The Scribblers Volume XXV Issue No 3

AlSci tips the scales on pressing issues, survey shows most students unaware

60% UNAWARE

6 out of 10 students of Alabel National Science High School are unaware of the pressing issues that are happening in their community.

In this survey, students were asked on their stances on the following issues: DepEd’s MATATAG Agenda, Implementation of the National Citizen’s Service Training Program, and Cross-dressing in educational institutions.

They were tasked to answer using the following scale: green light for go, yellow light for go with reservations, and red light for stop.

National Citizens’ Service Training Program RED LIGHT

“The Philippines is currently under a severe education crisis. This program anchored on “nationalism” is not the best way to address this concern. We should teach students to become critical thinkers and not blind followers,” an alumnus said.

Department of Education’s MaTaTaG Agenda YELLOW LIGHT

“The MaTaTaG Agenda bannered by the Department Education is a good solution to the learning crisis. However, it is still too early to say that this resolves the problem. We need progress,” a Grade 12 student responded.

Cross-dressing for Members of the LGBTQ GREEN LIGHT

“Members of the LGBTQ should not be deprived of their right of self-expression. If we are to banner inclusive education, then this would be agood step forward,” a Grade 11 student expressed.

GOLDEN ERA?

Rising inflation rates trouble Alabelians

Althoughthe consumer price index (CPI) rose at a reduced rate of 8.6% in February after revolting continuously since August as reported by the statistics agency, core inflation still managed to accelerate to 7.8% in February from 7.4% in January, pushing local markets to endure and put up with pricing pressures.

Continue reading on Page 1

opinion | page 8

Neglect Precedes Dread

feature | page 13

sci-tech| page 16

Deadly Deceit

community story

Jeepney phaseout threatens local drivers, commuters

Czarina Saga

AsAlabel National Science High School being a diverse institution with students coming from various parts of Region XII, public transportation, specifically multicabs and traditional jeepneys, are the most significant means of transportation.

With the proposed Jeepney Modernization Program by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) tormenting the drivers and commuters in a nationwide scale, its effects slowly threaten not only the jeepney and multicab drivers

of ALTRANSMULCO, but also the students and teachers who rely on them for their everyday transportation especially those who don’t live in the Municipality of Alabel.

In Alabel National Science High School, 150 students everyday ride the traditional multicab and jeepneys according to Ginalyn Sampaga, a barker at ALTRANSMULCO, making them one of the most vital people who will be affected once the immediate order to dismiss traditional

jeepneys will be released.

From the words of Alex Cabilin, a driver at ALTRANSMULCO, “kung mag change kasi kami ng unit, walang increase saamin kahit mag bus lalo na 2.9 million yun, eh dito sa multicab kahit maliit lang, konting adjust lang eh ayos na ‘di na kailangan umutang sa landbank ang mga driver kasi yun ang inoffer sa amin.

Kaunti lang naman ang pasahero ng GensanAlabel so hindi namin mababawi sa income ang inutang namin,

Continue reading on Page 3

Arabella

Illustration by Fatiyah Lim

in this section

Student government thrives amid demands of F2F class transition, satisfies students with service

page 3

AlSci awards

first-ever highest honors graduates

page 4

Lack of DRRM practices alerts AlSci, calls for more disaster preparations

page 5

cover story

GOLDEN ERA?

Rising inflation rates trouble Alabelians

Through the seller’s lenses

Lack of student spaces agonize student orgs

school watch Arabella

Despite the 5-hectare wide campus, the lack of classrooms make it harder for both the faculty and organizations to share offices, decreasing the rate of their productivity.

As a result, even the ANSHS Supreme Student Government and School Publications struggle to find their own offices and workspaces which can be critical when they have to get to work.

In preparation for the Division Schools Press Conference, The Scribblers also did not escape the hassle of having to find their own work area for their workshop and school paper crafting.

Aside from the lack of rooms and workspaces, the utilities such as proper ventilation, power sources, and publication equipment makes it even harder for organizations to work and fill on their responsibilities.

The recently successfully conducted English Festival also left the English Club crawling for workspaces and storage rooms despite its victory, resulting in the club having no options but to conduct meetings in unshaded places around the campus.

According to Alexandra Nicole Orquia, the English Club President,”if asa lang mi makakita ug place na pwede maka gather, didto nalang,” explaining how much adjustment they do and that “nag approach nalang kami sa aming adviser kung pwede sa library nalang since fast-approaching yung event tapos wala pa kaming mapagmeetingan na place.”

The nomadism of clubs resulted in the utilization of school library which is supposed to be intended for the use of AlSci students and not as a last resort for a club’s meeting, “unta matagaan ug quarters ang mga organizations para atleast makaprepare ng maayos for upcoming events and at the same time para sa comfort din ng student leaders like us,” Orquia pleaded.

Gina Tio, a vendor at Alabel Public Market for 7 years, has not stopped working despite the pandemic and witnessed the arising of prices since, cannot say anything except “budget budget nalang gyud gang,” because of the skyrocketing prices amidst plummeting profit.

Together with the decreasing number of consumers, vendors also suffer from their decreased profit which is their only source of income, “wala kami choice eh gina bawasan gyud ang among gina kompra kay since wala man pud kaayo mamalit tungod sa kamahal.” Tio stressed.

To adjust to the market’s

prices, Zendy Mae Allaga, a street food vendor outside of Alabel Public Market, expressed how they managed to maintain their products’ prices amidst the rising prices of raw materials, “ang presyo namo, same lang gihapon, pero ang capital tumaas so ang ginansya bumaba talaga,” Allaga said. Pushed against a wall

On the other hand, the depressing situation is not very different from a consumer’s point of view, coming from Hamcia Patalunan, a customer at the Alabel Public Market, “talagang napipilitan din kaming magtiis sa mas mura na produkto lalo na ako na may negosyo, umaaray din ako sa mas maliit na hiwa

ng karne na binebenta dito sa palengke kasi mas nagmamahal din ang kilo.”

Moreover, the community is still finding solutions to adjust to the inevitably rising inflation rate in the Philippines despite their plummeting profits which affects their daily living, from the experience of Junnie Sumbo, the owner of 4MJ Fried Chicken which is a small business that is also severely affected by the inflation rates after pandemic, “sa pagbaba ng aming ginansya nag-reduce din yung balon sang mga bata, pero nagapaningkamot parin kami na hindi kami magkulang sa suporta as ginikanan.”

Project Hamowg secures iMake WeMake Top 20 despite lacking resources

Alabel

National Science High School’s young researchers, Francine Aira Sanchez, Jan Laurence Tianzon Guieb, Jhon Wincer Elbo, and Vice Navarro, all Grade 12 students took on the challenge to compete in both local and national competitions carrying the school’s name with pride.

With limited time on preparation, Sanchez, Guieb, Elbo and Navarro handled the pressure as representatives of AlSci in the 6th IMake WeMake National Level competition held in Manila, Philippines on March 13-17, 2023 as they went on forward on conducting their study after making it to the Top 20 finalists, ‘Project Hamowg: Automated Atmospheric Potable

Water Generator From Fog, Cool, and Warm Air’ with the hopes of taking home the win.

Along the way, the representatives of AlSci have voiced that there were many hindrances in conducting their research and that includes the lack of materials and the budget needed for their study such as a 3D printer that the group of researchers requested from the school but still, they were grateful for the help and support of AlSci especially their research coach, Shiela P. Butil, Ph.D. and the principal, Maximo R. Cabanlit, MAEd.

The young researchers also stated that they still wanted to enhance their skills with more training for future competitions that they wish to participate in and

for them to also share their skills and experiences for the future researchers in AlSci.

In order to have upcoming prospects, they wanted to train and conduct seminars for students with potential from an early age using their experience from joining other research contests, this is a way to develop the students’ skills and capabilities and to also give equal opportunities for students that don’t have basic devices such as laptops, printers, or supplies.

“Since I was still a child, I was curious about how things around me work and when I grew older especially when I entered grade 7 in AlSci, I started diving deeper into research and with trainings

and dedication, it harnessed and developed my skills up until I pretty much memorized the format on how to write a research paper and what questions will be asked by the panels during a defense and what to answer. So I guess, I was just really used to the research in AlSci,” Sanchez stated.

Starting from an early age, the young researchers already had basic skills in research but with tremendous effort and a bunch of sleepless nights, they passed challenges, won awards and continued to go down the path of being researchers as AlSci students.

Arabella Czarina Saga

Czarina Saga

Cloud-high Value. From left to right, researchers Guieb, Sanchez, and Elbo proudly presents the awards they got as they skyrocketed Project Hamowg at the 6th IMake WeMake National Level Contest despite the struggles they faced.

Photo by Lyle Ledesma.

Shanissa Sales

research wins

from page 1

ANSHS currently has 11 orgs namely, SSG, MAPEH Club, SAKAFIL, RCY, PAC, English Club, YES-O Club, YRC, VEC and Mathphiles Club

by the numbers

Jeepney phaseout threatens local drivers, commuters

DepEd imposes professionalism between learners, teachers

Aiming to further enhance professionalism, the Department of Education implemented DepEd Order No. 49 series of 2022 that was issued in November. Teachers must not have any form of interaction with students outside of class setting except if they are relatives to avoid going beyond the learner-teacher relationship that leads to boundaries getting neglected and to also maintain professionalism and proper conduct.

The controversial DepEd Order No. 49 has received support and criticisms from the public, one of those who commented on whether they agree or not is Efren Nicolas Andraque Jr., LPT, a teacher of Alabel National Science High School.

“Partly yes, and partly no, no because establishing a relationship for the classes is important and so there will be no barriers but yes to the extent that they will cross the boundaries of a student-teacher relationship,”

“‘Yung bus nga namin sa co-op aabot ‘yun ng milyon, paano namin yun mabibili? Huwag nalang sana nila pakialaman yung traditional na jeepney,” Aceron elaborates on how jeepney phaseout will bane not only him, but the entire transportation cooperative as a whole. from page 1

Andraque stated. Andraque agreed but also partly disagreed with the order that made him neutral about which side he’s on, Diane Grace B. Manlapig, a grade-9 student from AlSci also voiced her thoughts regarding the DepEd order.

“Both. I disagree because I believe students should be able to communicate with teachers for school-related questions on social media and will not go further from that but I mostly lean towards agreeing because many students cross the boundary of student-teacher relationship and get way too comfortable and sometimes, disrespect or treat them like a friend” Manlapig said.

Manlapig also observed that biases and favoritism can occur if students and teachers get in contact for other purposes that are not school-related which is unprofessional for both the teacher and student and that’s why she partly disagrees with the DepEd Order but mostly agrees with it.

buti nalang nagbigay si Mayor Vic Paul Salarda ng pang-down payment namin para monthly nalang ang amin.” Cabilin said.

Jimmy Aceron, also a driver at ALTRANSMULCO for 30 years, explained how maintaining traditional jeepneys is way more affordable for drivers and jeepney owners than forcing them to transition to the modernized jeepneys.

performance check

AlSci students’ two-week prep reflects upon taking NAT

Arabella Czarina Saga

As a way to assess graduating students’ performance and determine whether they were achieving the curriculum’s learning standards, the Department of Education (DepEd) implemented the National Achievement Test (NAT) examination to all Grade 12 students in all public and private schools in the Philippines on January 30 and 31, 2023, under DepEd Order No. 55, Series of 2016, entitled Policy Guidelines on the National Assessment of Student Learning for the K to 12 Basic Education Program.

Endless Agony. Kuya Julian, a chicken meat vendor expressed how vendors like him will be the first to suffer from bankruptcy and low to no profit from the rising inflation rates in the Philippines.

Following DepEd Memorandum 001, Series of 2023, released on the fifth of January, Education Undersecretary Epimaco Densing stated that the assessment was designed to be “progressive in nature,” wherein test items have measured varying levels of skills, as the test covered 21st-century

by the numbers

60%

skills and the primary learning topics in senior high school including languages, humanities, communication, mathematics, science, social science, and philosophy.

Alexandra Nicole Orquia, a grade 12 student at AlSci, said that they were very focused on reviewing for two weeks and it was very helpful as she thought the exam was difficult, particularly in mathematics—but as soon as she took the test, she realized it was quite bearable if you studied enough for the examination.

Another graduating learner said that there are topics that they haven’t learned yet that were on the test they took; they prepared for it by reviewing every day for two weeks but it made him feel overwhelmed after taking it because the subject for languages, Filipino and English, was quite hard.

60% of the Grade 12 students agreed that they did not have enough time for their review for the National Achievement Test (NAT).

The Bond in Aid. During the Lead Summit 2023 led by the ANSHSSSG, MDDRO Alabel gave sufficient support by spearheading a Disaster Response Training focused on physical application. The event immersed the Student Leaders with basic life-saving skills, including bandaging.

Student government thrives amid demands of F2F class transition, satisfies students with service

Withthe sudden transitioning from online to face-to-face classes, Alabel National Science High School’s Supreme Student Government did not fail to satisfy the students with their resiliency through the recent Leadership Summit as their highlight.

In an interview with the ANSHS SSG’s Secretary Blaizel Marie Mendoza, “the Supreme Student Government kept up with the demands of students in the sudden face-to-face classes by preparing for the comeback of the traditional events that our institution annually holds.”

According to Kurt Denize Lacdo-o, a Grade 12 student, he is “a 100% satisfied with ANSHS SSG’s good governance,” and added that “yung flag ceremony natin is mas han-ay kaysa dati thanks to them

showing their true leadership skills mas maaga na matapos so hindi na mainit, plus yung batch representative namin Sunday ng gabi palang nagcha-chat na to be early sa call time, tapos si Vice (SSG President) is very hands-on sa students niya.”

Just as the students were about to get used to the face-to-face setup, ANSHS SSG blasted the students with a Leadership Summit which lasted 3 days to enhance the leadership skills of AlSci student leaders.

“Our President delegated the committees really well and because the committees worked in sync, naging successful ang event. Although may lapses kami because the preparations are not ganon katagal and busy ang student

leaders, we were inspired na galing sa online we want to satisfy the student leaders with a ganoon ka-bongga na event”, Khryzabelle Lagura, SSG Vice President explained their quick-paced preparations and efforts for the event to thrive.

Moreover, Mendoza emphasized that the event was supposed to impress specifically Batches 25-27 for they did not get to experience the real fun of AlSci events, building up high expectations for the organizers of the event.

