Envirex July 2023 Graduation Issue

Envirex

Editorial board Ampersand

editor-in-chief aliana singian

features lezlie fernandez

graphics yohann sebastian

gabriel fernandez romniel cape

layout erish quijano

jhamire bumanlag

contributing members

news ethan serrano

zachary arenal annika de lara

melanie sitoy

features armel castillo

photos address

nathalie emata

Honorato C. Perez Sr. Memorial Science High School Mabini

Extension Cabanatuan City

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Ilustration by Yohann Sebastian

Pabalat ni Yohann Sebastian

Ethan Serrano

HIGHLIGHTS New building houses STEM, ABM students

Zach Arenal and Anneka de Lara

HIGHLIGHTS SciHi graces 38th founding with tribute to history

HIGHLIGHTS Outfit 142 emerges overall champion in Jamboree Jhamire Bumanlag

HIGHLIGHTS Kung Paano Maghasa ng Dyamante

Jhamire Bumanlag, Lezlie Fernandez, Melanie Sitoy

EDITORIAL A dizzying roller coaster ride

CULTURES

Aliana Singian

Love is stored between the four corners of your room, and within the shed of the talisay tree

LATHALAIN Best Frencil

Aliana Singian

FEATURES A Senior’s Guide to Thriller Rides

Aliana Singian

BALIK-TANAW SciHi Universe: Your Science High School Canon Event

Aliana Singian

CRITICAL REFLECTION LOVE SciHi

MEMOIR #SciHiEncounters

Armel Castillo

A Tie to a New Beginning

New building houses STEM, ABM students

Ethan Serrano

After four years after its construction, the four-story building can now be occupied by Senior High students, as they started the resumption of classes since the holiday break, January 3.

“Finally, nai-award na sa atin ang Senior High School building.” Thus said Ma. Minisa Cabual, Head Teacher III, in an interview regarding the said building.

The completion of the building was dated April 9, 2018, but was delayed for four years due to certification issues and the COVID-19 pandemic.

When asked about the implications of the building’s occupancy, Cabual said that the schedules of both Senior High and Junior High students have now been properly regulated.

“Dati kasi, nakiki share lang ang Senior High School sa mga classrooms ng Junior High School wherein nagkaroon ng shifting of schedules—sa umaga sa isang classroom mayroong junior, sa hapon mayroong senior high school,” Cabual stated.

Meanwhile, SHS building facilitator Ronald B. Polong said in an interview that although the structure is already avail-

able for use, there are still amenities to be improved.

Polong commented, “When it comes to safety and security, the metal stairs are not that sturdy and there is no barricade. Moreover, there is still no closed-circuit television installed. Medyo mahirap din kapag walang CCTV. So that’s another adjustment.”

“In general, now that the building has not been occupied for four long years, this means we still have to do a lot of cleaning, which we’re still doing right now.There is no air condition which, let’s be honest, medyo nakaka-affect sa pag-aaral natin. The dust is also a problem.” Polong added, emphasizing the effects of the building’s occupancy in terms of the academe.

To combat the situation, Polong admitted that there are developments that needed to be made in a short period of time; according to him, “ We can make the building more conducive in time. Air conditions will be installed. A whiteboard will be installed. When it comes to safety and security features, CCTV will definitely be installed. Fences, additional barricades, and emergency stairs will be put

up.”

Polong also stated, “We’re doing safety precautions like what Mr. Danilo Jr. Castillo planned— only the occupants of the second floor will be using the metal stairs and the third-floor and fourth-floor occupants will not be using the metal stairs. Iyon ang aming maliit na pamamaraan para sa safety and security niyo.”

Furthermore, when asked to give a message on how students could act now that the building is in use, Cabual expressed the importance of the student’s participation in the supervision and continuous development of each classroom.

Cabual said, “Pagmalasakitan ang room. Kasi kung wala tayong malasakit doon sa room hindi makikita kung ano ‘ang kailangan ba na gawin at kinakailangan pa nating i-accomplish. Kung kinakailangan ay mayroon tayong i-improve, nasa initiative na ng mga estudyante iyon. Pagmalasakitan kung ano ang mayroon tayo at i-improve natin kung ano man—’yan ang pwede nating gawin.”

Photo by Romniel Cape

As a new school year approached, Principal Leonora C. De Jesus welcomes ABM and STEM students to their new learning spaces.

Withstanding the Years

SciHi graces 38th founding with tribute to history

Zach Arenal and Anneka de Lara

Commemorating its anniversary with a theme of “Pagkakaisa, Pagtutulungan at Pananalig: Susi sa Katuparan ng Pangarap,” Honorato C. Perez Sr. Memorial Science High School (HCPSMSHS) remarks its milestone with student-leaders, alongside the family of the late Honorato Perez Sr.

