THE Newsletter S.Y. 2020-2021

"The recovery of this PAIN is in PROCESS. And you’ll never know the progress until you GIVE IT A TRY."

The Official School Publication of Tabunan National High School

Fangs of Enemy

LITERARY

SCAN ME

p. 6

Region VIII - Eastern Visayas Division of Biliran District of Tabunan, Almeria Volume 7 • Issue No. 1

AUGUST 2020 JULY 2021

N E W S CHAMPIONING EDUCATION AMIDST THE PANDEMIC. Assistant Regional Director Arnulfo M. Balane in delivering his speech during his visit at TNHS for the pilot testing on Modular Distance Learning, August 17.

ARD Balane visits TNHS, eyes progress on MDL

RYAN JAPAY

Marianel Sabornido PUSH FORWARD. Together with SDS Judella Lumpas, ASDS Margarito Cadayona, and PSDS Aida Cabrera assisted by the Regional Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (RMEAL) Team, R8 Assistant Regional Director Arnulfo Balane (CENTER) spearheaded the Pledge of Commitment Signing to commit to push the education forward despite of the country's current health crisis.

T

o inspect and ensure smooth sailing of the Pilot Testing of the Modular Distance Learning, the Department of Education Region 8 Assistant Regional Director, Dr. Arnulfo M. Balane, visited Tabunan National High School (TNHS) on August 17, 2020.

RYAN JAPAY

MAN IN POWER. In his 11th year of service as a school head, Jesus Isaac Mangco is newly assigned to Tabunan National High School and tasked to lead and serve all of its stakeholders.

DepEd-Biliran assigns new school head in TNHS

JESUS ISAAC MANGCO

Anna Daralie Baring

J

esus Isaac Mangco, a man with eleven years of experience as school head, was newly designated to Tabunan National High School last May 2020.

In one of his interviews, Mangco cited the policies and prioritized projects for the school under his term, such as the widening of the road adjacent to the campus, which will prevent the risk of vehicular accidents and any unfortunate circumstances for both students and teachers.

“The proposal has already received its approval and budget allocation with a total amount of three million pesos (Php 3,000,000),” he said.

The implementation of the

project will be in January 2021, but as of press time, the materialization of the proposal had not started yet, probably for reasons related to the pandemic.

Mangco also included in his plans the construction of the second gate and parking lot in the area where the recent guardhouse has erected.

“For our school policies, I am planning to have the rooms repaired and beautified [them] by

The Regional Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (R-MEAL) led by the Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Judella R. Lumpas; Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Margarito A. Cadayona; and Chief for Curriculum Instruction Division, Dr. Jose B. Mondido had assisted Dr. Balane in monitoring the dry run of the distribution and retrieval of modules conducted by TNHS last August 3-7.

"The main focus of our visit is to identify the problems in the process of distribution and retrieval of modules,” addressed

by Dr. Balane.

TNHS was one of the two chosen secondary schools in the division to conduct pilot testing for the modular distance type of learning since face-to-face classes have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

TURN TO p. 2

TURN TO p. 2

issuesi n s i d e BALITA

OP-ED

Mahigit P232-k donasyon, natanggap ng TNHS para sa T.P. 2020-2021

#theNEWisHERE #TheHillsideEcho #THEReawakening

A Teacher is Mr. Everything

MLI: A Vex Solution?

p. 4

AGHAM

FEATURE

The Tale of Two Unsung Heroes of TNHS

p. 5

p. 8

Palaisipan: Karayom

p. 10

Let your voice and stories be heard.

Connect with us through our email.

Get to know the latest school happenings by liking our Facebook page.

Stay updated with our campus beats from our Twitter alerts everyday.

thehillsideecho.pub@gmail.com

facebook.com/the.officialpub

twitter.com/@EchoHillside

news ARD BALANE VISITS ... from p. 1

Mr. Jesus Isaac Mangco, TNHS school head, announced the initial findings and recommendations of the pilot testing to the visitors that received sound approval from the visiting officials of the regional and the division office.

TNHS teaching force, GPTA officials, barangay officials of the feeder barangay of TNHS, Almeria LGU represented by the Municipal Vice Mayor Marygie Edicto-Tacoy, stakeholders, and visitors were the other attendees of the event.

The Official School Publication of Tabunan National High School Region VIII - Eastern Visayas • Division of Biliran • District of Tabunan, Almeria

TNHS launches pilot testing on modular learning instruction MODULE INSPECTION.

T

abunan National High School (TNHS) has been chosen as one of the secondary schools in the Division of Biliran to conduct pilot testing of the modular type of instruction (MI) for Medium School Category, August 17.

DEPED-BILIRAN ASSIGNS ....

2

from p. 1

having a uniform structuring. Also, I will put perimeter fences in the SHS building.

But these may be done after the pandemic since our top priority must be the safety of everyone,” Mangco added.

JIM, known as his official nickname in Deped, was promoted several times from being a Teacher III in 2005 to Assistant School Head for Senior High School in 2017 when he was reassigned at Culaba National Vocational School (CNVS) and became the school head of the said school in September 2019.

Since his residence is a few kilometers away from school, he was happy to be transferred to TNHS for reasons of convenience and comfort.

He added further that he did not feel like a stranger to Tabunan because he is familiar with several people like Mrs. Farrida P. Mercader, who was his student when he was assigned way back in 1999 as a substitute teacher; and the Mayor’s wife, who is the current barangay captain of Tabunan South.

Mangco is married to Jovina A. Cabatingan, a teacher from Almeria National High School, has two daughters and an active Iglesia ni Cristo – Locale of Almeria member.

Marianel Sabornido

OSWALD JOHN CARO

ARD Arnulfo Balane (CENTER) with his collegues in carefully probing the learning modules done by TNHS on August 3 to 7.

The pilot testing also prepares TNHS to advance to level 3 in the School-Based Management (SBM) regional validation.

Among the chosen schools to conduct pilot testing are Naval School of Fisheries and Caray-Caray Elementary School for the Big School Category; and Lo-ok Elementary School for the Small School Category.

Before the actual date of the pilot testing, TNHS had assigned teachers to conduct a meeting with the barangay officials in Almeria and Kawayan, where TNHS has enrolled students. The meeting aimed to inform the parents to get their total

support in guiding their children in answering the Learning Activity Sheets (LAS).

The collaborative efforts of the teachers and the school head made the event successful even there were minor problems met.

Almeria LGU, headed by Municipal Mayor Richard D. Jaguros and Vice Mayor Marygie Edicto-Tacoy, showed their full support by giving inkind and cash donations as an additional fund for the testing.

TNHS school head Mr. Jesus Isaac Mangco expressed his gratitude to the teachers, parents, barangay officials, stakeholders, and Almeria LGU, who helped the event.

2020 Best SSG Adviser awardee

SDO-Biliran recognizes Caro’s ‘Project UGMAD’ Anna Daralie Baring

Ansale wins first place in civil registration ’20 tilt Marianel Sabornido A WINNING SMIRK. Provincial Champ Mary Ann Ansale poses a smirk after receiving her certificate and cash price during the awarding ceremony of the 2020 Provincial Civil Registration Quiz, March 5.