Some activities from the LEAD Summit were: Team Building, Seminar from significant speakers, Badge-collecting missions.

Photo by: Lyle Ledesma

Photo by: ANSHS-SSG.

Arabella Czarina Saga

Shanissa Sales

SETUP SWITCH

Sarangans address concerns, experiences on ‘pandemic to post-COVID’ shift

Followingthe recent events of the 3-year COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a profound impact on local communities around the world, locals from Sarangani talked about their concerns, experiences, and adjustments made with regard to the transition from the pandemic to the post-COVID era.

For the last three years, the pandemic has brought to light current disparities in healthcare, access to education, and economic opportunities. It has also underlined the necessity of creating resilient and equalitarian communities that can weather future crises.

Correspondingly, locals, including government workers, civilians, sellers, and students unveiled the difficulties they have encountered in the past and their current work-life

AlSci awards first-ever ‘with highest honors’ graduates

As Alabel National Science High School (AlSci) constantly lives up to its purpose of producing highquality students, AJ S. Lozano and Marchido S. Santos gained recognition for being hailed as the firstever students of AlSci to graduate “With Highest Honors”, announced during the 21st Commencement Exercises, July 2022.

Lozano hopes that this achievement of theirs will serve as a wake-up call to learners, allowing them to realize that attaining such achievement is possible, as well as a motivating force that will drive students to always strive for the best.

“I think that being able to be the first graduates of the institution to achieve this award serves as a wake-up call for the students in the school. Actually, we are not the first ones to receive

statuses.

Behind the Frontline

A health worker from Sarangani Provincial Hospital, Haidee Alcudia, tackled the difficulties she faced while battling the repercussions of COVID-19 in the medical field.

“As a frontliner, the COVID-19 pandemic was really tough to endure. I was forced to isolate myself from my family for health purposes. We had to cover ourselves up very strictly, in fear of catching the virus. Sanitizing every minute was a must— it still is for us,” she stated.

With things returning to normal right now, she then stressed the present-day situation of their facility whilst handling both COVID-19 and other ill-related cases.

“Although COVID-19 cases in Sarangani are slowly decreasing in

this award. There are some students in the lower years who were able to do this. However, it is not enough for them to achieve it in time for the recognition rites. Then again, the award is always a precious fruit of your labor,” Santos stressed.

Moreover, both Lozano and Santos have continued pursuing their college studies at the University of the Philippines - Mindanao (UPMin), taking BS Applied Mathematics and BS Biology, respectively.

Notably, both Lozano and Santos are also former members of The Scribblers’ Editorial Board.

Honor and Excellence. Notwithstanding the hardships. the pandemic has caused the students, Alabel National Science High School consistently achieves its goal of students graduating of the highest caliber. In line with this, AJ S. Lozano and Marchido S. Santos were honored for graduating with the highest honors at AlSci for the first time ever.

the present times, precautionary measures must still be observed. Citizens should continue to be cautious because the virus may come back anytime,” she added. Market Collapses

On the other hand, precautionary measures imposed by health departments have caused disruptions in the global supply chains and led to widespread business closures and layoffs. Small businesses, which are the backbone of many economies, have been particularly affected, with many struggling to stay afloat.

“Naglala ang pagbaba ng sales since nag-usbong na ang mga hardwares. Dati, kami lang. Ngayon, may tatlong hardware stores na rin sa malapit. It reflected rin sa drastic sales namin since gapataas-taas

innovative solutions

ang presyo ng mga bilihin, while ang income namin ay stable lang. Wala na rin gapagawa ng bahay in this economy kasi mahal na lahat,” said Nenita Lapiz, a hardware shop owner, when asked about the changes brought by the pandemic to their business.

Sustainability Defeat

With how the pandemic has affected the community, labor workers like Celsa Duenas have especially been hit by the negative impacts of the pandemic. The lack of a source of income has led them to come up against numerous misfortunes.

“Noong pandemic pa, syempre mahirap yung pinagdaanan naming kasi napilitan ang lahat sa pamilya ko na manatili sa loob ng bahay. Mahirap kumita ng pera dahil halos lahat ay

kapos dati. Ngayon, mahirap pa rin pero mas mabuti na ang sitwasyon kung ikukumpara noon,” Duenas said.

In addition to what others have shared, Jerrylin Obedoza, a provincial government employee mulled over the dire changes caused by the said pandemic. With the insufficiency in the monthly salary they receive, it is not enough to sustain the needs of her family.

“Bilang government employee syempre mahirap ang buhay kasi ang bilis ng taas ng presyo ng mga bilihin especially after ng pandemic tapos ang sweldo parehas lang. Bigas, kuryente, at iba pang mga necessity halos hindi na maabot pero yun talaga buhay ng trabahante pagkakasyahin na lang talaga,” she asserted.

Unending Outside-Acads Problems unraveled by AlSci students

To produce well-rounded and academically exceptional students, they need to have time for self-care and a solid support system to thrive—but what happens when that support system and individuality crumbles?

Several AlSci students, specifically Student A who suffers from a mood disorder which is a mental health problem, stressed that “the school acknowledges mental issues seriously, but wala silang established na actions for it,” and suggested that the school present “tailor-made solutions” for every student’s mental health issues.

According to Student B in an

mandatory ctp

interview where the students’ identification is undisclosed, “isang absent lang matakot na ako ma-behind sa schoolworks at lesson na alam kong makaaffect sa grado ko,” explaining the hesitation to take a break whenever feeling burnt-out.

On the other hand, financial matters also continue to agonize students, specifically Student A who shared her struggles on how handling one’s financial matters affect her everyday student life

“As an independent student who also pays rent and studies in a Science High School, I once had to starve myself for three days to afford my contribution in our robotics project,” Student A specified, and added that

financial stability should not be a privilege but it should be a right instead.

Although the Regional Science High School for Region XII is established for the poor but deserving students who are judged by entrance examinations, the journey throughout is guaranteed to be a tough one based on its advanced STEM-based curriculum which aims to orient Science High School students from the elevated challenges that await them in their college life which is now proven to be effective by its alumni who are mostly graduating with flying colors.

CTP Implementation Survey Result Ties in AlSci

Kairylle P. De Sagon

The recent survey conducted by The Scribblers, the official student publication of Alabel National Science High School (AlSci), aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Citizenship Training Program (CTP) in fostering social responsibility and community commitment among students. Out of 20 grade 10 participants, 45% agreed that the CTP was effective, 45% disagreed, and 10% remained undecided. Students who found the program effective highlighted

the valuable lessons in discipline and responsibility gained through practical activities. Conversely, those who disagreed believed that the CTP prioritized grades over genuine social responsibility, lacking emphasis on empathy and active citizenship. Students who were undecided expressed uncertainty about the program’s impact on personal growth and development. The survey results underscore the complexity of assessing the CTP’s effectiveness. AlSci can utilize

the feedback to assess and refine the program, addressing concerns and incorporating student suggestions. Continuous evaluation, feedback, and open dialogue are essential in nurturing socially responsible individuals who actively contribute to community development. Achieving a balance between academic performance and genuine engagement in community initiatives will be crucial for the program’s success.

Photo taken from: AJ Lozano and Marchido Santos

Arabella Czarina Saga

Arabella Saga & Heart Leh Alcudia Isabel Cordero

Arabella Czarina Saga

K-12 graduates and where they are now

Pioneer grads weigh in on the K-12 Program

TheRegional Science

High School for Region XII is already expected to produce achiever students, but the pioneering batch of AlSci exceeded those expectations with the flooding achievements of Batch 17 who had at least 27 Alumni who graduated with flying colors.

Batch 17 was the first batch in AlSci to experience the K-12 Program, making them the most crucial batch in the state of testing and adjustments with the new ways and newly-curriculum–but was it helpful when they got into college and applied for jobs?

Underlying Miseries

The COVID-19 pandemic led students to meet sorts of advantages and disadvantages in the process. These factors have affected students both in positive and negative ways and thus, have contributed to the damage of their mental states. With face-to-face classes being reimplemented, Rhouie Manaligod, a Grade 11 student from Alabel National Science High School (AlSci), talked about the hardships she went through when she had to deal with the adjustments.

“The sudden transition has not been easy for me since the situations are entirely different. In my experience, I was a grade eight student before the pandemic and then this time I’m already a grade eleven student,” Manaligod voiced

out.

Deep-rooted Yearnings

Concerns coming from these locals led them to call for actions from local government units to resolve such surfacing dilemmas. An industrial worker, who opted to be identified anonymously, expressed that “establishing programs and responding to the ‘taas-sahod’ calls of employees should be two of the government’s top priorities right now, especially for workers who do much labor without getting paid enough.”

“In times like this, desperation is indeed evident among us, as the shift from pre-pandemic to postpandemic continues to bear negative impacts on our lives,” they added, expressing their sorrows amid the current situation.

According to Lenimae Lecita, a Magna Cum Laude graduate in Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, “It was very new to us seeing that our seniors were already in their 4th year as college students while we were still freshmen, and we only had a 1-year age gap with them.” One of our alumni, Jhessa Canuel, who graduated Magna Cum Laude in MSU-Gensan, “having spent 2 years in Senior High School

by the numbers

prepared me mentally for my college life,” explaining how she benefited from the program. subjects sa college na natapos na sana SHS pa lang.”One of our alumni, Jhessa Canuel, who graduated Magna Cum Laude in MSU-Gensan, “having spent 2 years in Senior High School prepared me mentally for my college life,” explaining how she benefited from the program.

On the other hand, according to Krizzle Abasolo, also an AlSci alumni who graduated Magna Cum Laude in West Visayas State University,

An interviewee who refused to be named, despite the promise of the K-12 program that they will not have to go to college for some jobs, there are courses where K-12 did not benefit them at all and still had to achieve a bachelors’ degree to be accepted into certain jobs.

The interviewees also expressed their opinions on whether or not K-12 must be dissolved or continued, starting with Daevie Ablanido, a Cum Laude graduate in MSU-Gensan

who expressed that “Continuing the k12 program is beneficial for the students since the K-12 program aims to produce globally competitive students. This curriculum is learner-centered. It is designed in a way that interaction and collaboration is the highlight. Also, the years spent in k12 will never go in vain since there are soft skills that we gained which are useful once we step into the real world.”

In addition to that, Joshel Cabig, a Summa Cum Laude graduate from the Mapua Malayan Colleges Mindanao, “K-12 is beneficial for students who want to experience a taste of college life before actually attending. It can open new doors and increase the chance of finding a stable job. Students can have the opportunity to build a network, acquire more skills, and discover the career that they truly love, based on my experience.”

Ablanido also added that regardless of the K-12 program, she thinks the best we can do is to become a functional citizen of the society.

Six out of seven interviewees from AlSci’s pioneering K-12 graduates expressed that they believed the K-12 program had a significant positive impact on their career trajectories.

These individuals highlighted various ways in which the program had benefited them, demonstrating its relevance and value in preparing them for their chosen paths.

by the numbers

Lack

of DRRM practices alerts AlSci, calls the need for more comprehensive disaster preparations

How many AlSci students suffer from lack of sleep?

Noting

the value of recognizing the importance of Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) and acknowledging the lack of an active school-based rescuer team, Alabel National Science High School (AlSci) appealed for more DRRM preparation enhancement programs in its community.

Apart from disaster risk reduction and preparedness, and guaranteeing safety and preparation among schools in the Philippines, the job of DRRM goes beyond what many people believe, as they are not only responsible for assessing and reducing threats but also for developing and maintaining educational resilience in the face of such risks.

RCY to the rescue

In addition to this, the school’s Senior Red Cross Youth (RCY) Council also plays a vital role in DRRM through volunteerism and humanitarianism, accorded with the calling for

action of this concern seeing that DRRM is linked to the grounds of the said club.

“As an RCY member, I think there should be more DRRM enhancement programs in AlSci. Although our club is only focused on teaching first aid and basic what-to-dos during emergencies, we should also improve DRRR education among students until we are much more hands-on in every emergency that may occur. Additionally, I think recruiting more rescuers is also necessary,” said Faith Santarin, Vice President of the RCY.

To more DRRM practices

Furthermore, Jasper Santos, the DRRM Coordinator of AlSci talked about the importance of carrying out drills with sincerity among students because he believes that calamities like earthquakes should not be taken lightly.

“Kapag may drill, practice makes perfect. Hindi siya sabi na lang laro-laro lang kasi atleast kung

mayroon mang mangyari, prepared tayo. Kung meron mang mangyari, alam na nating lahat kung ano ang dapat gagawin. Yan yung purpose ng drill,” he stressed. Besides, he also spoke about the need for implementing Student-Led School Watching teams in the school who would be assigned to respond to emergencies or lead the students to disaster preparedness not only for nature-made calamities but also for man-made ones.

“Pinaplano namin ngayon ang magsagawa ng watching teams na led by students themselves. In case of emergencies, sila yung nakahanda para rumesponde. Importante na bigyan natin ‘yan ng diin para kahit na umalis ang mga older batch, may susunod sa kanila. Aside from that, isa rin sa mga pinaplano namin ngayon ay ang pagkukumpleto ng equipments for DRRM in AlSci,” he stated.

In a survey conducted on March 14, 2023, among the students of Alabel National Science High School (AlSci), it was found that a majority of the students had been grappling with sleep deprivation, leading to a range of adverse effects on their daily lives. Out of the 20 AlSci students surveyed, 15 reported experiencing sleep deprivation, causing them to endure numerous sleepless and tiring nights.

The causes of sleep deprivation among the students were multifaceted. The demands of academic life, including the burden of schoolwork and assignments, often contributed to their inability to get sufficient rest.

Ready, Set, Duck!

Eliza Gulle, Grade 11 student takes part in National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill on March 9, 2023. The recent earthquake drill’s success serves as proof of the value of being prepared for emergencies.

The consequences of sleep deprivation were evident among the students who participated in the survey. Fatigue and exhaustion were prevalent, making it difficult for them to concentrate and perform at their best during school hours. Headaches and drowsiness became common occurrences, hampering their ability to fully engage in classroom activities. Some students even confessed to falling asleep during lectures, which hindered their learning experience and impacted their academic progress.

