The Big Leap Publication 2023 | Vol. 14 Issue no.1

DISAGREE AGREE

Rosarians return for F2F classes

To provide a more flexible and e icient learning modality, students in the Philippines from elementary to secondary schools get back on track after losing the ability to learn physically for two years due to the pandemic with the help of faceto-face implementation in accordance with the Department of Education's requirement on August 22, 2023.

Doña Rosario High School implemented alternative days such as MWF (Monday, Tuesday, Friday) and TTH (Tuesday and Thursday) for two grade levels every week to control the number of students and minimize the risk of COVID-19 due to the shortage of classrooms and equipment.

According to DepEd's data, over 28.03 million students have enrolled for the academic year 20222023. At the same time, Doña Rosario High School, along with 24,000 other schools, or 46 percent, of which were private and public,

implemented face-to-face classes for five days.

In addition, 29,721 schools held blended learning from August up until last October, while all public and private schools are required to o er full inperson classes by November. The spread of COVID-19, or the Coronavirus disease discovered in Wuhan, China, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that eventually spread in the Philippines last January 2020, caused a pandemic, which is the main reason for schools to shut down the implementation of face-toface classes in the school years 2020-2021 and 20212022, later utilizing apps such as Google Classroom and Google Meet for online classes.

Online classes played an important role in students' school lives as well as the lives of the teaching personnel. This helped to be open with regards to technology, which eventually helped with staying connected and learning with each other; however, it

also gave way for numerous problems to show up in a student's life at home, including their worsened mental health, domestic violence, and cyberbullying.

"I've experienced a lot of problems during the online course, especially in terms of my mental health. For me, it's draining and exhausting to sit in front of a screen for hours on end without any physical interaction or change of environment. I've struggled due to the feeling of being disconnected and isolated from my classmates and teachers, which then a ected my motivation to learn." Juan Miguel Razon, a 10th grade student of Magbanua said after an interview conducted by TBL about his experience in distance learning.

Meanwhile, as COVID-19 began to subside as the years went by, DepEd then decided to instruct and prepare schools for the awaited return of in-person learning.

Moreover, statistics show that 24 scribes, or 66 percent of the Big Leap

team, had mixed emotions, while 4 scribes, or 11 percent, experienced excitement and joy, and lastly, only 1 had a nervous emotion when asked how they felt the day the face-to-face class implementation was announced.

"I felt mixed emotions because first, I can communicate and make friends again in school, but I'm nervous at the same time because I'm still scared of having COVID-19 since we're still not sure that COVID-19 is around the corner and we might still get infected by it." Krizzylle Domingo of Grade 9 Diamond said in a conducted interview.

Furthermore, as per grade-level interviews, rosarians favor face-toface classes over online classes. "I prefer face-to-face classes because there are fewer technical di iculties and problems. During the jeepney strike, I wasn't able to pass two activities on time because our connection became unstable." Grade 10 Abad Santos' Brent Nash Buan added.

SSDD Caravan undertakes welfare assistance in

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte's QC Social Services Development Department (SSDD) Program

Caravan visits Doña Rosario High School with the purpose of assisting citizens near Barangay Novaliches Proper concerning their di iculties regarding medical, educational, and other issues on February 24, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The caravan was facilitated by health care workers from Barangay Novaliches

Proper as well as employees and councilors from the O ice of the Mayor, including some assistants of Councilor Joseph Visaya and Councilor PM Vargas himself, who then started a live video on social media to persuade more people to come.

Moreover, the programs and services the caravan provided are Educational Assistance for grades 4–10 and college, Medical Assistance, Small Income Generating Assistance (SIGA), Burial Assistance, Operation BirthRight for ages 0–17, Correction of Entry (Birth, marriage, & death certificate), Legitimation, Programang Pabahay, Job Fair, Joy of Urban Farming, Medical Consultation, Oral Examination, Covid Vaccination/Booster, Available applications for some applications for Health, Building, Electrical permits, QC ID assistance, especially for senior citizens and PWD, and solo parent applications

Furthermore, some of these applications are

attainable due to cooperation between programs such as the Social Services Development Department (SSDD), Quezon City Youth Development O ice (QCYDO), City Civil Registry Department (CCRD), O ice of the Senior Citizen A airs (OSCA), QC Department of Health, and a lot more.

Meanwhile, as stated by one of the health care workers of Brgy. Novaliches Proper, Venus Olivan, the caravan started to visit schools for the students' parents, who are struggling to seek jobs or medical assistance, and the students themselves for QC IDs and educational assistance. However, the caravan didn't accommodate a lot of people because they still needed to meet some requirements for

service completion.

"Even though some didn't obtain the assistance they wanted because of the lack of requirements, we really hope that they can prepare the necessities whenever they visit the Mayor's Caravan, It really is a big help for the citizens of Quezon City because of the multiple services it provides, from medicines prescribed to the job fairs it can o er."

Zenaida Costanida, a healthcare worker, stated this in an interview conducted by TBL.

On top of that, the caravan didn't forget to observe proper health protocols, with vaccinations and booster shots available, while doctors and medical workers are also onsite for unexpected incidents that may occur during the fair.

Cristine Magharing

Cristine Magharing

Toraise awareness and remind students the consequences to face with underage drinking, Smashed Philippines visited Doña Rosario High School for Rosarians: Grades 9 to 10 with the theme, “Alcohol Education to Empower Generation" herewith PETA Plus and DRHS MAPEH Department for a week, from January 30 to February 3 2023, running for two sessions every other day.

Giving voice to the unheard and eliminating the fear of discussing issues around underage drinking were some

Smashed PH conducts workshop for DRHS studes regarding alcohol

of the proposed purposes by the Smashed PH.

Mrs. Angelica Solajes, a DRHS English teacher said that Smashed PH can be a good intervention that’ll help students who are indulged in underage drinking.

Moreover, to further present its purpose, questions were asked to measure Rosarians' perception with regards to alcohol, including the amount of knowledge they have, who they should ask for help and advice from, and if they have already drank it, preparing them for the

entertaining series Smashed PH is about to o er.

Before the activity, characters such as Miko, Jella, and Paul Jake were introduced as the representation of minors slugging down booze and the di erent chapters of the show are the situation they face as they continue the act.

After the said workshop, the same questions at the beginning were asked again to observe the similarities and di erences of Rosarians' answer about their expertise concerning the topic.

Meanwhile, Yeyin de la

Cruz, one of the Smashed PH facilitators expressed happiness after the first session, “It is very overwhelming seeing the students excitement about the training workshop we conducted and the enjoyment they expressed.” she said in Filipino. “I’m also very happy that we can see the purpose being successfully applied to Rosarians, thus, I hope we can hear more and also be heard so we can further associate what’s in the curious mind of teens” she then stressed.

TBL scribes bag awards in QC DSSPC '23

Delegates of Dona Rosario High School won multiple awards during Quezon City’s District and Division Secondary Schools Press Conference (DSSPC) where various Quezon City based secondary schools awarded at Divine Grace School and San Francisco High School last January 7 and March 4, 2023 to seek for the best campus journalists in every school with the goal of reaching their full potential in writing.

The Secondary DSSPC (District) was executed for 2 days, the 10th of December 2022 for the individual categories and the 7th of January for the group categories as well as the awarding, while the DSSPC (Division) was done during the dates of 18th of February for the group categories, 25th of the same month and the 4th of March for the awarding ceremony.

Various senior journalists from di erent newspaper publications and broadcasting shows attended the conference

to give tips and to determine the winners in each category. This includes GMA News Correspondent, Bam Alegre, DZXL RMN News Reporter, Zhander Cayabyab, and ABS CBN Sports Mobile Journalist, Mariz Domingo.

The Big Leap delegates during the district were; Cristine Magharing and Krizzylle Domingo (News Writing); Clark Montecillo and Ryanne Coronel (Editorial Writing); Ryian Jess Villanueva and Rain John Tuazon (Science Writing); Carlene Tagapia and Ma.

Francheska Balbanero (Feature Writing); Rhon Leinard Revilla and Rheane Vitonio (Column Writing); Leigh Dumapias and Glenn Jaya Samia (Sports Writing); Raiza Dumalagan and Ayarah Dibangkitun (Photojournalism); Fernando Alcantara and Samara Francisco (Editorial Cartooning); Ryssa Lyn Aldeguer and Leslie Joyce Ramos

(Copy Reading and Headline Writing); Jaycel Ann Villaflor (Mobile Journalism); and lastly, Mariella Sanchez, Rainjohn Tuazon, and Jeo Rabino (Radio Broadcasting).

Cristine Magharing, a news writer said that she doubted her own skills all the time and also shared the di iculties she encountered in Division Presscon, “I had a silent mental breakdown after writing my article because even though I was confident with the contents, I was also sure that it will go straight in the bin because no one will probably read my handwriting properly.” she said.

“I learned a lot and I don't know how to elaborate all of it, however, I do know that I learned how to properly manage my time, how to adapt to the new set of rules, how to stay calm, and one of the best lessons I've learned, how to accept defeat and move on,

because if you're gonna be negative and let your sadness swallow you whole,” she added.

Meanwhile, Ryssa Lyn Aldeguer, the EIC (Editor-In-Chief) and copy reader said that there were a lot of discrepancies with the schedule of the contest itself that led to multiple instances of confusion.

“I’ve learned a lot but I think the main lesson that I’ve got was sometimes you lose, sometimes you win however, what really matters is the experience. I think this resonates a lot with me because I did, in fact, both win and lose yet the moment that experienced both of those is almost a blur now, and what really stood out was the more than 9 hours we spent, either under the scorching heat of the sun in the court waiting in line or confined in a room finishing our output whilst silently arguing,” she uttered.

“So, it does stand that what you'll take in life is not the trophy but the pieces of moments you've earned with your teammates.” she continued.

Winning WinS.

The Doña Rosario Wash in School (WINS) club o icers along with the Grade 10 students of section Rizal participated and granted as one of the Top 5 finalists and the “People’s Choice” 2nd placer during the Balitang Wash Competition on the 10th day of October with the theme of “ Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene” to celebrate the Global Handwashing Day.

The contest was sponsored by Manila Water Foundation to further promote proper handwashing practices on school grounds.

The Balitang Wash entry was spearheaded by the WinS O icers with the help of Grade 10 - Rizal. The video was recorded on the school grounds with the handwashing practices as the main point of the video in accordance with the health regulations imposed.

