. The Western World (including Europe, America and their allies) must return to its old roots and relearn them, which should further discourage yet more radicals from entering and terrorizing sovereign borders. This, however, should be done without violating the principles of legitimate religious freedom. It may take time and generations, but it would be much easier to flush out the remaining radical Islamists trapped within the restored walls. Thus, we see that the world truly is capable of removing the evil that is ISIS and global terrorism; it is only a question of wanting to. As a wise man once said; “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” It is about time to do something. We have to fill in the religious and cultural void.
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...the best way to combat terrorism inspired by radical ideology is by helping people to hold on their sound principles for generations. For them this would also mean “reversing the decline of religious studies,” a measure that has been unheard of in more liberal Western societies. BEYOND PRINT READ MORE ON THIS TOPIC ONLINE BY SCANNING THE QR CODE.
Fortibus
16
OPINIONS
JUNE 2015 - JANUARY 2016
Lessons from the Jubilee Year of Mercy
TECH TURNS
FRANCIS PEREZ CHIEF EDITOR
t was last March 13, 2015 when our beloved Pope Francis proclaimed an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy “as a special time for the Church, a time when the witness of believers might grow stronger and more effective.” It was opened last December 8, 2015 with the ceremony of the opening of the Holy Door of
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Mercy at St. Peter’s Basilica. The Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy presents to us some lessons that we have to keep in mind. Whether we are followers of the Roman Catholic Church or not, the lessons explained in the proclamation of the Jubilee Year of Mercy is useful for everyone because it is accessible to everyone and can be used by everyone in their day-to-day regular activities. Mercy is not reserved to a set of followers, but for all peoples. Mercy is disposing yourself to the needs of others, a commitment to self-giving by understanding the circumstances and the welfare of others first. Many would ask, “Why did the Pope convoke the Year of Mercy?” Last December 9, he gave the answer to all of us: “The Church is in need of this extraordinary occasion… In this era of profound changes, the Church is called to offer
her particular contribution, rendering visible the signs of the presence and closeness of God. The Jubilee is a favorable time for all of us, because by contemplating Divine Mercy, which overcomes all human limitations and shines in the darkness of sin, we are able to become more certain and effective witnesses.” Now, the Church offers this jubilee where we can practice and contemplate on the Divine Mercy given to us by Christ. And what lessons can we take from this Year of Mercy? First, we must learn how to forgive ourselves for our wrongdoings and offer it to our Merciful Father by frequenting the Sacrament of Confession. As he has been waiting for you in the holy tabernacle, he has been waiting for you in that confessional for twenty centuries! His father, Our Father, is prepared to embrace you
with his loving arms. As the Pope said, “He never tires of forgiving, but at times we get tired of asking for forgiveness.” It’s also encouraged to frequent the sacraments to keep the mercy overflowing and so as to never stop the sanctification of our daily lives. The second step we could take as participants of the Year of Mercy is by telling others about it. As I have written above, mercy is disposing yourself to others and their needs, and in the ‘era of profound changes’ that the Pope has stated, mercy is a need for everyone these days. I have been seeing the injustice and wrongdoing of ordinary people in their ordinary and everyday lives in the recent weeks, with all the news about the socio-political and religious upheavals in the Middle East, and our own pressing political concerns in the Philippines. We have
to change this, and this is where mercy and compassion comes in. The Pope himself focused on this theme that was used in his visit almost a year ago, and now we can use the same to campaign the recently begun Year of Mercy. The last thing sounds easy, but for me this is the hardest to do, and not only in the Year of Mercy, but in our everyday lives. We have to pray more, if possible for a twice and long each and every day. Personal prayer is a practice for some of us, where we converse with God, like two regular persons meeting over a cup of coffee. Now, in this prayer, that cup of coffee happens near the Tabernacle, where we repeat many Spiritual Communions and other prayers. This Year of Mercy, how does it fit in our personal prayer? It becomes the topic, and the grace it gives allows us to persevere more in that life
of prayer we cultivate because we do not only talk about our own personal concerns but also of the concerns of those whom we love and the people around us. Sometimes it’s hard for us to persevere in our prayer, but we have to allow ourselves to be surprised by God’s mercy, because we cannot go on without prayer – it’s oxygen in our souls. And if we are steeped in prayer, the more we will be able to understand others, and open ourselves to them to help them in whatever way we can. The Year of Mercy has already begun, and we are open to many ways we can be useful in this extraordinary jubilee. It is a time to reflect on how we, ourselves, can attain real conversion. If we truly want to receive God’s mercy especially in this era of profound changes, the time is now to begin. I quote from a writer: “Nunc coepi! – Now, I begin!”