Photo by: ANSHS SSG

Arabella Czarina Saga

disaster risks

Arabella Czarina Saga

education woes

in this section

Bloodstained Barriers

page 7

Paradox on the Pursuit of Knowledge

page 8

Neglect Precedes Dread

page 9

editorialboard

Editor-in-Chief Crizel Marcel Jade Cabatan

Associate Editor Heart Leh Alcudia

Managing Editor Jahziel Jireh Obedoza

Circulations Editor

Aaliyah Ashley Dimaudtang

News Editor Arabella Czarina Saga

Feature Editor

Lora Clavel Dela Cuadra

Science and Technology

Editor Brix Anthony Salloman

Sports Editor Crizelle Kaye Padillo

Cartoonists

Kurt Denize Lacdo-o

Keziah Charisse Bangoy

Jaud Micci Balaque

Marianne Audrey Franco

Andrea Kasandra Andaya

Photojournalists

Aaliyah Ashley Dimaudtang

Lyle Louis Ledesma

Kaima Bendulo

Sophia Beatrice Hebrona

Layout Artists

Geraldluke Faciol

Adrianne Joy Alquiza

Staff Writers

Shanissa Mey Sales

Kairylle De Sagon

Jahziel Jireh Obedoza

Shandelle Aiken Orencio

Yvonne Grace Santos

Mark Vincent Eiman

Francis Andrew Ladres

Jerlyn Tibay

Regie Linao

Eileen Nicole Lapiz

Alexandra Nicole Orquia

Crizelle Kaye Padillo

Juov Marianne Jamili

Abbygale Abasolo

Staff Designers

Isabel Cordero

Bagani Cordero

Fatiyah Meiz Lim

Thresha Tongcua

Juliana Greig Caspillo

John Mart Mabasa

Samantha Kaye Jingco

Angela Senta Biadoma

School Publication Advisers

Jan Carol Salas

Christine Gay Tolentino

Consultant

Annabel Erolon

EDITORIAL

Slaves to their Rights

Whenthe Western neoliberal ideology raced to influence the world, the Philippines quickly got caught at its seams. The neoliberalist ideology is not an unfamiliar face, it has been mingling with the sector since 2012— pioneering the comprehensive reform known as K-12 Program in the country. Even then the system had its own cross to bear, piling up stains and pinholes to its philosophy and regulation. Now, over the years spent cascading into dark times— its flaws bring irreversible damage.

Neoliberalism’s political and economic philosophy emphasizes free trade, privatization, deregulation, and colonization. In layman’s terms, it values a free market largely untouched by the government. Incorporated with the word free, the said economic reform is accepted while viewed through rose-colored glasses. Under its flagship aspects raising social inequality, the

Philippine education sector remains sick and symptomatic. For instance, with the interference of neoliberalism policies under privatization, private institutions compete against each other leaving education in a spiral of conditions operating in a business-like setting.  As the neoliberalism ideology continues to shape the future of Filipino education, education becomes a privilege rather than a right. Under these conditions, the quality of education relies on the private sector which in turn, transforms schools into money farms for the greater profit of school owners. Privatization furthered exemplified by the K-12 Program shifted money away from public schools to private schools through its Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) voucher system. The more money earned by the private sector, the more the public suffers— worsening its pre-existing problems.

With the accumulated lack of budget in public schools, resources fall short— failing to satisfy its desired ratio of 1:1 to the rising population of public-school students. In Alabel National Science High School alone, there is a 2:1 student-to-textbook ratio, failing to meet the desired levels set by the Department of Education (DepEd) Order No.74 Series of 2011. Adding salt to the wound, the culprit caused a steady decline in textbooks and instructional material budget. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when resources are most essential, the appropriation was cut in half from 2019’s 1.8 billion to only 963 million.  In an ironic fashion, the constraint contempt those in need and favors the rich.  But the students are not the sole victims of the alarming setbacks raised by neoliberalism, teachers also are enslaved by its deregulation. In the onslaught

of deregulation, teachers are almost produced to be bent— not only to be teachers but to be administrative workers. As of 2021, teachers receive a salary of P26,052— a fairly small amount to compensate for the exploitation of their workload. More than what meets the eye, deregulation caused by neoliberalism exacerbated the existence of learning poverty in the country. With the dominating reality forged by the latter, the purpose of education is inarguably defeated.

Through the lens of neoliberalism, learners are seen as consumers— no longer self-benefiting but rather working to survive in the reality tailored by neoliberalism based on socioeconomic status. Teachers, on the other hand, are seen as machines— working to selflessly provide for the greater good. As

the country gains ground with the demands of globalization, the education sector remains tainted by inequality and undermined social justice antecedent to the neoliberalist agenda. Given the irreversible damage that it caused, it is time for the government to rethink the inadequate investment it grants the sector. Adequate commitment and investment must be granted to public schools by addressing the lack of resources and underfunding. In these trying times, it is crucial the narrow the gap of inequality between private and public learners. Education should remain as an attainable, free, and equal right rather than a profited privilege. It is time to recognize that when education is profited from, Filipino learners become slaves to their rights.

thescribblers

When education is profited from, Filipino learners become slaves to their rights.

Clean Cut

Bloodstained Barriers

Crizel Cabatan

Political participation among Filipino youth has been particularly tough during the last six years, leading up to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. rise to power. The abduction and abuse of student activist Alicia Lucena, exemplifies the grim reality of youth-led movements in the Philippines. Cases like this, however, are not uncommon. Despite the historic involvement of Filipino youth in informal forms of political participation, these efforts, all the same, are often met with not-so-invisible barriers within the system.

The Political participation of the Filipino youth has played a historic role in reshaping the Philippine politics and democracy. It is worth noting that youth movements formed a collective action that fought for civil rights back in the glory of the infamous Martial Law under former president Ferdinand Marcos’ term. Now, as if history repeats itself, the freedom of speech is yet again demonized.As a result of the precedent the Duterte Administration has created almost every civic participation, protest, dissent, or opinion opposing government policies are susceptible to subjective defamation or red-tagging under the current Marcos regime. With that being said, youth groups and activists are often the target of propaganda networks and even government task forces. Student activist Alicia Lucena, who revealed that she had been abducted and abused by her own family— that has been used by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed

Parallel Outlook

Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to vilify youth activists, for nearly four months is just one of many individuals who had been falsely accused and stigmatized under Duterte’s term. Prior to Lucena, Ana Patricia Non— the student behind the renowned community pantry concept, had also been red-tagged and profiled by the NTF-ELCAC along with other community pantries across the country.

Since its inception , there had been numerous complaints against NTFELCAC’s malicious claims and misleading information. In response to this, several lawmakers passed resolutions— such as House Bill No. 9437, to criminalize red-tagging. However, the task force remains on its place untouched.

Perhaps the most ironic aspect of it all is that these stigmas are being led by a government task force. It is not to say that there are no reds— the communists and terrorists do exist. However, the process of profiling and publicizing of government task forces such as NTF-

An “Act” of Change

Lora Clavel Dela Cuadra

Under the inception of a new presidency, the Philippine government already had a lot of changes to its policies. However, we are yet to know if such changes did a significant good to us - or if it was an unnecessary

act solely done for achievements.

One of the changes that left Filipinos questioning was the SIM Card Registration Act, which was previously vetoed by Former President Duterte. This was pushed into

ELCAC is as flawed as it can be. Given the fact that the accusations they publicize are lacking extensive research and mostly biased by targeting activists, volunteers, and leftists. Instead of maligning and harming people— especially the youth for using their constitutionally protected right to free expression, the government and its allies should strive to address valid criticism of its policies and practices. Aside from this, groups and individuals who propagate and patronize redtagging should be rightfully punished.

There is more to the impact of the youth’s political participation than simple social media campaigns, volunteerism, or activism. All the same, there is more to the youth’s aspiration for change than barriers and unsubstantiated— if not deadly claims. If we look close enough— away from the loyalist sight, we might see that these barriers are notso-invisible after all, they are painted blood-red.

Scribblers Pulse

implementation as lawmakers endorsed it as a way to curb scammers and trolls in spam text messages. The SIM Card Registration Act aimed to register all SIM card users with their personal information to telecommunication companies. The

personal information will be uploaded to the database of the telcos and can be made available upon the request of a court. The act was implemented much faster thanks to the active support of the telcos and the National Privacy Commission (NPC).

The seemingly plausible promise of internet security really does seem tempting, but it has a lot of flaws underneath. Aside from being a honeypot for scammers and cybercriminals, the SIM Card Registration Act seems to disregard basic human rights. In place of our supposed security, the government risks our right to privacy. Our basic although most critical personal information is made accessible to anyone who appeals to the court. With our country’s corrupt system, people are bound to get their hands on any information they want. With the disregard for the right to privacy comes the disregard for the right of free expression. The SIM Card Registration Act puts an identity on our once-anonymous cellphone numbers.

In a way, it acts as a tracker of social media accounts that have used their phone number when registering. This makes state surveillance as easy as child’s play. Things get worse once you pair the SIM Card Registration Act with another previously signed law, the Anti-Terrorism Act. Journalists and activists will find it more difficult to speak out their criticisms without consequences.

Now, with all the flaws laid out, is the promise of internet security still tempting? Are we willing to disregard our rights to privacy and free expression just to achieve it?

Today, spam messages still pester our phones - a display of how the SIM Card Registration Act failed its goal. To others, this is but an act that guises the government’s attempts at state surveillance and to silence its critics. Disregarding our basic human rights for our internet safety is not an equal exchange. It is not fair to silence ourselves just to keep ourselves safe. We must not let the changes happening in this country be all an act.

The Scribblers team asked the residents of Alabel, Sarangani Province if they think that the management of the current administration in their province is satisfactory, and here’s how it went:

According to the survey’s findings,most of the residents are satisfied with the current trajectory of the government. Only 10% expressed their dissatisfaction.

90%

A significant majority of citizens, approximately 90%, express their satisfaction with the current trajectory of the government, indicating widespread support for its policies, actions, and overall governance.

10%

While a substantial number of citizens may be satisfied with the current trajectory of the government, it is important to recognize that a vocal segment of the population, constituting approximately 10%, has shown their dissatisfaction with various aspects of governance.

Illustration by: Bagani Cordero

On Hindsight A Breadwinner’s Dilemma

Looking back, in a rose-colored sight, it was easy to passionately envision who or what we want to be when we were younger. This, however, is not until we grew up to know that there is more to survival in this candidly incompetent system than just mere passion.

Passion is overlooked. That is, within a toxic society that we live in— where a bias festers and appeals only to conventional and high-paying careers. It takes a lot of work to weave mere passion into success when it is chained to a system that lacks effort in supporting it. This is where practicality turns into a bitter pill to swallow, especially for those who turned into safety-nets and breadwinners.

Growing up, we have been taught how vital education is— not only because we needed it to be competent, but it also doubled as a lifebuoy to save a household from poverty. This is because, in reality, the cost of living in the modern-day world comes at an expense. 17.7 million Filipinos are caught in the poverty line in 2018, as reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). In addition to this, the unemployment rate is high at 17.6% as of April 2020. This rate can be translated into roughly 7.2 million Filipinos unemployed.

Education is ironically a privilege even, for only seven out of ten kids will complete elementary school, according to figures from the Department of Education and the Statistical Coordination Board in the Philippines. In a country where education is still a privilege, a student born from a povertystricken family could only dream of making ends meet and being able to eat at least twice a day. Under this predicament, students could only forge the success of their dreams, and this opportunity— in our country at least, comes in the sense of attaining a degree. In cases like this, passion could no longer be a priority, it becomes a sacrifice instead.

Through the spectacles of the truth, there is more to survival than just mere passion in this system that is downright problematic. This can be reflected from the government’s incompetence in improving the state of education, poverty, and employment. Equally, this is evident from the society’s lack of support for Filipino learners on their passion. We should mould our system into a supportive, considerate, and efficient environment, where dreaming is not grounded as is. After all, it takes a nation to weave a dream into reality.

Reflections

Path Through change

Aaliyah Dimaudtang

Aftertwo years of break that started in 2020 and ended in the middle of 2022, face-to-face classes are returning all over the country. In all public schools, it has been stated that the first day of classes will start on August 22, 2023. It was exciting for many students, especially younger students, that during the two years of learning in their own place, learning and answering modules through modular and distance learning has a lot of differences when it comes to personal face-

to-face. Going back during the pandemic, a lot has changed in the lives of every person and also the system of education. The education system of the previous two years shows that many students learned from the lessons through modular and distance learning, but also shows that some students struggled at that time due to financial situations, showing that it is not the same for everyone. Furthermore, this shows that in a pandemic, everyone is in the same situation but everyone is in different boats.

Caveat

Paradox on the Pursuit of Knowledge

Jahziel Jireh Obedoza

Unyielding curiosity, Insatiable desire to explore the unknown, and the unwavering passion for the truth - perfectly encapsulates the human condition, our proclivity for knowledge drives us to explore, to discover, and to innovate but to unshackle the mind, freedom is indispensable Academic freedom, like all forms of liberty, is a fragile concept. The ability to challenge orthodoxies and established ways of thinking and acting without fear of repercussion, or institutional censorship is a fundamental tenet of higher education yet remains threatened by persistent and

pernicious pressures.

From the suppression of academic research to the censorship of scholarly publication to even accounts of red-tagging, the absence of due regard for academic freedom is conspicuous in the Philippine jurisprudence.

The University of the Philippines, hailed as the premier university of the country and home to a great many scholars and scientists ,is under fire for allegedly being a breeding ground for radical activism and communist rebels. A bastion for the expression of ideas, beliefs and advocacies, UP practicing their right to critical inquiry and exposition threatens existing claims to

knowledge,privilege, access to power.

The essence of higher education does not lie in passive transmission of knowledge but in the inculcation of a mature indepence of mind. These institutions are not only a knowledge producer but also a social critic. As a prominent figure in society, academics carry the power to demarcate a shift in the political and social rhetoric of the country. To deem the students as threats is hypocritical and sets a precedent of weaponizing patriotism and undermines the facade of exceptionalism they have a predilection for showing

During the past months, there has been a controversial issue that many people have talked about, and that is the return of face-to-face classes. It has been signed by the Vice President and Secretary Sara Z. Duterte, DepEd Order No. 034, series of 2022, sets the start of classes on August 22 and will end on July 7, 2023. Changing from the previous way of learning to face-to-face will show that many students are more willing to learn because they will be able to use the resources that only schools can provide, and compared with online

Still a Problem Time Cannot Heal

In the dawning of a new era where gender expression finally got to loosen up a bit without being limited to two options: the male and female, the only thing that the LGBTQIA+ community is waiting for is the long-awaited approval of the Sexuality Orientation and Gender

Identity and Expression

Equality (SOGIE) Bill. But despite the almost unending battle against homophobia, catcalling, sexual harassment and gender discrimination, the question that lingers on our minds is–what’s taking it so long?

