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pril did not only become a season for reaping fruits of students’ hard work, but also turned out to be a homecoming for SALIS alumni Dr. Kristian Triccie Medina and Dr. Noahdel Hallel Francisco. These two proud Liguorians, along with Brother Norman Locson, inspired the students that education is a necessary ingredient to have a sure slot to success, but more than knowledge, medals and certificates, what you become as a person, using everything you have learned is the most important thing. Brother Locson, Dr. Medina, Dr. Francisco, were guest speakers during the Elementary recognition and commencement exercises, Senior High School graduation rites, and Junior high school recognition and completion ceremony, respectively on April 4-5. Dr. Medina and Dr. Francisco moved their former teachers to tears when they recounted their years as tiny seeds in SALIS, and how the lessons they learned as Liguorians helped them overcome their limitations. “I hated my hand. I experienced being bullied and discriminated because of this hand. I never wanted to speak in public because I wanted to hide it. But Ms. Mendoza always pushed me out of my comfort zone. She gave me the solo speaking parts,” Dr. Francisco told the high school awardees and completers. “I’m really thankful she did, because that’s how I gained my confidence,” she added. She inspired the Liguorians by revealing that her physical disability is not something to be embarrassed about. People will not remember her for her disability but they will remember her for the challenges she conquered and how she became stronger as an individual. “Nakakainspire (‘yung speech) niya (lalo) kasi nakakarelate ako. Kung si Dr. Francisco, ‘yung isang kamay niya, ako, isang tainga ko, bingi. Tulad ng nangyari sa kanya, imbis na hilahin ako pababa ng kapansanan ko, mas naging fuel ko pa ito para mas maging pursigido,” Karl Dizon, Grade 10, recepient of Best in Performing Arts in Music award, said. Dr. Medina, on the other hand cited specific lessons she never forgot from her Liguorian roots—such as map reading, sabayang pagbigkas, Biology—that turned out to be handy in her work as an army doctor. Both alumni speakers concluded their speeches by reminding the awardees and graduates that teachers take a big part in every student’s success and it is something that they should always remember throughout their journey. “We all start from being tiny seeds, it all comes down to how you cultivate it,” Dr. Medina said. “And SALIS is a very good soil,” she added. From left: Dr. Kristian Triccie Medina, Dr. Noahdel Hallel Francisco, and Brother Norman Locson are this year’s inspirational speakers for recognition and graduation rites. (composite photo)
continued on page 2 read: First batch of SHS on page 3
Of land, rights, patrimony:
Lumad youth share stories to Liguorian student leaders by Ivan Dion Salva
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iguorians first heard the story of the Lumad people firsthand last August, when senior high school students visited their bakwit camp at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Five months later, Liguorian student leaders meet them at the Kabataan Partylist headquarters at Quezon City, carrying the same plea as before: to be heard. As part of their training as leaders, incoming and outgoing officers of the Student Coordinating Organization (SCO) visited the Lumads on March 22 to hear their stories and learn about leadership in the Philippine context. SCO officers met Lumad youth, Ynyela Undayon, Gleezah Joy Belandres, and Sheina Campos, and were moved to tears by the stories of human rights violations, persistence to access basic education, and the battle for ancestral
domain shared by the three. “Naiyak ako… sobra…’Yung isa (sa kanila), ‘yung tatay niya, community leader, then pinatay sa harapan niya,” Pauline Manlongat, an outgoing SCO senator shared. But more than pity, what the officers admitted they felt after the experience was inspiration, at how these young people travelled all the way from Mindanao to let their voices be heard. Belandres and Campos are high school students of the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood
D e v e l o p m e n t (ALCADEV), an alternative school established by the Lumad themselves, due to lack of access to state-provided educational services. Although only a few years older than the two, Undayon is already serving her community as a teacher, right after she graduated from ALCADEV last year. Since the declaration of martial law in Mindanao, Undayon claimed classes in the alternative schools became irregular due to increasing threat of military and paramilitary attacks. continued on page 3
COLORS OF PEACE. Students from different schools in Bacoor and Imus City join the 2nd On-the-Spot Drawing Contest hosted by SALIS. This year’s theme: “Empowering the youth in promoting peace”.
100 students promote peace through artworks by Charmelle April Pascual
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ver 100 students from Bacoor and Imus City gathered on Feb. 3 at St. Alphonsus Liguori Integrated School (SALIS), not only to showcase their artistic skills, but also to exhibit what the youth can do to forward peace, during the 2nd Onthe-Spot Drawing Contest hosted by SALIS. With the theme “Empowering the Youth in Promoting Peace,” the competition gave an avenue for students from as young as Kindergarteners to Grade 10 to express their thoughts about peace through art. Liguorians whose pieces spoke out
the most were Timothy Anceno, 5th place, and Leo Mercado 4th place, both in the Primary category, Joselle Himoc, 5th place in the Intermediate category, and Renzo Oca, 5th place, and Rogermae Agapito, 3rd place in the High School category. The competition was one of the highlights of the 27th founding anniversary celebration of SALIS. The first On-the-Spot Drawing contest was also sponsored by SALIS 12 years ago “to provide a venue to showcase students’ talents and at the same time enhance their skills in a healthy and friendly competition,” Sir Benito Vacio, coordinator of the competition said.
A harvest on good soil
IN PHOTOS: SCO reaches out to fire victims
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Brother Locson, on the other hand, left an inspiring challenge to the elementary graduates and awardees with his “three C’s”. “God gives us chances to choose to make a change,” he said. “There are two most important days in a person’s life: the day you were born, and the day you find out why. Now you are on to find out the second,” he added. Aside from the inspirational speech of their speakers, the completers and the graduates also celebrated their journey as a batch as they sang their songs to give gratitude to their parents and teachers. This year’s Grade 6 batch was led by Jolene Ainsley S. Yap, Alexandra Leah Ann B. Mercado and Jira Anika Mae D. Inao, while Grade 10 completers were led by Roger Mae J. Agapito, Gleezzah C. Asuncion and Jan Pauline Emmanuelle B. Manlongat completed Junior High school. The pioneer senior high school batch was led by Precious Laurena J. Caluya, Marieniel Irell L. Anceno and Kryssia Mae A. Bardelosa.
RISING FROM ASHES. Officers of the Student Coordinating Organization (SCO) and volunteers from different levels went to Barangay Tabing Dagat, Bacoor City on Fe. 4 for their final outreach activity for the school year. Around 250 families were affected by the fire that devastated the community on Jan. 24. Families were temporarily relocated to Daang Bukid, Bacoor, Cavite. (Photos by Zairyll Ann Bendana | TLB)
SC upholds constitutionality of martial law re-extension by Joselito Mendoza III
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Lantern Parade brings community together by Anthea San Juan
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he streets of Addas 2 Village and Progressive 15 were lined with brightly colored lanterns on Nov. 17, carried by Liguorians bearing early Christmas presents for selected households as part of the Student Coordinating Organization’s (SCO) third outreach program for the school year. Unlike past outreach programs where only selected Liguorians got to join the gift-giving, the SCO was joined by both the elementary and high school department, as well as members of the faculty and staff. Liguorians exhibited their creativity with their handmade paper lanterns that they carried from house to house, as a symbol of hope.
The students visited several households with their prepared goods, and gave them to small families as they sang holiday songs for their Christmas serenade and exchanged stories with their beneficiaries. SCO Senator Jhasmine Jhayne Pascual, head of the Committee for Community Involvement was thankful on behalf of SCO for the participation of the Liguorians throughout the event. “Mas masarap tumulong kaysa tulungan kasi yung binigyan natin, pwede na yung material things lang ang naitulong natin pero yung naibigay (nila) sa’tin ay lessons na tagos sa puso at madadala natin kahit saan,” she said.
New leaders named at early SCO elections by Adriann Joshua Singua
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he new high school officers of the Student Coordinating Organization (SCO) for school year 2018-2019 were named after an early election on March 5. With the past administration signing off, upcoming President Angela Cailou Gando and Vice President Renzo Miguel Oca, together with their administration, will be leading the school body this upcoming school year. According to Gando, the new
administration aims to enhance the skills of the students, leading the way to holistic development and a sense of social responsibility. “We [the SCO] want to guide the way to their [the liguorians] better selves and serve as their light in the darkness,” she said. The outgoing SCO led by Kirsten Jaafar proposed the early elections this school year to allow for more preparation and planning for the succeeding administration
espite protests and petitions questioning its constitutionality, the Supreme Court upheld on Feb. 6 President Rodrigo Duterte’s move to re-extend martial law in Mindanao until the end of 2018. In December 2017, Duterte asked the Congress to extend martial law in the region for the “total eradication” of Islamic State-inspired terror groups in Mindanao. Petitioners on January argued that the 1987 Constitution does not provide any legal basis for martial law reextension, but SC Spokesman Teodore Te said, “The Court finds sufficient factual bases for the issuance of Resolution of Both Houses No. 4 and declares it as constitutional,” in a report by Rappler. According to a summary of the ruling provided by the SC, “The Constitution is silent on how many times Congress may extend a proclamation of martial law or the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus. It also does not fix a period for the duration of any extension of a proclamation or suspension but expressly leaves the matter to Congress – ‘for a period to be determined by Congress.”
The SC reached the decision with a vote of 10-5. The President first declared Martial Law in Mindanao on May 23, 2017 following clashes between government troops and Maute group terrorists in Marawi City. Sixty days after the declaration, however, he requested the Congress for its extension to Dec. 31, 2017 “because the public safety requires it,” along with the suspension of the privilege of writ of habeas corpus. According to Article VII Sec. 18 of the Constitution, the President has the right to declare martial law or suspend the privilege of writ of habeas corpus for a period not exceeding 60 days. The same section also states that “the Congress, voting jointly, by a vote of at least a majority of all its Members in regular or special session, may revoke such proclamation or suspension, which revocation shall not be set aside by the President. Upon the initiative of the President, the Congress may, in the same manner, extend such proclamation or suspension for a period to be determined by the Congress, if the invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.”
