Viva el Papa Francesco! Page 3
Launching Joyful Obedience Page 6
Lovabe Me Page 8
S.O.S.: Summer of Service Page 14
Parent’s Nook Page 17
The Trailblazers of Everest
“Always Aiming Higher” with Our New High School Building
by Weenter Eberhardt Get ready, Everest! Another milestone in our school’s history is about to unveil soon! That’s right, Everest is getting bigger and better in every way! It’s time to say hello to the newest addition to our school campus – the High School building! The long anticipated construction is finally coming to its full completion in July 2015. It will have a covered basketball court on the 6th floor, a Dance Room, a Music Room, and a Physics Lab. And for those who seek a place where they can take their meals, relax or simply hang out with friends, the Al Fresco area is the ideal place. “I can’t wait for the first day of school next school year when we return to school in our brand new High School building with all its cool amenities,” exclaimed one 9th Grader. Another 8th Grader said he is thrilled to continue pursuing High School in Everest Academy because of the new building. The teachers’ excitement is as evident as that of the students. In addition to more faculty and administrative offices, boardrooms, and new classrooms up to 12th Grade, there will be an additional 13 parking slots, a multi-purpose room for events and activities, and special subject rooms, too. Function-wise, how can high-rise buildings exist without the grace of elevators? Certainly, our architects thoroughly thought of it, and there’ll be elevators in the High School building as well. Way to go! “Not having to exhaustingly climb up flights of stairs during the PTC’s in school is a real relief,” deplored one pleased parent. Certainly, what more can one ask for? Now that the High School building is opening its doors soon, there is one question each of us must be curious to find the answer to – what’s next? More expansions? Actually, yes! Highly sought-after parts of the new building will be added soon — a sports complex that will house a bigger cafeteria, a covered gymnasium, and *gasp* a Seniors’ Lounge for the 12th grade graduating batch! Isn’t that amazing?
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Editor’s Note The road to success is not a path you find but a trail you blaze. - Robert Brault This school year is a pivotal year for all of us. Together, we have blazed new trails and created many groundbreaking milestones in our Everest community. We’ve witnessed new breakthroughs and great developments that relatively accustomed us to see “progress” in school as almost always a conventional norm. Within the pages of this issue, we, the editorial staff of The Everest Altius, strive to present these defining advancements that reflect the vision and ideals of the trailblazers in our school. On a more extensive scale, we are also featuring various articles contributed by various volunteer writers. We have also handpicked noteworthy literary composition and artworks made by the students from all grade levels, creating a remarkable year-end archive in this periodical. Finally, through this publication, we aim to involve our fellow Everest Academy students to intellectual, spiritual, emotional and analytical liaison, helping them develop a more liberal awareness of the relevant social issues that are happening in our society today. —Weenter Eberhardt Editor-in-Chief
Viva el Papa
Francesco! By Sophie Padilla
“VIVA EL PAPA! VIVA PAPA FRANCESCO!” This chant echoed loudly and proudly for five days wherever the Holy Father went during his visit to the Philippines. Millions of people gathered in the rain or under the scorching heat of the sun, day or night, all for one person. From January 15-19, 2015, the Filipinos were moved and inspired by the words of Pope Francis. Whether it be just a talk or a homily in Mass, great unforgettable lessons touched many, and even brought people to tears. During his short stay here, he gave a number of addresses, celebrated Holy Masses for various groups, and visited Tacloban for a day. Whenever he spoke, everyone listened. Many were inspired to change their ways and fall in love with the Faith more. The theme of his visit was “Mercy and Compassion”. In Malacañang Palace, in the presence of most of the top government officials and many elected politicians, he lamented how corruption marginalized the poor. At the Manila Cathedral, he spoke of the need to become poor ourselves so as to be able to relate to them. In the Mall of Asia Arena, during his encounter with the families, he repeatedly made a call to everyone to “protect the family”, a message that he talked about nine times throughout his visit. He insisted on being able to listen to God and know what He wants from us. He also reminded us never to stop dreaming for our family, which is what sustains the love in the family. Although his trip was cut short in Tacloban because of a typhoon, he did not fail to deliver his most memorable message to the survivors of Yolanda: “I am here to be with you!” He encouraged them to always remember that they are never alone.
They have our Blessed Mother leading them by the hand, and so close to Jesus who Himself underwent a greater suffering. Moreover, they have each other to get through any difficult situation. “Learn how to cry!” said Pope Francis during his encounter with the youth. He stressed that we must be wise with the overload of information in the world today. One of the messages that left a mark on many people was “to love and be loved”. “Love is surprising,” he said. “Let us be open to it.” He taught us to use the three languages of communication in harmony with each other: thinking, feeling and doing. Finally, in the historic, record-breaking Mass at the Quirino Grandstand, attended by almost 7 million people, the he related his homily to the Santo Niño. He said that the feast reminds us of our call to spread the reign of Christ throughout the World. “We are all God’s adopted children, brothers and sisters in Christ.” Pope Francis mentioned. He again tells us that we, Filipinos, are called to be outstanding missionaries of the Faith in Asia. His Holiness’ talks and teachings were so mind blowing and outstanding. His words are an everlasting source of wisdom. Pope Francis has truly made an impact on each and every Filipino. He will always have a special place in the hearts of the Filipino. He only had one favor for us to do. He asked us to pray for him. Imagine the humility of the Pope asking for prayers from us. This is the least we can do for hi after all he has done for us. His Holiness is a trailblazer, leading people into the loving arms of our God. VIVA PAPA FRANCESCO!
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EDITORIAL by Weenter Eberhardt Editor-in-Chief
Ahhh… summer
matter — what matters is how we feel about ourselves. Like candy in a store, we wrap ourselves in a negligible wrapper — beautifying the exterior and glorifying those who have the prettiest covering… but it is actually the delicacy inside that defines its quality. God created us all beautiful in our own way, and we should embrace those special and unique traits about us that make us who we are. Even if we’re silently and adversely scrutinized: that we’re chubby and we have a stoutly round stomach, or our bellies are voluptuously wide and our skin is blotchily uneven, or our legs do not have that quintessential “thigh gap”… we should remain securely-anchored that bodies are bodies, and “there is no wrong way to have a body.” To be clear, some legs touch, and some legs don’t – does it even really matter? We hope to close this “gap”! We all come in different shapes and sizes. Accordingly, we should deliberately choose not to allow our horrifying media-obsessed soci-
ety dictate or shred off our self-worth as determined by what is — or is not — the body structure we should have. So I say, come this swimsuit season, hit the beach, put on your swimwear, get those golden oompa-loompa suntan lines, and enjoy your summertime fun!
editorial staff
is here once again, and it’s that time of year to get ready for the swimsuit season! For some teens, this is a dreadful, cringe-shamming occasion when we have to swallow our bashful inhibition and strut out of our houses with apparently less fabric on our bodies, displaying our AC-sheltered skin for all the world to see! But what happens when we think the way we look just doesn’t look good enough to survive another bare-skinned summer? Argh! Every summer, the almighty media barrages us with visual assaults of unrealistic portrayals of beauty by way of TV shows, films, magazines, websites, image ads and chockfull of diet tips. Undoubtedly, their message is very clear — in order to match the idea of beauty and hence be valued by society, girls must be very thin, while boys are conditioned to believe that a lean, chiseled, and muscular physique is the masculine ideal. This popular culture is offensively misleading! More often than not, whenever we see that we’re not measuring up to the so-called “role model” image as painted by the media, we wonder if there is something wrong with us. As a result, our confidenc and self-esteem dramatically dwindle down, and so does our judgment of our overall personal worth. Worse, it follows that whenever we feel an intense pressure to visibly look a certain way, we also create a secret comparison and negative self-talk that make us feel frustrated and angry about ourselves. So, what now? How can we have a healthy perception of our body image? It’s pretty simple — we must be vigilant to counteract and challenge the distorted ideals of what we see and hear in the media. Essentially, we may not ever look like certain female celebrities nor our favorite professional athletes, but this does not mean that the swimsuit season is forthwith cancelled. Should we dash in outdoor swimming in our speedos and swimsuits, anyway? Absolutely, yes! Even if all the people in the world tell us that we either look good or not, it doesn't
Weenter Eberhardt Editor-in-Chief u Sophie Padilla Managing Editor u Joshua Dizon Sports and Photo Editor u Loriel Eleazar Features Editor
Editor’s Note: We certainly appreciate your input. If you would like to submit a story or write for us in any one of current sections, or if you have a great idea for one, let us know by emailing me at weenter_eberhardt@yahoo.com
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A Week of Geniuses By Loriel Eleazar
Go ahead and shout “Eureka!” because it has
