Voices for justice: Regsay alumnus joins UPLB rally
��Keira Cristobal
Demandingthatcorruptpoliticiansface accountabilityandpressingthegovernmentfor immediateaction,aRegsayalumnusjoinedastudentledrallyattheUniversityofthePhilippinesLosBaños lastSeptember19,2025.
AndreaManat,aformerstudentjournalistof Regsay,expressedfeelingempoweredwhile participatingintherally,emphasizingthesignificance ofaddressingcorruption.
“AsaRegsayalumnusnastudentjournalist, syempreIfeltempowerednungsumaliakosarallysa UPLBdahilimportantenabigyanngattentionat managotangmgacorruptnapoliticians,”shesaid. Sheaddedthatjoiningtheprotestgavethema platformtousetheirvoiceandspeakforthepublic good,showcasingRegsay’scultureofspeakingupon importantissues.
“NasanaturenatingmgaRegsaystudentsto speakupaboutissuesthatneedstobeaddressed, dahilfirsttimekorinmaki-rallyI’mgladnanakajoin akodahilnagamitkorinangboseskoparasabayan,” sheadded.
AccordingtoRappler,theSeptember19 university-widewalkoutprotestedagainstalleged corruptfloodcontrolprojectsandwasformally endorsedbyUPLBChancellorJoseV.Camacho.
TheUPLBSchoolofEnvironmentalScienceand Management(SESAM)alsoexpressedsupportforthe walkoutprotestthroughastatement,emphasizingthe institution’srecognitionofthestudents’demandsfor accountability Manatexpressedhopethatherparticipation alongsidethestudentswouldinspiremoreyoung peopletotakeactiononsocialissuesandhold leadersaccountable,reflectingRegsay’scultureof socialresponsibility
oftheResay population supported
ECHOES BEYOND SCREENS
Youth Voices Rise: RSHS 02 Participates in Trillion
Peso
March Through Media Advocacy
��Kryxa Tibuc Takingpartinanationwide callforhonestyand accountability,theRegional ScienceHighSchoolfor Region02communityjoined thousandsofFilipinosinthe TrillionPesoMarchtostand againstcorruptionon September21,2025.
Thoughnotpresentatthe physicalrally,students expressedtheirsupport throughmediaadvocacyby changingtheirprofilepictures toadesigneddisplayphoto featuringthemovement’scall toaction.
Thecaptionsstated,“We arecallingeveryFilipinoto wakeupfromthis governanceandtosupport
tomorrow’sANTI-CORRUPTION RALLYasitadvocates accountabilityinournation.Join usinwearingwhite,flaggingour concernforthefutureofevery Filipino.”
Studentswhojoinedthis movementshowedhowsmall gesturescontributetoempower thevoicesofFilipinos,teaching usthatevenyoungpeoplehave thepowertoinfluencethe nation’sdirection.
AccordingtoMaryAshley Malapitan,theSSLGPresidentof RegionalScienceHighSchool 02,“AstheSSLGpresidentand ajournalist,Ilookuptothe powerofthepeople.Kahitmga teenagers,wellawaresaissues andtheytrytofindhowthis
affectsthecommunityinsmall parts.”
Herstatementemphasized thatyoungpeoplearenot passiveobserversofnational concernsbutareableto recognizecurrentissuesand understandtheirrelevancewithin theircommunities,showingthat awarenessandparticipationcan startatanearlyage.
AstudentofRSHS02, LeighdiPua,whofeltproudof herinvolvementalsostatedthat theyouthhasthetimetochange thesystemicreformsof corruption.
Herwordsshowthatthe youtharenotonlyawareofthe problemsofcorruptionbutalso readytotakepartinreforms,
willingtoraisetheirvoices,and determinedtoprovethateven studentscanhelpshapeafuture withhonestyandaccountability
TheactionofRSHS02 studentsreflectedtheschool’s valuesofexcellence,leadership, andresponsibilitysincethey showedthatbeinga RegsayHighermeansnotonly excellingacademicallybutalso standingupfortruthandjustice. Throughtheirunityinthe TrillionPesoMarch,RSHS02 showedthattheyouth’svoice cannotbeignoredfortheirsimple yetpowerfulactstandsasa reminderthateveryFilipino,no mattertheage,hasarolein makingthePhilippinesan accountableandcorruption-free nation.
Regsays view ARAL program as a burden
��Iverr Lizarte
StudentsatRegionalScienceHighSchool forRegion02deemedDepEd’sARALProgram asawasteoftimeintermsofbridgingthegap inacademicperformancebeforeitisyettobe implementedatthesaidschool.
Manystudentshavealreadycomplained abouthavingcrampedschedulesthroughout themanycurriculumsandsomeworryabout thestudent’scapabilitytoadaptwiththe interventionoftheARALProgram.
Nash,aRegsaystudentsaid,“Idothinkit couldendupbecomingaburdentostudents, justlikewhathappenedwiththe"Saturday classes"lastschoolyear
Theissueisn’tjustwithinthesystem,but alsoonhoweducatorsteachandhowstudents applywhathasbeentaught.”
Nashpointedoutthatthemanyfactors contributetotheprogrambeingahasslesuch astheteachingstylesoftheeducators,andthe adaptabilityofthestudents.
Thisshowsthattheimplementationofthe programcanhaveasignificantdifferencetoits results.
Tofacethis,theRegsaysrequiremore innovativeandinteractivewaysofteachingif thegovernmentwantstosurelyresolvethe educationcrisisthatthecountryisfacing.
Asidefromthis,Nashalsomentionedthat theARALprogramexhibitstwosidesofacoin,
whereitcaneitherhelporbeahassletothestudents.
“TheARALprogrammayormaynotclosethegapin academicperformanceamongRegsaystudents.
Thisisbecausetheoutcomedoesn’tsolelyrelyonthe programitself,anditdependsonhowstudentsadaptanduplift theirownacademicperformance,”headded.
AccordingtoEmelynBalaccua,ateacherinRegional ScienceHighSchoolforRegion02,theprogramcangreatly helpthestudentsbecauseoftheone-on-onestrategyofthe program.
“Focusonoralreadingthisschoolyear,othersubjectswill followsuchasScienceorMath,”shesaid.
Allconcernedpublicandprivateschoolofficialswere instructedtoimplementtheARAL-ReadingprogrambyDepEd Memorandum64,whichwasissuedbyDepEdUndersecretary andChiefofStaffFatimaPanontongan.
“TheARAL-Readingaimstoprovidetimely,responsiveand effectivesupporttolearnerswhofallbelowtheexpected readingproficiencylevels,enablingthemtocatchupwiththe grade-levelexpectationssetbytheDepEd,”Panontongansaid.
Regsay parents criticize students’ misuse of PTA funds
��Keira Cristobal
ARegsayparentexpressed frustrationthisOctober2025, complainingthattheirPTAdonations forschoolprojects—especiallythe redesignedcomfortrooms,seem wastedduetoirresponsibleand undisciplinedstudents.
Everyschoolyear,parents contribute₱500eachtothePTA, fundingprojectssuchasthe redesigningandrepairoftheschool’s comfortroomstoensureacleanand functionalenvironmentforstudents
Everyschoolyear,parents contribute₱500eachtothePTA, fundingprojectssuchasthe redesigningandrepairofthe
comfortroomstoensureaclean andfunctionalenvironmentfor students.
Jen(notherrealname),a parentofastudentinRegional ScienceHighSchoolforRegion 02(RSHS)expressedher frustrationthatalthoughthe outcomeofthePTAprojectwas goodandthefinishedcomfort roomswereinitiallyinexcellent condition,theimprovements wereshort-lived.
“Magandanamanung outcomengprojectnanagbigay kaming₱500dahilnakikita namannamingatsinasabirinng mgaanaknamingnamaayos
nayungCRnilaperonakakainis
langdahilhindinagtagalatnasira rin.So,parangwalangkwenta binayadnaming,”shestated.
Sheaddedthatthecomfort roomswerequicklytrashedand mishandledbyundisciplined students,makingherfeelliketheir contributionsweredisregarded.