Bridging the Communication Gap
POINTBLANK
MICHAEL RACHO ASSOCIATE EDITOR
eing involved in a lot of extra-curricular activities in my school, I often find myself staying late due to my many activities taking place after class. There is never an absolute answer if they will happen or not, and I often find myself, along with my classmates,
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having made a plan to get picked up late, and the reason for doing so is canceled. This was no problem for me back then, as I would simply pull out my phone and change my plans. Problem solved. Nowadays, however, with “the no cellphone rule,” it's getting harder to change plans, as my parents are often out of the house, so the use of the landline rarely helps. I n contexts like this, using one’s mobile phone is an easy solution. Many students often find themselves sneaking in their phones so that they have contact with the outer world in case they should need help. A friend of mine once stayed late with me due to a Fortibus Assembly. While I managed a ride home as I told my parents prior and thankfully the assembly was not canceled, my friend was not able to tell his
parents, and as a result of having no means to contact them, stayed in Northfield until 10:00PM, sleeping in the cafeteria while waiting for his Dad to come and fetch him. In this day and age, cellphones are present amongst all ages. I have friends in Grade 7 who have phones, which they use for communication purposes as I have. They provide a means of communication lacking from other devices, and when that many people need to reach out to tell their moms that they need a ride home, or are planning on staying late, the few landlines of the school will not simply suffice. The reason Northfield gives for the “no cellphone policy ” is security measures, as phones have gone missing in the past. It is a logical reason that makes a lot of sense; however,
there are means which can ensure the safety of phones which will allow students to bring theirs for limited use. The obvious option is to tighten security. Ask all students to submit their phones at the beginning of the day and return them at the end of the day, as was the norm in previous years. Also, the student must have a letter signed by their parents saying that they are allowed to bring a phone. If a student does not submit his phone and is caught, it makes sense for the phone to be confiscated as it is a rule that you cannot use gadgets during class hours unless you have permission to by the teacher, and only for projects and assignments. But if a student does not submit his phone it has a chance of being lost or stolen. While you can argue that it is the
student’s fault that he did not submit it, the cellphone policy must promote a win-win situation. Every time the entire class goes out of the room, whether it be to the AVR or the court for P.E, all doors must be locked the entire time and can only be opened at the end of the period by approaching one of the guards. Lastly, as a security measure for the school, when students submit the letter written by their parents, the parents must also sign as disclaimer that the school is not liable to anything that might happen to the student's phone, and that the student is fully responsible for his gadget, as it is after all his. Hence, allowing students to have legitimate but limited use of their personal phones in school could actually promote a sense of responsibility among them. The freedom
given to them in this matter logically has a corresponding personal responsibility. Full restriction of communication devices only incites a more rebellious attitude in a student body that is already technological-savvy to begin with. Whereas, limited use of such devices still teaches the virtue of temperance and order, while at the same time solving the communication gap issue. If we accomplish all these, we can have more peaceful days with no more students rushing to hide their phones so they have a ride home later; no more surprise inspections that take up the time of the students and of the teachers which could have been used for more classroom activities, and overall, a more peaceful environment so we can work better together as a learning community.
The Role of the Cafeteria in School
TODAY’S TROUBLES ALDO GREGORIO FEATURES EDITOR
AREF Northfield is representative of many different values and vocations, but at its root is the forming of young boys. Students and teachers alike have spent countless hours slaving away in the halls of our school and soon, fatigue kicks in. All schools need a constant source of nutrition
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to help form the bodies and young minds of the students. Here enters the cafeteria, a necessity in all schools; it serves as a hub for the students to interact and keep themselves active. Yet what roles does a fully realized school cafeteria assume? How can it help keep the school functioning amidst the stress of intense academic and extra-curricular work? A cafeteria of any variety needs to maintain a constant and positive quality of food. Students need to be ensured that their health is safe in the hands of the school. The taste, as well as the quality of ingredients, needs to hit a certain standard, and maintain it constantly. While our school cafeteria does serve quality food, it sometimes wavers in craftsmanship. An example is the shawarma rice, which is served almost daily in the school. The meat of the dish
is not always consistent. Many snacks and other food items look different from one day to another, constantly changing and moving; it lacks in stability of taste, with little uniformity. On some days the cafeteria may not be up to the student’s standards, yet when it puts in all the effort, it serves food so excellently that it gets sold out within minutes. Health and sanitation is also a big concern in the food business. The cafeteria controls the amount of foreign bodies that enter the system of the students. Our cafeteria cannot lapse on this regard, and any cafeteria should never serve food that has a negative effect on its students. In this field also comes nutrition; the cafeteria has to serve nutritious food to us, being their patrons. The cafeteria cannot serve food that simply pleases the ordinary student,
but also strengthens them. The cafeteria has showed their capacity to control our intake well, by not serving their delicious sisig frequently although a favorite amongst students. The cafeteria also has improved on this aspect, as you can see in the way the cooks and the servers use various tools and protective gears to keep the food clean. The cafeteria also has a decent selection of food and the different dishes served are all quite different, but food variety is still an issue. While the choices they make are reasonable and popular, they tend to overserve some dishes, which disappoint majority of the students. One cannot expect the students to just order the same dishes everyday. Our cafeteria needs to change the menu more often and serve quality food of different influences and flavors.
The students also pay good money for the food served; the cafeteria makes sure everyone pays fairly. However, one major complaint is always the portions and the price range. The cafeteria needs either to lessen the price or to upgrade the portions, with many portions of food not matching the price tag given to it. For students working on a budget, the prices of the cafeteria have been too steep as of late. An example is the drinks, the cup size of the large drink was changed to a size similar to medium, yet there was no change in price. The drinks served are also quite good and are worth the money paid, but the downscaling of the cup size was just too drastic to be ignored. Many students struggle because of this to be able to buy food and to actually be able to eat. Some even ask teachers or
the maintenance personnel to buy food for them from the other canteens outside school. There are even some cases of students who go the whole day without eating, because their households are too busy to give them a packed lunch, yet the cafeteria price is just too steep. Some wait at the very end of the day just to go out of school and buy food. In the final analysis, the cafeteria is in need of addressing some major concerns. A major change that they may need to enact is the reduction of prices or the increasing of portions, so the students can truly reap the benefits. Also more variety is needed to spice the food given, and to relieve the monotony. If all of these improvements are made, the cafeteria can be the perfect hub where hungry students can find respite after a day of serious study.
