Rheims Special: February

LASO Organizes First ASJ Esports Tournament

by Renz Bautista

The Lasallian Assembly of Student Officers (LASO) made history as they launched the first-ever eSports event in Academy of Saint John titled DAG1TAB featuring three game titles: Valorant, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.

In an interview, Mervinne Militar, LASO President, stated that the event gave the organization a hard time since it was the first ever esports event and flaws where present which they evaluate after each day to improve further.

“Since this was a first ever event, it was stressful for the student council to organize and handle this event, this was new for all of us. Of course there were flaws in this event in which we used it for our evaluation at the end of each day.” Militar said.

He also added that the purpose of the event is to give students a break from academics and enjoy the traditional sportsfest even in the online platform providing fun and excitement to students.

“The essence of this event was to let the students to take a break from their academics and get to have some fun with their friends. We wanted to show the students’ talent and skills in playing online sports which is a hit nowa-

Scene from the opening video of DAG1TAB ESPORTSFEST. For further details, watch the video in LASO’s official Facebook page. Photo courtesy: LASO

days and since our annual sportsfest did not take place this was somehow the substitute for it. We wanted to let them have some fun and excitement even though it was just for a while,” Militar explaining the objectives of the esports event.

Militar also said that they used Discord as the official application to be used for many reasons, enabling the privacy of the students and the organization while the event is ongoing.

The event has also provided Discord servers and voice and text channels for each participating team. Another Discord server was also used for the livestreaming of the games.

Militar also explained that there were difficulties and problems while organizing the event, the organization noted every flaw as they conduct evaluation at every end of the match or the day.

“There were shortcomings and flaws in this event such as the students having technical difficulties, unstable internet connection, the way of disseminating any info with regard to the event and other more. No worries we managed to compromise with every flaw since at the end of each day we tend to have an evaluation so that by the next day we won’t be experiencing the same thing,” Militar stated.

The event was received positively by the students, since aside from it is a week after the third quarter exams, it was a stress-free week for the majority of the students.

“The esports event held in ASJ was extremely intense because some of the teams that were included were my friends and batchmates. It was very refreshing because we were stress-free this week,” Ainsley Luces, a Grade 11 student, said in an interview.

The event concluded with four teams crowned as champions; Havoc for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, MXBR Punk for Call of Duty Mobile, and Craddy Gerbs Esports and GTSB for Valorant.

Valorant skirmish between CGE and GTSB ends in a draw

by Renz Bautista

The grand finals match between Craddy Gerbs Esports and GTSB tentatively ended in a draw, 2-2, after talks between the two teams and the Lasallian Assembly of Student Offices (LASO), the event organizers of the ASJ Dag1tab eSports.

The heated grand finals happened last Feb. 26, 3:30 PM, and it ended at map four at around 7:30 PM, the game was livestreamed in the official Discord server of Dag1tab.

Game one opened with stellar performances from both teams, with CGE’s Andre Mojica’s Jett having the highest amount of first bloods. The game was secured by GTSB with scores 13-10 by Joeff Bobadilla’s Reyna and Kenneth Villaneuva’s Jett having high combat scores for the side of GTSB.

Game two proceeded in Icebox, CGE won by a close 13 to 11 score. Derrie Mapanao’s Raze got the highest economy rating and combat score, with Kenneth Cruz’s Omen having the highest number of spike plants for team CGE.

With both teams at one game each, map three, Haven, opened with a strong lead by GTSB; however, CGE made a impressive comeback and won

the game with a close 13-11. The combat participation was led by GTSB’s Lawrence Estores’s Sage.

CGE’s Mojica’ Jett and John Czar Salaguinto’s Killjoy and the rest paved their comeback in the map.

With CGE having a one game lead, game four was played in Bind. The game reached overtime. GTSB won the overtime matches with an impressive 15-13 score.

There was no game five found as the organizers and the two teams agreed to a draw. Declaring both of them champions in Dag1tab for Valorant.

Before the grand finals, CGE first secured their slot in the grand finals after beating GTSB in a 2-0 victory. GTSB launched their way into the grand finals after they won their lower bracket finals match; 2-1 victory against SG Gang.

Both teams did their best to overcome not just their opponents, but also the mental fatigue every player gets after playing long and consecutive matches.

Even though a draw was declared, both teams and LASO are still to talk about what the action would be whether to push the 5th game on a separate date or stick with a draw having two champions for this year’s Valorant tournament in the first Dag1tab eSports.

Havoc hailed as Dag1tab: MLBB Champions, dominates WNE during Grand Finals

by Lance Crisostomo and Renz Bautista

Havoc sweeps Walang Name Esports in a threeto-none victory, giving them the championship title of Mobile Legends in the first-ever eSports tournament in ASJ, Dag1tab.

Game one concluded with impressive performances of James “Fαƙҽɾツ” Fajilan’s Benedetta, Dwayne “TOXIC” Uy’s Silvanna, and Shawn “Umay na ako mag Core” Broas’s Claude, ending the game in a clean teamfight 14 minutes into the game.

Game two finished similarly as game one, shutting down the powerspike of Raptide’s Claude and Yamikaze’s Benedetta. Kurt “Kazumi” Clavel’s Eudora, and the consistent pickoffs of In͂igo “Black Mamba” Mota’s Chou shocked Walang Name Esports as they execute their draft and taking multiple clashes and objectives with ease.

With a 2-0 in favor of Havoc, game three showed some light for Walang Name Esports as they won a teamfight, however the next clash showed no weakness for Havoc as they clean out the members of Walang Name Esports with the initiation of Baxia and Jawhead following up Ling, Kagura and Wanwan, serving as Havoc’s main damage dealers.

Match results of game 3 between Havoc (Left) and Walang Name Esports (Right). Photo courtesy: LASO

All throughout the series, Havoc banned the Harith and the Thamuz as respect bans for their opponents.

Havoc showed a clean execution of their draft, taking advantage of an increased hero pool, shutting down the lanes of their opponents, and capitalizing on the errors made by Walang Name Esports.

The team remained undefeated in a 9-0 record, facing the likes of team Bad Bros Gaming, Seenzone, Hydro Emperors, and Flaming Serpents during the group stages and Walang Name Esports during the playoffs.

MXBR Punk wins CODM grand finals, 2-1

by Renz Bautista and Lance Crisostomo

Mortifero Xvir Battle Royale Punk (MXBR Punk) outplayed team Wild Dogs in the final two rounds of the final match in the best-of-three series to win the grand finals and make history as the first champions in the Call of Duty Mobile (CODM) tournament of ASJ DAG1TAB ESPORTS.

