The researcher first issue, sy 2015 2016 by emil ubaldo

AUGUST - December 2015 5 sections / 20 pages / Volume XXXV / No. 1 NEWS Grub Street 2015 makes OPINION Beckoning opportunity

official regional debut

From motivation to demotivation

FEATURES

11 13

The metamorphosis of the staple

SCIENCE

16 17

RP’s rising potential: Benham Rise

Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

The quest for redder tilapia Sun-tastic!

ISSN: 2362 - 9282

School Year opens in August Class vacation moved to June, July

by FRANCO ANDREI PINEDA & JEAN ARRIANE C. MEDINA

The USHS students spent their longest ever summer break from school as the opening of classes was moved from June to August starting this school year. The August class opening at USHS is in congruence with the CLSU’s academic calendar shift. “The synchronization of the USHS academic calendar to the collegiate calendar is more advantageous to our students. Actually, majority of our graduates

enroll in universities with August opening,” explained Asst. Prof. Aileen G. De Guzman, school registrar. With the adjustment of the class opening, beginning this school year, students will spend their school break in June and July.

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL - STEM READY. Dorothy Kathleen F. Gundran, a grade 10 student, prepares her fluke specimen for her study on developing a LAMP kit to identify fluke infection in cattle at the Molecular Biology Laboratory of the CLSU College of Veterinary Science and Medicine. LEO BERT A . ORPILLA

CLSU to offer Senior High Board of Regents OKs STEM for USHS The search is over

VPAA Abella is new CLSU prexy

by LAISA MARIAN L. DE GUZMAN

IN THE KNOW Five CHED Centers of Excellence (COE) programs at CLSU are STEM-related. These are Biology, Agriculture, Fisheries, Agricultural Engineering and Veterinary Medicine. CLSU’s Chemistry program is a CHED Center of Development. The other COE is the Teacher Education which is related to HUMSS.

The Board of Regents of the Central Luzon State University approved the offering of the Senior High School at the University Science High School come SY 2016-2017 in its 203rd Regular Meeting, Oct. 23. As a science high school, the USHS will offer Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Strand under the Academic Track to its Grade 10 completers only. The Agricultural Science

and Technology School, another laboratory high school of the university under the College of Education, was also granted permission to offer Agri-Fishery and Home Technology Strands under the Technical Voca-

USHS PTA finances Gearing up for Senior High renovation of toilets Grade 10 attend Senior HS career guidance ‘exclusive for poop’ by PHIL JUSTIN A. PANGILINAN by NIA N. MANLULU & ZIA AMIRAH N. LISONDRA Students will be getting a late holiday present from the school and the PTA this year: new toilets. A toilet is, at the most basic, a hole in the ground, and at the most complex, a technological nightmare that burns your bum and sprays ice-cold water on your hindquarters. There are many forms of toilets: squat toilets, the regular porcelain thrones, and the toilet fully equipped with games to play while excreting, seat warmers, and temperature control for the jet of water sprayed directly on your anus.

turn to page 5 Yey! Hindi na ako makikigamit sa faculty room!

GALLERY OF ASPIRATION. The grade 10 students displayed their outputs in activities during their senior high school career guidance seminar. LEO BERT A . ORPILLA

Quizzers bag grand slam in reg’l chemistry quiz

by FRANCO ANDREI PINEDA

The team of Jomari C. Fernando, Brena Lynne F. Victoria and Alyssa G. Fetalcorin triumphed over the representatives from Olongapo National High School and Is-

To guide students in choosing their Senior High School track, the 10th graders attended the local three-day SHS career guidance seminar, Oct. 28-30. Asst. Prof. Aileen G. De Guzman, the school registrar, and Mr. Marlon V. Nolong, IV-Innovators adviser, spearheaded the event which covered introduction of the turn to page 5

2 students ace div’n sci quiz by ALODIA ANNE T. BADUA

abela Fatima University The Regional Chemistry Quiz Bee is sponsored by the Philippine Association for Chemistry Teachers, Inc. Re-

Two students won champion in the 2015 Division Science Quiz Bee held at Muñoz National High School- Main, Nov. 24. Students Nia N. Manlulu (8-Inventors) and Jomari C. Fernando (10-Achievers) topped their competitors in

turn to page 5

The University Science High School made a grand slam win in the Regional Chemistry Quiz Bee at Bataan Peninsula State University, Balanga City, Bataan, Oct. 15-17.

2016 USHS Entrance Examination for Incoming Grade 7

by LAISA MARIAN L. DE GUZMAN

tional Track (Tech-Voc) to its Grade 10 completers. Both USHS and ASTS programs are part of CLSU’s SHS offering. As of press time, the Commission on Higher Education has endorsed CLSU’s application for STEM, Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) and Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM) strands to the Department of Educaturn to page 5

TAKING OFFICE. Dr. Tereso A. Abella delivers his first message as the new president of the university. Photo courtesy: clsu.edu.ph

After nearly ten months of search for the next CLSU president, it is now over. Dr. Tereso A. Abella, the former Vice President for Academic Affairs, won majority votes of the CLSU Board of Regents to succeed Dr. Ruben C. Sevilleja who ended his term on April 30. Right after election, Dr. Abella took his oath of office before Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan of the Commission on Higher Education on Dec. 18. He is the fourth child of the late Dr. Pedro A. Abella who retired as CLSU president in 1987. Dr. Raul D. Divina, Vice President for Administration, served as the university’s officer-in-charge until the new president was elected.

Research org names USHS faculty ‘Filipino Researcher of the Year’ by ALODIA ANNE T. BADUA

The Philippine Association of Institutions for Research, Inc. (PAIR) named Mr. Lexter R. Nativad, USHS research instructor as Outstanding Filipino Researcher, Oct. 2730. Natividad received his award during the PAIR’s 2nd International Conference on Multidisplinary Research held in Cebu City. Aside from this award, he also won the Best Oral Research Presenter in Science, Health and Technology Strand and the Best in PowerPoint Presentation during turn to page 5

MORE LAURELS. Mr. Lexter R. Natividad receives his award as Outstanding Filipino Researcher given by the Philippine Association of Institutions for Research, Inc. (PAIR).

March 19, 2016 (Saturday)

Application forms are available at the Office of the Registrar, Room No. 9, University Science High School. Central Luzon State University, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija

Deadline of Filing: March 18, 2016

Photo courtesy: PAIR

ushs@clsu.edu.ph | +63 44 456 0927

THE RESEARCHER

CAMPUS UPDATES August - December 2015

As typhoon Lando batters N. Ecija

Century-old acacia tree hits covered walkway PTA to finance repair

by MA. DANICKA C. ROMANO & FRANCO ANDREI PINEDA

A part of the 50-meter walkway connecting the new canteen building to the Grade 9 wing of the USHS main building was hit by an uprooted century-old acacia tree after Super Typhoon Lando (International Name: Koppu) battered Nueva Ecija in October. In the damage report given by the Parent-Teachers Association (PTA), the middle section of the walkway collapsed after being directly hit by the tree trunk. In an official statement, the USHS-PTA said that the organization will shoulder the expenses for the repair of the walkway, including its labor costs. The said covered walk was just built last year.

by VES EVA REVLINE A. DILLA

The super typhoon also wrecked the old canteen, which caused minor damage in the roofing of Tambayan 1 and uprooted trees around the university campus. According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, much damage have been caused by Lando in Nueva Ecija because it moved at a slow pace with an average of 7 to 8 kph speed in the first two days of its stay in the country. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that the total damage of the typhoon in Nueva Ecija reached more than P3.7 billion both in agriculture and infrastructure.

After watching the West PH sea docu

9 graders support gov’t arbitration case th

by LEO BERT A. ORPILLA

The Scarborough Shoal marked as Panacot in Murillo map. photo courtesy: philstar.com

map drawn by Fr. Pedro Murillo in 1734. Under international laws, the shoal is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, the coastal water and sea bed around a country’s shore in which the state has the exclusive rights to explore its natural resources. Japan and Vietnam, which both have territorial rows with China, backed up the Philippine’s legal move against China. Although China did not participate in the proceedings, the tribunal gave it until Jan. 1, 2016 to comment on the Philippines’ arguments. The Permanent Court of Arbitration is set to issue a ruling on the arbitration case between the Philippines and China by 2016.

New guidance coordinator serves USHS by JEAN ARRIANE C. MEDINA & ZIA AMIRAH N. LISONDRA

A new guidance coordinator started serving the University Science High School in October. Ms. Ferlyn F. Reyes, a full time instructor at the Agricultural Science and Technology School (ASTS), divides her services schedule between USHS and ASTS. Reyes said she aims to change the students’ prejudice against guidance professionals who are perceived as strict and displinarian. “I want the students to feel that they have a friend who is easy to approach,” Reyes

REYES added. As she serves the two laboratory schools, she is

The Homeroom PTA of 7-Adventurers and 8-Researchers donated each section with 55-inch television sets. The television sets replaced the old LCD projectors of the two sections. “Ito ay makatutulong para mas mamotivate lalo ang mga estudyante sa pag-aaral at ma-enjoy nila ito,” said Prof. Evelyn M. Ben, adviser of 7-Adventurers. Another section is set also to replace its projector with TV set. “Napag-usapan namin noong meeting ng parents na TV nalang ang bilhin imbes na palitan ng bago ang kanilang lumang projector,” said Ms. Emily A. Concepcion, 8-Researchers adviser.

RUINS. Typhoon Lando uprooted the century-old acacia tree adjacent to the covered walkway and fell directly to the structure’s middle part. EMIL F. UBALDO

SPECIAL REPORT

After watching the documentary on the West Philippine Sea, the 9th graders expressed their support to the arbitration case filed by the Philippines to the UN Tribunal to defend its right to the Scarborough Shoal, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc. “I fully support the step of our government to peacefully settle the territorial row with China to the United Nations,” Louise Guinevere B. Hidalgo, from 9- Discoverers, said. The documentary, “Kalayaan: Pamanang Karagatan”, is part of the nationwide Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to increase the level of public awareness and understanding of the issues relating to the West Philippine Sea. “We really need to peacefully settle our claim to Bajo de Masinloc. Our fisherfolks in Zambales already suffer from this dispute as big vessels of the Chinese Coast Guard prevent them from fishing in the area,” Alodia Anne T. Badua ,9-Discoverers, said. On Oct. 30, the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea based in Hague, Netherlands, assumed jurisdiction to hear the territorial claims filed by the Philippines against China over disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea. “The documentary really enlightened me that Bajo de Masinloc rightfully belongs to the Philippines based on historical records and international laws,” added Badua. The Scarborough Shoal appeared as part of the Philippine territory in a rare

HPTA donate 55-in TV sets to Adve, Rese

available for consultation every morning during Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at USHS. Reyes finished Bachelor of Secondary Education - Major in Guidance and Counseling and Master of Science in Guidance and Counseling at CLSU. “Natutuwa ako kasi may dagdag serbisyo para sa mga estudyante. Having a guidance coordinator means that we are providing more services to our students,” said Dr. Remedios Z. Panuyas, school principal.

2 faculty members hurdle licensure exam for teachers

DepEd revises grading system

by ALODIA ANNE T. BADUA

Say goodbye to KPUP!

Two faculty members of the University Science High School passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) given on Sept. 27. Mr. Lexter R. Natividad and Mr. Marlon V. Nolong joined the 34,010 passers out of 81,463 takers in the secondary level. Natividad finished BS Chemistry while Nolong finished AB Social Sciences. Both faculty took 18 units of professional education subjects before being allowed to take the exam. Furthermore, after submitting his credentials to CLSU’s Expanded Tertiary Education and Equivalency Accreditation Program (ETEEAP), Natividad earned his degree, Bachelor of Secondary Education - Major in Physical Sciences.

KPUP out after 3 years of implementation by FRANCO ANDREI PINEDA

After three school years of having a standardized grading system for the K-12 curriculum, the Department of Education (DepEd) has changed the criteria for student assessment which takes it effect starting SY 2015-2016. Pursuant to DepEd order No. 8, s. 2015 titled “Policy Guidelines on Classroom Assessment for the K to 12 Basic Education Program,” the Knowledge-ProcessUnderstanding-Product grading system is to be replaced by a classroom assessment comprised of three criteria. The criteria are as follows: Written Work, Performance Tasks, and Quarterly Assessment. Each criterion contains certain percentage allot-

ments particularly 30-5020 for Language, Araling Panlipunan, and Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao subjects, 40-40-20 for Science and Math subjects, and 2060-20 for MAPEH and EPP/ TLE subjects. Another additional feature of the new grading system which was revered as controversial by some critics is the inclusion of a transmutation table in the computation of grades, where a raw score of 60 (the passing rate) is to be transmuted to a grade of 80 in the learner’s report card. Contradictory to the new grading system, a newscommentary published in Philippine tabloid, “Bandera,” cited that during turn to page 3

Appropriate chairs for left-handed students top new SBO prexy’s agenda

by FRANCO ANDREI PINEDA

The provision of appropriate chairs for left-handed students topped the agenda of the newly elected president of the Student Body Organization. In an interview with The Researcher, Maria Angela Carmela V. Marquinez said that her administration eyed to provide comfortable desks for the left-handed. “We are still in the process of having projects approved by the hierarchy, but one of the major projects we plan on is “Project Kaliwa” which aims to raise funds for procuring left-handed chairs. Others include distribution of meal cards and holding of more events such as concerts and talent shows.” In a survey conducted by the SBO, they found out that 10% of the student population

MARQUINEZ is left-handed. Moreover, the first lefthanded arm chair in the school is a customized chair made for the SBO Secretary of Finance, Trisha Marie Espera back in 2013. “As seniors, nag-eexpect kami ng mga project na matutupad through SBO na sana ay mapaganda itong

last year of stay namin sa USHS,” said Justine Mae Jacob, a grade 10 student. Included in this year’s SBO administration are: Gerome Jacinto, Vice President; Ciara Cel Andal, SecretaryGeneral; Catherine Soto, Auditor General; Trisha Marie Espera, Secretary of Finance; Luise Allaiaj Ramiscal, Secretary of Public Information; Rozemarie Grace Fernando, Secretary of Social Affairs; Blaise Kent Calpito, Secretary of Peace and Order; Laisa Marian De Guzman, Secretary of Justice; Francis Oliver Aldaba, Secretary of Education; and Kleid Pedraja, Secretary of Health. After being elected on Aug. 27, the officers took their oath before Dr. Remedios Z. Panuyas, USHS principal, on Sept. 7.

BEYOND USHS 3 Muñoz public market is one of Nueva Ecija’s best THE RESEARCHER

August - December 2015

by VES EVA REVLINE A. DILLA

The public market of the Science City of Muñoz was recognized as one of the best public markets among the 32 cities and municipalities of Nueva Ecija during the Consumer Welfare Month, Oct. 13. The city’s public market was cited as fifth cleanest and most orderly in the competition organized by the provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry. “Marami ang nabago at nadagdag sa ating palengke, tulad noong sidewalk, ‘yong unti-unting pagpapalit ng bubong, at ‘yong mga renovations na ginawa at ginagawa pa lang,” said Danilo Santiago, an employee of Science City of Muñoz’ market administration. “Namomonitor na rin namin ang buong palengke

RIGHT WEIGHT. A vendor weighing her meat products on a properly-calibrated weighing scale at the wet section of the Muñoz Public Market. franco andrei pineda

dahil sa nine CCTV cameras na nakakabit sa bawat parte nito. Sa ganitong paraan, mas naiiwasan ang mga krimen dahil makikita na noong nagmo-monitor ang bawat kilos ng mga may

THE WORLD IN BRIEF A first for Saudi Arabia

Women allowed to vote, run in election by FRANCO ANDREI PINEDA

Victory has come not only to the new women-leaders of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but for the women of the world. For the first time, Saudi women were finally allowed to vote and be elected on office in the recently held municipal elections in the country, Dec. 18. In 2011, the late King Abdullah released a decree that allowed women to vote and to hold public office in the country known for its severe conservation in regard to women’s rights. Saudi women Safinaz Abu alShamat and Jamal al-Saadi were among the first of the estimated 130,000 female registrants in the latest election in the kingdom, according to Al Jazeera. In addition, Muna Abusulayman said in the same news agency that if more women are to be elected or appointed into office, rules are surely to be amended to change legal systems which are “unfavorable” for the female population.. In the Philippines , election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, explained that it was only until the 1937 plebiscite on women’s suffrage during the first Philippine Commonwealth did the women have their rights to vote and run for public office.

KPUP out after...

from page 2 the time of Education secretary Edilberto de Jesus, transmutations were prohibited in public schools so as to have “test scores shall be recorded as raw scores, totaled at the end of each grading period and then computed as percentage.” Along with the changes in the grading system is the change of the letter-grade equivalent of the grades to be given to students. From the previous Beginning, Developing, Approaching Proficiency, Proficient, and Advanced remarks (B,D,AP,P,A), these were replaced by Did Not Meet Expectations, Fairly Satisfactory, Satisfactory, Very Satisfactory, Outstanding (DNME,FS,S,VS,O) descriptors, but under the same grading scales.

masasamang-loob,” added Santiago. The competition for the cleanest public market included the installation of timbangan ng bayan, price watch board, consumer wel-

fare desk and compliance to Fair Trade Laws for the benefit of the consumers. “Bilang tindera, nasisiyahan kami sa patuloy ngang pagbabago na ginagawa dito sa ating palengke. Bukod sa nagiginhawaan kaming mga nagtitinda, mas dumadami pa ang mga costumers,” stated Emerlinda Pebrero, a vendor of accessories and other tools. According to Jossie Santos, a vendor of clothes and dry goods, if given the chance, they would suggest to the local government of Muñoz the installation of ceiling fans and ventilation for more convenient shopping. “I-susuggest na rin namin ‘yong paglalagay ng generator sa buong palengke. Dahil nga madalas mawalan ng kuryente sa Muñoz, mas gaganda kung may generator sa halip na kandila. Makakaiwas pa kami sa posibleng sunog,” added Santos.

Biggest kesong puti showcased in 9th Gatas ng Kalabaw Fest A GIANT CHEESE. The Philippine Carabao Center displays its biggest “kesong puti” during the 9th Gatas ng Kalabaw Festival. Photo courtesy: FACEBOOK PAGE OF Muñoz LGU

The Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) presented one of the country’s biggest kesong puti (white cottage cheese) during the 9th Gatas ng Kalabaw Festival which coincided with the 15th charter anniversary of the Science City of Munoz, Dec. 9.

