Standard Press Vol 8 | Issue 1 | SY 2022-2023

SCORCHING SHIFT

LPSCI shifts to blended learning as temperature rises

learning for the month of May.

To minimize the number of heat-related cases at school, Las Piñas City National Science High School (LPCNSHS) shifted from face-to-face classes to blended

According to a survey conducted by the school, 82% of the student population agreed to shift to a blended learning modality. The LPSci General-Parent Teacher Association (GPTA) cited the high heat index in Metro Manila and the rising number of COVID-19 cases as primary reasons for this move. The Schools’ Division Office of Las Piñas eventually approved the proposal.

WELCOME LAPISCIANS

LPSci opens application for Grade 7 students for SY 2023-2024

RALPH NUÑEZ

Las Piñas City National Science High School (LPCNSHS) acceoted applications from interested Grade 7 applicants for the School Year 2023-2024 from May 8 to 19.

In a post on the school’s official Facebook page, registration is exclusive to Grade 6 public and private school students who are residents of Las Piñas City and whose grades in all learning areas

in all three grading periods is 85%.

Applicants were required to also drop off their requirements at the school’s waiting shed on the mentioned dates from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. for evaluation.

Applicants were instructed to wait for further updates for their testing permits, as the entrance exam will be held on May 31, 2023.

“I feel like the shift to blended learning this month has been a very big help for us students, since we don’t need to sit in the heat in our classrooms daily,” said Grade 12 student Symon Regalado.

Blended learning has been difficult for students because they have more work to catch up on and others have trouble focusing, Regalado mentioned.

“Although it’s comfortable to take classes at home, I believe face-toface classes are still the best option for us students because the tasks are easier to complete and we can focus on our teachers,” Regalado added.

The blended learning schedule for the month consists of two days of online classes, and the rest being face-to-face, with each grade level having its own dates to report to school.

REVOLUTIONARY HARVEST

Las Piñas City National Science High School (LPCNSHS) intensified its implementation of Gulayan sa Paaralan which aimed to promote urban gardening in the school setting.

LPCNSHS Principal Eleanor V. Honrales, along with Gardenin-Charge Shiela Linn D. Banate, members of the faculty, and nonteaching personnel, spearheaded the gardening initiative. They planted various vegetables and herbs like pepper, tomato, spring onion, okra, pechay, eggplant, mint, rosemary, and oregano.

According to a narrative report by Banate, the garden underwent careful planning, which included consultations with the barangay, plot assignments, plant considerations, and plant labeling throughout the competition duration.

“The school garden provided a lot of opportunities for students, teachers, and other stakeholders to share their skills in cultivating soil, sowing seeds, transplanting seedlings, and taking care of the growing plants,” stated the report.

“It is hoped that this venture veers away from a matter of compliance and heads towards sustainability in school and share of cascading ideas into the community at large,” it added.

LPSci strengthens ‘Gulayan sa Paaralan 2023’

RALPH NUÑEZ

RAYLEEN MORALES

Gotta Catch Them All! Pinoy

Pokemon

Golden Gilas! Gilas Pilipinas

QUICK READ LPSci conducts

blended

PHOTO BY: Alviona Roxas

EMBARKING ON BRILLIANCE. Parents seize the entrance exam opportunity for their children.

PHOTO BY: Eleanor V. Honrales

, 2023

PIA kicks off Pre-SONA Caravan in Las Piñas

RAYLEEN MORALES

Vice Mayor April Aguilar welcomed the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) as it kickstarted the 2023 Pre-State of the Nation Address (SONA) caravan of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. held in Las Piñas City on May 10.

With the theme, “Nagkaka1sang Bumangon: The 2023 Pre-SONA Caravan,” other city hall officials like City Administrator Reynaldo Balagulan and Public Information Office (PIO) Chief Paul San Miguel also attended the event held at Verdant Covered Court in Barangay Pamplona Tres.

According to PIA, the event aimed to “give various national government agencies a platform to report their accomplishments and share with the Filipino people where we are so far under the leadership of President Marcos as well as bring closer the services of the government to the communities.”

DOH launches

The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Las Piñas City and the Department of Health (DOH) strengthen its fight against measles, rubella, and polio as it implements a supplemental immunization program named “Chikiting Ligtas 2023” from May 2 to 31.

In a Facebook post by the City of Las Piñas, the LGU encouraged its citizens to support the program which aims to “safeguard our children and enhance our city’s overall immunization coverage.”

“As a united community, we must take immediate action to protect ourselves, our children, and the future of our city,” said in the Facebook post.

Different government agencies like Department of Health (DOH), National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Commission on Population and Development (PopCom), and Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) also provided their services through various booths during the event, according to the Las Piñas PIO.

The DOH and PhilHealth booths provided numerous medical assistance, such as free medical check-ups and consultations, vaccinations, health insurance claims, and cancer prevention and awareness.

Meanwhile, the NCRPO conducted medical missions and provided safety tips and materials on crime prevention.

PIA Director General Ramon Cualoping III, Metro Manila Center for Health Development Regional

2023’

The immunization program, which can be found in health centers around the city, offers free vaccines and Vitamin A supplements to children ages 0-59 months old.

Director Aleli Sudiacal, Commission on Population and Development NCR Acting Regional Director Jackilyn Robel, DSWD Spokesperson Romel Lopez, PIA Regional Director Emver Cortez, and DOH Regional Director Dr. Gloria Balboa were also present in the Pre-SONA caravan.

INJECTED DATA

5.3 MILLION

Filipino children have been vaccinated against measles and rubella

In a stakeholders meeting at the DOH Central Visayas Center for Health Development last April 20, the DOH cited the Philippines as one of the top ten countries in the world that has the most unprotected children in terms of vaccine coverage, according to the Public Information Agency (PIA).

In the same meeting, the DOH and its stakeholders introduced Chikiting Ligtas 2023 which aimed to address cases and possible outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, rubella, and polio in the country.

8 injured, 132 affected in Las Piñas blaze

RALPH NUÑEZ

Motor rider killed, 4 hurt in Las Piñas crash

RAYLEEN MORALES

Amotorcycle rider died while four others were injured after a road accident in Las Piñas City on May 10.

The victim, Andrew Cervantes, was pinned by the runaway Subaru SUV and died on the spot at around 9:30 a.m. in front of Divine Light Academy, Pamplona Tres, AlabangZapote Road.

City Police Chief Colonel Jaime Santos said the injured victims, namely Ramil Estilloso, Maire Ida, John Paolo Pineda, and Milagros Molato were rushed for treatment at Perpetual Help Medical Center.

Eight people were injured and 132 families were affected by a residential fire that broke out in Las Piñas on Monday, May 15.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire broke out at around 3:12 p.m. and is suspected to have originated in Talon Uno, near Golden Acres subdivision.

The fire continuously spread to other streets until the Task Force Alarm was sounded at 4:34 p.m.

The BFP reported that the fire was under control at around 6:26 p.m., and around 50 fire trucks were deployed to control it. The fire was

Vicente Matriano, the driver of the SUV, was taken into custody by the Las Piñas Vehicle Traffic Investigation Unit.

He was charged for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide, multiple physical injuries, and property damage.

Investigation showed that Cervantes, along with riders Estilloso, Ida, and Pineda, stopped to give way to a white Foton van reportedly coming out of the school building when Matriano lost control of his vehicle.

Molato was hit when he was crossing the pedestrian lane.

officially declared out at around 9:30 p.m.

According to Las Piñas Fire Marshall Melchor Isidro, they found it difficult to put out the fire due to the tight roads going into the subdivision.

“There were no casualties, only minor injuries. As reported earlier, people felt dizzy, there were people who got wounded and scratched. There were eight of them,” Isidro said in Filipino.

Authorities have yet to find the origin of the fire, however residents say that the fire came from the second floor of a house.

‘Chikiting Ligtas

in Las Piñas

RAYLEEN MORALES

WELFARE WARRIOR. Mayor Imelda Aguilar and Vice Mayor April Aguilar participate in President Ferdinand Marcos’ Pre-SONA caravan.

PHOTO BY: City of Las Piñas

SHOOTING SQUAD. The Las Piñas Fire brigade and volunteer firemen battle the burning and ravaged roofs with pressurized water.

PHOTO BY: TEAM Las Piñas Fire & Rescue Volunteer

GCash tightens grip on suspicious transactions

RAYLEEN MORALES

According to initial investigations by GCash, a scammer was behind the suspicious transactions involving several GCash accounts from May 8 to 9.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) on May 10, GCash Vice President for Corporate Communications Gilda Maquilan said the scammer phished user information. They utilized a deceptive link, commonly known as clickbait, which, when clicked, grants them unauthorized access to the user’s device.

“When you are able to link that, you can make your transaction. You have to have the MPIN, and you have to have the OTP, which the fraudster was able to acquire,” Maquilan said in the interview on ANC’s Headstart.

Las Piñas City National Science High School Grade 12 student Derek Puertollano expressed his dismay when he found deductions to his money in his GCash account.

“I think I lost around P410 with that scam,” Puertollano said.

“It’s definitely a lesson learned,” he added.

