Merlion Times Volume 16 Issue 3

SpunkySpirit Week

Who’s Who

By Vanessa Wong

Whenstudents’uniformsareswappedwithflashycolourfulcostumes,youknowit’stimetogetyourspiritsup forSingaporeSchoolManila’sSpiritWeek!Withnewcatchypromptseveryweekday,theschool-wideeventthat tookplacelastMarch6thto10thwasoneofthemostmemorableeventsoftheschoolyear.

The event began with everyone in high spirits on MusicMonday Students strutted through the doors wearing ensemblesresemblingdifferentpopularsingers FromTaylorSwifttotheirfavouriteK-popidols SSMstudents perfectlysetthetonefortheentireweek!

Twin Tuesday was up next with entire classes excitedly coordinating outfits, however, the day was particularly monumental for this impeccable trio. The three cousins - Raphael (P3) , Raiden (P1),andElijah(K1)-litupthehalls with their matching bright yellow minion costumes and endearing smiles.

Cosplaying as one’s favourite characterfromTVshowsandvideo games, Let’s Play Wednesday quicklybecameastudentfavourite Dressing up went beyond mere entertainment, imparting valuable lessons on sustainability amidst theexcitement

With similar beliefs of Anna Shi of Primary 4 who deemed wearing new purchases just once inadvisable, many created outfits from recycled clothing. This included the beautiful Makima costumeof the Secondary 4 student KamanShi.

As a reward for their hard work, students took a trek up mountains, relaxing at imaginary tropical paradises with their paired socks and sandals on Tourist Thursday.

Tocaptheweekoffinstyle,studentsparadedthroughthehallssporting wackyheadbands andmismatchedshoes Withallthetrendyhuesandpatterns,studentsincludingPrimary 4’sSachiPaganaproclaimedFunkyFridayasthebestdayofSpiritWeek!

From the initial pitch back in January to adaptive challenges in late February these festivities would not have been possible without the SSM’s Student Council, Bayanihan. Afterendlesswork,theyproducedoneofthemosthighlyanticipatedandenjoyedevents,

creating life-long lessons for students tocherish

om all SSM Students and Staff who were able to liven up eir otherwise mundane academic days, a thank you is wedtoBayanihanfortheirhardworkinbringingmonthsof anning to life. Spirit Week was truly an unforgettable tletofstressformany!

Get Your Get Your

By Charly Lam

GAME ON! GAME ON!

–andthat’sexactlywhattheSecondaryandPre-UniversitystudentsofSingaporeSchoolManiladidinthisyear’s Intramurals,lastMarch24th,2023!

To kick off the event with a bang, the three teams, Red Team (Secondary 1 and Secondary 3), Blue Team (Secondary 2 and Secondary4),andWhiteTeam(PreUniversity) performed their previouslypreparedcheers.

This cheer segment was eagerly awaited by many, but most of all by Head of Event, Coach Mea Bernal! She shared that out of all scheduled activities, she had been looking forward to this one the most Her excitement was influenced by the electricity sparked by chattering in the Faculty Room, with manifestations by other teachers for their respective classes to win According to Coach Mea, some even asked for the addition of drums or background music – which was challenging for the judges, as they had to include additional criteria Despite the short period given for preparation, the performances went smoothlywithoutahitch!

Shortly after, a dance sequence to Taeyang and Jimin’s “VIBE” was performed by selected dancers from all Secondary levels, which was received by the SSM community with loud cheers This was all made possible by CoachNeil,whopersonallyselectedthedancersandconceptualisedtheperformance’schoreography. Atlast,thegamesofficiallycametoastart!ThisstartedoffwithTugofWar,andthenRelayGames. Following thiscamevarioussports,suchasDodgeball,Frisbee,TableTennisandevenChess for those preferring brains overbrawn Butofcourse,theFootballandBasketballgameswereoneoftheeventhighlightsforallteams!

Michael Jordan once famously said, “Love [for sports] is playing every game as if it’s your last.”

