THE PRISM [Aug '22 - May '23 ISSUE]

The Prism

LPHS holds 2nd Chinese Singing

Contest

u PAUL JR. P. RADAM

Leyte Progessive High School, Inc. (LPHS) holds its 2nd Chinese Singing Contest on January 20, 2023 at the school gymnasium.

The singing contest is one of the highlights of the 2-day Chinese New Year celebration.

The said competition is divided into two categories in the said event, namely, the Elementary Cluster, consisting of 6 contenders from Grades 1-6; and the Highschool Cluster, consisting of another 6 contenders from Grades 7-12.

DOH CONDUCTS BASIC LIFE SUPPORT ORIENTATION

u LEANNE FAITH G. ORONOS

Department of Health (DOH) Region VIII

holds an orientation on Basic Life Support (BLS) on March 16 at Leyte Progressive High School, Inc. (LPHS).

Maryan Nadera, Provincial Health Office RM, stated in an interview with The Prism that one of the significance of the training is to help students know how to respond in emergencies. “They will learn how important time is when

it comes to responding; and of course, they can help their family and the community and the school if there [are emergencies] to lessen the [death and injuries] within the community,” Maryan Nadera stated.

“Actually, an first na nahunaan namon together ni Ma’am Ges, Kinahanglan namon kamo ig empower with this kind of training kay ha panahon naton yana, we don’t

know or dri kita maaram hit mga calamities nga na abot,” Mr. Rudyric Babiera, Grade 11 class adviser, said in an interview. (Actually, Ma’am Ges and I first thought that you need this kind of training to empower you because in the current times, we don’t know the calamities that will come.)

Furthermore, Mr. Babiera stated that the purpose of the said training is not only to educate students and

teachers but also to empower them with the basic skills in immediate life support. “So we decided to have this type of activity for the students at the same time ha mga teacher to empower, magka ada kamo hin knowledge [on] basic life support and standard first aid,” Mr. Rudyric Babiera said in an interview when asked about why students need BLS training. (So we decided to have this type of activity for the students at the same time

CONTINUE READING AT PAGE 15

You can find yourself in Chemistry — Bascon

u JEM C. VILLARMINO & NISHINA CATE M. CAGUICLA

Selected members and faculty of the Chemistry Society (ChemSoc) and the Chemistry Department of Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) visited Leyte Progressive High School, Inc. (LPHS) on March 28 as part of their Chemistry Caravan on March 27-30, 2023.

In a talk with the Grade 11 and 12 students, Kyzyl Mhy Bascon, president of the ChemSoc, emphasized that

“you can find yourself in Chemistry.” She also noted that the experiences one can get in enrolling in a Chemistry related course is “fun.”

Additionally, Grechelle Socias, the head of the Chem Department, and Mark Lester Yu, the Extension Coordinator of the Department, shared their experiences as students and chemists to inspire and motivate senior high school students to pursue Chemistry.

They then introduced the course by showing videos about why students should attend EVSU and study Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (BSC), as well as what they can expect in this course.

This activity is done to encourage senior high school students to enroll in Eastern Visayas State University and take up the course Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (BSC).

Sofia Julian Ong wins first place in the Elementary Cluster, with Mike Henry Lin taking 2nd, and Aaliyah Franz Yao taking 3rd place.

On the other hand, Dann Roujz Dela Peña takes first place in the High School Cluster, with KC Tiu and Aegel Li Gagarin taking 2nd and 3rd place respectively.

This year’s Chinese Singing Contest is sponsored by the Dynamic Youth Tacloban Club.

WHAT’S INSIDE?

TCVFBAI leads Earthquake, Fire, and Evacuation Drills

Aimed at educating, preparing, and enhancing the skills during calamities, an earthquake, fire, and evaucation drill was held at Leyte Progressive High School, Inc. PAGE 3

THINK TWICE

On 2013, late President Aquino put into act the K to 12 curriculum, following the international standards for education. On 2016, the said curriculum was implemented nationwide. This curriculum has the promise to give students better opportunities after finishing the program. However, issues regarding the curriculum started to bubble up.

AITech wins IQuizBio 2023 tilt, LPHS unplaced

Rheynuel Francis V. Gascon of Antipolo Institute of Technology (AITech) placed first in the recently held iQuizBio 2023 organized by the Trinity University of Asia (TUA) on, February 28, 2023.

Gascon outwitted other 45 individuals coming from 23 schools across the country.

On the other hand, Mark Jade D. Carilla and Jem C. Villarmino of Leyte Progressive High School, Inc. (LPHS) ended their journey by successfully entering the Top 10 schools after the initial elimination.

Other schools that made it to the top 10 are AITech, Arturo Eustaquio Memorial Science

High School (AEMSHS), Batangas State University IS (BSU-IS), Benguet State University – Secondary Laboratory School (BSU-SLS), Grace Christian College (GCC), Southern Leyte State University-Tomas Oppus Senior Laboratory High School (SLSU-TOSLHS), St. Joseph Academy of Sariaya (SJAS), University of the East (UE), and Unibersidad de Zamboanga-Technical High School (UZ-THS).

After the 1st round, individual quiz took place where the top 8 players were chosen as qualifiers, while the remaining 12 players played for the wildcard round. At this point of the competition, Villarmino backed

LNHS Team A outwits participating schools in Chem-Olympiad quiz tilt

u JEM C. VILLARMINO

Team A of Leyte National High School (LNHS) placed 1st in the Senior High School category of the Chem-Olympiad quiz tilt with a score of 51 points on February 15, 2023 at the Graduate School Function Hall of Eastern Visayas State University.

LNHS Team B followed 2nd with a score of 33 points, and Abuyog National High School (ANHS) with a score of 27 points.

On the other hand, Team A of Leyte Progressive High School, Inc. (LPHS) wrapped up the competition with a

score of 19 points, and LPHS Team B with a score of 3 points.

The said quiz tilt had three categories: Junior High School (JHS), Senior High School (SHS), and Teritary. The quiz tilt was participated by 20 participating teams from across Leyte. Seven teams have participated under the JHS category, another 7 teams for the SHS, and 6 teams for Tertiary.

The said quiz tilt was organized by the Chemistry Society of EVSU.

u MARK JADE D. CARILLA

out. Only Carilla continued to the wildcard round.

At the end of the wildcard round, only 2 players proceed to the final round, joining the already 8 qualified players.

The difficult round ended with Gascon declared winner. Placing second is Kristina Marie E. Isla from AITech, and 3rd placer is Erika M. Pesase of BSU-SLS.

The iQuizBio is an online quiz tilt aimed to test the understanding of selected senior high school students across the country in the field of Biology. The said quiz show was organized by the Biology Department of TUA in cele-

bration of their 60th Founding Anniversary.

LPHS holds Spelling Bee 2022

After two years of online classes, schools are back to face-to-face classes and Leyte Progressive High School, Inc. (LPHS) showcased its presence once again by celebrating English Month.

The celebration commenced on Thursday, November 10, 2022, with two activities. One of them is the Spelling Bee. The Progressionists showed off their spelling prowess without reluctance. Among various students who braved themselves in joining, only three per level ranked at the top, consequently.

From the Primary level, the first place goes to Peter Yip (Grade 2), the second goes to Raphael Garcia (Grade 3), and the third goes to Shechinah Morga (Grade

3). For the Intermediate level, Kendrick Leung of Grade 4 bagged the first place, while Mike Henry Lin of Grade 6 and Liam Nacaytuna of Grade 5 were hailed as the 2nd and third placers.

Meanwhile, the High School level was divided into two clusters: Cluster 1 and Cluster 2.

Cluster 1 consisted of Grades 7, 8, & 9. Whereas Cluster 2 consisted of students from Grades 10, 11, and 12. For Cluster 1, Kirstin Gilliane Escoto of Grade 8 excelled the 1st place, making her classmate Reginald Vaughn Tiu come in as 2nd placer, and Kc Kim Tiu of Grade 9 as the 3rd placer.

Cluster 2, in the same way, valiantly aced the competi-

tion, wherein, a Grade 10 student, Jilliane Victoria Co, blazed the first place, followed by Calem Matthew Garcia, another Grade 10 student (2nd place) and Dann Roujz Dela Peña of Grade 11 (3rd place).

The aforementioned competition was another attestation of how erudite and inclusive the LPHS students are.

It can be noted that the celebration of the English Month is aligned with the monthly activities the Department of Education (DepEd) allowed every school year.

HELLO TOP 10! Performance of LPHS in the first round of the competition. ScreengrabbedfromTUA’siQuizBio2023.

u ALEADELLE GO

SPELLING BEE CHAMPS! (from left to right) Cluster 2 winners Dann Roujz Dela Pena, Calem Matthew Garcia, and Jilianne Victoria Co pose with facilitators Ms. Penaflor (far left) and Mr. Panganiban (far right). PhotobyKurtBryanGo,ThePrism.

CHEM OLYMPIADS. LNHS Team A together with their coaches poase for a picture during the awarding ceremony of Cehm-Olympiad quiz show at Eastern Visayas State University. PhotobyChemistrySociety-EVSUonFacebook.

TCVFBAI leads Earthquake, Fire, and Evacuation Drills

With the aim of educating, preparing, and enhancing the skills of the entire Progresisonist community, an earthquake, fire, and evacuation drill was conducted on March 30, 2023 at Leyte Progressive High School, Inc.

Tacloban Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade Association, Inc. (TCVFBAI) facilitated the drills. The said volunteer organization opened with a short orientation on what to do before, during, and after earthquakes and fires; as well as how to save lives using basic life support techniques.

Dawn Regine Beltran and Nico Asis facilitated the orientation at the gymnasium. The orientation started at 10:30AM and ended at 12 noon.

By 1:15PM, the earthquake drill commenced. A one-minute long bell was sounded

u REGINALD VAUGHN T. TIU

across the building, signifying the start of the drill. After the one-minute bell, short bells rung across the building signalling the students to go down of the building and go to the evacuation areas.

A headcount was facilitated by class marshalls and advisers. Upon noticing missing students, the rescue team of the school was mobilized headed by Mark Jade Carilla and Eldred Dino Lim. The school rescue team is composed of 8 rescuers and 4 triage members. The rescue team is composed of students from Grade 8 to Grade 12.

During the rescue, Beltran guided the rescue team on conducting the rescue of the missing students.

Meanwhile, Asis together with the rest of the members of the organization facilitated the fire

PNP-DEG holds Project R.E.A.D.Y. symposium

u PRINCESS ESTELA SHAKIRAH G. BALLETE

The Philippine National Police - Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) leads the Project R.E.A.D.Y symposium on February 3, at Leyte Progressive High School, Inc.

Pat. Gabule is accompanied by PLT. Arwin Perez, Chief PCR PCO in conducting the said symposium.

drill at the school quadrangle. Several scenarios of fire were depicted, and students actively participated in putting out the fire.