Multirole player Atasia Pineda, together with Support player Nicolais Melana and Rush player Russell Hernandez, made quick and powerful pushes in the A site leading to seven successful plants and a total of 27 frags for MXBR. Punk.

On the other hand, multirole players Jadenwesley Sales and Lance Crisostomo, who is also the team captain, made crucial pick offs and positional plays to create space for the pushes done by their teammates.

In the crucial 18th round of the final match, Crisostomo was able to grab 2 crucial pick-offs that supported the quick push of Pineda, Hernandez, Melana, and Sales in the A site for fast plant that eventually sealed the game.

On the other hand, one of the most significant plays of the series was made by Pineda where she was able to grab consecutive kills in the second match that paved way for MXBR Punk to win that game in a four versus five situation due to Hernandez experiencing network issues.

In an interview, team captain Lance stated that their series with Wild Dogs was very intense that there came a point wherein the team made series of mistakes that led to their first-lost ever in the whole tournament.

“The first game was really the game where the team’s morale was affected. We made consecutive mistakes that led to a comeback win for the opposing team.

Due to that defeat, we lost our twice-to-beat advantage.

The rest of the series was tough for all of us but fortunately, we were able to make it,” Crisostomo stated.

Crisostomo also pointed out that there are certain plays that he considered as plays that marked a turn of events that led the team to gain momentum to eventually seal the deal towards the championship.

“There were plays that we have manage to pull off that really gave boosts to the team that eventually shifted the momentum to our side. Nicos Melana’s crucial sniper pick offs, Atasia Pineda’s killing sprees, Wesley Sales’ epic pick offs, and Russell Hernandez’ crucial planting decisions were really beneficial for us to win the game,” Crisostomo added.

On the other hand, Russell Hernandez said that the championship meant a lot for him and for the team since they will soon be part of the history books as one of the first ever teams to be crowned as champions for the Esports event.

“This championship is really special because this is history. We are part of history as the first team to be crowned as champions for the Esports tournament in the school. With that, we are looking forward to the next part of this tournament to defend our title and make another history as first back-to-back champion,” Hernandez stated.

Photo from: MedioTiempo

RHEIMS SPECIAL: FEBRUARY

NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2021

MUTATIONS ON COVID-19 VARIANT RISES IN THE PHILIPPINES

by Lance Crisostomo

Dr. Mary Jean Loreche (Photo from: Bombo Radyo)

The Department of Health (DOH) with the University of the Philippines – Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC) and University of the Philippines – National Institute for Health (UP-NIH) continues biosurveillance as mutations, particularly as mutations of concern, on new strain of COVID-19 are discovered.

In a press conference, Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, DOH spokesperson and chief pathologist, stated that the UPPGC confirmed that two samples coming from the Region VII of the country were confirmed to be added to cases with concerns for such mutations.

She also added that these COVID-19 cases are identified as two separate mutations coming from two different regions – E484K mutation also known as the South African variant and N501Y mutation also known as the United Kingdom Variant.

“Out of 50 samples total, there were 37 samples that had the mutations of concern,” Loreche said.

The cases of mutations were called as mutations of concern or variants of concern since there is a possibility that such mutations may cause the reduction of efficacy of a human, particularly his/ her antibodies, to battle the infection that this disease may cause.

“Based on in vitro data, there may be a reduction in the efficacy of the antibodies,” Dr Cynthia Saloma, PGC Executive Director, stated in a livestreamed briefing.

DOH added that this mutation of concern or variants of concern needs to be studied further to know exactly its origin, transmission and intensity, and the differences with other existing variants.

In addition, DOH also added that the question whether the variant is something homegrown or that originated in the country or not is still unclear and needs further study.

“Whether it is virulent, we still need to study some more,” Dr. Junie Zuasola, head of the regional health department’s Epidemiology

and Surveillance Unit, stated.

As the threats of the new variant and its mutations are still in the process of further study, DOH implied that as the main goal is to bring down transmissions, the biosurveillance will continue so that cases with mutations may be discovered and that the nation should practice minimum public health standards to limit transmission.

“The Department reiterates that as long as COVID-19 transmission persists, our strengthened biosurveillance will continue to detect mutations. The DOH emphasizes the need to strictly practice and enforce minimum public health standards in order to lower infection rates and consequently reduce the risk of mutations of potential clinical and epidemiological significance. The goal is to bring down transmission rates to levels where biosurveillance can no longer detect mutations of interest,” DOH statement in its press release. (Retrieved from DOH press release, Feb.21)

COVID-19 VACCINES BECOME AS VALUABLE AS GOLD

by Jade Magno

A hospital director stated that vaccines are treated as if it is gold, in a webinar organized by University of the Philippines about the vaccination of health workers as the vaccine arrives in the Philippines.

“This particular project you cannot be [underprepared]. You need to overprepare with this one as the vaccine is treated as if it is gold,” said Navotas City Hospital medical director Dr. Christia Padolina.

Last February 12, the University of the Philippines held its 40th webinar attended by representatives of different medical institutions in Manila regarding the vaccination of health workers against COVID-19.

In the webinar, Padolina further explains the preparations done in Navotas for the COVID-19 vaccination of their frontliners, especially the health workers.

Padolina stated that they would also be reaching out to teachers, school counselors, and other volunteers to help with other tasks so that health workers could focus on the vaccination process itself.

Philippine General Hospital Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi also detailed the preparations made by their hospital.

Legaspi discussed the simulations that they are doing for the vaccine arrival; they even designed color-coded stickers to determine the kind of monitoring that health workers need for vaccination.

He also addressed the overbooking of vaccine recipients to ensure that no vaccines would go to waste.

With the number of Filipinos showing their unwillingness to be vaccinated, the Department of Health said that a quick substitution list should be prepared for those who will refuse to be vaccinated.

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“We have already instructed the initial sites for vaccination that they should have this number of individuals that should substitute for those who would be refusing on the day itself,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a virtual briefing.

Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez says vaccine manufacturers want a compensation agreement or an indemnification agreement, bringing up the previous Dengvaxia issue.

Galvez states that, with Pfizer andAstraZeneca, the government is working on such an arrangement, in the case of unforeseen adverse events, an indemnification policy “holds a business or company harmless.”

“So for all of the vaccines, not just the COVAX, the indemnification clause is required...They’re still contemplating what the final mutual agreement will be [with regards to] indemnification,” Galvez said.

He added that the Philippines talked to other foreign countries for faster distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, including the United Kingdom, China, Russia, and India.