The Top 5 were first chosen by the Manila Water Foundation and the o icial rankings and People’s Choice Award were based on the number of Facebook reactions that each entry receives. The voting period for the People’s Choice Award ended on October 28, 2022, at 5:00 PM.

Furthermore, DRHS WinS received a two-month supply of soap from Safeguard for their win at the said contest.

“I was genuinely happy because it was this type of award where the amount of time we spent and the times we were all tired from doing the skits and editing along with other activities just popped like a bubble is all worth it”, the secretary of WinS club, Cristine Magharing said.

DONATION DRIVE

RIC carries out Christmas donation drive

The Rosarians Integrity Crusaders (RIC), a Doña Rosario High School organization aided the elderly who were abandoned and left by their family, utilizing the ways student leaders can, they assisted Our Lady of the Angels Seminary with a donation drive on December 19, 2022.

According to RIC’s Secretary, Ashley Carinan, they collected a total of 3,835 pesos from Rosarians who willingly donated and some programs that were organized by their club from the past months and with that amount, they successfully acquired essentials such as diapers, noodles, canned goods, and hygiene supplies.

In addition, it is said that RIC o icers sacrificed their school classes and time to rest study for the sake of collecting and donations from the students, however, as claimed by them, all of it was worth it after seeing the results of their actions.

Furthermore, during an interview managed by TBL, Andrei Barceliña, the club’s grade 9 representative shared what he experienced and what he felt when they first started to visit the seminary.

“Seeing their condition there breaks my heart, they have no family to talk to and care for them, and they remind me of my grandma who passed away, and at that moment, I suddenly miss her presence, “ Barceliña said.

“I was happy too because I was able to help them even in little ways and I get a chance to bond with them, “ He added.

Mariz Sison

Cristine Magharing Krizzylle Domingo

DRHS WinS clinches 2nd Place in “Balitang Wash”

ALCOHOL AWARENESS

Multiple schools visit Doña Rosario High School to recruit incoming Senior High School rosarians to enroll to their school for the School Year 2023 - 2024, dropping over every grade 10 sections to present what their school has to o er regarding quality in terms of their mentors, school campus, and e ective teaching methods last March 28 to March 30, 2023. Some of them are neighboring schools outside DRHS, including Integrated Innovation and Hospitality College (IIHC), Jose Maria Panganiban Senior High School (JOMAPASHS), Sta. Monica Senior High School (SMSHS), and Nagkaisang Nayon Senior High School

Academies visit DRHS’ Career Fair

(NNSHS). They provided brochures and flyers to be given and were designed to display what they can give as a fully functioning learning facility, such as the SHS strands, school buildings, extra-curricular activities, school achievements and more.

“Since we’re still slowly transitioning from the new normal, it seems like the students struggle to find a school that grants them quality education. With that being said, I think this career orientation really helps them to fully understand what they want to become and discover schools that can provide them with what they need.” Axel Luis Baraca, a student from

GENDER EQUALITY

ACCESS Computer College said in Tagalog during an interview conducted by TBL. Moreover, Universities also paid a visit such as National University, Our Lady of Fatima University, and Far Eastern University.

Meanwhile, a student of grade 10-De Jesus, Yshie Rhine Alimon said that because of the career orientation, schools had the chance to further explain to rosarians like her the benefits they can receive from courses to discounts. “Nakatulong ito na lumawak pa ang mga pagpipilian ko sa darating na senior high school.” ( It helped my options in terms of choosing a senior high school to grow wider.)

EiT acknowledges QC gender equality programs

The Quezon City-Gender and Development Council O ice received a "highly commended participant award" for their outstanding gender equality connected programs from the Equality in Tourism (EiT) organization on International Women's Day, March 8 in Berlin, Germany.

This award was presented during the world's largest tourism trade fair, frequently visited by various companies and organizations across 180 countries, the Tourismus-Börse Berlin (ITB) 2023. While, as a non-profit organization, specifically committed for women, EiT's main purpose is to develop a sustainable and equitable tourism.

Meanwhile, EiT continued to applaud QC-GAD Council O ice's dedication to fully eliminate

InSeT 2023: DRHS teaching practices intensify

Doña Rosario High School's teachers attended and participated in the InService training for Teachers, which occurred last February 6 to 10, 2023 with the theme "Directing Teachers to a Result-Oriented and Holistic Well-being for a Sustainable Learning Environment in the New Normal Landscape" scheduled 8 am to 3 pm at DRHS' covered court. Moreover, some teachers from di erent departments served as the Masters of Ceremonies and speakers during the said agenda. Speakers shared their knowledge about particular topics and were awarded certificates of recognition with the school principal, Dr. Grace A. Tariman, and the headteachers.

Furthermore, Mr. Harvey Inciso Macawile, one of the spokespersons and a Math professor, presented the results of students' examinations to show how to encode and get the diagnostic test scores of the examinees as part of the program with his coeducationists.

In addition, the school also invited guest keynote speakers to the 5-day seminar. One of the visitors was Pastor Roger Gutierriez who discussed topics relevant to the teachers and talked about di erent mental issues, such as depression and anxiety.

"Maganda ngayon kasi lahat ng teachers nagparticipate. Interesting din ang topics ng mga speakers. Thankful din sa libreng pagkain para sa lahat." Mrs. Novez Leal, headteacher of AP Department stated in an interview with The Big Leap's scribe.

Meanwhile, Dr. Tariman pointed out the accomplishments and the improvements of the school's buildings and the newly renovated court, on the last day of the InSeT.

Lastly, Ma'am Q.A. Asuncion, an English teacher, executed a song performance while a group of Science mentors danced together. Teachers also did dance exercises and warm-ups led by Mrs. Lyn Gannaban, a MAPEH instructor.

OATH TAKING

gender-associated problems by improving and promoting equality between di erent genders.

"This is central to the work at Equality in Tourism and so we feel that the o ice deserves recognition for their e orts." EiT added. In addition, they also expressed admiration towards QCGAD measures to include the LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer,

Intersex, Asexual) community within their programs.

"The vision for Quezon City is to be a leader and model of rights-based and gender-responsive local governance to create a society that is free from gender oppression, violence, and discrimination." the organization stated.

The local government of Quezon City had submitted an entry for the award, written as detailed and complete lists of the city's commitment to the duty of promoting and protecting gender equality as well as "zero tolerance" to any gender-based violence. This initiative had QC Mayor Joy Belmonte receive the 2022 Bahaghari Champion Award from Philippine Financial and Inter-Industry Pride in the District Quezon City Pride Council's Annual Pride March.

DRHS Club Officers enforce Oath Taking

Doña Rosario High School’s di erent club o icers performed their oath-taking ceremony on November 5, 2022, held at the DRHS Open Air Auditorium.

The said oath-taking was successfully executed with the help of Principal IV, Dr. Grace Tariman, and Barangay o icials including Brgy. Captain Cion Visaya, and di erent club advisors.

The ceremony started with a prayer, followed by the national anthem sung by Maria Monica Patricio, Supreme Student Government (SSG)

Secretary. Moreover, Dr. Tariman also delivered her speech as well as the Barangay o icials. Various organizations were present such as the SSG, Rosarians Integrity Crusaders (RIC), Batang Emergency Response Team (BERT), WASH in School (WinS), and other subject-centered clubs.

The o icial oathtaking was led by Zirish Bartolome, SSG President. Subsequently, the program formally closed with a speech from Mrs. Rowena Chua, the SSG Adviser.

Ayessa Marie Bueno

Photo

Jaycel Ann Villaflor

Jannela Mariz Sison

Cristine Magharing

Glimpse of Aspiration.

DRHS studes earn SK’s “Academic Excellence” award

Bonafide students of Dona Rosario High School; Joshua Rabutin, Keith Albert Mangahas, along with alumni Venus Nangorog and Justin Reyes has been awarded by the Sangguniang Kabataan at barangay Novaliches Proper, Quezon City last September 2022 to acknowledge and appreciate the exemplary performance of youth in terms of education.

According to Joshua Rabutin, all the hard work he has done was worth it to be awarded such a prestigious award. His outstanding academic performance and ability to encourage his fellow students to stay committed and motivated make him a perfect example of a young individual worth emulating.

“I do hope that this award motivates my schoolmates to study and to never lose hope,” Rabutin added.

This SK award aims to showcase the most outstanding youth-led capability among Sangguniang Kabataan. It is a seal of excellence for Sk councils committed to building a better society and establishing impactful outcomes through their projects.

DRHS: 15 Years of Excellence

Kudos To Hard Work.

Doña Rosario High School celebrates its 15th foundation day in a two-day event at the Open Air Auditorium on December 12-13 by executing di erent booths by the school clubs for students to enjoy.

The first day of the celebration started with a mass which was then followed by an opening ceremony where Grade-9 Diamond students, Glenn Jaya Samia and Benedict Dumalag sang and o icially started the celebration for Grade 7 and 8 Rosarians.

In accordance with

DRHS conducts quarterly earthquake drill

the theme “Carnivalesque Fun”, multiple booths were set up in the school court by the school clubs and organizations. These booths were creatively named as “Balloon Pop!” by the Rosarians Integrity Crusaders and Social Studies Club, “Magic Piso” from the Supreme Student Government, “Spin the Wheel” by the ESP Club, “Litera-Throw” from the English Club, and many more.

Moreover, the second day for Grade 9 and 10 Rosarians started with the culminating ceremony lead by the Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao (ESP) Club where the finalists of the contests

executed during the EsP month were awarded even granting a Pamasko prize for the winners of the Grade 10 Christmas Jingle Contest, Grade 10-Rizal.

Subsequently, various sports were also hosted such as 3v3 Basketball Games, Chess tournaments, Badminton, and Volleyball eliminations for the Rosarians during both days. The two-day event finally ended on a good note and served as a temporary farewell for students for their Christmas break.

GETAR eases DRHS reading crisis

Grades 7-10 students of Doña Rosario High School including those who are currently facing di iculties in terms of comprehensive reading attended the Get Together and Read (GETAR) program prepared by the DRHS English Department to improve rosarians' reading comprehension and continually enhance their reading skills and vocabulary on November 17, 2022 in the afternoon at DRHS Covered Court.