VIRTUS IN VERITATE
OPINIONS
VOLUME 4 NO. 1
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
PHOTO FROM MERCATORNET.COM
REPRINTED ARTICLES
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Dear Editor,
Generation Y needs to learn to switch off TAMARA EL-RAHI MERCATORNET
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his morning’s Sydney Morning Herald published an article called “Generation Overstimulation? Generation Y's addiction to being busy,” and just from the title, I could already see that it has a point. The article suggests that Gen Y-ers are addicted to having too much to do. Their lifestyles are all about overstimulation: juggling the multiple components of their lives with hardly a moment of silence or downtime. And while this seems to be leading to higher levels of stress, being less busy would also lead to anxiety – but more the stress of feeling inadequate and like they’re slipping behind as compared to their peers. So what are the statistics? Forty-nine per cent of young people report high levels of stress, over 80 per cent are aware that their physical health suffers, and more than 70 per cent know that their
social and personal time, as well as emotional or mental state, is bearing the brunt. I describe it in the third person but as Gen Y, I can definitely see this trend in myself and my peers. Take something as simple as watching television – the urge to be scanning my Facebook feed, doing my nails and having a cuppa at the same time can be overwhelming. I find it an actual effort to just focus on the show and leave it at that. Even when supposedly relaxing, say lying on the beach or actually getting into bed at a decent hour, we’re more likely to scroll through Instagram (keeping our brains overloaded with information) than just soak in our surrounds or let our mind be alone with its thoughts. What’s right and what’s wrong in this culture of over-busyness? As with most things, I think the key is balance. Our society is overstimulated – there’s something to entertain us all the time. We’re not so great at stopping to smell the roses, and if we
are, we’re probably Snapchatting it to all of our friends and waiting for their responses. Here’s the thing: I think that being busy is a good thing. I am definitely one of those people that enjoys being busy, despite the fact that I have colleagues who tell me off for having something on every night of the week, and pretty packed weekends (for me though, being busy was a habit learned – as someone who tends toward laziness, if I wasn’t busy, there’s a high chance that I’d be in my pyjamas all day, watching episode after episode of some brain-cellwasting show). And I figure, isn’t it better to be filling life up with enriching activities and great people, rather than sitting it out on the couch? Basically, I think there’s a good kind of busy – a happy medium between bored and hectic, that Gen Y-ers would do well to strive for. I think it is possible to live a busy life and not get stressed! Here are my three pointers:
• Live in the present moment as much as possible. For example, focus on that friend that you’re catching up with, rather than checking your emails at the same time. Obviously there are moments where multitasking is the efficient thing to do, but I think that giving your attention to one thing at a time will leave you a lot calmer. • Leave a little room for silence. It’s an amazing world that we live in, but it is one where we have constant access to new information and entertainment. This means a lot less time for silence, which is really the only way to be alone with your thoughts and pause for self-reflection – which is what we need to know ourselves better and grow as a person. • Know your limits. When every day is a grumpy one and all you want to do is sleep, there’s a high chance that your run of being busy is calling for a break. Learn to recognise this and slow down, or keep energised with more exercise, more sleep and nutritious food.
Most of the students enjoy mentoring. In fact, in a survey, they indicated that mentoring is helpful for them, and they want to be chatted more. The chats could be more effective for the students' development and formation if the parents and mentors meet more often. For example, with the consent of the student, the could talk about the results of the personality test and other tets conducted by the Guidance Counselor's office. They could know the son (i.e. student) better if they get to receive input from the different sources. There are also a lot of research about the benefits of mentoring. (Type, for example, "mentoring" in scholoar.google.com and you will see the numerous research articles.) One research I encountered mentioned that mentoring can (i) help a lagging student to reach a safe level, and (ii) help an "already good" student to maximize his potential and be an "excellent" student. I hope that the students continue to enjoy meeting with their mentors, eager to open up so they can be given specific input, and put the mentor's advice into effect. I also hope that the parents would not hesitate to "chat" with their own sons, remembering that they are the primary educators of their children (sometimes this would entail the parents putting down their gadgets to attend to their kids' concerns). And finally, I hope the mentors continue to chat with their mentees, and have that constant desire to be the best mentor they can be for the sake of their beloved mentees. Michael B.Luistro Personal Formation Office
THE EDITORIAL BOARD & STAFF
A.Y. 2015-2016 FORTIBUS is committed to espouse a culture that promotes love for the truth among its members and the rest of the school community through the objective, meaningful and responsible exercise of scholastic journalism. CHIEF EDITOR | FRANCIS PEREZ ASSOCIATE EDITOR | MICHAEL RACHO MANAGING EDITOR | EMILIO ANDRES SECRETARY | KEVIN ABELLAR FINANCE OFFICER | JOAQUIN DE DIOS NEWS EDITOR | EJ TUCAY IN-FOCUS EDITOR | GIO BONCAN
This article by Tamara El-Rahi was originally published on MercatorNet.com on June 29, 2015 under a Creative Commons Licence. If you enjoyed this article, visit MercatorNet.com for more. http://www.mercatornet.com/info/copyright_and_syndication
THE BREW EDITOR | ALDO GREGORIO
Large families are the happiest, Australian study shows
FORTIKIDS EDITOR | LUCAS BONIFACIO
CAROLYN MOYNIHAN MERCATORNET
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ere’s something we missed in August: large families are the happiest, according to an Australian study. Dr Bronwyn Harman of Edith Cowan University spent five years interviewing hundreds of parents from a range of family set-ups to ascertain what life is like for different families, and how
resilience, social support and self-esteem contribute to parents' happiness. Parents with four or more children were the most satisfied with their lot, enjoying, rather than feeling overwhelmed by, the chaos of a big family. Although they said they have to deal with comments such as "are they all yours?" or "do they all have the same father?", large families benefit from lots of support
from each other, and are rarely bored. Children learn responsibility from an early age, and older ones help out with their younger siblings. "[The parents] usually say they always wanted a large family, it was planned that way, and it was a lifestyle they'd chosen," Dr Harman said. The study found that same-sex parents were the next happiest, and that single dads were the least happy, which is not surprising,
given that they are usually separated from their children. Dr Harman talked about her findings to the Sydney Morning Herald, but it appears that the details of the study have not yet been published. It will be interesting to read more about it in due course. A black mark for the SMH, though, which ran a tasteless, not to say offensive cartoon with their report. Evidently the results were not to the editor’s liking.