Finally,thedayclosedoffwithawarding–BlueTeambagging1st,Whitein2nd,andRedin3rd.Whenaskedwhy Intramurals were so important for students to experience, Coach Mea described the event as “a welcome distraction” and “a breather for students from the [typical school] year” Additionally,sheconsiderstheevent asawayforstudentstoshine,andanopportunityforteacherstolearnmoreabouttheirstudentsoutsideofthe classroom'sfourwalls.

She added that playing sports also improves bonds between students, and believes Tug of War fostered the mostcooperationdueto the game’s need for strategyinwhichspecific players would balance outtheteamwell.

Inlinewiththis,theMerlionTimesEditorialBoardwereluckyenoughtoreceivetestimonialsfromtheMVPsof thewinningteamandthecheercaptainforPre-Universityontheirinsightstakenfromtheevent.

Juana Tiaoqui, IBDP 1

"An experience like this was an experience that left a painful albeitunforgettablemarkonme Losingstung of course, but I learned so much about the preparation that comes with these things. It is not just me and my ideas,butmakingsureitiscarriedthrougheveryoneelse andfosteringteamspirit. The Panthers will get the win next time for sure!"

"The event really allowed my peers and I to interact with more SSM students from other levels. It brought a lot of people togetherwhetherornottheyparticipatedinasportorwerejust cheering by the sidelines. Overall, the event was lots of fun for everyone . As for achieving the title of MVP, I was honestly not expecting it as I believe that everyone from all teams worked equally as hard and were able to showcase their talents. Nonetheless, I would say that my experience was just simply to havefunandmakethemostoftheeventasastudent-allowing myself to interpret Intrams as a break from academics and a way to blow off steam withmypeers"

ThroughIntramurals,studentswereabletopractisetheirteamworkskillsbyworkingwithdifferentsections.After what feels like ages of being stuck inside classrooms, channelling their inner athletes was exactly what SSM’s SecondaryandPre-UniversitystudentsneededbeforetheirTermTests

White Team’s Cheer Captain

Ella Ortiz, Secondary 4 Blue Team's MVP

BETWEEN THE PAGES: RESTORING THE MAGIC

SSM's Inaugural Bookathlon

By Abi Co

Beyond glaring screens lies a world of endless pages waiting to be devoured. In SSM’s Bookathon, held last January3rdtoMarch17th,Ms.AnnaRuthencouragedstudentstoembarkontheirownliteraryjourneysguided byimagination.

It all began at the Library with “Stack the Book Spine.” GroupsofKindergartenstudentsworkedtogether,creating thetalleststacksofbooks.Uponconcludingtheexpedition, Kinder1studentswerecrownedasthewinners!

Lower Primary students basked in tranquility, writing sentimental reflections about newly-opened books. With beautiful writing, Raiden Macasaet (P1B), Chester Ang (P2A),AngelaTechico(P2B),HenryPowell(P3A),andSofia Zhuang(P3B)wererewardedwithuniquebookmarks!

Tensions rose as Upper Primary raced in Book Bingo! From science fiction to romance, boards were stamped accordingly as students finished books of every genre. A hurrah is owed to the winners: ReeseTacuboy (P4A), GracielleTecnico(P5B),andNiharicaDhingra(P6)!

IntimeforValentine's,Ms.AnnasetupSecondarystudentsonblinddates!WrappedbooksadornedtheLibrary withshortdescriptionstohelpstudentstakeapick.AanviBaggafoundherperfectmatch,winningthetitlefor thebestblurb!

Lastly, Pre-University embarked on their own adventure: a scavenger hunt! They scoured for pictures tucked awayinthemagazinesofthelibrarytoreadandcreateblurbs.

From the childhood classic The Little Mermaid to mysteries with The Da Vinci Code books have been Ms. Anna’s trusty companion since birth “When you have nothing to do, their words bring you to places where your imagination goes beyond the norm.” Additionally, being a librarian only fueled her desire to share her passionforliterature

“You have not found the right book.” Shesays, “You have to find the right book to ignite the love for reading. This activity can help you find that book.”

Despitethisevent’send,thejourneyisfarfromoverforSSM’sadventurousstudents!Equippedwith enhancedskills,theycontinuetoexploreforeignlands,reachingnewgoalsandmaking unforgettablememoriesalongtheway.