OSWALD JOHN CARO

M

ary Ann Ansale, a Grade 10 - Pythagoras student of Tabunan National High School, emerged as the provincial champion in the 2020 Provincial Civil Registration Quiz, March 5.

Oswald John Caro, Ansale's coach, constantly reminded her to instill in her mind to win in the competition. Caro’s purpose was not to pressure her but to push her to strive harder.

Caro, who was also a former provincial champion and a regional third placer on the same contest in his high school years, gave his best in preparing the student by conducting an intensive review and shared optimistic approaches that boosted the candidate's morale.

Supposedly, there will be a Regional Civil competition but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

#theNEWisHERE #TheHillsideEcho #THEReawakening

O

swald John Caro, former Supreme Student Government (SSG) adviser of Tabunan National High School (TNHS), is the 2020 Biliran Division’s Best Student Government Adviser for the Secondary Level.

SDO-Biliran acknowledged Caro’s Project UGMAD, a three-day training workshop for students and student leaders conducted last December 4-6, 2019, at TNHS. The UGMAD stands for United Governance Molds Academic Dimensions, relating to a Visayan term ugmad which means 'to cultivate or to care'.

Anchored with Maka-Tao core values of DepEd, the project aims to provide sets of relevant training to the students that will develop their expertise concerning their field of specialization.

The school has also received P57,500 total worth of training and competency package through Project UGMAD.

With the partnership of BIPSU (Biliran Province State University) and TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) - Provincial Office of Biliran, the school was able to cater free Food and Beverages Services (FBS) NC II assessments to TNHS students.

Out of 15 exam takers, twelve of them are now TESDA-Certified FBS NCII holders after passing the competency assessment conducted last December 27, 2019, at TESDA - Cabucgayan.

TNHS had also received the Best SSG School Implementer of the division.

The awarding ceremony was concluded last November 27, 2020.

BALANCE. (RIGHT TO LEFT) Paul Dominic Ibajan of Grade 12-Ceviche with the lecturer, Mrs. Claire Francis Barahan, at one of the sessions in the three-day training workshop of Project 'UGMAD', December 4-6, 2019.

“It’s not the award that I am concerned about but, it is more [on] the recognition of [its] effects [to] all people who joined and supported the project and [its] implementation."

Caro said after receiving the Best Student Government Adviser award.

OSWALD JOHN CARO

OSWALD JOHN CARO

news

August 2020 - July 2021 Volume 7 • Issue No. 1

1st virtual graduation rites

Sabornido, TNHS's topnotcher for S.Y. 2020-2021

2 topped JHS completers in first virtual moving up Annalou Mascarinas

John Arren Cervantes 1

M

arianel Sabornido₁, a Grade 12 – Charity student under the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand of Tabunan National High School (TNHS), earned a General Weighted Average (GWA) of 95%.

Sabornido strived to top all 59 graduates with high honors in the first ever virtual graduation rites held via the official Facebook page of TNHS on July 13.

“Being the top student is a great honor and privilege. I cannot explain the joy I felt during the time they announced my name as a top student in our school. It was like, Oh my God. Thank you, Lord, I made it!” she gladly told the press in a phone interview.

T

wo Grade 10 students of Tabunan National High School (TNHS), Keanne Del Mundo₁ of Pythagoras and Zoe Raagas₂ of Descartes, ranked first, surpassing all the junior high school completers with a General Weighted Average (GWA) of 97%.

2 7

3 6

8

4 11

9

5 10

12

13

20

15 17 14 18

19

1

2

3

SHS

Meanwhile, here are the lists of other ‘With Honors’ achievers of HUMSS Batch 2020-2021, who excelled in the modular distance type of learning:

94%:

Alexis Sy₂,

93%:

Kirby Asubar₃, Anna Daralie Baring₄, Annalou Mascariñas₅, and Mark James Toñacao₆.

92%:

Joshua Abanes₇, Jay Dacunes₈, and Renah Mae Espina₉.

91%:

Christine Joy Amador₁₀, Leonel Ansale ₁₁, Christine Joy Balondo₁₂, Brain Jane Jadulco₁₃, Easter Hope Paragas₁₄ and Angela Vega₁₅.

JHS 90%: Nicole Ann Amador₁₆, Aldin Densing ₁₇, Miller Gaditano₁₈ and Zandro Salloman₁₉.

Dexie Luzbeth Espregante₂₀ of Grade 12 – Ceviché also outshined all the students

under the TVL - Home Economics strand, surpassing them with a GWA of 90%.

“Padayon. Padayon bahala’g lisod. Ug gikapoy, nagpahuway. Take a deep breath, unya padayon gihapon. Because one day, those sleepless nights, endless tears, and never-ending hardship will pay off," the topnotcher addressed the next set of learners. (“Carry on. Just continue even if it is hard. And if tired,

thehillsideecho.pub@gmail.com

take a rest. Take a deep breath, then continue later.

Because one day, those sleepless nights, endless tears, and never-ending hardships will pay off,” the topnotcher addressed the next set of learners.)

As per the official statement of the Department of Education dated July 16, the official reopening of the 20212022 school year will be on September 13.

/the.officialpub

@EchoHillside

3

16

Both students, including Regina Villato₃ of Pythagoras with a GWA of 95%, received the 'With High Honors' award at the first-ever virtual moving up conducted last July 12.

Among all the completers, here are the lists of ‘With Honors’ awardees who excelled in the modular type of learning: 94%: Mariel Sabornido of Grade 10 – Descartes.

93%: Cindy Abogado and Melina Galilee Arcilla of Grade 10 – Descartes with Ma. Lovely Consolacion of Grade 10 – Pythagoras.

92%: Mayra Raquel Salvo of Grade 10 – Descartes.

91%: Dris Johnwyn Patagnan of Grade 10 – Descartes.

90%: Gerleah Espina, Benh Richard, and Gabriel Lagahan of Grade 10 – Descartes with Maria Mae Gadugdug and Glecy Joy Gaturian of Grade 10 – Pythagoras.

Since face-to-face moving up is still not allowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, TNHS decided to conduct the rites virtually using Google Meet based on the release of the Department of Education memorandum dated May 24.

The moving up aims to highlight the effort done by learners, teachers, and personnel in championing education amid the public health situation with the theme, “Kalidad ng Edukasyon Lalong Patatagin sa Gitna ng Pamdemya (Strengthening Quality Education Amid COVID-19 Pandemic)”.

balita

Opisyal na Pahayagang Pampaaralan ng Pambansang Mataas na Paaralan ng Tabunan Rehiyon VIII - Silangang Kabisayaan • Dibisyon ng Biliran • Distrito ng Tabunan, Almeria

Mahigit P232-K donasyon, natanggap ng TNHS para sa T.P. 2020-2021

S

a kabila ng malawakang epekto ng COVID-19 sa pamumuhay ng bawat Pilipino at ekonomiya ng bansa, patuloy na nanaig ang bayanihan ng mga stakeholder ng Tabunan National High School (TNHS) sa pag-abot ng tulong para sa mga gawain at pagpapaunlad ng paaralan.

