The Electron — Volume 54, Issue 1

The Official English Publication of Quezon City Science High School

VOLUME LIV ISSUE 01 August 2021 to July 2022

BEACON OF TRUTH · BASTION OF INTEGRITY NEWS UPLB Research Reveals Filipino Students’ Struggle to Adapt With Online Learning

OPINION The Rightful (Eternal) Change

FEATURE Under the Surface

SCIENCE The Malampaya Gas Field: From Gas to Dust?

SPORTS Game Face On: The Past, Present, and Future of Kisay Basketball and Volleyball

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HAKOT KISAY, HAKOT ELECTRON. The Electron’s current editorial board poses with the winnings in the Gawad Dalumat event organized by DOST-TAPI. Included in the graphic are the previous members of the editorial board and the staffers behind the wins.

The Electron Hailed as Best School Paper in UST Presscon

BY CYRUS BAUTISTA

The Electron Bags Awards at DOST-TAPI’s First Journalism Contest

BY LEANNE ISIP PHOTOS BY YSABELLA DOMINGUEZ | GRAPHIC BY JED GOCATEK

QUEZON CITY Science High School’s (QCSHS) Official English Student Publication, The Electron, secured the Gawad Dalumat Best Science School-based/School-Led Publication 1st runner-up spot in a competition organized by the Department of Science and Technology - Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) last May 13, 2022. i-INVENT PH is a nationwide campaign to promote the services offered by the DOST-TAPI to Filipino inventors and innovators through its newscast Kaalaman sa Agham at Lipunan (KALIPUNAN).

A part of the KALIPUNAN newscast’s special segment is DOST-TAPI’s first nationwide journalism contest with

the theme “Gawad Alunig x Dalumat: Empowering Science Stories through Citizen Journalism’’ which aims to highlight science communication, uphold science journalism, uplift science stories, and increase citizen participation.

“Through the Gawad Alunig x Dalumat, DOST-TAPI hopes to empower citizens as responsible science advocates and amplify their interest and participation in pushing for a better science and technology ecosystem.” said emcee Ms. Charissa Regina A. Pascual The Electron’s 53rd volume (March 2020 - May 2021 issue) was previously announced as one of the finalists out of 34 entries.

In a video introducing The Electron, school paper adviser Ms. Mary Grace R. Espiel shared how the publication

Even before, advancing scientific knowledge and its benefits has been one of our advocacies.

Mary Grace Espiel The Electron Adviser

conveys news concerning QCSHS and raises the community’s consciousness to timely issues in the country. “...Mula noon pa man ang pagsulong sa kaalamang agham at mga benepisyo nito ay isa na sa aming mga advocacies.” said Espiel (Even before, advancing scientific knowledge and its benefits has been one of our advocacies.)

Aside from the Gawad Dalumat award, Gabriel John De Leon’s article entitled “Diana Ranoa’s COVID-19 Saliva Testing: A Scientian Scientist’s Taste of Success” won 2nd place in the Top Three (3) Science Stories.

Gawad Dalumat runners up and awardees of the Top Three (3) Science Stories received a cash prize of P5,000 each.

QUEZON CITY Science High School’s (QCSHS) English student publication The Electron was named “Best School Paper” securing the Maximilian Kolbe Award in the recently concluded Myriad 2022.

Myriad 2022 is a national journalism seminar with the theme “Forging Partnerships and Making Differences through Campus Journalism” and it was lead by The Aquinian, the University of Santo Tomas Junior High School’s student publication via Zoom.

The Electron’s SY 2020-2021 issue also received the awards: Best Feature Section, Best Editorial Section and Best Sports Section, defeating school papers from different regions.

“This is another proof how hard the team has worked despite the challenges of doing things online,” The Electron school paper adviser Mary Grace R. Espiel said.

Myriad also featured journalists Jeff Canoy, Eugenio Sonny Calapit, Severino Sarmenta Jr., and Inez Ponce de Leon who talked about different topics.

Canoy talked about the infodemic surrounding COVID-19, including misinformation and the definition of truth while Calapit discussed news and journalism in the digital age.

Meanwhile, Sarmenta Jr. explained how sports and sports consumption has been changed by the pandemic and online era, and how journalists can adapt to these changes.

De Leon’s lecture focused on science writing and how effective science articles can be written through telling stories, simplifying life, and focusing on the process instead of the end result.

Electron Feature Editor Kianna Torrefiel considered the training as a great experience.

“It’s the first time I’ve attended a national journalism training, and I really learned a lot from the speakers,” Torrefiel said.

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News

JULY 2022 | Volume LIV · Issue 01

GRAPHIC BY JED GOCATEK

PHOTO BY MARY GRACE ESPIEL

Batch ’97 Launches Hygienic QueSci Project

BY MARY GRACE ESPIEL AS A way to kick off their being the silver jubilarians for 2022, Quezon City Science High School (QCSHS) Batch 1997 presented their Hygienic Quesci Project by donating alcohol dispensers today.

Batch ‘97 representatives Aris Acosta, Jacki Villanueva and Victor Pobre turned over their first batch of alcohol dispensers with thermal scanners.

Next year’s silver jubilarians decided to have this project as they thought it is very timely and that their aim is to help make Quesci safe for face-to-face classes.

“We gathered suggestions from our batchmates, and we thought this would be the best project to have in preparation for the face-toface classes,” said Pobre.

This is not the first time this batch did something for Quesci as they also donated pocket wifi devices last SY when the school was on its first year on online learning and teaching.

Asked how it feels to go back to QueSci after 20 years to give back, the group relayed they were very excited about it.

“Noong nagpatawag kami ng (When we called for a) meeting, maraming gustong mag-go (many want to go) back to give back,” relayed Pobre.

QCSHS Principal Remedios P. Danao and department heads Christopher Pabona and Lorna Mendoza received the donations.

“We are very grateful because of the immediate support from Batch ’97 for they found a way to really immediately supply us with alcohol dispensers which will be used in classrooms and offices,” said Danao.

Danao and Batch ’97 representatives signed a deed of donation for this part of Hygienic Quesci Project.

The Electron guests in DZUP Radyo Edukado Women Empowerment Episode

BY BEATRICE ACORDA IN CELEBRATION of International Women’s Month, The Electron adviser and four female staffers were interviewed in University of the Philippines College of Education’s DZUP’s Radyo Edukado for an episode on “Women and Girls as Leaders in Campus Journalism” last March 12 via Zoom.

Scientians Air Out Academic Concerns to QCSHS Principal Simon in Students’ Assembly

BY PATRICIA JUTIE ACADEMIC CONCERNS remain the issues most heard from each year level in the first general students’ assembly via Zoom entitled “STATION 2022” with new principal Carolyn C. Simon.

Scientians raised issues, like burdensome student workload, short deadlines, numerous quizzes per day, several video and group projects, and simultaneous due dates during the QCSHS Supreme Student Government (SSG) event.

“The grade 10 students have raised their concerns with the piling up of all the requirements… to the point that most students were not getting enough sleep, just to finish their assignments,” said Current Grade Level (CGL) 10 chairperson Cassandra Austria.

She further said students are also requests for teachers to avoid setting deadlines or posting activities on weekends, and for performance tasks to be announced at least a week before the deadline to give students ample time to accomplish such heavy tasks.

Simon reiterated that science high schools are more in-depth and have more requirements and these cannot be avoided, but she emphasized that she tells the teachers to balance out performance tasks.

Concerning the due dates, she advised, “Reach out, talk to your teachers about submissions… I will tell teachers ‘No posting on weekends,’ if meron pa rin (there are still [assignments]), tell me personally.”

Austria also suggested to lessen group activities given due to students receiving the same grade despite having unequal contributions.

“I told the teachers to balance out the performance tasks…[and] give rubrics for participation,” Mrs. Simon responded.

CGL 8 chairperson Hannah Belarmino dug deeper into these academic concerns through a slide presentation on the concerns in schedule, requirements, teachers, and so forth, of her batch and those of in seventh grade as well.

“Holy Week is usually a week for meditating and reflecting. With our current schedule, it being 'hell week' or completion week for this quarter, it will not allow the students to have the break that they need,” Belarmino highlighted.

Similar to the other batches, Belarmino reported, “The WHLP is very useful to us students, and we appreciate that this suggestion was implemented.

Unfortunately, there are times that teachers either forget or just don’t update it. We use it as a guide and a reminder. We suggest that all teachers will

always make sure that the information indicated in it is correct and updated.”

The Weekly Home Learning Plan (WHLP) is a guide which includes the activities and topics that students will learn and do per week, it is provided by the advisers every week.

Breaks between classes were still a concern as the allotted 10 minutes were often used up by the previous subjects.

With this, students suggested having a longer lunch break to make up for the consumption of their supposed-to-be 10-minute breaks and to prepare and eat their food well.

Teachers were also part of their concerns.

Some of these concerns about teachers are those who are unresponsive when students try to communicate or raise concerns, those who discuss very quickly or not at all, those who snap at students who ask questions or have clarifications.

Concerns regarding the tablets were also mentioned, such as their inability to update and to download apps became hindrances in attending synchronous classes, as well as in complying with the requirements of certain subjects.

Students, especially those in grade who mostly rely on the borrowed tablet from the QC Local Government

The said interview was aired at 1:00 PM today, March 21, 2022 through the radio station’s website.

Interviewers Teacher Venice and Mike tackled the challenges of campus journalism amid the pandemic and what it takes to be a female journalist.

With Electron as a school publication, “We felt the need to be present as primary informants of the Scientian community,” said Mary Grace Espiel, publication adviser.

However, being present is a challenge — a challenge to balance being a journalist while dealing with academic responsibilities, as mentioned by the News Editor, Beatrice Acorda.

“It’s hard to keep track of the things na pababago sa nangyayari in the community and society,” added Kianna Torrefiel, Feature Editor.

(It is hard to keep track of the things that are constantly changing in the community and society.)

On the contrary, even with the unfavorable situation, “...definitely not impossible. Especially since yung editorial board is very active in answering my queries,” said Ysabella Dominguez, Managing Editor.

With The Electron becoming more inclusive, communicative, and consistent under the current Editor-in-Chief, Leanne Isip, all the staffers are doing their best to do their responsibilities.

“We are an organization that wants to give information— truth. If kami mismo we can’t be organized, how would we translate this to our work?” she added.

(We are an organization that wants to give information— truth. If we, ourselves

can’t be organized, how would we translate this to our work?)

And in keeping the publication on track, leadership is required. With its leaders being mostly women, “...we are expected to be better, so we rise up and we defy those [expectations].

While doing our best in our jobs, we are doing our best rin to be grounded,” said Isip.

(We are expected to be better, so we rise up and we defy those [expectations]. While doing our best in our jobs, we are doing our best to also be grounded.)

As a female journalist, Dominguez gave value to her works and it helped, “...to see my worth as a woman, and to continue to inspire me to advocate for women empowerment,” she said.

In holding the whole organization together, all members are treated fairly and encouraged, added Espiel.

BEACON OF TRUTH · BASTION OF INTEGRITY

Rest assured that the admin is listening to your concerns and we are trying our best to provide an environment to make you happy and comfortable.

Carolyn C. Simon QCSHS Principal

Unit suggested improving tablet restrictions to address these concerns.

With all the issues raised, Mrs. Simon said, “Rest assured that the admin is listening to your concerns and we are trying our best to provide an environment to make you happy and comfortable.”

Also present in the two-hour assembly were SSG adviser Jasper Quejadas and grade 12 coordinator Ian Mark Allas.

To lead alongside women, Yesha Rodriguez, cartoonist, mentioned how it is an empowering experience to be with such people to share her message through her passion: art.

Torrefiel added that “...to see women dominate this field, we would like to soar higher and do better in our craft.”

“We are using our voices so that other people could hear it and encourage others to use their voices,” said Acorda.

A school publication has goals to not only inform others but to inspire others as well as mentioned by Isip.

This is the second time The Electron has appeared as a guest in DZUP 1602 Radyo Edukado, with the first being back in 2020.

News

JULY 2022 | Volume LIV · Issue 01

HINDERED LEARNING

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PHOTO ATTRIBUTION RAPPLER

UPLB Research Reveals Filipino Students’ Struggle to Adapt With Online Learning

BY DAYANARA MARCOS

CHED: Flexible Learning Will Continue in the School Year 2021 and Thereafter

BY BEATRICE ACORDA

GRAPHIC BY SOFIA NICOLE CHONG

A CURRENT study from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) entitled “Assessment of Filipino Higher Education Students’ Readiness for e-Learning During a Pandemic: A Rasch Technique Application,” shows that majority of Filipino students are still struggling in the matter of learner control amidst of shift to online learning.

The degree of e-learning preparedness among Filipino students in higher education in the time of pandemic was evaluated in this research in terms of five dimensions: computer/internet self-efficacy, self-directed learning, learner control, motivation for learning, and online communication self-efficacy.

“Filipino students are ready in terms of computer or internet self-efficacy — that is their ability to demonstrate proper computer and internet skills. However, they are not ready in terms of learner control,” the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said in a Facebook post.

The repetition of online directive materials dependent on their need was the most effortless way with regard to the learner control dimension as claimed by the students, although focusing attentively while learning online was viewed as one of their difficulties.

“It is important to emphasize that there are students with responsibility in their own family. How would they be able to balance their responsibility from home and from academics?” This outlook was raised by one of the participants in the study.

Out of the five dimensions, the learning environment and control of learning progress are areas in which the students are not ready with. This result proved the connection between the quality of online learning at home and the effectiveness of online lectures during a pandemic indicating that non-academic online activities and family-related dilemma/duties are also

The Electron Launches Online Learning Webinar for Students

BY ALEJA TALAUE TO HELP Scientians prepare for virtual classes, The Electron did a webinar entitled “e-Learning 101: How to Ace Online Learning” last September 10 via Google Meet.

The webinar’s speaker, The Electron adviser Mary Grace Espiel, shared that as an online learner herself, online learning is indeed difficult, but possible.

“Online learning is as fun as face-toface classes if you put yourself in the zone,” said Espiel.

To stretch the barriers towards online learning, she shared different strategies such as note-taking, conducting research, and completing writing tasks.

According to her, writing takes a huge involvement in online learning, and it must undergo the right process.

“It is very critical to take comfort in writing,” she said.

Espiel also said that students must treat their online courses as “real” courses, practice time management, and participate actively in class. “Intelligence is not

The study has drawn attention to the decrease in student enrollment [...] due to the lack of resources and preparedness caused by the shift to online classes set-up.

enough to learn the best way, kailangan meron ding puso at gawa,” she said.