As the voyage concluded, Ms. As the voyage concluded, Ms. Anna could not have been Anna could not have been happier with the results! happier with the results!

Overcoming Obstacles:

By Charly Lam

Building Bridges & SSP’S SOIRÉE SSP’S SOIRÉE

Distance?ThatisnothingtotheSingaporeSchools!LastMarch18th,2023,studentsfromtheSingaporeSchool Philippines campuses came together for the SSP Soirée, organised by the Singapore School Manila Student Council andthe Singapore School Cebu Pupil Council. Alongside, Singapore Schools Clark and Green Campus wereinattendance.ThroughaZoomvideocall,studentsparticipatedinseveralformsofentertainmentthrough gamesandactivitiestocreatenewbondsandstrengthenestablishedrelationships.

Tobreaktheice,studentsweredividedintobreakout rooms hosted by either an SSM or SSC council member, based on specific interests ranging from sports,gaming,film,books,anime,art,lifestyle,food, andmusic.IcebreakersconsistedofgameslikeGartic Phone(avisualgameinwhichplayersdrawbasedon aprompt)andJKLM,awebsitewhichhadtwogames; PopSauce (a pop culture trivia game), and BombParty (which gives players sets of letters to cultivateaword).

AgameofBingofollowed,andfreeStarbucksgiftcards were awarded to the winners who completed various prompts such as forming a heart with everyone virtually, taking selfies with Unit Tests, and recording dances to TikTok trends After this, a Padlet (a digital bulletin)wasprovidedforstudentstoleavetheirsocial media accounts, and the day was closed off with a group picture to commemorate this momentous event.

GiaCo,SSM’sStudentCouncilVicePresidentofExternalAffairs

andtheevent’smaincouncilmembershares whyexperienceslikethesearesoimportanttohave,“Byprovidingstudentsthechancetomakenewfriends,to have fun in a setting that’s not academically-aligned, I like thinking that we’ve reduced their social isolation. Sometimesthere’snotimeoropportunitytogettoknowanyoneoutsideschool,whichiswhyeventslikethese areimportant. I believe connection is what keeps us sane.”

Feelings of anxiety and isolation have been prominent these last few years, thus this event served as a well-needed reminder that it’s possible to form connections in unfamiliar situations Cheers to the Singapore School Philippines Soirée for providing opportunities fornewfriendships!

FOR YOUR THOUGHTS PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

IIkigai: kigai:

By Rishabh Jain

Find Your True Calling

“Our Ikigai is different for all of us, but one thing we have in common is that we are all searching for meaning.”

きがい,alsoknownasIkigai,isaJapaneseconceptthatreferencessomethingthatgivesapersonasenseof purpose in their life, answering their “Whys” for living ‘Iki’ means life in Japanese, and ‘gai’ represents one’s value or worth. Sometimes, it is known as "a reason that motivates you to get out of bed every morning." It consistsof4maincomponents:Passion,Mission,Profes questionsthathelpyoudecidetheperfectprofessionfor

Japanhasthesecondhighestlifeexpectancyrateinthe world with Ikigai being a common force for this, along withtheculture’sfreshandnutritiousdiet Ontheother hand, the Western interpretation of the word “Ikigai” is used to find their dream career, although it has a much more composite history with a deeper meaning. Personally, I feel that finding your true Ikigai can completely change your life in several positive ways, bringingasenseofpurposetoyourworld.Herearesome waysknowingyourIkigaicanaidyou:

Bringlongevityandhappinessintoyourlife

Createyourperfectworkenvironment

Establishstrongsocialtiesatwork. Establishagoodwork-lifebalance. Pursueyourprofessionalgoals. Takepleasureinyourtask

The book itself, titled “Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life”, piqued my interest when I was reading it. I had heard of this mysterious Japanese art, Ikigai, before, but I never really knew what it meant. As I read deeper into the book, I discovered that Ikigai encourages introspection, which is the observation of one's mental and emotional reactions It is simply a properandprecisemethodtofindoutyourtruepassionin lifeorastheysay,somethingthatyouwerecreatedtodo onthisEarth.