The 6x4 feet white cottage cheese was made from 280 liters of carabao’s milk and weighs 100 kilograms. After the program, the cheese was served with pan de sal as breakfast fare for the attendees. Other activities of the

by LAISA MARIAN L. DE GUZMAN PCC during the milk festival include milk feeding program where they gave free fresh milk and choco milk and cooking demonstration of mozzarella cheese and pastillas tart. With the vision to make Nueva Ecija as the “milk capital of the Philippines”, PCC deputy executive director Dr. Felomino V. Mamuad appealed to help improve the volume of carabao milk produced in the province. “This festival aims to showcase the importance of carabao’s milk not only to farmers but also to all of us,” said Dr. Nestor L. Alvarez, mayor of Science City of Muñoz, in his opening remarks during the program held at the city’s gymnasium. In the previous years, the milk festival was held in different municipalities of Nueva Ecija.

BSP: Old PH banknote, out by January 2016 by PHIL JUSTIN A. PANGILINAN

Starting 2016, the old Philippine banknote series will be taken out of circulation and will no longer be used in daily transactions. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced on December 29, 2014 that the old banknote series−known as the new design series of 1985 will be completely replaced with the new generation series which was introduced in 2010. Until December 31, 2015, old banknotes may still be used to pay for goods and services, but starting January 1, 2016, they will no longer be accepted. People who are still hanging on to their old bills may still exchange

them for new ones in banks and BSP offices nationwide until the end of 2016. For OFWs who have no means of exchanging old bills in other countries, online registration through the BSP website will be available from October 1 to December 31, 2015. They may still exchange the old bank notes in BSP offices and branches a year from their date of registration. In 2017, old banknotes will be completely demonetized.

In line with Section 57 of RA No. 7653 or the New Central Bank Act which authorizes the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to replace banknotes that are more than five years-old. In an interview by GMA News last December 2014, BSP deputy governor Diwa Guingundo said that the old banknotes were in use since 1985, and 29 years is too long a time to retain the same design of the bank notes. The move to replace old peso bills with New Generation Currency is part of BSP’s efforts to ensure the integrity of physical money.

PROVINCIAL ROUND UP

HIV-AIDS center rises in N. Ecija by ALODIA ANNE T. BADUA

The Department of Health launched the first-ever facility for patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the province of Nueva Ecija. Located inside the Premiere Medical Center in Cabanatuan City, the HIVAIDS center was called “Tahanan”. During the launching,

Leila Ramos, a certified DOH lecturer in HIV-AIDS awareness, spoke on the correct information on the disease and prevention tips for the infection. According to Ramos, 30 persons a day or 690 a month become infected with HIV-AIDS in the Philippines. Of this number, 52 are found to be residents of Nueva Ecija.

N. Ecija posts 8th highest income by JEAN ARRIANE C. MEDINA

The province of Nueva Ecija ranked as one of the provinces with the highest income. With a recorded income of P2.5999 billion in 2014, Nueva Ecija was listed as the eighth province in the country with the highest income. The ranking was based on the latest report released by the Commission on Audit (COA) on the ranking of local government units (LGUs) based on their income from their total operation, subsidies from national government agencies, other LGUs and funds of extraordinary items. Negros Occidental with P 3.332 billion and Bulacan with 3.256 ranked as the richest provinces.

Other provinces who made it to the list were Cebu with P2.768 billion; Cavite, P2.757 billion; Pangasinan, P2.753 billion; Rizal, P2.741 billion; Laguna, P2.687 billion; Batangas, P2.589 billion; and Quezon, P2.393 billion. Despite the high income, Nueva Ecija failed to enter the top 10 list or richest provinces based on equity. Equity is the difference between the amount of assets and liabilities of local government units according to COA. Cebu topped the list of richest province with P28.181 billion equity. In Region III, Pampanga entered the list of richest provinces at 10th place with P2.883 billion equity.

Local air carrier in Binalonan, Pangasinan starts Batanes flight by ALODIA ANNE T. BADUA

Adventure-seekers and travelers in Nueva Ecija need not to go Manila to fly to Batanes as an airline company started operating a nonstop flight to Basco on Dec. 17. Sky Pasada, a Tugueraraobased air taxi services company, offered the chartered flight to the country’s northernmost province. Ramon Guico III, mayor of Binalonan town and owner of the WCC Aviation Company, said that his company would bring Sky Pasada flights twice a week during lean moths and thrice a week during summer months. A 19-seater plan will be used for the service that would also bring supplies to the province.

Since 2008, Sky Pasada has been servicing the BinalonaTuguegarao-Basco route but this would be its first time to fly nonstop to Batanes. A round-trip fare will cost between P12,000 to P14,000. Aside from Basco flight, the airline compay also started its nonstop flight tothe coastal town of Palanan, Isabela. Passengers going to Palanan will be charged P8,000 round trip. The same company operates the Binalonan airfield which served as the headquarters of one of the country’s top aviation schools, Aeronautical and Technical College.

Due to traffic congestion

Buses avoid SM Cab, take alternate route by ALODIA ANNE T. BADUA

Due to heavy traffic at the national highway in front of the newly-opened SM City Cabanatuan, public buses passing through Cabanatuan no longer ferry the passenger directly to the mall. Coming from the North, the buses turn left at the Midway Maritime Foundation Inc., take Emilio Vergara Highway and exit at Lakewood Avenue. Mall goers can either take

a 1.3 km tricycle ride to SM Cabanatuan City from Lakewood Avenue or a 3.8 km jeepney ride from NE crossing. On the other hand, private vehicles take the same route to the mall. “Ang advantage niya is it helps lessen the traffic but the disadvantage is malayo ‘yong iikutan at hassle kasi magta-tricycle pa.” Diana P. Navarro, a grade 9 student.

THE RESEARCHER

NEWS

August - December 2015

Grub Street 2015 makes official regional debut Sets all-record high with 625 participants by FRANCO ANDREI PINEDA

WITH THE PIONEER. Campus journalists from DepEd-CLSU Elementary (Lab.) School pose for a photo with Grub Street organizers and with Dr. Generosa N. Eligio (3rd from L), the founder of USHS’ seminar-workshop on campus journalism. GRACIELLE RUTH D. BUENAVENTURA

The Researcher’s flagship campus journalism program, Grub Street, has set two records this year: embarking on a regional debut and attracting the biggest number of participants to date, Sept. 4-5. Highlighting the regional debut of the seminar-workshop was the opening of the 1st Regional Campus Journalism Quiz for High School won by the campus journalists from Munoz National High School - Main. “The consistent positive feedbacks from the participants and requests from schools in Tarlac, Bulacan, Pampanga and Pangasinan compelled us to bring Grub Street to the regional level to reach more campus journalists” explained Emil Ubaldo, convenor of Grub Street 2015. “Actually, last year we received requests for invitations from schools outside Nueva Ecija,” Ubaldo added. The regional debut also marked the highest number

of Grub Street attendees at 625 from the 32 participating schools in Nueva Ecija and Pampanga. Since Grub Street reached its 300+ mark attendance in 2012, it consistently attracted more participants in 2013 at 408 and in 2014 at 425. This year’s resource speakers include Prof. Ben Domingo, Dr. Regidor Gaboy, Mr. Glenn Agustin, Ms. Mercedes Blancas and Ms. Fely Rose Manaois. “We were really surprised with the number of participants given the short preparation due to the academic calendar shift. However, we are thankful to the staffers and faculty members who helped us to keep everything in place,” said Laisa Mar-

ian de Guzman, Grub Street chair. “Grub Street 2015 taught us many things not only in the field of journalism but also (with) values which are important for us, the campus journalists,” said Lizerie Joy Cristobal, editor-in-chief of The Wesleyanian, and sixtime Grub Street attendee. Life-sized pencil trophies were handed to the overall winners in the elementary and secondary levels a tradition which started in Grub Street 2012. It was Dr. Generosa Eligio, the pioneer and longestserving adviser of The Researcher, who started the Annual Seminar-Workshop on Campus Journalism in 1970 (of the then Plowman) which was later named as Grub Street in 2002 by Dr. Rolando Dollete, former adviser of The Researcher.

After 3 years

Lakan, Lakambini return in Buwan ng Wika

by VES EVA REVLINE A. DILLA

Aside from the traditional Filipino games, University Science High School’s celebration of Buwan ng Wika highlighted the return of Lakan at Lakambini 2015, Aug. 28. “Ang pagyakap sa kulturang Pilipino ang magandang dulot ng gawaing ito (lakan at lakambini) dahil nakikita natin sa mga kalahok ang mga sinaunang kasuotan at nabibigyangdiin ang katalasan ng isipan ng mga Pilipino,” said Mystica Jayce Pueyo, who was crowned Lakambini 2015. “Nakikita rito na kahit nasa modernong panahon na tayo, hindi pa rin natin nakalilimutan kung sino tayo at ano ang ating pinanggalingan,” added the 8th grader lass. A short program was also conducted on the day of the celebration where Julie C. Domingo, Assistant Principal of USHS, served as the guest speaker. “Tayo bilang may mga pinag-aralan o matataas ang antas ng edukasyon ay tutungo sa kaunlaran lalo na kung ating pahahalagahan ang ating sariling wika,” said

The Researcher adviser named outstanding young N. Ecijano by ALODIA ANNE T. BADUA

The Researcher adviser was hailed as this year’s one of The Outstanding Young Novo Ecijanos, August 26. Emil F. Ubaldo, The Researcher adviser, joined other four winners in the young professional category during the awarding rites at Sierra Madre Suites, Palayan City. Ubaldo was recognized for his academic excellence, leadership achievements and community services. He finished both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees with flying colors and on top of his class. Apart from his current post as the regional vice president and second-time division president of the association of school paper advisers, he became an active officer of different organizations since his college days.

UBALDO Twice named as Division Outstanding School Paper Adviser, he also became one of the Top 10 Oustanding School Paper Advisers in Region III during RSPC 2014. In The Researcher, he pioneered the publication of the magazine issue which he started in 2012 and applied for the school paper’s international standard serial number (ISSN).

It was also during his stint as adviser that Grub Street became the most attended campus journalism seminar in the province and made a regional debut. “Sir Emil has put the Grub Street to a whole new level. One can see how it has changed through the years - from inviting participants up to the awarding ceremonies. He cares so much about details even the smallest ones making Grub Street the most organized press conference we’ve attended,” said Mr. Alfred Esteban, a school paper adviser of The Graders (Elementary Department of Wesleyan University - Philippines). During his college days, he was a regional winner of The Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (2009) and CLSU College of Education’s Outstanding Student (2008).

25 CJs to advance in RSPC 2016 RB team bags fourth grandslam, collab posts back-to-back win by FRANCO ANDREI PINEDA

Twenty-five campus journalists will advance to the Regional Schools Press Confrence (RSPC) in Pampanga High School after qualifying during the Division Schools Press Conference in San Sebastian School, Oct. 8. Jomari Fernando (Science and Health Writing), Jil Czyrille Salas (Editorial Cartooning), Justine Mae Jacob (Balitang Isports) and Alodia Ann Badua (News Writing) secured the top spots in their respective categories. On the other hand, Stacey Mae Manuel (Copyreading and Headline Writing), Cerone Aquino (Kartung Editoryal), Dew Xya dela Rosa (Sports Writing) and Ves Eva

Revline Dilla (Pagsulat ng Balita) placed second in their respective categories, while Franco Andrei Pineda (Pagsulat ng Artikulong PangAgham at Pangkalusugan) and Zia Amirah Lisondra (Feature Writing) placed third. The USHS radio broadcasting team nailed its fourth consecutive win since joining the competition in 2012. After winning its debut appearance in the DSPC last year, the USHS collaborative desktop publishing team made a back-to-back championship. First-time DSPC participants, David Keith Mauyao (Pagwawasto ng Sipi at Pag-

uulo ng Balita), Shiela May Rosete (Photojournalism) and Danella Idelle Dela Cruz (Editorial Writing), placed fourth in their fields but will not advance to the RSPC. “We are grateful that majority of our participants in the DSPC will advance to the regionals this year, considering that we only had a few days’ time to practice since we were busy in our first term exams. Nonetheless, we would like to thank our mentors, Sir Emil, Lolo Ben (G. Domingo Jr.) and Sir Reggie (Dr. Regidor G. Gaboy) for lending us their time to train us for the DSPC,” said Franco Andrei Pineda, The Researcher’s editor-in-chief.

MEC observes a decade in Math Day by VES EVA REVLINE A. DILLA

FILIPINO BEAUTY AND BRAWN. 2015 Lakan at Lakambini ng Wika, Arden Melveve Castaneto (10- Innovators) and Mystica Jayce Pueyo (8- Researchers) pose for a photo with Filipino teacher Assoc. Prof. Julie C. Domingo. SHIELA MAY N. ROSETE

Prof. Domingo. Traditional games like piko, sipa, patintero, sungka,

perdigana, and sack race were held during the event.

USHS opens pro-environment org by FRANCO ANDREI PINEDA AND ALODIA ANNE T. BADUA

In compliance with a Department of Education order originally dated in 2011, the University Science High School has established an organization which aims to raise student awareness and participation on projects that address environmental

concerns. The Youth for Environment in Schools Organization (YES-O) chapter of USHS was established at the onset of SY:2015-2016 which plans to incorporate environmental projects in this year’s turn to page 5

Math Enthusiasts’ Circle (MEC) marked their 10th year anniversary during the 2015 Math Day, Nov. 16. Assoc. Prof. Engr. Eufemio R. Calang, a mathematics teacher at the College of Education, served as resource speaker during the opening program. In this year’s MECsponsored event, the organization introduced a new game dubbed as “As Many As You Can”, a quizbee/scavenger hunt vibe. According to Joanne Dizon, MEC adviser, the said game served as the replacement of two defunct events—Math Trail and MEC Minute to Win it. “Kahit hindi 10th year anniversary, gusto ko talaga may new game. Hindi pa lang sure kung hindi na maibabalik sa mga susunod na taon yung (Math) Trail at MEC Minute to Win it,” said Dizon. “Ang math day ay para

MORE CHALLENGING THAN MATH. USHS students participating at the Math and Shout contest during the 2015 Math Day, a contest that tests the student’s Math Skills under time-pressure and with distraction challenges as well. SHIELA MAY N. ROSETE

sa relaxation ng mga students. Para hindi puro stress at para rin makapag-enjoy sila,” she added. Grade 10-Achievers won overall champion in this year’s Math Day.

Other events during the Math Day include Sudoku, Math Quiz Bee, Math and Shout, and Math Jingle. Poster Making, Slogan, and essay writing contests were held on Nov. 9.

THE RESEARCHER

NEWS

August - December 2015

Study on girl’s toilet accepted for presentation in int’l confab in Bangkok by FRANCO ANDREI PINEDA

A social research conducted by a USHS student and a faculty member was accepted for presentation in an international conference in Thailand, Mar. 9-11, 2016. The paper “Toilets for Girls: Are they menstrual-hygiene friendly? The Case of a Public Secondary School in the Philippines” by Alodia Anne T. Badua and Mr. Emil F. Ubaldo was formally accepted in the 9th Annual Poverty and Social Protection Conference in Bangkok. Ubaldo received the official communication from the conference organizers.

Earlier, the said paper was presented and won second place in the 1st CLSU Gender and Development (GAD) Research Congress. According to the conference website, the event will focus on issues of poverty and its eradication, social inequality, race relations and policy management and mismanagement with an international perspective The Conference is organized by Tomorrow People Organization - internationally recognized non-profit organization with head quarters in Belgrade, Serbia.

Studies at USHS dominate 1 CLSU research congress on ‘gender and dev’t’ st

by ALODIA ANNE T. BADUA

The student researchers at the University Science High School swept four out of five awards in the 1st CLSU Gender and Development (GAD) Research Congress at the RET Amphitheater, Dec. 4. Alodia Anne Badua, Grade 9, and Mr. Emil Ubaldo, her adviser, bagged the second place in the research “Toilets for Girls in USHS: Is it Menstrual Hygiene Friendly?”.

Badua received a certificate and P4,000 cash award while Ubaldo received P1,000 cash award. Another Grade 9 student, Mary Madeline Tecson and Mr. Lexter Natividad, won third for the research on bullying at USHS. Tecson received a certificate and P3,000 cash award while Natividad received P1,000 cash award. Alyssa Fetalcorin, Grade 10, and Mr. Marlon Nolong, her adviser won

fourth while Alliah Samantha Sugue, Grade 10, and her adviser, Ms. Cynthia Lyn Curada came in fifth place. The two grade 10 students and their advisers also received certificates and cash awards. The group of collegiate students from the College of Business, Administration and Accountancy won champion for their research on the new generation bank note series.

9th graders take Nihonggo class

by LAISA MARIAN L. DE GUZMAN

Konichiwa! After taking Basic Spanish and Basic Mandarin in their previous grade level, the Grade 9 students now take a semester-course in Basic Nihonggo. This is the first time that Nihonggo is offered at USHS. After taking Basic Spanish and Basic Mandarin in their previous grade level, the Grade 9 students now take a semester-course in Basic Nihonggo. This is the first time that Nihonggo was offered at USHS. Spanish and Mandarin were introduced last year. The introduction of

QUIAZON major foreign languages in the world and the Asean region is one of the features of the USHS Junior High School curriculum where students have to take four semester-length foreign language course. Dr. Karl Marx Qui-

azon, a faculty from the College of Fisheries, handled the teaching of Basic Nihongo. Quiazon, who lived for eight years and finished his graduate schooling in Japan said that he became speechless when he was informed that he will teach Nihongo in USHS. “Learning other language is an asset in the sense that we have internationalization today but it’s their decision if they want to pursue learning other languages,” he added. In the future, USHS students will also take Asean languages such as Thai and Bahasa.

Quizzers bag...

