The Pisay Explorer Volume XXI Issue No. 1 (July 2023 - December 2023)

SOLUTIONS ECO LOGICAL

Intellimeter clinches top spot in the first Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition

ntellimeter, a smart electric management system device developed by four Philippine Science High School - Cagayan Valley Campus (PSHSCVC) students, secured the first place in Samsung’s first-ever Solve for Tomorrow competition held in Ortigas, Manila on November 24.

Comprising both hardware and software components, the Intellimeter system offers real-time monitoring of electricity usage, aiding consumers in making energy-efficient decisions.

Intellimeter’s developers— Enzo Abad, Ethan Bautista, Zion Corpuz, and Resha Gaspar— leveraged AI integration to tackle an energy problem with a focus on promoting environmentally responsible and energy-efficient power consumption practices in the Philippines.

Motivated by the prevalent energy management challenges faced by individuals in their surroundings, the team conceived Intellimeter as a solution to alleviate these issues.

“The difficulties our parents, the dorm managers, and business owners had with keeping track

of and budgeting their monthly electricity bills served as the inspiration for the idea. So, we thought of a device that allows users to save money and electricity at the same time,” Gaspar said.

Being able to share a possible solution for electricity management issues, team leader Abad expressed confidence in the device’s impact to the Filipino community.

“The Intellimeter would benefit the majority of the Filipino community as this device strives to help people use electricity efficiently for ecological and financial set-ups,” he claimed.

Solve for Tomorrow aims to empower STEM students to share and realize their

ideas, turning them into practical solutions that can create an impact on the local community.

The team was awarded a total of Php 960,000 in prizes, including Php 650,000 worth of Samsung devices for the school, Php 190,000 worth of Samsung devices for the students and their coach, Php 100,000 cash for team members, and Php 20,000 cash for the coach.

Mr. Bryle Eusebio, Special Science Teacher II, mentored the team.

11 2 13

DOST agencies unite for RSTW

Agencies of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) worked together in spearheading events for the Regional Science and Technology Week (RSTW) held from November 14 to 16 in Tuguegarao City.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), and Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) took part in organizing their own forums and programs.

Dr. Virginia Bilgera, Regional Director of DOST R02, attended the opening ceremony held on November 14 at Robinsons Tuguegarao.

In her opening remarks, Bilgera called attention to the three-day program’s aim of highlighting the role of science, technology, and innovation in securing a resilient future.

“We harness Science, Technology, and Innovation to provide a solid foundation for achieving inclusive development and national resilience,” she said.

“The main theme of this celebration summed up what we have been doing at the Department of Science and Technology. Under this administration, we designed our programs, projects, and activities to significantly transform the lives of the Filipino people,” she added.

As part of the opening ceremony, Philippine Science High

School - Cagayan Valley Campus (PSHS-CVC) scholars Angel Iniego, Jonhamei Blas, Kirsten Tiongson, Rianni Taguinod, Christian Ortega, and Jasmine Zipagan presented their research projects in their own exhibit booths.

Other universities that exhibited research projects included Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU), Cagayan State University (CSU), and Quirino State University (QSU).

The Simplifying Understanding of DRRM (disaster risk management) Information Exchange (SUDI-X) forum was held at Robinsons Tuguegarao right after the opening ceremony.

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Photo by ARIANNE AYAD

IGNITING CURIOSITY. PSHS-CVC scholar

Rianni Taguinod steers booth visitors with hands-on exploration of the different parts of the microscope.

TRISTAN FUERTE

Photos from MICHAEL CALLEJO CURRENTS OF INTELLIGENCE. CVC 10th grade innovators, guided by coach Bryle Eusebio, test out Intellimeter as a realtime electricity monitor in a cardboard prototype home.

Innovation must better quality of life—Habacon

Dais gear up for PSHSS MUN 2024

In preparation for the next Philippine Science High School System Model United Nations (PSHSS MUN) Conference in 2024, the Philippine Science High SchoolCagayan Valley Campus (PSHS-CVC) welcomed 60 delegates from the 16 PSHS campuses for a DAIS training on September 12 to 15, 2023.

During the four-day event, the delegates were introduced to the Model United Nations (MUN) Rules of Procedure by resource speaker Ms. Phoebe Hernandez, highlighting the information and protocols needed by the participants for the conference.

The event focused on teaching the delegates much-needed skills such as chairing committee sessions and facilitating committee draft resolutions through lectures and simulations.

Aside from the creation of documents such as the Rules of Procedure and the overall planning of the event, the training also decided upon the roles and responsibilities of each delegate for the upcoming conference.

Leia Monteclar, a delegate from the Central Visayas Campus encouraged fellow scholars to join MUN conferences such as the upcoming Pisay MUN IV, encouraging them to enjoy the process and to treat it as a unique learning experience.

“I urge all of you to not only participate, but also to immerse yourselves in the unique learning experience that MUN conferences offer. Enjoy the process, for we are scholars, but not everyone can be scholars who are into Model United Nations, ” shared Monteclar.

I urge all of you to not only participate, but also to immerse yourselves in the unique learning experience that MUN conferences offer.

“We have to prioritize research and technology, so they can be used to improve the quality of life,” Lilia Habacon, Executive Director of the Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS) said in an interview during Kids Innovation Challenge 2023 (KIC) on September 25.

Habacon emphasized the significance of PSHSS’ programs in teaching the scholars the process of innovation.

She revealed that these events are designed to enhance the engineering process, knowledge, and skills of PSHS scholars.

Addressing the scholars directly, she encouraged them to leverage their privileges, resources, and innovative thinking to make meaningful contributions to the economic improvement of the Philippines.

“Consider these events as an opportunity to be your training ground for innovation, because I deem that the graduates of Philippine Science High School will be able to provide employment for the Filipino people,” Habacon expressed.

Beyond employment, she emphasized that the PSHSS can contribute to economic improvement through developmental research and innovations with programs like KIC.

“We can only flourish as a country if we can develop new products, enhance existing ones, and actively generate them,” she

The Pisay Explorer wins 4th Best Editorial Section in NSPC 2023

Onits comeback to the Schools Press Conferences (SPC) after a pandemic hiatus, The Pisay Explorer clinched the 4th Best Editorial Section in the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) on July 17 in Cagayan de Oro.

Before reaching the national level, The Pisay Explorer won as the Overall Best School Paper in the Secondary English level at the Nueva Vizcaya Division Schools Press Conference. At

As the pioneers of secondary-level STEM education, the Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS) joined forces with the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) for the implementation of a Technology Transfer program on October 2, 2023.

Aimed at supporting intellectual property (IP) application and commercialization of research innovations produced by scholars and teachers across the 16 PSHS campuses nationwide, the program is separated into various phases, such as the IP Workshop held at the PSHS-Cagayan Valley Campus (CVC).

The Technology Transfer program also covered the Technology Commercialization Mentorship Series which focused on developing the establishment of networks for technology commercialization across the PSHS campuses.

“The PSHSS’ Tech Transfer Program has the potential to yield significant benefits for both the PSHS system and local communities, turning promising research into marketable products and offering local communities access to innovative solutions, addressing realworld challenges in agriculture, climate change, and other critical areas,” said Daniel Labaddan, PSHS-CVC Science Research Specialist, regarding the benefits of the program.

Moreover, the PSHS Office of the Executive Director (OED) hopes that commercialized projects from PSHS will benefit Filipino local communities.

“We have to test the waters, we have to move towards technology transfer. We have to commercialize, not necessarily for profit, but for public good,” stated Lilia Habacon, PSHSS Executive Director.

The Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS) recently launched the first edition of Science Research Summit - United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (SRSUNICEF) program as an addition to the system’s innovation programs last November 21, 2023.

Philippine Science High School - Cagayan Valley Campus (PSHSCVC) hosted the first half of the capacity-building and monitoring program, wherein the scholars presented their research studies for updates and feedback regarding their progress.

Through the updates, SRS-UNICEF provided sufficient aid to the scholars in strengthening and improving their studies with the guidance of the panelists.

Jana San Jose, participant from PSHSCVC, supported its effectiveness as she shared her team’s development after the event.

“The experience has enabled our team to develop practical solutions for the problems we face, which has led to a more knowledgeable and innovative approach to our work,” she stated.

SEAN MANANSALA

RESHA GASPAR

TYRONE LIQUINGAN

KIRSTEN IDIO & RESHA GASPAR

EXPLORER NEWS

LEIA MONTECLAR MUN DELEGATE

Photo by RUSSEL VILORIA “

Photo by RUSSEL VILORIA

DIPLOMATS IN-TRAINING. Student-delegates from the 16 PSHS campuses master DAIS skills for the next Pisay MUN Conference.

Photo by DA-XIA ANDRES

TEC, PSHSS launch first Taiwan Education Fair

In collaboration with the Taiwan Education Center - Philippines (TEC), the Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS) launched the first system-wide Taiwan Education Fair held in the Philippine Science High School - Main Campus (PSHS-MC) auditorium last October 17.

The PSHSS received 32 scholarship offers for pursuing a university degree, with 16 slots each provided by National Taiwan University (NTU) and National Sun Yat-Sen University (NSYSU), respectively.

The education fair featured eight Taiwanese universities, from public and private institutions: National Taiwan University (NTU), National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST), National Sun Yat-Sen University (NSYSU), National Dong Hwa University (NDHU), Tamkang University (TKU), TzuChi University of Science and Technology (TCUST), and Kun Shan University (KSU).

Twenty-five students from each of the eight PSHS Luzon campuses, namely Ilocos Region Campus (IRC), Cagayan Valley Campus (CVC), Cordillera Administrative Region Campus (CARC), Central Luzon Campus (CLC), Calabarzon Region Campus (CBZRC), Mimaropa Region Campus (MRC), Bicol Region Campus (BRC), and Main Campus (MC), were mandated to join the event.

“Numerous opportunities exist, and there are globally renowned universities in Taiwan with rankings worth considering,” stated Lilia Habacon, PSHSS Executive Director.

Through this initiative, Habacon encouraged PSHS students to consider Taiwan as their destination of choice when pursuing a university degree.

DOST agencies unite for RSTW

In the forum, Provincial Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Officers (PDRRMO), and Provincial Information Officers underpinned their partnership with PHIVOLCS and PAGASA.

The forum was targeted at converting technical terms into simplified language, ensuring that weather and earthquake reporting can be simplified and easily understood by the general public.

“This event carries profound significance –encompassing a day of reflection, learning, and action as we embark on a transformative journey in building a disaster-resilient nation,” DOST Undersecretary Teodoro Gatchalian said in his message during the SUDI-X forum.

Gatchalian also attended the Exit Conference of Scholars called “Touch of Excellence” in Go Hotels Tuguegarao to honor and recognize the accomplishments of DOST scholars in their respective fields.

During the event, Undersecretary Gatchalian emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting education and research.

“For you to succeed, you have to keep doing what is best—the best that you can be. That way, you can contribute not only to yourself but also to your community,” he emphasized.

The DOST Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) celebrated a showcase of Filipino creativity and innovation with the successful conduct of the KatHABI Fashion Innovation event on November 15.

RSTW held its closing ceremonies on November 16.

CVC scholars' SAT Math scores surpass target

The Mathematics scores of nine scholars from the Philippine Science High SchoolCagayan Valley Campus (PSHS-CVC) achieved the 94.77th percentile in the November 4, 2023 digital Scholastic Aptitude Test, surpassing the school’s 80th percentile target.

Administered by the College Board, a non-profit that also manages the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) and the Advanced Placement (AP) program, the SAT is a standardized test meant to show how students prepare for college by measuring key skills like reading comprehension, computational ability, and clarity of expression.

“Among the performance indicators under the Office Performance and Commitment Review (OPCR) of the PSHS System is the percentile of PSHS students in the Mathematics

UP admissions director explains excellence-equity system

Francisco N. De Los Reyes, Director of the University of the Philippines (UP) System Office of Admissions, explained the university’s “excellenceequity” admission process during the Career Recruitment Program held at Philippine Science High SchoolCagayan Valley Campus (PSHS-CVC) on October 26, 2023.

To understand the equity principle, De Los Reyes provided an example: “If somebody from a public high school in Nueva Vizcaya got a University Predicted Grade (UPG) of 1.98 and then somebody from Ateneo High School in Katipunan got the same UPG, the student from Nueva Vizcaya is getting in. That’s a simple illustration of what equity means–both economic and geographic, not just economic.”

Director De Los Reyes emphasized, however, that UP’s primary focus is

on excellence, regardless of social circumstances or geographical location.

A student’s high school performance and UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) score is combined to create the UPG.

This UPG, graded on a scale from 1 to 5, is critical to students vying for admission into the university, with a 2.800 UPG as the demarcation score.

“We are a national university. We have to make sure that we also give opportunities to students who may have borderline UPG, but are less fortunate or are in rural areas. We have special consideration for them,” Director De Los Reyes said.

This “excellence-equity” system, says Director De Los Reyes, relies on a precisely crafted algorithm engineered by the Computer Science Department of the University of the Philippines.

section of the SAT. Our target is to reach the 80th percentile. Being in the 94.77th percentile, we are beyond the target, proving once again that graduating students from our institution are ready for college life,” Jay-Ar A. Mapilis, PSHS-CVC Assistant Chief for Academic Affairs and Life Career Development Program (LCDP) Coordinator, emphasized.

The nine students were selected through a college entrance exam simulation, wherein CVC’s Batch 2024 was assessed in Mathematics, Science, and English.

As the highest-performing 10%, Claire Quienes, Robert Ortega, Mark Javier, Francisco Mallillin, Joshua Martin, Jonhamei Blas, Jana San Jose, Hadiya Andoy, and Brenda Padron earned the opportunity to take the SAT for free.

DENISE REYES

APRIL CHY & DENISE REYES

JANA SAN JOSE

Photo by LORIN NICOLAS

OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND BORDERS. National Tsing Hua University Representative opens doors for PSHS-CVC students, showcasing their institution and addressing admissions queries.

Photo by RUSSEL VILORIA

Photo

SIP for the SYP

PSHS-CVC sends 60 interns in S&T agencies, caters 18 in-house

Students of the Philippine Science High School - Cagayan Valley Campus (PSHS-CVC) Batch 2024 dispersed into Department of Science and Technology (DOST) agencies, local universities, and private institutions for the 2023 Science Immersion Program (SIP) from June to July.

aspiring PSHS-CVC scholars took this year’s NCE.

Only 120 of them will be eligible to become Pisayers.

Angel Iniego, Grade 12 student of Philippine Science High School - Cagayan Valley Campus (PSHSCVC), secured a spot in the Research Science Institute (RSI) held from June to August 2023 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Iniego joined the cluster of 100 students invited for the cost-free Summer Science and Engineering Program where participants undergo the research process from start to finish.

The core of the RSI is the five-week internship where scholars work on their individual research projects with the instruction of their mentors.

Iniego described the moment she met her mentor, David Kim, as one that

#BiDaPisay: NCE makes comeback

JEMYKA CAGUMBAY & APRIL CHY

And it returns!

After three years of conducting Requirements for Admission, Criteria, and Evaluation (RACE), an essay-based admission for acceptance of stuwdent scholars, the Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS) readministered the National Competitive Examination (NCE) for Academic Year (AY) 20242025.

Applications opened at Philippine Science High School (PSHS) campuses or online via PSHSS' official website from June 13 to October 13, 2023.

In the released list of examinees and assigned testing centers, a total of 15,000 qualified elementary pupils participated in the NCE last November 18.