Elem classroom catches fire by Fiona Marie Dela Cruz
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classroom in the elementary building caught fire after classes, Feb. 22. Initial investigations show the fire may have started from improperly disposed demo experiment materials, as used matchsticks were seen in the trash bin just outside the room of Grade 5-Dao, the sole room affected by the mishap. Teachers and staff immediately facilitated the exit of students who stayed after class hours, and extinguished the fire after a few minutes. No one was harmed in the incident. Volunteers from the Addas 2 Home Owners Association also helped in clearing and rehabilitating the affected room. Ms. Cielito Calvelo, Assistant Principal for Student Affairs, reminded the students to observe proper
disposal of flammable wastes from experiments, during the assembly following the fire. “Talagang na-test dito ang disaster needs y preparedness natin. We were able make use of the drills we had in the past,” Ms. Apple Ponesto, school principal, said.
you!
Lit contest spurs youth interest on Pinoy works by Rhafaella Ricci Lansang
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Pioneer K-12 batch graduates this year by Anthea San Juan
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he first batch of students who underwent the K-12 program graduated this year, and they are gearing up for the next level of their education. Eight students make up the first batch of Grade 12 graduates in SALIS, namely Precious Laureana Caluya (ABM), Marieniel Irell Anceno, Kryssia Mae Bardelosa Frances Caroline Cunanan, Lezter Esguerra (STEM), Joanna Francesca Suobiron (HUMMS), Trista Jane Ocol, Joselito Mendoza III (GAS). The batch graduated on April 5, led by their top three graduates, Caluya, Anceno, and Bardelosa. “At first I thought that the K-12 Curriculum was just a waste of time, effort, and money, but after I finished SHS, that thinking changed.
Within those two years, I was able to make sure of my desired career. That was helpful because the shifting of courses in college will be lessened,” Caluya, who plans to pursue Economics in the University of the Philippines, said. “We had a clear goal not just in our career but in our life as well. This goal will give us the drive and motivation to continue to improve to be able to reach our goals. Also, the very challenging tasks that we did served as preparation for the harder tasks that we will do in the future,” she added. On May 2013, former President Benigno Aquino III approved the new learning system in the country with the help of the Department of Education. K to 12 added two
years in the basic education curriculum—senior high school— where students get to choose whether they want to pursue an Arts and Design track, Sports, Technical-Vocational-Livelihood Track, or Academic, which is further divided into four strands: General Academic Strand (GAS), Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMMS), Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM). President Aquino III signed the K to 12 program into law known as Republic Act No. 10533, expecting students under the program to have mastery of both skills and concepts they need either to enter college or for employment.
Liguorians shine at Pasikatan ‘17
Lumad youth... (continued from page 1)
by Maricel Shaira Aguila
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rue to the name of the competition, Liguorian brains and talents were among the ones that shone the most in this year’s Pasikatan hosted by University of Perpetual Help System Dalta at Vista Mall Daanghari, Dec. 2. Liguorian bets raised the banner of SALIS in different events in the competition, from academic to performing arts. The Grade 10 team composed of Adrian Baraqiuel, Godspeed Feliciano, and Ivan Salva bagged 2nd runner up in the integrated academic quiz bee that focused on topics from Mathematics, English, Science and Social Science. In the field of performing arts, SALIS representatives rocked the stage in Pasikatan’s Hataw Sayaw when Shaira Aguila, Gleezzah Asuncion, Anamarie Arais, Janna Carvajal, Anthea San Juan and Iyanna Tangpos danced their way to first runner up. Joanna Suobiron’s soulful rendition of Beyoncé’s “Sweet Dreams,” also led her to bag 2nd place in the Grade 12 singing competition held separately on Feb. 3. Meanwhile, teachers Ms. Shiela Ochoa and Sir Joren Completo proved that Liguorian teachers are equally talented, when they showcased their vocal skills in faculty duet and were hailed Champions.
If you have: opinions on issues we covered comments about the school paper suggestions for improvement topics you think we should cover questions for the editors/staffers outputs you want to contribute feel free to send them to theliguorianbulletin@gmail.com
hirty-five schools faced off in a nationwide interschool quiz bee on Philippine Literature hosted by Adarna Publishing House on Thursday, March 1, at the Lucky Chinatown, Binondo Manila. Dubbed as “Patinikan sa Panitikan,” the competition tested the contestants’ knowledge on everything Philippine Literature: from the classics—Ibong Adarna, Florante at Laura, Noli Me Tangere, and El Filibusterismo—to Philippine mythology, Pinoy comic books, young adult literature, and National Artists for Literature. Among the contestants braving the quiz bee were Liguorians Lawrence Agres and Adriann Singua, who were the highest scorers during the elimination round held in SALIS, besting other hopefuls from all the other high school levels. Agres and Singua made it to the top ten, but were not able to advance to the championship round after missing a decisive tiebreaker question during the semifinals. The top five schools who advanced to the grand finals all received medals and prizes from sponsors. Assumpta Technical School emerged victorious, receiving a plaque, PHP100, 000 and gifts from sponsors. According to Adarna, the objective of the contest was to urge high school students to pick up and get inspired by Filipino authored works.
Elem SCO launches ‘Beary Merry Christmas’ by Rhafaella Lansang
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lementary officers of the Student Coordinating Organization (SCO) gave a late Christmas gift to young cancer patients at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), Feb. 9. With the help of donations from Liguorians, the SCO gave stuffed toys to patients who were undergoing chemotherapy, to help comfort them in their battle with cancer. “When they are scared the nurses give teddies to them so they can hug them during the process,” Leah Mercado, elementary SCO president, said. The toys were the main attraction of the school’s Christmas decoration,
as each one was wrapped and installed into two teddy Christmas trees. According to Mercado, the fluffed toys were put up as Christmas trees in SALIS Gym to encourage the student body to donate and to feel the spirit of Christmas. “Masaya (kami) kasi kahit sa simpleng bagay ay napasaya namin sila,” she said. “Masaya rin kasi mas magandang nagbibigay kaysa nakatatanggap,” she added. Dubbed as “A Bear-y Merry Christmas,” the project served as a reminder that the Christmas heart is a giving heart.
Math wizards win big in MTAP by Jhasmine Jhayne Pascual
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iguorian math wizards once again brought pride to the school during the Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines (MTAP) Competition at Bacoor National High school, Feb. 23. After hurdling the qualifying exams held in January, SALIS contestants from the primary to the high school level brought home the bacon in the MTAP Division Orals, placing in the top 10 against public and private schools in Bacoor. For the primary level, Grade 2 tag team Nathaniel Ray Go and Alexandra Lea Angenikka Mercado bagged 2nd place, while both teams
from Grades 1 and 3 composed of Lee Andre Azupardo and Amarie Bernice Sauva, and Timothey Bert Anceno and Alexander Leo Angelo Mercado won 3rd. For the intermediate level, Raphael Christian Ortiz and Ira Mae Alejano from Grade 6 clinched the top 5 spot. For the high school level, Grade 7 pair, John Raymond Caranay and Mikaella Margarette Dichoso landed on 10th, while Grade 8 team Renzo you! Miguel Oca and Krystyl Fheyneeds Bardelosa and Grade 10 team Rogermae Agapito and Godspeed Feliciano both bagged 4th place.
“Kami reklamo kami nang reklamo kapag ang dami naming gagawing performance tasks sa school, pero kayo po, sa kabila ng pinagdadaanan ninyo, ang tapang ninyo,” Manlongat told them after hearing their experiences. Ms. Nesel Dable, SCO moderator, stressed the importance of exposing student leaders to national issues like this. “The way forward requires youth empowerment. That moment of Lumad and Liguorian interaction is an affirmation of how powerful and life-changing these small personal experiences can be,” she said. “We teach and develop compassionate leaders through seeing and experiencing national issues first hand to let them see that these problems, namely education, social inequality, poverty, environmental protection and a lot more are real. The Liguorian youth leaders must have the responsibility of answering this question: ‘With what you know, how do you respond as a leader?’” she added. Aside from sharing of experiences, Liguorians also donated their newfound friends some school supplies they could use in the coming school year. The student officers along with some teachers and administrators spent time with Lumads after attending a public forum on Benham Rise and West Philippine Sea held at UP Diliman. we are looking for: editors writers cartoonists photographers layout artists
u! needs yo
send us your sample works at theliguorianbulletin@gmail.com
Bread and Butter Ivan Dion Salva
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Power Within
e all desire for power, whether it be power over ourselves, power over everybody else, power through physical prowess or monetarily overpowering others, these are just some of the classic examples of what power is for man. What we don’t realize and often overlook is that we are far more powerful than we ever imagine ourselves to be. Yes, not all of us can lift great amounts of weight, yes, not all of us are rich enough to call everybody else poor, but there is a power that all of us possess equally at birth until death. The power that I’m talking about, power that we ever so often overlook, is the power to communicate. It may not seem much, but imagine how a simple question of “How are you?” can lift someone’s soul from his or her heavy burdens in his or her daily life. Imagine how a simple “I love you” can get a person who’s having such a hard time with life hang on to their seats and just keep on going in their stride. Those are just a few prime examples of words that keep us going every single day in our restless lives, words that we yearn and work hard for, that we live for. But, truth be told, our words isn’t heavily restricted to making someone’s day, as it can most certainly break one’s, too. Harsh curses and cusses that quite frankly are never necessary but are nonetheless f**ing used one too many f**ing times by every f**er. Kidding and profanity aside, as utterly unhelpful words of such nature are, they’re used as frequent as stocks drop and boom all of a sudden. Yes, profane words are in fact used one too many times. One may argue, after reading all that, that not all of us speak ourselves
out loud, that some of us like to keep their business to themselves. Well, fret not dear readers, written communication exists, and that some of us likes to vent off our thoughts through writing rather than speaking. This copy of school newspaper is proof that words affect people’s lives, whether directly or not. Like orally said words, written words can make or break just as much. The words we utter may seem useless, but we cannot deny the power that they all hold within. So with all this power at hand or in our mouths and vocabularies in this case, where do all of these leave us? We’re all powerful in our own right and with this comes responsibility. Being responsible about what you say and what you write or type isn’t an easy task and is often not taken seriously as well. What may be funny to you can be hurtful to others, but we all know that already. Owning up to what you say and admitting your faults should always be taken in consideration if ever things go sideways when making use of this convenient power of ours. If you find it hard to control your words, then take a moment to think about what you’re about to say. Imagine if it were said to you, how would you feel? But of course that doesn’t always apply to everyone, some of us see happiness in taking it from others. To end this article, why not take the time and ponder about the things that you’ve said and done? Or even thank those who used their power in order to make things right or even just simply cheer you up in hard times? We all possess this power within us, and the world will be a lot less cruel if we were all to use it for good.
