The Ridge 2014

SY 2013-2014

3 Campus News 8 Features 10 National News 13 Entertainment 14 Reviews

MOST: Victory for PAREF

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Student Council

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Francis Kong– Inspiring Excellence

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The Ridge We, the editors and staff of The Ridge, commit ourselves to the highest level of professional journalistic ethics. We promote among our fellow students a love for noble ideals and a desire to overcome personal egoism.

We foster an awareness of social problems and encourage fraternity in keeping with the school’s family spirit. We love the truth thus we report with facts, without judging intentions, upholding the legitimate diversity of opinions in a calm way, without resorting to personal attacks. We seek the truth, love it, and humbly tell it.

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Matthew Mendiola

End of PDAF...

End of Corruption?

Editor-in-Chief Matthew Mendiola Feature and News Editor Jaime Tabuena Contributors Javi Vilchez Mito Hizon Gab de Lange Rafa Morallo Fonso Garcia Peppi Escasa Diego Ipapo Jamie Algarra Brian Cho Matthew Banaag Sean Cuesta Jet Nicholas Vinnie Tan Gana Photographers Javi Martinez Wilson dela Cruz Moderator Servando Peralta Design & Printing Inkwell Publishing Co., Inc.

ISSN 0118-0452 The Ridge is the official student publication of Southridge. It is published with the assistance of the school’s Institutional Information Office. The opinions expressed herein are the views of the respective authors.

They cannot be taken as the position of Southridge as such.

SOUTHRIDGE Private School for Boys Hillsborough Subdivision, West Service Road City of Muntinlupa, Metro Manila Telephone 842-0506 to 07, 807-7719 to 21 Fax 842-1542

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n November 19, 2013, the Supreme year. Initiative No. 16 in the Plan is Participatory Court officially abolished the Social Audit for Public Infrastructure Projects.

Priority Development Assistance The Commission on Audit scheme mobilizes Fund (PDAF), declaring past community members, including engineers, to and present congressional pork inspect road, bridge, school, market and other barrel laws unconstitutional, and it ordered the construction projects.”

If President Aquino created more systems to criminal prosecution of lawmakers and individuals involved in the PDAF scam from which an properly monitor and assess government projects estimated PHP 10 billion was lost. With the like the Participatory Social Audit for Public PDAF gone, and with the ongoing trials against Infrastructure Projects, then cases like the PDAF individuals who benefited from the PDAF scam, scam can be avoided.

Third, corruption can slowly be eradicated can one say that the primary source of corruption has finally been removed? The answer—not quite. if Filipinos are more empowered to strengthen In history class, my teacher asked us to read accountability and transparency in government.

One law that empowers the Filipino people a Manila Times article by Ricardo Saludo, a former chairperson of the Philippine Civil Service to do their share in the fight against corruption is the Freedom of Information Commission. In his article, Saludo Bill. The approval of the debunked misconceptions about the According to the Freedom of Information PDAF scam, and he gave solutions as to how the problem of corruption Department of Finance, Law was a very good move on the part of the Senate. in the Philippines can be tackled. I more than 200 billion This is a stepping stone in believe that Saludo’s points were truly eye-opening, and I would like to pesos in revenue slips the fight against corruption share some of them with you. through our borders because it allows access by the general public to data First, the PDAF scam is not the held by the government, biggest corruption problem in the without going into thus upholding the country. public coffers. democratic notion that the According to the Department of Philippine government is Finance, more than 200 billion pesos indeed of, for, and by the in revenue slips through our borders people. without going into public coffers.

While corruption is Based on this admission, one can something that cannot be see that the amount of money lost eradicated completely, we from smuggling greatly exceeds the amount of money lost from the PDAF. If President all have the power to instigate change. One way Aquino really plans on fighting corruption, he we could do this is to keep ourselves and the should keep a watchful eye over the Bureau of people around us well-informed and up-to-date on relevant issues regarding the nation. Social Customs.

Second, President Aquino should focus on media is a powerful tool that we can use to spread improving monitoring and assessment to battle information about matters of consequence and express our own views regarding the state of the corruption.

According to the CenSEI report, “This kind nation. In our own small ways, we can help make of grassroots and civil society watchdog system for the Philippines a better place. After all, as Jose Rizal public undertakings is, in fact, already in the 2012 once said, “The pen is mightier than the sword.”

Philippine Government Action Plan submitted Indeed, change can happen, starting with each and to the Open Government Partnership earlier this every one of us.

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Servando Peralta

MOST:VICTORY FOR PAREF!

AN INTERVIEW WITH RYAN JACOB

by Javi

Vilchez

Last March 7th, I got to catch up with M.O.S.T. runner-up and Southridge Admiral, Ryan Jacob. Here’s what he had to say regarding his current success, Southridge life, and future¡ plans.

Ranking 2nd in this year’s Muntinlupa Outstanding Student (MOST) did not conclude Southridge’s dominance in the annual search undertaken by the Muntinlupa City government, having consistently placed in the top ten since 1994. On the contrary, it again proved the brand of education PAREF (Parents Education Foundation Inc.) provides – the top accolade being awarded to Woodrose School, Southridge’s sister school in Ayala Alabang – both Ina Badiola and Ryan Jacob, graduating seniors of the two PAREF schools, lived up to nothing short of excellence.

Bruited about in previous news articles and numerous education fora, PAREF education serves as a template in forming students “in the Christian ideal” Through their distinct character formation program which is guided by the philosophy and principles of St. Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei, Southridge, Woodrose, and the other PAREF schools in the country take the lead in peopling society not only with young academically incisive men and women but more importantly with individuals who are willing and primed to take on the challenge that the 21st century demands, most especially in the area of service.

Apart from being consistent honor students, Ina and Ryan have been exposed to various sociocivic activities in and outside their schools, equipping them with the skills necessary to deal with the harshness of the real world. Both plan to enter the University of the Philippines in Diliman.

Ryan will take up Economics while Ina qualified for the INTARMED course. They are but two living testaments of, and a double victory in fact, for PAREF education!

Q1) Hey Ryan! Congratulations on your placing 2nd amongst all candidates for the Muntinlupa’s Outstanding Student award! In your opinion, to what can you credit this MOST victory that you learned from Southridge? (Specific virtues, experiences, events, lessons...)

