pauliworld articles contest issue

PAULIWORLD ’13-14CONTEST ISSUE

NEWS

Paulinians adapt to e-learningBy Nicole Chiong, Elise Sunga, and Hanna Laurel

Aiming to “intensify the full integration of technological innovations in its curriculum,” St. Paul College, Pasig implemented the Educational Technology Enhancement for Curriculum Harmonizing (EdTECH) program on four pilot classes this school year.

Rooms 1 and 2 of Grades 6 and 9, the chosen pilot classes for the program, availed of iPads through the school's partnership with companies, Liteware and Apple. The iPads have been serving as an electronic reader for textbooks and an electronic notebook, and have garnered generally positive reviews among the students.

“After being one of the students part of the trial class, I would have the school fully implement the usage of the iPads considering they are useful in most of our subjects,” shares 9th grader Gabie Domino. “The iPads give students access to more resources other than their books, which makes a big impact in the course of learning the subject matter. It also makes file sharing easier since lecture notes and PowerPoint presentations are made digitally available.”

On the status of the EdTECH program in the following years, the team’s high school coordinator Ms. Christine Rigor says that they are still currently in the process of evaluation.

“We are planning to have a dialogue with the teachers and students regarding the use of iPads. So far, the feedback from the teachers is that it’s easier for them, especially since there are apps that allow them to easily upload their presentations for easy access of the students. This leaves them more time to discuss and do more activities in the classroom as there is no need for time to copy notes. For the students, on the other hand, it is also easier as they are able to pass their requirements on time because most of the activities are done online,” says Ms. Rigor. “If all goes well, the plan is to have two sections per year level use the iPads. Plan B is to implement the program in one year level first, (which) most probably (will be) the Grade 10 students next year.”

Surveys about the school's possible implementation of e-learning were distributed last school year to parents and the batch with the most positive respondents served as basis for determining the pilot classes. The school informed the parents from the aforementioned pilot classes during the summer before the school year started. The EdTECH team is led by Mr. Timothy Decano together with Ms. Rigor as the high school coordinator and Mr. Ben Aranas as the grade school coordinator.

PAASCU grants HS reaccreditationBy Gyra Mallari and Sofia Ruiz

Less than a month after their visit, the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU) released early its decision on the reaccreditation of the High School Department. The HS Department will maintain its top-level accreditation status as it was reaccredited for its current level 3 status for another next five years.

As part of the accreditation renewal process, a delegate from PAASCU was sent to the campus last October 23 and 24, 2013. According to Curriculum Development Head Mrs. Irene Villanueva, they evaluated the institution based on eight criterions: instruction, administration, faculty, physical plan, school and community, student services, the laboratories and the library. The delegate from PAASCU also conducted various observations and interviews with the administration, teachers, students, selected parents, and other employees.

A self-survey team was organized consisting of employees of the institution with the Assistant Principal for Academics Mr. Ronald Santos and Mrs. Villanueva as the team’s leaders. The team was divided into the eight


groups in order to evaluate each criterion that the PAASCU evaluated. The reports of the self-survey team were submitted to PAASCU beforehand and were used as a guide by the delegation in their formal visit.

The HS department made preparations as early as May for the much anticipated PAASCU visit. The department also conducted a mock accreditation early in October with former administrator Mrs. Debbie Grafil providing feedback. The faculty prepared various exhibits on academics, GIFT, SCT, Guidance, and other areas as documented proof of claims made in their reports.

In an interview, Mr. Santos applauded the faculty for their efforts in handling the preparations for PAASCU while also adjusting to the new grading system.

Just last year, the department underwent another accreditation process by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), an international accrediting agency.

"We are the only PAASCU accredited school that is also WASC accredited. We are the first. So that is something to be proud of," Mr. Santos adds.

SPCP opens Eco-CenterBy Allison Panaligan

A Pauline answer to the call towards social responsibility – St. Paul College, Pasig opened its very own SPCP Eco-Center on October 4, 2013 coinciding with the feast day of St. Francis the Assisi, the patron saint of Ecology.

The opening of the eco-center included the blessing of the establishment and of the statue of St. Francis which were formally led by Fr. Alex Balatbat and school chaplain Fr. Manuel Ysmael.

Witnessing the event were all sections from the Grade School and High School Departments named after the aforementioned saint and several teachers. The guests included school directress Sister Dedicacion Rosario, SPC, Community Extension Services (CES) head Sister Grace Salvaña, SPC, Sister Mary Fides Pangilinan, SPC, Dr. Genevieve Kupang, subject team leader for Christian Living Mrs. Erlyn Reyes, and Ms. Bea Gulinao.

