The Rainbow, vol. 45, issue no.1

The Rainbow The Official School Publication of Pili National High School Volume 45 , Issue No.1 La Paz, Pawili, Pili, Camarines Sur

School Year 2022-2023

The Truth Becomes Radiant

Facebook: The Rainbow/Ang Bahaghari

BLOOM

A glimpse of life through the lens of clothing and sexuality.

What’s Inside: A Costly Energy Crisis

A Matter of Truth

BLOOM

Trust Vaccines?

Honing Quality Athletes

NEWS

OPINION

FEATURE

SCIENCE

SPORTS

Editorial Board

The Rainbow

Frances Vincent S. Decena

The pandemic aftermath issue, Volume 45 No.1 (SY 2022-2023)

Editor-in-chief Science sec�on in-charge Layout ar�st Graphic designer

Aira Donna D. Priela Sports sec�on in-charge Associate editor

Karl Aaron D. Galvez Managing editor

Eusheka Rebancos News sec�on in-charge

Xavier Bryan B. Briñas Opinions sec�on in-charge

Ginuwine Kaye Bautista

The truth becomes radiant.

Contents: News, page 3 Project CLEAN seeds ‘solution’ to homeowner complaints; students whine it’s ineffective if ‘majority don’t cooperate’ Frianela—the library is the heart of the school, a shelter for learning Monthly electricity bill soars to P150,000; Escuro eyes solar panels to reduce monthly costs by 67% PiliNHS Bests 15 Schools in 60th UNEP Activation Day, Bags 5 Awards in 3 Categories

Mind the Meme Above the Law: Are Police Using Their Power for Good?

Booklat launched, aims to boost learners’ reading level The Rainbow, Ang Bahaghari find difficulty in looking for new recruits FEU donates chairs to PiliNHS 205 families receive relief donations from Project Balde st

PNHS scribes bag 1 runner up overall in 3rd Congressional SSPC tilt

News, page 4

On Abortion: When Justice Bleeds

Opinion, page 5

Features, page 7 Shaping the Future of Modern Education ‘Covid hit when I was in 5th Grade. Now I’m on my 2nd year of high school’

191 students readily vaccinated in vacc-to-school program Are Facemasks Still a Thing?

Science, page 10

The Rise of a Rebellion: The Resistance of Bacteria

Sports, page 10 Mustang Girls Clinch Palarong CamSur Title Honing Quality Athletes Chained by a Budget Deficit: Unveiling what is hidden in plain sight

BLOOM

Your Say

Trust Vaccines?

‘It’s Skin-shivering’: What to Know About Monkeypox

Features, page 8 Don’t Cross the Line: What it Means to have Boundaries

Features sec�on in-charge

Carl Delina Jewel Ayrish Molina

Opinion, page 6

SPTA primes new projects for S/Y 2022-2023, Says ‘More improvements’ are to be expected

Science, page 9

Ateneo outlasts UP in the battle of wills

Editorial Cartoonist

About the cover:

Jejomar Belano Photojournalist

Contributors: Jodel Dien Biag, Bryan Kent Nares, Lordy Ampongan, CJ Perfecto, Ace Bayobo, Ariel Benedict Marquez

Roselle Jamee Yvonne P. Gonzales School Paper Adviser

Erma D. Escuro, Ph.D Secondary School Principal IV

Sherlina H. Dela Torre

Inspired by John Singer Sargent’s Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose and Martin Henning’s Thistle Blossoms, the digital artwork displays two transwomen ruminating at the edge of a meadow. Intwined, it illustrates how sexuality can be as fragile, yet as beautiful, as flowers that spring from the ground–encompassing why we need to embrace and nurture That beauty in what we are, instead of letting them wither on the vines of fate.

Like how flowers bloom after winter, perhaps, there is nothing that time can’t heal and foster.

ARTWORK by Frances Vincent Decena

Assistant School Principal II-SHS

Geraldine M. Navales Head Teacher III--English

Letters to the editor: To the editor: When Booklat was launched, books that were found there were for entertainment purposes to entertain students like me. It was quite evident that the students manifested interest, like me.

But from what I observed, the number of students who go to Booklat to dive in its sea of novels and entertainment weren’t even close to how I imagined it—in fact, I may even go to say that no students go there at all.

My concern is that this platform isn’t being put to use.

Its purpose is to allow students to enjoy in the art of reading, but I’m appalled as this purpose isn’t put in light.

I wrote this letter as a voice to emphasize students to use the Booklat, and not let its books wither to waste. But more to that, to ask the teachers who oversee that platform to also be more welcoming to students who would like to go there.

Jodel Dien Biag 9-Sapphire To the editor: The Department of Education (DepEd) reiterated an initiative, DO No.32, s.2017, that states that schools should uphold gender-responsive policies to protect its students from genderrelated abuse and to promote a safe space for students of all SOGIE (which, as indicated in their Mission, Vision, and Goal,

should have been evident from the start).

Yet, the LGBTQ+ community is still in constant threat in the schools’ premises—which goes against their policies. In fact, many of my queer friends have complained about being called out by their teachers and by their classmates simply because they were being true to themselves.

I wrote this letter not only to express my grief in the lack of response that DepEd has to this problem, but also to express my hope that LGBTQ+ community would be able to walk freely without the need of exclusion or prejudice from people—we all deserve a space in this world, after all.

Vernard Angelo Ngo

11-STEM To the Editor: There is a prominent issue in the school that, in my perspec�ve, seems like no one ever talks about—the catcalling in the hallways.

Whenever I pass by the hallway near the English Department, I am met with catcalls by the random male (and some�mes female) students that sit there. I o�en here a whispering “Pheow, hi ganda” with matching lust-filled eye winks and an echoing laugh, or a pervasive “Ang sarap mo naman po.” (Disgus�ngly creepy!)

And for God’s sake, the uncountable, almost immutable phrase “Aesthe�c!” that random people seem to label me with when I don in an ou�it that I’m proud of.

I have had enough with the catcalling and bullying. Yet no one seems to ever talk about them.

We deserve a place safe enough to stay! I wrote this le�er as a way to inform the admins in charge of the school to facilitate students’ e�que�e no ma�er where they are—even in the hallways!

Mary Joy Binavente 11-STEM

The Rainbow

News

3

Project CLEAN seeds ‘solution’ to homeowner complaints; students whine it’s ineffective if ‘majority don’t cooperate’

By Frances Vincent Decena

Can the library cope with the demands of time?

Frianela—the library is the heart of the school, a shelter for learning

By Frances Vincent Decena “The library is our archives–it’s the heart of the school. It’s something that cannot be replaced by the internet nor the passage of time,” said Katheryn Frianela, the school librarian, when asked on the significance of the school library despite the massive spree of the internet.

According to her statement, misinformation and disinformation are factors that make the internet “unreliable”, disregarding its efficiency.

“Libraries contain our archives. It has books that span from the ‘90s up to present, which are all fact-based and have been carefully reviewed by those who authorize them. In

Members of the Citizenship Advancement Training (CAT) corp flock together to clean under their territorial assignment. Photo from PNHS Project Clean FB page.

“Many homeowners have complained that students, likewise teachers, of PNHS do not care where they throw their garbage and that we are not aware of cleanliness and orderliness. In response, Project CLEAN aims to solve that,” said Geraldine Navales, the academic coordinator and proponent of Project CLEAN (Care, Learn, Encourage, and Nab), during an interview.

She stressed that due to the lack of trash-disposal etiquette that students and teachers of PNHS exhume, many homeowners of Del Rosario subdivision and those near the school’s vicinity have started complaining, where one had sent a letter regarding this to the central office.

“In response to that, we implemented, and again, made the proposal for Project CLEAN,” Navales says.

She stressed that Project CLEAN, as its name suggests, should incentivize students and school staff to “care for our cleanliness, learn from the experience, encourage others to do so, and nab those who go against the rules and standards that Project CLEAN enforces.”

Many club officers of PNHS however have complaint that it’s ineffective if the majority don’t cooperate.

“Even though magayon ang intensyion niya sa school and sa environment, garo ang ibang students and teachers dae man dedicated,” opposes Rick Andro Banaria, an 11-HUMSS student and an SSG (Supreme Student Council) officer.