As GCash conducted a “preventive maintenance” to investigate and restore account balance of affected users, the app remained inaccessible for several hours and only returned online on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 19.

about 1 in 5 Filipinos use digital payments to transact money

Source: Statista, 2020

Water Provider Maynilad advised six barangays in Las Piñas City about an upcoming water interruption from May 25 to May 26 in a Facebook post on Sunday, May 21.

In a Facebook post, Maynilad named parts of Almanza Uno, Almanza Dos, Pilar, Talon Dos, Talon Tres, and the whole barangay of Talon Singko will experience a water service interruption for a specific number of hours.

Encounters of Las Piñas residents

6 barangays to experience water interruptions from May 25 to 26

This was brought upon by scheduled repair of leaking ultrafiltration backwash valve at the Putatan Water Treatment Plant 2 in Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa City.

Talon Dos resident Althea David expressed her disappointment in the announcement.

“I feel dissatisfied because it’s very inconvenient to collect water especially when I rely so

RAYLEEN MORALES

much on it to clean, wash, and cook,” David said.

“We also have a water supply business so this affects our livelihood immensely,” she added.

The upcoming interruption is the third of its kind in the month of May alone with the previous two alluded to facility maintenance and leak reparations in the Putatan Water Treatment Plant 2.

POWERLESS AND PARCHED. Inconvenience grips Metro Manila as water supply disruptions cause widespread challenges.

52%

Source: Water.org, 2022

18.8%

THE STATUS QUO of Filipinos lack access to reliable and safe sources of water increase in average electricity consumption per household in the Philippines (2022)

Source: PSA, 2022

BLAZING LEGACY

Fire rages through historic Manila Central Post Office

Firefighters were at the scene as the historic Manila Central Post Office was engulfed by flames late Sunday, May 21 in Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire started at 11:41 p.m. and set off the first alarm until it was raised to the sixth and highest alarm at 5:54 a.m.

The Manila Central Post Office has been declared as an ‘Important Cultural Property’ by the National Museum in 2018, and houses everything from mail, parcels, and special stamp collections, on top of the historical significance the building houses.

The BFP said that the fire was put under control at 7:22 a.m. the following day, however the fire was only declared out at 6:33 a.m. on Tuesday. They also estimated the

cost of damages to be worth around P300 million.

Manila Mayor Maria Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan said that the post office would be restored to its previous state before the fire, as the post office was declared a national heritage zone.

“The City of Manila will work with the national government to jointly help restore the original structure of the Manila Central Post Office where it once stood,” she said.

BITE-SIZED

Did you know that the Manila Central Post Office building was designed by Juan M. Arellano, Tomás Mapúa, & Ralph Doane?

RALPH NUÑEZ

PHOTO BY: Alviona Roxas

GCASH DECEPTION EXPOSED. A scammed GCash user showing her desolated account.

PHOTO BY: Alviona Roxas

FIRE AND WATER. The burning post office juxtaposes with the flowing Pasig River; both meeting their end.

PHOTO BY: @artsybeaver / Twitter

Heat in Metro Manila has reached a “dangerous” level for the fifth day in a row, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Monday, May 15.

Metro Manila has risen to a heat index of 43 degrees Celsius,

Metro manila heat index hikes to ‘danger’ level for 5th straight day

RALPH

compared to the 42 degrees last May 11 to 13.

The heat index is the perception of what combined effects of the temperature and air humidity has on humans. According to PAGASA, a temperature of 42 to 51 degrees Celsius would put it under the ‘danger’ category of the heat index.

PAGASA Weather Specialist Obet

Mawar creeps closer to PH after Guam wreck

DEREK PUERTOLLANO

Typhoon Mawar left havoc in Guam this Thursday bringing raging wind speeds of up to 225 kph as it left their government to focus on recovery from the damage.

About 170,000 affected residents of Guam expressed that their situation was improving.

“I want to thank you all for taking all the safety precautions issued and have once again weathered the storm,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero on her Instagram post.

The US National Weather Services notes that Mawar is now heading towards the Philippines or Taiwan with maximum sustained wind speed

of 240 kph as it continues to intensify into a super typhoon.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecasted that the typhoon will enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this Friday evening or Saturday morning.

“…Mawar will decelerate on Sunday as it begins to move closer towards the waters east of extreme Northern Luzon. The center of Mawar’s eye is forecast to be within 300 kilometers of the Batanes-Babuyan archipelago by early next week during the slowdown period,” PAGASA emphasized.

PANDEMIC EASES

WHO: COVID-19 no longer a ‘global health emergency’

RALPH NUÑEZ

After three years of the pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared that COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency on Friday, May 5.

WHO’s Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the pandemic has been going on a downward trend for more than a year now.

“Yesterday, the emergency committee met for the 15th time and recommended to me that I declare an end to the public health emergency of international concern. I have accepted that advice,” Tedros said.

The COVID-19 death rate has dropped from more than 100,000 deaths per week at its peak to 3,500 during the third week of April 2023 due to accessible vaccinations and

availability of treatments being more globally accessible.

However, WHO officials emphasized that COVID-19 will be here to stay, and will remain a global health threat.

“COVID-19 has left — and continues to leave — deep scars on our world. Those scars must serve as a permanent reminder of the potential for new viruses to emerge with devastating consequences,” Tedros added.

The WHO has also published a report to countries this week on how to live and adapt to COVID-19 long-term.

NUÑEZ

Badrina said that high temperatures would be evident in Metro Manila and the rest of the country, adding that PAGASA does not expect a tropical cyclone in the next few days.

“We don’t monitor any low-pressure area or possible tropical cyclones in the next few days. For this week, there is a small chance that we will have a typhoon,” Badrina mentioned.

Other locations that logged a dangerous heat index were Agusan

Source: LPSci Survey, 2023

AChinese fishing vessel capsized last week in the Indian Ocean carrying 39 passengers, among whom were five Filipino seafarers.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson, Rear Adm. Armand Balilo, disclosed in a statement released on Wednesday that the international search did not find any signs of survivors after the extensive search spanning 64,000 square kilometers of area.

It was decided that the crew, consisting of 17 Chinese, 17 Indonesians, and five Filipinos, was presumed dead by the Chinese transport ministry.

The vessel capsized within the Australian search-and-rescue region, 5,000 kilometers from the state capital, Perth. Australia had

dead after vessel found in Indian Ocean

ALTHEA DAVID

helped in the rescue efforts by deploying three airplanes and four ships.

Seven bodies without specified nationalities were discovered by the joint Chinese and Sri Lankan rescue team on Monday. Harsh weather has slowed down rescue efforts as the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Canberra raised a warning for “challenging” conditions.

Penglai Jinglu Fishery Company, a Chinese fishing firm, owns the boat. It embarked on May 5 from Cape Town, South Africa, and was last tracked on May 10 southeast of Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean. Its distress beacon was initially detected as Cyclone Fabian caused 7-meter-high waves and 120-kph winds in the boat’s path.

71% of LPSci students agree that masks are still a must-wear despite the declaration of WHO

THROWBACK TERROR. A photo of the Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center reaching full capacity during the pandemic.

PHOTO BY: Inquirer / Richard Reyes

SCORCHING STREETS. A tricycle driver from BF Resort Village battling the blazing heat

PHOTO BY: Alviona Roxas

EDITORIAL

All Knowledge and No Experience Makes Juan

a Dull Worker

Theories could never be tested without application.

On May 11, the Department of Education (DepEd) released Memorandum No. 028, series of 2023, regarding the formation of a Senior High School National Task Force. They are mainly reviewing the current senior high school (SHS) curriculum and its programs and improving the performance of senior high school students as new members of the workforce.

The former goal is a necessity; the latter, a challenge.

The former goal is a must to achieve; Filipino students struggle in Mathematics and Science. The Philippines scored last in a global 2020 assessment measuring the performances of grade 4 and grade 8 students from 58 different countries. Senior high school students should already have much mastery over some form of science and mathematics to enter high-end companies or invent products and devices that can help solve the major issues the Philippines faces, such as climate change or pollution. This is on top of the fact that DepEd has to deal with the massive learning loss brought by the lack of face-to-face classes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This reveals a major hurdle the Task Force has to face: making senior high school students ready for the workforce. As DepEd noted in the memorandum, a study by the Philippine Business for Education found that only 20 percent of the 70 leading companies across all sectors in the Philippines are fine with hiring SHS students. The other companies want job applicants with at least two years of college education.

UNMASKING INEQUALITY

by Reona Supeña

When the roots are untied, the solution appears in sight.

As challenges in the senior high school (SHS) program arise, the Department of Education (DepEd) established a national task force to combat these problems. The team is a perfectly-designed solution to monitor and provide thorough attention to the implementation of SHS.

Back when the SHS program was only in discussion in Congress, I heard that SHS students would be able to work immediately after graduating. However, that is not what is happening now. In a 2022 Labor Survey, the Philippine

OPINION

lack of application of knowledge. Because it was too risky for students to enter establishments for faceto-face work immersion, sponsors had to compromise by providing them with online work immersion. These students were unable to learn and apply the skills needed to perform well in their respective work environments. Additionally, as they were unable to simulate work in a proper work environment, students weren’t able to develop the needed social and communication skills to survive in the workplace.