Withthis,aquotefromthebookstruckmethemost:

If rworryaboutthefuture,butwecompletelyforgetaboutlivingin th livesandmakethebestoutofwhatwehave,insteadofthinking about the tasks and responsibilities that we have to complete in the far future This book highlights how we shouldfocusonwhatwewanttodoandwhatweneedtodotogetthereandactuallyachieveourgoals.

There is no future, no past. There is only a present.

As I read on and on, I felt a profound connection to Ikigai. The concept is not only one that could transform my life, but that of many others searching for their true passion too It truly promotes how the secret to a long, healthy, and joyous life lies in positivity and peace of mind, reassuring us of our place and purposeinthiscomplexworld Onceyou have your passion in your crosshairs, there is no doubt that you will feel a sense of freedom from the stress you maybeenduring.Afterreadingtheentire book, it felt like a refreshing experience asIknewthatchangeshappenedwithin me – a thorough understanding of my owninnerfeelings.

MEET THE WRITER

Movingon,Iamsureeveryonedoesnot want to buy a book just to find their Ikigai so here are alternative methods which are accessible to all. Various websites on the internet can jump-start yourjourneytofindingyourIkigai Some sites may give you sample professions based on your responses, while others can just guide you to answer questions relatedtothe4categoriesofIkigai. You canbrainstormprofessionsthatyoumay beinterestedinandtryeliminatingthem onebyonebasedonyourjudgement.It is quite challenging to choose which professionisthemostfittingforyou,so this may take a considerable amount of time However, after ruling out choices that may not work for you, you are left withyourkeytosuccessandhappiness! Ihopeallofyouhaveafuntimeandget to discover new things about yourself andmostimportantly,findyourIkigai.

Rishabh isastudentinS3wholovescars,exercise,andmusic.In hisfreetime,heplaystheguitar,researchesaboutcars,goesto the gym, and many more. His goal at the moment is to be a healthyandwell-roundedstudent.

A Student’s

ULTIMATE SELECTION ULTIMATE SELECTION

By Yvie Go

Withthoughtsofacademicfutureslingeringinthemindastheendofschoolyearapproaches,thequestion hangingoverastudent’sKto12yearsreemergesoncemore.

OneofthebiggestmysteriesofeveryhighschooleristheenigmaoflifebeyondIGCSEexams,A-levelexternals, and IB submissions. For four Singapore School Manila alumni, attending one of the Big 4 Universities in the Philippineswasthenextstageintheireducationaljourneys.Toenlightenfutureapplicants,TheaLim,LanceSy, MarianChua,andJulianLiprovideinsightinmakingoneofthemostimportantdecisionsinadolescence

Transitioning from studying at an international school to a local university has numerous hiccups, beginning as early as the application process According to Ateneo de Manila graduate Lance Sy, the first hiccup begins at local entrance exams.Reviewcentresposedasagreatsolutiontoadequately preparestudentsfortheseassessments.Lanceandtwoother alumnirecommendtakingadvantageofthesecentersinorder to become familiar with the different style, format, and content of local exams, which vary significantly with SSM’s syllabuses.

On the topic of transition struggle, International Baccalaureate graduate Julian Li shares his own related experiencesregardinghistransfertoDeLaSalleUniversitybackin2019

“It’s very different, most students in La Salle come from big schools. So they know a lot of people; and when they go to La Salle, it’s like their community just transferred. I guess that’s a challenge, you barely know anyone in an already familiar community.”

Unfamiliarity was definitely a recurring issue for Julian, as it was not only the people he was familiar with but the community practicesingeneral.

Comingfromacommunitywithvast international backgrounds, Julian had to adjust his communication methods: from picking up niché Filipino slang to lessening his English usage Furthermore, inclined student interests differed. “When I transferred, everybody liked the same thing: K-Pop, Basketball whereas here everybody preferred football. " Despite these differences, Julian became more accustomed to his environment as time passed. He foundmorethingstobondwithhis friendsaboutthatmadethiseasier

“What’s next?”

AlsofromDeLaSalleUniversity,currentSSMPreschoolTeacherMarianChua recallsasimilarexperiencetoJulian.

“For me, there were people who really knew each other already and had their own groups. But, I think in college it’s more of… you’re on your own.”