Anotherparent,Ben(nothisreal name),sharedthesameconcern, sayingthattheproblemlieswiththe students’lackofdisciplinerather thantheprojectsthemselves.
��Frances Lopez
TheDepartmentof InformationandCommunications Technology(DICT)hasprovided its"FreeWi-FiforAll"programto publicschoolsacrossthecountry, aimingtoimproveinternet accessibility,especiallyinrural areas
ButatRegionalScienceHigh School(RSHS),studentssaythat theWi-Fiistherebutnotthat reliable
“Minsanmalakas,minsan mahinaperomostofthetime mahinapo,”FaithEdralinof Grade10said
Shealsoaddedthat “Sometimes,wecan’teven connectkahitnamalapitna kami”
Manystudentsfind themselveswalkingaroundthe buildingjusttogetadecentsignal fromthesaidWi-Fi,however, othersjustsimplygiveupand turntheirownmobiledatato searchsomething
Formostofthecampus, especiallyintheSHSandNew buildings,theconnectionis nonexistent
Onlythoseinthemain buildingcanreallymakeuseof theWi-Fi,makingotherstudents feelfrustrated
“Yungmgabatatalagaangmay problemadahilparangnapupuntasa walayungdinonatenaminforthe project,”hesaid.
AccordingtotheDepartmentof Education’s(DepEd)guidelines ontheuseofPTAfunds, donationsshouldbeused transparentlytobenefitstudents andschoolmprovementprojects, withparentsandteachers workingtogethertoensurethat theprojectsachievetheir intendedoutcome.
Parentsstressedthatwhilethey remainwillingtosupportschool projectsthroughPTAdonations,the lackofstricterdisciplineamong studentsweakensthepurposeof theirdonations.
TheDICT’sFreeWi-FiforAll programwasmeanttoprovidean internetconnectioninpublic schools,butatRSHS,it’sclear thatthere’sstillalongwaytogo Studentsarehopingthatthe agencycanboostandwidenthe coverage,sothatthefreewifi won’tbelimitedinjustoneareaof thecampusbutcanbeaccessby everyonewhoneedsit
S 02 Proves Excellence Amid ��Hanah Lopez ucation Crisis
ThePhilippineeducationsystemremains besetbypressingchallenges,withexperts raisingalarmsoverdecliningperformancein internationaltests,shortagesofresources, andanoverloadedcurriculum.International studiesreleasedrecentlyhaverevealed Filipinolearnersfallingbehindtheirpeersin ,numeracy,andscientificliteracy,afact thathighlightedtheimperativeforreformsin basiceducation.
Stakeholdershaverepeatedlyidentified gapsinteachertraining,poorschoolfacilities,
studentwell-beingandensuringschoolequity aswell.
Amidthesenationalstruggles,specialized schoolsliketheRegionalScienceHighSchool forRegion02showthatqualityeducationis possible.Theschoolhasalwaysbeen accordedrecognitionforitshighstandard academicprogramsandexcellent performanceofitsgraduates,makingita modelofinnovationinpublicschools.
Inaninterview,RSHS02studentAshley Paguirigannotedboththestrengthsofthe schoolandthechallengesofmanaging workload:
"AngRSHS02kasimagalingnaman talagamag-delivernglearningsbasedonthe competenciesgiven.Sigurothere'sjustsome
problemsnalikekapagnapag-sasabaysabay anggawainorsomestudentsthinkna nagigingtoomuchnaitoforthem,butallinall theRegScicommunitydeliverssuchagreat knowledgetoitsstudentsnatalagangnakikita natingnakatutulongbasedsaexperienceng mgaalumni,"shesaid.
Herwordscapturethegreaterproblemof manyFilipinolearners:thoughteachingis effective,theweightofduplicatedtaskscan impactstudentwell-beingandbalance. ThecaseofRSHS02demonstratesthat qualityispossibleineducation,butthiscan onlybemaintainedwiththesolutionofboth qualityandworkload—amatterofbalancein solvingthenation'seducationcrisis.
RegsayDosstudents raisealarmonfarmland conversions
��Keira Cristobal
AstudentfromRegionalScienceHighSchoolfor Region02(RSHS)voicedoppositionthisOctober 2025overfarmlandconversionsintoresidentialareas, emphasizingthestrainonfarminghouseholdswhose survivaldependsonagriculturalproduction.
LandconversionisagrowingconcerninTumauini andotherfarmingareas,wherefarmlandsare increasinglybeingrepurposedforresidentialprojects duetohighdemandforhousing.
NatalieAggabao,whoseparentsarefarmers, expressedpaininseeingfarmlandsturnedinto residentialareasdespitetheirimportanceinproviding incomeandfoodforfamilies.
“Bilangisanganakngmagsasaka,masakitisipin naginagawangresidentialarealangangmga sakahandahilitoanghanapbuhayngakingmga magulang,”shestated.
Sheaddedthatshepersonallywitnesseshowher parentssacrificetimeandenergytocultivatecrops, ensuringagoodharvestdespitethemanychallenges infarming.
Meanwhile,DominicAggabao,thefatherof Nataliewhoisafarmer,sharedhisinsightinIbanag viainterview.
“Dakalymapawangtakitammilugaringsikami, tenantslamang.Nupagaddayaneydavvungayya lapaymakakkuatatavvungymangalawatakwartu. Awan’tukebilyammie’diawangnganatuemmi pagalerang,”hesaid.
Heexplainedthatmanyfarmersintheir communityareonlytenants,earninglittlefromtheir harvests,andthatlandconversionsworsentheir struggletomakeendsmeet.
AstudypublishedintheAPNScienceBulletin emphasizedthatsmallholderfarmersinIsabela alreadyfacemajorchallengestotheirresilience, makingthreatslikefarmlandconversionevenmore difficulttobear.
AccordingtotheDepartmentofAgriculture(DA), farmlandconversionsarebecomingapressingissue, limitingthelandavailableforriceandcornproduction, whicharevitaltofoodsupplyandrurallivelihoods.
Regsaystudents,manyofwhomarechildrenof farmers,warnthatongoingfarmlandconversions threatentheirfamilies’incomeandthecommunity’s foodsupply.
AstudentfromRegionalScience HighSchoolforRegion02(RSHSII) voicedconcernthisSeptember2025 overtheviral“BadjaoTrend”onTikTok, emphasizingthatsuchvideosmay worsenthediscriminationfacedby BadjaocommunitiesinTumauini, Isabela.
Thetrend,whichshowscontent creatorsimitatingtheappearanceand behaviorofBadjaopeople,hasdrawn criticismnationwideformockingthe strugglesofanindigenousgroupwho arefacingpoverty
InTumauini,wheremanyBadjao familiesroamaroundpublicplaces,
Small steps, big impact: Regsay teachers act on flood threat
After a sudden flood overwhelmed Regsay Dos’ campus last September 2025, male teachers led by Principal Victor Allam personally inspected school facilities to identify areas needing improvement and strengthen flood mitigation measures.
The all-male inspection squad of teachers examined the drainage systems, walkways, classrooms, and the faculty areas to identify which parts of the campus were most at risk of flooding.
Teachers pointed out the importance of immediate action to prevent future incidents and disrupting classes and school operations.
Principal Victor Allam commended the faculty for their initiative, noting their quick response and hands-on efforts in ensuring the safety of students.
“When life gives you floods, we give you teacher engineers,” Sir Victor stated in a social media post, emphasizing the teachers’ real, visible, and action-ready efforts.
Francis, a Regsay student shared, “Natuwa ako na makita na nag-iinspect na naman ‘yung mga male teachers at si
Sir Victor sa surroundings ng school. Palagi ko silang nakikitang ginagawa ‘yun especially after ng mga bagyo or heavy rains. I see that they really care for the school and the students, at ginagawa nila ang best nila para mapaganda at mapaayos ang school.”
The initiative showed the school’s commitment to long-term resilience, demonstrating how small steps and collective action can help build a safer learning environment for the Regsay Dos community.