Only 1,920 out of 15,000 will emerge as eligible candidates for enrollment at their preferred campus for the AY 2024-2025, marking their entry as incoming seventh graders.

Results will be posted through PSHSS’s official website and Facebook page.

Iniego takes part in RSI 2023 at MIT

marked the beginning of her journey within the lab.

“During this pivotal encounter, I was introduced to the lab’s vibrant community, acquainting myself with the talented individuals that constitute it,” she expressed.

In working on her project, she considered ethical concerns on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to ensure that her innovation would be used properly.

“During my time there, I delved into the fascinating realm of AI, learning not only about its intricacies but also gaining practical insights into its implementation and the ethical dilemmas it presents,” she said.

In the final week of RSI, students prepared their written and oral presentations on their research projects.

Iniego presented her project AltruBot, an application that uses ChatGPT to generate customized college application essays based on academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and other outside involvement.

“One realization I’ve had, amidst the assumption of privilege that often accompanies such accomplished circles, is that many there were remarkably humble. My experience at RSI has been profoundly humbling for me in two ways: intellectually and socio-economically,” she concluded.

3 CVC scholars qualify for college prep program

United States opened its doors to three Philippine Science High School - Cagayan Valley Campus (PSHS-CVC) students.

Hadiya Andoy, Angel Iniego, and Brenda Padron, Grade 12 scholars of PSHS-CVC, qualified for the EducationUSA's 2023 College Prep Program.

The three scholars joined the cohort of 15 students accepted to participate in the program.

The program offers counseling, an in-person summer boot camp, training for standardized tests, and pointers on selecting college programs and scholarships.

that enabled me to successfully apply to my dream schools,” she said.

Padron, alongside Andoy, has taken the SAT thrice, with each test sponsored by the program.

“For me, EducationUSA was extremely useful as it made my college applications easy and affordable,” Padron added.

The US Embassy invites Filipino senior high school students with “excellent grades, active participation in extracurricular activities, leadership potential, and a family income of less than P1.25 million a year” to apply to the program.

Angel Iniego presents her research project proposal on Artificial Intelligence before the RSI panel in MIT.

Under the program, expenses such as Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) fees as well flights to the United States (US) were funded for.

Padron explained that the program was of great help to her as it enlightened her on the processes required in applications to US universities in addition to subsidizing any expenses.

“Before, I was blind and ignorant of how rigorous and challenging it was to apply to universities abroad, but thankfully EducationUSA was my cane, a guide

The EducationUSA College Prep Program kicked off last year with a group of 11 students, including PSHS-CVC alumna Rya Donelo who was granted a $20M scholarship from Smith College.

EducationUSA is a Department of State network run by the US government with advising centers in over 175 countries. They help students worldwide learn about US higher education by providing information on opportunities at accredited American colleges and universities.

PISAY NEWS

TRISTAN FUERTE

Photo by ANGEL INIEGO

AN EYE FOR AI INNOVATION.

TRISTAN FUERTE

DR. HAROLD GALLO SSD CHIEF

SOURCE:

Photo from EDUCATION USA

A SUMMER TO REMEMBER. (From left to right) Brenda Padron, Hadiya Andoy, and Angel Iniego who are part of the US Embassy’s College Prep Program mentees spend their summer in Boot Camp held in Baguio City inline with their preparation for US University Applications.

Photos by LORIN NICOLAS JAMAICA ROLDAN

Graphics by GERALD PANAGA CYRENE NAVALTA

LAB COATS AND LEARNING. Batch 2024 student-interns don their PPEs, immersing themselves in laboratory work across different institutions.

GERALD PANAGA

DOE, DOST - PCAARRD, Bayer Philippines, Biodiversity Management Bereau Nanolabs National Taiwan University, and Norde International, opened their doors for the first time to PSHS-CVC students for their SIP.

Institutes Tallied

DOST welcomed four students to the Metals and Industry Research and Development Center - Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMCen), three to the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), and another three to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

At the University of the Philippines (UP), 11 students were offered internships across nine institutions from both the Diliman and Manila campuses.

The following institutions held in-person internships: National Institute of Physics (NIP), National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB), Institute of Biology (IB), Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, Marine Science Institute (MSI), Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (EEEI), National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS), and Institute of Environmental Science Meteorology (IESM) of UP Diliman and Philippine Eye Research Institute (PERI) of UP Manila.

Four CVC students had their SIP in De La Salle University (DLSU) - Taft Campus’ departments— Department of Biology from College of Science (CoS), Manufacturing Engineering-Management (MEM),

Center for Complexity and Emerging Technologies (CCET) and Center for Networking and Information Security (CNIS)—all facilitated through hybrid implementation.

For the remaining 18 students, CVC offered in-house training under three programs with six students in each department: Agriculture and Hydroponics, Fabrication and Technology Skills, and Web Application Development.

First Internship Iterations

Marking the first Mapua University and PSHS collaboration, three studentinterns underwent training at three different engineering institutes: Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, Mechanical Engineering, and Mathematics.

Aside from government institutions, three private research institutions accepted 12 student-interns: one for Bayer, three for Phoenagon, Inc., and eight for Norde International Distributors.

Additionally, 12 students secured internships at hospitals for their SIP: Isabela United Doctors Medical Center (IUDMC) hosted four students, Pasig City General Hospital (PCGH) welcomed six, and the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) admitted four.

The Internship Experience

At ITDI’s Environment and Biotechnology Division (EBD) and Materials Science Division (MSD), immersion involved operations within the research and training sector.

“I had front-row experience in making sure that services and products get into the market safely; it is important to train interns and agents on the intricate processes involved,” Jesse Alonzo explained regarding their work experience at ITDI-MSD.

During a two-week, two-course experience, Sarah Bendivil and Angelique Madarang interned at two UP institutions: Bolinao Marine Laboratory at Pangasinan for their first week and MSI at Diliman for the following week.

In Laguna, Bayer welcomed Janiela Florido to their CropScience Agronomic Technology Center Southeast Asia. Engaged in rice transplanting activities, Florido’s mentors highlighted the challenging conditions faced by farmers.

“With our activity alone, I realized that the saying 'magtanim ay ‘di biro' is actually an understatement,” Florido revealed.

At IUDMC, interns were allowed to attend admission rounds and conferences with fellows and residents as well as observe live surgeries.

CHED to end government aid for SHS students in SUCs

“There is no legal basis for funding the same,” explained Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Prospero de Vera III on the discontinuance of the Senior High School (SHS) Program in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) as stated in a memorandum dated December 18, 2023.

The decision directs SUCs and LUCs to discontinue their SHS programs for the School Year (SY) 2024-2025 as “a number” of SUCs and LUCs persist in offering the program two years beyond the transition period to facilitate the country’s shift to K to 12.

The memorandum also stated that there would no longer be government assistance for private school students and

teachers who had transferred to SUCs and LUCs for the SHS program in a notice issued by the Department of Education (DepEd) through the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC).

CHED’s former directives, conveyed through CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) Nos. 32 and 33 series of 2015 and 2016, permitted SUCs and LUCs to participate in the SHS program from SY 2016-2017 to SY 2020-2021, the K-12 transition phase.

However, exceptions are made for those entering Grade 12 in SY 2023-2024 to complete their basic education.

SUCs and LUCs with SHS laboratory schools can still accept enrollees for SY 2024-2025, capped at 750 students, but will no longer receive aid.

Despite budget cuts for the Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS), Philippine Science High School - Cagayan Valley Campus (PSHS-CVC) retains PSHSS’ learning management system, Knowledge Hub (KHub), for the benefit of scholars and teachers.

KHub was introduced to students during the pandemic for asynchronous learning to submit outputs, access learning guides, and take online assessments.

According to KHub Coordinator and Computer Science Teacher, Dianne Bangloy, the PSHSS decided to adapt KHub where students and educators at Pisay could access a variety of learning resources, including open educational materials, libraries, courses, and modules.

Bangloy added that KHub is still relevant even though we are now ongoing face-to-face classes.

“Given that we occasionally have asynchronous classes, I believe it is

still relevant. Scholars can monitor their progress and deadlines and access the resources at any time from any location. Additionally, it can improve the learning process when instructors provide interactive media course materials. When utilized in assessments like quizzes and assignments, it can also automate the grading and reporting process,” she said.

Bangloy expressed that even with the budget cuts, PSHS-CVC can still utilize KHub.

The learning management system is maintained by select faculty and staff of PSHS-CVC.

“Because we were aspiring doctors, we thought that it would be best to expose ourselves to how healthcare facilities in the Philippines worked,” shared Arabella Mateo about her SIP experience.

In the field of Web Development, student interns facilitated the Entry Directions for Growth in Education (EDGE) program for incoming Grade 7 students.

Beyond the 80-Hours SIP requires students to undergo immersion in scientific institutions for a minimum of 80 hours or two working weeks. However, some students opted to exceed this requirement, extending their immersion periods up to two months.

The PSHS’ Research, Policy, and Academics Division organizes the SIP program for the student interns to allow them to interact with S&T individuals and the work field.

“Other than being a graduation requirement, we cater to Grade 11 scholars because it prepares them to be more mature and ready in the work environment,” Ashley Gurat, CVC’s SIP Coordinator, commented on this year’s SIP.

Other than being a graduation requirement, we cater to Grade 11 scholars because it prepares them to be more mature and ready in the work environment.

ASLEY GURAT SIP COORDINATOR

Cobalt mining expansions take toll on DRC communities

As of December 2023, the escalating violence, poverty, and expansion of mining activities have resulted in over 6.5 million people being displaced in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The DRC produces over half of the world's cobalt resources and is the site of over 70% of cobalt mining activity.

Accusations have been raised against neighboring African countries, with Rwanda being accused for funding armed rebel groups such as M23 to invade the DRC for cobalt extraction.

Northwestern University researchers established a clear link between cobalt mining and escalating violence and insecurity in the region, reporting: “Verbal and physical conflicts between local miners and migrant groups seeking to establish their own cobalt operations were also reported. Low mining yields or changes in market conditions can also

precipitate theft or violence, as miners struggle to support themselves and their families.”

According to a spokeswoman, Doctors Without Borders treated an average of 70 victims of sexual assault every day in October 2023 alone, with at least 18,000 cases recorded in the larger North Kivu region throughout the year.

The crisis extends beyond largescale mining, as informal or artisanal miners (ASM) contribute 15–30% to the DRC's cobalt production. Within small-scale mining, 255,000 Congolese are involved in extracting cobalt, with 40,000 of them being children as young as six years old.

Photo from RAPPLER

HEARING HIGHLIGHT. CHED

Chairman Prospero De Vera III briefs the plans on the SHS Program during the FY 2023 budget session.

PSHS-CVC retains KHub despite PSHSS budget cuts

VLADA SALES

PISAY NEWS

Photo by BAM OCAMPO

PILLARS OF HOPE. Grade 9 scholars log in to access and keep track of their academic progress through KHub.

FOREIGN ISSUE DRC’s cobalt crisis

DENISE REYES

Photo by LANCE DE JOYA

OPINION EDITOR Cheska Turingan

THE EXPLORERS’ EYE | MAIN EDITORIAL QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL

Reaching for Equity

Despite the constitutional promise of every citizen’s right to equal and quality education, the Philippines is facing an increase in college dropouts. This reality raises concerns about the accessibility of this fundamental right.

Between 2016 and 2022, the Commission on Higher Education reported a 34% dropout and attrition rate among college students in the country. Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Benjamin Diokno has proposed an alternative for the government’s current free tertiary education program. He emphasizes that the privilege should be reserved for "deserving" only. Diokno criticizes the current provision of free education at state colleges and universities (SUCs), calling it “unwieldy, inefficient, and wasteful”.

However, this statement from Diokno has sparked criticism for its anti-poor implications. Defining who is “deserving” is subjective and biased. The limitation of free tertiary education to ‘deserving’ students raised valid concerns about its negative effects on socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals. Diokno’s proposition

Advocating for education accessible to everyone aligns with the principles of equality and equity. It ensures that regardless of socio-economic status, every student has an equal chance at a brighter future. This approach not only promotes fairness but also significantly reduces imbalances in society. Education serves as a catalyst for social change and progress. Limiting access to education based on subjective criteria perpetuates inequalities, trapping marginalized groups in the cycle of poverty and scarce opportunities.

Instead of limiting education access, it is crucial to implement support programs that cater to students’ specific needs in the financial and academic sectors. A fundamental improvement lies in refining the current financial aid system to enhance its efficiency and accessibility. Implementing a multifaceted approach can include scholarships, grants, mentoring programs,

Education is a right–a basic, fundamental, human right–not something that students have to beg and prove themselves for.

Continual assessment of the impact of educational policies on access and success rates is crucial. Leveraging data-driven insights enables policy adaptations that better serve marginalized communities and swiftly address emerging challenges.

Education should not be a privilege for a few. It is a fundamental pillar of equality and progress for all. Education is a right–a basic, fundamental, human right–not something that students have to beg and

See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil

Vice President and Secretary Sara Duterte of the Department of Education (DepEd) announced that reforms to the K to 12 system would include a ‘peace curriculum’ set out to ‘embed a culture of peace’ among students, following school violence cases around the country. Duterte has claimed that this addition to the curriculum will make learners more “disciplined” and “patriotic”. In addition, the curriculum will be “age-appropriate”. These reforms and additions to the curriculum, however, are questionable.

To start, there have been are subjects in place that teach exactly what DepEd is striving to “add”. Subjects like Edukasyon sa

Pagpapakatao (ESP) and Values Education do the job. Moreover, this new curriculum plans to enhance students’ toothbrush skills– a skill completely unrelated to achieving discipline and patriotism. How would the government curb violence cases among students with activities like these?

The government would pointlessly wasting its resources on an already established system.

In a way, instilling discipline and patriotism in students may lead them to submit to government ideologies blindly. This approach risks fostering individuals who are morally blinded by obedience and loyalty to an institution with deeply-

The government should be focusing on improving the existing, wellestablished education system rather than creating an

rooted problems. Shouldn’t we focus on addressing the government’s well-manufactured lies rather than perpetuating this facade for the next generation?

The objectives of these reforms may seem beneficial at first glance; however, the questionable methods demand a critical review by the government. It is imperative for the government to assess whether these proposed reforms are the best and most practical and realistic solutions to the poor state of our education system. The future of Filipino children relies on these decisions. DepEd should be focusing on improving the existing, wellestablished education system rather

than creating an entirely new one from scratch.

Moreover, the government must realize that, in order to properly reform our education system, we must be able to look at the root of the problem. They must strive to work towards a more transparent and honest system, creating officials that are accountable. The government, after all, is deemed the ‘role model’ of its citizens, and what they say and do, goes and is followed by the people. The paradigm they set for our good nation is the paradigm we set for ourselves and vice versa. The question is, whose morality and mindset do we need to change? Is it them, or us?

cvsays

CVC Pisayers were asked about their respective SKs.

74%

61%

do not participate in SK activities and projects think that SK represents the interests and voices of the youth to some extent

The Youth’s Voice

On October 10, 2022, President Marcos signed Republic Act (RA) 11935 seeking to postpone the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). This would follow four previous vote postponements that led to a year-and-a-half term extension for the previously elected officials. Fortunately, it was finally pushed through on October 24, 2023.

The Supreme Court (SC) threw out the reconsideration for RA 11935, making it the first act of Marcos to be junked. This leads us to question the Congress’ and Malacanang’s motives for being so persistent for the BSK officials to retain their positions for a longer period. Officially, it was released that it would allow for the realignment of P8.4 billion allocated under the 2022 General Appropriation Act for post-pandemic recovery programs under the BSKE. However, it was pointed out that the postponement of the election would cost taxpayers an additional P10 billion as the projected growth of the number of voters within a year and the wasted preparations for the 2022 elections would cost additional funding due to the additional time to manage such elections.