“Itong iba man inconsistent sa paglinig. Itong iba, garo kung nuarin lang pwede saka lang

malinig. Kaya sana next school year, kung iko-continue pa man ining project na ini, mas maging cooperative sana ang gabos,” Banaria adds.

“Project CLEAN helps us to develop a sense of responsibility over our school’s environment. This initiative can help us to instill good habits that can be carried forward into other areas of our lives, like our own homes and communities. We just need to cooperate and be dedicated to its cause,” says Prince Lester Belza, a member of multiple clubs of PNHS and an 11-ABM student.

Although Project CLEAN’s main purpose is only to respond to the complaints of the homeowners of Del Rosario Subdivision, she says that it also aims to instill to students values, and that being “they are indebted to bring their own waste at home. Kasi, Project CLEAN is inclined with DepEd’s ‘Basura Mo, Dala Mo’ policy,” she vocalized.

When asked about the negative feedback that the Basura Mo, Dala Mo policy has had from teachers and students over the years, Navales stated that “the policy is directed by DepEd, and Project CLEAN is inclined with that” “Although, effective naman siya [Basura Mo, Dala Mo policy] when inside the school,” Navales argues.

“Ineffective lang outside the school kasi when students get out of school, tinatapon lang naman nila ‘yong basura kung saan-saan.”

Since Project CLEAN is nearing its completion, Navales was asked if she plans to continue the project next year. “If you’re asking kung iko-continue pa next year, my answer is probably ‘yes’,” answers Navales.

fact, some of the information in these books can’t even be found on the internet,” she proceeded.

She explains that “Libraries not only provide shelter to books, but also a shelter for learning.” Students can use the library to focus on learning and stray away from the nuisance of the outside world, part of the reason why libraries are immutable facilities for schools.

When asked how the library can cope with the demands of time, Frianela answered that they need more “computers and laptops” as well as a stable internet connection to lure students to use the library.

“In fact, during the pandemic, maraming mga SHS [Senior High

School] students ang pumupunta dito. I let them use the two laptops that we have in store para makabrowse nila and magamit nila for rersearch purposes.”

She adds that “books allow students to tour around” and is a different experience from surfing the internet. “In fact, my kids who I only give books have shown to be more comprehensive in understanding concepts that were written in it,” she added.

For book borrowers, Frianela also stressed that students must oblige to the rules she indicated during their orientation (for new students and transferees) when borrowing books.

A COSTLY ENERGY CRISIS Monthly electricity bill soars to P150,000; Escuro eyes solar panels to reduce monthly costs by 67%

By Frances Vincent Decena As the monthly electricity bill of Pili National High School (PiliNHS) has started to rise to P150,000 per month since last year, School Principal Dr. Erma Escuro has initiated plans on using solar panels to minimise monthly costs by 67% (roughly P100,500 per month) in the next 3-4 months.

“Dahil nga halos lahat ng mga buildings ng school may aricons, even the admin building alone has more than 6, other than electric fans and other appliances that are always on, of course tataas ‘yung bill natin sa kuryente,” explained Principal Escuro when asked how our electricity bills have ballooned.

“Pero we already have plans naman,” she added. “We have already started to use solar

panels, and we want to expand them through every building in PNHS.” She also said that after the solar panels near the pathway, which were bought using the funds from last year’s SGC collection, have been installed, the energy cost had already started to deescalate to P120,000. “What more if lahat na ng buildings meron?” she emphasized.

“Meron na rin akong ibang programs na na-implement last year para ma-tackle natin iyang issue na ‘yan, kagaya ng Energy Saving program, wherein offices were instructed to only use aircons during 9am-3pm. Pero wala, eh. Hindi naman sumusunod ‘yung mga departments,” she clarified.

Some teachers have also initiated their students to cut off electricity during certain times of the day, which sacrifices the students’ rights to access necessary appliances to lessen energy cost.

However, Principal Escuro stated that she did not “instruct” teachers to do this as it would not ensure the students’ safety.

Furthermore, she also added that solicitations to different organizations have already been made to collect funds for the solar panels, and if it isn’t enough, she said, “we’ll ask for assistance from the SPTA.” Principal Escuro, moreover, stated that it would take three to four months before monthly energy costs start to recede completely by 67% or P100,000/ month.

PiliNHS bests 15 schools in 60th UNEP activation day, bags 5 awards in 3 categories

By Frances Vincent Decena Pili National High School's Drum and Lyre Corps (DLC) Marching Spartans, the Alluring Majorettes, and the Citizenship Advancement Training (CAT) unit participated and won various awards during the 60th Army R.O.T.C Activation Day of the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) that was conducted this Saturday, November 5, 2022 in Iriga City.

Of the awards they corralled, PiliNHS's Marching Spartans won first place in the DXC Exhibition; the Alluring Majorettes won first place in the Majorettes Exhibition;

and the CAT unit won third in the Crack Platoon Silent Fancy Drill.

Awards were also given to the leaders who brought direction to their team's performance. PiliNHS's Kim Bona of 11-Lorentz won best in band leader during the DXC Exhibition, and Gwyneth Sabularse of 12- STEM-C won best in majorette leader during the Majorette Exhibition.

"We are destined to conquer a bigger stage!"

Majorettes Coordinator Efren Bogayan posted on Facebook in celebration to their winning.

vvAbout 20 schools from Bicol region, both public and private, participated in the Activation Day. According to UNEP's official student publication The Frontline, there were 15 schools (including PiliNHS) that competed under Category 1-CAT Unit, and there were six schools that rivaled under Category 2- ROTC unit.

The commencement ceremony was followed by a parade after all the schools had assembled on the university ground of UNEP, in which the bands circled the perimeter of Iriga City.

News 4 SPTA primes new projects for S/Y 2022-2023, Says ‘More improvements’ are to be expected

By Eusheka Angelique Rebancos On Tuesday, Noli Marlon Angeles, the treasurer of Pili National High School’s (PNHS) School Parent Teachers Association (SPTA), cited a few of their plans for their upcoming and on-going projects for school improvement initiated this school year 20222023.

According to Angeles, the first project that the SPTA wants to prioritize is the continuation of the pathway-shed structure near the pavilion. He said that the project started before the school implemented its full-blast, face-toface classes.

Angeles also mentioned that the renovation of the SPTA office is already on-going, making it a part of their projects for this year.

One of the biggest projects that they’re planning to start is the elevation of the pathway to the

pavilion. Angeles said that the struggle that teachers and students face everytime it’s raining is the muddy and rocky ground that often gets flooded even from the slightest amount of rain pour. They want to elevate it to make the pathway much more presentable and easier to walk on.

However, the main problem that the association is facing right now is the lack of funds to start and continue these projects.

“Ngunyan, ang collection pati nagkukulang pa. Lalo nang kadakol man bagang gastusan. Dae ta man iyan pwedeng pwersahan na magbarayad tulos, kaya… little by little,” Angeles said.

The SPTA still has a lot of projects and plans in mind, but Angeles said they don’t want to mention all of them yet in case they fail to do them due to the shortage of collected funds.

FEU donates chairs to PiliNHS

By Karl Aaron Galvez The school received 100 students’ armchairs from the Far Eastern University (FEU), a private university in Manila, in response to the school’s request this Monday, September 19, 2022.

Pili National High School (PNHS) Head Erma D. Escuro, Ph.D felt grateful to receive such solicitations from one of the country’s premier university.

Principal Escuro stated some of the special features of the armchairs from the said university. “We have solicited 100 students’ armchairs, durable…students’ armchairs na talaga namang students will appreciate because some of those students’ armchairs meron baga dun sa baba na parang locker nila,” the principal said.

As she stated, the armchairs that were received from FEU are highly durable. The armchairs also had their own mini compartments beneath it.

The principal also said that “the priority is for the SPA” in which she postulates how the Special Program in the Arts (SPA) learners lack the class materials for school materials.

In addition, Principal Escuro acknowledged Mr. Alexis Nillo, Officer-In-Charge (OIC) of MAPEH Department and a member in her staff for his connection with the FEU. “We have in my staff, Sir Alexis Nillo, whose brother is connected to the military, I think… I guess, sa Air Force ata ‘yon. And through him, we were able to connect with the FEU.” Furthermore, Principal Escuro mentioned that the PNHS also plans to submit more letters requesting class materials to the FEU. “They are also giving donations to schools, however, we really need to submit a letter of request and upon learning all this, I immediately instructed our PINAHSTEA Secretary, Miss Kiel…to craft a letter to be sent to FEU”, Principal Escuro added.