This article by Carolyn Moynihan was originally published on MercatorNet.com on Oct. 12, 2015 under a Creative Commons Licence. If you enjoyed this article, visit MercatorNet.com for more. http://www.mercatornet.com/family_edge/view/large-families-are-happiest-australian-study-shows/16990
FORTIBUS IS ACCEPTING ARTICLES AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FOR PUBLICATION. IF YOU WANT YOUR WORK TO BE FEATURED, EMAIL US AT fortibusnf@gmail.com
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SCIENCE EDITOR | ALFONSO SYQUIA
SPORTS EDITOR | JULIO BALAGTAS JUNIOR NEWS & SPORTS CORRESPONDENTS UNDOI CALVARIO | JOAQUIN DE DIOS | SANTI ARENAS PHOTOJOURNALISTS KEVIN ABELLAR | JOSHUA DE JESUS ARTIST MIKKO SUPE CONTRIBUTORS MR. ROMMEL TRINIDAD | MR. KEVIN COLINA DAVID LEE | ANDREI CHIO | MR. OLIVER BASILIO SCHOOL PAPER ADVISER MR. MARK-JULIAN VILLALUNA
FORTIBUS is the official student publication of PAREF Northfield School for Boys. It is published with the help of the school’s Management Committee. The opinions expressed herein are the views of their respective authors. They cannot be taken as the position of Northfield as such.
PAREF Northfield School for Boys 107 Scout Gandia cor. Scout Torillo St., Sacred Heart, Quezon City (02) 929 5615 | (02) 928 5956 | (02) 414 6538
SCIENCE
VOLUME 4 NUMBER 1
JUNE 2015 - JANUARY 2016
STEWARDS OF THE EARTH
THE 2015 PARIS CONFERENCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THE PHILIPPINES ALFONSO SYQUIA SCIENCE EDITOR
o strengthen the concerted effort of different countries in combating the adverse effects of climate change, the United Nations Conference on Climate Change was convoked in Paris, France from November 30 to December 11. The conference was held to negotiate the Paris Agreement, a coming to terms of different nations and stakeholders regarding different efficient measures to reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gasses, as well as other ways to better protect the environment. The expected key result in the conference was a pledge to set a goal of limiting global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. The agreement calls for zero net human-generated greenhouse gas emissions to be
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reached during the second half of the 21st century. During the 13-day conference, there were also numerous proposals and findings that were made to make the world more ecological friendly and sustainable. In a report made by the British Broadcasting Corporation (December 13, 2015), several agreements were ratified such as the peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and the aim to achieve a balance between sources and sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century, to keep global temperature increase “well below,” and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Aside from these, it was also agreed that they were to review progress every five years and a total of $100 billion a year in climate finance for developing
HEADER PHOTO FROM THE NATION WEBSITE
countries by 2020, with a commitment to further finance in the future. In addition, the Paris Convention also played an important role concerning our country’s actions towards climate change. According to a report made by InterAksyon.com (December 13, 2015), the Philippines was able to convince the world that the fate of billions of people and the environment lies in the historic Paris Agreement approved Saturday night in the French capital. In the report, Climate Change Commission Secretary of the Philippines Emmanuel de Guzman stated that “it is in this light that the Philippines welcomes the adoption of this historic accord.” This was in response to the fact that the Philippines is among those countries that suffer from the adverse impacts of climate change.
These include frequent and extreme weather events like droughts, typhoons and flooding as in the case of typhoons Ondoy and Yolanda. It was also stated in the report that the Philippines ranked fourth in the latest climate risk report of Germanwatch, a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Bonn, Germany. In spite of all these agreements, there were some claims that major points were not addressed during this convention. An online article by CNN (December 14, 2015) stated that the agreement put together at the 21st Conference of Parties, or COP21, did not mandate exactly how much each country must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. It stated that the different countries instead setup their own goals, and then
explained how they planned to reach the objective. The agreements made in the Paris Conference can be considered a huge step in combating the negative effects of climate change. While others hold opinions in favour of more radical actions to arrest risk factors, the Conference opted to first encourage states to commit on measures that are truly attainable. The issue of climate change is a worldwide phenomenon, and every state has the duty to protect the environment. Environmental advocates also found an ally in the present leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis. In various audiences, the Pope has repeatedly called for the importance of promoting environmental protection, and the responsible consumption of earthly goods. He also published this year
his first encyclical letter focusing on the care for the environment and human ecology entitled Laudato si. “As stewards of God’s creation, we are called to make the earth a beautiful garden for the human family. When we destroy our forests, ravage our soil and pollute our seas, we betray that noble calling,” said Pope Francis emphatically during his visit in Manila, Philippines last January 18. More concerted efforts from nations, leaders, and private organizations to combat the effects of climate change have long been a part of the United Nation’s millennium development plan. With the Paris Agreement, the UN reached a milestone in reaching the goals set to remedy these environmental concerns.
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SCIENCE DIGEST
NFD joins Ateneo ChemCamp 2015
TWO PAREF NORTHFIELD students represented the school in the annual summer enrichment program in chemistry held in Ateneo de Manila University last April. Mark Delos Angeles and EJ Tucay, who were chosen by their Chemistry teacher Mr. Tony Coloma, attended three weeks of discussions and experiments in the Ateneo’s ChemCamp 2015. ChemCamp is an enrichment program for incoming senior high school students with high aptitude and passion for the natural sciences. Each school participating can only send their top
two students in Chemistry or two students chosen by their teacher to ChemCamp. The objectives of this program is to develop appreciation of the experimental nature of chemistry, to introduce the perspectives chemists adopt in investigating and describing matter, and to understand the role of chemistry in our everyday life. The main output of ChemCamp is a poster showing everything the students have learned from the lectures and the experiments. Lectures were held every morning in one of the classrooms by a teacher from the Department of Chem-
istry of the Ateneo. Two of these teachers were also the moderators of ChemCamp 2015: Mr. Gilbert Yu and Mrs. Giselle Mae Pacot. After lunch, the students headed straight to the laboratory to apply what they had learned in the lecture. One of the experiments made was turning copper into gold through alchemy. The Camp was also an opportunity to meet new freinds. Schools that joined ChemCamp 2015 were PAREF Rosehill, PAREF Woodrose, OB Montessori Center, and Ateneo de Manila High School among others.