been another successful Math and Science week this year. Staring February 16-20, upperschool has been making exhilarating science exhibits and experiments and formulating math strategies that surely surprised everyone. On Monday, we were greeted with the colorful and creative math banners of 6th grade that were hung on the ceilings of the hallways. Then after a brief talk, the 6th graders stared off the week with their Rocket Launch experiment in the soccer field. It was a crowd pleasing sight to their homemade rockets shoot high into the air using the science of air pressure. Some rockets even went high enough to land on the other side of the fence. The next event was the classic 8th grade egg drop. In this science experiment, the students had to create a parachute or package that would keep the egg safe and unbroken. They then threw their eggs off the third floor of the admin building. It was an “egg-citing” yet suspenseful experience for the students as they waited to see if their egg cracked. The last event on Monday was the 7th grade Math fair. Here, our 7th graders researched on how math can actually be applicable to our daily lives, for example, in Youtube statistics. There were many interesting booths with artistic designs and “fun fact” information. The next day, Tuesday, began with the 9th grade SIP (science investigatory project) presentation. SIPs are like a science experiments except they must be innovative and unique. Although for most it was their first time, the 9th graders made interesting and original experiments that were clearly explained and understood. The following event was the 7th grade science fair. It was a scientifically colorful scene as the students entertained the crowd with dry-ice experiments, homemade bouncy balls, and even the ability to “walk on water.” The day ended with the Math Fair of grade 8. Like the 7th graders, the 8th graders also talked about how math can relate to your hobbies. They taught that math can be found in basketball, cooking, and even dance. That Wednesday was Ash Wednesday. The entire upperschool had mass in the morning. The rest of the day, some selected 9th graders prepared the Four Tour Contest. The Four is an app where the player has to answer as many arithmetic questions as possible, but if the player answers too slowly, he/she has to restart. In the Four Tour Contest, however, contestants get one chance to get as many points as possible within a certain time limit. The person who gets the highest score for each class will then move on to the finals, which happens during half time at the Science and Math Cup. There was no school Thursday because it was Chinese New Year, so on to Friday. That was the day of the long awaited Science and Math Cup. In this year’s tournament, each team must have at least 3 members, one from each of the 3 grade levels in middleschool, 6th, 7th, and 8th. The 9th graders hosted and facilitated the event. The rules were simple, there were 3 rounds with ten questions each and as the rounds progressed, the questions got harder and the points got higher. All question were math and science related from lesson of 6th-8th grade. In addition to the contest, each
team also had to pick a costume theme to dress up as, and there were many spectacular outfits. There was a Katy Perry group, a ninja group, and a Disney group. During the first round, the easiest questions were asked. Almost all the groups got at least half of the questions correct. After the first round of the Math and Science Cup were the finals for the Four Tour. Each contestant was given their own table and Ipad to play on. They had a time limit of 2 minutes and could not restart if they ran out of time. The event was hosted by Celine Dabao and facilitated by the other 9th grade members of the Four Tour. Although it started slow, things really heated up when the last two contestants were in complete mathematical concentration. In the end, Sophie Padilla won first place with Amara Abiog as second. The next two rounds of the Math and Science Cup had no breaks. There were many tough and challenging question most of the audience, including some teachers, did not know the answer to. It was definitely a hard second round; some teams only got two questions correct while the highest scorers for that round got 7 out of 10 correct. As we entered the third and final round, the teams were thrilled and nervous just knowing this was their last chance to make it to number one. It was an intense and intellectually challenging final round. The questions were extremely difficult, but somehow teams managed to answer them. After adding up all the points, there was clear winner; team 1 composed of Katya Reichert (7A), Erika Tulfo(6A) and Cedrick Rolusta (8B). To end this fabulous week, awards were rewarded for all of the events. Event
1st place Winner/s
7th Grade Science Booth: People’s Choice
Go Green For The Win: Bella Alba, Alexa Nazareno, Sofia Ante, and Nyah Santos
6th Grade Rocket Launch
Dominic Conde, Noey dela Merced, and Nico Pio de Roda
7th Grade Science Booth: Best Booth
Illusions: Chelsea Ackary, Kaitlin Rosales, and Cristina Perez
9th Grade SIP Best Booth
Weenter Eberhardt, Izzy Evaristo, Loriel Eleazar, and Paola Lorenzo
8th Grade Egg Drop
7th Grade Math Booths: People’s Choice
7th Grade Math Booth: Best Booth
Juliana Gomez, Christiane Tambunting, and Sofia Yulo
Numbers in Business: Andres Lorenzo and Santi Puno
Beauty Analyzed: Chime Medrana and Sofia Ante
8th Grade Math Booths: People’s Choice
Juliana Gomez, Christiane Tambunting, and Sofia Yulo
Math and Science Cup: Best Team Costume
Alice in Wonderland theme: Leo Locsin, Sofia Ante, and Christiane Tambunting
8th Grade Math Booths: Best Booth
Math and Science Cup Champions
The Four Tour Champion
Matthew Cole and Matteo Locsin
Katya Reichert, Erika Tulfo, and Cedrick Rolusta Sophie Padilla
THE EVEREST ALTIUS
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Launching JOYFUL
OBEDIENCE! by Ms. Pinky Garrovillo,
(Lower School Dean of Students)
On January 26, 2015, the Lower School
launched its most recent virtue campaign on Joyful Obedience. The entire Lower School population engaged in a fun game, aptly called “Jesus Says…” (our own take on the popular children’s game “Simon Says…). Amidst all the silliness and fun, the students were reminded of what it truly means to be joyfully obedient, which is to “quickly and cheerfully carry out the direction of those who are responsible for me.” Class bell work on obedience, poster making, games, class projects/tasks related to the virtue (virtue curriculum integration) and special visits from our priests during Vocations Week were only a few of the activities lined up for the Joyful Obedience campaign. The latest add-on was the “Joyful Obedience” Booklet. Each student was given their very own booklet which is meant to be used throughout the quarter. This booklet serves as a simple guide for our students to independently check if they are able to practice the virtue. The “Obedience Oath” was also recently introduced. This is a special pledge about Joyful Obedience that was actually written by one of our 5th graders. There’s a lot more in store for Joyful Obedience as we wrap up the campaign for the quarter. We look forward to sharing more ‘virtue campaign’ news with you all very soon!
Raving about “The Everest Altius” by Weenter Eberhardt
A group of four students worked to-
gether to launch a milestone event in the history of Everest Academy—the debut of “The Everest Altius”, the first official school paper of Everest Academy Manila. Copies of the maiden issue were distributed to all the students, faculty and administrators of the school on January 23, 2015, after an unveiling ceremony led by Ms. Betty Rivera. “The Everest Altius” was named after the school and its motto in an effort to identify the paper with Everest Academy itself. The masthead is in red and blue text design floating on an embedded image of the Everest alps. Everything about the first issue of The Everest Altius appears to be special. It includes everything from The Curious Case of the Fingerprint Tree to a tribute to the school’s security officer. Mr. Edwin Arceo, the High School Coordinator of Everest Academy spearheaded this launch. He reports: “It has been a goal of mine for years to develop a school paper.
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A newspaper that shows the community, within the school and beyond, and the potential of the students. Through print, their passions are appreciated and their unique voices are heard.” “I like helping out, getting the information out to everybody, making them aware,” said Loriel Eleazar, the Features Editor of the newspaper. “Working on a newspaper enhances our imagination and curiosity,” exclaimed Sophie Padilla, the Managing Editor. “It takes a lot of organizational skills to complete this,” said Joshua Dizon, the Sports and Photo Editor. Personally, as the Editor-in-Chief of The Everest Altius, I am proud of what we have all worked tirelessly on for the past months. The first 20-page publication reflects our hard work, dedication and care in our desire to come up with a complete product—OUR school paper that reflects our aspirations and experiences. The Everest Altius is about us. It’s about our journey in Everest Academy. It IS the VOICE of the Everest community.
An App Fair to Remember By Loriel Eleazar
It was surely an “App Fair to Remember” this January 30 as we celebrated the Everest Fair with fabulous games, amazing prizes, and terrific activities. This year, the theme of the fair was “apps” such as Minecraft, The Four, and the Frozen App. Memories were made and laughter was plentiful as many students, teachers, and guest came to this exciting event. There were tons of great booths with awesome games and prizes. Each class created and hosted their own booth with the help of parents and teachers to raise money for class funds. There were booths such as the Dedication booth of 9A, the “Just Dance” booth from 7A, and the ever popular Horror booth from grade 8. Even though having a fair itself is really wonderful, there were also prizes given to the class with the best booths. For Upperschool, Best Booth Decoration was given to 6A, Most Revenue was also won by 6A, who earned over P9,000, and the Attendance award was won by 6A and 6B. In Lowerschool, Best Booth Decoration was won by grade 4, Most Revenue was won again by grade 4, and the Attendance Award was won by 3B. There were also loads of delicious treats for sale at the various food stands. Hunger Tykes, Baskin’n’Robins ice-cream, and the Mix-Mix booth were all featured inside the basketball court. Although, a very favorite and probably memorable stand for everyone would be the Starbucks van just outside the Horror and Just Dance booth in front of the Bistro. To wrap up this fun filled day, the Mommy Amiga moms held their famous Bingo game to raise funds for their beneficiary, a scholar at Mano Amiga. This year, the games were mainly hosted
by Ms. Linda and Mr. Caingcoy but there were also guest hosts such as Mr. Erwin Tulfo, Ms. Betty Rivera, and Mr. Don Eleazar. They also featured a raffle for those who bought bingo tickets. Just like last year, there were many useful and tasty prizes to win from the Bingo game and the raffle, which include products of Hershey’s Chocolate, Ferro Rocher, Eskulin, Pascual Labs, Unilabs, and Travel Essentials. Other prizes also include gift certificates from Starbucks, Brother’s Burger, and Sentro. This year’s fair was truly an “App Fair to Remember.” We hope to see everyone again next year for more exciting games, tasty foods, and amazing activities.