In Escuro’s statement, she said that other equipments, musical instruments for instance, are now being requested from the FEU.

205 families receive relief donations from Project Balde

By Xavier Brinas Pili National High School’s Teachers’ and Employees’ Association (PINAHSTEA) implemented a new project called Project Bringing Acts of Love, Deliverance and Empathy (BALDE) last December 16, 2020.

With the efforts of the association, they were able to gather a total of PHP 182,739.17—which was utilized to engross grocery packs for 205 families.

In provision with the successful collection, the association prepared 205 pails that were filled with groceries such as canned goods, instant noodles, and rice—which were given to the 205 families, both

from junior and senior high, selected and validated by the advisers and the officers-in-charge.

PINAHSTEA Officers and teachers from the SHS and JHS volunteered in preparing the gift packs. They repacked five days before the said project took place—December 10 and 11, 2020 at the PINAHSTEA office.

As the pandemic hits harder on marginalized communities, the orgnization hopes that this act of altruism would serve as a shed of light in the shadow of the pandemic.

Booklat launched, aims to boost learners’ reading level

By Karl Aaron Galvez Pili National High School spearheaded the launching and ribbon-cutting of the Booklat Reading Center held on December 9, 2022 at the school grounds.

The event was done with the help of grade 7 and 8 HRPTA, Nancy Ababa Fussle, PNHS Class of 1991, Raj Vishwa-Rajama & AIG UK, and VINWAA who sent their support and sponsorship to the development of the reading center.

According to Ababa, the Brigada Pagbasa Coordinator and propeller of Booklat from the English Department, the leading cause as to why the reading center was established was to “encourage learners to read.”

She also said that the Booklat Reading Center is a venue for “reading intervention,” considering the fact that rooms and facilities of the school are fully occupied and there are no availbale areas where students can immerse themselves in reading.

In addition, Ma’am Ababa aforementioned that the said reading center is just a supplement for the school library. She mentioned that it is in the school library wherein you can find books for reference and research as books in Booklat only caters books that intentionally picks someone’s interest in reading.

“You can’t find research books in the Booklat Reading Center.

What you can find there are novels or mga beginning reading materials that are intended to enhance or improve the reading skills of the students” Ma’am Ababa said.

She also shared her dreams for the school to have a reading facility which became her inspiration for the establishment of Booklat Reading Center possible.

Ma’am Ababa, in her statement, also stressed the issues on students’ education—reading, for instance— which was brought by the COVID19 pandemic.

“As of now, it’s a common problem. It’s not just the problem of the Pili National High School. It’s the problem of all the schools’ because we have a learning loss because of the two-year pandemic;” Ma’am Ababa emphasized.

Furthermore, she said that the estimated cost of the establishment of the said reading center— excluding the books—had already ammassed PHP 85,000 which was donated by the sponsors, the school, and some of her close friends and relatives as books in the Booklat Reading Center were from Ma’am Ababa herself, Ma’am Kiel Pural, Groliers, and the Far Eastern University (FEU).

Ma’am Ababa hopes and prays that this newly established reading environment can enhance the learners’ ability to read and understand texts, and—hopefully— shorten the gap in our current education crisis.

SHORTHANDED STAFF! The Rainbow, Ang Bahaghari find difficulty in looking for new recruits

By Frances Vincent Decena October 3, 2022—The Rainbow and Ang Bahaghari, the publications of Pili National High School (PNHS) in English and Filipino, had conducted a twoweek long screening test to look for new writers, photojournalists, and cartoonists for the current school year, where 200 students had taken part.

someone who knows what to encapsulate in their work, as well as how they can improve it,” says Frances Vincent Decena, the editor in chief of The Rainbow for school year 2022-2023.

But only 12 qualified.

Marlon Borja, the School Paper Adviser (SPA) of Ang Bahaghari, exhumes that it was “hard” for them to look for new recruits because none of them knew how to write.

“When we look into their works kasi, we’re not just looking for someone who knows how to apply language perfectly or someone who knows how to draw good. In fact, wala nga naman kaming nakitang ganyan out of the 200 pieces we reviewed. We look for

“None, if only a few of them however, had shown to uphold those values,” he added.

“Wala akong nakita sa junior high na may writer quality. Halos lahat ng journalists ko kinuha ko sa

Senior High, pero part ng reason diyan ay dahil parte naman talaga sila ng publication dati pa,” he explains.

The Rainbow and Ang Bahaghari, dealing with a shorthanded staff, hopes that next year more students would join and pass the screening test.

“It really isn’t a matter of talent.

Writing is a skill that you learn — in fact, I don’t even call myself good at it yet. I just know how to improve and improve,” emphasised Decena. “And joining the publication can help you with that,” he added.

PNHS scribes bag 1st runner up overall in 3rd Congressional SSPC tilt

By Frances Vincent Decena Calabanga, Camarines Sur--The Rainbow and Ang Bahaghari, both publications of Pili National High School in English and Filipino, have bagged 1st runner up in the overall results of the recently concluded 3rd Congressional Sectoral Secondary Schools Press Conference (SSPC) that was held at Jose C. Prevosa Sr. National High School this May 18, 2023.

The individual awards that The Rainbow campus journalists corraled are: Frances Vincent Decena, 1st Place in Sci-tech Writing (English); Jewel Ayrish Molina, 1st Place in Editorial Cartooning (English); Princess Angel Gonzaga, 2nd Place in Copyreading and headline writing (English); Aira Donna Priela, 5th Place in Sports Writing (English); Jejomar Belano, 5th Place in Photojournalism (English); Ariel Benedict Marquez, 7th Place in Feature Writing (English); Karl Aaron Galvez, 9th Place in News Writing (English); and Ginuwine

Kaye Bautista, 9th Place in Editorial Writing (English).

Ang Bahaghari campus journalists tallied the following awards: Dianna Guazon, 1st Place in News Writing (Filipino); Carl Jullien Perfecto, 1st Place in Editorial Cartooning (Filipino); Lorebell Boceron, 2nd Place in Editorial Writing (Filipino); Giada Mujar, 3rd Place in Photojournalism (Filipino); Cathleen Esteban, 4th Place in Sci-tech Writing (Filipino); Mark Steven Balderrama, 5th Place in Feature Writing (Filipino); Art Michael Gallego, 6th Place in Sports Writing (Filipino); Elerie Delima, 6th Place in Copyreading and Headline Writing (Filipino); and Ivy Pauline Muit, 9th Place in Column Writing (Filipino).

Both The Rainbow's and Ang Bahaghari's Radio Scriptwriting and Broadcasting teams were hailed as champions, who are: Annaliza Nares, Nicole Briones, Jodel Dien Biag, Zeph Alim, and Vince Danabar for The Rainbow;

Rick Bañaria, Thomas Estrada, Princes Vibares, Crystal Delatado, and Neil Delima for Ang Bahaghari.

The broadcasting team from The Rainbow was coached by Ma'am Diana Rose Conel, while the broadcasting team from Ang Bahghari was coached by Ma'am Essene Plaza.

Meanwhile, Sir Joeric Paz coached both english and filipino editorial writers, column writers, and editorial cartoonists. Sir Efren Bogayan, on the other hand, coached the photojournalists, both in english and filipino.

According to the working committee of the SSPC, only those who place 5th and higher can advance to this year's division-level press conference. And in accordance, a total of 11 individual writers and 10 Radiobroadcasters from The Rainbow and Ang Bahaghari will compete in the next division competition on May 24-25 at Sipocot National High school.

The Rainbow

Opinions

5 t

Your Say:

EDITORIAL

A Matter of Truth The system isn’t broken; it’s working as perfectly corrupt as it was intended to.

A bold, cowardly refuge of the weak — as aptly described by the New York Times. Media censorship, as its name imposes, is the act of censoring informa�on by revising, adjus�ng, or discarding content that people in power label as objec�onable, indecent, poli�cally incorrect, and more. Media repression, on the other hand, maneuvers the media through in�mida�on, harassment, physical violence, arrests, or even imprisonment of journalists. These methods allow those in authority to filter out what informa�on they want to broadcast through media channels—but for what cause?