At the same time, DepEd can’t just simply create subjects that cater only to a specific population. STEM students could end up in the medical and information technology (IT) fields, and engineering knowledge would be useless for some students entering the medical field and could only end up being of some use for some IT students.

No matter how much DepEd adjusts its SHS curriculum, different companies will require different and specific skillsets that only college education could offer. The SHS curriculum could only offer general knowledge about a specific track. STEM students who aspire to become engineers, for example, could at best learn about circuitry due to General Physics covering it in this curriculum, but these lessons are theoretical and not applied. It’s this lack of application that makes students unready to apply for an actual engineering job.

The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the

Reviewing and ironing out the flaws of the SHS curriculum is a good step in providing some knowledge to SHS students. However, DepEd should focus and highlight work immersion as work experience, as noted earlier, is a powerful bargaining chip for students who wish to enter an entry-level job. They can’t simply change the demands of employers who want to fulfill certain tasks that require specific knowledge and skillsets. They should also focus more on education quality to polish the minds of SHS students.

A task force is one way to show that the government is aware of a problem and are on their way to solve it. No matter how much they learn about the situation, knowledge alone isn’t enough to solve it. They have to look into the problem in all facets, never overlooking one aspect in favor of another. In other words, they should put their plans into

SHS Task Force: A Well-Meant Intent Against SHS Unemployment

Institute of Development Studies found that only 20 percent of SHS graduates were admitted into the workforce. And apparently, even if SHS graduates are accepted by employers, their work is limited to lower ranks.

Addressing this issue is one of the reasons why the Senior High School National Task Force (SHSNTF) was created. The duties of the SHS-NTF include reviewing the implementation of SHS program and making policies based on the results of this review. They will also coordinate with different colleges and universities in devising an

SHS database. These only prove how beneficial the task force is for the improvement of the K to 12 program.

While it is a big challenge to achieve a higher employability rate for SHS graduates, it is definitely possible especially with the current effort of DepEd. By strengthening the education system for SHS, the government attacks the issue through its roots. They should be able to provide solution to the current curriculum’s flaws such as the lack of practical application of theoretical knowledge, the cramped school calendar, the inconducive duration of school day, the

burdening number of required subjects, and the mismatch of taken subjects to future courses of the students.

The role of data gathering and analysis regarding the current SHS program and industry demands is the most important key to surpass this hurdle in the education system. Redefining education quality has a high possibility to boost the country’s competency and it cannot be acted on without adequate basis.

I believe that by untying the problem by its roots, the SHS-NTF will fulfill their responsibility to be the most ideal solution to the struggles of implementing the SHS program.

It’s this lack of application that makes students unready to apply for a job.

By strengthening the education system for SHS, the government attacks the issue through its roots.

THE BURNING QUESTION

by Althea David

Cruel Summer

The arrival of the fourth month of the year used to be a time for celebration. For the students, April marks their liberation from the endless schoolwork, sleepless study nights, and stressful exam days. The “tag-init” season is best spent in the comforts of our homes or on beach vacations, not in stuffy, unventilated classrooms.

However, the recent global pandemic has forced the academic calendar to pause and fall into disarray. School breaks now start in July or August, meaning students must now spend their time inside stifling classrooms during the scorching summer. Worse, it is outright dangerous for students to be confined in such a stressful environment. Just this March, 120 students from a school in Cabuyao City, Laguna, got hospitalized due to heat exhaustion during a fire drill.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has brought this issue to the Department of Education’s attention, proposing the return of the summer school break from April until May, since the most sweltering months of the year are not acceptable for learning.

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) has also spoken against this issue, claiming that shortened teaching time and smaller class sizes should be imposed during the summer months. They also expressed that the return to the former school calendar should be a gradual transition, since it may disturb the two-month break that is given annually.

Band-aid solutions are implemented in response to the growing complaints against these conditions in schools nationwide.

Class suspensions, shortened school hours, and distance learning modalities are enacted as a solution to this issue. The problem is that DepEd doesn’t look deeper into the reasons why students and teachers are fighting for the return of the summer school break. It is not for nostalgia’s sake— the students’ and teachers’ welfare and academic performance are suffering because of the cruel summer conditions that they undergo every day because of the shift to the academic schedule.

UNMASKING INEQUALITY

By Reona Supeña

God Knows Hudas Not Pay

God doesn’t discriminate, but a hospital does.

Thirty Grade 12 students of Las Piñas City National Science High School were deprived of experiencing an actual work setting. As one of those 30 students, I find it an academic tragedy.

It is true that an alternative schoolbased work immersion is better than having none at all. However, it is undeniable how different the experiences of working at school and working at a real workplace are from each other. I know that learning thrives wherever you are, but having work immersion outside the school campus is a golden ticket to discovering the inner workings of the workplace.

Students aspiring to be in the medical field would have gotten even a glimpse of how they would be like in the future. The hospital’s facilities would have allowed them to know about the different medical machineries’ mechanisms. Even if they did not want to be medicallyaligned, the students would have known basic health skills.

Likewise, for students desiring a future job related to engineering and information technology, the school setting for work immersion definitely put a limit to the novel information that they could acquire. A go signal would have allowed

them to have prior knowledge that would be necessary for the profession that they would want to pursue. They would have been treated like real employees and not like mere former students by their supervisors in their immersion at school.

Now, all these are just “would’vebeen’s” with the incapability of Christ The King (CTK) Unihealth Las Piñas’ administration to have a proper conversation and agreement amongst themselves.

Completing the 80 hours of work immersion in an external facility is mandated by the government, so students are forbidden from paying only to meet that requirement. That is why it was easy for them to deny students of the immersion experience at their hospital, because there were college students who paid for their on-the-job training.

66.7%

of Grade 12 students assigned in CTK robbed of hands-on experience

Ironic, isn’t it? A hospital bearing Jesus’ title, falling to corporate greed.

A hospital bearing Jesus’ title, falling to corporate greed.

Despite the closing of what should have been open doors, the school-based immersion was still able to provide the students new experiences and learnings. These were not enough but certainly better than paying the hospital just to avail of new knowledge. That might even cause an uproar and be atrocious to the eyes of the Department of Education.

This made it seem as though their company principles lean to prioritizing financial benefits. The higher-ups of the hospital did not care if the students were going to be forced to settle with a school immersion; if there is no profit for them to gain, there is no point in giving the students the opportunity.

SYSTEM RESET

By Elise Gulle

“S

ige, ako na lang magaadjust.” [Fine, I’ll just be the one to adjust.]

A funny little saying Filipinos have adopted in recent years, rather ubiquitous in memes floating around on Facebook; usually featuring one party having to ‘adjust’ to a ridiculous situation thrown at them.

Summer feelings should be of freedom and bliss, not of distress due to the suffocating heat.

TDC’s insight on the problem should also be noted. Drastic changes to the old timetable would affect the ongoing school year. It will be unfair for the present batch if their short break is reduced even further to accommodate the shift.

Summer feelings should be of freedom and bliss, not of distress due to the suffocating heat. Every scholar and educator is entitled to a safe and pleasant environment to foster their learning.

While this saying might bring a chuckle to some, the deeper meaning behind it is really no laughing matter. “Sige, ako na lang mag-aadjust.” – beneath the humorous tone is a feeling of resignation. You are so sure that nothing can be done to aid you, that no one will come to help you, so you just sigh and do all you can to pull yourself up by your bootstraps and out of this messy situation.

Known for our resilience, Filipinos have always risen above any hurdle presented to us; whether that be typhoons or earthquakes, Filipinos have this strong mentality that has allowed us to survive dire situations like these by only relying on ‘bayanihan’ or camaraderie amongst ourselves. This ‘help ourselves’

This tragedy is certainly one for the books: the first fall in the history of Las Piñas City National Science High School students’ work immersion. Hopefully, no one meets the same fate as they did—a fate of deprivation.

Who are the Teachers to Adjust?

culture has deeply permeated every part of society, and it is evident even in the classroom.

I, for one, am deeply saddened by the way things are for public school teachers in the Philippines. My teachers are all phenomenal people who have not only educated me, but also guided me and raised me; they have all had a hand in me becoming the person I am today. This society places great importance on the children of the next generation, but barely any mind to the teachers who help raise them.

For example, after a major typhoon devastates the country and floods schools, teachers, with their own initiative and meager salaries, tidy up the campus and repair their classrooms for their beloved students.

During the move to distance learning in lieu of the pandemic, many teachers have had to provide for their own laptops to meet the learning needs of their students. While DepEd has provided some 40,000 laptops for teachers in 2021, many teachers are unsatisfied as the laptops are outdated and do not have the specs needed for them to efficiently carry out their work. So even with this government provision, they would still resort to buying their

own as the laptops provided cannot meet their needs.

Teachers have not only given their funds, but have also given their time and effort too. Teachers are legally mandated to work eight hours a day for a total of 40 hours in a week, but the truth is that the work required of them far exceeds these eight hours a day.