Teachers described the flood as ‘unusual,’ adding it reached the faculty room, clinic, classrooms that are prone to flooding, marking the first time the school had experienced such overwhelming water levels.
The flood also affected nearby boarding houses, while motorists were stranded along the Camp Samal road during the heavy rain.
Despite the challenges, Regsay Dos emphasized that its priority remains protecting the students and improving the campus through proactive flood mitigation measures.
Regsay Dos Students Sh Concerns on TikTok “Ba
��Kryxa Tibuc
thecirculationofthesevideoscan reinforcenegativeimpactsand encouragemorepeopletoinsulttheir wayoflife.
CrishalynRodiel,astudentof RegionalScienceHighSchoolIIanda residentofTumauini,Isabela,sharedher thoughtsonthecontroversialTikToktrend thatimitatestheBadjaocommunity
“It’sdisappointingkasiparang pinapakitangtrendkunggaanoparin kakulangangunderstandingngmgatao sarespectatrepresentation,atparasa akinnakikitakoitobilangisanganyong mockeryatpang-s-stereotypelabansa isasamgaethnicgroupsnatin.”,shesaid
Trends like the “BadjaoTrend” can negatively influence perceptions among young people, highlighting the need for promoting understanding and respect in both online and offline situations.
For RSHS II students, the issue is not only about online responsibility but also about respect for human dignity because as future leaders, they call for awareness in schools and communities about the harmful impact of digital trends that makes fun of vulnerable groups.
��Keira Cristobal
EXCALIBU EXCALIBU
THE
editorialboar
SEANDANIELB RUIZ Editor-in-Chief
KRYXANDREAC TIBUC AssociateEditor
KEIRAC CRISTOBAL ManagingEditor
KRYXANDREAC.TIBUC HeadNewsEditor
KEIRAC.CRISTOBAL
FRANCESANNEM LOPEZ
THE OTHER VIRUS: JUDGMENT
HANAHJHERMAINEG LOPEZ NewsEditor
KRYXANDREAC TIBUC HeadOpinionEditor
SEANDANIELB.RUIZ
PRINCEJEREMIEC ACERA IVERRJARREDB LIZARTE OpinionEditor
HANAHJHERMAINEG LOPEZ HeadFeatureEditor
CASAMIRALEIYENC DOLORES FeatureEditor
FRANCESANNEM.LOPEZ HeadSportsEditor
PRINCEJEREMIEC.ACERA JOAQUINBYZANTINEG.PASION SportsEditor
KEIRAC.CRISTOBAL HeadCartoonist
SEANDANIELB RUIZ HeadGraphicArtist
KEIRAC CRISTOBAL GraphicArtist
KRYXANDREAC TIBUC HeadLayoutArtist
SEANDANIELB.RUIZ
KEIRAC CRISTOBAL
HANAHJHERMAINEG LOPEZ
FRANCESANNEM.LOPEZ
PRINCEJEREMIEC.ACERA IVERRJARREDB LIZARTE
LayoutArtist
ROGELIOA DELROSARIO
Adviser
There are wounds that no medicine can heal; the kind inflicted not by a virus, but by the human heart HIV is no longer the death sentence it once was, yet the people who live with it continue to suffer in silence. Not because of the illness, but because of the whispers, the avoidance, and the judgment that follow them The world has learned to treat the virus, but not the hate that shadows it
Science has already done its part With the right treatment, those living with HIV can live full and healthy lives But while medicine has advanced, compassion still lags behind Too many people still see HIV as a moral stain instead of a medical condition And in doing so, we have turned empathy; the very thing that makes us human into something conditional
At RSHS, theAdolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) Club took a brave step to change that through the recent HIV Awareness Symposium The event did more than inform us; it awakened us It taught us that HIV is not a curse, not a punishment, and never a reason to cast someone aside It reminded us that knowledge can heal ignorance, and that silence only strengthens stigma
But one symposium is not enough. Awareness must go beyond the walls of our school and reach the streets, the classrooms, the conversations that shape minds Change begins when we stop treating HIV as a taboo and start discussing it as the human issue that it truly is Education is not just about facts and figures; it is about transforming the way we think and feel about others
Behind every statistic is a story; a person who dreams, loves, and fears just like everyone else Yet, too often, society reduces them to a diagnosis We forget that what they need most is not pity, but acceptance They do not need to be avoided; they need to be embraced The true measure of progress is not how many lives we save with medicine, but how many hearts we heal with understanding
We must also recognize that stigma doesn’t only harm those living with HIV; it harms us all It creates a culture of fear where people hesitate to seek help, where misinformation spreads unchecked, and where empathy is replaced by judgment To end the epidemic, we must first end the fear of being associated with it And that begins with honesty, openness, and courage
As students, we hold the power to rebuild the culture around us; one rooted not in prejudice, but in understanding Ending stigma begins in our conversations, in how we react, and in the way we choose to see others. Every time we correct a misconception or show kindness, we chip away at the barriers that shame has built
Because in the end, the deadliest virus is not HIV; it is the one that thrives in our fear, our silence, and our lack of compassion Medicine can save lives, but only humanity can save dignity Until we learn to treat others with the same care we demand for ourselves, we will remain infected not in body, but in spirit
PAPER SHIELDS
Adiplomaissupposedtobeashield.FormanyFilipinofamilies, itisnotjustpaper;itisthesymbolofsacrificeandthe promiseforabetterlife. Itrepresentsyearsof hardship,hope,andbeliefineducationasa pathtobrighterfuture.
SeanRuiz
Yetthatshield,soproudlyearned,isoften nothingmorethanpaper;fragile,flimsy, andquicktocrumbleatthefirststrike ofreality Thisisthetragedyofour educationsystem.Weareproducing graduateswhocannotwriteaclear sentence,whofalterincomprehension, whostrugglewithciticalthinking.Andstill, theymarchinceremonieswithdiplomas raisedhigh,celebratedassuccessstories.
Onthesurface,itlooksliketriumph.But beneathitliesbetrayal;becausewearesendingtheminto theworldarmedwithpapershields.
21
%
Theconsequencesrevealthemselvesmostclearlyontheglobalstage.
Inaneconomywherecompetitionisruthlessandunforgiving,paper shieldstearapart.Whileothernationssharpentheskillsoftheir youth,thePhilippineriskingfallingbehind,getting21percentof functionallyilliteratesenoirhighschoolgraduatesbasedfromthe2024PISAresult,clingingtodiplomas thatnolongerguaranteeliteracy,competence,orreadinessThecostisnotjustmissedopportunities,itisour standingandfuture
ButthefaultdoesnotliewiththegraduatesTheyarethevictimsofasystemthatvaluessurvivalover masteryandceremonyoversubstanceTheyarechildrenofsacrificeThesonsanddaughtersofjeepney drivers,farmers,andoverseasworkerswhogaveeverythingfortuitionfeesAndyet,whentheystepintothe realworld,theydosounpreparedandunprotected;betrayedbytheverysystemmeanttoshieldthem
ThereishopehoweverinthosewhoarechoosingtoactAtRSHS-2concretestepsarebeingtakento reinforcethefoundation,notjustpolishthesurfaceTheschoolwillbelaunchingareading-focused assessmentinitiative,anessentialmoveinrebuildingliteracyandensuringthatcomprehension, communicationandcriticalthinkingarenolongeroptionalbutfundamentalTheyreflectasimplebutpowerful truth:beforewehandourstudentsadiploma,wemustfirsthandthemtheabilitytoread,tothink,andto contributemeaningfully
BecausethedamagerunsdeeperthanlostjobsormissedpromotionsEveryilliterategraduateisabroken storyastudentwhobelievedgraduationwasthegatewaytodignity
AdiplomashouldbeashieldnotpaperarmorIfwedon’tforgeitwithrealskillwesendourchildreninto theworldproudbutexposedAndtheywilltearwheretheyshouldhaveheldfirmWhentheshieldfails,their dreamsfallwithit
Tenyearslater,isourEducationtruly better?