(Intelligence is not enough to learn the best way, hardwork and heart are also needed.)

Quezon City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Jenilyn Rose B. Corpuz encouraged students to welcome the new changes in education.

Dr. Corpuz said that the new landscape of education is constantly changing, and the students must be able to retain a clear vision and anticipate risks that go along with, to capitalize complexity and seize the chance to innovate.

“Learning from diversity is also important for students to not lose focus and get comfortable with the virtual setup,” she added.

Quezon City Science High School Principal Remedios Danao opened the

attributed to some challenges expressed by the participants.

Findings also showed that the lack of readiness under the learner control and motivation for e-learning dimensions can be resolved if technological and financial support is provided as the survey results revealed that around half of the students do not have fast and reliable internet access.

The study has also drawn attention to the decrease in student enrollment in 2020 by three million from 27.7 million in both public and private schools due to the lack of resources and preparedness caused by the shift to online classes set-up.

The research was conducted by a team of researchers from UPLB’s Institute of Statistics last 2020 involving 290 participants from UPLB wherein 80 percent are undergraduate students while 20 percent are graduate students. It was published on the Philippine Journal Science website last June.

webinar by commending The Electron members and Scientians in pursuing excellence despite numerous setbacks met by the previous year’s new learning setup in her opening remarks.

BEACON OF TRUTH · BASTION OF INTEGRITY

Intelligence is not enough to learn the best way, hardwork and heart are also needed.

Mary Grace Espiel The Electron Adviser

SCIENTIANS SHOULD expect more of distance even after graduating from senior high school.

This is after Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Prospero de Vera III announced May last year that there will no longer be face-to-face classes, as the commission implemented flexible learning as a new policy to be used this school year and onwards.

De Vera said, “The commission has adopted a policy that flexible learning will continue in School Year 2021 and thereafter,” during the “Educating our Children in the New Normal” webinar.

To avoid “same risks if another pandemic comes in,” there is no going back to the face-to-face classes De Vera said.

Waste of investments in technology, teacher’s training, and facilities would be the results of returning to the previous system, he added.

According to CHED, this “flexible learning” is said to not require internet connection all the time since it is a combination of using digital and non-digital means.

Educational institutions will have the freedom in choosing the mode that would be the most suitable for the students to use, “What will hap-

Both students and faculty members are able to adjust to flexible learning better now than before.

Prospero de Vera III CHED Chairman

pen is a flexible system where universities will mix and match flexible learning methods appropriate to their situation,” De Vera said.

After the first school year under the pandemic, “Both students and faculty members are able to adjust to flexible learning better now than before,” he said.

De Vera added, “The old norms are gone, and they must adjust to new standards,” and that the teachers must realize this now.

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News

JULY 2022 | Volume LIV · Issue 01

LEARNING IN THE NEW DECADE. Participants of the F2F simulation are engaged in the Physics lesson taught by Mr. Ian Allas. Safety protocols imposed by the LGU are strictly observed.

PHOTOS BY HUMPHREY SORIANO

QCSHS Completes Day 1 of Pilot F2F Classes Simulation

BY JARELLE RICAFORTE & SOFIA NICOLE CHONG

QUEZON CITY Science High School (QCSHS) had a simulation of pilot face-to-face (F2F) classes last Monday.

Seven grade 12 students took part in this first day of simulation from 8:00 AM to 1:20 PM. According to grade 12 coordinator Mr. Ian Mark F. Allas, health guidelines provided by the Department of Education (DepEd) were all observed, which includes printed health declaration forms and QR codes for digital contract tracing.

Allas also relayed that since the goal is to prepare the school for F2F classes, teachers and students’ safety is the top priority.

Observation of health protocols was attested by students.

“Social distancing, strict wearing of masks, and constant sanitization were followed. In addition to these were the use of hand sanitizer dispensers with built-in contactless thermometers, alcohol mats,

and more devices for disinfection,” said one student.

Subjects included in the simulation are those which included activities and enrichment that cannot be done at home.

Students who participated in the simulation had different insights on the activity.

12 – Einstein’s James Cipriaso stated he first felt uneasy interacting with his friends face to face after being isolated at home for a long time said he found himself participating more in class recitation more often than in online classes.

“I was more at ease to recite and more engaged in the discussion,” said Cipriaso.

Another student relayed he felt that being physically present in the classroom makes classes better, more engaging and that it was easier to digest information.

Despite having enjoyed the simulation, students have expressed that there are still

Scientians Raise Online Learning Concerns in SSG General Assembly

BY ZYREEN ARNALDO IN EFFORTS to help raise Scientians’ concerns and difficulties during this school year’s online classes, Quezon City Science High School’s (QCSHS) Supreme Student Government (SSG) held a General Assembly yesterday via Zoom.

many things that need to be prepared for large-scale implementation of F2F classes.

“The limited capacity for a room is surely an issue, since our classrooms have limited space,” said Jed Magallon from 12 Kepler.

A student also said there has to be a definite method in conducting F2F classes.

QCSHS Principal Ms. Remedios P. Danao said that while the pilot testing of F2F classes is a huge task, the turnout of the simulation gave favorable results.

“We understand that there are still many things that need to be done for QueSci to be ready for the pilot testing of face-to-face classes, but we are on the right track. We have been receiving support from our stakeholders, and the SHS teachers have shown commitment and are very much involved in the planning for the set-up,” said Danao.

The meeting was attended by QCSHS’ SSG-Curriculum Grade Level (CGL) officers and their adviser Jasper Quejadas, class presidents and vice presidents of the junior and senior high school, and principal Dr. Remedios P. Danao.

It was during the open forum session in which student representatives of each batch and each class were given the opportunity to freely express their troubles as online learners.

One of the most common concerns raised by the students was the overload of schoolwork, including those done in groups and due the same day they were given, and that they receive more tasks and activities than the knowledge supposedly gained from online classes.

“Too much workload will be hard for both the teachers and the students,” said a senior high school student.

Another significant concern was the lack of communication and coordination between teachers with regard to the schedule of deadlines, tests, and performance tasks.

The students made it known that it would be of much help if their teachers were more aware of each others’ planned activities for the same students they handle before giving them out, in hopes of avoiding overlapping time schedules.

Relative to time schedules, students also suggested adjustments to the pres-

ent schedule to minimize conflict between subjects that took place on the same day.

Some expressed that they thought it best to prolong the ten-minute break between subjects to at least fifteen minutes as there are tendencies in which some teachers would arrive late and extend their lecture time, creating a domino effect of conflict as it delays the starting time of the following subject and results in another extension.

Few students also brought to attention their hopes for consideration in receiving instructions for their schoolwork.

These students mentioned that it would be very helpful for them if they could see these instructions in their Google Classrooms instead of hearing them via Google Meet, especially at times when meetings are not recorded and when the difficulty in receiving the instructions verbally worsens during problems with internet connection during their synchronous sessions.

Teacher protocols are also sought out by the students for when they experience unexpected difficulties such as knowing how to inform their teachers when there is a sudden brownout in their household, emergencies, sudden loss or instability of internet connection, and the like.

Senior high school students were also able to share their burdens concerning

BEACON OF TRUTH · BASTION OF INTEGRITY

JA Philippines (JAPI) and its contribution to their success in entrepreneurship, specifically in terms of finances and resources that the students are very much in need of.

Although the students appreciate the organization’s objectives for them, they believe that the numerous seminars do not necessarily provide the much-needed help that the students seek to flourish during their primary steps of product selling; and that it essentially only adds to the students’ concerns in workload.

Sexual harassment issues were also raised as a concern in which students were advised to first inform their parents and file a complaint to the school and its authorities for legal action to take place.

Students also sought for an organized system or committee in service for Scientians with learning disabilities, as well as grades transparency in hopes to know their areas for improvement and a clear evaluation for group works which will justify the grades of each student based on their contribution as a group member.

As the purpose of the General Assembly heavily implied with regards to discussing the students’ concerns, it was an objective to have both the willingness of the students to share their burdens and the capacity of those in authority to help find the appropriate solutions.

News

JULY 2022 | Volume LIV · Issue 01

The Electron Showcases Innovations in UP Int’l Conference

BY YSABELLA DOMINGUEZ & LEANNE ISIP “SAME RELIABLE journalism team, using new ways to reach the Scientian community.”

This is how The Electron, Quezon City Science High School’s (QCSHS) English publication, The Electron, presented themselves in The International Conference on Philosophy of Education 2021 last November 13.

The conference, with the theme “Rethinking Education in Times of Crisis: New Paradigms, Innovative Practices, and Meaningful Outcomes for Diversity and Social Justice” was hosted by the Philosophy of Education and Values Education Program of College of Education of the University of the Philippines (UP).

The Electron adviser Mary Grace R. Espiel, presented “Campus Journalism in the Frontline during the Pandemic: The Electron in the New Norm” in one of the parallel sessions in the afternoon via Zoom.

Espiel was joined by Editor-in-Chief Leanne Louise V. Isip, Managing Editor Maria Ysabella S. Dominguez and Circulations Manager Jed William V. Gocatek who shared how they coped with the changes the pandemic has brought and personal insights about the online set-up.

“As a member of the Electron, I really had to organize my goals and responsibilities. I re-established what I wanted to prioritize in my life so that I could make sure that I was alotting enough time and effort for each one.” Dominguez said.

The publication carried out different initiatives in the middle of the school year such as online learning webinars, creating special editions, and producing articles.

“Moving [The Electron] to the digital space was a challenging shift in our way of doing things. It was a pretty tough job to do — especially for me, a layout artist at that time. I managed to pull through, fortunately, because even if the workload was heavy, I loved what I do.”

Gocatek stated.

With the complete change of medium from physical to digital, all of the content

produced was uploaded online and constructed with the use of electronic devices.

“I’m still adjusting to this whole setup right now, and I have to be more responsible and aware of my surroundings.” Isip added.

The current academic year marks the second time students will experience distance learning and the school paper continuing their activities online.

Electron members mentioned how they became more dependable, conscious, and organized in terms of their priorities.

When asked by Conference Co-Chair Dr. Maricris Acido-Muega about how students from the publication use the skills they learned from journalism lectures, Espiel mentioned that staffers also made use of their writing skills through school performance tasks and other commitments outside of the Electron.

“The Electron has ongoing weekly journalism lectures since the beginning of the school year and is continuing to plan and pursue different projects for the future,” said Espiel.

The conference, attended by speakers from different institutions from countries such as the Philippines, the United States, and New Zealand, discussed various topics surrounding education such as its philosophy, teachers, ethics, technology, and its purpose for change in the pandemic and beyond by people in the educational sector internationally.

In the welcoming remarks, UP College of Education Dean Dr. Jerome Buenviaje said “In this time of despair, we need hope to start a spark to light a fire and spark conversations that are relevant to our situation.”

The conference allowed for open discussions about the themes and topics explained during the different sessions conducted throughout the day.

It ended by summarizing and analyzing the presentations and by announcing the launch of DISKURSO, an e-magazine.

The International Conference on Philosophy of Education has been conducted yearly since 2008 and had over 200 attendees this year.

Moving The Electron to the digital space was a challenging shift [...]

I managed to pull through, fortunately, because even if the workload was heavy, I loved what I do.

Jed Gocatek The Electron Circulations Manager

EDUCATION & PASSION

QCSHS Alumnus to Students: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

BY KYLE BALANAY “GROWTH IS somewhere out of your comfort zone.”

This is what industrial engineer Rowell Castro of Batch 2009 emphasized during the two-day virtual career fair, SHS Career & College Fair: Alumni Career Info Explosion SY 2021 - 2022 held by Quezon City Science High School (QCSHS) last October 27 and 28.

“When an opportunity strikes to put you out of your comfort zone, it is probably good to take it but limit the time you are going to be there, especially if it is not your passion […] because that is not innate in you,” He also stressed the importance of recognizing weaknesses and exploring beyond strengths in terms of developing the essential skills that QCSHS students would need in their future careers.

“In the future, [...] always think of ‘what puts me out of my comfort zone’ because that’s where the growth is,” said Castro, reflecting on his journey towards his career as a Digital Innovation Advisor at Shell Asia.

Castro also highlighted the significance of college education as a foundation for building a career and the essence of understanding personal values and preferences when it comes to exploring what profession to take.

The orientation was also graced by other alumni who shared their experiences to serve as a guide and inspiration for students in choosing their courses and careers.

Data scientist Millicent Singson discussed the profession of data science and presented courses to take for data science, career opportunities in the field, and the industry’s growth over recent years, giving students a better understanding about this career track.

Singson also recalled essential experiences from her high school days to her graduate studies that led to her current profession as seasoned data scientist, giving insights about the importance of knowing personal preferences and taking advantage of their strengths when pursuing a career.

Engineer Ron Darell Aves stressed the importance of having assistance when making decisions on academic-related concerns and career choices.

“It’s important to talk to people and learn more about their stories para maintindihan mo din kasi (so that you can understand better because) ang hirap i-figure out ng mga bagay-bagay kung ikaw lang (it’s hard to figure out things by yourself). ” Aves mentioned how QCSHS teachers are there to help students figure out the right course for them just as how they helped him.

Meanwhile, electronics and aerospace engineer John Leur Labrador shared his journey from being a Scientian to being a member of the innovative engineers who brought satellite technology to the Philippines through Diwata-1, Diwata-2 and the ongoing development of Multispectral Unit for Land Assessment (MULA) satellite.

It’s important to talk to people and learn more about their stories so that you can understand better because it’s hard to figure out things by yourself.

Ron Darell Aves Engineer, Resource Speaker

Labrador also presented the different fields available for students that aspire to enter in the space industry.

BS Biology student Katherine Mae Esposo of Batch 2019 presented a video about the background of her course.

Esposo discussed common misconceptions about her course, which she is currently taking at the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

“Wala na raw Math and wala na raw Physics doon [BS Biology] (I was told there are no Math and Physics subjects in BS Biology). I kid you not; meron siya and hindi siya madali pa rin (these subjects are in the curriculum, and they’re still not easy),” said Esposo.

Capping off the orientation, mathematics student Wilson Christopher Andaya of Batch 2021 presented a set of tips in online learning for the students.

“Think of online classes the same as face-to-face classes, wherein our teachers can see what we are doing and whether we are listening to what they are saying or not,” said Andaya.

He encourages students to have a proper mindset that would help them be more enthusiastic and committed when it comes to learning.

The career orientation was held as more than 300 grade 12 students have started to submit applications to different colleges and universities.