BAYANIHAN SA GITNA NG PANDEMYA. (MULA SA KALIWA) Bukas-palad na tinanggap nina G. Jesus Isaac Mangco, punong-guro ng TNHS, at Gng. Ana Vero, Chairman of Committee on Solicitation, ang cash donation para sa konstruksyon ng banyo ng SBM Hub mula sa Batch 1997 Alumni sa pangunguna nina Wendelle Patagnan at Jocelyn Bacalanco. Dalawang bagong printer at hygiene set rin ang natanggap ng paaralan mula sa iba't iba donors nito.

ANA VERO

4

Brain Jane Jadulco Tinatayang nasa P232,719.66 na kabuuang cash at in-kind donations ang nalikom ng TNHS mula sa pinagsama-samang tulong ng iba't ibang donor ng paaralan para sa taong panuruan 2020-2021.

Ang nasabing halaga ay ilalaan para sa mga programa ngayong kasagsagan ng Pandemya, partikular na ang paglikha ng mga Learning Activity Sheets (LAS) at modules na gagamitin para sa Modular Distance Learning Program, rehabilitasyon ng School-Based Management (SBM) Office, pagpapatayo ng School Reading Center at Guidance Office, at konstruksyon ng mga banyo.

Sa pangunguna ni Gng. Ana O. Vero, Master Teacher at Chairman of the Committee on Solicitation ng TNHS, nakalikom ang paaralan ng P62,168.40 cash donation para sa LAS, module printing at pang-bili ng mga printer. Nais

"Lubos akong napupuspos at nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng ating mga stakeholder na patuloy na nagbubukas ng kanilang pinto sa tuwing kumakatok ng tulong ang ating paaralan."

Saad ni Gng. Vero sa interbyu patungkol sa "Bayanihan sa Gitna ng Pandemya".

ipaabot ng paaralan ang lubos na pasasalamat nito sa mga sumusunod na donor: Leia B. Watts, Marinyl Bayer, Francis Comendador, Robert Bosnjak, Orville Navales, Regine Herbert, Mariel Ann Macalinao, Eula P. Go, Tiffany River Fox at Jojo Combini.

"Sa kabila ng ating limitadong MOOE (Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses), kami ay lubos na tumatanaw ng utang na loob sa lahat ng donor na nagpaulan ng kanilang donasyon. Dahil sa kanila, nasolusyunan natin ang pangbili ng mga printer at bond paper para sa produksyon ng LAS at modules," saad ng punong-guro ng TNHS na si G. Jesus Isaac Mangco.

Nakalikom din ng P51,572.75 cash donations ang TNHS galing sa mga alumni nito mula sa mga batch ng 1997, 2001, at 2005; Sangguniang Bayan member Florante Agajan; at sa punong-kapitan ng Tabunan, Jasmin T. Jaguros.

Ipinapaabot naman ni G.

Francisco Dagohoy, guro sa Filipino ng TNHS, ang kanyang lubos na pasasalamat kay Tiffany Rivera Fox ng Pura Vida Foundation - USA sa pinaunlak na P40,000 cash donation para sa pagpapatayo ng School Reading Center.

Nakatanggap din ng P7,500 kabuuang halaga si G. Francisco mula sa mga donors, kabilang na sina G. at Gng. Reggie Docallos, Ethel Gier Monteves, Cong. Gerardo J. Espina Jr., Gov. Rogelio Espina, at Vice Mayor Marygie Edicto-Tacoy.

Dagdag pa rito, nagbigay rin ng karagdagang P15,000 si Marinyl E. Bayer para sa konstruksyon ng Guidance Office, na pinasinayaan naman ng Teacher II at Guidance Designated na si G. Hernan Cogonon, kasama ang ibang cash at in-kind donations.

Nagpapasalamat din ang TNHS sa natanggap na P96,478.51 na kabuuang halaga na cash at in-kind donations na gagamitin para sa pagpapaunlad ng paaralan upang maihanda ito sa Regional SBM validation. Ilan sa mga donor ay sina Charm B. Herra, Marinyl Bayer, Cong. Gerardo J. Espina, Gov. Rogelio J. Espina, Mayor Richard D. Jaguros, 3rd Engineer Jessie O. Vero, at ABC President Jasmin T. Jaguros.

"Ang ating paaralan ay lubos na tumatanaw ng pasasalamat sa inyong kabutihang-loob. Totoo nga na 'no man is an island'. Ang layon nito ay mapabuti ang ating paaralan at mga magaaral natin. Kung wala ang tulong ninyo, mahihirapan tayo [ang paaralan] na kumilos magisa sa pagsasabuhay ng mga hangaring ito. Kaya, kasama ng mga teaching staff ng TNHS, lubos kaming nagpapasalamat.

Nawa'y pagpalain kayo ng Maykapal," pahayag ni Mangco.

Farrida Mercader, itinalaga bilang bagong Department Head ng TNHS

o

pisyal nang itinalaga bilang Department Head ng Tabunan National High School (TNHS) ang dating acting officer na si Farrida Mercader.

Brain Jane Jadulco

Si Mercader ay inilagay bilang Acting Department Head sa ilalim pa ng panunungkulan ng dating punong-guro ng TNHS na si Grace Durano.

Sa inilabas na Special Order No. 10, S. 2020 galing sa SDO – Biliran, na may titulong School Department Head - Designated, pinagtitibay nito ang posisyon ni Mercader, na siya namang magsisilbing katuwang ng punong-guro sa pamamalakad ng paaralan.

Ika-labing apat na taon na ni Mercader sa serbisyo

bilang isang Licensed Professional Teacher, kasabay ang pagiging Teacher III at guro sa Science.

Ayon sa bagong department head, malaking hamon daw para sa kaniya ang posisyon sapagkat nakasalalay dito ang kapakanan ng bawat desisyon ng guro at kahihinatnan ng paaralan.

“Hindi ko ito ambisyon at hindi ko rin ito hinangad.

Pero nagpapasalamat pa rin ako dahil sa tiwalang ibinigay sa akin ni Sir JIM,” dagdag pa ni Mercader.

Nanumpa na ang guro

#theNEWisHERE #TheHillsideEcho #THEReawakening

noong ika-14 ng Disyembre, 2020, sa ilalim ng panunungkulan ng bagong punong-guro, Jesus Isaac Mangco.

BAGONG DEPARTMENT HEAD. Sa ilalim ng panunungkulan ng bagong punong-guro ng TNHS na si Jesus Isaac Mangco, matagumpay nang itinalaga ang tatlumpu't pitong taong gulang na si Farrida Mercader (GITNA) bilang bagong Department Head ng TNHS, na siyang magiging katuwang ng punong-guro sa pagpapatakbo ng paaralan.