By 2:00PM, the earthquake, fire, and evacuation drill had concluded, and a photo-opportunity with the volunteers was conducted. Afterwards, the token of appreciation and certificate of recognition was handed to Tacloban Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade Association, Inc. by Gestia Lynn Amor Paa, the school principal, and Meg Giles Kirby Tupaz, the School DRRR Coordinator.

In 2023, the simulation was the first earthquake, fire, and evacuation drill the school initiated together with Tacloban Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade Association, Inc.

Project R.E.A.D.Y. aims to provide skills to students on how to resist using harmful and illegal substances.

“Project R.E.A.D.Y is a standard preventive information and education program which is aligned with the demand reduction strategy of the PNP to address and/or totally eradicate drug menace in the community,” Pat. Junrey Gabule, PCR PNCO said in an interview with The Prism.

Furthermore, Pat. Gabule adds that the said project does not only aim to educate and protect the youth from the harmful effects of illegal drugs but will also instill leadership values and a sense of social responsibility.

On the other hand, PLT. Perez shared that LPHS is the second school they have visited in Tacloban City. “First school na binista namin dito sa Tacloban is yung Leyte National High School,” said PLT. Perez in an interview.

PNP-DEG also noted that LPHS is the 7th school where they have conducted the said symposium. “We have already conducted symposiums in five schools in Samar earlier this year,” PLT. Perez said.

Project R.E.A.D.Y. is an acronym for Resistance Education against Drugs for the Youth.

The symposium was attended by elementary and high school students, with each group being in a different time session.

LPHS holds extemporaneous speech contest

u LEANNE FAITH G. ORONOS

Leyte Progressive High School held its Extemporaneous Speech Contest for the High School level on Thursday, November 10, 2022.

Consisting of eight (8) contenders, each student got their topic regarding relevant societal issues through draw

lots. Each contender was then given three (3) minutes to organize their thoughts and think about how to explain the topic they got. Afterwards, two (2) minutes were given for each to deliver their speech.

After the careful deliberation of the identified judges for the

competition, three (3) winners were proclaimed. Paul Jr. Radam from the Grade 10 class placed 1st, while Sam Angelus Singson and Paul Powell Radam of Grade 11 placed 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

Being first-timers in the

competition, the contenders described the event as “nerve-wracking,” for it was their first exposure to a formal extemporaneous speech contest competition. Despite this, the contenders still gave their very best.

The extemporaneous speech

contest is one of the activities for English Month that LPHS has commenced with.

A HELPING HAND. Beltran (left) helping Angel Uy (right) in performing CPR. PhotobyKurtBryanGo,ThePrism.

EDUKASYON KONTRA DROGA. Pat. Gabule (middle, in PNP uniform) shares tips on how to “Say NO to drugs.”. PhotobyKurtBryanGo,ThePrism.

Air Nomads wins first-ever Spring Cleaning Activity

u

ADALLINE C. ENVERZO

In the first-ever spring cleaning activity held by Leyte Progressive High School, Inc. (LPHS), Air Nomads rose victorious defeating other houses in cleaning their designated areas on January 19, 2023.

In the final scores submitted by the judges, Air Nomads edged the Fire Nation by 11.3% -- 92.3% vs 81%. Furthermore, Water Tribe garnered 80.6%, while Earth Kingdom earned 80.3%.

The four houses -- Air Nomads, Water Tribe, Fire Nation, and Earth Kingdom -- were assigned to clean different areas of the school as part of the Spring Clean-

LPHS organizes activities for National Arts Month 2023

u LEANNE FAITH G. ORONOS & PRINCESS ESTELA

SHAKIRAH G. BALLETE

In celebration of the National Arts Month, Leyte Progressive High School, Inc. (LPHS) takes part in 2 activities organized by the National Arts Commission (NAC).

SDO Tacloban postpones NAT 12 to February 1 and 2

u PAUL JR. P. RADAM

ing event of the school. The houses were tasked to clean the 1st floor, 2nd floor, and gymnasium. Those assigned to clean the 1st and 2nd floors of the school were to include the left and right wings of the school building as they clean.

The said activity was judged by Gestia Lynn Amor S. Paa, Gederah B. Morga, and Delson U. Gompad, the school principal, school administrative officer, and Chinese Studies faculty respectively.

The Spring Cleaning activity is an activity aimed to instill the value of cleanliness as everyone welcomes the new year.

Acrylic Painting and Paper Mache Mask Making are the two activities that LPHS adapted from NAC. Each activity has its own theme: Philippine Mythology for Acrylic Painting, and Philippine Festivals for Paper Mache Mask Making. Unlike the activities, the themes for each activity were not adapted from the NAC but were formulated by the teachers-in-charge for the monthly celebration.

Moreover, LPHS also conducted a Photography Contest for the Junior High School and Senior High School students. The said competition is composed of 6 categories, namely abstract, landscape, mood, night, pet, and sports.

The concluding program for the National Arts Month is on February 28, 2023. This program is joined with the 2nd Quarter Awarding of Academic Honors.

This year’s National Arts Month is anchored on the theme “Bunga ng Sining, Ani ng Galing.”

DepEd RO 8 holds Regional Virtual Campus Journalism Workshop Series

u JOSE RAFAEL N. TIU

In a Regional Memorandum dated February 1, DepEd Regional Office VIII holds Regional Virtual Campus Journalism Workshop Series on February 7 to 10.

The said workshop is in support of the goals of R.A. 7079 or the Campus Journalism Act of 1991. Furthermore, the said workshop was made possible through the Curriculum and Learning Management Division (CLMD), in partnership with the Regional Association of Elementary School Paper Advisers (RAESPA) and Regional Secondary School Paper Advisers’ Association (RSSPAA), and the 13 Schools Division Offices of Region VIII.

Chinese Fashion Show hails Go, Babiera winners

u LEANNE FAITH G. ORONOS

Hannah Cayla Go and Adam

Jaric Babiera were hailed winners of the Chinese Fashion Show 2023 at Leyte Progressive High School, Inc. (LPHS) on January 20, 2023.

Hannah Cayla Go outshined nine (9) other female contestants coming from Nursery 1, Nursery 2, and Kindergarten, commonly known as the Pre-Elementary Department.

Adam Jaric Babiera also outbest nine (9) male contestants coming from the same department.

Both Go and Babiera are Kindergarten pupils.

The Chinese Fashion Show kicked off the 2nd day of the 2-day celebration of LPHS of the Chinese New Year 2023.

The said activity aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of school paper advisers (SPA) on the different journalism categories, capacitate SPAs to become resource persons on campus journalism in their respective divisions or schools, update SPAs with the new trends in journalism, and provide a healthy and friendly avenue for SPAs to demonstrate their skills on campus journalism.

A total of 102 participants from private and public schools are expected to attend the said vritual workshop series.

The Regional Virtual Campus Journalism Workshop Series is an online workshop done via Microsoft Teams.

In an advisory issued on January 30 by the Office of the Schools Division Superintendent of the Schools Division Office (SDO) of Tacloban City, the conduct of the National Achievement Test (NAT) for Grade 12 has been moved to February 1 and 2, 2023.

Originally, NAT 12 should have been conducted on January 30 & 31. However, the initial administration of the said test was postponed due to unfavorable weather that may affect the presence of the target learners.

The National Achievement Test is one of the exit assessments the Department of Education implements before a school year ends. Moreover, the NAT is designed to determine if the graduating learners are meeting the learning standards in the Senior High School (SHS) curriculum.

LPHS holds OYVTP orientation

u WESLEY G. YAO CABIGON

An orientation on Overseas Youth Vocational Training Program (OYVTP) was held on March 4, Saturday at the 1st floor lobby of Leyte Progressive High School, Inc. (LPHS).

The said orientation was spearheaded by Mr. Benjamin Chung-Wei Liang, Deputy director of the Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines. Furthermore, the orientation was attended by Grades 7 to 12 students of LPHS, teachers of LPHS, and admin personel of Sacred Heart School (SHS).

The orientation aimed to encourage graduates from Junior High School or middle school to enroll in the OYVTP, a 2-year associate degree class.

CLEANING IN THE NEW YEAR. Members of the Air Nomads skillfully cleaning the ceiling of the first-floor lobby of the school. PhotobyDavidNguyen,ThePrism.

No confirmed survivors of Cesna plane 205 crash: IMT

u WILHELMUT KARLANCE MELVINCENT III C. CHAN

In a press conference by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) held on March 9, Constante Foronda, head of the Isabela Incident Management Team (IMT) confirmed that there are no survivors of the Cessna plane 206 that crashed over a month ago within the provice of Isabela.

“The wreckage of the plane has been found near the municipality of Maconacon, Isabela, after 44 days of search and rescue,” stated Atty. Foronda during the press conference. Furthermore, he added that there is still no data as to how far the wreckage are from the crash site.

“Pero nasa slope ng bundok

yung wreckage, parte pa ng Sierra Madre (But the wreckage was found in the slope of Sierra Madre),” Atty. Foronda said when asked about the location of the crash site. Atty. Foronda also mentioned that there are still no available footage of the scene where the wreckage was found because the searchers haven’t sent any footage yet.

“We are now focused on retrieval operations; no longer rescue. Clearance from the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) will be seeked before the bodies can be brought down [from the site],” Atty. Foronda stated. Moreover, the wreckage of the plane can be brought down soon and authorities can start

Two high value drug suspects arrested in Ormoc

City

u ARCHIE G. TILLOR

identifying the cause of the crash.

Engr. Ezikiel Chavez of IMT identified during the press conference that the composite team from Isabela found the wreckage of the Cessna plane. The wreckage of the plane was found within the 20-kilometer raidus of the Maconacon Airport where Cessna 206 was heading. He also shared that the time estimate for the bodies to be brought down from the crash site is 3 days.

The discovery of the missing Cessna plane in Isabela came more than a week after a medical evacuation flight with 5 persons aboard went missing on its way to Palawan.

DepEd-8 okays Modular Learning Modalities with increasing daytime temperatures

u WILHELMUT KARLANCE MELVINCENT III C. CHAN

The Department of Education Regional Office 8 (DepEd-8) is already implementing ways on what the schools can do if daytime temperatures continue to rise due to the early onset of El Niño.

According to Information Officer Jasmine Fransisco Calzita of Deped-8, the office had already started informing schools of the necessary steps that they can do in cases where temperatures get

extreme, for extreme temperatures can have negative effects on the learners.

Calzita also added that it will still depend on the teachers if they will suspend classes due to extreme daytime temperatures. “The teachers will still have the final say because they are the ones who are with the learners, and together with the learners, they can also gauge how hot it is already,” Calzita said.

Calzita emphasized that if temperatures get extremely high, a school can implement modular learning for the learners.