USHS PTA finances renovation...

gion III. According to their coach, Mr. Lexter R. Natividad, their secret in winning this contest was reviewing all the possible questions they could think of to prepare for the said regional quiz competition. The trio will next compete at the Research Fair organized by UP ALCHEMES, a recognizedstudent organization at the University of the Philippines on Jan. 2021, 2016.

high-end, state-of-the-art toilets that primarily dwell in Japan. We are getting our regular, run-of-themill toilets especially set aside for moving your bowels. There is an embarrassment in defecating in public toilets. Part of the shame is in the pungent smell of fecal matter, as well as the sound made by the excrement plopping into the cold depths of the toilet bowl. Also, the ordeal of flushing the poop using a bucket and dipper is too much for some weak-willed individuals to handle. To mitigate this toilet-related mortification, Dr. Remedios Z. Panuyas, school principal, sought the help of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) headed by Engr. Bienvenido M. Daniel, president, to allot

from page 1

P30,000 from the PTA funds to finance the renovation of the new facilities where students can go to void their rectums. The project started last December 2015 and is expected to be finished in January 2016. No longer will students be subjected to abject humiliation after their bowels take a turn for the worse. Instead, they will bask in the privacy and comfort that the old public rest rooms rarely seems to offer. If the construction gets delayed, USHS students will just have to endure the torment of using the incredibly public toilets that run out of water, are very conductive to sound and smell, and are frequented by other students.

Alumni give back

Batch ‘90 sponsors Tambayan renovation by FRANCO ANDREI PINEDA

The USHS Batch 1990 sponsored the renovation of the Tambayan I which suffered minor damages in the roof during typhoon Lando. The concrete flooring were installed with tiles. Aside from tiling, the roof and benches of the tambayan were repainted. Minor damages in the roofing were also fixed. Engr. Arman Cargado and Mr. Emmanuel Floresca, both members of the class, supervised the completion of the project. The blessing of the renovated student hall was held on Dec. 30 during the 25th anniversary and reunion of Batch 1990.

Grade 7 students receive vaccine for measles by VES EVA REVLINE A. DILLA

Eighty-six grade 7 students of the University Science High School received free immunization against measles, rubella, tetanus and diphtheria, Aug. 14. The school-based program, “Bakuna para sa Kabataan, Proteksiyon sa Kinabukasan” is a free vaccination program nationwide of the Department of Health for Grades 1 and 7 to prevent the emergence of the four most common diseases among children. “Maganda yung program kasi yung mga batang hindi nabibigyan ng immunization before, syempre hindi naman lahat ay aware sa ganun, ay mababakunahan na rin ng libre,” said Asst. Prof. Evelyn M. Ben, adviser of grade 7-Adventurers. According to DOH Secretary Janette Garin, the program aims to immunize over 2.4 million Grade 1 and more than 1.6 million Grade 7 nationwide. “Sana nga sa susunod, lahat na ng grade levels para lahat ng mag-aaral ay makakaiwas sa mga ganung sakit,” added Ben.

Research org names... from page 1

the conference. Other awardees during the conference include Ava Clare Marie O. Robles of Mindanao State University- General Santos City (Outstanding Filipino Research Leader), David C. Bueno of Columban College Inc. (Outstanding Filipino Research Leader) and Rolando A. Alimen of John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University- Molo (-Research Productivity Award). To date, Natividad has six publications in international refereed journals, four of which are sole authorship.

2 Students ace... from page 1

their respective grade levels. Seven other students of the University Science High School also joined the Division Science Quiz. Manlulu and Fernando both competed in the regional level, where Fernando placed eighth.

USHS opens pro-enviro... from page 4

school calendar. “Maganda na mayroon ng organization dito sa USHS na ang concern ay ang environment kasi ang laking issue talaga nito sa kasalukuyan,” said Justine Mae A. Jacob, a member of the YES-O. Alyssa G. Fetalcorin was elected as the first president of the said organization, where Asst. Prof. Aileen G. de Guzman and Mr. Lexter R. Natividad serve as its advisers.

FACELIFT. USHS Batch 1990 sponsors the renovation of USHS Tambayan 1 which includes tiling the floor. GRACIELLE RUTH D. BUENAVENTURA

NEWS BRIEF

USHS holds fire, earthquake drill The University Science High School conducted its Annual Fire and Earthquake Drill at the USHS grounds, Aug. 14 . The activity was in coordination with the Bureau of Fire Protection Science City of Munoz Fire Station and Disaster and Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO).

PMT scrapped in Grade 10 The Preparatory Military Training (PMT) is no longer part of the USHS Junior High School curriculum. Asst.. Prof. Aileen G. De Guzman, USHS registrar, explained that the PMT is not part of the K to 12 curriculum, hence its removal from the new 10th grade curriculum of the school. In the old basic education curriculum, PMT is a component of Grade 10 MAPEH.

CLSU to offer Senior High from page 1

tion. The university’s decision to offer SHS was brought by CHED’s Memorandum Order No. 32, s. 2015 which encouraged the state universities and colleges (SUCs) to assist the Department of Education (DepEd) in catering the Grade 11 and 12 students during the transition period of the K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum. The number of slots to be offered in each program depends on the capacity of the institution, demand for the program which cannot be catered in the locality and number of average freshman enrolment in the relevant program related to the track or strand to be offered subject to DepEd’s approval. The said memo dated October 20, 2015 permitted the SUCs to accept additional students during the K to 12 transition period only

(SY 2016-2017 to 2020-2021) aside from its student population in the laboratory high school. This CHED memorandum also ammended the existing law on the current cap of 500 students in the laboratory schools to 1000 students during the transition period only. “After the transition period, both the University Science High School and the Agricultural Science and Technology School will be allowed to accomodate a total of 750 students from Grade 7 to 12,” explained Asst. Prof. Aileen G. De Guzman, USHS registrar. De Guzman also confirmed that all Grade 10 students of the USHS were registered as senior high school entrants in the Learner Information System (LIS) of the education department.

Grade 10 attend career guidance from page 1

different tracks and strands and three modules in the Career Guidance Manual. “The seminar enlightened me on the K to 12 curriculum, helped me to know myself better and gave me better idea to strengthen my decision on choosing a particular strand,” said Leo Bert A. Orpilla. According to DepEd Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, the career guidance semi-

nar aimed to assist Grade 10 students to make informed choices regarding their preferred SHS track. “We want our students to be aware of the importance of choosing a track that suits their interest while at the same time matches the available resources as well as job opportunities that await them,” Luistro added in his official statement.

THE RESEARCHER

OPINION

August - December 2015

Beckoning Opportunity

s kids, perhaps most of us view our future selves as people who would help to make the world a better place. Choosing the STEM track for senior high school is a step closer towards fulfilling this dream. As USHS students who are aware of most of the complexities of the world in the form of science and math and other innovative stuff, most of us would probably choose to become accountants, lawyers, teachers, or policemen, which require different levels of physical and mental stress. Engaging in the business and legal aspects of the academe is, indeed, very important as these are the pillars of human civilization. However, the job of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians (STEM) is to improve the quality of life, in a way that may not be tangible now, but will be in the long run, maybe for thousands or millions, even billions, of years. Although the rate is not clearly known, one thing is for sure: the number of science and engineering baccalaureate graduates is continuously dropping, and to drop even more, studies show. In USA, for instance, only 75% of high school students will graduate, 44% will enter college, 7% will earn a bachelor’s degree in science and engineering fields, 3% will enter graduate school in the same field, and less than 0.3% will earn a doctorate degree. There’s no doubt that the world is lacking in great innovators. Although this is just an estimation, the bottomline is that, the future of science and technology is near its decline if the new generation would not help mankind open new dimensions. Vetter (1987) estimated that although there are serendipitous entrants from other sectors to science, engineering, and math sector, the number is still not enough. Part of the unique USHS curriculum is its deep emphasis on science and mathematics, and also time management, which is why most alumni become successful in their areas of expertise. Throughout the four (soon to be six)-year stay at USHS, we are already geared up for college, especially in the science, engineering, and mathematics fields. To quote Max Planck, a famous scientist: “Being a scientist means that you get to hang out in highly suspicious places. Places where the rules are often not followed. Sometimes, you have to make your own rules. In other words, we live at the edge of the understanding. We do not follow others but rather blaze our own trail for others to follow.” All of us have been endowed with the ability to think. We are charged to use this ability creatively and wisely. It is thinking that connects us to a greater power, or maybe it is the great power itself and each of us may be participating in an evolution towards infinity and beauty. The quest for knowledge is still up. Taking the STEM track for senior high school makes you taste more of satisfaction of the miracles of the universe. The world is not bound to a finite and boring adventure. Opportunity is beckoning.

EDITORIAL

the

esearcher the official student publication of clsu science high school

EDITORIAL

BOARD

Editor-in-Chief Franco Andrei Pineda

Associate Editor & MANAGING EDITOR

CIRCULATIONS MANAGER Jomari C. Fernando

SECTION EDITOR

Senior Staffers

Alodia Anne T. Badua Ves Eva Revline A. Dilla Nia N. Manlulu Ma. Danicka C. Romano

Laisa Marian L. de Guzman LEO BERT A. ORPILLA

Dew Xya I. dela Rosa Zia Amirah N. Lisondra Phil Justin A. Pangilinan

Junior Staffers

Maicah Jane M. Alfonso Danella Idelle S. dela Cruz Aldgwynn Lea B. Jallorina Alessandra Joy R. Natividad Andrea Dei A. Peñaloza Gian Carlo R. Ramones Rudolph Ferdinand M. Reyes

Bryan Jasper B. Aquino, Alliyah Marie R. Hofileña Jean Arriane C. Medina Adlai I. Pedrajas Luise Allaiaj C. Ramiscal Ezra S. Regalado

Dare the Wimp Motivation to Degradation franco andrei piineda

“We only want what’s best for you.” This is the usual explanation of parents when they give that 30-minute talk about your grades and say that they want you to do more because they know your “potentials.” Yes, a little bit of parental motivation helps a lot, especially in our case here in USHS. But like everything in excess, too much of this motivation may lead to parental pressure, and trust me, my dear parents; this is not helping us do any better. In the point-of-view of parents, I can understand their rationale on making us aim for high grades. Like what my mom told me, they only want us to achieve high so that we may become successful in the future. Though I admit being stubborn (sometimes), I began being used to their tough love when it comes to pushing me to study for exams. But in the point-of-view of other students, things may become a little more complicated. In countries with high literacy

rates such as the Philippines and USA, a lot of students suffer from anxieties, depression, and a poor self-image because of not meeting their parents’ expectations with regard to their academic performance. Yes, heartbreak and rejection from love interests may seem devastating enough, but it can not be surpassed by the pain one feels when a parent seems disappointed to a child’s actions.. According to psychiatrist Jason Schiffman, ways of expression of children, which greatly affect their psychological problems, are far more undeveloped than of an adult. “While adults are typically able to identify and express when they feel anxious, children may just complain of physical symptoms or not say anything at all,” he added. But let’s get things straight. To you, my fellow student, do well in school. You are the only person who knows what your limits are. If you can, then do the things you know you can do to have good grades, and to make your parents

proud of you. It may seem hard, but it is the only thing our parents want us to be— successful individuals who can achieve things in life because of good grades in school. To our dear parents, please try to understand our plight. You may catch us surfing the net and doing things irrelevant to school work in our homes, but please trust us with this. We are doing all that we can to get good grades and to reach our own dreams so that we can make you all proud. Our only explanation is that we simply want to relax at home most of the time because we can not do it in school. We appreciate your motivations, but please, notice if we reach the point where we feel that these motivations becomes degradation in our part. At the end of the day, a harmonious connection between a parent and a child would lead them both to their personal satisfactions in a student’s good academic performance.

Vantage Point Confessions

DANELLA idelle s. dela cruz

Photojournalists

Gracielle Ruth B. Buenaventura Leo Bert A. Orpilla Shiela May N. Rosete

Cartoonists

Lloid Iris G. Alberto Dorothy Kathleen F. Gundran

Cerone L. Aquino Jil Czyrille M. Salas

publication adviser

Emil F. Ubaldo

English Critic

Mercedita M. Reyes, PhD

school principal

Remedios Z. Panuyas, PhD

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 maybe submitted 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 from the Editorial Board.

“You may write your confessions here”, that’s the first sentence you’d see the moment you view The USHS Files. But the confessions are filled with anger, and anger to chaos: chaos that turns the social media into a war zone. Students nowadays are highly active on social media. Their lives are documented on their accounts. Then confession pages of different universities start going viral, of course the students of University Science High School want to be with the trend, hence The USHS Files was born. Although the first confession page of USHS was turned down due to inappropriate use of it, somehow it found its way again. The USHS Files is now alive and looming. But then again, we’re young and

we make mistakes. And we are creating the same mistake again. We are voicing out things that cause misunderstanding; statements that create a mental battlefield. The USHS Files may not be a good idea after all. Maybe it’s not good because instead of talking and confronting each other, students post it online. But when they see each other in the corridor, everything seems normal. Maybe the so called “social media” is not a good way to socialize after all. It all started out with a confession about respect, and it turned out to be a bigger issue than anyone thought. They started giving their opinions in the comment box and even more confessions about how disrespectful the lower years are. Even the faculty members

read all the confessions, and their comments are not very good. We’re schoolmates, and that makes us a family. But where can you find family in all that? Communication and not confession is the answer to misunderstanding between and among the USHSians. We are a lot better than this. We shouldn’t take such a move as a sign of disrespect, but not brush it off as well. We could’ve just talked about it. Yes, The USHS Files is made for confessions but what good is a confession if it destroys the bond between and among the students? If this is what will happen every time a confession page is created for USHS, maybe we should stop making one.

THE RESEARCHER

OPINION

August - December 2015

INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE EDITOR

Here’s the Catch Ambivalence

Curstine Jessie Manayao

laisa marian l. de guzman

With the tension still rising between the Philippines and China against the disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea up to this day, volunteers from “Kalayaan Atin Ito” group have laid a possible solution to this: bring some 10,000 youth volunteers to Pag-asa island, the biggest island in the contested Spratlys. Youth volunteers, most of them students, have planned to reach the Pag-asa island from Palawan on November 30, 2015 and stay on the island until December 30 of the same year. It is their way to show their support upon the government’s effort in claiming disputed territories in the Spratlys island. Also, it has been their kind of peaceful protest to show China, and the whole world, that the Filipinos are united in asserting territorial rights. But if we come to think of it, the gesture might be a peaceful protest behind the rising tension between China and the Philippines, however, it is a very risky voyage since young people – students even, are

involved. One undisciplined act, and misunderstanding can cause a greater argument between the two countries. An argument that can cause even worse scenarios that we can think of. Although the group has asked the Armed Forces to assist the young volunteers during their trip, there is still no hundred percent assurance that each and everyone of the volunteers will be safe. Donations are asked even. Cash or in any kind – canned good, drinking water or help provide transportation to the volunteers. The group is actually raising a billion pesos to send these volunteers to Pag-asa island. The Kalayaan Island Mayor Eugenio Bito-noon Jr. even welcomed the activity. Also, International Maritime Law professor Jay Batongbacal said that this activity in the West Philippines Sea would benefit the Philippines as a whole. But Batongbacal explained in an interview in CNN that if China would not be careful with their actions, hostilities might take place. It

is no doubt that we people take an action about things that is taken the wrong way by the others. With this, definitely something might happen. Are we supposed to take the risk? Additionally, the activity would not stop China from continuing construction activities in the West Philippine sea, in fact, after the patrolling of the USS Lassend near China’s artificial islands, they’ve seen that construction activities had not stopped. And it seems today, that China cannot be prevented from conducting its reclamation and militarization activities. With this move by the “Kalayaan Atin Ito” group, we can either succeed or fail, there is no in between. But with what’s happening today, we can’t afford to risk our young people. Actually, we’re just putting their lives in danger. I believe that there are better plans by the government, not this. Because sadly, we live in a world where people no longer care if they are stepping on others – regardless of considerations, just to get what they want.

A-nia-lyze Missing Requirement nia n. manlulu

With the climate agreements in Paris coming to an end, the world has a chance to mitigate climate change and its effects. Agreements to lessen greenhouse gases and ozone depletion are common during this time, but in rushing to stop climate change, the negotiations failed to include some measures to lessen the harmful effects already wrought on the planet, agriculture being one of them. Agriculture has been an extensive part of human life for millennia. It is an important part of the world’s food supply, with smallscale farmers alone producing 80% of the world’s food. Agriculture is also a large chunk of people’s livelihoods, with the dependents rang-

ing from farmers to retail vendors. From the richest billionaire to the poorest child, agriculture makes up almost all of people’s daily diet. Climate change threatens to change that. Already, droughts, typhoons, and rising temperatures affect crop yields. Despite its important role in food stability and food in general, agriculture is still absent from current drafts of the climate agreement. Even if agriculture is currently absent from the agreement, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that agriculture is still part of around 100 countries’ climate action plans. FAO Deputy Director General Maria Helena Semedo’s assurance that agriculture

will crop up in next year’s climate talks is little comfort to millions of farmers whose crops have been devastated by climate change. Hunger and food insecurity is also an ongoing concern. 800 million people experience chronic hunger. Also, in some cases, countries produce enough food, but the poor do not have access to it. Climate change only worsens food security. Even though the chance of this year’s climate agreement containing agriculture is slim, we still hope that governments and world leaders consider that world’s agriculture is lacking, and that they take their own steps to improve it, even if it is not required of them.

The Smoke Signal

Pacsack Valley High School

200 Piermont Ave, Hillsdale, NJ 07642, United States

Insult or Not?

acism. It is nothing new, and something that you hear everyday. People judge you based on your nationality, religion, culture, or a specific characteristic that you have that makes you different from others. Some also believe that their race is superior to another. However, not everyone knows about microaggressions. What are microaggressions? According to Kathy Wyer in her article, “Microaggressions: What You Need to Know” from The Ampersand, these “are brief, subtle verbal or non-verbal exchanges that send denigrating messages to the recipient because of his or her group membership (such as race, gender, age or socio-economic status) ” towards a person. This is either intentional or unintentional. A simple question of “where are you from?” can sometimes have a different meaning. because of sexual orientation, your “ingroups,” a group where “we sacrifice out of love for the greater good, ” and “outgroups,” the people who are not like you. Telling whether a statement is a form of microaggression is difficult. You have to critically understand a microaggression and the message that it sends. On my first day of school, October 31st, 2014, in Pascack Valley High School, the usual happened to me when a new student comes to school; they asked where I was from, made me introduce myself, and encouraged me to tell something about myself. In my Journalism class, my teacher asked me if I could be interviewed for our class’s feature article project. I was asked to sit in the front, and answer questions my classmates would give me. “What is your favorite food?” “Have you ever had bacon?” “Have you ever had cheeseburg-

ers and pizza?” “Have you ever had apple pie?” “What language do you speak?” The questions seemed harmless, right? But when you really analyze it, there can be some meanings behind those questions. For example, I get compliments for speaking English well. It can imply that I am “not a true American,” “a perpetual foreigner” in the country, and that my race makes me different from a lot of people. I was never offended with those interrogations before, but now that I became more aware of what microaggression is, it makes me think, “Do they ask me these questions because they want to know me better or is there a hidden insult behind all of these?” To everyone that has been asked before because you are different from the people surrounding you, never assume that these questions are harmless. They can have messages carried with them that can be a form of an insult. For people who ask, remember to “think before you speak;” people might assume that you are denigrating them, even if it’s unintentional. Think of what the person will feel; will they be offended or be okay with it? Will they take this as an insult or no? Therefore, to prevent microaggressions as Kim Pratt points out in her article “Microaggression: Let's Face it, We're all Racists (on the inside),” be conscious of everything that is surrounding you and understand how people are “different” from you. Only have topics both persons are comfortable with, don’t ignore any microaggression happening around you and don’t be defensive and be aware of your privileges that you unconsciously have.