BEACON OF TRUTH · BASTION OF INTEGRITY

5

GRAPHIC BY JED GOCATEK

QCSHS’ SSG Launches First Mental Health Messenger Bot

BY JARELLE RICAFORTE QUEZON CITY Science High School’s (QCSHS) Supreme Student Government (SSG) introduced the first mental health Messenger Bot in the region through Facebook last March 11.

According to SSG President Humphrey Soriano, Atom: Damayan Scientian Help Desk is accessible anytime and anywhere to improve, to tend, and to professionally assess the mental health needs of QCSHS Scientians.

“It is not only intended for mental health concerns but also explores effective information dissemination and serves as a feedback mechanism for academic concerns,” Soriano added.

Ideas of integrating a bot with the Damayan project of SSG were brought upon and took three months of planning, contacting, and setting up with the help of Atom’s project heads, SSG Peace Officer Janina Matubis, SSG Auditor Ycea Sosa, Chancellor for Council of Volunteer Corps Chelsea Mallape, and CGL Grade 11 Chairperson Anisha Zwi Matanguihan.

[The bot] also explores effective information dissemination and serves as a feedback mechanism for academic concerns.

Humphrey Soriano SSG President

“The creation of it started immediately after the finalization of the plan, and it was presented to the faculty and admin on February 14 and on February 16,” Matanguihan, who was in-charge of the bot and its algorithm, added.

With the help of Matubis and Sosa, who were in charge of the internal and external communications, SSG partnered with mental health organization In Touch Philippines to help cater the students if they seek professional help through the bot. “(Ate) Ninay and (Ate) Ycea contacted numerous orgs and hospitals, but only In Touch replied and accepted our offer as it piqued their interest since it is their first time to offer their services to students,” Matanguihan added.

Atom is now online on Messenger and exclusively available for all QCSHS students from 5 PM to 9 PM on weekdays only.

THE ELECTRON | THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH PUBLICATION OF QUEZON CITY SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL

JULY 2022 | Volume LIV · Issue 01

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EDITORIAL

One for the Books EDITORIAL ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN RAYMOND TUGADI

EVERY DAY, history is made, and the past months, as well as the future years, would fill up numerous pages in HeKaSi textbooks and social science theses — with none of the Filipino people completely sure what these would contain.

The nation in a state of uncertainty sums up the aftermath of the 2022 presidential elections. The incoming Marcos-Duterte administration, with their message of unity, ironically divided the Philippines with many celebrating its arrival and others dreading it. The unpredictable months building up to this result consisted of disinformation, unexpected tandems and stances, and mixed emotions from the Filipino people.

With Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte taking the presidential and vice presidential posts respectively, Filipinos are left to speculate what to expect in this leadership as a result of their vague platforms during the campaign period and their respective actions in the past. Whether out of optimism or open-mindedness, a part of the population hopes that they will be

proven wrong and that the future administration will achieve many things.

More is at stake when it comes to the next administration: the Philippines still attempting to return to normal before the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the COVID-19 pandemic still continuing to affect various sectors, and the economy still needing of a boost with the rising prices of everyday necessities.

The Marcos-Duterte administration will be leading the country in its sensitive time of adjustments. While the pandemic taught many Filipinos to expect the unexpected and to deal with uncertainty, the current circumstances take it to a more severe level.

The past actions of those in the two highest public office positions in the country, as well as of their families, will also haunt them. The Martial

Being vigilant and critical, as well as holding those in power accountable, are crucial now more than ever while also remaining to be kind and open-minded in this time of uncertainty.

Law declared by the late Marcos Sr. and the War on Drugs anti-drug policy carried out by President Rodrigo Duterte are only some of these, and the scars left by these events have not yet healed. The elections also gave way to the perseverance of political dynasties, as opposed to bringing in a new set of people in power. With many Filipinos wanting change, it is difficult to ascertain whether the change that will be achieved is positive with the same people leading it for the past few years.

The Filipinos expect promises to be fulfilled and plans to be made in motion for their betterment after they experienced decades of persisting social issues, unresolved conflicts inside and outside the country, and now, the looming threat of dictatorship and repression. Being vigilant and critical, as well as holding those

in power accountable, are crucial now more than ever while also remaining to be kind and open-minded in this time of uncertainty.

In a country consumed by corruption, misinformation, and disservice, the Filipinos elected leaders who they think would change these circumstances, thus leading the country to have Bongbong Marcos as its next president with the majority voting for him. The Filipinos must remember that just as they chose their leader, the choice to improve the future and take charge of it is in their hands as well.

The fate of the Philippines will continue to be in the hands of the ordinary Filipino, whatever it may be.

One thing is for sure - this era will be one for the books. Hopefully, one that is documented in the most honest way and in its whole truth.

Opinion

JULY 2022 | Volume LIV · Issue 01

7

VOLUME LIV | ISSUE 01 AUGUST 2021 TO JULY 2022

Relearning History

Constant Changes

ALAINE PAUL GERONIMO

The Official English Publication of Quezon City Science High School Beacon of Truth, Bastion of Integrity

NEVER FORGET. Clearly, this was not the case for the Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) housemates who seem to not remember a lot of their history lessons, giving wrong answers, like MarJoHa instead of GomBurza, SLEX instead of San Juanico bridge.

This was one of the highlighted Q&As in Pinoy Big Brother’s (PBB) Philippine history quiz bee last April 10 that left PBB fans and netizens bamboozled due to the laughable, ludicrous, and luxurious guesses of the PBB housemates.

The housemates’ underperformance reflects today’s generation of students on how they are severely misinformed. It is a clear reflection of the education crisis in the country, in this case, in the subject, history.

Clearly, there is something wrong with the way history is taught that makes students disinterested in remembering trivialities. There is not enough retention among the Filipino

youth on the consequential and life-altering moments in history that shape the way we live at present times.

The only way to truly evaluate one’s learnings can be found in how a Filipino citizen understands the real significance of their own heritage and how it can be better taught to future generations. A context-based learning approach will help the teens stand a test of Philippine history and a test of time.

This PBB quiz bee again presents the urgent need to carry on the movement of stopping the revision of Philippine history. In this movement, educators and historians are the ones who should be at the forefront battling misinformation and actively participating in setting the facts straight.

If history would be taught better instead of solely remembering the plethora of historical dates and niceties, people would become guided towards an enlightened way of thinking. History revisionism – intention-

It makes sense that one should learn history before he learns from it.

[To] truly learn goes beyond knowing the names of people, places and symbols.

al or unintentional, would eventually die down.

It is a critical time for the education stakeholders to do something about educating people about history and how to never forget. Jose Rizal has coined how history helps in nation building: “To foretell the destiny of a nation, it is necessary to open a book that tells of her past.”

It makes sense that one should learn history before he learns from it. And again to truly learn goes beyond knowing the names of people, places and symbols. It is to aim for a better nation, avoiding the same people who tainted history, remembering the spots people fought at to be free, treasuring the symbols that tell us to avoid the mistakes made in the past– NEVER FORGET. May today’s educators teach history to avoid the nightmares of the past, for people to learn from them and create a better destiny for the Philippines.

The Electron Staffers ‘21 - ’22 EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief LEANNE LOUISE ISIP Circulations Manager JED GOCATEK Managing Editor MA. YSABELLA DOMINGUEZ News Editor BEATRICE ACORDA Associate News Editor DAYANARA MARCOS Features Editor KIANNA TORREFIEL Science Editor CYRUS BAUTISTA Associate Science Editor PATRICIA JUTIE Sports Editor ROSELYN LOPEZ Associate Sports Editor JANINA MATUBIS Opinion Editor JOHN DOMINIC PAGAY

How Effective are Online Classes?

Lotus Inn

HANNA BALMACEDA

Design Editors SOFIA NICOLE CHONG JARELLE RICAFORTE

WRITING STAFF News Writers

THE COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the course of education. Teachers are striving to recreate old school environments that are now unsuited in the unfamiliar space of online learning, which has transitioned from the more familiar faceto-face setup to the unfamiliar field of online learning. This is just one of the many reasons why online classes are not effective.

One of the aspects I used to evaluate the quality of online classes in Quezon City Science High School (QCSHS) is the big adaptation we all have to go through and the fact that a lot of our students and teachers do not have the means to do so. Teachers and students, for instance, are concerned

about the change to synchronous online video-conferencing (such as Google Meet, or Zoom). Because they lack the means to stay online, most students, particularly those at our high school, rely on free Facebook to communicate. For students who rely on free tuition, the cost of data consumption through video conferencing is unsustainable.

Another reason that online classes are not effective is because despite a series of transition courses, the transfer creates a labyrinth of challenges for teachers. This hasty change is not for the sake of learning; it is for the sake of completion. The issue with this educational movement is that it leaves marginalized students with fragmented

information in an environment where they face difficult material, financial, mental, and infrastructural challenges.

In this situation, students are the most susceptible, especially studying in a regional science high school.

Education used to be considered as a path to a better future; now, it is a burden for the poor and an advantage for the affluent. Online classes are not effective because students enroll because they do not want to be left behind, not because they want to study. They attend online classes and complete their modules not because they want to learn but because they must in order to obtain a diploma.

Online classes are just not ineffective for students but for teachers

too. Teachers, likewise, do their duties for the purpose of meeting their superiors’ deadlines, even if their hearts are not in it. Education is a pandemic in and of itself during this pandemic. It is restraining rather than liberating. It is depressing rather than uplifting.

Institutions of higher learning strive for the best yet frequently overlook many factors that would have made online classes really effective.

The good thing is that there is always something that can be done. With the lessons learned from the nation’s first try at online learning, institutions, with the help of the teachers, parents and students themselves can all work together for better online classes.

Clarizza Ayuste, Sofia Nicole Chong, Christine Joy Dela Cruz, Lahnalei Esparrago, Eshana Maecy Luis, Jarelle Ricaforte, Aleja Talaue, Mhaeven Kysha Valdenor

Feature Writers

Angelica Nicole Bagsic, Malaya Cruz, Kirsten Esteban, Kamyl Gonzales, Ivy Ruth Hugo, Reine Ilagan, Patricia Jutie, Arabella Macalinao, Anisha Zwi Matanguihan, Cleandra Mercado, Juliana Noveno, John Raymond Tugadi

Science Writers

Airah Sophia De Juan, Eliza Karel Gruta, Ellyse Guiterrez, Cleandra Mercado

Sports Writers

Kyle Christian Balanay, Jersey Blanco, Alliyah Ivy De Leon, Anielka Macalinao

Opinion Writers

Jan Zyreen Arnaldo, Clarizza Ayuste, Eowyn Baldovino, Gian Barreto, Bianca Borromeo, Airah Sofia De Juan, Alliyah Ivy De Leon, Kirsten Esteban, Aldrin Garcia, Alaine Paul Geronimo, Alicia Lozada, Zach Panabi, Cole Sanchez, Kyle Angelo Santiago, Aleja Talaue, Bianca Tan

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Cyrus Bautista, Miko Opinion, Kianna Torrefiel

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Jan Zyreen Arnaldo, Cyrus Bautista, Sofia Nicole Chong, Alaine Paul Geronimo, Jed Gocatek, Kamyl Gonzales, Patricia Jutie, Jarelle Ricaforte

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Aaliyah Abelida, Aldrianna Deiparine, Reine Ilagan, Eshana Maecy Luis, Yesha Rodriguez, John Raymond Tugadi

Photojournalists

Hannah Balmaceda, Jersey Blanco, Sofia Nicole Chong, Eshana Maecy Luis

Adviser MARY GRACE ESPIEL

BEACON OF TRUTH · BASTION OF INTEGRITY

8

Opinion

JULY 2022 | Volume LIV · Issue 01

The Bittersweet Truth of Cream Sections

Disinfomation divides Filipinos

Accursed Poet

In Check

KIRSTEN ESTEBAN

DESPITE BEING learning spaces where our minds are supposed to thrive, there is no denying that cutthroat competition happens in our education system. The purpose of honor students, as most schools mention, is to applaud and to celebrate the accomplishments that not all students can attain. These students whose efforts reflect as ‘above average’ than the majority of the student population get rewarded with various awards and titles.

Originating from the expression “cream of the crop,” cream sections are composed of the top students of each batch, all congested into classes separated from the other students. The idea seems good on paper, with a hypothesis that a group of exceptional students could function better separated from the norm and construct more progressive ideas. This belief, on the contrary, is not correct.

Cream sections are implemented in many schools in the Philippines, and Quezon City Science High School (QCSHS) is one. The top 80 students of each batch in our school get placed into one of two sections, Curie and Darwin. This tradition of filtering out the top students based on their grades and extracurricular activities is widely known by former and current students alike, so it is no surprise that there are severe reactions to removing the cream sections for the senior high students this year.

The reactions have been widely adverse, and many current Grade 11 students were shocked.

They realized that the hard work they accumulated throughout junior high school in hopes of joining one of the two sections had gone down the drain. For the current Grade 10 students, fear has been the reception of this news, equally anxious in wondering if their efforts would go down the drain.

But the reasons for removing QueSci’s cream sections seem justifiable, unlike what

JERSEY BLANCO

most think of. For one, students would be divided into different strands (STEM and ABM) in senior high, with other subjects in each strand, making it unable to compare and rank students solely on their grades. Another is the presence of transferees—the comparability of the school admitting outside students for Grade 11 is also in question.

Another thing to put in mind is the current learning state. Due to the pandemic, online learning is currently being implemented in QueSci. There has been an increase in the number of students on the honor roll as students exert their all in various activities in class.

A majority, if not all, have been awarded ‘honors,’ ‘high honors,’ and even ‘highest honors’ since the past school year. The rampant cheating and availability of sources during online classes also contribute to this.

Most do not see the hidden silver lining; the benefit it brings to students’ mental health. The competitive spirit of advocating for students to work hard to secure themselves in these sections can be draining, leaving most of us discouraged, stressed, and anxious. With the emergence of mental health awareness, it has become evident that the demands and expectations tend to exhaust students, who exchange their physical and mental stability for academic validation.

But despite the clustering of students still being implemented in various institutions, it is essential to note that a student’s ability isn’t generalized and compared with their peers.

Differentiation in class has adverse effects, especially as each student has varying skills. It should be kept in mind that a school’s purpose is to help students grow and learn their capabilities and to let them develop at their own pace.

The best way to do this is by acknowledging and celebrating every student’s achievements.