ROWENDA ARNEJO

Agosto 2020 - Hulyo 2021 Tomo 7 • Bilang 1

thewoke

op•ed

EDITORIAL

ANNA DARALIE BARING @annadaraliebb

Encountering Dilemmas We, the youth, are still the hope of our nation.

T

wo years after the COVID19 outbreak happened in the Philippines, everything has changed. New norms are in, and old rules are out. In dealing with such a massive change in the education system of our country, Tabunan National High School (TNHS) has adopted the MLI or Modular Learning Instruction system that brought students to the most depressing year of learning they ever had. These are what our column is all about.

EDITORIAL

A

re Modular Learning Instructions (MLIs), or simply known as modules, a dissatisfying solution to the crises faced by the country's educational system due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

The decision of the Department of Education (DepEd) to use MLIs for the continuity of the educational process in all public schools in the Philippines is one of the proposed alternatives to solve the uprising crises since education is one of the highly affected sectors during the pandemic.

MLIs, according to DepEd, is a form of distance learning that uses self-learning modules. The modules include sections of different tasks and assessments that serve as a complete guide on the desired competencies of both teachers and learners. Teachers, meanwhile, will deliver the modules door-to-door with a set of instructions for retrieval following the safety health protocols.

However, the public doubted its safeness and efficacy. Some oks the new mode of learning. But many people are never delighted nor motivated by it, even after the reopening of classes last October 5, 2020.

Instead, the feeling of uncertainty occupies the minds of many in knowing that it may burden the

Education must go on no matter how intense the pressure the teachers and students has to experience.

student in carrying out the tasks the new modes of learning are offering.

Based on a survey conducted within the year, most of the students in Tabunan National High School were found guilty of experiencing a hard time coping with their lessons for every quarter.

The modules have brought a distressing effect to the students, affecting their physical, social, and mental conditions due to the overwhelming tasks and bulky assessments with synchronous deadlines.

Furthermore, most students are also learning not to learn by only complying with the requirements instead of retaining

what they have learned as a coping mechanism.

Can it efficiently convey learning to the students?

How will comprehension be monitored while the teacher is not around? What about the uneducated parents who can't help their children in answering the modules?

These are some disturbing queries most of us are eager to hear the answers from the department.

Despite all these calculations, education must go on. It should proceed no matter how intense the pressure has to be experienced by both parties. It will fall either of the two: to end successfully or not.

Everybody must accept the fact that this all happens because of the disturbance and the menace brought by the pandemic.

What if the education department will finally close its eyes and fold its arms in total surrender to the havoc brought by COVID-19?

thehillsideecho.pub@gmail.com

EDITORIAL BOARD S.Y. 2020 - 2021

Anna Daralie Baring editor-in-chief

Marianel Sabornido associate editor

Windelyn Ambe managing editor

Brain Jane Jadulco circulation manager news Anna Daralie editor Baring filipino Marianel editor Sabornido sports Annalou editor Mascariñas feature Brain Jane editors Jadulco •

Angela Vega

editorial John Arren cartoonist Cervantes layout John Arren artist Cervantes

Micah MagdalIne Gayrama David Laude advisers

Jesus Isaac Mangco (SH) consultant

Can learners hurdle the next grade or level of education?

Modules may be temporary but can be a starting point to aid the educational needs of every Filipino learner nowadays.

/the.officialpub

@EchoHillside

5

••• Learning to Learn The pandemic brought TNHS students to a place where complying with requirements is more valuable than learning.

Without the full attention of our educators, there is only minimal education to have, where it extends to no learning at all.

Thus, a student must double his or her effort to learn through modular or online learning or whatever is available. Because at the end of the day, an attitude towards education is essential for learning.

••• Life at Risk Some people say that teachers are responsible for the education of their learners. They are supposed to guide them in whatever means available, even if it costs their lives. They are wrong. Our educators are also a victim of the pandemic. We, students, must help our hardworking teachers by solely following their instructions and acknowledging their efforts for us to learn. Imagine the world with the absence of our teachers. Is it not depressing?

Distribution and retrieval of Learning Activity Sheets 17 kilometers away from school are risky, but teachers have never complained. Think of it.

••• Beyond Boundaries Each of us has gone through a lot this trying times.

Most of us experienced and still experience dilemmas where other students end their lives just because of the pandemic.

As a student, look into the light during these darkest times and be the light to others.

Everything happens for a reason. Keep holding on like what our teachers do.

Education must continue no matter what will happen. As cliché as it may sound, we, the youth, are still the hope of our nation.

MLI: A Vex Solution?

literary

The Official School Publication of Tabunan National High School Region VIII - Eastern Visayas • Division of Biliran • District of Tabunan, Almeria

T

he rise of the COVID-19 virus has brought a massive shift in how the world works.

From sunrise 'till sundown, some things will never be the same.

6

Malls have become emptier. Bars may even be prohibited, and the buzzing of delivery riders anew.

Gatherings all across the country have also snuffed out one by one.

The transition to this so-called "new normal" wasn't so smooth.

We are just beginning to see its impact, which altered how we do things before.

MODULE

FANGS OF ENEMY

M-O-D-U-L-E Only consists of six letters.

But I’m finding myself with you, distressed.

I want to learn, but why is it like this?

I want to learn but not in this way.

Weeks, months, a year has passed, I am still into you, focused, Never fades even without eating.

Still hoping I could make you small, So I can rest.

You’ve been wandering your life into this glimmering world Choosing the path destined to And fight back to armies of insecurities Yourself in emotional battles are only your ultimate opposite of foe But I was different from you I was lead to an inner circle of destruction, I guess inferiority complex is the complete reason The recovery of this pain is in process And you’ll never know the progress until you give it a try I was hanging to a small Needle of chances Waiting for my days to bloom, and right now blood is shedding me Judgments are tearing me apart My inner self is asking for your help Tired of sitting in the dark I was on my own Hidden and crying all night Trying to wipe up the tears that fall upon my face Bones of happiness are breaking And moments to cherish slowly became a memory I was afraid and can’t stand myself You are calling me weak, and it took my heart to break You and I are the same What I’ve lost is the same as yours Your flesh is the same as mine So who are you to reprove me?

I close my eyes and sigh And as I open my eyes That shadow suddenly gone I was referring to my inner self Whom I was fighting for The only buddy and my greatest enemy Myself.

WORDS BY MARIANEL SABORNIDO

WORDS BY ANGELA VEGA

Every time I put my answers down, I do not know if they are still exact.

I only know this is I can afford so far.

But I am not giving up.

‘Coz I want you to attest me, too.

I feel not so right this time.

Are insomnia and fatigue the investment After hauling for keys, undying?

I want to dream. I want to lay. I want to rest.

But my mind keeps telling me not.

It is now midnight, yet I’m still awake— Awake because of you!

They say something new will come, After pages are flip a few times.

A saying I heard so many times.

And the reason why I still get so mad, For the buckets of worries, you sent me at all times.

I see you as a burden, but I do not want to.

Because you are a provider of knowledge, Wisdom, someday I can use .

But why I am now getting less content, Lack of sleep and floating?