Gelinia Belle A. Perez, the grandchild of the late Honorato C. Perez Sr., observed continuous change to SciHi’s interior, paying tribute to its history of developing students that has been known not only to Cabanatuan City but also to Region 3. Perez also uttered a few anecdotes that mark the school’s student culture and experience.

“Itong ginagawa ng SciHi, ang transgenerational thinking na naipapasa sa mga henerasyon ng mga mag-aaral ang kalidad ng edukasyon na kinakailngan upang maging maganda ang [kanilang mga] kinabukasan.” ASDS Enrique Angeles Jr. imparted, as one of the guest speakers at the event.

Leonora C. De Jesus, school principal, applauds the school’s determination to stay strong amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and shift to face-to-face after three years of online learning, uttering the school’s goal of giving quality education not only to Cabanatueños, but also to those who are also deserving to be part of the institution.

De Jesus also highlights the different alumni that carried the school’s trophy and legacy that became a part of SciHi’s narrative. SciHi’s principal also amplified her appreciation for the school’s non-teaching staff, which became the backbone of the school’s operation.

Invited speakers also shared sentiments on the school’s development since its establishment, stating the various factors that would eventually affect its current condition. It was frequently expressed among the hosts their own personal experiences with the school, along with the significance of 38 years of the alma mater’s history.

Photo by Nathalie Emata

Remembrance and tribute to the rich history of HCPSMSHS garnered interest and support of scilinians and alumni, citing the past that mold the alma mater.

Service Above All

Outfit 142 emerges overall champion in Jamboree ‘23

Jhamire Bumanlag

HCPSMSHS Boys Scouts bagged overall champion while maintaining service at Jamboree 2023, representing Outfit 142. Senior Scout Crew Leader Dhea Mia Balondo led the learners in continous service to the community and to the alma mater.

Following a stream of consistent silver triumphs, SciHi Outfit 142 soar high as they surfaced to be the Over-all Champion in the 26th City Jamboree held last March 29 to April 1 at Palayan City, Nueva Ecija.

With 56 participants, Scilinians topped the Hip Hop, Cultural Dance, and Song and Yell while also placing 2nd in Gate, and 3rd in Essay Writing and Poster Making competition.

Carlos Pailas, Angie Alfonso, Nerizza Colorado, Jude Padiernos, Jerick Subad, Julius Rivera, Ruel Agustin, Ronald Polong, and Danilo Castillo Jr. accompanied the scouts throughout the three-days and four-nights long encampment.

Kinang ng Talino at Talento

Kung Paano Maghasa ng Dyamante

Salamin sa kagalingan at katanyagan ang dyamanteng kumu-kutitap sa mata ng bawat bata, kung sila’y bigyan man ng pagkakataon na sumilay sa kaniyang kagandahan ay tiyak na hindi nila ito tatantanan.

Jhamire Bumanlag, Lezlie Fernandez, at Melanie Sitoy

Battle of the Bands

Pinasiklab ng mga Scilinians ang damdaming musika sa muling pagdaraos ng Battle of the Bands: Marahuyo, Abril 24.

Umarangkada ang iba’t ibang mga banda sa naturang kaganapan, kabilang ang Synéchise, MightyBand, Ecclesia, Sir John and The Lonely Researchers Club, After School Hours at Adaline.

Language Week

Nakipagtalastasan sa debate ang mga mag-aaral mula baitang sampu sa idinaos na Language Week 2023, Abril 26.

Lumahok din ang mga Scilinians sa tagisan ng talino sa Heograpiya at sabayang pagbikas.

Family Day

Lumahok ang mga pangkat ng Baitang 10 sa mga palaro kaugnay ng pakikiisa sa pagdiriwang ng Family Day, Hulyo 3.

Hinirang na Community Champion ang Pangkat Berzelius samantalang nasungkit ng Pangkat Moseley ang Best in Attendance.

A dizzying roller coaster ride

It feels necessary for the former president and now Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, to propose House Bill 7893, better known as the “K-10+2” bill, as an update to the K-12 curriculum.

It feels necessary for the former president and now Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, to propose House Bill 7893, better known as the “K-10+2” bill, as an update to the K-12 curriculum.