The Spirit Of Christmas: 2014 Mano Amiga Outreach by Julianna Cabili and Nicole Lhuillier, Grade 9
L
ast December, our Mano Amiga family joined us in a special gathering commemorating the spirit of Christmas. Food, games, and special numbers performed by our very own Everest students entertained the crowd. We were previously paired up each with a little brother or sister to spend the day with and get to know. I myself was partnered with a shy but sweet fourth grader named Nicole Cruz, who I was extremely glad to have met. All of us had the time of our lives running around and having fun. The day commenced with a gathering at the Lower School patio, where we met our little brothers and sisters for the first time. We started with a simple game; the objective was to look for a girl or boy, who was given the same paper shape we were given, and to run to the stage and claim a prize. My partner and I came very close to claim a bag of Oreos for us, but sadly, all the prizes had already run out. Our class then proceeded to our classroom to participate in more exciting
activities. Back in on the fifth floor, each pair worked on a Christmas tree coloring sheet. My partner and I got to know each other a little better as we were decorating our tree in bright pink. We played music, talked, and ate pizza. (Yum!) Afterwards, we proceeded to the patio once more to play relay games. Our group won a challenge of our own; to be put through a hula hoop then run across the covered court, placing straws on bottles and then pulling them out. My partner, who was never much of an athlete herself (just like me!) was a good help in winning. I congrat-
ulated her and she smiled a big smile. Next, it was time for our musical performances. Some classes did renditions of famous hits, such as “Let It Go” and “I’m Yours.” Our 9A class presented a singing number of the chart-topper, “Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber. We were pleasantly surprised by the subsequent performances by the Mano Amiga students. I have to admit, they are far better singers than we are, plus they were very enthusiastic about it. Our outreach concluded with our giftgiving session. Each of us presented our little sister with brand new rubber shoes, all pink in color. Based on their reactions, I think they absolutely loved our gifts. Some even wanted to try them on, right there and then! Alas, the time came to say goodbye. It was quite sentimental. I have always wanted a sister, and I am glad to have had one even just for a day. I am proud to say that this outreach was a success, and I hope for many more fruitful ones to come.
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Lovable Me By Amara Abiog
Last Friday, February 20, the girls from grades 4-7 went to a retreat to the Dominican House of Prayer in Tagaytay, Cavite. We left after school. All of us had carpool which had each grade in it. It took us about an hour and a half to get there. When we arrived at the place, we saw a beautiful sunset that made all of us stand and stare. We were so excited to see our rooms that we even ran with our heavy luggages and bags. After that, one of the sisters oriented us on the rules of the convent. She taught us where to put our leftover food, where to throw our trash, and most importantly to be quiet. She told us to not open our mouths too big, just the right size. That night, we watched “Despicable Me” and ate our snacks that we brought. Some girls were really tired that we almost fell asleep. When we went back to our rooms, we were the opposite! All of us were laughing and talking! At first, I had a hard time sleeping. I missed my parents, my sister, and my bed. The second day was really fun. Brenna, Niomi, and the consecrated performed skits, gave talks, sports activities, adoration, and a Minon Dance Party! We had Mass after our sports activities. After that, we had adoration. Everyone was so solemn and quiet. Niomi explained three things that we were supposed to do. First, one by one we chose a bottle that was 1/4 full. We carried it slowly to the altar the poured it
into a bowl. Second, we each lighted a candle. Most of us out it on the bowl of water, than on the floor. When I out my candle, it sank and the candle went off. Another embarrassing moment! Third, we each were given a flower to put to float in the water. The exercises really calmed me down. After everyone was done praying, we sang songs. The songs weren’t so familiar to me. Good thing the lyrics were just on the screen, so I followed along. Of course there are those times when you and your friend mess up during a song. Well, that’s what happened to us! My classmate, Gian, and I made a mistake in one of the songs. We tried to stop each other from laughing! After Fr. Luis’s talk, it was our Minion Dance Party! When we went inside the conference room, Brenna handed each one of us glow sticks! Everyone was dressed like a minion, with the jumpers and yel-
low shirts. Rocio Escaño even wore a unicorn onesie! It was so cute! When songs played, we were dancing crazily! We would follow Sabina Gidaya’s dance moves. Once in awhile somebody would start a Conga Line! My shoe got stuck in one of the seats that I had to go back and get it! That was a embarrassing moment! All of us were really tired that we went straight to sleep. Before that, Brenna told us a bedtime story and all of us sang songs. On the third day, we had one last talk by Brenna. After the talk, all of us wrote letters to God that we brought up to the altar along with our hosts during the Mass. During the Mass some of us renewed our friendship with Christ, while the others did their friendship with Christ. The retreat really taught me how to be more responsible and LOVABLE! That was one “Minion-tastic” retreat!
My Heart is with the Slumdogs by Weenter Eberhardt
Christmas Eve Home December 24, 2014, (1:25AM)
It’s past Christmas Eve, our family had gone to the midnight mass and joyously feasted upon our noche buena meal. As I was lulling myself to bed on this particular night, I was reading Job and came across a verse that would stick with me for the entirety of the next day. “Like wild donkeys in the desert, the poor go about their labor of foraging food; the wasteland provides food for their children” (Job 24:5). I would never have been able to imagine what I would see and experience that next morning when we made our trip to the Parola Compound in Tondo, Manila. The Morning Call Parola Compound - Tondo, Manila December 25, 2014 (7:45AM) Parola in Tondo is a huge slum in Manila. From a distance, the foul odor of fecal stink expansively engulfed the air. My mind struggled to bear the thought of whether they were either animal or human feces, or both. It did unfold itself afterwards. Masses of human feces littered the ground as I walked through the labyrinths of narrow alleys lined up with stenchy piles of trash and clammy sediments of filth. Securely, I held on tight to the sackful of Christmas gifts I was then carrying, remaining steadfast in my resolve to hand them over to the impoverished children on Christmas day. They were the toys donated by the Everest parents during our Holidazzle Christmas program in school. This steadfast determination shielded me to breeze through this urban slum on foot, at all times dodging all the swampy stuff on the ground. A crisscross of dingy pathways after pathways, and canals of trash continued on for what seemed like toxic miles with no end. I
saw kids, toddlers, walking around barely clothed, with no footwear and without anyone with them. A few were shuffling around in the dirt, crying, as if they were either lost or being foolhardy to stow away from this pit. Many were searching through the piles of trash, as if looking for their breakfast. It was then that I grasped for breath. It broke my heart so much, that I struggle to find words to describe it. Families with three, four, five, or more children were living in tiny shacks,
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each as small as the top of a dining table. I managed to peek through as most doors were left open. I barged into one entree as I saw a kid, perhaps 10 years old, sleeping on the floor which looked as though it was a walk-in closet, with all their household belongings hanging above them, including their kitchen utensils. Sheets of aluminum-colored sheets and curtains made up the four walls and the roof of their home. The kid woke up and flashed a big smile to me as soon as I handed him a
Christmas gift. His name is Carlito. He is an amazing, smart little boy. When I started to ask him questions, he said, “I will answer whatever you ask, in exchange for those Oreo cookies you’re holding.” So as soon as this bribery was executed, I barraged him with a battery of questions. Regarding their toilets... the whole neighborhood is their toilet. Their whole house is their kitchen. Their whole shack is their bed. The entire house is a sleeping area! A few nicer ones have doubledecked beds. Carlito lives in garbage dumps, and every once in a while, he gets lucky enough to find a great prize - a torn shirt, or a broken piece of glass that he commonly needs to defend himself from gang fights. I wasn’t too sure if it was because of the large bag of gifts I was carrying, or if I seemingly looked like Carlito’s newfound friend, but before I knew it, I was surrounded by a crowd of kids! “I’m trapped! Whoa, would I be able to get out of Tondo alive?”, I exclaimed. Seeing how nervous I was, Carlito pacified everyone, “Siya si Ate Weenter! Bisita natin siya!” They all thought I was an American, so they tried speaking English to me. Then I spoke, “Maligayang Pasko sa inyo! May dala akong regalo, galing sa mga estudyante ng Everest Academy.” They were so thrilled to hear me talk in Filipino, they clapped their hands and group-hugged me! A bunch of kids (behind steel bars, which I don’t understand why until now) whispered, “Sama kami sa’yo, Ate Weenter!” Upon giving the gifts to them, they were beaming with happiness! Somehow, in the midst of the poverty surrounding them, these gifts from the parents of Everest brought joy to these children. They received toys, puzzles,
stuffed animals, lego blocks, dolls, art supplies, musical instruments, games, and many more. Praise the Lord for the “Holidazzle” Christmas program which paved way for this Christmas toy donation! What really stuck with me, however, wasn’t their impoverished conditions, but how they chose joy despite their circumstances. In what I seemingly thought was a contrast of personalities between them and myself, I found FRIENDS! I was actually having fun in Tondo! I even lost track of my group for a while so I could play with Carlito and my Tondo buddies. Sure, I was forewarned that I might catch a bug of some sort, or they might find me a snob, but in all honesty, I was totally comfortable and they treated me warmly like one of them. We were plainly having fun as if it was the most natural thing in the world! On an even happier note, Carlito did a wonderful job singing his solo! We passed through the same alley on our way back. This time, Carlito kept me company. He spoke about how he is his family’s only hope of getting out of the slums. At 10, he is prepared that one day he will support his entire family. He actually cannot wait to give them a better future, and he was actually happy about that. What a conviction for a 10-year-old kid, I thought. I didn’t get to stay in the Parola slum long enough, but there were so many questions that I would have loved to ask Carlito. I wanted to know so much about their lives. I wanted to help. Coming to Understand Home December 25, 2015 (3:00PM) After opening our Christmas gifts, we watched a documentary called “Happyland”. I couldn’t wait to see it, but as soon as the caption showed up on the screen, I started to cry. “This is a story of the legendary barefoot soccer players from the slum district of Tondo.” Then about 60 seconds after it started, I watched the character, Chrisval de Castro. It was then that I lost myself. Tears flowed down like I just lost my dog in a house fire. I remembered Carlito and the kids in Tondo who wanted to come with me. I sobbed for the first five minutes, and then I had to turn it off. I couldn’t watch it. I just couldn’t explain my tears. The first moments of the movie were about getting to know the kids in Tondo and how they lived. My brothers and cousins altogether contested, “What in the world did they show? Isn’t this about teaching sports to the kids in depressed areas, and them turning out victorious in the end?” I have never seen what is truly considered “poor” until I walked the alleys in Tondo. The Tondo slums were something that I would never have imagined. Honestly, I thought that it would have grossed me out to the extent that I would never want to go back. The exact opposite happened. I can’t wait to get back there! I can’t wait to see what I can do or bring with me to help. This is where I am needed. I then read one of Pope Francis’ New Year’s resolutions for 2015 - Meet the poor “in the flesh”. Wow, that about knocked me off my seat. To understand this message means we have to literally go face-to-face where the poorest of the poor are found. Christmas 2014 was a life-changing experience for me that will forever change me as a person. Needless to say, I never thought that I would want to go to the slums, let alone go BACK to the slums. My heart is with the slumdogs.