This unconstitutional practice was also done by the previous administration

under President Duterte postponing numerous BSK Elections during his time. Fortunately, the SC was not blinded by the invalid defenses present in RA 11935. Additionally, the high tribunal put an end to vote postponements, citing only the reasons of having a public emergency or having a need to protect the right of suffrage to be the only reasons of substance. This move aims to defend not only suffrage but also the right for the youth to have a voice of their own. Instead of suffering in silence with the ulterior motives of the Congress and the President, the SC has put liberty into their own hands by disallowing the “unconstitutional” reasons of the aforementioned Republic Act; defending the youth’s right to choose who they want to represent them.

The SK Elections are the foundation of what all of us stand for. Postponing it for reasons that are incomprehensible to what is right is fundamentally limiting the freedom of the youth to properly create a change in society; thus, is considered unconstitutional. Unfamiliar faces are what elections are about. Delaying their right to take high positions to have a higher influence on society may lead to a loss of hope on their part, as they may see the delays as a barrier for them to run in such elections. Thus, it is right that the SC has taken such action to dismiss the act and prevent recurrences from taking place. Taking the stand

In an era where rigid standards and short-term achievements have narrowly defined academic excellence, the Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS) Board of Trustees (BOT) has made a visionary move. Their implementation of Resolution No. 2023-07-90 redefines the evaluation system by eliminating the awarding of Director’s Listers (DL) per quarter. Instead, the DL will be based on the cumulative final General Weighted Average (GWA) throughout the academic year.

The adoption of this new awarding system is a powerful statement of the PSHSS's dedication to providing a comprehensive and equitable assessment of student performance. Moving away from the myopic focus on isolated grading periods, the revised standards acknowledge that education is a continuous journey of intellectual and personal development, not a series of checkpoints or numbers to reach.

Towards a “Bare” Minimum Education

SEAN MANANSALA

Arecent

order from the Department of Education (DepEd) has called to remove decorations and other visual aids from classrooms, stating their irrelevance in helping students attain academic proficiency and overall literacy. Additionally, DepEd Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte said that classrooms should be free from all “unnecessary clutter” and that the directive is clear on taking everything out that they claim to be not of aid to students.

DepEd’s defenses involved citing a study conducted by researchers on kindergarteners; however, the study stated that classroom decorations can still be implemented as long as they are selected in the interest of helping the students respond better.

It is concerning how DepEd wants to remove these decorations when these are what help pupils learn in the first place, especially those in their formative years. It is what creates a more conducive and enjoyable environment for the students to learn in, enhancing their concentration and learning abilities. The defacement of these classrooms makes it more difficult for learners who respond better to visual aids, which helps in understanding challenging lessons.

with the SC’s decision is taking steps to fight for the rights of the youth.

The youth deserves to be heard. Without new voices to stand up and take position, it will be ineffective and difficult for them to use their time in advocating for what is right as the powerful would be deaf to the sound of those voices. New stands and new action-takers are those who create changes in the world. Everyone, especially the youth, has a right to construct changes; thus, implementing barriers to delay elections provides them that chance, and scraps off that right little by little. The SC was unquestionably right in its decision as this act is already seen frequently, and by allowing similar acts to also take place may lead to changes within the system to completely remove that right.

Having experienced being denied the right to suffrage for numerous times, the youth can now once again feel at ease that this right has been protected. Let’s be vigilant in looking out for the rights of the populace. Let’s all do our part in choosing who is proper to represent the voices of the youth, building experience upon ourselves in leadership, and creating building blocks for us to be the future leaders of our nation. Let’s protect our rights and vote wisely in future elections to come.

Let’s all do our part in choosing who is proper to represent the voices of the youth, building experience upon ourselves in leadership, and creating building blocks for us to be the future leaders of our nation. By nurturing a genuine love for intellectual curiosity, the PSHSS is empowering its students to become lifelong learners, unafraid to embrace challenges and driven by a thirst for understanding, rather than external validation.

This approach not only alleviates the crippling academic pressure that has plagued so many students but also fosters an environment where the pursuit of knowledge is valued for its intrinsic worth. By nurturing a genuine love for intellectual curiosity, the PSHSS is empowering its students to become lifelong learners, unafraid to embrace challenges and driven by a thirst for understanding, rather than external validation.

This authoritative approach encourages students to value the learning process, embrace setbacks as opportunities for growth, and develop the resilience and determination that are the hallmarks of genuine excellence. This bold move is a clarion call for students to become lifelong learners, unafraid to explore their passions, pursue excellence, and contribute to the advancement of our collective knowledge and understanding.

The PSHSS has set a shining example for educational institutions worldwide,

Simply put, not all children respond to the same technique. Considering every learners has their developmental preferences, classrooms should provide inclusive education to students with alternative methods of learning and engagement.

Now, it can be argued that such decorations are not necessary for older students in high school or college. Despite that, we have to consider that students stay in that classroom from Monday to Friday, for ten whole months of the year. The time they spend in the classroom learning is what then makes it their second home. We must understand that these students need to feel comfortable and safe enough in the classroom to learn and consume knowledge efficiently. Not entrapped in a blank-walled prison.

Putting a ban on classroom decorations and visual aids only enforces the belief that there is only one way to learn. The truth is, everyone has a unique path for knowledge enhancement and development.

DepEd should put this order on review when it comes to the policy’s rules and regulations. Visual aids such as classroom decorations are very important when dealing with kindergarteners and those in the first years of elementary, they are in theirdevelopmental stage. Over time, these decorations can be minimized, allowing a sustained focus to support and enforce DepEd’s aim for enhancing academic proficiency and literacy.

The student is never to blame for poor academic performance, attendance, and lack of competitive rigor. It is these blanket policies that add to the negative reinforcement of the child’s thinking of perceiving education as colorless and bland. Life is full of color and wonder, so why would we shape our children’s minds with static and black and white?

reminding us that true greatness lies not

Graphics by TRISTAN FUERTE

Deep as a Knife Gets opinion

“

The Filipino people demand and deserve far better protection of their basic rights in this digital age.

Privacy in Peril

The recent PhilHealth data breach is a watershed moment that demands far-reaching reforms to adequately protect citizen privacy in the digital age. The alleged exposure of sensitive personal details belonging to over 20 million Filipinos represents an enormous violation of public trust. While the full scale continues to emerge, it is abundantly clear that present cybersecurity practices across government institutions need to be revised.

The country now faces the deeply troubling prospect of so many citizens potentially being subjected to identity theft, blackmail, or other digital harms for years to come due to lax security protocols. It is simply unacceptable that pursuing cost savings may have come at the price of leaving millions vulnerable to criminals lurking in the anonymizing shadows of the dark web.

Privacy underpins dignity and democracy and moving forward; a total overhaul of our cyber governance framework is necessary to rebuild confidence. Piecemeal measures and half-measures will ring hollow. The Philippine government must demonstrate an extensive and credible commitment to safeguarding privacy through proactive prevention and rapid incident response. Citizens rightly expect their personal information to remain private, whether stored in physical or digital records.

This watershed moment calls for new privacy legislation with enforcement powers and deterrent penalties for negligence. It demands rigorous mandatory audits of cyber defenses for all public and critical private databases. It necessitates hiring dedicated security specialists, rather than viewing such protocols as optional expenses. Philippine society is long overdue for a robust cybersecurity code with data stewardship as its central principle.

Most of all, government institutions like PhilHealth must learn from this grave breach and effectively partner with experts and communities to strengthen cooperative approaches. Progress stems from acknowledging faults and fostering understanding, not finger-pointing. Through meaningful accountability and pragmatic reform, we can repair the damaged social contract between citizens and those entrusted with increasing aspects of our digital lives and livelihoods. Mere acknowledgment of mistakes will no longer suffice. The Filipino people demand and deserve far better protection of their basic rights in this digital age.

Specialty Hospitals’ Financial Cuts

RENEE MONTESA

Is it greed, hypocrisy, or outright deception? These are the majority’s opinions as they gradually realize that the promises made for health care insurance simply appeals to the public’s good graces and is exposed as untrue this year.

Just a few days into the new year, the public is already alarmed by the 2024 national budget plans. A total of P818 million was slashed from the annual funding of the Philippines’ major specialty medical centers – the Lung Center, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, and the Philippine Heart Center. The Department of Health’s proposed grant for the year was also reduced from P209 billion to P199 billion. This cut is a drawback in the post-pandemic environment where strengthening the health system by allocating more resources to the COVIDoverwhelmed health sector is a must.

The multi-million budget cuts are criticized for undermining the role these medical centers play in Filipinos’ well-being, especially during the pandemic. Along with this, the Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients program has been slashed by P10 billion, pushing the knife even deeper and firmer into the healthcare system’s back.

In response to the negative reactions, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) asserted that the budget allocated to specialty medical centers were

“similar to what they proposed” for the year. However, this justification is neither acceptable nor reassuring to those disturbed by the budget cuts.

Although President Marcos Jr. prioritizes accessible, quality, and efficient healthcare to all, the 2024 budget cuts debunk this claim.

The current administration is faltering, evident in the public outburst comparing the budget cuts to “murder” disrespects healthcare professionals who give their blood, sweat, and tears in caring for Filipino lives. The inequality is stark, as Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) officials receive raises amidst substantial budget cuts impacting specialist medical institutes and ordinary healthcare workers.

If the government genuinely wants healthcare to be accessible to every Filipino, they should begin by re-prioritizing their concerns to provide healthcare workers with the money that they should have been given in the first place. Through this, they wouldn’t be sticking a knife on the healthcare sector’s back and only pulling it halfway by giving them funds that are obviously insufficient for the quality of the healthcare system that they are expected to provide.

Inability to Accountability

SEAN MANANSALA

“

Do we let corrupt officials continuously malign and misdirect us to put more of our money into their pockets?

The budget hearing season has started for government offices. In these hearings, Vice President Sara Duterte has been in the “hot seat” with several members of Congress questioning the constitutionality of their expenses in 2022, having reportedly spent 125M pesos in only 11 days, together with their insistence for additional Confidential and Intelligence funds (CIFs). Notably, the OVP has been one to dodge questions from opposition members, and go so far as to accuse them of being against the government with the words, “Anyone who attacks or undermines funds allocated for peace and order is naturally assumed to have insidious motivations.”

During these hearings, we can see a bird’s eye view of how we, Filipinos, view our government. How asking the uncomfortable questions can view you as subversive and disrespectful to the government. We are afraid of asking such questions because it disrupts temporary order and more so, we are afraid of knowing the truth and the answer.

This view puts our government as a sort of omniscient, all-powerful being., whom others must not dare question. Isn’t it us, the people, who have all power by putting them in office? At the end of the day, it is their duty and responsibility to serve the public at all times. However, it has not been the case. More often than not, these officials, whom we have given power to by electing them to office, serve themselves.

These are some of the core reasons why accountability and transparency are lost in our government, paving the way for an endless and vicious cycle of corruption in the system.

Additionally, some civilian agencies, such as DepEd (in which the VP currently holds the position of secretary) have no actual justification to receive confidential funds in the first place since these funds are to be for “surveillance activities in civilian government agencies supporting their mandate or operations”. Due to the lack of clarity in the requirements of an agency to acquire these funds, it sets a dangerous precedent that essentially, “any” agency can acquire these funds. This, all the more

breeds corruption and abuse of the money that is given by the people and should return to the people.

Do we let corrupt officials continuously malign and misdirect us to put more of our money into their pockets?

It’s both disappointing and disturbing to think that these agencies, which are almost in no way relevant to national security, spend copious amounts of taxpayers' money when millions of Filipinos are below the poverty line.

The government must solve this repeated misuse and abuse of CIFs by first, trying to create a much more transparent and accountable system that does not provide an opportunity for corruption. A massive improvement in our system’s status quo is imperative if we want these officials to answer the uncomfortable questions. Answers that we are afraid to know, but we rightfully deserve. The government, and in particular, the Supreme Court must also be able to decide on the constitutionality and the jurisprudence of the use of these funds by civilian agencies. Coming to such a decision will set a precedent to create the improvedon system that we are in dire need of.

At the end of the day, we must remember that it is our money that is being allocated and spent in government. We have the right to know where it is being used and how. The purpose, however, should only and always be used in the interests of the people.

CHESKA TURINGAN

Graphics by DRAZEN PURUGGANAN

Graphics by SOLA DALAO

Breaking Free from the Shackles of Genocide

SEAN MANANSALA

One thing Filipinos can empathize with is the struggle for peace, independence, and justice. Such is the decades-long torment of Palestine today. Israel’s oppression of Palestine’s people is spawning irreplaceable material and human loss, leaving inhumane conditions for those remaining in the Gaza Strip.

Watching the conflict worsen, it is disappointing to see Filipinos having split opinions on the matter. Supporters of Israel argue that backing Palestine would result in nothing but “chaos”. It is also said that Israel’s acts of aggression are justified since it is the “chosen land”. What these people support is the genocide taking place: the ruthless killing of innocent Palestinians, the blatant violation and disregard for international humanitarian law, and the dismissal of the individual rights and dignities of man.

As Filipinos, we must remind ourselves of our history. It is ironic that some Filipinos criticize Palestine and its supporters for pursuing peace and independence, considering our own history in pursuit of these ideals against our colonizers. Let’s not forget the

importance of resisting oppression, preserving our culture, and rejecting authoritarian rule. Independence and peace are ideals we have repeatedly fought for in the past. If so, why do we ridicule those who wish to do the same?

We must understand that Palestinians need to take up arms in order to be free, as we did in our historical fight against colonialism. We must empathize with their struggle. By giving support to the ongoing oppression, we not only deny them their freedom and liberty but also deny our history.

Peace and independence are always attainable, yet become nearly impossible when the majority sides with the oppressor rather than the oppressed. Must we stand idly by and watch as more innocent men, women, and children are killed in

When Will it End?

RAYVEE ROBLES

this godless genocide? Why should we watch the ethnic cleansing and eradication of a culturally and historically rich society?

Current events have seen a shift in optics. Viewing things from a lens only provides a limited scope of certain things. Once we see everything from an unfiltered perspective, then will we only see the path to peace and answer the many questions we ask ourselves from this conflict.

One may then again argue that support for Israel is for the greater good of the country in terms of labor and economy. But the question stands; Should we always go on with our strategic options? Or go with the moral and ethical one? Who do we save? The economy? Or the lives and dignity of innocent people?

More unjust killings, more crimes, more impunity, but less rights and less justice.

The Duterte administration could have been seen as a thing of the past since the new administration took over. The war had headlines spanning all 6 years of Former President Duterte’s administration, with victims’ families still crying out a call for justice. With the administration over, some unknowingly celebrate the end of mass brutal killings of the PNP. Many expected that since the new President had not placed this as one of the focuses of his administration, this war of mass violence and impunity had to end. However, is it over now?

In 2016, the former President launched a bloody and ruthless war on drugs, informally issuing a license to kill to the National Police. Up to the end of his term in 2022, reports have stated that the total deaths reached a staggering estimate of 30,000. This war ignited widespread condemnation and a campaign against Duterte’s vigilantestyle approach, emphasizing the blatant human rights violations and the loss of thousands of lives.

Since then, the Marcos administration declared a “tamer” approach to the War on Drugs. However, in the first year of his administration, it was documented that at least 342 drug-related killings were made. Out of this, 115 were made during anti-drug operations by the PNP, the others being made by state agents outside of these operations, also linked to drugs themselves.