Personal gain? Ulterior mo�ves? To keep people from being aware of the truth? Or in this case, to cloak the nega�ves of an ins�tu�on under a façade of posi�ve deeds?

According to the Official Gazette, the Executive Order no.7, s.2022 (which was signed by the newlyelected President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.) allows people to “voluntarily” wear face masks in any public and private setting—may it be indoor or outdoor.

Students in PiliNHS were asked what their say on the matter was.

“For me, I agree with that protocol kasi in some people aka-depend po samo kung willing kaming magsuot or no. and din some cases, we’re not comfortable without mask kasi nasanay na po.”

–Jeliane Valenzuela, 12-HUMSS “Approve po ako dun kasi especially may mga tao po kasing nahihirapan when it comes to breathing kaya po, kung voluntary na lang po ang use ng mask, mas O.K po. Pero dapat po sundin ta parin yung rules ng ibang private or public places.”

–Jaypee B. Albaniel, 12-GAS 5 “Hindi po ako agree. Kasi, malay mo po meron pala yung iba nung virus.

Magsusuot pa rin po sila ng face mask kahit po hindi na mandatory yung pagsusuot nila ng maks.”

Media censorship and repression is an a�ack on both the freedom of speech, and the freedom of the press. This hinders campus journalists to communicate what needs to be communicated, shu�ering the voices of not only the students, but the school itself.

Crimes against the campus press spans vastly that, in fact, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) has documented approximately a thousand instances of campus press freedom infringements since 2010. Several of these incidents encompass ac�ons such as: In�mida�on and/or violence targe�ng student authors and editors, interference with editorial guidelines, ac�ve control over editorial material, retaining and misusing funds meant for publica�on, lack of collec�on or obligatory collec�on of publica�on fees, managerial involvement, temporary suspension and removal of student editors and authors, ini�a�on of defama�on accusa�ons against student reporters.

And even while wri�ng this editorial ar�cle, we wonder: how can we be the vanguards of truth if our safety is compromised?

Incidents that compromise the safety of us campus journalists infringe RA 7079 or the Campus Journalism Act of 1991.

But, according to CEGP, because of this law’s “toothlessness”, fully lacking a dis�nguishable punishment, “perpetrators know they will never be accountable for said crimes.”

“Sa pag-ensure ng press freedom sa campus journalism, hindi dapat makikialam o i-manipulate ng mga school admin ang editorial processes sa mga publica�on. Kasi sa totoo lang, may mga ganoong kaso sa ibang schools — pinagbabawalan maglabas ng ciri�cal stories. Kung ano ang gusto ng mga estudyanteng ibalita at kung paano nila gustong ibalita, sila ‘yung may responsibility doon,” as aptly exhumed by Angelo Vince Marfil, the features editor of SINAG (the publica�on of the University of the Philippines-Diliman), in the ar�cle by The Post en�tled Campus Journalism Faces Threats of Repression.

Marfil’s statement clearly encompasses what sec�on four of the Campus Journalism act of 1991 is: that a student publica�on’s editorial board shall freely determine its editorial policies as well as the management of its funds.

Press freedom is the cornerstone of developing a be�er society because it points out the errors that exists within and beyond the lines of our community, allowing those in power to be�er the system we live in.

If our freedom of press, much so our freedom of speech, is compromised, and people are made to believe a cloaked image of a faulty community under a facade of filtered lies, how can society become a be�er place for us all?

–Sarah B. Bayos, 8-Loro “Agree ako kasi minsan may mga cases na may mga nahihirapan huminga. So, pwede naman na hindi na siya mag-face mask. Pero, mas maganda pa rin naman mag-face mask para ma-prevent ang sickness lalo na sa mga kabataan.”

–Danielle B. Espehon, 10-Einstein

A

“This law can be a double-edged sword. While people have gained “horde immunity” through vaccines, some remnants of the virus can still wreak havoc if not controlled—and face masks protect us from it. But with this law, the newly risen face-mask pollution may dwindle in capacity.”

-- anonymous

Don’t Cross the Line:

What it Means to have Boundaries

By Xavier Brinas “Everyone has to control themselves.

“You are always the one in control of boundaries should be respected rather things.” “You’re being too sensitive.” questioned. Boundaries should be more of a “God, you’re overreacting again.” human right than a subtlely attainable privilege.

What a lie.

The concept of limits is misunderstood by many people. They either think boundaries are “unkind” or they think they already have decent boundaries to begin with. They, on the other hand, have brick walls between them. Having boundaries is a step forth on making better of your relationship with other people.

According to Elizabeth Earnshaw, relationships that lack healthy boundaries suffer from feelings of resentment, disappointment, or violation.

Unchecked feelings result to selfseclusion form others, or even, enmeshment, when there is no clear separation between your wants and those of others. And both of these circumstances are not ideal.

There are many definitions of boundaries, but every individual should have their own meaning to it. In fact,

In definition, personal space immediately surrounding someone into which any encroachment feels threatening to or uncomfortable for them. Let us look into the last part of the sentence. You are the one who decides if you are comfortable or not. But would you be comfortable if someone decides your limits or boundaries—how comfortable you are—which really should not be anyone else’s decision, but yours?

That’s discomfort.

That’s invading personal spaces, which crosses the line of boundaries. So, you are not overreacting—they are.

Opinions 6 After my alarm rings the seventh, consecutive time, I wake up and choose selfviolence: spending 14 hours glued to my phone screen looking at the most gullible memes. And while memes may look like an unimportant way to kill time, to me—and most other teens— memes have given us a perspective and a sense of security at a time when we needed them more than ever before.

Goofy images, nonsensical texts, and Kween Leng-leng, memes have become our source of entertainment, racing over us for as far as the internet goes. Like moths to a flame, memes have become Gen Z's common language: it has helped us link with people from different cultures, races, and various other backgrounds that would have otherwise been barriers to communication.

And it doesn't even end there— memes have allowed us to

express ourselves at a time when feeling true was simply beyond our access. A sentiment of acceptance, they showed us that we were... valid.

Now that the world is revolving in a chaotic sphere of life-altering events—from political discourse, community affairs, to Covid-19—memes are one way to crawl our way through it all. According to a study from the American Psychological Association, "the right memes can make you feel better even when it reminds you of something bad."

By memeifying monumental issues, we tend to loosen the tight tension that it has in all of us, lightening the atmosphere. And though it makes it seem that memes trivialize these problems, the truth is it doesn't.

Memes help us process tense chunks of information and compact it in a way that could easily be understood by all—

through humor. According to The Swaddle, "memes allow teenagers to participate in discussions pertaining to political and social developments in a less intimidating channel."

It basically means that although memes make humor out of global issues, its aim isn't to desensitize any of it at all. In fact, it makes it more accessible to the population.

Mind the Meme

By Frances Vincent Decena

While most say that memes aid in the spread of misinformation and fake news, memes are entirely just fun jokes and a way to scour entertainment, and shouldn't be credited for information dissemination in the first place—they're there to bring us joy.

Memes have given us a perspective, a sense of place and belonging, in a world that keeps evolving before our eyes.

What more could we ask for?

The columnist

Above the Law: Are Police Using Their Power for Good?

By Jodel Dien Biag On December 20,2022, a Senior Mater Sergeant cop had an enraged argument with two civilians—that debacle led Jonel Nuezca, the cop in subject, into drawing his 9 mm. pistol at the heads of Sonya Gregorio, 52, and Frank Anthony Gregorio, 25, and shooting them at point blank-range.

This shooting incident was caught on camera and went viral on social media that radiated the fury of people nationwide.

Online users and celebrities denonunced the killings a day after the tragedy using the hashtags #PulisAngTerorista, #EndPoliceBrutality and such on Twitter.

During President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, more than 6,000 civilians were killed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) during their on-duty “encounters”—precisely kicking it off with the usual “nanlaban” narrative. According to a study conducted by the Human Rights Watch, police are fabricating evidence to support the unlawful killings on WOD. In addition, numerous extrajudicial executions committed by police during drug raids have been connected to the former president Duterte's WOD since it began in 2016. The abuse or torture of numerous other suspects has also occurred. Carl Arnaiz and Reynaldo de

Guzman were two youths who were targeted as part of the antidrug campaign, and in 2018, a court found a police officer guilty of torturing them.