It all started when the earliest version of the SOGIE Bill was filed by the late senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and the first Senate version of the draft was filed by Senator Risa Hontiveros last August 11, 2016 while its House counterpart remains

pending. As the LGBTQIA+ community slowly feels being accepted into society, discrimination and is bitterly inevitable, specifically in the case of Gretchen Diez, a transgender filipina who was dragged from using the women’s restroom for choosing it as her gender identity. It is safe to say that despite the evident oppression against transgender women–also a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, the higher-ups still choose to turn a blind eye to people like Diez, since they aren’t the ones fighting against identity crisis and everyday discrimination.

Taking the approval for as long as this day undeniably loosens the confidence we have in the government, for it leaves us wondering if they really have plans to let the Filipino people be heard, or are they just dragging time with the bill in the bottom

of the pile of their priorities?

Just nine years ago on October 11, a Filipina transgender died an unjust death in the hands of an American she had met earlier that evening at a nightclub. At 26 years old, Jennifer Laude was choked and had her head pushed into the toilet bowl until she drowned by a US Marine, Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton who tried to justify his actions by pleading it was self-defense. This enraged the LGBTQIA+ community and lit up something more than a raging fire inside them and drove them to protest with rainbows, screaming “Justice for Jennifer’’ as Pemberton was given the Presidential Pardon under Duterte’s administration, letting him fly out of the country as a free man.

This must be an eye-opener to the lawmakers that this bill is

classes, every student will be able to save up money as a result of decreasing expenses in the form of internet and social network. Also, the teaching methods of face-to-face classes are better than with distance teaching methods.

In addition, the full faceto-face implementation that was carried out in November reveals that students are willing to attend school five days a week, just like what they did two years ago. In accordance with this, the students were required to be vaccinated and to follow all safety

precautions like wearing face masks, maintaining social distancing, and regularly washing their hands in order for everyone to be safe including both students and teachers. Therefore, the return of face-to-face classes is better for students than distance learning. It will not only guarantee the return of physical socializing among students but also the return of the other benefits that distance learning did not have under several conditions, like the following of safety protocols.

not enough to protect the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals. This bill may not only serve as a threat to homophobic Filipinos, but also the light amidst the darkness of self-centered people who fight for their own concept of equity which is unknowingly leading to a superiority complex.

With more laws that aim to protect the rights of LGBTQIA+ people, may the Filipinos take time to understand that the oppressed individuals need is not some throne or crown, but only to be heard and finally seen as decent individuals.

What they need is a concrete assurance from the government where they can walk with their chin up high, go to public places where they know that their fellow Filipinos are sensible enough to not make fun of them not because of law, but also because of morals that the government implies on them.

Arabella Saga

Grasp of Truth

This bill may not only serve as a threat to homophobic Filipinos, but also the light amidst the darkness of self-centered people.

Yvonne Grace Santos

Neglect Precedes Dread

Crizel Cabatan

Almostfive years after the upsetting statistics gathered by the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018 results regarding the performance of Filipino students in the subjects of English, Science, and Mathematics; the Philippine education sector remains haunted by its rather troubled academic past. With the phenomenon involving the fear of mathematics, Filipino students and teachers alike struggle to contain the fright of numbers among learners.

It can be recalled that in the PISA 2018 results, the Philippines garnered a score of 353 points in Mathematics, which is 139 points behind The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average. The controversial score reflected students’ underperformance, which opted the Department of Education (DepEd) to bow to its fate by checking the circumstances that contributed to the result. One factor

linked to learners’ academic performance is their metacognitive strategies or achievement motivation. Under these factors belongs the dormant phenomenon of mathematics anxiety.  According to a study by Gerald Navida assessing Mathematics anxiety among Filipino freshman students, 15.3-32.6% experienced high levels of math anxiety while 3.5-30.6% had very high levels of the latter. In Alabel National Science High School alone, 7 out of 10 students manifested a fear of numbers according to a survey conducted by the campus press. Although recurrent, mathematics anxiety should not be tolerated–by either students or teachers. Arguably, this anxiety impairs a student’s ability to learn, retain, and master arithmetic topics that are essential not only to academics but to one’s daily life. Fear of failure fueled by failure encounters in math also contributes to this circumstance. The root of math anxiety cannot be

Fearless Points

Cycle of Imprudence

Heart Leh Alcudia

“Never Again ‘’ the cry that resounded throughout the entire nation. Through risked life and limb the dictator has finally been ousted and the curtain ultimately fell on one of the darkest periods in Philippine history. Atrocious, unforgivable, unforgettable that was all said and done but as it does the cycle turns and once again it resurfaces and rears.

Viewed through lenses of historical revisionism and nostalgia the Marcos Regime is now being considered the “Golden years”. The suspension of civil law, civil rights, habeas corpus,

death,rapes and other human rights violations is all but a price to pay for peace and prosperity. The glorification and distortion of the marcosian past is a clear manifestation of the disinformation pandemic we currently are at. The economy was in fact not booming during the administration, it was during the early eighties when the Philippines suffered its worst post war recession. GDP shrank by 7.3% for two consecutive years, the last time an economic downturn of this magnitude happened was in World War II. As frustrating as it is, the

tracked to a single road though, it stems from busy intersections. The pedagogy of the teachers is one. Math anxiety is fueled by tension and timidness. Thus, the education sector should steer clear of pedagogical issues linking mistakes to discouragement. Working on a stronger studentteacher relationship inside the classroom should be prioritized. Meaning, teachers should listen to their students’ needs— which includes accessible and adequate resources and enforcing a coping mechanism that could be used. With that said, it is about time that DepEd prioritizes Filipino students. At the same time, DepEd should evaluate not only what is seen on the outside, but also the inside. The importance of teaching competence, aided by a psychological and emotional understanding of learners, cannot be overstated. After all, neglect precedes dread.

AlSays

propensity of the people to cling to resemblances of perceived power is not surprising as does have its origin.

The Marcosian lie emerged from the failure of Philippine institutions to deliver on the promise of societal change after the fall of the dictatorship. Finally free of the shackles of authoritarianism, expectations of rapid advancement and growth arose and when Aquino’s turbulent political administration failed to deliver, it prompted the start of turnarounds against liberal democratic values.This discontent drove for the populace

Worthwhile Investment Panoramic Perspective

Picturing an institution with top-notch Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, Alabel National Science High School should be one for the books for its facilities and apparatus. Instead, its students and teachers are frisking empty pockets and almost barren facilities stumbling with difficulty for lacking educational amenities. Afflicted by the progressive trend of laboratory apparatus and machinery, the science high school inarguably has been bypassed by its peers over the years spent under

the demands of globalization. Exacerbated by the inadequate funds lagging behind the expense of these amenities, the school submits to refrain from upgrading its outdated equipment The school’s financial limitations force its student body to make the best of what little is available, resulting in a suboptimal approach to education. Hands-on learning takes a backseat, and students are frequently left to compensate for the inadequacy on their own. With the insufficiency of available services granted by the school, the research

to look for alternatives beyond liberal democracy and was lured into the to the promise of change and discipline from figures like Duterte and Ferdinand “bongbong” Marcos Jr.

This rise of populist leaders coupled along with the emergence of a wave of historical revisionism is an embodiment of the cyclical nature of Philippine politics. From Tremendous bolstering of reformism to being more than agreeable to populism, it truly is one extreme to the next. The aggravating pendulumlike action has led us again to a democratic

deficit, back where we came from. Nations, like individuals, have short memories. These are the words of George A. Malcom. One cycle was all it took to dismantle the gains of liberal democracy.The Conflatement of the Horrors of the Marcos Regime is indeed the height of imprudence. And like a masochist coming back for more, we have now found ourselves in the political medley of today. The cycle continues; we are now back into the cycle of imprudence .

The truth is becoming more and more elusive in a period rife with misinformation and false narratives. The Scribblers interviewed AlSci students about their opinions regarding the reinstatement of Filipino history as a topic in high school amid concerns about the potential modification of historical narratives. This is what they had to say:

Hyein (Grade 10)

I think we should bring back History to the curriculum because if you are not familiar with the history of our own country then you can’t really say that you know and appreciate your Filipino roots and being ignorant of these things makes you unaware and vulnerable to possible manipulation from the higher ups. I believe that talking about our past will improve our future because we use our history as a basis for the development of our country.

Hanni (Grade 9)

studies of AlSci Grade 12 students are paramount among the list of their preoccupancies. As a result, students and teachers alike are obliged to seek out private laboratories to acquire the assistance they need. Relying on student discounts and in-kind concessions, student researchers conform to the condition’s de rigeur— rending money out of their own pockets. To finish laboratory tests, researchers who opted for Orca Laboratories in General Santos City accumulated a budget ranging from 2000 to 6000 pesos— an amount generous enough to

be earned by minimum-wage earner parents in a month. In these conditions, a group consisting of four to five students is forced to provide a sine qua non of 500 to 1000 pesos each. The efficacy of a school in catering to its students ultimately hinges on the resources allocated to it. However, before we can expect to nurture students with academic excellence, our political leaders must first deliberate on whether this pursuit is a worthwhile investment.

Teaching History specifically Philippine history in the secondary level would be beneficial especially with the current generation. The PBB GomBurZa situation of last year only highlighted the current educational crisis, when simple history questions like that are not retained, you know there is something wrong. To be considered FIlipino we must have at least common knowledge of our history.

Danielle (Grade 11)

Historical revisions have been done in the past and it’s not always done maliciously, only when it involves changing actual facts with falsified information should it be considered wrong and unjust. Proper historical revision is when you exchange what was thought to be correct information to the truly correct ones; however historical revision when exaggerated can also cause damage to education and society in general. If we apply history as a subject again we can have cemented knowledge from the past and help us as individuals determine if the historical revision is valid or not.

Geraldluke Faciol

FEATURE

PANDEMIC Tales High-Beam Headlights

Rivalry commenced between light and dark. Mercilessly, the darkness vied a little more. Shhh– no one can go out. Countering something immaterial is simply being a hostage of madness. Unstoppable as the tears of hopelessness, the days unfold dimly. Though the sun is always there, it is surmounted by the skies of horror, boisterously warning the heart to stay in the shade. Faint and vague… What went authoritative was the loudest silence, leaving the powerless in a tight constriction; visionless and deaf.

Vintage hues consumed the memories of old– giddy children seesawing in the Mahogany’s arms; families becoming warmer in the riverside; carefree ethnic groups dancing in their stage of grace; farmers sowing their scrumptious treasures; and students freely raising their hand to exclaim excellence. Until a day, the need to put life in the lucklessness of the abode accentuated. Happiness indeed comes when one deviates from negativity, hence, the lightest avenue of remembrance people held dear during containment. In the midst of the dark, when the light was desperately longed for, one was found. Harshly, the first thing

Jaded Nobles

Teaching is defined as a noble, if underpaid, profession. Teachers are expected to be well-rounded—bringing knowledge as they enter the classroom, being able to grasp the learners’ attention for a whole period, and ensuring that the lessons will be instilled in one’s mind. Regardless of their duties inside the classroom, they still need to accomplish different reports and meet several deadlines. Weekends are used to extend work hours rather than using these free days to rest. Suffice to say, they often are restless, always seen as jaded. But are they paid enough for the amount of work they get?

“Lahat ng sinusweldo ko, napupunta lahat sa loans, groceries, at pamasahe.” Jasmin Angie, a regular teacher, aforementioned as she talked about how her salary is just enough for the amount of bills she needs to pay monthly, leaving no room for her leisure. She also shared how she is already used to this cycle, although she needs to cut more expenses off as necessities are getting more expensive due to inflation. She added, “‘Di enough na umasa sa sahod mo lang, kailangan mo pa rin talagang dumiskarte.”

From the point of view of a master teacher, Annabel Erolon stated, “from Teacher I to Teacher III, I feel like the salary I receive for just solely teaching, per se, is enough. But with the amount of paperworks we have, that is the part where I feel we are underpaid.” She, too, expressed how teachers from the Philippines should call for action from the government as Filipino teachers are underappreciated compared to other teachers across the world.

that went aglow was the wounds of society, bleeding, mostly. “To be a learner is to be a perceiver. And perceiving is not limited to visual capabilities, I sense. I feel for even a minor semblance of perception” in the Pandemic’s blindfold, the student Liann Cabanda denied ignorance. “I crave for more than awareness,” said Maria Dudang, a student leader. “Production cannot be done one-time due to disposal difficulties in economic crisis, strategizing marketing crops is a must,” fought by Mr. Farmer. “I choose to open my eyes to background and character,” fought Nicole Zapanta, a wise voter. “We’ve been negatively stereotyped, oras na para lumiwanag ang B’laan,” Suzette Tejada, voicing her right of value. Myriad sectors were spectated and brightened up amidst the blackout, something that pulled change. During the national elections, candidates weren’t the ones elected– it was reformation. The government needed to move, not to wander in darkness, but to find the greatest change hiding within the chronicle of chaos. Knocking the gavel thrice, there is no dominant darkness.

Withchapped lips fruits and vegetables hugged the ground as they were tormentingly thrown away, outstepping, yet again, the runny hope. Worst part is, the greater the food being wasted, the more their market value increases. How come a darkness this immense breed the way it is now? Humbleness warmed the native soils—pale and malnourished as the farmers—very unbecoming of a naturally-gifted fatherland. Unspoken may be it, the fact of the sprightly inflation caused such downgrade. “To tell you honestly, there wasn’t much production. My pastureland was idle. I cannot risk my health when I have only my wife to look after our nine children. Besides, risking it is of no value. I can’t get any income; money is just going out and never coming back. I don’t even know where to get funds to feed my family,” outcried by a Lumad farmer.

“There’s only work and death for people like me”— another choiceless soul. Past four a.m., when the rooster croaks, farmers rise. Beneath the searing sunlight, they hunch down to reach their barren planting beds. And on their own marks, they ask, “When will this homeland love us back... again?”