TheDepartmentofEducation recentlylaunchedtheQualityBasic EducationDevelopmentPlan(QBEDP) 2025–2035,aten-yearroadmapthataims tosolvethecountry’slong-standing learningcrisis.Itfocusesonimproving teacherquality,digitallearning,andaccess tobetterfacilities,alltowardonegoal: qualityeducationforeveryFilipinolearner.
ForRegionalScienceHighSchool forRegionII,thisnationalplanisbotha challengeandanopportunity.Asoneof theleadingsciencehighschoolsinthe country,Regsaystandsasamodelof academicexcellenceandinnovation.The QBEDP’sgoalsalignwithwhatourschool haslongpracticed,promotingresearchbasedlearning,criticalthinking,and teacherdevelopment.
However,thesuccessofthisplandepends onhowwellitreachesallschools,notjust
TheDepartmentofEducation’s proposaltoremoveSeniorHigh Schoolstrandsmayappearto simplifythesystem,butitrisks erasingtheveryessenceofwhat theK-12curriculumstandsfor; specializationandpreparedness. StrandssuchasSTEM,ABM, HUMSS,andTVLwerenotcreated fordivision,butfordirection.They helpstudentsdiscovertheir strengthsearlyon,guidingthem towardcollegecoursesorcareers thatmatchtheirskillsandinterests. Removingthemwouldleave studentsconfused,unsureoftheir futurepaths,andstrippedofthe opportunitytoexploretheirchosen fieldsmeaningfully
DepEd’sownreviewsofthe SHSprogramhaveshowngapsin implementation,buttheansweris nottoabandonspecialization,itis
tostrengthenit.Manystudents alreadystrugglewithlimited strandofferingsandlackof resources;mergingeverything intoasingletrackwouldonly magnifythosechallenges.A “streamlined”curriculummight soundefficient,butitoverlooks thediversityoflearnersandthe importanceofnurturing individualpotential. Educationreformshould notbeaboutcuttingcorners, butaboutreinforcingpurpose. Insteadofremovingstrands, thegovernmentmustinvestin improvingfacilities,teacher training,andcareerguidance. Trueprogressliesnotin simplifyingeducation,butin empoweringstudentsto specialize,tochoose,andto dreamwithclarity.Education mustnotbestreamlined;it mustbestrengthened.
Over Screens
Intoday’sdigitalage, childrenspendmoretime tappingscreensthanholding pencils.Thisshifthasledtoa declineinfinemotorskills,the coordinationneededforwriting, drawing,andcreating. Excessivegadgetusereplaces hands-onplay,weakeningthe foundationofcreativityand focus.
AtRegionalScienceHigh SchoolforRegion02,thevalue ofbalancebetweentechnology andmanualskillsmustbe emphasized.Truelearning involvesnotonlycriticalthinking butalsotheabilitytoworkwith one’shands.Encouraging handwriting,art,andlaboratory workhelpsstudentsstay groundedwhileadaptingto moderntools.
Researchfromoccupational therapistsandthePhilippine PediatricSocietywarnsthat overuseofgadgetsdelays musclecoordinationand control.Thesefindingsremind educatorstoprioritizeactivities thatbuilddexterityand strengthentheconnection betweenthemindandthehand. RSHS02shouldtakethe leadbypromotingprograms thatrestorefinemotor development.Throughcreative andhands-onlearning,the schoolcannurtureageneration thatvaluesbothinnovationand skill.Thecalltoactionisclear, lettechnologyenhance learning,notreplacethetouch thatmakesithuman.
However,thesuccessofthisplan dependsonhowwellitreachesallschools, notjustthosealreadyperformingwell. Regsaycanplayakeyrolebysharingbest practicesandsupportinginitiativesthat promoteequityineducation.Afterall,true qualityeducationisn’tmeasuredonlyby ourachievements,butbyhowmuchwe helpothersrisewithus.
Thenextdecadewilltestour commitmenttothisvision. Ifweacttogether,teachers, students,andcommunities. Regsaycanhelpmake theQBEDPmorethan justaplan,butaliving promisefulfilled.
Cart of Blindness
Earlyinthemorning,you scrollthroughShopeeflash dealsinsteadofreviewingfor exams.Onlineshoppinghas beenpartofthenormina teenager'slife.The"Cart" buttononshoppingplatforms offersconvenienceand accessibilitytousers.But amidsttheseliesanissue neededtoberesolved-online shoppingischangingthe priorities,habits,andfinances oftoday'sstudents. Theeaseofonline shoppingmaydevelopinto severecasesofimpulsive buyinghabits.Becauseofthis, studentsoftenwastemoney onnon-essentials.Imyself havefallenvictimtothisasthe conveniencebecomesatrap. Manystudentslackthe
ideaoffinancialliteracyand becauseofthis,theycan'tfully comprehendthevalueof money Thisshowsaneedfor youthfinancialeducation.If schoolsandparentsguidethe studentsinresponsible marketingbehavior,online shoppingwontbeasbadasit sounds.
Onlineshoppingcan'tjust disappear,itisheretostay Alignedwiththisisaneedfor disciplineandawareness.Every "Addtocart"momentthatwe havecanbealessonof patienceandresponsiblity.We areblindedbyourfoolishness, andwecandosomethingabout it.Afterall,wedonotgrowfrom whatwebuy,butratherfrom howwebuy
SeanRuiz
��ExpresSEAN
��PRINCEple
KryxaTibuc
��UnfiltRED IverrLizarte
PrinceAcera
KryxaTibuc
SAFE ZONE? SAFE ZONE?
��krILLUMINATE
KryxaTibuc
At Regional Science High School 02, students are trained to be future leaders, but still, schools are not automatically safe.The Bawal Bastos Law, RA11313,
reminds us that harassment can happen anywhere, inside classrooms, hallways, and online. Respect should be actively practiced, or the school walls can become just as unsafe as the streets outside.
Bullying and harassment in Philippine schools are alarmingly common. The 2022 PISS survey
catcalls, or online harassment may seem harmless, but it has dangerous impact that can worsen when ignored. shows that students are bullied, while DepEd recorded over 21,000 cases in a single school. year. Small acts, like jokes
According to Mhairi Mizella Natividad, a student leader leader at RSHS 02, the law applies both inside and outside the school. She said, “The disrespectful actions, teasing, catcalling, mocking,
JokesGoneWrong
Socialmediaiseverywhereinstudentlife.In RegionalScienceHighSchoolforRegion02, memes,funnyvideos,ortaggingfriendsseems likefun,butwhatifitgoestoofar?Some studentsdismissitsaying,“It’sjustajoke,” thinkingnothingseriouswillhappen.Butthe truthisevensmall,carelessactionsonlinecan getyouinserioustrouble.
Somestudentsalsosayonlinepostsare temporaryandmeantforfun.Afunnyphoto,a harmlessmeme,orforwardingaprivate messagefeelslikenobigdeal.But,whatfeels “justforfun”caneasilyspreadoutofcontroland hurtsomeoneorevenyourself.
Thelawtakesthesethingsseriously The CybercrimePreventionActof2012(RA10175) makescyberbullying,identitytheft,defamation, andsharingprivateinformationwithoutconsent punishableoffenses.Students14andupcanbe heldcriminallyliable.In2023,thePhilippine NationalPolicereportedover3,500casesof cybercrimesinvolvingminors,includingonline harassmentandbullying.Soyes,evena“joke” cangetyouintobigtroublefasterthanyou think.
and even panghihipo can also happen sa classrooms and even sa hallways ng campus natin. Regsay is already considered as a community, that’s why conflicts or bullying are rampant, and with these “pambabastos”, I can conclude na need na magcreate pa tayong student leaders or just students ng safe space for our peers.”
The Bawal Bastos Law is more than a punishment; it is a challenge. Schools must ensure trust, discipline, and safety, or risk turning their walls into places of fear and silence. For RSHS 02 students, the question is clear, will they uphold respect every day, or will the school be no different from the unsafe streets outside?
humiliatesomeonehasaconsequence.Ifyou thinkyoucanactwithoutconsequences,you’re wrongbecausethelawwillalwaysbethere. Saying“justjoking”isn’tanexcuseanymore. Socialmediaisn’taplaygroundforyourego. Everythingyoupostisrecorded,judged,and remembered.Studentswhodon’ttake responsibilityaren’tjusthurtingothers,theyare actuallydiggingtheirowngrave.Beingsmart isn’tabouthowmanymemesyoucanshareor jokesyoucanmake,itshouldbeaboutknowing whentostopandthinkingaboutwhogetshurtin theprocess.