#theNEWisHERE #TheHillsideEcho #THEReawakening

panitikan

Agosto 2020 - Hulyo 2021 Tomo 7 • Bilang 1

SA MUNDO NG BAGONG NORMAL

7

tindahan ni aling marites, brgy. pilipinas “𝗡𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗼 𝗯𝗮 '𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶 i𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘆𝗼𝗻 𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗶𝘀?”

𝗻𝗮 𝗻𝗴

“Alin doon?” “𝗜𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗶 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀!”

“Ah, iyon ba kako? S’yempre naman alam ko. Sikat iyon dito sa baranggay natin, e!”

Iyong tindahan niyang kay daming tinda, Sari-sari at iba-iba.

Ang pangunahing produkto nga roon ay droga, Kasama na ang ilegal na baril kuwarenta'y nuebe't si mary jane Itong paborito naman ng mga dayuhan sa sosyal medya— Mga nakapaskil na litrato ng babaeng musmos at dalaga; Walang saplot, nakalantad kanilang katawan habang nakabukaka; At makakikita ka rin ng mga babaeng de renta Limang libo ang bayad na pinakamababa, Giling at kadyot ang handog nila kapalit ng pera!

S’yempre mayroon din ditong bentahan ng mga batang pulubi't ninakaw sa pamilya, Mga yamutmot na paslit, lamang loob nila'y maaaring maibenta, Kapalit ng daan, libo o milyong kuwarta. “𝗔𝗯𝗮, 𝗺𝘂𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗺 𝗻𝗮 𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗺 𝗺𝗼 𝗮𝗵!”

Aba'y oo naman!

Isa sa mga bendador diyan ay ang aking kaibigan at pamilya Si ama'y isang holdaper sa isang masikip at pusikit na eskinita.

Itututok niya lang ang kaniyang baril sa harap ng biktima,

DISENYO NG PAHINA NI JOHN ARREN CERVANTES

Sabay dukot ng ari-ariang ‘di kaniya At tatakbo papalayo sa disgrasya.

Kasama na rin ng aking inang isang bayaran, Sa paggiling siya'y pinakadalubhasa.

Litrato rin ni ate'y kumakalat at ibinebenta sa mga walang hiyang lalaki Habang si kuya nama'y kasama sa pulpuling pulisya.

Si kuya na balat-kayong ipinaglalaban kuno ang hustisya para sa masa, Nakikisali pala sa pakikipagpalitan ng salapi at droga. “𝗦𝘂𝗸𝗶 𝗿𝗶𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗸𝗮𝗽𝘄𝗮 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗴𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗮𝗴𝗮. 𝗦𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗶 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗮 𝗺𝗴𝗮 𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗸𝘁𝗼.”

“Aba'y oo. Tayo namang mga kontra sa tindahang ito'y walang magawa kundi manahimik na lang at huwag umimik.

Baka't mapagkamalan pa tayong terorista.

Aywan ko na lang sa Baranggay Pilipinas, pinamahayan na ng mga utak-satanas.”

MGA SALITA NI ANNA DARALIE BARING

MANGMANG na mas lamang papel at lapis ma'y hindi nahawakan nguni't siya'y may kabutihan salat man s'ya sa yaman, alipugha man, s'ya'y mangmang man p'ro lamang ang kabaitan. 'di man katalinuhan loob pa ri'y may kagandahan papel at lapis ma'y di nahawakan.

MGA SALITA NI ANNA DARALIE BARING

thehillsideecho.pub@gmail.com

/the.officialpub

@EchoHillside

feature

ial School Publication of Tabunan National High School Visayas • Division of Biliran • District of Tabunan, Almeria

O AG

8

D O E SC D C I LA U N A ID FR A V D

Anna Daralie Baring

Proudly shouted Laude in his mind after the delivery and retrieval of learning activity sheets (LAS) was done last July 2021.

T

a coach, and a cyclist outside his profession.

Because of his perseverance in his sworn duty, he traversed the provincial highway in the municipality of Kawayan just to drop LAS to 13 students from Masagaosao and Villa Cornejo, which is situated 19 kilometers away from the station. The ways from barangay Masagaosao to Bulalacao are burdensome. With its uphill an downhill roads, no one can say it is easy, including the deadly stiff downhill ride in Kamangon road at barangay Bilwang.

There were even a few weeks at the start of the school year that Laude delivered a module to one student at barangay San Lorenzo, the farthest barangay in the Municipality of Kawayan, which is also 19 kilometers away from the station. Thank God, the student was married to a man from sitio Basak of Buyo. It will be troublefree for teachers designated at Buyo to drop the LAS at her husband’s house.

After the delivery and retrieval of LAS to students at Villa Cornejo, Laude will travel the same route and stop at barangay Masagaosao to retrieve them. And then, with the same task, he proceeded to barangay Balite up to his last destination to barangay Poblacion.

“A teacher is always ready to perform duty even at difficult times, rain or shine,” Laude proudly addressed in an interview about the experience teachers had witnessed during the LAS/module delivery and retrieval.

Despite the difficulties, problems and shortcomings met, Dagohoy and Laude proved that a teacher is indeed Mr. Everything. He acts as a parent in the classroom, yes. A nurse or doctor whenever a student suffers an illness, yes. And now, amid the menace of the COVID-19 pandemic, a teacher not only by profession but by being your Mr. Postman, Mr. LBC, or Mr. Ninja Van. No complaining. They are just doing their no-joke job the best they could.

Although our teachers only received a little or no recognition at all, giving up is none of their options. What else could we ask for?

#theNEWisHERE #TheHillsideEcho #THEReawakening

HO

Y

•

lathalain

Agosto 2020 - Hulyo 2021 Tomo 7 • Bilang 1

Dahil dito, tayo pa rin nga ba ang masasabing pag-asa ng bayan?

Ano nga ba reading center?

Kung iisipin, nakalulung kot na lugmok pa rin ang bansa pagdating sa larangan ng Pagbasa. Nangongolelat pa rin nga tayo sa reading comprehension base sa huling tala ng Program for International Student Assessment o PISA noong Disyembre 2018. Sa 79 na bansa, tayo lang ang nakakuha ng pinakamababang puntos na 340, na kung susumahin, mas mababa ito kumpara sa 480 puntos na siya namang katamtamang lebel sa kasanayan ng kaunawaan sa pagbabasa. Sa sampung kabataang Pilipino na nagbabasa sa buong Pilipinas, katumbas nito ang walo sa kanila na nahihirapan pa rin magbasa. Isa na nga ang mga magaaral sa Tabunan National High School ang nakararanas nito.

Hindi natin maitatago ang katotohanan na ilan pa rin sa atin ang nakatatanggap ng lupon ng mga masasakit na paratang tulad na lang ng "lutang", "walang tiyaga", o 'di kaya'y "walang pakialam". Dahil na rin umano sa hindi marunong umintindi sa binabasa, madalas, nauuwi ito sa pambubulas.