The Magna Carta for Public School Teachers states that six of a teacher’s eight working hours per day should be allotted only for teaching, and the remaining two should be allotted to lesson preparation and other teaching-related duties such as checking papers and computing grades. However, this amount of time is barely enough for all the tasks they must accomplish. This does not even factor in other administrative duties they might have or any meetings or seminars they must attend.

We might praise teachers for being heroes, but we have to remember that they don’t have to be. Teachers are real people, like you and me, who can only do so much and can only be spread out so thin. Teachers adjust to the demands placed upon them, but it’s high time we start demanding that the system be changed to adjust to their needs for once.

OVERTHINKING DIARIES

By Samuel Reyes

Minding the Mental Healthcare Gap

But for me, there will be no job nobler than being a mental healthcare provider, for one psychologist can win hundreds of invisible wars and save thousands of people through the power of words, and a bit of medicine.

My dream of getting a Psychology degree at the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) is hanging by a thread. Last year, I applied for the University of the Philippines College Admission online, choosing BS Psychology and BA Psychology as my first two courses. When the first wave of results dropped early this May, I was waitlisted for a Degree Program with Available Slot (DPWAS). Then I waited for the DPWAS results to drop.

Surprisingly, there were three slots left for BA Psychology. BS Psychology easily ran out of available slots.

I hope this serves not only as a testament to how popular Psychology courses are, but also as a testament to how more Filipinos of my generation are considering entering the medical world as mental healthcare specialists.

But as of October 2022, the Department of Health (DOH) has been training local healthcare workers to “democratize mental health services” and prevent relying on mental health specialists. This training can make mental healthcare more accessible to the common folk. However, this is at most a band-aid solution to the lack of mental healthcare providers. The least the workers are expected to do are providing counseling and referring people to mental healthcare specialists.

We require mental health specialists because they have more understanding about the symptoms of each mental illness and devote

applied

OVERTHINKING DIARIES

their time to understanding the mind of each individual. It takes lots of understanding about the human mind and empathy to give the best solutions to each person’s problems, something that I fear mere training cannot give to the aspiring mental health workers. But if the DOH wants to produce high-quality mental healthcare workers, they’d have to acquire lots of materials and time to assure that each worker could give counseling as effective as the mental health specialists.

A Psychology degree opens many grand doorways, hence its popularity. But for me, there will be no job nobler than being a mental healthcare provider, for one psychologist can win hundreds of invisible wars and save thousands of people through the power of words, and a bit of medicine. As for myself, I might have to settle for that BA Journalism degree and brave myself through med school.

By Samuel Reyes

Is Nuclear Energy the Right Call?

The entirety of Las Piñas City is under the 80-kilometer radius danger zone from the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP). If the power plant melts down, we’d end up like Chernobyl – smokefilled skies, radioactive debris, and thousands of displaced lives. The azure skies and the greenery Las Piñas is known for would be forever changed.

Good news: There’s no need to panic for now. The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant isn’t about to melt down soon. In fact, it’s hasn’t been functioning ever since its construction in 1985 Well, the keyword was “for now.” It just so happens that the Department of Energy (DOE) is looking into the powers of nuclear energy with the intent to open this Nuclear Power Plant.

All of this, considering that the Philippines itself is ill-equipped to support nuclear energy. The Philippines is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, meaning that it is vulnerable to both volcanic and seismic activity. Nuclear power plants are vulnerable to these quakes, potentially causing a situation similar to that of Fukushima power plant, which melted down due to the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

Power Plant

I could see why. After all, clean energy could minimize the use of non-renewable sources of fuel. The problem is that this energy is a bit too clean. So clean, in fact, that it even cleans up the Philippines’ budget. The original BNPP project took a whopping P28 billion to build. Today, it costs between P40 million to P50 million to maintain the plant every year, even though it’s not functioning at all.

Marcos Jr. said in his SONA that if he were to construct another nuclear power plant, he would base it on the standards of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Reasonably, he would apply the same standards to maintaining the BNPP. No matter how much you follow the standards of the IAEA, there’s still no guarantee that these power plants could consistently weather multiple natural tragedies and intensify the destruction they bring about.

No amount of clean energy could ever clean up the nuclear destruction the country could potentially face. If the BNPP melted down, remember, we’d never see the tall bamboo and the sparrows soaring above the skies of Las Piñas ever again.

SEEKING THE REALITY

By Donna Jane Ramirez

De Lima’s Triumph with Truth

When defenders themselves are under attack, where do we go? — a question that plagued Filipinos when Senator Leila De Lima was vehemently accused of taking drug money during her tenure as Justice Secretary. Six years passed and one of two remaining drug-related cases dropped; De Lima’s recent acquittal became a long-overdue step towards justice for human rights. And, I nod to the decision.

De Lima, who is currently detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters, is now one step away from freedom. Throughout her six-year ordeal, she endured countless slanders, a global pandemic, a hostage and a prison break, and deaths of several stray cats that became companions in her liberty-shackling cell. This phenomenon only exposed the frustrating politicization of the justice system in our country, where one’s freedom can be held hostage by those in power.

More often than not, women who choose to stand up and be at the forefront are always forced to keep their power in tow because of cowards afraid of justice. Well, this only speaks volumes about women like Senator Leila De Lima.

Thus, there is no denying that she will still have a target dangling on her back once she steps foot again in the streets. However, the undeterred woman she is does not care. As she said, “There is simply no substitute for freedom.” Her statement reflects her true nature — a woman ready to defend the truth and advocate for the rights, justice, and freedom of Filipinos against the politics fueled by greed and power.

Let this be a reminder that, armed with truth, we need never be afraid.

Senator Leila De Lima’s recent acquittal is not only a triumph for her, but also a symbol of hope for everybody. Her story, marked by bravery, serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of defending the truth. It sheds light on the battles faced by defenders of justice and prompts us to call on for a fair and impartial justice system.

Let this be a reminder that, armed with truth, we need never be afraid.

About 104,000 students

for UPCAT this year

Source: UP, 2023

The Bataan Nuclear

isn’t about to melt down soon.

FEATURE LPSCI SHOW SEASON: FROM IBONG ADARNA to el fili

Philippine literature is the window to our beloved country’s history. Indulging in local literature gives us a peek into the Philippines’ socio-political history through old epics, novels, and folktales. Some of the best-known Filipino literary pieces are those that are taught in high school, namely Ibong Adarna, Florante at Laura by Francisco Balagtas, and Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo by Jose Rizal.

These written works influenced the great minds that shaped our country into what it is today, and they continue to shape the minds of young Filipino students.

To pay tribute to these great works of literature, students from Las Piñas City National Science High School made it a yearly tradition to perform these stories in a series of plays. Usually musical, these plays are shown side by side within one or two weeks of each other, hence creating the LPSci show season.

This year’s show season started off with one of the most controversial stories in Philippine history, the second and last part of Rizal’s twopart novel, and the story that eventually led to Rizal’s death: El Filibusterismo.

This was the literary piece that evoked the Filipino revolution by showcasing the struggles of our ancestors during the Spanish colonial period. Grade 10 students have worked hard to portray the injustice and the grievances that the original novel made the Filipinos feel. This year’s batch was applauded for their performances, stage settings, and props.

8

The second show of the season is Florante at Laura, to be performed by Grade 8 students on Wednesday, May 24.

Jose Nino Lacuata, from 8-Connection, said that their actors “have put so much emotion in their roles”. He also mentioned that he knows the audience will become emotional during their play as Florante at Laura is meant to mirror the situation of its author, Balagtas, who experienced an unjust imprisonment due to an abuse of power.

In addition to that, Lacuata expressed that their batch has been practicing and tirelessly persevering ever since the first announcement of the play and can confidently state that they are well prepared, but that they experienced a few difficulties regarding their props and costumes. However, he assured us that they wouldn’t settle for anything less than the best.

Right after Florante at Laura, Grade 9 students will keep the ball rolling with the third show of the season: Noli Me Tangere, to be performed on Thursday, May 25. The depictions of this novel will be sure to bring tears to the eyes of the audience as the casts of each section portray the grievances experienced by the characters in the book.

The season will eventually come to an end with Ibong Adarna, to be performed by Grade 7 students on Friday, June 2. Adrian Clyde Dacoco, a Grade 7 student, says they are confidently prepared for the play, as they even took inspiration from past performances, and that they think the audience would be awed by their presentation. As the newest members of our LPSci family, we are excited to see how our freshmen will convey the emotions of love, sacrifice, and desire present in the original text of Ibong Adarna. The show season is a tradition that all of LPSci looks forward to every year. It brings sleepless nights and endless practices, but at the end of the day, everyone is determined to perform their absolute best to do justice to the great literary works on which our culture is built.

Once you step onto the grounds of Las Piñas City National Science High School, you will notice one thing. It’s quiet, and it’s enough to make anyone wonder if the tranquility that surrounds the grounds of LPSci matches the peace inside the minds of its students.

Does this atmosphere serve as an accurate front to the competitive storm that rages inside each student’s mind and heart? The wind blows a whisper and the trees that bless LPSci with cool and fresh air sway peacefully in the wind— however, you get a feeling that it does not.

