Second Magazine Issue by emil ubaldo

A Stateside Soarer from the down-and-out

see story on page 4

NEWS

OPINION

FEATURES

USHS students score double victory in UP Diliman’s nat’l research fair 10

Why you should cherish your teenager years 13

5 Underrated Joys of being a USHS student 18

Editor’s Note

The Magazine

Half the time, most of us were both frivolous and clueless (I don’t know how that’s possible either, blame it on puberty again) before the clockwork began. At the start, the team’s thoughts were racing on how we were supposed to pull this off. A magazine issue’s already been done last school year but this time, we wanted things to be different. We wanted to bust down the walls and expand. We wanted to prove that we had more to offer. The Researcher is breaking borders. Yep, that would probably be the right way of saying it, because in this issue, nothing kept us tamed. We’re raging animals with a desire to write and now we’ve taken a leap. So where’s the leap taking us, you say? Well, I have only one hope: to you, dear reader. Eat your heart out. We’re pushing potentials. Potential is useless if it goes untouched. Here, we challenged ourselves on what we could really do. Brainstorms were rapidly ongoing on how we could make the most out of this issue (on a limited budget but who cares; we had to work with what we’ve got). Kabi-kabilaang photo-shoot, isama na yung mga interview, pati na rin ‘yung mga group discussion…it was all a rewarding experience, especially for high schoolers like us. What we’ve come up with is now in your hands. Feel it, touch it, I insist you to (it’s made of trees. Make Mother Nature proud) — the second magazine issue of The Researcher in history. I now allow you to turn the page.

team

NOMER IVAN JETHRO A. GABOY Editor-in-chief/ Layout & Graphic Artist

JAMIELYN S. GALLENO Associate Editor

VIA SHANE R. SANTIAGO Managing Editor

VIRGIL S. ABELARDO NIÑA ALYSSA M. BARROGA DANA SAMANTHA S. CAHILIG DAN ANGELO S. ELIGADO JOEY PEPE R. ELIGADO JOMARI C. FERNANDO FRANCO ANDREI R. PINEDA MA. ANGELYKA C. ROMANO AEILAR G. SANIN HANNAH NIÑA G. VERA CRUZ Writers

LAISA MARIAN L. DE GUZMAN Contributor

TRISTAN JOSHUA A. ACDA IRINEO C. DONES JR. JOCHELLE MAAN V. NATIVIDAD Photojournalists

DOROTHY KATHLEEN F. GUNDRAN Cartoonist

CYNTHIA LYN P. CURADA Language Critic

Nomer Ivan Jethro A. Gaboy Editor-in-chief

COVER

STORY

from the down-and-out

see story on page 4

NEWS

OPINION

FEATURES

USHS students score double victory in UP Diliman’s nat’l research fair 10

Why you should cherish your teenager years 13

5 underrated joys of being a USHS student 18

Publication Adviser/Layout Artist

REMEDIOS Z. PANUYAS, PhD Consultant

Amina Mendez, CLSU Science High School alumna, bares the story of how she started out in a tight grip and seeped her way through, eventually getting a scholarship to the USA and finishing as summa cum laude.

A Stateside Soarer

EMIL F. UBALDO

We accept contributions in the form of news, literary and feature. Original manuscript should be computerized together with the complete name of the contributor and may submit to : The Researcher Office of the Publication Adviser CLSU Science High School No part of this publication may be reproduced, in any form without prior permission of the Editorial Board. All Rights Reserved 2013

r are o s ide s me te a a t n s ga z: A -out ion n i e t k t d d en en n-an spira z: Ma d u M n st u ow our i Cr ina s HS d S a m r ay U A w the res: Y . Ve a 6 g 4 from failu ña G in ein n b i f N eir ssio so Th e y ah n r o n j p 15 Hanher owrated n de re 16 of under ng tee c ha s s? ti 5 t to vitie mo pe a r n e 18 Def me O esca ’d wa or ca r n t? I f o te tio c 20 Oh-s elodic dy tips medy let wa ur sigh e rf 22 A m en stu e: a re vs. toi t for yo eroes for pe 24 Sev colat st: ice s: righ uperh pursuit e-go 26 Cho an Te indoor new s ct: A s on-th y lit 28 Cleaying ts, the perfe ncher ua q im e to St gne ur nt be st qu a o e 9 o 2 M re t r thir itm rish y m e Da lthie om ch C d 2 l : 3 Hea d ial ou r e t h o s s a it u ar err Ed yo ye d n y 12 Wh nage the u e 13 te ats for Se

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COVER STORY

A Stateside Soarer from the down-and-out Text and photos by Nomer Ivan Jethro A. Gaboy

An alumna of CLSU Science High School bares the story of how she started out in a tight grip and seeped her way through, eventually getting a scholarship to the USA and finishing as summa cum laude.

ate is harsh and it’s beyond our control, but for a girl fated to be borne with shackles to heave and a twisting state to endure, there is one thing beyond the grasp of fate: what you choose to become. If you ever happen to come across Amina Mendez, you’d probably catch the impression that the only thing brighter than her smile is her contagiously, sunshine-tastic personality. But behind the cluster of smirks and giggles squeezing up her cheeks, there’s a story waiting to be told. And let me tell you up front, this is by no means a script outline for the next MMK episode.

The Researcher

January - May 2013

The Researcher 5

6 The Researcher

January - May 2013

COVER STORY

Amina’s “mean” beginnings It was a rough edge to survive for Amina back then. Even daily food was a scarcity. Her father would be out in the streets from sunrise to well beyond sundown as a tricycle driver only to fulfill one main goal — that his family wouldn’t go to bed on an empty stomach. However, the earnings of an average tricycle driver wasn’t always enough to pull themselves through. “Ang problema sa ganu’ng klaseng trabaho eh hindi siya consistent, so may mga araw na hinihintay namin ni Mama na umuwi si Papa para makapagluto ng hapunan kasi walang bigas.” Amina narrated as she spoke with The Researcher. Her mother, on the other hand, was simply a housewife who was more than willing to take on any available job when opportunities revealed. Nevertheless, despite the hard-on shortcomings, they never let these instances peel the skins off their bones. The two parents made ends meet and gave their daughter what every child deserved – education. “One thing really assured me: igagapang nila ako. Alam ko talaga sa sarili ko na ibibigay nila yung best for your education,” said Amina. So with her parents’ full support at her back, she shook off the hesitation to enter USHS and took the entrance exam. She passed. Her high school life, however, wasn’t candy at all. Earnings were down-low for trike drivers during the summer, but still they had to comply for Amina’s upcoming enrollment and needs in school. “Ginagawa ni Mama, namamagpag siya sa bukid,” said Amina. “ Yung matitipid na pambili ng bigas, yun na ang pinambibili ng gamit ko sa school.” Besides that, her school uniform, as she described it, wasn’t pink like her classmates’. The correct description would be pale pink. “Namuti na dahil sa kakalaba at yung parents ko pinaghahandaan din yung books ko, kaya hindi na nakakabili,” she explained with a smile. “Araw-araw akong nagbabaon ng itlog. Naalala ko sa may pink na baunan ko noong high school, isang itlog for lunch tapos ganun for the whole week,” Amina

January - May 2013

Mendez family. Amina flashes a big smile while seated beside her father, Bienvenido Mendez, for their family portrait at their humble residence in Brgy. Tulat, San Jose City. Her mother, Remy, and her younger sister, Rina, stand at the back. The tricycle which her father proudly drives to take her to the USHS during her high school days provides the backdrop of the portrait. Amina shared during the interview that her father would proudly park their tricycle beside her classmates’ luxurious vehicles in a number of USHS events commenting that he takes pride in its passenger.

recalled. “Minsan naman nakakapaghotdog ako pero minsan din walang mantika kaya hindi naprito, kaya ginawa ni Mama, inadobo niya. ” Being choosy wasn’t even an option. Her daily delights for lunch was narrowed down to only either a sunnyside up or an (unusual but at least edible) “adobong hotdog.” Even on ordinary school days, financial setbacks were already haunting them side-by-side but the thought of having a fieldtrip was gut-wrenching. She had barely enough to meet with the demands at school, much less for an out of town trip with friends, so, no doubt, it was a quite a boulder to bear. “Class president ako noong 4th year kami, IV-Innovators, at may fieldtrip

kami nun sa Subic. Pero hindi ako sasama…kasi wala talaga. Hard time talaga noon,” the words gently slipped off her lips as she spoke. She spent the following days before the fieldtrip overhearing her classmates get giddy over excitement while she enclosed herself into a silent contour. Like light finally seeping into the shadows, Ma’am Gella Abella stepped in and decided to lend her money for her to go. “Ayoko talaga noon kasi hiyang-hiya ka sa sarili mo. President ka tapos kailangan ka pang pautangin ng adviser mo.” said Amina. “Pero dun ko napatunayan na ang mga teacher sa school, talagang nagiging nanay at tatay din ng students nila in the best sense of the word.” The Researcher 7

COVER STORY USA Experience. (1) Amina poses near the Statue of Liberty, America’s most iconic symbol, in New York harbor. (2) Amina receives the $3,000 Trjitzinsky Scholarship from the American Mathematical Society (AMS) from Alan Zaring, chair of the OWU Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. (3) Since her parents can’t come to the US on her graduation day, she is joined here by her work supervisor who became her second mom during her stay in Ohio. OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY/FACEBOOK.COM

Changing the game

Soon, the gallery of gray pictures began to fill in with a little color. ‘A little’ might be an understatement because the first time 13 year-old Amina stepped into USHS, she had no idea she’d be on a plane to Ohio five years later. Here’s what happened: The start of it all was very simple actually. She took the first step, a step that anyone else was capable of doing. She dreamed, she aspired, she set goals no matter how much the odds were against it. “Gusto ko sana mag-UP Diliman,” said Amina, but her mother responded half-jokingly, “Anak, kahit ibenta mo ‘ko hanggang libag, pati tatay mo hanggang sa talampakan niya, hindi talaga natin kaya.” But despite the words echoing through hear head, in the end, all they wanted was for Amina to make the most out of what they had. They made sure that nothing got in her way. In particular, she remembered a moment in which she saw her mother’s hands for what they were: palms were cracked and dry, utterly bruised from daily hard work. Hers, however, were the complete opposite: pampered, soft and lavishly innocent. “Hindi nila ako pinagtatrabaho nun. Lalong-lalo naman nilang never sinabi na, ‘Anak, tumigil ka na sa pag-aaral’ kahit na ang mahal. ‘Basta mag-aral ka lang,” reminisced Amina. Generally, the sight of her mother’s hands was unpleasing to the eye, but knowing what these hands were working for made them the most beautiful pair of hands on earth. Those hands were proof that no matter what, her parents will never think twice about even trying to give her the best they can afford. Soon after, they learned that Amina aced the UPCAT. They were short on money but were full on 8