And before you say that “not all police are like this”, you should read between the lines. Police misconduct is a prevailing pandemic, and the Philippine government must make sure that officers are held accountable.

The most crucial thing to keep in mind is that state authorities, including police, have a duty to respect and safeguard the people that they have sworn to protect.

The pervasive misperception we had is that we think of and consider police as our heroes

Cartoon by Jewel Ayrish Molina who seek and fight for justice when behind the curtains, the exact opposite exists. Police misconducts and unlawful use of force leads to depriving someone of their right to live, right to liberty, security, free from discrimination and equal treatment under the law.

On Abortion: When Justice Bleeds In the narrow margins of Philippine society, women have long been treated as commodities: the terms childgiver and tagadalang-tao have been used to aptly describe womanhood, and while giving no room for women to think otherwise. Women’s rights to their own bodies have been shuddered in the shadows of the patriarchy and catholic ideologies that lacked since the 1870s, when the right for abortion was criminalized under the colonial rule of Spain. This criminalization of abortion, however, still hasn’t gone out.

And for many women, criminalizing it only makes things far worse than it already is.

The criminal abortion ban punishes women, physicians, and midwives who perform the procedure—under the revised penal code, they may face up to six years in prison if caught. The

Opinion article and graphics by Frances Vincent Decena

ban constrains women from taking abortion no matter how valid their reason is for taking them: From rape survivors, sexual assault victims, high-risk, unintended and unwanted pregnancies, to incest survivors, the cause of why women take abortion are vast and plentiful.

Yet they shouldn’t need to have suffered sex crimes in order to validly take it. While the ban appears to prevent women from undergoing the procedure, and to safeguard the developing “baby” in its mother’s womb, make no mistake: the criminal abortion ban only further endangers women by leading them to unsafe practices that may potentially end their life and the developing fetus’.

Many Filipino women who are carrying unwanted, unintended, and potentially lifethreatening pregnancies are

given only two options: to continue their pregnancies, or turn to unsafe health practices to abort the fetus. Both, however, are at the cost of risking their lives. Unsafe abortion practices and the continuation of highrisk pregnancies catalyze a majority of maternal deaths that occur in the Philippines every day. In fact, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights, the criminal abortion ban had taken the lives of 1,000 women and had

resulted in the complications of 90,000 more Filipinos in 2008 alone. As alarming as it sounds, these numbers indicate why we need abortion now more than ever before.

On top of that, criminalizing abortion would only terrorize people who live below the margins of the poverty line.

While some families have the privilege for proper health care, women who are born in poorer families do not.

While some parallel abortion to murdering a human baby, the truth is far from it: a clump of cells that has no self-consciousness is still just a clump of cells that’s incubating in a womb. It has no individuality that makes it a viable human being. The one who’s carrying the baby is much more alive and human than it.

We’ve put too much of our trust into the police force, but all that, to transmogrify into a brutal play of power against us. We’ve engraved inside our heads that they’re our heroes of freedom— but the question begs: are they?

Then why don’t we value them over the other? Meanwhile, sending kids of unwanted pregnancies to the orphanage would only lead to psychological decline in the child and the mother. According to an article from the Drexel University College of Medicine, they are “at risk of behavioral and psychological issues in adolescence.”

Women are more than just an afterthought of an archaic system that fails to provide them justice. Women should be given a choice to choose from, instead of being antagonized for something that they had to suffer.

By decriminalizing abortion, we remove the stigma that it has in women. It’s been years since the catholic church and the patriarchy have reduced women’s bodies as mere objects of procreation—it’s time we make a stand.

The Rainbow

Feature

The school expands its progress in providing high quality education with the help of different sports organizations, clubs, sponsors, solicitors, the Science, Technology, and Engineering (STE), and the Basic Education Curriculum (BEC). With the growing advancement of PNHS, the school now offers two brand new special curriculum programs that will further enhance students in arts and journalism—the SPJ and the SPA. SPJ: Shaping the Future of Modern Journalism PNHS paved its way as one of the most competitive schools across the region in the field of campus journalism, placing spots in press conferences and bagging different recognitions in journalism meets. And one way to boost this even more is through the Special Program in Journalism.

“SPJ will help students to further develop their writing

7

Shaping the Future of Modern Education

By Karl Aaron Galvez with reports from Xavier Briñas skills and journalism skills and to continue the legacy of winning”, stressed Efren Bogayan, Jr., the SPJ coordinator. Students must meet the requirements in order to participate in this adventure: "Exhibits interest and passion to learn journalism; an incoming JHS Grade 7; in good health and sound mind; disciplined and of good moral character; final average grade of 85% or above", suggested Bogayan, Jr. This curriculum can provide students knowledge in the wide scale of campus press.

Since the program looks for students with skills in p h o t o j o u r n a l i s m , cartooning, and lay outing, the SPJ mainly focuses on writing— as writing is indispensable in

journalism—and broadcasting— to train students not just in writing and comprehension but also in mass communication. In addition, the said curriculum also briefs the importance of the ethical code of Philippine journalism as well as the right and responsibilities of a journalist.

SPA: Artistry and Knowledge in One For junior high school pupils with artistic aptitude, potential, and interest, the Department of Education (DepEd) has developed the Special Program in Journalism as a unique curriculum. And PNHS offers just that. After the requirements were verified, the school successfully submitted all

the materials required for the program's implementation.

Media arts, dance arts, visual arts, music arts, theater arts, and creative writing are among the six art specialities available to students in the aforementioned program, which seeks out bright individuals with an interest and understanding in a wide spectrum of the arts.This program's activities range from instruction, coaching, and pedagogy to hands-on projects and "learning-by-doing" activities. This comprises dance performances, paintings and other visual arts, among others.

Ma'am Franche emphasized, "Sa future magagamit nila 'yon sa bago nilang career."

The program also experienced an enrollment hike

from its first year of implementation that reached to around 49%, which is a huge achievement for the said program. Despite its successful implementation, the program struggles with a lack of equipment, facilities, and resources needed for activities (laboratories, a dance studio, and musical instruments). In spite of these circumstances, the SPA is able to raise money for the program through outsourcing, sponsorships, solicitations, contributions, and their incomegenerating initiative, the Project Sustainable Program in Arts (SPA), which helps raise money for projects relating to the arts and the SPA. It would surely be overwhelming to choose between something where your life would circulate in for the next 4 years. But these new curricula would make for a valid choice—now, what would you choose?

Feature stories (DepEd) implemented several new teaching approaches such as modular distance learning and online classes to adopt to the new normal. These make the students leave the school grounds for almost three years.

A Grade 8 Hummingbird student from Pili National High School named Cyv M. Nimo thinks that the said teaching approaches is actually ineffective.

‘Covid hit when I was in 5th Grade. Now I’m on my 2nd year of high school’

By Ariel Benedick Marquez "Goodbye, class. See you after a week.” I remember hearing this announcement from a teacher as I passed by our classroom in 8th grade. Everyone was overjoyed after the announcement was made, most likely because they would have time to do things

other than school works for seven days. A week of no classes appeared like a peaceful way to relieve ourselves from the heat of our academic responsibilities.

But little did we know that those seven days of freedom would

lead to an almost-three-year confinement in our houses.

The effects of the COVID 19 Pandemic had greatly impacted every aspects of our daily life.

One sector that took a beating during its heights was education.

The Department of Education

“It was suffocating… confining myself in my bedroom looking at nothing but piles of modules and cellphone screen,” Nimo said. “I was actually glad that we’re now allowed to attend classes in person”.

However – forgive the contradiction - his classmate Kurtt Balaton experienced a culture shock due to the recent return of the face to face classes.

“I was in my 5th grade when COVID hit. And now I’m on my 2nd year of High School”, Balaton said. “I feel like there’s been a gap that the modular distance learning stole in me”

A high school campus is often intimidating to a new freshman and can seem like a different world especially for those who’s in their elementary before the pandemic. But both of them took it all in stride.

“I know their names from the class records, but not their faces,” Nimo said. “I felt pressured at first, but now I’m able to ride the wave.”

Some of the teachers in Pili National High School actually thinks that the students are adjusting well and learning more efficient than during the modular distance learning.

“It’s like they are finally able to set their heart ablaze which was confined during the pandemic ,“ Jenny A. Nosil, a SHS teacher, said.