A1) Thank you so much! Well, I was really shocked when I was chosen to represent the school for MOST, plus I felt very overwhelmed by this duty which came out of nowhere. When I found out about it, I was juggling school work, Father’s Day work, extra-curriculars, and loads of other things. However, I think that’s why the school chose me: the goal of Southridge is to form wellrounded, holistic gentlemen and they probably saw that I am trying my best to become one. Truth be told, I got discouraged every time I compared myself to the school’s previous candidates. But throughout the course of this experience, I have learned that being in Southridge is reason enough to make one an “outstanding student”. The school constantly and unfailingly provides students avenues to increase their capacities and discover their potential, and it’s up to every Admiral to take those opportunities. I don’t consider winning as a personal victory, as so many from the Southridge family helped me achieve it—my parents, teachers, mentors, and classmates. But most of all, I owe it to my 12 years in this school which was the best preparation that I could have ever asked for.

Q2) What were your favorite and least-favorite academic subjects?

A2) I invoke my right against self-incrimination. Hi, Mr. Arevalo.

Q3) Is MOST all academic or did it involve extra-curricular activities as well? If so, what were some extra-curricular activities you participated in while in Southridge? (clubs, varsities, events, committees, etc) (continued on page 4)

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Student Council: School Year 2013 – 2014 by

Mito Hizon

“Less Talk, More Action!” This was the motto of T.H.E Party, the group of candidates that became the Student Council of S.Y. 13 – 14. The council, composed of Chairman Fonzy David, Vice Chairman Titus Bautista, Secretary Gab de Lange, Treasurer Claro Manzano, P.R.O Jomo FIlart, Members-At-Large Vinci Medalla & Joax Santos, and Batch Representatives Benson Leong for Year V, Gabby Yang for Year IV, yours truly for Year III, Teo Eugenio for Year II, Gino Yang for Grade 8, and Sam Escueta for Grade 7, definitely lived up to its motto.

In preparation for the upcoming school year, T.H.E. Party met in the summer to discuss projects and plans. During the school year, the council executed these plans well - the highlight, of course, would be the Anti – Bullying Campaign.

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The Anti-Bullying Campaign was set up by the student council at the beginning of the school year, and it was officially put into action by Fonzy David in the August Student Assembly. Through this campaign, the student council hoped to tackle the problem of bullying and create an atmosphere of camaraderie and friendship among members of the Southridge community, particularly the student body. The Student Council served as the go-to place for any victim of bullying, and the council members confronted the victims’ bullies. The council members served as mediators, as they made bullies realize that what they did was wrong and that there are many things the bullies could do to change. This project is a first, as it was only T.H.E. Party that focused on eradicating bullying, and this project has definitely raised the standards for the projects of upcoming student councils.

The council organized many other activities and projects that promoted unity, camaraderie, and school spirit. The Pep Rally became the event that introduced the mighty battle between Helm and Vinta led by their leaders, Greenheart and Bluebeard respectively. The Pep Rally lifted the Southridge spirit among the Admirals.

In the month of November, the council organized the Aloha Family Run which was indeed a success. The run launched the Hawaiian inspired theme of Fathers’ Day. It was named “Makua Ohana”. The council organized a very successful Fathers’ Day which started with the school’s Haka, and ended with the tunes of the Side A band - an unforgettable night.

This council was more than just a council – it was a brotherhood. Because the council was united, it definitely brought results from which the school benefitted. They manifested great leadership, and had a sincere love for the school, the faculty, and the students. The student body couldn’t have chosen a better set of leaders to oversee and govern this school.

AN INTERVIEW WITH RYAN JACOB (continued from page 3) A3) The first task all the candidates had to do for MOST was to make a portfolio of all their high school achievements.

This constituted 50% of the scoring - 30% for Academics and 20% for Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and involvements. (This can serve as a heads-up to the candidate for next year) I first placed my status as an honor student, which includes grades, school recognition, academic competitions, and even CET results.

I also included my endeavors as a student leader: class council, Father’s Days, Admirals Run, clubs, Plautus, etc. I counted my hobbies as well, specifically my experiences as a musician and ultimate frisbee player. I think some of the biggest “pogi points” I got were from my engagements in sociocivic activities for my fellow Muntinlupeños and Filipinos in participation with the school, Molave Study Center, and my friends from Southridge and Woodrose. Lastly, aside from joining work camps and teaching with KAABAY, I had the privilege to be invited by Molave to go to Rome, Italy as a pilgrim and a delegate of the annual UNIV international forum.

Q4) It must have been difficult to juggle all of these priorities. Have you always been a hardworking student or was there one specific event or experience that inspired you to strive for excellence?

A4) Well, first of all, it’s the least I could give back to my parents who took care of me and who worked hard to send me to school. It’s because of their example and teaching that I’ve always tried to excel in everything I do. But above everything, I tried to be a good student simply because it’s my duty and obligation at the moment. St. Josemaria Escriva said, “There is no excuse for those who could be scholars and are not.” Southridge does all it can to produce

good students—Men of Integrity and Character—who will eventually excel as professionals, family men, and members of society. So, the best thing an Admiral can do is keep this in mind with everything he does. I think the secret to being motivated in work and everything we do is not to treat them as the flame—or we will really get burned out! Instead, we should consider our endeavors and efforts as the fuel we use to better ourselves. If all our work—our activities and even rest—is done well with honesty and with others in mind before ourselves, it will be fruitful. Furthermore, it can be sanctified and offered up to God whom, in the first place, we owe our entire lives and selves.

Q5) What would you suggest for people who want to aspire for the same success you’ve achieved in High School?

A5) 1. Don’t compare yourself to other people. People are unique in their own way, with their own strengths, weakness, experiences, and circumstances. As I said earlier, I would get really discouraged whenever I compared myself to previous SR MOSTs, and it did more harm than good. But it’s good to have models or people who could help you. That’s why I really love our school’s mentoring system. Here’s my advice to every student: trust your mentors and be open to them.

They won’t just help you in times of need but also in those little moments that help you change and grow as a person.

However, they and the school can only take you halfway; it is up to you cross the rest of the bridge and decide what to do when you get to the other side.

2. Don’t do it for the grades; do it for the virtue. Yeah, it’s true that our goal in high school is to excel in terms of academics, but if you’re only doing it for that reason you’ve been gravely mistaken. I know of people who really try their

best without procrastinating and wavering but still get lower than the guy who crammed the night before or the morning itself, and I tell you the first student is the better one. Why? Because he develops character. He develops virtue and discipline. As Kevin Durant said, “Hard work beats talent when talents fail to work hard.” Take advantage of the avenues for character formation in Southridge, which will be the greatest investment you’ll ever make in your life.

3. I won’t forget the day when Mr Arevalo called me to tell me the secret to winning the competition. I thought it would be some ploy to impress the judges or some stunt that will ensure my getting remembered. Instead, he told me: “With all your heart, and everything that comes with it, offer it all up to God.” And I think that’s basically it.