Voice of Reason
Adriann Joshua S. Singua
The Liguorian Platter Y
ou sat on your desk and waited for your meal. Minutes ticked by and the waiter served your order. Your eyes wandered around the plate, curious as to what it contains. Well, to you who’s reading this, this is what we call “The Liguorian Bulletin Newspaper” platter. A meal produced by a handful of writers and experienced editors. It consists of 35% chasing deadlines, 10% filler pages, about 15% cramming editors, 10% obnoxious google drives, and 30% sleepless nights. As negative as it may sound, I find it as the very soul of the editorial board, making the newspaper a must-read by each Liguorian out there. Before I tell you the “whys” of reading the newspaper, let us first admit to ourselves that we rarely even read the material. We often stuff it inside our bags or lockers until they rot to eternity. It saddens us, the editors and the writers, to see that these pieces of hard work are left inside lockers or worse, the lost and found. If we do read it, that is mostly because our names are mentioned in an article. It’s true that the newspaper is not just a collection of news articles but achievements as well. But let’s not forget that this isn’t just the reason why we should be reading the material. So why? What makes The Liguorian Bulletin so special that it must be read by every student? I think the reason behind that is that it reflects the soul of the Liguorian
Community. As I’ve said earlier, it is a collection of achievements as well as external information that benefits each individual. Each article is carefully fleshed out by each writer and editor, considering that it is something that every Liguorian must know about. When all of the topics are satisfactory, the process of writing, chasing writers for deadlines, sleepless nights of editing, begin. You might even ask us why we signed up for something as stressful as this. Well to tell you the truth, it really bothers us sometimes. There were moments when the deadlines of performance tasks and submission of articles overlap each other, we are still students afterall. But that doesn’t hinder us from doing our job. After all, we signed up for this, and it is our responsibility to deliver such “meal” to our beloved school mates. Someone once told me that the only thing a reader would remember is the message of an article, not the name of the writer. I believe that we are able to live up to that phrase. We write for the purpose of helping shed the light to each Liguorian soul without thinking of the praise that it may bring unto our names. We see it not just as a job and a responsibility, but also an opportunity. This so-called plate is filled with nutrients that aids an individual in all aspects of himself. It is a meal made by the Liguorians, for the Liguorians, and my one simple message is: read it.
Editorial House of Cards
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he last supper was the last time our Lord and savior Jesus Christ had a feast with his 12 apostles, and after the feast he stood up, took off his outer clothing and wrapped his waist with a towel, with which he dried the feet of his apostles after washing them. He did so to make an example to his disciples, saying that if He were to wash the feet of His apostles, they too should do the same to other people. Fast forward to the modern day world, with those teachings in mind, have you washed anybody’s feet lately? Can’t blame you, dear reader, if you haven’t really washed anyone else’s feet. What good is washing someone else’s feet if you can’t wash your own? Symbolism aside, modern day Philippines isn’t really doing as good as social statistics show it to be. Corruption is still rampant, killings still on the rise albeit not having enough air time on the mainstream media, frauds and liars still leading our fellow countrymen, and at the very heart of all that, politicians who simply can’t be bothered to care about our country as much as we want them to. Last February 12, the some Liguorians attended a hearing at the Houe of Representatives. There we saw firsthand what hearings with the lawmakers are like. We were welcomed with bright smiles, we were even given recognition at the roll call. But for those who were expecting to witness actual lawmaking happening, we were disappointed, to say the least. The purpose of our little trip there was to observe how the Congress (at least, the Lower House) actually works, in the literal sense of course. Now I’m not saying this in spite of hate or anger, but from what we saw firsthand, they just don’t work. They appear for rollcall, chitchat for a while with their fellow congressmen, and once the rollcall’s finished they leave as early as possible. Those who do work either have an actual plea to the majority of the house, or is simply working because the hearings are televised and the cameras are currently locked onto their faces. This was a definitive moment on how we as young people perceive our lawmakers. What we expected to see was a panel of wise men and women elected by the people to fix our country one law at a time, not people who couldn’t even be bothered to keep themselves quiet until they get their chance at the microphone. It was an unexpected experience, though not all of our time was put to waste (for instance, we got to have our photos taken with famous personalities who were so fashionably dressed, right before they left the hearing without actually listening to any of it). In spite of the seemingly indifferent demeanor their colleagues were giving off, what with all the chatting, walking around, playing in their phones and taking selfies, there were still lawmakers who stood before them, who spoke in behalf of the marginalized to make the country as comfortable for them as it is for the people in that air-conditioned room. But the voice of few isn’t going to be enough to make this country stand. To wash the feet of your own disciples is not merely an act of kindness, for Jesus wanted to set an example: to serve, rather than to be served. And what we saw in that House of Representatives trip was a wakeup call. What we witnessed was just like a day in a normal high school classroom: people squabbling and chatting away lessons, wasting and burning up time to the point where many students were only really present to have a clean attendance record. This is the kind of self-absorbed culture we have fallen into. This isn’t an issue about our education, but on a much larger sense, it is definitely about what examples we are imposing to one another. If the people we respect and look up to do not do any better than we do at a time when we are still perceived as immature teenagers, then, for the love our country, dear lawmakers, please learn to wash the feet of Filipinos other than your own.
East to West
Game Over
Rhafaella Ricci L. Lansang
Gabriel Isagani Rugas
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Dose of Reality
ife is an all-out war, we’re all clueless fighting here on this battlefield, where countless people are lying out not because they can’t breathe, but rather due to the loss of their will to keep fighting. We’re all trapped inside this unforgiving prison, stuck in this terrifying nightmare we call reality, where we constantly struggle, trying ever so desperately to stand whenever we fall to our knees, to smile and laugh whenever we’re sad, to correct everything that’s wrong, to fix things that will never be the same. We tend to deny the fact that no matter how high we reach, we’ll eventually hit our heads with a ceiling that was long set before us. We’re all incredible beings, there’s no questioning that. All capable of achieving miracles, capable of defying the word ‘impossible’. We all are special, each one of us possess the necessary talents in order to reach the pinnacle of our existence, and yet, despite all of these, we’re still unable to realize that every single one of these concepts are just ideals, and no matter how hard we try we can never change the fact that ideals will never be reality. The truth of the matter is that this world is merciless, gravity will continue to pull us down until we are completely, utterly,
helpless. We will eventually encounter a wall that will make us understand the fact that in this world, winning is everything; anything less is irrelevant. Power is essential, doing the right things doesn’t always lead to results, sometimes we need to play the role of the bad guy in order to obtain those results. We’re all narrow-minded individuals, still holding onto the ridiculous saying which states that every single person in the world is equal. We’re all selfish souls, focused only on what’s in front of us, there will be times when the idea of helping others will not even scratch the surface of our thoughts. Truth be told in this world, the concept of kindness is just a lie, after all, if reality is cruel, therefore a lie is an act of kindness, meaning that the idea of kindness itself is a lie. The fact of the matter is this world isn’t as beautiful as we think it is, though there are times that it’s completely mesmerizing, it still is the most inexorable puzzle that exists. No matter how tough we think we are, we still fall onto our knees whenever we face our limitations. After all, we’re just like the billions of stars scattered in the sky, no matter how bright we shine we can still never cover up the darkness of the galaxy by ourselves, individually.
No Rain Check Anthea San Juan
Mental Health in the Philippines
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he existence of depression in Philippine society is not being acknowledged enough; rather it is neglected because of lack of education concerning mental health. The words ‘stressed’ or ‘depressed’ are frequently used loosely in someone’s tweet or post on social medias without really knowing their real meaning. Considering that depression and stress are incredibly common, it’s understandable that some may argue that depression is merely stress. Nevertheless, depression is more serious and usually lasts longer than stress, which often requires a different kind of help. According to Pharmacist Kevin Leivers, who works with the Naked Pharmacy, ‘depression is a persistent sadness over a prolonged period of weeks or months and requires treatment, while stress is the buildup of emotional and mental pressure.” The lack of education in terms of mental health is very evident in our society. Philippines is one of the few countries in the world without a comprehensive mental health law. According to Senator Riza Hontiveros, schools should not just be institutions of learning, but also places to nurture the sound of mental health. Many Filipinos, especially the young ones, suffer silently because of depression.