Modular learning is one of the ways education of the learners can continue amidst unfavorable weather conditions.

A buy-bust operation conducted in Purok 4, Brgy. Naungan, Ormoc City resulted in the arrest of two illegal drug personalities on March 9, 2023.

Operating troops seized assorted illegal items from the suspects which includes drug paraphernalia and 13 pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu with an estimated weight of 430 grams and a market value of Php 2,924,000.00.

The suspects were arrested in violation of Section 5 and Section 11 of Article II of R.A. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002) and Section 28, Article V of R.A. 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunitions Regulation Act).

Seized alleged illegal drugs and pieces of evidence were brought to Police Regional Drug Enforcement Unit 8 (PRDEU8) for examination and proper disposition.

PMAJ Mark Henry A. Garcia, Acting Battalion Commander of the 12th Special Action Battalion, commends the efforts of the operatives and their cooperation with other law enforcement agencies in the region, as well as the active support of the community, in the successful conduct of the operation.

The buy-bust operation was an operation conducted by the 121st Special Action Company, 12th Special Action Battalion, and the PNP SAF together with PRDEU8 and the Lead Unit of the Ormoc City Police Station.

Babae patay matapos pagbabarilin ng isang pulis

Selos ang nakikitang dahilan ng Tacloban City Police Office (TCPO) sa pagpatay ng isang pulis ng Tacloban sa 30-taong gulang na babae noong Mayo 3, 2023, 5:30 ng hapon sa Brgy. 43 Quarry District, Tacloban City.

Kinilala ang biktima na si Jessica Durana, isang empleyado ng DES Marketing at residente ng Brgy. 42, Tacloban City.

Ang suspek naman ay kinilalang si PSMS Van Gregory Benitez, 44-taong gulang, aktibong miyembro ng PNP, at residente ng Brgy. 109-A V&G Subdivision, Tacloban City.

Base sa impormasyong nakuha mula sa TCPO, naglalakad ang biktima kasama ang nanay nito sa tulay malapit sa lugar na pinangyarihan ng krimen nang biglang sumulpot ang suspek at sabay pinagbababaril ang biktima sa iba’t-

ibang parte ng katawan. Ayon sa nanay ng biktima, nagsalita pa ang suspek ng “Sorry, Jessica” bago gawin ang krimen.

Pagkatapos gawin ang krimen ay agad naman na tumakas ang suspek papunta sa direksyon ng Brgy. 44.

Agad naman na tinakbo sa Tacloban City Hospital ang biktima. Idineklarang patay ang biktima alas-9 kagabi.

Nagpapatuloy naman ang ginagawang imbestigasyon at hot pursuit operation ng kapulisan para sa agarang pagkakaaresto ng suspek.

FINALLY FOUND. “SITE DELTA” marks the spot where the Cessna 206 plane was found. PhotoscreengrabbedfromCAAPPress Conference.

u PRYNCYZ MYGGZ T. MERCADO

Beyond the lens of a campus journalist

With schools defunding campus publications and the continuing proliferation of disinformation in the society, campus journalism is in a tight situation on either to fight back or stand down.

The POST in January 2021 reported that the campus press is not spared from attacks and is currently facing threats of repression and harassment. SINAG, the student publication of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy of the University of the Philippines-Diliman has confirmed the report. Moreover, the College Guild of Editors of the Philippines filed a complaint before the Commission on Human Rights on the alleged instances where school papers were oppressed and harassed since 2010 on July, 2020.

Amidst these attacks currently faced by campus journalism, campus journalism should be one of the pillars of free expression which gives students a space to talk about and report on problems that concern them and their society. This message is further amplified by SINAG features editor Angelo Vince Marfil in his statement in The POST: “Ang trabaho namin as campus journalists ay mag-expose ng stories hindi lang tungkol

sa mga estudyante, kasama rin dapat ang istorya ng iba’t iba pang sektor.”

In the words of Chiara Greco, Editor in Chief of The Mike–the official student newspaper of St. Mike’s College, being a student journalist can make one understand the importance of representing the masses, and of being a voice to and for the unheard.

Campus journalism, therefore, is more than a means of just disseminating information. It can hone the critical thinking of students by developing their critical thinking which is very helpful in stopping the spread of false information in the society.

Everyone might not be labeled as student journalists, but in one way or another, a student can still employ journalistic practices. Inday Espina-Varona, the former head of ABSCBN Bayan Mo iPatrol Mo, highlighted this by saying that “When you say you are a citizen journalist, you may not be a professional practitioner of journalism, but you report with the basics of journalism.” Additionally, the veteran journalist emphasized the importance of knowing facts. “You don’t need to be a journalist to be able to appreciate the need to be loyal to facts,” she said.

LEANNE FAITH G. ORONOS Editor-in-Chief

PAUL JR. P. RADAM Associate Editor

NISHINA CATE M. CAGUICLA Managing Editor

PRINCESS ESTELA SHAKIRAH G.

BALLETE News Editor

JADE GABRIELLE A. GAGARIN Features Editor

PAUL POWELL P. RADAM Opinion Editor

JILIANNE VICTORIA D. CO Sports Editor

DANN ROUJZ M. DELA PEÑA Science & Technology Editor

ALEADELLE GO Online Editor

Espina-Varona’s statement on citizen journalism concretized more the importance of campus journalism. In a world where technology plays a big role in shaping the future, campus journalism is no longer limited to just journalists; it extends to all kinds of citizens with integrity and accountability in mind.

Philippine Collegian editor Abraham Sarmiento, Jr., once said, “Kung hindi tayo kikibo, sino ang kikibo? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?” which serves as a challenge to fellow students and student journalists to take a stand on freedom of speech and democracy.

With campus press being

CREATIVE & DESIGN

Alain Josef G. Aguinalde

Aegel Li A. Gagarin

Stephie Angele C. Uy

Ella Cassandra A. Abayan

WRITERS

Helen Joy B. Navales

Kimberly H. Bendicion

Wilhelmut Karlance Melvincent III C. Chan

Adalline C. Enverzo

Calem Matthew D. Garcia

Pryncyz Myggz T. Mercado

Jem C. Villarmino

Mark Jade D. Carilla

Archie G. Tillor

Reginald Vaughn T. Tiu

Jose Rafael N. Tiu

Kirstin Gilliane T. Escoto

Wesley G. Yao Cabigon

PHOTOJOURNALISTS & VIDEOGRAPHERS

Cayleigh Diamond C. Ching

Kurt Bryan B. Go

David Sanyan P. Nguyen

CONTRIBUTORS

Khriszel Nice E. Villacorte

Wella Mae B. Pines

Maria Elizabeth G. Kunimitsu

Kyll Felippe B. Cristobal

ADVISERS

Meg Giles Kirby A. Tupaz

Janine Mae C. Peñaflor

Reylyn S. Cataag

Joyce T. Pindos

Mary Joy Aldaya

The Prism is the Official Student Publications of Leyte Progressive High School, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the editorial staff. All contributions become The Prism property and the Editor-in-Chief and the advisers reserves the right to edit all articles for publications.

faced with multiple problems coming from all directions, it is important to remember that campus journalism is there to serve as voice of the masses. The decision from that point forward is now onto you. With the fight against disinformation and defunding just starting, will you pick up the pen and continue to be the voice of the truth? EDITORIAL BOARD AND STAFF SCHOOL YEAR 2022-2023

Is it time (again) for classes to start on June?

Smartphones aren’t the only one distracting the students from learning during the months of April and May. With daytime temperatures in some areas in the country reaching as high as 40°C, heat is oftentimes the main reason why classes are disrupted and eventually suspended in some schools.

For context, the past school years have limited learning to the learner’s individual houses as the COVID-19 pandemic took over the world, suspending face-to-face classes until recently. School year schedules were altered after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, which forced schools to suspend classes as early as March 2020.

Classes resumed around October 2020, with some schools opting to start distance learning by August of the same year. Since then, schools have adopted the August to May academic calendar.

The same situation is true for Leyte Progressive High School, Inc. (LPHS). With the onset of the pandemic in 2020, the school implemented full distance learning modality which prompted the school to open in September of the same year. The distance learning modality lasted for two school years, until S.Y. 2022-2023 permitted the school to slowly go back to full

face-to-face classes.

However, unlike the academic calendars before the pandemic, S.Y. 2022-2023 didn’t start in June; it started in August— having still in effect the shift in academic calendar due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a March 2023 article of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, House Deputy Minority Leader and Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Rep. France Castro expressed that changing the academic calendar of schools was a result of “poor planning” and an attempt to keep up with global trends. Furthermore, Castro also reiterated the proposal for a change in the academic calendar during one of the sessions of the House of Representatives.

Castro already called the shift in the academic calendar as early as March 31 of this year due to the complaints received by ACT on the intolerable heat both the teachers and the students experience inside the classroom. The said volume of reports also coincided with the results of the online survey the party-list conducted on March that revealed 67% of the teachers who participated in the said survey complained on the unbearable heat.

It’s not only ACT that called on the attention of the Department of Education (DepEd) to investigate this issue. Other teacher organizations, such as the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDG), has also stressed the need to return to the old Juneto-March academic schedule, instating back the traditional April-to-May summer break.

House of Representatives. Focusing on bringing back the previous school calendar to tackle the toll it has taken on students and teachers rooted from classes being conducted in April and May, House Bill 8550 was filed by Makabayan lawmakers. As explained by the bill’s note, the Philippines had embraced a “school calendar ill-suited to its climate”, which resulted in “temperatures sweltering, blood pressures rising, and children and teachers fainting.”

season here lasts.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the chair of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, shared this sentiment when he urged DepEd and schools to reevaluate the restoration of the June-to-March academic schedule. This will allow for a “return to normalcy” after the epidemic prompted DepEd to move the school opening date to August and will allow pupils to spend the summer with their families rather than the having the academic break on a rainy season.

Additionally, a new bill proposing to revert the school calendar back to June to March has been filed at the

In response to these calls, DepEd official Michael Poa said that although there are currently no plans to change the academic calendar, they do have plans to study it. “School heads have the discretion to suspend in-person classes and switch to alternative delivery modes or blended learning if the environment is not conducive to learning,” Poa said. “(However), we will take note of the suggestions and study the matter.”

Taking these pieces of information in mind, it is only just that the school calendar be changed back. A tropical country like the Philippines is in no place to continue conducting classes up to June, given that March to May is how long “summer” or the dry

Nasaan ang ating sariling palakasan?

Pagkatapos ng halos tatlong taon, muling naibalik ang Mayor’s Cup Tournament na aktibong sinalihan ng iba’t ibang district schools. Ang pangyayaring ito ay nagbibigay oportunidad sa mga estudyanteng atheleta upang ipakita ang kanilang husay at galing sa kanya-kanyang isports. Layunin din nito na palakasin at palaguhin ang pagmamahal ng mga estudyanteng atleta sa kanilang napiling isport.