Because if you come from Southridge, you don’t need to worry about becoming successful. It only matters now on placing everything you do in a set direction and context which is to follow God’s will. With everything you do, keep God and maybe an intention for someone or yourself in mind, and you’ll go a long way.

Q6) What plans do you have for your future education?

Career?

A6) To be honest, I’m not very sure. I will be going to UP Diliman in a few months, and I guess I’ll try to do my best there. I may be considered an outstanding student of this city, but when I go there I am certain that I will, simply put, be humbled. Nevertheless, that gives me more reason to excel and bring pride to my alma mater. As for a future career, my way is not yet clear. I am considering teaching though. I find it interesting being colleagues with the very people who taught me.

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A Truly Historic Elections

by Jet

Nicolas

council, more than any elections in Southridge prior to this one. Three parties, the Common Good Party, the Open Party, and the People’s Party compose the bulk of the elections, with one person running as independent. Each party had all good quality and beneficial platforms oriented towards the student, but each plan to execute them in different ways. This presented choice. In the past 2 elections, there was only 1 party, with the candidates running for their respective positions largely running unopposed. This year breaks the stagnancy trend of the past with a bang. This year’s elections was a tumultuous, exciting, and all the more democratic one; this year provided a real selection of qualified candidates, screened with a rigorous process by the members of COMELEC. Out of all the screened and approved candidates, the choice is no longer in the hands of the COMELEC; they were the people’s. And in the end, the people spoke. Let us congratulate the winners for their triumph and wish them a good luck for next year!

The Student Council is an important group of people that represents the entire student body; they handle many affairs concerning all the students including Fathers’ Day and the Southridge Run. This year we once again arrive at the election season for the Student Council of SY 2014 - 2015. What then makes this elections historical? This year’s Southridge Student Council elections was one for the books, and it is not only because of the outstanding Commission on Election members behind everything; it is also because there are 35 candidates running for the student

Matthew Timbreza, Chairman Vinnie Tan Gana, Vice-Chairman Jollo Daco, Secretary Kyung Hyun Cho, Treasurer Paul Raagas, Public Relations Officer

Joaquin Santos & Nono Arceo, Members-at-Large

Sebastian Gonzales, Year V Batch Representative Mito Hizon, Year IV Batch Representative Miguel Leechiu, Year III Batch Representative Paolo Sandejas, Grade 9 Batch Representative

Jaime Santos, Grade 8 Batch Representative Francisco Garcia, Grade 7 Batch Representative

Back to Back by

Fonso Garcia

Henry Ford once said, “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”

The road to glory was not the easiest trip; it had its ups and downs. But when we finally got there, it became one of those moments that would forever be etched in our memories.

Last season we came out as champions of the RIFA Phase II, and this season we aimed to repeat that feat. This season we were more than just a team, we were a family. We fought for each other in every game we played, we played our hearts out for each other in every game. Finally we reached that point - the finals.

We played against Claret, a team that has become renowned for its prowess in football. The game was held at 0-0 for around 20 minutes when suddenly Enzo Jalandoni broke free off his marker then was taken down just outside the box. Rocky Plaza whipped in a beautiful cross towards the far post, which was met with a thundering header by one of our senior teammates, Carlos Magsadia. Instantly we went wild and began cheering. However, we were disappointed as we felt that each call the referee was making was against us. Our opponents had almost 10 free kicks in dangerous areas and we were even reduced to 10 men. But still, the game remained 1-0 for the rest of the half.

Then the second half began. Claret started taking advantage of their superior number and began bombarding our defense with attacks, but we held firm, then suddenly David Arceo played a beautiful combination with Nino Herrera who slotted the ball past a charging keeper. We were ecstatic; we were two goals up, and we thought for a moment that the odds of winning were in our favor. Then around 10 minutes later Claret broke through our right side and pulled a goal back.

That seemed to shift the momentum of the game as Claret’s attacks increased. Things were looking dangerous for us and then, Rocky broke forward, dribbled around the keeper and slotted home our third goal. 3-1. We freaked out again but this time we warned each other to focus, that it wasn’t over. Then we dug deep; we found our reserve strength; we kept the ball, and finally, it was all over. The referee blew his whistle, and we were champions again.

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Fathers’ Day and the Run by

Gab de Lange

It appears that the Tiki spirits have been in the favor of the HELM crew this school year! After an outstanding Southridge Run last November 11, 2013, followed by our incredible annual main event Fathers’ Day, which was held last February 1, 2014, it was the Helm crew who won the battle for the gold, leaving the Vinta crew to try and pick themselves up and get back their title next year.

Last November, during the Southridge Family Run, the student council made their announcement that this year’s Fathers’ Day theme would be “Makua Ohana”, which is Hawaiian for “My Father’s Family”. With this theme in mind, the school began its preparations for Fathers’ day with decorations that truly brought out the best of the theme.

The beach vibe really came to our school as we saw beach balls, surfboards, tikilamps, torches, and even sand placed around the school to really simulate the Hawaiian atmosphere and bring out our school spirit! Many activities such as the hula-hoop contest, archery, and other games, as well as performances from student bands and even a special performance by fire dancers, brought out the best in all of us!

The main performances during the night were from the bands “Side-A” and “Taken by Cars”, which brought out a huge crowd of both kids and parents, that ended the night with a warm vibe.

Despite Helm being victorious, both crews gathered together to celebrate the tremendous success that was this year’s Fathers’ Day!

PLAUTUS XIV / VIVET by

Rafa Morallo

Endless hours of practice and late nights in school... that’s what it takes to stage a Plautus play. For the 14th year, Southridge High School students have come up with outstanding plays that showcase both their creativity and ingenuity.

Plautus XIV was filled with new surprises; for the first time, the auditorium stage was equipped with an elevated platform to add to the dynamics of the plays’ sets, and this season’s theme, to present the traits of Filipino heroes, has produced stories that reveal so much about ourselves.

Plautus XIV also gave classes an opportunity to bond together. The Plautus plays were truly products of class effort and teamwork because everyone worked together to give out the best they can. The months leading up to the opening Plautus week were by far the most stressful and nerve-wrecking, but at the same time, they were the most fun and exciting months of the school year. Every bit of effort truly paid off when it was time to stage the plays.

This year saw an exciting set of plays. Overall, the seven plays presented this year had their own unique qualities which set themselves apart from the rest of the plays. At the end of the season, these qualities were pitted against each other in the deliberation for the Plautus Night awards, and this year was perhaps the most competitive Plautus season. The plays proved to be serious contenders for the various awards waiting to be won on Plautus Night, and it was without a doubt that each class deserved every nomination it received. The Best Script and Best Director Awards were won by the sophomore play “For”, produced by Year III-C, and “For” came home tied with the most awards (4) together with the senior play “20/20” by Year V-A. “20/20” was awarded Best Lead Actor and Best Play. Because the two classes produced such amazing plays, they were each given the chance to re-stage their plays in the Plautus Vivet held in February 2014. The event relived the moments that captivated the audience and won the plays’ awards, and this became a fitting end for Plautus Season XIV. This also serves to inspire the next batches of classes to create even better plays in the coming seasons.