Matatandaan, isang "reading program" ang isinagawa ng isa sa mga batikan at matagal na-na guro ng paaralan na si David Laude. Nakita niya na parami ng parami ang bilang ng kaniyang mga naging estudyanteng hirap pa rin sa Pagbasa, o iyong iba ay hindi pa talaga marunong magbasa lalo na ng mga akdang nakalimbag sa ingles.

Umabot rin sa punto na sa tuwing klase niya, nauuwi na lamang sa 'reading sessions' ang naturang oras.

Sa pagsisikap na maiangat ang lahat ng estudyanteng ito, ang mga opisyales ng Supreme Student Government o SSG ay naglaan na rin ng oras upang tulungan ang guro sa pagpapatakbo ng programa.

Halos dalawang dekada na rin ang nakalilipas mula nang maumpisahan ang programa ni Laude. Sa kasamaang - palad, hindi ito nagbunga dahil na rin sa kakulangan sa oras, badyet, lugar na pagdarausan, at learning instructional materials.

Nito lamang Marso, taon 2021, sa pagsisikap ng butihing guro sa Filipino at bagong tagapayo ng SSG na si Francisco Dagohoy, natapos na rin ang konstruksyon ng TNHS Reading Center na hinintay ng paaralan ng mahabang panahon.

thehillsideecho.pub@gmail.com

/the.officialpub

ang mayroon sa

Ang Reading Center ay matatagpuan sa pagi tan ng Food Lab at silid ng Bai tang 8Tesla ng paaralan. Nagkaka halaga ito ng halos P44-K. Ang maliit, ngunit mahaba, at maluwag na espasyo nito ay sapat na upang pagdausan ng reading sessions tuwing may bakanteng oras ang mga kandida tong mag aaral. La yunin din kasi ng rea ding center na matugunan ang lahat ng pa ngangailangan ng isang "frustrated reader" o iyong mga estudyanteng hirap pa rin sa pagunawa ng kaniyang binabasa. Sa pamamagitan ng mga instructional materials na ilalaan sa silid na ito tulad ng mga complexity evaluation card, mga reading workbook at mga progress chart, mabibigyan rin sila ng sapat na atensyon sa Pagbasa. Ayon kay Dagohoy, pinagpaplanuhan na rin ng paaaralan na lagyan ito ng television set at aircon upang sa ganoon ay matugunan rin ang mas pinaigting na “digital era of learning” ngayon. Kaya hintayin lamang natin.

Bilang isang tagapayo ng SSG, malungkot na balita ito para kay Dagohoy na malaman na kasalukuyang naghihikahos pa rin sa Pagbasa ang kaniyang mga magaaral. Tulad nga nang nakita ni Laude, napansin rin niya na nawalan na nang interes ang karamihan sa kanila. Iyong ilan nga e'y nahuhumaling na lang sa paglalaro ng mobile games. Pati sa pagsagot ng kanilang mga modyul ay nahihirapan din. Ang dahilan ay hindi maintindihan ang binabasa kaya sinasagutan na lang nila basta basta nang hindi man lang binabasa kung ano ang nakapaloob dito. Umaabot rin sa punto na pinasasagutan na lang din nila ang kanilang modyul sa kanilang magulang o mga kapatid.

May pag-asa pa ring nagliliwanag sa mga kabataan sa panahong ito. @EchoHillside

FRANCISCO DAGOHOY

Masakit man ito para sa kanya, naniniwala pa rin si Dagohoy na may pag-asa pa ring nagliliwanag sa bawat magaaral ng Tabunan National High School. Isang daang porsyento siyang naninindigan na may oras pa para solusyunan ang hamong ito. Kahit na ganoon ang kasalukuyang kalagayan ng paaralan, hindi natin makikitaan ng pagsuko ang butihing guro sa pagtahak ng mga masukal na daan para lamang maihatid at maitaguyod ang magandang kinabukasan na naghihintay para sa kaniyang mga estudyante. Sa pamamagitan ng bagong Reading Center, lubos na naniniwala ang guro na may yayakap pa rin sa Pagbasa.

Kaya klasmeyt, kumusta na ang iyong pagbasa? Hirap pa rin ba? Ano pang hinihintay mo? Tara na't magtungo sa ating TNHS Reading Center.

9

Parang sirang plaka na nga nating naririnig ang katagang ito na pinasikat ni Gat Jose Rizal dahil sa paulit-ulit na lang itong nababanggit sa radyo, telebisyon, inspirational talks, talumpati ng kilalang mga pulitiko at pari, isama mo pa ang mga nakalimbag sa mga libro, dyaryo o mga contents sa sosyal medya, at mga katulad nito.

Hindi taliwas sa ating kaisipan na marami pa rin sa henerasyon ngayon ng kabataan sa Pilipinas ang nangangalawang sa mga asignaturang Ingles, Sipnayan, Agham at maging sa Pagbasa.

Si Dagohoy ay kilala bilang isang "bookworm reader". Mahilig siyang magbasa. Para kasi sa kanya, may malaking bahagi ang pagbabasa sa paghubog ng sariling kakayahan at abilidad ng isang tao. Binibigyan din nito ang isang indibiduwal ng lupon ng mga bagong kaisipan na lubos namang makatutulong sa pagbuo ng kanilang sariling pananaw. Dahil dito, mas lumalawak ang kaisipan ng isang tao sa kaniyang mundong ginagalawan. Nalilibang rin ang sinomang mambabasa nang dahil dito. Kaya sinikap niya talagang makahingi ng tulong sa iba't ibang donors upang maitayo ang Reading Center, kahit pa na tayo ay kasalukuyang nasa gitna ng pandemya. At ito nga'y naisakatuparan.

LOGO

A

ng kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan"

TER EN

Marianel Sabornido

SA

AT TAP NG T READING C HS N

G. DAG S

ASYON LOK

agham K

abi-kabila na namang balita ang laganap sa paligid ngayon. Kung iniisip ninyo na ito ay patungkol sa korapsyon, o ‘di kaya ay sa abusadong pulitiko, o sa pagsabog ng bulkang Taal, diyan kayo nagkakamali. Ang palaisipang aking tinutukoy ay lulan ng lahat ng balita ngayon na pumukaw sa atensyon ng buong mundo.

Ang nakakahawang virus na ito ay nagmula sa Wuhan, China kung saan inaatake nito ang baga at immune system ng katawan. Kabilang sa mga sintomas nito ay ang pagkakaroon ng mild to severe influenza o flu, tuyong ubo, pansamantalang pagkawala ng amoy, at pagkapagod. Subalit mahirap malaman kung tunay ngang nahawa ka na nito kung walang medical professionals na magsusuri sa iyo dahil may mga sakit na kaparehas rin ng sintomas nito.

10

Naipapasa ang virus sa pamamagitan ng mga patak galing sa pag-ubo, pagbahing o pagsasalita ng mga taong may taglay nito.

Ang maliliit na patak ay maaaring maikalat sa hangin, lalo na sa mga saradong pasilidad at mataong lugar. Wala pa ring katiyakan kung ilang oras tumatagal ang virus sa hangin.