ELECTION PERIOD is crucial in any democratic country, and the media’s influence in shaping voters’ choice is undeniably huge. People rely on radios, televisions, and the internet for election updates. Campaign strategies today include various social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and fast-growing TikTok with nearly 36 million Filipino users as of writing.

With all these traditional and new faces of media accessible today, it is safe to say that rather than merely influencing the Filipino voters, the media has actually dictated this year’s national elections.

WHAT IS DISINFORMATION? Disinformation refers to manipulated narratives deliberately spread to deceive the public.

In the Philippines, journalists, reporters, and fact-checkers have constantly groaned amid the rampant surfacing of fake news across different media platforms. During the early months of the pandemic, numerous false data regarding it went viral on the internet, wreaking havoc and panic among citizens. In fact, Meta, owner of Facebook, said some 24 million fake content on COVID-19 and vaccines have been detected and removed since 2021. During the past election period, the same problem has worsened, and it could cost us not only havoc and panic but also six more years of uncertainty.

In a nutshell, election-related disinformation and fake news work fairly simple. Trolls would actively engage in posts connected to a certain candidate to confuse voters and boost the campaign momentum of their bets. Alternatively, they may make and produce outright false claims about the candidates and even their families to discourage people from supporting them.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? Disinformation amid the election period is a crime against democracy and truth-searching.

Filipinos, whether a voter or not, deserve nothing like what is happening right now. We are all victims who have been and are being fooled, all for the benefit of power-hungry politicians and the elite ruling class.

It is about time we stop putting all the blame on those who believe in fake news. While we are indeed responsible for how we consume media, the real enemies are those who gain something out of our vulnerability. There is no need to call each other names because we are nothing but Filipinos. The more we choose to take the opposite route, the farther we will be divided. It is about time we face them, talk to them, and lead them to the truth that was stolen from them.

The clock is ticking. We have all the time to truly unite Filipinos. And by unite, we mean coming together for the future of the old, the young, and those yet to be born—because democracy is the government of the people, for the people, and by the people. Democracy is ours, and we must own it.

WHAT DOES DISINFORMATION DO? Ordinary Filipinos are the most vulnerable to disinformation. Instead of them consuming

The Rightful (Eternal) Change CHANGE IS eternal. Things differ and vary by the minute. Some changes are for the better, while some are for the worse. Some changes seemingly take a moment; some seemingly take a millennium.

On March 17, Quezon City Science High School (QCSHS) held a virtual assembly to orient parents about the planned reimplementation project of the regional science high school curriculum. Entitled the Revitalized Quezon City Science High School Curriculum (ReQcur), the move aims to include additional advanced subjects and electives to boost the school’s subpar results in recent National Achievement Tests (NATs) and Basic Education Exit Assessments (BEEAs).

Moreover, apparent restrictions and limitations were highlighted during the meeting, with supposed adjustments on the way to mediate them as quickly as possible.

Eureka, eureka, eureka! A great thing that many agreed and waited for long has finally arrived, rightfully so.

Scientians could now experience and utilize the real curriculum the school should offer. They could finally equip themselves with advanced knowledge

media, they get consumed by lies and falsities.

The result? Their choices in the elections are highly impacted by what they take and see, their morals and values long abandoned. Because not everybody had the privilege of being educated to discern facts from fake information, the unending cycle of passing on these lies to more and more people kills the chance to expose the truth.

Eau Rouge

JOHN DOMINIC PAGAY

that would help them in lots of ways.

Scientians will greatly benefit from this move, from being more prepared for college, garnering outstanding scores at local and international scholastic tests, to discovering interests and passions from a wide array of subjects.

A regional science high school curriculum in a regional science high school is a positive and welcomed change – bringing back something that was once a stagnant staple in QueSci. If one wasn’t aware, QCSHS adopted a regional science high school curriculum right from its very inception in 1967. The school was top notch and very advanced. It topped competitions, garnered a 90% plus pass rate in the University of the Philippines regardless of origin section, and produced alumni that were noticeably impactful in various fields (education, politics, nation building, etc.). Then, the curriculum was just suddenly changed to K-12 curriculum a few years ago. The reason might be unclear, but needless to say, the performance of the supposed metro’s epitome dipped. Not to say that current alumni cannot be impactful in various fields, rather the school failed

A regional science high school curriculum in a regional science high school is a positive and welcomed change – bringing back something that was once a stagnant staple in QueSci.

to fulfill their students. It just tells one clear message – a regional science high school curriculum is, and as history told many, clearly better.

There are those who think that adding more work and making QCSHS education even tougher is an overkill.

Well, there are things that can be done to ensure a smooth transition. Two things.

First, these changes (if pushed through) should only apply starting with the incoming freshmen. Students in other grade levels would retain the K-12 curriculum until they graduate. Once the school officially reimplements the old curriculum, student applicants and their parents should be well informed about it. This would help ensure students applying would know what to expect if they get accepted.

Though it seems it only all goes to show positives, presently implementing a regional science high school curriculum comes with its caveats. Before executing so, it is necessary to take into account the current COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed curriculum, though more advanced, must be reinstated with less intense workloads or be divided into deadlines that can be easily managed. This ensures that the

BEACON OF TRUTH · BASTION OF INTEGRITY

students could perform better whilst not compromising their physical and mental health that would make them susceptible to contracting the virus and other illnesses. Furthermore, the school should further train, orient, and screen teachers to warrant that they would be capable of effectively teaching the curriculum in the new normal. Having a quality curriculum with subpar teaching would not cut it in every way possible. With that and other precautions in place, QCSHS is in pole position to race again with other top schools.

QCSHS has witnessed a lot of changes and will continue to witness even more. And amongst these future changes, the return of a regional science high school is one of the better ones. Even though it took quite a while, it would surely propel the school into greater heights and positively impact its population. Sure, change is eternal and this might go back to the beginning. But with the apparent upsides it brings, a regional science high school curriculum reinstatement is the rightful eternal change – a change better yet to stay for the present and future of Quezon City Science High School.

Opinion

JULY 2022 | Volume LIV · Issue 01

The Worst of The Best

9

You Win

EOWYN BALDOVINO

MARCH 9, 2020 - a Monday, was the last regular school day for most students in the Philippines. When the school year 2020-2021 started in Quezon City Science High School (QCSHS), things were completely different. The students and teachers had left the school, and what used to be bustling classrooms are now empty ones – quiet and untouched. For most Scientians, walking into the campus we have gotten accustomed to was no longer part of our daily routine. Scientians including myself had to enter virtual classrooms and learn online. The freshmen didn’t get to experience exploring the campus and getting to know the school grounds, while the seniors missed their opportunity of going up a stage on graduation day to celebrate the end of their 6-year stay in QueSci. Over the school year, there had been countless discussions questioning the effectiveness and practicality of online learning in the Philippines. Now that we have officially survived a year of it, there are a few things all of us can agree on. The first being: No, online learning is not for everyone. And no, it is in no way practical for the average Filipino student. Last year especially highlighted the divide between the social classes when it comes to education. Online learning was described as a modality only suitable for the economically advantaged, and I agree. The more privileged of the bunch was able to somewhat enjoy the online set-up, while the

less privileged of the bunch barely made it in. Even then, other factors like individual learning styles, different learning environments, and the lack of social connection made online learning challenging, even for those who can afford to attend it. We have a lot more things to learn and we can only hope that this school year, things are not as difficult as they were the first time around.

MENTAL HEALTH OF STUDENTS AND TEACHERS An obstacle that made a big impact on online learning is the lack of connection - by heart and by internet connection. It was a lonely school year, and the students and teachers were not able to adapt as quickly as the Department of Education had hoped. Everything felt so rushed, and maybe they actually were. The mental health of both students and teachers was put at great risk. As an effort to ease the uncertainty the students were feeling, a series of webinars was launched at the start of the school year. A Homeroom Guidance (HG) subject was also added – a series of modules that were given to supposedly help students cope with their current situation. The intentions were good, as I found the modules pinpointed important and relevant information, but as some students (and even teachers) had reported, the HG modules seemed more like an added workload than a helpful program.

The community that surrounds QueSci is what makes the school special.

Our ability to bond through both our achievements and challenges is what makes the Scientian experience.

A study conducted by students from the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology showed that most of the factors that negatively affected the mental health of students are financial problems, budgeting problems, the COVID-19 virus, and being home-quarantined for months at a time. We had to settle with talking via social media and only seeing each other through the screens of our electronic devices. This study may have been smallscale, but it would be safe to say that this is the situation for most students living in the Philippines right now.

SCHOOLING, NOT LEARNING The community that surrounds QueSci is what makes the school special. Our ability to bond through both our achievements and challenges is what makes the Scientian experience.

Being away from school grounds, and being away from my classmates, teachers, and friends, are what made online learning challenging. There were no more study sessions with friends in between breaks, no more greeting teachers in the hallways, and no more cramming before class starts. The relationships and social connection that were made when classes were still faceto-face, was gone. These affected the well-being of students and teachers alike, which also influenced academic performance. Merely attending school is different from learning. It was the experience of being at school that

Waitlisted Transparency

made learning something to look forward to, and the learning experience without the experience itself was not as impactful.

Along with attending 30-minute online lectures through various online video-communication platforms, modules were given to students in QueSci as additional learning materials. However, like other students all around the country have reported, errors were seen in some of these modules. A few of my batchmates had reported on grammatical errors, some even being found on the English modules, while some errors were about the inaccuracy of the answer keys. Stricter screening processes should be implemented so these errors would not be able to get through. Especially for those studying in lower levels, there is simply no room for errors like these when their teachers are not always around to correct them.

Indeed, online learning is here to stay, and our transition to this setup should be prioritized. We are no longer in a face-to-face classroom setting, and so learning should not be treated as such. Apart from the actual lessons themselves, students are in dire need of reassurance and support now more than ever. The officials in place should recognize that the mental health and well-being of students are not to be taken lightly. The community in QueSci is strong, and through perseverance, we will flourish.

Carved in Fire

KIANNA TORREFIEL

“TRANSPARENCY INCREASES credibility and accountability,” Park Won-soon, a former human rights lawyer, once said in an interview.

Early in the lockdown, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed schools to close, leading them to cancel college entrance examinations simultaneously. This cancellation of admission tests left educational institutions and personnel, especially students, with no choice but to adjust to a new modality. Later on, universities and colleges devised a new system of college applications through scoring systems that consist of the applicant’s high school grades, essays, and recommendation letters for some schools. However, this new admission process was not appropriate for all aspiring students. Many students have aired out their opinion on these online admissions—and the majority of these call for transparency. Educational institutions should now find ways to slowly transition back to the pen and paper examinations because incoming first-year college students need transparent results to prove their knowledge and hard work.

Online college applications were deemed fallible, for they do not accurately weigh what students know and what they can do compared to traditional entrance examinations.

Moreover, students have observed a decrease in the passing rate of

their respective schools upon the announcement of successful applicants in various universities. A year after PSHS students’ frustration and calls for transparency during UPCA 2021, the subsequent batch of Grade 12 students from different schools flocked together on social media platforms again. But this time, the voices were directed toward the University of Santo Tomas’ Admission Rating (USTAR) results from last March 31, 2022. Many factors are looked into when applying for admission to UST: students’ academic performance, including their extracurricular activities, previous school performance, and the consistency of their academic performance. Students can apply to any program regardless of their senior high school strands; however, there are cut-off scores for each program of choice. Despite the detailed requirements, some students were still not accepted into the university because they were waitlisted or their USTAR did not meet the cut-off score for their chosen program. Several students inside and outside the university expressed their concerns through a petition addressed to the school administration. In this petition, students listed their pressing problems: screening of applicants, exemption grades, alignment of programs, and the grading process while also emphasizing that the USTAR admission

process is new and contains many flaws, but students still have the right to be aware of what went wrong during the whole process.

Petitioners stated that any suspected strand discrimination should not be a basis for acceptance into desired programs and that alternative program evaluations should be made public for transparency. It was also observed that no UST Senior High School (UST-SHS) STEM students were qualified for any healthcare courses and that Health Allied students were given utmost priority.

Moreover, UST-SHS STEM students were told that they would qualify for medical-related programs through exemption grades, thus causing more disappointment upon knowing that this was proven wrong by the results.

STEM students from other schools were able to get into programs they were interested in, yet many remained to be waitlist students, and others really did not meet the cut-off scores.

Among these students are those who have excelled throughout their high school years, the cream of the crop, that now feel like their years of excellence were nothing but a fraud.

They began to question their hard work all by seeing the words “DID NOT MEET CUT-OFF SCORE” or “ON-WAITING LIST” in front of their laptop screens. After battling online classes for two years, do these

aspiring students deserve to have a waitlisted future despite doing all that they could to comply?

The simplest answer is no. Universities employ new admission processes to make college applications easier amid the pandemic, but the recent results show that in reality, there are still a lot of gaps with how students are being screened. With paper and pen examinations, students are already aware of where they lacked even during taking the tests, moreso after seeing the results. In online admissions, students present their high school academic performance, extracurricular activities, and even go through lengths of writing and asking for recommendation letters, yet acceptance rates still decreased in comparison to the percentages pre-pandemic.

Other students tend to view online admissions as a leverage because they no longer have to pour hours and hours of answering mock questions for the examinations. They think that online applications may be the easy way out with no extra efforts to be exerted. However, not all students are privileged enough to excel in an online setup; thus, applicants’ grades during the past school years having a major percentage in their USTAR is said to be discriminatory.

A call for transparency upon seeing the USTAR results is one of the many stages of acceptance the applicants

BEACON OF TRUTH · BASTION OF INTEGRITY

would go through. In fact, it is also a way for universities to solve the errors in their admission process. Petitioners from UST-SHS and from other schools who were not accepted into UST waited for the administration to address the concerns they raised.

The public posts, statements, and the petition were not addressed by the institution despite being the constant social media content for more than a week. This is why students merely see USTAR as a credible substitute to paper and pen examinations because the administration was not willing to be held accountable. Students deserve to go through a credible process of admission, thus the need for educational institutions to find a way back to paper and pen examinations.

They may be rigorous, time-consuming, but they are accurate, credible, and transparent enough to validate the hard work of students.

In the end, no concerns were addressed, no questions were answered, and transparency was not given to those who waited. The students’ calls were not heard, so just like what their screens showed them on the day of the results, these students now seem to be waiting for a waitlisted future and a waitlisted transparency at the same time.

THE ELECTRON | THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH PUBLICATION OF QUEZON CITY SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL

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NEW IN TOWN

UNDER THE

SURFACE

To New Beginnings

BY KYLE SANTIAGO WHAT DOES the upcoming opening of classes mean to us students?