Stoppretendingrecklessbehavioris harmlessfun.Everyclick,everypost,every commentcounts.Ifyoucan’thandlethe consequencesofyourownactions,it’stimeto stepback,reflect,andgrowup.Inschoolorthe realworld,“justajoke”won’tsaveyoufrom payingtheprice.
FOOL’S GAME
Gamblingisonewaytoturnthe tidesofaperson'slife.Inhopesof quickmoney,weFilipinostryour luckinonlinecasinosasitis accessibleatthepalmofourhands, butlosemorethanwhatwecan afford.Worst,thereseemstobeno agerestrictionsforit.Online gamblingisnowfarfromyour regularharmlessentertainment,but ratherasilentharbingerofaddiction andtheundoingofmanypeople. I'vehadsharedexperienceswith onlinegambling.Iplacedmymoney atstakewiththeconfidencethatmy friendmaymultiplyit,butfatewas notwithusasIwatchedmy20 pesosturnintodust.Thatlossmade mewanttogamblemore,and
thatiswhereIrealizedthe gamblingscheme.Accordingto theWorldHealthOrganization, gamblingoftengenerate60%of lossesinrevenue.Sointhe end,thegamblershavenever reallygoteasymoneyinthe longrun.
Afool'sgameasmanymay say,butsomehow,gambling hasalwaysfoundaway Asthe ageoftechnologyarises, gamblingadaptstoit.And onlinegamblingisnodifferent fromyourregulargambling, there'snowaythatyoucanwin. Sothenexttimeyousay"Allin saitim,"you'vealreadylost.
AccordingtotheGuidanceCounselorof RegionalScienceHighSchoolforRegion02, Mr.EfrenJimenezJr.,“Whethertheproponent orvictimisfromus,thatcanbetaken comprehensivelyhereattheguidanceoffice. That’swhywediscouragestudentssanato abusetheuseofsocialmediaforinsulting contents.”Schoolscanguideyou,butattheend oftheday,it’suptoeachstudenttobe responsible.
Andit’snotjustaboutthelaw A2022study bytheUniversityofthePhilippinesfoundthat studentsinvolvedincyberbullyingexperienced socialisolation,academicstruggles,andeven legalaction.Itdoesn’tstopatpunishment,itcan alsoaffectyourreputation,mentalhealth,and futureopportunities.
Let’sbehonest,studentswhoprovoke, tease,orstartdramaonlineoratschoolaren’t funnyorcool—they’rereckless.Nagging, mocking,orpickingfightsmightfeellike harmlessfun,butitshowsalackofrespectand commonsense.Everycarelesspost,every thoughtlesscomment,everyattemptto
Evenifsomethingseemsfunnyatfirst glance,itcancauserealharm.Theargument that“it’sjustajoke”doesn’tholdupwhen reputations,relationships,andevenlegal consequencesareontheline.Studentsmust remember:everypost,everycomment,every sharematters.Thinkingbeforepostingisn’tjust smart,it’snecessary
��unfiltRED IverrLizarte
Alibrary.
When Speaks louder than pages When Speaks louder than pages Silence Silence
��HanahLopez
tRegionalScienceHighSchoolforRegion02(RSHS02),silenceshouldbethemusicof the
Itshouldbefilledwiththegentleturningofpages,thesteadyscratchingofpens, andthequiethumofyoungmindsatwork.ButforMaria,astudentwholongsforthecomfortof booksandtherefugeofstudyspaces,thesilenceoftheirlibraryspeaksonlyofabsence.
Theschoollibraryissupposedtobeasanctuary forstudentslikeher,aplacetoseeknotonly informationbutalsoinspiration.Instead,ithas becomeashadowofwhatitshouldbe:inaccessible, cramped,andunfinished.
Thisisthedigitaldivideinaction.Technologyfills thegapwhentraditionfalters.Andwhileitisfortunate thatstudentscanstillaccessknowledge,thereality remains:withouttheirlibrary,theylosemorethan books.Theyloseacultureofreading,asharedspace forlearning,andthedisciplineofquietstudy NoRoomtoRead Mariaoftenlingersbythelibrarydoor, imaginingwhatitcouldhavebeen.Inside,books sitwaiting,someunorganized,otherslockedaway becausetherearenotenoughcabinetstohold them.Spaceitselfisanotherproblem.The smallroomcannotaccommodatestudentswho wishtostayandstudy
Asaresult,thelibraryhasbeenreducedtoa mereborrowingstation,ahollowshellofitstrue purpose.Thislackofaccessismorethanan inconvenienceforMaria.Itisthelossofa communityspace,aplacewherestudentsshould gather,read,andgrowtogether
ScreensFilltheSilence
Intheabsenceofafunctionallibrary,students haveturnedtothedigitalworld.ForMaria,the internethasbecomealifeline.Itisfast, accessible,andundeniablyuseful. Yetwhilethewebopens
doorstoendless toendlessinformation, theprintedworld. italsoclosesadoorto
“Theinternethelps,
butalibraryoffers somethingdifferent,”Maria reflects.“Ifthelibrarywas openandorganized,we wouldgothere.Wewould lnotalwaysrelyonscreens.”
RevivingPages
Theschoolhasnotforgottenthisloss. Teachers,too,recognizewhathasbeentaken away.Ma’amIyaCarlaM.Pagaddu,alanguage teacher,sharedtheinitiativesdesignedtobreathe lifebackintothelibrary
“TheprojectsthatweproposedwereProjects READetectandREADspace,”sheexplained. “Thesearemeanttohelpthelibraryintermsof maximizingthespacewhilealsoproviding equipmentforthebooksthatarenotyetorganized.”
Thevisionissimpleyetpowerful:reorganize theshelves,createproperstorage,andtransform thelibraryintoaspaceworthyofthestudentsit serves.
ThePriceofanEmptyShelf
Aschoolwithoutalibraryislikeabodywithout aheart.Studentsbreatheknowledge,butwithouta properlibrarytheirmindstakeinonlyfragments, snippetsfromscreens,quickdownloadsofinstant answers,butrarelythedeepandimmersive experiencethatbooksprovide.
ForMaria,andforRSHS02,the“death”ofthe libraryisnottheendbutareminder.Itisacallfor revival.Thesilenceoftheirlibraryistemporary,and withtherightprojectsitmaysoonbereplacedby thevibranthumofyounglearnersonceagain.
A��CasamiraDolores
Untilthen,Maria,togetherwithotherRegsays holdsontothathope.Becausethestoryofalibrary doesnotendinitssilence,itwaitsforitsnext chaptertobewritten.
then,Maria,togetherwithother holdsontothathope.Becausethestoryofalibrary does endin silence,itwaitsfor next chaptertobe
Beyond Rebellion Beyond Rebellion
student’s defiance in class may be the echo of conflicts that began long before the first bell rang
AtRegionalScienceHighSchoolforRegionII(RSHSII), studentsarefrequentlyrecognizedfortheirdiscipline, intelligence,andcommitmenttoachievinghighacademic standards.Yet,beneaththecalmclassroomsand accomplishments,somestudentsbearhiddenstruggles. Whatmightappearasmeredisobedienceisoftenaquiet pleaforhelp.
WilliamJ.Bennettoncestated,“Homeisashelterfrom storms—allsortsofstorms.”Thesadrealityisthatforsome students,homeisnotarefugefromstorms,homeisthe storm.Conflictsinthehome,whetherthroughfighting, tension,orneglect,oftenfindtheirwayintothestudent’s schoollife.Thisstruggletypicallyemergesintheschool settingassnappingatpeers,disengagingfromthe classroom,orsimplyrefusingtodotheacademicwork. “Hardheadedness”mightonlybeasubstituteforpain.