Grade 10 Rosarians participated by listening and reading the story "How My Brother Leon

Brought Home A Wife," by Manuel Arguilla out loud with the guest reader, Miss Sarah Mae Albuñan, and answering the questions after with their co-students regarding what they've read with the storyteller.

In addition, "I have learned so many lessons during the GETAR event but the one thing that was really memorable for me is the lesson I have learned from the story that they told us, I have learned that they are many challenges that u have to face in life and it's up to u how you're gonna face it. I've also realized that it's fun reading

stories together with your co-students, in short, I really enjoyed it." Miley Canto, from grade 9-Diamond stated in an interview handled by TBL.

Moreover, Athena Lago said that It was fun and she learned a lot and shared her experiences with many people. She also would recommend this program to her fellow students.

"I can see that it can help them learn how not to be discouraged immediately, persevere, and all the problems they face have solutions." She added.

The Fourth Quarter Nationwide

Simultaneous Earthquake

Drill activity was successfully held outside the Doña Rosario High School on Thursday afternoon November 10, 2022, with the goal of helping students to be prepared for unexpected disasters.

Di erent clubs such as Red Cross Youth(RCY), Batang Emergency Response Team (BERT), Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP), and Student Supreme Government (SSG) also helped to execute the activity.

Before the actual Earthquake

Drill, Red Cross and Mapeh department distributed the task and duties per o icers and members of di erent clubs on Wednesday afternoon November 9, 2022.

Moreover, Grade 7 students, teachers, and sta s were the ones who actively participated in the said activity.

According to Kryzille Domingo, a BERT and RCY member, executing earthquake drills in school is important "since there are times that earthquake happens and some people are clueless about the proper measures to do."

EARTHQUAKE DRILL

GETAR

A Step against the Big One.

Krizzylle Domingo

Krizzylle Domingo

Krizzylle Domingo

Athena Lago

Schools: Sanctuary or Cemetery?

Given how comfortable and how safe most students feel inside their school, it has undoubtedly served as a sanctuary for most children. However, if we do not take the necessary precautions and measures to protect them and continue to ignore the things that need to be changed in the first place, this so-called haven will become nothing more than another gravesite.

The darkness of violence lurks in the shadows of our schools, waiting to be unleashed.

Months ago, a tragedy befell Culiat High School as a first-year high school student turned into a criminal at 13 years old as he stabbed his schoolmate to death due to jealousy. Moreover, last month, a school shooting happened in Cotabato, in which one was reported dead. These incidents caught the attention of the public, who then called for an explanation and solution to this matter.

This issue is incredibly alarming as it is also imminent internationally. 288 school shooting since 2009 has been reported in the United States of America, making it the country with the highest amount of reported cases of school shootings worldwide, whilst, Japan has the highest student suicide rate. Now hearing this, can we really call schools our

NOTION

Jeepneys have been a part of our daily lives and have a big contribution in our history.

It is no surprise that these vehicles have established themselves as national and cultural symbols of innovation in our country.

They were originally converted from World War II jeeps left by the US troops during their rule of the country. After the war, Filipinos converted these vehicles into passengercarrying public transit making it a convenient mode of transportation, charging a nominal fee for a predetermined route.

Original jeeps have been lengthened to accommodate more passengers. But other than that, it is also modified to be more e icient, safer, or even more comfortable for passengers. In addition, these jeepneys are run on individual

"sanctuary"?

The Commission on Human Rights in the country continues to antagonize the Philippine National Police regarding school-related violence.

PNP Chief General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. admitted that there is a lot to be done and urged all schools in the country, public or not, to coordinate with the PNP and Local Government Units to prevent more incidents such as these from happening. Indeed, there is a lot to be done to solve this problem of school violence, and this problem will not solve itself. We

mustn't just criticize, just like CHR; we mustn't be complacent, just like the PNP; we must get together and step up.

Moreover, from a recent survey conducted by The Big Leap writers in Doña Rosario High School, 195 out of 333 students agreed that security is properly implemented on the school grounds, while a huge portion of those who disagreed outsize those who agreed that security is properly implemented and are dissatisfied with the campus security.

Protecting our schools and students is not solely the responsibility of the teachers, school administration, and the government itself. There is no exact individual to blame; perhaps we can help each sector lessen the threat of this kind of incident by reinforcing the security measures that can lower the risk of school-related violence and make a more peaceful and safer environment for everyone.

School violence has no place in our classrooms. We must work together and create a sanctuary, not a cemetery.

inFIGURES

OUT OF 333

Rosarians said that DRHS security is implemented properly.

King's Termination

franchises which makes them di icult to regulate and control. Unfortunately, we might not see them again roaming around our streets as they'll be removed out of service because of the modernization program that our government is pursuing. This modernization program aims to have a safer, more convenient, and more e icient transportation system by phasing out outdated vehicles that are no longer safe to drive and compliant with emissions regulations, followed by an examination and reorganization of the routes, franchises, and roles of the involved vehicles, and finally the introduction of new systems and standards for vehicles that will serve the general public.

Furthermore, because of their poor maintenance, lack of functional lighting,

occasionally problematic brakes, and propensity to be involved in accidents with minimal compensation for the injured passengers, Jeepneys has received a lot of criticism from the public and the government.

However, We can't deny the fact that they're actually helpful in our society. These vehicles served us for almost 80 years taking us to our destination and giving us ease when commuting, it also helps our local drivers to pursue and achieve their goals for their families.

In my opinion, replacing our old jeepneys with modern ones isn't a bad idea but they should think that a ording one can be quite expensive and small contractors can't a ord one of these. The phasing out of our traditional jeepneys would be nonsense. They'll be replaced by more

convenient and e icient transportation but the fare would be higher than what a normal commuter may not a ord, this could worsen our current poverty situation which is more a ected by the increasing rate of inflation.

The modernization program isn't that bad at all, but our government should still keep in mind that a lot of us still rely on traditional jeepneys. Providing more safe and e icient transportation is a great idea but instead of removing them, we can just support and help them to improve our transportation system as well as improve our commuting situation in our country.

Rhon Leinard Revilla

OPINION

T

PERSPECTIVE

Catastrophic Consequences

The Kaliwa Dam

he Philippines is one of the most beautiful countries worldwide in terms of its landscape, people, culture, cuisine, wildlife, and tribal groups; however, as the government continues to neglect other environmental issues in the guise of "modernization", what would be left of this beauty if we fail to hinder actions that have catastrophic consequences?Project aims to lessen dependence on the Angat and Ipo Dams also while increasing the demand for water resources in Metro Manila, despite the fact that this goes against the national interest in general. True enough that it will increase the water supply, but it may also cause other ancestral domains to submerge, such as in some parts of Sierra Madre in Tanay town, Rizal province, and General Nakar and Infanta towns in Quezon

PUNTO POR PUNTO

MROTC: A Way To Nescience

A

Despite positive feedback from surveys for the program's implementation, large groups of the public continues to oppose it, particularly college students and their parents. They are refusing to enroll in a program that has already been canceled due to several reports of human rights violations committed by instructors or co-members among its members.

Students have expressed concerns about the risks. Everyone understands that ROTC is a significant commitment. Schedules are already tight for seniors in high school, but they are significantly tougher in college. They already have a lot of obligations without adding extracurricular activities or school/community clubs to the equation. Most of them also work part-time jobs to supplement their income and support their education and families.

Is it safe to assume that obligatory ROTC implementation will be a good idea? Knowing that we will deprive the youth of the right to adequate rest at the same time exposing children to a potentially dangerous environment-mental, physical, and emotional? Are we kindling patriotism or just creating apathetic troops who will not question commands and who blindly follow them?

We cannot simply impose a total mandatory ROTC. We will endanger not just hundreds, but thousands of young students' lives across the country. ROTC certainly fulfills its function, and students and parents need not be concerned as long as the program is implemented e ectively and monitored thoroughly to steer o the way to Nescience.

province.

While the Masungi Georeserve has been restored for the next 20 years, its mountains are still surrounded by land tra icking, slash-andburn farming, fuelwood collection, and illegal logging. And it was all because of "some" government corrupt practices, such as allowing these moneyed companies to pay them a great deal and profit from them.

Why does the

Philippine government continuously make bad environmental decisions? This is due to the money they will receive if they continue to implement this type of solution, and another reason is that these projects pose the possibility of corruption given the high budget involved. In light of this, government action is needed to develop greater environmental protections that will maintain a secure and productive environment for the years

ahead.

The environment is all around us, but in the name of growth and development, the natural environment is being killed. Modernization entails development rather than apathy. The advancement of harmful solutions is harming the natural environment.

Protecting Means Enforcing The Law

s the current administration continues to push for the Mandatory Reserve Training Corps (MROTC) program debates, the public has divided opinions about it. The curriculum is designed to provide college students with fundamental disaster preparedness skills and military training to instill the discipline and patriotism that the youth today lacks. If that is the case, then the program is excellent based on its aim, so why do so many people disagree with its implementation?A

re you really safe from crimes just because the law exists?To keep criminals in check, we shouldn't rely on the concept, "If there's a law, then we are safe." It is really naive for us to think that laws can stop culprits and that we are protected. Criminals will not be called criminals if they are law-abiding. There are reasons they are called o enders and one of them is because they continue to violate the law.

Hazing has a long history in the country with the first case reported in 1954, Albert Gonzalo, till now there are 66 cases of hazing reported with the most recent victim John Matthew Salilig, an Adamson University student, that reportedly went to a fraternity initiation in Biñan, Laguna, and was later found dead. However, there is no guarantee that aside from the 66 reported cases there are hundreds or thousands of hazing cases out there that are unknown waiting to be discovered and get the long-delayed justice they deserved.

These dire events continue to happen because many are still fooled into joining fraternities because of the “brotherhood” and “camaraderie,” but ends up being abused due to a so-called initiation ritual. Albeit, this does not mean that there are no appropriate fraternities out there, though those are extremely rare. Many members seeks to take advantage of those who are not careful enough. Also, it is important to note common misconception that hazing only happens with fraternities, it can also happen in the military, police and other organizations.

Compliance with numerous hazing crimes and the death of Leonardo Villa in 1991 led to the creation of the Anti-Hazing Act of 1995, which was amended by RA 11053, the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 which imposed tougher penalties. But still it wasn't enough to prevent hazing crimes from happening.