A mental health law will come in handy in teaching children and even adults on how to use their own potentials to cope with their difficulties. Sadly, due to lack of education, Filipinos have no idea how serious depression really is, especially in this generation. Since the bill is yet to be approved by the Senate this May, there is still no decrease in the rate of depression and suicide cases, but schools all over the country have started discussing how depression can affect one person and the whole society in a much larger scale. Come to think of it, there are a lot of people in this country who can’t even identify the difference between these strong words, what more all the other countries in the world? If Filipinos have no idea what depression is, then how are we going to lessen the suffering of people who are experiencing it right at this moment that may lead to one’s death? If no actions are taken, there could be a high possibility of losing someone that we love who felt unloved because to them, suicide may seem like the only solution to end their pain. Depression is invisible in the eye of most people who are not experiencing it, thus we must be knowledgeable and help in raising the awareness of this serious matter in order to save one life, or millions of it.
Introspection Fiona Marie C. Dela Cruz
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The Virus and The Cancer
ife for you is set into a system that adapts to your surroundings. As a student, you wake up, prepare yourself for school, study, socialize, do activities, go home, and sleep. This cycle repeats for your whole school life and changes when you grow up and move on to a new chapter of your life. But are you aware that there’s a dangerous virus spreading in our country for many years already? No, I’m not talking about the virus that causes your body to malfunction or cause your body to rot. What I’m saying is, there’s a virus that causes our society to rot. It’s a virus that kills our identity as a whole country. Dr. Jose Rizal already tackled the cancer of our society in his book “Noli Me Tangere”. He mentioned that the carcinogens are corruption, crab mentality, selfishness, and loss of unity as a nation. This holds true up to this day and is now paired up with a virus, making it contagious. Let’s call this virus Radical-6, since this virus gives way to six effects: ignorance, violence, abuse, betrayal
or lies, egoism, and hatred. As time passes, the spread of it increases as well. Illegal transactions, terrorism, abuse of power, feud between people, doing shady jobs to get enough income, those are just some examples of what’s happening today. Ignorance makes us blind from the truth. Violence destroys creations we built. Abuse promotes injustice. Lies twist our perception of reality. Egoism divides each of us from reaching common goals. Lastly, but definitely not the least, hatred fuels each of these effects. We become fiends that strive for our own survival only. What’s sad is we are well aware that there’s a solution. No, burning the infected alive won’t help. Violence isn’t the way to settle this problem. The solution starts with looking and fixing ourselves, once we’ve fixed ourselves, we’ll be able to work together to eliminate the disease that’s spreading .Just like what Dalai Lama said, “World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.”
*to be replaced Disclaimer: I am not against the LGBT community; I am against the bill itself.
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ndividuals around the globe confront brutality and imbalance— and once in a while, torment— on account of who they cherish, what they look like, or their identity. Sexual introduction or basically sex character is a vital part of our identity and must never be controlled or dictated. Unfortunately, this ideal isn’t what happens in real life, as members of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bizexual, transgender, queer) community continue to be victims of discrimination, abuse, and violence. These do not only affect the victims physically but also emotionally, mentally, and even affects them socio-economically. In their well-meaning battle to forward LGBT rights, lawmakers from the House of Representatives passed a bill that might, in the long run, overstep key rights in the Constitution: the flexibility of heart, the opportunity of religious conviction, the right to express freely, and intellectual opportunity. The bill was named SOGIE (Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity or Expression) and is currently due for its third and final reading in the Senate. If passed, individuals who commit discriminatory acts, for instance, denial of access to open organizations, refusal of admission to informational establishments or social affairs, bullying, terrorizing and threats, among others will be struck discipline of in any event P100, 000 but not more than P500, 000 or imprisonment of one to six years. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all for eliminating discrimination, but it worries me to what extent the power of this would-be-law could be interpreted. I trust the decent individuals from the Senate will have the capacity to keep this arrangement of violation of our Constitution by essentially correcting a portion of the provisions which might be prejudicial against specific
religions, guardians, researchers and academicians will’s identity denied of their flexibility of inner voice and opportunity of articulation. Is it accurate to say that we are extremely mindful that the genuine aim of this bill is to reexamine and add to the principal importance of sexual orientation? I don’t need to invoke any religious conviction to express what I can land at by the usage of trademark reason alone when I specify the objective fact that Nature is with the end goal that individuals can be arranged organically as male or female. Adaptability of still, small voice and the privilege to talk unreservedly should give me the benefit to opine, in light of my legitimate sentiments, that the LGBT are varieties of the run of the mill. For whatever timeframe that I respect the fundamental human privileges of those whom I consider as exception to the direct of nature, I should have the capacity to go about my coherent conviction that I should treat them uniquely in contrast to the non-LGBT crowd. To be frank: a huge segment of the child misuse shock that have blotted the reputation of the church could have been kept up a key separation from if the religious schools were stricter in taking a peek at the sexual presentation of the people who apply to consider for the service. Subsequently, I think it’s wrong to show simply perceptive measures for certification in informative foundations. Moral measures can be essentially more basic than academic capacities for the welfare of a large portion of the understudies. As a student writer, I protest the plan that instructive organizations should not ready to decline confirmation based on sexual introduction. These organizations are simply accommodating the ethical security of their constituents.
Matter of Fact Marieniel Irell Anceno
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On Death
e are all born to die, to live then fall. We go through life fearing our fate, which, in the end, is always death. Whether we acknowledge it or not, most of us fear it. Death remains a great mystery in our lives. It has been wrestled since the beginning of human history. Even though dying is a natural part of existence, we still don’t know its true meaning. For me, death is the state of eternal oblivion, it is inevitable and the beautiful end to suffering. When we die, what’s next is nothing and eternal oblivion. Death is an abyss, a black hole, the end of experience; it is eternal nothingness, the permanent extinction of being. I think, eternal oblivion is what scares us primarily. Everything you love, know and remember are just gone- eternally gone. You will be forgotten by the people. All of the things you have done and all the things that make you “you” are forgotten because you cease to exist. One thing that we must realize is that death is inevitable. Death strikes almost anywhere at any given time. Some see it coming, most never do. Whether we like it or not, we have to address it at some point in life. There is not a single soul in the world that can hide from it. Even the most powerful individuals in the world will at some point in their lives call time to their existence. Death cannot be stopped by tubes, medicine
or prayers. Being part of nature, it holds its title of being inevitable. Everyone is under the same rule. We are all even. And embracing this idea is what makes a person understand the true meaning behind life. If anything, death is a beautiful end to suffering. God’s precious gift is no less beautiful when it is accompanied by sickness or suffering, disease or illness, hunger or poverty, mental or physical handicaps, loneliness or old age. But these sufferings bring burden to us making our lives more miserable. But once death come, all of these will be eternally gone. When you are feeling so much pain, when you are sick and death comes by, it is the end of your suffering and then you’ll be at peace--free of pain, anger, depression, humiliation, fear and all of the negative emotions and experiences. No one really has discovered if there is life after death. We must seize the opportunity we are given now and not waste it by thinking it will always be there. We must remember, life’s no Nintendo game; we don’t get a second chance. Death is not a fear but a concept that must be kept in mind. However, it should not be used to limit one’s self from living a fulfilled life. In the presence of death we must look to the future and give thanks for our existence, our culture, our knowledge, our peace, our unity, and our humanity.
Journey to the Deep
by Lemuel Arvin Cayabyab unsettling. But the pastor n a recollection, possibly… still managed to make us feel relaxed.
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people try to focus their mind and soul on God’s presence and try to overlook things that bother them –even for a short while. This is when we can find peace, albeit short-lived, and forget our problems, stressful school works and the like. This event let each of us from 8th grade feel a bit surprised and excited seeing that it does not seem to follow a season nor schedule of some sort since it did not happen last year when we were still in ourfreshmen year. To any of you who had missed their recollection, here I am to recount our little adventure. For one, probably some of us felt uncomfortable since the trip to the venue was rough; a lot of twists and turns and of course, bumpy roads. But on the other hand, we had fun –as you would expect –and our journey was full of memorable moments. Perhaps, we had a bit of, you could say, bonding time while on the road and on the recollection. T h e pastor, who takes care of the place, is very welcoming and hospitable; he tells jokes to make us feel comfortable and for us not to see him as strict. As he delivers the lessons, his humorous way of teaching captivated us all –and maybe because of the tone of his loud voice too. Some topics he tackled throughout the day might be very heavy and
We’ve also had simple yet meaningful activities that got stuck in our heads to be remembered. The most important activity was the last, when we shared to our batchmates what we drew on our paper; a thing that symbolizes us, blissful memories with our family and even the miserable ones –this was probably also the most memorable activity throughout the recollection. At first, most of us were anxious to share what we had on our paper since we wouldn’t want anyone to see us crying. I was hesitant as well, but I managed to find courage to share mine when a few people started to share what’s in theirs. It was hard to suppress feelings and guess what? As expected, some had shed their tears. I guess you could only cry to ease the burden in your chest. After that, we managed to shake off the past and lock our eyes ahead. As we do so, we somehow found reasons to be glad again that we are still here, fighting a good fight. No unsolvable problem is given to someone after all. This one-day event was very memorable, but I’m not sure if this would happen again in our remaining high school years (I hope it would). Catholics and Non-Catholics alike are very welcome to this wonderful event. This can help you be in touch with your friends, classmates, and especially, yourself. This can also be an eye opener to what you should do as you progress into the future. This might be a very short event, but it’ll give you realizations you failed to see before. It is a real and true escape from our reality that is usually filled with suffering, pain and sorrow. This would be your very own safe haven to take a break from today’s problems. If this ever happens again, please do join the Recollection. It is very hard to find another place on earth with a similar experience such as this.
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Back
in t h e o l d d a y s before the world w a r s , t h e P h i l i p p i n e society was as established as the other countries, like the American and European societies. We had our own government system, currency, education and arts. But we all know the story. Back in the 1800s, we were colonized by Spaniards; spreading the “glorious wonders” of religion, the concept of a new system, and the profanity of mankind.