Every single Lapiscian is unique in their own little way, but we all share a similarity that’s widely observed whenever it is time for

a performance, a task, or even the smallest of activities; we all strive to do our best. Lapiscians are driven by a determination to succeed. They are driven by a passion to rise to the top and reach for their dreams.

Studying in such a prestigious school is sure to strike a nerve in the students that study in LPSci. Some students have admitted to the growing pressure that gnaws at them as they observe their fellow classmates receive award after award. Demotivation is a disease that runs rampant in the winding halls of the school. Stress is a parasite that constantly finds its way into the heads of those who study there.

Despite that pressure, Lapiscians continue to look forward with a burning fire in their eyes and a dream. Determination runs through their soul like a raging river even after taking in all the obstacles that

they have to encounter during their academic journey. Their hearts will always yearn for the golden light that shines with every award, and the proud smiles from their family members that brighten up their world.

Lapiscians are competitive, strong, and fierce individuals. They are able to reap what they sow. However, despite this side of the students of LPSci, they always strive to stay humble. LPSci will continue to walk forward filled with individuals whose potential shines through the densest of crowds. As Jose Rizal once said, “ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan”, and Lapiscians will always take hold of that saying with a bright mind and a humble heart.

TAKE THE STAGE. Matthew Cartalla captivates the audience as he acts as Simon from El Filibusterismo.

PHOTO BY: Excequel Martirez

BRYELLE WYDA SIMOY & CHRISTINE SORIANO

BWAN LILA AGUHAR ART:

A ucket of and B L S P a weep of erseverance ove

Motherhood is like embarking on an everlasting voyage across uncharted seas where there is no going back. It is boarding a ship of lifetime commitment.

In honor of Mother’s Day and Labor Day, the LPSci Standard Press interviewed a mother who extends her unbounded love, not only to her family but also to our school: Helen Dela Cruz or Ate Helen, one of LPSci’s most beloved utility personnel and a mother of two sons and the Lapiscian population.

Before working in LPSci, Ate Helen was once an OFW in Saudi Arabia

where she worked as a salon beautician, a chocolate factory worker, and a vendor. In her younger years, she had dreams of becoming a teacher. Now, she works in a school where just like teachers, students see her as a second parent.

Ate Helen continues to strive for different paths to provide her children with the life she never had. Her eldest son is stepping into the business world while her youngest thrives in his first year of college. “Kahit ‘di ko naranasan mag-college, nararanasan ko sa mga anak ko.” She remarks.

After five years, she knows every nook and cranny of the school by heart. She has established a routine where she cleans our school grounds and

takes care of the plants and gardens to keep our school beautiful. As the bright rays of the sun peek through the trees surrounding our beloved LPSci, Ate Helen’s hard work in her dignified profession is what students, teachers, and visitors see.

Throughout her life as a mother, Ate Helen has worked tirelessly to provide for her children. But other than that, she shows love to other children through her church organization and through her work in LPSci. Truly, becoming a mother is like embarking on a strange and difficult voyage, however it is also like the gardens that Ate Helen tends which requires patience, dedication, and an unyielding love that blossoms into flowers of opportunity. The opportunity for children to grow and live a better life.

I think as Lapiscians, we can all collectively say that we are grateful for all that Ate Helen does in keeping our school a clean and safe learning place.

as Piñas City is one of the lesser-known cities in the south of Metro Manila. However, did you know that the city actually boasts an array of pleasure places for whatever type of activity? Whether you’re looking for fun or relaxation, there is a place in Las Piñas for you.

Known as the home of the Bamboo Organ and the Lantern Capital of the Philippines, Las Piñas City is one of the country’s fastest-growing communities. Being quite young and only established as a city in 1997, Las Piñas gives its citizens access to both the progressiveness of city life and the peacefulness of suburban life.

Las Piñas may be most famous for its Bamboo Organ found at St. Joseph Parish Church. These unique organ pipes are made entirely from bamboo and were constructed by Father Diego Cera. These now beloved pipes were born through an experimental project by Father Cera as something special for the church.

om

Speaking of churches, if you’re looking for a nature-inspired church where you can feel all of God’s beautiful creations, you can visit Mary Immaculate Parish. This parish is known as a “nature church,” which can be a breath of fresh air for people looking for a quiet place to pray and meditate.

omOurH e Las : Piñas Cityañdits UñderratedTreasures

OurH e Las : Piñas Cityañdits UñderratedTreasures

LIf nature is what you’re into, you can consider visiting the Las Piñas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area, also called the ‘Wetlands’. It is a protected area in the southwest corner of Metro Manila and Manila Bay which acts like a giant sponge, absorbing rain and preventing floods in the neighboring cities. Now, it has also been declared a critical habitat and a bird sanctuary, so if you ever want to go birdwatching, you know where to go.

If you want something busier, you can go to the many leisure centers Las Piñas offers.

Evia Lifestyle Center is a shopping center along the Daang Hari road. The entire place is very colorful and has great design. It also has a variety of cafes and restaurants for visitors while still maintaining openness in the area, which is perfect for people who love strolling.

While we’re on the topic of

shopping centers, did you know that the 7th largest SM supermall in the Philippines is found in Las Piñas City?

SM Southmall is the first SM Supermall that was built in the southern region of Metro Manila. It has over 400 shops, including fashion giants such as H&M and Uniqlo, as well as a big selection of food places.

are you waiting for? Go around Las Piñas today, and who knows? You might stumble upon a new treasure.

CHRISTINE SORIANO

ART: SABRINA IGNACIO

CASSANDRA HERNANDEZ & BEHIND THE SCENES. Ate Helen, a school personnel and a mother, creates a safe school environment.

PHOTO BY: Andrea Dayrit

JANNAH REIGNE GO & CHRISTINE SORIANO

#Girlboss:

The Exploitation of Women in the Workforce and in Society

CHRISTINE SORIANO

For centuries, women have been pressured to conform to societal standards. In many cultures, women are expected to uphold certain behaviors and lifestyles.

This started to change in the late 20th century when the “working girl” archetype started garnering attention. During this time, women, especially those in richer countries, received education. This was the start of the “working girl” era, where women were encouraged to pursue careers and become part of the workforce.

In 2014, the word “girlboss” was popularized by author and businesswoman Sophia Amoruso in her book, “#Girlboss”. The original girlboss image consists of a hyper-feminized career woman against the backdrop of a traditionally masculine corporate setting—

think Elle Woods from Legally Blonde.

The girlboss phenomenon was a monumental moment for modern feminism in the early 2010s. It gave women muchneeded representation in the workforce. Before this, there was a clear struggle to see distinct representations of women in powerful positions.

Initially, this may seem like a good thing. ‘Finally, gender roles are being abolished!’ But, no.

Instead of the roles and responsibilities being balanced between the sexes, women somehow kept all their prior responsibilities before they entered the workforce. This means that during the girlboss era, women were balancing their careers on top of taking care of their kids, keeping their houses clean, preparing food for their families, and keeping their partners happy.

In the recent centuries, this is the only time you would see so many women in power. Take, for example,

the fact that, for the first time in its 68-year history, more than 10% of the Fortune 500 companies are led by women. The US Congress is 43% female; the Philippine Congress 28%. On top of that, countries like Switzerland, Italy, and New Zealand have female leaders. So many women in power, but so little change in the way women are treated in the workforce. Here in the Philippines, paid maternity leave only lasts for a few weeks; there are no menstrual leaves; and the pay gap between male and female workers still isn’t closing. This seems unbelievable considering over 46% of the workforce is comprised of women.

The truth is, just like how it always has been in the past centuries, women are still being taken advantage of and exploited. Women are overworked and undercompensated both in the workplace and at home, and the girlboss mentality had a significant contribution to the development of this exploitative culture.

It has taken

centuries for society to get to this point in women’s empowerment, and perhaps it will take centuries more to get to the point where women are truly empowered and treated as equals in all aspects of society, but until then, the fight for equality and women’s rights shall not sleep.

have not been relieved of their domestic responsibilities.

Filipina

SAMUEL REYES

True Beauty in a ast niverse VU

On May 13, Michelle Dee strutted glamorously towards her coronation as Miss Universe Philippines 2023. Carrying both the title and the pride of the Filipinos, Dee will represent the country in Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador. Regardless of what you believe about the fairness of the show, watching beauty pageants such as these are good opportunities to reflect on an important aspect of Filipino society: our beauty standards and how they heavily lean towards foreign traits.

A trait commonly associated with Filipino beauty is fair skin. Many of the beauty products you see on the shelves of grocery stores and pharmacies advertise their skin-whitening formula. A study by Synovate Philippines found that about 50% of Filipinos use whitening products. In modern times, Filipinos with fair skin are colloquially called “mestizos,” a word that used to refer to Filipinos of mixed ancestry. Fair skin is a foreign trait compared to the darker skin of indigenous Filipinos.

Aside from skin color, some Filipinos also consider other physical traits associated with both European and East Asian nations as more attractive or beautiful. Filipinos with mixed

cheekbones and smaller mouths. Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach is of Filipino-German ancestry, while Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray is of Filipino-AustralianScottish descent.

from colonial mentality, which has worsened with globalization and our exposure to both local and international media.