On the other hand, AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical giant, claims that its EU supply chains will deliver just half of the planned supply of COVID-19 vaccines to the bloc in the second quarter.

A spokesman for the British pharmaceutical industry told AFP that AstraZeneca was “working to increase productivity in its EU supply chain” and would use its “global capability to achieve delivery of 180 million doses to the EU in the second quarter.”

As of February 26, the Philippines now have 571,327 coronavirus cases recorded, with 34,498 number active cases, 12,247 deaths, and 524,582 recoveries.

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RHEIMS SPECIAL: FEBRUARY

NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2021

PH mandates for motor vehicles to have car seats for 12 below

by Jade Magno

The Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, December 2019, requiring children ages 12 and below to be seated in child restraint systems (CRS) or car seats, took effect last Feb 2.

“Child restraints in cars are intended to keep a child firmly secured in their seats so that in case of sudden braking or collision, the child would not be fatally thrown away against the car interior or ejected from the vehicle,” Law Enforcement Service of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Deputy Director Robert Valera said.

However, despite the law taking effect starting this month, the LTO will not apprehend violators for at least the next three months as the agency will focus on circulating information about the law.

“Enforcement is not only about apprehension — it also covers information dissemination as well as

by Jade Magno

warnings,” Valera added.

Within February, the LTO will set up fitting stations for child car seats as these restraint systems are now required starting this month.

“This February, we are now putting up fitting installation stations in our district offices. When schools open, we will also put up fitting stations there to educate motorists,” said LTO Metro Manila Director Clarence Guinto in DZMM TeleRadyo interview last February 1.

Children below 4 feet and 11 inches are not allowed to sit in the front seat, a CRS appropriate for the weight, height, and age of a child and approved following the safety standardsfor child restraint systems must be in stalled in motor vehicles.

Drivers who violated this law will be fined P1,000 for the first offense; P2,000 for the second offense; and P3,000 and a one-year

Director Clarence Guinto (Photo from: RMN Networks)

CBCP advices youths to study first

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) advised youths to focus on their studies and avoid engaging in ‘casual sex’ as the state statistics bureau said births among girls ages 15 years old and below went up by 7 percent in 2019.

“Ang sa amin moral suasion, meaning to say we encourage the young people to be more responsible in the sense that they can have a relationship but refrain from engaging in this so-called casual sex,” said Fr. Jerome Secillano, the Executive director of CBCP Public Affairs Committee.

In a DZMM TeleRadyo interview, Secillano said that nothing has changed in the church’s teaching, that sex is practiced when a man and a woman are married.

However, Secillano added that society has become a bit permissive that the parents may have lost their sense of control over their children, the current generation is also very curious about such issues and that they end up doing it.

On the other hand, the Commission on Popu-

lation and Development (POPCOM) requested social support for minors who have pregnancies after the 7 percent increase of teenage pregnancy in 2019.

“In 2019, 2,411 girls considered as very young adolescents aged 10 to 14 gave birth, or almost seven every day. This was a three-fold increase from [year] 2000 when only 755 from the said age group gave birth,” the commission said.

In a statement given by POPCOM, this is the 9th year the rate has increased since 2011, the number of Filipino minors who gave birth in 2019 increased to 62,510, which was slightly higher than the 62,341 minors in 2018.

The commission stated that the parent’s trust in their children is important to prevent its early pregnancy.

“The parent [should be] a listener and able to help the adolescent understand the situation na dinaanan din niya.

‘Yong kabataan are seeking relationships, an intimacy so you have to be able to guide your children into these situations,” Juan Antonio A. Perez III POPCOM director said.

Pope appoints Cardinal Tagle to the APSA

by Dave Domingo

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Photo from: Manila Bulletin) facebook.com/Rheims2020 @Rheims2020

suspension of the driver’s license for the third and succeeding offenses.

However, cases that would put a child in danger such as medical emergencies, when the child transported has a medical or developmental condition, or other similar circumstances, are exempted.

Manufacturers, distributors, importers, retailers, and sellers found in violation of the law concerning the safety standards and the regulation and requirements, will be fined from P50,000 to P100,000 for every CRS product sold.

Pope Francis has appointed Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, former archbishop of Manila, as member of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA; Italian: Amministrazione del Patrimonio della Sede Apostolica), the office that manages the

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provisions and funds necessary to the Roman Curia which is the central body through which the affairs of the Catholic Church are conducted.

Cardinal Tagle is the current Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples to which he had been appointed to last December 2019.

According to the same bulletin from the Holy See Press Office on February 22, the Pope appointed Ghanian Cardinal Peter Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, to the same position.

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RHEIMS SPECIAL: FEBRUARY

NEWS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2021

Empowering expression in arts and literature

Gawad Alab schedules 9 webinars

by Dave Domingo

Last Feb 10, Gawad Alab traditional/digital arts webinar amassed around 150 teachers and students and the Gawad Alab Executive Committee is expecting the number to rise in the following webinars.

The Committee scheduled eight more webinars about arts and literature for the event to help the participants prepare for their outputs for the contests and to empower the nonparticipants’, students and teachers alike, ability to express themselves in arts and literature.

“Following the traditional/digital art webinar, we have eight more, we have photography (Feb 17), poem and essay (Feb 18), song composition (Mar 1), spoken word (March 3), webinar for short film and cinephone (March 5). And then we have three more plenary webinars,” said Event Director Marcus Mugol.

In an interview last Feb 15, Lasallian Rheims Adviser Mr. Kent Colocado shared that there will be plenary sessions with the speakers discussing arts and literature in general, listing Mr. Xian Lerry G. Lozares who will be having a discourse about responsible netizenship (March 22), Professor Michael Charleston “Xiao” Chua who will be speaking about how arts and literature tie in Philippine History (March 24), and Br. Dennis Magbanua FSC in his discussion about exemplifying Lasallian Excellence in various art forms (Mar 26).

Furthermore, he mentioned that these activities are fashioned to help the participants complete their outputs as the dead-

Mr. Rogie Ramilo discusses what inspires him to be an artist during the traditional/digital arts webinar last Feb. 10 via Zoom Meeting. Photo by: Karl Portollano

line for the individual contests is on Feb 25 and March 13 for the group contests and to inspire and motivate teachers and students to express themselves freely in the field of arts and literature.

“So it’s empowerment, the purpose of this webinar is to empower our students,” he added.

This was seconded by Mugol who mentioned that the webinars were held to inspire students and help them mold their talents and skills.

On the other hand, Quality Control Officer Iris Zamora noted that there will be webinars for every contest category to aid student-artists to learn and discover their talents and capabilities by expressing themselves through art and literature.

