Volume IV Issue 2 January - May 2021 Amores and 20 others top batch 2021 as with High Honors Abag, Kim Abigail C. Aguirre, Alexie Margaret S. Aclan, Mikaela Maxenne L. Apostol, Cheryl Margaret M. Arandia, Reia Nichelle N. Asi, Stella Mae V. Atienza, Angelee R. Bay, Micaella Pet E. Bool,ReleighJaneMarienR. Borbon, Erine Angela L. Cabiscuelas, Alliah Erin C. Chavez, Charmelle D. De Castro, Ma. Paula G. Dimaandal,CarlaFrancescaY. Hernandez,PrincessKaylaD. Amores, Ralph Jerome G. Ilagan, Shaila Montalbo,ReignePaulineR. Rosales, Rika Jenica B. Ulayao, Rosa Soledad M. Yang, Chelsey N. Even with the challenges posed by the current pandemic crisis, 21 students from S. Aguirre, and Reigne Pauline R. Montalbo are the four transformators of the Humanities the different strands managed to rise to the top and show their prowess in the and Social Science strand to acquire the High Honors credit. academe as they finish the school year 2020-2021 with High Honors recognition. Moreover, 14 innovators of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics The announcement of Non-Academic and Academic awardees was held last April 26 strand who garnered the award were Ralph Jerome G. Amores, Cheryl Margaret M. via Microsoft Teams Live Event, and the official date of the 4th Commencement Exercise Apostol, Reia Nichelle N. Arandia, Angelee R. Atienza, Erine Angela L. Borbon, Alliah Erin C. of the Senior High School level is set May 12 and the streaming of the recorded live feed Cabiscuelas, Charmelle D. Chavez, Ma. Paula G. De Castro, Carla Francesca Y. Dimaandal, of the Graduation is on May 28. Princess Kayla D. Hernandez, Shaila Ilagan, Rika Jenica B. Rosales, Rosa Soledad M. Ulayao, and Chelsey N. Yang. Three mobilizers of the Accountancy, Business, and Management strand earned the said recognition namely, Stella Mae V. Asi, Micaella Pet E. Bay, and Releighjane Marien R. Furthermore; 139 students were recognized as “With Honors” and Non-Academic Bool. awardees are: On the other hand, Kim Abigail C. Abag, Mikaela Maxenne L. Aclan, Alexie Margaret Continue to page 5 Seniors celebrate achievements in an Integration and Appreciation Day OPINIONCarlos Kim Raphael Perez pages 8-9 Before bidding their farewell to Class presentations of the Grade 12 Hopes by Panic! at the Disco. FEATURE pages 10-13 their alma mater, the Senior classes proceeded starting from ABM LITERATURE page 16 High School (SHS) level celebrated the – Sr. Mary Dominica Long, HUMSS – The compilation of different portfolios, SCI-TECH pages 17-18 achievements of its Grade 12 students Sr. Mary Elizabeth O’Dowd, STEM – Sr. part of the ‘My Senior High School Journey,’ SPORTS pages 19-20 through an Integration and Appreciation Mary Concepcion Conti, STEM – Sr. Mary was featured where the best portfolios Day, May 11. Consuelo Chuidian, STEM – Sr. Mary were highlighted. Virginia Gonzaga, and ending with STEM The event was streamed live on the – Sr. Mary Immaculate Concepcion Cahill. Moreover, Engr. Edgardo V. Villena official Facebook Page of the SHS level at 9 gave the “Message from the Parent” where am, anchored with the theme: “Grateful to The presentations highlighted he expressed his gratitude to the students God, Inspired to Give”. memorable moments of the class during for their sacrifices amidst the pressing the face-to-face before the pandemic, time. To start off the program, a video messages to parents with family pictures presentation was played, displaying the in the background, and performances of The program ended with a closing history of Filipino Catholicism followed different songs and dances. prayer by Kristina Angeline B. Arguelles by the National Anthem and an opening from STEM – Cahill. Mikaela Maxenne L. prayer featuring the Religious of the Good A dance performance followed where Aclan from HUMSS – O’Dowd and Hannah Shepherd Sisters, SBC SHS teachers, and the talents of different Grade 12 students Ysabela U. Catibog from ABM 2 – Long Christian Joseph Ilagan of STEM – Sr. Mary were creatively shown with the song High served as the masters of ceremony. Immaculate Concepcion Cahill and his family.
2 NEWS Charmelle Chavez Bridgetines shine bright in the first virtual ASMEPPS quiz bee Mary Lou Feliz Torino In its seventh year, the Association On the other hand, Maria Antonette of Science and Mathematics Loride of STEM - Mo. Cyra O’Kane, Teresa Educators of the Philippine Private Claire Agtay of STEM - Mo. Constance Phelan, and Jastine Jill Ramirez of ABM A YEAR OF FAVOR FOR SBC Schools (ASMEPPS) held its first virtual - Mo. Vitalis Winkler competed for the quiz bee for Mathematics and Science Grade 11 Science quiz bee while Ralph Sr. Mary Celeste Yuzon, RGS, said that “there is so much to thank God for special year”. As she welcomes us where Bridgetine Seniors showed their Jerome Amores of STEM - Sr. Mary on her opening remarks last February 1,2021 via live on facebook (St. Bridget College Senior High School) . competence in the said courses. Concepcion Conti represented the school for the Grade 12 category of the said quiz SBCvirtuallycelebrates108thFoundation bee. day Carlos Kim Raphael Perez National ASMEPPS VIRTUAL CELEBRATION SBC’s launching of the “Missio ad Gentes” of Regional ASMEPPS Seniors bagged several recognitions the Philippine Catholic Church. once again as they displayed excellence With the theme: “Cherishing the Past, Select students from the different in the National Level of the Mathematics Celebrating the Present, and Braving On the other hand, Sr. Clare stated “This strands paved their way into the National and Science quiz bee, March 6. the Future”, St. Bridget College celebrated its blessing of another SBC Foundation day is a Level by dominating the Mathematics 108th Foundation day virtually, February 1. great manifestation of God’s favor. We have and Science quiz bees in the Regional Padilla, Endozo, and Casao placed been loved and have encountered this God level, December 12. 5th, 9th, and 2nd, respectively, as the The event started with a Eucharistic in our daily affairs. During this pandemic others finished as participants in the celebration presided by Rev. Fr. Angel Marcelo period, God has truly sustained us by His love, In the Mathematics quiz bee, Patrick Mathematics contest. Pastor, which was streamed via Facebook page mercy, and compassion. The Church calls us to John Ceazsar Caguete, Syania Bienz of the Basilica of the Immaculate Concepcion continue the mission and influence the future. Carpio, and Paolo Andrew Padilla of STEM On the other hand, Lorida and Parish. May our school patron saints, St. John Eudes, – Mo. Cyra O’Kane, along with Francis Amores also participated in the Science St. Mary Euphrasia, and St. Brigid of Ireland, Errol Endozo of STEM – Mo. Dorothy competition for their respective levels. In his homily, Fr. Angel explained the intercede for us.” O’Connor and Aldrich Joshua Fancubit of long history of SBC through the globe-trotting ABM – Mo. Vitalis Winkler represented the mission of the Religious of the Good Shepherd Furthermore, a recorded “Tree Planting school for the Grade 11 level while Justin Sisters at that time. He further emphasized the and Dedication Activity” is also present in the Rae Casao of STEM – Sr. Mary Concepcion importance of SBC to the lives of the students, said video- this activity featured 108 Bridgetine Conti and Reia Nichelle Arandia of STEM faculty, staff, and alumni. families planting a fruit-bearing tree. – Sr. Mary Consuelo Chuidian were the representatives for the Grade 12 level. CELEBRATORY VIDEO “We spark hope in the middle of this After the mass, video messages from pandemic through our tree planting and dedication activity,’ as stated by Balido. honorable members of the institution were live streamed through the Facebook page of Additionally, the Performing Arts Office the SBC Senior High School Department. - Institutional Culture and Arts Program (PAO- ICAP) recorded a rendition of the Philippine School officials who gave their messages Madrigal Singers’ version of the song “We Give include: Sr. Mary Clare Bagot, RGS - School Our Yes!”. President, and Dr. Dolores Borras - SHS Principal, Sr. Mary Celeste Yuzon, RGS Subsequently, pictures of several - [position]; on behalf of the students, Sophia remarkable moments of the institution within Grace Balido, a Grade 3 student, delivered a its 108 years were also featured in the video. message focusing on her gratefulness to God for technology. Dr. Borras stated “Our theme hopes to capture SBC’s strong foundation in God’s providence in its past.” She further mentioned SBC’s PAO-RB Pia Arceo launches Hiraya Mary Lou Feliz Torino Performing Arts Office – Repertory Brigid (PAO-RB) launched HIRAYA, as part of its celebration of the month of February as “Pambansang Buwan ng mga Sining” or National Month of the Arts. The celebration was anchored on the theme “Pagsulong ng WJPIC sa pamamagitan ng Hiraya ng Sining”. According to Kim Abigail Abag from TATAK BRIDGETINE another Merry HUMSS – Sr. Mary Elizabeth O’Dowd, a SBC Performing Arts Office celebrates virtually through episodes of BABA: A Merry Bridgetine Christmas Special. layout artist of the Student Production and Mary Lou Feliz Torino Operations Team, “HIRAYA means ‘fruit of PAO Talents give virtual audience one’s hopes, dreams, and aspirations.’ And Bridgetine Christmas this we intended to integrate art in promoting the Women, Justice, Peace, and Integrity of With the theme, BABA: A Merry entertaining the audience with short skits in playing instruments as they dedicated Creation (WJPIC) mission and vision.” Bridgetine Christmas Special, the and rendition of songs such as “Anong the song “Araw-araw” by Ben&Ben to their Performing Arts Office (PAO) talents Gagawin Mo Ngayong Pasko”, “Araw- beloved families. Different Events Of Hiraya pushed through with their annual araw”, “Munting Sanggol”, and “Isang Christmas Concert virtually via Facebook Taong Lumipas”. Moreover, in the third episode, both Various events were held under the last December 5, 12, 20, and 23. RB and ICAP sang their rendition of HIRAYA banner such as Likha Art Webinar and In the first episode, aired last another famous composition of Mr. Ryan HIRAYA Livestream. The PAO talents teased the virtual December 5, the short skit defined BABA Cayabyab, “Munting Sanggol”, to portray audience with the question, “BABA, Sino as an elder person in the family we hold BABA as the Child Jesus. Likha Art Webinar was held February Ka?” days before the airing of the first dear and whom we cannot wait to be 20 and featured different resource speakers episode with the purpose of hooking the with, especially during the Christmas Lastly, in the fourth and final episode engaged in different fields related to the attention of viewers. season, hence the song “Anong Gagawin last December 23, ICAP serenaded the arts. They were Mr. Vinson Roi de Chavez Mo Ngayong Pasko” by Mr. Ryan Caybyab. viewers with the song “Isang Taong for Graphic design, Ms. Aliah Makalintal The first-ever virtual Christmas concert Lumipas” by The Company to sum up for photography, and Mr. Jun Untalan for was divided into four episodes where During the second episode, the ICAP their performances while RB released a videography and video editing. members of both the Repertory Brigid (RB) talents and alumni showcased their Director’s Cut to define BABA as a person’s and Institutional Culture and Arts Program undying talent not only in singing but also significant other. Meanwhile, HIRAYA Livestream, was held (ICAP) collaborated in serenading and on February 24 via Kumu, a Filipino video- sharing and community platform. Just like the first event, the livestreaming event also featured guests such as Bry Flores for music session and Niki Gonzalez for dance class. Arts Amidst The Pandemic Given that the current trends include graphic design, photography, and videography, and can be enhanced in this time of the pandemic, Abag highlighted that despite staying at home, the enhancement of art skills is important.
NEws 3 BCPRISA At 30: Student’s Vlog Charmelle Chavez Highlights New Normal Teresa Claire Agtay As a part of its 30th year Celebration, perspectives of different students towards SNEAK AND PEEK Batangas City Private Schools the new mode of learning. Association (BCPRISA) highlighted bits Engr. Michael Ryan Cantos shares his experience in his journey towards his profession in the career talk, and pieces of the learners’ lives in this “The importance naman nito ay we March 6. pandemic by showcasing vlogs made by are able to see how life goes on in this new students from different schools, with the normal. Kung saan, habang napapanuod theme “A Glimpse of My Life in the New natin ang mga vlogs about sa theme Normal.” which is a glimpse of my life ngayong new normal ay parang nakaka relate tayo Hosted by Dr. Arlene D. Castor, the at some point o kaya naman ay nalaman said vlogs were exhibited last April 10 natin ang perspective ng buhay ng isang via Facebook Live on BCPRISA’s official tao ngayon panahon ng pandemic,” Facebook page, where Lyka Gabrielle Manalo stated in an interview. Manalo from HUMSS – Sr. Mary Elizabeth O’Dowd represented St. Bridget College “This BCPRISA activity shows support Furthermore, as mentioned by Dr. Grade 12 Students attend virtual to our students and provides guidance Castor, Student’s Vlog was BCPRISA’s in these uncertain times. Furthermore, it 13th activity for its 30th year celebration, career talk on MS Teams Carlos Kim Raphael Perez promotes social connectedness among together with Talas-Salitaan (Spoken schools, administrators, teachers, parents Word) and other activities, with the As part of their Practicum – First, Engr. Edwin Garcia explained and students,” Dr. Castor said in her celebration’s overall theme “BCPRISA @ opening remarks. 30, Embracing Resiliency: One Love, One Culminating Course, Grade his background, experiences, and Hope, One Family.” Dr. Castor also pointed out that being 12 students were immersed into their fundamental lessons in his engineering physically distant doesn’t have to translate Additionally, Francis Errol Endozo of to loss of social contact and mentioned STEM - Mo. Dorothy O’Connor participated possible future careers through a virtual field, and the same thoughts were that even with the challenges brought by in the Spoken Poetry contest and placed the pandemic, BCPRISA aims to showcase 2nd. career talk entitled “Sneak Peek to Future emphasized by his SBC elementary students, who despite the crisis, have shown tenacity and spirit to continue The said association pledged to Career – Immersing with the Disciplines”, batchmate Engr. Michael Ryan Cantos learning. continuously become a channel of quality and excellence in education and service, via Microsoft Teams, March 6 and 26. regarding the said career. For Manalo, having this kind of activity and unceasingly commit efforts whether is important because, through it, other during a pandemic or non-pandemic time. In the first live event, several resource On the other hand, Prof. Paul students will be able to see and relate speakers from different careers, including Marvin Gamboa elaborated his teaching to the vlogs, since it showed different engineering, education, and law were background, experiences, and lessons as invited. part of the theme of his segment entitled Ariel Toby De Mesa, Jelsey Franchesca Fuentes, “Paying It Forward.” Adreinne Valerie Gato, Dyone Moira Rosima Engr. Edwin Garcia – a Chemical Engineer, Engr. Michael Ryan Cantos – a Lastly, Atty. Mikko Paolo Perez Mechanical Engineer, Prof. Paul Marvin emphasized his background, experiences, Gamboa, Atty. Mikko Paolo Perez were the and lessons that can be imparted regarding speakers involved in the first career talk the law field which he has been a part of held March 6. for almost 6 years. The opening prayer was led by Mrs. Moreover, last March 26, Mr. Mark Grace Contreras, ABM Strand Coordinator, Angelo Almero, a Certified Public followed by the opening remarks from the Accountant, was invited to be the resource SHS Principal Dr. Dolores D. Borras. speaker in the said webinar streamed live through the same platform. VIRTUAL VIVA. SBC College Department conducts Students showcase their creativity and overflowing praise for the Sto Nino as they virtually paraded their Virtual Marketing and Promotional own mini floats in the celebration of the Nino’s feast day last January 16, 2021. Talk for Grade 12 Students Lyka Gabrielle Manalo Bridgetines virtually celebrate the feast The Good Shepherd knows his sheep and calls each one by name. - St. Mary of Sto. Niño amidst pandemic Teresa Claire Agtay Even in the comfort of their own and #StoNinoInOurHearts to support the Euphrasia homes, students from the Senior Catholic Church as they commemorate High School level commemorated and the 500th year of Catholicism and the feast With the goal of promoting the quality education that SBC College Department celebrated the feast of the Sto. Niño of the Holy Child of Batangas. has, a Marketing and Promotional talk was organized for the Grade 12 de Batangan by creating a mini float students via Microsoft Teams, March 10. featuring the Patron Saint of Batangas “It has shown that celebrations like this and posting it on Facebook. are not just limited and enjoyed physically The whole city with thousands of but it can actually reach a greater number Dr. Imelda B. Vergara, Future Educators’ Club Moderator and Education Program devotees annually celebrates the said feast of people inside or even outside Batangas Chairperson, hosted and led the whole talk. with a fluvial procession and ends it with a City– ... that’s beautiful,” SBC SHS’ Official firework display as the Holy Child arrives at Facebook page posted. the Basilica of Immaculate Concepcion, but due to the threat of CoronaVirus and the With the overall theme,”Sto. Niño The educational background, achievements, and courses being offered such as strict implementation of social distancing, Batangueños were only allowed to stay at ng Batangan: Pamana at Yaman ng those in Education, Information Technology, Business Administration, and Social Work home and celebrate in their own houses. Mananampalatayang Kristiyano,” Basilica were shared and mentioned. of Immaculate Concepcion Parish held With the aim to showcase the city’s several Eucharistic Celebrations that were Different scholarship programs and important contact queries were also addressed, rich history of devotion to Sto. Niño, live streamed and conducted a motorcade and a short video clip was shown to share a glimpse of the College life in SBC. the students used recyclable and other last January 16. materials available at home in creating Mrs. Rona T. Mendez, Social Work Program Chairperson, gave her closing remarks to their mini float. The image of Sto. Niño was carried wrap up the program. around the City at 2:00 in the afternoon St. Bridget College also launched a while praying the holy rosary. hashtag campaign #SHSBridgetinesFaith