AstudentIinterviewedadmittedthatmisbehavior oftencomesfromadesiretofeelincontrol.When askedwhatpusheshertoactthewayshedoes,
“Gustokonggawinlahatnggustoko,wala akongpakesaiisipinngtaokungmaliba ginagawakobastawalaakongpake.”
Forher,theactofdefyingrules feelsfreeing,yettheconsequences feelshappyaboutit.Shepaused, thenconfessed: quicklycatchup.Iaskedifshetruly
“No,kasimaymgaconsequences:
Whatfeelslikefreedominthemomentoftenleadstopunishments thatweighheavierinthelongrun. grounded,napapagalitanat walangbaon.Yes,kasinagagawa
Thistug-of-warbetween
Evenacademicsarenotspared.Thesamestudentadmitted thatherbehaviordisruptedherschoollife:
“Oo,formofmisbehaviorkokasiisnotgoinghome,late umuwikayahindinanakakapasokngmaaga.”
Researchsupportsthisreality.Studiesnotethat misbehavioroftenreflectsunresolvedfamilyconflict(Paul AndersonYouthHome,2025).Similarly,expertspointoutthat teenagersmayactoutduetoheightenedemotionalsensitivity ortheirneedforindependence(Movember’sFamilyMan, 2021).Inmanycases,misbehaviorislessaboutrebellion andmoreaboutunspokenemotionsstrugglingtofind
satisfactionandregretiscommon amongstudentswhomisbehave. release. asessential.
AtRSHSII,whereexpectationsarehigh,thisstoryis one-of-a-kind.Manystudentsbalancenotonlyacademics butalsopersonalstrugglesathome.Guidancecounselors andteachersoftenbecomethefirstlineofsupport,showing thatdisciplinealoneisnotenough;understandingisjust sheansweredbluntly:
Familyconflictsmaywounddeeply,buttheyneed notdefinewhostudentsbecome.Misbehaviormay speakwhatwordscannot,butwithempathy,listening, andsupport,stormscanturnintoresilience.
Astudent’ssilencecanbeheavierthannoise, andmisbehaviorcanspeaklouderthanwords.But stormsdonotlastforever.Withempathy,patience,and guidance,eventhenoisieststorms insidethehomecangivewaytocalm skies.Fromthere,students canfinallylearnnotonlylessons
inclass,butlessonsinhealing.
komgagustokonggawin.”
The Tree that Towers The Tree that Towers
��Hanah Lopez
ApplauseechoedthroughoutthechamberasFaustino“Bojie”DyIIIwassworninasSpeakeroftheHouseofRepresentatives. Itwasaproudmoment,butitwasalsoanothermomentinhistory AnIsabeliñohadtakenholdofthegavelofnationalauthorityforthe dynastyIsabela? firsttime.Yetbehindthecelebrationloomedaquestion:wasthisvictorytrulyhis,orthelatestchapterintheenduringruleoftheDy
Everydynastybeginswithaseed.FortheDys,thatseed wasFaustino DySr.,whofirmlyestablishedhimselfinthesoilofIsabeladecadesinthepast. Fromhim,thefamilytree expanded,asrootsdugdeeplyintopoliticsand governance. Governors, congressmen,mayors,eachgenerationand relationshipaddedanewbranchandturnedtheDyfamilynameinto asynonymousnameforpowerinIsabelaprovince.
BojieDyisoneofthestrongestbranchesonthefamily tree.Hebeganhiscareerasabarangayleaderandthen grewintotherolesofvicemayor,mayorofCauayanCity, congressman,governor,andvicegovernor,asSpeakerof theHouse,hestandsattheverycrownofthistoweringtree. Bojie'srisetopowerisnotsudden;itisagrowthbornofa trunknourishedbyapowerfulnameforalongtime.
Likeanytree,however,adynastyprovidesbothshade andshadow.Foritssupporters,theDyfamilyofferedstability,
continuity,andacertainfamiliarity.Inalandscapewhere
HowwillBojieDy'spublicpromisesfortransparencyand reformfareagainstthestorms?Willhistreewithstand,orwill itsbranchescrackunderthepressure?
“Angpunongkahoyaynakikilalasabunga.”Atreeis knownbyitsfruit.TheDyfamilyhasbornefruitthatmany Isabeliñostrust,yetthisoldproverbnowchallengesBojieDy himself.Hislegacywillnotbemeasuredbythelengthofhis roots,butbythequalityofthefruitshebearsforFilipinos today
Andhereliestheheartofthequestion:should leadershipalwaysspringfromdynasties?Orcanitrisefrom merit,vision,andhardwork?
Butontheotherhand,criticstelladifferentstory Thesamebranchesthatprovidelife-sustainingshade
alsocastshadowandblocksunlightforsmaller seedlings,emergingcommunityleaders,who politicianscomeandgowiththeseasons,theDysremainlikea sturdyacacia,known,steady,reliable.
mightflourishifonlytogrowoutofthecanopyof
thefamilyname.IntheforestofPhilippine
democracy,whereisthespaceforfreshtreesto riseifthesametrunkdominatesthelandscape?
TheSpeakershipishardlyasmallbranch. Itisthetrunkuponwhichthebranchesof Congressshapethelawsofthecountry,andit isapositionthatdirectsthebudgetofan entirenation.Alongwiththistrunkcome storms:thewindsofcorruption,thefloodsof patronage,andthetyphoonsofexpectations.
In the Smoke of Barbecue and the Glow of Vlogging In the Smoke of Barbecue and the Glow of Vlogging
��CasamiraDolores
romasimplelifetospreadingjoyonline,anYbanagvloggerfromCabaganproves thathappinessandkindnesscanthriveeveninthesimplestways. InthequiettownofCabagan,Isabela,
tounfold.TherelivesTinay,anYbanag bringssmilesandlaughtertomany Byday,thecouplesellsbarbecue,feeds Butbynight,theyarecontentcreatorswho audienceonFacebook.
“Westartedjustforfun,”Tinayshared.“We tomakepeoplehappy.Wedidn’tthinkabout Throughlightheartedvideosandgenuine localfavorites.Yetbeyondthehumorlies Ybanaglanguageandculturealivethrough
wherethesmokeoffreshlygrilledbarbecue fillstheair,astoryofhopeandjoycontinues vlogger,who,togetherwithherpartnerTinoy theirpigs,andtakescareofTinay’sparents. spreadpositivityandlaughtertotheirgrowing didn’ttakevloggingseriously.Wejustwanted fameorincome;ouronlygoalwastobringjoy.” interactions,TinayandTinoyhavebecome somethingdeeper:theirdesiretokeepthe everylaugh,everyword,andeverystorythey share.
BehindtheCamera:StrugglesandStrength
thatloveandkindnesscanriseabove discrimination.“Tinoyremindsmenotto peacefullyandmakepeoplehappywithout saidwithasmile.
Language
listentowhatotherssay Aslongaswelive hurtinganyone,that’swhatmatters,”she RevivingtheYbanagIdentityThrough ForTinay,usingtheYbanaglanguagein culturalmission.“OurcultureisYbanag,” entertainandcreate.We,Ybanags,can culturealive.” Throughhervlogs,Tinaybreathesnew
hervlogsisnotjustastylisticchoice;itisa shesaidproudly.“Weneedtoshowthe worldthatnotonlyTagalogspeakerscan alsomakepeoplehappywhilekeepingour lifeintoalanguagethatmanyyoung Ybanagsnolongerspeakfluently.Her —anactthatechoestheadvocacyof
NThisiswherethestoryoftheRegionalScienceHigh SchoolforRegion02offersastrikingcounterpoint.Insidethe wallsandclassroomsofRSHS02,studentsareselected basedsolelyontheirtalent,discipline,anddeterminationnottheirlastname.Theleadersdevelopedinthose classroomsareevidencethatbeinggreatisnotsimplyin yourlineage.RSHS02doesdemonstratethatgreatleaders arenotduetowhoyourparentsare,ratherwhoyouchoose tobecome.
