Talinong Rizal! The Scribe Triumphs at DSSPC & RSPC

By Joshua Rieson Sorreda & Genesis Sam Cuevas

Representatives from The Scribe with The Scroll, the official publications of Jose Rizal University for Senior High School and Junior High School, proceeded on the long-awaited District Secondary Schools Press Conference, held last March 18 at the Bonifacio Javier National High School (BJNHS) to compete along with the Mandaluyong schools in the field of campus journalism.

Before the competition, the student journalists had lecture sessions on respective topics and categories of writing with Mrs. Cristina C. Abanador, Mr. Joemar L. Furigay, Mr. Rex A. San Diego, and Mr. Manuel Zacarias, four known in- structors of journalism.

In the morning, the contest took off News Writing, Pagsulat ng Balita, Sports Writing, Pagsulat ng Balitang Sports, Photojournalism, Pagkuha ng Larawang Pampahayagan, Copyreading and Headline Writing, and Pagwawasto at Pag-uulo ng Balita categories, while in the afternoon session, Editorial Writing, Pagsulat ng Pangulong Tudling, Column Writing, Feature Writing, Pagsulat ng Lathalain, Science Writing, Pagsulat ng Agham, Editorial Cartooning, and Paglalarawang Tudling.

Afterward, at the awarding ceremony held on March 31 at BJNHS, The Scribe and The Scroll staff bagged multiple awards in various categories: Princess Janneah Matta (E11B) 2nd Placer in Pagsulat ng Editoryal;

Sophia Sargado (D12A) 3rd Placer in Photojournalism, Charly Bartolome (E11B) 7th Placer in Feature Writing, and Mikko Abanto of The Scroll homed 5th Placer in the Copyreading and Headline Writing category.

As Mishael Defeo (M12P) triumphantly got 1st Place in Pagsulat ng Balitang Pampalakasan, he had elated in the contest to represent the Division of Mandaluyong in the recently concluded Regional Schools Press Conference last June 16 at Rizal High School and also ranked 2nd over 16 divisions in National Capital Region.

JRU also bagged 6th Place in the Top 7 Performing Schools in Filipino. Honorable mentions included Zyrkyx Depante in the Editorial Cartooning category and Mary Grace Feudo in the

Copyreading and Headline Writing categories.

In preparation for the competitions, the JRU student journalists underwent a rigorous 5-day writing workshop prepared by Mrs. Ramona Christine Gonzales-Matibag, The Scribe adviser, and Ms. Marissa Rongcales, The Scroll adviser, in support of their respective English Departments Chairs, Mrs. Carissa Enteria, and Mrs. Rovelyn Arcilla. The following also supported the event by sharing their expertise; Ms. Airah Murielle Antonio, Ms. Michenela Grace Estada, Mr. Louie Bosque, a senior high school student, Roberta Deanne Martin, and Ms. Gail Kathleen Pilapil, a senior high school alumna.

A drop of hope and a miracle of life; a blood donation is a gift from man to man.

Last March 16, 2023, the Senior High School Student Council, STEM Club, the Philippine Red Cross, JRU Nursing Society, and the JRU Criminal Justice Society students administered the annual Blood Donation Drive at the JRU auditorium.

Before the donation drive, an orientation headed by Dr. Hosanna Omega P. Mateo, the University Physician, was initiated to equip the students and volunteers with the must-do precautionary measures before, during, and after the outreach program.

To be a blood donor, one has to condition oneself to meet the qualifications. Dr. Mateo emphasized that the preparation is the most crucial part of blood donation. A donor’s blood should be safe and healthy enough before the bloodletting making sure its efficacy to the receivers.

In a conversation with Aurelio Cabarrubias, a parent volunteer who appears to be a consistent blood donor, he stated that donating blood has been an advocacy for him as it helps maintain his strength, especially even at age 59.

Similarly, Alberto Fabian Jr., an employee of JRU, who is also a consistent blood donor, volunteered with the purpose of replenishing his blood other hand, figuring out her blood type, Janelle Amandy, an SHS student, was tempted to participate in the blood donation drive. As a first-time donor, she shared her experiences, emphasizing that and helping others in need. When asked about how he prepared for the donation, he shared, “Matulog nang maaga, huwag uminom ng alak, at kumain nang maayos.”

On the bloodletting was not as painful as it seemed. She also shared that aside from knowing her blood type, she wanted its benefits and to save lives.

Around the corner of the auditorium was Ms. Roan Santos. She is a senior staff member and a medical technician of the Red Cross volunteer who aided the blood donation drive. After bloodletting, the blood bags are not distributed immediately to the hospitals; they undergo component processing to examine all the content within the blood, Ms. Santos explained.

Aside from saving lives, there are also benefits that donors can enjoy when they donate blood. Ms. Santos mentioned that it helps lower the likelihood of experiencing heart attacks and helps regenerate red blood cells. As she arranged the blood bags, she also narrated her experiences as a Red Cross staff member for seven years. She added that it is not only JRU but many schools that coordinated with their organization to execute a blood donation drive.

Ultimately, saving a life does not cost much. Being pierced by a needle for estimated ten to fifteen minutes can make you a hero.

The Blood Donation Drive was open for all: employees, students, parents, and even guests supported the endeavor.

“Wala na ang magic ko ngayon.”