Inspired to give donations to the children in Tondo? Please contact the Student Council President.
The First Middle School Graduates by Celine H. Dabao I interviewed four Middle School graduates—Loriel Eleazar and Kathryn Rodriguez from 9A, and Miguel Alba and Enzo Tiongson from 9B. Thanks again, you guys! 1. What was most memorable about middle school? Loriel: When I won the Semper Altius award in 7th grade. I didn’t look super happy but it was pretty awesome. Enzo: Getting awards on graduation day. Also, fun times with my classmates and teachers. Kathryn: Probably the major events—the Science fair, Christmas productions, and things like that. I remember them the most! Also, getting to know the teachers. Miguel: Confirmation, graduation, the new building, and getting into football varsity. 2. How is high school different from middle school? Loriel: It’s harder and more challenging. There are a lot of new teachers. Also, we have a new PE uniform that has three layers of fabric, which makes it really hot. But it’s cool that we have a new volleyball team and electives, which are hard, but okay. Enzo: Projects and tests are way more difficult than last year. More homework is given to us every day and the deadlines are shorter! Kathryn: The first few weeks were fun. Then everything got more challenging. Miguel: It’s a little bit more fun because of new subjects (ex. Design and Technology) and new teachers. 3. What are virtues that you would like to grow in these coming years? Loriel: To stop procrastinating and become more courageous. Enzo: Confidence, leadership, and respect. Kathryn: I'll admit I procrastinate a lot. So, diligence is one thing. Most students have a hard time learning that virtue, especially in today’s generation. The sooner people learn this, the better. Miguel: Humility, patience, generosity, and mercy. 4. High school puts more emphasis on work done at home. Have your study habits changed? Loriel: No, I have been doing the same things for a while now and I am getting good results, so I am just going to continue doing what I do. Enzo: Not exactly. It’s actually still the same. Kathryn: I can't say that my study habits have changed. If they did, then they've only changed by a bit. In high school (or in any other level), you HAVE to prioritize studying. You'll need it! Miguel: My study habits have improved a bit. Now
I find myself doing advanced reading and studying, which I never used to do. It helps. 5. How does it feel to be a role model for younger students, especially because we’re the first batch to graduate? Loriel: It’s quite pressuring because everyone looks up to us. Being a role model all the time makes me think that we might have missed out on what kids actually do. Enzo: I feel like I have to be more responsible with my actions so that younger Everest students can look up to us and follow us. Loriel: It’s quite pressuring because everyone looks up to us. Being a role model all the time makes me think that we might have missed out on what kids actually do. Enzo: I feel like I have to be more responsible with my actions so that younger Everest students can look up to us and follow us. Kathryn: I actually don't feel like I'm a role model. Sometimes I forget! Occasionally, younger students ask what high school is like. I feel weirded out with the question, because why would they want to know? Miguel: My parents often tell me that I should always set a good example to others. I never really thought much of it but little by little I’m beginning to realise that being in the Pioneer batch of EA, it is important for me to do this. Mom always says that I should be a light in the darkness. That’s not easy, but I strive to do it. 6. Are there any specific lessons you have learned from middle school/the few months of high school that we’ve had that you can share? Loriel: Learn to work as a team, even with terrible video projects. Try your best, because that’s the best you can do. Enzo: Don’t pull down people’s pants. It could get you into real trouble. More importantly, choose your friends wisely. Kathryn: If there's one thing I learned from school, it’s to work hard. Seriously, you've heard it a million times, and you roll your eyes at the sound of it, but you don’t get anywhere without hard work! Dreaming about an A+ isn’t going to get you anywhere. It'll pay off in the end. So stop procrastinating and study! Miguel: I learned the importance of good communication with my parents and also how good it is to participate in communities and activities like the RC Youth Band.
THE EVEREST ALTIUS
9
Varsity News: Everest Pioneers are Going Strong!
Mixing Humor, Music and History: Mr. Javi Duran
by Coach Tyrone Emmanuel I. Limon
What do you get when you mix humor, music and History? You get our very own Mr. Javier Ramon F. Duran! It is now his third year at Everest as a History teacher. He is the Homeroom Advisor of 6B, and teaches History in almost all of the Middle and Upper Schools. Mr. Duran is famous in all of Everest because of his humor. He loves blurting out melodies from time to time and impersonating characters from movies such as Batman, the Joker, and Optimus Prime. He loves finding fun new ways to teach his students to help them understand the lessons better. He said his experience as a teacher made him grow more patient, and made him love life more. By the way, Mr. Duran graduated from LaSalle University or DLSU along Taft Avenue in Manila. He said that his goal for his students this year is the same as always: that they always participate! Mr. Duran always work harder for the students and the school. He encourages us to finish our projects before they are due. This History teacher is well-loved not only by his students but the other classes as well in the Middle and Upper Schools. Both the students and the school administrators surely would love to have Mr. Duran in Everest for the longest time.
Midway into the 2014-15 season, all varsity teams have finished on a high note. Thus far, Everest is one of the contenders for the first Manila International Schools Athletic Association (MISAA) general championship. This feat was ably-supported by the various division and age-group wins in Girls Volleyball, Girls Football, Jr. Boys Football and Sr. Boys Football. Likewise, Zachary Cano held his own in the chess competition. With a few more events to go, namely handball, swimming and badminton, we expect all participating schools to go all out. The upcoming games will surely be more exciting, as the enthusiastic student-athletes give their all for a shot at the MISAA glory.
by Erika Tulfo (Grade 6)
Profile of a New Teacher in Everest Academy
MRS. JOAN MARY HYACINTH G. KATON
Untitled
by Krissy Alejandro (Grade 6)
by Joshua Dizon
As time passed,
technology developed. It has made a huge impact in the world today. Thanks to it, we now have roads and transportation to bring us to our destinations. The cellphone has made life mobile by being able to communicate with others outside of their home. The most helpful discovery of all time is the internet. The internet is one of the most reliable sources of knowledge. The only thing is, is it bad for us or good for us? The internet is a source of learning. It contains so many websites to look and learn from. Google is one of the world’s biggest web browsers. We can inquire and research on literature, grammar, science, math and history using it. Communication with the help of the internet. Social media is one of the biggest ways of connecting and sharing your thoughts, ideas and pictures to others. It’s used as a way to somewhat unite others who are abroad. In the Philippines especially, many of our citizens are OFW or Overseas Filipino Workers that earn for their family in a different
country. They don’t need to pay a lot of money for a minute with them. They can spend hours talking and laughing with their loved ones. It has shaped the lives of every person in this world. The internet also has its downside. Sometimes we learn things that are irrelevant and just to please our desires. Some of the websites have ads that are inappropriate for any audience if they’re not mature enough. The information that it gives may be false. There are many cases in which people’s lives are in endangered because of false information. Since we have freedom, we can do whatever we want. If we do not have any self-control, we will fall into temptation. If we are always on the net, the tendency to become anti-social or even obese. So the question still remains unanswered, “Is the internet good or bad?” The question is yes its good. It’s not bad to expand your knowledge. What matters most is how we use the internet. As Pope Francis reminded us in his visit here to use the over-load of information we have for the right purposes.
12 EVEREST ACADEMY MANILA
This school year, we have many new teachers joining the Everest community. One of them is Mrs. Katon, our new English teacher. Her full name is Joan Mary Hyacinth G. Katon, and to her close friends she is known as “Majha”. Previously, Mrs. Katon taught at a school named Enderun, a college in Taguig. She moved to Everest because she heard about the students’ formation here, and also because she likes BGC. Her favourite books include “The Little Prince” (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) and “The Giver” (Lois Lowry). She likes the stories in the Bible about Jacob wrestling with God (Genesis) and Hannah asking God for a child (1 Samuel). Mrs. Katon is inspired by their examples of faith and perseverance. Mrs. Katon likes having creative students in her class, but she expects her students to know that there is time for everything. There is a time for listening, a time for eating, and a time for talking. She appreciates our school’s sense of community, especially the fact that teachers are given opportunities to think of activities that aid the students to learn in fun ways. We hope to have always given Mrs. Katon an enjoyable year, and to our other new teachers as well!