4 NEWS Members of SBC-SHS faculty graduate with their Lea Castillo master’s degree Miguel Tolentino MASTERS St. Bridget College Senior Highschool’s Principal, Dr. Dolores Borras, with the new Master of Arts in Atotal of ten teachers from degree are the following – Mr. John been a challenge physically and Curriculum Design, Development, and Supervision of the SHS Department last March 14, 2021. the Senior High School level Rey Banlasan, Ms. Jazel Paula Blanco, mentally.“After teaching full-time received their Master’s degrees Ms. Lea Chariz Castillo, Ms. Jean Monday to Friday, I would still have (Master of Arts in Curriculum Design, Valerie Collera, Ms. Mary An Kathleen to come to school Saturdays and Development, and Supervision) Dimayacyac, Ms. Mabel Frane, Mrs. Sundays to attend an 8AM to 5PM from St. Paul’s University-Manila, Gemma Manalo, Mrs. Mellany Joy class. And then on Sunday nights, March 14. Gaviola-Panganiban, Ms. Cristine prepare for my next day, Monday Untalan, and Mrs. Geraldin Vergara. class.” Degrees were conferred to the graduates and presented by the “We were taught how a According to Ms. Frane, personnel of St. Paul’s University at curriculum is designed, developed degrees can also serve as motivation the St. Bridget College’s chapel while and supervised in schools. We were for students as it can represent strictly following the protocols set also given a chance to make our opportunities. by the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task curriculum and envision it applied to Force and the Department of Health. the schools we are working on now.” “I want the students to always as stated by Ms. Blanco. grab every single opportunity that The Senior High School educators will surely come with learning and and staff who received their master’s She also said that it had experience,” she stated. Gospel reignites with Bridgetine Potentials bag golds and silvers in ASMEPPS ‘Gatas at Pandesal Serye’ Marathon of Talents and Skills Mary Lou Feliz Torino Carlos Kim Raphael Perez Equipped with an arsenal of artistic the top spot. creative prowess as they advanced to the capabilities, students of the Senior national level through Google Meet, April As the pandemic physically separated High School level bagged multiple Meanwhile, for the Extemporaneous 17. the entire institution of St.Bridget College, its students and staff members, both awards in various contests in the first Speech with the theme: “The Forces of In the Drawing Contest and On-the- teaching and non-teaching, reunited through Spot Poster Making Contest, Ulayao and the ‘Gatas at Pandesal Serye’ where they virtual Marathon of Talents & Skills Mathematics and Science in a Progressive Aguirre stood out as Champion and 2nd solemnly discussed the gospel. placer, respectively. sponsored by the Association of Science State of Health, Livelihood, Peace and On the other hand, Arguelles earned and Mathematics Educators of Philippine Future of the People”, Adreinne Valerie the Champion title with the song “Lipad ng Pangarap” by Dessa, while Gato Private Schools (ASMEPPS). Gato of ABM – Mother Vitalis Winkler and Borbon retained their places in the Extemporaneous speech contest. Last March 1, the Senior High School Level and Arabella Julianne Borbon of HUMSS started hosting and broadcasting the said Additionally, Agtay and Torino both series through a live stream on their official Regional ASMEPPS – Mother Domitilla Larouse placed got 1st place in Science News Writing in Facebook page. Filipino and English, respectively, while Champion and 2nd, respectively. De Chavez was recognized as the 1st placer in the Science Feature Writing Selected students garnered awards English, and Manalo came in 2nd place. for their exemplary performance in In the writing category, Teresa Claire Consequently, Candava also placed 1st in the Photojournalism Contest – Before the SHS level hosted the said series contests ranging from singing, delivering Agtay and Julianna Marie De Chavez of English Category. for the entire month of March, the Integrated Basic Education Department (IBED) led it speeches, drawing, writing, and to STEM – Mother Constance Phelan landed Certificates and medals were for the whole month of February, while the awarded to the students, and winners College Department took over for the month photojournalism that were held online as Champion in Science News Writing were recognized through a publication of April. material posted on the Facebook page of through Google Meet, January 23. Filipino and Science Feature Writing the Senior High School level. English – Grade 11 Category, respectively, In the Drawing Contest for the Grade while Mary Lou Feliz Torino of STEM – Sr. SHS AS HOSTS 12 category, Rosa Soledad Ulayao of Mary Concepcion Conti and Lyka Gabrielle STEM – Sr. Mary Immaculate Concepcion Manalo of HUMSS – Sr. Mary Elizabeth The first week of March had sharers Cahill stood out as Champion, while for O’Dowd also bagged the gold for Science coming from the SHS Faculty, including Dr. Daisy Aguda, Mrs. Gemma Manalo, and Ms. the On-the-Spot Poster Making Grade News Writing English and Science Feature Lea Chariz Castillo, while the students from different sections took over the sharing for the 12 Category, Alexie Margaret Aguirre Writing English – Grade 12 Category. succeeding weeks. of HUMSS – Sr. Mary Elizabeth O’Dowd placed 2nd. Lastly, Ishe Loui Maxene Candava of STEM – Mother Cyra O’Kane grabbed the Moreover, for the Solo Singing gold for the Photojournalism contest, The sharers expressed their reflection on contest, Kristina Angeline Arguelles of English category. the gospel reading of the day by incorporating it to their personal experiences and sharing STEM – Sr. Mary Immaculate Concepcion their own interpretation of the Good News. Cahill sang “Patuloy ang Pangarap” by National ASMEPPS Angeline Quinto, which paved her way to Bridgetines once more showed their According to Dr. Dolores D. Borras, SHS Mobilizers host ABM day through a Principal, “Gatas at Pandesal is St. Bridget College’s response to the call of the Catholic Church to read the bible, reflect on the Gospel for the Day, and share it to others.” The inspiration for the series came from seminar Miguel Tolentino Sr. Mary Tess Figueroa, RGS, SBC Finance Officer, and its main purpose is for the school’s To promote local products and businesses, students from the a high school student, and even said that it is because of SBC why contribution to Catholic evangelization Accountancy, Business, and Management strand hosted a she developed her advocacy of supporting local products and and for the spiritual nourishment of the virtual seminar entitled, “Nostra: BARCODES supports our own”, businesses. community members, school stakeholders February 3. and the students, in this time of pandemic. “This is a conscious and extra effort on our The said seminar was attended by the students from Senior High “Noong bata pa lang ako, ako po ay tindera... ayokong humingi part to harness technology in aid of spreading school level and Business students from College Department as it sa mga magulang ko. Gusto ko, magkaroon ako ng additional na the word of God, the gospel,” according to Dr. was done virtually on the SHS Facebook page via FB live from 10 pera para mabili ko yung mga gusto ko, “ Councillor Montalbo Borras. a.m to 12nn. shared. SHS Faculty and staff behind the series Furthermore, the said event was hosted by Stella Mae Asi and The virtual event also shed light to the local businesses run by were Mr. Louie Clanor, Mr. Jonelyne Ramos, Endrei John Ng of ABM - Sr. Mary Dominica Long, with the ABM some SHS students of the institution. Mr. Edwin Castillote, and Ms. Lea Castillo. coordinator Mrs. Maria Grace Contreras and other ABM strand students from both Grade 11 and 12. Councillor Aileen Arriola- Questions from students with their businesses were also Dr. Borras expressed her gratitude not Montalbo, a High School alumna of SBC, also served as the guest entertained. Raffle draws were also included in the seminar only to the faculty and staff but also to speaker. where the participants won discounts and other products from the students who despite their workloads local businesses. managed to participate in the series. She Councilor Montalbo, being an alumna, shares her experiences as further stated that it “has brought the family together as they prepare for this if not during the ‘in the making’ phase, perhaps during the online viewing moment.
NEws 5 WITH HONORS Alyana Mae A. Mauleon facilitative factors of leadership Most Active Participation in School Mary Lou Feliz A. Torino Kaye Alexa F. Abrenica Larra Marquesa M. Mejico skills among SBC - Batangas SHS Affairs Alessandra Marie M. Mendoza PAO Award of Merit (Bronze) Benedict C. Aclan Juliana Maureen A. Mendoza students Lyka Gabrielle Manalo Alliah Erin C. Cabiscuelas Celina Rose R. Aclan Marwin Dwaene P. Mendoza Alexie Margaret S. Aguirre Jose Angelo M. Flores Jimuel Nikko A. Agulo Active Participation in School Arriane Yzabel D. Panopio Mary Joyce I. Albania Annika R. Moreno Thea Marion P. Buquid Affairs Lexter Anne C. Santos Kyle Angelo C. Almario Marielle R. Nuñez Mariecela L. Gatdula Steven Lance P. Tiemsim Den Niel M. Alvarez Juliana Maxinne A. Opulencia Elijah Anthony M. Page Kristina Angeline B. Arguelles Jana Haira C. Vergara Hewlett Franchesca Lucille M. Andal Yesha L. Pagcaliwagan Bazili Gustav I. Tenorio Justin Rae R. Casao Andrei Lanz B. Arañez Elijah Anthony M. Page Outstanding Participation in Sheena Patricia Arasula Avhy Chris A. Panganiban STEM (Science and Technology) Kim Loren A. De Torres Repertory Brigid Maria Sophia Louise B. Arceo Arriane Yzabel D. Panopio Peanut tea as acid neutralizer to Vera Khrizel M. Manalo Kristina Angeline B. Arguelles Gian Louis B. Panopio Reigne Pauline R. Montalbo Kim Abigail C. Abag Victor Miguel G. Parto decoctions Rosa Soledad M. Ulayao Maria Sophia Louise B. Arceo Via Enica G. Asi Karl Cedric S. Perculeza Kristina Angeline B. Arguelles Gianna Anne V. Atienza Carlos Kim Raphael D. Perez Citation in School Affairs Jose Angelo M. Flores Renzelle Anne A. Badillo Chelsea Mari V. Perez Kristine M. Cantos Den Niel M. Alvarez Vera Khrizel M. Manalo Sarah Mae A. Perez Dainiel Ann A. Gutierrez Reigne Pauline R. Montalbo Arlene J. Baes Victor Jan A. Perez Princess Kayla D. Hernandez Ralph Jerome G. Amores Alesandra Nicole C. Balita Eahrl Andreih B. Plata Reia Nichelle N. Arandia Most Active Participation in Shenika Paula G. Balmes Angelo Miguel G. Publico STEM (Engineering and Maria Sophia Louise B. Arceo Repertory Brigid Charles Andrei J. Barrola Jane Andrea C. Quilantang Mathematics) Jamela Denisse A. Quitain Angelee R. Atienza Steven Lance P. Tiemsim Sean Carlo R. Bathan Claire Anne C. Ramirez Peanut shells as alternative polish Alliah Erin C. Cabiscuelas Kaylla E. Binay Rica Mae A. Rayos for soft metals Active Participation in Repertory Jan Marielle C. Regalado Charmelle D. Chavez Brigid Maria Kassandra R. Buenaflor Rafael G. Rendon III Reia Nichelle N. Arandia Elenica Ginaela I. Ferriols Victorino Joeshua A. Bueno III Rachela Grace M. Resuello Via Enica G. Asi Elenica Ginaela I. Ferriols Randy D. Rillera III Jose Angelo M. Flores Franz Gee Em D. Moog Fatima Mae R. Buhat Mary Grace V. Robles Marienne Joyce M. Macaraig Zeus Miel V. Flores Allen Marco P. Burog Julia C. Rungduin Juliana Maureen A. Mendoza Excellence in Music Lance Cedric A. Calilung Jean Marie Victoria I. Salva Most Active in Social Apostolate Kristina Angeline B. Arguelles Mecco Alyssa G. Calogcog Lexter Anne C. Santos Jean Marie Victoria I. Salva Den Niel M. Alvarez Kirstien Viankha D. Cantos Atasha Johanna A. Sarmiento Edgar Ethan M. Guillo Outstanding Participation in ICAP Rhica Angela M. Sison BEST IN PRODUCT INNOVATION Avhy Chris A. Panganiban Kristine M. Cantos Jerico Lemuel S. Solis - Accountancy, Business & Mary Lou Feliz A. Torino Mary Lou Feliz A. Torino Jonabelle C. Cantre Lije Ember M. Sulit Management Ron Gabriel D. Caringal Benedick R. Teñido Active in Social Apostolate Most Active Participation in ICAP Justin Rae R. Casao Bazili Gustav I. Tenorio Assessing the salability of aloe Hewlett Franchesca Lucille M. Andal Alliah Erin C. Cabiscuelas Hannah Ysabela U. Catibog Marc Angelo V. Tolentino vera as component for disinfecting Arriane Yzabel D. Panopio Justin Roy S. Claveria Mary Lou Feliz A. Torino machine to Batangas City frontliners Maria Kassandra R. Buenaflor Lexter Anne C. Santos Reuben Joseph S. Claveria Julienne B. Torres Princess Ariane A. Comia Jana Haira C. Vergara Cassandra Joy L. Comia Rayla Katrina C. Torres Micaella Pet E. Bay Grant Alfred A. De Leon Princess Ariane A. Comia Jana Haira C. Vergara Releighjane Marien R. Bool Lee Miguel E. Fajardo Active Girl Scout Alessandra Nicole N. Corsino Jayrence Jeffrey M. Villena Christian Joseph A. Ilagan Lyka Gabrielle Manalo Mikaela A. Villena Dion Ruiz C. Macaraig Mary Anne A. Malibiran Amiel C. Cueto Mikka Andrea C. Villena Rhica Angela M. Sison Jac Daniel B. Marasigan Active Participation in Sports Karyle Mae M. Cueto Rose Virginia A. Zaraspe Arnel Cedric C. Telebrico (Badminton) Jeam Brian B. Culiat Juliana Maureen A. Mendoza Franz Andrew D. Dalisay Outstanding in Leadership BEST COMMUNITY-BASED Yesha L. Pagcaliwagan Alexie Margaret S. Aguirre Alyssah O. De Castro Reigne Pauline R. Montalbo RESEARCH – Humanities & Social John Byron G. De Castro Arriane Yzabel D. Panopio Active Participation in Sports Reign Rochele B. De Castro Most Active in Leadership Sciences Jane Andrea C. Quilantang (Chess) Diane B. De La Cruz Maria Sophia Louise B. Arceo Participation of Batangueños in Grant Alfred A. De Leon Lexter Anne C. Santos Den Niel M. Alvarez Kim Loren A. De Torres Kim Loren A. De Torres Tiktok dance challenges Benedick R. Teñido Ann Stirling C. De Vera Vera Khrizel M. Manalo Lyka Gabrielle Manalo Citation – Basketball Allyson Mae G. Dela Rosa Rhica Angela M. Sison Citation in Social Apostolate Zeus Aldrich B. Andal Patricia Anne D. Eleda Geraldin Anne D. Magsino Andrei Lanz B. Arañez Zeus Jash Martin E. Celemin Active in Leadership Victor Miguel G. Parto Lovella D. Elle Alexie Margaret S. Aguirre Jose Gabriel C. Soriano Mecco Alyssa G. Calogcog Kendrick D. Espina Kendrick D. Espina Eunice Gayle M. Gomez Dion Ruiz C. Macaraig Iaine Skye M. Espiritu Stella Mae V. Asi Jasmine Clarice M. Torres Isaac Gabriel M. Macaraig Lee Miguel E. Fajardo Shenika Paula G. Balmes Outstanding Participation in Reizelle Thea D. Faytaren Releighjane Marien R. Bool BEST INNOVATION Journalism Jojo C. Marqueses Elenica Ginaela I. Ferriols Alliah Erin C. Cabiscuelas – STEM (Science and Technology) Angelo Miguel G. Publico Jose Angelo M. Flores Holy basil chewing gum for breath Mary Lou Feliz A. Torino Zeus Miel V. Flores Kristine M. Cantos Citation – Volleyball Ralph Rexter Janwan C. Fordan Elenica Ginaela I. Ferriols malodor Most Active Participation in Jimuel Nikko A. Agulo Deniel E. Gambol Viencee Bren M. Garcia Zeus Aldrich B. Andal Journalism Kristina Angeline B. Arguelles Deinelle Andrea B. Garcia Christian Joseph A. Ilagan Sean Carlo R. Bathan Christian Andrei M. Cabatay Rio Justine A. Garcia Alessandra Marie M. Mendoza Ann Stirling C. De Vera Alexie Margaret S. Aguirre Ken Jared A. Macuha Viencee Bren M. Garcia Mary Lou Feliz A. Torino Anika Belle D. Nillama John Patrick Harold M. Manalo Zen Anella A. Garcia Active Participation in Journalism Edmarlon Joshua C. Mercado Althea Jean A. Go Citation in Leadership Victor Jan A. Perez Kim Abigail C. Abag Arnel Cedric C. Telebrico Eunice Gayle M. Gomez Allen Marco P. Burog Jana Haira C. Vergara Rosa Soledad M. Ulayao Ruel Kyven C. Gonzales Christel M. Hernandez Mikaela Maxenne L. Aclan Shae Nixie V. Guanzon Niel Franz M. Maderazo – STEM (Engineering and Angelee R. Atienza Active Participation in Multimedia Ericka Angel R. Guico Mathematics) Arts Edgar Ethan M. Guillo BEST RESEARCH AWARD Alliah Erin C. Cabiscuelas Dainiel Ann A. Gutierrez Thermomask: thermochromic ink Charmelle D. Chavez Alyssah O. De Castro Vrian Lou C. Gutierrez BEST RESEARCH mask Kim Loren A. De Torres Rhica Angela M. Sison Christel M. Hernandez Accountancy, Business & Anthony H. Ilagan Ram Matthew A. Hernandez Ralph Jerome G. Amores Lyka Gabrielle Manalo Citation in Multimedia Arts Anthony H. Ilagan Management Reuben Joseph S. Claveria Benedict C. Aclan Christian Joseph A. Ilagan Financial stewardship of the families Avhy Chris A. Panganiban Jill Kimberly Z. Iturralde of SBC senior high school students Jeam Brian B. Culiat Carlos Kim Raphael D. Perez Maria Kassandra R. Buenaflor Jojo C. Marqueses Victorino Joeshua A. Bueno III Liezel R. Lacoste Stella Mae V. Asi Citation in Journalism Marienne Joyce M. Macaraig Alyssah O. De Castro Most Outstanding Achievement in Kristina Angeline B. Arguelles Edsel C. Bunyi Maureen Kristelle Bon C. Macaraig Nathaniel Gabriel F. Gaviola Mathematics Charmelle D. Chavez Isaac Gabriel M. Macaraig Edsel C. Bunyi Karyle Mae M. Cueto Ken Jared A. Macuha Justin Rae R. Casao Cassandra Joy L. Comia Denise Ann A. Maderazo Endrei John C. Ng Denise Ann A. Maderazo Lovella D. Elle Guadette Zenei M. Magadia Mikka Andrea C. Villena Outstanding Achievement in Guess Khorinne A. Maramot Mariecela L. Gatdula Mathematics Martin Justine C. Vinluan Nathaniel Gabriel F. Gaviola Kiel D. Magbuhos Humanities & Social Sciences Eunice Gayle M. Gomez Mary Anne A. Malibiran Online learning activities as Reia Nichelle N. Arandia Gawad Sining ng Pagtatanghal Christel M. Hernandez John Patrick Harold M. Manalo (Gold) Princess Kayla D. Hernandez Lyka Gabrielle Manalo With Distinction in Science Maureen Kristelle Bon C. Macaraig Vera Khrizel M. Manalo Ralph Jerome G. Amores Vera Khrizel M. Manalo Victor Miguel G. Parto Yzavhel Buen R. Mandigma Claire Anne C. Ramirez Guess Khorinne A. Maramot Citation in Science PAO Award of Merit (Silver) Steven Lance P. Tiemsim Alexie Margaret S. Aguirre Kim Abigail C. Abag Exemplary Conduct Award Maria Sophia Louise B. Arceo Christian Joseph A. Ilagan Kristina Angeline B. Arguelles Reigne Pauline R. Montalbo Benedick R. Teñido Avhy Chris A. Panganiban Outstanding Participation in School Affairs Alexie Margaret S. Aguirre Mary Lou Feliz A. Torino