The Researcher

determination: sheer determination to make ways. Long story-short, her mother went to ASKI Microfinance and grabbed the chance of signing Amina up for a scholarship that the company offered. Only a strict number of ten grantees per year were allotted and even though it was a tight hole to slide into, it was worth a shot. By a mixture of brilliance and faith, she made it in. “They paid for everything, really everything. Meron akong P10,000 allowance na kasama na yung clothing. Nakabili na rin ako ng mga kung anuano ko, may travel pa, may books… everything,” said Amina gratefully. With a strong passion for math and numbers, she took up BS Math and from then on, it seemed like she had a good way to go. The UP experience made her appreciate Science High even more. “ Yung tipong reklamo kayo ng reklamo sa dami ng ginagawa, asking ‘bakit pinapatay n’yo kami?’ Pagdating sa college maiisip n’yo, kahit gaano kahirap ang exam o [kahit gaano] kadaming ginagawa na naranasan ko na ‘to dati sa Science High, kaya ko na to,’ ” said Amina, as she pointed out the bright side on the suffering we USHS students have always known. But just halfway through her 2nd year in UP, another new opportunity came knocking upon her doorstep. In fact, it was more than opportunity; it was a privilege, a privilege she didn’t know that would soon turn the big tables. “Sa ten grantees, pwedeng tatlo pumunta sa Ohio Wesleyan University, which was the Alma Mater of the funders namin sa scholarship. So ayun, tinuloy ko na rin,” said Amina, once again greeting us with a childish yet inherently demure grin. There was nothing holding her back. In no time, she had already set foot onto Ohio Wesleyan University and soared high. Sure, it was a great culture shock and adjusting was another challenge to

January - May 2013

COVER STORY overcome, but the good in it could not be outshone: it was all the beginning, a giant leap into fulfilling her aspirations, a sign that it was time to part from the adversity that once had her by the wrists. During her time as a junior mathematics major and computer science minor of the said university, she was among the seven students across the United States to receive a $3, 000 cash grant from the American Mathematical Society (AMS), all the more bursting colors from every direction. “So tumawag ako sa bahay and said ‘Ma, meron akong nakuhang scholarship, three thousand dollars’ tapos biglang silence...maya-maya umiiyak na yung kausap ko sa kabilang line, proud na proud,” Amina told us as in a sweet recollecting voice, the kind of which you’d know that she had been embraced by self-fulfillment. Although, aside from all the benefits she was now capable of enjoying, she never failed to spare a portion of the money from her scholarship for her parents. To have more to send back to the family she had in the Philippines, she served as part-time waitress and a tutor for certain period of time. Indeed, her love for home never dimmed out; she always had those who brought her up on top of her priorities. However, despite her life’s great turn-over with blessings and opportunities falling from the sky, she looked the opposite way. There was a voice whispering across her shoulder

that made her turn down everything that was laid before her. She could have stayed abroad, started a new life, and became everything she once dreamed of,

yet in the end she chose to come back home to stay.

Up to change the world “I wanted to stay but I know my intentions weren’t very pure. Filipino naman tayo, we really want greener pasture, at syempre gusto ko du’n kasi may snow, ang init-init kaya sa Pilipinas,” Amina joked but the expressions on her face were a mixture of humor, warmth and illumination. She then started again, “But then I remembered everything [I went through] in high school and came to the realization that I wasn’t the only one of the Filipino youth experiencing that: millions of others as well. I mean, maraming mas magaling sa ’kin, pero I was given a scholarship beyond what I asked. I was only asking for UP Diliman and I was sent to the US. Napuspos ka beyond what you were asking and it’s definitely beyond what you deserve.” She held on to the belief that all the awards she gained, all the titles, the whole Science High experience, the whole scholarship experience and all the achievements that have crossed her life were, surprisingly, not as important as people think they are. There was something worth even more. And she speaks directly to the students reading

this: “Pinag-aral kayo ng mga parent ninyo, tinuruan kayo ng Science High teachers n’yo not just to be working machines na balang araw lalayasan ang Pilipinas for greener pastures. The point is, scholar ako hindi dahil libre yung pag-aaral ko. Scholar ako because I know I’m made for a higher purpose. And my higher purpose is here in the Philippines. That’s why I went back,” Amina explained. “You don’t exist just for your own dreams na para sa sarili mo or even only para sa family mo. That’s achievable in a few years’ time but you’re made for even beyond that. And that,” she stopped, cleared her throat and pursed her lips to speak again, “is to make a difference.” Amina’s story is a proof that there is no hindrance to a dedicated soul. You may claim that fate is harsh, fate is unfair and fate is the one to blame for all the things which you had no choice over, all the things that made you start out hard; but in the end, it’s not what you were once before...but what you strived to be.

House Jewels. Numerous medals which Amina accumulated since her elementary days from the different competitions and honors received have become the jewels of their house. Amina's mom made sure that they are well-kept .

January - May 2013

The Researcher 9

NEWS

USHS students score double victory in UP Diliman’s nat’l research fair by Via Shane R. Santiago

She did it again! Paola B. Policarpio poses with three officers of UP ALCHEMES after receiving her medal and certificate of recognition. Last November, the same research earned her awards in the National Science and Technology Fair. UP ALCHEMES

“

The competition is really a battle of science high schools especially with the presence of PSHS System and other regional science high schools. We humbly thank the organizers for praising CLSU Science High School as one of the best science high schools in the country as evident by our students’ performance.

“

The Researcher

Two researches of junior students emerged as winners in the Research Fair 2013 held at the University of the Philippines Diliman sponsored by UP Academic League of Chemical Engineering Students (UP ALCHEMES), Feb. 7-9. Paola B. Policarpio’s “A Novel Formula in Solving Tribonacci-like Sequence” won second in the Physical Science Category besting more than 50 entries from different competing science high schools including Philippine Science High School System and regional science high schools. The same research won in the National Science and Technology Fair and was officially included in the Top 21 Best High School Researches in the Philippines for School Year 2012-2013 last Nov. 28 – Dec. 1, 2012. “Only few students are getting interested in researches about math. Probably, it is high time for USHS students to further explore the world of math through research as it is also very rewarding and very fulfilling. Lucky enough, we have good math mentors here at USHS to guide and help us,” said Policarpio when asked about her interest in math research. Meanwhile, Christian Roden S. David’s “Toxicity and Teratogenic Effect of Auricularia polytricha White Strain Extracts on Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Developing Embryos” placed fourth in the life science category. “My study focuses on the teratogenic properties of Auricularia polytricha (white strain) which is a common edible mushroom found in some parts of Asia including the Philippines. The mushroom extracts were tested on the developing embryos of zebrafish. Altering the de

velopment of the embryos means that the substance is teratogenic and may contain bioactive compounds that can inhibit the multiplication of cancer cells,” explained David. Earlier, David’s research landed second in the Regional Science Fair in October 2012. “The competition is really a battle of science high schools especially with the presence of PSHS system and other regional science high schools. We humbly thank the organizers for praising CLSU Science High School as one of the best science high schools in the country as evident by our students’ performance,” said Lexter R. Natividad, coach.

Hope for the cancer. Christian Roden S. David explains the benefits and results of his study to The Researcher staffers during an interview.

TRISTAN JOSHUA A. ACDA

January - May 2013

NEWS

Junior student places 2nd in nat’l quiz 2 other junior students land 5th, 6th by Via Shane R. Santiago

A junior student won second place in a national quiz bee competition topping 36 other quizzers from different participating Philippine Science High School campuses, regional science high schools and national high schools with special science curriculum during Research Fair 2013 at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

“

2 staffers represent Central Luzon in NSPC by Franco Andrei R. Pineda

Two staffers of The Researcher joined Region III’s contingent of campus journalists to the 2013 National Schools Press Conference held in Ormoc City, Leyte, Apr. 7-12. Jomari C. Fernando, a second time NSPC qualifier, competed in Editorial Writing while Via Shane R. Santiago, The Researcher managing editor, competed in Pagsulat ng Balita. “We are very proud of Jomari and Via as they made it to the NSPC. Qualifying in the top three in the RSPC is not an easy task as they have to edge out equally talented CJ’s in Region III. I believe that their NSPC experience they gained and service as dedicated campus journalists of The Researcher count more than the medals,” said Emil F. Ubaldo, adviser of The Researcher. Last Regional Schools Press Conference, Santiago placed first in Pagsulat ng Balita while Fernando landed third in Editorial Writing which assured them spots in the NSPC. Both campus journalists were also elected in the Regional Secondary Editors’ Guild of Region III, Santiago was elected vice president and Fernando was elected as business manager which automatically qualify them as members of the national guild. January - May 2013

It was a tough competition but the effort we exerted studying matched with all the fun we had. I loved the contest, the adrenaline rush and the pressure. It was probably the one of the most nerveracking and tough contests I had, but also, one of the best.

“

Quizzers in action! Ian Carlo V. Lazaro (top) raises his answerboard during the competition's final round. Meanwhile, Ma. Angelyka C. Romano shows her answer and Norman David P. Medina evaluates a specimen in the laboratory test. UP ALCHEMES

Ian Carlo V. Lazaro landed second in the Quest for Academic League Leader (QALL), a three-day quiz bee for junior high school student sponsored by UP Academic League of Chemical Engineering Students (UP ALCHEMES), Feb. 7-9. “It was a tough competition but the effort we exerted studying matched with all the fun we had. I loved the contest, the adrenaline rush and the pressure. It was probably one of the most nerve-racking and tough contests I had, but also, one of the best,” said Lazaro. Initially, Lazaro tied in the second spot with the representative from Philippine Science High School – Western Visayas but managed to edge his way when he swiftly answered the do-or-die question: ‘What is the largest bone in the human body?’ “We were supposed to answer a clincher question but we were unable to get the right answer at first. So we proceeded for two more rounds, but unfortunately, none of us got the right answer. Finally, to break the tie, we were asked to answer a do-or-die question that will determine the winner by means of who will raise the board first. Luckily, I raised my board first, maybe because of my bad but fast handwriting skills,” he explained. Aside from Lazaro, two other USHS representatives landed in the top ten of the competition. Ma. Angelyka C. Romano and Norman David P. Medina placed 5th and 6th respectively.