An Open
letter
to the President
of the Philippines
February 9, 2015
Let the Fun Begin! By Sophie Padilla
His Excellency President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III Malacanang Palace, Manila Dear Mr. President, As a student, it is very disturbing to think that despite the ongoing progress in our country, as showcased by towering buildings, ritzy malls, stretching skyways and opulence of the elites, the Philippines still remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Despite our so-called "economic growth", 50% of Filipinos still live below the poverty line. This means that there are virtually millions of Filipino children who go to bed with no food in their stomach! Why is our country poor? What is the root of our poverty? HUNGER! According to the Global Hunger Index, the Philippines ranks 28th in the world in global hunger prevalence, and it is categorized as a serious problem. Moreover, the latest survey revealed that we are the 9th country in the world with the most number of stunted children under 5 years old. Almost 20% of Filipino children are underweight, while 30% are too small for their age. Worse, the Philippines is the 5th country in the world with the most number of school dropouts. This is very alarming! This needs an urgent and strong response from the government. In this regard, we ask your excellency, President Noynoy to please recognize the number one problem in our country today - HUNGER and POVERTY. Indeed, it is a difficult task, but it should be solved because the impending progress of our country's future relies on the children! When children do not receive adequate food and nutrition, their learning process and academic performance become inadequate, too. ("Hungry body, hungry mind", as how the saying goes.) Eventually, this also increases the risk of dropping out from school. These same school children will be the backbone of the Philippine society. They will someday grow up to become our nation's leaders and decision-makers. If their bodies and minds are ailing now, just imagine what the Philippines will be in the years to come. Despite the fact that the Philippines is labeled as Asia's "rising tiger", I am apprehensive that we may not reach this forecast. How possible is it for a nation to become an economic power when its people are dismally hungry and povertystricken? Instead of becoming Asia's "rising tiger", we may end up becoming a quivering kitty cat. I was only ten years old when you campaigned for presidency. I remember cheering on and chanting your simple and powerful slogan --"Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap" (If no one is corrupt, no one will be poor). While the whole country is happy to see that you're building an honest government to lead us along the "tuwid na landas" (straight path), and you've apparently fought corruption all these years, then how come there are still many hungry Filipino children? I am appealing to you, President Noynoy, to recognize that HUNGER is not a political creature. It does not care whether you are from the Liberal or Nacionalista party. Please set aside prejudices in politics, and make room for compassion, sound policies to implement proper legislation, and enact laws to abolish poverty in our country. I strongly believe that the Philippines will remain among the poorest, unless we have a devoted pro-poor government. Our Malacanang Palace belongs to a good President who does not produce hungry people. Isn't a hungry nation a sure sign of a President's frailty as a leader? Mr. President, if the Filipinos are really worth dying for, please protect your countrymen. (Signed) WEENTER EBERHARDT Grade 9 Everest Academy Manila
It’s time to bring out those shades and swimsuits again because SUMMER IS BACK! That’s right folks that time of fun-in-the sun activities is right around your corner. A lot of your may be thinking, “What if I want to go out of the house and explore the places that are filled with so much excitement?” The answer is right in front of you. Explore the Philippines! Our country is a well-known tourist destination that is regularly jam packed during this warm season. Then, another question pops up, “There are 7,107 islands in the Philippines, where do I go?” Here are some suggestions to have more fun in the Philippines. If you would want to go to some place where the sun is shining but there’s a windy breeze, head on over to either Tagaytay or Baguio. Discover the famous Taal Volcano by taking a day’s trek up the side of the volcano and be captivated by the view of the crater. Take a horse ride into the forests’ of Tagaytay and see the beauty of nature. Don’t forget to stop by a street vendor and buy some sweet corn and pineapple back home. Baguio is quite similar to Tagaytay but more on the historical side. Immense yourself in the culture of the indigenous people such as the Ifugaos who help nature by taking care of it due to their belief that it is a god. Enjoy a horseback ride tour around the forest or go around the track at the famous Camp John Hay. Don’t’ go home empty handed when you’re at Baguio stop by a Good Shepard store where there different varieties of jams, biscuits and other foods that will satisfy your taste buds. If you’re in luck, buy a pack of Baguio grown strawberries and taste the seasonal sweetness of this fruit. If you are more of the historical kind of traveler, head down to the Visayas region and get a good glimpse of Philippine history. Almost every person knows and has been to either Intramuros or Luneta Park. We all hear about how Rizal fought against the Spaniards or how Bonifacio led and fought many battles against them. In this region, see how the Spanish and American colonization influenced the Philippine culture. If you want to learn about the history of the beginnings of Christianity in the Philippines, travel to the city of Cebu where you will find many churches built during the Spanish colonization and learn about the background of these churches and what is in it. Explore the city of Vigan in Ilocos and take a tour around the city in the famous horse carriage “kalesa”. Here you will have a great view of Spanish architecture. Visit the Land of Leyte where General McArthur landed during the time of the Japanese and Philippine war. Now for the more action packed, adventurous and thrill seeking kind of travelers. Go around the islands of the Philippines and you will find many activities that require a lot of energy. In the Luzon region, there is Bicol and La Union. In Naga City, Bicol, there is a wakeboard park known as Camsur Watersports Complex or CWC that offers wakeboarding. You may also want to check out the city of Legaspi where you may take an ATV trip to the cooled Lava Rocks of Mayon and catch a glimpse of the perfect shape coned volcano. Hang loose in La Union. Known for the beaches in this area, La Union offers a perfect place to surf and have fun under the sun. In the Visayas Region, check out the different resorts there. The famous _________ in Cebu is filled with activities that will satisfy your craving for fun. Some of the activities there are archery, jet-skiing, shooting range, the beach, swimming pool and many more. In Mindanao, visit the city of Davao. There you will find the world’s biggest crocodile in the Crocodile Farm there. Take a ride down the zip line to get a glimpse of the area of Davao. It’s known to be the second longest in the Philippines. Row yourself down the rapids down the river here. A promising ride full of fun, action and surprises. Research! Get to know the Philippines! There are many things that this country has to offer. From the mouth-watering food to the breath taking tourist spots, there is no doubt that you will have an unforgettable experience. Don’t worry, it’s more fun in the Philippines.
THE EVEREST ALTIUS 13
My Second Home A testimonial by Chime Medrana (Grade 7)
Good morning parents, and hopefully, future schoolmates! I’m Christiana Medrana but everyone calls me Chime. I’m currently in the 7th grade and I’ve been in Everest since Grade 1. I have four brothers and three of them attend school here as well. My youngest will join us too, a few years from now. Today, allow me to share my experience as an Everest student with you, and more importantly, what I love about being one. I always think of Everest as my second home. You might be thinking, “What?! School as a home?!” Let me explain… For me, home is a place where you’re comfortable, you’re accepted, and you feel loved. I know that I’m cared for and supported by the Everest family and I assume that many students feel the same. For example, my classmates that just recently transferred from other schools have now become some of my closest and best friends. Sometimes, I simply can’t believe that I’ve only known them for a year! I’ve created friendships that will surely last for a lifetime. One of my favorite traditions in my class is that when we have a birthday celebrant, she stays in the front of the class and we sing Happy Birthday in four different languages and then we give her affirmation and compliments. We make her feel special and loved. The teachers are also like second parents! They want the best for us, help us through our own personal problems, see our full potential, believe in us and are always there to encourage us. Some students, including me, even chose teachers to be our godparents for Confirmation. There is even one teacher that recently got married, who invited every single Everest student she has ever taught to her wedding. Since this a school, schoolwork is definitely important! Here in Everest, we are encouraged to not only memorize, but to understand. The teachers are constantly telling us “don’t just memorize, understand.” Up to now I haven’t forgotten about the Roman aqueducts, how mummies are wrapped, the seven Sacraments, how rocks form, cell parts, etc; even if I learned these things years ago. Our teachers explain the importance of the lessons we are learning, how they apply to our lives and how we can benefit from them. Because of this, I value my studies, work harder, and become more interested in what we’re learning. Also, we don’t just simply read from textbooks and get lectured to. Some of my favorite projects and activities we do that I really benefit from are our “harkness” sessions where we debate, share our opinions and talk about lessons, stories and situations. The films and skits we create make learning fun, let us showcase our talents and let our creativity fly. I also enjoyed activities like writing books for younger students, and being the teacher of the day (plus having to research, understand and know the lesson we taught by heart). These activities also build up the skill of public speaking. We’re taught study skills and habits too, like making schemes and summaries to help us review and study. Right now, we’re building our own city and labeling the parts in Spanish. I’m looking forward to 8th grade, as my brother’s 8th grade class made their own periodic table element superhero for Science class, had to cook and explain how to make the dish in a different language… the list goes on! I remember in 5th grade, I was extremely excited to be part of a middle school tradition, the Ides of March. It is an activity that all upper school students must participate in and each batch is given a project that integrates History, Art, Literature and Grammar. We then showcase our projects during a week-long festival of presentations, quiz bees, declamations and contests. All of these things that happen in school make me excited for class and ready to get my thinking cap on. Beyond academics, one thing that helps me a lot is having my own personal mentor, like all students here. I talk to her regularly at least once a month about my life situation and what I need to improve on as a person. She helps me become a better student, daughter, sister and friend. This also helps me build self-confidence and resolve conflicts. I get advice from my mentor on how to grow as a more virtuous individual. Another treasure I’ve received from Everest is the understanding of my faith and knowing how to live it. When we receive the Sacraments, we actually know what’s going on and so we truly want to receive them. We are therefore more open to God and His love. During my Confirmation that just happened last November, I learned that it was my turn to answer God’s call of my own will. I was given the gifts and graces to be a soldier of Christ. I was so excited to become an adult in the Catholic Church! We have access to opportunities to live out our faith. In Catholic Formation class, we don’t just stay in the classroom, but instead we go out and put it into practice through outreaches that we ourselves plan and execute. I’m also a Challenge Club team leader, which means I volunteer to help with our international virtue club for younger girls. We also have a sister school called Mano Amiga for underprivileged students, and we contribute to their education by buying food from our cafeteria… and they sure do sell good food, by the way. All the proceeds go to support Mano Amiga. I have so much more to share but so little time! I will conclude my testimony by saying that I hope to be seeing your children here in Everest in the future and calling some of you tito and tita. Thank you for listening.
