The Lasallian Crossroads

Road to Preservation. Grade 10 Elective students from Environmental Science and Campus Journalism classes march their way to Balaring Mangrove Ecopark, Brgy. Balaring, Silay City.

Photo by Giver Granada

Usls-IS maintains paascu level III re-accreditation status The University of St. La Salle Basic Education Unit maintained the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU) Level III Re-Accreditation status after a resurvey on October 5-6, 2023.

The said re-accreditation is valid until November 2028.

The school was observed on the seven areas namely: Leadership and Governance, Quality Assurance,

Resource Management, and Teaching-Learning, Student Services, External Relations and Research.

The visiting PAASCU team was composed of Leadership and Governance Quality Assurance chairperson Ms. Mary Ann Eala, from Assumption College, Makati City, along with other eight accreditors.

Online and onsite observations were conducted as part of the process. * Written by Jaiven Buala

A Grade 10 student bagged 2nd runner up in the National Youth Congress Blaze Extemporaneous contest held at UP Diliman Quezon City, Manila on November 18, 2023.

Santino Pefianco, a first-timer in the NYC speaking competition said that the event aimed to empower the youth through raising awareness on individual and community development.

Char May Anonas, Jhon Nicole Detablan Alberto Santino Pefianco III, Vanessa Durais, Ethan Matthew Vicente, and Sir Matthew Ledesma also participated in the said event.*

Guillotine of Creativity: GenAI As the vanguard of international peace and security, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) should continue to enforce strict regulations on the practices involving Artificial Intelligence (AI), a cause that should be further intensified in schools.

On September 7, 2023, the UNESCO demanded governments regulate the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI).

This call to action not only further cemented the students’ growing dependency on AI technology, but shined a spotlight on its alarming misuse, ushering in an era of effortless labor and becoming the guillotine of creativity.

Trained to recognize patterns, GenAI can generate an essay sourced from data in mere seconds with a simple prompt and a click of a button. However, the ease of access granted by the program has shown to be detrimental to the thinking process of learners, depriving them of the autonomy to create these statements and ideas for themselves and preventing them from developing their creative skills as it leaves no room for exploration.

This constructs a rudimentary understanding of how AI operates, scraping off data found within its system trained on detecting the most widely accepted answers, given that with enough false information, outputs produced will prove to be inaccurate and untrustworthy which raises an ethical concern on its functionality. With such concerns regarding authenticity, it further ratifies the need for the process to be halted.

One may argue that GenAI has grown to surpass the inhibitions of having false pretenses and that it may serve as an alternate method for conjuring ideas and questions that may aid in studies or research — it should be treated as such in the realm of education, after all, knowledge is what paves the way for progress. However, it can be easily abused and bring uncertainty as there is no guarantee that students would opt to use this method and will not take the easy way out.

Similar to the plot of Wall-E, the damage caused by the misuse of AI will be the bane of humanity’s existence, for it would be filled with dependencies and effortless strides. This should serve as a reminder that one must not let AI completely dominate human tasks; rather, its use must be regulated to leave breathing space for human creativity.

05

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Jaiven Buala

Associate Editor Catherine Gatuslao

Managing Editor Adah Gorriceta Feature Writers Yanessa Tan, Denise Tingson, Summer Paler, Malicka Villavert Column Writer Kaye Aquino, Ron Sabile, Marione Dela Pena, Collen Javier Sports Writers Julianna Sumpay Eithan Batalla Photojournalist Camilla Awatin Kara Equipaje

Moderator: Ms. Merry Hope Ayre

Senior News Editor Diane Pregil Senior Feature Editor Christlyle Vingson Senior Layout Artists Criz Coresis, Abigail Monfort Senior Cartoonists Ericka Pansaon, Mon Cordero Literary Editors Elina Dio, Char Anonas, Ericka Rivera

Staff Writers Jacynthe Cuadra Daphnie Flores Gia Rodriguez Alexi Severino Mary Equipaje

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear Lasallian Crossroads,

I am torn between joining many organizations and my academics. I want to get good grades but also aiming to further my social skills. What should I do?

Help!

Yours truly, Achiever

Dearest Achiever, If your plate is full, learn how to prioritize things.

You hold the key to your decision. But if in doubt, lean on to your parents as they can give you the best advice.

Elective students take part in mangrove planting Grade 10 students from Campus of preserving mangrove ecosystems Journalism and Environmental and use the said experience to promote Science Elective classes took part the preservation of these natural in the mangrove planting held at resources.