Silent Language Something new jomari c. fernando

New school year, new grading system. The Department of Education (DepEd) released its DepEd Order No.8, s.2015 last April 1, 2015, which aims to replace the existing grading system. KPUP (Knowledge, Process/Skills, Understanding, Products/Performances) system with WW-PT-QA (Written Work, Performance Tasks, and Quarterly Assessment) format. This, according to DepEd, “will be used in assessing new learners and was described to be as standard and competencybased grading system. Grades will be based on the weighted raw score of the learners’ summative assessments.” Second, 60 will be the lowest grade that a student may get, which will be transmuted to 75 in the report card, as opposed to the KPUP system, where the computed grade

of the teacher according to the individual components will be added directly and put in the report card as is. As you can see, the performance task, which is largely comprised of group activities, research projects, oral work, multimedia presentations, and such, commands a very big portion of the grade. Will it not be better if its percentage would be toned down because our cognitive skills would not be highlighted, but instead, at times it becomes how our lessons relate to everyday life, instead how we can apply what we learn to real life? However, the “performance-taskbased” education we are getting today brings to light that everything we are fed at school is related to life and will have practical use. It leads us to the conclusion that you will not regret earning credits for doing

these school-based stuffs because in one way or another, it will be needed later on. I understand that the government is not fully geared up for the implementation of the K to 12 curriculum; every passing day it becomes more of a given. Of course, we are taking baby steps to the future and it is not bad if the administrations would do some experiment to get the perfect result, the perfect conditions it has been striving to achieve. It’s the main goal of the K to 12 program, actually; to keep the Philippine education at par with those of other nations. The government would not definitely take a bitter step especially if the state is at stake. Let us first give it a shot before making a constructive opinion.

Letter to the Editor Students cutting in line have been a normal situation in our school canteen which delays the payment time of other students. Consequently, this delay lessens their time for doing other things considering the short snack time. As a concerned student, I would like to suggest that the canteen personnel should not accept payments from those students who cut in line. Instead, they should be nicely asked to line at the end of the queue. Perhaps, an acceptable reason for students to cut in line is when there is an emergency or a teacher asked them to buy food. I hope that this concern merit appropriate attention and action from the school canteen personnel and from the students.

ELIJAH gabriel r. BAQUIR 9-Examiners

THE RESEARCHER

OPINION

August - December 2015

“ Kung tatanungin ako, mas recommended kung pinaghalong business math at existing math subjects.” kleid pedraja, 7adventurers

Do you approve Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to replace the existing high school math subjects with business math should he win the presidential race?

“ I don’t approve of Duterte. Baka mahirapan lang din ang mga students na mag-adjust sa pagpapalit ng subjects.” Cerone Aquino, 7- Explorers

“I don’t agree as not all students would take business related courses in college. Other students would need the existing math subjects for other courses with higher math subjects particularly engineering and computer programming. justine kenji dela cruz, 9-discoverers

“ Ayoko. Hindi naman kasi lahat ng tao, gusto pumasok sa business. Kahit na maganda ang may business math, makakapag start ka naman ng business gamit ang current math curriculum natin.” Mystica Jayce Pueyo, 8-Researchers

“ Hindi, dahil ‘di naman kasi agad-agad kinakailangan ‘yun dahil ang business math ay pang-college. Kailangan muna ng high school ang algebra at iba pang existing math subjects as foundation subjects.” gerome jacinto, 9-examiners

“Approved. Math is most often used for business.” VILMA SALAS, parent

“Hindi ako agree kasi ang geometry at algebra ay fundamentals ng engineering courses, so kung tatanggalin yun, magsa-suffer yung mga students na kukuha ng engineering courses. I suggest, idagdag na lang ang business math [in exising math subjects] kasi makakatulong siya sa entrepreneurship.” jordan gundran, ushs math teacher

Talk to the hand TRANSGENDERS: Who are they in the world?

luisealliaj c. ramiscal

We reside in a world filled with changes. As time goes by, you can see that what was there before is now gone or what was nonexistent before is finally present. The world is resistant to all those changes---- major or minimal. However, we human beings always have hard time coping with the alterations that occur continuously. As a tendency, there are people who might not like what’s unfamiliar to their eyes and minds, people who cannot accept the change brought by the modern era that we are now living in. On October 11, 2014, a shocking news crept its way to the family of Jennifer Laude, a 26-year-old transwoman who was murdered by a 19-year-old Private First Class Scott Pemberton who had been unaware that Laude was a transgender. Pemberton has been convicted for killing Jennifer Laude due to asphyxiation by drowning. Why did Pemberton kill Laude, have you asked? Probably it is because he could not accept that he mistook a transgender for a woman. Transgenders are individuals who experience a mismatch between their assigned gender expression and their assigned sex. For instance, when a man dresses like a woman just because he wants to be a female, he is considered a transwoman. A transsexual, on the other hand, is a transgender who underwent transition permanently with medical assistance. Caitlyn Jenner, a transsexual formerly

known as Bruce Jenner, is an American television personality who is mocked by many because of being transsexual. Caitlyn received plenty of hate on the internet because of her Vanity Fair article. Of course, there are people who admired her bravery for transition but there are also people who chose to make fun of her. Sad as it may seem, but there are those who really cannot live with transsexuals or even just be civil to them. With the issue regarding Jennifer Laude’s death and also the acceptance for Caitlyn Jenner, it is quite a fact that there are people who disapprove, disrespect and despise transgenders. Yes, no matter how modern our world may now be, there are still people who cannot learn how to accept transgenders. That some of us cannot endure transgenders or at least give them respect? Are they human beings who are less than what those who are unlike them are? Who are we to criticize them as if they’ve done something so filthy like criminals? We are all people and no matter what age, race, social status, and gender we may have, all of us are still people. Each of us deserves to gain respect. It is true that we have many differences but just because someone is quite more different does not mean that he or she is less. No one will ever be less than someone else. A person, no matter what occurs, will never be more than another person.

Best Served Hot One Like, One Support

LEO BERT A. ORPILLA

Facebook pages and other media-following accounts are already in trend since then for several purposes-- to inform, educate, for business purposes, and of course to entertain, but in the past few years they even became more widespread and seemingly they got away from their authentic purposes. To be more specific, these accounts that genuinely aims to entertain seem to be catching people’s taste in laughter and pleasure by making fun and attacking other’s personalities and mistakes, and the worse case is that there’s still no particular law passed regarding these cases, it remains in limbo. Meanwhile, there are no updates yet on Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya authored bill, titled “An act of defining and penalizing the crime of cyber-bullying” otherwise known as “AntiCyber-Bullying Act of 2015” with the hope of encouraging people to become responsible netizens and making them accountable for their “cyber-actions.” “1 like, 1 punch” “Kill yourself or marry this girl?” “1 like, 1 pray for this girls’ tummy” “R.I.P. English” posts like these are sources of fun

for others, but are obviously harsh words that embarrass one’s identity and that strip one’s dignity or cause reasonable fear or physical or emotional harm. There’s nothing wrong with a girl or someone posting his or her picture, it is a sense of him/her being thankful for what he/she has, his/her temple, and that he/she embraces it, if people is annoyed or not in favor with it, it’s not the person’s mistake and that he/ she had to face these consequences of being criticized and attacked online, it is the person behind these accounts that are judgmental and cannot appreciate these things. Same goes with a person having trouble, or for some instances unaware, posting his/ her opinion with some errors in terms of language, there’s no need to make the little case of misspelling a single word or grammatically incorrect post to expounding these mistakes that embarrass him/her. People of these acts that are hiding behind names of their Facebook pages and turn to page 14

“Hindi ako ganoon ka sang-ayon kasi parang makukulangan tayo ng foundation pagdating sa iba pang [higher math] subjects. Makukulangan tayo ng concepts pagdating sa pagtuklas pa ng ibang theories or bagong technology kasi nga, puro business lang.” ULYSSES JERICO NERY, 10-Achievers

“ Hindi ako favor because business math is intended only for students taking business or entrep courses. Better stick to basic math subjects that could be used in all courses. ALONA BADUA, parent

INTERNATIONAL CONTRIBUTOR

Nicole Kate Puzon Grade 11 Student

Northview Heights Secondary School 550 Finch Ave W, Toronto, ON M2R 1N6, Canada

How’s Canada? “Kumusta Canada?” This was the question people often asked me when I first came here in Canada and I just usually answered, “Ayos lang naman. Malamig, malakas yung static electricity.” It was winter when we first came here and it’s true that every person or any metal object that I touch electrifies me but, seriously, what do I really feel about Canada? How is school? How is everything? From University Science High School (USHS), I’m now here in Northview Heights Secondary School (NHSS). This is my new school where I’m currently a grade 11 academic student aiming to graduate with honours. The subjects were easy and there weren’t much homework given. The thing is it wasn’t the studies that bothered me in school. Most of the students don’t respect their teachers and their teachers are either just really nice or they just really don’t care. Some students are lazy so they tend to sleep in class. The teacher tells the student to wake up but the student doesn’t even bother to wake up so the teacher just lets the student sleep until the end of class. I’m still not over the fact that there are no student ‘cleaners’ in school but only janitors and caretakers. Students don’t mind throwing papers and trash anywhere, vandalism in the back of tables and chewing gums under chairs

and tables. Actually, on my first day in school, I wasn’t aware that it’s okay if we don’t clean our places after the bell rang, so after all my classmates went out of the room, I started picking up the papers on the floor. The teacher approached me while I was picking up trash under the desks of tables and he said, “You don’t have to do that. It’s okay. Go home.” I followed what he said but as I was about to get out of the door, I saw him picking up the trash that I was supposed to pick up. This is, again, another example of what bothers me because isn’t it that students are supposed to be the ones cleaning the classroom and not the teacher? I probably said many negatives about some students here, but those are only observations. I made those observations because I grew up in a totally different environment in USHS. I am the person I am today because of the discipline and lessons that USHS has taught me. I appreciate all the hardships I’ve been through there. It’s not just the studies that made school here easier for me, but also the life lessons. I don’t remember the teacher who said this but, as I remember, he or she said that in order to succeed, always do your best and strive to achieve your goal. I will always carry the memories and experience I had in USHS because I know that it will help me especially when I enter college life and perhaps for the rest of my life.

THE RESEARCHER

FEATURES

August - December 2015

Pia Wurtzbach: Destined to become Ms. Universe by LAISA MARIAN L. DE GUZMAN

Another Miss Universe is on the book, and probably one of the most controversial chapters, if not the most. Well, this year is the most exciting especially when Steve Harvey announced the wrong winner, Colombia’s AriadnaArevalo, when in fact the real Miss Universe was Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines! After a long night of blowing away the judges with beauty, poise and eloquence, PiaWurtzbach won the crowd and the crown. But actually, there is a lot more in Pia than meets the eye. She’s the breadwinner of the family Although Pia grew up in the Philippines and identifies with that country, she was born in Germany, as her father is German. She shared that her parents divorced when she was 9, and had to stay with her mom and little sister in the Philippines, in which she loved eventually. With such beauty at a young age, Pia joined the Star Magic Talent when she was 12 and had a break back in 2002 when she starred in a show titled K2BU. Also, Pia is a professional poser! No doubts about that whenshe became an Avon model when she was only 11. With these, she was able to help her mom financially and stood up as the

breadwinner of the family. She was bullied for her height back then Pia once said in an interview in the magazine “Sun Star” that she was bullied most of the time in school for being “abnormally” tall and fellow classmates called her “Piazilla.” The unwanted teasing and nickname even caused her to be timid and a self-described "wallflower." She had to give up the acting career As a source of income, Pia pursued a career in acting. However, she ultimately decided to focus on pageants because she felt that it was a better fit for her. She said in an interview with rappler. com that being an actress means having to act for a role given to you, but being a beauty queen means having to be yourself and that’s what makes her more outspoken now. "As a beauty queen, I play myself... This is who I am. Everything that’s coming out, my thoughts, my opinions, are from me. And that’s one thing I feel very different because I am not playing a role but being myself. People are listening, and I really appreciate that." She is no quitter! Pia’s first pageant was the 2013 BinibiningPilipinas. She impressively claimed the first runner-up prize in her first year, and unfortunately only reaching the top 10 on her second year and finally winning the title in 2015 that qualified her to the Miss Universe pageant. And look how far she has gotten now! Pia owned it on the Miss Universe stage with her incredible class, along with her amazing costume and beautiful ball gown. A well-deserved win, although a non-traditional, crowning happened. “Very 2015!” as she described it.

Getting to know

BOOKNOOK by LAISA MARIAN L. DE GUZMAN

Sir John Paul

Sir J P

by ZIA AMIRAH N. LISONDRA

He is known among the students for being jovial. The teacher who pops jokes during discussions. The teacher whom students have come to respect and care for in a span of a few months.

Mr. John Paul Santos was born on February 16, 1981 in Jaen, Nueva Ecija to Atanacio Santos Jr. and Teresita Espenilla. His father is a mechanic and a carpenter, while his mother opted to be a housewife. Sir JP was a playful kid as a child, but his father was strict on him. “He had to hit me a lot of times (laughs), because that was how parents discipline their children before. He is still the same even today.” His mother used to encourage this attitude from his father, but was also the one to appease him at the end of the day. He attended his elementary in Jaen Central School. During these years, Sir JP was often insecure of his classmates who came from private schools during their kindergarten. “I thought, bakit sila ang gagaling nila magEnglish, ang gagaling nila sa studies namin,” he recounts. “I was challenged by those people.” These thoughts spurred him to improve, which is why he was consistently at the top of their class. Sir JP continued his high school at Saint Augustine School for Boys in Jaen, but later transferred to Constancio Padilla National High School in San Jose City in 1998. Life became harder for Sir JP and his family when college drew near and they were having financial difficulty. He scouted for scholarships which best fit him as a last resort. Luckily, the Commission on Higher Education Scholarship

gloria diaz

First Miss Universe winner from the Philippines (1969)

Pia Wurtzbach third Miss Universe winner from the Philippines (2015) FACULTY PROFILE

margarita moran SECOND Miss Universe winner from the Philippines (1974)

Program provided scholarships for those who wanted to take science courses in college. Teaching was not his first dream. In fact, what he really opted was to become a doctor. He wanted to enter the College of Veterinary Science and Medicine at CLSU, but financial concerns hindered him from doing so. Instead, he chose Bachelor of Secondary Education - Major in Biology. Sir JP first worked as an English teacher in Bettbien High school from 2002 to 2004. He later transferred to CLSU Laboratory High School in Palusapis in 2005 and remained there until the year 2014. In 2005, he felt the need to stop teaching, because of exhaustion. He has now learned how to cope with this. “I don’t want to stress myself,” he said with a smile. Teaching might not be his first choice of work, but he sure loves it and is happy with it now. Hearing students compliment him makes him smile inside and out. In bed, before he goes to sleep, he prays, “Sana gumising ako bukas,” which is something a lot of us tend to forget. I also asked Sir JP, what is it that you want written on your tombstone? Do you know? He paused for a while, “In this tomb lies a man who believes in himself.”

What if you have to live your life differently every waking day? New family, new friends – new everything, will you be brave enough to open your heart to a brand new life every 24 hours? Although such things don’t happen in real life, it can happen within a book. In a New York Times bestselling novel, Every Day by David Levithan, a character called "A," is a whole person emotionally and intellectually but wakes up every morning in a different body. Actually, “A” inhabits a person’s body and lives his/her life for one day, and then another person the next day. How wicked is that? Having to live someone’s life until you are is whisked away at midnight only to repeat the process again tomorrow, A’s been there, done that. He never receives any warning to where and who’s body he’ll wake up to, and A has made peace with that, accepting the fact that there’s no way out, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere. It was like his life was in order– at least for him. Until the time A woke up in the body of Justine and meets his girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by

which A has set for himself no longer apply, because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day. Although A and Rhiannon’s relationship is the heart and life behind the novel’s success (because it is indeed the center of the story), I enjoyed more the parts where A wakes up to a new body; the body in which a new personality unfolds, new stories are shared and a new life is being experienced. It’s like seeing the colours of life of different persons, and knowing how someone perceives the world. As A is a 16 year old ‘human’ in the story, each ‘host’ is sixteen years old, which each has a very different yet interesting stories to tell. Some we get to know quite well – and want to spend more time with, but know we cannot – and others we only get a glimpse of. Because of these, I ended up not wanting to put the book down. Every Day gives off a simple idea – the changes A have done to his life to show his love for Rhiannon, and the willingness of Rhiannon to love A even behind the fact that A wakes up in a different body every day. But actually, Every Day is not just about that, in fact, it throws a lot of complicated questions. What defines who you truly are? Does gender matter in love? What about sexuality? Is A choosing the right decision and doing the right thing? How is it to live someone else’s life? Is it better to experience many different things, or see a few the whole way through? These are just questions for us to think through and understand deeper to help ourselves in a way. Thanks, David Levithan. What if you have to live your life differently every waking day? New family, new friends – new everything, will you be brave enough to open your heart to a brand new life every 24 hours?

Metamorphosis of the Staple by ZIA AMIRAH N. LISONDRA

ther than being a consistent part of our meals, rice also has other uses which various producers can explore. These uses are commercially viable and may offer additional income for smallscale producers like cooperatives, local community organizations or even individual entrepreneurs.