This signals more impunity brought to police agents as protection for their unjustly killing

civilians during these operations.

More unjust killings, more crimes, more impunity, but less rights and less justice. These operations stomp on the very rights they are meant to protect. The government’s continual justification for the rights of perpetrators, contrary to the constitution, piles up human rights violations. Justice for members of society is difficult to find under this administration.

The previous administration served as a reminder of how easily we can be oppressed by those in power. Unfortunately, the current administration chose to continue these pacifist policies, emphasizing the need for accountability. The government prioritizing the safety and protection of its personnel over the citizens’ constitutional rights reflects an ugly and selfish principle of self-preservation. In true Rodrigo Duterte fashion, Marcos takes impunity as an extreme step in order to justify the decrease in drug-related crimes.

and policies to solve national issues inevitably tosses aside our freedom, and eventually, our right to live under a democracy.

The government should take into account the due process of law in these situations instead of letting operations that cause the deaths of civilians. If the government still considers the Constitution to be of substance, it should consider this right before lessening crimes at the expense of justice.

Unfortunately, it isn’t over. The fight for justice continues. No justice until all grieving families of these victims are given answers. Be vigilant, be aware. Do not allow the law to be bent or stretched to the point of breaking it, destroying the right for proper justice to be served to all citizens with it. Continue fighting for the rights of the people, whom the government should always be in service of. A government of, for, and by the

Veiled Democracy

The Philippines is Asia’s first democracy. Yet, within a nation that holds this legacy with pride, the democratic landscape is in the shadows—veiled by suppression, lack of access to information, and tragic loss of journalists’ lives.

On November 5, Juan Jumalon was killed by an unidentified gunman while broadcasting from his homebased studio in Calamba, Laguna. Known for his uplifting on-air presence, Jumalon’s passing caused social media outrage, increasing worries about journalists’ safety and security in the wake of such targeted attacks.

Despite Department of Justice (DOJ) Spokesperson Mico Clavano reiterating the department's “unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom and the safety of journalists,” time and time again, the Philippine government fails to walk its talk.

According to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Jumalon is the fourth journalist killed under the Marcos Jr. administration. Moreover, the NUJP emphasized that Jumalon is the 199th journalist killed since the fall of the Marcos dictatorship and the restoration of the country’s democracy in 1986.

The recent findings from the Committee to Protect Journalists’ 2023

CTRL+X, Y, Z on History

LAUREN CORPUZ

Global Impunity Index show that the Philippines is the eighth worst country in prosecuting perpetrators of violence against journalists. With the alarming frequency of journalist killings, press freedom is weakened and democratic values are in grave danger. The threat of violence silences voices that are crucial for a healthy democracy.

The hardships of Filipino journalists echo far beyond the Philippines; it resonates at the core of every democratic belief all over the globe. Juan Jumalon’s death, the tally of 199 fallen journalists, and the haunting memories of every unjust journalist death remind us of resiliency in the face of forces that aim to suppress freedom and obscure the truth.

Governments, international organizations, and communities worldwide must respond immediately to the urgent call for action to protect journalists’ safety. Safeguarding the well-being of journalists serves to maintain both justice and the right to free speech. Encouraging safer environments where journalists can perform their essential work without fear or intimidation requires that those responsible for crimes be held accountable. It is our shared duty to create an atmosphere in which journalists are free to do their jobs and fulfill their vital role as truth-bearers and public informers.

History has always been a treasure of culture in the Philippines. Without it, the Filipino identity will not be what it is today, especially in politics. Recently, Philippine history is being distorted, from the Department of Education (DepEd) changing essential terms involving the Marcos Dictatorship in the new MATATAG curriculum to excluding the People Power Revolution Anniversary as a Special NonWorking Holiday. These acts threaten the upholding of factual, unbiased education and target the cultural identity of the Philippines that was established after the tragedies of martial law.

Today, people rely on the internet to answer their questions. Through the strategic use of social media, the erasure of facts, especially regarding the human rights abuses under Martial Law, has been rampant. The spread of historical inconsistencies and lies now corrupt the minds of many. The distortion of the truth behind the bloody regime of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. continues, burying the open wounds it has left on democracy.

Although there is evidence of historical revisionism from the moment Marcos stimulated the rewriting of children’s textbooks and other related declarations, it might not be from poor intentions only. The defenses of DepEd and Malacañang are rooted in justifiable and valid reasonings involving organizations and errors. They are just doing what they are supposed to

do: spotting discrepancies and maybe correcting them.

Unfortunately, their acts only added to the clear and present danger that the Philippines faces of the denialism of history. Once history is forgotten, it is bound to repeat itself. The Marcoses’ unexplained wealth, the swelling of Philippine debt, the 3,257 known extrajudicial killings, the 35,000 documented tortures, the 77 “disappearances”, and the 70,000 incarcerations that took place during the dictatorship are all slowly fading from the current Filipino consciousness.

On the contrary, there is something that can be done by the people to slowly but surely stop this dangerous distortion. As the old, wise quote says, fight fire with fire. In this case, fight the internet with the internet. Everyone has the power and the right to know what is accurate and just. Everyone wields the right to speak facts. Spread the truth, not the lies. If

Graphics by GUILLANA JAVIER DRAZEN PURUGGANAN

Graphics by CYRENE NAVALTA

features

FEATURE EDITOR Enzo Abad

Song of the North

Batanes is a water-bound province cut from the rest of Cagayan Valley. Within the northernmost islands of the country are the resilient Ivatans.

Janina Fabi is one of the few Ivatan natives, trying to bring their unique beliefs and culture to the Philippine Science High SchoolCagayan Valley Campus (PSHS-CVC).

Chirin nu Ivatan, or the Ivatan language, is a reflection of the people’s culture from their origins to now. For Fabi, Ivatan was the primary language she spoke before coming to Pisay. “The Ivatan language is used everywhere in Batanes. This made it challenging for me to start primarily speaking in Filipino. That’s why I started teaching a few Ivatan words to my close friends,” she fondly remembered.

In her audition for the school’s chorale, Fabi selected “Nu nunuk du tukun" (The Nunuk on the hill), an Ivatan Laji, the oldest traditional music in Batanes. The Laji, ancient lyrical songs, are meant to be sung during festivities or after completing work. Yet, Fabi’s audition was more than singing a song; it was her giving life to the vanishing Ivatan Lajis.

This Laji depicts the tragedy of 1908, when Alegria, a Batanes vessel, sank due to a strong typhoon, leaving no survivors. In the song, the singer lost her husband in the tragedy, referring to him as Nunuk, a tree prized for its strength. Just as the incident happened, the nunuk began to wither on her while she was under it. The sea made her a widow, with the callousness of being left to support her children.

Perhaps it was the language that made her choose the song, but for Fabi, this shows that studying away from her homeland is an opportunity to share and spread her culture. The Laji are but a pixel

Woven With Roots

with my values while sharing a piece of individuality wherever I may go.”

culture, it has become ingrained in Fabi’s life, as evidenced by her unwavering conviction that being

Ivatan is a cornerstone of her mind.

Whenever she mentions her hometown of Batanes, people glean their interest in her culture. “There have been several people who

From the plains of the Cagayan Valleys, to the peaks of the Cordilleras, the Ifugao tribe are not afraid to showcase their roots among the crowd of diversity that is Philippine Science High School - Cagayan Valley Campus (PSHSCVC).

Beyond their terraced landscapes, the CVC scholars from the Ifugao tribe embody this pride, blending their rich cultural heritage into the dynamic world of Science and Technology.

In conversations with these scholars, a deeper narrative unfolds, revealing not only the historical significance of their heritage but also the personal stories of pride and filial connection. Frances Maingit, a Grade 7 Ifugao scholar, expressed, “I take pride in my culture because it is what makes me, me. It is my roots, and it is where I come from.”

For Michelle Banawan, being Ifugao makes her part of an even larger community. Her culture means something more than just self-identity, but it also ties her closely to her family, who brought her up to be the strong young lady she is today.

“My culture helps me feel more connected to my family all the way back to our ancestors, ” she shared, encapsulating a sense of belonging and shared identity.

Dawn Diversity

As the students immerse themselves in a multicultural environment, the unique culture they bring to PSHS-CVC is one that they could be proud of. Moving through high school as agents of cultural preservation, both girls share pieces of themselves through their traditions.

Banawan cites the 'Tayaw' dance—a traditional performance associated with feasts or thanksgiving—as an integral part of her cultural expression. Whenever she hears the familiar sound of the gong, Banawan’s heart leaps because she knows it is going to be a happy time.

"The beauty of within the diversity

Maingit and Banawan’s commitment to share their culture is not only a preservation effort but a source of pride. They symbolize scholars who are proud of who they are and exemplify that cultural heritage is not a limitation but a catalyst for change. Instead of being held back, they propel forward, utilizing their roots as a medium for innovation and progress.

Cultural diversity is not just acknowledged at PSHS-CVC; it is celebrated. The voices of indigenous youth are empowered inside the campus walls, but with the stories of students like Michelle and Frances, the vast array of beliefs and traditions flows beyond the school community, creating a society that harmonizes with pride and self-identity.

Amongst the waves of differences of cultural identities in PSHS-CVC, every scholar has their roots of diversity woven in the threads of their individuality.

GERALD PANAGA

Janina Fabi

Michelle Banawan & Frances Maingit IVATAN SONGBIRD IFUGAO WONDERS

Dawn of Diversity

of the world lies diversity of its people."

Shattering the Fallacies

n the crowded corridors of PSHS-CVC, Bianca Bauit is a testament of hope for inclusion and acceptance of indigenous youth.

community, and one of the school’s represents the dawn of a new era–one where indigenous youth are not characterized by outdated stereotypes and misconceptions. Her academic the misconceptions of Aetas with minimal access to education. Her presence the potential and indigenous youth.

Raised in Aurora, Isabela, always been accustomed to being in the minority. From her early elementary current journey navigating the landscape while not being defined solely by her cultural heritage has come naturally to her. Unlike some indigenous communities who bear the weight of other people’s prejudice,

to have found acceptance and respect from her peers and her teachers, embodying the school’s spirit of inclusivity. She affirms that she has never in her PSHS stay been the target of bullying and discrimination. “I consider myself lucky that I have never been bullied for my ethnicity, knowing that a lot of my fellow Aeta students are bullied and discriminated against in other schools,” said Bauit.

One of the highlights of her academic experience so far has been her appreciation for her class adviser and Music teacher Katherine Manalo, whose passion for teaching has cut across the boundaries of culture and tradition. Bauit feels a deep connection to her Aeta heritage during music class, particularly when they studied the Tongatong, a traditional instrument from their culture. She shared, “We had a lesson about the Tongatong, and I felt a flutter in my chest. I thought, ‘This resonates with the songs of my ancestors.’”

Looking to the future, she dreams of pursuing a career in Medical Technology, driven by her passion to make a difference in her community. With her education, she hopes to empower her fellow Aeta community members with knowledge about modern healthcare practices.

Her journey serves as a powerful testament that indigenous people are not antiques of the past, but are dynamic members of modern society who contribute to its richness and

defy norms and forge their own pathways toward a brighter future as she continues her journey in CVC and beyond.

Bauit’s experience demonstrates the kind of atmosphere that the community needs to keep moving toward: one in which indigenous people are accepted and supported in pursuing their dreams.

“Kassandi kam?” (How are you?)

Yogad is an Indigenous language spoken by the Yogad Tribe of Echague and a few neighboring towns of Isabela. It is primarily an oral language, spoken mostly by older generations. However, with only around 16,000 native speakers in the country, the Yogad’s bright culture is on the brink of extinction.

In the Philippine Science High School - Cagayan Valley Campus (PSHS-CVC), students Leona Nolledo and April Chy are proudly Yogad. As young Echagueños, these girls have a common goal: to preserve and promote the fading Yogad traditions in all ways they can.

Their desire to be closer to their culture motivates Nolledo and Chy to immerse themselves more in Yogad traditions. “In Echague, we celebrate the Mengal Festival every October. ‘Mengal’ means clever warrior of the Yogad Tribe,” Nolledo shared. This month-long celebration is a tribute to the Yogad heroes and heroines who courageously defended the town against the Moros.

During the Mengal Festival, Yogad culture is put on the spotlight. One event is the revival of Tallelet, a cultural bamboo instrument used to ward off evil spirits. It is crafted by very few remaining artisans in Echague. Seeing the Tallelet’s disappearance, the municipality organized a Tallelet-making workshop, hoping to breathe back life into the dying musical tradition.

In addition, Chy shared a Yogad Coming Home Ritual called Karontan Nu. This ritual traditionally takes place after hospital childbirth to ensure the baby’s spirit does not wander into unfamiliar realms. Even though Chy is aware of this ritual, she admits that she has never witnessed a Karontan Nu ceremony. Because of this, Chy lamented, “Unfortunately, there is no Yogad literature to learn more about these rituals.”

Sharing Chy’s sentiments, Nolledo wished for more Yogad representation in the academic setting, saying, “I want to see Yogad culture in textbooks. This may be the only way to keep our culture alive.”

Together, their voices convey their hopes to bridge the gap in knowledge about their Yogad identity.

As they reflected on their cultural identity, Nolledo bared, “Yogads are warriors. So to me, being Yogad means I can conquer any hardship I face.”

Chy, on the other hand, shared a nuanced take: “Realizing that only a few people share the Yogad identity made me feel special. With this realization comes a sense of responsibility to share our culture with the next generation to ensure its preservation.”

Being Yogad in a cultural hotspot like PSHS-CVC means a lot to Nolledo and Chy. It is their opportunity to safeguard their heritage and share their traditions, enhancing the school’s cultural diversity. Nolledo and Chy’s presence in CVC nurtures the understanding and appreciation of different cultures, molding PSHSCVC as a step to the Yogad culture’s salvation.

TRISTAN FUERTE

Graphics by JIELIAN QUILANG

Photos by CHARRIE ZAPATA GERALD PANAGA CYRENE NAVALTA

DENISE REYES

Mengal Salvation

April Chy & Leona Nolledo

YOGAD WARRIORS

Bianca Bauit AETA PRIDE

PEDALS FOR LIFE

ALumnay, ALumTay

In the race of life, there are different paths that make it diverse. Some pedal through smooth asphalt, and some pass through the rough wedges of rocks. Likened to how some students lead carefree lives free from financial worries, while others are burdened by financial hardships. Despite this, life has wheels that make it worth the ride. To two scholars of the Philippine Science High School - Cagayan Valley Campus (PSHS-CVC), these wheels come in the form of “AlumNay, AlumTay”.

Home to around 660 students from all over Region II, PSHS-CVC is a place with diverse cultures and contrasting socioeconomic backgrounds. Acknowledging this, the Philippine Science High School National Alumni Association (PSHSNAA) reached out a helping hand by introducing AlumNay AlumTay, an initiative that provides financial support to two scholars within the system, adding Php 4,000 to the regular PSHS System living allowance.

PSHS-CVC scholars Perseus Kate Capayan and Jiezel Ashly Saet are the two chosen recipients of the AlumNay AlumTay scholarship. After a series of screenings, the stories of these two iskas became the pedestal of their Pisay journey.

For 13-year-old Capayan, the scholarship is a gateway to improving her education. Giving a glimpse of why she decided to apply for the scholarship, she shared, “My father is one of the school’s security guards and my mother is a housewife.

Albeit the vibrant and delicate flowers they hold in their tiny hands, etched on their young faces is a silent sadness.