Personally,shehaddifferentprioritiesinmindandappreciatedthemore relaxedsocialenvironmentprovidedattheuniversity Whenmomentsof cultureshockdocomeintofruition,Marianadvisesincominguniversity studentstoremembertokeepanopen-mindtotherealitiesoftheworld.

ForTheaLimwhocurrentlystudies

CommunicationatAteneoDeManilaUniversity,shedeemsherselfluckyforher experienceintransitioningtoalocalschool.

“I was lucky that I was already in a stable friend group by my freshmen year. Even when the pandemic hit, we still managed to maintain our closeness. That definitely helped me adjust better to Ateneo, and made me feel like I belonged.”

Despitethehindrancesofadifferentcurriculum,herearesomepositive perspectivesonstudyingataPhilippineUniversityfromourinterviewees:

Consideringtheirindividualcircumstances,eachpersonmadeathoughtfuldecisionaboutstudyinglocally Lance tookintoaccountpracticalconsiderations,whileMarianwasmainlyinfluencedbyherfamily,thuswantingtostay near.Similarly,Julianalwayspicturedhimselfpursuinghisstudiesclosetohome,whichwasfurtherreinforcedby thechallengesthepandemicposedduringhisuniversityapplicationperiod.Ultimately,hefollowedhispassion withaComputerSciencemajorthatLaSalleofferedtohim.AsforThea,shereasonedthatherfutureplanwasto stayinthePhilippinesandfoundthatbuildingconnectionsherewouldbemorevaluabletohercareer

Additionally,Philippineuniversitiescanofferyou opportunities unique to the country

A sense of nationalism, studying at one of the Big 4 Universitiescanearnyoualotofcreditlocally.A bigpartofFilipinouniversityculturealsoinclude organisations which your university sponsors. As mentioned by Thea, connections are extremely important; and forming them with the right peoplewouldbemorepossiblewithintheselocal organisations.

Ultimately,thedecisionisyours Yourpersonal preferences,yourgoalsinlifeandyouroverallperspective areallfactorsthatcomeintoplay thus,yourdecision mustberightforyouandyouonly.

To conclude, some final words from our alumni to aid in your decision-making:

LANCE JULIAN MARIAN THEA

"Check out universities, and what they stand for."

"Adjusting is just a matter of time, getting used to it, and getting to know people."

"Open your eyes to the realities "

"The connections you make matter, and you make a lot of them at the college or university you attend "

SEA SEA Dream Dream Swimming Sensation’s

By Martina Isidro

A shimmering expanse of possibilities, dive into the world of competitive sports and see where the tide takes you. With a remarkable collection of medals adorning her name at withapassionforswimmingandbeingaroundthewater Herun she grows older, pushing her to greater heights Most recentl divisions in the PSI Grand Prix Developmental Swimming Com Gold,Silver,andBronze.

Reesestartedswimmingbeforeshecouldevenremember,andstarted competingbythetimeshewasjust6yearsold.Exertingalotofhours intomakingsureshewasinperfectshape,shekeptupconstanttraining and many strenuous physical activities that swimmers, even ones as dedicated as Reese, had difficulty maintaining Despite all these tribulations, she still never lost her passion for the water. It is a space whereitbringsReesetruejoyandtranquillity–afactthatneverceases toamazewhentalkingtoher.Evenwhenthepandemichadtakenher away from her normal routine practices, she got creative and found waystoexerciseandkeepfitathome

Whenshewasaskedaboutaspirations for swimming and potential future opportunities,shesaid: “I kind of have a dream to compete for SEA games and more,” . Even at her young age, Reese knows that her talent is destinedforgreaterheights

Slowlyturningthepowerofher

Reese recently found the perfect opportunity to participate in the PSI Grand Prix Swimming Competition. At first, it was admittedly quite a nerve-wrackingexperienceforher,yetshestilldisplayeddetermination andletherdeep-seatedpassionforthesporttakethereins.

hesaidwhenaskedaboutherexperiencepartakinginthecompetition Shepushedthrough,readytotakeonwhateverwastocome withthe sole but effective motivation that she was doing what she loved. Once shehadstartedtheswimmeet,herconfidenceandself-assuranceonly flourished.Needlesstosay,withhertwobronzemedals,asilver,anda gold,herfaithinherselfwastheonlysolutionnecessary