ThetaleofBojieDy,thefirstIsabeliñoSpeaker,ispart ofourpoliticalnarrative.ButthetaleofinstitutionslikeRSHS 02isthestoryoftomorrow,areminderthatournationneeds leaderswhoarenotmerelybranchesofanoldtree,but ratherseedlingsbraveenoughtostandontheirowninthe sun.
BojieDymaybethecrowningpartofagianttree,but thenextgeneration,students,dreamers,leadersinthe making,tellusthattheforestiswide.Anddemocracywill onlyflourishwheneveryseed,nomatterhowsmall,hasthe chancetogrowtall.
The Field that Never Forgets The Field that Never Forgets
��Hanah Lopez
otallstoriesbeginwithtriumph.Somebegininthequietplaces leftbehind,inthefieldswhereothershavealreadypassed,inthehearts thatrefusetogiveup.Thereliesastorynotofthefirstharvest,butfinding worthinwhatremains.
journeyhasn’tbeenwithoutpain.“Ithurtswhen whoyoureallyare,”Tinayadmitted.“Theysay you’vebeenthrough.Justbecausewemake struggles.”
camefrompeoplewhojudgedherforbeing everyhardship,itwasTinoywhostoodbyher vloggingforaday,”Tinayrecalled.“ButTo toacceptboththegoodandthebad contentcreator.”Theirrelationshipbecamea
Likemanycreators,TinayandTinoy’s peoplebashyoueventhoughtheydon’tknow thingsbelowthebelt,withoutknowingwhat peoplehappydoesn’tmeanwedon’thave ForTinay,themostpainfulcriticismsoften partoftheLGBTQIA+community.Butthrough side.“ThereweretimesIcriedandstopped Tinoyencouragedmetocontinue.Hetoldme commentsbecausethat’spartofbeinga symbolofresilienceandproof
embracenotonlyscientificexcellencebut alsoculturalawarenessandsocial school’svision:tonurtureindividualswho stayingrootedintheiridentity
platformforentertainment.Itisaspacefor
contentreflectsnotjusthumorbutheritage educationalinstitutionsliketheRSHSII. AtRSHSII,studentsareencouragedto responsibility Tinay’smissionmirrorsthe usetheirtalentsforthegoodofotherswhile SocialMediaasaPlatformforGood ForTinay,Facebookismorethanjusta connection,kindness,andreflection.“Iuse
“IuseFacebooktobroadenpeople’s minds,”sheexplained.“Iwantthemtosee thatYbanagsdon’tjustmakepeoplelaugh; wecanalsoinspireothers.Igiveadvice, sharepositivemessages,andhelpremove theirstress.”
Beyondthescreen,TinayandTinoyare arealsodeeplyinvolvedintheircommunity Theyorganizefeedingprogramsfor children,assistthosewhoaresickinnearby Sta.Maria,andcontinuouslyextend compassiontothoseinneed.
Theiractionsreflectthesameprinciple taughttotheyouthofRSHSII:thattrue excellenceliesnotonlyinintelligencebutalso inservice.JustasTinayandTinoyupliftothers throughsmallactsofkindness,theschool teachesitsstudentstomakeanimpactbeyond theclassroomwalls.
AnInspirationinSimplicity
Inaworldfilledwithnegativityandnoise, TinayandTinoyremindusthathappinesscan startfromthesimplestplaces—asmile,alaugh orevenapieceofbarbecuesharedwitha stranger
Theirstoryisoneofperseverance,love,and culturalpride.Andmuchlikethestudentsofthe RegionalScienceHighSchoolforRegionII,who thatsuccessisnotmeasuredbybywealthor fame,butbythenumberofheartsyoutouchand livesyouinspire. striveforexcellencewithpurpose,Tinayshows
Whenthesunbeginstosetover thefieldsofIsabela,afarmerwalks oncemoreacrosstheland.Thegolden earsofcornhavealreadybeen harvested,andthetruckshavelong gone,buthereturnsanyway.Hiseyes searchthesoilforwhatwasleft behind,forthesmallgrainsthatothers overlooked.Thisquietactiscalled MagilawakinYbanag,thegatheringof whatremainsaftertheharvest.To some,itmayseemlikeataskborn fromnecessity,buttothefarmer,itis anactofhope.Aneyeopenerthat whatisleftbehindisnotsomethingto bepitied,butsomethingstillfullof worth.
Thesamespiritthriveswithinthe hallsofRegionalScienceHighSchool forRegion02.Theschoolstandslikea vastfieldofpromise,whereevery student,nomatterhowsmalltheir stepsmayseem,ispartofagreater harvestoflearningandperseverance. Somemayrisequickly,reapingearly recognition,whileotherstakelongerto bloom.Buthere,timeneverdefines value.Theschool,muchlikethe farmerwhoreturnstohisland, believesthateverylearnerhas somethinggoldenwithin,waitingtobe gathered.
Intheclassrooms,youwillfind thequietones,thelatebloomers,the studentswhosometimesdoubttheir worth.Yetbeneaththeirsilencelies resilience.Teachers,likeseasoned farmers,seewhatothersoftenmiss. Theynurtureeachseedofcuriosity, wateritwithpatience,andshieldit fromstormsofuncertainty Theyknow thatnotallgrowthhappensatthe samepaceandthatbeingleftbehind doesnotmakeoneanyless.Some grainssimplyneedmoretimeunder thesunbeforetheyshine.
pursued.Ittellsastoryof perseverance,offindinglightinwhat remains.Itisagentlereminderthat successisnotonlyfoundinthosewho risefirst,butalsointhosewho continuetorise,nomatterhowmany timestheyfall.Theschoolbecomes thefield,thestudentsbecomethe grains,andlearningbecomesthe harvestthatnevertrulyends.
Magilawakisnotonlyanactof farmingbutawayofseeinglife.It teachesthattruesuccessisnotfound inhowmuchisachievedfirst,butin howmuchvalueisgiventowhat remains.RegionalScienceHigh SchoolforRegion02standsasaliving fieldofthatbelief,whereeverylearner isgatheredwithcare,everydreamis cultivatedwithpatience,andevery sparkofhopeis giventhe chancetoshine. Because inthisfieldthat never forgets,every grainstill matters.
Beyondthelessons,thespiritof Magilawakwhispersthroughevery challengefacedandeverydream
CHAMPIONS
ONCE MORE ONCE MORE ONCE MORE
S E E M O R E
Regsay Women's Volleyball takes the Championship
Tumauini The Regsay Women’s VolleyballTeam
successfully defended their crown, emerging as backto-back champions in the Tumauini Athletic Meet held last September 26–27
Regsay captured the championship after sweeping rivalTumauini National High School, 2–0, in a thrilling best-of-three final match
Team Captain Venice Turingan credited the victory to unity and effort, saying, Sobrangintensepero fulfilling.Angdaming pressureperona-enjoyko kasibawatset,ramdamko yungteamworkat determinationnamin. Winningthechampionship wasnotjustaboutthe trophy,kundiyungbondna nabuosateam.
Venice Turingan
Turingan added that composure played a key role in the win: “May mga times na nakakalamang yung kalaban, pero as captain, kailangan kong panatilihin na composed ako para
focus ”
Outside hitter Jinfer Zipagan stood out as a dominant force, delivering powerful spikes and sharp serves that broke through the opponent’s defense and gave Regsay crucial points to maintain momentum
The team’s journey to the finals was marked by an unbeaten run, finishing with no match loss and securing the twice-to-beat advantage in the upper bracket
AlthoughTumauini National High School showed strong defense and fought hard in long rallies, Regsay’s superior offense and presence on the court ultimately sealed their victory
RSHS Claims Silver in Municipal Softball MeetAfter Semifinal Win over Lanna
��Joaquin Pasion
TheRegionalScienceHighSchoolforRegionIIsecuredthe silvermedalinthemunicipalsoftballmeetafterdefeating LannaNationalHighinthesemifinals,butfellshortagainst TumauiniStand-AloneSeniorHighinthefinal.
Thechampionshipgametookplaceattheopenfields besideTumauiniNationalHighSchool,undertheshadeof acaciatreesandbeforeamodestcrowdofcoachesandlocal spectators.