USHS reigns in Zonal Chem Congress; Theses entries sweep top 3 honors by Via Shane R. Santiago

University Science High School brought home the championship in the 7th Zonal Students’ Chemistry Congress topping other schools in Regions I, II, III and CAR including two campuses of the Philippine Science High School (Central Luzon and CAR), Jan. 11. The theses entries made the biggest share in the overall points garnered by USHS after sweeping the top three honors in the competition. “Behavioral and Physiological Changes of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) at Different Stocking

Densities as Indicators of Imminent Fish Kills” by Niña Alyssa M. Barroga, Hannah Niña G. Vera Cruz and Demi Rose S. Santos got the top honors with a cash award of P3,000. “Toxicity and Teratogenic Effect of Auricularia polytricha White Strain Extracts on Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Developing Embryos” by Christian Roden S. David came in second while Gonads of Select Farm Animals as Agent in Sex Reversal Process of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) by Jamielyn S. Galleno, Gabrielli M. Palomares and Jemmica Charisse G. Sy placed third. turn to page 35

The Researcher 11

OPINION

Commitment to quality

EDITORIAL T

“

When you're committed

to something,

you accept no

only

excuses,

results.

The Researcher

- Art Turock

he Researcher flipped over a huge change through the publication of its first ever magazine in its second issue last school year as a supplement to the regular broadsheet issue. Not only did it revamp the face of campus journalism at USHS but it also inspired its staffers to do better. The magazine pages are devoted in reaching out and actually stirring the minds and the hearts of its readers, especially the USHS community. It did not break free from the strict rules of journalism but rather tied itself to a more compassionate and entertaining way of serving its readers. The new sleek face of The Researcher gave chance to its staffers to showcase their creative side while respecting the noble art and science of journalism making their creative factories well oiled and juiced up without compromising the quality of campus journalism.

The Researcher magazine bundles all fields within the interest of its reading population into one issue. It gives news, opinion, features, sports and even science news. It can be compared to a glass of halo-halo, with the right amount of juicy news topped with sweltering issues and a swirl of creativity. Some readers might have wondered why we are pushing so hard to come up with a magazine issue. There is no magazine competition for high school publications and even if there is, we, The Researcher staffers, are not after the honor. We do our work to express and not to impress. The magazine is just a manifestation of the staff’s commitment to further uplift the quality of campus journalism at USHS. The Researcher staffers humbly take pride in the positive feedbacks we received in our first magazine issue. Thus, we continue the legacy we started last year with this second issue. January - May 2013

OPINION COUNTERACTING CONTINUITY Nomer Ivan Jethro A. Gaboy

Why you should cherish your teenage years (or your youth, in general) Dear teen,

Take

things

know these dreams are what drive you and I know you may be working hard to achieve it, but don’t hurry. Don’t allow your youth to slip away. You’ve got to live out these years because time will come where yes, you might have probably achieved your goals, but there’s a small tap of regret — regret for not grabbing the chance to enjoy your young years to the fullest. And you know we’ve made a deal with the laws of physics and Father Time: no turn backs, baby. If you’ve never done things you thought you’d never do, now is the time. Well, that’s the whole point of being young: guts. Extraordinary guts that only the young blood possess. Frankly, it’s kind of a privilege for me to be young because there’s no greater time to do the craziest things. And it’s no secret that teens are the craziest creatures to ever live on planet earth. Teens have a reputation for being fearlessly rebellious (“rock on!”), being stupid and doing dangerous things (especially with pals), being adrenaline junkies and daredevils (you only live once), being tragically in and out of love for countless times, hysterically laughing about everything and crying about January - May 2013

our ex was lying when he promised ‘forever’ to you. It’s the horrible truth but I’m not here to ramble about that heartbreak he probably gave you or other ridiculous teen romances. All I want to say is that nothing lasts forever. Everything is temporary. So is your youth. Right now, you’re young. You’ve got dreams bigger than the world. You wish to see yourself years from now to be on the brim of success: with a rewarding career, a family, your dream car, and on top of all of that, just the overwhelming feeling of satisfaction and self-fulfillment. Living the dream, right? So you can’t wait till you’re free. You can’t wait to make these dreams come true and become the person you’ve always wanted to be. You can’t wait to grow up because you’re also sick of being tied to rules and being dubbed as “too young” by the elders around you. You’ve had enough of being a caged animal. To the young heart who dreams so big, what’s the rush? everything at the same time, having multiple outbursts of spontaneity, being ever-so moody that no one can keep up and lastly, for plainly not giving a damn about anything at all. It will all change

’d hate to state the obvious but we all know it will happen: adulthood will soon come along and it will wall you down with tons of responsibilities that need great attention. You’d be facing a job, maybe not the one you’ve dreamed of pero pwede na rin and you’re just thankful. You’d have a family to feed. You’d have a car that will need to be filled up with gas and gas isn’t cheap. All in all, you are welcomed into real life as they call it. The worst feeling of all is when you look back and you find yourself not only missing the old days, but the person who you could have been too. You just didn’t take the chance. You were too caught up trying to grow up so fast that you never lived the real fun moments of being a teen. All I’m saying is that, be reckless and carefree while you’re still expected

To the young heart who dreams so big,

what’s

the

rush?

to be reckless and carefree. Be a teenager. No, not because I want you to throw your life down the drain, but because once the time is gone, it’s gone. I’m also not telling you to go full-time on being a jackass after reading this because you still have a see-saw of responsibility to balance (remember, always think of the consequence before doing something and just all-in-all still be a good person). However, like I said in the beginning, nothing lasts forever and there are no exceptions. Everything is bound to fade away. The trips you’ll make around the sun are numbered. Hear me, young dreamer: always grab the opportunity before it’s too late. As the saying goes, “Carpe Diem! (Seize the Day!)” It’s all up to you now. With love, A fellow teen Xoxo

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OPINION TICKLED PINK Via Shane R. Santiago

Seats for the underrated

ilipinos have exercised democracy through their right and power to vote for the leaders of our country, be that person a veteran or a neophyte in the government.

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for more than a decade, he was able to pass laws intended to benefit most of the Filipino population and has chaired numerous senate committees of different fields. With her popular “alampay”, Risa Hontiveros plans to combat majority of the social issues surrounding the country nowadays. Her “magandang laban” focuses on women’s rights, health care, and the eradication of abuse and corruption. Her six consecutive years of stay in the Congress enabled her to pass bills concerning women’s right such as the Reproductive Health Bill, AntiProstitution Bill and Gender Balance Bill. At the young age of 15, she has showed her natural sense of activism and spoke against the operation of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. She was also one of the awardees of the Ten Outstanding Young Men for Peace Advocacy in 2001, and stood on the international limelight as a Nobel Peace Prize nominee in 2005. Maybe if we’re in the 80’s, there is no way we can notice Puerto Princesa, except of course if we are living in Palawan. It was just a notso-wholesome place as they said before, just an abode of prisoners and mosquitoes because of the unkempt forests. But these things are now history. The Puerto Princesa other people knew before is non-existent anymore. A self-proclaimed bandit in the past and also one of teh plaintiffs of mining who cuts trees despite its kind, shoot down birds for no reason transformed the thickly forested Palawan into teh perfect epitome of utopia. A name everyone will now know, Edward Hagedorn. Philippines was like a trending topic on Twitter or a blockbuster movie hit when our very own Puerto Princesa Underground River became one of the New Seven Wonders of

“

Through the years, the criteria in selecting our country’s leaders have changed from experience and performanc- based to appearance and fame-based. An experienced politician’s ledger filled with outstanding services can easily be wiped clean by the face of a candidate from a prominent family or media exposure. Dick Gordon, a man who is known to exceed expectations fell short as he landed 13th on the senatorial race. Even without a Senate seat, he has proven himself worthy of leading a country in countless calamities being the Philippine Red Cross’ chairman for more than four decades. I have never seen a political figure brave the weather and wade the mud and flood just to reach out to those in need. Subic’s transformation under his direction has impressed Margaret Thatcher, Dr. Mahathir Mohammad, and Bill Clinton which led to the opening of more job opportunities in Zambales. The overlooked and underrated Gordon has a fine background in public governance with a degree in History and Government from Ateneo de Manila University in 1966. He also finished Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Philippines in 1975. The former Department of Tourism secretary’s helping hand is indeed for all, from his roots in Olongapo to the whole archipelago and even reaching out to Filipinos overseas. Over the years, it’s hard to gain the privilege of being the “Most Outstanding Senator”. But it appeared so easy to the son of the late President Magsaysay, Jun Magsaysay. Just like his father, he believes that to implement genuine public service, it has to be oriented towards bravely fighting for people’s lives to achieve a humanitarian and moral leadership. Magsaysay’s track record for public service is definitely for the books. Having served the country as a senator

They proved that even without a position in the government, even without power, a person with enough guts and passion can start to make a change.

the Natural World. This will not happen if Hagedorn didn’t have the eye of an environment lover. His developments in the whole Palawan caused the “tourist avalanche”. Though he also believes that sitting as a senator isn’t the position to take his plans into feat, he ran with his major manifesto which is to strengthen and improve local governance and ecotourism, which is Puerto Princesa’s divergent advantage over the rest. Who in the world will not fall in love with its beauty? But isn’t it great to know that even without a seat in the Senate, they have managed to give the Philippines a new name, a new look and a new hope? They proved that even without a position in the government, even without power, a person with enough guts and passion can start to make a change.

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FEATURES

Their Failures: Your Inspiration

Compiled by Franco Andrei R. Pineda

ou hear many successful names in the industry. But behind the blinding lights, the awards, and the prestige, are these unexpected stories of their failure. Yes, you’ve read it right, failure stories. Here are some people you know that you still might not know well enough.

Socorro C. Ramos

Edgar “Injap” Sia II

Kenneth Cobonpue

What he’s known for: Founder, Mang Inasal

What he’s known for: Multi-awarded Global Furniture Designer

What she’s known for: Founder, National Bookstore

Cobonpue did not pass the qualifications for Admission at UP Diliman’s College of Fine Arts because he could not draw. The failure enabled him to pursue his dreams in New York where he studied industrial design and pursued furniture production studies in Italy and Germany. Upon his return to Cebu, he quickly became one of the most celebrated furniture designers in the Philippines. His clients include Hollywood A-list celebrities such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

Nay Socorro’s first National Bookstore branch did not turn out so well, because it was destroyed not just once, but twice during the 1940’s. With her husband, Jose, and their determination and will combined, they strived to relive the dream bookstore. After 75 years, the bookstore in red is still standing at Avenida, Rizal, with its brothers and sisters all over the country making it the largest bookstore franchise in the Philippines.