Tapuy

The regular wine that is most popular in Western countries is an alcoholic beverage mostly made of fermented grapes or fruits. In contrast, Asians have developed a wine based mostly on rice. The Filipino rice wine locally known as Tapuy has its origins from Banaue and the Mountain Province. It is mostly used on important occasions like weddings, rice harvesting, fiestas, and fairs. Tapuy, unlike other rice wines, is clear and fullbodied with a strong alcoholic flavor, moderately sweet and often leaves a lingering taste. It is not diluted with water and has no sugar added. Commercial tapuy is produced by fermenting cultured rice twice, harvesting and pasteurizing the collected wine, and pasteurizing the rice wine again after it is aged and bottled.

Rice Scents

Who says you cannot wear rice as a perfume? The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has developed a new line of scents a few year back made of rice. The scents are entirely environment-friendly and hypoallergenic. In 20 variations of feminine, masculine, and unisex fragrances, the perfumes are produced using the same type of rice used as raw material for rice wine – which are semi-organic materials like glutinous rice. The perfume’s alcohol is extracted the same as the rice wine. The perfumes, bottled in 4, 8, 12, and 35 ml, have prices ranging from P40 to P145, and can be bought in dab on, roll on, and spray forms. Fit for any events, the perfumes come in different scents that range from light, floral, clean, and classic, to modern, romantic, sexy, and mysterious. The wider range of scents is perfect for on-the-go men and women because it can be used for everyday casual wear or for more formal occasions requiring richer, bolder scents.

Rice milk

More Rice Products There are other products too, such as rice oils, rice flour, and rice vinegar which are equally easy to manufacture. Simply put, rice can be converted to other different products which can do good to the society in general by offering alternative options to the usual products like wines and milk, and the informal sectors in particular by providing potential source of income.

Other than perfumes and wines, rice can also be converted to other non-alcoholic products like rice milk. Rice milk is made from boiled rice. Brown rice is usually used. Manufacturers often add thickening agents to commercial rice milk. It may be sweetened with sugar, or vanilla to make the rice milk taste more like cow’s milk. Rice milk generally tastes sweeter than cow’s milk. It is also popular among vegetarians because it does not contain any animal products. Rice milk is also good for people who are lactose intolerant because it does not contain lactose or cholesterol. This makes it healthy for the heart as well. However, rice milk does contain more carbohydrates than cow’s milk.

Diabetics may soon enjoy rice

e h t s les

s e i r wor

by NIA N. MANLULU AND LAISA MARIAN L. DE GUZMAN

Rice will soon no longer be a villain among diabetics’ diets. Scientists found that three types of rice have the lowest glycemic index (GI), which are said to be the most suitable for diabetes patients. Glucose, a type of sugar, can cause trouble to diabetics. Since the amount of glucose in these types of rice is low, diabetics can enjoy their meals with rice without causing worries. According to a study conducted by the International Rice Research Institute and the

University of Queensland, the rice variety Shen Huang, from China, has the lowest GI level of 45. The rice varieties Swarna and Mansuri of India have low GI levels, which are below 55. Another is the Basmat, which has a GI level of about 60. These are the most suited types of rice for diabetics, as they contain relatively low glucose concentrations. When food is measured to have a high GI, it means that it can be easily digested. However, it often results to trouble in blood sugar levels, which increases the chances of getting diabetes and

makes its management hard. This is why diabetics are advised to take rice in very low amounts. Dr. Melissa Fitzgerald, chief of the research team, said that the most important in blood sugar level management is a balance between food intake and physical activity. “Globally, we are getting fatter, and this puts pressure in our organs. So, we need to keep our weight in check and and combining low GI, sensible eating and sensible amounts of physical activity should all combine to give a healthy outcome,” she added.

shades THE OTHER

of rice

by ZIA AMIRAH N. LISONDRA

ice is a staple crop among the Filipinos. A meal can be taken without viand, but not without rice. Rice also amplifies the rich tastes of dishes we have across all regions. However, there are other variations of rice you might want to consider other than the fluffy white ones you got used to.

brown Brown rice, once least favored, is now a craze among the health conscious. It is unrefined and unpolished, and thus dubbed as a ‘dirty rice’. This variation of rice is only partially hulled, with the bran and germ present. This makes the grain much healthier than the white rice because with its bran and germ present, brown rice has a higher fiber content than white rice. The additional fiber helps in regulating bowel function and keeps a fuller feeling. It also brings relief from other digestive problems such as constipation and colitis. Other than a healthier digestive system, brown rice also helps in decreasing the risk of obesity. It has a lower glycogen content than white rice, and also contains manganese, which helps in synthesizing body fats.

red This alternative rice is named after its dark red color, caused by the antioxidant, anthocyanin. The antioxidant reduces inflammation, allergy, cancer risk, and helps to better manage one’s weight. Red rice, compared to brown and white rice, is richer in antioxidants. And like brown rice, it is also high in fiber content, and can thus aid to slow down digestion. Fiber also slows down the rate at which carbohydrates are converted into blood sugar; therefore fibrous foods are low on the glycemic load. Because of the lower sugar content, red rice also lessens the risk of obesity.

riceponsible TIP!

prevent rice spoilage

black Black rice, also known as the ‘Forbidden rice’, has its origin few thousand years ago during the ages of empires and royalties. Though it isn’t as common now, this variation of rice was ‘forbidden’ because only the royalties of China were allowed to eat it, forbidding the same to be consumed by the masses. This variety has greater nutritional benefits than the brown and red rice combined. It is rich in fiber, and loaded with protein, dietary fiber, and iron. Among its numerous health benefits are its antioxidant properties, contents which can improve the body’s digestive system, naturally gluten free; and contents which can prevent obesity. Studies also show that consuming black rice helps slow down absorption of sugar in blood, and hence help prevent diabetes.

by NIA N. MANLULU

Rice spoils. Everyone knows that, but in Filipino households, it is all the more important to prevent it. The same rice that you cook this evening could furnish your breakfast with necessary carbohydrates, if you know how to keep it untouched by bacteria. 1. Cooking smaller servings. A large serving of rice takes longer to consume. The more time rice spends in the open, the more time bacteria have to spoil the rice. Cook just enough for the meal. 2. Using the proper amount of water for cooking rice. Moisture creates ideal breeding grounds for bacteria. A warm, moist plate of rice is certain to cultivate bacteria. Drain rice properly, and let the excess steam evaporate before serving.

3. Keeping rice hot. If rice is kept above 63oC, bacteria cannot thrive. While there is no need to stick a thermometer in your rice, keeping rice hot enough to make you blow on it a few times is the best bet. 4. Keeping rice cold. The bacteria that cause food poisoning cannot thrive below 15oC. Keeping rice in the refrigerator (not the freezer) can usually prevent the rice from spoiling.

5. Making sure your utensils are clean. If not scrubbed properly, pots can harbor bacteria that can lead to early spoilage. Clean plates and spoons also help. 6. Not mixing previously cooked rice and newly cooked rice. Previously cooked rice harbors more bacteria than freshly cooked rice. When brought into contact, the pathogens spread, which is not advisable for anything.

THE RESEARCHER

FEATURES

August - December 2015

Minalungao The Paradise of the Rice Plains by ZIA AMIRAH N. LISONDRA

n Nueva Ecija, the wide expanse of rice paddies and the odd smattering of landforms are to be expected.Cliffs and caves, however, are not. Surprisingly, hidden beneath the rugged setting of Sierra Madre is Nueva Ecija’s very own mini Palawan — the Minalungao National Park. Limestone cliffs Minalungao is known for the fascinating geological formations of its vast landscape. Two steep limestone cliffs line the sides of the river as its borders. Before when the cliffs were still rough and jutted with boulders, visitors used to traverse the rock formations to have access to the caves at the far end of the park. It was risky then because some parts were slippery, so local tourism authority paved some of the boulders to give tourists easier access to the far end of the rock formations. Cave The park has a total of eight known caves. Historically, these caves have also served as a refuge for the Katipuneros while battling

the Spaniards. History buffs and archaeology enthusiasts claim that there are a few broken artifacts located at the dark chambers. Of all the eight caves, only one is available as a tourists attraction. You can hire a tour guide to help you explore the dark caverns. Don’t forget to bring a flashlight though so you’d get to enjoy the wonders hidden in the darkness. Peñaranda River The Peñaranda river that cuts through the Minalungao Park is a part of the Sierra Madre river system, which makes it relatively fresh and clean. Visitors wanting full enjoyment of the experience at the park can rent bamboo rafts for only P800. This gives the visitors better views of the rock

PHOTO COURTESY: Manny Francisco Photography, celineism.com, experiencetravel.ph, moredantravels.com

formations that cannot be seen when one only stays at the riverbank. Minalungao Cross Before you end your stay, you should try to take a trek to the top of the Minalungao cross, if you think your feet are up to it. The trek is said to have 1,000 steps leading up to the summit. Though, it is worth it. A cross stands at the peak, with a viewing deck that offers a more spectacular view of the park and the area.

Places to stay If you’re the type who likes to get out and about, you can set up a camp in the park. Camping in Minalungao is allowed, provided you bring your own tent. Camping sites are found at the mouth of the river and at the flat ground located at the back of the rock formations. If you want to sit back and relax, you

can rent cottages near the park for 300 pesos. A house near the park can also be rented overnight for 1,500 pesos, which is good for seven persons. The house includes electricity, private toilet and bath.

Travel Commuters coming from the south can go to the park via Gapan, then take a jeepney ride to Gen. Tiñio. Commuters coming from the north can go to the park via Cabanatuan, then take a jeepney going to Gen. Tiñio. From Gen. Tiñio, one can rent a tricycle to the park, which is several minutes away from the municipality’s center. The Minalungao National Park is one of the few remaining natural environments open for the public. It’s been declared as a protected area, therefore tourists should practice their duties as visitors to maintain the park as it is.

A Coffee’s Portrait by ZIA AMIRAH N. LISONDRA

Art, in general, is associated with paint, pastels, music and the likes. Not coffee. Now, even the foam from coffee can be an artist’s canvas.Forms of art have taken drastic changes centuries after da Vinci painted his Mona Lisa. Gone are the days when artists limit themselves to the norm.

However, the true science behind the art lies in the milk. Baristas add steam to milk and rapidly heats it to make the ‘micro foam’. The physical characteristics of the milk is altered in a process called ‘denaturing’. Then comes the question of pouring milk into the espresso, which is where the physics come into play. The barista pours so as to get the milk inthe espresso first, and then finish with the foam, in order to create the design.

Latte Art in 80s and 90s Latte art was popularized by David Schomer, a professional barista and the owner of Espresso Vivace, sometime between the 80s and 90s. However, he gave recognition to Jack Kelly of Uptown espresso for the development of ‘micro foam’. His café established the heart and rosette patterns as its signature, which are still known even today. The masses were immediately taken with the new alternative on how to present coffee.

Latte Art in the 21st Century Two decades after its innovation, latte art is even more prominent in the modern world. Latte art- making came to a boost as individuals indulge themselves the simple pleasure of looking at visually appealing drinks. There are also schools, courses and training programs especially made for those interested on coffee art. A few competitions are based especially for latte art too. Yes, some are even on an international level. Techniques and styles have been developed just for making coffees more tempting to the masses. Now, baristas can make more complex designs, ranging from heart and rosettes, to portraits, and even 3D animals. Consumers seem to appreciate the beauty and intricacy in making art using milk and coffee. The display, combined with the rich aroma and taste of coffee makes it all the more enjoyable for customers to savor the drink.

The Science behind Latte Art Though it seems to be the case, making latte art is not as simple as pouring milk over coffee. Baristas take account to the many factors needed to make a potable and presentable latte art. From humidity and temperature to the needed equipment and the quality of ingredients. PHOTO COURTESY: drinks.seriouseats.com, hdwallpapersrocks.com

THE RESEARCHER

FEATURES

August - December 2015

MOVIE REVIEW

PHOTO COURTESY: pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph

by LAISA MARIAN L. DE GUZMAN

RP’s rising potential

Benham Rise by LAISA MARIAN L. DE GUZMAN

We have been hearing a lot of debates and opinions lately regarding China’s continuous claim over the Spratly Islands. Yet, little do we know that our country recently won a territorial claim over the other side of our archipelago! Off the coast of Aurora and Isabela lays the Benham Rise, a 13 million hectare underwater plateau made of basalt formation that is said to be even larger than Luzon, the country’s largest island. The whole formation – rich in natural resources as minerals and natural gas now lies within the continental shelf of the Philippines. Recently, a group of Filipino researchers and divers were able to win and conquer the “virgin, crystal-clear, and coral-rich depths” as the newest part of the country. But before this good news, the researchers have actually been exploring the underwater area since 2012 and then have been approved by The UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. The said area was discovered 79 years ago by American Geologist Andrew Benham before the group discovered and claimed it. And for the first time the team have reached the shallowest portion of the Benham Rise as they dove 50 meters deep from the surface. According to the researchers they wanted to see if the Benham Bank as well as the waters around it is “biologically productive”. “It felt a lot like what Magellan felt. It was exploring. Being able to touch Benham’s bottom was very exciting for many of us,” said Dr. Cesar Villanoy, a professor at

the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI). Their expedition lasted for ten days which even yielded videos and photos of the said underwater bank. “We were surprised at how extensive the corals are. But surprisingly, the fish are few. So there are many corals but few fish. The clarity of the water also caught us by surprise as it was very clear from the surface as you can see the bottom at 180 feet,” explained Villanoy The underwater area is said to be rich in steel-producing minerals and natural gas which will pose a huge advantage to the country for its potential import/export business. And according to former DENR Secretary Ramon Paje, “it could turn the Philippines into a natural gas exporter,” Benham Rise is also said to contain large amounts of methane deposits in solid form, a very important substance in our economy. Even though only 1/5 of the area was explored, and most of it remains unsearched, Benham Rise is said to contain steel-producing minerals and natural gas which the country could even export. And with this given result, it will “definitely take several years” to complete a more substantial study about the newly conquered Benham Rise.

I’ve once been told by a friend that I can be such a hermit. Apparently, I’m not in tune with the current national trends. Well, at least now I know why my mother’s been squealing and hopping like a teenage girl infront of the TV on weekends. Sometimes I think I came from a different era. Why? It’s September 2015 and I only found out about Dubsmash a few weeks ago. And to think that it’s been a hit among teens my age months before I found out about it. That’s just sad. Apparently, Dubsmash is a mobile application that the people of our country are currently hooked on, all those ranging from youngsters to adults, and ordinary people to celebrities. Millions of Filipinos watch Dubsmash videos on various media sites. Now this is where the crazed loveteamAlDub all started. One of Nicomaine “Maine” Mendoza’s (who most people know as Yaya Dub,) Dubsmash was posted in a media site. Specifically, her ridiculous and spot-on impersonation of Kris Aquino that could even make a hardened veteran soldier snort. Her Dubsmash was able to garner over a million likes overnight.

The GMA production recognized Maine Mendoza’s potential and offered to have her in one of their longest noontime show “Eat Bulaga” in the segment “All for Juan, Juan for All”. The segment, starred by Wally Bayola, Jose Manalo, and Paulo Ballesteros features poverty-ridden parts of cities and their inhabitants. Often which old, include weathered faces living in tiny shack-like homes on street corners. The director changed the roles

that displayed an innate understanding of the character for the audience, Arcilla showcased the real Luna – fierce, boisterous and volatile. However, like a side of a coin, Heneral Luna have two faces, and Arcilla managed to flip it when needed, to show the passionate, sympathetic and softer side of Heneral Luna. Five stars for the nerve-wracking interpretion of Arcilla to Heneral Luna’s many personalities! While Arcilla is dominating the picture, Mon Confiado is comfortably at the side playing Emilio Aguinaldo. As opposed to the victorious ‘liberator’ he is known to be, Aguinaldo is portrayed as a cunning puppeteer present to balance Arcilla’s Luna who is boisterous and unpredictably hilarious. Both of them gave a lasting impression

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FACULTY PROFILE

rose

FOR USHS Meet Ma’am

by NIA N. MANLULU

from a hermit

PHOTO COURTESY: deviantart.net

A new

PHOTO COURTESY: inquirer.net

Emily

the AlDub tale by ZIA AMIRAH N. LISONDRA

It is no doubt that some if not most Filipinos would prefer watching foreign movies that dominate the cinemas as foreign actors that star in the movies are hard as rock to beat out of fame. But amidst this, a local movie directed by Jerrold Tarrog, ‘Heneral Luna’ managed to make its way to the limelight. We have the impression about local ‘hero’ (bayani) movies that they are all about the heroic deeds, bravery and passion of a person to save his or her country from the foreign invaders, how that person has dedicated his or her life for his or her countrymen to unite in order to finally see the light and taste the sweetness of freedom. Your typical hero story. However, Heneral Luna is not one of them. Heneral Luna takes a different approach in telling how we lost the battle and got occupied by the Americans, thus, depicting the real story behind it. Infighting, personal interests and politicking are just the few of the aforementioned reasons why we lost. Problems that until today, are present among the government. Focusing on the tension and chaos that brewed in the group of our Filipino ancestors, Heneral Luna have shown the tale of how a powerful voice can be just ignored, swept away and ultimately perish under a wave of egos and personal interest. Carrying the weight of film is John Arcilla who portrayed Heneral Antonio Luna with excellence dignity and respect to the character itself. Acting with the whole spectrum of emotions

in the segment. Bayola was named Lola NiDora, a small, round woman with a different hair color every week. She often wears thick and bright, clashing colors for makeup. Not to be mean, but most people described her as a clown. Maine Mendoza became Lola NiDora’s maid, whom most know as “Yaya Dub”. She portrays a simplelooking young woman who always holds a large fan and can only communicate through dubbing. Weeks passed by and the audience became more and more taken with Yaya Dub’s personality and ability to make people snort with laughter. Yaya Dub has been constantly making exaggerated facial expressions that often has the audience fall into peals of laughter. Really though, how can you not crack a smile when you see a girl enlarging her nostrils and doing ridiculous motions with her mouth? It so happened that in an episode of “Juan for All, All for Juan”, she would come to have a fleeting glance to the monitor where the segment was staged. Displayed on the monitor was the handsome, youthful, and bright face of Alden Richards. The audience and the turn to page 14

Ma’am Emily Concepcion was born on Sept. 17, 1981 in Matingkis, Talavera to Eduardo Alibuyog Sr. and Emilia Alibuyog. When she was a child, her parents taught her about loving and caring for her family. She spent her elementary days at Muñoz Central School while University Laboratory High School was her high school alma mater. She finished her Bachelor of Secondary Education in CLSU and her Master’s degree at Wesleyan University. She graduated Class Salutatorian in high school, a three- time Dean’s lister and was a scholar in college. She did not become a teacher because of a long-denied childhood dream. Rather, she first chose to take Accountancy, second, Food Technology, and third, Agriculture. She took up Education reluctantly, a thought she would later change upon her first year of teaching. Now, she loves teaching and her students, for she has kindled many memories with her former and present students. She looked up to her assistant principal in high school, Cleotilde Villanueva, and the Dean of the College of Education, Dr. Danilo Tan, because of their ability to manage a classroom and the students inside it. When she first taught, she imitated the strictness of her former teacher, but later

decided that it was not the best way to resolve disciplinary issues. She first taught at Science City Montessori School for a year, and transferred to ULHS, where she taught for ten years. She has many warm memories about her students, including several birthdays and many other times of mingling and friendship with them. She also confided that her worst experience in teaching was voting to expel her advisee for violent behavior. Her family: her husband, Edgar Concepcion, her two children, Emmanuel and Edward Gabriel, and her mother all play important roles in her life. She also shared that her mother observes a ritual with her: scooping rice and setting it aside to cool. She also said that one of the things that make her happy is seeing her children at the end of the day. When asked to describe her personality, she stated that she is always light-hearted and sometimes crazy. She is fond of soap operas, though she did not give any specifics. She has a taste for Shakespeare’s works, though she is not a big fan of literature. When asked what she would like on her gravestone, she said “I would like them to put my birth date but not my death day… I want them to remember when I arrived, and not when I left.”