Balaring Mangrove Ecopark, Silay Furthermore, the activity was City on December 4, 2023. organized as part of the This initiative, in coordination culminating activity and with Balayan, aimed to educate Performance Task of the said the students about the importance subjects.*

𝖯𝗁𝗈𝗍𝗈s by: Giver Granada and Ms. Merry Hope Ayre

USLS-IS Science Department and BEU Research hold SIP Enrichment webinar

Photo by Ms. Michelle Ballesteros

USLS-BEU students, teachers join BIOTA 2023 University of St. La Salle Basic Organized by the BIOTA-Philippines Education Unit teachers and selected WV Chapter, the convention aimed Grade 10 students joined the Biology to facilitate discussions on Teachers Association - Western biodiversity preservation and Visayas(BIOTA-WV) 24th Regional management, covering topics such as Convention and Scientific Sessions on habitat conservation, species December 1-2, 2023, at the Grand protection, and restoring ecology.

Xing Imperial Hotel in Iloilo City with Ms. Michelle Ballesteros got elected the theme "Preserving Life's as BIOTA secretary, while Sir Tapestry: Prioritizing Biodiversity Richmond Vicente was selected as Conservation and Ecosystem the Business Manager.

Management."

Attendees made use of the Ms. Michelle Ballesteros, Ms. Agnes opportunity to connect with field Gucaban, and Sir Richmond Vicente experts, explore research avenues, led the Grade 10A delegates as and gain insights into creating representatives of the Integrated investigatory science projects.

School unit.

Written by Denise Tingson

University of St. La Salle Junior High School Science Department, along with the Basic Education Unit Research held the Science Investigatory Project (SIP) Enrichment Talk 2 with the theme “Choosing SIP Topics and Formulating Research” on Monday, November 13, 2023, at 3 PM via Zoom meeting.

Sir June Nathan M. Fernandez, a Science Teacher at Bacolod City National High School, a Resource Speaker on Division SeminarWorkshop on Science Investigatory Projects for Elementary and Secondary School Teachers, and a Physics Coordinator for Division Assessment of Learning and Division Initiated Self Learning Modules was invited as the guest speaker for the webinar.

This webinar’s goal was to aid students in choosing SIP Topics that would lead to successful results and how to properly formulate research questions.

It was attended by the grade 8 students and was hosted by Criz Coresis and Malicka Villavert.

Written by Ericka Rivera

AP DEPT. CULMINATES MULTICULTURAL MONTH Araling Panlipunan Department held the Multicultural Month themed: “Rebuilding Trust and Reigniting Global Solidarity” on October 24, 2023 at the USLS Coliseum.

Activities such as Parade of the World's Costumes and Junior High School Lip Sync Dance Competition, of which the Grade 9 students emerged as the champion, were held.

A living rosary was also conducted in veneration of Mother Mary for the month of October. 𝖶𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗇 𝖻𝗒: 𝖳𝗂𝖿𝖿𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝖣𝖾𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗀𝖺𝗇𝗈

USLS community gives gifts As part of the annual institutional gift-giving, the University of St. La Salle community shared groceries to its beneficiaries on December 8, 2023.

Recipients included janitors, tricycle drivers, and partner community families.

Photo lifted from University’s Facebook page

JHS English dept, LRC, INTEL Organize Book Month

Straight from the Book. Literary characters parade in their book-inspired costumes.

Junior High School English Literature Quiz Bee, Two-Person Department in collaboration with the Improvisation, Storytelling contest, Learning Resource Center and Book and E-learning Fair, Virtual INTEL office organized the Book, trivia, and Reader’s Theater.

Christlyle Vingson and Aaliyah Innovations, and National Reading Espuerta from Grade 9A bagged first Month on November 26- 29, 2023. in the Two-Person Themed READ, REREAD and place RELIEVE: Transforming Lives Improvisation.

Mary Agatha Equipaje and Caleb through Literature and Technology, the students Zeke Mellina served as the emcees in participated in various activities the morning while Denise Tingson and such as Book Swap, Literary Santino Pefiance hosted the afternoon event.

Character Parade, Language and 𝖶𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗇 𝖻𝗒: Diane Pregil

Written By : Catherine Gatuslao

The rise of the digital age introducing social media and high-tech mediums initiated the interconnectedness of worldwide users into losing their senses. I believe today’s generation has become deaf from the billions of voices, losing the art of listening.

On the contrary, all Gen Z have the capability to listen since everyone comes from different backgrounds, cultures, and influential figures.

Moreover, their emotional well-being may affect their concentration in day-to-day situations.

According to my observation, people prefer to listen to those they find appealing, engaging, and relatable, especially in a good mood.

Technology has become a necessity causing most children to attach themselves to the screen. Through playing video games, watching videos, and texting with their friends, they lose the majority of their youth by spending time locking their eyes with their screens.

Usually, I’ve noticed a behavior where gadgets make them lose touch with reality, easily angered by their parents and guardians who repeatedly grab their attention.