They needed to move, not to wander in darkness, but to find the greatest change hiding within the chronicle of chaos.

Stories by Lora Dela Cuadra

Eileen Lapiz | Isabel Cordero

PANDEMIC of the

Through Ghost Lines

“Hands above your head, you have the right to remain silent,” the highest command from someone unseen and foreign yet familiar. Hearts became wildly pulsating. A few more steps until everyone wakes up in the darkest cell. A baby’s cradle was left swinging by a lonely midday gale. The favored childhood conventions froze in isolating playgrounds; not even a single chuckle warmed the metal slides. “Where are my favorite children?”— smiles skiing downward, Manong Sorbetero felt a slight pinch. Rampant vines climb somewhere in volatile minds left deprived of learning in school. Cars are piteously itching in dusty spaces; cycles barely turning for the next three years. Workers excrete a hundred more bottles of sweat to provide for their drilled stomachs. And child population increased; backed up by oblivion for some hide in adult bodies. There were extreme forces; the world became a serious game of tugging for nourishment just to stay afloat. Drop dead! The infamous virus didn’t just drag a number to ashes; it also dragged them to the desperation of staying active on the precipice

Amidst Boulders

Regie Linao | Isabel Cordero

of human existence. And so, beyond humanity, people unconsciously created another cage within themselves, which despite the cost, endured the lines. “The light’s absence is scary, but I had to live with it. Even if it muddles my peace, it is better to express my reality in the shadows where I can’t be seen and conjured in a greater horror,” a victim of the pandemic once lamented. Equity was everywhere! Alongside Corona’s grim reaping, an eye for an eye led people. It’s funny, even, how more voices are encouraged to be loud, the more crowd of mute spawns. Ignorance, too, became the father of little children. Hunger, hoarding, thirst, maltreatment, and inhumane pacifism— even the greatest souls in the form of a mother, father, sister, brother, and friend were wasted away. “Is it possible for the world to heal?”, a query out of bereavement. No matter the repulsion, in the cell created by a foreign foe, everyone was driven by the goal of surviving. Anything to clutch a fragment of the everelusive hope, even in the state of daze and darkness.

Dooming, a shrill whistle cut off a reminiscent soul gawking a glitchy screen. One blink and so it goes back to reverie. The next thing known? “ABS-CBN SHUTDOWN” reached the headlines.

The shutdown of ABS-CBN was a long time coming—though an esoteric truth for some— molded from the years of tension between the network and the government. Accusations of biased reporting and violations of regulations plagued ABS-CBN, and the network’s franchise renewal was repeatedly delayed and eventually denied.

For the workers that served ABSCBN, the impact was immediate and devastating, wherein over 11,000 employees were retrenched. “Piteous”— that’s what they’ve become. But the Filipino people did not just become piteous, they became more; they were rugged off the right to enlightenment. Closing the gates for media to never reverberate its waves of truth is betrayal and deprivation. If democracy runs the country, why are the press vetoed to speak? If there is freedom to know, there should also be a freedom to share, inform, and enlight.

Ignorance is innate in land, and so it should be a right to have access to reliable and accurate information, no matter the circumstances.

Deafening Silence from the Ones we Onced Treasured

Born

of the Earth — the Visayan term “Lumad,” which is the largest group of indigenous people in the Philippines, was derived from this meaning. With a vast variety of traditions, their culture is diversely rich as a treasured box of riches. It is safe to say that they significantly contributed to the Philippines’ tremendous culture, reaching wherever it is today. Yet the countrymen seem to forget about the doubloons Lumad shared with our motherland. Just because of who they are and what they identify as, they are subjected to discrimination, and their rights are constantly at risk. They experience prejudice and are classified as one of the world’s poorest minority groups, thus, they are forced to be silenced.

Waqas Al-awadi, a Lumad currently residing in Alabel, recalled his life in Maguindanao. “The education there can’t even be leveled in other schools, modes of transportation is for rich families only, electricity is not common, no internet

connection, healthcare is hard to access as it is far, and food is only accessed through farming.”

“Bilang isang tao, lahat tayo ay may karapatan, paninindigan, at mayroong mga pagmamay-ari. Ang harassment ay nakakasakit sa kapwa natin tao kaya’t ito ay mali sa kahit saang perspektibo ng buhay,” Julian Ellaine Kawari, a Lumad from a small community in Tugal, Cotabato asserted as agony and wrath painted her statements for how people can easily say that they are above everyone, therefore, can trample over their rights.

Enjoying the riches of the Lumad while the people are discriminating against them shows pure hypocrisy. Let us practice our privilege by voicing out their injustices and sharing our voices with them for the Lumad to be heard. Together, we shall make it possible for them to be heard, expanding the richness of our culture, bringing prosperity to our country.

Anything to clutch a fragment of the everelusive hope, even in the state of daze and darkness.

Illustration by Isabel Cordero

Eileen Lapiz Isabel Cordero

A REALM IN SHAMBLES

Eileen Lapiz

“Because they are poor, they cannot afford reading materials,” Aleli Dasmariñas, a Filipino teacher, shared her sentiments about how poverty is the biggest factor of illiteracy. “They can grab the concept of what they are reading but could not get the context of the actual text due to lack of reading comprehension abilities,” she added as she also talked about helping students improve their reading comprehension capabilities, such as implementing the Department of Education Order No. 034, s. 2022 which enforces the Learning Recovery and Continuity Plan (LRCP). With this order, the Alabel National Science High School conducts the School Learning Action Cell (SLAC) Intervention and Enrichment Program to address the learning difficulties ANSHS Junior High School students face.

The PISA results prove that the Philippines is indeed facing an educational crisis. As we fix this realm in shambles, we must also remember the famished who lThe educational realm the Philippines has today is slowly falling apart. The quality of education the youth receive today reflects on the learners’ academic performance and explains the results of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) Report last 2019. The Philippines ranked the lowest in reading comprehension among 79 ASEAN-participating countries with an average score of 340 points below the 487 surveyed average in the PISA report. When the pandemic struck, students had to face an unfamiliar, ghastly realm. They need to get on their devices instead of entering their classrooms. However, people in poverty cannot take online classes since they do not have internet access. This left the learners in a more inefficient learning environment, leaving our education system in shambles.

Lack access to the education we are getting right now. Poverty should not be a hindrance to being educated, thus, education should be fuel to a way to stray out of deprivation.

OF INTAGRITY

Mark Vincent Eiman

the roots of truth that have been irrigated by blood, nourished by violence, and transformed into a tree of lies and silence is not a simple task, from people walking in unity to people gathering on a battleground, revolting and voicing out one goal: no to redtagging! Everybody tried, but when will they succeed in chopping the source of falsification and threats in our country?

Restoring

The perils that red-tagging poses to Pinoys compels every Filipino activist to continue battling it and let our voices echo in the government. The exertion of this tagging has been prevalent in the Philippines for decades, and as this act continues to paint each activist red, it has become violent and invasive to the lives of Filipinos; killing journalists, farmers, lawyers, writers, leaders of religious organizations, and other individuals that want their voices to be heard by the state and not left muted. Today’s youth will be the ones who will continue fighting to free the voices of Filipinos that have been bottled up. We will be the ones marching in those streets with a placard that speaks for the many, holding it high

while hugging one vision and intention. It’ll take courage and grit to be a warrior of these caged-up voices. But what if these young people do not believe they have the freedom to disclose their opinions, express themselves, and pursue their passions?

This is the case for some students here at Alabel National Science High School, where several former campus journalists have stated that they will not pursue careers as journalists in the future due to the negative facets. One of their justification is that it is a dangerous job, despite their only weapons being pens, papers, microphones, and the truth. Journalists face harassment, violence, and threats on a daily basis simply for doing their jobs; some have even been silenced and have carried the voice of truth

to their graves.

It exhibits how giving out truthful information to the public can be threatening. However, these types of occupations are not the only victim of this tagging. Unfortunately, farmers are also being tainted red for standing up for their rights. The constant harassment, killings, and imprisonment of farmers have planted fear in them and grew a wave of anger in the public, which became the impetus for their protest, and one message they want to tell the government: “Magsasaka kami, hindi terorista! ” The dedication of journalists and the hard labor of farmers will be futile if we allow the tree of truth to fall prey to lies and fear.

Color-blinded Inks

Pointing

a ray of light upon the transparency of a prism, ripples the aftermath of endless spectrum of colors. May it be pink, red, or green but one’s pen should leak unbiased and color-blinded ink. Presidential race in the Philippines for the 2022 Election is divided upon their own tainted histories and emblematic colors. Regardless to where the arrow points at the stop of the turning political color wheel, journalists should view the diplomacy with black and white, but not with a blind eye.

Sides of a Coin

In every aspect way, different perspectives are viewed upon a panoramic sight. Leaving no stone unturned, one cannot deny the variety of rectifying truths. Despite the renders of facts and deliberations of sources, it all lies on the ink that the pen spills. Tossing a coin gives two possibilities, same as to a writer seeking for truth- leaves the risk of spoiling reposition or validating truth. In every side, there are different versions facts and verity.

Rely on Liability

Different versions of truth can tilt the conviction of the prospects, but every eye couldn’t be blinded when it views what is right and reliable. Through the emerging notions of technology and the spreading range of spectral colors in politics, there is a way to burn the falsifying papers of the doubt.

Persist Objectivity

Writing color-blindedly doesn’t mean that your eyes are shut. As a journalist, one should aim to assist the reader in making their own decisions about a story by revealing only the facts and let the public interpret them on their own. Journalists must present the facts regardless of whether they like or agree with them in order to maintain objectivity.

Favorite colors don’t apply in the political means, same as to who agrees what, but it all boils down to what is true. Presidential votes lies on the hands of the people, however the apprehension of the mass reckons on the hands of the journalists. Don’t be blinded with the flickering lights of political color wheel, thus the pens should dribble words in black and white.

Lora Dela Cuadra Isabel Cordero

BEYOND THE FACADE

Asthey enter the classroom, some might say they look stress free, some could even say that they must be having a really good time, or so they thought. What they did not know is that beyond the things that can be seen by the naked eye is a person, a parent, a daughter, a son, a sister, or a brother; basically, people with more taxing responsibilities other than acting as a catalyst for education. Embracing the new normal way of learning, educators were forced to work from their homes. Exposing them to more hassle situations where they would have to mix their work and home environment in one place.

Behind the Mask

Rallie Ann D. Taborete, breadwinner to her family, emphasized that there will always be pressure in balancing work and being a daughter. “As a daughter you want to provide all the things your parents want not because it's your responsibility to give back but because you love them and you appreciate their love, care, efforts and sacrifices in raising you,” she quoted. She even stressed that there are times when it is definitely hard to provide for her family, but she prioritizes seeing them happy, especially her parents. “Minsan, kailangan din nating isacrifice yung mga wants and needs natin just like how our parents did to give us a comfortable life.”

Teacher Rallie admits that there were times when she got tired of her work as a teacher and could not focus on her job. Instead, she shared that she has to look fine even for just an hour to face her students. “ Kailangan mong umarte na ok ka kasi hindi pwedeng haharapin mo sila nang ‘di ka ok.”

Overworked yet, Underpaid

Annabel D. Erolon, teaching for 28 years and a mother of 3, admitted that teachers are indeed overloaded with work and yet are underpaid. Their responsibilities cannot be done during class hours and they would have to extend late in the evening or during weekends to fulfill their duties. Teachers working 8 to 9 hours a day does not mean that their work is only confined within those hours. “You have no choice but to extend your time in school or bring your works at home and insert them in your holiday.”

“Having 3 kids in today's economic situation where all other basic needs are rising, I just manage my income by prioritizing my family's needs and setting aside my wants,” she highlighted. In spite of the excessive workloads, Mrs. Erolon

and Downed Locked

Mark Vincent Eiman

does not see it as a hindrance for her family duties as a working parent.

Accepting the Challenge

Jan Carol S. Salas, AlSci teacher living in Koronadal City, expressed that the work from home system, although it was more challenging, became an opportunity for her to spend more quality time with her family. “I can manage my time because I have people I can trust to watch over my daughter if I have online classes even when I have to report to school. I spend a lot of time taking good care of my daughter and husband.” However, as a mother, there are times when she gets distracted at conferences because she has chores to do.

Nonetheless, she highlighted that she has to accept the responsibility as a whole, including the struggles that comes with it, because it is what she chose to be. “Every role has a responsibility to take and it's hard, to be honest,” she added.

The people we see and learn from on a daily basis have different stories to tell. Behind the masks of Teacher Rallie, Maam Ann, and Teacher JC, lies a person that also has a life to live, a person that has responsibilities more than just being a platform for the future generation to learn. Other than being teachers, they are parents, daughters and sons, and providers for their own families. But despite those differences, one thing they have in common is their passion for teaching.

The choices they make always have responsibilities and struggles that comes with it. After all, what matters most are the things they value. They value their families and as well as their duty and passion to foster the minds of the future generation. It is important to pay the respect and attention that teachers deserve, because they have their own stories, more than what is just seen by the naked eye.

TheRestCould

Wearing off the Worn-out Cultural Norms

Amidthis progressing modernization, change is constant, particularly sociological perspectives that are altered around time. Transitions that either change for the betterment or breaking the norms. Specifically in fashion which is symbolic and dynamic. In relation, cross-dressing now is timely and a revolutionary style however, will this be either welcomed or pushed as unorthodox?

Clothing is a gesture that emblems one identity. A channel of non-vocal communication, and a subtext as a bridge of expression and an act of connecting. As time passes, new trends are shaped and also issues to be highlighted. One is an expressive form of clothing called crossdressing, it is where people opt to choose opposite sex style from their assigned sex-proper, most are exceeding beyond stereotypical fashion or in transvestite.

Crossdressing had long existed as a concept in history. Furthermore, it had also been

studied and stated as an act of gender mockery, comedy, and disguise as this purpose are prominent in the war period. In this time, it is now a figure of expression and freedom of identity. Majority of school’s cliché are inclined in an established theme, a fixed layout, and uniformity. In light of the present-day approach with this kind of style, is my school ready to exceed beyond social construct?

In spite of a traditional approach in dressing, we are still boxed in a normative perspective. “We must stick to the implemented dress code as suggested by the school’s protocol” implied by a student. In addition, “Our school’s system is conservative, thus girls are prohibited to wear crop tops, yet how much more so to boys” quoted by an anonymous crossdresser. As stated, it is evident that the school or rather our educational systems are not yet open for this profound issue.