Rheims’ first-ever livestream talkshow H2O pours discussions about LCM

by Jade Magno

The Lasallian Rheims hosted a live stream event entitled Heart to Ow, Owss, Owkaay (H2O), in celebration of Valentine’s Day, talking about love, courtship, and marriage (LCM), Feb 13.

“H2O is a Valentine’s Day special project of the Lasallian Rheims that aimed to tackle different aspects of love and relationship for all ages,” said Allexandra Pascual, one of the hosts of the event.

The livestream that Allexandra Pascual, Jennie Loren, and Samuel Robles hosted was broadcasted last February 13 in the Lasallian Rheims Facebook page.

Mr. Joel Cenizal, Ms. Cyril Mamaril, and Ms. Evangeline Sipat-Balais accompanied the hosts and shared pieces of advice and experiences about the topics and questions that they tackled on the show.

According to Pascual, a Dropbox link and instructions on how to send letters and questions for the livestream were circulated to the students prior to the event.

6 Photo from Allex Pascual | Twitter

During the stream, stories and questions about love that represented the three O’s in the theme were discussed.

The first O being “Ow’’ represents the stories about heartbreaks and pain. “Ows is para sa mga taong nag assume, at sa mga taong nagpa-assume,” Jennie Loren, a host of the show stated. Lastly, Owkaay represents the happy relationships that people have.

“The event was successful. Thanks to the school administration including, the principal, Mr. Richard Pineda; vice-principal, Ms. Vicky; the school consultant, Ms. Daisy T. Romero; the Finance head, Mr. Joel Pascual; adviser of the Lasallian Rheims, Mr. Kent Bryan Colocado; and students who are part of the Lasallian Rheims—Marcus Diego Mugol, Karl Angelo Portollano, and Shuan Co,” Pascual added.

Pascual mentioned that the H2O team did not have problems with the preparations prior and during the streaming of the show.

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NEWS

RHEIMS SPECIAL: FEBRUARY

GRADE 10 STUDENTS TALK ABOUT THEIR STRANDS

by Mitzen Sotelo Academy of Saint John Principal Mr. Richard Pineda, with Grade 10 Saint La Salle adviser, Ms. Rechell Pineda hosted a Zoom Meeting with the Grade 10 students to help the incoming Senior High School students in choosing their strand, Feb 20.

In an interview, Ms. Rechell noted that the purpose of holding this meeting was to help the students determine which academic strand to take and to avoid the need of the bridging program.

“The purpose of the meeting last Saturday is for the orientation of the incoming Senior High School students to help them in choosing the right strand of the course that they want to take up in college and we emphasize that this must align to their course to avoid the bridging program, which will be an additional expense for the parents and the shift-

ing of one course to another course.” she added.

Meanwhile, Grade 10 student Francis Bartolome noted that the meeting was incredibly helpful for students who remain unsure of which strand they will pursue.

“The meeting was indeed helpful to the students who are still not sure on what strand they are going to be taking, especially when the specific examples of courses are presented in relation to each strand. It was an eye opener to the students who are having a hard time formulating a concrete decision,” Bartolome said.

Additionally, he mentioned that the meeting made him relieved with the strand that he’s going to take.

“The meeting did help me grasp my strand better. It gave me more motivation, knowing that it is the safest and most versatile strand to take. It just re-

lieved me because I am assured that my decision was right,” he affirmed.

Conversely, the meeting had a different effect on Grade 10 student Iries Montesa, arguing that the meeting made it harder and was very limiting to students who want to take on non-academic strands.

“I think it made things much harder because having only those few strands to choose from feels as if it limits the options I have, especially since I’ll be taking art in the near future,” she articulated.

The meeting gave different effects to the Grade 10 students; others felt relieved while others felt even more pressured in choosing what strand to pick, yet the school still finds ways to help its students choose the right path as they take Senior High School, a new chapter in their lives.

Students complain against PP schedule

by Renz Bautista

Academy of Saint John scheduled the submission of product performances a week prior the Third Quarter Exams on Feb 15-19 which caused some negative feedback with students arguing that they had less time preparing for the exams due to the given schedule.

In a series of interviews, students aired their concerns regarding the schedule.

One Grade 10 student, Hannah Guerra mentioned that she preferred the prior arrangement wherein the performances were set in the same week as the exams.

“I prefer the past schedule where the exams are held first before product performances.

I honestly have less time reviewing during the 3rd quarter exams. There are no problems with the exams, just the schedule,” she added.

However, high school English teacher Ms. Gemma Abriza argued that the product performances were scheduled by the admin in that manner to amend the late submissions of product performances.

“According to the Principal, having product/performances before the quarter exam is actually an intervention done by the admin as a response to the problem facebook.com/Rheims2020 @Rheims2020

encountered during the first quarter - that is, the late submission of product performances by the students,” she noted.

On the other hand, Grade 11 student Troy Evangelista articulated that the great number of product performances alongside regular classes created difficulties.

“It felt really stressful [as] bunch of activities were compacted in a very short period of time.” said Grade 11 student Atasia Pineda.

Meanwhile, high school Social Studies teacher Mr. Lawrence Fernando explained that the difference between the Third Quarter Exams to the previous exams was the lack of time.

Fernando argued that there is an increase in the amount of activities because the quarters are getting shorter and teachers need to finish their syllabus quickly.

“Well, I guess time. The quarters were getting shorter. We have to do our best to squeeze everything in the given schedule. On the exam proper, there is not much of a difference since the parameters are already set particularly in JHS (Junior High School),” he stated.

The Lasallian Rheims

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2021

HANDOG PROGRAM

by Lance Crisostomo

Students from the Academy of Saint John fully supported the relaunch of the Handog Program of the school that aims to continue the traditional handog program that helps people in the community, especially those who are truly in need.

In an interview, John Czar Salaguinto, a grade 11 STEM student, stated that having the handog program at these times which is done through GCash transactions is a testament that people could help and practice generosity through these trying times.

“I think that the online handog program is a convenient way to practice amidst the pandemic because even though we can’t see each other and donate personally, we can still practice generosity even in the comfort of our homes with the use of our cellphones,” Salaguinto stated.

Renz Adrian Bautista, a grade 11 ABM student, supported the program knowing that the proceeds will be for the community from the hearts of the people helping within the comfort of their homes.

“The proceeds of the handog will be for the school community or those who need financial assistance, so even though it is done through online, we can still help in the comfort of our own homes,” Bautista stated.