It is a familiar sight to see children selling Sampaguita garlands in front of Catholic churches. One of these vendors is Paula Merilana, who has been a Sampaguita vendor in the Saint James the Apostle Parish since she was nine. Presently, Paula’s children are also selling Sampaguita at the local parish.

During the Christmas season, Paula and her children wake up at three in the morning and stay in church until eight at night to sell their garlands to Simbang gabi attendees. For them, the holiday season brings heightened labor. They consider themselves lucky if people are kind enough to lend help. Given

their circumstances, they do not have the luxury nor the time to be carefree during the festive season.

Recognizing these struggles, Grade 12 students Amiel Bejarin, Arabella Mateo, Brenda Padron, Deonne Bautista, Tristan Fuerte, and Karol Canonizado created Munch Mission, a Christmas outreach party for the Sampaguita children of Santiago city, raising funds by selling food to PSHSCVC students.

The program was a collaborative effort with Dominic Fuerte, a member of the Saint James Parish; Melanie Bautista, a medical professional who donated hygiene kits; and Rienalyn Galapon, who granted permission to conduct the event at her restaurant.

While eating, Mateo noticed one of the kids, Arlene, still having an untouched plate. Mateo shared that while she tried to convince Arlene to just eat, other kids made her aware that Arlene planned to take the food home for her siblings.

“Witnessing that moved me to tears,” Mateo revealed. “It is heartwarming to see how willingly they share their blessings to the people they love, regardless how little they already have.”

Before the party came to an end, the kids were given blank eco bags and colored markers for them to draw what they want to be in the future. For a moment, the children had the chance to dream about the lives they hoped to lead. And before their departure, each child was gifted with loot bags containing hygiene kits, snack packs, school supplies, and a few toys.

The money my father earns is just enough to meet our basic needs, so I thought applying for the AlumNay AlumTay scholarship could give me financial support for my education.”

Since November 2023, Capayan has been a grateful recipient of Php 16,000 from the PSHSNAA.

Meanwhile, for fourteen-yearold Saet, she also did not waste any time sending in her application for the program, thinking that this scholarship will not only mean so much for her, but also for her family. Much like Capayan, Saet’s father is a security guard, and her mother is a dedicated housewife. Saet saw how much the scholarship relieved her family from financial burdens. “Life became easier,” she expressed, with a hint of emotion in her voice as she shares the great impact of this scholarship on her

Both Capayan and Saet know how lucky they are in receiving the scholarship. Capayan, expressing her heartfelt gratitude, acknowledged, “The alumni put a lot of effort into helping me. I want to thank them again for this wonderful

In commitment to pay forward the support she has received, Saet also promised, “I am determined to prove that I am worth every bit of your support. Your belief in me fuels my dedication to making the most of this opportunity.”

Beyond financial support, AlumNay AlumTay has become a catalyst for positive change, illuminating paths that may have otherwise been shadowed by financial limitations. Capayan and Saet are proof that a community supporting the educational aspirations of the youth can contribute to the collective well-being of families and communities. Their stories are reminders that the true strength of a community lies in its ability to help others pedal through the paths of life.

As the day unfolded and as the kids went on their way, their simple act of giving took on profound meaning during the Christmas season. Munch Mission echoes the spirit of the holiday season and recognizes that there truly is more than enough for everyone –creating a community where love and blessings thrive.

Folded in Care

Wednesday at PSHS-CVC

is a bustling event as the dorm’s corridors come alive. Each week, rows of laundry bags—each containing stories of student life—sit patiently to be reaped. The campus is graced by the presence of a group of women, often dressed in knitted cardigans and flip flops, united by one goal: taking the laundry bags home, and working their magic.

was definitely rewarding. “It was a tremendous support for me financially, especially when I was still studying,” Engaran acknowledged with gratitude.

For seven years now, Jenelyn Engaran has been one of these women. She calls herself a Pisay Labandera. “I was able to finish my studies because of doing laundry in Pisay,” she raved. However, being a Pisay Labandera is not just about washing clothes. It is a job that takes a lot of perseverance and dedication.

“We get to Pisay at around 4:30 pm, but some of us wait until 8 pm just to pick-up all the laundry bags,” Engaran detailed. For her, balancing the roles of a mother and a student while fulfilling her laundry duties was an incredibly challenging responsibility. However, the effort

Engaran demonstrates how Pisay Labanderas go to great lengths to cater to students’ well-being. Beyond their laundry duties, some Pisay Labanderas stand in as second mothers to scholars who are miles from home. From buying medicines outside campus to making home-cooked meals for students, their role in the lives of scholars is what nurtures the CVC community.

Which is why Folded in Care, an initiative catered to PSHS-CVC Labanderas, was pioneered by Grade 12 scholars Leona Nolledo, Maria Victoria Mamba, Jana San Jose, and Denise Reyes. “This activity was our way to express our gratitude to our laundry women who have played a vital role in our Pisay journey,” explained Nolledo.

This program was also an opportunity for scholars to impart new knowledge to Pisay Labanderas. Fellow scholars Lorin Nicolas and Joshua Martin shared tips on how to practice

sustainable laundry methods. Nicolas highlighted, “As a STEM student, sharing the knowledge I have with our ates will greatly benefit them in terms of energy efficiency, time, and money while also helping our environment.”

In Folded in Care, CVC’s laundry women gained insights into eco-friendly laundry techniques. Despite years of experience, Engaran was first introduced to eco-friendly detergents. “This was a great help to us, especially regarding saving water and electricity,” she expressed.

In PSHS-CVC’s realm of Science and Technology, its unhailed heroes—the Pisay Labanderas— are pillars of resilience. Their commitment to service is a reminder of what it is to be strong and caring. The Pisay Labanderas embody the unwavering perseverance that caresses, weaves, and folds the CVC community in care.

DENISE REYES

TRISTAN FUERTE

ANGEL TORIDA

Pisay Labanderas

Photos by ARABELLA MATEO

Photos by CHARRIE ZAPATA

Photos by CHARRIE ZAPATA CYRENE NAVALTA

FTechnology

Hub Salazar and Seth Tolentino, both Philippine Science High School – Cagayan Valley Campus (PSHS-CVC) Grade 12 scholars, were two of the 20 students representing the Philippines. When asked to describe their experiences in one word, the exchange program was “life-changing” and “enlightening”.

Uniting Culture and Knowledge in Hiroshima

In a world increasingly interconnected by technology, Salazar hopped on a flight to Hiroshima, Japan on June 12, 2023. Although he was initially intimidated by the extent of the exchange program, Salazar made his time in Hiroshima a core memory by broadening his understanding of S&T while forging international friendships.

On the third day of the program, Salazar’s Hiroshima University tour stood out as the most memorable aspect of the trip. “Since Filipino international students were our tour guides, the university tour became even more fun. We even shared an evening meal together, becoming the start to friendship,” Salazar recalled.

Reflecting on the impact of the experiences, Salazar emphasized how the program played a crucial role in adding on to his understanding of science and technology. By dissecting crabs, observing planets, and learning about Japanese cuisine and culture, the mix of cultural exchange and academic exploration laid the groundwork for an even more comprehensive perspective of S&T.

Through the exchange program, the importance of international cooperation in advancing Science and Technology left a permanent mark on Salazar. “Cooperation among countries in advancing S&T is a necessity. Programs like these foster inclusivity wherein different cultures get to exchange essential knowledge with each other, all for the interest of bringing positive social change,” he articulated.

Honing S&T Leadership in Tokyo

The rules of the program stipulate that a student can participate only once. For Tolentino, the one-time experience in Tokyo on July 31 to August 4, 2023 was a sense of equal awe and responsibility to embrace S&T leadership.

In the intensive five-day program, Tolentino delved into scientific discussions, university visits, and hands-on lab work. During a tour of Miraikan, Japan’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, he witnessed the overarching influence of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence and surveillance, which served as a reminder of the difference between change and genuine progress to maintain science as an undisputed force for good.

“Progressing through my journey toward being a scientist, I must see to it that the innovations I may produce in the future are made with the interests and needs of most people in mind,” Tolentino asserted.

On a visit to Japan’s National Institute of Materials Science, Tolentino reckoned on gaps in fields under S&T that require fresh perspectives from aspiring scientists like himself. In a borderless world, innovations result from collaborative efforts across borders, emphasizing the need for shared resources, cross-cultural exchanges, and interdependence among nations to formulate solutions with global impact. According to Tolentino, exchange programs like this serve as the first step in a ladder towards such interconnected solutions.

Horizons Expanded

For this duo, the program left an undeniable dent: a renewed passion for STEM, with the beauty of culture and friendship.

“The program made me more confident in myself and my capabilities as a STEM student, so it has influenced my aspirations to reach for higher ambitions and not settle for less,” Salazar affirmed.

Tolentino, sharing his perspective, remarked, “The program motivated me to pursue a career in S&T as I realize the continuous need for new scientists, especially in our country, to drive sustainable development to combat the challenges we face and are likely the most affected by.”

Undoubtedly, this experience fosters adaptability in SciTech, paving the way for a cross-cultural network that will help shape the future for S&T leaders. Hub Salazar and Seth Tolentino emerge as promising leaders poised to navigate the junction of diverse cultures and the globalization of Science and Technology.

Knocking Chances

Known to his peers as the friendly, extroverted kid, Martin was first elected to a leadership role in Grade 4 as his elementary school’s student government peace officer. A self-proclaimed bibo kid, these traits have made people rely on him as a leader and a friend. “Helping others made me happy, and in turn, made me feel fulfilled,” he reflected.

This feeling kick-started Martin’s will to serve, as he began his first steps into the student government. “During online classes, I decided to run for the position of Grade 10 Batch Representative, creating a unified batch that can withstand the pressure and challenges of the pandemic,” he recalled. He was elected project manager the next year, coining his nickname: Kuya Reb.

As SSG President, Martin never expected to become Nueva Vizcaya's Young Provincial Administrator, knowing the relative isolation of the campus from the town center. “I was initially grateful just to be invited as a member, but circumstances unfolded in unexpected ways. I believe God has a greater plan for me,” he shared.

In his role as the Young Provincial Administrator of Nueva Vizcaya, Martin is dedicated to serving the community, putting the youth at the center of his goals.

“The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has upcoming initiatives, including Project “Bantay Kalusugan” in Bayombong West and a clean-up drive and tree planting at Bambang National High School,” he disclosed.

Supplies Last

Looking Back at Sir Noli’s 25 Years of Service

DENISE REYES & GERALD PANAGA

Every clearance season at the Philippine Science High School - Cagayan Valley Campus (PSHS-CVC), a single slot on the clearance sheets is reserved for a signature that is more than just ink on paper. For 21 years, this signature symbolized a legacy of dedication, humility, and excellence.

Sir Arnulfo Manangan, more known as Sir Noli, served as PSHS-CVC’s Supply Officer from 2002 to 2023. While many scholars only encounter him during clearance signing, Sir Noli is one of the school’s pioneers. In 1998, Sir Noli became an integral part of PSHS-CVC, leaving behind his nine-year career in the Department of Education. As an instructor, he taught drafting to Pisay students and took on the role of a dedicated Citizen’s Army Training instructor.

As he gears up for retirement, Sir Noli looks back on one of the most memorable years in his career. “Every Saturday, when this campus was under construction, old colleagues and I used to come here to clean the site. We would sweep and clear pathways, preparing the site for the construction of roads and academic buildings,” he gleamed. “I even erected a makeshift gate by the road so motorists won’t get in,” he reminisced. Looking back at how far the campus has come, he couldn’t help but be made speechless by its evolution.

Thinking back on his 25 years of dedicated service to the Pisay community, being a Supply Officer has taught Sir Noli valuable life lessons. “Here in the supply office, everything should be intact. You must know where everything is. Just like in life, you must be organized and alert because once you lose track of things, life will be harder for you,” he shared.

Sir Noli has not only established himself as hardworking but also as cheerful and dependable. Ma’am Zenaida Manzano, a longtime colleague, is witness to Sir Noli’s unwavering commitment. “Regardless of the workload, I’ve seen his dedication to complete tasks with utmost efficiency,” she said. “I have never seen him angry. He is a genuinely happy person who consistently wears a friendly smile,” she added.

A student leader brings their advocacy wherever they go. For Martin, it was integrating his passion for music into his personal pursuits. Martin has received an invitation to share his expertise in musical instruments to children in conflict with the law at the provincial jail. He plans to spend sessions to provide musical tutoring and inspire these young individuals through the transformative power of music. “My goal is to spark motivation for them to try other things and of course, given that they fall within the same age range as me, I can relate to them on a personal level,” he acknowledged.

Juggling his studies alongside his significant societal role, Martin knows how great of a responsibility it is to represent the youth on a grand scale. “My main motivation in what I do is to help individuals who are struggling, whether silently or openly. I want to be the person people rely on when the burden becomes overwhelming. I think that is exactly what service is,” he affirmed.

Chances have come knocking at Martin’s door, and he has always chosen to take a leap of faith. All mentions of luck quickly turned to that of blessing. “I can say with confidence that I’m blessed and lucky to have this position, doing things that I really love to do.” he concludes.

For a brief time, Sir Noli worked with OnThe-Job trainee and now Office Clerk, Blessie Verzosa. In the seven months of working side by side, Verzosa describes Sir Noli as “kalog”. Verzosa also picked up essential work lessons from Sir Noli; the most important being: “Focus on work but don’t abuse yourself.”

At his retirement party, Sir Noli expressed his gratitude in a heartfelt speech, saying, “In this prestigious institution, I did my very best to meet the needs of my clientele. So I thank you, for without your support, I wouldn’t be able to do it.”

ostering the already state-of-the-art Science and

(S&T) in Japan, the Sakura High School Program (SSHP) reopened its doors to 112 high school students and supervisors from all over Asia. Students from Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Laos, and the Philippines were invited for an exchange program in Hiroshima and Tokyo, Japan, respectively.

Seth Tolentino Hub Salazar

Photo by RUSSEL VILORIA

Photos by HUB

SCITECH EDITOR Ingrid Par

Helping Homes & Hospitals

REACH, ARUGA bag Gold Award in WISPO 2023

Developing the skills of scientific research and the spirit of innovation among participants, young innovators around the world participate in the World Innovative Science Project Olympiad (WISPO) held in Bandung City, Indonesia. Founded and organized by the Indonesian Scientific Society, WISPO focuses on four general disciplines in the field of science, namely Science and Mathematics, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Science and Energy.

Two teams from Philippine Science High School - Cagayan Valley Campus (PSHS-CVC) bagged the Gold Award in the said competition in two different categories. Project REACH by Edan Aguada, Brenda Padron, and Xyrus Roldan for the Renewable Energy Category and Engineering as well as Project ARUGA by Prince Rivera, Harry Mabborang, and Raizon Asis for the Technology Category. Aguada and Rivera, representatives of their respective teams together with their coach, Mr. Lyndon Lazaro, attended the finals for the event on December 17.

REACHing Renewable Energy

Team REACH’s project was on the development and optimization of a portable hydro generator system for renewable energy access. The main objective of REACH is to create an innovation for alternative energy resources to combat the use of fossil fuels. Basically, it is a mini turbine that could simply be attached to pipelines at home whether it be pressurized, for instance the drainage for sinks. In the

final product, it has different sizes to fit the varying sizes of the pipeline.

Water allows the turbine to function, then it generates electricity, and is stored in battery sources like solar panels. It also has an application that comes with the monitoring system that could be used to fix the problems on the turbines. The application is modular which means its maintenance could be followed easily by the users. Not only is it very useful, but it is also very cost-friendly and affordable.