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Real Love Revolution 2013 by

Vinnie Tan Gana

Last September, Southridge high school students attended the “REAL LOVE REVOLUTION” chastity conference at the Philippine International Convention Center. The PICC was packed with thousands of students from other schools who also participated in the event. The guest speakers for the event were husband and wife Jason and Crystalina Evert, two world-renowned motivational speakers who travel internationally to empower the youth to grow in virtue. Jason Evert is famous for his seminar called “Romance Without Regret” which teaches about pure love. He has also written several works on chastity, including “Theology of the Body for Teens” and “Pure Love and Pure Manhood”. Crystalina Evert, on the other hand, is just as active as her husband in their mission for the youth. She founded Women Made New, a Catholic website that advocates women’s rights. She has also written books that promote respect for women and sexuality, including “Pure Womanhood” and “How to Find Your Soulmate Without Losing Your Soul”.

The Evert talk in the PICC was truly engaging and eye-opening. The couple shared personal experiences and interesting insights regarding true love.

They taught about the importance of staying pure and holy, and moreover, they gave practical examples as to how people can remain pure and holy. The first and most important step in being pure is prayer. As the Evert couple said, God loves us and will always be there to hear our prayers. Second, we must avoid occasions of sin, such as pornographic magazines, websites, and other sources of temptation. Third, we must be aware of the relationships we have with the people around us. We must stay away from relationships that lead to sin.

The Evert couple enjoined everyone to play active roles in helping the people around them remain pure. We can do this by setting a good example for others and by forming school groups or social media pages that can help promote chastity. By showing others what real love really means and by courageously advocating pure love, we can show that it’s never too late to change and to start a difference.

Image taken from the Evert couple’s website chastityproject.com

Jason and Crystalina Evert have spoken on six continents to more than one million people about the virtue of chastity. They are the authors of more than ten books, including How to Find Your Soulmate without Losing Your Soul and Theology of the Body for Teens.

Jason earned a master’s degree in Theology, and undergraduate degrees in Counseling and Theology, with a minor in Philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville. He is a frequent guest on radio programs throughout the country, and his television appearances include Fox News, MSNBC, the BBC, and EWTN. After speaking solo for several years, he teamed up with Crystalina, and the two married in 2003. Crystalina is the author of Pure Womanhood, and runs the website Women Made New.

Francis Kong - Inspiring Excellence

by Javi

G. Vilchez

“You are not the smartest person in your organization just because you are a leader. A great leader surrounds himself with people who are smarter. And in the process the people make the leader smarter. Humility is a virtue and pride is a weakness” -Francis Kong Last December 2013, students of PAREF Southridge School were graced with the opportunity to sit in to an inspirational talk by leadership consultancy guru and internationally-acclaimed motivational speaker Francis Kong at the Southridge Auditorium.

Francis Kong is the President of Success Options Publishing Company, Funworks Inc., the Director of Inspire Leadership Consultancy, a radio-host of his daily-aired program “Business Matters”, and a contributing writer to the Philippine Star Business Page. He is the author of 10 books- including the bestsellers “One Day At A Time” and “The Early Bird Catches the Worm” which gained widespread acclaim both locally and abroad. But despite all of these accomplishments, Francis Kong chose to begin his talk with a few down-to-earth anecdotes of his humble beginnings.

Although he studied in some of the world’s most prestigious universities, such as Harvard and Cambridge, Francis Kong repeated two years of high school before finally graduating. He was never known for outstanding grades or exemplary leadership. As he jokingly said, he’s best known for being able to attend multiple batch reunions. One remarkable thing about Francis Kong’s story was his resolve to turn his life around and start anew.

When he finally arrived at college, he decided to take his

studies seriously. He constantly strove for exam exemptions and tried to avoid bad company. His studious reforms earned him the scorn of his fellow students and former friends. Most of the lessons he imparts during the lecture are based on his experiences during this tumultuous period of his life. He remembers the discouragements he encountered during his academic failures in high school, and admonishes parents to never discourage their kids but encourage, saying, “The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice”.

But despite what he went through academically and socially, Francis Kong lA key ingredient to facing these trials, says Francis Kong, is the right attitude. “All things being equal, the person with the better attitude gets the breaks and all things being equal, the person that is more liked will get the promotions.

This is a fact of life. This is why we need to work on having a positive attitude all the time. This is also a requirement for good business”.

Finally, Francis Kong reminds us that a good finish is vital to facing obstacles, “Successful people follow through with what they have started. They start strong and they finish well”.

Today, Francis Kong offers lectures on leadership and motivation to many schools and companies around the Philippines.

If you wish to learn more on Francis Kong’s travels, experiences, and lectures- visit his website “http://franciskong.com/”.

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Southridge Through the Years:

35 Years of Forming Men of Integrity

Last March 19, PAREF Southridge celebrated its foundation day. On the same date, 35 years ago, PAREF Southridge was nothing more than a two-story building and three hectares of cogon grass. With only a hundred students and twenty teachers and administrative staff, Southridge began its operations on July 16, 1979, in the hope that it would one day grow into a prestigious learning institution offering quality education and values-based formation for its students. Today, PAREF Southridge consists of world-class facilities and is acknowledged by columnist Monique Villonco as “one of the country’s bastions of classical education”.

To see just how much Southridge has changed in the past 35 years, three veteran members of the Southridge community were interviewed.

Mr. Salamat (Principal Grade School) Q: How long have you been in Southridge?

A: This coming school year is my 28th year.

Q: What was Southridge like when you first came here? How does it compare now?

A: In terms of physical structure, there were only two buildings when I first came to Southridge, the main building and the multi-purpose hall, which is now the auditorium and the chapel. The field was also there, but not as developed as it is now. There were also fewer faculty members, but when I first entered Southridge, I felt like I was entering a home. Initially, when we were interviewed, I thought I was entering a country club because of the structure and look of the building, so I thought I was entering a big house. And true, I was entering a big house because I was welcomed so warmly by the then executive director Dr. Antonio Torralba, who was like a father to all of us. I was only 19 years old at that time, and the rest is history. Now, as you know, Southridge has improved a lot - more buildings, better structure, more people, though less of the personal touch. At that time, there were only 300 students and around 40 to 50 teachers, so everyone knew each other. It was really like a family - the atmosphere was very warm, with lots of caring and free merienda. In terms of academics, Southridge has definitely gone a long way.