Math & Science org goes competitive Lemniscate, the official Math and Science organization of PAREF Northfield, trained and sent different grade school and high school students to various Math and Science competitions since the start of the school year. Moderated by Mr. Jose Bartolome and Mr. Kevin Colina (formerly by Mr. Gilbert Tumbocon), the organization has opened up avenues for gifted NFD students to test their mettle in the fields of Math and Science. While it is not new
for NFD students to join Math and Science competitions, Lemniscate has regenerated enthusiasm among students when it comes to training for competitions. “Though we also want to win competitions, our aim for this year focuses mainly on helping students realize their potentials when it comes to competitive Math and Science. Even if we don’t win the contests, the students will still benefit from the exposure and experience they would get by
simply participating in them,” commented Mr. Bartolome. Among the competitions joined by NFD students are the Philippine Math Olympiad (PMO) and Sipnayan 2015; both held at the Ateneo de Manila University. Science competitions lined up for next year are the Exploreum National Science Quiz Competition sponsored by SM Mall of Asia, and the Nation Science Conquest organized by the UP Academic League of Chemical Engineering Students (UP-ALCHEMES).
PHOTOS FROM KEVIN ABELLAR & EJ TUCAY
A FoRCE To BEHoLD MICHAEL RACHO ASSOCIATE EDITOR
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long time ago, in the summer of 1977, STAR WARS was released unto the world, leaving its mark upon pop culture and cinema. Now, 38 years and five movies, another Star Wars movie was made; but is it the new hope we’ve all been waiting for, or is it a phantom menace hiding in darkness, a dark descendant of a once great legacy? T h e m ov i e s t a r t s out with one of the best opening sequences I have seen in a long time. It sets the tone, atmosphere and setting of the movie, with the first line of the opening crawl being “Luke Skywalker is missing”, establishes two of the main characters, one of which we do not even see the face, and the other on a quest to find Luke, and points to the direction where the Star Wars movies franchise is going as a whole from this point on. It delivers the right amount of nostalgia while also paving a new way for
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future movies to come. With one climactic shot involving our new villain, a blaster bolt, and a tremendous display of power, we know that the force is strong with this one. Th e fo l l ow i n g s e quence do not disappoint either. We are introduced to our heroes Rey, Poe Dameron and Finn; the former introduced in the beautifully made desert planet of Jakku, inhabited by colorful characters and present with a shadowy history, and the latter aboard an Imperial spaceship packed with deadly soldiers and a glimpse of the power of the First Order. The escape sequence which involves Finn rescuing Poe from the clutches of the empire is strikingly familiar, with nods to A New Hope and featuring a fun yet tense spaceship dog fight. The following sequences are equally impressive, with the humorous interaction and introduction of Finn and Rey in a small trading outpost on the desert planet. This outpost builds upon our nostalgia using practical effects rather
than CGI to display the colorful set of alien characters, as well as make nods to the desert planet Tatooine, the birthplace of Luke Skywalker, the first protagonist of the Star Wars series, and one of cinema’s most iconic characters. Even more nostalgia is evoked when Finn and Rey flee from the First Order with the Millenium Falcon, and when the camera goes inside the ship. Nothing has changed. Even the empty floorboards are there and serve as a plot point in the story. F i n n a n d Rey a re then boarded by none other than Han Solo and his “wookie” first mate Chewbacca, speaking for the audiences as well as themselves when Han says” Chewie, we’re home.” This is followed by another action sequence which aims to provide exposition of what Han has been up to since Return of the Jedi, while also evolving the bond between Finn and Rey. Han takes Finn and Rey on his ship and they depart for Maz Kanata, an ancient alien alien barkeeper who
can provide answers to Luke’s destination. Meanwhile in the background, our new villain, Kylo Ren and overarching empire, The First Order get their exposition on board the imperial cruiser. We find out who they are and what they want, and Kylo Ren himself proves a mysterious character, along with the introduction of Supreme leader Snoke, the leader of The First Order. They both offer parallels between Anakin Skywalker and Emperor Palpatine, with their relationship of being a Dark Lord and a broken and hateful apprentice, both equally imposing and menacing, but with the latter having a lot more to prove. They are going to be the overarching villains for this movie and the next, and they have proven themselves capable of being so. Back with the Falcon crew, they land on the forest planet of Takodana. This is where the story starts to dim. While Takodana and Maz Kanata do offer nostalgia for the parallels between her bar and the Mos Eisley Cantina
With it you’ll see memories of your past, of your childhood, old friends long gone… And even after having finished your popcorn and can of soda, you will still keep mumbling to your Jedi-self, “Indeed, the force is strong with this one.”