Sasoftballkasi,parahindimaka-scoreangkalaban, kailanganma-eliminatemoagad‘yungtatlongbatterssa isanginning,Ginamitnamin‘yungPlay1…paramaeliminateangrunnerathindimakascore. HannahJhermaineLopez
ThetacticproveddecisiveinthesemifinalagainstLanna, whereRSHSturnedmultipledoubleplaysandforced groundoutsthatquashedralliesanddemonstratedgrowing cohesion.
TumauiniStand-AloneSeniorHighcapturedthegold,while LannaNationalHighsettledforthirdplace.
RSHSwasledbycoachesHanahJhermaineLopezand ElliseaYsabelleLorenzo,bothformerplayerswhointroduceda defensivesystemfocusedoncomposure,fastballtransitions, andaggressivebaserunning.
Centraltotheirstrategywas“Play1,”or“Playforthe Batter,”whichinstructsfielderstothrowimmediatelytofirst baseinordertoeliminatethebatter-runnerbeforescoring threatscandevelop.
Inthefinal,however,theRSHSdefensefalteredunder pressurefromTumauini’sfasterhitters,precisecontacting,and daringbasesteals,exposingRSHS’srelativeinexperience.
“Overall,‘yunglabannilamagigingtrainingground,para alamnilakungsaanpasiladapatmag-improve,”Lorenzo reflectedontheteam’sperformance.
ThoughRSHSdidnotclaimthetopprize,theirsilver-medal finishsignifiedasignificantstepforwardfortheyoungsquad andunderscoredtheirpotentialinfuturetournaments.
mahawa din sila sa energy at
��PrinceAcera
Resolve
SPORTS 10 Resolve
The First Test for RSHS Goalkeeper First AlthaniCamar
��Joaquin Pasion
The rain fell over the sprawling DeAlban Farm field inTumauini, Isabela, soaking the ground until it turned muddy and heavy, as the players of the Regional Science High School for Region 02 (RSHS) stepped forward with determination and quiet nerves, ready to prove themselves against a seasoned opponent despite knowing the challenge ahead would test their resolve.
For Grade 12 goalkeeperAlthani M. Camar, a transferee facing his very first inter-high tournament, walking onto the field and standing between the posts was a moment that felt both thrilling and intimidating as he later recalled with a grin,
The opening whistle marked the start of a relentless match asTumauini National High School (TNHS) quickly seized control by using precise throw-ins to break through the RSHS defense, scoring twice in the first half and forcing the young goalkeeper into a constant battle to hold the line against a more experienced rival.
kaya hirap ako mag-hammer kick, parang laging dumudulas ‘yung bola, nakaka-frustrate pero laban lang.”
Despite the worsening conditions, Camar repeatedly dove and lunged to stop Tumauini’s attacks, blocking several crucial shots and keeping the game from slipping further out of reach, yet as the minutes dragged on and fatigue began to weigh him down, the opposing team’s relentless pressure pushed the final score to 5–0.
After the whistle blew to end the match, Camar stood drenched in rain and streaked with mud, reflecting on the effort he had given and saying with a mix of honesty and humility, “Ginawa ko na lahat bro, kahit talo kami, nakapag-save pa rin ako ng ilang tira at nakaharang ng shots pero kulang pa rin para maipanalo,” while later adding, “Halo-halo talaga feels ko, masaya kasi binigay namin best namin kahit kalaban ‘yung TN na sanay na sa malalaking laban pero ang sakit din kasi di man lang kami naka-goal tapos may mga sablay pa ako.”
Even in defeat, the experience left Camar with a deeper sense of pride and purpose as he explained, “Proud pa rin ako na nadala ko ‘yung pangalan ng school namin, kahit talo kami, natutunan ko kung paano maging matibay, magpursige at kung anong ibig sabihin ng pagdadala ng pangalan ng school nang may dangal bilang goalkeeper,” a sentiment that turned a tough first test into a lasting lesson about resilience and heart in the face of adversity
toughopening-roundloss againstTumauiniStand Alone,asetbackthat forcedtheteaminto must-winsituationsfor therestofthe tournament.
RSHS02’smen’s volleyballteamsaw theirjourneycutshortattheTumauini AthleticMeet,falling toAMECIinadecisive2-0defeatatthe LingalingMultiPurpose CoveredCourton September27. Thematchendedthe team’shopesofadvancing further,leavingplayersand supporterswithamixof disappointmentand reflectionafterahard-fought runthroughthelower bracket.
Despitetheodds,the squadfoughtbackwith determination,buttheir momentumwashalted whenAMECI’sstrong spikesandnetdefense provedtoomuchto overcomeinthebest-ofthreematchup.
MiddleblockerDionvhier Espejo,agraduating studentthisyear,wasvisibly emotionalasthefinalpoint landed,knowingthiswashis lastopportunitytobringhis teamtothenextstage.
RSHS02hadentered thelowerbracketfollowing a
Espejo’sperformance throughoutthemeet earnedrespectfrom teammatesand opponentsalike.
Asthedustsettledin Lingaling,theloss underscorednotonlythe competitivenessofthe athleticmeetbutalsothe bittersweetrealityof endingsinschoolsports.
FrancesLopez
Insports,defenseiseverything.Ateam thatrefusestodefenditscourtisboundto lose,nomatterhowstrongitsoffensemaybe. Inthesameway,RegionalScienceHigh SchoolforRegion2(RSHS02)neverletsits guarddownwhenitcomestoharmfulhabits insidethecampus.Withthat,theBarkada KontraBisyo(BKB)didn’tturnablindeyeand strengtheneditsmoveagainstvapes,nicotine podsandotherdangerousmaterials.
TheZeroTolerancePolicyforStudentLeadersonSubstanceAbuseandthe ResolutionUpholdingtheDisciplineandWellBeingofStudent-Athletesthroughthe ProhibitionofSmokingandSubstanceAbuse ismorethanjustanothersetofrules.Itisa gameplantoprotectthestudentbodynotonly fromharmfulhabitsbutalsofromthe consequencesthatcomewiththem.Justlike involleyball,whererepeatederrorscancosta teampoints,theresolutiongivesviolatorsup tothreewarnings,eachcarryingitsown consequences.Thisgivesstudentstimeto thinkandtimetocorrecttheirmistakesbefore theconsequencesbecameheavier,itmay soundharshbutinreality,itisfair
Over the last year, it was never a secret that vapes and other harmful items had been seeninsideourcampus,oftencategorizedas “cool” by some student. The resolution is madeforthis,itmayseemstrict,butisn’tthat what discipline is about? coaches would always say to athletes that without discipline, talentalonecannotwinachampionship.
And that is the core of this resolution. It was never about punishing students—it is about shaping us into individuals who understandthevalueofaccountability As
BKBSecretaryKianVinasoysaid,“it’sabout teachingustheconsequencesofour decisions.”Thatlessonechoesfarbeyondthe fourwallsoftheclassroomorthevolleyball court;itisalessonforlife. Theimplementationhasnotbeensmooth. Somestudentsdon’tseemtobebotheredby thepenalties,treatingthemlikeminorerrors thatdon’tseemtomatteruntilthegameis alreadylost.Butrulesonlyworkifwerespect them.TheresolutionispostedintheBKB bulletincornerforeveryonetosee.Theschool hasdrawnitsplaybookinplainsight,nowitis uptous,thestudents,tocommittoit. Disciplineandrespectforrulesarenotjustfor sports;theyarevaluesforlife.
Weoftencheerforathleteswhoplaywith heartandintegrity.Shouldn’twehold ourselvestothesamestandard?Thefight againstharmfulhabitswillnotbeeasilywon, butbyplayingbytherules,victory—bothon andoffthecourt,isourstoclaim.
Sobrangsayakasifirsttimekolumarosainter-high bilangbagonglipattaposdalakopapangalanng schoolnamin,nakaka-proudperokabadorin.
AlthaniCamar
��Prince Acera
PhotoTakenbyKaisa-BKB