The level of formality clashes in response to certain student’s

casual attire. Embodied under Sara Duterte’s statement that “Public school students will not be required to wear uniforms for the school year 2022-2023” in response to the post-pandemic’s impact. Additionally, the outbreak is also an outlet that catalyses youth’s ideology. As I adhere mostly from supporting students, I sentiment that it is to convey inner confidence and freedom of expression. Nowadays it is now concocted from this issue, of which is socially appropriate and inappropriate. Now our world is a cultural pot mixing traditional and modernity. As I see from today, society’s attitude towards authentic crossdressers or in complex, the community is gradually connecting. Still, crossdressing is not a privilege or to be boosted out of hand. But to answer the question, are you in favour of crossdressing to be allowed in our schools? It depends on the situation and approach. Talking about their conformity, yes, I agree, but still with moderation.

Early in the morning, we would be awakened by the alarm, prepared to leave for school and longing to learn something in our classrooms, but in a blink of an eye, everything had changed, we were suddenly imprisoned in the four corners of our room, asking when will we break free from the shackles of online class and our modules. We spent more than two years of our lives exclusively seeing PowerPoint presentations, tiles of faces, and mountains of modules. Since not all of us are privileged, have the desire to wake up each day eager to learn, and have the resources, adjusting to a virtual classroom was extremely tough for all of us students. Ameera May Lumiguid, a grade 11 student, is one among the students who visions pandemic as the time when she felt she was swollen by darkness. Concentrating during the online discussions was one of the difficulties she encountered throughout the lockdown, along with sleeping during classes, missed lectures, and other habits she established as a result of being in this type of learning environment, but this was not her main adversary during the lockdown.

Given how draining it is to be glued to your device, mental health has become increasingly important, especially for distance learners like Ameera. Her perception of being alone was mostly a result of her lack of social engagement, which eventually had an impact on her academics and left her lacking the will to attend class and pass her requirements.

Nevertheless, after suffering in the jail of the virtual world, she discovered the key to unlocking the doors of the chambers where she felt down: face-to-face classes. Although she was apprehensive about the transition period, she was relieved when her regular classes were back. She eventually discovered that inperson discussions were much more beneficial to her than those in her online class since she could focus better at school. In time where shackles of the past that’s been dragging us down and locking us into our limitations, adjusting to a new environment is the way we survive every predicament.

Francis Ladres Isabel Cordero

I dress not to impress but to express.

“

SCIENCE AND TECH

Pricks of the Streets

The Pinoy ‘Tusok-Tusok’ and the plight on food security

Brix Salloman | Lyle Ledesma

Beat the Heat

With the country’s neverending drastic shifts in climate change, heat waves are frequently observed and pose a new threat to human health.

As declared by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the occurrence of the warm and dry season has officially started and is expected to last until May. It has also been reported by the state weather bureau’s Heat Index that a temperature of 33°C to 41°C is classified as “extreme caution.” The excessive rise in temperature, also known as a “heat wave,” is expected to become a menacing concern for the well-being of the people. That being so, here are some tips for battling the heat wave:

AWARENESS. Be wellinformed and keep up with the latest news regarding weather updates.

DISCIPLINE. Avoid staying outdoors for a long time and wear lightweight, lightcolored, loose-fitting clothing.

CONSUMPTION. Limit the intake of caffeinated tea, coffee, soda, and alcohol, as these can lead to dehydration. Instead, opt for water and sports drinks.

ENCOURAGE. Impart what you know with others and urge them to engage in the same preventive measures as you do.

Amid this fight against heat waves, it is important to stay vigilant and united as every single one strides towards a healthy community.

of the World’s population fall ill after eating contaminated food.

Streetfoods are often praised for their affordability and delicious flavors, which appeal to many people. However, there are concerns about the safety and health implications of consuming them, which can be worrying for some.

In Alabel, Sarangani, the famous ‘patok sa masa at bulsa” street foods makes the roadsides inviting to eat among locals and tourists alike. But despite the mouthwatering taste, people often wonder about the hygiene and cleanliness of the food preparation process, which can lead to concerns about potential health risks. Addressing these concerns, street food vendors in Alabel take measures to ensure that their food is prepared and served in a hygienic manner. Sir Junnie Sumbo, one of the night market vendors in Alabel said, “Everyday, ang style ani kay 3 kilos gyud akong ginapalit na mantika pero ang gamiton nako kay isa ra ka kilo. Inig human gamit ani kay waste na na siya, akoa na na siyang ilabay.” As he was

asked about the procedures he does before serving or cooking his product, he answered, “Syempre hugasan pag-ayo, tapos among area limpyo before mag work. Ang mga sudlanan, limpyo. Ang mga trabahante mag hugas.” All ventors understand the importance of cleanliness in the food industry and recognize that it is crucial for their customers’ safety and satisfaction. Before starting their food preparation process, the vendors first clean their work area thoroughly to create a clean and safe environment. This includes wiping down surfaces, sweeping the floor, and disposing of any trash or debris. The vendors also make sure that the containers where they store their ingredients and food are clean and free from contamination. In addition, the vendors prioritize hand hygiene to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. They make it a point to wash their hands regularly, especially before handling food, to ensure that their

Jaguar on the Rolling Hills

Brix Salloman Fatiyah Lim

The origin of the most remarkable confection, merged with the controversial fruit of torn.

What seems to be an unusual variety. Cacao on the outside, but durian on the inside. Commonly found in Southern America, suddenly harvested in the home of Sarangani’s rolling hills.

Flabbergasted the mind of the elderly cultivator, publicized, and went viral on social media.

The Jaguar Cacao or Theobroma bicolor, became a sensation on social media after Edmundo Cejar, a 70-year-old farmer harvested the fruit in Malungon, Sarangani. Four years ago, Cejar planted a tree using six cacao seeds, clueless as to what variety or species it was.

“My first time harvesting this kind of fruit. Durian like cacao

or cacao like durian?” Cejar said. “Like durian which falls when already ripe, we waited until the durian cacao fell to the ground,” Cejar added. He describes it as a durian in a cacao as it has the flesh, aroma, and taste of durian. Engr. Nenita Barroso of the Department of Trade and Industry in Sarangani, who was there when the durian cacao was opened— nodded in agreement that it is durianlike and confirmed that the pulp does indeed smell like the exotic king of fruits. It said the seeds can be used to make chocolate, fried, or added to soups. It claimed that Theobroma bicolor is a kind of cacao, of which the flesh is mostly consumed. The flesh is thicker around the kernel than in the other species. Cacao is

hands are clean and free from harmful microorganisms.

Despite efforts to ensure hygiene in street food preparation, it is difficult to completely eliminate the risk of foodborne illnesses. Filthy foods can cause illnesses such as Typhoid fever, Hepatitis A, and Salmonella, which can have serious health consequences.

During their outbreaks, the potential dangers of improper hygiene in street food preparation becomes saturated. The contamination may occur due to improper storage, delayed serving, or an unsanitary environment. It is important to recognize that poor hygiene can have severe consequences, and efforts should be made to improve the hygiene practices of street food vendors to minimize any food-related risks.

‘Tusok tusok’ or much known as street foods are loved for their accessibility and delicious flavors, but the way it causes harm to others can also raise concerns

definition of terms

Food Safety refers to the practices that are observed during the handling, processing, and distribution of food to ensure that contaminants that can cause foodborne illnesses are not present.

Food Security when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

not new to Cejar who plants a variety of crops and trees in Rio Vista Farm and Forest, a roughly 30-hectare property along a stream which he shares with his siblings and kids. He claimed that despite the inferior quality of the cocoa produced, he was still eager to spread the rare tree which could grow up to eight meters tall. “If you can wait, I will germinate and make seedlings out of the 21 seeds in the pod and propagate it,” Cejar jokingly said to the netizens who asked for seedlings.

As the jaguar starts to bloom in Sarangani’s rolling hills, and more uses of it bloom out. To efficiently and properly manage the reproduction of jaguar cacao can be the key to maximizing the benefits it can give.

We should take part in putting food safety as a priority. Everyone, food consumers, vendors, and manufacturers alike should be aware of food handling practices to further uphold food security and food safety for all.

World Health Organization

FOOD SHOULD BE A PRIORITY

QUICK REMINDER

Lora Dela Cuadra

Along the WAIke of Cybernetics

Forbearance

delves into haywired realms of dilapidated abilities when brain fog opaques together with time trouble and illiteracy. So, fate leaves no more than one choice to those glued on a due date dilemma— being late in a task while forcefully urging the mind to function; or going footloose and fancy-free as the responsibility is passed down to the one which perpetuated intellectual soundness.

As time ticks in a louder thud 30 minutes before one task falls flatline, good thing the 22nd of November 2022 happened; a lifeline arose along the barony of Cybernetics, from the deadness of motivation— “ChatGPT”. And if its existence is perplexing enough, saying that the students even from Alabel National Science High School swallowed the biggest lump of using it is more.

‘ChatGPT’— the new shackle in writing formed with a chatbot-like approach for learning? A machine learning model conceived by OpenAI; a Generative Pre-trained Transformer AI consisting of supervised and reinforcement learning techniques.

Since the transformation, AI systems, like language models, have upgraded features to better interact with those who adapt to the system. ChatGPT inhibits a dialogue format which helps it effectively converse as it particularizes answers from given prompts. Attempts-by-attempts, the model feedbacks until the desired output is achieved.

The ‘one million in five days’, with its accessible interface, quickly elevated the aggregate users as piles and piles of workload continue to flourish day-by-day.

“I know how to make essays, even proficient, if assessed. But if time cuts my rope, I must climb using sharp rocks to clutch my height. I won’t dare fall the lowest when my grades shake”, a bold consistent honor student who ran out of choice but to wound hands, come what may. “But even so, I still know my boundaries. I won’t trust a half-baked assurance of a right answer. I trust my mind more”, continued she.

Ever since inception, ChatGPT helped millions of people– both students and teachers in the academic sector– surpass the lofty academic benchmark for written pieces. However, cautiousness must be observed when choosing to ruse with its tidal dangers. After all, an Al is the barge along the ever-drowning sea of desperation in academics, and beyond.

For this story, we asked Chat-GPT, a machine learning model conceived by OpenAI and a generative pre-trained transformer artificial intelligence moderl consisting of supervised and reinforcement learning techniques, to write an article about the “Impact of Social Media on the Information Landscape”. At the same time, we also asked a writer from The Scribblers to write a story about the same topic. For uniformity of the write-ups we gave Chat-GPT and the writer the same outline to write about. (1) How did social media revolutionize the social media landscape? (2) What are the challenges of using social media in information flow?

Your task as the reader is to discern which of the stories is written by AI and written by a person.

Social media has revolutionized the way we access and consume information, profoundly shaping the information landscape. With its global reach and real-time updates, social media platforms have become powerful tools for news dissemination, connecting individuals, and driving public discourse. However, this impact is not without challenges. The ease of sharing information on social media has led to the proliferation of misinformation and fake news, creating an environment where rumors can spread rapidly. Additionally, social media algorithms often create filter bubbles, reinforcing existing beliefs and limiting exposure to diverse perspectives. As we navigate this new era, it is crucial to critically evaluate information sources, promote media literacy, and strive for a balanced and inclusive information ecosystem.

The rise of social media has had a profound impact on the information landscape, transforming the way people consume and share news and other forms of content. While social media has made it easier to access information from a wider range of sources, it has also given rise to issues such as fake news, misinformation, and echo chambers. Social media algorithms can reinforce our existing beliefs and filter out opposing views, limiting our exposure to diverse perspectives. Additionally, social media platforms have been used to spread propaganda and political influence campaigns, posing a threat to the democratic process. As social media continues to shape our information landscape, it is important to remain critical and discerning consumers of information.

Regenerate response

Have you made a guess? Which of the do you think is written by AI and written by a human? The catch is: both of them are written by AI. This is the scary power of artificial intelligence. As machine learning and data science becomes more complex as time progresses, AI becomes more advanced.

If the outputs of text-based AI models look more human-like this poses a threat to various community sectors. Especially in education, the reliance in AI leads to cases of academic dishonesty and the threatens the integrity of the academe. While this is the case, it would be best to keep tabs on the trends of AI and practice how to distinguish AI-generated materials. And although AI may be helpful as an assistant, the power remains to the users and how they utilize the tool.

Quenching Giant Droplets

Despite the breakneck speed at which technology is developing, water scarcity still continues to plague humanity. The Philippines especially suffers from the water crisis, the reason why it was prospected as a good innovative research interest by the students of Alabel National Science High School (ANSHS).

In the recent sixth iMakeweMake competition, Project HAMOWG (Hydro from Air Machine

Operating Water Generator) made it to the Top 20 Finalists nationwide. Walking through, it is a fog-harvesting technology that aims to innovate a solution to aid the prevalent water scarcity in arid and defiled regions. Since the emerging heat wave and climate change that increased the temperature of some bodies of water, the supply’s quality has been compromised, and some sources have gone dry. Hence, the

low source of safe drinking water. Powered using renewable energy which reduces carbon footprints, the project provides safe and potable water that is mostly demanded nowadays. This process happens through air to water conversion, and vice versa. For it to effectively be attained, the project utilizes a seven stage filter or water purification system that ensures its best quality for human consumption. As this aids

in the removal of different types of contaminants, the water curated from the fogs result in a drinking water that is clean and free of impurities. This mainly makes the converted water potable. In addition to the best qualities, the project is also composed of a monitoring system that is necessary for the evaluation of the essential parameters and components for the process it is programmed to do.

With a nation that is in dire need of a quencher, there has to be a reliable water source everywhere that is fresh and uncontaminated enough to guzzle up while staying cool under the sweltering heat of the sun. And with the generous nature that bestows a myriad of fogs to harvest, people should be wise enough to stay hydrated. Hence, Project HAMOWG; the giant of tiny droplets, saving more than a million thirsty people.

Mark Eiman Kurt Lacdo-o

Mark Vincent Eiman | Andrea Andaya

A science high school is where future doctors, scientists, and researchers are molded. It is a perfect ladder for climbing every student’s soaring dreams. But with every empty shelf that is brought by the lacking equipment, how will these students thrive up high if the ladder they are climbing has its missing steps?