Hazing is a phenomenon that has plagued our communities for many decades and it will continue if the government doesn't learn to enforce its laws. What is the use of the law with tough penalties if it is not implemented strictly? It is idiocy to believe that we are safe just because we abide by the law, there is no guarantee that we are always safe no matter where we are.

Thus, in order to prevent more hazing cases to propagate, the whole nation must do their duties rather than relying to one sector. Everybody must cooperate with the criminal justice system. Schools and LGUs should implement stricter campaigns against hazing along with informing more students and parents regarding the dire consequences of enacting or participating these actions. We mustn’t simply rely on something or someone to guarantee safety since protection is first implemented through ourselves.

Jaycel Ann Villaflor

(Letter to the editor)

DRHS.school.admin@gmail.com

We have issues like illiteracy and a lack of comprehension skills. Then, we must ensure that Rosarians acquire di erent lectures beyond subject lessons to mold better-equipped individuals. One of the resolutions we could establish is to allow and encourage students to read more books to hone their skills. Hence, Rosarians have to visit and utilize the school library more often. I'm bringing this up since I noticed that the library area was not utilized properly and that the books were simply stacked within. No one seems to be looking and interested in this school facility, and hardly anyone is reading. Before I leave my 10th year, I`d like to recommend learning facilities to always become accessible, along with having programs, seminars, and training sessions that will improve the learner's four foundational skills. My name is Jaycel Ann R. Villaflor, looking forward to the betterment of our school and the students.

Irene Nollora

Audrey Hart Rosario

Clark Montecillo

IT IS AN OBLIGATION

S

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) are no longer new narratives. We can see it in our daily news, even in telenovelas, so mostly in our everyday life. However, normality does not always means correct, considering the amount of Filipinos working abroad, this “ordinary” happening is incredibly alarming.

Overseas working is a prevalent job opportunity in the Philippines. One of the main reasons for working overseas is because of money. Salaries are double the average of Filipino workers working here in our country. So even though it is a big risk to leave their family, it is done so in hopes of having a better future.

According to the Department of Migrant Workers

S

Discussions about Marijuana legalization has been around for decades. This is due to the conflicting opinions with sides arguing that marijuana has a lot of benefits in terms of medical treatment, whilst the issue of addiction and illegal use still stands.

This discourse was opened once again due to Senator Robinhood Padilla introducing the legislative to legalize the use of marijuana to provide medicine, specifically for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).

If ever the bill will come into fruition, I will willingly support this decision since it can not only prevent the spread of AIDS, which has petrified every Filipinos due to the growing number of cases,

tories about Abused(DMW), at least two OFWs experienced violence in the form of physical abuse and sexual harassment or rape, in Kuwait last year. Although the number of abused OFWs has lessened compared to the other years, there is still no assurance to our overseas workers. What’s worse is that the incident continues to persist, despite the deployment bans and agreements to protect our workers.

Recently, Jullebee Ranara, an OFW, was found dead in the desert, and when they found her body, she was burnt, and her head was smashed. The investigators determined that she was raped and murdered. The suspect was the 17-year-old son of her employer. This incident truly shows how vulnerable our

Perilous Departure

workers are to danger. Ranara's case is only one of the hundreds of reported OFW abuse cases in the Middle East. As this pattern of abuse continues, will our government just sit back, watch, and do nothing while our countrymen's rights are continuously being dismissed? Will we just let them treat our people as if they were nothing? We do send our people to other countries other than in the Middle East such as Canada, Australia, and Japan yet unlike in these said regions, we rarely receive reports of abuse and our people prosper while working and if there are cases of abuse, the abuser is immediately dealt with by them and the victim, our countrymen get their due and they get justice. If they can give our

workers protection or at least justice, why is it rare to spot in Middle Eastern countries? Is it because they don’t want to, or can't? Whatever the answer to this question entails, it does not remove the accountability of everyone involved.

Agencies should monitor the activities of their workers and their safety because lack of attention may lead to many Filipinos su ering from their abusive employers and wounding up dead. Agencies should also implement stricter examinations for employers for the safety of our OFWs and those employers who are abusive should be penalized by the law.

No one can ever put a price or value on an individual’s life. We have no right to violate and steal their chance to prosper and live.

Furthermore, this matter is disheartening considering how it begins, a person full of hope for a better future. We should learn from this incompetence and know better. It is a human being’s life on the line here and that should be enough to do better. For we cannot risk an already perilous departure be a permanent one.

Resented Equality Risky Takes

hould marijuana be legalized?but it may also allow us to cure di erent diseases and give our medical industry opportunities to widen their research scopes. However, it still stands that legalizing marijuana may result to higher volume of drug tra ickers, it may also be utilized incorrectly, endangering public safety and raising the percentage of marijuana users.

Furthermore, this legalization matter is not entirely new in the political industry. Many countries like the United Sates of America, Argentina, and Canada. Though it has received positive feedbacks, this does not signify that it’ll be the same as our implementation.

These lists of concerns should be why the government should know what steps to be taken to mitigate the negative consequences. Legalizing

marijuana can open new doors of improvement and knowledge which is why the government, along with its proponents, formulate comprehensive plans and policies to guarantee the positive impact of this bill.

To conclude, here in the Philippines, we have already legalized tobacco and alcohol products, which are far more deadly than marijuana. With this said, they should consider the fact that marijuana can be used as a medicine rather than a recreational drug, proving that maybe risks like this are worth taking

T

he Philippines is known as one of the countries that have a large amount of LGBTQIA+ members which consist of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders, and other sexual orientation but most of them still can’t receive the rights and respect they deserve and up until now, they're still struggling to achieve the equality that they have always wanted.The SOGIE Bill aims to recognize the fundamental rights of everyone regardless of sex, gender, religion, disability, class, age, status, and political beliefs. It protects everyone, especially LGBTQIA+ members from discrimination and marginalization. With this law, everyone will have equal treatment and opportunity for everything. This privilege includes healthcare, housing, education, employment, and licensure that can help our LGBTQIA+ citizens to accommodate and have access to something that everyone should be able to attain.

Another reason why the SOGIE bill must be passed is that it covers hate crimes and harassment, which can make our society safer and more comfortable not only for LGBTQIA+ members but also for everyone who is vulnerable to such cruel treatment and those who truly deserve legal protection.

On the other side, our country consists mostly of Catholics and Christians that are against these kinds of acts but the church has already cleared that they will support this law because LGBTQIA+ members are also humans that also need a right that everyone else is receiving.

Their lives and rights are likewise important, but why hasn't our government passed this law and designated it as dubious when it's evident that they, too, are humans who deserve respect? Rumors have circulated that the longestrunning bill in the Senate may be repealed and that the prolonged process was intended to scrap the proposed law.

With or without this law, we can still support and respect LGBTQIA+ people and treat them the same way we treat everyone else. Some may argue that the SOGIE bill was pointless because it was an unnecessary law, but from what I've seen, this validation encourages individuals to become more confident and consistent in their e orts.

Elida P. Riddle, 10-Baltazar

I honestly believe that it would truly be helpful if the library was always accessible to the students.

Christian Rae A. Radam, 9-Beryl

I'm really thankful for the school having a library as this helps us, students, learn, find and use the information we need for our school work.

Althea Flores, 8-Andrew

I have been many times in the library, and I have observed that it provides a quiet atmosphere that is conducive to studying and research, making it an ideal destination for students that will help them to concentrate on their studies.

Clarissa N. Talaver, 7- Aristotle

I appreciate an area for reading and gaining knowledge, however it is still di icult for those students to have anytime access to the library since there is a definite time when it can be used.

Everyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, has the right to be free and respected by others. We're still all the same and deserve to be treated equally. LQBTQIA+ members are uncertain when this legislation will o icially become law, but they are still battling and advocating for more equitable treatment not just for themselves but also for everyone who deserves equality in our toxic society

Rhon Leinard Revilla

Rheane Ashley Vitonio

PERCEPTION UNRAVELING REALITY

PRESS PR

We all have that one goal in life, and this goal will not stop us from everything. But there is always a hunch that will put a stop to your tracks. Is this worth it? Is the blood and the pain we felt all worth it?

To bring the public the news, journalists must daily risk their lives. They don't deliver it; instead, they choose the noteworthy options that are genuine and current. Students who are being prepared to one day be the best journalists are called campus journalists. Every

campus journalist strives to be the finest journalist possible to thrive at the top level. Nevertheless, we are all aiming to spread the news throughout the world.

Almost many students have already competed as campus journalists, testing their skills. Some have their successes, and some fail to do so. Leigh Aldrie P. Dumapias has recently won 2nd place in sports writing in the Quezon City Divisions Secondary Schools Press Conference (DSSPC) and will compete at the regionals. Although every campus journalist has experienced setbacks, such as harsh comments to everyone, we all know this is just part of the process, and losing is also part of the process. We don't have to feel as if our hope or passion has faded; it's a sign to keep going for it.

Starting out as beginners, we'll feel overwhelmed, but as we become more comfortable with it, it will just be as easy as opening a door. A door, when you open it with force, will open; you can't look at the door, waiting for it to magically open by itself; sometimes, you need to twist the doorknob by force. In short, we must push ourselves to our limits to have the goals we want in life. Being a journalist can be tiresome, going to school for 5 hours every day, working early in the morning as the reporters do, and going home

when it is already dark at night. They have devoted their lives to writing with passion.

Every day, they face rejections or failure to meet the expectations of others, or even rather, readers finding it boring to read. Having the passion to do so is not just what you need in your personality but also the knowledge or skill to do so.

Being a campus journalist can make you feel burnout, but what more if you have taken this field, making it your profession in life? We have journalists get hit by a sign during a windy storm, harassed by passersby, and so many more. We are not scaring you, are we? Sometimes they just smile or ignore it because it is not about impressing people but rather that this is normal. They sometimes get irritated by it, but they enjoy it. We did not choose this field just to impress people like we are in a comedy show or something; we are here to give the needed information to the people.

But this does not intend to undermine the hardships of other professions. Any job requires tremendous adversities. We all have an important role; the purpose is to help one another and provide for the needs of every citizen.