Hindi maipagkakailang markado at naging matunog na ang pangalan ni Efren “Bata” Reyes o mas kilala sa tanyag na “The Magician” sa makulay na mundo ng billiards. Sa humigit kumulang ika-limampung taong pagsargo sa mga pool balls simula pagkabata hanggang sa pagtanda, mula sa local hanggang sa international scenes pinatunayan ni Reyes ang kanyang kahusayan gamit ang kanyang mga asintado at matatalinong taktika na nakapagbigay na ng maraming karangalan sa kanya maging sa Pilipinas. Sa kabila nito, nakalulungkot mang pakinggan ngunit hindi na rin nakapagtataka kung maisipan ng isa sa mga billiard’s greatest of all time players na magretiro na at tuluyan nang lisanin ang industriya ng billiards.

Sa nagdaang 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games nitong Mayo, bigong selyuhan ng legendary cue artist Reyes ang anumang medalya sa dalawang men’s carom event – one-cushion and three-cushion na naging dahilan nang pagkaputol sa six-time bronze streak niya sa carom event ng SEA Games.

“... Wala na ‘yong magic ko ngayon. Kaya ‘yong mga dating tira ko, wala na ‘di na gagana. Mahirap din. Pabagobago na tira ko. Hindi na pagaling, pawala na,” ito naman ang mga naging payahag ng legendary player hinggil sa kanyang performance sa 30th SEA Games noong 2019.

Patunay ang katatapos lamang na 32nd SEA Games performance at ang kanyang naging pahayag sa panayam noong 2019 na unti-unti nang naglalaho ang kanyang galing sa pag-asinta at hamon na rin para sa kanya na panatilihin ang antas ng kanyang kahusayan kumpara sa mga naging laban niya noon dahil na rin sa iba’t ibang rason - edad, passion, o magagaling na kalaban.

Sa lahat ng uri ng palakasan mahalagang isaalang-alang ang edad ng mga atleta tuwing nakikipagbakbakan. Ayon kay Allan Sand sa kanyang Billiard Gods Production, “There will be some loss of physical capability over the years affecting your pool skills and shooting accuracy. Longer shots may be more difficult to consistently make, sharper cuts are harder to see. That can be offset by applying the tricks and traps learned over the years.” Hindi na lingid sa kaalaman ng mga tao na nangangailangan ang billiards ng matinding pokus, istamina, at matatalinong taktika upang masiguro ang pagkapanalo subalit habang tumatanda ang isang atleta bumababa ang kakayanan nitong panatilihin ang kanyang pisikal at mental na katayuan kumpara sa mga nagdaan niyang taon sa paglalaro. Sa edad na 68-anyos, patuloy pa rin ang pakikipagbakbakan ni Reyes sa billiard landscape. Maaring isa ang edad sa mga dahilan kung bakit bumababa ang success rate ng legendary cue athlete.

Dagdag pa rito, sa murang edad nang pagkamulat sa mundo ng billiards at sa humigit kumulang limang dekadang paghawak sa cue at pagsargo, masasabing naging buhay na ni Reyes ang pag-asinta sa pool balls na naging dahilan din sa pagkahubog ng kanyang pagkatao. Sa tagal nang pakikipagdurugan niya sa billiard table marami na siyang naiuwing titulo mula sa iba’t ibang billiards professional tournaments na nagbigay ng karangalan sa kanya at sa bansa. Dahil dito, sa tingin ng marami wala ng dapat patunayan si Reyes dahil naiukit na niya ang pangalan sa mundo ng billiards.

Sa hinaba-haba ng paglalakbay ng pambato ng Pilipinas sa larangan ng billiards, sapat na ang mga karangalan at dangal na kanyang ibinigay na nakapagpa-ingay sa kanyang pangalan at sa Pilipinas sa mundo ng palakasan, maaring ito na rin ang hudyat upang makapagpahinga at lasapin ang rurok ng kanyang tagumpay. Bagama’t naging buhay na ni Reyes ang apat na kanto ng billiard table, mayroon pa rin siyang buhay sa labas nito – pamilya, kaibigan at mga personal na hilig. Ang paglalaan ng oras sa kanyang pamilya at kaibigan, paglinang sa iba pa niyang hilig, at pagpapahinga ay sapat na dahilan upang lisanin ang billiards.

Sa kabilang banda, umaapila naman ang iba na bakit pipigilan si Reyes na gawin ang bagay na naging parte na ng kanyang pagkatao. Dagdag pa rito, sinasabing dapat pa niyang ipagpatuloy ang pagsabak sa professional scene sapagkat hindi naman hadlang ang kanyang edad sa pakikipagbakbakan sa loob ng pool table. Dagdag pa rito, hindi pa rin dapat na pigilan ang atleta na magdesisyon para sa kanyang sarili. Bukod pa rito, mahalaga pa rin na isaalang-alang ang kalagayan ng atleta sa lahat ng aspeto at igalang ang kanyang personal na desisyon.

Walang alinlangan na naging bahagi na ang legendary cue artist na si Efren “Bata” Reyes sa kasaysayan ng billiards. Sa pinamalas niyang dedikasyon, talino at masiyahing personalidad, mananaliti itong nakaukit sa mundo ng bilyaran.

Kung siya man ay darating sa punto nang paglisan sa anumang dahilan, nakakalungkot mang pakinggan ngunit dapat na igalang ang kaniyang magiging desisyon at patuloy siyang suportahan sa mga susunod na yugto ng kanyang buhay. Sa huli, magsisilbi siyang inspirasyon at patuloy na titingalain sa mundo ng palakasan. Maaaring maglaho ang hiwaga sa mga kamay ni Reyes ngunit hinding-hindi mawawala ang inukit niyang pangalan sa kasaysayan ng bilyar at sa mundo ng palakasan.