He was a college dropout and started the first Mang Inasal branch on a piece of parking lot in a mall in Iloilo. Soon after Mang Inasal zoomed into the business, it became a nationwide favorite. Injap is now the Philippines’ youngest billionaire according to Forbes Magazine. Reference: http://www.forbes.com/ global/2011/0718/philippines-billionaires-11edgar-sia-mang-inasal-mr-bbq.html

Reference: http://www.cdn.ph/news_details. php?id=17342

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Reference: https://www.facebook. com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww. cashandinvestment. com%2F2012%2F08%2Fsuccess-story-behindnational-book-store.html&h=iAQFEZhhb

Tony Tan Caktiong What he’s known for: Founder and CEO,

Jollibee Foods Corporation ( JFC)

Then neophyte, Caktiong’s almost-out-of-the-business fast food chain was offered to be purchased by McDonalds. However, he fused fresh and new marketing strategies to his business until it became the No. 1 Fast Food Chain in the Philippines. Today JFC owns Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal and Burger King Philippines. Reference: http://moviemusicbooketc.blogspot. com/2012/06/entrepreneur-36-tony-tan-caktiong. html; http://www.therichest.org/celebnetworth/ celebrity-business/ceo/tony-tan-caktiong-networth/

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FEATURES

Making a name of her

by Nomer Ivan Jethro A. Gaboy & Niña Alyssa M. Barroga

own

She’s a go-getter. She’s also a bubbly teen, but when her goals are set, she will work for it no matter what. She’s animated, she’s as sweet as honey, but her aim is always in focus and that won’t change. She is pushed by sheer dedication, an internal motivation which drives her day by day. It seems pretty simple, but it goes deeper than that. There’s this one question that gives us the hitches: “We know the name, we’ve gotten to know the person, but what really makes a Hannah Niña G. Vera Cruz?” It would be easier to say that the genes she got from her parents were the ones in the works to hone a young girl like Hannah, but they were only doing their part and genes alone could not steer a person’s direction: now, by a fortunate return, the daughter of a former USHS salutatorian topped the whole batch. She’s no slacker by an inch but she occasionally gets her share of fun. However, when things get serious, so does she. She seems the same as everybody else, but she’s not. For instance, in the middle of a raging chaos before a quiz or exam when everyone else tries to cram facts into their heads, she keeps it together without a sweat. The secret? Her nights never go to waste as she makes it a habit to study nightly without complaint. Actually, she once mentioned that she would refuse to go to bed without reading. Another thing about her is that being late is never an option. Whenever something comes up, she’s never behind the clock. In the midst of her classmates’ cries to extend the deadline of a project, she sits with modesty with her own project fully prepared. But a moment never came when she bragged her punctuality; in fact, she even lends a helping

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PORTRAIT OF A HAPPY FAMILY Vera Cruz family poses for a souvenir shot on the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Hannah’s grandparents. FACEBOOK.COM

CREAM OF THE CROP Hannah flashes a big smile on her graduation day with medals dangling around her neck.

hand to those who rummage through their requirements. Of course, she admits she couldn’t have gone through this alone. Right behind her motivation, with no doubt, stands both God and her family, from whom she finds inspiration to strive harder and goad on. “They served as my motivation to do good in my studies. They constantly supported and helped me. ” Not many appreciate her effort, but she’s basically the whole class’s life-saver. How? When the exams creep nearer, she breaks most of our classmates’ fall by giving out her lecture notes for photocopying to anyone who asks. She’s sort of a class saint, if you ask me. Her selflessness prevails almost every time and if there’s something I really hate, it’s when she mostly goes unappreciated for what she does. This is because, if you come to think of it, making these lecture notes isn’t an easy task and most just take them for granted; she spends a great amount of labor being attentive in every class and keeping everything in place, whereas those who ask for them get it as soon as they want. I guess we could only imagine what it would be without Hannah to run to. A funny thought to know but this sparks plug of a student didn’t ever receive pressure from her parents to study. She shares with us, “My mom always told me to just sleep and rest; stop worrying about my studies. She even said that this one goal was enough: to graduate from USHS. On the other hand, my father January - May 2013

just constantly told me to study, but never pushed me to. When I became too lazy to review, they never forced me. I guess that really helped, that my parents didn't expect highly of my grades; I was able to study at peace and set my own goals.” To roll it all up, she shares the best things she has learned at USHS overall: “[I learned] how significant time is, how to cope up with problems, all about balancing and prioritizing, how to manage stress, but most of all, how to enjoy high school life amid all of the stress and trials.” If there’s anything Hannah can leave us other than a handful of giggles, a few moments to go nostalgic about and a stack of close-to-perfect test scores, it’s that she can be next in line to keep the flames alight: an inspiration. She’s a quiet voice speaking out to everyone, saying that if you want something, there are no shortcuts. Sure, it may be a long and bumpy way towards what you desire but don’t be afraid; instead, go out and overcome it. Take it the hard way so that in the end, you get more than your goal: you also finish with dignity and fulfillment. No lips are sealed — Hannah Niña G. Vera Cruz is an achiever, as far as the definition goes. The medals, certificates and ribbons don’t lie: she’s not your average student; her footsteps are definitely far ahead and now she’s packing up before the ship of life starts to sail. But now, she has made a mark upon USHS history and she’s no run-of-the-mill. No meltdowns, no breakdowns, just her and her strong will. The Researcher 17

In spite of all the pressure that’s making us drop down to our knees and beg for relief, we USHS students actually possess a few underlying perks. Sort of. Sure, we may be a tad bit insane from all the stress and studying but a coin as we know it has two sides. Here are five underrated joys that maybe never crossed your air-filled brain cells:

We’ve heard it all before but don’t you get it wrong. Everyone of us has been through it: a battalion of quizzes all in one day, a truckload of projects and requirements due on the same date not to mention the pressure of maintaining a certain grade...sometimes, you’ll think that maybe taking a gulp off that rat poison wasn’t such a bad idea

No, this is not about the RH Bill. No one’s probably ever noticed this but the controlled school population is a good thing. How? By having such a relatively low population (compared to other high schools), we are actually more seen as individuals rather than just a bunch of stereotypical

compared to this. But wait. Hold that thought. Before you break down and whack your nuts from all the pain and suffering, let me say one thing: trust me, all of this will pay-off soon. Not just for college but for a lot of things as well. The words might not be sinking in right now but the heavy load that once made us suicidal is going to save our skins.

students. It’s really a surprise that we know almost everyone on campus while this feat is actually so rare in other schools. This gives us the opportunity to bond and get to know each other more. Corny as it may sound but we are one big family.

Text and photo by Nomer Ivan Jethro A. Gaboy

Only a certain number of schools offer the petty delights of a campus wide Wi-Fi connection and you’re one of those lucky few (and to think that this is a public school). Be thankful for the time that Wi-Fi connection saved you from that assignment you forgot the previous night. All those papers and investigatory projects that otherwise could’ve cost you a good reprimanding? We basically owe a part of our lives to it. Another perk: admit it,

Most of the time, a USHS graduate will be seen as “excellent and competitive”, “matalino” or, in less yabang terms, well-honed and trained. The reason for this is that it comes with the name of the school. Out of hundreds of entrance examinees each year, only the best 90 are given the privilege to study in this school and give it a shot.

kids of this generation are slaves to technology. Literally almost everyone owns a laptop, smart phone or tablet nowadays and pretty much all of them are Wi-Fi capable. Every now and then they’ve got to satisfy this internal desire to either check their social networking accounts, stalk their crushes, put everything on Instagram, and stalk their crushes some more. If you’ve ever did at least one of these things within the Science High premises, thank the Wi-Fi.

You are one of them. We know studying here isn’t a piece of cake and over the years USHS students and alumni have proven that they really are something else. But don’t spoil that privilege. Don’t go out bragging that you’re a USHS graduate. No one likes a showoff, especially if you used to flunk subjects in the school anyway.

Monday mornings are complete bummers for three reasons: (1) Mondays end our relaxing 2-day vacations called “weekends”, (2) Mondays indicate the start of another new week to drag our stuck-invacation bodies into, and (3) I think I ran out of reasons so I’ll just go with – Mondays really are just universally-hated (no offense to Mondays), hence the term “Monday Blues.” In USHS, however, it’s a different game. It’s not just the usual (ahem, boring) flag raising ceremony that everybody knows. Here, students get at least a taste of intermission numbers that range from jaw-dropping (sometimes ear-bleeding) singing, to contagiously outrageous dancing, to things that are so wacko-bizarre that I

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am literally lost for words. But besides the immediate entertainment to an otherwise Monday morning borefest, Monday Programs actually benefit USHS students more than they realize. To lay everything out into simplicity, they... ...bring unity and teamwork to sponsoring sections, all starting from the planning (assigning parts), to the banner-making, to the collecting of information corresponding to the theme, all the way down to the actual performance.

...serve as our stepping stones to public speaking and performance. It all might seem like little tasks, but speaking in front of people already sets us into speaking to larger audience, which we will face later on. Sure it’s the same old story; they’re just like all the other traditional flag raising ceremonies. But they’re not. And now you know why.

...strengthen our bonds and plainly allow us to have a good time with each other when we rehearse.

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by Aeilar G. Sanin & Nomer Ivan Jethro A. Gaboy

hat awful, grungy feeling isn't some kind of mental disorder T or imbalance, so don't fret. It's depression and it's normal for teens. The bad part is when you let it take over you.

You skip meals, you can't sleep (or sometimes cry yourself to sleep), you feel unmotivated and most of all, you feel like the world is on top of you. If you're positive from all the said symptoms, here are a few tips for mending that depressed heart:

ature is fun and exciting, not to mention relaxing. Just think of Tarzan and Jane. Or maybe not. The point is, we were once cavemen before so get off your computer and stop succumbing to negative thoughts. Catch some fresh air, walk out the stress, feel the sun, go and travel to the other end of the world. Depression can kill you if you stay locked up.

aybe one of your pals looks like a horse. Laugh about it. Later on, you realize that you look drastically worse. Laugh about it some more. What I’m really trying to say is have a laugh with your buddies and talk about the most stupid things on Earth, because that’s what friends are for: shoulders to lean on. Chill out, have some fun, brush all the sadness away because it’s not worth your time at all.

o listen to your favorite songs nonstop until the bleeding in your heart becomes a bleeding in your ears. Anyway, music never fails to soothe our senses. Choose the music that would make you feel alive and positive, that would release everything shattering inside you.

gain, stop sitting around thinking about how sad you are. It’s not going to help. You’re probably just overthinking things. The real idea of coping with teen depression is to simply focus on other stuff, more important stuff, and to get yourself busy. Find out what you’re good at or do something you love. It’s one of the greatest techniques of moving on known to mankind.

es, avoid the source like the plague, if possible. However, this is not always applicable, and truth be told, running away won’t do anything good. The only way to kill depression is facing the ghost and trying to fix things out. It won’t go away unless you actually do something about it. Track down the reason and eradicate the cause of the depression from your life.

nstead of keeping that misery in, let it out, only this time by doing something creative. Write out all the words dripping and whirling in your head. Don’t even think about what you’re going to write, just keep on writing without looking back. Trust me. It’s like a form of saying goodbye to your sadness and transcribing them onto paper.