The Eco-Center contains amenities for recycling technology. Demonstrations of various recycling processes have been staged for the participants, including rope-making from plastic sando-bags, paper shredding and pulp making, and plastic rope-making after the opening ceremonies. The second floor houses the Materials Recovery Facility where employees sew eco-bags from packets of juice. It is also home to the hydroponics and vertical gardening.

The project was conceived two years ago as a part of an environmental campaign to increase social responsibility by the St. Paul of Chartres Education Ministry (SPCEM) who stressed the significance of the advocacy of supporting the integrity of creation and the culture of life and spirit under the theme “P4G: Paulinians Going Green, Gleaning Gold.”

Research Team embarks on mission, launches Project GalaBy Sofia Ruiz

Carrying out the Paulinian way of living out the Gospel and being Christ for others, St. Paul College, Pasig’s Research Team led by Dr. Genevieve Balance-Kupang, PhD pioneered a mission for the development of its adopted Aeta community in Gala, Zambales.

Dubbed as “Project Gala”, the Research Team conducted a community based mapping that documented the assets, strengths, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP), dreams, threats, and concerns of the Aetas


in the resettlement sites. It also served as an evaluation of the impact of the immersion program of the school from the Aetas’ perspective.

The researchers made use of the see-judge-act framework and a photo voice project to encourage dialogue and interaction among the Aetas.

The research is titled “Promoting Sustainable Indigenous Communities through Photovoice: The Case of Philippine Aetas.” Based on their findings, the team came to nine main areas of concern namely livelihood, education, environment and ecology, shelter, education, health care, cultural heritage preservation, infrastructure, transportation and spirituality.

A three-year development plan is being formulated for the execution of this project in partnership with the community in Gala. The core of the team is headed by the school’s directress Sister Dedicacion Rosario, SPC, Community Extension Services head Sister Grace Salvaña, SPC, and Dr. Kupang. Other than its heads, the team also is composed of the Assistant Principals for Homeroom and Homeroom Team Leaders of the grade school and high school departments, PFC representatives, and parent representatives from pre-school to high school.

This school year, the goal of the project is to address the immediate concerns of the community. Water systems, the farm to market road, inset walkways, street lights, and community comfort rooms are to be improved and innovated.

To achieve this, special fundraising activities are being proposed by the core team. The first of which, with planning already in the works is the 1st Father Louis Chauvet Golf Cup on January 29, 2014. This fundraiser shall be made possible through the initiative of Mr. Resty Cabrera with the help of the Ways and Means committee members Mrs. Eve Monsod and Mrs. Concepcion Padilla. The plan is to hold this cup in the Valley Golf and Country Club, Cainta, Rizal.

Future projects under the other areas of concern include a massive tree planting endeavor and more livelihood alternatives are being eyed to make the area more environmentally sustainable as well as to upgrade the residents’ currently home shelters.

Project Gala is an ambitious and selfless initiative of the St. Paul community that shall be not only a yearlong investment but a long term service in order to assure the best possible living conditions for the community in Gala.

MARIAN CAMP-IN

SPCP sends more to Yolanda victimsBy Isabel Tan-Palanca

The Sisters of St. Paul of Chartes National Risk and Disaster Management (SPCNRDM) have opened St. Paul College Pasig (SPCP) as the Luzon drop point for donations from St. Paul schools and other benefactors in response to the yearly frequenting of typhoons in the Philippines.

The most recent operation, which is in response to Typhoon Yolanda, involved five deliveries of a total of over 1000 bags and boxes to PerpetualSuccour Hospital in Cebu that will be distributed to places such as Iloilo, Tacloban, and Cebu.

Since the devastation of the Typhoon Ondoy in 2009, SPCP has been accepting donations whether in-kind or cash from volunteers. The goods offered by the students and the staff during various Eucharistic celebrations and recollections are stored for initial responses to such calamities. Some students and members of the Parent Homeroom Collaboration Team (PHCT) assist in the packing these donations, usually when classes have been


suspended due to the rain. These goods are then dispatched to parishes or hospitals that have connected with the local church in the affected region and are distributed to the communities in need.

Cash goods are often used as operational expenses, including shipping and/or travel fees. The communities in need also receives a portion of the funds, distributed based on their needs. Medical missions and debriefings are also conducted by sisters, staff, and some volunteer members of the PHCT.