For years, many have pondered upon this question hoping to find meaning behind the juncture in which we begin every academic year. While there may be multiple answers to this question, one answer could certainly be found within the time most of us spend our academic lives — our youth.

Reminiscing upon the past school year, I vividly remember the project deadlines, the difficult tests and the grueling school life that me and my peers had survived and triumphed over. It was hard, but we had fun one way or another. I was sure that this

was what the fabled high school life that so many have sought meant, the “joy of our youth”.

For most students, the experiences from high school that become part of their youth are invaluable. The pandemic and online learning sure gave us opportunities to still make this time of our life important. The new normal learning allowed us to encounter people and situations that help shape who we are as a person.

We discovered a lot about ourselves, especially our strengths and weaknesses in studying, which can very well be the same ones we will have when we go to the “real world”.

Some of us were able to unearth talents that we never knew we had.

#HumansOfQueSci

Debunking a Genius

BY KIRSTEN ESTEBAN REGARDED AS remarkable people, geniuses are described as individuals with exceptional or above-average potential. So it is no surprise that many people want to know, understand, and dissect every element of these intellectuals to answer the question, “What is a genius?”

BY KAMYL GONZALES & KIANNA TORREFIEL

And some even discovered what kind of person they want to be later in life. All of which helping us grow as human beings.

The distance online learning brought between us and our friends actually made us closer. We still had moments spent laughing and smiling, either in GMeets or group chats.

In fact, we even communicated for longer hours, thanks to the Internet.

As the opening of classes for the next school year comes closer with each passing day, we can find meaning in this as the continuation of our youth, uncovering the next chapter of our lives, braving the unknown.

We take the step to new beginnings.

“I think geniuses are made; if I were to define genius, it would be someone passionate and at the same time has a superhuman grasp about a certain something, or a skill or knowledge.

That’s what I consider as a genius.”

That is what Citrei Kim Padayao, one of the school’s bright minds, has to say about his definition of a genius.

Geniuses always have to start somewhere, and for him, it was in Quezon City Science High School. Ever since seventh grade, Citrei has been known by his friends, colleagues, and teachers as someone being involved in competitive mathematics. He recalls the moment he was given a chance to participate in a competition.

“There was this math teacher, Ma’am Fernandez. She was the very first math teacher I knew in Kisay, and she has given me the chance to participate in MTAP, which was my first competition in my entire life.”

Citrei was not fond of competitions in elementary, he recalls his school did not have or joined inter-school competitions. “It was just limited to class, competitions within the class, but not inter-school.”

WITH HER passion, she may not move mountains nor move churches, but she glows because she knows what her worth is.

In the recent film “Encanto,” Luisa’s overly strong and reliable character was introduced. She was gifted with a super strength that made her family and townspeople rely on her capabilities. Back in January, the Scientian community was also introduced to their version of Luisa: a woman with an overflowing passion for education who beams with pride at the sight of successful students. This passionate woman goes by the name of Mrs. Carolyn Simon, Quezon City Science High School’s newly appointed principal.

Ma’am Simon did not want to be a teacher at first. She thought of being a lawyer and accountant. How-

Realizing he was given an opportunity, he thought about putting more effort and being more serious about competitions. He describes his first competition as surprising since he did not know much about competitions then. “Is it really like this? Is there always first, second, third? Is it expected of you to be first or maybe in the top 3?”

As he frequented these competitions over the years, he viewed his co-participants as rivals, especially when he was in junior high. “I would always see other people as competitors and I would assume they would see me in the same way,” he describes.

Citrei also felt that he was “more competitive than overwhelmed”, though his feeling of being overwhelmed comes during tackling problems that were not familiar to him.

His competition also extends beyond mathematics. He also shared that he has become competitive in the things he is interested in and in which he spends most of his time.

But even geniuses are not prone to failure, and he recalled the time that he had become so complacent in events like these. “In this particular competition,

ever, life had its twists and turns, which led her to become a teacher instead of those two professions she first had in mind. She began to see education as her passion in her college years. She experienced practice teaching wherein she had the opportunity to meet students who piqued her interest in teaching and made her realize that she was meant for education. It began from simple interactions with students until she noticed how teaching grew close to her heart.

Unlike Luisa, who had a gift from the start, Ma’am Simon went through a lot until she reached her final destination – being a principal. From being a Teacher I in Camp Crame High School, a department chairperson handling six people, then a Head Teacher III, becoming an assistant principal, and finally became a principal.

But these experiences did not go

my teammate scored higher than me, which I did not expect because I had this view that I was the one at the top,” was his recollection of the event. Eventually, he focused on the certain aspects that he was weak in and improved in those for the coming years after that situation.

Geniuses do not just focus on one thing, though. Citrei has shared that he has other hobbies, such as playing the piano. These hobbies played a huge part in him growing up, as he fondly recalls how his parents helped start his journey with the said instrument. “I had this 54-key toy piano, as long as three rulers, when I was eight years old.

It was a gift from my parents.”

Without much initial interest aside from randomly pressing the keys of his toy keyboard for leisure, he agreed to take on weekly piano lessons when he was nine. He described his first teacher as an 80-year old woman, who would teach him on an 88-key piano that he found hard to press at. This also gave him the initial idea that playing the piano was hard. She would teach him ballads and songs from her time. “She was teaching me via memorization,” he says about her technique.

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JULY 2022 | Volume LIV · Issue 01

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ILLUSTRATION BY YESHA RODRIGUEZ

ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN RAYMOND TUGADI

through smoothly as she imagined.

Taking things slowly, studying every detail, and being keen are some of her takeaways from her journey.

Asked about her leadership style, she noted she practices participative and transparent leadership. “More heads, better decisions, and being in the same direction with what you want for the school, I guess that is a successful leadership.” She encourages everyone in the Scientian community to be involved in school activities, including parents and teachers whose opinions also matter. Furthermore, she believes parent participation is a must as she wants them to be involved in their children’s academic affairs.

“It’s very important that every component of the organization understands what the whole picture is all about so that each and everyone understands the role that we have to do.”

Leading one of the known science high schools in the Philippines is a

He stopped the lessons after half a year though because the place where he learned was closed down. But over the following years, he managed to learn on his own, reminiscing old pieces taught to him and learning new ones by preference. During the start of the pandemic, he invested more of his time in learning all about the instrument, buying books, and even requesting a piano from his mom. He even started composing, releasing music on Spotify and YouTube.

Reading was another thing he was passionate about, though not many people knew about it. It was also one of the crucial things in his learning of the piano, math, and nearly everything in life. Unlike most bookworms, he did not have a certain genre of preference.

He reads anything he finds online, original works made by people posting on various platforms. Recently, he has been reading books such as Murakami’s “Kafka on the Shore”. He describes reading that book to have “so many implications in real life” and with relatable characters, spending 12 hours straight reading it.

But with so much going on in his life, it is hard to picture that he has

great privilege. But Ma’am Simon did not think of her position that way.

When asked why she chose Quezon City Science High School, without hesitation, she said that it was not a choice. Rather, it did not matter what school she was assigned to, whether a regular public high school or a science high school. The important thing for her is to love —share the love with the people surrounding her.

Asked about her plans for the school, Ma’am Simon said, “I am making it a point to make our school become one of the most beautiful schools in Quezon City.” Improvements in technology, facilities, and making the school lead Quezon City – these are some of her goals for the school.

Similar to how Luisa wishes to take a break from shouldering all of the weight, Ma’am Simon also shared a wish of what she hoped to know from the beginning of online learning. Ma’am Simon honestly wished

to have learned that there are students who are failing and could not cope with the current learning medium.

Leading a regional science high school, Ma’am Simon knows that much is expected of her. She said she may not have the ability to lift buildings, donkeys, a church, or even boulders, but she carries the weight of a whole school on her shoulders. Under the surface of a successful teacher, she carries a boulder of love, passion, and sacrifices—all for the good of students and their wonderful future. All these she hopes will help her in making QueSci a better institution.

A Scientian’s Guide to Online Learning Success

BY ROSELYN LOPEZ

some things that he is not sure about.

For one, Citrei has admitted that he is not good in writing. “I’ve tried a lot of times to write, but I just can’t find the right words.” His life, in his terms, is still more on discovery. Citrei says that he is still in the process of learning more about himself, after focusing on math that took up most of his time in high school, and he can see himself still doing so in five to ten years.

He does not think much of himself as a genius though. “Many people think of my math skills as a naturally born talent.” In reality, he gained his skills from the review centers he joined and books his mother purchased. He describes these skills to be more from exposure than intuition, realizing he encounters similar questions not just in competitions but also in everyday life.

Many people have a ton of adjectives for him, all positive and inclined to the things he excels at, whether in his hobbies or academics, or competitions. But one thing sums it all up, and that is he is passionate about the things he does.

And even if he does not agree with the term “genius” to describe him, he exactly fits his definition of it.

IT IS no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has forced all of us to make major changes in our daily lives. Schools have been forced to close their doors and switch to online learning, unwittingly forcing all students to become online learners.

Last SY was a year of adjusting to online learning. We’ve experienced it first hand, and somehow we have seen what worked and what didn’t.

How can Scientians be more successful in online learning this upcoming school year? What characteristics can a Scientian have to triumph?

I think geniuses are made; [...] it would be someone passionate and at the same time has a superhuman grasp about a certain something, or a skill or knowledge.

Citrei Padayao on what makes someone a genius

BEACON OF TRUTH · BASTION OF INTEGRITY

PERSISTENCE This is the most important key to the success of online learning. Successful students are those who are willing to tolerate technical problems, to seek help when needed, to work in every class everyday and to persevere through challenges.

TIME-MANAGEMENT SKILLS This flexibility is a great benefit of online learning, but it is also a disadvantage for students who procrastinate, cannot stick to a regular study plan, or cannot complete their homework without daily reminders from the teacher. Having a consistent schoolwork schedule will allow us to plan the workday and will ease our transition in the new normal learning. So, try to establish as much structure and consistency as possible, setting time for meals, studies, and other activities.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS These skills are essential in online learning for us to assess our learning and seek additional help or resourc-

es if needed. Teachers are willing to help students, but cannot accept non-verbal cues, such as confused expressions on students’ faces. Communicate with your teachers. The school provides multiple ways for Scientians to communicate with the teachers and the staff. If your teacher has a chat room or mobile office hours, feel free to use those tools to communicate with your teacher.

BASIC TECHNICAL SKILLS Scientians need to know basic technical skills. The ability to create new documents, use word processing programs, browse the Internet, and download software is required.

We at least know how to simply fix a sudden internet connection loss, computer lag, and disconnection.

Having tech skills is a great advantage in preventing us from suffering panic attacks and frustration due to missed class meetings.

READING AND WRITING SKILLS The importance of these skills is highlighted in online learning since most of our performance tasks involve them. It is also through these skills that we communicate in online classes. Reading skills that we should master include noting details, making inferences, summarizing, and using context details.

As for our writing skills, we should practice writing reflections, reports, and essays.

Learning during the pandemic is a great challenge and a big adjustment. It is hard for everyone to be in this new “normal”, but there is always something that we can do.

We can start by developing the mentioned values and skills.

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ILLUSTRATION BY YESHA RODRIGUEZ

A Letter to the Future

Editor-in-Chief WRITTEN FOR THE ELECTRON, ONE LAST TIME

BY LEANNE ISIP

DURING MY entire stay in this publication, a single phrase stuck to me: “So many words, so little time”.

When I was first told to write this, my mind immediately spilled with ideas. However, that overflowing momentum suddenly stopped once I actually came face-to-face with the blank page of a Google Doc. A familiar feeling that you may have also felt at some point. I had no idea, but at the same time, a ton of them, what to include in this article.

I cannot go wrong with giving some reminders.

Remember that you are not alone.

A newspaper needs writers, artists, copywriters, and photojournalists. A media network needs broadcasters, technical directors, and more. The point is that the daunting responsibility of integrity, the duty of leading, the task of creating, and all other expectations, are not yours alone. You are only one of the many capable staffers in the publication. Ask for help and collaborate with others.

You are not perfect. I know you want to be the best campus journalist there is — the most responsible of them all and the writer whose article needs no revisions. You may become one of those at some point, but always being that will be a tough road to take.

And on that tangent; Mistakes will happen. Life has already taught you this, and the addition of a designation in a school club will not change the trajectory of your existence. There will be some tasks that will slip from your already loaded to-do list, deadlines you will miss, and all other kinds of curveballs that will come your way. Lots of things will not go your way. You will make mistakes, but what you do after a misstep will matter more. Own up to your shortcomings and learn from them. An

oversight, as long as it will be solved or improved upon, will not be the end of the world.

Lastly, use your voice and speak your thoughts out. Even more now that you will be or you are part of a student publication where expressing your mind is the norm. Show even more of that initiative and drive that helped you get to where you are now. Continue chasing that high, that fulfillment, that onetrack mind of giving your all to The Electron which in turn will help everyone else have the opportunity to be and give their best, too.

Go back to whatever made you keep showing up and continue being

Go back to whatever made you keep showing up and continue being in The Electron, your whys, hows, and whats; maybe even your whos and whens. in The Electron, your whys, hows, and whats; maybe even your whos and whens. Remember your reasons for wanting and continuing to be involved in campus journalism despite the difficulties, especially in a time of misinformation and propaganda.

Reminders? Check. Words of encouragement? Coming right up.

You got this, I mean it. The opportunity would not have come your way if you did not work for it nor deserved it. I only have a vague idea of how much effort you exerted and all the

lessons you learned to reach this. If you have some self-doubt, do not let it stop you from continuing to work hard and making up for what you lack, as well as improving what you are already good at. Let the results of your effort answer your doubts.

I am already incredibly proud of you for all that you have done and will do from this point on. You know what they say, the reward for hard work is more work. I jest.

A position may give you some hesitation because there is more at risk, but continue taking on challenges and stepping up. You will never know what other things you may learn or experience. I know that everything I said may have put some pressure on you, but do your best to make every moment memorable and take ample rest despite it all. You cannot do your duties well if you do not take care of yourself or you do not enjoy it. Take breaks too!

Lastly, a sprinkle of emotion befitting a feature article.

Being in The Electron gave me the time of my life. I exchanged so many words, tasks, laughs, articles, tears, and pictures with the people in this club.

The four school years I spent with this publication, with half of it done online, still felt inadequate. I hope you will find your (probably) last year here amazing, and that you will make it that way for the rest of the staffers, too.