Subalit, hindi lahat ng sports ay nabibigyan ng pare-parehong oportunidad upang mapasama sa naturang kumpetisyon. Mapapansing ang mga kilalang sports lamang ang karaniwang presente sa mga ganitong kumpetisyon

habang ang mga filipino sports tulad ng sungka, dumog, sikaran, at pale-sebo, ay hindi nabibigyan ng nararapat na pansin. Bagama’t nakikila ang Arnis sa ganitong kumpetisyon, hindi maipagkakailang mas mababa parin ang bilang ng mga filipino sports kesa sa mga non-traditional sports na makikita sa mga kumpetisyon.

Makikilalang Arnis ang pinakatanyag na isports na nagmula sa bansang Pilipinas. Ito rin ang karaniwang makikita na presente sa mga kumpetisyon. Itinituri itong pambansang laro ng Pilipinas kung

kaya’t nagkakaroon ito ng sapat na atensyon at pagkakakilanlan. Nitong nakaraang 30th Southeast Asian labing-apat na gintong medalya

Many citizens have been having a difficult time adjusting to the increasingly scorching weather caused by global warming. Heat strokes and fainting cases have come in more frequently as well. Such phenomena affects students, often sweltering while learning in their classrooms; leaving some classrooms at the mercy of air conditioners, which is important to note that not all schools have these. Parents of students send them to school not only with their kids’ education in mind, but with trust that the school keeps their children safe as they are learning. Therefore, for the safety of teachers and students alike, the school calendar to be reverted back to before the pandemic is a must.

With this matter still being reviewed and considered by DepEd, schools should craft standard measures on whether to continue or suspend the classes for a particular day given the current heat index. These procedures should be properly laid out to avoid miscommunications between the parents and the school. A storm isn’t the only kind of weather to look out for to postpone a school day.

ang nasungkit ng Pilipinas sa larong Arnis, hindi maipagkakailang ang mga manlalaro ng Arnis ang ilan sa may pinakamalaking kontribusyon sa pagiging kampeonato ng Pilipinas sa nagdaang 30th

Southeast Asian.

Samakatuwid, kung ang parehong atensyon ay maibibigay sa iba pang filipino sports malaki rin ang tyansa na mahasa at humusay ang mga iba’t ibang manlalarong Pilipino sa aspetong ito. Kung ang mga pampalakasang Pinoy na ito ay masasali sa ganitong kumpetisyon at mabibigyan ng sapat na pagkalinga at atensyon, mas makilala ang Pilipinas sa larangan ng isports at tiyak na maraming mga batang atleta ang maeenganyong subukan ito. Kung naipapamalas ng mga Pilipinong manlalaro ang

husay sa iba’t ibang larangan ng isports walang duda rin na magtatagumpay sila sa pagganap ng sariling pagkakakilanlan. Nararapat lamang na mas mapagtuonan ng pansin ang mga larong tiyak na kayang ipanalo ng Pilipino.

Kung nakakayang bigyan ng atensyon ang ibang isports, bakit hindi rin bigyan ng parehong pagkilala ang sariling isports ng Pilipinas na hindi lamang makakatulong sa mga Pilipino ngunit magbibigay din ng karangalan sa bansa? Nararapat lamang na mabigyan ng pansin ang mga isports na magbibigay ng karagdagang lakas sa mga Pinoy para sa mas matugampay na pagangat sa bandera ng Pilipinas.

OPINION/FEATURE

K to 12: Benefit or Burden?

On 2013, late President Aquino put into act the K to 12 curriculum, following the international standards for education. On 2016, the said curriculum was implemented nationwide. This curriculum has the promise to give students better opportunities after finishing the program. However, issues regarding the curriculum started to bubble up. The promises promised by the curriculum seems not to be kept. This thought enrages millions of Filipinos as they wonder the importance of the program.

As the country faces the pandemic on 2020, the health crisis made it difficult for Junior High School (JHS) completers to continue Senior High School (SHS) as the country still recovers from the effects of the pandemic 3 years later. The lack of facility and necessary equipment are big factors that makes it difficult to run the program. Then at the end, the benefits that was supposed to be there are missing, making it a burden.

The curriculum also somewhat under imply that a Junior High School completer is no better than a Senior High School graduate. This is supported by the continuing preference of companies to hire college graduates. They believe that those with a degree are more knowledgeable about the work at hand, more skilled, and are more responsible.

So why bother continue to SHS program? Well, the program’s intention to be at par with the level of education on other countries is good. However, its implementation is the problem. Thus, the need for revision is sought, and the Department of Education (DepEd) responded by the assuring the public that they will review the program.

As of this writing, the Department is currently reviewing the curriculum; and having reviewed the curriculum multiple times, no action was implemented. The K to 12 program has good intentions, but that is not enough.

For me, the K to 12 curriculum has a bright future, but the need for change is long overdue. As they say, action speaks louder than words, and in this case, it’s very much true.

The Chinese Lion Dance: A Chinese New Year Tradition

u KIMBERLY H. BENDICION

One of the popular traditions practiced every Chinese New Year is the lion dance. It is a traditional dance performed on big occasions like the Chinese New Year, usually done for good luck.

The Lion dance is a very significant part of Chinese New Year. It is performed to drive out ghosts, evil spirits, and monsters like Nian—a beast that lived at the bottom of the sea and only came to shore on the last day of the Lunar New Year to eat people and livestock. Such creatures are afraid of noises like clashing cymbals. Every motion the lion makes has its own melodic cadence. The gongs and the cymbals follow the drummer, who in turn follows

Adding spices to Palarong Pambansa

Many of our citizens play various types of sporting activities. With this, we have an event named “Palarong Pambansa”. This involves student athletes from different regions all over the Philippines that enter to play different sports competitions every year. After a 3 year hiatus, it finally returned, bringing along new implications with it’s new format. This new format draw in mixed reactions from the sporting community.

Deped initiated a new tier named “Pre-National Qualifying Meet”, with the intention to “lessen the number of delegations, shorten the duration of the event, prevent disruption of classes, and to lower the expenses”. This new rule also aims to follow the COVID-19 guidelines. The athletes will face various screening processes during the division meets, which has been ongoing, followed by regional meets in April and the newly clustered pre-national qualifying meets in July. This was the proposed competition format by DepEd.

The establishment of this new rule was met by mixed comments. Some were content with it, while some didn’t really agree with the change. By establishing this rule, the chances for other athletes to get into a team that could potentially represent their city or the country are slimmer. A lot of players have good skills and potential to play in bigger teams, but it’ll be cut quite short because the Palarong Pambansa needs less players now. Many participants will be excited to play for their school, their district, and possibly, be one of the representatives of their city for the sport they’re playing. Practicing a lot so they can qualify, but not being able to because only a small amount of platers are needed. All the more reason to be excited to play, with the fact that the Palarong Pambansa hasn’t been around in 3-4 years, given the COVID-19 pandemic, and it just resumed its activities recently.

the lion’s movements with the help of the drum. The Lion will replicate different emotional states and exhibit comparable bodily motions during the performance, giving the Lion a lifelike appearance.

The lion dance blends kung fu movements, history, and art.

The first few days of the Chinese New Year are when lion dances are performed. Two performers, one at the head and one at the tail of the lion, execute the lion dance.

People imitated the newly arrived lion’s character and its actions in performance. Following that, the public continued to enjoy watching lion dances as a popular

performance in order to wish for luck at the Spring Festival or other events. Chinese folk culture, which has expanded around the world with Chinese immigration, is exemplified by the lion dance. Many lion dance clubs have been created by overseas Chinese in Europe, America, and other places. These groups perform during important Chinese holidays and festivals, including Chinese New Year.

This tradition is very much still practiced in modern times. Since its popularity, more countries celebrate Chinese New Year. Therefore, bringing Chinese culture to new places, and is appreciated more around the world.

What makes these sporting events fun is when you take the time to have fun playing. Cutting that short wouldn’t be as fun as it was before the rule change.

The importance of the Palarong Pambansa to many student athletes is big. For some, they dream to play for it; to be in the national scene. Thus, cutting the number of players short might just cut their dreams short.

A CHAPTER OF New Beginnings

In the words of Taylor Alison Swift, “This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change.” We all have that mindset to start the new year with new perspectives and have a fresh start. Traditionally, families clean their homes and surroundings before starting the new year. This is due to the fact that a tidy home lifts one’s spirit and you’ll be more receptive to welcoming guests. With this, Leyte Progressive High School, Inc. (LPHS) holds its First Spring Cleaning in order to wash away the bad luck and allow for a new beginning.

Spring Cleaning dates back to ancient times, up to 3000 years B.C. In Chinese culture, there are a lot of auspicious beliefs and traditions when it comes to planning and cleaning one’s abode. It is practiced traditionally in the belief that houses must be cleaned on the 28th day of the last month, prior to the Chinese New Year. Sometimes, it may sound familiar, but a lot of Chinese families place red trimmings on their doorways and windows to release all the bad luck.

We, as humans, naturally prefer a cleaner environment to live in. Personally, a clean environment motivates me and usually results in a much more productive attitude. Moreover, having a clean and organized environment (or workplace, study area, etc.) can influence you to make better decisions in life, and can also make you think about your life in general.

As LPHS prepares for a new year filled with surprising events and continuous academic excellence, the 2023 Spring cleaning initiative happened on January 19, 2023. The Progressionist family hopes that by the Chinese culture, not only can the student body be rewarded with luck this year, but they can also raise their Chinese pride as they are able to exercise traditions that were long alive since their ancestors lived. In this, one can call it true Chinese fulfillment and tribute.

u PAUL JR. P. RADAM

Ang volleyball ay isang larong batay sa tibay, bilis, liksi, at lakas. Dahil sa tindi ng laro, mahalaga ang pagtitiis. Mahalaga rin ang lakas dahil para makakuha ng puntos ang iyong koponan kailangan mong magkaroon ng lakas para magserve, humarang, at matamaan ang bola nang husto para umabot ito sa sahig. Sa bawat sandali, kailangan mong maging mabilis sa iyong mga paa para sa pagdating ng bola sa iyo. Para naman sa liksi, kailangan upang lubos na maunawaan ang mga kasanayang ginagampanan sa volleyball.

Sa isang pangkat ng mga medyo batang manlalaro, si Jovielyn Prado ay patuloy na nangunguna sa Tacloban Fighting Warays. Ang NCAA Season 92 Finals

Most Valuable Player ay may average na 13.3 puntos bawat laban, nangunguna sa lahat ng Fighting Warays, na nakaupo sa 2-1 para simulan ang PVL Open Conference.

At hindi lang ito sa pagmamarka – ipinamalas ni Prado ang kanyang allaround game, na nagtala ng 10 digs nang dalawang beses sa kanilang unang tatlong outings.