When I first entered, I was only given a syllabus from which

I had to develop my lesson, while now, all teachers are given a curriculum to follow. Academics as rigorous back then, but more rigorous now. I’d like to think that the students back then were more diligent than today; they seemed more focus because I think this had to do with the small class size Southridge used to have in the past. It was more personal. At that time, you can’t enter Southridge unless you are recommended by another Southridge parent.

Q: In your opinion, has Southridge successfully lived its vision and mission?

A: I will not be quick to say yes, because really, we cannot say yes. Every year we generate new batches of graduates. The real test is if we already see our graduates living lives of virtue, and that’s really hard to tell. At the same time, however, I’d like to say that yes, we have produced men of integrity. We already have people making a difference in society, but more than this, Southridge doesn’t only want alumni to show this in their work; Southridge wants alumni to show this in their totality - if the alumnus is truly a good father, son, husband, and if he is truly honest. Again, this is hard to tell, but at face value, we certainly have produced men of integrity. We already have alumni who are sending their children here, and in one gathering in PAREF, the DepEd secretary Bro. Armin said that Southridge should spread its philosophy among public schools, thus showing that we are recognized as a school of character and one that puts a lot of emphasis on home-school collaboration. This said, Southridge is successful, but again, there’s still a long way to go.

Q: What has to be improved in Southridge?

A: We are only 35 years old. Southridge is still developing, but at the same time, Southridge already knows what she wants to achieve. What needs to be improved?

First, more serious attention must be placed on character formation. It is important that the three components of the school community, the parents, teachers, and students, receive proper formation.

Q: What do you envision for Southridge?

A: I’d like the school to be the center of all character formation in the whole Philippines, or maybe, even the world. I’d like the school to be accredited as a school of character because if students have good character, everything else will follow.

A: Well, 28 years ago, Southridge was just a couple of buildings, small faculty, and very small student population, so everything at that time was just simple.

There were less things to deal with, and we had more time to teach.

Q: In your opinion, has Southridge successfully lived its vision and mission?

A: It’s on its way there. As far as producing men of integrity is concerned, we have produced several alumni who are doing well in the real world. We have several alumni working abroad, majority here. But I’d like to see more alumni getting more involved in causes that would help information and technology, their fellow Filipinos, and the country, as a whole.

Q: What has to be improved in Southridge?

A: Facilities and programs. This would take time and money, so hopefully with the support of the alumni and parents, we could achieve these within the next few years.

Q: What do you envision for Southridge?

A: I’d like to see Southridge as a school that is at par with the top schools in the country as far as producing graduates of substance is concerned.

Mang Dolphy Golisao (Janitor Cum Gardiner)

Q: How long have you been in Southridge?

A: Simula noon September 7, 1984 hanggang ngayon. Mahal ko na ang komunidad dito sa Southridge, kaya dito akong nanatili. (I have been here since September 7, 1984. I love the Southridge community, which is why I stayed here.)

Q: What was Southridge like before? How does it compare now?

A: Mas maganda ngayon dahil mas maraming building at estudyante. Ang mga estudyante dati ay medyo mabait. Ngayon, medyo makukulit ang mga bata, mahirap sawayin, ngunit nakakatuwa rin ang mga batang naglalaro. (It’s nicer now because there are more buildings and students. However, students now seem rowdier than the old ones. At the same time, though, I enjoy watching them play.)

Q: How can Southridge still improve?

A: Siguro para mag-improve ang Southridge, Mr. Sumulong (Principal High School) pagbutihan ang mga gawa dito, katulad ng mga estudyante, at magtulungan para mas maayos dito Q: How long have you been in Southridge? sa Southridge. (Southridge can improve further if its A: 28 years Q: What was Southridge like when you first came members continue to do their work well, especially the students, and if its members help each other out.) here? How does it compare now?

10 4 12 Why We1 Need to6Keep and 8 2 Follow Schedules 3 5 7 911

by Matthew Banaag

“Na, na na na, na na na na...” my phone went. Young Volcanoes isn’t really the first song you’d want to listen to when you wake up, but it will wake you up.

Why would I alarm at 5 on a Saturday? Then I remembered the writing competition.

After eating a simple breakfast I take a quick shower, dress up, and leave for school. They told me to be there at 6 because the competition is at 7.

the alarm and check my phone. 5 AM.

beep! beep!

I dismiss

I arrive at Southridge only to find out that I’m the only one there. So much for “be here at 6” I thought to myself. So I did the only thing I could do, I waited.

Soon Mr. Peralta arrives. To his surprise I was the only one present. We continued to wait and finally at 7:15 we were complete and left for the venue.

The ride was uneventful; all I could think of was what I could’ve been doing today. We no games... arrive, luckily, at 8 only to find out the competition hasn’t started yet because the speaker was late. Great, I thought. Looking around

I doubt I wasn’t the only one thinking that. So I started making small talk with my friends until finally sometime near 9 the announcement that the competition will begin came. Finally, I thought, let’s get this over with.

It goes like this: before each category there is a corresponding talk.

Simple, my category was editorial writing, so my talk was at 1pm, my competition at 2. That just left me

with one problem, what to do with all this spare time? All I had was my phone and there weren’t many games on it. I couldn’t sleep anywhere and my friends and I were having a difficult time holding a conversation, there wasn’t much to talk about. What a way to waste a Saturday.

Soon things got from bad to worse. The speakers came late for each of their respective talks causing a huge delay in the competition.

It also took a while because there was a problem with room allocation; apparently the other competition wasn’t over. After waiting for half an hour we finally get to sit down and wait for another half hour because they lacked proctors. So after only having half an hour to write instead of the supposed 1 hour I quickly wrote my piece.

Instead of my competition beginning at 2 it started at 3.

social media is... overrrated

I was a bit disappointed, though, with the topic given to us to write. It was about “How to use social media during times of distress”. I found it very shallow, but I did my best anyway. After submitting my paper I dashed out of the room just wanting to get away from all the disorder the day has brought.

What a day, I thought. So much time wasted just because people can’t follow a simple schedule that they themselves set.

Think of what we could have been doing instead of waiting. Time is the only resource that we can’t replace and I believe if people continue to treat time as they do now, nothing will happen. It’s no wonder why people say it’s difficult to be well-rounded. They can’t discipline themselves to do what they need to do when they need to do it. That is why it is important to keep a schedule, so that one can make the most out of each and every moment.