THE RESEARCHER

FEATURES

August - December 2015

Who qualifies to become the

PRESIDENT by FRANCO ANDREI PINEDA

Last October, there have been much debacle at the Commission on Elections when some 130 Filipino citizens filed their certificates of candidacy, aspiring to become the most powerful official in the Philippines. A majority of the number who are considered to be nuisance candidates have been the topic in social media networks, and have gathered much criticism. Among them are a tricycle driver, a housewife, and a man who considers himself as an “inter-galactic space ambassador.” But why were these candidates allowed to run for presidency? Here’s why. In Section 2,Article VII 1987 constitution of the republic of the Philippines, it is said that a natural-born Filipino citizen is eligible to run for

presidency if he/she is 40 years old at the time of the election, a Filipino resident 10 years prior to the election, a registered voter, and able to read and write. Yes, no intensive educational background, no required experiences related to becoming a national official, just that simple. As easy as being the president of the nation sounds like, not all of the qualified candidates are able to reach the official ballots during the day of elections. Why? I present the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines.

It is stated in this code that some candidates considered to be nuisance ones can be disqualified to run for presidency. By very definition in the code, it is said that one is considered to be nuisance if he/she filed a COC “to put the election process in mockery or disrepute or to cause confusion among the voters by the similarity of the names of the registered candidates or by other circumstances or acts which clearly demonstrate that the candidate has no bona fide intention to run for the office for which the certificate of candidacy has been filed, and thus prevent a faithful determination of the true will of the electorate.”

LIFE HACKS

to survive USHS

USHS: challenging you the moment you start your high school baby steps. Of course, being able to wade through all the whopping amount of requirements, projects, and unending pressure is no easy feat. So it is widely considered that surviving Sci High is an ultimate goal and prestige. In a (sort of) survival of the fittest, you’d really want to know these five tips if you’d want to come out alive, sane and sound.

Sleep “Sleep? Is that edible?” a friend once quipped after pulling an allnighter. Yes, of course, how could we ever forget sleep? A full eight hours of sleep is, after all, the state

in my head

by ZIA AMIRAH N. LISONDRA

I saw your rotten, mangled body. Your arm was bent at an awkward angle, both eyesockets empty and bloody, I saw your remaining limbs hacked to pieces, and maggots eating their way out of your body. I was in a dim lit room. I didn’t know how I got there. Two dark figures entered the room out of nowhere. I squinted my eyes to get a better view and then noticed that another figure was huddled in between them. Strange though, I felt detached. It was like looking through a soundproof glass. The three figures moved toward the middle of the room, towards the light. My eyes widened at the sight before me. So entranced at the sight was I that I didn’t hear the ticking of the clock. Even though the light was dim, I could still see the three of them clearly. Two were wearing black, whole-body outfits and face masks. They were of above-average built. The third, however, the third unconsciously made me step forward, only to find out that I couldn’t I was frozen. I saw you. You with your closecropped hair, round face, thick eyebrows, and slight beard. You with your time-weathered face and slightly pudgy build. But you weren’t smiling, you weren’t laughing, you weren’t mad or annoyed or sad. In fact, you weren’t even conscious. They laid you on the floor, deceivingly gently. I was perplexed. The thought ‘What are you doing?’ ran through my head. How I wish I

didn’t. They stepped back and pulled a blade from somewhere in the darkness. It glinted sharply in the dim light. I held my breath, ‘Surely they wouldn’t?’. Yet they did. They hacked you apart. I screamed. I tried to move, but I couldn’t. I was mad, frustrated, helpless. I screamed until I felt my throat turn sore. Hot tears spilled and ran down like rivers on my face. They started with your left leg, butchering it to pieces until I couldn’t recognize it as a limb. Your mouth opened in a silent scream, a plea for help. They did the same to your right leg and right arm. They didn’t stop until you were dying and drowning in a pool of your own blood. I screamed and cried, and screamed some more. One of them stepped on your shoulder blade, slowly dislodging your arm from its socket. I wished I could close my eyes, but I couldn’t. I wanted to know if this is fake and you’ll come out from behind me alive and well. Like cold water splashed to my face, the background ticking turned into a deafening sound. The scene slowly disappeared like how one would look through a tunnel. I woke up in cold sweat, chest heaving. By my bedside is a clock, ticking and ticking, like the one from before. The one where I saw your mangled body. It was a nightmare. A very vivid nightmare.

MOVIE REVIEW from page 13

by ZIA AMIRAH N. LISONDRA

Time Management Procrastinating. Cramming. Sleepless Nights. Most Sci high students have experienced these at least once in their high school life. It’s no surprise for most to find themselves (and their classmates) with swollen, bloodshot eyes in the morning after little to no hours of sleep the night before because an assignment or project is already due. This is more intense during the weeks before the exams, when waves upon waves of projects and requirements makes you want to kneel and beg the universe for mercy. Of course this can be avoided (thank God). Introducing -- tadaaa! -- Time Management. Yes I know, it’s much easier said than done. With infinite distractions such as gadgets and social media preying on the narcissistic duck-face-selfie tendencies of the young, teenage angst, hormonal imbalance, and laziness in general, how could you ever manage to do everything without tearing yourself apart?

maggots

of nirvana most Sci-high students want to achieve. It’s never healthy to have less hours of sleep than the required amount, especially for growing teens. Lack of sleep can impede the growth and maturation of our body, and kill our nerve cells. Some studies also show that irregular sleeping patterns can affect your eating habits. Study HItting your head with a book, literally, does very little for your brain to absorb all those dizzyingly long paragraphs of facts (and factoids), equations, and formulas. Though you would probably earn a massive, pulsing welt on your head. You should be familiar with your study habits. It’s easier to process information in a cozy ambiance, even prevent brain combustion, nosebleeds, and migraines. This is of course relative. Because while others are more at ease studying in near silence, some would prefer listening to music, be it pop, classical or eardrum-tearing heavy metal songs. Whatever makes you focus on your studies and readings will help.

Relax, Enjoy, Have Fun How do you think you could get things done when all you do is think of the opposite? Always look on the bright side of things, the proverbial silver lining on the clouds, and the cliché of light at the end of the tunnel. Because, really, you won’t finish anything if all your actions and thoughts are gravitating towards failure and defeat. Thoughts like “I’m going to fail,” “I’m not going to make it,” or “Please burn in the deepest pits of nowhere, assignments!” will do you no good. Be Social No man is an island, they say. It’s always better to have someone at your side when you are at your most difficult. At least, whenever you roll on the floor because of pessimism, you’ll have your mates at your side, either to help you up, cry with you, even laugh at you. In an appeasing way, of course. You can have study groups within your circle of friends and ask them for help if you have any difficulty on any subjects. And in turn, they can ask you for help. Or if stress has gotten real deep in your bones that you’re practically tense all the time, you can relax and have a bit of fun with your friends.

the viewers the sense of pride for one’s country, but Heneral Luna, while precise in storytelling and depiction of major characters, evokes the truth behind the nation that has been revealed to be built on a questionable motives and personalities. The film is not focused on the larger aspects of history but on the smaller stories that constructs and builds the biggest mistakes in the Filipino

history. Overall, Heneral Luna is a story representative of our present political landscape and our role as their citizens. There are something that we can do but choose not to, and Heneral Luna begs us to see with clearer eyes, and hear with better ears without the influence of those people who have glitter-coated our history with half-truths and veiled lies.

The Aldub Tale... director immediately noticed how taken Yaya Dub was with Alden’s looks. KalyeSerye was born, and the would-be phenomenal loveteamAlDub was developed. Unfortunately, Lola NiDora was antagonistic in a way wherein she would make both ends of the world meet just to separate the two, but the mutual attraction between them seemed to deepen even more. Scenes like these would play out on our TV and which my mother can be seen infront of – squealing, jumping, and smiling from ear to ear.

One like, one support from page 8

other such related accounts are seeking for attention, for likes. But what’s the sense of asking others to like or share a certain post just to taunt mistakes of people? We have different views and opinions and it is better if one just keeps it to himself/herself, not criticizing to gain likes. The least one can do when one becomes a victim is not to freak out, suspend judgment, don’t take what has been said personally, resist the urge to react right away, respond quickly publicly, then take the follow-up conversation offline, explain your side, and don’t blame yourself, it is

from page 13

Lola NiDora would order Alden to do various extreme tasks like going all the way to Bicol and buy pili nuts under a time limit just so he could meet YayaDub. Fans were endeared with Alden’s determination to meet his love, perhaps remembering the way men would court women in the olden days, unlike now where modern teens dismiss traditional courtships and settle into fickle relationships. Their story continued on as the AlDub Nation steadily grows larger and larger.

not your fault. People who trash other people for life will always be there no matter what. I know that we are very open-minded to go down to their intellectual level to understand the idiocy they are fond of. A statue was never made in honor of a critic. It is never too late, while these cases are continuously being done and even becoming more widespread, the government should act and do something about this by passing the proposed House Bill 5718 before internet bashing becomes a culture among internet users and even initiate problems that involve hostility and aggression. one like, one support to pass the bill.

THE RESEARCHER

SCIENCE

August - December 2015

hovering &

HEALTH FRANCO ANDREI PINEDA

Have you watched the animated film Wall-E? If your answer is “Yes,” then I know that you have seen the obese people floating in mid-air while riding hovering motorcycles? Well, we might be close to that scenario a couple of years from now (minus the obesity more or less), all thanks to the hover xtrax. Sci-Fi- based television programs and films of the 20th and the 21st century have set the standards on how transportation will be like in the mere future. We have flying cars in the cartoon series The Jetsons, hoverboards from Back to the Future, and again, hovering motorcycles from Wall-E. All these are shortly becoming the pegs of engineers to create the vehicles of the future. Now, let’s go back to the hovertrax. Invented by a company called Inventist, this invention that took the world by storm this year is pretty much a self-turning and self-balancing skateboard (minus the death-defying stunts, of course). It is a new take on the segway,

another self-balancing vehicle which superseded the scooter. But wait, that’s not the end of it. The said company has made three different inventions that totally epitomize the future of vehicles. They have a unicycle-type ride that does not require any pedaling, roller blades that require minimal gliding, and another unicycle with a minimalist design (by minimal, I mean without a seat). Truly enough, man’s will to make life easier for people has reached its peak. However, overachieving may lead to drastic enslavement to technology. With the advent of technologies like the hovertrax comes a much laborious responsibility to us humans— not to be dependent to these gadgets and to still practice traditional techniques on how to do daily tasks to prepare us for the extinction of these creations. Let us not be those flying obese people in Wall-E.

GMO vs

The SUpreme court NIA N. MANLULU

Recently, the Supreme Court of the Philippines halted Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) talong field trials. SC has also ruled against the Department of Agriculture’s Administrative Order No. 8-2002, which deals with the importation and release of plants and plant products derived from the use of modern biotechnology, which means it deals with genetically modified organisms or GMOs of the crop variety. The ruling to ban Bt talong is disappointing enough, robbing the nation of a scientific enhancement which can lower farmers’ expenses in pesticides. Bt talong was in the process of field trials, testing so that it could be approved for human use. The ban was implemented due to the precautionary principle, which states that “lack of scientific certainty is no reason for inaction at the risk of potentially serious or irreversible harm to the environment.” This means that the SC ruled on basis that there was no scientific evidence that GMOs are beneficial; ergo they might harm the environment. GMOs have repeatedly been proven to be safe for human consumption. Consider the American Medical Association: “Bioengineered foods have been consumed for close to 20 years, and during that time, no overt consequences on human health have been reported and/or substantiated in the peer-reviewed literature.” There are many other scientific studies that study GMOs, concluding

that they have no adverse effect on human health. Furthermore, the bacteria in Bt talong, Bacillus thuringiensis have been used for a long time as a biological pesticide. Many studies have also proved the bacteria harmless even as an allergen and as a toxin. The ruling banning the Department of Agriculture’s Administrative Order No. 8, series of 2002, is also discouraging. The order details the guidelines in which genetically modified plants can be imported and distributed. Without this order, there is no way to judge whether a GMO is safe or can be imported. This renders us unable to use and consume GMOs. There are no more methods to determine whether a GMO is safe to use or safe to import, thereby banning Filipinos from using GMO plants or plant products. This also means that we are limited to the plants today, with no ability to develop new crops or to import new crops from other countries until a new ruling has been passed. GMOs, which have been grown since the 1990s, have had no negative effect on the people who consume them. Also, in order to approve GMOs for consumption, a rigorous process is observed. No GMO gets into people’s mouths untested and unapproved. The GMOs available today are tested carefully by many parties. There is no reason to keep GMOs from the public.

DOPPLER RADAR In pursuit of more accurate weather forecast by ZIA AMIRAH N. LISONDRA AND JOMARI C. FERNANDO

Do you watch weather forecasts in your go-to news channel? Then, you must have heard of “Doppler radar”, and you must have been curious whata Doppler radar is.

IN THE KNOW

A Doppler radar is a radar tracking system that applies the principle of Doppler Effect to locate storms, clouds, and rains. It was named after the Australian physicist J. Christian Doppler, the first to formulate the phenomenon in 1842. The Doppler Effect is the change of frequency of a wave for an observer moving relative to its source. For example, an ambulance’s siren gets louder as it passes nearer to you, and slowly decreases in volume as it goes farther. This is the same principle of the Doppler Effect: the received frequency of a wave is higher when it is nearer to the observer, and lower when it is farther. A Doppler radar cannot only sense an approaching thunderstorm and the rain it carries, but also identifies its motion along the radar beam it emanates. That is to say, it can measure how fast rain is moving toward or away from the Doppler radar. When a radar beam strikes a raindrop, part of the beam is reflected back to the

A mosquito threat:

dengue vaccine

soon available in PH by LAISA MARIAN L. DE GUZMAN

The world’s first ever vaccine against dengue will soon be available in the Philippines after securing the approval of the Food and Drug Administration, Dec. 23. Health Secretary Janette Garin confirmed in newspaper report that she gave the go signal to release the vaccine in the market after passing the stringent tests of the FDA. The vaccine known as Dengvaxia is manufactured and produced by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur which is the result of their two decade research ad and clinical study programs in 15 countries including the Philippines, Two weeks before the approval in the country, the company secured its first regulatory approval in Mexico. As of October, DOH reported around 108,000 people were infected by dengue. At USHS, five students, three 10th graders and two 7th graders, were hospitalized due to dengue.

The first Doppler radar in the country was inaugurated in Bato, Catanduanes This P580-million radar facility is the first in the world to use the Solid-State Meteorological Radar System (SSMRS) technology developed in Japan. The whole project, amounting to P1.7 billion, is funded by grant aid from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). source. The radar receives the reflected beam, and its distance will be calculated based on the reflected beam, as well as the intensity of the rain identified by the radar, its direction, and if it is windy. The radar will then translate the data into figures displayed on a monitor. This model gives direct and highly precise information about an approaching weather disturbance relative to the radar. Doppler radars are now used in many sectors such as aviation, sounding satellites, weather, radar guns, and radiology, among others. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) first requested for Doppler radars in 2006 but acquired it in

2010. The request was partly granted due to the devastation the typhoon Ondoy wrought, heavy rains and casualties, on the National Capital Region and nearby provinces. The Doppler radar could have warned the country’s meteorologists and authorities the huge amount of waters Ondoy is to dump on Metro Manila, which is equivalent to a month of rain. PAGASA is acquiring five more radars on 2016 to upgrade its weather forecasting capabilities. There are already 13 installations across the country: Aparri in Cagayan, Cuiuan in Eastern Samar, Baler in Aurora, Baguio City, Subic, Tagaytay, Cebu, Virac in Catanduanes, Basco in Batanes, Quezon in Palawan, Iloilo, Tampakan in South Cotabato, and Hinatuan in Agusandel Norte. The five additional radars will be installed in Zamboangadel Norte, Busuanga in Palawan, Bohol, Camarines Norte, and Pangasinan. The future of weather forecasting is approaching.