6 NEWS HUMSS Strand scouts for SBC Advocates to Carry Tomorrow’s Success Carlos Kim Raphael Perez Humanities and Social Sciences Cyra O’Kane, Nationalism characterized by Donnel Chester Muñoz, Grade 11 HUMSS Meanwhile, for the major awards, Mr. (HUMSS) Strand hosted the Gerome Kristofer Alvarez and Kharel Elana Representative; afterwards, various and Ms. Senior High School SBC Advocate “Search for SBC Advocates Carrying Dela Roca from STEM – Mother Margueritte advocacy speeches from advocates 2021 2nd Runner up was given to Carlos Tomorrow’s Success” with the theme: O’Keilley, Justice composed of Christian preceded, ending on an intermission Antonio Delos Reyes of Compassion “Bridgetines Upholding the Values and Joseph Ilagan and Juliana Opulencia from number from Angel Sophia Zara of HUMSS and Rika Jenica Rosales of Peace, while Advocating the Thrusts” as part of its STEM – Mary Immaculate Concepcion – Larouse. Anthony Ilagan, representing Zeal and HUMSS Fest 2021, via Facebook Live. Cahill, Zeal represented by Anthony Ilagan Adreinne Valerie Gato representing and Alessandra Marie Mendoza from STEM The advocacy presentations proceeded Integrity of Creation was awarded 1st The event aims to “highlight the positive – Mary Consuelo Chuidian, and Peace afterward with its introduction and criteria Runner up. values and thrusts among the Bridgetine portrayed by Niel Franz Maderazo and presented by Arabella Julianne Borbon, youth, promote collaborative actions Rika Jenica Rosales from STEM – Sr. Mary also from HUMSS – Larouse, while an For the title of Mr. Senior High School that would endorse and empower the Concepcion Conti. intermission number from Ashley Diaz of Advocate 2021, John Roi Gonzales, Bridgetine spirit, and establish a Bridgetine HUMSS-Larouse ended the round. characterizing Service was hailed youth who is socially aware and relevant”. On the other hand, participating pairs from titleholder along with Alessandra Marie the ABM strand were Integrity of Creation AWARDING CEREMONY Mendoza, who characterizes Zeal for the Grade 11 and 12 sections from the characterized by Aldrich Joshua Fancubit title of Ms. Senior High School Advocate Accountancy, Business & Management and Adreinne Valerie Gato from ABM – Mo. Special awards including Best Dressed 2021. (ABM) and the Science, Technology, Vitalis Winkler, and Courage composed of in Creative Corporative for both male and Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM) Isaac Gabriel Macaraig and Sheena Patricia female categories were handed to Aldrich Dr. Dolores Borras, SBC SHS Principal; strands of the SBC Senior High School Arasula from ABM – Sr. Mary Dominica Joshua Fancubit and Marie Antonette Mr. Cir-Anthon Paolo Garing, current SBC level participated in the much-anticipated Long. Lorida who represented Integrity of PAO Artistic Director; and Mr. Amado Ariel event. Creation and Integrity, respectively. Hagos Jr., Head of the Cultural Affairs PROGRAM PROPER Section of Batangas Provincial Tourism Pairs from the STEM Strand were Best Advocacy Speech (Male) was and Cultural Office, served as the panel of Service composed of John Roi Gonzalez The former titleholders, Charles Francis awarded to Carlos Antonio Delos Reyes, judges. and Ma. Kristine Dawal from STEM – Aguila and Anthea Elaina dela Guardia, representing Compassion, Best Advocacy Mother Constance Phelan, Compassion Mr. and Ms. Diplomat of 2019, gave their Speech (Female) was given to Adreinne The event was hosted by Desiree Ann represented by Carlos Antonio delos Reyes notable messages concerning the event Valerie Gato portraying Integrity Cardona of HUMSS - Larouse and Mikaela and Jessica Yvonne Aranza from STEM and advocates. of Creation, while STEM – Mother Maxenne Aclan of HUMSS - O’Dowd. – Mother Dorothy O’ Connor, Integrity Constance Phelan garnered the award portrayed by Manuel Babasa and Marie The first round commenced beginning for Best Advocacy Presentation (Section Antonette Lorida from STEM – Mother with the introduction and criteria given by Category). Women’s Day Celebration: Webinar Deinelle Andrea Garcia highlights women’s rights and leadership amidst pandemic Teresa Claire Agtay With the decades-long participation The said webinar also encouraged in the International Women’s everyone to protect and promote women’s Month celebration, St. Bridget College rights while recounting the Universal continues to deepen their support with a Declaration of Human Rights and the webinar highlighting women’s issues, rights, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of and leadership amidst pandemic, March 10 Discrimination against Women; furthermore, via Microsoft teams Sr. Loilo invited everyone to participate in the Orange the World Campaign. With the theme “Women in leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 Sr. Loilo continued to empower World,” the said webinar was attended by womanhood by presenting successful women both College and SHS level students and staff, who are known in their respective fields like with Atty. Sr. M. Clara Lina G. Loilo, RGS, as the the different female CEOs in businesses and guest speaker. leaders who served in various branches of government in the Philippines including the “Parents must know the equal rights country’s two Presidents, two Vice Presidents, and responsibilities of young people and and two Chief Justices. constantly remind their children about it. This way, there will be no discrimination With all these being said, Sr. Loilo against young and old, poor and rich, abled deepened the webinar by explaining various and disabled, and every woman can then be laws and policies for women in the Philippines, treated fair and equal in every way,” Ms. Lea and how it is being violated even by some D’ TALK Atty. Sr. M. Clara Lina G. Loilo, RGS, as she starts her presentation. Castillo, RVED teacher, shared in a statement. government officials. Ms. Monica Abaya and Mr. Sherwin Bagon, Sr. Loilo then focused on the issues of Universities and Colleges engage Seniors members of the social work faculty, served as women’s rights and gender equality and in a virtual career talk the masters of ceremony who introduced the expounded how people can close the gender Lyka Gabrielle Manalo theme, while Sr. Mary Celeste Yuzon, RGS, gap and achieve an equal future. warmed everyone by her welcoming message 15 different Universities and Asian Institute of Maritime Studies, Jose which was followed by a video presentation Before ending her presentation, Sr. Loilo Colleges across the Philippines Rizal University, FEATI University, and that showcased the different female leaders in featured two Filipinas who were able to make hosted a virtual Career Talk for Grade 12 Aeronautical and Technological College. the history of SBC. it to the National Geographic Society’s 2020 students via Zoom meeting platform, Young Explorers including 25-year-old Josefa January 20. The aforementioned Universities Sr. Loilo emphasized women’s Tauli and 22-year-old Louise Mabulo, and and Colleges shared their background, empowerment, and the importance of presented a video that explained women of The 15 educational institution achievements, and courses being offered celebrating International Women’s Day by this generation. include: University of the East, University for upcoming college freshmen; they presenting the history of the said celebration of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University – also included the scholarship programs in the world, and in the Philippines. The students were able to express their Institute of Technology, Technological offered and application for college views and ask their questions in the Question- Institute of the Philippines, Lyceum of entrance admission. In her said speech, she showed the and-Answer portion. the Philippines University, Colegio de San different female leaders around the world, Juan de Letran, Centro Escolar University Clarifications and concerns of the emphasizing German Chancellor Angela The said webinar was initiated and – Makati Campus, Asia Pacific College, students were addressed at the end of Merkel, President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen, and facilitated by SBC’s Women, Justice, Peace St. Scholastica’s College, Mary Chiles each presentation. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Integrity of Creation (WJPIC) Committee, College, De La Salle Araneta University, who are all notable for their responses on the headed by Mrs. Rosalie Aguila. COVID-19 pandemic.
NEws 7 Palakat Batangas City Batangueños, especially the elderly, to front liners of Batangas Medical Center start filling up the registration form for (BatMC) using the Chinese company TUROK TO WIN COVID-19 vaccine through the following developed vaccine, Sinovac Coronovac, or site, https://covid19.batangascity.gov.ph, simply known as Sinovac. Department of Senior citizens from different barangays receives the covid 19 shot by the vaccination of City Health Office, where basic personal, work, and health Health – CALABARZON Director Eduardo June 19 information will be required as well as Janairo spearheaded the ceremonial the resident’s preferred vaccine, either vaccination by having Dr. Ramoncito COVID-19 vaccination program pre- Pfizer, Moderna, Oxford AstraZeneca Magnaye, chief of BatMC, as the first registration opens for Batangueños or Sinovac CoronoVac. The information recipient of the vaccine in the ceremony. submitted through the online form will It has been going on since and residents Batangas City opened its online Alliah Erin Cabiscuelas be used by the City Health Office to assess are highly encouraged to register for pre-registration form for the old and above to register. the qualifications of the individuals for vaccination as early as now. COVID-19 vaccination program last April vaccination. 18, encouraging Batangueños 18 years With the slogan “Resbakuna Kasangga As of this writing, there are ng Bida”, the City Government encourages Vaccinations started last March 8 in approximately 10,000 individuals who Batangas City, vaccinating 200 medical have registered in the said online form. National ID system opens PHIVOLCS for online registration Ma. Kristine Dawal Online registration for the national ID system or the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) was launched by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) last April 30, 2021. During the first day of its launch, the T’ VOLC PSA stated that the online registration PHIVOLCS main surveillance camera observes plumes rising from the Taal main crater lake, May 22 experienced technical difficulties as delays in sending one-time passwords Batangan concerns arise as Taal Volcano’s alert for more than 40,000 requests were level rises encountered. Miguel Tolentino “We are currently experiencing Afew weeks after the first anniversary of Taal Volcano’s events that have been reported. technical difficulties. Our technical team eruption, people became distressed as the active is currently figuring out the source of volcano spewed out steam once again, a sign of another the problem. We will provide updates as soon as the website is up and possible eruption. The surrounding barangays that were previously evacuated running,” the verified Facebook page of the Philippine Statistics Authority - are to continuously review and strengthen their plans in case of Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) announced. evacuation, especially now, when there is so much turbulence. As of March 24, 2021, Taal Volcano is put under Alert Level 2 More into the registration, applicants will be prompted to a website where whereas entry to the Taal Volcano Island and in the permanent It can be remembered that on January 13, 2020, the Taal they would input the basic information danger zone is strictly prohibited as per DOST-PHIVOLCS. needed and choose a schedule to have their biometrics information logged. Volcano released tonnes of steam and ash in a phreatic eruption After encoding the information, According to PHIVOLCS, since the reported unrest on blanketing the region of CALABARZON, and some parts of Manila registrants are to visit local registration February 13, 2021, there have been 2,015 volcanic tremors, 734 with ashfall. Currently, 39 died as a result of injuries in evacuation centers on the date they have chosen low-frequency volcanic earthquakes, and 18 hybrid earthquake centers but not the eruption itself. in the online registration and open their own bank accounts. Shell provides solar-powered streetlights According to the National Economic to Barangay San Isidro Ma. Kristine Dawal and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Kart Chua, the PhilSys will be In line with the Save, Invest and there is a good relationship between PSPC big help to maintain order and tranquility an aid for the distribution of financial Nurture Access to Green Energy and and its host barangays. in Brgy. San Isidro. assistance during the pandemic along Technology (SINAG) project of Pilipinas with the tracking of vaccinated citizens. Shell Petroleum Corporation (PSPC), the “Ang kaunlaran ng pamayanan “Nakatulong ‘yung solar panel dahil establishment provided solar-powered ay nakasalalay sa pagtutulungan ng dati, sa aming road, walang kailaw-ilaw Both Filipino citizens and resident streetlights to Brgy. San Isidro, January 29. barangay, pamahalaan, at mga pribadong kaya maraming na-aaksidente,” said a aliens will be able to acquire PhilSys, According to PSFI Program Officer sektor,” Malibiran mentioned. parent of one Bridgetine. however, it will only last a year for resident Olive Sorio, the project aims to decrease aliens and a lifetime for Filipino citizens. the number of accidents occurring in the PSPC External Manager Darlito The ceremonial switch-on of the solar- national highway covered by the said Guamos then emphasized the significance powered streetlights was led by Barangay Over the 32.6 million registrants who barangay. of the project on ensuring road safety and Captain Malibiran and PSPC Terminal have already started registering through “Prayoridad ng Shell ang road safety. on the minimization of accidents – one of Manager Anna Estandarte. physical registration for the PhilSys in the Palagi ritong dumadaan ang aming mga the common causes of death around the year 2020; the PSA targets to register at lorry truck at identified na madilim ang said area PSPC, before this turn-over, provided least 70 million citizens by the end of the lugar na ‘yon, kaya isa ito sa mga solusyon training to community volunteers in year 2021. na naisip na ipatupad kung saan marami “Bukod sa environment-friendly, ang December on the maintenance and ang makikinabang,” said Sorio. solar-powered streetlights ay suporta rin monitoring of streetlights. President Rodrigo Duterte signed the sa inobasyon sa teknolohiya sa enerhiya,” passage of the law that mandates the further explained Guamos. PSPC thanked the assistance and creation of the single national ID in 2018 support provided by CDRRMO and DPWH and had been registered already. As stated by Barangay Captain Boyet Batangas City PNP Chief LtCol. Gerry for the said project. Malibiran, on the other hand, the project Laylo said that the streetlights provided are is a dream come true and a validation that
8 opinion Olokliros Psyche Teresa Claire Agtay HE L IESTHBEEHCIUNRDTAIN SMALL THING W henever a student is absent, the teacher would always ask for a letter that explains why A “Maliit na bagay ito sa buhay natin” they were absent. It is the same with how the Filipinos are asking for an explanation for fter an entire year's worth of agony– the country having the worst economic the absence of the President during the most pressing time with the uncontrolled transmission contraction since 1947, about 4 million citizens rendered jobless, and over of the COVID-19 virus. If the President were truly ill and is not fit to work, then according to 17,000 number of deaths and more than 1,000,000 Coronavirus cases, still Article 7, Section 12 of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, “In case of serious illness of the President Rodrigo Duterte chose to encourage the Filipinos by imposing that President, the public shall be informed of the state of his health. . .”, the Filipinos deserve to this pandemic is a small thing. When in fact, it never was and it never will know how well the President is, and they deserve the truth and nothing but the truth. be, especially to millions of Filipinos who lost their loved ones, their jobs, Acceptable reasons are expected from those who are absent for even just a day in and their trust in the government. It was a year's worth of the government's schools. However, when President Duterte addressed the Nation after a two-week absence, his failure to provide concrete, feasible and efficient plans and actions towards exact response to the question posed by the citizens was, “Talagang sinadya ko yun. . .”