So many words, articles, cartoons, videos, and recordings, yet so little time.

It was as if yesterday, I saw no end to the amount of work ahead of me and now that I am nearing its end, I find myself clinging on to what is left of it. Kidding, I have deadlines I need to meet.

To you, the next Editor-in-Chief, I cannot wait to see what you will do. I know you will do great.

Good luck!

Take A Path

BY JOHN RAYMOND TUGADI WE HAVE reached a crossroads.

Where will we go from here?

THE PRESENT The days are counting down to when we will finally walk on that stage.

Whether we see it as one of the most important days of our lives, or just another milestone to add to our ever growing repertoire, we can’t deny that that present moment will define the conclusion of our high school career and mark the beginning of our future in higher education. Despite the great anticipation associated with our graduation, we still go about our day-to-day routine, whether it’s online or face-to-face, attending classes, listening to lessons, and doing our assignments. We face the usual stresses from piled up work but as soon as we get it over with, it is as if it was never a problem to begin with. Outside of our academic life, we spend our leisure time with family and friends. Making

the most of it all by doing the things we love, from consuming media on the daily to working on our favorite hobbies.

In the blink of an eye so much time has passed us by that we barely even notice it. In the times that we do notice it and reflect back on everything, it never fails to put us in a nostalgic mood or give us a deep sense of longing.

THE PAST In the nearly six years we have spent in high school, we’ve made memories aplenty. Each school year was an entirely different experience from the last. Within the continuous onslaught of projects, assignments, quizzes, and exams, we found solace in the subtle changes in routine from day-today. Examples of these are arriving at school a little later than usual, hanging out around the school campus with our classmates during lunch breaks, or heading home way past dismiss-

al time with our closest friends, and probably even stopping by the nearby 7-Eleven and KFC for an evening snack. Memories of the excitement and anxious feeling we got whenever the rain started pouring down with all its might during school days, leaving us to wonder whether or not it will call for a class suspension. All of those combined are just what we needed to give us the strength to continue on with our life, especially during the times when we felt like we were not in the best of spirits. In the days gone by, we have also seen many changes take place all around us. Buildings within the campus have been rebuilt, and new areas have been constructed. Every building that has been demolished and replaced took the reminders of our time spent there, but it also promised a future of new memories that can be made. Everything changes, but so do we, and everything that has hap-

BEACON OF TRUTH · BASTION OF INTEGRITY

pened up to now has always led us to our awaiting future.

THE FUTURE To most of us it is exciting, to others it may feel daunting, but that is what makes it all the more interesting.

When we finally graduate and receive our diploma, we tie a neat little ribbon that marks the end of our six year long journey. While our past has led us here to the present, it is still us who will decide what form our future will take. We may have already applied to many different colleges and universities to prepare for after we leave high school. With each application, a path is already being set, one that we made ourselves. So now here we are, at a great crossroads of our life, each path being the product of our sheer determination, a culmination of everything we have set to do.

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GRAPHIC BY JED GOCATEK PHOTO ATTRIBUTION MANILA BULLETIN

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MR.

Know-It-All

BY ANGELICA NICOLE BAGSIC

BY ARABELLA MACALINAO & JULIANA NOVENO

UNFORGETTABLE. One word to describe this year’s national and local elections set to determine the future of the Philippines through ballots.

Aside from the scorching warmth of the summer, the heat of the election season was also evident throughout the months of campaigning. While many candidates have already conceded, supporters continue to defend their chosen presidential. Many friendships broke apart and arguments were a dime a dozen, with people debating left and right while representing their candidates’ colors. From Facebook to Twitter, radio stations to national TV, the elections have remained the number one headline for all weeks after May 9. And yet what made this election season so memorable is the fact that it was one of the most divisive elections in decades, and that it was a reason for Filipinos to unite and exemplify the spirit of Bayanihan. Their efforts did not go unnoticed this time around.

From various parts of the country, many supporters took the time to participate in painstaking house-to-house campaigns promoting the aspirants of their choice and encouraging others to also do the same. The campaign rallies of the candidates were also filled with attendees who willingly offered free goods to fellow supporters. Water, food, and souvenirs were given away, helping ease the exhaust brought by the rallies. And when the most anticipated May 9th polls arrived, around half a million volunteers of the Parish

Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) were also reported to serve as poll watchers and assistance staff. This is to ensure order and peace in various polling districts across the Philippines. “It is important for us to be present in the precincts to be witnesses of the truth, whatever that may be. Let us be there to be witnesses of truth,” said PPCRV Chairperson Myla Villanueva in a Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines News post.

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Quadricentennial Pavilion also overflowed with hundreds of PPCRV volunteers who manually received, sorted, and encoded physical copies of election returns to check the accuracy of the electronic submissions. At first, the pavilion only housed around 500 on May 9th, but the number later grew to a thousand volunteers daily. It was both surprising yet heartwarming to see that the majority of the group consisted of the youth.

Despite the work being quite strenuous, the eagerness and courage that each individual exemplified served as a source of motivation for the rest, making every second worth all the effort. Food donations were even rampant in the PPCRV command center, with around 200 to 300 boxes of food and 200 packs of water being distributed every day. Just like what Villanueva said, “It is the spirit of the volunteers that make all this happen.”

All of these prove that our role during the elections does not merely revolve around

the casting of one’s votes but extends towards performing the duty of selflessness and camaraderie. It is truly commendable how the wave of volunteers who came from diverse places, contrasting beliefs, and personal paths in life overwhelmed us with such heroic acts, no matter how old they are or where they come from.

Ever since the election campaign started, color and hand signs hold much more connotations than they should. They determine the candidate you support and as a result, may affect the way people treat you. This has, no doubt, caused a divide between people. One could not deny that this has resulted in nothing but violence and toxicity towards one another.

While the divide between us is undeniable, perhaps it is not all gloom and doom given everyone’s sacrifices. After all, the silver lining is that people fight and come together as one because they do it for the Philippines—for their children, their families, and their future. This, exactly, is the Bayanihan spirit and it is more than fulfilling to see that our fellow citizens did not fail to embody it. Indeed, by setting aside all political colors, there is still solidarity amidst division. At the end of the day, we may support different candidates and have different ideals, opinions, and beliefs, but we all have one, common goal - to fight for our country and to make the Philippines a better place for the Filipino people.

THERE’S ALWAYS that one student — “Mr. Know-It-All” — who consistently infuriates the class with his words. They’re regularly bullied for providing facts and answers that no one even asks for. But, what happens when we start listening to Mr. Know-It-All? Why does his words matter?

Maria Ressa — the media’s “MR. Know-It-All” — is not only the first woman to receive the Nobel Peace Award in this year’s roster of laureates. She is also the first Filipino to receive the coveted award, alongside Dmitry Muratov. These individuals were awarded “for their courageous fight for freedom of expression” and for their “efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.” according to the Nobel Prize committee. They are the latest journalists to be awarded the prestigious award ever since the year 1935 when German journalist Carl von Ossietzky won the award.

Ressa is a 35-year veteran journalist and a co-founder of Rappler, the Philippines’ leading digital news company. Before Rappler, she mainly focused on exploring terrorism in Southeast Asia for CNN Manila. She was awarded Time Magazine’s 2018 Person of the Year for her courage in fighting disinformation and she was also part of BBC’s 100 Most Inspiring and Influential Women of 2019. The list goes on for all the awards she has received as she continues her journey as a key leader in the fight for press freedom in the country.

Despite her recognition, the Philippines is still considered to be one of the most dangerous places to be in when you are a journalist. Filipinos are some of the most heaviest users of social media in the world.

The country is considered as a harsh battleground between disinformation or ‘fake news’ and the press.

Press freedom in the country has always been insubstantial, but it only worsened under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. Crossing the powerful as journalists could cost our lives. Journalists continue to provide factual information while

It is important for us to be present in the precincts to be witnesses of the truth, whatever that may be.

Myla Villanueva PPCRV Chairperson

GRAPHIC BY JED GOCATEK

BEACON OF TRUTH · BASTION OF INTEGRITY

fearing their own lives due to abuse of power by the government. It has been observed that under this administration, 20 journalists have been murdered while four have been detained, including Ressa.

A woman against a populist leader, Ressa and Rappler have been the target of attacks by not only the government, but the media too. She faced constant political harassment and arrests from the government from their critical coverage of Duterte’s administration. Rappler was among the media outlets that had casted a light on the extrajudicial killings the former president stimulated.

He called Rappler a “fake news outlet” which led to the attacks.

Ressa was convicted of cyber libel and faces seven other active court cases filed against her. She is still on bail awaiting an appeal against a conviction in the case. There were two other cyber libel cases that were dismissed earlier this year and 10 arrest warrants were issued in less than two years.

The award could not have come at a better time, where suppression of press freedom is actively present and the truth is undermined. The prize serves as a symbol of importance for freedom of expression not only in their respective countries but for the whole world. Ressa stated that she hoped the prize would serve as a protective shield for her and other journalists in the Philippines against physical attacks and online threats. Female journalists are always forced to work in a toxic environment filled with misogynistic comments or jokes by the president; thus, Ressa’s award is also a significant symbol for female journalists in the country working under a misogynistic administration.

THE ELECTRON | THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH PUBLICATION OF QUEZON CITY SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL

JULY 2022 | Volume LIV · Issue 01

Science

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The First Step

BY ALEJA TALAUE | ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN RAYMOND TUGADI INCREASED COVID cases. More transmissible variants. Limited vaccination systems. Back-to-back lockdowns. Almost two years into the pandemic, but still no room to breathe, not only for the health sector but also for education. Some eye for the reopening of face-to-face classes but it is too risky to gamble, leaving educators and students alike with no choice but to face online learning classes again. Will comfort and effectiveness ever lie with the re-implementation of it? Is there still a way for learning to be attainable in a troublesome situation?

According to a University of the Philippines Los Baños study entitled “Assessment of Filipino Higher Education Students’ Readiness for e-Learning During a Pandemic: A Rasch Technique Application”, after a year of e-learning, Filipino students are prepared to demonstrate apt computer and internet skills but are not ready when it comes to learner control. Learner control, as defined by the study, is the student’s control over his or her efforts in directing his or her learning.

Home is the new classroom. That being said, it is important to emphasize that students have responsibilities outside academics. Students face difficulty in focusing on their studies in a setting where they normally deal with personal obligations. To address this, students must allot time for their studies and other responsibilities. However, when unavoidable things occur, their teacher must grant them a break and decide when it is fit for them to resume classes.

COVID-19

Mix and Match the COVID-19 Booster Shots

BY PATRICIA JUTIE After more than a year of administration, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines were proven and tested to provide relative immunization to people from getting the virus. But according to health experts, these vaccines often become ineffectual over time, regardless of their primary effectiveness. Booster shots, from the word itself, can boost the efficacy of these primary series of vaccines.

“Did you learn anything?” is a question commonly asked by a teacher to their students. A common answer to this is “Yes”, but it is not always honest. According to a survey conducted

by SEQuRE, more than half of the students under different learning modalities “learned less” compared with the face-to-face set-up. Contrary to this, the Department of Education reported that 99% of public school students obtained a passing grade in their first year of online classes. Studying amidst a pandemic is difficult, so students would usually take the easy way out. In this case, they are more open to cheating and letting others do their work rather than learn something. To prevent this, teachers must inspire their students to exert effort in studying by imposing new and exciting ways to learn. The reduction of workload for both teachers and students is also necessary for them to focus more on teaching and learning.

Booster shots, also called booster doses, are done by getting another jab of vaccine after a certain time. Depending on the initially received vaccines, the timing, brand, and frequency of getting booster shots differ.

MIX AND MATCH The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still allows health care providers and patients to mix and match the booster doses while weighing the possible health risks from COVID-19 with the advantages and disadvantages of vaccination. However, determining the best booster shot for yourself might be challenging. Hence, the following are the eligible ages, suggested timing, brand, dosage, and frequency for booster doses of each initially received vaccine.

It is no lie that online learning is effective for only those who have the means to pursue it. Poverty is the main reason for most who cannot get by the new normal set-up, since with the lack of money prevents them from being able to afford the gadgets and connection needed for online classes. Although faceto-face classes are still too dangerous, the government must take concrete actions and efforts to bring it back. The administration must handle the pandemic better, from upholding health care systems to more efficient vaccinations.

Knowledge is power, and everyone has the right to learn, no matter what his or her standing in life is. Everyone must be educated, especially at a time like this. No one knows how many more years of online learning will last, no one is certain whether it compensates for the traditional set-up, but one thing is for sure — learning in today’s age is for the privileged, but inclusivity is the first step to progress.

Booster Interval

Eligible Age

Sinovac

AstraZeneca Gamalaya Sputnik V*

≥ 18 years old

≥ 3 months

Although face-to-face classes are still too dangerous, the government must take concrete actions and efforts to bring it back.

Suitable Brands

Dosage

AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, Sinovac

0.5 ml/dose

AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer

0.5 ml/dose

AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer

(Not applicable)

Approved for 2nd Booster

Yes** Pfizer

≥ 12 years old

Moderna

AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna

0.3 ml/dose

AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna

0.25 ml/dose

AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna

(Not applicable)

≥ 18 years old J&J’s Janssen*

≥ 2 months

DATA FROM CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

*booster vaccines not yet administered **excluding immunocompromised patients aged 18 above

Science

JULY 2022 | Volume LIV · Issue 01

SCIENCE FEATURE

The Malampaya Gas Field: From Gas to Dust?

BY GIANNA PISUEÑA | ILLUSTRATION BY JED GOCATEK LAUNCHED IN 2001, the Malampaya Gas Field delivers up to 20% of the Philippines’ electricity requirements. This deep-water gas-to-power project uses natural gas, the cleanest-burning hydrocarbon, which also reduces the need of the country to import oil. The original division of shares are among three associates namely Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) and Chevron Philippines Ltd., both with 45%, and the Philippine National Oil Corporation-Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC) with 10%. Just recently, Davao businessman Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corporation acquired the shares of both Shell and Chevron, which sums up to 90%, automatically giving him the ownership and operatorship of Malampaya. The said purchase of these shares however, is allegedly surrounded by anomalies.