Having our family or our loved ones support us in our way is already heart melting. The fact that they bragged about us. "Look, my child is a journalist! That's them on the television.". "Nak' you should

mention me my friends that a hard job but never been part you'll never you will love Although ranting to a we should appreciate that the journalist that they are the brain cells, they have, and Life there are similarities, you headaches fluttering. It's tiresome in a to be the writers the truth. Because to do so.

heart of a you want needed. Don't false statements; truth," said scribes, ready sword to win ready your read about

Campus Journalists: Unraveling the Mask Reading for all: Breaking barriers

What if we find ourselves staring at the paper and suddenly feeling anxious? An elderly man unable to read a menu and feeling inadequate as he observes the ridiculously long line of people, yelling at him for taking so long…What is holding him back? Being stuck with something that others are so good at when you can't even do it yourself. It's a real struggle and mental anguish in their lifestyle. Thousands of students, including adults, are a ected by this problem due to poor study habits, a lack of motivation, laziness, or even parents who need their child’s financial assistance, causing them to prioritize his/her family over his/her education.

Mariella Sanchez

Inventory), an assessment tool for learners, was particularly challenging to teach, according to Mrs. Lanie Mamauag, a teacher at Doña Rosario High School. This is because some of the students don’t have a flexible schedule and others may not have the necessary materials at home. Due to lack of after-class food. Some pupils are unable to attend remedial classes. However, despite the di iculties her students are having, Mrs. Mamauag is devoted to helping them discover ways to appreciate reading.

A very daunting challenge is having trouble reading. We utilize it everywhere we go, both in our daily life and at school or work. How would we get through the day without the ability to read? This kind of di iculty has an impact on a person’s academic performance, social problems, and mental health.

Because of this, the government has given the issue more attention. Along with the Department of Education (DepEd), they have developed an assessment tool or program that will aid students in their future. With the aid of our teachers, having this can assist with the various challenges that the student may be experiencing. It can not only improve reading skills but also foster a passion for reading. Even though both teachers and students may face challenges along the way. PhilIRI( Philippine Informal Reading

“They need to take risks, to sacrifice so they can improve, this can be beneficial for their studies. Teachers are just here to help them for their future, so to say it, reading is essential.” Mrs. Mamauag said.

The books are like us empty, but we can fill them with the help of people who are there by our side. Books can be filled with knowledge, life lessons, hardships, and many more that can teach you in your life. As Mrs. Mamauag has said, reading is essential without it. It can a ect us a lot that we have parents and teachers like Mrs. Mamauag who are ready to teach us, who are willing to be by our side, knowing we won’t be alone. Reading can give us so many opportunities. Reading can be the start of our future. So grab a book and start reading and share it with your loved ones.

"You

me on the TV so that I can show that I am famous." Journalism is but fun. Going to places you've outside your comfort zone is a never expect from yourself, and love writing.

Although this article may sound like friend, this is to show you that appreciate more the things journalist would do or the things are willing to sacrifice, their time, cells, and the number of eyebags and many more. can be a rocky road, though similarities, they both can give headaches yet still send your heart

It's not always bad but rather a good way. Because we strive writers for our world, delivering Because every journalist pledged

"You should have the burning journalist. Write because and not because it's Don't ever think of writing statements; just stick to the said Leigh Dumapias. So, ready your pen; this is your win this fight, and readers, your popcorn to watch or about our incredible journey.

Journalists: Mask

These words caused butterflies in my stomach. My thoughts were suddenly perplexed.

"This is not my forte.”

There are times in life when you feel befuddled and afraid to embark on a new adventure. You must restart your career and deal with the pressure and stress that will undoubtedly arise along the way. However, these di iculties can also lead to success.

One of the most di icult but the rewarding job position is that of a school paper adviser. It is a demanding job that requires dedication and hard work. You must be dynamic and creative. You will deal with various students and personas, so this job is not for the fainthearted. We should have a team of people who understand how to write and

create good articles. You must strike a balance between your work and allowing students to express themselves freely.

"The only impossible journey is the one you never begin." Anthony

Robbins

Some journeys are not meant to be started, yet how will you know unless you try?

These are some of the questions that keep bugging me. Truly, experience is the best teacher; however, to fully comprehend, you must put yourself in the shoes of another. Diving into a new journey and environment without information and expertise appeared daunting. Day after day, I felt like I was dead. Facing your students, addressing their concerns, and checking their work is standard, but you still feel empty at the end of the day. Furthermore, serving in this position for

almost a year allowed me to broaden my horizons and form strong bonds with my students. It made the uncertainty transform into a huge accomplishment. It requires a great deal of courage to pursue a di erent career path. There are days when you want to shrug it o and face your inner battles, but remembering why you started forces you to pick up the threads. Indeed, it takes two to TANGO, and it wouldn`t be a great experience without the help of my students. They are the living witnesses of this roller coaster journey. They are why I continue to work my fingers to the bone.

Over the years, the Big Leap family has grown and received numerous awards and recognition from various contests. Thank you to all the school paper advisers and journalism students who worked their tails o to make this publication a reality.

It could be the warmth the striking sun gave when you entered. It should’ve startled you, that’s true, but instead, it supplied you with the comfort that enveloped your whole being. It was a familiar yet new feeling you’d longed and craved after years in isolation. Finally, you are free, untethered by fear and anxiety. A chance at true glee with the people whom you call your second family, in an event that marks the longevity of the home that has and will nurture you for years to come. It was the rewritten beginning and

of our chronicle’s mural.

Reasons may come flooding into your mind explaining why you remember that day so vividly. Was it the sound of students giggling? Or the variety of the club booths satisfying our urge for more wonder and challenge? Whatever the explanation you may find, it stands that day had shown what true companionship and commemoration meant like.

To be honest, school foundation celebrations are not a new thing anymore, it is a symbol of respect for the past that our second

mURAL

house has gone through but this event is peculiar in its own way. It marks a new page in history books, it has indicated the resiliency that our Filipino educational system has shown throughout the pandemic. An event truly worth celebrating. This 15th year commemoration really did justice to the excitement that the students were feeling. The decorations and colorful banderitas filled the whole court with glee atmosphere. The stalls prepared by each school organizations’ variety was at its finest. The booths displayed di erent types of games, challenging the mental and physical

capacity of students without fail of it being fun. Skills were given a chance to be highlighted and students were introduced to new learnings and experiences. Introducing games such as “Magic Peso”, “Number Game”, and “Balloon Pop” etc., games that lived up to their theme and showed true carnivalesque happiness.

Though robbed for years, this year’s founding anniversary gave the students some time to remember how rich our history was. Touching the very lives of students and changing their direction toward fate. With its four walls, it dictated the rights of children

to learn and be educated, and without fail, that was exactly what this day gave emphasis about. Surely, the Rosarians had a wonderful time. Maybe that was why you remembered it so vividly, since unknowingly, it had painted a compassionate picture that would be deemed as the dream of academia. Accompanied by your friends, obtaining di erent experiences, and once the time comes, it becomes a matter to reminisce with soft smiles and warmth.

Ryssa Lyn Aldeguer

Mariella Sanchez

"The only impossible journey is the one you never begin."

-Anthony Robbins

Angelica Solajes

"You are the new adviser of the school's newspaper."

Tbecome wealthy but alone. Having your family, that they are all happy, seems to be a blessing. There are still people out there who have lost their families, whose families have been torn apart, and who are in some ways shattered. Does it really matter if we give our loved ones all the a irmations such as ‘I love yous’, even while they continue to do things that are wrong? Should we ever forgive them?

The causes of a broken family is a death of a family member, cheating, misunderstandings/ lack of communication, financial issues, abuse, and many more. We all have experienced our parents' fight, it is common to all of us, but sometimes it can be unhealthy, which can lead to trauma or mental health issues.

Princess Kathrine Caponpon, also known as ‘Kulot’. A seven years old Batangueña child star went viral on Showtime after

I love you to her father but she refuses to say it. Smiling through the pain she felt, she was only 7 years old and already experiencing this trauma. As they were having a conversation with Vice Ganda, we can see that there are tears in her eyes but still jokes around and smiles.

“Itay magpakabait ka na, sa susunod tulfo na.” said Kulot. Kulot has a clever and funny personality and she is also mature at her age, but we have not really gotten to know her, behind the smile she shows in the camera. Vice Ganda also said that Kulot should show her love for her father but Kulot refuses and said that he already has ‘barik’ which means drinking alcohol. It shows that this has a ected Kulot a lot and would rather let his father drink.

Every child should have a childhood where there is no trauma, and where every family has the support and love a child

Unpediced Fütürë

reality, we can not prevent this from happening but we

Although her father still shows support by attending the show, and her parents are trying to fix their relationship for their child. Kulot will grow up just to be fine, maybe even a great and famous child star since she is very mature and clever. Even though she may encounter things that may break her but they will make her stronger.

Kulot continues to make us laugh at the unexpected things that she says at a young age. As we hope that her fans continue to grow, shared with love. We should cherish every moment with our child, and change every bad memory into a good one. A child’s innocence is fragile and one should be careful with it. Every parent should be a good role model, and teach them the rights they have, their values, and more. Now let me ask you a question when you grew up, have you considered yourself lucky with your

Achild who had a normal life. Someone who had dreams and aspirations for the future. Someone who had looked forward to spending time with their friends and having fun on the weekends. But now a decision has to be made, something that would change lives forever.

However, will your life really be ruined when you become a young mother? or will it be a bridge to continue your life while with your child?

Teenage pregnancy refers to pregnancies that occur in women under the age of 20. Teen pregnancy is a growing problem in many countries worldwide, including the Philippines. In this country, the number of teenage pregnancies has increased significantly in recent years.

Each year, approximately 200,000 Filipino teenagers become pregnant. This is a serious concern because it can lead to unwanted pregnancies, early marriages, child abuse, poverty, and other serious problems.

She was 16. Still in high school and didn't know what to do or where to turn for help. The young mother found herself in an unfamiliar and challenging position. She was scared and confused. How could she raise a baby on her own? Would she be able to provide for her child's needs?

"When I found out I was pregnant I was very nervous and scared because what I was thinking was that I wasn't ready to be a young mother and when my parents found out they were very angry of course I was still young and studying. Pero bilang isang magulang tinanggap parin nila kesa gawin yung hindi tama. [But as parents, they still accepted it rather than doing the bad thing.]" she stated.