on Tatooine, the story doesn’t really seem to go anywhere for a while. We have bits and pieces of character development, but not enough. By the time the Empire activates Starkiller base, a.k.a. Deathstar 3.0, you get a sigh of relief that something is actually happening. But on a better note, Starkiller base is menacing, even more menacing than the Deathstar. The Deathstar and the obliteration of Alderaan is a classic scene, but when Starkiller base lets loose, the tension is tremendous, and when you see the destruction it leaves in its wake, your eyes just grow wide with anticipation. In the aftermath ensues a terrific battle that takes place on land and in the sky, and when you finally see the lightsaber glow, chills go down your spine. The events that ensue are quick yet well-paced, with Kylo Ren capturing Rey, and Finn and Han teaming up with Leia, now General of the Resistance, to destroy
Starkiller base and rescue Rey. The events that follow are pretty much what happened in A New Hope, with Starkiller base being destroyed almost exactly the same way, except this time it’s much more emotional. But what makes this truly stand out from A New Hope is the action packed lightsaber duel at the end, combining the emotion and rawness from Return of the Jedi, with the faster pace and high stakes from Revenge of the Sith. The finished product is an excellent action scene that captures the emotion of the entire movie and provides a proper climax to the film. And the ending, well, that one you have to watch for yourself. So in short, is this film a new hope? It is; in more ways than one. I s i t st ro n g w i t h t h e force? Overwhelmingly so. With it you’ll see memories of your past, of your childhood, old friends long gone… And even after having finished your popcorn and can of soda, you will still keep mumbling to your Jedi-self, “Indeed, the force is strong with this one.”
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Fortibus
20
THE BREW
The
Split Screen Saga How AlDub Defied the Traditional Notions of Popular Filipino Entertainment MILO ANDRES MANAGING EDITOR
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JUNE 2015 - JANUARY 2016
nless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve at least heard of AlDub. The phenomenal split-screen love team actually started as a happy accident. Maine Mendoza (Yaya Dub) broke character when she saw Alden Richards (a co-host in the same noon time show and her secret crush) through the show’s insert video, and they both decided to play along with the idea. It’s the perfect meet cute. The executives over at GMA noticed the traction that AlDub was having with the fans and they gave AlDub its own segment in Eat Bulaga! That decision wasn’t misguided. Over the course of the next couple of months; AlDub’s segment, Kalyeserye, was getting more and more viewers giving Eat Bulaga! a 300% increase in viewership rating. The AlDub phenomenon took not just the nation, but the world by storm. Foreigners who had no previous exposure to the strangeness of the Philippine show business got a glimpse of it when the famous Dub-smashing couple from the Philippines would constantly show up on their Twitter feeds. AlDub has become such a big phenomenon that their popularity got them a hilariously large amount of both traditional and social media coverage. AlDub became the phenomenon that it is, for the most part, because of its avid, almost rabid, fan base. After their first broadcast, AlDub already became a trend here in the Philippines because of Alden and Maine’s stage chemistry despite not having
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actually met each other in real life at the time. In the following months, more and more people were tuning in at noon to watch what would happen with the pairing on that day. Then they would write about that day’s program on all of their social media ad infinitum, not to mention selfies of them doing the pabebe wave. The large amount of exposure here in the Philippines gave way to AlDub’s worldwide fame. The large milestones in AlDub’s relationship make for a very large portion of mentions on social media. Their first time meeting in real life, their first kiss (It’s never happened yet, I’m still waiting); these events are the ones that give AlDub its Twitter-breaking charm. People see the 25 million tweets that AlDub gets every day. And try to give it a go, then they tweet about how charming it is, or how they don’t understand the absurdity of it because they’re from America, or they just simply question why something so simple got so much attention. Not to mention that the netizens also posted updates in their Facebook news feeds, while some have actually posted past episodes in their YouTube channels. The Aldub phenomenon did not only present to our very eyes how easily Filipinos are captivated by very simple and almost mundane representations of day-today experiences, which are a staple in every Kalyeserye episode. It also is a testament to a new and growing generation of media consumers. The way social media (particularly the Twitterverse) have been
at the very core of the loveteam’s success points to the fact that their followers come from a demographic that are technological-savvy. The cuteness-cum-craziness magic of the Aldub phenomenon spread like wildfire because of the easy interconnectedness that is inherent in any form of social media, and most of the viewers reside in this virtual world with its own set of norms, subcultures, and even language. Aside from the role of social media, AlDub sky-rocketed to fame because of the qualities that are in the actors themselves and in the way they weave together the story and the episode’s “selling point.” This may be even a more important factor for the success over the way social media has altogether pulled the bandwagon. Yaya Dub’s origins are quite interesting. She started gaining fame as the “Queen of Dubsmash” which gave her an already sizable fan base when she took her character to Eat Bulaga!. Alden Richards’s origin sharply contrasts with Maine’s. His career was completely tied to traditional media before his rise to fame in AlDub at which point he took to the web to connect with his and Maine’s fan base. With such contrasts, the chemistry took its effect combined with all the elements of laughter brought in by the other characters like Lola Nidora (Wally Bayola), Lola Tidora (Paolo Ballesteros), and Lola Tinidora (Jose Manalo). Moreover, AlDub caught the traditional sensitivity of an ordinary Filipino viewer.
Filipinos are very much family-oriented and have a high-regard for time-tested values and customs (especially about the importance of courtship and pure love). By weaving moral lessons in the story amidst the wackiness of it all, AlDub and the Kalyeserye won the sentiments not only of the Kapuso, but also of the Kapatid and the Kapamilya. It is beautiful to realize that pop culture can actually tap on these themes of traditional Filipino culture, and elevates them once more before our very eyes, without resulting in low taste gimmicks as the tendency now of other shows in other big networks. And it is even more beautiful to realize that our traditional values are truly universal and are still very much alive among the hearts of a much more modern set of viewers. As such, AlDub’s success is truly a work of the people who truly know how to live in this brave new world, but still carry within them the precious lessons from the past. Of course, AlDub wouldn’t be the phenomenon they are without their fans worldwide having their backs and incessantly tweeting about them for every waking moment of their lives. But what truly made AlDub transcend the norms of current popular Filipino entertainment is this marriage of what is present in the new generation, and the traditional values that have been in the Filipino consciousness for centuries past. This is how AlDub defied present showbiz conventions, and has earned the rest of Eat Bulaga, constantly fattening pay-checks!