Furthermore, social media has created the phenomenon of information overload with a constant barrage of notifications, updates, and news feeds demanding individuals' attention, creating a culture of distraction. In such an environment, it becomes challenging for individuals to dedicate their focused and undivided attention to a single conversation since they fear missing out on the latest updates or trends due to being alienated by their peers.

Bacolod Traffic - Is It Really Bad?

As Bacolod City continues its transition to being tagged as Super City, it seems that its roads have not kept up. In fact, Written By: Ron Sabile the troubles have doubled up.

The efficiency of the traffic lights should be looked into. There are a The traffic density in Bacolod is usually number of streets in the city whose heavy. During the weekdays (and traffic lights allow vehicles to move for frequently on weekends), the main about 15 seconds but stop the movement highway that pierces through the heart of traffic for two minutes. Talk about of Bacolod is filled with many cars and being late in school and at work. jeepneys. I used to travel through this highway all the time, and it was I know that our local government has infuriating for me, mainly because I do been coming up with ways to solve this not like to sit in traffic all of the time. recurring problem, but it’s something that Who does not? should be given more attention

Continuing on the subject of social media, it may be a cause of influencing bias or prejudice on controversial topics of discussion. Although it provides an open forum for people to voice out their opinions, I’ve seen that some of the audience may give little room to understand the view. Rather than considering the value of the message and keeping an open-minded outlook, they would prefer to voice out their side while calling that person wrong. It portrays society as relentlessly ignorant of the various sides of truth, believing that their values are the only valid truths when faced with an opposing viewpoint.

In conclusion, while it's evident that the digital age has introduced challenges to the art of listening, it is critical to recognize the multifaceted nature of the problem. The impact of technology on communication is not inherently negative; rather, it reflects how individuals navigate and adapt to the evolving landscape, especially when being introduced to new concepts, solutions, and challenges. By addressing these aspects, society can navigate the digital age without sacrificing the fundamental skills that undermine meaningful communication and understanding.

Balaring Mangrove Eco-Park: by: Adah Gorriceta, Jacynthe Cuadra Jaiven Buala and Alexi Severino In a sanctuary where the dance of land and sea narrates a saga of biodiversity, survival, and the mesmerizing melody of a coastal symphony, the Balaring Mangrove Eco Park is like an eloquent storyteller itself that unravels each Lasallian ecowarrior’s resilience to adventure and commitment for a promise of a greener tomorrow.

Nestled one kilometer away from Brgy. Balaring’s main community is a thriving mangrove area that has been taken care of by its residents, partner organizations, and local government. Lining the path, are bamboo makeshifts that are tied together to serve as the alternative road to the safe haven.

According to the locals, these bamboo are bought from Iloilo, hauled by small boats, and delivered straight to the coastal area.

Nida and Nestor Dequilla, a married couple and two of the many people who have been overseeing the place said that they have been doing this since 1990. Great precaution has been taken in planting the mangrove wildlings since they protect the coastal areas from extreme winds, typhoons, and floods. Apart from this, this becomes a livelihood for the residents who live nearby.

In 2006, Brother Armin Luistro started a project called One Million Trees and Beyond for all La Salle schools in the Philippines.

The said initiative paved the way for USLS to join the program in 2007 and started planting mangroves in Bago City, Balaring, and Punta Taytay.

According to Sir Ivory, Balayan staff, 300 trees have been planted since then.

Recently, La Salle holds the title of the school with the second most planted trees in the Philippines. LaSallian students continue to participate in tree planting and in advocating the importance of planting Mangroves. To preserve nature for the next generation to enjoy, the school thrives to promote awareness to protect the earth.

A Sanctuary Worth Keeping To make the mangrove sanctuary flourish, the residents devise a plan as to how planting should be done. Bungalon should be planted at the frontier, followed by Pagatpat, then Bakhaw. This systematic way of planting wildlings has proven to a success.

To date, the Lasallian community has made an impact by planting 730 wildlings.

As we all learned in grade school, mangroves are an important part of our ecosystem. They not only protect us from harsh winds, tides, floods, tsunamis, and people storms, but they also produce the most oxygen than any other recorded plant. Because of their ability to withstand powerful winds and storms, they have become essential in the survival of biodiversity.

Now that the earth and its life are slowly dying, mangroves have become more than essential, making the fact that their population is dropping rapidly a concern that concerns every environmentalist. This concern has given way to organizations like BAMPA to step up and take the initiative. They work with schools, governments, barangays, and other organizations to keep the mangrove population alive. They pour their heart, soul, and passion into what they do and understand what must be done to protect and heal the earth.

Photo from Sine Negrense

Feature story by Christlyle B. Vingson

In a delightful twist of fate, Roxanne Gonzaga, a dedicated guidance counselor at the University of St. LaSalle Integrated School in Bacolod City, has recently claimed the Best Production Design award for the film “Today can’t be Thursday because Thursday was Yesterday” at the Sine Negrense Awards 2023.