Kasunod ng 18-point, 10-dig outing laban sa

Akari-Adamson Lady Falcons, ibinahagi ni Prado na ang kanyang tungkulin sa pamumuno ay ipinanganak mula sa pangangailangan.

May gampanin ang lahat

Katulad ni Prado, ang mga manlalaro ng volleyball ay pumupuno sa mga posisyon sa tuwing sila ay tumuntong sa court. Ang isa ay maaaring maging isang spiker, marahil isang libero, marahil isang setter, o iba pa. Minsan, sinusunog natin ang ating sarili kapag gumagawa tayo ng trabaho na dapat ginawa ng iba. Sinasabi sa atin ng volleyball kung gaano kahalaga ang mga tungkulin upang mapakilos

VOLLEYBALL: Isabuhay, Alamin, Mahalin

Isipin kung ang isang bola ay napupunta sa iyong direksyon at itinaya mo ang pag-angkin sa pagtanggap nito. Mayroong ilang mga bagay na dapat mong isaalang-alang kapag naisagawa mo ang susunod na gawain. Itatanong mo sa iyong sarili, “Saan ko dapat iposisyon ang aking sarili upang pinakamahusay na matanggap ang bola? Saan ko ididirekta ang bola? Gaano kataas ang dapat kong ipasa sa aking kasamahan?” Hinihikayat tayo nito na magkaroon ng isang malakas na pakiramdam ng pananagutan sa mga bagay na ipinapahayag

isang manlalaro. Kadalasan, kahit na pagkatapos matalo gusto mo lang isabit ang iyong ulo sa kahihiyan. Gayunpaman, ikaw ay pinalakas na bumalik at manalo. Ang pagkapanalo ay isang magandang pakiramdam. Lahat ay gustong manalo, at ang tunay na aral sa Volleyball ay hindi lahat ng tao kayang manalo sa lahat ng oras. Kailangan mo lang bumangon para maglaro sa susunod na laro.

ang isang koponan sa buong potensyal nito. Ngunit siyempre, sa mga oras ng kaguluhan, ang iyong koponan ay nakatalikod sa iyo.

Gaano ba kabigat ang pagsabi ng “mine”?

Sa laro ng Volleyball, ang pagsasabi ng “akin,” ay higit pa sa paggigiit kung ano ang dapat na sa iyo. Ito ay isang mabigat na pag-angkin dahil sa bawat “mine” na iyong sinisigaw ay may kasamang malaking responsibilidad.

natin na atin.

Pagtatiyaga sa harap ng kabiguan

Kung naglalaro ka ng sports, makakaranas ka ng kabiguan. Ikaw at ang iyong koponan ay matatalo sa mga laro, paligsahan, at kumpetisyon. Ang kabiguan ay bahagi ng buhay. Sa halip na hayaang talunin ka ng kabiguan, tinutulungan ka ng team sports tulad ng volleyball na matuto mula sa karanasan at maging mas mahusay na manlalaro at mas malakas na tao!

Pagkadapa at pagbangon

Ang pagkatalo ay isa sa mga pangyayari na bumubuo sa pagkatao ng

Maihahantulad natin ang Volleybal sa totoong buhay. Minsan kapag nasa

laro ka na, tatama ka na sana, ngunit hinarang ng isa pang manlalaro ang iyong pagtama. Nalalapat ito sa buhay, kapag malapit mo nang maabot ang iyong mga layunin, at may nagpakita at humarang sa iyong pag-abot. Sa laro, kailangan mong maglaro ng matalino at maiwasan ang mga “blocker.” Sa buhay kailangan mo ring maglaro ng matalino, upang makahanap ng isang paraan na malagpasan ang mga humaharang sa iyo.

Magkatulad ang mga emosyon sa mga laro at buhay. Kapag nakakuha ka ng ace

sa iyong pag-serve, nakaramdam ka ng pananabik, tulad ng pag-ace mo sa iyong pagsubok. Minsan nahihirapan ka sa paglaro ng volleyball at sa buhay din. Nakakadismaya minsan ang laro ngunit minsan ay makakakuha ka ng magagandang resulta, tulad ng pagkanalo sa isang laro laban sa mahirap na koponan. Nalalapat din ito sa buhay, kapag nahihirapan ka sa isang bagay, ngunit kapag naghirap ka at sa huli ay nakita mo ang iyong pagkatagumpay,napakagaan ng pakiramdam mo sa iyong sarili.

Kung minsan ay matatamaan ka; maaaring ito ay bola, o ang mga sitwasyon. Ang buhay ay hindi natin mahulaan, kaya dapat mong laging asahan ang mga hindi inaasahan. Sa laro ng volleyball, kailangan mong asahan na ang bola ay papunta sa iyo. Sa buhay palagi kang umaasa sa mga resulta na maaaring tumama sa iyong sarili. Mayroon kang pagpipilian, ito ay bumangon at harapin sila o maaari kang maging duwag at hayaan silang manalo. Sa laro ng Volleyball at sa buhay, maging isa kang manlalaro na hindi malilimutan.

u PAUL JR. P. RADAM

PICTURES.

u LEANNE FAITH G. ORONOS

If I were asked what the greatest thing to have ever been invented was, I’d answer “cameras’’ every single time. To be able to freeze a moment of your life and have it on a piece of photo paper or put up on a wall in your home to be remembered for a lifetime was an idea that I think surpasses any other genius thing man has made- ever.

A camera, by definition, is a device used for taking and recording images, producing photographs and videos. I remember looking through old photo books that contain pictures of me from when I was barely a toddler, and I can barely remember the photos being taken. The commonly asked question when being shown a picture is “Do you remember?” Though my response was “no” since I was just an infant during the time the photos were taken, I was glad to see those moments preserved in a piece of photo paper, to get a gist of what I was like as a baby.

There was never a special occasion in my life that a camera wasn’t present. Graduations, birthdays, competitions, and the like. A single camera click takes a picture of a time that will eventually pass by and makes a physical copy of a memory to be cherished for a lifetime. Although they are mere pieces of paper with a bunch of pixels combined to make a single image, they hold as much sentiment as one wants it to bear.

My fondness for picture taking and cameras followed me all throughout my life leading up to the present. Taking pictures with my friends and or my family to carry a reminder of that time we took the pictures in my device, taking pictures of things that I think look pretty to have an accurate image of what it looked like, and capturing photos of my dog doing whatever just because.

And it’s not just taking pictures I’m fond of. Seeing pictures of my friends and people who are a good part of my life whether it be a selfie, a picture of their pets, the sky, or them just being happy in general is something I’m glad to see. Liking the pictures they post of them is my way of saying I’m happy for them. Sharing and going through photos with the ones I hold closest to me, laughing and crying while reminiscing those times are one of, if not my favourite things to do.

To live in a time where really good cameras exist, I feel contented.

Eidetic Memories

u NISHINA CATE M. CAGUICLA

It’s a Saturday evening, 10:55. You’re due with an article in a few days, but here you are— staring at a blank document with nothing running through your mind. The sounds of the 10-year-old electric fan blowing at full speed and the cats running and hissing on the rooftop filled your room. You then asked yourself, “What to do now?”

You started keying some words, such as the date today. You know you did that because you needed to motivate yourself to write something. However, as soon as you finished keying the date, you stopped. Your fingers just lie on the keyboard, anticipating that you will write something soon; but here you are—staring at a not-so-blank document now.

“I don’t know what to do,” you said to yourself, while also thinking about the song “Don’t Know What To Do” by BLACKPINK and is now currently playing in your mind. You started singing to its lyrics, even dancing a bit to it, but then you immediately stopped. “FOCUS!” you screamed to yourself. But just like earlier, you just happened to play the song “Focus” by Ariana Grande in your mind.

Irritated, you clenched your fists, got up, closed your laptop, and let in a deep breath. You looked at the clock. It registered 11:15. “I need fresh air,” you thought to yourself. With that, you changed clothes, put your sneakers on, and house keys in your pocket.

The sound of crickets welcomed you as you stepped out of your house. The cool breeze gently caressed your skin as you inhaled the smell of the evening. “This is what I just need. I need a break.”

Truly enough, you need the break.

In the past days, you’ve been working hard—finishing the Work Immersion portfolio, studying for the final examinations in General Chemistry, preparing for the oral defense for Research, and complying with the requirements of other subjects—that often times a two-hour sleep is already okay for you. You were very sleep deprived that you would even be thankful for a 15-minute nap. And then, you did them all. You have finished and submitted your Work Immersion portfolio, passed the final examination in General Chemistry, aced the oral defense, and complied with the requirements set by other subjects. You have smelled the scent of that Senior High School Diploma now that you have successfully submitted all the requirements in order to graduate.

Then you remembered that you still have a pending article to submit. With the remaining work juice from that week, you tried your best to squeeze every drop of it just to let yourself write an article. But there’s no more juice to be squeezed out. You’re drained—mentally and physically.

The sound of the dogs barking at the corner woke you up from that daydream you had. You stretched a little as you prepare yourself to walk around your neighborhood. As you walked, you noticed that there are banana shrubs growing on a vacant lot near your house, the potholes on the roads have gotten worse, cars were parked on the road making it difficult for vehicles to go around, and that the neighborhood isn’t as noisy as it was 12 years ago.

You then started to reminisce on the memories you had growing up in that neighborhood— the countless times you ran on those very streets while playing Tag! You’re It! with your friends, the house where you and your friends would frequently stay after classes to watch some cartoons, the dance practices and showdowns that were done on the streets, and the instances where you and your friends would tease the dogs and try to outrun them. “Such good old days,” you happily said to yourself while letting out a deep sigh.

You continued to walk, and now your three blocks away from home. You also realized that in a couple of weeks, you’ll be in college; and after 4 years, you’ll have your degree and will be working as a full-grown adult. You will then be an adult doing adult-related stuff (such as taxes and bills) and relying on your adult instincts to survive.

But you also realized that your parents are getting old, too; that they will be needing your help in taking care of themselves. As Taylor Swift puts it in her song “Never Grow Up”, “Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room; Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home; Remember the footsteps, remember the words said, And all your little brother’s favorite songs. I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone.”

You got teary-eyed as you walk back to your house, still thinking about the memories and of what’s going to be. You thought to yourself, “Growing up is such a crazy concept because a lot of times when you were younger you wish you were older.”

As you reached home, you went back to your room and opened your laptop. Here you are again, staring at a blank document. However, unlike earlier, you now have an idea on what you’re going to write about. You looked at the clock—it’s already 12:13. It’s already Sunday. You put your fingers once more on the keyboard, and started keying in “Eidetic Memories.”

SUDOKU PUZZLES

DID YOU KNOW?

Nokia launches ‘modern’ logo

u JADE GABRIELLE A. GAGARIN

Ready to unleash the exponential potential of the network, Nokia unveiled its redesigned logo during the World Mobile Congress.