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by Ad
ik tok… tik tok…a broken wall clock breathes minutes, hours even, in a locked up bedroom. Nothing but the light of a lamp shade illuminates the gloomy room as a teenage girl sulks in a corner. This is how we usually visualize depression. An overused - a dead word nowadays where it has reached the point that we use it as a reason for numerous things. Suicide? Depression. No appetite? Depression. A girl the fact that it has become difficult for us to identify wheth The thing is, we’ve gotten used in today’s social norms that depression has taken many faces, and it is our responsib
However, listening is actually not as easy as it seems. People have to suffice the emotional needs of someone who is in pain. Th but rather think of the rational way of looking at things. It is indee
Let them imagine that they are stones of low quality. To be exac they become precious diamonds. The idea sounds too cliché, but it’s they must be molded. They have to undergo such difficulties so that th
The same principle taught in a Sunday Preaching applie if you have your cup filled. You must first empty it and only fullest. Same goes who diamonds. The jeweler must cut a huge through. So what does this mean for us? Trials are blessing there to aid us become the better version of ourselves. W every hurdle with confidence that in the end we woul
Tik tok… tik tok… sunlight peered into the once frowns turned into a smile. The worst part of depr Taking one’s own life is often their last resort, a s go wrong. But the thing is, we can avert it. L that we should always be ready to listen to doesn’t want to be heard. In the end, l there is always someone in this wor
a conspirator against the system. This forced him to run and leave the life he had. He lost his friend Inequality and power abuse Elias, who sacrificed himself for was prominent and left most of our Ibarra to escape. This soon led to the ancestors resilient. Not until an idea disappearance of the idealistic Ibarra. of breaking free from these chains Years later in the timeline came by. And this idea led the whole of “El Filibusterismo,” Ibarra was no country to fight for ourselves; this very idea was followed by a character longer the man he was. With his new identity Simoun, his real identity named Juan Crisostomo Ibarra. kept secret until his last breath. The In Dr. Jose Rizal’s “Noli Me white blindfold he once had turned Tangere,” he was introduced as a into black. Driven by retribution and wise citizen that came back from revenge, he used the weakness of abroad. During those times, he was an idealistic man who wished nothing the crooked; greed, just as much as the people he swore to defeat. He but to have a good life after the became what the friars had accused passing of his dear father Don him, a revolutionist. Reborn as a Rafael Ibarra. He was ready merchant, he led and strategized a to give redemption to those battle among the country. He was no who had wronged him. He had planned his life with his longer the idealistic man he once was, rather a chaotic and twisted fiend. beloved Maria Clara. He used people as pawns like a chess All the utopian game for his plans. He believed that thoughts had blurred all of the ones that don’t give effort away when the for the country must be eliminated perversion of the because “Why independence, if the leaders had reached slaves of today will be the tyrants him. He wanted to of tomorrow?” he asked. This all build a school that lost meaning when his beloved died, has no influence making him driven by pure hatred. of the corrupt His blind mind became corrupt that ways most friars soon led to his demise, and ultimately, induced. For this, the defeat of the revolution. he was framed as
‘T
is the season!
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By
You may feel frenzy waiting for gifts from your ninongs and ninangs (or otherwise looking rather than understanding that gift-giving i of being with family and friends. However, preaches the same gospel: “It’s not about the Then again, seems like everybody always ask “s get everything you wanted?” I never got everything I wanted even family and friends had their best intention shows so much of our culture. Maybe this is We thought that giving gifts and exchanging c meaning of Christmas, but we have forgotte essence. Christmas is a party, a birthday Jesus, and we all know that birthdays are m celebrated. But ironically, the person whose bir was supposed to be celebrated is ignored. A is the reason for the season, He’s often negle with Rudolph the red nose reindeer, Frosty the Santa Claus and his elves, and other fictional of this holiday season. It’s His time! The entire reason for is God’s love. God loves us so much that He heaven to Earth as a human so we could have a get to know Him, learn to trust Him, and love H made Himself one of us so we could understa is really like. He created us in His image that has gi capacity to know Him and that includes our abi
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sten
driann Singua
pitiful l cuts her hair off? Depression. Yet, we cannot hide her someone is really depressed or just plain anxious. t we forget to have personal talks with friends. Truly, bility to be listeners in a world that doesn’t listen.
e who are on the listening end are often pressured as they hey should not be emotionally attached with the person ed a difficult task, but let us remind them of this one fact.
ct, coals. You see, coals undergo immense pressure before s the truth. For something or someone to truly change, hey may be able to cultivate change within themselves.
es… you can never receive the full grace of God y then will you experience His blessing to the e portion of them before they are able to make gs in disguise. They are natural and are only With this mentality, we could face each and ld be able to push through successfully.
e gloomy room. Tears were wiped and ression is that it can lead to suicide. so-called “solution” when all things Let this be a lesson to all of us those who are unheard and let us remind them that rld who would listen.
In His Time
y Rhafaella Lansang
g for them) is one way every year e presents”. so… did you
though my ns. But this s humanity. cards is the en it’s true
party for meant to be rthday that Although He ected, along e snowman, characters
Christmas came from a chance to Him back. He and what he
iven us the ility to have
surviving High school by Alexine Ticman
a personal relationship with Him. Then, He took the initiative to send His only son, Jesus Christ, so we could understand his love and our need for Him. Our capacity for enjoyment is one of the evidences of His love for us. He gave us taste buds, eyes, ears, and filled the world with incredible flavors, perceivable colors and harmonious music. He could’ve made this world bland, achromatic and still. But The Bible says that God richly provides us with everything for our pleasure. He didn’t have to do that but he did, only because He loves us. Until the arrival of Jesus, our understanding of God’s love was restrained, so God conquered Earth. He could’ve chosen other ways to interact with us, but since he designed us, He knew the best way to communicate with us would be face-to-face. He could’ve sent an angel, prophet, politician or an ambassador, but He chose to become one of us. Since He really wanted people to know how much He loves them, He didn’t send a representative to communicate with them. He came down himself. That’s what God did at Christmas. One problem of our annual celebration is that people only think of Jesus as a baby – a helpless newborn in his mother’s arms. If Jesus had never grown up to do what he did – paid for every sin we committed by dying on a cross – he’d have no power to transform our lives. The Bible verse that has impacted the world, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV) tops it all. He is the true gift in this season. So I’m asking you, what can you give in so much love?
eople say high school is the best time in one’s life. If you had fun in your primary days, you will have more at this stage. At least, that’s what my mom says. She said high school is where you will have your firsts, a lot. But once you have a first, you won’t know how to deal with it. You’ll feel like a wallflower and become very awkward. You’ll probably search on Wikihow for a solution for your socially awkward self. But to save you the trouble of researching, let me take you to a walk through high school. Time management. On behalf of high school students, let me have the pleasure to tell you that managing time is more difficult than doing your required task itself. I mean, why would you waste your time organizing your time? I thought so too. I used to persuade myself to do my responsibilities within a plan, to lay a fine piece of paper in front of me and jot down the things that I will do for the next few days. But of course, being my true lazy and unorganized self, I ended up throwing 17 used-to-be-finebut-now-crumpled pieces of papers in a trashcan. But it’s also really hard doing your works without a plan, no idea where to start and not being sure what to pass the next day. In my case, being unorganized always leads me to cram. So I decided to write all the home works and tasks in a notebook along with the deadlines, then arranging each according to its urgency. Every day, I try to do the required tasks little by little, then allotting the rest of my time studying. Trust me, it works. Stress has been our “bestfrienemy” ever since we started going to school. It has been a part of our daily routine since the first day. Home works, quizzes, exams, and so on, always love to bring stress to our party. You rarely have time for yourself. You start being a robot controlled by stress. Did you know that stress can lead to serious mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression? Yes, it can. Plus, according to Federick Saunders, “Brain cells create ideas. Stress kills brain cells. Stress is not a good idea.” There’s no way you can think properly or make right decisions. You don’t want that, do you? As 90’s sitcom F.R.I.E.N.D.S puts it, “So no one told you life is gonna be this way?” With all the stress and awkwardness, it could be hard to make friends in high school, but you need someone by your side when you handle stress and struggles. Someone to be with you through the fails and aces. But let me tell you straight, it may not be easy to find someone who is true. Here’s what else you need to do: Be
yourself. I know it sounds cliché, but don’t be afraid that people might judge you, because if nine out of ten people do, maybe that remaining one will be your next buddy. Two, know that person blindly. Do not pick them to be your friend because of their looks or social status. Be their friend for who they truly are. Lastly, if you want them to be real to you, then be real to them too. Don’t backstab or be fake. Be loyal and keep your promises. You don’t want to find your best friends and lose them. Next. Ariana Grande says in her song: “Focus on me.” If only our tasks and home works can talk, this is what they’ll probably say. With all the distractions lurking around you such as young relationships, conflicts with friends, finances or even problems with your family, we start to put down our notes and paper works and let ourselves be affected big time. To prevent this, first, set a study plan. If someone wants to hang out with you when it’s barely necessary, check if you have extra time between studying and doing your required tasks, if you do, then go. But if not, then learn to say NO. I’m not asking you to give up your social life and sit alone with a book (although that sounds pleasant), but you could always make bold moves. Do not let fear get you because most people just say yes because they’re afraid to disagree. Well, if that’s the case, then don’t. Say no, tell them you’re busy and now is not the right time. We did an interview last year with a few students. We asked them what their favorite memory is from high school. Most of them answered ‘every day’. For me, even if I’m just a freshman, I agree with them. In just the whole year of being in 7th grade, I realized that fun is in every day. Fun is the time where you get to learn new things in the most humorous way, fun is where you laugh along with the class because of a corny joke one said, fun is where you get to sit at lunch with your friends and laugh about your most embarrassing moments, and lastly, for a new student, fun is where you get to have people who will always be there for you. I really am enjoying my time in high school so far, even if some of my grades got lower, I have my family and friends to support and tell me that they know those not my best yet, telling me I can do better and that they will be there for me. So when it comes to enjoyment, I think I did a pretty great job with that. To be honest, if you count all my laughter in a week, the five days are completely automatic, plus the other two with my family so, what’s not to enjoy?
