A
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
L
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
O
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.