Salaguinto added that the relaunch was a great way since people can now use their mobile devices and click to do things and such relaunch is an epitome of Lasallians being able to find ways to help.

“Seeing its results, it may have given a big help because we all have access and be one click away from helping the needy. It is a great way to show how a Lasallian creates solutions just to lend a hend to those who need it,” Salaguinto said.

The Handog Program is truly a program to ignite the compassion of students, teachers, and other people to help those in need, specially in these trying times.

For donations, the ASJ community may donate to the GCash account, 0906-500-6709.

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Editor-in-Chief: Christian Dave Domingo Associate EIC: Lance Jerson Crisostomo News Editor: Jade Magno Editorial: Seann Carpizo Renz Bautista Features/Poem: Mitzen Sotelo Cover/Caption: Cassandra Mae Remotigue Comics: Adrianne Meigh Gonzales Marcus Railey Buhain Layout: Marcus Diego Mugol Adviser: Mr. Kent Bryan Colocado

WE ARE OPEN FOR

CONTRIBUTORS! Submit your work at

rheims@academyofsaintjohn.edu.ph

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PRES. DUTERTE’S VACCINATION STIRS DISTRUST INSIGHTS Seann Carpizo

After months of our country struggling to fight against the pandemic, this February we have hopes of finally receiving vaccines from various manufacturers in different countries—Sinovac, CoronaVac, Sputnik V, etc. The news brings citizens assurance, and President Duterte plays a key role in giving hope to the people by being publicly vaccinated himself. However, that did not turn out to be the case.

The president wished to be vaccinated in privacy.

Many were negatively impacted by this development for several reasons: first and foremost of which is that President Duterte went back on his own words. In August 2020, Duterte had announced that he is willing to be the first recipient of the COVID-19 vaccine (Sputnik V, by Russia’s Gamaleya Institute) to prove that it can be trusted. However this January, completely overturning his first proposition, he claims that the public eye is unnecessary; he wished to be vaccinated privately just like the British Sovereign did.

Next reason is that the public vaccination was supposed to encourage people in The Lasallian Rheims

participating with the implementations of vaccines. Vice President Leni Robredo stated that Filipinos seeing Duterte getting vaccinated will help dispel their doubts about the vaccine’s legitimacy. A recent Pulse Asia survey showed that nearly half of Filipinos do not trust COVID-19 vaccinations for safety reasons.

Duterte’s public act was supposed to serve as the catalyst for ensuring that people were to be convinced in their immunization campaign.

“Strife and conflict is the last thing we need.

Not now, not ever.”

However, just recently on February 15, updates on President Duterte’s opinion surfaced in the media. He had a change of mind, once again— he decided that he will be publicly injected, apparently due to “public clamor”. These abrupt changes and this indecisiveness however is rather unsightly for most. Given how there’s already a lack of people positive for attempting vaccines, it could further lead them to being more skeptical and doubtful—garnering collective mistrust in the masses.

And with the hardships that we are facing right now, strife and conflict is the last thing we need. Not now, not ever. facebook.com/Rheims2020 @Rheims2020

EDITORIAL

RHEIMS SPECIAL: FEBRUARY

The Anti-Terrorism Law: Injustice Turnabout

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2021

by Seann Carpizo

On July 3rd 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte had signed the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, replacing the Human Security Act of 2007. The draft passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate. With this notion of the government attaining power to eliminate those who they deem and label as “terrorists” under their proposed jurisdiction and standards, it was quickly retaliated by the masses; receiving extensive backlash and criticism from different sectors, including youth groups, academia, churches, business and civil society.

Come February 2nd of 2021, the controversy is finally to be discussed in-depth for both sides to

present their arguments and reasoning, seven months after its enactment.

Thirty-seven sets of petitioners chose 13 representatives in fighting against the proposed act led by Attorney Neri Colmenares; consisting of framers of the Constitution, law experts, and human rights advocates, as well as individuals who claim to have been victims of authorities’ terrorist-tagging.

There were arguments of the law being too vague and ambiguous potentially allowing for injustice and wrongful criminal prosecution, especially that the Anti-Terrorism Council currently headed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medial dea, can designate individuals and/or organizations

Art by: Seann Carpizo

just on “probable” causes.

This also means that it violates due process as it lacks the parameters for any form of official accusations.

With its ludicrous proposals, the Anti-Terrorism act normally has the majority turning against it. Future proceedings regarding its procedures and culmination are yet to be concluded,

however constitutional law Professor Tony La Viña alongside Colmenares are optimistic in regards to their belief that they uphold a strong case as they fight for the country and its rights; the same attitude we should all try to bear during these hard times.

One can only wonder about the outcome—may we all remain hopeful as Filipino citizens.

What’s mine is mine; what’s yours is negotiable: Why doesn’t China want to share and why does it keep wanting more?

GHOTI Dave Domingo

Feb 4 - Satellite images showed that China is continuing construction in Mischief Reef, also known as Panganiban Reef, inside Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Though the purpose of said construct is currently unknown, given China’s recent efforts to milita-

rize the South China Sea, its reasons can be inferred.

But why does China want to control the sea, even to go as far as, according to Krishnankutty (2020), having border disputes with around 17 countries?

The South China Sea is rich in oil and gas, with trade routes to the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. Through these, China will have enough resources to drive its massive economy.

SEE PAGE 10

Duterte Administration, stop Academic Freedom Threatening NOW! EURUS Lance Crisostomo

2021 was the year of terror and fear for academic institutions as the UP-DND accord was terminated. The UP-DND accord is an agreement between the University of the Philippines (UP) and Department of National Defense (DND) that restricts the

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access and operational powers of the police force and military men in the campus of UP. According to UP, the purpose of this restriction is to promote a “safe space for free thought and expression” for students and teachers alike, to be able to learn freely and be able to pursue what they wanted in life.

With the termination of the accord, the academic freedom of the Filipino students and teachers not just in UP but in the entire nation is affected.

The Lasallian Rheims

SEE PAGE 11

9

RHEIMS SPECIAL: FEBRUARY

EDITORIAL

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2021

Continuation from Ghoti, What’s mine is mine; what’s yours is negotiable: Why doesn’t China want to share and why does it keep wanting more?

According to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, the South China Sea holds an estimated 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 11 billion barrels of oil in proven and probable reserves, with much more potentially undiscovered.

As a large percent of the world’s liquefied natural gas passes through here and other trades in the area amount to a whole lot of money. ChinaPower found that an estimated $3.4 trillion in trade passed through the South China Sea in 2016.