Revolutionizing Agricultural Technology SAGANA

With technology consuming us, the time to revolutionize agriculture, the mere hands that feed us, is long due.

Catering the innovative ideas of young researchers is an essential for a world that is continuously changing. Technological projects that aim to provide efficient solutions for existing problems in different fields must be thought of in order to further develop the technology that exists today.

From October 19 to 22, Philippine Science High School - Cagayan Valley Campus (PSHS-CVC) crew, composed of Mary Liwanag, Edan Aguada, Earvin Seva, RB Dela Cruz, Precious Zipagan, and Joel Magday Jr., their coach, joined the third International Research Competition for Young Scientists (IRCYS) 2023 held in Bali, Indonesia.

“The most challenging part of the process was to make it different from the already existing ones and we want to make it more advanced compared to that. We incorporated a mobile application in the project and made it modular so it is user-friendly for everyone,” said Aguada.

Coding Healthcare with ARUGA Project ARUGA aims to offer an innovative solution to streamline healthcare services and enhance patient

the app also tracks past hospital visits and prescriptions, improving the continuity of patient care. Based on test runs and user feedback, ARUGA seamlessly transmits information to the database, showcasing its practicality and dependability. As a result, the application minimizes wait times, improves organization, and prioritizes patient-centric treatment through its user-friendly interface and QR code integration.

experiences while addressing the long-standing challenges in healthcare service delivery. By leveraging QR code technology, the app simplifies the management and transfer of medical information, reducing the burden of paperwork for both patients and healthcare providers.

Users can input and manage their medical data, promoting quick access for healthcare providers during emergencies or routine visits. Likewise,

According to Rivera, “Ensuring the security and privacy of medical data was a major challenge. We implemented robust encryption and secure data handling practices to address this. Making the app accessible to people of all ages and tech-savviness levels was challenging. We solved this by simplifying the interface and providing clear instructions for use. Integrating ARUGA with existing healthcare systems was complex, this was solved by collaborating with healthcare providers to ensure smooth integration. Even with a number of challenges, the team did not give up but instead, collaborated with people, sought help, and integrated the resources readily available in the school to solve such challenges.”

Beyond the Gold

These two winning projects, REACH and ARUGA, proved its mark in the international community for the field of science and technology. Not only did it develop the skills of adaptability and innovation, but it contributed to the advancement of the global community through the developed projects.

With SAGANA, they were able to make it through to the third phase of the competition, which was the Grand Finals. Their team leader and representative, Edan Aguada, attended the IRCYS 2023 grand final event where they presented their research results in front of the jury without an audience. They were able to take home the Grand Award (Top Research) for the Applied Studies Senior High School Category, and the Gold Award for the IRCYS 2023.

Sustainable Agricultural Gadget for Achieving Natural pest control and Abundant harvests (SAGANA) is a car prototype that aims to detect pest and pesticide residue in vast farmlands. For easy maneuvering of the device through a corn maze, the prototype uses a camera and several sensors plugged into the gadget that locate pests and record their concentration. The device is able to move and navigate freely from one place to another in order to broaden the range of their sensors since it is evasive in a vast farmland all at once in a single position.

SAGANA uses the HC-SR501 Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors. With sound and PIR Sensors, the gadget contains pyroelectric elements that can measure infrared radiating from objects in its field of view. These are most commonly used in security systems, lights, light switches, and more.

Using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and various chemical enzymes, SAGANA detects pesticide residue by triggering an electrochemical activation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) upon contact with the chemical residue. CNTs were the chosen medium for the enzyme based electro biochemical sensor design due to its efficiency and safety compared to pre-existing pesticide residue detection tests. CNTs have an 96% accuracy rate, indicating their remarkable chemical sensitivity.

The data detected by those sensors are then transmitted to SAGANA’s mobile application, programmed through Python. This interface explores pesticide residue levels, tracks pest movement and amount, allows users to track their harvests, and aids users to explore better farming methods.

“The main objective of our project is to aid farmers in crop production since pests and high pesticide residue levels are major problems in farmlands,” Zipagan affirms.

SAGANA aims to maximize production and lessen the negative effects of dangerous chemicals on the environment and the farmers alike. To achieve a balance between meeting the world's ever-increasing need for food and protecting it from pollution, SAGANA can become another stepping stone to further revolutionize agricultural technology.

MAKEROSCOPE

The little spaces? The little budget? They aren’t little. One of the main problems of scientists are the budgets for equipment. These problems not only make tasks more complicated, but also makes people less interested and motivated to become scientists, which bumps into another problem: How much do our scientists contribute to research, discoveries, and to our current knowledge about what's happening in our world?

The microscope is a lab staple, an expensive and space consuming apparatus for experiments where cells and microorganisms are seen. They are commonly described as either regular sized, which is 14.5 inches tall, or extremely large that they could be taller than humans. They cannot be brought anywhere unless you have enough room to place it.

For Engineer Jeremy De Leon, this problem just needed a new pair of lenses. Manufacturing Engineering graduate and Mapua University alumni, Engineer De Leon, made a leap with his new invention. Inventor-at-heart, he created an affordable microscope keychain which he proceeded to call "Make-roscope" where users utilize their own tablets or smartphone's camera to function as a microscope.

This version of a microscope can magnify organisms from 125X to 400X and also comes in an all-in-one laboratory kit where it includes everything you need to view a microscopic object like specimen slides, pipettes, tweezers, and tubes.

Adding to its convenience, the Makeroscope is easy-to-use as it is self adhering, has new FlexiFocus arms which helps

adjust the focus with simply pressing down on the glass slide against it, and has both the features of an alternative to compound light microscopes which ensures a good result without spending too much money.

Common issues with a regular microscope are the space, size, and the cost; however, with Make-roscope anyone can own a mini microscope. This gadget is offered at online shopping apps, Lazada or Shopee, and even on the “jereMAKE” website, priced at less than 600 pesos compared to the staggering cost of standard microscopes at more than 18000 pesos.

Make-roscope can be brought anytime, anywhere which gives users countless opportunities to make new discoveries without consuming too much space.

Make-roscope is budget-friendly. Each package comes with a kit including lab essentials, which lessens the amount of money spent by multiple students, professionals, scientists, and others, on equipment for research such as microscopes.

Used by more than 3000 Filipino students and teachers, De Leon’s Make-roscope won the 2022 Alfredo M Yao Intellectual Property Awards as a grand winner and the 2023 James Dyson Award as a national winner where he won won P330,000 prize money and will proceed to the international level of the competition.

Bringing a feet-long piece of equipment down to a pocket-sized version brings STEM closer to the people. De Leon's mini scientist helper, Make-roscope, solves the inconvenience a microscope user has, from the space consumption to the unaffordability.

Graphics from PRINCE RIVERA EDAN AGUADA

BLESSIE JAVIER

MICHELLE BANAWAN

A Mini Scientist Helper

Photos from DOST-TAPI

Engr. Jeremy De Leon MAKEROSCOPE INVENTOR

IVAN JOHN UY DICT Secretary

Cybersecurity Building the Frontlines

As the digital realm intertwines with our daily lives, the importance of cybersecurity is pronounced. As technology advances through the years, the more the threats seek to take advantage of it. Cybersecurity stands as the first line of defense against an array of digital adversaries, ranging from individual hackers to sophisticated state-sponsored actors. At present, the Philippines faces several cybersecurity challenges, where privacy highly susceptible.

Cybersecurity vs Cyber Threats

Cybersecurity is the practice of defending computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from malicious attacks which encompasses a wide range of measures designed to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information. The primary goal of cybersecurity is to create a secure computing environment that allows individuals, organizations and governments to operate safely in the digital world.

In the relentless pursuit of technological progress, the digital age has ushered in unparalleled connectivity and convenience. However, with these advancements come an escalating threat landscape in the realm of cybersecurity.

The sophisticated and ever-evolving nature of cyber threats poses formidable challenges to individuals, organizations and governments striving to secure their digital assets.

Some types of cyber threats include the following: Malware, a form of malicious software in which any file or program can be used to harm a computer user.

Ransomware is a type of malware that involves an attacker locking the victim’s computer system files, typically through encryption.

by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Social engineering is an attack based on users breaking security procedures to retrieve sensitive information. Phishing is a form of social engineering where fraudulent email or text messages that are similar to reputable or known sources are sent.

GoingCyberPH

The Philippines has witnessed a rapid increase in digital connectivity. The use of technology and social media has been widely used in education, entertainment, and personal communication. With that, cybersecurity in the country has been a critical aspect with regards to national security, economic stability, and the protection of individuals’ digital assets.

The government has taken steps to address the evolving threat landscape through the National Cybersecurity Plan which aims to enhance the country’s cybersecurity posture by fostering collaboration among government agencies, private sectors and other stakeholders.

With that, there is a growing emphasis on cybersecurity education in the country. These initiatives aim to spread awareness to individuals, business, and government entities about online safety and potential risks associated with cyberspace. The government is working towards strengthening the security of online services through implementing strong encryption protocols for data in transit. This is to ensure the protection of citizen data and to maintain trust in e-government platforms.

The field of cybersecurity is evolving rapidly in response to the dynamic and sophisticated nature of cyber threats. With that, as our reliance on digital technology increases, individuals, organizations and even governments need to understand and be aware of cyber security. Currently, the government has taken steps to strengthen cybersecurity in the Philippines through collaboration with agencies, and by spreading awareness of cyber security to the people. Keep in mind that cybersecurity is not just a defense mechanism, but it is the key architect in building a resilient, trustworthy and secure foundation for our digital future. Only 40 cybersecurity professionals are working in the Philippines.

At present, there are certain instances which show the cybersecurity in the Philippines has failed. An example is the PhilHealth issue where personal data files have been compromised so it could not properly regulate and adequately protect its own databases. Breaches in the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Philippine National Police (PNP) were also confirmed

RIDING BRAIN TRAIN

AI on Education

ChatGPT, BingChat, Grammarly. These are some of the many applications we commonly use in our everyday lives, but most especially when accomplishing our tasks in school.

AI has become an essential part in our lives, impacting industries in very different ways. From sports to healthcare, AI is revolutionizing how we work and learn. Specifically in the field of education, AI has opened up new possibilities for learners of all ages. In recent years, the integration of Artificial Intelligence has been widely used in the field of education, reshaping traditional learning strategies to more personalized and effective learning experiences; improving student outcomes and better prepared for students in the digital age.

PersonAIlized Learning for All

Through AI, personalized learning experiences could address the concerns of most learners. AI algorithms have the capability to analyze amounts of data to understand the students’ strengths, weaknesses and learning styles. This allows the creation of personalized learning pathways to ensure that their individual needs are being addressed.

Coding allows humans to communicate with day to day devices. But with “nocode,” how does one translate human input into numerical sequences that computers understand?

With no-code, the general public is granted the gift of technology. To build an application, one might need to take a programming course or even finish a degree, but with no-code, software development requires few to no coding skills.

Putting AI in the Picture

Today’s Industrial Revolution walks a thin line with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Despite this, the expertise needed to program AI solutions has been a big hurdle due to its complexity. This is where no-code AI crosses the line.

No-code and AI is more than a buzzword, it’s transforming the workforce. Anyone can get started in developing applications with no-code AI. Visual tools such as Bubble and Webflow, provide services ranging from web pages design and apps to sales and marketing campaigns.

For the MIT App Inventor team, anyone, even children, can build fully functional apps. MIT App Inventor is a platform that utilizes a visual programming environment boasting that those new to can have a simple first app up and running in less than 30 minutes.

Angel Iniego, grade 12 student of Philippine Science High School – Cagayan Valley Campus (PSHS-CVC), took part in this no-code AI experience with her invention, AltruBot, during her internship at MIT App Inventor.

It's like playing with Lego bricks in MIT's App Inventor, where you just drag and drop code blocks with commands. “In six weeks,

I was able to create an app due to the fact that in AppInventor, you don’t have to code everything,” Iniego recalls.

With AI, the challenge is to teach people to give good instructions to AI to help them further. “When coming up with instructions, your problem has to be personal because how can you give instructions to computers when you can’t describe or feel it?” Iniego learns.

As a graduating scholar with experience in college applications, Angel developed AltruBot, an App Inventor application that utilizes ChatGPT to aid in writing application essays based on academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and personal experiences.

AltruBot - The Essay AI(d)

ChatGPT is a Generative AI staple, with algorithms that generate new content based on existing data. It shows premise in application essays, which tend to have the same prompts each year. “It's inevitable that we are going to use it, so it's just right to develop tools to maximize its use and at the same time be safe and not misuse it.” Iniego asserts.

AltruBot streamlines application essay writing by brainstorming with ChatGPT, not writing the essay word by word. After

going through prompts from Common App, a college application portal, and followup questions on their experiences, it only generates an essay outline, not the essay itself.

In the AI and machine learning world, fairness is an all-pervading ethic. To which, Iniego assures, “At the end of the day in college applications, we want to know that it’s a real interesting being and their emotions involved is a person that will ultimately contribute to the community.”

Non-programmers find no-code software easier to use, but they can be difficult to integrate into more complex tasks. Iniego shares that MIT App Inventor recently added a ChatBot component which allows you to integrate the capabilities of ChatGPT in applications. A simple drag and drop step, and AI is at your fingertips.

Looking at the Bigger Picture

“The vision is to create instructional materials to teach people how to code using AppInventor so that they can make their own AltruBot on their own at home.” Iniego expressed.

In the rapidly evolving field of technology, no-code AI empowers the untrained eye. Anywhere, anytime, anyone can code.

Adaptive learning platforms, powered by AI, adjust the pace and content of instruction in real-time, providing targeted interventions and support when necessary. For example, these AI-powered solutions frequently include entertaining elements like gamification, which could help the students understand the lessons easier.

ssistants on the Go

AI-powered virtual assistants help in enhancing accessibility and support for students both inside and outside the classroom. A chatbot is a software that provides conversational experiences to users by processing text and audio inputs and generating relevant responses. These intelligent agents provide students with instant access to resources, information and support services through natural language interfaces.

AI does not only benefit students, but also the people in the education field. For instance, for the teachers, AI has helped the grading and assessment process, saving educators valuable time and resources. Automated grading systems use machine learning algorithms to evaluate assignments, quizzes and exams with speed and accuracy. By eliminating the tasks on manual grading, educators can devote more time to facilitating discussions and engaging with students.

The AIpplications

The number of AI applications in education have increased through the years. Such examples include ChatGPT, Google, Duolingo, Coursera. Among all those mentioned, ChatGPT is the most used. It is an AI chatbot that uses natural language processing to create humanlike conversational dialogue. Google Classroom is commonly used for online learning which allows the teachers to design and assign tasks, and effectively control classroom interactions.

The well-known language learning app Duolingo uses AI to develop flexible language lessons. This application offers individualized lessons, vocabulary drills and interactive tests to support language learners as they advance their proficiency. Coursera is an application with personalized course recommendations, adaptive learning paths and automated assessments.

Artificial intelligence is a fascinating and rapidly expanding field that tries to construct intelligent computers capable of human intelligence. As the integration of AI continues to evolve, softwares will continue to revolutionize traditional learning methods, to online references and virtual classrooms. By embracing AI-driven innovations, educators can create a more effective learning environment that prepares the student for success in the digital age.

PRINCESS DUMLAO

GERALD PANAGA

Graphics by CYRENE NAVALTA

INGRID PAR

Graphics from ANGEL INIEGO

Anxiety disorders affect at least 300 million people worldwide, impairing daily life, compromising mental well-being, and encompass a range of persistent troubles or problems. The nature of these disorders emphasizes the urgent need of understanding and the need of making effective interventions.