BALER’S DOPPLER. The Doppler Radar at the PAGASA weather station in Baler, Aurora.

photo courtesy: KEEPING TRACES.BLOGSPOT

proudly pinoy inventionS

The modern tricycle:

Salamander

The salt that bought light by BRYAN JASPER B. AQUINO

by ALLIYAH MARIE R. HOFILENA

Tricycle is the most popular mode of transportation in the Philippines. After five years of work, by three men from the H20 Technologies Inc. namely Atoy Lave, Lamberto Armada and Dominic Chung, we now have an amphibious vehicle that can travel not just on land, but also on water. The vehicle referred to as the “Salamander” is the

photo courtesy: wereblog.com

Philippine’s first kind of tricycle that can travel both on land and on water. It carries a total of six people when travelling on land, and four people when travelling on water. Using a patented solution, the Salamander can be switched between land and sea travel with just the pull of a lever. Well, thanks to them, going through floods now will be easy-peasy!

photo courtesy: ABS-CBN.COM

Impressing US President Barack Obama seems to be a tough job,right? That's not the case for Aisa Mijeno and her saltpowered lamp. Compared to other lamps, the Mijeno’s invention is more cost-effective, more sustainable and more environmental friendly as it uses only saline solution (salt+water) or ocean water. Mijeno said she first thought of the idea for this project when she had an immersion in a far-flung community in Kalinga, where there is no electricity. The people, due to scarcity of public transportation, have to travel down mountains and walk for hours just to get kerosene for their lamps.

THE RESEARCHER

SCIENCE

the quest for redder August - December 2015

tilapia

by FRANCO ANDREI PINEDA

IN THE KNOW

Red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) is not a specis of tilapia, it is instead a name used for several different manmade tilapia variants that sport attractive red coloration. These are the result of continuous selective breedings. Red tilapia is a collective name for a large number of red, orange, gold and pink phenotypes of tilapia. The first known red tilapia was discovered in 1968 in Taiwan. Another second strain of red tilapia was developed in Florida, USA while the third strain was developed in Israel.

The “fish with a coin on its mouth” will surely be worth more coins after having an additional touch of red. Central Luzon State University’s Freshwater Aquaculture Center (CLSU-FAC) is currently conducting researches to have an improved variety of tilapia, which was done to make the fish more appealing to its growing market in the country. CLSU-FAC’s Red Tilapia, as said by Dr. Tereso Abella in a national newspaper, has a “flaming red” color, which gives the improved variety a more vivid hue. Carotenoids or pigments responsible for a plant’s color

are given as an additive to the diet of the fishes, which according to Dr. Abella, helps to give the red tilapia a redder look. Such carotenoidcontaining plants included to their diet are annatto seeds (ashuete seeds), yellow corn, carrots, and tomatoes. Compared to the regular Nile tilapia sold in markets that sells for 80 to 100 pesos a kilo, the improved red tilapia sells for 130 to 150 pesos a kilo, according to the leading freshwater fish research facility in Central Luzon.

palay seeds

“cottony white,” which is another attribute of the freshwater fish. Live Science, an online science news website, has written in one of its articles that carotenoids aren’t just beneficial for plants, but for animals and humans as well. As cited from the said website, the Physician’s Committee on Responsible Medicine also said that carotenoids are good cancer-fighting compounds, and are also rich in anti-oxidants.

A-Zollution to golden kuhol

The creation of the ‘Lakbay Binhi’ project

by LAISA MARIAN L. DE GUZMAN

by LEO BERT A. ORPILLA

PHOTO COURTESY: philrice.gov.ph

“The red color seems to catch the fancy of fish consumers. The red sea bream, red snapper and grouper all command good market but are highly priced,” said the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), which funds the said research. Red tilapia made its way to the Philippines when Singapore imports arrived in the country in the 70’s. On the other hand, St. Peter’s Fish or simply Tila-

pia known by the scientific name Oreochromis niloticus, made way to the Philippine fisheries industry in the 1950’s when Taiwan made a mutation between the Mozambique tilapia and the Nile tilapia. However, because of its dark and unappealing color, fishermen were not that enticed to venture in culturing the said fish until 1970 where a variety or lighter color was introduced to the country. Though the color of its skin changed, Dr. Abella assured that the meat of the improved red tilapia, remained

AZOLLA

Order thru text:

Finally! Farmers from hardto-reach areas have more access among high-quality and location-specific seeds. A project by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) called “Lakbay Binhi” has given farmers more opportunity to improve their productivity and profitability given higher yields. Using the project, rice seeds of high quality are brought by trucks converted into mobile seed centers, thus making rice seeds more accessible to farmers than ever before. With this, farmers can avail high quality seeds at reasonable prices and seed growers can benefit from the partnership within PhilRice’s proactive promotion. Additionally, not only high quality seeds will be given but as well as lessons from experts that will come to the selected areas to share their knowledge about crop management practices and different farming technologies. For the record, the project

PHOTO COURTESY: 21food.com

was pilot-tested among three sites affected by typhoon Lando, and over a hundred farmers from Dipaculao and Casiguran in Aurora and Guimba, Nueva Ecija have been given 82 bags of 20 kilograms of registered seeds. After all these pilottesting activities in Aurora and Nueva Ecija, Lakbay Binhi will then be introduced to PhilRice branch stations, especially in areas where adoption of high quality seeds is low and to farmers from hard-to-reach areas without seed growers. However, the initiative aims as well to partner with seed growers of PhilRice-bred varities who will actually serve as seed sources for this “Lakbay Binhi” project. According to the project leader of “Lakbay Binhi”, Rhemilyn Relado, the project will serve as the response to the challenge of having the right amount of high quality seeds delivered at the right time to the farmers. Finally.

PHOTO COURTESY: plantsrescue.com

Golden apple snail (GAS) or “Golden Kuhol” as we commonly call it is just one of the major rice-pest problems in the Philippines. This pest, unfortunately can lay up to 1,200 eggs per month, and to control this, most farmers use synthetic molluscicides, which are both expensive and harmful to non-target organisms and farmers themselves. But fear no more, for the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) found that growing azolla with rice can minimize the damage caused by GAS to the crop. Azolla—duckweed fern, fairy moss or water fern—is known for its nitrogen-fixing capability and is widely used as a biofertilizer on such a low price. Also, it serves as an

alternative food for GAS in the absence of rice. Through the course of their study, azolla has been introduced on the rice field 10 days after transplanting, along with the GAS which is placed at different population levels throughout the experimentation. Data on missing rice seedling are gathered daily for 7 consecutive days. And as luck would have it, researchers noted a significant decrease of missing seedlings. The lead researcher, Mr.Dindo King Donayre, concluded that growing azolla together with rice can actually divert the appetency of GAS away from the newly-established rice. “It is a natural way of GAS management,” he said.

drinking bottles How safe are they? by LAISA MARIAN L. DE GUZMAN

Have you ever paid close attention to that plastic beverage bottle you always drink? Try to look closely on the bottom of just about every plastic bottle you see, you’ll probably notice a number stamped inside a triangle. Actually, the existence of these “numbers in the triangle” are useful when determining which bottle is best for reusing or refilling. So do you know which plastic bottles are safe to reuse? Bottles to the rescue Number ‘2’ or HDPE (highdensity polyethylene). Generally, number ‘2’ or HDPE is harder and is a more opaque plastic

bottle suitable for refills like the milk jug, juice bottle, water container, yogurt and margarine tubs, and the cereal box line. Number ‘4’ or LDPE (low density polyethylene).This type of plastic is known for its clarity and flexibility. That’s why it is often used to make bottles and bags that require extra stretch like grocery bags, garbage bags, squeezable bottles of mustard and honey, and milk cartons. Number ‘5’ PP (polypropylene). Just like the numbers ‘2’ and ‘4’, Number ‘5’ is pretty much the same, especially in terms of safety. We can often distinguish number ‘5’ in ketchups, syrup bottles, straws, food

containers made out of rubber and other opaque containers. Killer bottles Numbers ‘1’ or PET (Polyethylene terephthalate), Number ‘3’ or PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), Number ‘6’ or PS (polystyrene) and Number ‘7’ OTHER (containing Bisphenol-A, or BPA). These types of plastics are usually recommended for one time use only. They all contain harmful chemicals that can cause different complications among the skin and organs of a person. So, will you ever pay close attention to that plastic beverage bottle you always drink? PHOTO COURTESY: limetreekids.com

THE RESEARCHER

SCIENCE

August - December 2015

WHO warns Self-medication of antibiotics can lead to drug resistance

by JOMARI C. FERNANDO AND LAISA MARIAN L. DE GUZMAN Probably the worst nightmare yet. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the spread of drug-resistant microbes will soon take the countries by storm. The aforementioned reason: Selfmedication of antibacterial medicines (antibiotics). Are you still going to take that pill on your palm? Even major infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia and malaria are becoming difficult and expensive to treat, as microbes have developed resistance among available medicines, and new medicines are not coming on the market soon enough. “Self-medication is actually the act of an individual of taking or swallowing medicines without advice or prescription from a doctor and this is out of his/her own volition. If antibiotics are not taken properly and they consume it for like, every 4-8 hours or in a daily basis, then yes, it can lead to drug resistance,” confirmed by Dr. Helen L. Alfaro, a physician.

“Drug resistance is developed because of improper, inappropriate or otherwise frequent use of antibiotics which are not prescribed by a physician, like what I’ve said before. There can be under or over dosage and inappropriate drug for the ailment to be treated such that there comes a time that the antibiotics taken will no longer be effective and treatment will thus require a higher generation of antibiotics.” Dr. Alfaro added. With all of these, fear no more - or just fear a little now, for WHO has taken the lead in finding an answer of these drug-resistant microbes. They have developed a Global Strategy for the Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance, which focuses much on developing new drugs to combat drug-resistant microbes, and to develop as well a new environment with experts to address the challenges of antimicrobial resistance. No, you’re not dreaming. But this might be the worst nightmare yet.

Can’t sleep?

Turn off your gadgets

PHOTO COURTESY: I1.mirror.co.uk

by LAISA MARIAN L. DE GUZMAN

No matter how busy people can get, they can still afford to spare some time to open up their cellphones, laptops or tablets just to check on their favorite social media site. Oftentimes, people use their hand-held digital devices at night before they sleep. With this, scientists from Monash University’s School of Psychology and Psychiatry conducted experiments and studied about the light emitted from the screens of digital devices, and concluded that they could lead to disturbing effect on body clock and sleep disorders. The advent of electric lighting has significantly impacted upon sleep-wake patterns according to them. A clinical psychologist from Sydney’s Woolcock Insomnia Clinic, Dr. Amanda Gable greatly agrees. Dr. Gamble says there are three main effects of using electronic devices while on sleep. “Obviously the devices

emit light and they’re often held close to the face. The light suppresses melatonin and makes it harder to fall asleep and delays the sleep pattern.” Dr. Gamble said in ABC news. Melatonin is a hormone produced when it is dark and helps in regulating and promoting sleep. People who don’t have enough melatonin find it harder and longer to fall asleep. Second effect according to Dr. Gamble is that digital devices are mentally and physically arousing, - they’re interesting, that they leave a lasting impression in the brain so it takes a while for the brain to wind down and prepare for sleep after using them. Third, is that young people are using these digital devices on bed before they sleep, thus, creating a learned association between the bed as being a place of texting and socializing, rather than a place exclusive only for sleep.

Sun-tastic!

New solar powerplant to rise in N. Ecija by FRANCO ANDREI PINEDA

unshine has always been a joy for us Novo Ecijanos. Why, you ask? Well, there’s this association of sunshine with the golden harvests experienced by our province. But just as you thought our province has benefitted much from sunshine, you might want to reconsider that because in a few months, a new sunshine-consuming asset of the province shall be situated right at Munoz’s neighboring city, San Jose. Meet Nueva Ecija’s first solar power plant! Renewable Energy and Solar Power Before we dig deep into the details of this new power plant, let’s find out what solar power is, and how this renewable energy source came to life. First, let’s define “renewable energy.” The Department of Energy (DOE) has defined renewable energy as the energy (electrical energy) that we could get from resources which can be easily replaced such as water, sunlight, geothermal energy (underground heat), wind, biomass (agricultural byproducts), and many more. This became a norm in the energy sector after the 1997 Tokyo Protocol (a treaty that aims to lessen the carbon emissions of the world which is the leading cause of global warming), to find alternatives to power plants powered by fossil fuels. So now that we’ve learned that solar power is a renewable energy, let’s figure out how solar power works. Imagine the process of photosynthesis. This is similar to how solar power

is gained, but only in reverse. Sunlight passes through the leaves of the system, or its solar cells. These cells contain silicon particles that get “excited” under direct sunlight. The energy emitted by the rapid movement of these particles are then stored by the cell and moves to the stems of the system or the direct current. The direct current, which now contains the energy, transfers this energy to the system’s roots or the alternating current. The alternating current then stores the energy in a storage cell, and is now ready to be used as solar electricity. Sunshine in San Jose City Now, let’s go back to the soonto-be solar power plant of Nueva Ecija. The V-Mars Solar Energy Corporation partnered with Solar World of USA to construct a solar power plant at Barangay Sto. Nino, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija that would generate as much as 10-Megawatts of electricity per operation. This amount of energy, according to

Wonder veggie

saluyot

project leader Mario Salvador, can power a large number of business establishments, households, and even 22 rice mills, in the city. The electricity to be produced in this power plant will be sold for PHP 8.69 per kilowatt-hour to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines. This is the third renewable energy plant in Nueva Ecija, along with the iPower plant (also situated in San Jose City) and the GIFT Corp power plant, whereas both are using biomass as their main fuel. Furthermore, the said solar power plant joins the eight other operational as well as under-construction solar power plants in the country. The trend was introduced in the country in 2004 with the construction of the first solar power plant in the country at Cagayan de Oro City. With the promises of renewable energy, this modern solar power plant would soon stand up as the potential power provider of the province, thus not only helping reduce the use of natural resource

Probably most of us consider that the most disgusting vegetable our parents have prepared for us is the “saluyot”. That green-leafy-slimy saluyot cooked in a hot soup with a hint of sourness from sampaloc. That fried saluyot mixed with sautéed bamboo shoots and dried beans. Maybe that ginataang saluyot, and even paksiw na saluyot – you name it. Disgusting much?

by LAISA MARIAN L. DE GUZMAN

However, this saluyot, for a fact, is considered to be a wonder vegetable. Although a lot of people dislike the slimy character of saluyot, its benefits are of great worth. Saluyot (Corchorus) or jute in English can be found basically everywhere, from warm, tropical countries like here in the Philippines, to tropical deserts and wet forest zones, saluyot is here and there. It does not even require much attention and care. It just basically thrives without cultivation the whole year round.Pretty independent. Also, it is rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron and potassium. Now, who needs that vitamin tablets? It has also been determined that 100 grams of saluyot contains a generous amount of Vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, ascorbic acid, and

Probably most of us consider that the most disgusting vegetable our parents have prepared for us is the “saluyot”, that green-leafy-slimy saluyot cooked in a hot soup with a hint of sourness from sampaloc, or that fried saluyot mixed with sautéed bamboo shoots and dried beans, and may be ginataang saluyot, paksiw na saluyot – you name it. Disgusting much? Not only that, saluyot contains beta-carotene that is good for the eyesight, and of course, iron and calcium content for maintaining strong bones and teeth, and a healthy count of red blood cells. Additionally, it has been used to reduce wrinkles, as it also contains antioxidant substances. Studies have also shown that saluyot can be used for anti-inflamma-

tory treatment, thus it is connected with curing the chronic inflammation of the urinary bladder. Since saluyot or jute plant is by nature a vegetable, it is easy to prepare and can be incorporated to various dishes allowing us to benefit from its vitamins and mineral content. Actually, there are a lot of dishes that use saluyot as an ingredient. For instance, the Ilocanos use saluyot in their preparation of dinengdeng and bulangbulang. Other dishes include saluyot mixed in either sautéed or pureed form in their foods. It is also integrated in mongo dishes, and in soups. Just plain saluyots converted into many souls. Still thinking twice about eating it?

PHOTO COURTESY: photobucket.com

THE RESEARCHER

SPORTS

August - December 2015

Donaire outshines Juarez Claims WBO junior featherweight title by DEW XYA I. DELA ROSA The “Fililpino Flash” Nonito Donaire had proved himself worthy in the ring as he claimed the WBO junior featherweight title after surpassing Cesar Juarez in a match of hard punches and damages for a year-ender bonus, Dec. 12, 2015. Donaire and Juarez survived 12 rounds of the bloody fight jam-packed with furious punches coming from both sides at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico. But still, the Philippine veteran stood tall even after receiving pressure attacks and some two-fisted assaults from the Mexican foe resulting in total domination of the judges’ scorecards: 117-109, 116-110 and 116-110. Donaire (36-3, 23 KO) reverted some counters causing the 24-year old Juarez (17-4, 13 KO) to drop two times in the fourth round and left him with a bloody nose in the tenth though the Filipino got knocked out af-

terwards. He managed to continue to fight until the last round while carrying a twisted ankle making it his first time to get past the sixth round since 2013. Both relentless contenders were seen bleeding and drained after striving to land more punches up to the final bell sound. “I believe I won the first six rounds, plus knockdowns,” said Donaire after the fight. “I will definitely give him a rematch,” he added. “In this fight, Donaire regained his place in the boxing arena as ‘The Filipino Flash’ after he lost two years ago,” said Mr. Allan F. Antalan, USHS PE teacher.

THE PINOY FLASH IS BACKED. Nonito Donaire lands a crushing right to the Cesar Juarez’s face during their World Boxing Organization super bantamweight title fight in Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico. PHOTO COURTESY: SPORTS.INQUIRER

Lemon Time Unlikely love affair dew xya i. dela rosa

What makes basketball the nation’s no. 1 sport? Basketball is considered the most played game in the Philippines. Apparently, basketball may be one of the most evident influences of a western country that had been accepted in almost any part of the nation. Regardless of our social status, finances, or beliefs, the sport’s appeal emphasizes the fact that the Philippines is known as a basketball-frenzied country. It all started with James Naismith who invented and introduced this great sport in the Philippines in the early American colonial period (1898-1946). The Philippines won several medals in various competitions such as the Asian Games, where the first-time basketball was played, the FIBA World Championship and the FIBA Basketball World Cup over the next few decades. With those achievements, the Philippines had the right to host the third FIBA World Championship, but it was suspended for several reasons. Carlos Loyzaga, who was named in the FIBA World Mythical Five Selection, retired in the Games. His withdrawal caused the Philippines’ dominance to decline, but the country continued to play competitively in the Asian and World Championships. This weakening of our authority chained in the Olympics where the country played poorly. The Philippines made numerous leagues and associations to strengthen the nation’s control in the sport. I would wonder why the government would easily accept and prioritize those unions despite the political crisis the country is taking. I am not saying that the sport should be dejected. It only

baffles me why the sport reached this peak where it becomes a social nerve center of most towns up and down the archipelago. Truly, the love of Filipinos for basketball is undeniable. Albeit the fact that we are vertically challenged. The average height of Filipinos ranges around 5’3” to 5’5” while the average height of our basketball players is 6’3”. International teams, however, have players with heights reaching seven feet. Hence, a good height is beneficial. However, this customary would not stop Filipinos from playing their beloved sport. I now understand why Filipinos love basketball even if the game does not love them back because it is a sport where height rules and we are kind of “short” in that sector. It would be a usual sight watching teenagers fill the ever-present courts at evening, or almost any time available. They would talk about the moves of their idolized players or spend their time frolicking in a seemingly unconscious manner. It would look so natural for Filipinos to play the sport as a part of our culture. And so, barely decades have passed, but our passion for basketball reflects our capability to endure all odds. The sport explains something deeper than a pastime for Filipinos. So why wouldn’t it be logical for Filipinos to love basketball? Again, Philippine basketball markes history in our lives. So what makes basketball the nation’s No. 1 sport? It is from an unexplainable love situation between people and a sport, molded by the past and the ‘irrational love for hoops.