With the assistance of her parents, she raised her son, who is now one year old. In order to provide for his necessities, she works nights at a fast-food restaurant in the Pizza Republic. Despite her di icult circumstances, she is happy to have a son she loves very much. She considers him a blessing in her life.

"It's hard because I'm a working student but it's so worth it because even though it's tiring, as long as I see my baby's smile and be healthy, all my tiredness disappears immediately,” she stated.

Nathalie C. Matinez, not her real name, a grade 10 student saying to her co-rosarian "As a student mom, I want to say that first, listen and thank our parents. Whether it is strict or not, you are very lucky because someone will keep you going to a and continuing studying because it is also for your future and for those who are teenage parents like me, even if it's hard or tiring, do your best to give your child a good life."

Mariella Sanchez

Photo

Life is hard, but motherhood is harder.

Carlene May Tagapia

Comfort. Its definition is di erent for each person. The answers may vary from a person’s past, wants, or environment. But one thing that they all have in common is once a person imagines comfort, a smile unknowingly forms on their face. Maybe that’s what comfort actually means. So, what gives you a smile on your face?

For Rosarians, the answer is Mcdomeng. No, not the popular worldwide food chain, Mcdonald’s, but a small family-owned restaurant giving students and families a sense of home and a ection.

McDomeng, known for its famous rice porridge (Lugaw), is a family-owned business for over 15 years now. It o icially opened on December 3, 2008, and served Doña Rosario residents ever since.

Marites F. Delacruz, daughter of the owner, shared in an interview that the name “McDomeng” was based on their father’s nickname ‘Domeng’. She also shared that they had only started their business with a starting capital of only 5,000 pesos. Though they had many doubts at first, once the store got recognition and buzz around the subdivision they increased investments and have only

been constantly flourishing.

Rosarians' Solace

“Our experience was not as perfect as all other restaurants out there. We had our own ups and downs but my family really wanted to continue this business so we committed and now we’re still here, serving customers.” She added.

She also shared some of the problems that they had encountered during the pandemic, “We lost a lot of customers and profit that it really became hard to continue being open but I guess our patience paid o ,”.

Their a ordable menus of staple homecooked Filipino foods have become

the constants of Rosarians for years now. A warm and hearty bowl of rice porridge accompanies them through the dry and wet seasons comforting them as time goes on.

Luxury and comfort are two complete opposites but a small family venture, these unseemingly plain bowls of rice porridge blurred the lines between the definitions of these two words. Accompanying DRHS students for more years to come.

mc domeng:

A place we call 'Home'

Üñëxpëçtëd

<Serotonin>

especially when you get home tired from work. But what if these little balls of cuteness actually accompany you at work?

This idea has now become viral, especially since the transition from distance learning to faceto-face classes, many students noticed that pets such as dogs and cats are commonly seen on their school grounds. It actually became such a common sight that it led to one school, namely Pangasinan State University, a resident stray cat a badge to be the school’s icial “Pest Control Chief icer”. This post stole hearts around the nation that the Philippine Star even gave it a nod on their Facebook publication outlet garnering over 2.4K reactions and 472 shares.

These beloved campus pets are also not a rare phenomenon in Doña Rosario High School. A dog and six cats grace the eyes of students and school

sta with their adorable paws and bellies. They can be seen either exploring the campus grounds or accompanying the security guards and cleaning sta patiently waiting for them to be pat them to sleep.

Cristine Magharing, a Grade 10 student, shared her fondness for the campus cats, “As someone who adores cats, seeing them here in school helps in losing some of the stress from the schoolwork, and just patting their bellies and giving them attention is enough to get me through the day once in a while.”

“My friends and I even gave one of the cats a name, we call her Aeul because of her orange fur which is a play on the Tagalog equivalent of ginger (Luya). So that really shows how much we love these pets around,” she added.

According to the cleaning sta , back then these pets were just stray animals loitering around the

school but after months they started to warm up to the sta and vice versa. So, as a result of almost a year of face-to-face classes, these pets have become their work companions.

Schools aren’t normally considered homes for stray pets but DRHS gave the very best of their ability and love to support the needs of those pets. The sta and guards supplied them with shelter, food, and clothes, especially the a ection and love they need.

In a way, these little creatures became our second family and work buddies.

When we picture stray animals, we think of dangerous and unhealthy creatures but with enough a ection and love, they may just become a ray of sunshine, shots of espresso, and turn our grey days for the better with their unexpected boost of serotonin.

Ma. Francheska Balbanero

Miley B. Canto

DRHS advances technology through Robotics and Research Program

As part of engaging with high technology, creating innovations, and producing determined individuals, Doña Rosario High School finally associated with the Robotics and Research curriculum for Grades 9 to 10 students, commenced last September 12, 2022, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm at the school's Science Laboratory.

The said curriculum was spearheaded by a trained robotics specialist and researcher, also a Science teacher, Mrs. Meldy Villar, with the help of the Science Department. Villar lectured the learners on how to build their robot machines and to control them with the

SCI-TECH

DENTAL SEMINAR

other equipment connected to a Bluetooth device using the Robotics Kits given by the Schools Division O ice of Quezon City. The materials received and used by students contain di erent legos in di erent sizes, servo motors, and sensors of the Lego Mindstorms Ev3 robot; Ev3, an application website, was operated to serve as the controller of the machine.

In addition, the sensors attached to the robot were infrared sensors which helped the Ev3 to move in any direction and to communicate by detecting colors through the contrasting lights.

Moreover, in an interview conducted by The Big Leap sta , Villar stated

that the availability level of resources they had was not enough, however, the educational agenda was still pursued.

Furthermore, Villar added that Mrs. Louella T. Uy stressed to partake in the Robotics and Research course to bring the school to the next level of Science Technology Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.

"(Robotics is) an opportunity in a way for me to learn more about how advanced the world has been," Leigh Aldrie Dumapias, a grade 10 Robotics trainee said during the campus journalist's conference. "However, I cannot really say that we did

WINS: A step towards achieving cleanliness

The Doña Rosario High School’s Water Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in School (WINS) organization's programs under the supervision of Juan Salvador Frial, stimulated good hygiene practices and sanitation habits, which helped to raise awareness through the provision of standards for safe water supplies with suitable sanitary facilities, which started on February 1, 2022.

The WinS program is directed to the following components; Water, Hygiene, Sanitation, and Deworming.

As part of its e orts, DRHS WinS observed cleanliness and maintained the school organized with the activities conducted that educated Rosarians on the significance of regularly washing their hands and adopting hygiene to certainly attain the goal of the organization — to ensure everyone's safety and secure health.

Moreover, the organization had set standards to sustain a safe and clean

environment such as constantly disinfecting school facilities, a irming proper waste disposal, checking school grounds, posting signages, and providing access to water and soap provided by the Schools Division O ice and Manila Water Foundation, the agendas were done with the help of its o icers; Ryssa Lyn Aldeguer, Jaycel Ann Villaflor, Cristine Magharing, Fernando Alcantara, Ryian Jess Villanueva, Mary Joy Ferrer, Kc Ty, Joshua Rabutin, and Clark Montecillo.

Meanwhile, in an interview with WinS P.I.O. Mary Joy Ferrer, she stated that the organization helped the students to get their basic needs when it comes to physical and mental health.

"Ang mensahe ko para sa mga Rosarians ay huwag nilang gawing biro ang paglilinis sa school o pagkakaroon ng mga seminar at ang pagiging malinis sa katawan at paligid ay malaking tulong upang makaiwas sa sakit." Ferrer then emphasized.

not encounter any di iculties, programming is a hard job, nevertheless, experience is everything, if you have what it takes, then venture beyond." Dumapias then emphasized.

On the other hand, Keith Xyrille Carpio, a robotics class student shared that she joined the extracurricular activity to unlock new skills and experience fun in learning before she graduates from Junior High School.

Lastly, the Robotics and Research program continues to inspire and build more high-technology literate Rosarians to attain the importance of embracing advancements in the field of Science.

MAPEH Dept., WINS beef up Rosarians' Dental Hygiene

The Water Access, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in School organization and MAPEH Department held a Dental Health Seminar with the theme "Ngiting Panalo, Ngiting Protektado” last February 22, 2023 accompanied by licensed professionals from the School Divisions O ice, Ma. Rosario Paz R. Gacayan DMD, and Mario Zorilla.

The program started with opening remarks from MAPEH Dept. Head Teacher, Dr. Perlina Almase. She advised the students to fully apply the reminders to be stated by professional dentists.

Furthermore, to lift the atmosphere of the crowded auditorium, WINS O icers, Kc Ty and Joshua Rabutin performed their original song regarding the importance of appropriate sanitation and proper dental practices.

In the seminar proper, Dr. Gacayan discussed the topic “Common adolescent dental problems”. She presented various examples of diseases alongside their causes and the proper dental practice that can help prevent the chance of bacterial formulation.

Additionally, she advised the students to conduct dental check-ups at least twice a year since it is crucial for dental problems to be caught early on rather than left unchecked.

Afterward, the MAPEH teachers handed certificates of recognition to all the dental health professionals to acknowledge the significant information they have conferred to the adolescents.

"As we end this annual event, we would like to leave you with the quote crucial in any situation, that prevention is better than cure." Ryssa Lyn Aldeguer, the master of the ceremony, then conveyed.is better than cure."

Ryssa Lyn Aldeguer, the master of the ceremony, then conveyed.

Rosarians join the DRHS' Robotics Program

Jaycel Ann Villaflor

Jaycel Ann Villaflor

Ryian Jess Villanueva

Wash IN School

SSG conducts feeding for Rosarians

The Doña Rosario High School’s Supreme Student Government administered a mass feeding program for the learners, last February 15, 2023 at the school’s Castelo building. The feeding program aimed to reduce micronutrient deficiency, improve the nutritional status and academic performance of the Rosarians.

According to the current SSG President Zirish Bartolome, this kind of program is significant to implement in DRHS knowing that some rosarians are underweight and some aren't financially stable to bring or buy their own food to eat during breaks.

"So, we, the SSG, conducted the School Pantry to lessen the malnutrition in our school and help those students who can’t a ord to buy lunch at the canteen”. She added. Over 400 Rosarians, ranging from grades 7 to 9, were able to benefit from the feeding program.

Moreover, Andrei Aguirre, one of the Grade 9 participants in the program said, “It is a good program for my fellow students. It can contribute to reducing the prevalence of malnutrition and help us achieve our full potential, especially during class discussions.”