She believes teaching has never been more efficient because of the return of face-to-face.

“The distribution of knowledge is more fluent and immediate response from the students makes the progress monitoring systematized”

Feature

8 follow terrorizes students from marginalized communities to fit into its cookie-cutter model of conformity. And it’s no secret too that we have to find other ways to express our truths even if it causes people to turn a glaring eye at us.

BLOOM A glimpse of life through the lens of clothing and sexuality.

Artwork and Written article by Frances Vincent Decena

One thought lingered in Navales’ head: “I really wanted to pursue what my heart was aching, dreaming to have.

Because if I hadn’t, the thought of ‘Why didn’t I just do it?’ would linger in my mind and poison me.”

When news broke out that LGBTQ+ kids were now allowed to wear the uniforms that they preferred, both Navales and Salvino were beaming with bliss— “It was our dream come true.”

Like innocuous voices, clothing speaks to us: its beauty doesn’t revolve around the aesthetics of whatever you wear, but solely on the story that tells why you wear it.

Whenever Gilary Salvino and Jeremi Navales, both transwomen who go to PiliNHS, come to school on Monday to Friday, they wear feminine tops, mid-length skirts, and any other thing that spells the word slay: appearances, which once seemed small and ordinary, had now come to glow a brighter meaning.

And meaning, that is, can be subjective—what matters to us most doesn’t necessarily mean that it will constitute the same value to the people around us. In contrast, though, that’s the point—

that they don’t have to see its value, but they just have to respect and comprehend that it matters to us.

Ever since childhood, Salvino and Navales had already known that they were girls. Although born in the wrong gender, this fact was true in their hearts.

Before they outed themselves, it was as if they were piecing together the broken fragments of a puzzle to which they had now come to know as themselves. It was as if looking at the sun felt better than looking at a mirror.

“It felt like there was something wrong with me. Like, I didn’t really feel that it was me when I looked at a mirror. It was as if I tried becoming a person who wasn’t me,”

Salvino exhumed. “It felt like I was faking myself when I wore men’s wardrobe.”

Navales, on the other hand, entailed that she lost her “confidence and eager to go to school” whenever she wore attires that didn’t suit her gender.

“My heart broke when I wore uniforms that were meant for men. I was a girl at heart, but I was forced disguise myself in the skin of masculinity.

My confidence and eager to go to school drastically faded—but I kept fighting and fighting because my parents needed me,” she told.

“I had to endure all of that because I loved them.”

It’s no secret that the norms and rules that society enforces us to

Their journeys to becoming themselves, however, was never smooth: their lives rotated in a spiral of doubt and fear, a result of the antiquated, heteronormal rules that society enforces. The injustices that they were forced to face felt like a beating of a thousand cuts—peer-based discrimination, passersby talking behind your back, ill-conceived eye rolls on crowdy streets.

To some LGBTQ+ kids, this is the landscape that we live in.

When Salvino was asked how she felt when she started to transition, she told us: “My family was really happy to see me transition. I wore short shorts, crop tops, and things that I had long adored.”

But I only ever heard harmful things when I stepped outside of our house. One of our now subject teachers even called me ‘abnormal’ and that people like me had really affected their dignity in a negative way,” she added. “But I knew that I wasn’t stepping on anyone with what I was doing. So, I

just ignored them,” she continued.

Not always, though, do people like us have to suffer the extremes of being an LGBTQ+ kid in an environment that is deeply appalled by our existence. There’s hope, and Navales’ story perfectly exemplifies this: “The first time I wore feminine clothes, I felt scared. Anxious. I kept thinking that maybe the people at school would make fun of me— degrade me for being true to myself.”

“But I was wrong,” she continued.

“The first time I wore feminine clothes to school, my entire class kept cheering for me.

They were really proud to see me as I am. Even the boys at my class treated me like a girl. It made me really happy.”

Sometimes, a loving home can even be enough to let us feel that we are valid.

“I find safety and loving in my home—it was the people there that cared for me. That saw me. And that shaped me to be who I really am,” Navales said. “This was where I first came out and got accepted without being discriminated.”

As tender as open wound, we find ourselves a common ground—that we are more than just an afterthought of an insulted conversation. To us, clothing doesn’t conceal, it lets us become visible in the shadow that injustice casts.

When I asked Salvino if she felt safe in her environment, she deeply replied: “I don’t think I’m safe.”

“Everywhere I go, I hear people saying stuff behind my back. I’m often frightened by it. But I choose to make the places I go ‘safe’ for I’m the only one who can make it that way.”

The Rainbow

Science Hours spent waiting in line, surrounded by strangers wearing masks of different colors. They didn't know what was in it, yet they let the needle pierce their flesh in hope that it'd protect them from the enemy hiding in plain sight.

A substance used to stimulate immunity to a particular infectious disease or pathogen, vaccines mimic the virus or bacteria that causes disease, and triggers the body's creation of antibodies. The antibodies will give protection once a person is infected with the actual diseasecausing virus or bacteria.

On march 1, 2021, ex-president Rodrigo Duterte initiated the vaccination program in the Philippines. It was the day after the arrival of first vaccine doses which were donated by the Chinese government.

The program was approved by most Filipinos. For months, covered courts, schools, and hospitals were filled with queues, people waiting to get vaccinated to protect themselves from the harm of the spreading virus.

As of march 15, 2023, around 79.2 million Filipinos were already fully vaccinated,

9 including the ones who received single-dose vaccines.

75.7 million people, on the other hand, were still waiting for their second dose, and 24.2 million already received the booster shot.

However, the remaining countrymen are hesitant to get vaccinated. From the previous Pulse Asia survey that was released in January 2021, 47% of Filipinos said they were unwilling to get the shot if the vaccine was available. Among those unwilling to get vaccinated, the survey found that the top three reasons for refusing a vaccine were the following:

191 students readily vaccinated in vacc-to-school program

By Ginuwine Kaye Bautista & Karl Aaron Galvez

Students gather at the school pavilion to be vaccinated in preparation for the coming school year. Jejomar Belano

Pili National High School (PNHS) conducted the PNHS Vacc-to-School Open Vaccination Program where a total of 191 individuals were vaccinated and have received the protection of the COVID-19 vaccines held on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at the school’s pavilion.

The program's primary goal is to provide students and

community members protection, well-being, and resilience in the face of the COVID threat. PNHS students, particularly senior high school students who wanted to be vaccinated, and members of the community partook in the said program Prior to the vaccination, the school clinic headed by the school nurse, Ma'am Venice Barrameda, R.N., conducted a

Trust Vaccines?

By Eusheka Rebancos Graphic by Frances Vincent Decena

"not sure of its safety" – 84%, "vaccine might not be effective" – 7%, "a vaccine is not needed to combat COVID19"– 6%. Aside from this, 1% of survey respondents said they wouldn't have themselves vaccinated as the vaccine "might not be free," and "might be costly or expensive."

survey to determine who is vaccinated and who is willing to be vaccinated. Result revealed that large number of students, particularly senior high school students, are unvaccinated.

The school nurse believed that vaccinations were required in college, so she and the members of her staff wanted to ensure that students would be accepted before graduating. It was also a precautionary measure, especially since the school welcomes students from nearby cities and municipalities .

Furthermore, the school invited the University of Nueva Caceres (UNC) College of

With the order signed, it means that Filipinos wouldn't have to need to spend money on face masks anymore. It means they won't have to suffer inhaling and exhaling in their masks. And it means that the country is surely managing after years of fighting for everyone's lives.

However, COVID-19 is an airborne virus. It attacks whoever, whenever, and wherever. low case rates don't mean the virus is completely gone. with everyone living "normally" once again—no face masks, no social distancing, and sometimes others don't use sanitizers and alcohol anymore—the virus, sinking its claws in this county once again, will not be impossible.

Due to rising cases of Covid-19 and the newly-risen Monkeypox alert following suit, Angeline Tormes wears a facemask to school to void further resurgence of a pandemic. Jejomar Belano

Are Facemasks Still a Thing?

By Eusheka Rebancos With the continuously lowering rate of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, newly elected president Bong Bong Marcos signed the Executive Order no. 7, s. 2022, which implemented the voluntary wearing of face masks in both indoor and outdoor settings. This order once again opened up an opportunity to minimize the

public health standards of the country during the state of public health emergency regarding the pandemic.

transportation drivers were temporarily prohibited, and each barangay had set rules governing safety patrols.