According to the Department of Energy (DOE), the gas production of Malampaya will be depleted by 2027, five years from now. Its Service Contract (SC) No. 38 will also expire by 2024, which means the operation and ownership of Malampaya will already be under the Philippine government by then. Filipinos would also be benefiting from the revenues brought by the gas field. In 2019, DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi was also not keen on extending the Service Contract regarding the Malampaya gas project. Explorations in the nearby gas field, Reed Bank, were urged to be done for a possible replacement of Malampaya because its seismic surveys indicated rich deposits of natural gas and oil, but China’s rival claims prevented a full exploration. According to news reports, Mr. Uy had ties with Chinese businesses and previously talked with China National Offshore Oil Corporation, although the plans were dropped in late 2019. Given the circumstances, it is a big question mark as to why Udenna Corporation still purchased a supposed “dying business”.

Another anomaly was when the Senate committee on energy chairman, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, conducted investigations and hearings regarding the Malampaya transfer of shares. The Senate committee found how DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi and some of his fellow DOE colleagues “twisted the law” to favor the Udenna Corp. subsidiary, UC Malampaya.

They highlighted Sec. Cusi’s alleged violation of the SC No. 38 and Presidential Decree No. 87, “The law required operators of Malampaya to be ‘legally, technically and financially’

capable of managing a major source of natural gas.” Senator Gatchalian said.

There were errors and inconsistencies during the financial evaluations.

Udenna Malampaya has a negative working capital which apparently makes them unqualified for approval.

In a press release by the Senate of the Philippines last December 2021, Senator Leila de Lima also stated “There is absolutely no reason why we should entrust Malampaya to Udenna and UC Malampaya. They have neither the resources nor expertise to run the operation and conduct further exploration.” There were also several business groups who urged the Senate to investigate this matter which makes the situation more questionable.

Last, but certainly not the least, the Davao native Mr. Dennis Uy is a known ally and campaign donor of President Duterte. Through this acquisition, Mr. Uy will be the one who will benefit the most. The President also defended and supported Mr. Uy and Sec. Cusi from the Malampaya buyout issues and lawsuits. Aside from that, Mr. Uy and Sec. Cusi sued journalists from different news outlets for libel and cyberlibel for reporting “malicious and false statements” about their involvement in the Malampaya deal. This Malampaya deal certainly lacks the necessary transparencies.

The DOE has a big role in terms of the evaluation and approval of the transfer and based on the investigations of the Senate committee on energy, Udenna Malampaya is financially unqualified which makes its approval suspicious.

Senator Gatchalian once raised the possibility of the Malampaya SC ex-

Whatever the authorities and the people involved are planning to do, it better be for the best interest of the Philippines.

Filipinos deserve to know the truth.

BEACON OF TRUTH · BASTION OF INTEGRITY

tension being a “midnight deal”. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines also recently called for transparency regarding the Malampaya project transfer of shares. Additionally, concerned Fil-Ams filed tips, complaints, and referrals with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate Chevron Corp. subsidiaries, Chevron Philippines and Chevron Malampaya regarding the buyout. They accused Chevron Corp. of allegedly conspiring with several Philippine government officials and their complaints sought to void the Udenna-Chevron Malampaya buyout.

All of this exhibits how valuable the Malampaya project is, not just monetarily, but its value to the lives of the Filipino people. Whatever the authorities and the people involved are planning to do, it better be for the best interest of the Philippines. Filipinos deserve to know the truth. The Malampaya gas field supplies some 30% of the power grid of Luzon. If something would go wrong, massive power outages may be expected and both the commercial establishments and the common household will definitely suffer. This is not just a simple matter of private business deal because it involves the national coffers and a promising natural resource that may prove to be waxing rather than waning. It would surely be a terrible thing for the Malampaya to be a fromgas-to-dust case.

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Science

JULY 2022 | Volume LIV · Issue 01

Online Classes:

Boon or Bane?

BY MALAYA CRUZ | ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN RAYMOND TUGADI WITH THE Department of Education recently passing an order requiring all schools to transition to full in-person classes by November 2, online classes are set to be replaced. This brings up the question, are online classes better than face-to-face classes? Proponents of online classes say that it helps protect us because there’s no need to leave our homes and face the risk of contracting the virus lurking outside.

Plenty of people have no issues with them, saying online classes are more manageable, however some do, claiming that face-toface would have been better. Both sides have equally good reasons to back up their opinions, listing off practical advantages and disadvantages.

THE ADVANTAGES Online classes have many advantages, especially for students who still cannot get the COVID-19 vaccines to help shield them against the virus.

Students can conveniently join and listen in on a lesson. All you need is a suitable device and working, stable WiFi, which is a lot easier to deal with than when it’s face-to-face, where you may have to travel to your school to get to

class and learn the current lesson. Remember the time when it would take hours for students to get to schools from their houses? Students can now use saved time from traveling for more productive activities like studying, helping with household chores, or enhancing other skills like gardening and crafting.

Students can focus more. It is one of the reasons I much instead prefer online classes since face-to-face classes usually have a ton of students doing other things that can distract you from concentrating. I haven’t had face-to-face courses as a Scientian yet, so I’m not sure if my classmates will be loud or do and say things that may become a distraction for me. I’m sure some students feel more at ease when alone like I do.

It encourages teachers to be more creative. The internet provides various options the teachers can work with when making presentations or giving homework, testing their creativity further. A teacher’s creativity can also positively affect and encourage their students to work harder on activities. Moreover, teachers expand their horizons in learning how to use

new online applications that promote new skills.

[One] thing is for sure, even when the pandemic ends: asynchronous and online classes are here to stay.

THE DISADVANTAGES But as many as there are advantages, there are also several disadvantages.

Online classes may make it easier for students to procrastinate or get distracted. Some students can also be easily swayed by anything they deem more interesting that’s available in their house, such as other apps or tabs open. Getting distracted might be easier for other students, especially now that online classes don’t require you to leave the house.

Staying in a familiar environment where they may have tons of other things to do can make it hard for them to focus on the task at hand. One of which is television, especially if you have a Netflix subscription. How about the yelling of neighbors or yapping of your dogs while online classes or ongoing? All we can sometimes do is smile, move on with our lessons, and pretend that nothing happened.

Poor internet connection is a hindrance. Many students live in areas where the Wi-Fi is poor or may not have a suitable enough device to use. Some

BEACON OF TRUTH · BASTION OF INTEGRITY

may even have an appropriate device yet do not know how to use or access other sites essential for online classes properly.

Therefore, if you aren’t good at using technology, that comes as a disadvantage.

This issue is something that our government should focus on and be included in the national government budget.

There’s more pressure on teachers.

Of course, the disadvantages aren’t just related to technology or students, but it extends to the teachers. The teachers must make up for their lack of physical presence by ensuring their students are being taught right and well through a screen, which may be hard for some, but not wholly impossible. So if a teacher isn’t able to properly communicate through a screen like they do when faceto-face, it could be a problem.

Just like other things available to students, there will always be pros and cons.

But one thing is for sure, even when the pandemic ends: asynchronous and online classes are here to stay. Hence, students should start embracing and recognizing how technology plays an important role, not only for leisure and pleasure but also for learning.

Science

JULY 2022 | Volume LIV · Issue 01

Creativity in an Era of Information: A Tale of Two Worlds

GRAPHIC BY JARELLE RICAFORTE

BY JASHLEE BENITEZ SINCE THE world was introduced to COVID-19, daily life has changed significantly. Now, nearly two years later, most individuals are at home, using tools like Photoshop, Canva, and other technologies in their work and studies.

Technology is not killing creativity. Instead, it has done wonders for humankind — not just as human beings but also as a society. This is especially true when it comes to creative thinking, a natural art form that has long been admired for its sudden appearances in the minds of the world's finest artists.

To begin with, people's creativity evolves along with every new technological advancement. Technology has created the opportunity to bring imaginative minds and ideas closer together while also advancing them.

This combination of technology and creativity has resulted in a slew of new ideas and ways to express oneself. And as the myriad of approaches to being creative has grown, more and more people are discovering their creative voice and identity. Furthermore, technology also encourages innovation through information access. According to a creative research journal written by Todd Dewett, "knowledge and information are among the most important ingredients for creativity and are the very things that [information tech-

nologies] exist to manage." It's easy to understand how having access to new and diverse knowledge could inspire an idea, and it's also easy to see how digital technology can help with that.

In addition to this, technology has broken down barriers, allowing everyone to access knowledge and information with just a push of a button, unlike in the past, when missed chances and luck were common due to a lack of information. Consider Charles Darwin's theory, which had not been completed for half a century due to his inability to find a method by how genes were inherited. But ironically, Gregor Mendel, his predecessor, had discovered the laws of genetics shortly after he published his paper. And many of history's greatest artists, from Johann Sebastian Bach to Vincent van Gogh, failed to acquire recognition during their eras due to the institutional and bureaucratic hurdles that frequently prevent creative potential from flourishing. With the internet, humanity has moved past these obstacles, and more and more talent is discovered online every day. The digital revolution has impacted the human experience. Knowledge is no longer restricted by circumstance or culture, and anyone with a web browser can use it to their liking. It's no longer luck when it comes to searching for information. It

has been simplified thanks to modern advancements and mechanization.

Others, however, would take issue with the argument that people who constantly use gadgets lack creative ideas because they lack originality and have too much information. This does not mean that it hinders the creativity of a person. Even if they have access to all of the material available online, people can always add to and build on the ideas of others. Finding a unique concept is by no means the only way to be creative.

People can add to different concepts and ideas, which can still be called creativity.

Creativity is much more comprehensive than what people assume it to be, and technology is always used to express everyone's imagination as best as it can.

Others argue that technology will put a stop to everyone's creative thinking, but how can that happen when, in this day and age, people are still making beautiful and unique masterpieces? It is well understood that technology is not without flaws. It is not without imperfections. It is not, however, hindering people's creativity. Instead of fearing the "onslaught" of technology, artists should search for ways to use it to improve their work. With technology, mankind is in the midst of an unprecedented moment of creative growth instead of a shutdown of imagination.

CO COllaborative and CO COnnected How Scientians Stay

BY JANINA MATUBIS

We need to get creative to stay connected with our friends and classmates during this online setup since there are requirements that involve [group work].

IN KISAY, it is no secret that students are gifted with the skills to work in a team with other people. We are known for our collaborative spirit in various school events such as Buwan ng Wika, Carol Fest, pageants, and many others. As early as Grade 7, Scientians undergo different kinds of preparations to come up with a good performance for a significant school event. With these experiences, each student learns how to effectively collaborate with other people while showcasing our honed talents and skills in arts and academics.

This pandemic, how does the collaborative spirit of Scientians thrive in this online setup behind the screens of each student?

We need to get creative to stay connected with our friends and classmates during this online setup since there are requirements that involve working within a group. With this, we have discovered different applications and programs that aid in collaborative projects. An example of this is Google Docs. Most students started frequently using this when online learning became the new normal. It is helpful in real-time editing and working together with your groupmates. For instance,

research papers are now constructed through Google Docs wherein students can finish their parts at their own pace. Off-campus activities where the students personally look for their consultants and available laboratories are now replaced with late-night voice calls while editing research papers. Other applications that most Scientians use to stay connected with their peers include Messenger or Discord where online meetings are held in preparation for group projects. Instead of weekend meetups for group projects, spontaneous virtual calls are used to discuss what should be accomplished in every group activity. These are only a few of the applications that maintain the connection between the students.

Despite the many advantages that these applications offer to continue their collaborative work, we may still face challenges when it comes to group work. A scenario that many Scientians have experienced is a conflict between schedules. Some students may not always be available for online meetings. Others might have personal issues that hinder them from attending online meetings which can greatly affect the group as a whole. Throughout the last school year, I have heard a

lot of stories and experiences from my peers regarding collaborative projects.

Some of them are good and well, some of them are not. Misunderstandings can happen especially when we cannot discuss schedules and arrange parts for group works.

The best way to overcome these challenges is to compromise. We should take the time to talk to our peers and to decide on a schedule that is best for everyone. Moreover, if we know that we can adjust for other people, then we do so. However, it is important that we set our boundaries as well because we might end up sacrificing our time for other people all the time. Each person has his own environment at home that is most likely vastly different from what other people might have, so it is easier if everyone continues to be considerate when working with others in this online setup.

With this in mind, it is time for us to realize that we should always be respectful of each other’s time and situation.

We may not truly know what a person might be going through at the moment, so it is best to be compassionate and understand that everyone has been significantly affected by the pandemic.

BEACON OF TRUTH · BASTION OF INTEGRITY

If we know that we can adjust for other people, then we do so.

However, it is important that we set our boundaries as well.

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18

Sports

ONE STEP at a time.

The COVID-19 pandemic has truly affected the normalcy that student athletes used to have. They wake up early, go to school, go to training until night comes, and arrive at home to get a good night’s sleep. When the pandemic hit, everything was turned upside down — an abrupt change that no one expected.

All the steps they were taking to reach their goals had been halted.

THE PAST Kisay’s Basketball Team, headed by senior Rafael Atienza and 10th grader Joney Tovera, was known for their active participation in different basketball leagues that tested the team’s chemistry. In every training session, the Paladins pushed themselves to become better players. Almost all of the players attended each practice with eagerness and passion. After training, they share dinner together to strengthen the team’s bond which is visible in their teamwork during games.

Kisay’s Volleyball Team, also known as Griffins, did the same thing. James Carlos, an 11th grader, led the boys while senior Aeimaree Dela Cruz led the girls as they performed basic vol-

JULY 2022 | Volume LIV · Issue 01

GAME FACE ON! The Past, Present, and Future of Kisay Basketball and Volleyball

BY JANINA MATUBIS | ILLUSTRATION BY YESHA RODRIGUEZ leyball drills and played practice games during training sessions. Their coaches decide on the drills and workout that they need to do per session with the help of the captains. Similarly, they also ate together after training to further improve the connection among the team. The Griffins also participated in various leagues to represent the talent of Scientians in sports.

THE PRESENT At the peak of the pandemic when restrictions were implemented strictly, the Paladins were unable to continue training. Most of their communication was conducted virtually which extremely worried their captains.

Atienza stated, “There’s a big possibility that our skills have deteriorated over the years so we need to get back on track.” With the gradual ease of restrictions, the Paladins have started going back to face-to-face training at Kisay’s new gymnasium.

During the first year of the pandemic, the Griffins had been inactive. The captains took this time for adjustment.

They let the team rest given the uncertainty of the situation. However, with the inactivity of the team came poor

communication between the existing members. The captains are aware of this, so they are trying their best to strengthen the communication before the next school year starts.

Furthermore, the captains also stated that they are aware of the loss of self-discipline among their teammates. Some of the existing members have not played volleyball for a long while and some are trying to pursue other hobbies.