The standards are in place within locally-produced media as well, influencing Filipino beauty standards. In telenovelas set in modern times, characters who represent the average Filipino have brown skin, while important, rich, or powerful characters have mixed ancestry and sometimes speak in English more than in Filipino.

Adolescence is a period of self-discovery, and along it is overwhelming self-consciousness. As teenagers, we often point out our physical flaws and iron them out. Yet we cannot blame our Filipino ancestors for these flaws that we have today. In the end, no Filipino is “more” or “less” Filipino than the next, regardless of their traits. As Michelle Dee herself said, “No matter what happens, I will always be proud to call myself Pinoy.”

The deal is that women have entered the workforce, but they

- Faye Wattlton

ART: AMANDA STINSON

ART: AMANDA STINSON

rt , A the Quiet Catalyst for Change

Art is the rays of sun you feel when taking an afternoon stroll. It’s the beautiful flowers that adorn the streets you walk on. It is as boundless as the great seas and as diverse as all the cultures in the world. And like the air you breathe, it is everywhere. Everything around you can be considered art.

But I used to not see art. I thought that art meant the paintings hung on museum walls or the photos presented in fancy galleries. I used to live life without realizing I was surrounded by art.

WAs I’m writing this article, I am sitting in front of a clay vase with fresh flowers my

hat are your plans during the last month of the school year?

As Lapiscians clamor to finish their academic requirements, students dream of what they can do during their academic break. If you are someone that wants an adventure, then look out for AcadArena’s CONQuest, as it makes its return on June 2-4, 2023.

The event boasted a wide range of guests last year, and AcadArena CEO Justin Banusing aims to top last year’s event.

From its humble beginnings in 2017 as a gaming convention in Iloilo that had only 700 attendees, it has now become one of the most renowned Philippine conventions to date, becoming the biggest yearly celebration of pop culture and gaming.

mom received from my dad for Mother’s Day. It makes me wonder how the vase came into existence. Was it made carefully by a skilled craftsman? Or perhaps it was mass-produced using a mold in a big factory. What about the flowers? What was the florist trying to convey when they chose to put these flowers together in a bouquet?

Once you see how much art surrounds you, you’ll recognize that art is not just something pretty to look at, and you’ll begin to think about the pieces you come across. For centuries, this is what art has been doing, unbeknownst to many of us—provoking thoughts and starting conversations.

From every brushstroke that makes up a painting to the words that complete poems and novels to the melodies that accompany musical messages, art has continuously challenged the status quo. It has ignited conversations, catalyzing progress toward social transformation.

Some of the most notable catalysts for social change in

Last year, CONQuest garnered over 33,000 attendees at the SMX Convention Center in Manila. Now widely regarded as one of the largest events in the Philippines, CONQuest 2023 aims to expand its scope outside gaming and diverge into other areas such as music, food, and cosplay.

Now on its fifth edition, it aims to level up the playing field by making itself a

Philippine history were Jose Rizal’s two-part novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. By appealing to the emotions of their readers, these novels brought about the revolution against the Spaniards during the Spanish occupation.

spirit, which ultimately led to freedom from their oppressors.

All of the artworks mentioned so far are works from previous centuries. There are also works of art today that continue to catalyze social change, for example, songs. Music by artists like Lady Gaga and Beyoncé has been empowering women and other minority groups, such as the LGBTQIA+ community for the past decades.

The use of art can also be seen in protest rallies, where we can see protestors holding up signs, usually with poetic averments and symbols. With very few words, these rallyists are able to articulate their thoughts, challenge the system, and inspire thoughts among spectators.

Sometimes, there isn’t even a need for words. Many paintings and photos throughout history have encouraged thoughts that led to change.

Paintings like Liberty Leading the People by Eugene Delacroix and Juan Luna’s Spoliarium roused citizens’ revolutionary

multivenue event with the utilization of Conrad Manila, Seashell Lane, and National University MOA on top of the already sizable SMX Convention Center.

This year, CONQuest is hosting its first-ever “Music Night,” where featured artists such as The Rose, Hyper Potions, and James Reid are going to be performing live. On top of that, it will also be the first-ever gaming convention to feature a food festival along Seashell Lane to make sure your bellies are full while exploring the convention.

CONQuest 2023 will not be complete without its featured guests. This year, Michael Reeves, LilyPichu, Valkyrae, Akidearest and JoeyTheAnimeMan, and

returning guests such as members of Scamily are only some of the event’s headliners.

One-day tickets from Friday to Sunday will cost you Php 800, while a three-day pass is Php 2,000. Meanwhile, fans can also purchase the Premium Pass worth Php 20,000, which grants entry to all days of CONQuest, music night access, an included merch bundle, and priority lanes to MeetZones and fan meets.

The LPSci Standard Press has been chosen as one of the official media partners for this year’s CONQuest and we cannot wait to see you there, Lapiscians! Make CONQuest 2023 your own adventure as we see you in the skies this June!

In its various forms, art has the potential to create lasting societal changes by challenging normal perspectives, raising awareness, opening new conversations, and enthusing action. Its ability to appeal to emotions and let people imagine new possibilities beyond what currently exists makes art a quiet but powerful force in shaping the world we live in. CONQuest

to make waves as biggest PH convention in June 2023

CHRISTINE SORIANO

ART: AMANDA STINSON

ANDREI NUÑEZ

FESTIVAL OF TRIUMPH. Unleash your inner champion and conquer the experience.

PHOTO BY: CONQuest

GOTTA CATCH THEM ALL!

Filipino Biologist Discovers Species of Cockroach name after Pokemon

When we were young, most of us were fans of the long-running anime “Pokemon”. The 2000s were marked with children singing the theme song, buying collectible figurines and cards of species like Pikachu, Squirtle, and Jigglypuff, but it remained a fictional universe, only to be seen and not to be experienced.

But the most unlikely insect is bringing Pokemon to our universe. A cockroach, discovered in a Bukit Timah Nature Reserve in Singapore by a Filipino-led team of biologists, has been named “Nocticola pheromosa”, a homage to a Pokemon named Pheromosa.

ART: AMANDA STINSON

EUREKA!

Division Science Fair in Las Piñas City Kicks Off

WALTER MORSIQUILLO

Las Piñas City holds Division Level Science Academic Contest 2023, with the theme “Agham at Teknolohiya: Kabalikat sa Maunlad at Matatag na Kinabukasan,” held last Thursday, May 18, at Las Piñas City National High School Main (LPCNHS - Main).

Organized by the Schools Division Office of Las Piñas, the science fair featured participation from 16 local public schools. The event consisted of various competitions, including quiz bees, art contests, and the main highlight—a research fair. The research fair aimed to select representatives from Las Piñas who would compete in the regional science fair.

SCI-TECH

Discovered by Filipino entomologist Cristian C. Lucanas and Singaporean entomologist Foo Maosheng, “The similarities between Pheromosa and the cockroach that we found were astonishing. We are fans of Pokemon so we decided to name it one”, Maosheng said in an interview with the Straits Times.

Pheromosa is a Bug-type Fighting Pokemon, and according to the in-universe Pokemon encyclopedia called the “Pokedex”, it is alien in origin, and is said to have great power. The real-life version however, does not have any otherworldly abilities, and is brown and black rather than white, but shares the small body and huge hood-like wings and head organs like its counterpart.

With slender bodies, large wings, and long antennae, Pheromosa and Nocticola pheromosa are perfectly named, and an example of science making dreams a reality, from cards and TV to the real world. Never before have cockroaches been so exciting! From being terrors in households, to being scientific discoveries, who knew that vermins have the power to change the way we look at nature?

The discovery of Nocticola pheromosa has already caused volumes of interest and curiosity among biologists. To think that this is just a single species upon thousands of undiscovered fauna waiting to be found by scientists around the globe gives us hope for the future of biology itself.

not so

fun fact?

Cockroaches have been around for

260 million years!

Yes, older than dinos!

Miguel Datiles, Kriz Rubias, Josh Salcedon, and Trisha Jerafusco were the junior high school quiz team from Las Piñas City National Science High School (LPCNSHS), who won first place.

“It was worth mentioning that the questions had errors, so some concerns were raised to the coordinators,” they reported.

After a brief break, the awarding ceremony commenced, and the LPCNSHS emerged as the top winner, securing the majority of the awards.

The team composed of Joshua Santos, Dante Joshua Cabungcal, and Jemuel Clyde Lemence stood out in the Life Science Team - Senior High School Category and were honored with the prestigious Best Presenter Award.

He says their goal was to bring an impact not only in the field of science but also on their fellow students so that they will be reminded that everything is all worth it if they keep on striving and believing in what they do best.

Pinoy Scientist Studies Phenomenon That Has Baffled Nobel Laureates

WALTER MORSIQUILLO

UPD-CS physicist Dr. Miguel Sulangi defies expectations as he studies superconductors, a scientific phenomenon that has baffled Nobel Prize Laureates.

Along with his thesis advisor Dr. Jan Zaanen, they studied the removal of electrons in a process called doping, or the scientific process of introducing impurities into conductors to modify its electric capabilities. Although creation and replication of semiconductors have existed since World War 2, the actual process is still scientifically mysterious.