Using the traditional method, diagnosing anxiety relies on clinical interviews and self-reported symptoms. However, advancements in science and technology are continually paving the way for a groundbreaking approach, and of those are blood tests for anxiety.

The discovery of certain biomarkers linked to anxiety will be crucial in the development of blood tests for this condition. Biomarkers are observable components of the body that can indicate the existence of a specific illness. Finding trustworthy biomarkers of anxiety has been the focus of research into a number of biomarkers, including cortisol, C-reactive protein, and brainderived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

One of the main indicators being studied is cortisol, also known as the "stress hormone" which elevate when people are constantly and frequently stressed out and anxious. Anxietyrelated alterations in the brain may also be influenced by Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that aids in nerve cell growth and maintenance.

Furthermore, blood tests for anxiety are not used as a diagnostic tool as anxiety is primarily diagnosed through clinical evaluation and psychological assessments. Although these tests are not yet widely available for clinical use, they will still be used to rule out underlying medical conditions that could mimic symptoms of anxiety, such as thyroid disorders or vitamin deficiencies.

The blood test for anxiety is a simple procedure. A healthcare professional will simply draw a small blood sample from the patient, typically using a needle to be injected in a vein in the arm. The sample will be processed in a laboratory to measure the levels of biomarkers, and the results can provide valuable insights into the patient's

This technology is indeed a groundbreaking advancement in medical research, replicating human organ functions through microfluidic devices. This innovation holds immense importance to the world, offering a much more accurate and ethical alternative to traditional animal testing. It also accelerates drug development, reduces costs, and minimizes ethical concerns, all of which holds the potential and promise for personalized medicine, tailored treatments based on individual responses, a revolutionizing healthcare, and advancements that benefit all of us as a whole.

Despite the enormous potential of blood tests for anxiety, there are obstacles to be overcome. Not a single biomarker can properly capture the complexities of anxiety as it is such a varied disorder. Biomarkers that collectively give a more complete and detailed picture of a person's anxiety must really be found by researchers.

Moreover, the ability to diagnose and treat anxiety disorders with blood tests is a significant advancement. The discovery of certain biomarkers may improve the lives of anxiety sufferers by increasing the objectivity of diagnosis and the specificity of treatment.

Blood tests for anxiety have the potential to bring a new era of medicine for mental health, which is one of the most fascinating elements. Clinical professionals can provide more focused and efficient therapy by identifying the exact biomarkers linked to certain anxiety disorders. This might result in better outcomes and fewer adverse drug reactions.

KELVIN DIRIGE

rom December 5 to 11, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,821 additional COVID-19 cases, surpassing the prior week's numbers. In the teeth of this uptick in cases, however, DOH opposed mandatory mask use being reinstated.

Despite Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa’s echoed assurance that the public health emergency has already been “downgraded” and that COVID-19 is “no longer a big health risk,” cases are increasing and are expected to continue as the holiday season approaches. Parties, family reunions, and overcrowded public places are a staple of the holiday season,

MIA MARQUEZ

When rain pours in the middle of summer consistently, AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria are out playing in the rain, infecting lots of people around the world. The built effort of medicinal facilities to avoid such life-threatening diseases has been voided by such a phenomenon popularly known as climate change. Never have people imagined that a cloudy sky pouring rain in the wrong season for days would give them a life problem.

The mentioned global-concerning diseases garnered the title of being the world’s deadliest infectious disease. An organization called the ‘Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria,’ or Global Fund makes an effort to fund potential programs to minimize the effects of such diseases in low and middle-income countries.

It was created in the year 2002 as a financing device that unites stakeholders to support them financially to fight against AIDS, TB, and malaria for a healthy, livable, and safe environment. Strategic advances have been executed which helped millions of patients around the world.

However, the current executive director of the Global Fund, Peter Sands, lately has been pressed with problems after alleviating the diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic by the effects of climate change on the spread of the aforementioned three. “We work on a three-year cycle. If I'd gone back three years, I reckon that percentage would have been a single-digit percentage. So there's been a massive uptick,” Sands affirms.

Climate change is inevitable, however, people have taken it for granted that urbanized communities are one of those bustling cities. This rapid change has caused problems, but there is no going back. It is one of the world’s environmental problems that has already shown effects and has caused damage in every aspect of Earth as NASA stated, “Global climate change is not a future problem.”

Under the Mists of Malaria

Among the three diseases, malaria is the most sensitive to climate change. Since it originates from a parasite called Plasmodium that infects mosquitoes due to the need of both mosquitoes and humans to complete its life cycle, the number of cases of malaria has increased. It could occur in places such as traditionally malarious areas, where the disease is controlled, and where the disease has not occurred.

Changes in temperature, shifts in rainfall patterns, and extreme weather

events aid in the increase of malariacarrying mosquito habitats to a higher altitude which causes a longer period for malaria transmission to take place and an increase in transmissions in unreported areas. This happens even though the mosquitoes do not thrive in such areas.

As for the mosquitoes at a lower altitude where they commonly thrive, the water temperature would hasten the development of the mosquito which adds to the increased malaria transmission. Also, an alteration of the Plasmodium’s growth cycle inside the mosquito would help it to develop faster which increases malaria cases.

TurBid Skies

Similar to AIDS, TB is indirectly affected by climate change, which affects other issues that could influence TB such as malnutrition, displacement, overcrowding, poverty, and diabetes.

This is near what Dr. Mohammed Yassin, Senior Disease Advisor, at the Global Fund told IPS, “The potential impact of climate change (on TB) is more indirect with some other infectious diseases.”

Natural calamities are a known outcome caused by climate change, which depending on its severity, could cause displacements. Massive displacements lead to difficulties in

accessing medical services and facilities, as well as, patients finding themselves in crowded places where TB could easily spread. Examples are extreme droughts and floods, which could impact food security and lead to malnutrition, a factor affecting TB.

Despite TB being a preventable and curable disease, defaulting on TB treatment could increase the risk of drug resistance wherein the drugs taken before would not be as effective as the moment the patient resumes his medication. Relapse and death could also happen. When relapse occurs and the medication taken is ineffective, the bacteria does not react with the medicine, it could lead to the patient’s death due to his high mortality rate. If not death, the patient would have a prolonged infectiousness which leads to further spread of the disease.

hum-AIDS

Unlike malaria and TB, there is no evidence implying that AIDS is climatesensitive but it could be indirectly affected by climate change. As AIDS is an incurable disease, climate change could affect a person’s health in various ways that could deplete their physical condition.

Climate change causes social dislocations. “Extreme weather events impact food security and lead to forced migration or displacement of populations and also lead to the disruption of health services,” remarked Guinto, technical expert member of the Philippine Climate Change Commission.

“But the increasing challenges of climate change and conflict mean the world is likely to miss the target of putting an end to AIDS, TB, and malaria by 2030 without extraordinary steps”, stated Sands. These three deadly diseases could be halted if the severity that climate change causes decreases; however, the opposite has been happening as observed. Based on Sands’ statement, the mentioned extraordinary steps have no way of identifying themselves for now with climate change, forming more clouds to pour a rain of diseases on Earth.

increasing the risks of respiratory infections such as COVID-19.

Back in 2022, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 7, lifting the mask-wearing mandate that had been in place since 2020. Schools and workplaces immediately implemented this order, no longer requiring masks in indoor and outdoor settings.

With many wanting to return to pre-pandemic normalcy, many see masks as unwelcome reminders of the COVID-19 crisis. While others believe masks are ineffective or unnecessary in preventing COVID transmission, longterm mask use can be uncomfortable,

Continue to wear masks and adhere to safety measures to ensure the well-being of ourselves and those around us.

especially in hot and humid climates like the Philippines.

Mandates don’t have much sway over how people behave. Simply telling people to change their daily habits doesn’t work well. While these rules are intended to make everyone more cautious, the reality is that social consensus plays an important role.

According to a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations last March, nine out of ten Filipinos backed the voluntary use of masks, but the majority continue to wear masks outdoors. Certain hospitals, such as the Philippine General Hospital, have already implemented stricter facemask-wearing policies.

Despite this, the DOH reiterates that everyone does not need to wear masks again.

Masks should be obligatory at infection hotspots, but not for the general public. The return of mask mandates is not being considered, but people should be encouraged to wear masks in crowded areas and places with poor ventilation.

Sustaining this practice is not merely a precaution but a tangible contribution to a safer future. Continue to wear masks and adhere to safety measures to ensure the well-being of ourselves and those around us.

ELIZABETH NAVOA

Graphics by DRAZEN PURUGGANAN

Graphics by CYRENE NAVALTA

Conjunctions occur when an astronomical body appears to close either to another planet or to a bright star. William Kevin Abran, Philippine Science High School – Cagayan Valley Campus (PSHS-CVC) Batch ‘20 alumnus, beams on a conjunction between the youth and the blanket behind the skies.

Carrying a gift from his CVC classmates, a telescope, Abran returned to his hometown of Sanchez Mira, Cagayan. Initially hindered by frequent rainy skies, he pursued a free telescope viewing for the youth in his locality after taking a leap of faith with clear skies on one Halloween night. After gaining the approval of the Local Government Unit to conduct the viewing in their public park, Abran posted an announcement online and immediately set-up his telescope.

Although the field of view was often disrupted due to the lightness of the telescope, Abran managed this minor issue. “It was really fun. Maraming nag attend karamihan kabataan, meron ring parents. Halos all of them for the first time to see the Moon through a telescope, as well as Jupiter and Saturn.” Abran recalled.

Apart from the viewing, Abran gave short lectures to show them what to expect, how to use stargazing apps like Stellarium and how the moon and planets move across the sky. “My goal whenever I do telescope viewing is to show that our sky is beyond the stars only. I aim that after they go home, or whenever they look in the sky again, they will remember that there are more things to see and appreciate in the sky,” Abran revealed.

Being one of the founders of ScienceKonek, a youth organization on science and the people, Abran also conducted other stargazing events in different parts of the country. Aside from Cagayan, he and the organization have held similar events in Laguna and Legazpi City, with more planned for as far as Palawan.

“Many of them also mentioned that it's their first time,” Abran added.

“Astronomy is not very practical for the lives of Filipinos but astronomy has become an important tool in sparking the interest of people in Science. These times na super baba ang ranking ng Philippine education

in science. It's important to have these kind of activities, to introduce science in a fun way, especially sa mga kabataan.” Abran expressed.

Being part of ScienceKonek was a fundamental part of his gain in confidence for leading events for the youth. Along these events, he was led to his realization of the current state of science in the country. “These are the kind of events that make people more curious not only about our world but the universe outside.” Abran asserted.

Abran also founded CVC's official astronomical club, Nocturn Astronomical Society, citing the fact that other astronomical events do not venture outside of Greater Manila due to accessibility. He, along with ScienceKonek, donated a telescope to the club. “In reality, tayo dapat ang naglelead kasi tayo yung may clear sky,” Abran acknowledged.

Catching satellites, planets, and meteors, stargazing can be done with just the naked eyes. For Abran, the telescopes go beyond space, plotting a conjunction between the future and the youth.

SCITECH EDITORIAL

Getting Started

GERALD PANAGA

With the government on board, expanding innovation from skyscrapers to plains will make getting started less daunting. “

Shedding light to new perspectives on the shortcomings of pre-existing goods and services, startups are little disruptors that change the game in business through innovation.

Startups are always in a game of resilience. The startup scene struggled to attract government support in its earliest years. With difficulties in obtaining financial support, startups were unable to gain a foothold in the absence of mentors in innovation and digital infrastructure.

To expand the startup network to the country’s 16 regions, the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology (DOST-PCIEERD) invested P120 million in the Regional Startup Enabler for Ecosystem Development (ReSEED) Program to assist Technology Business Incubators (TBIs).

DOST-PCIEERD’s Executive Director, Dr. Enrico Paringit, stressed that the “wind behind the wings” to national development is “regional empowerment. ” As the country tries to keep up with digitalization, expanding startup setups to the regions of the country is a big step.

Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual stated that the Philippine startup ecosystem is accelerating, with a 20% increase in deal count, indicating investors' confidence and interest in the country's startup scene as a potential investment destination.

Developing countries, such as the Philippines, are a blank slate: full of opportunities to transform issues using

gap between big companies and startups is widening. As conglomerates take hold of key markets, it becomes more difficult for fresh startups to anchor in the industry.

More than half of the population (51.8%) lived in rural areas as of early 2023. Rural areas are a trove of opportunities away from the congestion of business kicking off in highly urbanized centers. With lower population densities, businesses kicking off in the rural areas are not as concentrated compared to metropolitan areas.

The World Bank reports that poverty rates fell between 1985 and 2018 as a result of economic growth initiatives and infrastructure investment. Despite this, improvement was only seen in densely populated areas due to a higher frequency of opportunities. Highly urbanized cities serve as engines of economic growth, but poverty is more prevalent in rural areas. It makes the disparity more clear: between the urban and rural areas, and between opportunities and circumstances.

In regional areas, the market is a vibrant target for start-ups. With the raw products closer to their reach, delivering good products is as abundant and inexpensive as faucet water. Startups are able to produce goods at a cost-effective rate due to low material prices and easy access to resources.

Startups, regardless of target niche, will always have a bumpy start. How can these roadblocks be overcome? This is the question. With the government on board, expanding innovation from skyscrapers to plains will make getting started less

Seth Tolentino, a grade 12 student from Philippine Science High SchoolCagayan Valley Campus (PSHS-CVC) shares his experience taking the internship program at Mapua University.

Tolentino emphasized that, unlike most engineering areas, IE does not work “on-site” and does not always fit into the general public’s perception of what an engineer is and does. Thus, they primarily engage in hands-on computer work, spending the majority of their time running codes and analyzing investment data. He acknowledges that this may deter prospective students, especially when they hear the running joke among engineering professionals that IE stands for “-indi engineers.”

As part of their immersion, Tolentino’s group worked on a study titled “Analysis of Investment Behavior Among Filipinos: Integration of Social Exchange Theory (SET) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB),” that sought to determine the extent to which behavioral factors influence investment behavior in investment platforms as well as to identify the most significant of these latent variables.

“The study builds on the body of knowledge as investment behavior has not been explored in the context of the Philippines.”, Tolentino contextualized. Different demographics have varying values and views that affect the permeability of disruptive technology like online investment platforms. As this implies, their study fills a gap in the current consensus regarding the behavioral intentions of Filipinos in particular.

The study applies engineering management principles in financial institutions and investment platforms to utilize the findings and inform their business decisions, especially their marketing strategy to Filipinos, and to help them make their products more accessible to the regular investor.

In their study, the research design employed an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and the Random Forest Classifier (RFC) to determine the most significant factor that affects investment behavior. RFC can be thought of as one of the preliminary tools that can be used prior to ANN. It generates decision trees to determine the most significant factor.

ANN is the standard in quantitative research. It uses machine learning to model and stimulate the relationships between the data and variables to produce predictions.

Investors who believe that investing in the stock market is productive and profitable are more likely to invest. “The most challenging part was the analysis of data given our lack of experience in running complex statistical analysis codes and our limited knowledge about the topic,” Tolentino explained.

The study’s practical implications to improve systems and products can increase the popularity of services and permeate the Filipino market. Customized and thematic investment alternatives, mobile assistance, ease of use, and greater communication of possible benefit are all important enhancements to encourage behavioral goals among investors.