Evenwiththeseawards,Reesealsofoundotherthingstoloveaboutswimming:“Ifeelthat,morethananymedal, it's the experience and friends I get to make,” She believes that anyone should be able to do sports, and what mattersthemostisthattheirheartisinit At10yearsold,sheknowsfullwellthatwithpracticeandpassion,the pacedoesn’tmatter–foritisindoingwhatyoulovethattruesuccesscanbefound

My goa do what

CATCH THIS CATCH THIS MOVIE! MOVIE!

By Yvie Go & Martina Isidro

Aloveformoviesandfilmissomethinganyonecanrelateto.Nomatterthegenre,actors,ortimeperiod, moviespersisttobeeveryone’sfavouritepastime.Sograbyourpopcornandturnoffthelights,here'salistof someofSSM’smostbelovedmovies!

The Devil Wears Prada

Age Rating: PG-13

Genre: Comedy/Drama

Watch through the touching and deeply expository story of the fashion industry through the eyes of aspiring writer Andy, and how she finds her own successdespitebeingunderthewingofacclaimedyet acquisitiveMirandaPriestly.Exploreindepthnotonly aviewoftheharshconditionsoftheindustry,butalso therealitybehindpowerandsacrifices.

Age Rating: PG

Genre: Romance/Comedy

Flipped

Aclassicstoryoffirstloveanddiscovery:whenJuli and Bryce meet, Juli is immediately smitten but these feelings aren’t returned. Yet just as Juli begins to rethink her feelings and move on, Bryce realizeshewaswrongabouthertoo.

Murder on the Orient Express

Age Rating: PG-13

Genre: Mystery/Crime

Follow The Orient Express, a luxurious train ride across the continent of Europe until an avalanche swiftly turns the story into a murder mystery. World’s best detectiveHerculePoirotisdeterminedtosolvethecase through a series of lies and questioning before another murdercanstrikethepassengersonboard.

Age Rating: PG

Genre: Family/Comedy Turning Red

Inadditiontothechallengesofadolescence,13-yearold Meilin must contain her many emotions to prevent her Chinese-Canadian family’s curse from turningherintoagiantredpanda

CRYPTOGRAM CRYPTOGRAM

By Vanessa Wong

Decipher the code, reveal the hidden quote and fill up the letters in the blanks!

Previous Winners:

The Yearbook Committee is now opening applications for SY 2023-2024!

GRAB YOUR PRIZE!

Followthesestepsforachancetowin:

Step1:Decipherthemessageand completethecryptogramcorrectly

Step2:Emailaclearphotoofyouranswersto merliontimes@singaporeschoolmanila.com.ph

Step3:Prizesarefirst-come-first-serve.TheFIRSTpersontosend intheCORRECTanswerwillbeconsideredthewinner!

Mohit Moorjani

Sophia Cabrera Allissa Lim

THE EDITORIAL BOARD THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Meet the Editors behind the Merlion Times Newsletter

Meet the Editors behind the Merlion Times Newsletter

OUR MISSION

We strive to promote school spirit & camaraderie across the community through the newsletter

Any suggestions or questions? Looking to be a part of the next issue?

EMAIL merliontimes@singaporeschoolmanila.com.ph

INSTAGRAM @merliontimes

CONTRIBUTORS

PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

Rishabh Jain, Secondary 3

COVER ART

Ryan Wu, IBDP1

ABIGAIL CO

CHARLY LAM Junior News Editor

LIANA WU

CHARINA ANGGALA

CHESCA LAUCHENGCO

Managing Editor Senior Layout Editor

Senior News Editor Senior Special Features Editor

VANESSA WONG Assistant Executive Editor

ELLE SY Junior Special Features Editor

MARTINA ISIDRO Junior Special Features Editor

SIMYUNG SIOW Junior Layout Editor

LAYLA GO Junior Layout Editor

YVIE GO Assistant Executive Editor

JESSICA SNYDER Editor-In-Chief

AANVI BAGGA Junior News Editor