Ayon sa ulat ng Department of Health (DOH), malaking porsyento ang tyansa na mahawa ang mga may edad 65 pataas, buntis at mga pasyenteng galing sa organ transplant at may tiyak na medical conditions, tulad ng cancer, chronic kidney disease, cardiopulmonary diseases, down syndrome, obesity, mga may mahinang pangangatawan, at mga kapareha nito.

Sa kasamaang palad, milyong buhay na ang kinitil ng virus at patuloy pa ring nadadagdagan ang mga kaso. Wala pa rin sa sandaang porsyento ang kasiguraduhan na ligtas ang mga bakuna na ipapamahagi sa mga nasa priority groups: frontliners, senior citizens at mga essential workers. Sa ngayon, 10.7 porsyento pa lang ng kabuuang populasyon sa bansa ang nabakunahan na.

Naglabas naman ang DOH ng mga epektibong paraan upang maiwasan ang paglaganap ng virus na inilagay sa katagang ‘BIDA Solusyon’—bawal walang mask, i-sanitize ang mga kamay, dumistansya ng isang metro, at alamin ang totoong impormasyon.

Inuudyukan rin ng kagawaran ang lahat na sumunod sa mga health protocols na ibinaba ng bawat Local Government Unit (LGU), pagpapanatili ng malinis na pangangatawan, pag-iwas sa mga lugar na matao, pagkain ng masusustansyang pagkain at pagtulog ng sapat.

Pinahihintulutan na rin ang pag-biyahe sa iba’t ibang lugar sa Pilipinas at ibang bansa kasabay ang mahigpit na health requirements at 14-day quarantine bago ang itinakdang araw ng pagalis.

Anong virus nga ba ang palaisipang tinutukoy ko dito? Oo, tama ka. Ito nga ang coronavirus o COVID -19, na parang isang turok ng karayom na nakamamatay.

Kaya kaibigan, mag-ingat ka.

BILIRAN PROVINCE

COVID-19 UPDATES

As of August 2021

1,295 TOTAL CASES

1,145 29 Recoveries

Deaths

121 Active Cases

ALMERIA DISTRICT

151

2

Recoveries

Deaths

17 Active Cases SOURCE: facebook/Biliran Island

Angela Vega EDIT NG PAHINA NI JOHN ARREN CERVANTES

sports

August 2020 - July 2021 Volume 7 • Issue No. 1

TNHS'S hIGHEST

athlete achiever

n Tabunan National High School (TNHS), there was once a young little lad who had the dream of becoming the next Kristina Knott of the Philippines.

No one can take away your dreams from you, even you.

THE BOLT GIRL. Catherine Gaturian Manese, a 21-year-old student athlete who lived at Sitio Calpe in Matanggo, Almeria, is now part of the National Athletics Team of the University of the Philippines Diliman and continues pursuing her dream to be a national athlete of Team Philippines.

CATHERINE MANESE

thehillsideecho.pub@gmail.com

/the.officialpub

@EchoHillside

11 page

She, residing at sitio Calpe in barangay Matanggo, Almeria, has determined to continue the dream of becoming a national athlete after earning a five-year undergraduate course at the University of the Philippines – Diliman by being a varsity scholar. She is no other than the "Bolt Girl" herself, Catherine Gaturian Manese.

Her name , at the age of 18, has started to shine not only in the national competitions but in international, too. One of her greatest achievements was when she finished 4th in the individual running events with a silver finish in a 4 x 100 meters relay at the 12th SEA Youth Athletics Championship 2017 held at Isabela Province, Philippines. She also won the ‘Most Valuable Player' award after securing the three gold medals in the 2019 Philippine National Games.

Manese also had the chance to compete with some of the strongest athletes from all the universities in Manila when she joined the Season '82 of UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines). She also swept a total of 13 medals—9 golds, three silvers, and a bronze—in all her individual running events at the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) League.

Manese, with humble beginnings, started her career in athletics at the age of 10. The young girl found a hard time in training since she was injured and her family was unsupportive of her talent. But, it did not stop Manese from chasing her dream. Instead, she pursued her secondary education at TNHS, which is known for producing studentathletes that can compete not only in district and provincial meets but in regionals, too.

At 15, two years after the injury, the ninth-grader decided to run again.

Manese joined the athletics team of TNHS, coached by David Laude.

Although she suffered a knee sprain that moment, Manese proved to Laude that choosing her was not a mistake. At the 2015 Provincial Meet, she dominated all five individual running events, with two relays, for the secondary girls, finishing them all with gold and two silver, respectively.

Her extraordinary winning sprint in the provincial meet gave her the ticket to compete at the 2015 Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) in Ormoc City and finished as a finalist in the 400m run. Due to prolonged exposure to heat, she badly collapsed in the 1500m run chasing the more experienced runner from Leyte Sports Academy. Despite the difficult time recovering from the incident, Manese still clinched the overall bronze in her

first-ever regional competition.

The following year, Manese did her best again for the second time to qualify in the provincial meet. Unfortunately, she suffered foot injuries since she only ran barefooted due to the lack of financial support from the district.

However, she still managed to qualify in the 2016 EVRAA at Ormoc City. Though the regional meet was not as triumphant as the last year, she ended as a finalist in all three main running events and ranked 4th in the overall medal tally.

Right after EVRAA, Manese went to her coach to confirm her plans to study at Leyte Sports Academy (LSA) as a scholar-athlete. It was her long-time plan to be part of the LSA team, which is considered to have the strongest athletes in Eastern Visayas. Laude confirmed and was optimistic with her determination and bid a piece of goodbye luck.

The bolt girl was accepted at LSA and became a fully-developed studentathlete. With the team, she managed to compete again at EVRAA 2017. That year, Biliran was the host division.

Laude was there as the race starter in track and field events. Before firing the pistol gun as a starting cue, the former coach approached and motivated her.

Fortunately, her team dominated all events with gold, although Manese was a bit disappointed that time because she gave up one of her games to her teammate as planned. Still, she hugged her coach and thanked him after reaching the finish line.

In her two-year stay in the academy, she described it as a living nightmare since the LSA coach belittled and did not consider her exceptional talent. She felt alone.

During weekdays, there were also phone confiscations, which made Manese miss her home so much more.

Her teammates also treated her as a stranger and did not want to talk to her. Jealousy was the reason why they see her as a threat. However, it did not affect Manese. Instead, she claimed the 'With Honors' award and achieved several recognitions, besides her athletic achievements, despite all the mal-treatments she received from them.

In 2018, Manese qualified again for the second time at Palarong Pambansa held at Vigan, Ilocos Sur, with the same team.

Though she had only been able to take home gold, silver, and bronze in her last Palaro, she won the hearts of coaches from different universities in Manila, including the Big Five, and eyed her to become part of their team.

The day after her senior high school graduation at LSA, she went back to Laude to ask again for his advice in choosing what university in college was best for her.