Another reason for claiming the sea is security, in the case of war. The access to the Indian Ocean is surrounded by American allies and to the Pacific, there’s Taiwan. So if war occurs, China will lose naval access to the rest of the world. Thus, Beijing wants to control the aforementioned sea.

Swielande (2011), in his journal article titled China and the South China Sea, wrote that in China, numerous experts mention the “Malacca Dilemma”. China feels vulnerable because of its economic dependence on the Strait of Malacca, which previously stated is surrounded by American allies.

In 1929, China took a bunch of old British Sailing Charts and told cartographers to draw China’s borders, this came to be the nine dash line, which encompasses the entire South China Sea and now Beijing claims that all the islands, waters, and even the airspace inside the lines are theirs.

With these territorial claims in Philippines’ and other country’s EEZ, these countries have moved to make China obey the law, the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS), which states “Every State has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baselines determined in accordance with this Convention.”

In 2013, Philippines argued that China had no rights on Scarborough Shoal and filed a case to an international tribunal and in 2016 the court con-

RPTD Renz Bautista

Photo from Asia Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation Inc.

Grade 10 students’ school of choice: 65% still undecided

In a survey consisting of 37 respondents from the Grade 10 level, 65% of the respondents are still undecided as to which school they will study in for Senior High School, slightly less than the 69% from the previous survey conducted last November 2020.

In the survey conducted during the first week of February, 16.2% of the respondents chose to study at ASJ for SHS. Another 16.2% chose to study at De La Salle University-Dasmarin͂as, and 2.7% chose to study at another school or university.

For their chosen strand, 51.4% chose Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand, 13.5% chose Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand, 8.1% chose the Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM), 10.8% chose Arts and Design Track, and 16.2% are still undecid-

10

cluded that China’s territorial claims are invalid.

On July 12, 2016, the arbitral tribunal adjudicating the Philippines’ case against China in the South China Sea ruled overwhelmingly in favor of the Philippines, determining that major elements of China’s claim—including its nine-dash line, recent land reclamation activities, and other activities in Philippine waters—were unlawful.

Predictably, China reacted negatively to the ruling, maintaining it was “null and void” (Salidjanova, 2016).

So things seem to be going the other countries’ way, no? But these disputes aren’t just going to vanish like a bubble. The stakes are high over these seas with many countries’ interests included.

With the recent discovery of the new construction on Mischief or Panganiban Reef and China’s new coast guard laws which “empowers the Chinese Coast Guard to take action, including the use of weapons, when national sovereignty, sovereign rights or jurisdiction are being illegally infringed upon or threatened by foreign organizations or individuals at sea.” Shuxian Luo (2021) wrote that China passed a law on January 22, which will come into force on February 1, that for the first time explicitly specifies the conditions under which the Chinese coast guard would be allowed to use weapons on foreign vessels. There’s also China’s militia in fishing boats and Coast guard consistently causing disputes under the radar. Kraska (2020) confirmed that China uses a militia fishing fleet to push its illegal claims in the East and South China Seas.

China wants the South China Sea for its economy and security, so as a Eurasian Land powerhouse it starts to develop towards the seas. In its expansion it comes into conflict with the interests of its neighboring countries and the USA which supports them. Despite the diplomatic maneuvers by countries like Vietnam and the Philippines, and threats from the USA, China continues its efforts to militarize the South China Sea. Truly, it seems like a calm before the storm.

ed for what strand they consider taking during Senior High School. From the survey, no responses for General Academic Strand (GAS) were noted.

Data compared from November’s survey noted that there was a decrease of percentages for the ABM strand down from the 15.4% to 8.1 and those who are undecided at 21.2% to 16.2. On the other hand there was an increase of percentage for the HUMSS strand’s 9% to its now 13.5, also, Arts and Design from 7.7% up to 10.8.

The survey also asked the main factor that affected their strand choice. 49% responded that it was their personal preference, 22% on personal skills or traits, 14% on influence in the family, 7% for academic performance, 6% for financial considerations, and 3% for job market demand and supply.

The Lasallian Rheims

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RHEIMS SPECIAL: FEBRUARY

EDITORIAL

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2021

Continuation from Eurus, Duterte Administration, stop Academic Freedom Threatening NOW!

Such termination opens doors to military men and police officers to conduct searches and operations at any time even without permission from the school administration. With this, fear and doubts will enter students and teachers especially if safety will be at question.

Such baseless accusations and whatnots provided by the government are absurd reasons for such action. Thinking that a school may be a den and recruitment for a terrorist group is really mind-blowing. Another thing, accusing an educational institution of having shabu laboratories inside its campus is laughable.

Schools are grounded to molding and developing students to be of good character and example for others. The students of good character are prepared to be of contributors to the progress and development of the whole nation.

SO TELL ME Mitzen Sotelo

Kindling the flame of the ‘86 revolution

35 years ago, February 22, year 1986, marked the day where millions of Filipinos from all walks of life gathered to march along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Metro Manila and took a stand to end the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos.

The assassination of Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. served as the last straw which started the flame in the people to fight and to unite for the common goal of putting an end to President Marcos’ dictatorship. Marching as one along EDSA, the main artery in Metro Manila, Filipinos carried posters, nuns gave flowers to the soldiers, all for the goal to have the freedom and democracy that the country was deprived of.

It was Filipino vs. Filipino. People vs.

Tanks and guns. Yet the Filipinos remained fearless and continued to fight for their rights and freedom peacefully making the EDSA revolution known as the bloodless revolution where people used their voices as weapons and nuns used their rosaries as swords.

“People from different sectors, young and old, went out to the street to fight for their rights. They were fearless of what would happen to them. They were not afraid because they were united. And with faith with each other, together they made history in fighting for our democracy. Their unity became their powerful weapfacebook.com/Rheims2020 @Rheims2020

School must be a place where students are able to freely learn and discover things. It must be where they are empowered to be the best version of themselves, helping students discover and utilize their potentials to prepare them for the future. Teachers, on the other hand, must be able to freely share their knowledge and expertise to students to be able to do their passion and vocation of teaching. Allowing military and police to do whatever they want at any time, even at surprising times will just cause chaos and would disrupt quality class hours and educational school activities. The national government must pull the administration together to stop making such invalid and baseless actions that would cause no progress at all. The administration must remember that the future of the nation is in the hands of the teachers and students of today.

on strong enough to make the most powerful man in the land leave the country,” said Nancy A. Tan, a witness of the EDSA revolution.

After four days of marching, on February 25, 1986, President Marcos stepped down and was exiled to Hawaii and Cory Aquino became president, putting an end to martial law and ending the dictatorship of President Marcos.