Out on the field of real world, IE guides the understanding between behavior offering practical implications for financial institutions to enhance accessibility and appeal to the Filipino market.

The mid-year vacation is the season everyone looks forward to. Some spend their vacations traveling out of the country, some on beaches, and others choose to stay at home doing their own hobbies. Yet, there are a few who are busy making their summer memorable and productive by associating with engineering professionals and learning the field of industrial engineering and engineering management (IE-EMG).

DA-XIA ANDRES

GERALD PANAGA

Graphics by SOLA DALAO

Photo from WILLIAM ABRAN

Photo by CHARRIE ZAPATA

sports

SPORTS EDITOR Ray Quienes

We must exercise caution while seizing the benefits AI offers, keeping in mind how it will affect people individually and as a community.

Game Changer or Job Challenger? “

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is redefining many industries in the rapidly evolving world of technology, and sports broadcasting is no exception. There has been a lot of discussion regarding the possible effects on human jobs in the broadcasting sector since the showcase of the first AI sportscasters in the Philippines.

On one hand, a new era of effectiveness, precision, and creativity is promised by the incorporation of AI into sports commentary. AI sportscasters can analyze enormous volumes of data quickly and accurately, giving immediate analysis and insights that their human counterparts might find difficult to match. These virtual broadcasters could improve the viewing experience by providing unmatched accuracy and depth in their reporting as they are intelligent and flexible. However, there is a price to this technical advance, especially when it comes to jobs. Automation is becoming a serious challenge to traditional sportscasters, whose endearing accents and distinctive viewpoints have made them the industry classics. Concerns over the possible replacement of human labor by machines capable of higher productivity are raised by AI’s further development.

While there is no denying that AI is revolutionizing sports broadcasting, the wider ramifications need to be carefully considered. The media industry’s job losses may be a factor in the increase in unemployment and volatility of the economy. Furthermore, even the most sophisticated AI might not be able to replicate the human element that sportscasters bring to their commentary—emotions, humor, and a grasp of the

WOMEN’S WORLD CUP DEBUT

Filipinas defy all odds

In addition, the shift to AI sportscasters raises ethical accountability concerns. It becomes more and more important to discuss the social effects of technological advancements as they happen. Media companies, such as GMA, have to think about how their choices impact people who work and their lives, and if integrating AI will be beneficial or detrimental to people’s lives.

The launch of AI sportscasters is a significant development in the continuing conversation about the relationship between technology and jobs. We must exercise caution while seizing the benefits AI offers, keeping in mind how it will affect people individually and as a community. The difficulty lies in utilizing AI’s potential without compromising the unique characteristics that make human sportscasters such an essential component of the broadcast industry. In the realm of sports commentary, a future where humans and machines may cohabit peacefully will depend on how innovation and ethical considerations are balanced.

LAPPING HISTORY

Bustamante Shifts Gears as First-ever Filipina in F1 Academy

Filipina driver Bianca Bustamante made history being McLaren’s First Female Developmental Driver after half a year of success in F1 Academy, representing not only the Philippines but also the renowned British Motor Racing Team over the next few years.

Bustamante’s performance in the 2023 season with Prema Racing was the X-Factor, attracting multiple high profile teams with her 7th place effort in the Drivers’ Standings accompanied with a total of 116 points with two wins and two podiums.

Bianca Bustamante’s journey into the world of motorsport began at a very young age, she developed a love for the sport that was inspired by her father, former karting driver Raymund Bustamante.

“My dad, he was actually the reason I got into it. He was also a karter, so basically, everything I learned when I was a kid came from him.” explained Bustamante. “I learned the passion. He introduced me to the sport.”

Bustamante’s early career was full of exceptionality and brilliance, competing at a tender age of five and peaking at eight years old after winning nearly everything there was to win at the Asian and national levels, including the famed Macau International Kart Grand Prix, which she won three times.

Before her stint in the F1 Academy, Bustamante competed in the W Series in 2022, recognized as the top rookie and finished the season in 15th place, scoring two points across 7 races.

In the W Series, Bianca Bustamante competed alongside several up-and-coming female race car drivers including Jamie Chadwick, Lena Buhler, Chloe Chambers, and Emely De Hesus.

“Jamie Chadwick. Jamie has been around for some time. There was even a time when she drove an LMP2. Driving that car is also a dream for me, and I hope one day I get to drive one as well”, said Bustamante when asked about whether there was any female racer that she looked up to.

Bustamante’s single seater career began in the Formula 4 UAE Championship with the Italian team Prema Powerteam, unfazed with the challenges, she managed to score 3 points across 15 races.

Bustamante is set to represent ART Grand Prix and McLaren in the next F1 Academy season, donning McLaren’s iconic orange livery on the 2024 F1 Academy grid. An opportunity expected to provide her with the best possible development structure to take the next step up in her career.

“I still have a hard time seeing my name next to McLaren without getting emotional, as the history and heritage linked to this team leaves me truly speechless,” uttered Bustamante.

Both McLaren and Bustamante are expected to outclass the 7-round 2024 F1 Academy Season, solidifying the move made by both parties and Bustamante’s trailblazing act.

Padilla, Mallillin duel as Centaurs squeaks past Aces

Mallillin responded with a run of his own, making use of the open court and netting significant points on fastbreak plays in the start of the last quarter as the two teams went back and forth for the last quarter forcing an overtime showdown to settle the game.

In the overtime period, the same energy and intensity persisted, resulting in a stalemate between the two teams as the period came to its final moments but the deadlock was then broken by the Centaurs taking a 1-point lead with 4 seconds to go.

The final quarter concluded as the Aces failed to get a final shot which led to the Centaurs managing to clinch a thrilling victory, squeezing past Azure Aces in a narrow yet exhilarating finish, 57-56.

RALPH AGUAS

Photos from PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER REUTERS

Graphics by CYMELENE FERRER

Photos from SPIN.PH

Sarina Bolden FILIPINAS FORWARD

he Philippine women’s football team scores victories for dreams beyond the pitch after a historic campaign in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup that shocked critics and united a nation, making a name for the Filipinas on the global stage.

Long minnows in the sport, the Philippines has never competed in a FIFA World Cup, either men’s or women’s.

Their first World Cup appearance began with a 0-2 defeat to Switzerland, succeeded by an iconic 1-0 triumph against New Zealand, and ended with a 0-6 defeat

Following was historic winning goal and her country’s first at a FIFA Women’s World Cup, tears of joy and smiles of an unforgettable victory could be seen on the face of every Philippine player following the

Despite losing their opening Group A match against Switzerland, the Filipinas’ supporters showed up in full force, making up the majority of the 35,000 spectators at New Zealand’s national stadium.

“It truly felt like a home game. There were 34,697 people at the game, and it felt like 34,000 of the ones there were cheering for the Philippines. To be surrounded by

so many Filipinos and Philippine supporters made the whole experience just unforgettable,” midfielder Natasha Alquiros explained.

“It truly was an amazing experience to celebrate Philippine women’s football on the world stage. It helped create more awareness of the sport at home and brought people together. They showed a new path for young players in the Philippines and allowed us to dream a bigger dream.” she explained

“It’s a huge feat for women’s football and football as a whole in the Philippines. It’s not the country’s most popular sport, basketball and volleyball, but I think this win is going to spark people’s interest. It’s going to push them to go out and start kicking a ball around and I think it’s a sport that’s really going to start growing in the Philippines.”

Sarina Bolden uttered.

The team’s journey from “almost ground zero” to the World Cup was deemed “miraculous” by Australian

coach Alen Stajcic, who pointed out that around half of the players are not affiliated with professional teams and train on their own.

Fueled by Coach Stajcic’s arrival in late 2021, the Philippines climbed the footballing ladder with an inspiring performance in the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup, securing a World Cup spot and propelling their FIFA ranking from 68th to a new high of 46th.

Following that, they won a bronze medal in the Southeast Asian Games and a home victory in the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Women’s Championship.

“The Philippines will forever be one of the stories of the 2023 Women’s World Cup,” wrote Filipinas' supporter Junn Monte De Ramos “It doesn’t matter that they haven’t qualified for the knockout stage. They’ve inspired millions of Filipino female footballers back home… which is a far greater victory.”

Crimson Centaurs topple Azure Aces in

Tumbang Preso

The Crimson Centaurs beat the Azure Aces, 2-1, in Tumbang Preso during the BUKLOD ALAlympics 2023 held at the Philippine Science High SchoolCagayan Valley Campus.

Six seconds into the game, the Centaurs aimed at and hit four cans.

The Centaurs managed to overturn all 10 cans, finishing the task in 1 minute and 17 seconds.

Despite initially hitting only one

Volleyball

Azure Aces wipe out Crimson Centaurs, 10-2

In the second round, the Centaurs dominated by knocking down the Aces’ cans while the overwhelmed blue team failed to knock out the red team’s cans.

With the Centaurs winning the first and second rounds, the Aces finally won the last round.

Azure Aces spike down Crimson Centaurs, 2-0

The Azure Aces wiped out the Crimson Centaurs, 2-0, in the BUKLOD ALAlympics Day 2 Women’s Volleyball held at the Philippine Science High School - Cagayan Valley Campus Multi-purpose Gymnasium, December 1.

The Centaurs performed outside serves and over-the-net plays which put the Aces in the lead during the first set.

The Aces managed to catch the first set as the Centaurs continued playing poor gameplay, 15-10.

Starting strong in the second set, the Centaurs went on a rampage, making their score jump to eight, edging out the Aces.

However, the Aces didn’t let their opponents get past them and took the

Centaurs’ weaknesses as an advantage to gain points which made them seize the Centaurs’ lead.

Keeping up their momentum, the Aces unleashed unstoppable serves and receives, and continued until the end of the round making them grab the second set’s point, 15-13.

“I felt fulfilled and proud because I noticed improvements in my gameplay and the teamwork that the Azure Aces had,” Jemyka Cagumbay of Azure Aces explained.

AzureAces conquer the Crimson Centaurs, 10-2, in Frisbee Women in the first-ever BUKLOD ALAlympics 2023 held at the Philippine Science High School - Cagayan Valley Campus Oval, November 24.

Aces’ Dorothy Sucgang opened with smooth fakes that were crucial in securing a point for the team, 1-0.

The Aces continued to showcase their prowess, with Bam Ocampo scoring consecutive goals, extending their lead to 7-0.

“I think team strategy and chemistry were our strengths,” said Aces’ Ocampo.

The Centaurs' Valerie Bachilles took advantage of the intercepted discs from their opponent, breaking the streak of the Aces and ultimately earning them a point, making the score 7-1.

The Aces regained their momentum using Zaira Sinon’s skills, adding back-to-back points for the team, extending the lead

“The lack of skills and experience was our weakness. I noticed that my teammates lacked skills in terms of offense and were pretty inexperienced,” Crimson Centaurs' Anezka Gallo said.

Feeling the pressure and with only three minutes remaining, the Centaurs managed to break through, demonstrating resilience as Chesca Daniel’s strategic play led to a crucial point, leading the score to 9-2.

“I think our strength was our teamwork, everyone made sure each other played a part in contributing to the team but I think that our weakness stemmed from our lack of experience and communication,” explained Daniel.

In the last ten seconds, the Aces showcased their strength once more by executing several short passes that secured another point, bagging an impressive 10-2 victory.

RHAIDEN PAGBILAO & SAMANTHA NERIO

Frisbee

Laro ng Lahi

ANGEL GABRIEL

Photo by CHARRIE ZAPATA

DWINEE MESSAKARAENG gears up an overhead service for a game point ace against the Crimson Centaurs.

DA-XIA ANDRES

PRECISION IN PLAY. CVC scholars take aim at the target during a game of Tumbang Preso.

Photo by CHARRIE ZAPATA

BREAKING THE ZONE. Azure Ace Dorothy Sucgang slices through the Crimson Centaur defense with a quick pass.

The Pisay Batang Templars grabbed a semifinal slot after finishing with a 5 - 1 record during the Nueva Vizcaya Invitational Basketball Event (NVIBE).

The Templars clouded Bonfal National High School, 21 - 14, to clinch the second seed and advance to the knockout stages.

Templars players Raizon Mar Asis and Bryce Bumanglag explained that chemistry is the main factor for the team’s success.

“We trust each other in and out of the court. We have known each other since elementary school so it is easy to trust each other in and out of the court and that’s the biggest key to our victories,” Asis and Bumanglag affirmed.

Aside from Bonfal National High School, the Templars secured victories against Saint Louis School, Muir Woods Academy, Inc., Solano High School, Saint Mary’s University.

“I think the main reason for our wins is that we are able to call fouls and eventually convert those and-ones,” explained Edz Gammad.

Their only loss was when the captainless Templars suffered an 18 - 9 thrashing against an invincible Bambang team who went on to grab the top seed.

“We joined the NVIBE for the Batang Templars to be exposed to outside competition. It was a way to show other schools that Pisayers are well-rounded students,” Dr. Harold Gallo, Batang Templars head coach, said. “This team has exceeded my expectations. I am beyond proud of them,” he added.

NVIBE is a program by the Department of Education (DepEd) that aims to develop and select players to be prepared in higher athletic events.

Women's basketball training kicks off

RAY QUIENES

Female scholars of Philippine Science High School - Cagayan Valley Campus (PSHS-CVC) started basketball training led by the school's Batang Templarsat the Multi-purpose Gymnasium, November 13.

The training is done to establish a girls’ basketball varsity team called “Valkyries” with three of the 2023 Bigkis Women’s Basketball Mythical Five—Lleana Fate Rapanan, Mavik Mamba and Nayah Onofre—leading.

“I think it is important to have our own basketball team so that every girl who is interested in basketball can join in and prove themselves in the court,” Gianna Feria, one of the Valkyrie team founders, said.

The 10-week basketball training started as the girls experienced fundamental basketball lessons taught by Pisay Batang Templars Coach Harold Gallo along with Batang Templars Captain Bryce Bumanglag and his teammate, Edz Gammad.

“This training is crucial for them so that they know what they are good at or what they can improve, since they have a lot of potential. This is also important for us, Templars, to re-learn all of the basics,” explained

Buklod 2023

Padilla, Mallillin duel as Centaurs squeak past

Aces

JOSE NOJEDA

In a stunning display of determination, the Crimson Centaurs orchestrated a comeback against a shorthanded Azure Aces, 57-56, in an overtime thriller during the 2023 BUKLOD Boy’s Basketball held in the PSHS-CVC Multi-purpose Gymnasium, December 1.

Grade 11 student Mark Kenjieh Padilla caught fire to lead Crimson Centaurs’ comeback effort against Azure Aces scoring 31 points.

The match began with the Aces dominating as they displayed excellent pick-and-roll plays led by Francis Edz Gammad and Francisco Mallillin IV, 22-12.

Opening the second quarter without Gammad, the Azure Aces were unfazed as they extended the deficit to 14 points led by Mallillin.

“I was frustrated when I left the game because I wanted to help my teammates and see us win. But I trusted my team in their capabilities and skills," Gammad expressed in his absence at the start of the second quarter.

The Centaurs answered back with their suffocating defense, taking advantage of Aces’ point guard absentee which forced the Aces into a spree of turnovers cutting the lead at halftime, 30-24.

In a riveting showcase of tenacity, the Centaurs sustained their momentum through the third quarter, punishing the Aces’ errors and staging a comeback, snatching the lead by the end of the third quarter, 40-36.

CONTINUE TO PAGE 18

Photo by JC BANGAD

CLAIM THE GAME. Basketball enthusiast and trainee Xyza Tenorio hones her handles through the Women's Basketball SCALE program conducted by senior players.