. With the the crisis. That fact should never be considered as a small thing. current situation the country is in, Filipinos had a hard time processing and accepting the reason, Even with all the consequences because of their recklessness and errors for it is truly unacceptable. What kind of leader would just leave their people unattended in the last year, the government seems to have learned little or has ignored altogether middle of a crisis? The truth about the President’s health condition and reasons for absence is the lessons from the disastrous experience. We have a debt of trillions, yet we what is due to the Filipinos, and not the “Sinadya ko” predicament. settle for free and insufficient vaccines, instant noodles, expired canned goods, The hashtag #NasaanAngPangulo even landed on Twitter’s trending list as Filipino and assistance that is not fairly distributed. The unsuccessful response of the Netizens expressed their reactions and mockery to the absence of the President. Not long after, country towards COVID-19 is visible through the spiking number of cases in Senator Bong Go released pictures where President Duterte is seen riding a motorcycle and the country. Last April, the country reached a million number of cases, as the golfing. Another pandemonium of reactions sparked, questioning the acts the President is doing number of new reported infections has soared to 5,000 to 8,000 a day. Despite instead of leading the nation and trying to at least manage how to overcome the current crisis. having the longest and strictest lockdowns, data from the World Health The government is meant to serve the public, and transparency and honesty with what Organization showed the country is having the worst coronavirus performance concerns the citizens should be practiced by the politicians in power. If the President were really in the Western Pacific Region. in a bad health condition, then why cover it up? The rule of transparency shall also be applied to The government has been doing certain measures to limit the rapid those in power especially if they are the one who is currently leading the country. spread of the virus, but it is not enough. The Philippines got the highest Lies and lame excuses have been thrown back to the questions and it is not what the number of coronavirus cases of all the Southeast Asian countries despite the Filipinos deserve, as every citizen strives to be as transparent as they can be to the law and the imposed strict lockdown measures to try flattening the curve of cases. It is government. Acquisition of power does not mean that an individual has a free pass for some because instead of treating this pandemic as a health crisis, they see it as a law unspoken rule or law in the society. So, the trillion-peso question should be answered truthfully: enforcement issue. Mass testing, contact tracing, and vaccination should have Why is the President missing in action during a crisis? been the priority, but the administration remains stuck at implementing absurd, A proof of life was given, due to public demand. However, it raised more red flags for the and incoherent rules. They have imposed long lines of policies without due side of the Government. The citizens are currently losing their grasp in life because of poverty consideration and consultation, resulting in a baffling police habit of breaking along with the pandemic crisis, and the leader, instead of leading the country with his authority up crowds and arresting people for lack of social distancing—only to pack them and power, chooses to ride a motorcycle and play golf as if he is not a leader of a devolving inside cramped vehicles. That does not end there because every violator will be country. fined for each violation. In schools, students who are unable to present an excuse letter shall get an admit-to-class What’s worse is that normal citizens can be easily arrested because slip from the office. The same logic shall apply; if the palace cannot present an acceptable and of their failure to comply to the minimum health standards, while those tolerable reason for the absence of the President, the one missing in action shall ask for an admit- government officials who evidently violate COVID-19 protocols can effortlessly to-position approval from the public and let the second-in-command, which is the Vice President, get away with it. We can never forget how the current police chief Debold to relieve the duty they left the palace to cover up and fend for while he is peacefully sleeping in Sinas held a birthday party that broke all the rules on mask-wearing, social his bed and practicing golf by night. distancing, and the liquor ban. Yet the President stoutly defended Sinas—while also demanding the public to follow the law in the same speech. We heard Agathokakological nothing from the health department and the Malacañang when this happened. Mary Lou Feliz Torino When their Speaker, Harry Roque swam with dolphins, sang at a Baguio karaoke Reality filter: Noir bar, and attended mass gatherings with no social distancing, the same thing happened. How can we expect full compliance from the public when leaders and officials repetitively violate these without being punished? The Filipinos had no time for jokes, yet the President is constantly giving it with his clueless remarks. Last March 8, President Duterte repeated his advice to use gasoline as a disinfectant, an odd, hazardous pronouncement first made in July last year that health officials quickly dismissed as only a joke. But this time, Mr. Duterte declared he was serious. “Hindi ako nagpapatawa,” he stressed. Health workers have been consistently neglected, as they have to demand for the release of their delayed benefits mandated under the Bayanihan 2 Law—essentially the same lament of neglect health workers had expressed in the early days of the pandemic. They were forced to convert garbage bags into Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) because of the lack of government supply, work for long hours with delayed hazard pay, suffer from public excoriation and pay a steep price for serving the community, yet they were given less highlight and importance, and were set aside. Had the government’s handling of the pandemic been effective and cautious, the Philippines would not have struggled for a long time. It has been more than a year since the pandemic, yet it’s like we are back to before. If the government continuously commits the same mistake over and over again, we can never escape this loop of affliction. The fact that we have to deal with incompetent leaders, aside from the crisis itself, brought awareness to us that we need a better and more reliable set of leaders. This experience is not a small thing. In contrast to what the President was telling, we must despair over this pandemic. Then we should never forget what happened, and how our current leaders navigated the situation. Perhaps, that way, we can learn and elect capable leaders in the future. From Ancient Chinese Philosophy comes the principle of YinYang. Many interpretations of this Valerie figure have surfaced, but the simplest explanation of the two colors almost swirled together is that even opposite beliefs can stand beside each other without being mixed, and this will Valerie produce a dangerous grey area – neutrality. Generation Z has been adamant on normalizing stuff that is contrary with the status quo that the older generations are used to. However, in the midst of a heated discourse regarding the administration’s plans for this pandemic, there was a TikTok video about normalizing being apolitical that went viral. Several reactions and concerns were garnered from the netizens, including from those who are actively standing by their opinions and political stands. Being apolitical is synonymous to resorting to neutrality. To be considered as an apolitical individual includes not being entitled to have any opinion on the prevalent societal issues, as these do not affect these certain individuals. Everything involves politics, whether people are ready for this conversation or not; Everything is political. The word politics pertains to the activities including but not limited to the governance of a regime in a country and/or local community. Once there are two or more sides of a story, politics is already taking into play. With those two sides, a mix of both might be produced. This of two sides is the most dangerous side an individual can stand in - the so-called grey area. Once an individual chooses the grey area of the black and white sides, it implies that they remove themselves from the narrative that concerns both colors. Which in the narrative of politics being involved in societal issues, shows that they are privileged enough to not have any opinions on situations that do not directly affect them. Checking one's privileges is a basic human decency we often overlook, and it should be reminded of everyone. Whether you are affected by an issue or not, choosing not to advocate for any of the parties concerned shouts more of a privilege that anybody is not entitled to have. However, it shall be noted that there are not only two sides of a situation. Oftentimes, there are three or even more. Nonetheless, the area where everything meets shall, at all times, be avoided to prevent being an enabler of the oppression and escalating to being an oppressor. Everything is political, and failure to acknowledge and give worth to the clear colors and stands would imply how much privilege is being hoarded into one individual.
opinion 9 pure heroine the media. Such instances include publicly kissing a migrant Filipino worker, rape jokes, and his alexie margaret aguirre recent attempt to grope his maid during his birthday celebration. If all of these were done in the presence of cameras, the press, and the public, what more have been committed without the Proper Governance: public eye? Do-MEN-ated or Do-WOMEN-ated? Apart from these, we must remember that Duterte is also the Philippines’ president and is therefore the highest public official who can leave a powerful influence on most of his I n his speech during a formal opening of the Skyway Stage 3 project last January constituents. Due to this, such behavior that he continuously exhibits would not only impact the 14, Duterte responded with these statements amidst speculations of his daughter’s perceptions of Filipinos but will likewise normalize the kind of behavior towards women in the possibility of running for the 2022 presidential race: \"This [presidency] is not for country. women. You know, the emotional setup of a woman and a man is totally different. You Historically, the Philippines has been under the administration of female leaders namely will become a fool here. So... that is the sad story.\" Corazon Aquino, who assigned Duterte to his first key role in the government and Gloria Although some may argue that these words are just a mere statement, Duterte’s Macapagal-Arroyo, who is presently a significant ally of the president. legacy of his misogynistic remarks and actions have long been evident and backed up by Women leaders and the pandemic crisis At the present, the handling of the pandemic crisis by governments worldwide were reflected in the quick response and recovery from the drastic effects brought by the virus. Countries such as New Zealand, Taiwan, and Norway are a few notable nations that are close to and have successfully flattened the curve. Despite the varying demographics, these countries have one thing in common: women. President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and Prime Minister Tone Wilhelmsen Trøen of Norway are the notable women who were able to govern and respond to their respective nations against the covid-19 virus properly and efficiently. ‘Presidency is not a job for misogynists’ This was mentioned by Akbayan chair emeritus, Etta Rosales, as a response towards his statement regarding Sara Duterte’s possible candidacy for president. She further elaborated this by stating that the presidency is not a man’s job, but rather a job for It is a position for those who seek to be subjected to the greatest standards of governance, irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, identity, or language. The role of the president is for individuals who can successfully lead by upholding basic rights and liberties, justice, and democracy. The Amoldo MIGUEL TOLENTINO An obedient lapdog: The gruelling fight for Sovereignty Sovereignty: /ˈsäv(ə)rən(t)ē/ noun – “the authority of a state to govern itself or another state.” S tarting from the battle of Lapu-Lapu and Magellan in Mactan, the Philippines has become a benchmark for freedom and independence. Countless individuals picked up either arms or paper to fight off aggressors that compromised this nation’s sovereignty, but as we become more globalized, stood out are those persons who is not only incompetent, but their interests make’s the mission of protecting this nation’s soul a heavier job than it already is. For years now, China had illegally seized islands and other resources that belonged to us and even to our neighboring nations whereas on the 7th of March, China took a huge step to do just that – again. The communist giant has yet again strengthened its grip on the Philippines by sending out 220 Chinese fishing vessels along with suspected maritime militia personnel along the Julian Felipe Reef. This area is well within our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles from its shores where resources inside this zone are exclusive to the Republic of the Philippines. This zone reserved for us to exploit or preserve, for the past years are being abused by China claiming it as theirs according to their “Nine-dash line territorial claim” which is not supported by any International Law. Doing what China does best, transforming our reefs into military bases, extracting resources and possibly damaging sea-life, denying our fishermen of a good harvest, these actions certified China to be “Philippine’s friend” in line with President Duterte’s standards. Despite the special arbitral tribunal favoring the Philippines, Duterte and his followers’ beliefs are firm, that China is no threat to national security even with incidents like the Chinese Coast Guard harassing our Filipino fisher folks on their own waters. These incidents in the perspective of both the country’s leaders are just another skirmish. China regarding this as just a skirmish is a cloak to their hidden agendas and Duterte regarding this as just a skirmish is a definition of a good lapdog being fed by his master’s lies and false promises. According to the statement China released about this issue, they stated that these are just normal fishing boats, and they are there to take shelter from rough seas, a lie that only fools will fall for. First, what are 220 fishing boats doing inside our EEZ and second, take shelter from what, beside the fair weather where these vessels are photographed. Taking it lightly, China dismissed our diplomatic protest to remove these boats in the area, China holds tight to its mythological 9-dash line because they know too well that President Duterte will not do anything about it especially when China has already pledged to donate 400,000 extra doses of vaccines as way to shut us off and unlike our President, we should not fall for it. This is how China controls us, this is how it bullies other nations as well. These other countries in Asia are handling China’s territory-grabbing attitude by showing them that they are not phased and are ready to do anything to protect their country’s sovereignty by sending assets without declaring war. Meanwhile our President acts like a blind dog with his tail hidden between his legs barking his favorite lines like “I don’t want to hurt China’s feelings” Real friends respect each other’s properties, what I want people to see is China is the exact opposite of being a friend and that our leaders are being misled by sheer incompetence or God-knows-what. If we do not act upon the issue, China will be complacent and will continue its territory-grab until there is little to no sea available for our nation to prosper and we would’ve practically lost our sovereignty that thousands of Filipinos fought for. This is not only to give justice for the sacrifices done in the past and in the present in the name of sovereignty but also for the next generations so that they can reap the perks that come along with it. We must show our steadfast determination in pushing away these aggressors through diplomatic means until we are strong enough to the point that we can explore other confines other than the paper and pen. Yet this can only be done if the major avenues in our Government are cleansed of subservient individuals that answer to their foreign masters rather than to its own people, persons that can be easily led astray by the fake pictures of friendship, peace, and security. Here is a brief explanation of what is happening and why Myanmar is having a big crisis. The military had supported the opposition, which was calling for a rerun of the election, citing widespread fraud. According to the election commission, there is no evidence to back up these arguments. A new session of parliament was about to begin when the coup occurred. After the coup, Ms Suu Kyi has been held in an undisclosed venue, as she is accused of breaking the country's official secrets act, possessing unauthorized walkie-talkies, and releasing information Orenji that could \"trigger fear or panic\" among other things. MPs from the NLD who were able to avoid Avhy Chris Panganiban arrest formed a new group in hiding, while Protesters have been encouraged to protect themselves against the repression by their chief. The coup has sparked the biggest demonstrations since the so-called Saffron Revolution of 2007, where thousands of monks rose up against the military regime. Teachers, lawyers, students, bank officers, and even government employees are among the protesters. Moreover, the military has instituted limitations such as curfews and gathering restrictions. In order to disperse protesters, security forces have used water cannons, rubber bullets, and live fire, Myanmar Crisis: and as a result more than 100 people were killed on March 27, the deadliest day since the coup. A Never-ending Discussion In the 1990s, Aung San Suu Kyi rose to international prominence as a campaigner for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar. Between 1989 and 2010, she spent nearly 15 years in prison for organizing protests calling for electoral change and free elections. Although under house arrest, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. She led the National League for Democracy to M victory in Myanmar's first freely contested election in 25 years in 2015. yanmar, or Burma, is a nation in Southeast Asian Region, where Thailand, The question is, can we help in any way to stop this crisis? The responses of the world's military Laos, Bangladesh, China, and India are its neighbors. It has a population of and economic superpowers, especially the sanctions implemented by the Biden administration in approximately 54 million people, where the majority of whom speak Burmese. the United States and those being prepared by the European Union, have inevitably drawn the Yangon (Rangoon) is the largest city, but Nay Pyi Taw is the capital; Buddhism most attention. China released an unsurprisingly bland address, urging both parties to overcome is the prevalent faith. The country is home to a diverse range of ethnic groups, their differences peacefully. including the Rohingya Muslim minority.