The K-12 curriculum is under review by the Department of Education (DepEd) after the Vice President and DepEd’s secretary, Sara Duterte-Carpio expressed her concerns about the said curriculum. Duterte admitted it is ‘congested and disorganized’ and had failed one of its missions to create labor-competent graduates. The K-12 curriculum that we know today consists of three groups according to TeacherPh’s website: Elementary from Kindergarten-Grade 6, Junior High School from Grades 7-10, and Senior High School from Grades 11-12. Face it. The implementation of K-12 is half-baked. As of May 2023, a decade after its rollout, not all schools that offer Senior High School (SHS) education offer the most in-demand strand, the Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM strand), according to ABS-CBN News. The most glaring reasons are lack of budget, lack of teachers, and lack of facilities. And it does not help that STEM education is essential to produce students who are competent for STEM-based college courses like Medicine, Nursing, and Engineering.

Another blow to the curriculum is the institutionalized mismatch. SHS has the objective of college preparedness for students. However, this was hindered thanks to strand and course mismatch. Thanks to CMO No. 105 of 2017, it allows students from any strand to take any courses. This feels that SHS is virtually useless considering before Junior High School graduates can even pursue higher education, they first need to be stalled for 2 years of “college preparation”.

And the cherry on top is the aforementioned broken promise for labor-competent graduates. Based on the report of the Philippine Business for Education, 14 out of 70 leading companies in the Philippines are willing to hire graduates of SHS. There is this glaring issue that they obviously prefer college graduates and it leads to 70 percent of SHS students seeking tertiary education for employment, according to Philippine Institute for Development Studies in 2020.

For the most part, the K-12 curriculum felt like an experiment that ultimately risks the education of the hope of the nation. As the nation embarks on the beta test of the academic curriculum, thanks to the aforementioned “K-10+12” bill, politicians better know what they are doing or else they are setting students on a dizzying rollercoaster ride.

For the most part, the K-12 curriculum felt like an experiment that ultimately risks the education of the hope of the nation.

Romniel Cape

Aliana Singian

Love is stored between the four corners of your room, and within the shed of the Talisay tree.

Affection is shared when you’ve had enough plus points with your section – or a sudden canceled quiz, and an exempted exam – when most of you flunked, badly.

You would never think love would show haphazardly, but suddenly –love has been promiscuous Yet tender with you for the past years you’ve been staying on this campus, and love came, love changed.

Critical it may be, but this love cares for every revision of your thesis – and even your well-being, you would think this love is over-reacting, that the cost of lived-experience to be told to the next is freedom– well, it happens.

But love prevails and you choose to attend your classes the next day.

Love is, the first heartbreak – your first flunked physics quiz, a calculus exam you pulled an all-nighter for, only to find out that everything you’ve worked hard for is nonexistent in the exam coverage.

Love is a shared-experience, a forever reminder that when the world turned its back on you, you have them – classmates, org mates, teachers that treated you like their first sons and daughters, or maybe even as an older brother or sister. (You would not think

that you would laugh with them– you may want to leave sooner, but leaving means leaving them too, and it’s hard to stomach that.)

And maybe love is a free coffee from Sweet Life, or maybe not – maybe love is the little bickers and overnights in your classmate’s houses and maybe subdivision hopping just to finish your mass demo, or your capstone, or your musical that challenges you to be the next big thing.

Love is personified amidst the height of pressure of bearing the name of a Science High School, but love rejoices when it is found in the most unusual places posible.

Love rejoices, for love does not only sips between the fissure of your heart, love fights for your right to be who you are – to wear what you want, to claim your identity– and be a safe space for the next to come. For love is to be changed, and love is to care, to flourish.

So, when you leave – I hope you bear love in your sleeves, and let it sit there, and remember once that you’ve been in a school that rose in the heart of the city, a school excellence and with glad intent– to shape you, me, the young minds of society.

Photo by Nathalie Emata

Best Frencil

Aliana Singian

Sa kasamaang palad, mas matagal pa kami sa ka-talking stage mo.

Una kaming nagkakilala sa tabi ng National Bookstore sa Waltermart, nandoon siya, bihis na bihis na dilaw – nag-iisa, naghahanap ng kasama.

(Pwes kung tutuusin, sa mga panahong iyong nag-iisa rin ako, bigla ka ba namang ipatapon sa bagong mundong nagngangalang High School, ayaw ko lang aminin, pero naghahanap din ako ng kasama.)

Pero sa kaniya, nakahanap ako ng kasangga.

Hindi ko alam na ang pagkakakilala ko sa kaniya sa NBS ay magtatagal pala hanggang sa paglisan ko ng sekondarya.

Kasangga ko siya sa lahat, sa assignment – sa exams na halos gapangin ko para maipasa, pati mga entrance exam ko sa Maynila, palagi ko siyang katabi – partida, kahit parehas na kaming nauupod dahil sa pagod at tuloy-tuloy

na pasakit ng mga araling inaabot ng alas-singko ng umaga, parehas kaming hindi sumusuko.