DUE TO COPYRIGHT CLAIM

2020 Tokyo Games logo scrapped by PHIL JUSTIN A. PANGILINAN

The Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (TOCOG) called off Kenjiro Sano's Tokyo 2020 emblem design due to copyright claims, September 1, 2015. According to Oliver Debie, a Belgian graphics designer, the emblem design revealed on July 24 and which was supposed to be used as the official emblem for the 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympics resembled his design for the logo of Théâtre de Liège. Although his logo was not a registered trademark, Debie threatened the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo games organizers with legal action if the 2020 logo wasn't taken out. TOCOG defended Sano saying that the design had gone through a series of long intellectual property examinations before it was cleared for use. However, Sano was found to have had a history of plagiarism and TOCOG, after an emergency meeting on September 1, had decided to scrap his designs. An Emblems Selection Committee was established last November 24 to organize an open call for design proposals. The deadline for design proposals was set on December 7, 2015 and the new emblem is expected to be revealed in spring 2016.

2 USHS faculty coach in SUC-III Olympics

SPORTS EDITORIAL

Fading Love A lot of sports-inclined students enter University Science High School every year, but upon entering, their enthusiasm in sports slowly fades away. Here’s why. With a jam-packed curriculum and fullybooked schedules even on weekends, students who were once active in sports and recreation tend to give less time, if not none, to these kinds of activities. The supposedly one to two hours spent for training is now replaced by a whole-day practice for performances. In addition to this, there are also some who are pressured to get to the top 15 of their class. So instead of going out and play a sport, one opts to study in fear of failing a subject. Other factors may also lessen the sports enthusiasm of students. One of these is the availability of resources. Just by looking at our Tambayan 2, sights of old and chipped wooden tennis tables welcome us. As an athlete, who would be excited to practice with such equipments? However, is the school really the one to blame for the loss of students’ enthusiasm in sports? Perhaps not. Students of University Science High School are trained to excel in academics, especially in science, and not in sports. If a person really wants to pursue his sport, he’s the one that needs to adjust, not the school. We also also know that USHS’s budget is not that big. This year in USHS, we only paid a donation fee of 1100 pesos that will be added to the budget that CLSU has given. This is relatively small compared to the tuition fee of private schools, which may even exceed 30,000. However, this budget isn’t for sports alone. With so much the school is paying, not to mention that we are in classrooms with an air-conditioning system, it’s no wonder that not much are left for equipments and facilities. With all of these, what’s the best thing a sports-inclined student in USHS should do? First, he must have good time management to balance his studies and his sport. Second, he must be contented with what equipments and facilities the school has to offer. He must accept the fact that the school’s fund is limited and that the school may not provide everything that he needs. Being busy in school or the lack of equipment and facilities may lessen the sports enthusiasm of students, but definitely not stop them from playing. “Pag gusto mo, may paraan”. If you really love sports, you would do everything to not let this love fade away.

G10 lad wins runner-up in search for Mr. Unit I by PHIL JUSTIN A. PANGILINAN

After bagging the title of USHS Lakan ng Wika ‘15, 10th grader Arden Melveve M. Castaneto clinched a spot in the Search for Mr. Unit I 2015 held at the CLSU Grandstand last October 15. Castaneto, the sole representative of University Science High School

Natividad to join nat’l leg in Aklan

by FRANCO ANDREI PINEDA

Two faculty members of USHS served as trainer-coaches in the recently concluded SUC-III Olympics at Pampanga State Agricultural University, Dec. 16-21. Allan F. Antalan, Michael C. Delos Santos, and Lexter R. Natividad joined the coaching staff of the CLSU Green Cobras in the Volleyball-W, Basketball-M, and Chess-W respectively. Natividad contributed in the medal count of the Green Cobras as three of his athletes made a podium finish, two golds and one bronze. Natividad, together with two-student athletes will join Region III’s delegation to the 2016 National State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association Games in the province of Aklan. On the other hand, CLSU finished as the overall 1st runner-up in the said games behind perennial champion Bulacan State University.

CASTAÑETO

in the pageant, placed first runner-up, in between Argel Barawid and Noli Dela Cruz who finished Mr. Unit I and second runner-up respectively. “Di ko in-expect na magiging 1st runner up pa ako kasi biglaan lang akong sinali. Pero masaya kasi narepresent ko yung USHS,” said Castaneto. “Nagpapasalamat ako, una sa mga teachers dahil sa tiwala nila sakin na isali do’n, sa mga kaibigan ko, sa mga taga USHS na nagcheer sa’kin, and siyempre kay God kasi Siya yung nag-guide sa’kin do’n,” he added. Seven other contestants from the College of Education participated in the said event.

THE RESEARCHER

SPORTS

August - December 2015

Stay fit, learn self-defense

SPORTS FEATURE

taekwondo by PHIL JUSTIN A. PANGILINAN

Do you want to lose weight, learn how to defend yourself, and have fun at the same time? Why not learn taekwondo next vacation? Taekwondo (or Tae Kwon Do) is a martial art which originated in Korea. It was developed in the 1940s by various Korean martial artists as a blend of indigenous Korean fighting styles, and foreign martial arts such as Karate. Giving emphasis on kicks, learning taekwondo involves intense conditioning of the body, especially the leg muscles. It is a good way of exercising. One hour of training may burn 630 calories off your body (that's almost equivalent to three cups of rice!). Adding a balanced diet, you would be fit in no time. Taekwondo may also help you to be street safe. Remember those times when you were walking in a dark alley or through those less desirable areas and an eerie feeling flows through your veins? Well,

worry no more. Once you increase in level, you'd gain access to more techniques that will surely drop anybody on the ground. Talk about self defense in style. And who says that taekwondo is boring? Enrolling in a taekwondo dojo will gain you new friends and experiences. Given enough time and training, you may also be given the chance to compete in different taekwondo tournaments inside (and eventually, outside) the country. Isn't it fun to gain new friends while the cabinet is being filled with medals and trophies? Taekwondo is now becoming a trend not just in the Philippines, but also in the world. So if you want to lose weight, learn how to defend yourself, and have fun at the same time, join the trend and enroll

in a taekwondo dojo this summer. The nearest training

center in Science City of Munoz is the Jinm8’s Taekwondo Center in Bantug. For only 1500 pesos, you would be able to train 16 two-hour sessions in a month. Trainings are on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. If you fail to attend training due to school, don’t panic. You may be able to reschedule your training to a less-hassle day.

In volleyball women

Tintero leads Unit I silver medal finish by DEW XYA I. DELA ROSA

In danger of complete destruction after a two-set lead, the Golden Fighting Lynx women’s volleyball turned to their prime with dual forces from Dominique Tintero a.k.a. the tournament’s ‘Alyssa Valdez’ and ace hitter Sharia Broñoso--who both contributed for a third set gain--- in the championship game against the ever-powerful Unstoppable Hawks of unit V, 3-1. The Golden Fighting Lynx survived the foe’s witty strikes but was later overpowered by five consecutive shots leading to a sure first set win for the Hawks, 25-16. Tintero, Broñoso, Marjorie

Sales, and University Science High School import Alyssa Ann Fausto formed the team’s lethal assault group together with another USHS setter, Therese Yaco to come close to the opponent’s resilience with 25-22. The team managed to take the third set with two points, 25-23, but the Hawks answered with as high as six consecutive shots to ensure their gold crown and stood unbeaten, 25-20. The team put on straight wins from the elimination rounds to the semis, combating unit II (CAG), III (CEN), IV (CVSM) and VIII (CHSI) respectively, but failed to extend their streak after battling record-holder College of Arts and

Sciences on the 52nd Intramural Games last Nov. 25 to 27. Tintero was also much of a talk on the championships because it was another match-up between unit I and unit II in the finals----now with her on the College of Education’s side, taking the silver place. Unit I also garnered 39 gold, 58 silver and 49 bronze to place third in the overall medal tally, while unit VII acquired 43 gold, 23 silver and bronze for second whereas four consecutive champion unit V obtained 79 gold, 81 silver and 44 bronze for a hall of fame record.

Swimming: skill for life by ANDREA DEI A. PENALOZA

Why should every Filipino learn swimming? Swimming is known for its popularity in Olympic Games. It is a very safe form of exercise, for it is considered to have low impact and is easy on bones and joints. Basic swimming techniques are used to survive a calamity or disaster. Through those basic techniques, the four swimming strokes can be learned. These are: reestyle or the front crawl; the easiest and fastest stroke in swimming, backstroke; the stroke that is swum on the back, breaststroke; the frog-like stroke in swimming and butterfly; the second fastest stroke.

Learn to swim for your safety. Drowning is the second leading cause of death among Filipino children aged 14 and below. Being on a water-surrounded country, Filipinos should learn how to be comfortable with water. In this way, we can save our own lives. Remember, don’t swim alone. It is better to have a person to watch you. Learn to swim for your health. Swimming develops coordination, muscle strength, and flexibility, and builds up endurance. Through this form of exercise, you can have a healthier heart and lungs. Swimming also helps controlling

your weight. Learn to swim for others. If you know how to swim, you might have a chance saving someone’s life. You can use swimming to rescue people and save them from drowning. Learn to swim for competition. Swimming is not about winning or losing. This sport is about enjoying! Learning how to swim can give you a healthy spirit of competition. Through this way, you can meet new faces of people and gain lots of friends! And do you know what’s the most important reason why you should learn how to swim? It is a timeless skill that you can use in a lifetime.

Time-out Down to the dumps phil justin a. pangilinan

The Philippines used to dominate the world of sports. Back in the 1900s, the Philippines was known as a power house in many sporting fields. This is evident in the number of medals Filipino athletes bagged by that time. Filipino ballers, for example, won 9 golds and a silver in the Far Eastern Championship games before it ended in 1934. Teofilo Yldefonso, a Filipino, won the country, Southeast Asia rather, its first olympic medal after taking home a bronze medal in Men’s 200 meter breastroke in the 1928 olympics while Sineon Toribio and Jose Villanueva took home bronzes in men’s high jump and Men’s bantamweight boxing respectively in the 1932 Olympics. Now, the Philippines is struggling to appear in the top spots in games in the region, such as the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and the Asian Games. What happened? Most people would point their fingers to the government. Well, they’re not wrong. According to the Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) chairman, Richie Garcia, the lack of budget is one of the main reasons for the country’s poor showing in different sports meets. “Iba eh. We only have a budget of about P800 million. Singapore has about eight billion pesos,” said Garcia in an interview by GMA News. In comparison with the Philippine’s condition in the 1900s, our budget for sports did decrease through the years. From our colonization by the Americans up until the early 1960s, The Philippine economy ranked as the second most progressive in Asia, next to that of Japan. More money means more budget for sports, thus motivating athletes to bring home

medals. Ronnie Nathanielsz, a Philippine sports analyst since 1963, also emphasized the need for a holistic approach to athlete preparation that would make them competitive in the world stage. According to him, a proper diet and psychological readiness must accompany the athlete’s training, something that’s not given to them due to lack of funds. Government officials have been aware of the problem for some time now. Some appear to have had enough. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, chairman of the Senate Committee for Sports, seeks to create the Department of Sports whose aim is to give the head of the Sports Department a cabinet member position. This, according to him, may influence the President’s decisions in prioritizing sports development. Senators Pia Cayetano and Sonny Angara have also shown their support in the development of Philippine sports by pushing the bill to build a Philippine High School for Sports (PHSS). According to them, if the Philippines truly prioritizes sports, many will be veered away from drugs, and many will finish college. As a sports-loving country that can achieve a zero crime rate (for a day) all because of a boxing match, it is without a doubt, possible for our legislators to create and pass laws, so as to fulfill the Filipino guilty pleasure of watching our countrymen rule in the world of sports-- a world which we have once conquered. The Philippines has been on the top then. With enough support from the government, the Philippines could uplift its rank and steer itself away from the dumps.

SURVIVAL RUN. Student-athlethes from Unit I undergo the first stage of try-outs for the unit’s basketball team during the College of Education’s Mini Intramurals. LEO BERT A . ORPILLA

the

esearcher the official student publication of clsu science high school

Sports

8 grader naiads shine in University Intrams th

by PHIL JUSTIN A. PANGILINAN

The USHS lady swimmers shone bright in the Central Luzon State University Intramurals after bagging a total of 20 medals Nov. 25-27. Sofia Isabelle J. Gaddi, 8th grader, took home 6 golds from 50m freestyle, 50m breaststroke, 100m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 200m individual medley, and 4x50m medley relay. Gaddi also got 3 silvers from 4x50m freestyle relay, 4x100m freestyle relay, and 4x100m medley relay. Jewel Anne Shaina Bulanadi, another 8th grader, bagged 2 golds from 4x50m medley relay and 50m backstroke, 5 silvers from 4x50m freestyle relay, 4x100m medley relay, 4x100m freestyle relay, and 100m backstroke, and a bronze in 200m freestyle. Adding to the medal roster are Andrea Dei Penaloza, 8th grader, and Shelley Louise Umagat, 7th grader, who each pocketed three medals (one gold, one silver, one bronze) and 4 medals (one gold, two silver, one bronze), respectively. The lady swimmers contributed

SPORTS FEATURE

NAIADS CLAD IN GOLD. The USHS women’s swimming team stop for a group shot during the awarding ceremony of University Intramurals.

See page 19

SPORTS NEWS See page18

Grade 9 jin reaps medals in taekwondo tournaments by PHIL JUSTIN A. PANGILINAN

PHOTO COURTESY: hazel judan

a total of 20 medals —9 golds, 10 silvers, and a bronze— for College of Education’s (CEd) third place finish in the University Intramurals. On the other hand, Wyenard Leevirg Villanueva, the only male USHS representative in this year’s CEd’s swimming team, brought home a silver and a bronze medal. Meanwhile, Jan Marie Therese Yaco and Alyssa Ann Fausto settled for a silver medal in women’s volleyball after their team got beaten by the reigning Intramurals cham-

ON REVERSE. Sofia Isabelle J. Gaddi does a backstroke in one of the swimming events during the 52nd Annual CLSU Intramurals.

pions, College of Arts and Sciences. Adding another medal for CEd is taekwondo jin Xyran Aerielle Alejandro who kicked his way to a bronze medal in Taekwondo. Leo Bert Orpilla from CEd’s men’s volleyball team was a participant along with seventh graders Ma. Ericka C. Romano (Table Tennis Women’s Doubles), Trisha Corinth Delos Santos (Karate), Gabriel Marquez (Lawn Tennis) , Ryan James Intendecia (Chess), and Kim Tangonan (Athletics).

A grade 9 student brought home two medals from the different taekwondo tournaments he joined. Xyran Aerielle S. Alejandro, a high-blue belter standing at 5’3”, finished second in the CPJ Bulacan Taewondo Championship on Aug. 29. He faced Bulacan’s Lance Joseph Mrami in the championship round. “Sayang talaga dahil malapit na akong mag-gold no’n pero 6 feet flat ang nakalaban ko. Height palang, may lamang na siya,” Alejandro said. He placed fourth in the 6th Gov. Aurelio “Oyie” Umali Taekwondo Championships at SM City Cabanatuan on Dec. 12. Despite his age, he managed to clinch a bronze medal during the University Intramurals where he competed against

ALEJANDRO the collegiate players. He also joined the Tarlac Regional Taekwondo Championship on Sept. 12.

Tankers top medal tally in div’n meet by PHIL JUSTIN A. PANGILINAN

Shelley Louise S. Umagat, grade The University Science High School (USHS) tankers 7, grabbed 3 golds from 4x50m swam for golds and topped the medal tally for swim- freestyle, 4x50m medley relay, ming in the Division Meet , December 4-5. and 100m breaststroke; 2 silver Sofia Isabelle J. Gaddi, former Palarong Pambansa finalist, contributed 7 golds from 50m breaststroke, 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 200m individual medley, 4x50 freestyle relay, and 4x50 medley relay. “Kailangan po ng sacrifice. Minsan po 6 am start na ng training. Tuloy po ang training after class. Minsan po ay late na rin nakakauwi sa gabi dahil sa training,” shared Gaddi when asked about her training routine. PHOTO COURTESY: hazel G. judan

Wyenard Leevirg DC. Villanueva, the sole male representative of USHS in the division meet’s swimming events, won 6 golds from 50,100, and 200m freestyle, 50m and 100m buttefly, and from the 4x50 freestyle relay. Jewel Anne Shaina G. Bulanadi, Gaddi’s classmate, bagged 5 golds from 200m breast stroke, 200m backstroke, 4x50 freestyle relay, 4x50m medley relay, and 2 silvers from 50m and 100m backstroke.

from 50m and 200m breaststroke; a bronze from 50m butterfly. Meanwhile, CLSU’s women’s volleyball team consisting of USHS players Mitzi Trix M. Fernandez, Czarina Jiane P. Sicat, Nonie Nicole R. Cuevas, Laisa L. de Guzman, Alyssa Ann R. Fausto, and Jan Marie Therese L. Yaco made a gold finish. On the other hand, David Keith D. Mauyao, Leo Bert A. Orpilla, and Blaise Kent L. Calpito of the CLSU men’s volleyball team finished second.