10 feature Vaccines are one of the ways where we can protect our body from harmful diseases and viruses. It strengthens our immune system by making our body immune to antigensand being able to recognize them the second time around for resistance or rapid recovery. More than a year in the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been developed vaccines in such a short span of time. Our national government has approved and initiated the vaccination of its citizens prioritizing the front liners including healthcareworkers and soldiers. The Local Government Units have also been very active in vaccinating its citizens. There is no 100% assurance of its effectiveness and questions such as “will this vaccination be enough to control the number of cases continually increasing each day” worries some citizens. What are your thoughts about the current developed vaccines and the continuous KCGroranivdcsateeipccnc1iei2noaMnt.SiCoTaCnEahMainstl6lotshe- initially proposed solution to this pandemic or in response to Covid-19? Sr. Mary Immaculate GJrulaidean1a1 KHaUsMsSaSnd1r-aMRo.thGearmDboomaitilla Larouse \"The vaccines that were developed are not \"The current developed vaccines are a proof the concrete solution to this pandemic, it is just that scientists can provide a solution in a one of the components to a COVID- free community. short period of time. these vaccines could be Discipline and compliance among the society a perfectly imperfect solution to the pandemic together with the responsible and competent that the world is facing, for vaccines can make response of the government to lower the number of the immune system be prepared.\" COVID cases is the realsolution we are looking for to put an end to this pandemic.\" EGnrardiceo12N.STVEiMl9le-naSr. Mary Virginia Gonzaga MGrarardieah11BeAaBMtr1iz-SM.oMteheniraVitalis Winkler \"We should take what's available and still follow the protocols until the situation is \"For me, prioritizing the front liners is declared fully controlled.\" a good idea since they are the ones exposed and vulnerable to the risk of COVID-19. However, I LGeraxdteer1A2nnAeBMC.2-SaSnrt.osMary think that the vaccine to be used must have Dominica Long a high efficacy rate. Many are still uncertain \"Some of the vaccines are unsure and still about the effectiveness and the safety brought by not safe because we cannot say the possible the vaccine, so they are still hesitating to be side effects that we can experience when we get vaccinated.\" vaccinated. I’m glad that they already developed many vaccines to prevent covid-19 but some of AGruadrdeey11NiAcBoMle1A.- GMuotphiter Vitalis Winkler them are not yet safe, and we cannot ensure that it is good for the health of people especially, \"At first, I was skeptical about the whole for the senior citizens because we all aware that vaccination thing. I am not entirely convinced the government is prioritizing them to receive because usually for a vaccine to be fully developed, it takes years. I thought that the vaccine is Covid-19 vaccines.\" rushed and therefore, not that safe. After some time, I've read and learned informations about the EGrriadceka1A2ngAeBMl 2R.- GSuri.coMary Dominica Long vaccine and I am now convinced. In my opinion, it best to get vaccinated to slow down the spreading \"I believe that the vaccines would help to and to resist Covid-19.real solution we are reduce the cases of Covid-19, but we are not sure looking for to put an end to this pandemic.\" if it is really safe and effective for everyone. GArlaydsesa1C1amSiTlElMe1C-. PMeorthezer Constance Phelan The government should make sure that the vaccines are properly tested before distributing it to \"Protect yourself and the community. the community. If it is assured to be safe, all Vaccination is the most effective way to protect people should be injected and not just those who against infectious diseases. Vaccines strengthen are privileged. Being vaccinated doesn't mean your immune system by training it to recognize that you are already free from the virus. Vaccines and fight against specific viruses. When you are not enough to resolve this situation; the get vaccinated, you are protecting yourself and government should establish a clear and concrete helping to protect the whole community. Help solution to this pandemic. Proper hygiene and reduce COVID-19 in the community COVID-19 can safety protocols should always be observed to be spread quickly and widely. It has resulted in the safe and healthy.\" deaths of over 1.9 million people worldwide. When GLroavdelel1a2DS.TEEMll8e - Sr. Mary Conception Conti enough people in the community are vaccinated, it slows down the spread of disease. Achieving \"For the current vaccines, knowing that herd immunity is a long-term goal. It usually there are different kinds of vaccines that will be requires a large amount of the population to provided, I think it is nice having the different be vaccinated. The best strategy to manage the vaccines, since it can be a substitute if one kind potential public health risk posed by incoming runs out of stock, but I think the downside of it travellers to is mandatory quarantine with regular is that the overall results would not be the same COVID-19 testing.\" and the efficacy of the vaccines would still vary GClraaidree12AnSnTeEMC7. -RaSmri.rMeazry Consuelo Chuidian depending on the kind. For the continuous vaccination, I think it is a good \"If the vaccine the government disseminates plan, since one of the main goals is to lessen is the best vaccine option and is administered the number of the positive cases and the vaccines fairly and transparently, then it is a great help itself can be way for a for us to maintain our to solve the pandemic problem. I agree that the health and be protected from the virus as time vaccination is one effective response to fight goes by. But it is still important to keep in mind off the virus but limiting the ways to deal with the safety protocols after getting the vaccines, the problem only means ignoring and disregarding since the efficacy of it is not definite, and it other options. The vaccines only give immunity, does not mean that we can already go outside of it doesn't solve the virus completely. If they our own home.\" are prioritizing the public health and having concrete solutions instead of focusing on the other things, then we may be able to live normally again.\" GReraigdnee12PauHUliMnSeS R2.-MoSnr.taMlbaroy Elizabeth O’Dowd \"I am actually against the idea that vaccination is the only solution on how we could combat COVID-19 since like our neighboring countries, we could also do mass testing, progressive mass tracing and such to beat the virus. However, because our government only sees it one way, we had no choice but to suffer this long, seat, and patiently wait for the vaccines. Now that we have them, I am kind of at relief to know that somehow, vaccines’ presence eases the fear for our healthcare workers and other essential professionals. However, we must understand that this kind of attack to possibly end the pandemic is definitely not enough. In the first place, vaccines do not make individuals impossible to catch nor hand on the virus; vulnerability is still present. Moreover, I am much concerned with its implementation system as a lot of those supposed to be in the priority list are not being justified. Many healthcare workers are cheated and robbed of the opportunity from being vaccinated because of the selfishness presented by some politicians and even showbiz actors, like in the case of Mark Hernandez. I am also angered to know that even if we managed to borrow billions of Pesos, we are not being offered the best vaccine that there is. Are we less deserving enough? I don't think so. We could easily have the vaccine which has 100% efficacy rate, yet why are we given a brand which has at least 50% as its effectivity? Sounds unfair. Filipinos, especially our front liners who risk their lives every single day, totally deserve more.\" Sophia Aceveda
feature 11 THe Paralleled Generosity Avhy Panganiban & Julianna De Chavez In these trying times, wherein Covid-19 variants continue to emerge and also with the new cases that continue to surge, it can be said that a Filipino’s generosity seem paralleled and continues to flow as well. People had thought of another creative way to help each other, which is the so-called ‘community pantry’. And our beloved school is no stranger to this. After the sudden rise of one group of heroic farmers who let their harvested crops be picked for free from our country was out to the public, hesitation was not an option for St. Bridget College. Charity has always been part of the school’s intentions in order to help the poor and in need. Personally, I have witnessed our barangay holding this kind of activity. And again, the once empty streets are filled with people passing by to head to the location of the pantry. In this place, there were tables filled with many commodities such as fruits, vegetables, seasonings and various foods. People were lined up and it is a must to follow the protocols like social distancing and wearing masks in order to prevent the virus from spreading. Then, they are given ample amount of goods which can be either packed or personally handpicked by them. The amount that is given to them are limited considering that there are a lot of people that the food needs to be divided to. These scenarios are the best way to describe the community pantry that SBC held. Of course, the principal, coordinators, teachers, staffs, and authorized personnel were present and contributed to the success of the school’s very own community pantry. Mostly vegetables, fruits, and other essential foods were given. COVID-19 has been more than a slap in the face. It is a disaster, a global outbreak, and an invisible but dangerous virus which silently killed a whole mass of people all over the globe. Hope, faith, and charity are what we are putting our tough hearts with, so we can go on with life. SBC made sure that these morals wouldn’t be forgotten, and that these three be reborn for the contribution of the world’s recovery. The community pantry is one of the many reminders that humanity is still present and we can be better people. And with this, we will fight, stay safe, follow COVID-19 protocols, and pray for the end of this challenge. Everyday Struggle: Tips to De-Stress Cassandra Joy L. Comia We are trapped not only in our homes, but also in a state of bliss that we refuse to acknowledge. Every day feels draining– whether at home or at school, stress plays a role. We have worked hard on things we do in our daily lives, and it is not terrible to treat yourself after nearly 9 hours in front of the computer or after completing one task.. You deserve to rest and relax to let go of all negativities to function again for another cramming on the following days. 1. Kdrama, Netflix, or anime gratifies your heart:Unnie, Oppa, Now that I’ve completed my chores, I can finally watch you again! One episode will completely alleviate the stress you are experiencing as a result of your heavy workload. Teenagers are participating in this k-drama marathon as a way to cope and reward themselves. When you finally see the Oppa and Unnie you’ve been hoping to see, it’s a wonderful sensation! Our love hormones are boosted by K-drama. Cramming is another source of stress, as it forces you to choose between what you want and what you need to get done. Should I watch my favorite Netflix or Anime series or do my schoolwork? And, as an impulsive student, you’ll choose to watch TV over homework and will try to complete a task in a short amount of time; it’s stressful, isn’t it? However, having a fixed set of goals is one method to combat this.end to finish a task in a limited time, it’s stressful, isn’t it? But one of the ways to overcome this is by having a fixed set of goals or schedule to follow. And after achieving this certain task, you can continue another Netflix and Anime series, Bella Ciao! 2. Dancing also calms the mind: “Just like the day that I met you, The day I thought 3. When there is music playing, it’s your mind that’s chilling!: Most of us will agree that forever Said that you love me, But that’ll last for never It’s cold outside Like when you we listen to relaxing playlists while doing schoolwork because it relaxes our minds and walked out my life, Why you walked out my life? I get like this every time On these allows us to focus better. We can relieve stress and simply enjoy what we’re doing by days that feel like you and me, Heartbreak anniversary ‘Cause I remember every time On these days that feel like you and me, Heartbreak anniversary. ” With this cool dance singing and grooving to the music. choreography from these two closest friends, you’ll be grooving along with the music. Dance also relaxes the mind; it may be used to relieve tension by expressing ourselves 5. Baking or Cooking as an antidote to feelings of anxiety: Baking is the most popular through dance. This will not only strengthen our joints, but also our minds and increase activity, which has been tried by many people throughout this pandemic. Serving or demonstrating service to one’s loved ones is one technique for some people to relieve our creativity. Dancing allows us to express our feelings of exhaustion and drain. stress. Sharing what you’ve cooked gives you a sense of accomplishment, and it can bring back memories that will encourage you to cook better. Cooking is a stress-relieving 4. Plants will look after you if you look after them: Plants have piqued the interest of both old and young people since the pandemic. Tess Comia, a plantita, says that seeing activity that boosts our energy and improves our attitude again. your plants thrive gives her satisfaction. This also stimulates us to participate in physical activities that maintain our bodies healthy and, as a result, help us cope with daily stress. 7. Write, to smile bright!: You write it down when you can’t easily and freely convey your views. Writing is one efficient approach to let go of the negative thoughts that have 6. Work it out, to lift you up! : Working out is one of the therapeutic ways to meditate been lingering in the back of our brain and one efficient technique to deal with stress. It and eliminate negativities on our bodies, according to Chloe Ting, who we met during is better to write than to tell someone who doesn’t care, as the saying goes. It also allows the initial quarantine days. When you are physically, psychologically, and emotionally one to reflect and understand what needs to be changed in order to avoid stress. And it healthy, you exude positive energy.. helps one to reflect and learn what to change to avoid stress. 8. Let go and let God: Stress is a problem, but everything will be resolved with God’s help. This is the most effective approach to relieve tension because we know that when we pray, someone is listening to us without passing judgment or making unpleasant remarks. This relaxes our minds and hearts, giving us a different sense of solemnity. a different feeling of solemnity. It is always up to the individual to decide how they wish to deal with their stress. However, this serves as a reminder that you’re doing a fantastic job and deserve to be recognized. If you’ve made progress, resting isn’t a bad idea. Stress will always be a part of everyday life, but we discover methods to cope with it by relying on those who are close to us and who have our backs.If you have a support system that supports you, you will always be able to endure stress. It enables us to attain our full potential and overcome tough conditions. Think about what you want and take care of your physical and emotional health because you are valuable, worth it and important.
12 to theW o m e n that feature Here’s made us John Roi Gonzales “Women, they have minds, and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition, and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty. I’m so sick of people saying that love is all a woman is fit for.” Quite a gut-wrenching quote don’t you think? Jo March, the main protagonist of “Little Women”, exclaimed these words in this coming- of-age novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott. A film adaptation of this novel simply titled “Little Women” was then released in 1994 and was directed by a female director, Gillian Armstrong while the character of Jo March was portrayed by Winona Ryder. The latest film adaptation of the novel also titled “Little Women” came in 2019 and was written and directed by another female director named Greta Gerwig and in this film, Jo March was played beautifully by Saoirse Ronan. The story follows the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—and details their passage from childhood to womanhood as well as every struggle they have to face along the way. It is loosely based on the lives of the author and her three sisters. If you haven’t seen or read Little Women yet, I highly recommend watching or reading it for this movie as well as the novel is the perfect representation of women and their struggles that not only is present in the 19th century but also still echoes to this day. It captured how women were treated back then and embodied the theme of women empowerment which inspired many and altered the way society treats women to a certain degree. Upon watching the 2019 film adaptation, my heart ached as my mind processed what women went through back then. The countless battles they must have fought to reach the pedestal that they stand on today, and the ongoing battles that they are still fighting to this day must take a huge toll on them, right? I could only hope that the countless sacrifices these incredible women made and the current struggles they are facing will result in a world where they finally get what they have been yearning for all this time. Well, I’m glad that in some sort of fashion, we have a way to make up for the past generations’ mistakes towards the treatment of women throughout the years in the form of the international women’s month that is celebrated every March. Isn’t it perfect how March is the international women’s month and the family name of the sisters who are the perfect embodiment of women is March? To some people, March may not seem that noteworthy of a month compared to the other months but the international women’s month is something we mustn’t overlook. It’s a month to recognize female achievement and a call to action, encouraging everyone to stand up for female rights and gender equality. Throughout history, women have had to fight for the freedom and rights they enjoy today. A hundred and fifty years ago, women couldn’t: vote, own property, stand in parliament, and get paid the same as men. I could go on and on about the many things women don’t have back then so instead, let’s focus on the now. Of course, the change didn’t happen with just a snap of a finger, it occurred gradually through the tireless efforts of brave women and men fighting together for what is right. Some of these notable women include Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl who died in a concentration camp in 1945. Her father, Otto Frank, escaped and published his daughter’s now-famous diaries in 1947, which chronicled her experiences during the Holocaust. Her writing has helped historians (and readers) better understand what went down at the time and inspired many by her incredible bravery and determination. More recently on January 20, 2021, another notable woman came to be in Kamala Harris, who became the first woman and the first African American and South Asian person to become the Vice President of the United States. Here in the Philippines, we also hold our fair share of women who placed their seats in the history books. Corazon Aquino, the first female president of the Philip- pines, Miriam Defensor Santiago, who showed legal brilliance and courageous example in fighting corruption in the country, and Lea Salonga, who represented the country when supplying the singing voices of two Disney Princesses (Jasmine and Mulan). As you can see, these incredible women have all proved themselves to be deserving of being cemented in history as women who laid the groundwork for the future gen- eration. Without them and their countless contributions to drastically alter society’s old ways, the world wouldn’t be in the same state as it’s in today. They truly deserve all the recognition and appraisal they get, but March is not only a month for the celebration of these exceptional women but rather, for us to grab the opportunity to genuinely appreciate all of the women around us, not only those notable women but also every single woman in the world. From the women who prepare our breakfast the moment we wake up from bed to the women whom we encounter as we go to work as they serve the community, and from the women whom we constantly engage in a dialogue in to discuss our daily life to the women whom we see giving their all for the betterment of the world. Every single one of these women deserves all the love and appreciation, just as much as every other person in the world. For years, women have been working towards the moment for them to finally get the treatment they deserve and by celebrating international women’s month every March, we can make up for the lost love they have been missing out on since the beginning. Sometimes we forget just how valuable a person is to us until we lose them, so let’s take this time to give them their flowers and offer them our drinks. For all the women that made us, this is for you. Looking at: “WHAT?” P-Popis THE G a MMY Aizell Barbosa and Francine Vergara “Di na magpapa-(what?)-paawat! Iwawagay ang watawat! “ WHO is SB19? SB19 is a Filipino boy band which consists of five members – Josh, Pablo, Stell, Ken, and Justin. They are also known as a multi-awarded Filipino boy band and the first Southeast Asian act to top billboard charts next to world-famous artists like BTS, GOT7, AWARDS 2021 Billie Eilish, Arianna Grande, and EXO. They have a strong fandom called A’Tin who are supportive and committed to their idol’s craft. Avhy Chris A. Panganiban The letters S and B were derived from the group’s company name which is ShowBT Philippines to take pride as the first ever Filipino boy group formed by the company. The members also came up with another meaning, Sound Break for the reason that they want Diving through the best songs of the year and picking one from every category to break in the Filipino music scenes with their fresh music and sound and their hopes of is difficult, and the Grammy Awards do it every single year. The Grammy Awards, promoting P-POP or Pinoy Pop internationally. Moreover, the number “19” in the group’s along with the Oscars and the Met Gala, is one of the most glamorous and name represents the fusion if the Filipino and Korean culture since there are under a Korean relevant nights in entertainment. Past ceremonies have included exhilarating company. The country codes of both countries which is 63 and 82 if added individually performances from Kendrick Lamar (2016), Miley Cyrus’ duet with Dolly Parton with give the sum of 19. (2019), and Adele being forced to clear room in her already-overflowing trophy WHAT is their story? cabinet after winning. Their perseverance and pure hard work brought them to the pedestal of fame, The fancy set-up and usual aura of the Grammy Awards for the past years have but before being in the spotlight, like any other groups, SB19 also experienced a lot of been toned down because of the current pandemic. The Grammys was originally hardships and struggles. They experienced performing in small crowds of about 10 to 20 scheduled to take event last January but was moved to March. According people and still gave their best. Their debut single entitled “Tilaluha” did not gain much to Variety, this year’s ceremony took place “in and around” the Los Angeles attention, and even in their own press conference, they were thrown insensitive questions Convention Center, with an audience composed of performers, nominees, and but still managed to put a smile on their faces. And despite their resemblance to K-pop, a few special guests. Instead of celebrity presenters, the Grammys included staff SB19 promotes true Pinoy Pop (P-pop) which is a sub-genre of OPM. from New York’s Apollo Theater, Los Angeles’ Troubadour and Hotel Café, and Despite already having Filipino boy and girl groups prior to SB19, they are credited Nashville’s Station Inn. Ken Ehrlich, the show’s 40-year host, was replaced by for paving the way and being the trailblazers for P-pop, because of that, they are now Emmy-winning producer Ben Winston. Perhaps more specifically, according to titled the P-pop kings. More and more P-pop idol groups emerge today like BGYO, the Recording Academy, a variety of categories have been tweaked to “evolve Alamat, Yara, BINI, and many more. They encouraged Filipinos to showcase and with the artistic landscape and ensure that the nomination process and rules improve their dancing and singing skills and to not be afraid of trying new things. If are more open and fairer.” more P-pop groups emerge, just like what happened in Korea, the Philippines will With her 28th Grammy Award, Beyoncé has set a new record for most wins. The also become well-known! singer has now surpassed bluegrass singer Alison Krauss as the most-awarded WHAT is new? woman in Grammy history. “I’m so honored, so excited,” she said as she accepted The phenomenal P-pop boy group, SB19, opened the new year, 2021, with the record-breaking award for best R&B performance. At the ceremony, Taylor the release of their newest single, “What?”. During the first days of its release, it Swift made history by becoming the first female artist to win album of the year. gained so much attention not only from their fans, but also from other Filipinos Now, let’s take a look at the main winners for Grammys 2021. around the country. Not only that, but the music video also gained attention and · Album of the year: Taylor Swift - Folklore praise from not only Filipinos, but also internationally because of its high-quality · Record of the year: Billie Eilish - Everything I Wanted editing, mind blowing and intense dance break, and wonderful and picturesque · Song of the year: H.E.R. - I Can’t Breathe shooting sites. Not to mention, the members’ acting, singing, and dancing was also · Best new artist: Megan Thee Stallion spot on! Aside from the awards, the four-hour event put a heavy emphasis on live music. With the song’s unique title, you might be curious about what the song is about or “I know you haven’t been to a concert in a long time,” host Trevor Noah said. what message it wants to tell us. Here is your answer; according to the members, “So we’re taking the concert to you tonight.” Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, and Haim their new song, “What?”, is all about raising your flag and being proud of yourself. opened the show with three back-to-back performances from a circle of stages They also said that this song does not only bring us new hopes, but it also teaches that resembled the set-up of Jools Holland’s BBC TV show. Styles took the stage us self-love. in a lime green feather boa and an open-chested leather jacket, performing his Personally, the message I got from the song is about not giving up and trying hit single Watermelon Sugar. Billie Eilish, who dominated last year’s ceremony, your best until you reach your goal. It also talks about self-confidence and how followed with her ballad Everything I Wanted; while Haim played we should not let other people’s opinion affect us. Instead, The Steps from their album-of-the-year nominated Women In we should trust our own capabilities and prove other people Music Pt III. our worth. Just like how SB19 entered a new era in Grammy Awards keep on exciting us with new their music career, ready to conquer surprises every year. Next year, all of us the stage and raise their flags proudly, will keep on saying, “I wonder what’s we should also raise our flags next.” and conquer our fears to face new challenges ahead of us!
