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 alreadyon-going,makingitapartof their projects for this year.

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

Booklat launched, aims to boost learners’ reading level

By Karl Aaron Galvez

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 elevateittomakethepathwaymuch more presentable and easier to walk on.

However, the main problem that theassociationisfacingrightnowis 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 SPTAstill has a lot of projects and plans in mind, butAngeles said they don’t want to mention all of themyetincasetheyfailtodothem due to the shortage of collected funds.

FEU donates chairs to PiliNHS

By Karl Aaron Galvez

Theschoolreceived 100students’ 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 fromthesaiduniversity. “Wehave 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 priorityisfortheSPA”inwhichshe 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,whosebrotherisconnectedto themilitary,Ithink…Iguess,saAir 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

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.

“Youcan’tfindresearchbooks 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’amAbaba,inherstatement, 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’snotjusttheproblemof 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.