14 EVEREST ACADEMY MANILA
S.O.S: Summer of Service By Sophie Padilla
A regular start of the break would include staying at home, eating all day, hanging out with friends or maybe, even going out of the country for a trip. Last summer, I decided to start things out differently. It’s not one of the first things that would pop in your head when you hear the word vacation. It’s something that will really push you to your limits making you crawl to the finish line. I did a week long Rurals in Surabaya, Indonesia. What is Rurals? It is an annual service project organized by members of Opus Dei. From the word itself, rural, it is when a group of volunteers go to a remote area to educate students, from nursery to grade 9, subjects that are taught in a regular school, to help out in the community and to serve those who are in need of help both physically and spiritually. It has never been my interest to join such a project like this. I have attended rurals before but just in the Philippines. I did two weeks in Balete, Batangas where I taught Catechism and English. I also did one week in Palo, Leyte where also taught the same subjects and provided a medical mission to the families there. Going out of the country alone was not something that I did before. After much thought, I agreed to go to Indonesia. Since I moved schools that year, I realized that I wouldn’t be able to make it to the local trips that year because the vacations were scheduled at different times. It was the first time for them to do an international service project. I inquired about it with them and heard it was going to be in Indonesia. I asked my parents and siblings if it was a good idea to go to such a place. The country itself has similar conditions to that of the Philippines. The difference between the two is that the Indonesians are mostly Muslims while the Filipinos are mostly Catholic. Everyone agreed for me to go because they said that no harm could happen to me. I wondered why. They then gave me a response that went, “Because your size is that of a cow, they’ll just end up kneeling and start worshipping me when they see you.” My mom and dad followed up with a serious answer going, “It’s a great idea for you to go and experience something new. Just be prepared for anything because you don’t know what it’s like there.” I sent in my application that got me a slot and ticket for the trip. Before leaving for the trip, we had
to make several preparations. We were a mixed group, nine representatives from the Philippines, three from Singapore and around a dozen to 15 from Indonesia itself. It was difficult for us to come up with the lesson plans because we didn’t even know the people we were going to work with. The work was divided into three for the three different countries. The Filipinos got English, the Singaporeans got Art and the Indonesians got Catechism because many of the students are not good in speaking English. The only time we finalized the lesson plans were when we actually got to Indonesia. After fixing my travel plan which included several documents and instructions with what to do with them, I packed my bags and hit the road. It was 4:00 in the morning when I had to get up and ready for the trip. I was barely awake as I brushed my teeth, fixed my hair, got dressed and double checked my things. When I arrived in the airport, I was not excited for the trip because I was too tired to think about it at that moment. The adrenaline rush only hit me when my dad kissed me goodbye, wished me luck and told me to enjoy. Everything started to hit me, “I’m going to a different country alone without my family. I have no idea what the place is like and I’m going to be the youngest in this trip.” These were just some of the things that entered my mind. Having mixed feelings and emotions as I boarded the plane didn’t really help me calm myself done and actually think properly. I eventually caught up a bit on my sleep in the plane which made me relax and see clearly. Our flight track was Manila to Surabaya with a stopover at Singapore where we met up with the Singaporeans. When we arrived in Surabaya, we had lunch and went straight to the center. When we got there, the first thing that we did was head straight for the living room. Since I was one of the last to enter, my spot was on the floor. Everyone was dazed because we were so tired from the trip and just wanted to rest. No, we were right away awakened by the Indonesians and told to work right way on the lesson plans. All of us then did a few introductions and went to work straight away. My thoughts so far on the trip was that it was going be difficult. When dinner time came for us, the food wasn’t that appetizing and their water wasn’t even cold. Going to the house which we rented for our stay, my body was aching and stomach was empty. This wasn’t even the start of our service project. The next day, we wake up at six in the morning to get ready to leave at seven to get ready for school. Within this hour we had to get dressed, eat breakfast and prepare our materials for the day. We only had two bathrooms available to be used by 12 people. Not recovering fully from the trip, all of us had a hard time getting ready. We eventually had to rush things mak-
ing the start of the day stressful. The car ride was tense going to school because we didn’t have any idea of what the students would be like, the classrooms that we were going to teach in and if we would be able to communicate properly. When we arrived, everyone in the school started to stare at for a very long time that a foreigner would get. As my partner and I walked to our first class to teach English and Art, my heart was raising. I didn’t know what to expect being a first timer in such a service project. The students warmly welcomed us and that cooled me down a lot. I taught students of grade five and nine. The fifth graders weren’t causing that much trouble when I taught them. On the other hand, the ninth graders were quite a handful. Most of them were older than me. I couldn’t believe that I had to teach them but it was a challenge that I was willing to accept. After teaching in the morning, we fixed the school library in the afternoon. We rewrapped and relabeled the books, cleaned the shelves and even fix the tables and chairs. Once we left the school, we would freshen up in the center and prepare for the next day. Then, we would walk to mass daily. We had dinner and went back home to get some rest. As the week progressed, my group mates and I got closer to the students and eventually made new friends. The library was finally fixed enough for the usage of students and not as a storage room. As the week came to an end, I felt sadness in myself that I would usually get when a relative from abroad has to go back. I was really going to miss my students and the friends that I made in Surabaya. My students were already asking me when I was going to go back to Surabaya and teach them again. Some of them would come up to me and even say that they would miss me and to come back next year. On our last day, we had a performance from the students for the parents. At the end of the performance, we said our final goodbyes and left for the house to pack our things and head to the airport. This trip made me realize so many things. It taught me how to be happy with what I have and persevere through all that happens. This project opened my eyes to see the beauty of life. the students taught me that even though their material belongings are limited, to make do with it and try your best to produce something good out of it. They also made me listen more to others before listening to myself. The needs of others are more important than your own needs. Their limitations make them unlimited. Having less makes them have more. They are happy because they don’t many materials to get distracted with. As the famous Mahatma Gandhi said, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
The Great Everest Swim Team by Alexa Manalili (Grade 6)
I am extremely thankful that Everest Academy decided to add a new swimming club to our school – The Akiko Thomson Swim School! Founded by none other than an accomplished Olympian swimmer, Akiko Thomson, this Everest Program is in many ways awesome! This club is quite new to Everest Academy Manila, and it is currently only in its 2nd module. It is held in Colegio de San Agustin every Wednesday. Highly trained coaches teach the kids basic swimming strokes and techniques. Kids are grouped into two levels - beginner and intermediate – depending on their current skill level. The beginner level makes use of a small and shallow pool wherein the coaches instill “water confidence”. They ensure that before anything else, each student is comfortable and free to move in the water. Once this is established, they also teach the students the four basic competitive strokes – freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. In the intermediate level, a deeper, bigger pool is available and the coaches improve and correct the form and technique of each student’s four strokes. It is at this point where they begin to take things to a more competitive level. Although the coaches are very technical in their teaching methods, they are equally kind and funny which makes the lessons fun and interesting. In the beginning, my techniques were fundamentally sound, but I was quite slow as compared to the others. Because of this, my coach gave me more detailed instructions and advised me to try “pushing the water” so I would be able to swim faster. At first, I thought that
I was just naturally slow and his advice wouldn’t really help, but after giving it a shot, I was gradually able to swim faster and faster! I was improving my time and efficiency. Practice does make perfect! According to Coach Tyrone (Athletic Director), the school decided to put up the swim club because of three reasons. First, this was so that students would be able to get a liking to sports and embrace a healthier lifestyle. Second, this was to enable us to learn this basic, essential life skill, especially since we live in a tropical country and we are surrounded by water. Lastly, through this club, the school would also like to tap in more students who enjoy or have an interest in swimming. Coach Tyrone envisions making a swimming varsity team in the next 2-3 years (depending on the number of participants). He hopes more students would join the club next year and that talented swimmers who are willing to train would be able to compete. Like Coach Tyrone, I am hoping that through this article, our club would be able to attract more participants for us to qualify to become a varsity team. By doing so, we would be able to compete in more various swim meets, just like the one we are going to have on March 14, 2015 at King School, MOA. Just wait and see… One day, the members of the Akiko Thomson Swim Team would bring pride to Everest Academy… One day, we would even bring pride to the entire world! This is just the first step towards greatness. Olympics, here we come!