Kahit sa dyip, sa Jollibee – kahit pati tropa ko nandoon kasama ang kanilang mga iniibig, mas pinipili ko siyang dala-dala. (Siguro nagsasawa na siya na puro Letter C ang mga letrang pinipili ko.)

Pati sa pictorial namin, pinipili kong kasama siya habang hawak-hawak ang kaniyang payatot na wangis na pinaglipasan na ng panahon, dahil kahit sa panahong nalipasan na kami ay patuloy naming ginuguhit ang mga ala-ala ng parang memorya.

Kaya habang bitbit ko ang aking diploma, sinasabi ko sa inyo – pati siya kasama ko, dahil ang best frencil ko, ang lapis ko, na animo akala mo kalahati ng tinitibok kong puso ay kapatid ko na, pwes, kaibigan ko lang – matalik na kaibigan.

Aliana Singian

A Senior’s Guide to Thriller Rides

Exhilarating, Maddening, Bizzare.

If words could only utter the bubbling feeling I felt while digging my fingers into the metal of the rollercoaster – I felt terrified.

No one prepared me for this moment.

No one told me that staying in the happiest place on Earth meant my sanity would be sacrificed for sleepless nights, or my social life would be outcasted in replacement for validation of being strong enough to withstand the twist and turns of staying in this place.

No one prepared me for changes beyond my comprehension. Or even the compensations of the aftermaths, the trails of memories I left behind – good or bad. However, this exhilarating ride — maddening beyond compare, between the twists and turns, changes everything. And as you fasten your seatbelt –you’re in for a ride. But don’t ever look back, Abandon all hope – ye who enters here.

Illustration by Yohann Sebastian

Aliana Singian

SciHi Universe:

Your Science High School Canon Event

Kumusta ang hilata?

Nakapaglinis na ba lahat ng files? Nakapagdelete na ba ng mga screenshots at pictures sa iPhone 14 fully paid? Pwes, dahil ang lahat ay nakaupo na’t sinusulit ang kanilang mga panahon sa pagkakahimlay, panahon na ‘rin upang balikan ang mga pagkakataong lumagapak sa tawa, gumulong-gulong sa iyak, at niyakap ang pagiging scilinians.

Kaya bago pa man tayo salubungin ng taong-panuruang 2023-2024, sulitin na natin ‘to!

Lato-Lato (Not the Jungkook Song)

Aba Maria, punuin niyo po ako ng grasya!

Time check, 7:00 AM na pasukan, 6:30 AM, may nag tatak-tak-tak na sa kahabaan ng Perez, sa ikalawang palapag ng SHS building, at malapit sa puno ng Talisay, maniwala ka, naririnig ko rin.

Akalain mong pamwiset lang o pampalipas oras, ngunit ito pala ay pampalubag loob sa mahirap na aralin at pampalakas ng pisikal na kakayahan ng mga scilinians na pagtagpuin ang mga lato-lato.

Book and Bind Us Together

Kung katulad kita na hindi pinalad magpabook bind dahil sa mga kasabayan mong uhaw na uhaw nang makagraduate, dapat handa na ang inyong pagmamakaawa Gawad-Uriang aktingan dahil minsan mas may awa pa si ateng nagpapabookbind kaysa sa Thesis ninyo na umaabot ng libo-libo.

Sa pagpatak ng huling semestriya manalangin ka na lang na maagang natapos ang inyong papel kung hindi iba’t-ibang bihis ng mag-aaral ang kasama mong hahamakin ang lahat maibigay lang ang bookbind ng thesis ninyo.

Uhaw (Sa Kape at Ang Kanta) Tanging ikaw, sa’yong-sayo, tanging ikaw.

Naging tugtugan ng masa, naging himno ng alumna – siglo ng mga scilinian.

Habang nag-aaral sa kanilang mga susunod na exam, kasabay ng kanilang pagsasaulo ng mga Periodic table elements, kasama mo ang Uhaw na tugtugan ng tropa – naalayan na noong Valentines kasama ng Pasilyo, malala na talaga kapag Uhaw ang naialay sa’yo.

Eka nga nila, basta SciHi, mahusay (magmahal)!

Ang Alamat ni Freddie Mercury Salmong tugunan, we will rock you! Kasabay ng salonpas at alas-otsong gabing uwian, partida hininga siguro o buong diskorgapiya ni Freddie Mercury ay kabisado mo na, hindi ba?