Write a poem. Paint or draw something. Compose a song. One single breakup might inspire what would later on become a musician’s biggest hit. It has happened. If you’re curious, the infamous “Let me be the one” by local singer/composer Jimmy Bondoc is a product of depression.

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Text by Jomari C. Fernando Photos by Emil F. Ubaldo

his is it. This is what we have been waiting for. Our flight to the National Schools Press Conference in Ormoc City, Leyte has finally come.

After three hours of sleep, this is it. April 7. At around 2:30 am, we bid goodbye to Nueva Ecija for Manila. After checking of baggages and queuing for minutes, we finally boarded SeaAir’s flight DG7044, leaving all the stress behind. At almost noon, we finally landed at Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban. From the airport, we rented a van to take us to the terminal going to Ormoc City. Luckily, the old driver was from Tarlac and eagerly gave us useful pieces of advice while in Leyte. He also assisted us to find a passenger van. When we left Tacloban, I braced myself. I expected zigzags, because from above, Leyte is mountainous. My 22

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expectations were real. The zigzags were there. The trip was worsened by the undergoing road construction, not to mention the noon heat. But, what’s so striking about Ormoc? People might think only about mountains and rural areas (San Juanico Bridge is located in Tacloban City). If you associate only these things to Ormoc, you’re wrong. If you have been to the city, your view about the place will change. Ormoc City, a city laid behind bands of mountains, is a two-hour trip from Tacloban. It has tranquil sceneries, as well as urbanized areas. Ormoc looks like San Jose City and Science City of Muñoz, combined.

Ormoc has been nicknamed as the City of Queen Pineapples because of the 210-hectare pineapple plantation located in Brgy. Hibunawon. Ormoc’s queen pineapples have been described as one of the sweetest and juiciest varieties of pineapple by travelers. It is the top pick pasalubong and a must try when visiting Ormoc.

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Here are some awesome places to visit if you happen to visit Ormoc City: The Hanging Bridge in Soob

bout 30 minutes from Ormoc City proper, you will enjoy the view at the hanging bridge in Soob (pronounced as su-ob) located in Albuera, Leyte. You can have photo-ops with the trees and mountains as the backdrop. There is also a swimming pool in the place to give you a break from the heat. But the most interesting activity there is the zip line. Unfortunately, we haven’t tried it because we arrived late. Lake Danao national park

f you’re a nature lover, you will adore the scene at Lake Danao. Upon entering the place, the temperature starts to drop as it is 2,130 ft above sea level, an altitude similar to that of Tagaytay City. Fun activities in the lake include dining in floating cottages, kayaking and swimming. We ate at the floating cottage since it was almost lunch time when we reached the place. Our one-hour stay at the floating cottage cost us P150.

Pineapples and Pineapple Farm

he most salient feature of Ormoc is its famous pineapples. About 30 minutes from Lake Danao and an hour from downtown Ormoc, we visited the vast pineapple farm. The yellow-orange, scrumptious fruits attached to the stem seem to tell you to bite them. Ormoc’s pineapple is known as the queen pineapple, one of the sweetest pineapple varieties available in the Philippines. The 210-hectare pineapple plantation lies in the rolling terrains in Brgy. Hibunawon of Ormoc. We had the chance to taste Ormoc’s fine pineapples grown in the plantation for free as the caretaker wanted us to sample their fresh harvest. While they are picking pineapples, we waited at a viewdeck in the farm. After few photo-ops, the quartered pineapples were served us. The freshly-picked succulent fruits removed our exhaustion.

(1) The hanging bridge in Soob Ecopark The place also boasts of swimming pools, picnic groves and a zipline. (2) From the farm viewdeck, one can see the rolling terrains of pineapple plantation. (3) We made sure that we will have a souvenir photo at lake Danao.

Having the chance to join in this kind of contest is a great achievement. But to relieve stress during preparation is also necessary to keep our minds relaxed. So, we made every moment in Ormoc as memorable as possible. The sceneries, the places, the food, the travel, the beds we used to sleep upon, the tricycles and the multicab we rode during “galaan sessions”, the croaking frogs I accidentally kicked, our quarters, the people we met and made friends with, will all be missed. Two of the floating cottages that visitors can rent in Lake Danao at an affordable price.

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by Nomer Ivan Jethro A. Gaboy

So lately, you’ve been having a bad day

and there’s just no sign of the sun coming up.

Life’s crazy, you say. Then, you ask yourself what’s the point of living, and what is not. And just when you’re on the verge of fighting back your tears, you reach for your music player, listen to a few of your favorites, and suddenly, there’s air for you to breathe. Oh, relief. It’s true; when the bad days get going, it’s only you, your earphones and your life’s playlist. Come to think of it, it’s amazing how a few tunes can turn your whole day around. To tell you so, music and the way it works on the human brain has been around longer than you’d think. You’d never grab the idea, but a part of you is what it is today because of music. Okay, let me shed some light on the topic.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

ook way back into your baby years. At three months of living, you were capable of doing outstanding things: to shed tears at amazing amounts and to poop at even more amazing amounts. In times of your loud, nightly weeping, there was only one thing in the world that could make you stop: the sweetest voice in the world, your mother’s, humming a lullaby till you once again drift away as you lay in her arms. Fast forward a few years later: you’re in kinder-

garten and the best way to cheer up the class is…wait for it…singing a song. Nursery rhymes, catchy kids’ songs paired with dance steps, songs from your favorite cartoon shows…whatever they may be, you loved them undeniably. And who could forget the goofy smile on your face when you used to sing them? Believe it or not though, there’s just a little magic between the notes that touch your ears. Sometimes, it’s one of the world’s number one de-stressers. Yes, I just made that word up.

YEP, EVERYBODY’S A PART OF IT

inging in the shower is one of human beings’ favorite hobbies. How many people have you heard humming while taking a casual stroll? I know you’ve noticed that one person in your class who sings all the time, as if the classroom was a stadium for a concert. Chances are, you too are the same but you don’t even realize it. Catch the thought though, simple acts such as these are often paired with a smile, may it show out or not. Whatever it is, you can’t deny that there is a

glint of happiness within. But sometimes though, the effect can be the other way around. Instead of making you feel happy, music can make you feel depressed. These things aren’t new to us. Somehow, the notes transcribe themselves as you listen and make you feel anguish or despair. To make it simple (in musical terms), a song which is played in a major scale sounds “happier” and may make you feel happy. A song in a minor scale can do otherwise. Other causes might be its tempo, its soft vibe, or simply its sad melodic nature.

Another fascinating fact about it is that what you feel when you hear a certain song might also be influenced by a memory. A song may bring you back to a certain situation in your past, therefore inducing certain emotions that you felt before in that specific situation. It may be caused by an encounter, let’s say, a dedication or a song you danced together to. And from then on you build memories around this one song and it is sprinkled over by the words “extraspecial.” However, when all the walls have broken down and you “split up”, later on, once you hear this song again, all you have left are nothing more than just tragic memories. Music has been around for centuries and who knows how long, and out of all the years of its existence, humans have discovered one undeniable fact: music and emotions are linked. It has been the subject of many scientific studies, but how it works down to the last detail will remain to be a mystery. It has been said

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that music is like a drug. It is highly addictive and has tendencies to make a person feel high – one that is subjected to a certain degree of happiness. Something indescribable. Bottom line, whenever things are getting out of hand, there’s only one thing I can say to you: brighten up, kid; it’s just one day out of the thousands in your life. There’s more to come. Just keep in mind: the world is a giant mess waiting for you to step out and make you feel your worst, yet nothing can break you; once you’ve got those earphones plugged in and the rhythm pumping, I’m telling you, you’ve got the world at your feet.

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Text by Hannah Ni単a G. Vera Cruz Photos by Nomer Ivan Jethro A. Gaboy

Don't force yourself to study when you are really not in the mood. When tired or sleepy,

try giving your brain cells a rest. This way, it would be easier to focus on the lesson. I prefer waking up around 4:00 am since I feel capable of giving full attention to the subject, my mind refreshed. However, before taking a rest, I always read them at least once or twice, making myself familiar with the subject matter. That way, if I fail to review further, at least I know a bit.

Never starve yourself! Your brain would not function

efficiently. While studying, never mind diets and calories and carbs. Eat and indulge...but eat with moderation of course. Sweet stuff like candies and chocolate are brain food, and peanuts as well! Usually, before exams I eat lots of chocolates and sweets, but constantly I eat peanuts as well.

Finding the perfect place to review is a big help. Some

people usually want a peaceful environment; while others prefer noisier ones, with the televesion on or with music playing. It's important to find out what kind of environment you prefer so it would be easier for you to review and focus. As for me, the environment I prefer depends on my mood and the difficulty of the subject. Oftentimes, I like listening to music.

Handy notebooks and index cards. Making reviewers

were such a big help for me at USHS. Not only is it easier to review, but as you are writing it, you also end up memorizing some stuff. Making mnemonic devices for enumeration items come handy in tests.

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If you are not the leave-me-alone-I’m-reviewing type, it’s better to go and find some people to study with. It’s always fun to exchange reviewers and

hold mini quiz bees before a test. Not only you are enjoying but you are learning things too. This is my favorite way of reviewing, no pressure at all.

Let me tell you this: never show hatred towards a subject. Try to learn and embrace it. What you have to do is to try and find something you like in the subject and use this as your motivation to do good in that subject. For example, World History became interesting to me because I always loved the names in each lesson, so I enjoyed memorizing the names— Vittelius, Scipio—things like those.

You must go and search for the ONE.

The inspiration, anything that motivates you. May it be your fellow classmate, schoolmate, a fictional character, a book, a band, a celebrity or a song, you have to look onto it as a source of motivation. Let this be the one who fuels you with energy to study, to do good and to get high grades.