Now, as we celebrate 35 years of freedom, let us all look back at the sacrifices and the stand that our countrymen made to give us the freedom we’re enjoying now.

Martial law started a flame in our society, those men and women who fought for our freedom kept that flame burning and it is up to us, our generation, to keep it that way and to remember how those people fought fearlessly during that dark era.

Because of this, let us be reminded that we too can make our own stand, may it be in any aspect of our life. If we see injustice, don’t ignore it for it will only foster and grow. Just like those men and women in the EDSA revolution, muster your courage and learn to fight for what is right and just.

EDSA revolution proved what people can accomplish without the use of bloodshed. But more importantly, EDSA showed what we Filipinos can achieve if we stand together.

The Lasallian Rheims

11 Photo from: M2.0 Communications

Mars Perseverance rover (Top) and Philippines’ MAYA-2 (Bottom) are showing the people a glimpse of the future of Science and Technology and the roles that they are going to partake in the future. Photo from CNET and Rappler

SCITECH NASA GOES ONE STEP FURTHER, PERSEVERANCE ROVER STARTS EXPLORATION ON MARS

RHEIMS SPECIAL: FEBRUARY

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2021

by Lance Crisostomo that the planet could be able to sustain life in the future.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administra According to a NASA release last February tion (NASA) has added another mark to history as 23, the rover is set to provide information on the geNASA's Mars rover Perseverance landed on Mars’ ology and past climate of the planet and collect samlithosphere last February 18, after seven months ples of rocks and regolith for studying which are from being deployed last July 2020, as a part of the potential sources of evidence for signs of past life. mission to explore Mars for future inhabitation.

“The rover will characterize the planet’s geolo According to reports, Perseverance rovgy and past climate, pave the way for human exploraer descended on the Jezero crater in Mars and it tion of the Red Planet, and be the first mission to coltook the entry, descent, landing (EDL) process lect and cache Martian rock and regolith,” NASA stated. of the rover seven minutes before it was completed.

In his statement from the Nature Research Jour(retrieved from NASA release February 23) nal, Matt Wallace, Deputy Project Manager of the mis According to Katie Stack Morgan, deputy project scision at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, he stated that Perseentist, the team would be looking for biosignatures in the verance provided the first video clip of how a spacecraft samples collected which can be considered as evidence of actually landed on another planet, specifically Mars. past life since this is influenced by life to take form.

"We'll be searching for biosignatures

“You are getting a glimpse into what it would - patterns, textures or substances that require be like to land successfully into Jezero Crater with the influence of life to form," Morgan said.

Perseverance. This is the first time we’ve been able

To support this mission, Perseverance is equipped to see ourselves — to see our spacecraft — land on with advanced scientific data gathering and sample colthe surface of another planet,” Wallace said. lecting equipment - Mastcam-Z (advanced camera sys Since its landing to Mars, the rover has already tem), PIXL (X-ray spectrometer), RIMFAX (ground-penprovided NASA with photos and videos of Mars and etrating radar), MOXIE (Experiment on oxygen its exploration, particularly on the land area of Mars, production), MEDA (multi-function sensor), SHERLOC the rocks and geological patterns, and many more that (Device used for detection of minerals), and SuperCam give a lot of information about the planet to the people.

(Device for location of organic compounds on rocks).

With the rover equipped with advanced equipPerseverance’ Mission on Mars ment on its mission, the rover would be able to collect

The Perseverance rover was sent to Mars to samples from the planet that would be brought to Earth at help scientists study if there are signs of past life that some point in the future for further study and to add to the emerged in the planet which could support the possibility knowledge to eventually inhabit Mars in the near future.

New scientific milestone Philippine launches MAYA-2 into space

by Lance Crisostomo

Last February 21, MAYA-2, the second nanosatellite of the Philippines, was launched from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) station in Virginia, United States to the International Space Station as part of the process before it is launched to the lower Earth Orbit.

MAYA-2 is a cube satellite that is part of the BIRDS 4 Satellite project, composed of MAYA-2, Paraguay’s GuaraniSat-1 CubeSat and Japan’s Tsuru CubeSat, developed by Filipino engineers Izrael Zenar Bautista, Mark Angelo Purio, and Marloun Sejera.

According to Izrael Bautista, MAYA-2 contained updates and modifications from the MAYA1 launched in June 2018 to make it work better especially in terms of collecting data.

“We improved on the communication link by changing the antennas and upgrading the transmitter/receiver. We also included an active attitude control. Maya-1 used passive attitude control,” Bautista stated.

On the other hand, Mark Purio stated that the team faced a lot of challenges since the pandemic struck and they can’t gather together in the final stages of the completion of the satellite.

“Not being able to gather physically also added to the challenges we faced during the final stages of the project as most of the work, such as troubleshootfacebook.com/Rheims2020 @Rheims2020

ing and finalizing software and satellite assembly, were done with less people from the team,” Purio said.

The next chapter for the Philippine’s Space Science

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Philippine Space Agency were proud of the achievement as it represents great progress and development in the Philippine Space Technology Development Program that has been started last 2014 and produced 4 satellites namely DIWATA-1, DIWATA-2, MAYA-1 and the latest, MAYA-2.

"The DOST is very proud of this achievement.

Since DOST started the Philippine Space Technology Development Program in 2014, we have already sent orbiting into space two microsatellites -- Diwata-1 and Diwata-2, and the nanosatellite, Maya-1. Maya-2 will soon be deployed from the ISS," DOST secretary Fortunato De la Peña stated.

De la Peña added that there are more satellites made by Filipinos to be launched in the near future as part of the pursuance of the nation’s space development program; as a matter of fact, MAYA-3 and MAYA-4 are expected to be launched within the year and DIWATA-3 and DIWATA-4 are under development already.

The Lasallian Rheims

13

What happens on Feb 14?

by Mitzen Sotelo

There is one day in a year where we show our utmost affection to the ones we love. Celebrated on Feb.14, the day full of hearts, chocolates, flowers, cards, and romance. A day we call Valentine’s Day.

Some people get excited about this day, others hate it and look at it bitterly yet how did this day come to be?

Valentine’s Day is also known as the feast day of Saint Valentine in the catholic religion, which was added to the liturgical calendar around 500 AD. This day was made in honor to celebrate the three martyred saints who went by the name no other than Valentine.

Different legends were told about these 3 different men yet one of these legends was affiliated with love and the holiday itself.

In this story, Saint Valentine was a Roman priest who performed weddings for soldiers that were forbidden to marry because Emperor Cladius II, the Roman emperor at the time, decided that single men made better soldiers than married men with families.