With this, the captains are trying to encourage more people to rekindle their passion for volleyball and to invite more members from the lower batches. They are consistently inviting more people to join the team and start their volleyball journey in Kisay.

Carlos stated, “The health crisis led us into a path without any direction and left us wondering what the next normal could entail for student athletes.” However, with the situation getting a bit better recently, it was a great opportunity for the team to start activity again. The captains have collected parents’ permits from new members. They have also begun asking for permission from the administration to conduct face-to-face training at the new gymnasium.

THE FUTURE An upcoming league is being prepared by the Paladins in the remaining weeks of the school year. Starting this May, the Kisay Basketball League (KBL) is set to begin. At the moment, the team has already started training to strengthen their skills. When asked about future plans, Tovera stated, “I just want to ensure that my players are healthy. We have all been trying to improve as much as we can but of course, safety should come first.” More things should still be polished but the passion of the Paladins stays stronger than ever.

On June 4, KBL began with five games from different batches of alumni and varsity. It started at 9:30 AM and ended at 2:30 PM. The Griffins, on the other hand, wish to conduct a few training sessions at the school gym in the remaining weeks since most of the team members are graduating. They also plan to conduct a volleyball summer camp for the new members if the situation continues to improve. Dela Cruz also added, “I hope that the new members of the team can establish their bond, and I hope that they experience playing volleyball with the

The health crisis led us into a path without any direction and left us wondering what the next normal could entail for student athletes.

James Carlos Captain Ball of Griffin’s Men’s Volleyball Team

BEACON OF TRUTH · BASTION OF INTEGRITY

whole team.” Most of the Griffins are graduating soon, but the captains are determined to leave a great legacy for the younger players to continue.

The pandemic truly changed the course of the life of the Scientian athlete.

It has hindered the athletes from getting the same opportunities they would have had if the pandemic did not happen.

However, Scientians do not easily back down, which is why they are continuously trying everything to get back on their feet and start training again.

Not only the wit but also the athleticism of Scientians are remarkable.

Despite the unexpected changes in life, Kisay’s student athletes continue their steps that have been hindered by the pandemic. They continue to learn, to adapt, and to persevere because their sport is not just a hobby but a passion for them. The fire within these student athletes continues to burn even though the next normal remains uncertain.

Sports have become a huge part of their lives that they plan to continue as they move forward and leave the younger players with their lessons and experiences. Little by little, they start their steps to improvement once again — one step at a time.

Sports

JULY 2022 | Volume LIV · Issue 01

19

SINK OR SWIM. Scientian swimmer Ciann Bonus prepares for another plunge, ready for anything the pool — or life, throws at her. PHOTOS BY JOEL PAGUNTALAN

SPORTS FEATURE

Sink or Swim LANES OF LIFE

BY ROSELYN LOPEZ

NO DOUBT that the coronavirus meaningfully dominates countless parts of lives. It is not only schools and workplaces that were affected. The sports industry has also been heavily impacted. Sports events like basketball and volleyball - which need team connection and interaction to succeed, are paralyzed by the pandemic. When the pandemic hit, everything was flipped around — a sudden change that nobody anticipated.

Fortunately, swimming is a game that the pandemic had minimal effects on.

Something Scientian swimmer Ciann Lee Bonus is thankful for. In an interview with The Electron, Ciann shares her sink and swim moments in this sport.

THE FIRST LANE In 2014, an eight-year-old, Ciann started her journey in sports. Her parents wanted her to have a healthy lifestyle and opted for her to do sports.

“My dad wanted me to pursue taekwondo at first, but my mom did not want me to get any injuries from it,” Ciann shared. That is when her path to being a swimmer began.

Ciann, in her eighth year as a swimmer under the Quezon City Waves Swimming Club (QCWSC), is also a 10th grader in Quezon City Science High School. Being a student-athlete, she has to handle a combination of athletics, academics, social life, sleep, and work. Having textbooks and notebooks during training, and sacrificing training just to finish school requirements are parts of the life of a student-athlete, and it was never easy.

THE SECOND LANE Before the pandemic, a Tuesday to Sunday swimming training with the usual workouts such as warm-up, preset, the main set, and warm-down for Ciann, would be filled with fun, having no worries about a spreading virus.

Samahang Manlalangoy ng Pilipinas (SMP) on February 3, 2020, at Don Bosco Technical Institute of Makati, as the swimmer representative of the QCSHS Swimming Team.

She was the only swimmer that competed for the team, she was pressured.

But seeing familiar faces, and a close friend, helped her feel relieved. Ci-

ann said that swimmers would always gather around the pool before a competition and have an hour to do their warm-up routines. It was always chaotic, but having fun interactions with others was all possible, not until a pandemic started.

THE THIRD LANE One of the most significant effects of the pandemic is removing the in-person competition and training. During the first months of the pandemic when restrictions were implemented strictly, the team did not have any water training for six months. Some have given up training, while some were left to continue at home. Ciann stated, “Each day, I started to question my skills in swimming. I was losing my concentration and motivation.”

Their team started having virtual meets to allow a safe training environment. These meets involved them doing routines at their home pool with the supervision of their coaches. With the gradual ease of restrictions, the team has started going back to in-person training before only a certain num-

Each time that blare goes off and the swimmers make a plunge into the water, each contender gets an opportunity of winning no matter what their lane is.

ber of swimmers were allowed to train.

However, with the situation getting better lately, the health restrictions have eased off and so have the limitations inpool training.

THE FOURTH LANE In an upcoming swimming competition, Ciann represented her swimming club, QCWSC in the Philippine National Age-Group (PNAG) on May 27-29 at Rizal Memorial Swimming Pool in Malate, Manila. The competition is held every year by Philippine Swimming Incorporation (PNI) for the chosen swimmers who will represent the country at upcoming international swimming competitions.

During the remaining weeks of preparation before the competition, injuries cannot be prevented. On May 15, while executing a new diving technique taught to her, Ciann hit her head on the pool floor causing her to have multiple fractures on her C1 vertebra and she was immediately brought to the hospital. She might

BEACON OF TRUTH · BASTION OF INTEGRITY

not be able to train and compete for the time being since health and safety are more important for her recovery.

The pandemic really redirected the existence of the Scientian competitor. It has thwarted the competitors from getting similar open doors they would have had on the off chance that the pandemic didn’t occur. In any case, a Scientian does not handily withdraw, which is the reason they are constantly giving all that to have back a chance their feet and begin preparing once more.

Although it is the way of thinking that a favored path is more beneficial than the other, each time that blare goes off and the swimmers make a plunge into the water, each contender gets an opportunity of winning no matter what their lane is. Sink or swim, each has his/her way to get back on the lane and finish the race. Ciann’s experience in sports so far reveals that student-athletes should never be deterred by the path they are eventually, the will to win implies more than the path that they are on.

THE ELECTRON | THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH PUBLICATION OF QUEZON CITY SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL

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Maroons reclaim the throne, 36 years later

Behind The Gold:

BY JERSEY BLANCO

A WOMAN

BY JANINA MATUBIS

that nothing beats hard work. With multiple awards under her name, the Filipina fought against a slow start to finally attain the first silver medal of the country in the Summer Olympics since 1996. Filipinos from all over the world celebrated with her and were eager to witness more of what she can do in the future.

She trained every single day towards her Olympic dream despite the struggles that she encountered as an athlete—one of which is the lack of financial support from the government. With this came the judgment and hatred from some of her fellow Filipinos which is quite disappointing since these are people that should have been on her side—the people who she was fighting for. Despite the vile comments that she received upon stating her training situation, she did not falter and continued to work in the gym. Eventually, with the help from the private sector, she was able to continue her dream to go for the gold in the Tokyo Olympics this year.

In 2021, with more confidence and strength, she walked her way towards the platform with only one goal in mind— the Olympic gold medal. She admitted that she was nervous—who wouldn’t?

Battling against a world-record holder in the category, the majority of the audience might have thought that it was going to be an easy win for the Chinese representative. Hidilyn brushed off the naysayers and held on throughout the competition. With each attempt, she immediately put on a smile on her face as she thanked the God above. In her third and final attempt, all eyes were on Hidilyn since this final try would make or break her Olympic dream. With all her strength, she pushed through the challenge and lifted 127 kg, giving her a total lift of

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ATIN 'TO!

CLEAN AND JERK. Competitive weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz celebrates her victory in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. This is the Philippines first ever Olympic Gold Medal since it first started competing in the games in 1924. PHOTO ATTRIBUTION VINCENZO PINTO

“TO BE successful is to accept that it does not take one day of work, maybe it will take two years, four years, or six years," Hidilyn Diaz once said.

These words definitely have merit, in in the case of Hidilyn Diaz, it took her 13 years of sacrifices, hard work, and determination to arrive at her current feat on the Olympic stage.

Most people would think, “Wow! She’s so lucky because she received so much money after winning a gold medal.” However, behind the flashy offers and deals made by the government and countless private companies is the blood, sweat, and tears of a Filipina athlete who swears by her faith and passion.

Being an athlete was never an easy path, but 11-year old Hidilyn knew what she was doing when she was introduced to the sport. It was a tough road ahead, but the young Diaz Hidilyn was one of the few who looked past the challenges and decided to fully commit to the sport that changed her life. In her years as an athlete, she never failed to remember her roots as she continued to visit various provinces in order to introduce weightlifting to the Filipino community.

Hidilyn’s Olympic journey was not a walk in the park as some people would think. She conquered many bumps ahead of her road to an Olympic gold in weightlifting. Hidilyn started her Olympic journey in 2008 as a 17-year-old Zamboanga native who was just glad to be the first Filipina to represent the country in the sport. In 2012, she competed in London with more experience as she won silver in the South East Asian Games prior to the Olympics. Despite going home without any medal, she promised to come back stronger at the next Olympics. Come 2016, she once again proved

JULY 2022 | Volume LIV · Issue 01

224kg—an Olympic record, to add. As she finished, she cried and pointed above as she thanked the Lord for granting the only thing that she has been praying and working for since she started her weightlifting career.

To say that it was historic might be a bit underwhelming because words would never be enough to describe the feeling of witnessing a fellow Filipina on top of the Olympic podium with an Olympic gold medal in her hand and a Miraculous Medal around her neck. It was not just history or an event that would most likely be included in Filipino books in the future. It was the legacy of a woman’s never-ending hard work towards her dream. It was an embodiment of women’s power that runs in the Filipino spirit ever since.

Beside me was my mother who was a little bit emotional to finally see and hear our National Anthem in the Olympics.

As we were watching the awarding ceremony, goosebumps were all over me and my mother. Since both of us were once athletes as well, we were overwhelmed with happiness as we witnessed a Filipina bagging the only gold of the country since it joined the Olympics in 1924. Hidilyn’s win made us, women, feel stronger—it sparked inspiration in every Filipina to have the courage to strive towards her goals, despite how long it would take and the challenges that she may face.

Filipino women carry different kinds of burdens each day and with Hidilyn’s win, we became more encouraged to lift ourselves, slowly but surely, towards our own meanings of success.

At long last, after years and years of practice and preparation, a gold medal was worn around the neck of Hidilyn Diaz—an athlete, a Filipina.

ALL HAIL the return of the kings!

For the first time since 1986, the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons were crowned as UAAP Season 84 basketball kings after they dethroned Ateneo dynasty, 72-69, in an epic overtime do-or-die decider on Friday, May 13, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The decades-long thirst for the title finally got quenched, thanks to power point guard and former Archer Joel Cagulangan’s step-back triple when there was only a fraction of a second left on the clock, securing their come from behind victory and denying the defending champs a four-peat triumph in the said tournament.

“Ang sarap mag-champion!” was what he joyously yelled during the after-game celebration. “Lahat ng teammate ko laging sinasabi, walang bibitaw. Kahit anong mangyari, walang bibitaw. Manalo, matalo, walang bibitaw.” [“It feels great to be champions!”

“All my teammates would always say no one must give up. No matter what happens, no one must give up.

Whether we win or lose.”]

The Fighting Maroons indeed fought well, starting strong in the first quarter with three-point markers off of veterans James Spencer and transferee CJ Cansino, who did not see action in the first two games of the finals series after sustaining an injury, which would orchestrate an early 17-11 lead.

Good defense and a better game plan became key to the Kings’ domination in the first half, making sure that the Blue Eagles could only muster as much as 18 points to cut the lead to four, 31-27, by the end of second quarter. Everyone would have lost count of how many times they halted the momentum of the other side of Katipunan with steals and blocks courtesy of big names like Ricci Rivero, Zavier Lucero, rookie Carl Tamayo, and Senegalese center Malick Diouf who would be awarded Finals MVP. But the Ateneans were no quitters.

From being down constantly since the game commenced, they managed to break free from UP’s stranglehold with a successful 5-0 run at the opening of the third quarter, giving them a one-point breather for the first time in the match at 32-31.

It was SJ Belangel who played hero and rallied the squad in white and blue, drilling desperately needed triple markers in a tight competition against UP’s Cansino who evidently wanted to make up for lost time now that he was back in the court.

The men in maroon were slowly inching toward the long-awaited victory, sustaining the lead up to the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Even though Ateneo bounced back at 5956 with Belangel unstoppable at the ring and the clock seemingly in their favor, Cansino shook everyone with his version of a buzzer-beater to force an extension.

In Ateneo’s last desperate attempt to yell one big fight, the likes of Raffy Verano and captain Gian Mamuyac joined Belangel in the scoreboard and even spoiled their team with a comfortable 69-64 lead. But the fight they put up was just not big enough.

Kings are bound to be crowned.

UP once again entrusted the ball to Cagulangan, Diouf man-to-man against Mamuyac, who was supposedly guarding the point guard, to make way for the finishing touch.

Cagulangan nailed the downtown kill, and then there was no longer drought for UP. “Playing against Ateneo, a very disciplined team, a great team, we really prepared for them,” These were the words of UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde on acing a championship in his first time as coach in the seniors division, replacing Bo Perasol.

It has been a Cinderella run for the Fighting Maroons, the last time they won in the finals being 36 years ago, back when legends Benjie Paras and Ronnie Magsanoc were still the stars.

The journey in reclaiming the throne was truly long, and they all had to go through a lot to reach their destination. From scouting high percentage players from different teams to making big adjustments in the coaching staff, the UP Fighting Maroons proved where perseverance and hard work can take you — that even after 36 years, victory will come to those who fight for it.

CASH MONEY. Scan this QR Code to watch UP Fighting Maroons' winning moment. PHOTO ATTRIBUTION ONE SPORTS