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How I Am Living With
writing skills by being t h e n e w s editor of the school gave a me a participate an competition.
Anxiety by Thea San Juan
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he is a girl who finally learns how to make her own stepping stone.In the beginning of the school year, we were asked in our English class the question “If you are to be a God or Goddess, who are you going to be?” I myself chose Artemis. If you’re not familiar with Greek mythology, Artemis is the Goddess of the moon and hunt. Aside from my great affinity for moon, I chose Artemis because she is an independent woman and brave enough to face challenges in her life, and knowing that I want to be like her, this was one of the factors that encourages me once again to step out of my comfort zone. Since I thought that I gained enough courage from Artemis already, I sought for opportunities this school year. Fortunately, I was given a chance to finally share my
paper. This chance to interschool
As a writer, I usually express myself with words. I used to feel that letting people hear my voice through writing is more than enough for me. But something inside of me thought that giving a shot for something that I am scared of will not totally kill me. As I continue to improve my writing skills, I’m still trying to improve myself as a speaker. I may not be the best speaker, but I have improved in expressing myself in front of my classmates. To motivate myself, I let myself believe that I am a confident person. This helps me calm my mind every time I am nervous about tests, recitations, defense, plays, or dance performances. You don’t need to be a Goddess or a God to be able
Photos edited by Fiona Dela Cruz
to do things that are quite impossible for you. Just choose your inspirations; it will help you in achieving your goals. Keeping your head in your own game will help you focus easily. Aside from looking for inspirations, you yourself should be an inspiration to other people who experiences anxiety. As a normal teenager, you should also improve your social skills, make new friends, and have some fun. Don’t drown yourself in deep thoughts of failing something that you are about to do. Having less negative thoughts will help you earn more confidence. This may sound like a bragging moment, but believe me when I say that it took me a lot of time to show myself to people. You need to take baby steps to walk on your own in a rough road ahead of you. I may not be Artemis, or any of the Greek Gods and Goddesses for that matter, but I was able to become an independent young lady and ease the pain of anxiety that I was suffering from. Where is the thrill in your life if you are too scared to face it?
Remember me: A Review by Rhafaella Ricci Lansang
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isney Pixar’s Coco
may revolve around death, but it sure didn’t fail to give us a story that will make us think more about how we live. The movie features a colorful Mexican holiday, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), veering away from commonly highlighted holidays such as Christmas and Halloween. But what takes this masterpiece close to the heart of the audience is how it shows throughout the movie the importance of making sure the stories of those who have passed live on. Unfortunately, a lot of people claim Coco is just a rip-off of 20th Century Fox movie, The Book of Life, released in 2014. While it’s true that they have a lot of similarities, these movies revolve around completely different plot points. The Book of Life is a story of a love triangle interfered by the gods of the afterlife, and focuses on true love, friendship, and overcoming one’s fears. Coco, on the other hand, hits closer to
home with its family-centered story. It started off with a family who swore never to have anything to do with music since Coco, the lead character’s great grandmother was damaged as a kid when her father vanished to chase his dream to become a musician. And so, for generations, the family made sure to shut out anything that has to do with music from their house. Despite this, twelve-year-old Miguel Rivera idolizes the late screen star recording legend, Ernesto De La Cruz and desires to be a musician. Miguel’s efforts to pursue his passion despite being repressed by his family soon led him to the bridge between the Land of the Living and the Land of the Dead. In the land of the Dead he soon gets to know his ancestors and gradually discovered for himself the reason why his family hated music so much. Still, Miguel searches for his idol whom he believes can help him to
teacher To be a
one must finish a degree in education or at least take up units, then pass the Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET). But Ynyela Undayog, a 17-yearold Lumad, who just graduated high school last year, is already dedicating her wisdom to educate her fellow Lumad youth. The Lumad people are marginalized in various levels: geographycally, they cannot access social services including education, and when they try to conquer the distance, another boundary, in the form of discrimination, hinders their education. This led Ynyela to volunteer as a teacher for a Lumad alternative school right after she graduated junior high school.
get home…until a bunch of exciting and heart-ripping secrets are revealed. This movie made me realize that while family usually knows what’s best for us, they must never be a hindrance to one’s dream. Miguel just wanted to play his music, but he had to keep his talent a secret because of his family. The movie also reminds us to never forget those who’ve become part of our lives, whether or not they were able to bid us goodbye. We might have been left without advice, but one thing’s for sure, they won’t forget us. We only lose them physically but they still live in our memories. Coco
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c o m e to the theatre thinking, ‘We paid for this, so this better be good and worth our money’, and hey I can’t blame you if you paid to watch “The Emoji Movie” in the big screen, thinking that it’d even be slightly decent. But I’m not here to talk about the “Emoji Movie” experience, go see it for yourself (now available in Blu-ray) , rather I’m here to talk about what I may safely say as the “greatest show”, that’s what the song “The Greatest Show” claims the film to be, at the very least.
by Cyrene Joy Sigua
She believes education will save them from the ‘parasites.’ Foreign mining corporations have long expressed (and not peacefully) interest in the land owned and cultivated by the Lumad. Unfortunately, government agencies that are supposed to protect them are like pimps that sell them to big companies who want to exploit their land. According to Ynyela, people from their tribes experienced being tricked into giving away the right to their lands. With the incapacity to read, write and count they were asked to mark their thumb prints for an “Attendance Record” and unkowingly allow the mining companies to make use of their resources. Due to lack of education, some of their people, according to Ynyela, even sold land in exchange for canned goods, not knowing the latter’s meager worth as opposed to their ancestral domain. Meanwhile, those of them who were able to understand and protest were shot to death. Today, Lumads continue to fight to protect the ancestral land they have cultivated and defended since the colonial period.
The Greatest Showman is a film about the late Phineas Taylor Barnum, an American showman who owned the Barnum and Bailey circus. As the movie predicts, Phineas, portrayed by Hugh Jackman, would always be fascinated by the idea of having a show with great music and wonderful, talented people. As a kid, he would only see this as a dream due to, you guessed it, poverty, like most family friendly musicals with aspiring protagonists who rose from the cancer that is poverty. Picking up from the fact that he grew up from a not-so-providing-family, like, again, most family friendly musicals with aspiring and inspirational protagonists, he worked hard alongside his father, a tailor to be precise. Once more, like
every other family friendly musicals with aspiring, inspirational, and apparently great singers for a protagonist, he falls in love with a girl, the daughter of one of their rich clients to be exact. For the last time, like every other family friendly musicals with aspiring, inspirational, great singers for a protagonist that The Greatest Showman is, he eventually marries the love of his life, Charity Barnum, or that’s what the film says the least. As an adult, he would eventually become the greatest showman as he always wanted to be, and seeing as to how overused and oversaturated of a joke the line “like most family friendly musicals with aspiring, inspirational, great singers for a protagonist” is, I won’t ever be using it again. But, dare I say it, much like most family friendly musicals with aspiring, inspirational, and great singers for a protagonist, he comes across some game changing challenges, which he eventually overcomes because as we all know, it’s a film about a poor boy eventually becoming richer and successful as he grows up. Now, all I would usually care about saying, if I’m asked, is that the film is worth your money. I personally love musicals and hey, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul truly made great songs for this
Educator
At Seventeen
Ynyela, with the help of ALCADEV and TRIFPSS (Self built Lumads’ schools), work selflessly to empower their people to
ost of us
managed to flawlessly present existence and demise as ordinary but beautiful parts of life. With the top notch storytelling and music we expect from Pixar, we can sing along with “Remember me…” and surely, remember this animation for as long as the children in us live.
defend their land. They educate fellow Lumads, and after 10th grade, their mindset is to always give back to the country and for the good of the state, even if the government had no consideration over their rights. “Nakakainis na din at sinusubukan namin magtayo ng paaralan tapos sisirain lang din nila,” Ynyela said. In 2015, Lumad tribe leaders were slain in front of school children to threaten them to give up their land. Since then, Lumad tribes travel to Manila for the annual Manilakbayan where they voice out their concerns to the government. In President Duterte’s last SONA, he threatened to bomb Lumad schools because they were “operating illegally.” An open letter from ALCADEV and TRIFPSS to President Duterte stated “We asked you for help and protection but your only response was to vehemently insist that ALCADEV only teaches our children subversion, communism and how to fight against the government.” To date, Lumad leaders, students and teachers advocate saving their schools, dreams and hopes in life, but their story is still not heard by enough people. Their land and lives continue to be in peril. Still, Ynyela is committed to her mission and to build a strong foundation of education in her fellow Lumad youth.