That is why he outlawed marriage for young men to keep them focused and to make better soldiers out of them, thus, young men weren’t allowed to marry.

Still, Saint Valentine wore a ring with a cupid on it for soldiers to recognize him and to remind Christians of their love for God. He’d also cut out paper hearts and give it away to remind them.

Saint Valentine was therefore named the Patron Saint of love because of this legend. While people recite the Saint Valentine prayer in hopes that he’d connect two lovers and join them as one and at the same time keep them connected with God.

Till this day, our world still celebrates Valentine’s Day. Even in our own country, we look at Valentine’s Day as a big occasion full of flowers, surprises, gift giving, serenades, and many more sweet acts of love.

But don’t you ever wonder how other countries celebrate Feb.14? Do they celebrate just like us? Or do they celebrate it differently? Let's find out.

In Norway, Norwegians celebrate Gaekkebrev, if translated to English it’s called joke letters.

This tradition dates back to the 18th century where secret admirers pick up a pen and paper and write what they desire to tell to the person they like or love, then here is where the joke comes in. The se-

cret admirers would then leave a clue of their identity by leaving a dot on the paper representing each of the letters of their name. If the lady guesses her admirer correctly then she gets a chocolate easter egg on easter day but if she doesn’t then she’ll have to give her secret admirer an easter egg instead.

Sōbrapäev or friends day is what people from Estonia call Valentine’s Day. That is why it is their tradition to exchange cards and gifts just like an ordinary Valentine’s Day, only instead of sending Xoxo’s and other romantic stuff, they send their cards and gifts with the words “Happy Friends Day” or “Lets be friends”, which might be the last thing a person would want to hear from someone they like.

Meanwhile, in South Africa, people love celebrating Feb. 14 just as we Filipinos do. They do candlelight dinner, gift giving, and all of those but one thing bold about them is that is their tradition where young girls would pin a heart on their sleeve with the name of their love written on it. They would then keep it there for the whole day. They say that this action may lead to dating and if an individual’s lucky it may even lead to marriage.

Last Valentine’s Day tradition is the tradition hailing from Japan where it is the girls who chase the guys. Unlike in the Philippines and in other countries, in Japan it’s the girlfriends and wives who shower their husbands and boyfriends with many chocolates and surprises.

These traditions are all unique yet very endearing and splendid in their own ways, yet one must remember that Valentine’s Day isn’t just about love from an opposite sex or just for couples. Valentine’s is about love in general. So to those who don’t have a partner, don’t be bitter about it for life will always have its plans for you and all will be right in time.

Don’t forget to give out love to the people around you because through giving out love, we gain more. May it be Valentine’s Day or not, choose to love your family, your friends, and God; but most importantly, don’t forget to love yourself.

“The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.”

-Helen Keller

MOVIE REVIEW:

OVER THE MOON

by Mitzen Sotelo Photo from: Just Watch

Netflix’s movie Over the moon, an American-Chinese movie that depicts Chinese culture released back in Fall 2020 shows a heartwarming and sentimental story of an adventurous girl, Fei Fei (Cathy Ang) who builds a rocket ship and sets course to meet a Chinese mythical goddess on the moon.

Directed by Glenn Klean, an American animator who’s animated several Walt Disney films such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Tangled, and other well known films.

The movie is set in China where a girl, Fei Fei (Cathy Ang) struggles from grief after losing her mother. After 4 years, she’s grown into her early teens and her father (John Cho) has moved on from the loss and has considered remarrying.

Refusing to accept change, Fei Fei wants her old life back. She turns her back against the idea of her father marrying again and having to welcome a new woman and an energetic stepbrother in her life. Not knowing what to do, Fei Fei looks back to her late mother’s story, the legend of the Chinese moon goddess Chang’e, who stays on the moon awaiting for long lost love to return.

Believing in this story, using her knowledge in science, her adventurous spirit and the laws of Physics, Fei Fei builds a rocket and sets off to the stars. As her adventure begins, she finds herself in a magical world full of Chinese inspired creatures that makes her adventure even more magical.

Over the Moon touches the audience’s hearts with the concepts of love and loss making it an eye opener as well. With the great lessons both children and adults would sure learn from, making people realize that we must be open to change for it has new possibilities as we enter every new chapter in our lives.

As she lands on the moon, she meets the Moon goddess, Chang’e (Phillipa Soo) but she wasn’t as she expected. Covered with the longingness for her long lost love, the moon goddess insists that Fei Fei must bring her a gift in order for her love to return. Now Fei Fei is set off to find this peculiar gift in exchange for a picture with the goddess to prove to her father that if the legend of the moon goddess who waits centuries for her love to return is true, then her father can wait a little longer before marrying someone new.

As she ventures on a quest through the craters of the moon in search for the mysterious gift that the moon goddess claims she has brought facebook.com/Rheims2020 @Rheims2020

to the moon with her, Fei Fei meets Gobi (Ken Jeong) another creature on the moon who helps her find the gift. Soon Fei Fei finds the gift and offers it to Chang’e, sadly they were too late.

Chang’e realizes that she couldn’t bring back her love, consumed by grief, the goddess enters the chamber of exquisite sadness. Fei Fei joins the goddess and grieves by her side. At that moment she got to release all the heavy feelings she’s been keeping in and that was when she started to accept change.

As Fei Fei returns to earth, she realizes that change wasn’t a bad thing, and she learned to open her heart allowing new love into her life.

The Lasallian Rheims

15

Mot

This artwork was concieved under of grass in

The pulsation of motion is ren

- Dave D

tion

r the inspiration of the movement n the wind.

ndered through various colors.

Domingo

Motion Is it river fish?

Or a tree with leaves in flight?

Perhaps, a fierce storm - Dave Domingo

The Sunset in the Attic There’s that time of the day that I love best, The hour when the sun sinks towards the blazing west, As the light falls ever so dramatic, I watch the sky burn through my window up in the attic.

Cause when there’s a golden spectacle, I have a breathtaking view, For I can see orange and crimson hues painted on a canvas of blue, A painting spread across the sky’s endless expanse, Nature’s magnificent scenery with fluffy clouds that dance.

Sunrays reaching throughout the edges of town, Behind the mountain by the meadow, I see the sundown.

And through my window, gone are the ripples of light, The song of afternoon fades as day slowly turns into night.

Now the sun melts over the horizon, leaving darkness to the meadow, I close the curtains and smile, For the show was a sunset, And what awaits for me is a new tomorrow.

- Mitzen Sotelo