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Whether the Weather Be… by

Diego Ipapo

The Philippines has faced many strong typhoons throughout the years – according to TIME magazine, 8 or 9 tropical storms make landfall in the country annually. However, none caused as much damage as Typhoon Yolanda (otherwise also known as Typhoon Haiyan). Yolanda was a monster typhoon – whipping winds of 147 mph, killing thousands of people, and leaving millions of people homeless and causing houses to be tossed into the ocean. Roofs were severed from their homely establishments, power lines were cut, and trees were uprooted because of the strength of the storm. As of January 14, 2014, there have been approximately 35,000 casualties with more than 6,000 dead, 28,700 people injured, and about 1,780 people missing. According to the IB Times, the typhoon also caused approximately $13 billion in economic losses across the whole Southeast Asia and $879 million across the Philippines.

Many countries and institutions donated large sums of money to help the Yolanda victims, proving that indeed, in times like this, the best is brought out in people all around the world. At the same time, however, the Philippine government should not be complacent when disaster strikes; it should not rely merely on help from other nations.

There are several measures that the Philippines could take for it to be better prepared for natural calamities like Yolanda. First, relief goods must be made readily available in the country’s disaster prone areas. Prior to the monsoon season, places that are often stricken by typhoons must already have adequate supplies of food, water, medicines, and clothing and easy access to shelter, i.e. sites for relief goods operations. Doing so allowed people within reach of basic necessities if a typhoon as strong and destructive as Yolanda strikes again. Second, the government should tie up with humanitarian organizations such as Red Cross to further prepare the people for natural calamities. If centers for relief goods are to be established, there should be enough people to run these centers and make sure that the relief goods are safely stored and that they will only be made accessible to the public at the right time To ensure an adequate amount of goods and people to store and

protect these goods, it is best that the government works hand in hand with humanitarian organizations. Moreover, Philippine government officials and members of the humanitarian organizations will have to work together to educate the people who live in disaster-prone areas, teaching them first-aid procedures and giving them guidelines as to how they can stay safe when natural calamities strike. Third, Local Government Units must be obliged to submit up-to-date reports on the status of the relief good centers and operations. This way, the quality of relief goods and services is ensured. Finally, PAGASA should keep in touch with LGUs so that the latter can prepare for evacuation procedures before disaster strikes – in other words, early warning systems must be established.

Because of the Philippine’s location, it is inevitable that more typhoons like Yolanda are bound to come. However, unlike previous years, the Philippines could now choose to be more adequately prepared to face the coming storms. By supporting humanitarian organizations and by finding other ways to reach out and help the people who are often the victims of natural calamities like Yolanda, everyone can pitch in to help as well. All it takes is cooperation and a firm drive to improve as a nation, on the part of the people and the government.

Typhoon Yol anda

by Jamie

Algarra Image from http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/136927/your-super-guide-to-helping-the-victims-of-yolanda

On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Yolanda devastated the country, resulting in at least 6000 deaths and leaving 11 million people homeless.

The damage to the Visayas region, especially to Leyte and Samar, is catastrophic, notwithstanding the widespread flooding in Cebu and Bohol. Many of these areas were placed under a state of national calamity. The former islands, especially the city of Tacloban are still currently without power and left in a wasteland of debris and mud.

Many rescue and relief operations began immediately, starting on November 9, 2013. It is very fortunate that national and international communities are donating relief goods and aid as well as trying to restore order and rebuild the cities of these afflicted provinces. Among them, Southridge.

When news of the Yolanda victims came out, Southridge mobilized right away, asking for various relief such as food, clothing, medicine and water, and calling on all students and volunteers to help pack the goods and bring them to operations centers.

What was truly admirable is how quickly the students responded, with donations from the high school unit alone reaching over 50 large balikbayan boxes worth of supplies. The entire Southridge

community pitched in to help those who were affected by Yolanda, and I was lucky to have been one of the volunteers who helped out.

For one whole week, classes were suspended, and students took the opportunity to help the Yolanda victims.

Students and faculty members stayed in school to sort out, pack, and distribute relief goods, and some students even took the initiative to make their own relief goods operations by inviting people to their houses, so that they could make sandwiches for the Yolanda victims. I joined the hundreds of Southridge students who came to school to sort out the relief goods and pack them in plastic bags. It truly was a great feeling to know that the relief goods I packed will go to a family that needed it.

While calamities like Typhoon Yolanda bring about a lot of destruction, they also bring out the best in each one of us. Working through the tragedy, the destruction, and the hardships make us better than we were before. Typhoon Yolanda has shown the world just how strong and united we Filipinos can be.

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MILF Peace Pact by

Sean Cuesta

Last March 27, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government finally signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) which both parties believe would resolve the decades-old conflict in Mindanao.

The Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), headed by Mohagher Iqbal, was the body that formed the MILF peace pact. For 40 years, Iqbal fought the Philippine government for the Muslim’s rights for selfdetermination. The BTC’s proposal aims to give the Bangsamoro region recognition as a separate political entity and establish peaceful ties between the MILF and the Philippine government.

The Philippine government aims to pass this agreement into law by the end of 2014, but with its stance in the Philippine Congress, the target date may not be achieved. The congress is known for having lengthy debates which could go on for years. People have a variety of ideas which Congress has to deliberate on one by one, but the government is working on this agreement as fast as it can.

The M.I.L.F is known for having a heated dispute, to the extent of violence, with the Philippine government. The armed rebel group wanted Mindanao independence from the Philippines to be granted and to form a separate state. They are known for fighting for their goals through violence.

The Philippine government, as well as the citizens of the Philippines, is hoping that this violence will end once and for all through this one final agreement between the Philippine government and the M.I.L.F. to grant the M.I.L.F.

Meralco Rate Hike by

Matthew Mendiola

On June 8, 2001, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) with the goal of reducing electricity rates and improving energy supply through greater competition and efficiency. However, the public now faces a different reality. Beginning December 2013, Meralco sought a P4.15/kWh increase in electricity rates, causing suspicions that Meralco did this to rake in large amounts of profit. Meralco blamed the rate hike on the scheduled preventive maintenance of the Malampaya natural gas line. Moreover, Meralco also claimed that it didn’t benefit from the rate hike.

The escalated electricity rates and unexplained power shortages incensed anger among the consumers, and in response to this issue, the Supreme Court filed a temporary restraining order on the power hike. In the meantime, power rates remain the same. Once the TRO is lifted, however, Meralco will come up with the new rates, and this will definitely affect all Filipino households. According to William S. Pamintuan, Meralco first vice president and head of legal affairs, the new rates will be ”recalculated” by the PEMC (Philippine Electricity Market Corp) so that the prices won’t be “unjustified”. From here on, the public can only hope for the best, and the people have yet to see whether or not Meralco can keep its promise of “justified” rates.