No one knows how these electrons get removed. Countless theories have been made even since Joseph John Thomson discovered the electron, even the scientists who got a Nobel Prize for discovering superconductors tried and failed to explain it, but it was only now that a viable hypothesis has been formulated about the peculiar phenomenon.

Instead of the original theory, where “overdoping” superconductors would lead to a predictable state of excitement, some superconductors would not follow the usual state, and become unpredictable. This would also challenge the very fundamentals of superconductor physics.

Dr. Sulangi says that he hopes his study would provide insight into the nature of superconductors, and wishes that more Filipino scientists would stand at the forefront of physics and science.

TRISHA MIGUEL

CHILD’S PLAY. Kerby Domingo receives his medal for winning first place for the JHS RoboticsIndividual category in the LIKHA contest.

PHOTO BY: Regel Aggabao

STATUS QUO

17

cities in the Metro are affected by Microplastics, including Las Piñas City

Microplastics pose threat to environment, health

Two environmental scientists from the Mindanao State UniversityIligan Institute of Technology are warning Metro Manila about the impending danger of microplastic pollution in Manila air.

Pollution in Metro Manila has reached an all-time high, with 11,000 and 27,000 deaths in 2018 attributed to air pollutants. As the Philippines’ heart of industry and fabrication, microplastics from factory wastes are starting to use air as a medium for pollution.

184 96

LPSci holds Research Fair for Grades 9 and 10

Students of Las Piñas City National Science High School (LPCNSHS) finished their Science Fair, held at the LPCNSHS auditorium last Wednesday,

Student-researchers from grades nine and ten defended their topics ranging from Life and Physical to Mathematics and Robotics.

Ruth Bonagua, it was Division Office to scout out possible competitors last Thursday,

Most students were proud, although stressed, with the way the event turned out.

One grade nine student said that “Since it was a group task, somehow there will be people who will help you if you don’t know something, but it still is a lot of pressure.”

Others, however, think that the school’s resources could have been allocated better than it was, as Anikka Nituma, a student of Grade 10 Fortitude, reported being stressed out even more due to the heat in the auditorium. The power limited the amount of air conditioning units to avoid power interruptions.

According to environmental scientist Rodolfo Romarate microplastics are actually tiny fragments of plastics, measuring less than five millimeters, that originate from a bigger form. These small particles can become airborne and pose a threat when inhaled, leading to oxidative stress and respiratory difficulties. There is also a possibility for them to carry bacteria and viruses.

Fellow scientist Dr. Hernando average person in Mandaluyong microplastics per year, but the may change based on pollution indexes. Everyone working and breathing outside are at risk of microplasticrelated illnesses, and precautions must be put in

Source: PNA, 2023

WALTER MORSIQUILLO III

WALTER MORSIQUILLO III

ART BY SABRINA IGNACIO

IGNITING CURIOSITY. Grade 9 students honored with medals and certificates. Starting from the left is Camille Limliman, Mitzy Tabangcura, and Kyline Peñano.

PHOTO BY: Andrea Dayrit

When Virtual Divas Meet AI

SAM REYES

Remember the blue-haired virtual VOCALOID idol Hatsune Miku? Today, VOCALOID is now shaking up the game by making AI-enhanced vocals!

Yamaha Corporation (as in the musical instrument manufacturers) integrated VOCALOID:AI with the sixth version of VOCALOID, VOCALOID6, in October 2022.

Yamaha claims in their website that their new AI generates data based on human vocals “to analyze singing characteristics such as tone and expression of real vocalists.” VOCALOIDs can now produce smooth transitions between syllables while also giving them proper emotion while singing.

There aren’t plans to make a Miku AI voice. However, there is GUMI AI, who is voiced by Japanese-Filipino singer Megumi Nakajima.

AI singing synthesizers do not generate songs for you immediately. You still have to put in some work for it to sing your songs or covers. Additionally, the voicebanks were created with consent from the voice providers.

Vocal synthesizer AI will always remain as one of the safest uses of AI technology without infringing on the creativity of other people.

PhilSA unveils ‘Tala Hybrid Rocket’

WALTER MORSIQUILLO Philippine Air Force to finish and upgrade the project.

In a post by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) last May 15, the Philippines is proud to start test launches for its first rocket named the Tala Hybrid Rocket.

The rocket was 3D printed using composite materials in 2018 by local scientists and their professors, and scheduled for a launch in 2020, but was postponed after the Covid-19 pandemic. As restrictions became milder, PhilSA started to collaborate with the

Its hybrid classification is due to it using both solid and liquid fuels.

“Separating the substances makes shipping, handling, and storage much safer. This technology also lowers the cost of manufacturing rockets,” said PhilSA.

Along with the dual fuel system, the technologies consist of flight sensors, a Global Positioning System (GPS),

dual parachutes, and a payload system for its mission; to drop a can satellite (CanSat), or simulated satellites the size of soda cans developed and used in educational settings to remotely gather environmental data through built-in sensors.

This marks a huge leap from Maya-1 and Maya-2, the first Filipino satellites, and opens the door for technological advancements in Philippine rocket science.

CHATGPT; Friend or Foe? An Analysis on the Morality of A.I

Interactive. Intelligence. Wisdom. These are words usually heard when describing ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence noted for its use in educational systems around the world. Mimicking the problemsolving and decision-making capabilities of the human mind, these coded robots have now been made online, accessed quite effortlessly by students to cram essays and write last-minute reports. Will this new innovative system usher in a new perspective on assisted learning? Or will it make students dependent and slothful?

AI is more efficient, scientifically proven to account for the imperfections of the human mind. Manually finding the information in books and hardcopies pales in comparison to a quick search through Google; it takes only milliseconds yet provides millions of results. And then, AI like ChatGPT literally generates new ideas on the spot. But before we go into the details, how does AI actually work?

All A.I. stemmed from scientists studying the nervous system and applying it to code, creating input-output systems. Like your senses; when you touch a hot stove, it sends a signal to your nerves, which quickly moves your hand off so you

won’t get burned. This neural-like structure is the key to near human responses from chat-based AI.

It is no doubt that ChatGPT can quickly identify areas where learners struggle and provide them with additional resources and support like results from the web, detailed lists, and websites about their search. Unlike Google, which only gives you ideas, the AI can give entire essays, math solutions, and science presentations.

But schools have been more cautious, seeing a correlation of growing cheating issues to the use of AI in schools. ChatGPT’s essays pass through plagiarism checkers with no problem, and turn lay students into professional writers and reporters with a quarter of the effort.

The problem worsens as teachers struggle to differentiate student works from AI generated responses. A professor from Texas A&M University failed an entire class on the false basis that they used AI tools to complete their assignment. And in our country, Filipino teachers have been using Facebook Reels to share strategies to check for AI in students’ work,

with websites like ZeroGPT being used to detect ChatGPT responses.

AI has divided educators and students, one side praising its flexibility and endorsing it as a viable tool in education, while others believe it creates lazy students who show off more than what they actually know. In this world of advancing technology, no side is wrong or right. The morality of the tools given to us by science depend entirely on our personal values, and those values may change how our society looks at AI and assisted learning entirely.

The Code Behind the Machine

TRISHA MIGUEL & WALTER MORSIQUILLO ART:

Vocal synthesizer AI will always remain as one of the safest uses of AI technology...

This marks a huge leap from Maya-1 and Maya-2, the first Filipino satellites

The morality of the tools given to us by science depend entirely on our personal values

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS. Philippines reaches new heights with TALA, its inaugural hybrid rocket, blending innovation and ambition for a brighter future in space exploration.

PHOTO BY: Philippine Space Agency

ART: AMANDA STINSON

The Robotic Dilemma

The Four Regional Sports QualifiHERs of LPSci

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Beauty, brains, and brawn! Meet the four regional representatives in different sports competitions hailing from Las Piñas City National Science High School (LPCNSHS): Reezadaine Rojales, Sam Anastacio, Rashelle Siao, and Ariana Garcia!

During the MAPEH Month— celebrated every March—many sports competitions were held to choose the rightful representatives for the NCR Meet. These four girls from the Junior High School (JHS) of LPCNSHS brought good news to our school just in time for the Women’s Month in April.

Rising through the SEA

DEREK PUERTOLLANO

“We levelled up”

Said Bambol Tolentino, president of The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), when the Philippines won 58 gold, 85 silver, and 117 bronze medals, in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, Cambodia. This outcome is crucial as it elevates the reputation of Philippine Sports. Previously, the Philippines’ sports reputation slightly diminished.

Filipinos Hidilyn Diaz, Carlos Yulo, and EJ Obiena were superstars winning medals in different parts of the world. However, in the 31st SEA Games the Philippines only won 52-70-105 medals. In the same event, Gilas Pilipinas, the Philippines’ national basketball team, lost the gold medal. Worse, they failed to reach the quarter finals in the FIBA Asia Cup.