3rd Quarter; DRHS uses Scantron for exams

To lessen the presumably misspent hours reviewing students’ test papers, the Sekonic Optical Mark Reader was used at Doña Rosario High School during the third periodical examination on April 24 to 27, 2023.

Sir Harvey Macawile, a teacher from DRHS, manages the Scantron device and oversees the procedure and data collected by the said apparatus. According to him, the usage of the apparatus was announced by the end of the second quarterly examinations.

Moreover, the machine required the students to answer the exam in an already prepared answer sheet. It was mandatory for students to answer using a No. 2 pencil to guarantee a clearer reading of their own answer sheets.

Jaycel Ann Villaflor

“This device is a life-saver for us teachers. We won’t have to spend a long time correcting and managing the item analysis because of this device.” Mr. Macawile said in an interview conducted by The Big Leap sta Furthermore, Grade 9 student Ruszel John Ranile shared that the new method of

answering can also lessen the instance of cheating. He noticed that the discreet layout was much safer rather than listing the letters in a sheet of paper, free for everyone to see.

Although it had cost the administrators much

Instantaneous Inspection.

more money, the findings of the item analysis and scoring were more accurate and faster when using the periodical reader machine in comparison of the lengthy procedure teachers would have to do back then.

DRHS' Science Dept. boosts Reforestation; Urges Rosarians to take action

Doña

Rosario High School’s Science Department, along with the English, Araling Panlipunan, and MAPEH departments, executed a tree planting activity as part of community service with the help of registered environmentalists, last October 15, 2022, at La Mesa Watershed Reservation Protected Area, Quezon City.

The Science Department annually conducts environment-related activities through the support of school organizations and clubs. Just last year, they implemented a project entitled “Project Plants” to promote planting whilst in the pandemic.

“It was incredibly fulfilling to

participate in this kind of activity. For me, this was a much-needed project especially recurring news about our forests so I hope that with our action, we at least lessen the e ect of abuse towards our planet.” Mrs. Maria Fe Maninang, Science Master Teacher II, shared in an interview with The Big Leap sta

In addition, one of the participants from the English Department, Mrs. Angelica Solajes shared a message for the youth and her co-workers in the field of education. She then declared that we must protect our environment, through this, we will expectantly create a livable earth or community to prevent the

occurrence of natural disasters such as flash floods, landslides, and many more.

“It is crucial because with this small action, we can help our environment and lessen the pollution in our country, and it will eventually lead us to a better future.” Jeo Rabino, a Grade 10 learner emphasized in a conference conducted by TBL writers.

The Science Department and all of its partners successfully achieved its goal of promoting awareness against global warming and urging the faculty and students to be more environmentally aware.

PH Red Cross, DRHS acknowledge 2nd Pledge 25 Blood Letting

Doña Rosario High School joined bloodletting agenda under the leadership of Philippine Red Cross, spearheaded by the MAPEH Department teachers and Faculty Club O icers with the theme "Alay Dugong Rosarians, Para sa Rosarians" in partnership with Quezon City Council, QC Police District IV, Non-teaching personnel, teachers, GPTA, Doña Rosario Community Chapter, DRIP Toda, and Homeowners Association, at DRHS auditorium, last February 15, 2023, scheduled 8 am to 2 pm.

In addition, educators of the MAPEH Department contributed blood; Dr. Pearl Almase, Neil John Talapian, Sherry Serrano, Juan Salvador Frial, and Arnold Sacro. Moreover, QC Policemen, Non-teaching personnel, parents, and barangay o icials also donated blood in the said activity.

“At first, I was really feeling nervous but that nervousness I felt faded as I went back to the main purpose of why we were there. I just thought of the people who were in need of this simple act and how my choice can even

alter their lives.” Neil John Talapian, MAPEH teacher stated in a recently concluded interview with The Big Leap sta

Moreover, according to the Head Teacher lll, Dr. Perlina Almase, most of the blood donated were type O+, A+, and A-. She also shared that blood type O is the most common blood type in the country and is considered a universal donor due to its ability to be transfused with anyone, further highlighting its importance.

Meanwhile, Jeanlyn Rieza, a Rosarian parent, stressed in a conference with

TBL’s scribes that she was fortunate enough to share blood with the needy.

“First time ko lang mag-donate ng dugo, sobrang nakakataba pala ng puso kapag alam mong makakatulong ka sa kapwa mo.” Rieza added.

Lastly, the Philippine Red Cross expressed their gratitude towards the volunteer blood donors, whilst, DRHS continues to conduct this kind of bloodletting activity as part of their yearly agendas.

Luciana Aguilar

Lheona Natividad

TREE PLANTING

BLOOD DONATION

DRHS teacher, Mr. Harvey Macawile, manages the Sekonic Optical Mark Reader for the swift checking of Rosarians’ 3rd quarter Periodical Examinations.

Photo by: Raiza Mariene Dumalagan & Fernando Alcantara

Caption by: Raiza Mariene Dumalagan

GO GROW GREEN.

The Science Department of DRHS, along with teachers from Araling Panlipunan, English, and MAPEH subjects, conducted a community service event by planting trees at the La Mesa Watershed Reservation Protected Area in Quezon City on October 15, 2022.

Photo by: Ma’am Louella T. Uy

Caption by: Raiza Mariene Dumalagan

Sim Card NecessityRegistration: or Nuisance?

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) published the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act on December 12, 2022, and announced a deadline of April 26. However, due to the still large number of unregistered users, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. authorized a 90-day extension of the SIM Card Registration.

According to the bill, the telecommunication providers such as SMART, GLOBE, and DITO must keep track of all registered SIM cards and disclose this data to law authorities upon request, in accordance with a court order or legal procedure, or after establishing reasonable cause.

The SIM Card Registration Act ensures consumer’s right to privacy, aids in investigation of criminal activity, and the prevention of fraud and misuse of the mobile phone system. In some cases, SIM registration may also help in limiting unwanted access to mobile phone networks. However, due to the process that requires telecom companies gather personal data from individuals to activate and make use of mobile phone services, it has received apprehensions from the majority.

We all know that when SIM registration starts, it may cause many problems and errors, such as website downtime, data breaches, and di iculties for people using older phones like keypad telephones that do not have internet access, unlike the latest smartphones. Additionally, Indigenous peoples are among those who face significant challenges in accessing technology and online services due to their remote or rural locations, often with poor or nonexistent internet connectivity, making it di icult for them to register their SIM cards. Yet, implementing this law is a significant step forward in combating fraudsters and scammers throughout the country who take advantage of SIM cards for their malicious activities.

Due to concerns such as it may violate people's rights and privacy, the SIM Card Registration Act has received criticism. Nevertheless, supporters of the bill argue that the risk is enough considering its benefit of maintaining public safety and national security.

On the positive side, SIM card registration can assist law enforcement agencies in preventing terrorist and other criminal activities. Additionally, during pandemics, SIM card registration can be used for accurate contact tracing to help contain the spread of the disease.

Finally, while some may find SIM registration inconvenient, it is critical to guarantee security and safety in the mobile phone industry and society. Telecom companies and governments must implement the necessary measures to secure SIM users' personal information while ensuring that the registration process is impartial and equitable.

It is important to note that the government's goal is to prevent scams and cybercrimes, and by taking this small inconvenience on our part, we hope that this step will provide us with safer transactions and communications in our country, contribute to the nation's economy, and deter cybercrimes and

l ecti C sc c

Humanity takes pride in its unique intelligence, for it is the reason that humans stand at the top of the socalled food chain. But we humans are not without flaws, and one of the biggest ones that we possess is sloth and hate for doing repetitive tasks. And so, humanity created machines to mimic their own intelligence, born from their own intellect combined with their desire to make certain tasks easier. Thus, Artificial Intelligence is born.

It is undeniable that competitiveness is present in most people, and is accepted as human nature despite how illogical it is. With the conception of Artificial Intelligence, it is inevitable that a number of humans would begin to compare their own intelligence with their own creation, and so begins the endless debate of Human Intelligence Vs. A.I.

Both types of intelligence are with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. A.I. is created with the purpose of handling vast amounts of information at high speeds, and can often outperform humans in tasks that require speed, precision, and accuracy. This is mainly due to the fact that A.I. is designed and programmed with those particular sets of skills in mind.

On the other hand, Human Intelligence can outshine A.I. in creative thinking, empathy, and intuition. Humans also have the unique ability to learn from each other, to gain knowledge and wisdom through experience, and to share those experiences in the society they live in. As a non-living thing, it simply cannot comprehend the need for things such as companionship, and the need to create a society. The closest thing that A.I. can do to imitate this is by sharing their data with other artificial systems, but alas, it still only remains as an imitation.

To conclude, it is simply irrational to compare Human Intelligence with an artificial one. Its existence is created merely to serve as a tool for humans. Perhaps, if given time, one day this technology can advance to reach or even surpass the level of human intelligence, but as of now, we can only imagine, for no one knows what the future holds. We consider technology is everywhere and everything, however, it isn’t everyone, for a code cannot, in any way whatsoever, bear to realize the significance of mankind’s yearning for both tranquility and nonconformity. And today, it is undeniable that A.I cannot compete with humanity’s collective consciousness.

Cartoon by: Samara Francisco

Rainjohn Tuazon

AI art generated by: Dream by Wombo

PEA SHOOTING

Do you know the popular character in the game "Plants v.s. Zombies? Yes, the Peashooter. Well, you see, pea shooters also exist in reality!

There's this sport called "Pea Shooting" where instead of using bows and arrows to aim at the target, they spit out socalled peas as a substitute!

EDITORIAL

32nd Sea Games; Integrity in Jeopardy

In light of numerous alleged follies, the 32nd South East Asian Games (SEAG), hosted by Cambodia, has received many negative comments from the public.

From the cancellation of their last hosting in 1965, the country outdid themselves by upsetting and disappointing a lot of sports fans across the South East Asia region due to miscommunication, improper game management, various severe allegations of cheating, not allowing all countries to participate in new game content, and overboard exploitation of advantages that were left unnoticed and unchecked.

To start with, The Indonesian Karate team claims that there was an act of cheating during the event as the judges' decision to declare the point was overruled by a Tatami Manager thereby losing the chance to tie the score and losing to Vietnam. This has opened many speculations since it was unusual for a Tatami Managers to negate the judge’s decision.