SPORTS
JUNE 2015 - JANUARY 2016
PHOTOS BY ANDREI CHIO
VOLUME 4 NUMBER 1
IMPRESSIVE
AQUAMEN THE GENESIS OF THE NORTHFIELD TANKERS TEAM
REPORTS FROM
JOAQUIN DE DIOS
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
ive Northfield tankers conquered the Amoranto Sports Complex waters in the district-level qualifiers of the 2015 Quezon City Athletic Association of Private Schools (QCAAPS) swimming tilt for the first time in the past ten years. Lanz Dilla of Grade 10A led the NFD squad together with Javi Arenas (Grade 9), Miggy Belmonte (Grade 10B), Kirsten Dilla (Grade 7), and Juaqui Arenas (Grade 4). All of them qualified in the Division level eliminations held last October 9 after achieving the required time records for the different swimming events.
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Swimming at AAPS The 2015 AAPS swimming tilt was divided into the following events: freestyle,
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backstroke, breaststroke and the 100-meter butterfly. Having joined in the swimming events of the 2015 AAPS league is a landmark in the school’s sporting history. This is the first time that NFD sent a team of privately-trained student swimmers to represent the school in a qualifying competition. For most of the delegates, this is an important milestone in their stay in NFD because in the past year’s, NFD has only sponsored and trained teams for the more popular sports events such as basketball and football. Scouting in NFD Despite the lack of training facilities, Mr. Raul Arenas, the current Sports Activities Coordinator, continued on his efforts in exposing NFD students to other sporting events and competitions. His vision is to widen the base of sports events that the students can venture into. He believes
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“This is the first-time in many years that NFD will have on official delegation in the AAPS swimming events,” said Mr. Arenas.
events. Aside from training every day in the pool, I also do cross training which includes jogging, pushups, core, arms and legs exercises with my swimmates to strengthen our endurance. These trainings helped me condition my body for the competition,” commented Lanz Dilla, the most senior of the swimmers, when asked about his preparations for the event. “Currently my best time in the 100-meter butterfly event is 1:03 minutes, and I still train hard to improve that,” he added.
Preparations Weeks before the event, members of the NFD swimming squad spent hours for training and beating their own personal records. “Preparing for competitions is challenging but despite this, I was able to train hard and focus on my strokes and
Future Plans NFD swimmers dream big when it comes to their passion. For them, it is not simply enough to be just a good swimmer, but to strive being one of the best. “In every competition that I join, I feel excited but at the same time very
Preparing for competitions is challenging but despite this, I was able to train hard and focus on my strokes and events... And if I do great in swimming, I want to be an Olympian to represent the country.
that exposing students to various inter-school leagues will help elevate the quality of athleticism and sports programs present in the school. Earlier in August, Mr. Arenas went around the school scouting for possible members of the official NFD swimming team who would represent the school in the AAPS league. Five students, who have already been training privately and are also joining leagues outside the school, were chosen.
Lanz Dilla
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nervous. I am excited to swim my events and to see my friends from other teams, but at the same time nervous also because of my events; whether I would do great in it or make it to the top three…” said Dilla. “I have a lot of plans for my future in swimming but as of now I am aiming to join as many competitions as I can like the UAAP, and other international and local competitions. I also aim to be at least top three in those competitions but it would be even better if I could get first or a gold medal. And if I do great in swimming, I want to be an Olympian to represent the country,” he added. The genesis of the first official swimming team of NFD is indeed a forward step in exposing students to more sporting activities outside school. There lies a great hope that several of future NFD athletes would bring more fortune to the home of the brave.
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Fortibus
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SPORTS
JUNE 2015 - JANUARY 2016
SPORTS WATCH Ultimate Frisbee In Northfield JULIO BALAGTAS SPORTS EDITOR
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ho could have thought that with just a disc (that looks more like a dinner plate) and two squads made up of seven over-hyper players, a new sport would raise the dust in nearby open fields and courts? Ultimate Frisbee is an exciting, fast-paced non-contact sport that demands its players to have razor sharp skills (such as throwing and catching) as well as incredible quickness and athleticism to be able to get around the field easily and to get high off your feet to be able to retrieve the disk. This intense game is played with a flying disk called a “Frisbee,” made out of plastic resin. This disk could do just about anything as it can fly or glide through the air, flip and roll around depending on the throw a player is doing. This high-adrenalin sport started in 1968 when Joel Silver introduced to his student council at Columbia High School, New Jersey, USA his version of this game using a Wham-O master disc. From this point on, the game gained popularity as it was being played already as a side-event in intercollegiate football games. The highlights you get to see in the game, which are absolutely breathtaking, easily captivates an audience which is why this game is so amazing. They could be a player performing a ridiculous dive to beat his opponent to the disk or even a player jumping over another to be able to grab the disk and score. What really makes the game great, and I think more than the fancy stunts, is what Ultimate-lovers call the Spirit of the Game. That’s because this sport is built around an honor system, and at every level of play, whether its college, professional, etc., the game is always self-officiated (with some exceptions in the most competitive leagues or events). This forces the players to have full knowledge of the rules, and to also, at the same time, keep in mind and maintain fair play in the game. Ultimate has been in Northfield for quite a while already. It started out, and was for a long time, just a sport students played in PE classes. There were a lot of students though that loved to play it and started to clamor that the game be included in the sports roster for the annual sportsfest and family day. From there, lots of kids took joy in watching the older batches compete in the sport and I think most thought it looked really cool and fun and were even, in a way, inspired to play as well because soon enough there were more people now trying out the games for themselves. Although Ultimate was already doing well in Northfield, it recently took one more leap to become even bigger in the school. With the introduction of clubs (and now that students are required to join one), a group of high schoolers formed a club just for the sport which they called “Volaticus” (a Latin phrase that means “the winged one.” Now, even more people are starting to get into the sport and are also starting to get more serious about it as well. Some are even looking to compete against other schools as soon as next year in the prestigious National Ultimate Collegiate Championship (NUCC), where other PAREF teams such as the Southridge Admirals and the Woodrose Hydra compete. With the help of our PE class and watching others compete, we were encouraged to play and also learned how to play the game properly. Today, it wouldn’t be surprising or special to see a student going around the campus holding a Frisbee, or a group of kids playing Ultimate after class.