Almost two years ago, with the viral cases skyrocketing each second, people couldn't even step a foot outside of their households without a face mask on. Securities were strict, public

Face masks, that is to say, were crucial—such small pieces of fabric protected us and everyone around. They were hoarded, given, styled, overpriced.

According to the world health organization (WHO), face masks are used as a part of a broadgauge management strategy to suppress the transmission of the virus and save lives. However, covering our noses and mouths is simply not enough to protect us.

"Wearing a medical mask can help limit the spread of some respiratory diseases," the organization also stated.

During the recent investigation of the British consumer magazine, which? It was proven that there's a huge variation in the ability of fabric masks to filter particles. The best ones are able to filter out 99% of bacteriasized particles—as good as

Covid-19 vaccines are crucial tools in the pandemic response. They provide at least some protection from infection and transmission, but not as much as the protection they provide against serious illness and death.

Nursing oheaded by Mr. Francisco Rico Raquitico to collaborate for the program where the student nurses were assigned in taking vital signs, recording, taking vital signs, recording, documentation, and vaccination.

Meanwhile, the Rural Health Unit (RHU)-Pili facilitated the distribution of the Pfizer shots and boosters where they placed it in a cold chain management system, a method used to keep the right temperature for the vaccines and boosters, in order to ensure the proper vaccine administration.

surgical masks—and the worsts managing just 7%.

Three-layered masks, particularly those which includes a disposable filter set, tend to be the most effective. The fabric type also mattered, and the worst-performing masks only have a single layer of mostly polyester. Which suggested to look for a mix of different fabrics such as cotton, polypropylene, and different types of polyester. masks are used for source control, which refers to blocking droplets ejected by the person wearing it. most studies show the filtration effectiveness of cloth masks relative to surgical masks. particle sizes for speech are on the order of 1 μm, whereas the typical definition of droplet size varies from 5 μm to 10 μm. the filtration rate of generally available household materials is between 49% and 86% for every 0.02 μm exhaled particles. on the other hand, surgical masks filter 89% of those particles.

Face masks have served as our looking glass to view the pandemic throughout. And it gave us the ability to access the world amid the change of the Covid-19. Face masks are nothing but ordinary; but it’s what protected us throughout the pandemic. And it still might be the only thing that may protect us after.

Science

10

‘It’s Skin-shivering’: What to Know About Monkeypox Written article and graphics by Frances Vincent Decena

The light of Monkeypox, a viral disease known to cause puss-filled lesions on the skin, has started to glow since the beginning of May 2022. In July, as global infections started to rise in numbers, the World Health Organization declared the disease a global health emergency—branding Monkeypox an ”extraordinary event” that required the highest priority of containment.

First observed in monkeys from a laboratory in Denmark, Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease that involves animal-to-human transmission. According to the BBC, the disease is caused by the Monkeypox virus—a type of virus that belongs in the orthopox genus from the poxviridae family.

How does it transmit?

Monkeypox is transmitted through contact with an infected person’s wounds, scabs, lesions, and puss. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the disease can also be

transmitted through contact with infected respiratory fluid—for instance, coughs, saliva, and mucus.

Monkeypox, however, does not spread through sexual intercourse. The CDC says that Monkeypox is not a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), and the reason behind its transmission through sexual contact is due to open exposure to infected fluids.

Although statistics show that gay men are primarily the ones being affected by the disease, this does not indicate that Monkeypox only occurs in the queer or male population—the disease is, in fact, not branded on gender. The reason for its common occurrence in this sexually-biased sphere is due to the fact that What’s the Difference between Monkeypox, Chickenpox, and Smallpox?

Chickenpox, Monkeypox, and Smallpox are three distinct

The Rise of a Rebellion: The Resistance of Bacteria

By Frances Vincent Decena

diseases. Chickenpox, unlike Monkeypox and smallpox, is caused by a herpes virus.

However, smallpox, a severely lethal disease known to have claimed 300 million lives in 1900 alone (but is now fully eradicated), is more closely related to monkeypox—being that they come from the same orthopoxvirus family.

The only grateful difference that smallpox and monkeypox have is that monkeypox is far less fatal and has caused lesser deaths.

On the other hand, Monkeypox is separated into two varying clades: the West African and Central African clade—the Central African being deadlier and having known to catalyze more acute effects.

What does it cause?

Monkeypox causes lesions to pop up on the skin, in which they progress through four stages: from macular, papular,

drug Penicillin, which propelled medical sciences into its golden age by the mid-1950s. Penicillin was plied to treat bacterial-borne diseases, like throat infections, meningitis, and syphilis, that posed hazards to human health in the past. Like all antibiotic drugs, Penicillin works by killing the bacteria or hindering its process of reproduction.

While that may sound like a diabolic relief, some bacteria have evolved to rebel from this.

Photo from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. h�ps://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=h�ps%3A%2F%2Fwww.gavi. org%2Fvaccineswork%2Fbacteria-shuffle-their-gene�cs-around-develop-an�bio�c-resistancedemand&psig=AOvVaw36F04gIh3ei1qA9iOsMkf9&ust=1692268473144000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0C BAQjRxqFwoTCJjWodjG4oADFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

Bacterium are small, but large in capacity: before the wonder drug antibiotic had been invented in the 1920s, a simple scratch from anything can cause an infection that would have probably killed you. The reason that things like this rarely happen now is because we’ve

become resistant to bacterial infections.

But what will happen if bacterium become immune to it?

The first antibiotic drug was produced in 1910, going by the name Salvarsan. In 1928, Alexander Fleming accidentally uncovered the wonders of the

When antibiotics are used by people with infections, some remaining bacteria that may have survived this kill-wave may remain dwelling in our repository. These “surviving” bacteria develop an immunity to the antibiotic that it was often exposed to. And as it incubates in our system, it multiplies an multiplies until it is exposed to the open surface.

If bacterium become resistant to antibiotics completely, we’ll have no way of controlling or treating bacterial infections that propagate in human society as we know it. The advancements in the world of medical sciences that we’ve been bent so hard on developing for the past centuries

vesicular, and onto pustular, each indicating their own level of severity. After progressing into the pustular stage, the lesions become scabs and eventually dry off.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Monkeypox endures for 2-4 weeks. The organization stated that the incubation period for the disease is 3-17 days, where the infected person may “still feel fine” during.

Monkeypox manifests feverlike symptoms such as chills, exhaustion, headache, sore throat, nasal congestion, and coughs. Often, people tend to manifest the symptoms before the development of rashes. On other times, though, it’s the other way around.

confirmed in 70 countries that are not endemic to it.

The Philippines detected its first case of Monkeypox on July 29 of a 31-year-old who recently came overseas. The Department of Health (DOH) says that they are closely monitoring trace information on the 10 people whom the 31-year-old had contact with.

Health Undersecretary Beverly Ho stated that the case is currently being eyed on, and the people subjected are undergoing strict isolation, monitoring at home. She says that systems are also being primed in order to contain the disease.

“Our systems are in place, but we all need to work together and be vigilant,” she said.

“Especially the key population group who are at most risk.”

Global Count; First Recorded Case in the Philippines As of July 2022, 20,300 cases of Monkeypox have been

would only prove feeble, if not bleak, to the rise of antibacterial resistance. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) so aptly puts it as a “postantibacterial era”.

According to Charles Penn, a coordinator of WHO on antimicrobial resistance, “we will lose the ability to treat a range of serious conditions such will lose the ability to treat a range of serious conditions such as blood stream infections, pneumonia, tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV. And the benefits of medical treatments such as cancer chemotherapy and major surgery will also become much riskier and will be lost.”

So how can we decrease the problem from propelling further and further? WHO states that antibiotic resistance is escalated by the “misuse and overuse” of antibiotics. To mitigate its acceleration, we are indebted to: use antibiotics exactly as they are prescribed by our medical professionals; hinder from reinforcing the idea that you need antibiotics even if you don’t really need to; disengage

from using or sharing scrapped antibiotics.

In order to further fortify this, said the organization, policy makers would need to reinforce laws that prevent people from unconsciously consuming the drug, as well as integrating a well-maneuvered national action plan addressing the issue as a primary concern. This would emphasize why we need to tackle the problem now more than ever before.