FEATURES

by Franco Andrei R. Pineda

Image credits: http://blog.luckyvitamin.com/personal-care/oral-care-for-kids/ http://www.earthtimes.org/health/chocolate-girl-friend-strokes/1503/ http://www.naijawhistle.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Glass-of-Ice-Water.png References: http://www.theodent.com/team.html; http://voices.yahoo.com/cocoa-prevents-toothdecay-5065360.html?cat=68 http://www.wtsp.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=25442

Many of you may ask, “How can we buy this toothpaste if it’s from America?” Well, a simple home remedy can become a simpler solution. Eating dark or bittersweet chocolate can create the same effects as of the revolutionary toothpaste. The same effects may not be seen when eating milk chocolate because its sugar content overpowers the effect of the cocoa. It’s the complete opposite. There are also other ways to create a cocoa-powered habit. For example, making a cocoa paste from pure, unsweetened cocoa and water can also help. If this still makes you uncomfortable, make your own hot cocoa, without any sugar, that can be alternated with your selected spice of choice. Refusal to regular brushing of teeth is still a complete no-no. Who knows, maybe someday, even your mouthwash will be made from cocoa. Better yet, sugar can fight its own bad effects. But for now, let’s thank our sweetest guilty pleasure.

by Franco Andrei R. Pineda

o you have this weird habit of chomping ice? I hate to ruin your appetite, but in a student’s science project at a US middle school, it was found out that, believe it or not, fast food chains’ ice contain much more harmful bacteria than toilet water. A 7th Grade student from Benito Middle School, New Tampa, Florida, chose five fast food restaurants near Florida University wherein she took the samples of ice and toilet water. It seems so that 12-year old Jasmine Roberts “broke the ice” after her rather amusing

28 The Researcher

ave you ever made the loudest plea for a bar of your favorite chocolate, but your mom gave you a homily about tooth problems from sweets instead? Based on latest discoveries, cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate, can actually help us prevent tooth decay. Hallelujah, Science! Dr. Tetsua Nakamoto, a Japanese scientist, discovered that theobromine in chocolate could help fight cavities. After two decades, Dr. Arman Sadeghpour made his doctoral study on solving the “chocolatey solution.” Now, the two made collaboration and after years of research Sadeghpour developed a chocolate-based toothpaste marketed as Rennou.

discovery. She confirmed that 70% of the time, the ice in fast food restaurant has more bacteria than what we flush out after a pee or a call from nature. How did this happen? Well, bacteria was more prevalent in the ice because toilets were cleaned regularly, the ice machines weren’t. Knowing this study makes me think twice, or even a hundred times before asking for any extra ice with a drink gone warm.

January - May 2013

FEATURES

o you prefer watching TV, spending time with your gadgets or sitting in front of the computer spending hours on Facebook, on Twitter, or playing an online game? Guys, it’s time to wake up! Staying at home is not as good as it can be. For those affected, better buckle up. Recently, scientists found out that spending too much time indoors may affect our vision resulting to nearsightedness (myopia) with us being unaware. Keeping yourself inside lavishly unexposed is the major cause. The disease can develop from childhood, so it’s no good news. There’s a possibility that you are already nearsighted. The beefed-up rates of kids having myopia are the digital natives from the East. Our view under sunlight is like a rest day for our tired eyes and indoor light’s not enough, which is the reason why. Researchers say that 1 out of 5 kids eventually develop the disease by spending the rest of their day inside, Vitamin D-less. Most adults think about the gene matter, but I doubt generation after generation only a few are affected. The scary thing is, scientists say that the main victims of myopia are those who tirelessly spend their time on computers without outdoor exposure. Since we, Filipinos, love being regularly updated in different social networking sites, let’s not wait to be the next victim. Based on current conditions, we have much going on our atmosphere and are living in a world of technology. Yes, we can’t stay under the sun for too long but we should at least rest our eyes or let it see the beauty of the outdoors. Be exposed to sports, and outdoor activities. (After all, it’s also for the sake of being physically fit). Even if you think it’s just nearsightedness, it’s a warning. Don’t open up an opportunity to blind yourself !

by Dana Samantha S. Cahilig

eriously, are all studies all about cancer and its prevention? Some people may ask that but based on the countless articles and news, it’s just too critical to miss. Yes, because cancer leaves a mark on people and the magnets are here to take the action! After numerous studies and experiments to clear cancer, magnets are now taking the spotlight. The magnets have done spending time clinging onto refrigerator doors; now, they’re cell-killing objects important for humanity and its never ending problems. The magnets will act as a remote control to exterminate cancer cells. Scientists developed a technology wherein there’s a death switch on the cells. Where can you find an object that makes cancer cells self-destruct? Hail to magnets! For the process to work, there should be an open

connection to the cells from the outside. This is possible with the keylock style. Receptors (lock) surround the cells and a chemical (key) unlocks the receptor.The secret weapon, aka death receptor 4 releases the signal that’ll command the cell to die. Surprisingly, how does it work? While doing the experiment, researchers attached nanoparticles of iron to protein in order to stick and find the receptors of the cancer cells. As a result, the nanoparticles were successfully glued and the magnets were used to pull on the particles from the cell and activate the death switch. More than half of the cancer cells died! It’s too soon to know because cancer cells have other receptors and scientists and are still testing what nanoparticles are perfect for the job. Magnets are the new generation of superheroes. For cancer-striken people, magnetic therapy could be just one of the many ways to save your lives.

Photo credits: http://www.muscogeemoms.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/boy-with-magnifying-glass.jpg http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-4240403-horseshoe-magnet-on-white.php References: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/137695-children-who-stay-indoors-most-times-risk-myopia-ophthalmologists. html http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/11/magnets-that-kill-cancer-cells/

The Researcher 29

FEATURES

: Text and photo by Nomer Ivan Jethro A. Gaboy

30 The Researcher

January - May 2013

FEATURES

world

The out there is a scary place. No, I’m not talking about monsters, or demons, or ghosts. But still, watch your back. Even without the paranormal wisp, a monster lurks in every corner. They neither dwell under your beds nor hide in your closets. They’re rarely present in the cold shadows waiting to attack. These monsters tend to walk out in broad daylight. They are among us. In fact, you face them every day. The world outside holds much that there is to fear, but, sometimes, you have nothing left to do but stand your ground. The monsters I’m referring to are the ones of society. In times, they will sneer at you and look at you in nasty ways, and in times, you’d feel uncomfortable and confused. Soon, society will snap at you and spit out tactless judgments based on how you look, what you wear, how you act, the mistakes you make, who you’re with, even up to the music you listen to. You might attempt to block out every whisper, all the voices you refuse to hear, all the words that threaten to cut you by the throat but it’s impossible. It will scream at you and all your imperfections, and everything you thought about yourself will crumble and fall apart. Sometimes, it gets too hard to keep it in. In order to compensate, you try to subscribe to these so-called social norms and begin to listen to what the words say. They say they know you more than you do and you believe them; they dictate how you should be, even worse, how you should feel towards certain things.

Then you begin to sew a different skin over the old you, all now aligned to the society’s artificially constructed idea of what is beautiful or accepted. But these needles pierce more than your dignity. Step by step you stray away from your true self, trying your best to be accepted, yearning to be loved, pushed by the want to “fit in.” Day by day you try so hard to be beautiful and it hurts. Yet in the end, you fall victim to your own choices and violently stumble into a hole of relentless thoughts. Moments will come where you’d face the mirror and watch the sparkle vanish from your eyes. You will ask questions and get no answers. “Who am I?” you’ll ask, but no one will seem to know anymore. Not even the ones who made you that way will know. It appears that you were so distracted by the judgments, too belittled by the voices, that you forgot to preserve the single most important thing: who you really are. But guess what, you don’t have to be what they tell you to be. Remember, you are vast, you are endless, you are the very definition of infinity, you are the universe. Nothing can limit you. Who cares if you’re not perfect? Imperfections are what make us who

we are. That’s the whole point of being human and if no one seems to understand, then it’s absolutely okay. You don’t have strings attached to your joints so you’re not a puppet they can control. Again, we are all just human beings, purely human beings all the same. We breathe, we laugh, we shed tears when are hurt; we all wish upon the same stars all for the same desires and altogether live in this multicolored technicality where everyday people are born and people die. But, sadly, no matter how much you deny it, no matter how much you run away from the ugly truth that reflects the world we live in, it is inevitable. The only thing I can advise is: don’t let go. Be strong. Stand willing. Stay who you are. Dare to be imperfect. So toughen up, dear. The world out there is a scary place, I know, but it’s not too late to realize that you are worth a lot more than the world claims you to be. There are some of us who can see that beauty within you, the greatness within you, even if you don’t see it in yourself.

Remember, you are vast, you are endless, you are the very definition of infinity, you are the universe. Nothing can limit

you.

FEATURES

by Laisa Marian L. de Guzman

Who says that a healthy lifestyle is all about veggies on plates and water in glasses? As more consumers gradually moved toward healthy living, and started to demand on healthier food and drink substitutes, “milk tea” and “buko shake” came into popularity. Few days passed, it then started to be the latest craze in town! Milk tea is known for its developed silky taste and enjoyable chewy texture of the sweetened pearl or nata added. Sipping it is such an enjoyable moment of refreshment. It also has a wide range of health benefits for it is a good source of nutrients and antioxidants. The buko shakes on the other hand are buko meat, water, evaporated milk, syrup and ice blended together. It’s your basic childhood buko ice candy in shake form! You just can’t resist falling in love with it, the ice is fine, the milk is creamy but doesn’t overpower the natural buko taste, and it’s not too sweet, just perfect for the taste buds. What’s not to like? And though it’s only a blended drink, it gives a great contribution to one’s health. We know that buko may help prevent UTI, boost energy and endurance, improve digestion and absorption of fat and many more!

The Researcher

Obviously, these drinks are sought after for their yummy but healthy composition. Back then, when drink mixes came to existence, they became talk of the town. It’s like a trending topic on Twitter, or a very popular video on YouTube. However, majority of them are short lived, very few of them lasted. The popularity of these drink mixes is now losing due to the decision of many consumers on taking healthier drink substitutes such as milk teas and buko shakes. The boom of milk tea and buko shake business even stirred Pinoy businessmen’ creativity in entrepreneurship as they tried sorts of catchy names for their products. Milk tea stalls are named Serenitea, Simplicitea and Heavenly Tea. Meanwhile, buko shake stalls bear names like Buko Express and Buko ni Juan. In few years’ time, if the Filipinos continue their creativity in the business industry, we can soon see carrots masquerading as crisps and fruits disguised as fries that all taste like the original. By that time, people would be devouring these foods for there would be no more worries on their health effects.