feature 13 TikToC kin gLove Made Visible AlycePanganiban Surely, for as long as we can remember, recipes have always garnered the attention of people in our household at least thrice a day. May these be from cooking shows on television, cookbooks, videos and articles on the internet, or from one’s own mind and traditions, the tale remains the same. A recipe is a story that ends with a good meal and having the pleasure to enjoy it with family and friends only makes it a tad bit sweeter. Nowadays, recipes are seen getting squeezed into bite-sized clips usually lasting for 60 seconds, making them easy to follow and digest. Food recipe tiktoks made by Filipino content creators are currently on the rise as they scatter upon the For You page of many TikTok users all over the world. One of these content creators is Franzie (@franziee_v) who usually uploads a recipe video every day. Her aesthetic thumbnails alone can bring many mouths to water as viewers from everywhere stumble upon her page. Some of her viewers’ favorite videos include her recipes for Cajun Shrimp & Sausage Alfredo Fettuccine, Honey Ginger Chicken, and Dalgona Coffee Graham cake. Her followers also enjoyed her easy recipes for different types of Pastillas as they grew excited to try them on their own. From savory meals to sweet desserts, she has captured the hearts of many as she continues to share her love for cooking every day for 60 quick seconds. Another is Connh Cruz (@connhcruzthemodernnanay) whose recipe videos usually go up every other day. Her page brags about the different tastes Filipino cuisine can offer as a source for truly delightful Pinoy recipes such as Saucy Pancit Canton, Varieties of Lumpia, and even for street food like Kwek-Kwek. Her recipe for Pinoy Hotcakes also grew popular as viewers reminisced their childhood memories through the very pleasant dish. Truly, may the continuous support from her fellow Filipinos be one of her motivations to keep doing what she loves. Showcasing the process of making such delicious food seems to call for the attention of many foodies around the world. There is just something so satisfying in watching one’s hands prepare such enjoyable delicacies, but many can attest that this satisfaction cannot compare to preparing said delicacies with our own hands beside our loved ones. The quote “Cooking is love made visible,” is brought to life as families run across their kitchens together, busy with creating a scrumptious feast, and later, gathering around a dining table, saying grace, and thanking the Lord for receiving such a blessing, the blessing of love and family. It is in every child’s experience to read a storybook, or to be read one. From those fairytales, somehow royalty was always involved and from a very young age our minds had been filled with idealistic thoughts from those. But Royal-Tea in real-life royalty, as for example, the British Monarchy, which is by far the most popular, is just a living proof that the life everyone had so dreamed of is more than just tiaras, ball gowns, and a luxurious lifestyle. Being involved with the Royal Family clearly means accepting everything that comes along with it; strict rules, paparazzi, and more; something people like Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton did. Meghan might be a familiar face due to the fact of being a famous actress. She and Prince William had met back in 2016 according to an article by Town&Country. Their relationship eventually turned into a more serious one until they decided to tie the knot in Julianna Marie De Chavez 2018. They were referred to as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex until they had decided to give up their roles at the royal household along with the HRH – her/his royal highness title in order to live an ordinary life in California with their son Archie. It wasn’t really clear what had caused this decision; some speculate that there had been a rift between the two sides, and some say the couple just don’t want to be involved with the responsibilities anymore. But surely, they hadn’t ceased from being socially active; they had actually launched several projects like inking deals with Netflix and Spotify and their very own non-profit, Archewell. Following this, new controversies had sparked up due to Oprah’s interview with the couple just recently. Meghan had said that she was ill-treated while in the premises of Buckingham Palace and even said there was a discussion whether the child she will be bearing would have a title or not, and how dark the skin of the baby would be. The queen had already spoken up saying that the Royal Family was saddened by this and that the racial conversation was concerning. She also said that they would want to discuss this privately. Truly, we can’t really say what happens behind the palace doors. Even the media can’t expose and explain everything. But let us expect that there would always be some sort of quarrel and misunderstanding in their family just like in ours. The only difference is that people write articles about them and that they appear on TV. But still, do you think it’s worth all the hassle just to live that kind of life, or is it better to be a commoner that blends with the crowd and have a more sense of freedom? The GRAND escape MiguelHocbo As the days continue to pass in this duration of quarantine, we struggle to find ways to uplift our spirits and give ourselves the certain kind of genuine joy. One way or another, the pandemic has somehow put us all into a life isolation from the reality we once knew from the outside. We struggle to find what best entertains from our own personal screens and the medium of anime films is no exception. Despite different struggles, great collections of animated films of the industry still hold up from the previous year with the abilities to invoke emotions from within us and take us to an entirely new world of new colors. In facing this dull quarantine life, here are some of the best picks of anime films to serve as your very own great escape from this otherwise despairing time: Maquia Ponyo on the Cliff I want to eat your The Boy and the Beast Penguin Highway Anthem of the Heart Weathering with You Embark on a fantasy world Directed by the famed pancreas Orphaned and outcast from An award-winning journey following the Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Peer into the grey and society, 9-year-old Ren flees Put yourself into Filled with compelling Makoto Shinkai film, story of Maquia from the Ghibli, Ponyo on the Cliff introverted life of high the streets of Shibuya and Weathering with You or clan of Iorphs, immortal takes you into a pleasant school student Haruki as it somehow gets caught into the shoes of the and riveting character Tenki no Ko places you humans, as she tries to and mesmerizing drastically changes when an alternate world called into the lives of residents live on after witnessing fever dream of Ponyo’s he meets Sakura, a popular Shibuten filled with wonders extraordinary daily life sentiments, this story of rainy Tokyo with the invasion of her clan adventure, a princess of schoolmate of his, and and beast men and meets Hodaka’s arrival to the by a foreign army and the sea who longs to be discovers she had been Kumatetsu, a bear man, of a fourth-grade boy presents you with the city after fleeing his home discovering an orphaned human after having to secretly suffering from a who takes him in his care from a remote island. This human baby that she takes have formed friendship fatal pancreatic illness. as his disciple. As his new named Aoyama as he struggles of the once must-watch spectacle in her care. Experience with a young human Accompany the story of bear guardian renames him gives you the eye- the story centered around boy, Sosuke. Although their friendship as Sakura as Kyuuta, the master and meets a mysterious talkative Jun Naruse catching story of Hodaka Maquia’s motherly role, the childlike tone of helps Haruki start “living” disciple help each throughout when he meets Hina, an the consequences of the story, the film never despite knowing her days their adventures between the woman at his dentist who had been cursed orphaned teenage girl, immortality, the sorrows disappoints with the are numbered. worlds they belong to. as they work together of war, and the weight of breathtaking visuals and appointment who had to no longer speak in bringing light to the love and loss. soundtrack that could dark and rainy land of surely captivate the child been able to turn objects after experiencing Tokyo with her weather within us all. changing abilities. into penguins as she her parents’ divorce. threw them. Explore the The film takes you to young curiosity-filled different viewpoints of perspective of the gifted the characters’ friendship Aoyama and his friends when Jun begins to in investigating strange somehow be able to happenings around converse with others their town that involves through singing in penguins, water, and the practice for a high school mysterious woman. play. With more sights to see and more stories for our great escape from the rather bitter reality that we have at present, there are still more possibilities and opportunities for us to find our own true joys in life and work towards the better. It’s best to remember that these films may only guarantee momentary happiness within a few hours yet could also serve as our motivation in striving and working for a better world.
14 asmepps Here are the masterpieces which paved the way for our own Bridgetine Potentials to go and grab the Gold and Silver in the National ASMEPPS Marathon of Skills and Talents last April 17. Kristina Angeline B. Arguelles Solo Singing Contest CHAMPION Rosa Soledad M. Ulayao Alexie Margaret S. Aguirre Drawing On the Spot Poster Making CHAMPION 2nd place Ishe Loui Maxene M. Candava Photojournalism CHAMPION
asmepps 15 Inject or Reject? Ibang karamdaman ng COVID-19 patients, Lyka Gabrielle Manalo sanhi ng tumataas na death rate—Eksperto Science Feature Writing English Teresa Claire C. Agtay 2nd place News Writing Filipino “Because with a vaccine you can achieve immunity CHAMPION and herd immunity safely.” According to the WHO Chief Scientist, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan Ibinahagi ng isang eksperto na hindi coronavirus variant ang sanhi ng The outbreak of COVID-19 is indeed dangerous, since tumataas na numero ng mga namamatay na COVID 19 patients kamakailan, kung 2020 it gone wild. Where unexpected scenarios happened hindi ibang mga factors katulad ng edad at mga umiiral nang sakit ng mga nasabing into our lives, and because of that, our scientists in the field pasyente. of science and technology think and created of vaccines that Ayon kay Dr. Rontage Solante, isang eksperto sa mga infectious disease, can prevent us in the first instance of getting sick. karaniwang edad at comorbidity o mga sadyang sakit na ng mga pasyente bago As of December 31, 2020 the World Health pa man sila magka-COVID, ang siyang sanhi ng pagkamatay ng mga COVID-19 Oganization or WHO issued the first vaccine which is the patients. Pfizer, then on February 15, 2020 they issued the second Dagdag ni Solante, “ Ang risk factors nito, kadalasan elderly. Nakikita vaccine that has two versions namely Astrazeneca/Oxford naming dito (na) chronic diseases (ang sanhi ng pagkamatay). Sila yong high risk COVID-19 vaccine. The latest one was issued last March 12, for mortality.” 2021 and it is called Ad26.CoV2.S or for short it is the Janssen “It’s more of the age and presence of comorbidities and the number of cases. Vaccine. The number of cases, higher din ang proportion na matamaan an gang 60 years old It actually doesn’t just stop there for these vaccines and above, maraming pasyenteng magdedevelop ng severe and critical because of can still be added and changed as time goes by. But the big the increase in the number of cases,” paglilinaw ni Solante. question in here is; would you rather get injected or you’ll Makikita sa ulat ng Department of Health (DOH) na isang linggo nang dere- reject it? Of course we should and it is a must to get and be deretsong lagpas sa bilang na 100 ang namamatay bawat araw dahil ng COVID 19. injected by the vaccine for us to have a shield against the Sa datos na naitala ng DOH, mula sa fatality rate na 1.67 porsyento noong viruses and diseases that occurs around us. Abril 5, tumaas ito nang bahangya ang posyento ng mga namamatay sa COVID 19 Once a person gets vaccinated from any virus like sa 1.72% COVID-19 or from any diseases then the risk factor is literally Mula sa nasabing datos, tumaas at lumampas sa peak noong nakaraang taon low from the infection. That’s why Herd Immunity comes ang bilang ng mga pumapanaw ngayon, ayon sa ABS-CBN News Data Analytics in to the topic, where it subsists when people who aren’t Head, Edison Guido. immune, but they live in a community that has a high level “Kung titingnan, death by itself, talagang mataas. Kung titingnan ang actual of immunity. WHO reinforce herd immunity by the process date, nalampasan na natin ang peak noong last year noong nagkaroon tayo ng of vaccination and not allowing an illness to be spread-out surge noong 2020,” wika ni Guido. through the population that is the outcome of different Dagdag ni Guido, hindi nangngahulugang dahil sa pagdami ng namamatay, cases and deaths. ay agad-agad ring darami ang kaso ng COVID 19, sapagkat aniya, upang makita ang Imagine, if you let your fear from the injection of the case fatality rate, dapat tingnan ang bilang ng namatay at kabuuang bilang ng mga vaccine, will you still live longer or will you be okay afterwards? nagpositibo sa sakit. Probably not, because if you allow the transmission of virus Palala pa ng ABS-CBN News Data Analytics Head, kailangang maging to happen which is still happening now and yet your still not maingat sap pag-interpret ng case fatality rate lalao na kukuhanin ito kada 2 linngo. getting the vaccine then consequences will come. Ayon pa sa kanya, mas maganda kung tinitingnan ito sa mas mahabang time Life isn’t easy especially in this time of pandemic, but frame sapagkat doon makikita ang resulta ng mga positive cases kung namatay o if you will think the good for yourself and everyone then the nagrecover baa ng mga ito. better choice is by getting a vaccine. In accordance to this Sa kabilang banda, patuloy na nagbabantay ang mga eksperto sa variant ng act, we can definitely save our lives and other people’s lives SARS-CoV sa France na nababalitang hindi nadedetect sa RT-PCR test. plus we also help our world to ease its problems one by one, Ayon kay Philippine Genome Center Executive Director Cynthia Saloma, hindi sapat closer to the betterment of today. at masyadong limitado ang impormasyon tungkol sa naiulat na variant at sinaad na posibleng may kinalaman dito ang uri ng test na ginagamit ng France. Kaugnay nito, mariing nanawagan si Saloma na panatilihin ang mahigpit na pagsunod sa quarantine protocol ng mga papasok sa bansa. WHO speaks about immunity Mary Lou Feliz A.Torino and vaccines News Writing English CHAMPION With the surge of infections of the COVID-19 virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised awareness through a series of 5-minute episodes informing citizens about the said virus on its YouTube channel. In one episode, Vismita Gupta-Smith, WHO’s Communications, video conferenced with the WHO’s Chief Scientist Dr. Soumya Swaminathan and talked about Herd Immunity as a way to “break the chain of transmission” as the Chief Scientist said in the video conference. Dr. Swaminathan explained how herd immunity came into play with the Measles virus, where only 95% of the population is the minimum number to achieve herd immunity and stop the further spread of the virus. Consequently, the Chief Scientist used this logic with the immunity needed to stop the transmission of the COVID-19 virus stating that it is ideal to have 60-70% of the population to be vaccinated to acquire the immunity needed to prevent being infected with the virus. Chief Scientist Swaminathan also emphasized the importance of vaccines in acquiring the immunity needed and refuted the possibility of acquiring immunity naturally, saying that it would cost more lives and collateral damages. Despite the vaccines still on the process of improvement, the minimum health protocol of physical distancing, wearing of masks, and frequent washing of hands along with the detection through enough testing kits, isolation, tracing and testing the contacts, and letting the patients be on quarantine can help in controlling the transmission of the virus. Not Another Boring History Julianna Marie De Chavez Science Feature Writing English CHAMPION A girl sitting on her desk blinks several times; she is very close to dozing off because she had heard the current lesson that the teacher is discussing for roughly if not a hundred, but a thousand times already. The blaring aircon of the classroom and the rainy day outside did not help her to stay awake and she did not try to fight her drowsiness and soon fell asleep. After all, she knew every single detail about Covid-19, a pandemic that had happened several decades back. She thought that learning this was not relevant to her everyday life. The scenario mentioned above could be what our future would look like; Covid-19 would be nothing but a glimpse of the past, its unlucky victims long buried and gone with survivors left to tell the tale, that is, if Earth continue to exist. Students would probably think of it as nothing more of a lesson to memorize and a requirement to pass their year, not thinking the fact of how lucky they had been to not experience such a dilemma. Going back to this state of living would of course take a long time and a lot of effort, not until the population could reach what we call ‘herd immunity’. According to the chief scientist of WHO, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, it is the process of vaccinating the majority of the population so that the virus would cease to circulate among people. She cited measles as an example, that required 95% of the populace being vaccinated. And then she added that even if the remaining 5% did not take the vaccine, the virus would still be contained regardless. At present, several vaccines had already been distributed and nations worldwide scramble to get the supplies. Among the most popular ones would be the Sinovac from the Chinese and Pfizer, Moderna from the Americans. But our country, the Philippines had so far secured less vaccines and could not inoculate its entire population. While waiting, there are a lot of things that we could do. We should do physical distancing, wear our masks, wash our hands frequently, and the government should be able to provide testing to its citizens and must also do isolating as well. Truly, the world will never be the same after this event. It may have caused a lot of casualties but it will also pave the way for newer technologies because of the extreme funding that had been used for studies and researches. As much as it is a problem today, think that it will result for a better tomorrow. But then for the meantime, let us educate ourselves, and act accordingly so that instead of becoming a boring tale for people in the future, we would serve as an inspiration for humanity and so that mistakes that had happened would not occur again.