The redesigned logo still contains the 5 letters Nokia is recognized with but now “more contemporary and digital.” In a statement released by Nokia, the redesigned look is “emblematic of an energized, dynamic, and modern Nokia.”

“Today we share our updated company and technology strategy with a focus on unleashing the exponential potential of networks – pioneering a future where networks meet cloud. To signal this ambition we are refreshing our brand to reflect who we are today – a B2B technology innovation leader. This is Nokia, but not as the world has seen us before,” Nokia President and CEO Pekka Lundmark said in a statement.

Moreover, the redesigned

look of Nokia is now being rolled out across all of its sites and assets. Nokia also added that the redesign is about strengtheing its networking, innovation, collaborative partnerships, and technology leadership.

Nokia is a business-to-business (B2B) innovation leader with expertise in fixed, mobile and cloud networking technologies. It is also involved in intellectual property and longterm research, led by Nokia Bell Labs.

A recent Bloomberg report said that the Finnish company changed its logo to stop being associated with its former business of manufacturing mobile phones.

“Our updated company strategy is supported by our technology strategy, which details how networks will need to evolve to meet the demands of the metaverse era,” it said.

NASA: Asteroid has ‘small chance’ of hitting Earth in 2046

u JACKIE WATTLES & KRISTIN FISHER, CNN

A newly discovered asteroid roughly the size of an Olympic swimming pool has a “small chance” of colliding with Earth in 23 years, with a potential impact on Valentine’s Day in 2046, according to NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office.

The asteroid has a 1 in 625 chance of striking Earth, based on data projections from the European Space Agency, though NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Sentry system calculated the odds closer to 1 in 560. The latter tracks potential collisions with celestial objects.

But the space rock — named 2023 DW — is the only object on NASA’s risk list that ranks 1 out of 10 on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale, a metric for categorizing the projected risk of an object colliding with Earth. All other objects rank at 0 on the Torino scale.

Though the 2023 DW tops the list, its ranking of 1 means only that “the chance of collision is extremely unlikely with no cause for public attention or public concern,” according to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, while a 0 ranking means the “likelihood of a collision is zero, or is so low as to be effectively zero.”

Advancements in cancer treatments saves more lives

More modern treatments are discovered, made, and practiced as technology continues to evolve. Such developments also applies greatly in cancer treatment.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported in 2020 that cancer had recorded 10 million deaths worldwide.

Developments are made not only in treatments but also in diagnosing such illnesses. For example, precision oncology is a new technology used for diagnosis. It utilizes the detection of genetic sequencing changes which can guide diagnoses and treatment.

Such medical operation can

identify cell changes that are predicted to grow and spread, which will then help create individualized treatment compared to the currently available forms of medications such as chemotherapy.

Chief Executive Sizhen Wang of Genetron Health, a pioneer of precision oncology, stated that doctors and patients “need more stable and reliable medical solutions with simple, standard operating procedures, shorter turnover times, fewer testing samples, and lower treatment costs.”

WHO (2020) indicated that lung cancer was the common cause of cancer death. De-

“This object is not particularly concerning,” said Davide Farnocchia, a navigation engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

NASA officials have warned that the odds of impact could

be dramatically altered as more observations of 2023 DW are collected and additional analysis is performed.

“Often when new objects are first discovered,” NASA Asteroid Watch noted Tuesday on Twitter, “it takes several weeks of data to reduce the uncertainties and adequately predict their orbits years into the future.”

Risk of asteroid impact

It’s common for newly discovered asteroids to appear more threatening when first observed.

“Because orbits stemming from very limited observation sets are more uncertain it is more likely that such orbits will ‘permit’ future impacts,” the Center for Near Earth Object Studies, located at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, notes on its website.

“However, such early predictions can often be ruled out as we incorporate more observations and reduce the uncertainties in the object’s orbit,” it reads. “Most often, the threat associated with a specific object will decrease as additional observations become available.”

It may be a few days before new data can be collected because of the asteroid’s proximity to the moon, Farnocchia noted in an email to CNN. The last full moon was two days ago, and it still appears bright and large in the sky, likely obscuring 2023 DW from immediate observation, he said.

“But then the object will remain observable for weeks (even months with larger telescopes) so we can get plenty of observations as needed,” he added.

The asteroid measures about 160 feet (about 50 meters) in diameter, according to NASA data. As 2023 DW orbits the sun, it has 10 predicted close approaches to Earth, with the nearest landing on February 14, 2046, and nine others between 2047 and 2054. The closest the asteroid is expected to travel to Earth is about 1.1 million miles (1.8 million kilometers), NASA’s Eyes on Asteroids website notes.

The space rock was first spotted in our skies on February 2. It’s traveling about 15.5 miles per second (25 kilometers per second) at a distance of more than 11 million miles (18 million kilometers) from Earth, completing one loop around the sun every 271 days.

Farnocchia noted the success of NASA’s DART mission, or the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, in September 2022 as evidence that humanity can be prepared to confront space rocks on potentially disastrous courses. DART intentionally collided a spacecraft into an asteroid to change its trajectory.

“That’s the very reason why we flew that mission,” he said, “and that mission was a spectacular success.”

SPOTTED! Astronomers recently spotted the 2023 DW asteroid, depicted in a rendering. The space rock is more than 11 million miles from Earth.

u DANN ROUJZ M. DELA PEÑA

What impact could ChatGPT have on journalism?

ISTANBUL – Ever since its release in November 2022, ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence-driven chatbot developed by research and development firm OpenAI, has been a topic of discussion among journalists regarding its potential influence on the news industry and media.

ChatGPT is capable of automatically generating text based on written prompts and engaging in conversational interactions with users by answering their questions.

It has gained immense popularity, reaching more than 100 million users within the first two months.

The chatbot’s appeal lies in its detailed and human-like responses in a conversational format, including the ability to challenge incorrect assumptions and answer follow-up questions.

The Associated Press, Reuters, The Washington Post, the BBC and the New York Times benefit from artificial intelligence to produce content, personalize their offerings and improve audi-

ence engagement.

The US-based media outlet BuzzFeed is also planning to use ChatGPT to improve their quizzes and personalize certain content for their audiences.

Speaking to Anadolu, Jonathan Soma, who runs a data journalism program at Columbia University’s Journalism School, described ChatGPT as a “fantastic tool” for producing ideas and giving suggestions to journalists.

“But just like any suggestions, they are apt to be misleading or incorrect. That is why ChatGPT works best alongside journalists, as a tool to assist their process, not as a standalone product that does the work of a journalist,” Soma said in an email interview.

He said many news organizations are enthusiastic about utilizing GPT-powered instruments to publish stories but noted that this is a higher-cost investment.

“This could be seen when CNET recently published a

large number of error-prone articles: even when it’s claimed that editors review and revise AI-generated pieces, they probably don’t!”

“It’s very easy for the business case of ‘increasing productivity’ to overrule the ability of journalists to take care and produce their best work,” he added.

CNET, a US-based tech website, has reportedly published AI-generated content.

Asked about ChatGPT’s role to enhance the quality and efficiency of journalism, Soma said it can do a good job at fact-checking despite its “tendency to hallucinate.”

“GPT-based automated tools for analyzing datasets and querying large sets of documents are quickly maturing and can do a lot to improve the accuracy of reporting.”

“For example, if I’m writing about a rise in shoplifting, it can automatically query a database to see if this is an

Scientist wants center for polymers available across PH

MANILA – A Balik Scientist on Thursday expressed his wish that the Center for Sustainable Polymers (CSP) -- currently available for use in Region 10 -- be made available to other regions by making it a national center.

Balik Scientist Robert Malaluan said he is seeking the government’s support on this initiative.

Located at the Mindanao State University - Iligan State of Technology, the CSP was funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as a niche center for sustainable polymers across the region.

“The country has a lot of polymers, and we could make these a high-value product,” Malaluan said in a public briefing.

He cited as an example the CocoFlexSorb developed at the CSP, which seeks to help contain the oil spill in Mindoro. This bio-based polyurethane foam, reportedly has superior oil absorption capacity and can absorb different types of oil from vegetable, kerosene, engine, and bunker oil.

In the same briefing, CSP program leader Arnold Lubguban said this innovation costs four to five times less than existing petroleum-based absorbents. Further, the coco foam can be reused for about 20 to 30 times.

Malaluan said they are currently developing other products at the CSP.

“We are not just studying coconut oil but also other biopolymers, sustainable polymers that we aim to

accurate portrayal.”

Biggest problem with ChatGPT is ‘absolutely accuracy’

In February 2023, OpenAI announced its plan to offer a subscription service called ChatGPT Plus.

This service provides numerous advantages to its subscribers such as quicker responses with priority access to new updates and enhancements. It costs $20 per month.

ChatGPT has some limitations, as it can give wrong responses, not just once but possibly multiple times.

OpenAI already accepts the limitations.

“ChatGPT sometimes writes a plausible-sounding but incorrect or nonsensical answer,” the company says.

Soma also agrees that the biggest problem with ChatGPT is “absolutely accuracy,” which brings some potential ethical concerns associated with the use of it in journalism such as bias

or accuracy issues.

“Large language models tend to ‘hallucinate,’ and give answers to questions that are incorrect but sound accurate,” he said.

“Someone who can say ‘I don’t know’ is more trustworthy than someone who always has an answer, and it is unfortunately very difficult to cajole ChatGPT into saying ‘I don’t know.’”

Asked about the challenges journalists would face in integrating ChatGPT into their workflow, he said “fear” and a “lack of knowledge” probably are the largest issues for the news industry.

“The messaging around ChatGPT is one of those things -- it’s perfect and all-knowing, or it’s a biased garbage machine.”

“If journalists can take the time – not on deadline, not explicitly for work – to play around with ChatGPT in a guided environment, it could do a lot to help them see its strengths and weaknesses.” (Anadolu)

Advancements in cancer treatments...

FROM PAGE 13

convert into high-value products,” he said.

Lubguban then noted that the country is rich in these natural resources, and these can be sourced from the sea, the trees as well as vegetable oils. “The country is rich in these resources. What we need are more laboratories and researchers to create more products to help our economy,” he said.

He added that he is encouraging other universities to avail of the DOST’s program so they could also establish small laboratories.

The CSP, according to Malaluan, is an advanced laboratory where small and medium enterprises could test their materials. The laboratory has the equipment capable of characterizing certain materials. (PNA)

tecting lung cancer at an early stage is challenging and may cause it to develop into latestage cancer.

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) had developed an AI deep learning model called “Sybil.” It uses a single lowdose computed tomography (CT) scan to predict the risk of lung cancers that might occur in six years.