Image taken from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/files/2013/12/meralco121113.jpg

Meralco is set to increase its generation charge this month following the recent shutdown of several power plants that forced the company to buy electricity at a higher price from the spot market, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) announced recently. The ERC, however, said that the increase would just be minimal as the regulatory body was still implementing a secondary price cap on electricity traded in the wholesale electricity spot market (WESM).

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The Spratly Islands by

Brian Cho

Originally a small, uninhabited archipelago lying just off the coasts of Palawan and Sabah is now a large point of contention not only between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Philippines, but also other Southeast Asian countries such as Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The tension began in 1968, wherein oil was discovered in the archipelago, and countries immediately staked their claim to acquire this very valuable resource. Since then, there has been no resolution to the ownership of the Spratly Islands, as each country presented historical evidence claiming that it owns the islands.

Why are they fighting over the archipelago so much?

A study conducted by the Geology and Mineral Resources Ministry of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) estimated that the islands contain at least 17.7 billion tons of oil and natural gas reserves. This is easily comparable to the 13 billion tons of reserves held by Kuwait, making it the 4th largest reserve bed in the world. The very important reserves in the archipelago enticed countries to fight over it, intensified the current situation, and sparked even more aggressive territorial claims by other countries. The very first major Philippine discovery in the Spratly Islands was the amount of oil discovered off the coast of Palawan. Fast forward to 2010, the discovery of oil reserves now account for 15% of all the petroleum consumed by the Philippines.

It isn’t only oil that propelled nearby countries into a messy dispute, but also the commercial lines available to the local area. The Spratly Islands is currently known as one of the world’s most productive areas for commercial fishing. A study in 1988 attributed to the South China Sea a whopping 8% of all catches in the world, which even dramatically rose up to 35% in 2010. The PRC, having predicted that the resources of fishing, oil and natural gases would be worth almost a trillion dollars, eventually undertook its aggressive claims on the archipelago. This region is also known to be one of the busiest shipping routes around the world. A study conducted in 1980 found that at least 270 ships pass by it every day. This amount would eventually grow to a very large number, amounting to more than half of the world’s naval traffic, making the Spratly Islands a very wise economic engagement and commercialization.

Contrary to popular belief, fighting and disputing aren’t the only things that are being done about the conflict today. In a 1995 dispute involving the PRC and the Philippines, an ASEANbrokered agreement was finally reached after a consensus between the PRC and the ASEAN nations that each party would have to inform the other party regarding military movement within the area. In the early 21st Century, the situation slowly and gradually improved, as the PRC initiated talks with ASEAN countries proposing that a free trade area be instituted among the countries involved. In November 2002, a Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea was signed, in order to resolve the territorial and jurisdictional disputes through peaceful means and without resorting to threat. However, the PRC is slowly beginning to disrespect the declaration, reiterating that it was not as law-binding as the other declarations.

The Philippines claims the Spratly Islands under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) procedure, in which she submitted claims for her continental shelf to be extended 200 nautical miles of her shores. Immediately after, China issued protests over ours and Vietnam’s submissions and called on the United Nations not to consider their claims. This is when the PRC began acting somewhat differently.

China would begin to violate international laws regarding the Spratly Islands, as they want to assert their control over the archipelago. In return, the United States Senate unanimously agreed on a resolution that China’s recent actions to unilaterally assert control of the disputed territories in the South China Sea are contrary to principles that were already agreed upon with regard to resolving disputes and are impeding a peaceful resolution in the long run.

Overall, there had already been different kinds of resolutions that were made available by the United Nations, but none of them would work because of the impatience of the PRC. If China continues to be daring with her actions even after the unanimous agreement that the PRC violated agreed-upon laws, then she would be facing dire consequences. The United States officially supports the Philippines’ and Vietnam’s cases on the Spratly Islands by expanding military ties in order to deter the PRC from making even more aggressive moves.

The archipelago is comprised of small atolls, reefs, islets and outcroppings in the South China Sea, west of the Philippines and spread across a large area but claimed by the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Taiwan and Malaysia. The islands, which range in size from small to tiny, are in a prime fishing region and sit atop what’s believed to be vast reserves of oil and natural gas. It’s no surprise numerous disputes flare up between nations that stake claim on the islands and nearby waters, a well-trafficked route for commercial ships and military vessels.

(Source: http://blogs.militarytimes.com/scoopdeck/2011/07/22/know-your-aor-edition-spratlys/) Image source: AP

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EN T E R T A I NMEN T

Passing Time by

Matthew Banaag

H

e took a sip of his hot chocolate and let out a sigh. As Warren watched the people go by he’d make up different stories about each of them. This was a sort of hobby of his, to keep him distracted when work got stressful.

“That girl,” he said referring to this tall European looking girl who passed by, “the one with the big eyes and blond hair. She’s wearing that jacket to hide her tattoo. Those long socks cover her scars. Where she got those tattoos and scars? From the war of course, the war between humanity and the extremely rude flesh eating pandas. She’s only hiding them because she doesn’t want to boast about it, and most of the time because it calls for unwanted attention.”

Warren then took another sip of his hot chocolate only to realize he already finished it.

He set the cup down slowly and let out another sigh. Just then, another interesting character passed by. He was short, tan, was wearing a suit, and had this well groomed beard and was hurrying towards the other end of the mall.

“Oh, he’s on a mission. Can’t you tell? His watch is actually a small translator which will help him decode the ciphers on the wall to the great underground labyrinth. Why is it so important that he gets in there? Well, it’s not guaranteed that he’ll even find the center, but in the very heart of the center lays the City of Heroes, a vast deserted village where they say the secret to Eternal Youth lies.”

Why couldn’t my life be as interesting as these stories? Warren thought to himself. As he was

paying for the bill he noticed the waiter was giving him this odd look, as if he heard all the strange stories he made up. Warren was about to make an excuse for being strange when he realized the waiter wasn’t eyeing him, but the person who just entered the café. It was this tall, pale man wearing the most bizarre clothes. He was wearing this sort of steampunk themed outfit with all the gears and whatnot and his hat had an analogue clock on it that was actually working.

“Must’ve come from that cosplay convention nearby,” the waiter muttered under his breath.

“No,” Warren whispered to himself.

“That’s Freigh, the High Warlock of Rorch.

He’s here because someone has been spreading rumors about him, and he’s not happy about it.”

“He certainly is not!”

Warren turns to face the man he was just commenting about.

“Hello there,” he says. “My name is Freigh, do you happen to know who’s been spreading these rumors?”