16 Literature
Sci-tech 17 sci-tech EDITORIAL MANDATORY USE OF FACE SHIELDS IN THE PHILIPPINES: A TACTIC FOR PROFIT? It has come to the Filipinos’ attention that face shields which are ordered mandatory to be worn in the country have been proven to only have low efficacy in decreasing the spread of the coronavirus. Weighing these, several experts in the medical field as well as journalists called on our local health authorities for allegedly profiteering from the crisis brought by the pandemic. The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) directed the issuance of advisory on the use of face shields in all public spaces nationwide and claimed that this can effectively decrease the chances of transmitting Covid-19. However, according to Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. Frank Esper, MD, “It protects you, the wearer, Dr. Anthony Fauci’s statement back in August that its use “certainly can’t hurt,” none of the world’s but if you cough, because the face shield is away from your face, those droplets can still get out bet- major organizations has strongly recommended the use of face shields worldwide, not even the ter than if you have a mask on.” From this, it can be deduced that the use of face shields is not neces- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nor the World Health Organization. Several known sarily vital, especially since the Philippines is the only country in the world that requires it. Therefore, countries such as Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, etc. were able to overcome the virus the mandatory use of face shields is a one lame attempt in reviving the country’s failing economy without the mandatory use of face shields. Knowing these, it is evident that face shields were only as this issuance profits from the Filipinos who are already suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic’s deemed important for the safety of the Filipinos, when in reality, it only takes money from them hands while masked as a way to prevent its spread. and stays in the pockets of those who are privileged. Cleveland Clinic, along with many other health groups and medical experts, do not recom- It is without a doubt that the Philippine authorities are quick to require certain things and mend wearing face shields for usual everyday activities or as an alternative for cloth masks. This is actions from us when they can’t even competently perform the governance that is expected from because face shields, unlike face masks, do not absorb droplets when we sneeze or cough, which is them. Instead of just mandating the people to use numerous equipment in order to keep them why using them requires you to sanitize them frequently or else you’ll risk yourself catching the virus safe, they should also focus on what they could do, like mass testing, in order to lift the Filipinos because of the droplets still present on the surface of the face shield. Aside from that, when face from their downfall caused by the pandemic. Through the mandatory use of face shields among shields get cracked or damaged, medical professionals discourage further use, so people are obliged others, the burden of acting in halting the spread of the coronavirus in the country is negligently to buy them frequently. With these, it is evident that the use of face shields is not only ineffective, transferred from our so-called government’s shoulders and onto the backs of the Filipinos suffer- but also inconvenient and costly for the Filipinos, while the profiteers only continue to gain money. ing from the pandemic’s hands. The question shouldn’t be about how long they would be able to Aside from that, the Philippines was dubbed by Inquirer.net as the “face shield nation” for carry it, but how long they would need to before finally demanding for what they truly deserve. being the only country that mandates its people to wear face shields in all public spaces. Aside from On the 1st day of March, the Philippines began its official COVID-19 vaccination campaign with a clear goal of immunizing at least 50 million Filipinos. However, even with the government’s best intentions for the nation’s people, most of the citizens are afraid to get themselves injected with these vaccines, because of the following reasons: 1) lack of knowledge about the vaccines, their origin, how they work, and their possible side-effects, and 2) doubts regarding its safety and efficacy upon vaccination. For these reasons, we shall enumerate all the vaccines that the Philippines has in its hands today and enlighten the people about they work in a brief yet comprehensive way. The Pfizer vaccine was developed by Pfizer, an American corporation, and BioNTech, a German Tested by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), there are two versions of the vaccine – one biotechnology company — both world-renowned companies for producing essential medicines and produced by AstraZeneca-SKBio (Republic of Korea) and one by the Serum Institute of India. It is vaccines. This vaccine requires you to take 2 shots that are 21 days apart. With 95% efficacy rate at known to be 63.09% effective against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is a two-dose vaccine preventing COVID-19 disease in people without evidence of previous infection, and only mild pos- with 8 to 12 weeks intervals, wherein the longer the days between the shots, the greater the vac- sible side-effects including tiredness and headache among others, it was one of the vaccines in the cine’s efficacy. AstraZeneca vaccine is proven to be safe and effective in preventing people from Philippines to be granted emergency approval by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) experiencing the extremely serious risks of COVID-19 with reports of very rare side effects. for the priority groups’ use, along with CoronaVac and Oxford/AstraZeneca. The one behind the CoronaVac is the biopharmaceutical company in Beijing called Sinovac. It works Known as the world’s first registered vaccine, Sputnik V’s efficacy rate is confirmed to be at 91.6%. by exposing the body’s immune system to the virus without any risks of getting a serious disease It is also a two-part vaccine which uses a weakened virus to stimulate an immune response from response. With efficacy rate ranging from about 65 – 91% and with only several people of no more our body. Undergoing a series of purification, it is a vaccine of surely high quality. than 5% who showed mild side-effects, CoronaVac has been approved for emergency use in China. Despite all these vaccines available in the Philippines, the government issued a list of priority or high-risk groups who will first receive the vaccinations in order to gain immunization from COVID-19. This is why when you finally get a chance to get vaccinated, do not hesitate to get the first COVID-19 vaccine that is accessible to you. Since all of them underwent through a lot of processes in their creation and trials, all authorized COVID-19 vaccines available in the country are proven safe and effective for human use. Made by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Institute of Virology (NIV), COVAXIN is a 2-dose vaccination with 28 days interval per shot. It demonstrated 81% of efficacy in preventing COVID-19 in those people who had no prior infection. Deemed 85% effective in preventing severe cases of COVID-19 across all regions studied, this vaccine was developed by the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & John- A GUIDE son. It is widely known as the first single-shot vaccine in the world’s fight against the coronavirus, with also very low chances of causing negative side-effects similar to the other vaccines.
18 SCI-TECH SOURCE: smithsonianmag.com Veritas Lux Mea Eahrielle Andhrew Plata At last!: NASA’s Aafnaocren-mamasekntwailthatabheoslte!: Perseverance rover successfully landed on Mars In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing a face mask is now one of the minimum health and safety measures that the medical experts are recommending along with physical Eahrielle Andhrew Plata distancing and sanitation in order to prevent the spread of the virus. Such health standards are also the things being imposed by most governments as a way to deter the surge in the After a 7-month journey since its departure and launch last July 30, 2020, the National number of positive cases, and if they were to be violated – corresponding fines and sanctions Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Perseverance rover landed successfully await. With that, the role of masks in this point of time is really emphasized. on the Red Planet’s surface last February 18. The rover, which is the highlight of NASA’s Mars 2020; the agency’s latest and most com- Now, as we gain more knowledge about the disease, the efforts to discover innova- plex exploration program on the planet, was confirmed to land on the planet’s surface tions which are said to be beneficial in the cause of ending this pandemic also continues. This after its distressing dwelling on the thin Martian atmosphere. includes ways to infuse materials that are naturally possessing antimicrobial properties, such as copper, into face masks – which as mentioned earlier, has an emphasized role in this pandem- “Touchdown confirmed. Perseverance is safely on the surface of Mars,” said Swati Mo- ic. Thus, such kinds of masks, popularly known as copper masks became a trend in the public. han, an engineer on the Perseverance team after the rover’s 300-million-mile journey to With the effort of a company called “CopperMask PH”, this kind of mask starts the Red Planet. to gain popularity in the country because of the advertising strategy which features fa- After being enclosed in a heat shield which acted as protection, the rover got through mous celebrities promoting the product. Aside from that, the mask itself looks stylish and the planet’s thin atmosphere, deployed a parachute to slow itself down and was then, has a more fashionable design that conventional surgical masks don’t offer. But it’s more finally performed a final landing maneuver. In that, a ‘sky crane’ attached to Persever- relevant asset is how it is “safer and stylish” since it is said to have “antimicrobial film with ance, fired its rockets in order to gently lower the six-wheeled, car-sized rover into the infused copper strands which is effective to kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses.” Howev- Red planet’s surface. er even with that seemingly flawless advertisement, the mask was criticized by medi- cal experts because of a visible flaw that cannot be sugar coated with words – a hole. A whole new perspective: the 7 minutes of terror A face mask with a hole. It may seem unthinkable but that particular brand of copper mask, which was advertised to be a “safer” option because of its copper com- Even though the rover just landed on the surface and still doesn’t officially start its ponents, has a hole in it. The vent, slit, hole or whatever really the opening in the mask assigned mission, it already produced results that can be written in the history books. is, resulted to medical experts, such as Dr. Adam Smith – an Australian medical doctor It was for the fact that it was able to retrieve a bunch of visuals and sounds which were and social media influencer, the Philippine College of Physicians, and even the Depart- now only captured, especially the 7 minutes of terror. ment of Health discouraging the use of the said mask. The Makati Medical Center even prohibited people who are wearing masks with openings from entering the hospital be- This period of time is described as such because it depicts the crucial entry of the rover cause it “could potentially allow droplets in or out, leading to greater risks of infection.” in the planet’s atmosphere, its descent into the planet and its landing in the surface. The mask was also said to not be registered in the Food and Drugs Administration as med- And to top it all off, this is the very first time in human history that such moment is to be ical grade which only means that it cannot be used in medical facilities such as hospitals. recorded as a video – in high definition. To their defense, copper was already scientifically proven to have anti-viral, and antimi- crobial properties. The advertising of the product was accurate in saying that having copper in In the past, there were remarkable visuals produced in space missions as this. Curiosity, the mask will prevent the corona virus from staying longer in its surface. However, just like how Perseverance’s predecessor, was able to capture a small portion of its landing in 2012 the medical experts voiced it out, the hole in it is not only a major flaw but can also lead to detri- which was compiled as short stop motion video. The 2005 Cassini-Huygens mission was mental effects like transmission of the virus through body droplets emission. Aside from that, ex- also able to bring back images from its descent on Titan, Saturn’s moon and even mov- perts also raised concern about how the amount of copper can also play as a factor. If the copper ing way back to Apollo missions with its lunar landing missions. infused in the mask is just minor, saying about only 5%, it won’t really make much of a difference. Now to add salt to injury, those who voiced out their opinions about the mask are However, it is incomparable to Perseverance’s latest result, an entire sequence of an being sent cease and desist orders by the lawyers of the company. Dr. Adam Smith was one of actual landing in another planet with such rich detail which was made possible by the 23 those people and according to him, other medical doctors and students also faced the same cameras present on it. It even captured audio clips depicting the “sounds of Mars” thanks situation. The warnings state that such criticisms were acts of defamation and are subjected to the microphone installed on it. Additionally, pictures such as the first panoramic view to fines and punishments when in fact, it was just based on facts. Those people are just do- of its landing site was also shared. More than that, it was also a nice achievement since ing their professed duty – to inform the public of what is proper and what is not in relation Mars’s surface is considered to be as one of the solar system’s that has the most techni- to health, but it is like they are being silenced for telling the truth about the flawed product. cally challenging landing destinations. After the controversy died down, the company released a newer, 2.0 version of the mask with an enclosed filter. Basically, the hole has been closed. However, just like the sen- “For those who wonder how you land on Mars – or why it is so difficult – or how cool timent of Dr. Adam, the damage has been done. Even with the new version, those using the it would be to do so – you need look no further,” exclaimed by Steve Jurczyk, NASA’s old version of the mask paid a relatively hefty price, for a mask that “doesn’t offer an adequate acting Administrator, in a statement. protection for COVID-19” deserves a refund which sadly wouldn’t happen any time soon. All in all, it isn’t really a problem to develop and sell products and innovations The real mission: Exploring signs of ancient life that can potentially benefit the circumstance we are in, and in this case - the COVID-19 pandemic. Copper masks are actually a good example of such innovations since they The rover specifically landed on what is called the “Jezero Crater” because this landing are backed by scientific evidence. It is not also an issue to profit off those products since site is directly related to its 2-year main mission. This mission is specifically related to the companies who invented it deserve it especially if the product is truly beneficial. astrobiology or the study that deals with the origins. Experts and scientists believed However, it should be done properly, with caution and with the approval of medical ex- that the Jezero Crater, which is just north of Mars’ equator, has a history of being filled perts and professionals. More than the profit, the concern for public welfare, safety and health with water and having its own river delta about 3.5 billion years ago. But as it is now, the should also be considered and prioritized. For the public on the other hand, it is important to planet eventually became colder and drier. not be influenced easily by everything endorsed by celebrities as not all of them are true. Not With that, Perseverance is tasked to collect rock samples which might contain organic everything that is aesthetically pleasing to the eyes is good. Critically analyzing the situation matters that will point to the life forms, specifically microbial life, that might have thrived and the product being advertised should be done to avoid drawbacks and negative effects. in the region back then. It will also try to collect data that can help in characterizing the Now, if such things mentioned are to be followed, we can expect that there would place’s geology and past climate. be no products like this copper mask to be sold. Because if we are to look into it properly, that mask is just like an ornament which in American idiomatic expression represents any- “In some lakes you can get microbial mats and carbonates interacting to form these big thing “that’s aesthetically pleasing and completely useless.” Since it has a hole, it doesn’t structures, these large, layered mounds,” explained science team-member Dr. Briony function its purpose as a face mask, thus can be considered as an ornamental at best! Horgan from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. “If we see anything like that kind of structure in Jezero, we’ll be making a beeline straight for it because that could be the holy grail of Mars astrobiology,” she added in an interview. Nili Planum to retrieve the sample tubes set down by Perseverance. The rover would then put the tubes on a rocket and launch them into Mars orbit, where the orbiter would grab them and fly them Moreover, for 1 Mars year – or 2 Earth years, this will be the primary mission of the Perse- back to Earth which will take place in no earlier than 2031. verance rover. However, other missions include a helicopter experiment. Since the rover carried a mini helicopter with it, called Ingenuity, it will perform a scouting mission that “Perseverance will be the first rover to seek the answer to the outstanding questions that we haven’t will assess the safe paths to lead in the landscape to be used for future missions. been able to address with other rovers — was there life on Mars, and can we find evidence that there used to be life?” says Vivian Sun, a planetary geologist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, An ambitious first step: Returning samples to Earth California, and a member of the Perseverance science team. Now, in relation to the objectives of this mission, there is an ambitious first step that the As of the moment, the Perseverance rover is just on the primary stages of its mission. There are still no Perseverance wants to fulfill for future missions. That is to collect rock sample that can significant discoveries yet, which is understandable. The mission may even encounter struggles and be found in the areas, store it in a tube and eventually leave it to locations that future difficulties, just as experts assumed. However even with that, it is as clear as day that the mission was missions will identify and return those samples on Earth. The experts believed that there already an achievement to begin with; for humanity, having captured new perspectives with regards is no better way to study such samples for possible life that might have occurred in the to the Red Planet. What can be done now is just wait and stand-by for further developments on this planet, if not on laboratories here on Earth that are equipped with the appropriate tech- specific mission and eventually gain more knowledge about Mars and bring more achievement for nology. humanity. Both the NASA as well as the European Space Agency (ESA) are planning for two mis- sions which have the main objective of retrieving the samples that Perseverance was able to gather. In no earlier than 2026, they would launch a rover to the Jezero Crater or