Meanwhile, in the SEAG's E-Sports Valorant contest, Indonesia

complained that their opponents was able to use an in-game camera, which was not allowed under the rules as this allowed the opposing team to track their players' movement. Still, their opponent Singapore argued that they were merely abiding by the rules conveyed to them. Apparently, the ruckus started due to a miscommunication in the committee which resulted into a shared gold medal between Singapore and Indonesia as compensation.

Furthermore, Cambodia banned Vietnam and 5 other delegations from participating in a new competition content at the event. Also, there was the issue of Cambodia and other countries allowing naturalized players which Philippines Sports Commission Chairman Richard Bachmann stated to be “already going overboard” since the trend of acquiring naturalized players has been exploited so much that it borders on being unsportsmanlike and expressed his wishes that the SEA Games committee examine this rule as it leads to unequal standing for the

participating countries. Due to these occurances, many netizens expressed their disappointments in social media, saying that they felt that there were some questionable business happening behind the scenes due to the abnormal complacency of the event committees.

Who have thought that having the ugliest face is a big advantage to win a fight!

In the sport of "Gurning," contestants are required to make the goofiest and wackiest faces they can while having their heads inside a horse collar. Moreover, as expected, we also have people watching while laughing as hard as they can!

From a student to a player, from a player to a coach, have you ever seen yourself as a sports enthusiast?

Well, Sir Neil John Talapian, teacher I and newly assigned coach of the Doña Rosario High School Volleyball Boys

Goal Never Abdicate the

Category, has not only seen it all but also done it all. Just like most of us in our youth, driven by curiosity, he intended to only try to explore the world of volleyball until he realized that he couldn't and would never leave the court anymore. It all started in high school. In grades 9 and 10, he joined the varsity team at San Bartolome High School, where he had the opportunity to play every volleyball position that was given to him. He became a varsity player in college for the same reason as well. He began toying with the idea of coaching when he started working at a private school. He started coaching during intramurals and soon discovered that, when it comes to coaching in

sports, the players' desire to succeed is matched by your own. "You should also have the eagerness to win; you should be the one pushing them to strive more," said Sir Neil Talapian. Sir Neil dreamed of coaching people like him as a former varsity athlete for his public school, and his dream came true—more like fulfillment. He saw the di erence between being a player and a coach while attempting to coach. You must exercise patience, understand that not every aspirant athlete will succeed right away, and learn to accept failures. This may sound like a broken phonograph record, but for him, playing sports is not just a waste of hard work. You will get benefits such as physical strength, and at the same time, when you

Although it is the first time Cambodia hosted, they should've at least done better since people expected great things from them but many things were overlooked, disallowing everyone to participate is disappointing and unfair, some of the games were mismanaged, and miscommunication was rampant. Sports are built according to the concept to bring fun to athletes and fans alike but given all that happened in the 32nd SEA Games so far, it is frustrating. No matter the competition, to exploit advantages and cheat for the primary reason of attaining a medal is not sportsmanship.

see in yourself that you are into sports, sportsmanship and camaraderie will be developed.

Being a coach is a destiny, sometimes dreamed of. There are times in life when these opportunities just open up; we just have to think about whether we will take them or just leave them. In order for you to grow as a sports enthusiast and as an athlete, take failure as a learning opportunity. It is an exciting, thrilling, and full-of-learning journey, as long as you are willing to accept setbacks and mistakes. Strive more.

Comics by Cristine Magharing

Cartoon by: Samara Francisco

Glenn Jaya Samia

photo by: Neatorama

gurning

photo by: ETimes

BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPION.

Opportunity to 'Grow'

Striving for Development and Supremacy

FINAL SCORE:

Grade 10 triumphs, grabs 3x3 basketball crown

Abitter lesson for the younger peers.

PH battles for more in the 32nd SEA Games

After facing and coping with the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Southeast Asian Games is back on fullthrottle.

Not so long after the 31st edition, the sports competition to find the best among athletes is now on its feet, currently happening in the Kingdom of Cambodia for the first time ever until May 17.

Vying for honor and triumph, the Filipino delegates won awards in di erent sports events split in the "survival of the fittest" set-up. The country has currently hauled numerous medals: 28 golds, 52 silvers, and 66 bronzes. However, contrary to what one might expect, the nation is actually slowing down, skidding near the bottom at sixth in the medal tally.

Even though the inevitable had happened, the Philippine's supposedly "gold thirst" day never intertwined with the nation's advance as contender Joseph Arcilla did everything to shrug o a gloomy stint, seizing the sole gold on Day 5 after conquering the soft tennis men's singles category over Indonesian Muhammad Hemat Bhakti Anugerah.

Ej Obiena, a Filipino pole vaulter who has been in the world rankings in recent years, is perceived by many to excel in the course. With such hopes embraced by him, Obiena did not let the moist and rainy weather get ahead of him, finishing everything with a splash as he notch gold to retain his title while at the same time breaking his record in Vietnam last year using his exemplary 5.65m clearance.

Furthermore, gymnast Carlos Yulo entered the contest with a cap given to him by the event's organizers, limiting him to just four events. It may seem like bad information, but that is never the case. Yulo managed to haul medals from every contest, nabbing two golds from individual all-around and parallel bars, along with silvers from rings and the team event.

Yulo also spearheaded the country's SEA Games conquest last year in Hanoi, Vietnam, going home with 5 golds and 2 silvers of the Philippines' 226 medals in the 31st SEA Games.

Two more gymnasts chipped in with two golds. Yulo's second cousin, Ivan Cruz, ruled the floor exercise after accumulating 13.850 points. On the other hand, Miguel Besana's 14.425-point finish is enough to hold o others and top the event.

Keeping the equilibrium between two important things can be pretty demanding, but the passion for sports kept Agatha Wong going as she put her fifth gold under her profile, following her success against Malaysia's Sydney Chin (19.196) and Brasma Lachkar of Brunei (19.160) in the Wushu event where taiquan and taijijian emerged. Wong noted that she did not expect a stellar performance since it was hard balancing training and medical school. She logged a total of 19.263 points in the combined event to stand at the peak of the podium.

Following a tortuous exit against Cambodia's "almost purely naturalized team" in a nerve-wracking a air, the Gilas Pilipinas (Philippines' Men's National Basketball Team) is hoping to let out their wrath in their must-win match against Singapore on Day 9 of the SEA Games. Even with a single loss under their belt, the Gilas Pilipinas is still on the hunt for gold.

Apparently, this was also the case for our men's 3x3 basketball team, which took the upset at 15 against the naturalized team of the host country. This forced Gilas to settle with silvers.

It was also a real setback for the Philippines when Hidilyn Diaz was announced to skip her title-retention campaign in Cambodia meet since she needed to attend qualifying tournaments to book tickets for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Diaz kept the women's 55 kg title in Hanoi last year.

With more days to go, Filipino athletes still have a chance to win for the country.

After a nip-and-tuck a air, the Grade 10 Team stood optimistic as they put a lid on Team Grade 8's victory hopes, 10-9, in their 3x3 basketball championship match at the Doña Rosario High School Open Air Auditorium, December 12, 2022, Monday.

Coordination, outstanding execution of plays, and an unwavering fighting spirit, proved to be the foundation of the triumphant squad.

Starting up the singleelimination league, the Grade 10 did not choose to hold back, trampling over the younger Grade 9 athletes, 7-3, enough to book a ticket for finals.

Meanwhile, the Grade 8 found a surprising hard nut to crack, hammering out a 11-10 clutch against the team of Grade 7 in a 11-10 tight finish.

Engaging in a winnertakes-all finals, the Grade 10 representatives came out strong, posting an early 3-0 lead against the underdogs to gain momentum.

Refusing to lie down and lose, the Grade 8 team showed signs of life after forcing a 5-5 cushion

capped by a two-point play. Capitalizing on opponent's miscommunications and error plays, Grade 10 managed to strengthen their shooting magic, 7-6.

With the clock running out, Grade 10 team manages to escape the 9-all deadlock, after Joshua Rabutin's incredible pass found to Nash Amuyot, who proceeded to make the play inside.

Reaching the dying seconds, the Grade 9 team's tight defense couldn't do anything to stop Grade 10's advance.

"It was my first time playing that kind of a game, It was a nice match up against Grade 8, talented sila since they're our varsity players. Kaya inaasahan ko na magkakaroon kami ng ganong match-up ulit," Sean Michael Sosa said in an interview.

"I'm hoping na they will improve as time goes by. Hoping rin na mas ma-de-develop pa yung skills and love nila sa sports," he added.

With players from di erent contenders included in the school's varsity, this match served as a warmup for the Doña Rosario High School's upcoming battle in the District meet.

Team Yey manhandles teams to win RIC-ML tournament

Apack only needs one leader. In a war full of struggles and adversities, fancied Team Yey played strong and proved that they are the ones worthy of victory as they asserted dominance over the other thirty-one contenders and win the Rosarians Integrity Crusaders Mobile Legends (RIC-ML) championship on December 12-13, 2022.

The third season of the league was launched as part of commemorating Doña Rosario High School's Founding Anniversary.

Commencing the first week of the season which started with 32 teams who immediately dwindled after a week of brawling against each other, leaving one team

only per grade level for the playo s.

After having the elimination round, the tournament left four teams consisting of the Grade 7 Champions Team Dream Chaizer, Grade 8 Champions Team Deathlift, Grade 9 Champions Devore Amity, and the most dominating team in the tournament Grade 10 champions, Team Yey. Spicing things up, Devore Amity survived the Team Deathlift, extending their tournament life with a satisfying reverse sweep clutch, 2-1.

Following a tight kick-o a air, Team Yey

crumples Dream Chaizer, 2-0, claiming the last remaining spot for the championship match.

Team Yey brandished their firepower early against the youngsters securing the first two matches of the Best-of 5 series, putting Devore Amity in a concerning position.

Devore Amity was not able to find the extra gear to overcome their opponent, falling behind in the third match.

"Pagbutihin pa nila, lalo na kung gusto pa nila lumakas o mag improve sa paglalaro at goodluck sa mga teams na sasali (sa) next season ng tournament," said EXP Laner of the Overall Champions Zedrick Navarro.

Jeo Rabino

Leigh Aldrie Dumapias

Jeo Rabino