Miss Gonzaga, whose love for film dates back to her college days, describes the win as unexpected. "The competition was tough; there were people with a lot more film experience," she admits.

Balancing her role as a guidance counselor with her passion for production design

poses its challenges, but for In the hallways of the Miss Gonzaga, it's a University of St. LaSalle challenge worth embracing.

Integrated School, Roxanne Gonzaga stands as an "This is my drive and inspiration, proving that passion — both production dreams are attainable, no design and counseling," she matter the unexpected turns says. “They are equally life may take. important to me”. The award serves as validation for her hard work and dedication, pushing her to continue excelling in both fields.

Miss Gonzaga's message to aspiring individuals and young filmmakers as well, especially the students she guides, is simple yet powerful: "Just go for it. As long as you put your foot forward, you will be okay."

I

was traveling through Thailand with my friends, Mike and Sarah, when we decided to take a detour to a

small village on the outskirts of Chiang Mai. We had heard about the area's beautiful temples and rich culture and were excited to explore. As we made our way through the winding streets, we were struck by the colorful houses and traditional clothing of the locals.

Everywhere we looked, there were offerings of fruit and flowers placed on the ground, a sign of the strong belief in spirits and the afterlife.

One of the villagers, a kind woman named Ayumi, offered to show us around and introduce us to some of the local traditions. She took us to a small temple on the edge of town and told us about the legend of the "Krasue," a ghostly figure with a floating head and entrails. According to Ayumi, the Krasue roamed the countryside at night, searching for victims to feast upon.

We laughed off the legend as superstition, but things took a turn for the eerie when we heard a blood-curdling scream in the distance. Ayumi's face turned white as a sheet and she begged us to leave immediately. We hesitated, not wanting to abandon someone in need, but Ayumi insisted that it was too late for whoever had made that sound.

e

As we hurried back to our car, we couldn't shake the feeling that something was following us. When we finally made it to the safety of our vehicle, we locked the doors and breathed a sigh of relief. But our relief was shortlived as we heard a knock on the window. It was Ayumi, but something was off about her. Her eyes were empty and her skin was pale and translucent. Panicked, we tried to start the car but the engine wouldn't turn over.

Ayumi's ghostly form floated closer and closer, her entrails dragging behind her. We were trapped, with no way to escape.

Just as Ayumi's ghostly hands reached for us, a group of villagers burst onto the scene, armed with holy water and incense. They chased the Krasue away, saving us from certain death.

As we thanked the villagers and made our way back to civilization, we couldn't help but feel grateful for the beliefs and traditions that had saved our lives. We left the village with a newfound respect for the spirit world and a vow to never underestimate the power of the unknown.

Written by Tyler Dean S. Thompson, Gabrielle Seth Lorenz P. Porcelo, and Arthur Sebastian L. Bernadas

Sudoku Rules The rules for sudoku are simple. A 9×9 square must be filled in with numbers from 1-9 with no repeated numbers in each row and column.

Every box contained in each 3×3 squares can't have any repeated numbers either.

HINT: Start with the numbers 3 and 6. They can be specifically found within the top left and above the center 3x3 squares.

SPORTS NEWS

USLS Secures First Runner-Up in Nopsscea’ 43 Football Secondary Boys against rival DBTI University of St. LaSalle claim their place as first runner up against their arch rival Don Bosco Technical Institute- with a score 2-0 in Panaad Park and Stadium at 8:00am, December 10, 2023.

The nail-biting match shot everyone’s adrenaline as USLS showed their skill by their ball possession and multiple goal attempts in the field.

USLS battered fiery progressive offenses however, DBTI’s defenses were impenetrable.

The first half ending in 0-0 while the heated match continued with ball possession 80% in favor of Written by Julianna Sumpay

USLS and 70% attempts made by the USLS team.

The audience edge-seated and all attention at the third field of the USLS side while DBTI fired their consecutive attacks.

DBTI only had 20% ball possession but despite that fact, they managed to convert a counter attack and score twice after half time.

The unwavering determination and outstanding performance of USLS team have left an indelible mark.

USLS’s stellar performance shines brightly that embodies the true essence of the Lasallian spirit.

USLS-BEU Pep Rally for NOPSSCEA Season 43 Kickoff University of St. La Salle's Basic Education Unit (USLS-BEU) held the stingers pep rally themed "Fueling the Flames: Ablaze" on October 26, 2023 at the USLS Coliseum.

BEU athletes were present at the pep rally to celebrate the opening of the "Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports Cultural Educational Association(NOPSSCEA) Season 43" Lasallian athletes of different sports gave different dance performances before pledging the oath of sportsmanship. 𝖶𝗋𝗂𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗇 𝖻𝗒: 𝖣𝗂𝖺𝗇𝖾 𝖯𝗋𝖾𝗀𝗂𝗅