totally one of a kind musical. Now, praise and jokes aside, as great as the film is, it had its downsides, obviously. This wouldn’t really be a critique if I just made a long and extensive article saying that “It’s the greatest show” over and over again for five paragraphs long. As I’ve said earlier, it’s a great musical, but much like most musicals of the 2000’s, it’s way too generic. For one, I feel that the writers of the story simply cared about making the audience stay put with tear breaking moments and fun dialogues like how one time PT Barnum and Phillip argued over having a co-ownership of the Barnum Circus. Even as a critique it feels like I’m still praising the film blindly, but in a not-so-fond-ofmusicals point of view, it simply sucks. Yes, I’ve said it, take out the flashy, musical scenes and all you’ll be left with is a slightly accurate telling of Barnum’s life. I can’t entirely blame them, it is just a loose interpretation of the real story. Constructively, what I may safely tell you is that the story telling of the film falls short as some scenes just come out without prior introduction or context,
which, in worse scenarios, would be totally forgotten later on in the story. I’ve come to the point wherein I’ve both praised and shunned the film, or in shorter words made a critique of the film. I don’t exactly know how to end this movie critique properly, so here’s an extensive way of saying that the film is indeed a great show worth your money, using an excerpt of the song “The Greatest Show”. It’s everything you ever want ( in all honesty, I didn’t even know that I wanted Hugh Jackman to have another great role after his portrayals of X-Men’s Wolverine and Les Miserables’ Jean Valjean), it’s everything you ever need (not necessarily, although I don’t regret spending to see this show in the big screen), and it’s here right in front of you (in HD, technology truly is amazing), this is the greatest show (I wouldn’t say the ‘greatest’, but it is indeed a great one). Photo from The Greatest Showman Wikia
Closure of Boracay Island:
Advantageous or Not? by Precious Laureana J. Caluya
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he Boracay Island is considered as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world– at least for the past few years, but now, it is facing a huge tragedy. The President of the Republic of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, ordered the closure of the world-famous island for a maximum of six months. The closure of the island will affect the business establishments, the workers, the tourists, and the residents of the place. There were many opinions that arise regarding the closure of the Boracay Island. Department of Internal and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año, wants to immediately close the island so that the demolition of the illegal structures and the rehabilitation of the whole island can be started. On the other hand, the Secretary of Department of Tourism (DOT) Wanda Teo, agrees to the closure of the island but wants to do it in the Rainy Season so that less tourists will come and the loss of the businesses there would be lessened as well. The President came up with this decision because of the many violations of the businesses surrounding the island have committed. Some of those violations are improper waste disposal and destruction of forests for construction of buildings. Buildings are also close to the water lines which is a main violation of the Clean Water Act of 2004. All of these violations made the water in the beach smelly and murky. If this water pollution continues, the number of tourists that
visit the place will drastically decrease. This will also affect the tourism in the Philippines. President Duterte gave the establishments there and his cabinet members two months to solve the problems in Boracay Island, but they didn’t respond. The main disadvantage of the closure of the Boracay Island is that the income of the business there will decrease by a large amount, and this is why they decide to lay-off many employees. According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), they can only hire 5,000 out of the 17,000 workers that will be affected by the closure. The big businesses in the place can survive the closure for six months, but the small businesses like souvenir shops, can’t. DOLE said that they will provide assistance through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced (TUPAD) Workers. But overall, the government has no concrete plan for the Boracay workers that will be affected by the closure. The closure of the Boracay Island is the best way to rehabilitate it and maintain its image of being one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. By closing the island, the problems in the place will immediately be solved and when it opens again, a better, brighter, and more beautiful Boracay Island will be seen. With this, tourism will increase and the economy of the Philippines will be better as well.
Ocean Acidification By Irell Anceno
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cientific awareness about the negative effects of ocean acidification only started quite recently. It was only a few years ago when researcher and scientists considered ocean acidification as a serious threat. But as the time goes by, its negative effects have begun emerging. The increasing levels of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, affect not only the Earth’s atmosphere, but also the oceans because the ocean is capable of absorbing high levels of carbon dioxide. At first, scientists and environmentalists thought this was a good thing and that the ocean could be the solution to global warming. But as time went by, scientists discovered that there is a downside to this. They found out that as oceans absorb more carbon dioxide, the chemistry of seawater changes. This process is called ocean acidification. As oceans absorb more carbon dioxide, it is possible that their capacity to
Source: FinanceTime
absorb carbon dioxide would eventually diminish. Then the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would have nowehre else to go but stay there and further intensify global warming. The decrease in the degree of saturation of important calcium carbonate materials is also very alarming because calcium carbonate minerals are the building blocks of the skeletons and shells of many marine organisms. So, it will surely affect the life cycle of many marine organisms and ultimately the whole food chain in the ocean. Moreover, high acidity due to the increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere also inhibits the growth of shells of many organisms. At present, ocean acidification is considere as an emerging global problem. Many studied and researchers are being conducted to fully understand how ocean acidification will affect the overall structure of marine ecosystems in the future.
Bacterial
Contamination on Phones by Irell Anceno
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ost people don’t give a second thought to using their cell phone everywhere, from their bed to the dining table, to school, or to any workplace. According to an article written by Abigail Abrams of TIME Health, research shows that cell phones are far dirtier than most people think, and the more germs they collect, the more germs you touch. Cell phones have become one of the essential devices used for communication in daily life, and they are commonly used almost everywhere. Being expensive and conveniently small in size, they are used by students in school for immediate communication during emergencies, research purposes, documentation, entertainment and others. Due to the achievements and benefits of the mobile phone, it is easy to overlook its hazard to health; this is against the background that many users may have no regard for personal hygiene, and the number of people who may use the same phone. This constant handling of the phone by different users exposes it to an array of microorganisms, and makes it a good carrier for microbes such as bacteria. Microbiologists say that the combination of constant handling with the heat generated by phones creates a prime breeding ground for many microorganism that are normally found on the skin. People rarely disinfect mobile phones and they are awkward to clean. As a result, these devices have the potential for contamination with various bacterial agents. The importance of maintaining proper hygiene and regular phone sanitation is a must. It is necessary to wash our hands and not use our phones in the bathroom or while eating, because that defeats the purpose of washing our hands. Though these, infections and illnesses from different types of bacteria may be reduced and/or prevented.
Sudan’s Death: Huge Extinction Crisis The Need for Counseling by Irell Anceno
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he 45-year-old Sudan, a northern white rhinoceros and the last male of the rare subspecies, died on March 19, 2018 at the OI Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya due to the series of infections and other health problems. Now, only two of the subspecies remain: his daughter, Najin, and Fatu, his granddaughter, leaving only two females left to save the subspecies from extinction. With these animals on the verge of ex t i nc t ion , the fate of the subspecies rests on S u d a n ’ s ability to conceive with the two rhinos. However, none of the rhinos will ever reproduce again naturally. According to an article by Stephanie Pappas on Live Science, all rhinos are too old to function. Najin is not capable anymore to bear the weight of a mating male and/or giving birth to another rhino. Moreover, Fatu also has uterine problems. The process of in vitro fertilization has never succeeded with a rhino. Sudan’s death comes as other rhino populations around the world waver on the brink of extinction. This is not just a threat to other species; this is a threat directly to our survival as humans to. This is the result of unsustainable human activity. Taking immediate action by protecting these organisms and developing ways to preserve them will aid in solving the problem. There is undoubtedly a
by Irell Anceno
T
huge extinction crisis going on of which this death is just a small part. According to Rachel Nuwer of The New York Times, war, habitat loss and poaching for rhino horn have decimated the species’ population. The rhinos are killed for their meat,
horns, o r sometimes exchanged for money. It didn’t fail in evolution. He survived extinction of his kind for years in the wild only thanks to living in a zoo. Sudan is an extreme symbol of human disregard for nature. Through the current economic system and globalization, we are taking up more of the earth’s resources and living space that it can accommodate. We pay no attention to their importance in our ecosystem and in our lives. According to Fight For Rhinos.com, rhinos are umbrella species. This means their survival directly impacts the survival of other species
he Philippine Department of Health (DOH) on late November 2017 temporarily suspended the dengue vaccination program also known as Dengvaxia after French drug based vaccine maker Sanofi Pasteur made a statement that its product poses higher risks to people without prior dengue infection. 700,00 individuals from Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Metro Manila received at least one dose of the vaccine after the
launching of the dengue vaccination campaign by the Department of Health (DOH) in April 2016. As a result , reports on several children who died from various complications due to the vaccination began to emerge. Dengvaxia is the world’s first vaccine against dengue. The mosquitoborne disease is a leading cause of illness and deaths among children in some Asian and Latin American countries, according to the World Health Organization. Dengvaxia was
of mammals, birds, insects, fish and plants. Moreover, they also help us humans through the means of tourism which develops our economy. We are still lucky by this time that we still have more than enough resources to consume but we did not realize that as the time passes by, these resources will not be enough for us anymore. We should take note within ourselves on what can we do to for the betterment of the status of our environment. We were the only ones who are capable of doing this that’s why we should take action and responsibility before it’s not too late because every action may help prevent the rapid damage of our nature and extinction of the endangered species. As we can see, the beauty, diversity of life, and the richness of the environment needs to be more appreciated and protected. As humans, which are the highest form of organism and with the ability to rationalize, we should protect all endangered species and develop reproductive technology and scientific procedures in hopes of saving them. Supporting and experimenting community-based approaches to address extinction and protecting the nature will also be beneficial. Source: Adventure Sports Network
supposed to be a great innovation in the field of health and medicine in our country; however, it turner out to be that it’s not. As we can see, this innovation would be a great prevention against the death here in the Philippines. Several schools and families had engaged to this program because it would really benefit their children and it is assessed by a pharmaceutical company together with the government. However, due to the lack of comprehensive study on the effectively and risks of the vaccines, several children who took these vaccines, several children who took these vaccines facilitated by their schools or their barangays were dead. This incident is really dangerous to the health and
of High school Students
by Joanna Suobiron
H
igh school guidance office s t u d e n t s handled more than are given five students having loads of tasks every different cases such as semester which could depression and anxiety cause stress and which affected the lead to emotional and students’ attendance mental struggles. and coping up skills. These concerns may Given these negatively affect evidences, we can see the students’ class that there is a huge gap participitation or between the schools quality of work. and the students when Therefore, every it comes to emotional student’s emotional and psychological a n d health. It “There is psychological is sad how a huge gap n e e d s the schools must be between the are more attended and schools and pleased when a d d r e s s e d the students a student to avoid and e x c e l s when it comes toacademically reduce case of mental emotional and rather than psychological being pleased illness. health.” Obviously, when a s c h o o l student is administrators and emotionally stable teachers are aware of despite the load of work their students’ physical and lack of academic health however, They achievements. tend to overlook the Schools should mental and emotional take care of their health of the students students and hone which is also important them with academic on the students’ and life-long skills. But development schools should also be Studies and aware of the students’ researches have p r o b l e m - s o l v i n g shown how much and coping skills to cases about mental help them maintain illness have increased their emotional and over the past years. It psychological health as is indeed alarming how well as their intellectual this concern is being capacities to be able to ignored by the society achieve their goals and During this school dreams in life. year, our school’s welfare of its recipients. In line with this problem, the Department of Health (DOH) has been putting in place safety measures to ensure the health and welfare of the individuals inoculated with the antidengue vaccine Dengvaxia. According to an article written by Sheila Crisostomo of The Philippine Star , The DOH continues to refine the response and action plan in the Dengue Task Force to ensure the safety and best health outcomes for children who were vaccinated through heightened monitoring and surveillance, effective management of adverse events following immunization, activation of the dengue fast lanes in public hospitals and truthful and timely risk
communication to the public. Indeed, the people accountable for this incident should suffer and pay for their actions. It should be a lesson for such professionals and government officials in formulating drugs and vaccines to prevent diseases. Caution should always be prioritized to avoid fatalities. Thorough research, experimentation, and quality check should be done before giving prescriptions or conducting such immunization programs. Source: geneteclifesciences.com
photo from boxen1.com
Seniors bag back to back title by Mark Lennard Manuel
O
nce again, Grade 10 batch ’17-’18 dominated the Intramurals, winning majority of the events, and allowing them to claim the top spot for the second year in a row. The champions tallied an overall score of more than 400 points, owing majority of it to winning both volleyball and basketball events. This year is also the first time for the high school level to have five teams competing for the crown, with the Grades 11 and 12 joining forces to form the fifth.