It was because she received scholarship

offers from the coaches of the said universities. After the deliberation, he finally confronted and advised her to pursue a varsity scholarship in UPDiliman. Laude, who is a father figure to her, was the one who believed in her and advice that she could try to push her dream in UPD despite its high standards. She chose UPD. After a year while Manese was studying at UPD, Laude had an unexpected conversation with Elma Muros-Posadas, the Philippines’ Long Jump Queen and a heptathlon champion, who happened to be the consultant for athletes in EVRAA 2019, held at Ormoc City.

In the course of the conversation, the queen was surprised to know that Laude was the former coach of Manese.

Posadas knew Manese since she was also one of the UPD’s athletic consultants. She told Laude that she was amazed by Manese’s extraordinary performance after clocking a 57-sec runtime in 400m dash, a national athlete record. However, she was saddened by losing Manese’s chance to join the International Invitational Game for Athletics at Qatar due to his foot injury.

Last March 2021, the bolt girl and his number one coach finally met for the first time after three years at one of Almeria’s stop-bys. Manese stopped him and asked his time to talk. Manese story-told her previous achievements to him and listed some of her remarkable wins. Without the help of his coach, Manese could not be the person she is today.

At 21, Manese is now in her 4th year in the course of Bachelor of Physical Education and still trains with its Athletics team under the supervi-sion of Posadas for the upcoming Season '83 of UAAP, which is scheduled by next February 2022, and other national athletic events.

She, who was a distressed and hopeless kid before, is still fighting with the dream of becoming one of the national athletes of Team Philippines.

She is Catherine Manese, indeed, the TNHS’s highest athlete achiever.

"NO ONE can take away your dreams from you, even YOU."

The Official School Publication of Tabunan National High School

The Legacy of the TNHS's Highest Athlete Achiever

thehillsideecho.pub@gmail.com

facebook.com/the.officialpub

August 2020 - July 2021 Volume 7 • Issue No. 1

SPORTS Feature

twitter.com/@EchoHillside

p. 11

sports 'Best Olympic Performance to Date'

PH team takes home multiple Olympic medals for first time since 1932

P

John Arren Cervantes

hilippine athletes of the recent 2020 Tokyo Olympics bagged multiple medals once again since the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic games, where Simeon Toribio, Jose Villanueva, and Teofilo Yldefonso won bronzes in Men's High Jump, Men's Bantamweight, and Men’s 200m breaststroke swimming, respectively.

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and boxers Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, and Eumir Marcial have finally finished a podium win for the country— clinching gold, two silver, and bronze, respectively.

The 30-year-old weightlifter from Zamboanga City's feat has finally cut the 97-year-gold-win-drought of the Philippines, which first participated in the 1924 Paris Olympics. Diaz had also won silver at Rio 2016.

Diaz has lifted the country's firstever Olympic gold medal after outdueling the world champion Liao Qiuyun from China in the Women's 55kg Weightlifting Division with a total score of 224kg, one-point lead enough to hold the newest Olympic record in the said event.

Meanwhile, Nesthy Petecio, a 29year-old amateur boxer from Davao Del Sur, punched a silver finish in the gold medal bout with Tokyo-based boxer Sena Irie in Women's Featherweight finals event, which ended by a unanimous

decision in favor of Japan.

Though falling short of bidding gold for the Philippines, Petecio became the first Filipina to win an Olympic medal in boxing.

Another silver has settled after Carlo Paalam, a 23-year-old boxer from Cagayan De Oro, lost the final match in Men's Flyweight event against Great Britain's Galal Yafai by a split decision, 4-1.

Though Paalam failed to get the country's first Olympic gold medal in men's boxing, the boxer promised to claim the gold to his return.

Adding to the Philippines' Olympic medal haul list, the 25-year-old Eumir Marcial finished a bronze against Oleksandr Khyzhniak of Ukraine in the Men's Middleweight semis event.

Marcial, a Zamboanga-native boxer, admitted that he lost the steam towards the Ukrainian boxer and did not advance to the gold medal match with Brazil's Hebert Sousa, which ended by a split decision, 3-2.

Boxing trios—Petecio, Paalam, and Marcial—made a back-to-back win for the Philippines in boxing since boxer Mansueto "Onyok" Velasco, Jr. won the country's first-ever silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

The country now has a total of 14 Olympic medals, 1-5-8.

World champion gymnast Carlos Yulo, pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, and the other remaining athletes of Team Philippines guarantee stronger returns at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

In an interview of the Philippine National Agency dated July 2021, the Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez stated

OVERALL MEDAL TALLY

Rank

Country

1

2

3

1

2

1

4

United States of America

39

41

33

113

2

China

38

32

18

88

3

Japan

27

14

17

58

50

Philippines

1

SOURCE: 2020 TOKYO OLYMPICS OFFICIAL WEBSITE

that this year's batch was the strongest and the most prepared. He was also grateful to the athletes of Team Philippines for doing a great performance in the games, which brings pride, joy, and hope to all the Filipinos across the world despite the pandemic.

The Philippines bid goodbye at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, placing 50th in the world ranking with the United States of America, China, and Japan as the overall 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, respectively.

The games concluded last August 8, 2021.

'BEST PHILIPPINE OLYMPIC TEAM' LINE-UP. FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Hidilyn Diaz (Women's Weightlifting), Nesthy Petecio (Women's Boxing), Eumir Marcial (Men's Boxing), Carlo Paalam (Men's Boxing), Carlos Yulo (Men's Gymnastics), Elreen Ann Ando (Women's Weightlifting), Margielyn Didal (Women's Skateboarding), Ernest John Obiena (Men's Pole Vaulting), Kristina Knott (Women's Athletics), Kurt Barbosa (Men's Taekwondo), Kiyomi Watanabe (Women's Judo), Irish Magno (Women's Boxing), Cris Nievarez (Men's Rowing), Remedy Rule (Women's Swimming), Luke Gebbie (Men's Swimming), Yuka Saso (Women's Golf), Juvic Pagunsan (Men's Golf), Bianca Pagdanganan (Women's Golf), and Jayson Valdez (Men's Shooting)—the 19 Filipino athletes who represented the Philippines in the recently concluded 2020 Tokyo Olympics held in Japan, July 23 to August 8, 2021.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE.

1 5 MUST-KNOW FACTS

NAS is the Home of the 30th Southeast Asian Games held in the Philippines last November and December 2019, located at the New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac.

2

Student-athletes can avail of TUITION-FREE EDUCATION for grades 7 to 12 upon entry and will receive a monthly stipend, free boarding, and lodging, as well as free school and training uniforms.

3

The academy will provide 'world-class' facilities featuring the IAAF-certified Class 1 Athletic Stadium, the FINA-certified Aquatic Center, and the hotel-like buildings with the complete set of Olympicstandard instructional materials for Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Gymnastics, Judo, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, and Weightlifting.

4

The courses included in the said program will give an "EDGE" to all studentathletes, whereas they will be privileged to train at an early young age and can internationally compete while studying.

5

In its inaugural school year this 2021, NAS will officially open its doors for the pioneering batch of student-athletes and is now searching for scholarship applications. For more information about the scholarships and programs, visit National Academy of Sports official FB page: https://m.facebook.com/nassystemph/