Save the Date: Blockbusters Ahead By Joshua Dizon Movies
have existed since the early 1900’s. They started off with no audio, color and special effects. As the years went by, so did these old classics. Technology developed more and more making it one of the most useful discoveries in society today. We have smart phones, the internet, the laptop and many more technological devices. Thanks to this developments, movies have changed and bettered. In the olden times, the cast and crew had to make sure to get everything in one shot or else they would have had to start all the way from the top. Today, you can put different clips taken other time schedules and edit them to flow as if it were done in one take. The difficulty in change of characters was very hard to pull off in the past. In five hours, animators can make a simple car turn into a robot! 50% of the movies are from the actors, the rest are from the skills and editing that just put it all together and make award winning movies. As a new year begins, here are some movies to look forward to this year. The dinosaurs are back starring in the movie “Jurassic World”. Marvel’s coming out with the much awaited “Avengers: Age of Ultron”, “Ant Man” played by Paul Rudd and the “Fantastic Four”. We can’t wait to also see Stan Lee in all of these movies again. Others include “Mad Max: Fury Road”, “The Hateful 8”, “Into the Heart of the Sea”, “The Matrix”, “Tomorrowland”, “Z for Zachariah”, “The Revenant”, “Pixels” and the “Terminator: Genesys”. Coming back for the seventh time, “Star Wars: Episode VII” is coming closer. With so many movies to look forward to this year, start saving the dates. Ask your friends already if they want to go out with you and watch a movie. Sacrifice a bottle of C2, Smart C or Fiber Fruit to save up for the money to get you a seat in the cinema. There’s so much to look forward to this year. HOW AWESOME IS THAT, RIGHT?
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Haikus by Izzy Evaristo Oh the pain! The shock. Waiting calmly on dead grass Someone please help me Watching the clock tick; I look forward to nothing Waiting patiently The sun shines brightly; He walks in with a dark cloud Washing out all smiles
Two Suns, Two Moons, A Lonely Grandmother, and Her Thoughts
by Juliana Cabili In the middle of the day, I gather the weeds and light the fire. Fire keeps the devils away. In the middle of the night, I walk up the hill and greet the stars. The hike puts strain on my purple-lined feet. In the middle of the day, I welcome my granddaughters from the city. They bring me strawberries fresh off the stands. In the middle of the night, I visit the lilies by the lake. They welcome me to a most special place.
Day dreaming at night: Restless, still fighting to stay Awake till the morn’
by Sam Ackary A once cheerful dog, sensing a lack of absence, grieves by the tombstone A hot summer day the sad worm digs into a juicy red apple Steady lake waters the fish jumps up in the air splash! in the water The last golden leaf feebly fallen from the tree dances on the earth Depressed and absent the hidden caterpillar comes back fluttering A beautiful soul yesterday blooming with life now gone to the stars
Coinciding with Valentine’s Day, the school’s Chaplain, Father Eric Nielsen and the Student Council launched a school-wide poster-making competition called “Hearts in Harmony”, with the theme “Jesus is my Valentine”. Aside from the prizes received by each winner, the first placers received trophies and Certificates of Recognition from His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. Congratulations to the winners! 1st Place (Upper School) – Katya Reichert 1st Place (Lower School) – Bea Rodriguez, Erika Chua, Chyna Co, Trina Horrigan and Tiffany Kang 2nd Place – Denise Ang, Tiffany Chong, Mischa Ang, Angel Magnaye 3rd Place – Brielle Rodriguez
The light fades to dark; The sun won’t rise till Wednesday, The day you come back Five kids go and play; Ten kids stay home all day, They like it that way
If You Look into a Hole by Nicole Lhuillier
“Alice in Wonderland” by Audrey Dizon, Grade 4
“Alice in Wonderland” by Roxanne Fabella, Grade 4
“Blue and Rose Period” by Cellina Kwan and Nhoa Ugarte, Grade 5
“Egyptian Art” by Weenter Eberhardt, Grade 9
If you look into a hole Who knows what you might see. Something might surprise you Unexpectedly. Be it a keyhole or peephole Or a hole in the ground, You could discover something Not so easily found. Maybe it's a person or a penny or—a whole different world! A secret room! A hidden passageway! Maybe just the floor. Well, try to look a little harder. Something might be there that wasn't there before.
Haikus
Hearts in Harmony
Never be afraid to get A different point of view. Why don't you change your perspective? You might see something new.
Ringtones
“Matisse Cut” by Maxinne Santos and Alexa Ang, Grade 5
“Picasso Portrait” by Tatiana Rodrigo, Grade 6
by Andre Trinidad Something I keep for you Never heard Other than when i set it.
May it be slow Fast Moderate It's my idea of a perfect tune All of them have it They all hear different kinds Regardless of anything behind it, I want to hear the sound Behind all of this absurdity This sound is the only one As long as I wonder And ponder Think And think The sounds of nature are nothing but an excuse.
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“Flower Power” by Isabel Reichert, Grade 5
“Picasso Portrait” by Tatiana Rodrigo, Grade 6
“Cityscape” by Lanie Santos, Grade 8
Character Formation and Service: A Reflection by Loriel Eleazar
to do. Since my family and I liked to play with the kids so much, we even invited our friends who (after visiting of course) loved it as well. They even loved visiting so much they invited their teacher to come. This showed me that charity and community service is something to be shared and that one simple, kind act can get many others to do simple, kind acts themselves. To conclude, this entire experience has given me so much and taught me valuable lessons I hope I can carry with me to help me help the world. It has taught me how to care for young children and how simple acts can turn into something much bigger and better. It has given my family, friends and I happiness and joy through simple acts of kindness. But most importantly, this experience has given me a place that I can go and do good for someone who really needs it.
Parent’s Nook
A
t least once a day for the past couple of weeks I have been visiting an orphanage in Sta. Mesa, Manila called Concordia. I choose Concordia because I believe everyone needs love and affection. The caretakers at Concordia do their best to give each child the love and attention every kid deserves, but this can become a very hard job when working with several children. This is why I choose Concordia. I wanted to help the caretakers show each child more attention and playtime. In the beginning, I didn’t know what to expect since all the children were very young (they can range from infants to toddlers), so I was very nervous and shy. But each day I visited, the children never failed to give me joy, lessons, and memories I can carry with me for the rest of my life. This experience has taught me how to care of children and made me realize it takes more than just a day to really receive the full experience of loving and caring for another person. But most importantly, this experience has given me a new type of happiness I’ve come to like. One of the many things I’ve learned through this experience is how to take care of babies. It is actually harder than it looks. We had to be very gentle with the babies since they were still young and developing their bodies. It was hard to carry them and set them down at first, but eventually I got the hang of it. The toddlers, though, are a completely different story. They were much bigger and heavier than the babies, and many of them wanted to be carried. Sometimes, while one child was being carried, the other would get jealous and also want to be carried. They would get anger at each other and start to fight, but the caretakers would stop them. This made it very hard to play with them sometimes, but eventually my friends and I learned how to distribute our attention equally. This made me realize how hard it is to work there and how I should go there more often to help out. Another lesson I learned is that sometimes it takes more than just one day to really receive the full experience. The first day I visited, I was nervous but then I eventually opened up a bit and had some fun. I was happy and a little tired leaving the orphanage that day because I felt like I had really gave it my all to help, though I knew I could still do more. The next time I visited I tried even harder to be less shy and more energetic and playful, and I think I improved. Not only was I helping myself become a better person, but I also made the children happy to have someone to play with. I improved my care giving skills each day I visited, and that helped me give the kids a better playmate which made them and myself all the more happy. Now every time I leave, I leave even happier than the last because I know that, in my own little way, I’m making a difference in somebody’s life. Lastly, one of the greatest things I have earned from this experience is a different type of happiness. It is the kind of long-term happiness where I felt like I wasn’t just doing good for myself, but I was doing good (like really making an impact) for somebody who needed it. It is a truly wonderful feeling that makes me smile on the inside every time I leave. This was one of the best parts of the entire experience. Although, my “number one” best part of the entire experience is being able to share it with the people I love and seeing them be happy too. I invited my family and some friends to come with me just for the fun, and they really liked visiting the orphanage and spending time with the kids. Now, visiting the orphanage is something we all find joy in and love
by Richard Yap
I first heard about Everest around two years ago when we were searching for a school for my son Dylan. Dylan had been going to a big school. Academically he was doing well but we were looking for was a school that would look out for his welfare and well-being which was not there in the big school. After looking at a few schools, we also looked around, and we heard good things about Everest. We finally decided to move Dylan to Everest and have not regretted our decision since then. First of all, Dylan loves Everest and loves the environment there, which is very important. Secondly, we were very impressed with how everyone in the faculty and staff takes the time to know the students and their parents. The school is not only concerned about the children, but also the well-being and relationship between the parents. Hence, they conduct seminars teaching about relationships and values, which are very important. There are also bonding activities for the kids and the parents as well as the sports activities. What we love most about Everest is that the teachers are able to really get to know the students and they are able to guide them well not only academically but also emotionally and socially. The priests are also there to counsel the kids to help them grow spiritually. Overall, we appreciate the fact that we have a school that is well sounded and has a real concern for the students not because they are paying the tuition but because the institution really cares.