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Ender’s Game Book and Movie Review by

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Peppi Escasa

Set in the distant future, Ender’s Game is about a young boy named Ender Wiggin who is chosen to study and train in Battle School. Here, children are prepared to lead and fight in the event of the return of an alien species who had invaded earth before. The first invasion cost the lives of millions of innocent people. Earth’s destruction was prevented by one man’s brave actions. This man, Mazer Rackham flew his ship into the heart of the aliens’ mothership. Late last year, the book written by Orson Scott Card was made into a movie, directed by Gavin Hood.

The book is actually the first of twelve parts in the Ender Saga. In the book, the story begins with Ender still in school, at age six. At this age, he is already a genius. His teachers don’t mind when he doesn’t listen in class because he always seems to know the answer. Because of this, he is constantly teased. He is also the last of three children, his older brother being violent and horribly mean, while his sister is kind and loving to the point where she is unable to resort to violence. He is constantly bullied by his older brother.

Orson Scott Card’s writing can be very descriptive at times, and he easily shows the reader how alone and depressed Ender was in the beginning. The dialogue between characters can be sometimes confusing, but the story is very exciting with numerous plot-twists.

The movie on the other hand, is very different from the book. Here, Ender doesn’t start out as young; instead in his early teens. His siblings, Valentine and Peter, don’t have as big a part as they did in the book. Although the movie did portray many characters the way the reader may imagine them to be, many other characters did not follow the description given in the book.

The acting seemed stiff and unrealistic at some parts, although Asa Butterfield (Ender Wiggins) managed to portray both Ender’s violent and caring sides. The movie itself is exhilarating and invigorating, with action-packed scenes and amazing special effects. The soundtrack goes very well with the scenes and the cinematography was very well done.

Overall, the movie was very good, leaving the viewer at the edge of his seat later into the movie. But being someone who read the book first, I find that the book had more content and was more exciting. Although the movie left out many important details, it captures the main story very well.

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The Little Prince and the Lego Movie: A Comparison by

Matthew Mendiola

The Little Prince tells the story of an aviator whose plane crashed in the middle of the Sahara Desert. While trying to repair his airplane, a little boy approached him, asking him to draw a sheep. Dumbfounded, the aviator did as the little boy told him, and soon, the two of them became friends. Through stories shared by the little boy, whom the pilot calls the little prince, the aviator learned that the little prince descended from an asteroid where everything is small. Before reaching Earth, the little prince has visited other planets and met very “odd” people: a king, a conceited man, a drunkard, a businessman, a lamplighter, and a geographer, all of whom were adults.

Since his arrival on Earth, the little prince learned that only children know what they are looking for, and adults, who are at times blinded by the deceptions of society, must learn to see like children again, for “it is only with the heart that one can see rightly”.

Exupery’s The Little Prince upholds the innocence and naivety of children. It reminds adults that utilitarian concerns are not the most important in life. The little prince found the adults he met odd because these adults were too caught up in their work and in the expectations society has set for them. The king, for instance, had an obsession to power; the conceited man took too much pride in his “admirers”; the tippler was ashamed that he couldn’t meet the expectations of society; the businessman thought that wealth was the most important thing in life; the lamplighter sacrificed his own needs to adhere to the orders assigned to him; and finally, the geographer didn’t take interest in “ephemeral” objects, and ironically, he also didn’t take interest in exploring the world.

The story of The Little Prince is meant to serve as a reflection of the ways in which adults and children differ in terms of their priorities and beliefs.

This is a similar theme in the film The Lego Movie.

Set in a fantasy Lego world, The Lego Movie tells the story of Emmet, an ordinary construction worker who accidentally discovers the “Piece of Resistance”, the only thing that could stop the evil Lord Business’ superweapon “The Kragle”. A band of heroes helps Emmet, but unfortunately, they get captured and imprisoned by Lord Business. Emmet, now strapped to a self-destruct mechanism’s battery, flings himself to “the edge of the universe” to save his friends.

After doing so, Emmet finds himself in the human world, where a father scolds his son Finn for ruining his Lego set by creating a hodgepodge of different characters and play sets. The father then starts permanently gluing Finn’s Lego creations together. Emmet realizes that “The Kragle” is actually superglue, and to save his Lego friends, he wills himself to move so that Finn will notice him. Finn returns Emmet and the “Piece of Resistance” to the Lego set, where Emmet builds a massive robot to assist his friends before confronting Lord Business. In the human world, the father takes another look at his son’s creation. This time, he is looking beyond the “mess” created, and he is now seeing the new pieces as a reflection of his son’s great imagination.

Realizing Finn based the evil Lord Business on him, the father has a change of heart and allows his son to play with the Lego set. In the Lego world, Emmet convinces Lord Business that he too is special, as is everyone. Moved by Emmet’s speech, Business destroys “The Kragle” with the “Piece of Resistance” (which is the cap for the glue) and unfreezes his victims (in the human world, the father does this by pouring superglue antidote on the Lego set).

In the Lego Movie, two viewpoints were presented—that of an adult and that of a child. The adult, as portrayed by the father and Lord Business, believed that rules must be strictly followed because anything out of order would lead to chaos. The child, as portrayed by the son and Emmet, believed that no one should put an end to imagination and creativity, even though some rules have to be changed to do so.

As Emmet said to Lord Business, “You don’t have to be the bad guy. You are the most talented, most interesting, and most extraordinary person in the universe, and you are capable of amazing things because you are the Special. And so am I. And so is everyone... And you still can change everything.”

(Lord and Miller, The Lego Movie) Just like The Little Prince, The Lego Movie invites adults to let go of the societal structures they have raised between themselves and children. What makes children different from adults is how they don’t put limits to their imagination and creativity and how they don’t lower their view of the world as one that runs simply on utilitarian concerns, which Exupery describes in The Little Prince as “matters of consequence.”

At the same time, however, it is also wrong to think that all utilitarian concerns are bad. Children have much to learn, and adults have the primary obligation to provide children with the basic foundation and framework to help them as they grow. This obligation, however, does not equate to defining the limits of the child’s growth and development as a human being. Children should express themselves freely and maximize their creativity.

There are many lessons that children and adults can learn from each other. The bond shared by children and adults is inseparable; all adults were once children, and likewise, all children are bound to become adults. There is nothing wrong with growing up and becoming wiser—this is simply the way life goes. However, when adults start becoming trapped by the structures set by society, and when they begin to lose themselves in the frenzy that is the real world, this is when adulthood becomes a burden to the human spirit. It is in this case that adults must learn to remember that they too were once children, and despite the conflicting notions adults and children have about the world, better progress can be achieved when the two viewpoints are reconciled.

Just like the aviator in The Little Prince and Lord Business in The Lego Movie, we have never lost and will never lose the child within us. All we have to do is remind ourselves that who we were made us into who we are today, and we too can achieve peace knowing that we have finally become the masters of ourselves.