NFD Mayhem blazes AC dance tilt Northfield Mayhem, the official dance varsity of the school, emerged as the champion in the 2015 Assumption College invitational entitled Arcade, November 27, 2015. Trained by IsaganiTayag and Mikko Sebastian of the UP Street Dance team for more than three months, the fiery contemporary dance troupe consisting of students from the high school department has prepared their hip hop-techPHOTO BY MR. OLIVER BASILIO
no inspired routine for the competition, besting other groups from different high schools including Southridge. Members of the winning team are: captain Benjamin Balmores (Year 5), John Rivera (Year 5), MikkoSupe (Year 4), Kevin Abellar (Year 4), Jed Reyes (Grade 10A), Francis Cardenas (Grade10A), Jacob Ducut (Grade 10B), Paco Carmona (Grade 10B), Joshua de Jesus (Grade 10B), and Kim Alampay (Grade 8).
YOUNG AND ACTIVE. Jed Reyes of Grade 10A plays as keeper for the Manila Youth Hockey League. PHOTO COURTESY OF JED REYES.
Reyes is MVP in youth hockey league weights all the time. So it requires discipline and precision,” SPORTS CORRESPONDENT Jed commented when asked about his experiences as goalie. Jed Reyes of Grade Although Jed admits the 10A and goal keeper of the he was not born a superstar, Philippine Hockey Team he reasoned that if you work (formerly Manila Hawks) hard and set your mind to the earned the title of bantam sport, anything can be possible, division MVP in the Philip- even winning an MVP title. pine Youth Hockey League, “I’m always learning things October 2014, SM Mall of Asia. from my coach and applying it. “Being goalie you have to And when in training, I always be the most agile and the fittest start off with basics. I’m not person on the team because talented at all and I can see you’re the one wearing the that so that’s why I have to heaviest gear. I’m not too sure work extra hard,” Jed added. about the weight but I could Having earned his first tell you it’s heavy and it feels MVP title, Jed will continue like you are strapped on to to pursue his passion for the
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sport to achieve his dream for it is burning more. I love that someday the sport of the game and this is the last hockey will be recognized as year of me being part of the a great sport in the Philippines. bantam division. That means At present, hockey is not as I am set to play my last game popular as the other sports for this division.I’m going in the country, like basketball to have to work harder than and football, given the special before. Because, honestly I conditions and gears required dream that one day this iceto play it. Only those who can based sport will be embraced afford buying a set of hockey and supported by many other gears, which are expensive, youngFilipinos,” Jed explained. Jed is set to play his final can seriously practice the sport. Though hockey is still more of stint as a bantam division a non-mainstream sport in the goalie this year in the Manila country, Jed still continues Ice Hockey League. He will be to be optimistic on playing it able to play in this division on with his team, and seeing more June 2016 for the international young Filipinos enjoying it. leagues that will be held in Sin“Right now my passion gapore and Thailand.
Gilas Places 2nd in FIBA Asia Cup JULIO BALAGTAS SPORTS EDITOR
Gilas Pilipinas once again showed heart as they battled through other tough Asian opponents and earned their ticket to the championship finals against China at the Changsha Social Work College gymnasium in Changsha, China in this year’s FIBA Asia Cup. Despite placing second against the bigger and more powerful Chinese team, falling 78-67 to the host-country. What was at stake in the match was the chance to compete and to automatically qualify for the 2016 Olympics to be held in Brazil. It wasn’t all that bad for Gilas. In fact, they were actually rolling and even jumped out to an early lead. Although, the Chinese eventually got on a pretty big run that made the whole game turn upside down for the Philippine’s bet. They were, at one point, even leading Gilas Pilipinas by as much as
16 points in the second half. In spite of the devastating loss, the play of the naturalized Andray Blatche was terrific. His match-up was against his former teammate in the NBA and also tournament MVP Yi Jianlian. Blatche played his heart out, like every other player on the team, and dropped 17 points and reeled in five rebounds against the Chinese. Jayson Castro, despite his performance and mighty struggles in this game, played spectacularly throughout the rest of the tournament, and even though he was not able to leave much a mark on this game, he was still able to bring home with him the award of best point guard in Asia once again. Although Gilas Pilipinas lost to China, they still have a chance to compete in the 2016 Olympics. We will be seeing them competing again in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying tournament to be held in Manila, Philippines for that last spot in the Olympics.
NFD booters represent RP in U-12 Asian tilts Two Northfield booters formed part of the under-12 Global FC squad that finished second place in the Silver Division of the 2015 Borneo Cup held in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia last October. Ponci Pique (Grade 7) and Santi Arenas (Grade 6) has been training with Global FC, one of the premier football clubs in the country under the Azkals Foundation, for several months now. This under-12 team, where both players belong, was bested by the Malaysian team during the championships, but showed great spirit throughout the tournament. Global FC’s under-13 team also won fourth place in the Gold Division, while the under-12
Quezon City FC (Global FC Team B) landed on the same spot in the Silver Division. Meanwhile, Pique also represented the Global FC under-12 team in the Supermokh 2015 held this time in Kuala Lumpur last December. The team faced other Asian teams such as Thailand, Korea, Iran and Malaysia in the elimination. Global FC proved to be the only undefeated team with the highest goal difference during the elimination round in group D with one win and three draws. Overall, the team ranked eleventh out of the 20 participating football clubs. NFD BOOTERS. Santi Arenas (2nd from the left)and Ponsy Pique (5th from the top-left). .