The Alabel National Science High School is a school that many students aspire to attend, given its pleasantsounding name. However, for those who are enrolled, the experience can be quite different. Students at AlSci encounter nightmares when it comes to experimenting and researching due to the lack of laboratory equipment available to them. Despite the fact that lab activities are supposed to be straightforward at this type of school, the students face

Diving in the Red Vibrant Throne

Deadly Deceit

Mysteriously

inviting— that’s what the Sarangani’s bay view appears over the surface of the calm tides. “Delve deeper; swim and swim until your eyes burn in the salty seas,” words that lure when the waves crash. Before the eyes of the curious divers who thirst to take peeks on the dauntless haven of the coral polyps– the grave carpenters of the grandiose coral reefs– lies a harmonious relation of diverse lives in the sea. But in its blue depths, only those who dare to swim unrestrained can tell that there’s a piercing peril so deceitful and active.

The Crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), ever since 1962, has been imposing great threats to the balance of marine life. It is a large species of starfish from the phylum Echinodermata, making it an invertebrate marine animal that’s morphologically designed with a bizarre spiny body. At first glance, although the spikes surrounding it ignite horror to those who see it, the red vibrant color it embodies complimenting the hues of the water makes it astonishing to look at as it slowly moves in the unique structures of the bay’s corals. And that’s more than enough for it to be a deadly deceit. In the few diving escapades, not even a single plunge in the bay did a diver from Alabel National Science High School–Krisha Lumayag– ever felt

not urged to efface these invasive species who keeps away the welfare of the corals. With the every dive in Glan and Maasim, she could come across about approximately three to five COTs. And so, to ameliorate this alarming issue in her favorite sanctum– the ocean –she partook in the collection of Crown-of-thorns (COTs) initiated by the Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape—Protected Area Management Board (SBSS-PAMB). Which for riddance, according to her, “We dispose them properly by burying them in the sand.”

Every thorn that nibbled the corners of the reefs with their evilest venom motivated her to act swiftly and precisely with every movement. “When collecting them, you have to be very fast and careful because when they are in distress, they release hundreds of eggs. And when you touch the COTs, your finger will swell for a lot of days or months,” she said, driven from her numerous experiences of congregating them, together with the team. Despite the possibility of a harmed return in the shore, she refuses to halt in the pursuit of passion within the brine. “I love diving because I can share with my community the magnificence of what’s below the sea surface. And above all else, I like to promote the protection and preservation of marine life and its ecosystems.”

The COTs found a throne in the deepness of the Sarangani Bay, but a catastrophic one that must be desolated. To preserve the well-favored seascape, there’s no other option for the COTs fate but to exterminate it. Because when the divers explore the ocean, swimming unknowingly towards the dangerous starfish will always be a deadly deceit that will doom anyone and everything as long as their piercing thorns remain, lest they are eradicated.

Ascending through Missing Steps

difficulties examining, investigating, and testing.

According to AlSci students, the lab equipment available to them is inadequate. Despite having some of the essentials such as amber bottles, petri dishes, test tubes, centrifuge, flasks, desiccator, beakers, rotary evaporator, and thermometers, the students feel that it is not enough to hone their skills. One former student shared a story of a challenging experience conducting a study on microbiological assays, for which they had to go to a neighboring lab facilities since the equipment at AlSci was insufficient. This experience with a lack of equipment is not unique, as other students have also reported difficulties due to the scarcity of resources at this Regional Science High School.

The same alumna who shared her experience also emphasized the significance of having complete equipment in a science high school. She explained that studying science entails developing skills in research, handling laboratory equipment, maneuvering machines, and observing through microscopes even before entering college. These skills are essential for success in college-level. The lack of complete equipment at AlSci can hinder students’ ability to develop these essential skills, potentially impeding their future academic success. Without having all the necessary steps in place, students may struggle to fulfill their dream profession. Each step of the ladder provides a crucial building block for the next to let them ascend.

Lora Dela Cuadra & Brix Salloman | Fatiyah Lim

Weights in Wheels

Carrying the nutshell loaded with the essentials of education might be a heavenly advantage for one’s mind and grades, but it’s not always the case for one’s back. The number of students from Alabel National Science High School with a spinal deformity, which could be seen in the form of unbalanced shoulders, shows the body‘s consequence when it exceeds the weight it can only bear. Scoliosis– the medical term of such a vengeful condition. As students, the lips should only be the curved lines when emotions are felt. But unfortunately, in this stage of life, the back becomes, too.

Lyle Ledesma, a Grade 10 student who has been diagnosed with lumbar scoliosis since he was 7 years old, states that the workload he brings to school every day affected his recovery from scoliosis as his condition worsened. Even with his avid desire to heal, his eagerness to learn outweighs it, literally causing his back to bend sideways. Routinely, he brings his laptop and its accessories, notebooks, 22-oz tumbler, lunchbox, umbrella, and the likes. “The laptop itself is already heavy, idagdag mo pa ‘yung notebooks. The more na bumibigat ‘yung laman ng bag ko, the more na nagwo-worsen ‘yung condition ko.” As a result, the right part of his shoulder appears

more sunken than the left.

“This condition is concerning for my overall health. Scoliosis will be with me for the rest of my life,’’ a ponderous mass of truth Ledesma admitted to himself. Day after day, he felt like a tow heaving hepty freights all at once.

As a counterpart to aid the lingering issue about scoliosis and as a part of the fulfillment to the requirements for Research and Creative Technologies, a group of Grade 10 students created a project called “WALLRuS”, which stands for Wheeled Autonomous Line Tracking Controlled Luggage Carrier Robot for School Hallways. This robot functions by receiving inputs from the users about their pick-up and drop-off stations where it carries their loads for them. It particularly sends and receives signals from station to station to efficiently follow the encoded instructions.

As bags get heavier, posture declines— sometimes, it seems tedious to picture a sight of wheels carrying different kinds of weights that are caused and required by life. With the incipient of WALLRuS that the weights can be hauled by wheels, the overworked backs can finally rest.

Deprivation Strugles

Just the Way They Wanted

Brix Salloman

If you have a mobile device with you, then chances are you are also into a lot of social media. And if you are, then case on point, congratulations you just made yourself a product that flashfloods money onto the waiting pockets of the tech people in Silicon Valley. If you are still yet to grasp on the point that I am trying to get to, then sit back and take a moment to read.

“The Social Dilemma” is a documentary produced by Netflix that dives into the depths of what actually happens inside the social media technology landscape. The feature opens the eyes of its audience to the eerie secrets that lies behind the curtains of socmed platforms such as Facebook, Google, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and others of the likes. Basically, the film emphasizes on the concept of us being the “users” of such platforms are also the ones who are being sold to different advertisers and corporations for the influx of profit.

To begin let us make thingsclear, social media platforms do not sell our information. Instead,the real question is “What do they do with the informationwe provide them?” Shoshana Zuboff, Professor Emeritus fromthe Harvard Business School shared that great business todaysell certainty. “In order to b successful in the business, youhave to have great predictions.

EXIT OF DESPIRE

Great predictions begin withone imperative: You need a lot of data.” That alone explains a loton how social media platforms actually work. Also, these different platforms actually compete with each other to achieve three goals: (1) Engagement, they fight to keep you scrolling. (2) Growth, they contest to keep you from coming back to the platform and inviting other people to join the platform. (3) Advertising, they compete to keep their money going. These goals rely on persuasive technology, which according to IGI Global, is the “technology designed with the underlying motive of modifying a certain attitude of behavior, exploiting psychological and sociological theories, such as persuasion and social influence.” Bottomline, we are definitely manipulated by these things that they claimed were tools.

One of the aspects of society that has been affected by this manipulation is the landscape of information dissemination. An MIT Study showed that fake news spreads faster than real news on socmed platforms, specifically Twitter. The MIT researchers also made it clear that it is not the platform’s algorithm that makes this spread faster, it is that people are more susceptible to retweeting false information than true stories. In fact, their report said that fake news are 70 percent more likely to be retweeted than true stories are. Knowing that social media spreads fake news faster in the form of propaganda, conspiracy theories, or rumors, it makes it difficult for the society to discern what is true. Algorithms are designed to provide us with information that is based on our location and it is also affected by the information that our online friends are mostly into. Which explains why the certainty that one’s truth might be different to another’s definition of the truth is inevitable.

Re-entering the door to faceto-face classes, students are exposed to various physical discomforts that can strike at any moment. These unwelcome sensations lurk around campus, ready to afflict the next unsuspecting victim who will have to make a trip to the school’s clinic. However, even after seeking treatment, students often leave the clinic feeling unwell and disheartened, with their bags in tow. A school clinic is typically a place where students can seek medical treatment for their pains. However, at Alabel National Science High School, students who are in need of medical attention are disappointed as the clinic is stocked with expired medicines that are no longer effective. Despite rushing to the clinic in hopes of relief, students may leave without proper treatment due to the lack of viable medication available. Alliah Jay P. Jo, a ninth-grade student who frequents the clinic, has witnessed this issue firsthand.

Jo shared how she dealt with a headache in the school clinic, where she couldn’t find any effective medication. Instead, she had to depend

on her adviser to provide a temporary solution through a head massage. Also, the school clinic was understaffed, and when Alliah’s adviser had to leave, she was left alone without any assistance.

Unfortunately, these unfavorable occurrences in AlSci’s school clinic always happen to a student who becomes sick while on school premises. Medications such as ibuprofen, cetirizine, and paracetamol are frequently available in school clinics. The disadvantage of consistently stockpiling these pharmaceutical drugs is that they will eventually expire, resulting in a waste of resources.

Apart from that, AlSci faces the added difficulty of school nurses’ incapacity to provide medical help to students.

Ma’am Cheenee Marie B. Manubag is the only school nurse at AlSci right now. Yet, due to her dual duty as a nurse and a teacher, she finds it difficult to monitor the inflow of pupils into the clinic.

Although the school clinic’s doors remain open to students, unfortunately, it has transformed from an entrance of hope to an exit of despair and agony.

Fortunately, there are people working to help find a solution to this problem. Tristan Harris, Founder of the Center for Humane Technology, has a goal to make social media less addictive for its users. He argued that manipulation has became the center of everything that we do online and that the people behind these platforms should also be responsible on doing something to find a solution to make social media less addictive. However, as the landscape of technology is just getting better, it also gets more incorporated in our lives, and I am afraid to say that we might just have to live with it— to coexist with social media.

Finding a solution to social media addiction is difficult, for not everyone in the society thinks of it as an important problem. But one thing is for sure, if we get a small group of people to detach from their mobile devices and disconnect from social media for some time and share their ideas on how it feels, we can definitely get the whole community to do the same thing. This should serve as a call to action for us to create a community that is safe from the manipulation that corporate greed brings upon us. We don’t want to be manipulated into being models that are optimized to one’s definition of success, because that is how their game works. They use us to be molded just the way they wanted.

Mark Eiman Fatiyah Lim

“Unfortunately, the clinic has transformed from an entrance of hope to an exit of despair and agony.

Finding a solution to social media addiction is difficult, for not everyone in the society thinks of it as an important problem

Eileen Lapiz

in this section

Malapatan torrents Alabel, 53-29

page 18

Checkmate Game of Kings

page 18

If we wanted to, we would page 19

school sports

from page 20

Moreover, the highlight of the Intramurals was expected to be the “Mr. and Ms. Intramurals 2023” pageant, where the students would have the opportunity to showcase their personality, poise, and talents on stage. The pageant not only encourages selfexpression but also celebrates the unique qualities and accomplishments of each participant.

The cancellation of these events has undoubtedly left the students disheartened, as they were eagerly looking forward to the opportunity to compete, perform, and bond with their classmates outside the regular academic setting. The Intramurals serve as a much-needed break from the daily routine of studies, allowing students to unwind and engage in healthy, enjoyable activities.

Perhaps virtual events, such as online sports competitions or talent showcases, could be organized to bring the student community together despite the physical limitations. Such initiatives can help maintain the school’s vibrant atmosphere and keep the students motivated during these challenging times.

DRUBBING VICTORY

Malapatan torrents Alabel, 53-29

Withseries of 3’s and a calm but deadly teamwork, Malapatan Waves’ powerhouse basketball team were making it rain as they torrented Smile Alabel on their own court with 53-29 in the tally during the first game of Secondary Boys’ Basketball in the Sarangani Provincial Athletic Association Meet last March 11, 2023 held at the Municipal Gymnasium of Alabel, Sarangani Province.

As the first whistle goes off, both teams are steadily building up momentum as they stack their points alternatively. The Malapatan boys were silently scoring with stable techniques despite the loud bench of the home team’s cheers. Said team goes neck to neck with Alabel towards the end of the 1st quarter, 10-7. Shrugging off the three point difference, Alabel were still using their big guns and aggressive plays to counter Malapatan’s hot

Checkmate GAME OF KINgS

Archer bags strapped around shoulders, roaming around classroom corridors flooded with newly-arrived students on a typical school day of Alabel National Science High School. Some might wonder, “What’s inside that bag?”, “Why is he carrying a billiard cue in school?” At first glance, you might get intrigued by what is really inside when in fact it was just chess. Often considered as the game of kings, chess challenges the wiseness of the human mind through calculating the next possible countermoves that may occur. In ANSHS, chess has recently become a favorite past-time among AlSci students. With its complexity that requires thorough concentration, foresighting, and decisionmaking skills, AlSci students sure know how to spend their

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leisure times not only to gain entertainment but also hone their skills. Within the whole floor of grade 11, students lay down rolled chess mats on a dime when clock strikes time and no teacher was seen coming to conduct the scheduled class. “Chess challenges my logical-technical thinking and planning skills as an individual, especially when under special parameters such as timers or simply the overall complexity of the game as it progresses.” stressed Liann Cabanda of 11 Betelgeuse when asked how playing chess challenges him. Additionally, Cabanda earned two silver medals in chess back in Intramurals 2018-2019. Down the very intimidating halls of the main building of AlSci are the junior prodigies of chess like Dwayne Guco of 10 Emerald who in some way aspires to be comparable to Bobby Fischer and Garry

Kasparov, both household names in the world of battle of brains. “I started playing when I was around 8-9 years old because of my father, he brought us a chess board and taught me how to move each piece and the mechanics of the game,” Guco expressed in an interview.