January - May 2013

NEWS

Daughter of Batch ‘80 salutatorian tops Batch ‘13 by Via Shane R. Santiago

3 faculty members get advanced robotics training by Joey Pepe R. Eligado Three faculty members of the University Science High School underwent a four-day advanced robotics training, Apr. 15 – 18. Belinda A. Martin, Marius Engelbert Geoffrey C. Castillo and Lexter R. Natividad who will use robotics in their respective subjects attended the training. The initiative is part of the school’s long term plan to upgrade its robotics program. Deodilyn Villanueva, a registered trainer on advanced robotics from Genetic Computer Institute and Innovative Experiment (INEX), served as the trainer. “The school plans to procure more units of robots when budget permits us,” explained Martin, school coordinator of the robotics program.

January - May 2013

MOMENTS WITH MOMS. Mrs. Zenaida B. Escudero emotionally hugs her son, Malagant, after receiving a white rose during the Thanksgiving and Worship Service at the University Auditorium. (Inset) Rolando II R. Venturina wipes his tears after giving his mom a hug.

5 faculty finish master’s degrees by Dan Angelo S. Eligado

Five faculty members of the University Science High School finished their respective master’s degrees this school year.

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Asst. Prof. Evelyn M. Ben finished her Master of Arts in Education – Science on Mar. 28 while Asst. Prof. Julie C. Domingo finished her Master of Arts in Education – Filipino on May 30 at the College of Immaculate Conception – Cabanatuan City. Lexter R. Natividad finished his Master in Chemistry on April 11 at Central Luzon State University. Emil F. Ubaldo finished his Master of Arts in English – Applied Linguistics on Apr. 4 while Jordan F. Gundran finished his Master of Arts in Teaching Mathematics on Jun. 14 at the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology. “If our faculty members have strong academic background, we can continue to produce quality graduates. Being equipped in their respective areas of discipline means stronger foundation; hence, stronger instruction,” said Dr. Remedios Z. Panuyas, school principal. With the graduation of the five faculty members, the number of faculty members with master’s degrees at the University Science High School doubled to 10. This statistics excludes one faculty member with PhD and two faculty members who are currently pursuing their respective PhD’s at the University of Sto. Tomas and Philippine Normal University. Meanwhile, four faculty members are still pursuing their respective master’s degrees.

If our faculty members have strong academic background, we can continue to produce quality graduates. Being equipped in their respective areas of discipline means stronger foundation; hence, stronger instruction.

“

Their family has been lined up with academic achievements and it has not ceased up to the latest generation. Hannah Niña G. Vera Cruz, daughter of USHS Class1980 Salutatorian Dr. Emmanuel M. Vera Cruz, graduated as this year’s valedictorian leading 54 graduates during the 35th Annual Recognition, Promotion and Commencement Exercises at the University Auditorium, Apr. 4. Vera Cruz received the University Gold Medal, St. Louis University Gold Medal, Insular Foundation Academic Excellence Gold Medal, Manny Villar Academic Excellence Gold Medal and Mercury Gold Medal for Excellence in Science. “We should not be afraid to take the risk. And with that, we must not give up easily. We must have the will to achieve our goals; even it takes a lot of sacrifices and hardships. Taking that chance, facing that challenge just might be the key to your success,” she said in her speech. Vera Cruz was a two-time Brightest Student of their batch and recipients of numerous subject proficiency awards annually. Meanwhile, Class Salutatorian Jamielyn S. Galleno received University Leadership Award, Gerry Roxas Leadership Award, and Best Thesis Award. Galleno shared her Best Thesis Award with Gabrielli M. Palomares, first honorable mention, and Jemmica Charisse G. Sy which came with a cash prize of P1,000 for each student researcher courtesy of CLSU Research Office. Palomares also received Mercury Gold Medal for Excellence in Mathematics as the Mathematics Awardee. Nomer Ivan Jethro A. Gaboy, editor-in-chief of The Researcher and a three-time division champion in Feature Writing, received the Campus Journalism Award which came with a P5,000 cash award from former editor, Dr. Romulo A. Aromin. Other graduates who received special recognitions were: Alecxander S. Ibrado – Cadet of the Year Award and Niña Alyssa M. Barroga – Cultural Award. Atty. Michael G. Munsayac, first honorable mention of USHS Class 1994, served as the guest of honor and commencement speaker.

The Researcher 33

NEWS

CVSM dean opens SciFair 2013 by Jamielyn S. Galleno

Dr. Romeo S. Gundran, dean of the College of Veterinary Science and Medicine and 2011 Outstanding Veterinarian in Education, led the opening ceremonies of the USHS Science Fair and Exhibits as the guest speaker, Feb. 19-22.

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You are here at USHS because this is an excellent school at par with secondary science institutions in the Asia-Pacific Region. USHS expects you to excel. Our God expects excellence in your studies

“You are here at USHS because this is an excellent school at par with secondary science institutions in the Asia-Pacific Region. USHS expects you to excel. Our God expects excellence in your studies,” advised Gundran in his speech before the USHS community as he encouraged them to strive for excellence. After the opening ceremonies, he led the cutting of the ribbon to mark the opening of the four-day event that includes exhibits in sciences, mathematics, arts, social sciences and languages. The top researches and projects in this year’s Science Fair were: Determining the growth enhancing capabilities of eggshells on the plant Mongo (Vigna radiata L.) by Nicolas Czar B. Antonio, Oen Elizer R. Bajit and Vince N. Busania (Grade 7); Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Guava against Trichodina sp of Nile Tilapia fingerlings by Ervee P. Landingin and Michelle Vennette C. Dy (Second Year); Effects of Different Systemic Insecticides in Tomato Plant (Lycopersicon esculentum) by Maria Karysa G. Calang and Denise Ann D. Fermin (Third Year); Eco-friendly Plastic Recycler by Virgil S. Abelardo, Daniel J. Domingo and Knoreen Klarence L. Nava; and

Touch me not! Blaise Kent L. Calpito, 7-Adventurers tries a game during the USHS Annual Science Fair while Christian Allan S. Santos looks on.

USHS FILE PHOTO

Gonads of Select Farm Animals as Agent in Sex Reversal Process of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) by Jamielyn S. Galleno, Gabrielli M. Palomares and Jemmica Charisse G. Sy. Aside from student visitors from neighboring elementary and high schools, teachers from St. Mary’s Academy in Pasay City visited the Science Fair. The Seekers’ Science Club, the sponsor of the annual event, prepared activities for the students in coordination with other student organizations.

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Private school’s math whiz tops entrance exam; Home-schooled girl lands second

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by Via Shane R. Santiago

USHS is actually my dream school. My parents wanted me to study here because of its quality education. I didn’t aim to top the exam or be part of the Top 10, I just wanted to pass the entrance exam and be a USHS student

“ “

I believe that I have to adjust with my new school setup compared when I was still home-schooled.

The Researcher

Navarro

Macabale

A math wizard from Bettbien Montessori, a private elementary school in San Jose City, topped the 2013 USHS Entrance Examination, Jan. 26. Diana Patrice P. Navarro, a two-time Best in Math awardee in grade school, ranked first among the 398 elementary pupils who took this year’s exam.

“USHS is actually my dream school. My parents wanted me to study here because of its quality education. I didn’t aim to top the exam or be part of the Top 10, I just wanted to pass the entrance exam and be a USHS student,” said the 12-year old Navarro. Meanwhile, Ma. Laura Nerisa M. Macabale, a homeschooled girl under the Catholic Filipino Academy (Home School Provider), placed second. “I did not expect that I will land in the top achievers but it was mine and my parents’ dream. I believe that I have to adjust with my new school setup compared when I was still home-schooled where I don’t need to get up early in the morning, take a shower, wear uniform and bring a bag that regular students do,” explained Macabale. Other examinees who made it to the top ten were: Ma. Joanna Katrina G. De Guzman, Caryl Beatrice A. Peneyra, Jean Arriane C. Medina, Katrina C. Santos, Mary Madeline Ann M. Tecson, Reina Jeanine M. Daniel, Norielle Gearem G. Garcia, and Chantalle Ailza Mae V. Carpio. Aside from the qualified applicants in different cities and municipalities in Nueva Ecija, there were also qualified applicants from the cities of Caloocan and Taguig and the provinces of Iloilo and Batangas.

January - May 2013

NEWS

Drive on plastic usage reduction caps USHS Environment Day by Ma. Angelyka C. Romano

Prov’l admin represents Gov. Umali in MPG turn-over, blessing Atty. Alejandro R. Abesamis, provincial administrator of Nueva Ecija, led the turn-over ceremony and blessing of the USHS multi-purpose gym as the representative of Hon. Gov. Aurelio M. Umali, Feb. 28.

of the inverted U-shaped structure. Dr. Ruben C. Sevilleja, University President, officially received the project on behalf of the university. The MPG is expected to cater the school’s need for a covered venue of Rev. Fr. Narciso V. Abellana, MSC, numerous school activities. CLSU chaplain, officiated the blessing

7th graders, sophomores rule div’n oral math The tandems of Grade 7 students and Sophomores ruled the Division Metrobank MTAP – DepEd Math Challenge (Team Orals) held at Muñoz Central Elementary School, Feb. 9. Jose Antonio R. Gamboa and Jomari C. Fernando from Grade 7 and Gabrielle Enid C. Velasco and Moises Eleazar E. Ubungin from second year bested other participating schools and were declared champions. Alvin Neil Gio Dumaguit and Chris-

tian Dean S. Gabriel placed second in third year level. Meanwhile, USHS failed to advance in the regionals as seniors Gabrielli M. Palomares and Jan Andrei B. Almazan landed second. Jordan F. Gundran, Lexter R. Natividad, and Joanne S. Dizon served as their coaches. “Next year, we will train hard and make sure that we will make it to the regional level,” said Natividad.

USHS reigns in Zonal Chem Congress from page 11 Other student winners were: Jamielyn S. Galleno, 3rd place in Essay Writing; Nomer Ivan Jethro A. Gaboy, 3rd place in Enviro-photo and Marilea Tricia F. Bulanadi, 3rd place in Slogan Making. Meanwhile, the quiz bee team of Norman David P. Medina, Ian Carlo V. LaJanuary - May 2013

zaro, Christian Roden S. David, Paola B. Policarpio and Ma. Angelyka C. Romano landed sixth. Lexter R. Natividad, Marius Engelbert Geoffrey C. Castillo and Emil F. Ubaldo served as the coaches of the students.