New Students’ First Impression of Everest Academy by Audrey Rodriguez (Grade 6) I have interviewed 3 students, and they were Dominic Conde, Hannah Ang and Sofia Pineda, all new students from Everest. I asked them what their first impression on Everest Academy was. The first was Dominic Conde, he said, “I found Everest to be really big.” Then I asked him what the teachers were like. He replied, “I thought they were very friendly.” Lastly, I asked what his classmates were like. Immediately he answered, “I thought that they were very weird, and they are, in a fun way.” The next person I interviewed was Hannah Ang. I asked her the same questions. She replied, “I thought Everest is really nice.” To answer the next question, she said, “I thought the teachers were fantastic!” Then she went on.. “My classmates are really kind.” Hannah said. The last person I interviewed was Sofia Pineda. “Everest is really fun,” she said. “The teachers are great!” she exclaimed. “My new classmates are all funny,” said Sofia. And there you have it. It seems that all three of the new students are enjoying their new home at Everest Academy and are settling in quite well.
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Selfies: Harmless Fun or a Dangerous Habit By Sahel Pascual
Selfies seem to be the latest fad for people, the new thing that has invaded your school that everyone, girl or boy, is doing, perhaps at this very moment. There are many new seemingly innocuous trends people can get addicted to, without realizing the harm these new things can bring, or the potential dangers for themselves and others they care about. The danger that selfies present can be petty at times. Others are real and tangible, and do not just go away over night when parents or others in authority disapprove, and the photos are removed. Instead, the dangers can remain for a long period of time; sometimes, they even have permanent and lasting consequences. One problem with selfies, is that they are often shared on different social media networks for others to see. This is risky behavior when the photos are revealing or inappropriate. Depending on who has the pictures and how many times they have been shared, unbecoming or unseemly photos may be difficult to retrieve and delete. There have been
Beating Procrastination: Confessions of AMARA ABIOG
by Alexa Manalili (Grade 6) said. She makes her own lip Did you know that we Amara gloss and bakes her own cookies.
have a future fashion designer in our midst? Her name is Amara Abiog and she is from the 6th Grade. She has been in Everest Academy since Grade One, and some of her favorite things about our school are our teachers and the lessons we have everyday. Her favorite teacher is Ms. Sua. "I like her teaching style", Amara said. Her favorite subject is Art, "I love being creative and trying out new things. I also love DIY stuff!"
"I love sketching clothes and accessories," declared Amara. This is why she wants to be a fashion designer when she grows up. She also loves different kinds of colors and fabrics. Amara certainly has good study habits that we should all emulate! She does things way before deadlines. She NEVER procrastinates! Amara has very good grades because of this, and you can too, if you follow her example!
Congratulations!
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cases in which people have applied for jobs and been denied because improper pictures of them still exist on the web. Another hazard selfies pose involves tourists. From the top of the world’s tallest statues to death-defying cliff faces, some tourists are taking extreme measures to capture perfect vacation photos of themselves. While these breathtaking images are prized for Facebook posts, and at times even make headlines, they can also sometimes be deadly. This summer, a Polish couple fell off a cliff trying to capture a selfie in Portugal. This week, another Polish woman fell to her death after trying to take a picture on top of a bridge in Spain. Even the US Forest Service has issued a warning telling the public that taking selfies with bears isn’t such a good idea. By being aware of the dangers that selfies can pose, though, people will hopefully be more cautious about where they are taking their selfies, and what information they are sharing.
The Bet by Ms. Kai Leal
Study Tips and Habits by Quincy Reyes
If you’re like me, then you probably have a difficult time studying for tests and exams. I can manage studying for one subject test, but studying when there are multiple tests upcoming is difficult. We have to balance out all of our study material and resources. How do we do it with all of our different methods of learning? Perhaps the most important part of it all is taking down notes. I know for a fact that there are some students that prefer using their e-devices to take notes down, believing that it’s more efficient. I sometimes agree myself that tossing pen and paper aside for tablets and computers is easier, but I learned that I will forever need the skill to take down my notes the “old fashioned way”. We end up just transcribing the lesson, or simply copying everything that’s going on when we use our devices to help us. We learn how to summarize and take what’s the most important parts of the lecture if and when we choose the pen and paper route. Of course, cramming is a big no-no. Some people think that “it’s more fresh in our heads”. Yes, it is, but you’ll probably not retain a thing from your “12 midnight study time”. Studying before and reading through over and over again is the best way to grasp the lesson. It really “drills” it inside your brain and increases your memory. Having all of your study material such as your notes, textbooks, and study guides helps with the organization of studying. Be sure to find a comfortable and quiet place with good lighting and little distractions to increase your focus. Always begin with the general concept or most important information. If you ever do get tired, be sure to take semi-frequent three to thirty minute breaks in between. Space out your studying too. Try tackling one or two topics every day. Don’t forget to lightly treat yourself after long periods of studying; your hard work and dedication deserves it. Group studying isn’t really recommended unless you study with others that are serious about acing the test, not about hanging around and having a good time while studying. Select a reasonable time when studying. If you’re not busy with other activities after school, One of the best study tips I can recommend? Asking your teacher! I can guarantee that your teacher is willing to help you out if you ask. By showing initiative, I’m sure that your teacher will see your effort in his or her class.
I bet that you don’t know God.
Oh, I’m sure that you know about Him. Knowing about God is easy. You learn about him in school, at home, from your teachers, from your parents, from your parish priest, from your “holy friends” (you know, the ones that you think will enter seminaries or convents soon). I’m 100% sure that you can answer the following questions: 1. Who are the 3 persons in the Holy Trinity? 2. What is the name of God the Son? 3. Who was God the Son’s chosen mother? Some of you might even be able to tell me the seven Sacraments, all the books of the Bible, and the entire timeline of Salvation History. But I stand by my assertion: I bet that you still don’t know God. There’s a huge difference between knowing about someone and knowing someone. Case in point: Let’s say my History teacher assigns me to write a 100-page paper on the biography of our national hero, Jose Rizal. Let’s also assume that I’m a diligent student who wants to ace that paper. I read every book about Rizal that I can get my hands on. I watch all the movies about him. I visit Fort Santiago and trace the exact path that he took on his way to the firing squad. I visit his real house in Calamba, Laguna. I find out—through painstaking research—what his shoe size was (7) and his favorite color (martyr red). By the time the paper’s due, I’ve accidentally made myself the world’s expert on Jose Rizal. His birthday? Check. The names of his siblings? Check. The name of that girl whom he had a crush on in 1st year high school? Check! But if you’d ask me, “Do you know Jose Rizal?” My short answer: “No, I don’t.” My long answer: “I know everything there is to know about Jose Rizal, but I don’t know him personally. I mean, he’s—you know— dead.” That’s a pretty long example, so here are a few shorter ones. A blind person might research everything about the color blue, but he still wouldn’t know the color blue. I can know everything that there is to know about chocolate, and never have taken a single bite of chocolate my entire life. I can know about the taste of chocolate, but I wouldn’t know it. Bottom line: Knowing someone means having an ongoing, face-to-face relationship with that person. It’s about knowing someone from the inside—their likes and dislikes, fears, dreams, hatreds, and loves. It’s the kind of knowledge that makes you feel that the person just “gets” you, regardless of how long you’ve known each other. I’m sure you have a friend with whom you hit off almost instantly, because you guys just “clicked,” like long-lost siblings. On the other hand, you can live with real siblings for your whole life, and still feel like you’re strangers to each other. At this point, I’m going to rephrase my
bet: I bet that you know about God, but that you don’t know Him. You can read the Bible from cover to cover. You can have Catholic Formation classes for 13 years. You can go to Mass every day and confession every week — and God could still be a complete stranger for you. It’s easy to tell the difference between people who just know about God and those who really know Him. The ones who really know God tend to care much less about whatever’s popular these days—celebrities, music, clothes, fashion, movies, who’s dating who. They tend to be comfortable—even happy—with spending time alone, in silence. These people tend to have a quiet, bright gleam in their eyes that makes them livelier than the loudest person in the room. They also tend to be people who have suffered greatly. Suffering is underrated in our world. Every advertisement has the same basic message: “Suffering sucks, comfort rules. So buy me!” But here’s the catch: If you haven’t suffered — the kind of suffering that crushes your soul and leaves you feeling utterly alone and begging for mercy — then God won’t be real for you. If your life is nice, pleasant, comfortable, and just okay, then you won’t be strong enough to handle the real God. Have you ever read that story where the hero stays in bed all day and does nothing? Neither have I. All great stories begin when a person is (sometimes violently) transported out of his/her comfort zone. What if Harry Potter never left his uncle’s house? What if Katniss just kept her mouth shut and let Prim be the tribute? For one, we’d have less books and less movies; but mostly, their lives (and stories) would have been boring. “Harry Potter and the Dursleys’ Broom Closet,” doesn’t sound like a book that’d have sequels. Let’s say you take me up on my bet and tell me, “You’re wrong: I do know God!” Then prove it. Show me the battle scars that prove that you’ve dared to struggle with someone who just won’t fit into your neat little category of a “nice God.” Because God is not nice—God is good. Niceness is to goodness as marshmallows are to solid gold. God’s love isn’t a warm bubblebath—it’s “terrifying, like an army with banners.” (Song of Songs 6:4) Jesus was the Lamb of God, but people forget that He’s also the Lion of Judah. If you know God, show me your wounds. If you don’t know Him, then you have to decide. Do you really want to know Him or not? Because knowing Him will cost you something. A lot of things. In fact, everything. (Just read the lives of the saints.) But you know what? You’ll be happier. You’ll be wiser. You’ll finally start becoming the person that you were meant to be all along. So get out there. Get wounded. Go and meet the real God.
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