Looking at these, I was disheartened. The Philippines is home to many sports legends such as Manny Pacquiao, Paeng Nepomuceno, and Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes J.r. It is because of these legends, Philippines sports is renowned for diligence and

Lapiscians bag silver in dance sport Division Athletic Meet

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Reezadaine Rojales is a grade 7 table tennis player who qualified for the Table Tennis Cluster Meet. After being coached by Sir Raymundo S. Calimbas Jr., Reezadaine smashed the Division Meet and won a ticket to the regionals!

Grade 8 student, Sam Anastacio, competed in Taekwondo, with the guidance of Coach Mary Anne Garcia. She won a gold medal in the Division Meet and will represent Las Piñas City in the Regional Meet. She’s kicking her way through victory!

For Athletics, we have Rashelle Siao from the grade 10 level. She ran away with the gold medal in the Division Meet Athletics last

March 3, 2023. To win any athletics or track-and-field sports, you need to be determined to run fast. The key to winning is to never give up and keep on running, and that’s exactly what Rashelle did!

Chess may not be a physical sport, but don’t underestimate the amount of focus you need to win. Ariana Garcia is a grade 10 student who won gold in the Division Chess Meet, under coaches Larry Byl Cuenca and Jonnel D. Aristosa. Brains and Beauty are checked, mate!

These four students proved to us that they are strong female athletes, despite what society may say. Girl power all the way!

Las Piñas City National Science High School Dance Sport Contestants danced their way to the judges’ hearts as they secured the Silver Medal in the Division Athletic Meet in categories

Junior Latin Category and Junior Standard Category last March 17, 2023, held at CAA Elementary School - Main Campus.

Junior Latin Category contestants

Matthew E. Mangulabnan and Ronald Kadine S. Valdez, and Junior Standard Category contestants Arvin Josef Lyon

P. Padilla and Sophia Ysabelle

G. Estrada faced the dancers of Cluster 1 in the Division Meet, after earning the Gold title during Dance Sports Cluster Meet last March 3, 2023, at Las Piñas East National High School Verdant.

persistence, and dominance. Certainly this country could have displayed its sports talent to the world better.

Fortunately with this medal haul, the Philippines reminds the world that Filipinos are still a force in international space.

To maintain our position in the globe, the Philippine government must continue to uphold athletes. Besides establishing a flexible budget, there should be more policies and programs to secure funds for athletes. Moreover, athletes would benefit from interventions and incentives. Lastly, the government should encourage the next generation of aspiring athletes, so they too strengthen the reputation of Philippine sports.

If we want to stay afloat in this competition, we need to level up.

End of an era: GGs for Team Secret in VCT APAC League

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PH team, Team Secret, are homebound as GEN G sends them back in VCT lower bracket semis.

The Philippine Reps, Team Secret, ends their miracle run as they suffer a heartbreaking 1-2 defeat from Korean Team Gen G in Valorant Champions Tour Asia Pacific held in South Korea last Monday, landing them in fifth place.

After a seemingly impossible spread of games, the team that swept the unbeatable DRX are out of the running for a spot in the Valorant Champions Tour Grand Stage in

Tokyo this June.

Team Secret, led by JessieVash, had played out a reverse sweep comeback in the first half of the first map, dominating from a slow 0-6 start in the first game, securing Ascent with a 12-8 win.

This was followed by an absolute sweep as Gen G ran away with the second game win, leaving a scoreline of 13-8 on Haven, Team Secret’s map pick.

The Adobo Gang tried to hold on, but their last hopes were squashed as the deciding game, Split, ended with a 12-14 defeat in overtime after Gen G’s impeccable catch-up rounds.

Dance contestant Arvin Padilla expressed his disappointment for failing to win the Gold Medal.

“A part of me had already anticipated that we wouldn’t win the Gold medal... but I still had some faith that we would win, so I was just a tad bit disappointed with the results because we were so close to qualifying for the regional meet, but I eventually accepted it not long after,” Padilla said.

The dance athletes performed onthe-spot with genres ranging from Cha-cha-cha to Tango.

Their coach, Mr. Peter Daniel Bangug, and the management team headed by Mr. Elmo Banay, Mr. Jay Rose Camonoyan, and Mr. Jovit Jeniebre led the dance athletes to win their Silver Medal.

GRACE IN MOTION. Dancers take the stage, showing their elegance and precision in the captivating world of dancesport.

PHOTO BY: Michelle Conte

ART: SABRINA IGNACIO

SERVING UP EXCELLENCE. Table tennis enthusiasts, Reezadine Rojales & Coach Raymundo Calimbas, prepare for an intensive cluster meet.

PHOTO BY: Raymundo S. Calimbas Jr.

OPEN SECRET. Invy, from Team Secret, cheers as their team advances further in the VCT regular season.

PHOTO BY: VCT Pacific

hey say that revenge is a dish best served cold – but Gilas Pilipinas made sure to bring on the heat to the naturalized player-laden host, Cambodia, as they regained their crown as kings of Southeast Asian 5-on-5 basketball.

Brandishing firepower that could not be matched by the Cambodian team, they dominated the game ending with a 80-69 scoreline in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games 5-on-5 finals.

THE BURNING QUESTION

GOLDEN GILAS Gilas Pilipinas strikes gold in SEA Games

The Pinoy team made sure to avenge themselves after a racking 68-79 defeat from dealing blows with Cambodia in the group stages.

This Gilas victory marks a rise back to the top after their grip on the Southeast Asian Games basketball title was broken by Indonesia in the previous SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Justin “Magic” Brownlee carried the team on his shoulders for back-to-back games in 24 hours. The MVP secured 23 points against the Cambodians after his 34-point explosion in the semifinals against past rivals – Indonesia.

by Althea David

Gold takes thousands of years before it is worthy of use.

For someone to earn a gold, there is a need for time and effort.

According to Malcolm Gladwell, a renowned Canadian journalist, it takes 10,000 hours of proper practice before someone achieves expertise in a skill.

Competitions are held to find the best people in their field. Only those who honed their talents come out on top, making it frustrating for athletes expected to perform perfectly with so little time. Student athletes all over the country suffer under this pressure, since their studies clash with their several days of training.

This can be compensated by spreading out their

PATRON SAINT

by Joshua Santos

Intramurals: The True Power in Education

Scrapping the intramurals for this school year has left a lot of Lapiscians disappointed.

Lapiscians are known for showcasing excellence in every aspect of their lives, and intramurals is truly the best stage to showcase this excellence.

However, the Department of Education (DepEd) highlighted academic priorities amidst the threats of COVID-19. Because of this, several extra-curricular activities, including intramurals, were cancelled.

schedules for a few hours every week throughout the year, rather than crashing several months worth of training into a few stressful days.

Little Feet, Big Footsteps Time is Gold

Believing that proficiency will result from the athletes’ constrained time is unethical and unfair.

Believing that proficiency should result from the athletes’ constrained amount of training is unethical and unfair. They are pitted against others who were given adequate time and effort to train for their sport, putting them at a disadvantage with their sudden and rushed coaching.

Coaches and schools should consider their student athletes’ wellbeing when they are deployed for sports competitions. Excellence, just like gold, takes time, and any institution that considers itself a haven for holistic growth should take this principle to heart.

As an extra-curricular activity, it symbolizes the values of hardwork and determination. Students’ excellence in sports, or other fields, is a demonstration of their ability to excel in multiple aspects of their lives, even while in pursuit of academic excellence. Additionally, the intramurals equips and builds the students’ values in camaraderie as well.

At the end of the day, while I acknowledge the importance of prioritizing academics and safety, the value of nonscholastic activities like the school intramurals must also be recognized in order to foster a balanced education.

I could only hope for the day when the beloved flame of the intramurals, blaze again.

LPSCI’s very own Carlos Yulo, Sir Ariel Delos SantosAriel ‘Yun Oh!

The Golden Boy, Carlos Yulo has achieved massive unimaginable things as the first male Southeast Asian gymnast to win gold at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.

Just like the Golden Boy, another Little Giant hovers around school grounds. Sir Ariel Delos Santos, Media and Information Literacy, PE, and Empowerment Technologies teacher, has not only been sharing his expertise academically, but also in the field of sports.

Being an athlete for 29 years, Sir Ariel had been through multitudes of sports including Track and Field, Basketball, and Volleyball - two of which are sports often dominated by towering players.

Standing only 5 foot 2, Sir Ariel had been crowned Athlete of the Year and Team Captain of the PLM Mens Volleyball Team.

“You shouldn’t see yourself as someone who’s just short because that’s how others already see you. You have to prove them wrong and not be ashamed of your height.”

Sir Ariel takes great pride in being a representative for many sports. Just as Yulo, he believes that determination and discipline are the keys to rising above athletic stereotypes.

“I know that my height is a disadvantage, but I also know that I have the skills for me to show to the world that I can achieve great things.”

Together, both Carlos Yulo and Sir Ariel continue playing in hopes to inspire athletes to break free from athletic stigmas.

LITTLE GIANTS. Sir Ariel Delos Santos poses like Carlos Yulo, an athlete who he believes has elevated spirits of Filipino athletes.

GOLDEN GILAS. Gilas Pilipinas player Justin Brownlee clinches gold for the team against Cambodia during SEA Games 2023

PHOTO BY: FIBA / Ariya Kurniawan

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