Undoubtedly, with the brains and positive qualities that AlSci students’ possesses, carrying archer bags whilst wandering through the campus’ halls will someday pay off. It might just be a hobby for some but who knows, right? They might be the Garry Kasparov of AlSci or even represent the whole country in international tournaments. After all, those who persevere and determine to conquer and achieve the dream will enjoy the fruits of their labor when the time comes.

shots. Their taller players were making the most of their scores, but the effort was overshadowed by Malapatan’s lay-ups and three point shots, making the gap widen in the 2nd quarter with Malapatan taking a far lead to wrap the first half, 26-12. Third quarter comes at a speedy pace as the Alabel players start to get shaken up by Malapatan’s momentum, trying to catch up. Malapatan took this opportunity to finally

Dribbledouble toil. Alabel Smile (yellow jersey) in dribbles in desperate attempt to save losing team versus Malapatan Waves (grey jersey) at Secondary Men’s Basketball game, SPAA Meet 2023

unleash their cheerinducing shots beyond the arc. After the first timeout of the quarter, Malapatan continued to surge the ball and scored back to back points, washing off Alabel in the shore, 40-24. With Alabel’s weakening offensive scheme and an injured leg on one of their prominent passers, Malapatan ended the final quarter seamlessly, bagging the easy win, 5329.

Aljamier Mabandiz of

Malapatan Waves said that he felt lucky that they won the first game against Smile Alabel. Mabandiz was also asked if he thought they could do continuous wins in next matches, “Basta may teamwork, tuloy-tuloy.”, he said.

Malapatan Waves will move to the next game facing Kiamba Dragons in the same venue later on the day.

Photo taken by: Lyle Ledesma

Marianne Jamili

If we wanted to, we would

The school annually celebrates intramurals where students can show off their amazing athletic skills. But that’s it— it stops there. According to Ms. Ivy Grace Grafilo, a former MAPEH coordinator of the school, the Department of Education mandated that science high schools are not allowed to enter athletic competitions as the school must be exclusive on academics— specifically in the field of science, mathematics, and research. And even though she wanted to support students who have athletic skills as it is one of her specialties, she can only do so far since rules are rules.

Contrary to Grafilo’s statement on DepEd’s rules on science high schools, several RSHS were seen attending in such competitions. To name a few, Gusa Regional Science High School - X, specifically their Volleyball team ranked second place during the 2017 District Meet while Regional Science High School for Region 2 recently bagged 26 gold medals from their inter-high school meet. Are they the exceptions? This only goes to show that if we wanted to, we would.

In the recent survey conducted by the school’s official publication, 34 out of 50 respondents answered ‘Yes’ if they play any sports and the majority specified basketball, volleyball, and badminton. When asked whether or not they are in favor of the school joining athletic competitions, 47 out of 50 favored the notion stating, “Even though I am certain that ALSCI places a greater emphasis on academics, I believe it is a wonderful idea for the students who have a passion for sports to have the chance to show off their skills. Who knows? Maybe they’ll be able to win all of the games and help our school come out on top.” On the other hand, three students rejected the idea citing that AlSci is an academic-centered learning institution and should stay the way it is.

But even if the majority of the students and some parents agree to let the school attend athletic meets, the lack of sports equipment may be one of the factors holding us back. Though Sarangani National Sports Academy sits only beside the campus, their students are their number one priority in training and AlSci inserting in the queue may deem unfair to their athletes. So AlSci athletes would still be left behind, if ever.

Karl Santarin, a former student of AlSci, stated that transferring to Holy Trinity College to pursue and hone his basketball skills helped a lot as it exposes him to different players from different teams and gave him lots of experiences. He also added that he noticed his improvement in his playing skills ever since he transferred to a sportinclined school.

While certainty is still a blur, we hope that one day, ANSHS will finally open its doors to athletic competitions and let students flourish their own capabilities— producing students who not only excel in STEM fields but also in sports. Who knows? Maybe this school will generate stellar athletes like Michael Jordan, Hidilyn Diaz, or Carlo Yulo, right?

Play like a

WOMAN

Society stereotypes that women are more fragile and weak, and men are stronger, more dominant, many female athletes face discrimination in our society, yet it didn’t stop them from succeeding. They demonstrate and prove that with their tenacity, perseverance, and hardwork, women athletes can win golds.

Hidilyn Francisco Diaz, a Filipino athlete, and one of Philippine’s source of pride, disproved critics when she won the first gold medal for the Philippines in the women’s 55-kilogram weightlifting event at the Tokyo Olympics, giving honor to the country. Filipino fighter Nesthy Alcayde Petecio, Tennis player Alexandra Maniego Eala, and both skateboarders Margielyn Didal and Christina Means, exemplify that even though people claim their activities are only for guys, they became one of the living proofs that women can play in a man’s world.

These female athletes have participated in multiple competitions and have shown their capabilities in the field, and their representation empowers women all over the Philippines, and in AlSci. Female

students of AlSci also disproves the misconception of martial arts being an only guy sport. Shania Rich Flores of Grade 10 - Sapphire is an international competitor specializing in Poomsae, said that women are often underestimated in the field despite their skills due to gender bias. Her classmate and also a taekwondo player, Jilliana Leica Digal, added that even though people are now normalizing women doing martial arts, she can still witness silent discrimination.

Flores and Digal are not the only ones who excel in martial arts. Classmates and taekwondo players Tricia Dela Cuadra and Janna Doctor of Grade 12, Leptons are multi-medalists that have been in the ring since their childhood days. Both are each other’s motivation, empowering one another in the ring.

Janna Doctor stated that she admires her teammates, especially her best friend, Dela Cuadra. She says that she can really see her best friend and her teammates’ determination to pursue their own sports career. “Kay feminine ang girls ba feeling nila ang girls kay dili nila kaya ba, dili nila kaya magwin in a situation but for me kato na challenge ang nagpursue na dili lang ka

female na makaya kaya ra.” She added.

“I admire her,” Dela Cuadra stated, referring to Doctor, ”I have admired her since day one. She’s with me throughout the way. She always encourages me to join. Last provincial meet, I don’t know if she could still remember it but she’s the one who always put me high.” She added.

Dela Cuadra also wants to inspire girls that are discouraged to join martial arts because of the stereotypes. “I want you to hold on to your goals, set your standard high no matter how people view you. Stay strong and humble, stay your feet on the ground. Never let negativity eat what you want.”

These girls proved that women being normalized in hard hitting sports does not only bring more women into the field, but also encourage each other. Notwithstanding discrimination, difficulties, and hardships they face, female athletes continue to dominate the sports world. They defy expectations, gender norms, and criticism, demonstrating once again that women can dominate the world of sports and win golds. Play with pride, bravery, and perseverance, play like a girl.

CLEAN SWEEP

Kiamba Dragons silence Smile

Through the swift and powerful backhand flicks, and skin drilling forehand bombs, Nikki Louise Romero of Kiamba Dragons skillfully extirpates foe, Georgina Catolico of Smile Alabel ending the best-of-five game in 3-0 standing during the early matches of Table Tennis single-elimination round in the Sarangani Provincial Athletic Association Meet on

Starting off the first set Romero with a sidespin service quickly delivered the ball to the other table end where Catolico rushed to receive with a forehand drive. But Romero did not let loose to unleash aggressive backhand attacks to which Catolico struggled to defend. In an attempt to get past the twopoint score, Catolico inhibited her forehand

attack only for the ball to fly out the table favoring Kiamba Dragons, 11:2, 1-0. With the upper hand on the opponent’s side, Catolico was determined to tie the match. To launch off the second set, Catolico served a tenacious backspin for Romero to return it flawlessly which opened the opportunity for her ferocious offense. Several kill attempts were deployed by

the latter only to fall short by the ball flying out or not getting past the net, tying the scores at 10:10.

In between the heated game fueled by successive deadlock scores, Catolico flaunts a definite underspin serve yet disappoints with a failed ball through the intense rallies of strokes which put the Kiamba Dragons into the advantage, 11:10.

It was a do or die moment for

Smile Alabel to vie for the round yet another failed stroke bomb of Catolico impels Kiamba Dragons closer to the seat of victory, 12:10, 2-0.

To wrap up the remaining set of the game, Romero reinforced once again her kills which left her opponent to only score three points. Catolico strived to retrieve lost points, however, her failed receive of an underspin

serve by Romero drove the final score of 11:3, 3-0, Kiamba winning the match. “Ang preparation ko lang po is one month before mag-SPAA, then yung physical [condition] ko po is kulang pa pero ang aim ko lang po is makapanalo ng mga matches para po mabawi yung mga hardworks na ginugol ko para sa game,” said, Romero when asked about her preparations for

Alabel, 3-0

Battle of The Best. Nikki Louise Romero chops foe service ball, establishing chance for her killer spin during SPAA meet 2023 at Sarangani Sports Facility.

Photo taken by: Aaliyah Dimaudtang

March 11, 2023 held at Sarangani Sports Training Facilities.

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Crizelle Padillo|Fatiyah Lim

school sports

ANSHS Intramurals cancelled: students express dissappointment

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Alabel National Science High School (ANSHS) Intramurals, which were highly anticipated by the students, will not be able to take place as scheduled in May 2023. The news of the cancellation came as a surprise to both the participants and the school community, who had been eagerly preparing for this exciting event.

The MAPEH (Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Health) club, in collaboration with the ANSHS-SSG (Student Supreme Government) council, had invested considerable time and effort in meticulously planning the Intramurals. Their aim was to create an unforgettable experience for all students, fostering teamwork, sportsmanship, and school spirit.

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PEDDALING EXCELLENCE

Conquering the terrains of bike tracks and life

SPORTS

Read our full coverage of the ASCEND 2022 Intramurals on our Facebook page: facebook.com/ ScribblersANSHS

commentary

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As expected from its very name, “Science High School”, the Alabel National Science High School has remarkably shown its competitiveness in sciencerelated fields, from earning silver spot in International Sustainable World Energy, Engineering and Environment Project Olympiad (I-SWEEEP) 2012 in Texas, USA to sports-related events like Shania Rich Flores who won two gold medals in Utah, U.S.A International Taekwondo Championships back in 2021. Yet even with the eager spirit of AlSci students to top every competition, the school has not yet recorded any history of attending athletic meets. But why?

Continue reading on Page 19

Clanking

hubs at free wheeling and the rims that go round and round endlessly. The rush and the gush of sweat down their face, and the satisfaction of passing downhill tracks right after the muscle-ripping pull up the hills of the Sarangani’s terrain. If you still haven’t guessed it— it’s cycling, a popular sport among AlSci students aside from the usual basketball and volleyball. Well, cycling demands not only the leg but also the abdomen, back, and arm muscles, and to see facebook stories of bikers posing at the hilltop with plastered shining smiles on their faces, unbelievable is an understatement. After all, strength, determination, and mountainous levels of courage are required.

Cycling was popularized in the midst of ongoing lockdowns caused by COVID-19 pandemic. Students are unable to play basketball, or any contact sports to prevent the further spread of the virus. This led them to kick off their bike

pedals and saddle down the road. With the recent boom of Alabel’s tourism economy, Alta Vista located in Brgy. Pag-asa, Alabel, has become one of the center attractions of cyclists from GenSan and Sarangani. Due to its uphill location, a lot of riders are enthralled to conquer the challenge it brings.

Several bikers were interviewed by the school’s official publication writers about their opinions on hilly terrains. “YES YES!!! Pinaka dabest jud ang downhill. And ma-recommend nako nga places para sa mga downhill kay ang Alta Vista kay even though lisod siya pasaka, sulit sad kaayo ang pa downhill,” said Lorenz Henares of Grade 11 Betelgeuse. In terms of general well-being, Richard Ybanez of Grade 11 Sirius stated that biking improved his cardiovascular health and helped achieve his fitness goal. In addition, biking helps him to cope with stress and anxiety the academics bring.

Sarangani and GenSan are

MS. WORLDWIDE

AlSci Dancing Machine to conquer world stage in dancing

With the swaggy moves and suave steps, Pia Elysa Torino will charm the international crowd as she will be representing the Philippines along with her dance duo in the World Championship of Performing Arts this July 28 - August 6 at Hyatt Regency Orange County, Anaheim, California.

Torino, who is currently a Grade 11 student at Alabel National Science High School, had taken the once in a lifetime opportunity after winning the qualifying stage of the said competition last November 15, 2022.

“I’ve been dancing

known for hosting several cycling races in the Philippines. Some of the cycling races that are usually held annually are Sarangani Bay (SarBay) Festival MTB Challenge and Tour De GenSan annual road bike race held in GenSan. Some government offices, like the Philippine National Police also organize the same sport event, known as Bike for a Cause.

As competitive as they are, AlSci students correspondingly led the cycling course on top. To name a few, Niv Jako Alcarazen of Grade 12 Quarks topped the SPPO Bike for a Cause 64km category and Karl Santarin, an AlSci student at the time, bagged 1st place in Generals’ Weekly Race back in 2021.

Truly, AlSci students have it all— the brains, the strength, the determination, and the courage. With these qualities, not only they can conquer the hilly course of Sarangani but also the ups and downs of life.

sports | page 19

CLEAN SWEEP

Kiamba Dragons silence Smile Alabel, 3-0

since I was young. My parents enrolled me to ballet then dance sport, unfortunately, I have no interest in both. But it was a big help dahil nagging flexible ang katawan ko sa different dance genres. Then I taught myself hip-hop by watching Matt Stefanina on YouTube.” Torino shared. She then had her first taste of what it was like to perform in front of unfamiliar crowds when she joined the Jollibee J-Crew Hip-hop Competition in 2017 and bagged second place among tens of contenders.

“My motivation talaga to pursue this opportunity is to go to

a different country, of course, and this is a chance for me to express my love for dancing and makasayaw sa ibang lugar while representing our country. And also, to meet talented people around the world. It’s a big opportunity and once in a lifetime experience. You wouldn’t know what might come and it’s what gets me motivated to pursue this.” She added.

Sometimes, career choices start with interests and passions, and that often includes art, which comes in different forms. However, pursuing art as a profession is discouraged by some parents, as the

success rate of making real money from it is so delicate that if you don’t ever make it and you do not have a backup plan, all your hard work will vanish in a blink. But for Pia, she already envisioned herself as one of the professional dancers in the near future, and her parents have no problems supporting her endeavors. According to her, joining such competitions can serve as her credentials to fuel her chosen career, but if circumstances forbid, dancing as a sideline will still do.

If we wanted to, we would

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