We’re currently fighting over a pandemic and an invisible war against a bacterial rebellion. And it seems that the world is slowly failing to resist its stand against the latter.

But more technological advancements may pose a remedy to this deescalation of events: for instance, with the rise of AI, new antibiotics are currently being sought using the benefits that this new technology has in store.

According to The Conversation, “AI can identify new antibiotics that are structurally distinct from currently available ones, and are effective against a wide range of bacteria.”

The Rainbow

Sports

11

Mustang Girls Clinch Palarong CamSur Title

By Aira Donna Priela Dauntless troops hauling spiky thorns.

Upon completely annihilating the opposition in the sector, the PiliNHS Mustangs made a bold breakthrough as they thrashed tough foes in a basketball girls' 5x5 championship game of Palarong Camarines Sur at Freedom Sports Complex on March 13 to represent Camarines Sur in the Bicol Cluster Meet.

With months of grueling training, fueled by the cheers of

PiliNHS students, the team was more eager to remove thorn after thorn lying in their path to pave the way through the championship.

Early on in the first game, the Mustangs showed an excellent performance as they clinched the first victory against the 4th district, 60-54, gaining the attention of their opponents and inspiring them to grind more. 1-0 The 5th district, after catching sight of the Mustangs’ vigor, has become more determined to win the second game to advance to

the next round, not letting them pass easily. Hence their first defeat, derailing one step ahead of the crown. 1-1 The Mustangs, notwithstanding their loss, carried on with a clear objective in mind without faltering.

Taking it as motivation, yet not a letdown, they continued their conquest of seizing the scepter and crown, ousting the 4th district for a comeback. 2-1 The final match to figure out the chalk seed who will advance to the championship round was

Honing Quality Athletes

By Aira Donna Priela

After two years of being locked and reserved, a new club arose to reignite the fiery hearts of sports enthusiasts.

Various facets of students' lives have been overturned by the pandemic COVID-19. This includes their involvement in physical activities that are supposed to be supervised by the instructors but are unable to do so due to the implementation of modular learning as well as the students active participation Even when face-to-face classes have resumed, students still struggle to partake in physical education activities as they have become accustomed to spending the entire day in bed without any warm-ups or exercises, making it hard for them to adjust. The recently launched sports club aimed to restore each student's vitality and bring forth their competency in the field of sports.

PiliNHS never had a club made particularly for athletes, and although there were already existing sports supported by the school, they weren't associated in an official club.

Additionally, the resources allotted in this regard were very sparse, hampering the provision of the necessary sports facilities. Hence, the school's sports club endeavors to gain qualification in order to acquire sufficient funds to deal these kinds of inadequacies.

“Now is the time that the students can coordinate physically and mentally with other students, with the help of sport.”

Ryan Salud, the sports club coordinator uttered.

Amidst the tension surging in their nerves as the climax draws near, ice water remains in their veins.

As the tournament reached its peak, the Mustangs and 5th District emerged as favorites.

Two top-performing teams battled out in an electrifying clash of skills and strategies, with both teams leaving no stone unturned in their quest for victory.

The Mustangs gave their blood, sweat, and tears in court to ultimately get rid of the last hurdle, beating the 5th district twice. Reigning supreme in the championship game. With the score 64-45 in the first match, and 60-40 in the second match of the championship game.

“Ang motivation ko sainda is ang practice ninda sa aroaldow, ituyo ang hilingon para mas mamotivate, and dai masayang ang training ninda,” coach Archie Lopez As per coach lopez said, their training regimen had instilled in them a sense of discipline and focus that carried them through to the end.

Chained by a Budget Deficit:

He suggests that joining in sports club would be a perfect opportunity to forge stronger bonds and interact with students who have similar interests. Several students have trouble connecting with their classmates and schoolmates; some of them insist on working independently rather than conspiring with others, which is not entirely terrible.

Unveiling what is hidden in plain sight

However, there are tasks that call for collaboration amongst learners. Thus, sports club aspires to alleviate these breaches by encouraging sports games that would aid students develop teamwork skills along the line and enhance their physical and mental health.

The unwavering domain of Pili National High School’s (PNHS) very own Mustang Basketball is widely known for being firmly established.

Pili NHS students enrolled in s/y 20222023 were required to try out and register for at least one sport. Students must also be capable of learning, being a member and representing the school in different tournaments.

Among the thrilling activities offered by the sports club are basketball, volleyball, badminton for boys and girls, arnis, athletics, taekwando, and the recently introduced dance sports.

By means of this, the school prospects to enhance the physical and mental fitness of all students, foster relations between students, and hone the skills of athletes— leading the school into the limelight in the field of sports.

By Ariel Benedict Marquez

After winning various competitions, one would have thought that the students have had every resource necessary to achieve such greatness. However, the truth is far from what you have in mind.

According to PNHS’s Sports Coordinator Ryan Salud, the school is just only at the beginning of the implementation of clubs in every sport.

Hence, the availability of resources is fairly limited.

In addition, the PNHS’ budget is currently split across various departments. Due to the school being more academically oriented, the Sports Department will not have adequate funding to replace their gadgets.

These make the players use outdated equipment which for a fact affect one’s development. Even though it might seem

Ateneo outlasts UP in the battle of With eight teams vying for the wills top spot, the competition was

By Aira Donna Priela

fierce from the very start. But after weeks of intense play, two teams emerged as the top contenders for the championship title: Ateneo Blue Eagles and UP Fighting Maroons Ateneo and UP reached the finals as the top seeds, boasting an 11-3 record in the elimination round.

The two teams led by Angel Koume and Carl Tamayo showed outstanding performances throughout the season.

Photo from ABS-CBN. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.abs-cbn. com%2Fsports%2F12%2F21%2F22%2Fbaldwin-ateneo-pay-tribute-to-unheralded-buffaloes&psig=AOvVaw3rmcwJu0HAQQGFMZKLHQs&ust=1692269324257000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBAQjRxqFwoTCJD4 -e_J4oADFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

Ateneo Blue Eagles reclaimed the crown, ending UP Fighting Maroons' brief reign, after Game 3 of the UAAP Season 85 men's

with the 1st district. Driven by adrenaline, the Mustangs were bent on moving ahead, having no desire to show leniency as they overwhelmed their rivals with ardor and will, 62-33.

basketball finals on Monday, December 9 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The finals match-up between two etermined teams promised to be a fierce battle, and it did not disappoint as Game 1 was a back-and-forth affair, with both sides trading baskets and momentum that went down to

insignificant, using poorly developed sports gear can cause an athlete to become uncomfortable, if not misdeveloped, during practice and have trouble building their confidence.

One step that Mr. Ryan Salud thinks the school should take to fix the misalignment of the support to the athlete’s motivational drive is to have more programs regarding sports.

“Even though we are one of the recipient of new equipment distributed by SDO Camarines Sur, we can’t soar without the proper assistance from the school itself ” he said. “I believe the school should provide us sufficient budget for building the students so that they’ll be able to put up a fight when the time comes”.

If the school were to give the sufficient budget the sports department needs, it’ll release the shackles that the sports clubs are bound onto and we’ll finally witness shots that’s unhindered by the chains of budget deficit.

the wire. Ultimately, UP emerged victorious, 72–66.

Game 2 was even more intense, with both teams fighting tooth and nail for the win. Up was set to claim a back-to-back championship title. But Ateneo had other plans. With Kouame leading the charge once again, the Blue Eagles managed to hold off the fighting maroons and force a do-or-die Game 3, with a final score of 65–55.

Facing each other once again in the winner-takes-all Game 3 showdown, the Blue Eagles, backed by their passionate supporters, came out firing on all cylinders, taking an early lead with a flurry of baskets.

Despite a valiant effort from the Maroons to attempt a

comeback, with one minute and 48 seconds remaining, Ateneo’s star Kouame converted a three point play and swatted away Carl Tamayo's attempt in the next sequence, hindering UP's comeback push. 75-68.

Backed up by the cheers of its passionate supporters, Kouame pulled off a 19-point career for Ateneo, with 12 rebounds and four blocks. Bagging the Finals MVP. With a 2-1 lead in the finals, ADMU clinched the championship, capping off another exciting season for the UAAP.