Naging tugtugan ng buong paaralan pagpatak ng Enero, pati mga kaguruan ay hindi na naninibago, siguro pagkatapos ng kanilang mga paboritong mga kanta noong kanilang panahon – ay pumapangalawa na ang mga tugtugan ni Freddie Mercury dahil ilang linggo mo siyang maririnig kada taong panuruan.

Daig pa niya ata ang himno ng Honorato sa pagkakabisado.

Gagawin ko ang lahat pati ang the -

sis mo!

Daig mo pa ata ang Eraserheads kung hindi mo nagawa ito, sa ngalan ng pag-ibig – nabuhat mo na ba siya sa thesis ninyo?

Heart react kung totoo.

Char! Dahil sa kulturang Science High School mas malala pa ata ang combeack ng thesis kaysa sa comeback ninyo. Habang tumatagal, mas kumakapal – habang nagtatagal, mas dumarami, kamusta, kaya pa?

SHABU (Salamat Hesus at Biyernes Muli)

O ano, miss mo na ‘no?

Sa pagsasara natin ng isa na namang kabanata ng buhay nating bilang magaaral ng Honorato, alam kong sa mga canon event na naranasan – at mararanasan pa natin, dala-dala natin, hindi lamang ang mga alaalang maibabalita natin o maikwekwento sa mga susunod pang mag-aaral, kundi ang dangal at ang paniniwala, na ang mga alaala na ito ang humubog sa’tin para tawirin at abutin ang alapaap, dahil minsan, tayo’y naging tunay na magkaibigan.

Illustrations by Romniel Cape

LOVE SciHi

Ba’t maraming issue ang beshy ko?

As Sci Hi returns to face-to-face classes, Scilinians can’t help but notice several snags in the school’s ecosystem that worry the student body.

Gateway to Hell

When you arrive at Sci Hi’s driveway, you are met with an insidious entrance. No, not a red door, but a green gate. And once the clock strikes 1 pm, no one can escape through the gates of hell.

When Sci Hi held its orientation seminar for students and parents, many were thrilled to have been given a choice to obtain a gate pass that would let them go out for lunch or quick school-related errands. So Scilinians were surprised to find out that no gate passes would be issued this year, causing many to rant about the new policy.

Apart from the lack of gate passes, a new “exit and entrance slip” system was launched. This meant that students would need a signature from their parents or advisers when they would be extending their stay inside the campus or when leaving the school outside dismissal hours.

If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Removing gate passes only added to the Scilinians’ already tall cup of hassle. And adding a new complicated and bothersome system only adds fuel to the fire.

Rate Limit Exceeded

Girl dinner this… Girl dinner that… What about girl lunch? At Sci Hi, if you aren’t hearing students complain about the food (or the lack thereof), then you’re probably hearing their stomachs rumbling.

As food prices increase all over the country due to inflation, it’s not a

shock when students choose to skip lunch altogether. Costing ₱65 per bowl, the Scilinian lunch consists of a small bowl of rice, topped with either a scoop of dry pork binabad or a heaping of chicken crumbs. And that’s if you’re not too late. Scilinians aren’t asking for gourmet lunches and luxurious snacks. But a canteen adjustment would be of great help not only to the students’ stomachs but to their wallets as well.

Toot or Boot?

This barbie has strict self-expression policies. Fun Fact: One doesn’t need to be made of plastic to have freedom in choosing your hairstyle, hair color, and clothing.

The release of Sci-Hi’s new school policy was met with many tirades and complaints from its students. Calling the rules outdated, old-fashioned, and too conservative, as it was filled with the usual no hair color, no piercings, no long hair for boys, and other policies which hindered the students’ self-expression. Expressing oneself is an essential part of bringing out self-confidence.

According to a survey, 78.87% of 1544 students agree that having an unnatural hair color does not impede a student’s academic performance. And while 21.11% disagreed with the notion, no scientific correlation exists between having hair color and being worse academically.

At SciHi, it’s not always rainbows and butterflies, for a high school doesn’t come without its flaws. Schools may be accustomed to these issues, but the change should begin with urging the administration to allow us to have both quality education and quality of life.

Armel Castillo

Illustration by Gabriel Fernandez

#SciHiEncounters

memoir

For you Following

meet the crew.

kung ride ka ano ka?

aliana yohann

bumpercar. with or without obstacles, i’ll keep driving through.

jham erish

ferris wheel. kasi sa’yo lang umiikot mundo ko.

ridepauwi. hinahanap na kasi ako ni papa hehe.

lezlie romniel

passenger princess ako.

carousel. pang kiddie lang.

seen.