While many of the best players recognized were familiar names, there were also new faces that made the Intramural events more exciting, namely, freshmen Shakira Cudal (Mythical 6), Neicel Laquian (Rookie of the Year) Jeizer Panzo (Rookie of the Year). Other back to back achievements were made by Maki Manuel (MVP 2017-2018), Janna Carvajal (Best in Basketball 20172018), and Clyde Herrero (Sportsmanship Awardee, 2016-2018).
‘The Jackal’ preys on ‘The Flash’ by Gabriel Isagani Rugas
C
arl Frampton defeated Nonito Donaire, via Unanimous Decision, claiming the WBO Interim Featherweight Championship at the SSE Arena in Belfast, April 22. Nonito Donaire came out swinging as soon as the match started, throwing several body that helped him control the pace of the 1st round. But as soon as the 2nd round started Frampton completely took control of the match, pressuring Donaire’s back against the ropes with a bunch of power shots. Midway through the bout, Donaire was able to regain some
ground, throwing a couple of effective punches, but it was obvious that the momentum of the match was still on the side of the hometown boy. Before Donaire was able to put on a decent amount of pressure, Frampton was able to prevent the storm, completely owning the ring. During the latter parts of the match Donaire desperately tried to make a last ditch effort but it was too late, he was completely outmatched by Frampton. Frampton earned a 117-111 scorecard from all three judges, improving his record to 25-1 while Donaire falls to 38-5. photo from feu.edu.ph
photo from thebirdwrites.com
Pelicans snare Trailblazers Tamaraws hailed first 3x3 champs by Beatrice Joy de Guzman
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nthony Davis led the way for the New Orleans Pelicans, scoring 47 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in game 4 against the Portland Trailblazers, 131-123, ending the series 4-0. Though the Pelicans win was what most people expected, it still is quite shocking that they were able to completely man handle their opponent. Coming in to the series, despite being the higher seeding team, the odds were still stacked on the side of Trailblazers, since to them the Pelicans is a nightmare matchup. It was made obvious that the Trailblazers had no answer for the 24 year old superstar Anthony Davis, as he was
able to completely have his way, averaging 33 points, 11.8 rebounds, and almost 3 blocks a game during the series. Thanks to Pelicans back court, Jrue Holiday and Rajon Rondo, they were able to completely shut down Portland’s superstar guard Damian Lillard. Damian Lillard had a horrific series averaging only 18.5 points a game shooting a mere 35% from the field while his fellow start teammate, C.J. McCollum averaged 25 points. Moving onto the next round, the Pelicans will be facing the winner of the Warriors-Spurs series, but it’s safe to say that no matter who they will be facing, it will be without a doubt a must watch series for the fans.
by Beatrice Joy de Guzman
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ar Eastern University made history after grabbing the first UAAP 3x3 championship against the UE Red Warriors, 21-13, March 3 2018 at the Music Hall Mall of Asia Arena. UAAP season 80 hosts FEU Tamaraws team Michael John Casiño, Wendell Comboy, Richard Escoto, and Kenneth Tuffin defeated UE Red Warriors Alvin Pasaol, Philip Manalang, Mark Maloles, and Jason Varilla in a one day league. The third year guard Comboy led the team tallying almost half of the team’s score shooting buckets after buckets finishing with 11 points.
Tamaraws started strong but the heart fighting Red Warriors tried to rally back comeback led by Pasaol scoring from different spots finishing with 9 points. The lead went down to 3 points after a couple of baskets coming from Pasaol but Comboy fires a three pointer that stops UE’s run and knocks FEU’s title. “On 3-on-3 of course you have to be aggressive,” Comboy in a post game interview. Comboy also admitted that they were pressured since they are the host but now that the competition is over the feel completely overwhelmed after being named as the first UAAP 3x3 Champions.
Commentary
TH(E Sport) we love to hate by Adriann Joshua Singua
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ven though there are currently more than 8000 sports listed in the World Sports Encyclopedia, the public only really considers a couple dozen worth watching and out of those dozens, it is well known that soccer, cricket and hockey stand out the most. For decades, the same bunch of sports dominated the industry and we got so used to this system without us even noticing, to the point that if something new enters the door, we’ll probably welcome it with an unpleasant treatment, and quite frankly, that is exactly what happened. Not so long ago something unexpected entered the scene, something different, and in mere moments it was able to make its mark in the world of sports. Set aside soccer, cricket and hockey for a moment, the world’s fastest-growing sport is currently live gaming. Electronic Sports started to make some noise a few years ago, and as time passes by the noise only gets louder, but despite the rapid growth, there is still one factor that is keeping it from truly
breaking through is the debate if not one of them. But regardless whether Esports can actually be of all of these negativity, Esports considered as a real sport. Some still continue to reach new heights. say that it lacks the physicalities During the Grand Finals of last needed for it to be even considered year’s League of Legends Worlds, as a sport and should not be aired 43 million people watched. That in entertainment channels. ESPN was 12 million more than the President John number of people Skipper goes to that watched say that “It’s not the 2016 NBA a sport — it’s Finals. Meanwhile, During the Grand Finals a competition. during this of last year’s League of year’s League of Chess is a c o m p e t i t i o n . Legends Worlds, 43 million Legends Worlds, Checkers is a people watched--that was the community c o m p e t i t i o n … . 12 million more than the was once again Mostly, I’m to hit some number of people that able interested in new heights, this watched the 2016 NBA includes a new doing real sports,” according to record of 80 Finals. Re/code. But to million unique enthusiasts and those who live viewers during semifinals. within the scene, it’s a whole It is without a doubt that live different world. It is a place that gaming or Esports in general enthralls the kid deep within one’s has an incredibly awful image. soul, and altogether connected Due to the statements of others, millions of people around the globe. people tend to think that this The public still doesn’t accept the concept is just a bad influence concept of Esports, including those and this further resulted in the so called experts on other sports. birth of the stereotype when it They believe that live gaming is comes to gamers. Still, a countless
“
Rookie Close-up
A Transcendental Athelete by Gabriel Isagani Rugas
K
ai Sotto is showing us why he is a step above the rest, at 15 years of age, he is already 7 feet 1, projected to get even taller once he hits the professional scene. We first heard about this kid two years ago, back then we were still in doubt, wondering if he will be able to put his assets into good use. Now, fast forward to the present, it’s safe to say that he was able to reach the bar that was set for him. People are now calling him a unicorn because of his height and his skill set, he is a project that has a really bright upside. Even though he is still incredibly young, people are already labelling him as the future of Philippine basketball. Despite his talent, there are still people who doubt him, saying that he is getting way too much attention, way more than he deserves. But he proved to us once again that he deserves every single hit of that hype, leading the Ateneo Blue Eagles with his stellar performance to their 19 juniors title in the UAAP Season 80 Juniors’ Basketball Championship,
winning the Finals MVP along the way. And once again, he will have the opportunity to show the country that he will truly be the future of Philippine Basketball as he and the Ateneo Blue Eagles will compete in the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) League National Finals, where he and his team are expected to dominate the competition next week as the 1st seed out of 32 teams. No doubt that the talk around this 15-year-old phenom will only get louder and as the spotlight gets brighter, everyone will be expecting even greater things from him. We have never seen a local player like him before, with his height and build it’s not surprising that he is in this kind of situation. Though there are still a lot of things that he needs to work on, even though he’s decent all round games for a big man, he still needs to get stronger if he really wants to be the guy that will soon be the face of this country’s basketball, and he needs to work on it as soon as possible.
photo by tiebreakertimes.ph
number of gamers all around the world still dreams to be a part of this environment, dreaming that one day they will play the game that they love in front of millions of people. Honesty, you can’t really blame them, this competitive atmosphere, this certain uniqueness, this one of a kind aura, all of these just brings a certain vibe that attracts those who comes across it. Esports in general will just continue to rise, no matter how hard others try to pull it down. The community will continue to grow, the number of fans, the number of professional players and the number of organizations, all of these are bound to increase. And in a few years who knows, we might see Esports alongside the mainstream sports. After all, this bunch of animations that others look down upon, in the eyes of the community these shows endless possibilities and as long as they hold onto this belief then it is no surprise if Esports once again reaches new heights.