In an interview with Sister Grace Salvaña, SPC, the head of the Community Extension Services (CES) which takes charge of the packing and distribution of the donations, commented that “[n]o announcements were made regarding the donations for Typhoon Yolanda yet there were some pre-schoolers who brought goods as soon as classes resumed. The Grade 5 students also sponsored the class masses that week and each class had something to offer as well. There are Grade 7 students who volunteered to help with the packaging of the goods too. You can really see the awareness and generosity of the Paulinians and their families.”

Uy reaps int’l prestige in junior golfBy Katrina Sinamban

Demonstrating Paulinian excellence with great skill and talent, Senior PAL student Daniella Uy garnered numerous accolades in various international junior golf competitions this school year in tournaments in Asia and the United States of America.

Uy conquered the Asian tournaments held in Thailand and the Philippines. In Bangkok, Thailand, she placed 11th in the Thailand Ladies Open, held last March 26-29, 2013 with a score of 68-74-75. Additionally, she won 4th place with a score of 73-72-71-72 in the Thailand True Visions Junior Golf Championship. In local competitions, she placed 2nd in the Junior World Qualifying last April 16-19 in Carmona, Cavite, scoring 75-73-73-78. Lastly, with a score of 75-77-76-77, she triumphed winning 2nd place in the Philippine Junior Amateur at Trece Marites, Cavite last June 7-9.

She conquered more competitions in the USA. Uy qualified in the USGA (United States Golf Association) Qualifier with a score of 75 in the South Hills Country Club at West Covina, California last July 2. She won 2nd place and scored 72-72-70-72 in the Junior World Callaway at San Diego, California last July 17-20. According to Daniella, this was her most memorable competition so far.

She participated in three more competitions in California headed by the AJGA (American Junior Gold Associations). Uy won 6th place in the ClubCorp Mission Hills Desert Junior tournament in Ranch Mirage California with a score of 72-78-72 held last June 17-20, and she placed 4th with a score of 72-75-72 in the AJGA Junior at Robinson Ranch on June 23-26. In her most recent tournament, she victoriously conquered the Preseason Junior at Oak Valley last July 29-August 1, winning 1st place with a score of 72-70-69.

With almost nine years of experience, Uy says that still sees herself playing golf and competing in more local and international tournaments.

SPCP Chorale reaps local and int’l honorsBy Katrina Blanco, Gillianne Gaspar, Nirelle Balderram, and Sylvianna Manalo

Exemplifying Paulinian talent at its finest, the multi-awarded St. Paul College, Pasig High School Chorale together with its long-time conductor and mentor Mrs. Sheila Fetalvero gained praises after triumphantly excelling in various competitions around the metro including an international contest held in the country.

Musikapella

The SPCP Chorale placed 1st runner-up at the Musikapella 2013: Himig ng Bagong Henerasyon contest held last September 28, 2013 at the Aliw Theater, Pasay City.


Whilst clad in their black, violet, and gold outfits, the chorale performed their chosen piece “Lipad.” They too, performed the pre-picked contest piece for the all-girls category, “Limang Dipang Tao.”

The Chorale won P15,000 in the contest organized by the UP Economics Society.

Center for Music–Chorale President Chezka Oxales said, “We do not aim for perfection, but excellence in everything we do. We do our best to bring Him back all the glory, honor, and praise. Musikapella was a great way to do just that.”

CMLI Voices in Harmony

Raising their voices up high, the SPCP Chorale did it again, finishing in second with a silver medal, a trophy, and P20,000 in the 15th Children’s Museum and Library, Inc. (CMLI) Voices in Harmony finals held last November 17, 2013 in the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Besides coming in first runner-up, the chorale also snagged the special award for Best Interpretation of the song “Salamat.”

Before arriving at the finals, they went through the elimination round held last October 6 , 2013 in the Marian Auditorium of Miriam College. They competed against 15 other schools—their contest pieces being "Lipad" and "Dayo Dayo Kupita”—and passed this round along with nine other schools.

In the previous years that they've competed in the competition, they won with the pieces “Iisang Bangka” (2007), “Hanggang Ngayon” (2009), and “Para Sa'yo Bayani” (2011).

"Every time they perform, they strive for quality performance and regards it as an avenue to show the gifts given to them by the Lord," said Mrs. Sheila Fetalvero, conductor and mentor of the chorale for 17 years.

Sing ‘N Joy Manila

In a repeat performance from last year, the SPCP Chorale received prestigious honors after bagging two Gold Level II Diplomas in the recently concluded Sing ‘N Joy Manila contest held from December 11 to 14, 2013 at the Aliw Theater.