Meanwhile, immunotherapy is one of the cancer treatments which strengthens the patient’s immune system and attacks cancer cells.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, another immunotherapy form, can remove advanced leukemia and lymphoma. It takes T-Cells from the patient’s blood, modifies them in the laboratory, and then injects them back into the patient to target cancer cells.

Despite its excellent results, only half of the patients who received the treatment survived long-term.

“[CAR T-cells] are now widely available in the United States and other countries and have become a standard treatment for patients with aggressive lymphomas. They have become a part of modern medicine,” Dr. Steven Rosenberg, National Cancer Institute’s Center for Cancer Research Surgery branch chief, stated.

Cancer is caused when normal cells turn into tumor cells. These cells may progress from pre-cancerouos lessions to malignant tumors due to genetic and other external factors.

Besides these advanced treatmens that can continuously evolve, early detection can help patients get treated early and reduce mortality.

DOH conducts basic life...

FROM PAGE 1 for the teachers, to empower, and for you to have knowledge on basic life support and first aid.)

The BLS oreintation was positively received by the attending Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, and Grade 12 students. “It was nice, actually. It was a great opportunity for us to learn basic life support. So yeah, we can help others by learning BLS.” Helen Joy B. Navales, a Grade 11 student, told The Prism.

The said training was conducted in line with the Fire Prevention Month 2023.

COVID-19 no longer a global health emergency, says WHO

The COVID-19 pandemic, which for over three years has killed millions of people, wreaked economic havoc and deepened inequalities, no longer constitutes a global health emergency, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday.

It is “with great hope that I declare COVID-19 over as a global health emergency,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters, estimating that the pandemic had killed “at least 20 million” people — nearly three times the official estimate.

NHCP inaugurates ‘Battle of Ormoc Bay’ historical marker

The ‘Battle of Ormoc Bay’ historical marker was formally inaugurated on Tuesday, February 27, at Ormoc City Plaza.

Dr. Rene R. Escalante, chairman of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), stated in his talk during the inauguration that Ormoc Bay will be formally included in the list of historical bays under the National Registry of Historic Sites and Structures in the Philippines.

Furthermore, Dr. Escalante lead in the turn-over of the historical marker to Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez during the program. Witnesses during the turn-over event were Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez, NHCP Deputy Executive Director Alvin R. Alcid, Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) Members of Ormoc City, and the city government officials.

The marker, appropriately titled “Labanan sa Look ng Ormoc”, serves as a reminder of the Battle of Ormoc Bay between the Allied Forces against the Japanese Army on October 23 to December 11, 1944.

LPHS joins Research Fair 2023

u MARIA ELIZABETH G. KUNIMITSU

Leyte Progressive High School, Inc. (LPHS) has sent 24 participants to this year’s Research Fair, a 3-day event nationwide research-based competition and convention for high school students.

The said event is organized by the University of the Philippines Academic League of Chemical Engineering Students, Incorporated (UP ALCHEMES, Inc.) of the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

LPHS joined in two subevents: the National Science Competition (NSC) and the Youth Science Competition (YSC). Twelve participants have been sent to compete in the NSC, while the remaining 12 are to attend the YSC.

LPHS is among the 17 schools that has participated in the NSC. The Philippine Science High School Campuses, MAPUA University,

The Mabini Academy, St. Therese College of Quezon City and Tabaco National High School (Albay) are some of the participating schools in the said competition.

This year’s Research Fair is anchored on the theme “ZEPPELIN: Adventuring with the Youth to Greater Scientific Altitudes.” The said event will last for three days, from February 9 to 11.

Road mishap halts San Juanico Bridge light show

u SHARON EVITE, ABS-CBN NEWS

San Juanico Bridge stopped glowing in the dark again, the second time this February.

This happened after a portion of the railings of the San Juanico Bridge was detached when a private vehicle from Basey, Samar, bound for Tacloban City figured in an accident at the Samar side of the famed bridge on Friday morning.

Three persons were hurt, 49 year-old village councilor of Amandayehan, Basey, and Samar, and 2 his passengers.

Local police in Basey town, Samar, say the vehicle, an SUV, had a steering malfunc-

tion. The driver tried stepping on the brake, but the vehicle swerved and hit several railings on the bridge.

The driver and passengers who sustained injuries were given the necessary medical intervention.

However, despite not being directly affected by the incident, the San Juanico Bridge Aesthetic Lighting Show was temporarily suspended. The Samar Provincial Government says this will give authorities time to assess the extent of damage and ensure everyone’s safety.

This is not the first time that

the San Juanico Bridge has temporarily stopped its light show. Earlier this month, an unexpected electrical breakdown at the San Juanico Bridge affected a scheduled aesthetic light show. It immediately resumed after the necessary repairs were completed.

The San Juanico Bridge Aesthetic Lighting and Sound is a proponent project of the Samar provincial government, funded through an 80-million-peso outlay from the Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority in 2018 and inaugurated by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on October 19, 2022.

Terorista patay sa engkwentro sa Northern Samar; Scout Ranger nagsakripisyo ng buhay

u KHRISZEL NICE E. VILLACORTE & WELLA MAE B. PINES

Patay ang isang miyembro ng Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) sa nangyaring engkwentro sa Brgy. Geparayan De Turag, Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar kahapon, Marso 20.

Ayon sa impormasyon galing sa 8th Infantry ‘Stormtroopers’ Division (8ID), nangyari ang engkwentro habang rumuresponde ang mga sundalo ng 4th Scout Ranger ‘Masigasig’ Battalion sa ulat ng mga residente sa patuloy na extortion ng mga grupo ng terorista sa lugar.

Ito ay nagresulta sa 20-minuto

na engkwento sa pagitan ng militar at pitong (7) miyembro ng Front Committe 1 (FC1), Sub-Regional Committe (SRC) Emporium, at Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC).

Agad namang nakatakas ang mga terorista at iniwan ang walng buhay na katawan ng kanilang kaapi na sa ngayon ay hindi pa rin nakikilala.

Nakuha rin sa nasabing lugar ang usang M16 riffle na baril. Nagpapatuloy pa rin sa ngayon ang ginagawang hot pursuit operation ng mga sundalo

sa Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar.

Samantala, nagbuwis ng buhay ang isang scout ranger sa nasabing engkwentro. Ang scout ranger ay kinilalang si Pvt Modesto G. Lutob (Inf) PA.

“His heroism and gallantry in action in serving the people of Northern Samar to support the attainment of lasting peace and development should never be forgotten,” sabi ni MGen Camilo Z. Ligayo, kumander ng 8ID.

u ARCHIE G. TILLOR

Malacañang backs PNVF hosting of VNL, World Beach Pro Tour

u JILIANNE VICTORIA D. CO

Malacañang has extended its full support to the two major international tournaments which the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) will be hosting this year.

The PNVF headed by Ramon “Tats” will hold the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) from July 4 to 9 at the Mall of Asia Arena and the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 in Taguig City.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin signed on behalf of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Memorandum Circular No. 17 directing “all government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations, and encouraging local government units” to support both International Volleyball Federation, or FIVB, tournaments.

“I would like to thank Presi-

dent Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. for supporting the PNVF and the FIVB in promoting volleyball in the country,” Suzara said on Thursday.

“We guarantee the success of both tournaments that not only help promote the sport in world level, but also showcase the country’s tourism,” added Suzara, who also serves as secretary of the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment Commission.

The PNVF was asked to host the VNL again after the FIVB was impressed with the successful staging of two VNL legs at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City last year.

This year’s VNL men’s tournament will be participated by world’s No. 1 Poland, No. 2 Italy, No. 4 Brazil, No. 7 Japan, No. 9 Slovenia, No. 13 The Netherlands, No. 15 Canada and No. 26 China.

The Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge is also returning to the Philippines.

Sisi Rondina and Jovelyn Gonzaga defeated Genesa Jane “Jen” Eslapor and Floremel Rodriguez in the all-Fil-

Teener IM Quizon captures ASEAN Chess Championship title

Southeast Games, also split the point with fellowman IM Ervan Mohamad after 35 moves of a Petroff’s Defense to settle for third place with 6.5 points.

GM Darwin Laylo, the reigning national champion, conquered GM John Paul Gomez in 33 moves of a Queen’s Indian Defense to share fourth place with Mohamad with 6.0 points. Gomez was fifth with 5.5 points.

MANILA – Filipino International Master Daniel Quizon defeated his older compatriot IM Rolando Nolte in 57 moves of a King’s Indian Defense to win the AQ Prime ASEAN Chess Championship at the Great Eastern Hotel in Quezon City on Saturday night.

The victory was sweeter as the 19-year-old Quizon also secured the second of the three norms required for a Grandmaster title.

A member of the Dasmariñas Chess Academy in Cavite, Quizon finished the tournament with 7.5 points (6 wins, 2 losses and 3 draws) to claim the USD2,000 champion’s purse.

“I will always be grateful to

those who supported me towards my achievement of getting my second of three required GM norms,” said Quizon, who earned his first GM norm at the 2018 Eastern Asia Juniors Chess Championship in South Korea.

He acknowledged national coach FM Roel Abelgas as one of those instrumental for his success.

Meanwhile, IM Paulo Bersamina drew with GM Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam after 30 moves of a Modern Benoni Defense and finished second with 7.0 points. He received USD1,200.

Top seed GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia, a gold medalist at the 2019 Manila

IM Yeoh Li Tian of Malaysia, CM Dau Khuong Duy and GM Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam, and IM Yoseph Theolifus Taher of Indonesia tied for sixth with identical 5.0 points, followed by FM Prin Laohawirapap of Thailand (4.0) and the 50-year-old Nolte (3.5).

“I would like to extend my congratulations to IM Daniel Quizon and IM Paulo Bersamina. They really proved that Filipinos are at par with the best in the world. And this also proves that our programs in the NCFP (National Chess Federation of the Philippines) are on the right track,” said NCFP president Prospero Pichay Jr. (PNA)

ipino final held in Subic last December.

Meanwhile, tickets to the VNL are now on sale via www.smtickets.com. Prices are PHP11,000 for VIP on Court and Patron Front Row, PHP3,000 for Patron Pre-

mium, PHP2,000 for Patron Regular, PHP1,300 for Lower Box, PHP800 for Upper Box and PHP300 for General Admission.

Ormoc City bet reaches Cañiza Women’s Open q’finals

MANILA – Wildcard entry Kimi Aiyana Brodeth of Ormoc City defeated Mary Aubrey Calma, 6-1, 6-2, to book a quarterfinal berth in the PPS-PEPP Rina Cañiza Women’s Open tennis championships at the Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) outdoor courts in Paco, Manila on Wednesday.

“This is my first time to compete in the Women’s Open. I played with nothing to lose because I expect my opponents to be more experienced,” said the 15-year-old Brodeth, a Grade 10 student from Saint Paul’s Ormoc Foundation Inc.

