4 minute read
The Rainbow
The truth becomes radiant.
The pandemic aftermath issue, Volume 45 No.1 (SY 2022-2023)
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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
News, page 4
SPTA primes new projects for S/Y 2022-2023, Says ‘More improvements’ are to be expected
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 PNHS scribes bag 1st runner up overall in 3rd Congressional SSPC tilt
Opinion, page 5
Don’t Cross the Line: What it Means to have Boundaries
Your Say
Opinion, page 6
Mind the Meme
Above the Law: Are Police Using Their Power for Good?
On Abortion: When Justice
Bleeds
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’
Features, page 8
BLOOM
Science, page 9
Trust Vaccines?
191 students readily vaccinated in vacc-to-school program
Are Facemasks Still a Thing?
Science, page 10
‘It’s Skin-shivering’: What to Know About Monkeypox
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
Ateneo outlasts UP in the battle of wills
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
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
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
“Thelibraryisourarchives–it’sthe 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 hasbooksthatspanfromthe‘90sup to present, which are all fact-based and have been carefully reviewed by those who authorize them. In 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 alsoashelterforlearning.”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.