SPORTS 19 STAG'S VERDICT Is Philippine Chess Dead? LAWRENCE JAVIER World maker or nation breaker? Over the course of decades, annual Olympic games are conducted not only to determine the The game of knights and queens, in the white or the black side, in the first and the greatest in all types of sport but also to exhibit unity through sportsmanship and camaraderie. last move, to checkmate or to draw. Where every turn matters and every move is Participants from all around the world gather and compete to bring about honor and respect to the crucial, the tides are often shifted, and everything can be lost with a single mistake. That country which raised them as athletes. Every Olympics conducted in every nation chosen to host the is the nature of the strategic and tactical board game, chess. It may be the most popular grandiose event indeed marked a significant spot in the history of sports. However, it looks like this and most played board game in the world, but how does it fit in sports culture of the year’s event would be very different from what we have seen and observed in the past. Philippines? Though not always recognized, the Philippines also have some background After several disasters which struck the host country, Japan, including decades-long in the world of chess. Eugenio “Eugene” Torre from Iloilo is considered the strongest economic slump, from a devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, and after a year’s chess player of the Philippines. He was the first Asian to attain the title chess “Grand- postponement, from a crippling pandemic, the organizers view and frame the Olympic Games as master” at a fresh age of 22 years old in 1974. The feat was achieved when he placed a symbol of recovery. However, as the authorities continue to move forward with the plans this second and won silver in the 21st Chess Olympiads in France. Torre is also the only per- upcoming summer regarding the continuation of the event, any miscalculation could pose a threat son to beat former World Champion Anatoly Karpov in a Manila Tournament in 1976. to the land’s reputation which may take years to recover. Despite the issued restriction of interna- He is also a close friend of the best American chess player and former Grandmaster, the tional spectators coming from various countries, epidemiologists address the risk of the Olympics late Bobby Fischer. It is undeniable that Eugene Torre was the one of the best, but he to be a super spreader event. It is because thousands of athletes and other members will descend is way past his prime and was only truly considered the greatest in the 80’s and the on Tokyo hailing from 200 different countries while much of Japan’s public remains unvaccinated. 90’s. It was not until a new sprout, another hope for the Philippine chess, developed, With the torch relay to have begun last March 25 and will end its 121-day period on July 23, au- the Filipino-born American Wesley So, which the great Torre described as a “rare-find”. thorities and the government itself seems to defy the request of the 80% of the public to postpone Wesley Barbosa So is a chess grandmaster, a 2-time and the current U.S. Chess or cancel outright the said Games according to surveys and polls. But then, organizers insisted that Champion, a 3-time Filipino Chess Champion, and the World Fischer Random Chess Cham- continuing the games this summer would be much closer to a moral imperative, which can be a pion. In 2017, he possessed an ELO of 2822 on FIDE where he placed second among chess reminder of the responsibility of Olympics to create and establish a “legacy for the future society”, grandmasters and ranked him as the 5th highest rated player of all time. So was once the amidst all the “significant challenges” that the world is currently facing. youngest player to have attained an ELO of 2600 or more, surpassing the current world Nonetheless, a lot of things are at stake in this “gamble” including money, national pride, champion Magnus Carlsen last October 2008. He was already formidable at a very young and political ego. For Japan, historical currents play an important role in their reason for continuing age but transferred to the US in 2014 and became a full US citizen last February 26, 2021. He the event despite all odds. For them, it also acts as a symbol of their first regret and rebirth, after was encouraged, developed, and no doubt happier representing the United States than the the cancellation of the 1940 Tokyo Olympics due to war. They also concluded that it has something country he was born in, the country he first represented, The Philippines. What is his story? to do with the obdurate Japanese bureaucracy, with some of it being reflected with their past Wesley So, once a province boy from Bacoor, Cavite, fled to the United States actions in World War II. Chess Federation (USCF) where he won countless titles and made a big name for himself Other conflicts like the competition with china’s winter Olympics which was to be held on by beating the current world champion Magnus Carlsen to win the Opera Euro Rapid the same year also sprouted, with the authorities concluding their argument that if Japan failed to Event. It is a big loss for the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and host the Olympics but were staged in China, it will not only degrade the state but will also give the the country’s sports culture in general after losing a gem like So. He stated that he loves Beijing government the fuel to assert that their authoritarian system is far more superior. the Philippines but lacked the connections to succeed unlike in the US. So stated that Furthermore, the country’s finance minister Taro Aso dubbed the Tokyo Olympics as “cursed” due anyone can succeed in the US where he was not judged and discriminated against for to several circumstances which keeps on hindering the process of the games. When it comes to his color, lack of connections, and wealth. He also said that his talents and hard work are their precautionary measures, barring international spectators will significantly affect the business- rewarded, and he is living the dream. He passively called out the NCFP and the “god-fa- es like hotels, restaurants, and other tourist attractions, which is one of the main benefits gained ther” culture of the Philippines where those with connections and money can easily from the past Olympic games. make it to the top. “I was from the province, not a city boy. Had no money etc. I wanted On the other hand, they indicated that funds were allotted in order to contain the virus to go further, and there was only one country where nobody could make it. The USA!”. throughout the whole duration of the event, preparing training sessions equipped with paltry Why did we allow a genius like him to leave? Where did it go measures suited to protect unvaccinated participants from the risk of the sickness and volunteers wrong? How could the Philippines lose possibly the best Filipino chess play- were advised to practice cleanliness and sanitation by always washing their hands and wearing er of all time? How did we lose someone who can potentially be the best play- facemasks. The International Olympics Committee also prepared Chinese vaccines for those who er of his generation? Is there still hope for the future of Philippine chess? would be needing it. Business owners and other locals from the cities were against the continuation of the Drew Brees’ 20-year career in games, saying that it would be futile to continue the event while portraying it as a sign of recovery which was clearly not. They suggested that it would be better if the government would prioritize football concludes first the complete recovery from the pandemic so that everything would go back to normal. As a student, I personally believe that it would be illogical to continue the games, knowing the Genesis Hernandez fact that deadlier and more contagious variants sprout like seeds as time passes around the world. Even though cases in Japan were actually low compared to the daily cases of other countries like After a prolific 20-year career that included one Super Bowl Triumph, the legendary New the US and nations from Europe, the risk of cases skyrocketing still cannot be contained due to the Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees announced his long-expected retirement from the fact that athletes from all around the world will arrive and gather in one place. National Football League on March 14, 2021, via an Instagram video featuring his children. Their point of considering Olympics as a symbol of recovery doesn’t really sound very captivating because of the current situation. It can even result in a major downfall if things won’t The 42-year-old star quarterback Drew Brees manifested a tremendous amount go as planned, creating a mark on the history of the country which will never be forgotten. of energy during his career with the New Orleans Saints as he managed to sprint to the Furthermore, it would have been more favorable for the country if they cancelled the ceremony top. He acquired 13 trips to the Pro Bowl, 2 Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of because their gain once the pandemic is over would be much greater than what they have invest- the Year accolades, and a 2006 Walter Payton Man of the Year honor. He also secures ed. Planning on a more extravagant Olympics, something which was not seen before, after a long an NFL-record 80,358 yards passing which is no. 1 all-time, 571 touchdown passes wait would be a much better representation of their real “power” which will surely shock the world which are second all-time, and a 67.7 completion percentage that accentuated the and of course, be more advantageous for Japan and their people. accuracy that was his trademark. Their contumacy with the wishes of their people is already a sign that their plans will not Beyond the numbers, Brees’ legacy will be revered and remembered. be beneficial for the nation. In the end, it will only look compelled and forced for the sake of the After the city of New Orleans was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, he helped “recovery” that Japan wants to show and express, thus, ruining the culture and tradition of the to revive the once-downtrodden Saints franchise. In 2006, he and coach famed Olympics passed down from country to country for years and decades. Sean Payton arrived together and led the Saints to the NFC Championship Game in that first year. In 2010, he led the Saints to a victory in Super Azkals to play in the 2022 Bowl XLIV and clinched the title of Most Valuable Player in that game. “You came to us at our lowest point. You led us to our highest. You World Cup Qualifiers represented our state, city, and team with incredible professional- ism, class, and toughness. We are forever grateful for the immea- Kristina Angeline Arguelles surable impact you and your family had on this city,” Saints wrote via their Twitter account. Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced that the Philippine Azkals will play its As he steps down from his legendary status, reac- remaining games in the second round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 Asian tion poured in from across the sports world including Tom Cup Preliminary Qualifiers, which is to be held in China this 2021. Brady, who sits in second place behind Brees in all-time passing yards and completions. “Congrats my friend The aforementioned country is to host all group A games of the Asian qualifiers on an incredible career. Thank you for the inspiration which comprises the Philippines, China, Syria, Maldives, and Guam. The schedule of the and dedication on and off the field! Look forward to Philippine Azkals’ games will be on June 3 versus Guam, China on June 7, and Maldives seeing what’s next @drewbrees,” Brady wrote. on June 15. The joint World Cup and Asian Cup Qualifiers were supposed to be played The retirement is not the end for Brees’s last March and June 2020, then were moved to October and November 2020. But, football career. During an appearance on “The due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AFC moved the qualifying matches again to 2021 Today Show,” Brees revealed his new role as a because of the crisis. football analyst for NBC Sports. “I’m excited The Philippine Azkals is in 2nd place tied with China with 2 wins, 2 losses and a about that journey. I’m excited to stay very draw in group A. It will be recalled that in September 2019 at Bacolod, Azkals lost their closely connected with the game of foot- opening game against Syria 2-5 and then bounced back with a 4-1 win against Guam ball. It’s been such an important part of in their opponent’s territory. It was a goalless draw against the Chinese booters and a my life. And I continue to be able to 2-1 victory over Maldives in November 2019 before losing to Syria anew 1-0. talk about it and show a passion for The Filipino citizens would love to see the Philippine Azkals succeed in their stint in the it,” said Brees. Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup, the Asian version of the World Cup. SOURCE: theguardian.com
LUMIÈRE SPORTS Gilas Draftees to gear up in Laguna Bubble Promising amateurs successfully made their way to the Gilas Pilipinas national basketball team roster and were bound to train at the Inspire Sports Academy located in Calamba, Laguna. Players hailing from universities including RJ Abbarientos of Far Eastern University, Kyle Ong of Ateneo de Manila University, Lebron Lopez of Ateneo’s High School and Carl Tamayo of the University of the Philippines topped the rookies who were to play for the third round of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers as well as the Tokyo Olympics qualifying tournaments, both set up to take place in June. Four other players, namely Jaydee Tungcab, Tzaddy Rangel, Jordan Heading, and William Navarro were handpicked by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas during a special round in the PBA Rookie Draft, making them full-time national team players who are to start a month-long training in the ‘Calambub- ble’. Among them would be Ange Kouame, Chris Koon, Dwight Ramos, Dave Ildefonso, and Justine Baltazar who were present during the previous training camps as well as college standouts like SJ Belangel, Troy Mallillin, Joshua Lazaro, Jason Credo, Geo Chiu, and Gian Mamuyac who all originated from Ateneo will also be playing for the Philippines in the upcoming major sports events. On the other hand, Rey Suerte, Isaac Go, and the brothers Mike and Matt Nieto were all expected to enter the bubble late due to minor injuries which took time to heal. It was notable in the current lineup the absence of PBA players, creating an all- cadet roster for the upcoming games. “As it stands right now, the rosters will be selected without PBA players,” said Tab Baldwin, the program director for Gilas Pilipinas. “So, we obviously need to work with the players available,”. Aside from Baldwin, the training will also be supervised by other coaches who entered Inspire namely Caloy Garcia, Boyet Fernandez, Alton Lister, Sandy Arespachochaga, Jong Uichi- co, Dex Aseron, and Gabby Severino. The training will begin once the commission cleared the safety and health protocols of the facility. Gilas is anticipated to face their rival South Korea two times as well as Indonesia for the final window of FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, which will be held in June at home. Philippines was a late replacement for the FIBA Olympic Qualifiers which will be held from June 29 to July 4 after New Zealand withdrew and forfeited their seed in the tournament. Joshua-Fury, 2-fight A BIG STEP: PSL teams to join the PVL Bubble contract signed Anthony Ilagan Timothy Amiel Catilo After years of wondering and months of negotiations, the current best heavyweight champions of the Premiere Volleyball League (PVL) welcomes powerhouse teams from world, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will head on face-to-face to unify the heavyweight titles of the Philippine Super Liga (PSL) to join their incoming Calamba Bubble as guest world. teams, March 3-15. After months of countless negotiations, competition about who will promote the fight, a 2-fight PLDT Home Fibr Hitters and Cherry Tiggo Crossovers announced their contract was finally signed for both sides. The contract is reported to have a 50-50 earning split in the jump to the PVL bubble last March 3, 2021. Known as a team filled with MVPs first match, and a 60-40 in the next, with the winner taking more shares. “This is the biggest fight in box- and exceptional players like Shola Alvarez & Isa Molde and with the addition ing and one of the biggest sporting events in the world. It will be a major, major win for a country that of National team setter Rhea Dimaculangan, the Hitters are expected to be a wants to showcase itself,” according to Eddie Hearn, the managing director of Matchroom sport. The force to be reckoned in the league. On the other hand, the Cignal HD Spik- €200 million bout’s date and location are not final, but will be held in either Macau, Singapore, Las Ve- ers are most known for their intact lineup of players. Captain Rachel Daquis, gas, Saudi Arabia, or the unrecognized Wembley; but only if 90,000 attendees are allowed in the venue. Jovelyn Gonzaga, and Alohi Robins-Hardy are just a few of their most known Both fights are planned to occur in the same year, 2021. players and are expected to lead the team once again. Joshua proved once and for all that his career will not go downhill following an upset TKO loss Two PSL mainstays also pledged their leap to the Premiere Volley- against Andy Ruiz Jr. last June 1, 2019. He lost four of his heavyweight titles including the WBA (super) ball League last March 9. The Cherry Tiggo Crossovers, another star-studded heavyweight belt but quickly recovered by winning the rematch last December 7 in the same year via team, chose to jump to PVL. Known as the home of Jaja and Dindin Santiago, Unanimous Decision. Joshua also won his most recent match against Kubrat “The Cobra” Pulev last De- the Crossovers are an early bet by analysts to dominate the league. Another cember 12, 2020 via KO with 15 seconds remaining in the match. PSL mainstay filled with big names, the Lady Realtors are also ready to prove Tyson Fury on the other hand proved that he might be the best heavyweight boxer of the their prowess in the sport. With the leadership of captain Pam Lastimosa, ace generation. After taking down the hard-hitting Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder in a rematch via Mar-Jana Philips, dominant blocker Mika Reyes, star setter Djanel Cheng, and TKO last February 22, 2020, where he won the vacant WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles. Fury hand- the addition of National Team’s opposite hitter, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Sta. Lucia ed down Wilder’s first loss of his career, ending the stunning 40-win streak of the Bronze Bomber. The is sure armed with weapons for this competition. rematch was held after a controversial draw last December 1, 2018. March 11, the biggest news yet was announced, as champion team F2 Logis- The two are well-known for defeating arguably the best Ukrainian boxer of all time, Wladimir tics Cargo Movers reported their arrival in the PVL Stage. Known for its classic Klitschko, the former unified WBA (super) heavyweight champion. The two last fights of Klitschko, are dominant system and powerful roster of players, the Cargo Movers, headed against Tyson Fury last November 28, 2015, and against Anthony Joshua on April 29, 2019, which is the by Coach Ramil De Jesus and star players Ara Galang, Majoy Baron, Kianna Dy, cause of the Ukrainian boxer’s retirement. Kim Fajardo, Dawn Macandili and Kalei Mau, are already considered as one of Although Joshua has more belts than Fury, it is not a trouble-free match for him as his career the early bets to reach the finals. has not fully recovered following his first loss against Andy Ruiz Jr. in an upset last June 1, 2019. Fury on For the first time ever, the PVL will be featuring all the best clubs the other hand, has not yet experienced any loss in his career but a single draw against Wilder. “One of under one roof, with 12 teams vying for the first Open Conference Champi- the fascinations about this fight will be the buildup because they’re two totally different characters, two onship in a pro setting. “We’re very happy with the developments, on what’s totally different personalities. The mind games will be on another level for this fight,” mentioned Hearn. been happening with the PVL. As everybody knows, we’ve got five new teams that will make the PVL more interesting and more exciting,” said Ricky Palou, SOURCE: boxing247.com Sports Vision President in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum web- cast. “It’s really something to see all the best players of the land in one tourna- ment, in one league. Just for that alone, the fans should really be enjoying the sport of volleyball this time around,” he added.
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