She will face No. 14 Nichole Dela Rita, who pulled off a 7-5, 6-2 upset win over third seed Justine Hannah Maneja, in the quarterfinals.

“I am happy to be in the quarters. I’ll just play my usual game,” said Brodeth, champion in the Masters Juniors in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental and Dinagyang Festival Juniors in Iloilo City this year.

University of the Philippines players Joshea Dominique Malazarte and Rachel Patricia

Velez also moved to the next round along with top seed Alexa Joy Milliam.

Malazarte ousted No. 6 Mikaela Vicencio, 6-7 (2), 6-4, 10-8, to forge a quarterfinal showdown with No. 16 and SEAG veteran Shaira Hope Rivera, a 7-5, 6-2 winner over fourth seed Miles Alexandra Vitaliano.

Velez, a gold medalist at the 2015 and 2017 Palarong Pambansa, eliminated No. 8 Joanna Tao Yee Tan, 6-2, 6-1, to advance against North Cotabato teenage sensation Tennielle Madis, who prevailed over Maria Hannah Divinagracia, 6-0, 6-2.

Milliam, a World Juniors campaigner, outclassed Sydney Ezra Enriquez, 6-2, 6-1, to arrange a quarterfinal duel with unseeded Melanie Faye Dizon, who stunned fifth seed Althea Fay Ong, 7-6 (5), 6-4. (PNA)

PERFECT COMBINATION. Jovelyn Gonzaga (left) and Sisi Rondina wins the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge in Subic last year. The Philippines will host again the tournament from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, 2023 in Taguig City. (Contributedphoto)

WINNER! Filipino International Master Daniel Quizon beats compatriot IM Rolando Nolte in 57 moves of a King’s Indian Defense to win the AQ Prime ASEAN Chess Championship at the Great Eastern Hotel in Quezon City on Saturday (Feb. 18, 2023). The 19-year-old Quizon also secured the second of the three norms required for a Grandmaster title. (Contributedphoto)

PH wins 16 swimming medals, including 2 golds

PHNOM PENH – The Philippine national swimming team bagged a total of 16 medals, highlighted by two golds, in this year’s 32nd Southeast Asian Games at the Aquatics Center of the Morodok Techo National Sports Complex here.

Xiandi Chua (women’s 200-meter backstroke) and rookie campaigner Teia Salvino (women’s 100m backstroke) won a gold medal each, making it the Filipinos’ best gold medal haul since the four-gold medal finish in the 2009 SEA Games in Vientiane, Laos.

The two also set new national and SEA Games records, with Chua clocking two minutes and 13.20 seconds in the women’s 200m backstroke and Salvino clocking 1:01.64 minutes in the women’s backstroke.

Jerard Jacinto settled for a silver medal in the men’s 50m backstroke as well as Jasmine Alkhaldi (women’s 100m

freestyle), Chloe Isleta (women’s 200m backstroke), the 4x100m freestyle relay team of Alkhaldi, Salvino, Chua and Miranda Renner, the 4x100m medley relay team of Salvino, Renner, Alkhaldi and Angelyn Cacho and the 4x100m mixed medley relay team of Jacinto, Cacho, Alkhaldi and Jarod Hatch, making it a total of six silver medals.

Hatch picked up two more bronze medals in the men’s 50m and 100m butterfly events, with Jacinto also picking up a bronze medal in the men’s 100m backstroke.

In women’s action, Alkhaldi won more bronze medals in the women’s 50m and 100m butterfly events with Salvino getting another bronze medal in the women’s 50m backstroke.

Alkhaldi, Salvino, Chua and Isleta capped off the bronze medal count at eight after getting into the podium in the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay. (PNA)

Pajuelas, Aguirre nabs gold and bronze medals in ASEAN Taekwondo Championship

u JADE GABRIELLE A. GAGARIN

Kurt Pajuelas and Sally Mae Aguirre, both from Tacloban, received gold and bronze medals respectively in the recently concluded ASEAN Taekwondo Championship in Parañaque City on March 10-12.

Pajuelas is no stranger to international tournaments. In the 2019 SEA Games in Manila, he won the bronze medal. With the recent tournament, he defeated his openents from Laos and Brunei, thus securing the gold medal in men’s bantamweight class.

Pajuelas has been a member of the national team and of the National University Taekwondo Squad. He graduated from the same institution with a degree on Tourism.

The family of Pajuelas extends their gratitude to Ta-

Sharks bigong masungkit ang panalo laban Braves

u HELEN JOY B. NAVALES & WELLA MAE B. PINES

Nanaig ang St. Therese Educational Foundation of Tacloban, Inc. (STEFTI) Braves kontra Leyte Progressive High School, Inc. (LPHS) Sharks sa Tacloban City District Learning Center (DLC) VI Sports Meet Basketball Male Category na ginanap sa LPHS gymnasium noong ika-apat ng Pebrero.

Sa pagbubukas ng laro, nagpakitang gilas kaagad ang STEFTI Braves ng kanilang bilis at kompyansa sa naturang isports. Lumamang pa sila ng 23 sa pagtatapos ng unang quarter, 32-09.

Sa pagpapatuloy ng ikalawang quarter, ipinakita ng LPHS Sharks ang kanilang determinasyon ngunit bigo parin silang manguna. Nagtapos ang pangalawang quarter sa 23-10.

23 puntos naman ang nadagdag sa STEFTI Braves sa katapusan ng 3rd quarter habang 2 puntos naman sa kabilang panig. Natapos ang laro sa 92 na puntos ng STEFTI Braves at 28 na puntos naman sa LPHS Sharks sa huling quarter.

“Yung kanina na game is

medyo malaki talaga yung lamang ng kalaban, at the same time tinambakan kami,” sabi ni Coach Rempillo ng LPHS Sharks sa isang panayam sa The Prism. Dagdag pa niya na maituturing na isang learning lesson ang naturang laro para sa kanilang mga magiging laro sa hinaharap at mas lalong paghandaan ang mga ito.

Aasahang babalik ang LPHS Sharks na mas malakas at determinado sa mga susunod na mga laban, ayon kay Coach Rempillo.

On the other hand, Aguirre nabbed bronze in women’s middlewight class.

Aguirre also had her share of achievements in Taekwondo. In February 2023, she secured gold in the National Championships that was held in Manila.

The ASEAN Tourney was participated by 400 taekwondo jins and eight (8) countries of Southeast Asia.

Chan placed 4th in District Meet, qualifies for City Meet

u CALEM MATTHEW D. GARCIA

Wilhelmut Melvincent Karlance C. Chan III, the representative of LPHS for Table Tennis, faces off against Travis Villialino, Hans Pumido, and Thomas Dolina. All of which are representatives from STEFTI.

As only LPHS and STEFTI showed up from the Secondary Division, it was decided that the 4 representatives compete for ranking. Chan bagged home 4th place, earning him a spot for the City Meet.

Moreover, as the officiating officer was not present during the tournament, the official scores were not recorded, and therefore, unattainable.

On the other hand, SNSC and STEFTI competed against one another in the men’s and women’s Primary Divisions. SNSC prevailed in both divisions, securing their victory.

cloban City Councilor Elvira Casal for the support given to Kurt.

Inaugural E-Palarong Pambansa to feature five eSports titles

MANILA – The inaugural E-Palarong Pambansa will be held in May 2023, with five different titles to be played.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, League of Legends, its mobile version Wild Rift, Call of Duty Mobile and Valorant are included in the list of games to be played in the tournament.

The announcement was made just days after their polls were allegedly hijacked by bots, when it allowed a people’s choice on which games will be selected for the tournament.

“Despite the recent setbacks, the E-Palarong Pambansa team has dedicated immense effort towards selecting games that are fair, inclusive, and capable of providing an outstanding tournament experience. To ensure we deliver on this commitment, we took into account various aspects, including the limitations of being a startup organization,” the organization said in a statement announcing the games.

Jam Monthermoso, Head of Corporate Partnerships of the tournament, said the tournament “is specifically designed for student-athletes hailing from various regions of the country.” The National Youth Commission has already endorsed the tournament, he added.

“E-Palarong Pambansa also marks one of the first global shows of national government support for Esports with the goal of creating a stable and sustainable grassroots Esports ecosystem. It also aims to promote Esports as a supplementary part of the holistic development of Filipino youth by fostering self-discipline, teamwork, and competitive excellence,” he said.

The qualifiers will be held in May while the group stages will start in June.

The grand finals will be held in ICON – Iloilo Convention Center, Iloilo City, Philippines, from July 22 to 23. (ABS-CBN News)

NACAYTUNA NABS SILVER IN MAYOR’S CUP SWIMMING COMPETITION ELEMENTARY MALE DIVISION

u KYLL FELIPPE B. CRISTOBAL

Liam Xander Nacaytuna of Leyte Progressive High School, Inc. (LPHS) once again showcased his swimming prowess as he dubbed 2nd place in the breaststroke event of the Mayor’s Cup Swimming Competition Elementary Male Division last March 18, 2023.

Nacaytuna is one of the

representatives of the District Learning Center (DLC) VI in the Mayor’s Cup Swimming Competition, which was held from March 18-19, 2023, in the Leyte Sports Academy. With his participation in the multiple events of the said competition, he gave all that he has to get a spot in the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA)

for this year.

In the second day of the tournament, March 18, Nacaytuna once again competed in one event, the 100-meter breaststroke in the Elementary Male Division, where he proved that nothing is too late and earned a silver medal for bagging second place.

Meanwhile, Reginald Vaughn Tiu, another Progressionist who also represented DLC VI for the Secondary Male Division of the aforementioned competition, missed to nab a winning spot this year but equally aced the tournament with his swimming endurance and hard work.

DLC VI bags multiple wins in Mayor’s Cup tournament swimming competition

As the Mayor’s Cup Tournament opened again after nearly three years of temporary cessation since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tacloban City student-athletes finally seize the opportunity to flaunt their incredible skills –one of them are the swimming enthusiasts.

One of the events for the Mayor’s Cup Tournament 2023 is the swimming competition which was held at the

Leyte Sports Academy. This was participated by the ten (10) District Learning Centers of the metropolis, so as the coaches, parents, relatives, and supporters of each swimming delegates who showed and expressed their high-end supports.

During the event, the swimmers of the different districts were head-to-head into getting the triumph, leading their teams to victory. One of these

u ZOEY JULZ H. AÑIS

is the District Learning Center (DLC) VI who nab multiple wins in the various events of the competition, both in elementary and secondary division. The Golden Retrievers bagged 28 gold medals, 28 silver medals, and 8 bronze medals.

Meanwhile, other delegates from the other districts such as District Learning Centers II, IV, V, and VIII also proved their swimming expertise as

they also bagged numerous medals.

After the two long days of submerge, winners are finally hailed. The awarding took place at Leyte National High School Gymnasium which commenced at 2:30 in the afternoon.