The campaign on plastic usage reduction highlighted the celebration of USHS Environment Day, March 19. Students put up exhibits to showcase their outputs in English, Arts, Chemistry and Social Science classes where the lessons on reducing plastic usage were incorporated. Grade 7 students participated in the enviro-photo contest organized by the Seekers’ Science Club and the Student Body Organization. Meanwhile, sophomore and junior students competed in the t-shirt design contest while the seniors competed in poster making contest respectively. “Our campaign poster printed on the shirt tells everyone that we can reduce plastic usage in a simple way. By bringing our own food container or lunch box we can do our share to save Mother Earth from plastic wastes,” explained Hannah R. Hicban, a member of the sophomore group who placed first in the t-shirt design competition (photo in left). As part of the global awareness on environmental issues, Signos, the first full-length Philippine documentary on climate change, was screened during the event together with the documentary interview made by the seniors on plastic usage around the campus. The event is the culminating activity of incorporating the program “Plastic Usage Reduction: A School Campaign” to the school curriculum jointly implemented by CLSU College of Education and University Science High School. Other secondary schools in Indonesia and Malaysia have also implemented the same program as part of the Telecollaboration Workshop on Reorienting Teacher Education towards Education for All and Education for Sustainable Development sponsored by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Bangkok, Thailand last November where three professors from CLSU College of Education represented the Philippines.

USHS Filipino teacher serves as Grade 8 reg’l trainer by Ma. Angelyka C. Romano

A faculty member from the University Science High School served as trainer in the Regional Mass Training on the Implementation of Grade 8 of the K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum at CLSU College of Education, May 6-10.

Michael C. Delos Santos, Filipino instructor at USHS, became the speaker in Filipino during the fiveday training which aimed to prepare the incoming Grade 8 teachers from Gapan City, Cabanatuan City, San Jose City, and Science City of Muñoz. Delos Santos also served as trainer for Grade 7 Filipino teachers last year. He was joined by three other trainers from CLSU Laboratory High School – Palusapis and two education program supervisors in Filipino. The Researcher 35

SPORTS THE AFICIONADO Virgil S. Abelardo

Fighting Spirit

f you’re a kid whose hobby is surfing the world’s most famous video sharing site, YouTube, then you might have encountered a lot of viral videos that had entertained various people. And this one, does not count for entertainment, but it sure is one hell of a sight.

The Researcher

his teammates. Coach Pitino urgently called his grief-stricken players over to Ware. As they closed in around him, the coach placed a hand on Ware's right arm. Peyton Siva held Ware's right hand. Wayne Blackshear held his left. Ware looked up at his teammates and said it five more times. "Just win the game. I'm okay. Just win the game." The team did win the game. But their heads weren’t bent to win. They were bent to Ware’s condition. They didn't just do it for Kevin. They did it because of Kevin. This isn’t the first time that such an injury had happened. Many other injuries were reported before, especially in the field events, which are more gruesome than this incident. But apparently, this injury is very unusual in the field of basketball, since the most recorded body part injuries in basketball are fingers, followed by ankles. It’s not a common injury we see in the sports setting at all. These injuries are usually from car accidents or traumatic falls from very significant heights, where there is enough force for the bone to shatter and come through the skin. Despite the bizarre fracture, Ware’s two-hour surgery went smoothly and ready to join his team in Atlanta for the Final Four. His bone was set, the wound was closed, and a rod was inserted in his right tibia,

“

It was only the first quarter, down with 6:40 on the clock, with Louisville leading the score at 21 against Duke at 17. It was the NCAA Midwest Regional final. Guard Kevin Ware rushed out at an attempt to block a three-point shot by Duke's Tyler Thornton. It was a successful basket. And as Thornton backed up to their court with his game face on, he suddenly turned around with an anguishing scream from a rather gruesome laceration that made everybody else in the Lucas Oil Stadium feels the pain as their own knees bend to the crunch. The injury startled players and fans on both teams, some to tears, as emergency medical personnel Fred Hina quickly moved to cover the compound fracture with towels. Kevin Ware lay on the hardwood with his right leg mangled. Ware landed awkwardly and gruesomely broke his right tibia, with the bone protruding far through the skin – an awful site to behold by Ware as the crowd saw his leg break like a toothpick. On the court were Blackshear, Behanan, and Smith who cried a painful screech as they couldn’t stand the sight of a bone sticking out. The players in the nearby bench all freaked out, and the coaches were grappling their hair in pain and wiping their faces from tears Luke Hancock was the only Cardinals player who could bear to be near the awful sight in front of the team's bench, coming to the side of his fallen teammate. Despite the fracture, Ware did the most remarkable thing, as he courageously, selflessly thought of

Despite the fracture, Ware did the most remarkable thing, as he courageously, selflessly thought of his teammates.

where it will remain to stabilize the bone during healing. Ware continued to stay positive despite his injury, even urging his teammates to “win the game, win the game,” which they did, 85-63.

The Researcher wishes to thank two of our alumni, former editors Justine Hiro D. Barot and Martinne Cielo B. Elesango, for their assistance in this issue.

January - May 2013

SWIMMING CHAMP. Leandroff Jose DC. Villanueva competes in the 50-meter butterfly swimming on his way to winning the gold at the Nueva Ecija Sports Complex, Palayan City. FACEBOOK.COM

Villanueva wins 6 golds in swimming; by Virgil S. Abelardo

Though he failed to bring a gold USHS swimmer Leandroff Jose DC. Villanueva brought home six gold medal, he finished sixth in 100-meter medals during the Division Athletic freestyle in the five-day CLRAA Meet. “Nahirapan ako kasi malalaki yungMeet at the Nueva Ecija Sports Commga kalaban ko. Tsaka bata pa lang ako, plex, Palayan City. Villanueva topped the 50-meter back stroke, 50-meter butterfly, 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle, 100 meter backstroke and 4 x 50 individual medley during the one day competition, Jan. 11. His performance in the Division Meet qualified him to play in the Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association (CLRAA) Meet in Tarlac City, March 17-21.

second year pa lang, sila seniors na ata. Hindi ko kinaya,” explained Villanueva. Meanwhile, Ariel Christian G. Mactal finished second in 400-meter freestyle but was later declared champion after the organizers disqualified the winner due to a technical error. Mactal also landed third in both 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke.

PULL IT HARDER. Alecxander S. Ibrado leads the seniors in their victory in tug-of-war during the 2013 Sports Fest. As expected, the seniors brought home the overall championship trophy. NOMER IVAN JETHRO A. GABOY January - May 2013

Swimming FACTS Compiled by Virgil S. Abelardo

Swimmers actually shave to remove the thin layer of dead skin cells on the surface of the epidermis. After the removal of a thin portion of the epidermis, the skin becomes more sensitive and the swimmer then has a heightened “water sense”. Some professional swimmers are known to shave their hands and feet. Shaving the body hairs also makes the swimmer more aerodynamic while in the water, however, shaving the hairs is not the real reason why they shave. In butterfly stroke and breaststroke, swimmers need to touch the pool with both hands simultaneously when they finish. Swimmers touch the pool with only one hand when they finish in freestyle and backstroke swimming events. Swimming offers something no other aerobic exercise does: the ability to work your body without harsh impact to your skeletal system. When the human body is submerged in water, it automatically becomes lighter. When immersed to the waist, your body bears just 50 percent of its weight; dunk yourself to the chest and that number reduces to around 25 to 35 percent; with water all the way to the neck, you only have to bear 10 percent of your own weight. The other 90 percent is handled by the pool. The Researcher 37

aircons

USHS students are now enjoying comfortable classrooms with the installation of 18 aircon units.

321

attendees Grub Street 2012 drew the biggest number of participants to date at 321. Further, on-air radio broadcasting contest had its debut this year.

teachers

Five faculty members finished their master’s degrees this school year.

robotics kits

The school bought four robotics units to jumpstart the school’s robotics program.

nat’l quizzers

computers

Three brand new computer units were added in the Computer Laboratory.

Three USHS students won in the Quest for Academic League Leader (QALL), a three-day quiz bee for junior high school students sponsored by UP ALCHEMES during Research Fair 2013.

2012 -

in numbers 2 28

NSPC qualifiers

Via Shane R. Santiago and Jomari C. Fernando won in the Regional Schools Press Conference and eventually represented Region III in the National Schools Press Conference in Ormoc City, Leyte.

campus journalists USHS campus journalists dominated the Division Schools Press Conference when all the 28 students won and advanced to the RSPC. In its maiden year of joining the broadcasting (as a separate event), USHS teams in both categories won champion and swept majority of the special awards.

The Researcher

Four student researches shone in different research competitions:

“A Novel Formula in Solving Tribonaccilike Sequence” by Paola B. Policarpio won in the National Science and Technology Fair and UP ALCHEMES’ Research Fair 2013. It was also Region III’s champion in the Regional Science and Technology Fair; “Toxicity and Teratogenic Effect of Auricularia polytricha White Strain Extracts on Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Developing Embryos” by Christian Roden S. David placed fourth in UP ALCHEMES’ Research Fair 2013, first runner up in both the Zonal Chemistry Congress and Regional Science and Technology Fair; “Behavioral and Physiological Changes of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) at Different Stocking Densities as Indicators of Imminent Fish Kills” by Niña Alyssa M. Barroga, Demi Rose S. Santos and Hannah Niña G. Vera Cruz won champion in Zonal Chemistry Congress; and “Gonads of Select Farm Animals as Agent in Sex Reversal Process of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.)” by Jamielyn S. Galleno, Gabrielli M. Palomares and Jemmica Charisse G. Sy placed third in the Zonal Chemistry Congress.

multi-purpose gym

The University Science High School finally has its own multi-purpose gymnasium courtesy of Hon. Gov. Aurelio M. Umali thru the effort of CLSUSHS-PTA and faculty members. It was inaugurated February 28, 2013.

student researches

winnings Out of twenty-two events participated by USHS students in this year alone, they reaped eighty awards for their alma mater in different university-wide, division, zonal, regional and national level competitions.

January - May 2013

Vision The University Science High School aims to be at par with secondary science institutions in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mission To develop students who are highly competitive in Math, Science and Technology, and Communication (Asia-Pacific region).

University Science High School, Central Luzon State University Science City of Mu単oz, Nueva Ecija, Philippines 3120 ushs@clsu.edu.ph | +63 44 456 0927