Declared as the Category Winner in the Youth Category of Equal Voices and the Folklore category, the Chorale emerged victorious, besting 35 choirs coming from universities and other institutions in the country.

Last year, the choir also represented the country and school in the Interkultur's 2nd Vietnam International Choral Competition where it was awarded the Gold III for the Youth Category of Equal Voices.

Sing 'N Joy Manila is an international choral competition organized by Interkultur Germany, MBC National Choral Competitions, and the Philippine Choral Directors Association.

Paulinians reap awards in int’l Math tiltsBy Joanne de Leon

Six Paulinians bagged various medals and merit recognition in a series of international math competitions held in Hong Kong last July 24-28, 2013.

It was participated in by Nadine Macalalad and Andrea Onglao of the third year, and Camille Estampador, Michelle Ochoa, Isabel Tan-Palanca, and Natalia Varela of the fourth year. They were among the pool of young Filipino mathletes who competed with five other Asian countries. These were Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Philippine-Choral-Directors-Association/110872008973367

https://www.facebook.com/pages/MBC-National-Choral-Competitions/228058147267223

https://www.facebook.com/pages/MBC-National-Choral-Competitions/228058147267223

https://www.facebook.com/interkultur


The event, made up of several contests, had the Mathematics Development Academy of the Philippines (MDAP) as organizers, in coordination with the Mathematics Trainers Guild of the Philippines (MTG Phils.).

Below is the list of the awards won by the students under the corresponding contests.

Asia Math Cup Green Asia Cup King of Math Contest

GoldAndrea Onglao

SilverNadine MacalaladMichelle Ochoa

BronzeCamille EstampadorIsabel Tan-PalancaNatalia Varela

ChampionNadine S. Macalalad

SilverAndrea Onglao

MeritIsabel Tan-PalancaMichelle OchoaNatalia Varela

SilverNadine MacalaladAndrea Onglao

MeritCamille EstampadorNatalia Varela

SKECHERS

SPCP Debate Pool hosts regional debate competitionBy Colleen de Luna

For the first time in several years, St. Paul College, Pasig’s Forensic Speech and Debate (FSD) Pool brought the debate competition IDeA Lite back to our campus. Last July 20 and 21, 280 individuals from different schools in the Metro assembled in the Pere Chauvet Hall for the said event.

The Interscholastic Debaters Association (IDeA) is an organization of debate clubs in Metro Manila schools which convenes as a council that aims to host around five meets per year. Senior FSD member Nicole Chiong, as the SPCP IDeA council represenative, made a bid earlier in the year to host the Lite event, the first of its kind in the debate season. It was moderated by FSD GIFT teacher Ms. Anna Que, who served as the event's core adjudicator.

The seventeen contending schools were Ateneo De Manila High school, Immaculate Concepcion Academy, Quezon City Science High School, La Salle Green Hills, De La Salle Santiago Zobel, International Christian Academy Paranaque, St. Theresa’s College, San Beda College, Assumption College, Miriam College, University of Santo Tomas, Colegio De San Agustin, PAREF Woodrose, PAREF Rosehill, PAREF Southridge, Claret School of Quezon City, and Xavier School.

After the tournament's three break debate rounds and public speaking competition, the Ateneo De Manila team won both the debate and public speaking categories.

SPCP holds first-ever pep rallyBy Kathrina Cruz

A regular lunch period in the High School Department was transformed into a celebration of school spirit and sportsmanship with St. Paul College, Pasig’s first-ever pep rally held last August 7, 2013 at the SPCP Tent.


The Center for Sports Giftedness Instruction for Talent Development Team Leaders (GTLs) and student core officers along with Assistant Principal for GIFT Ms. Kathlyn Pike, organized the event to kick start a new school year of competitions for the school’s athletes.

Clad in uniforms bearing the green and gold, the school’s varsity teams paraded in the venue. The rest of the student body showed their support as hosts senior Bea Tañada and junior Regina Torres introduced the teams and announced the athletes’ names.

Adding to the festivities were performances from the Pep Varsity, Chorale, and the Junior Terpsichore.

MAC-I, CFM present a sequel to last year’s CincoBy Sam Alcala

With the desire to showcase Paulinian musical talent and versatility, the Music Appreciation Club for Instrumentalists (MAC-I) in cooperation with the GIFT Center for Music brought back its project last year “Cinco” with “Cinco: Revived” held last September 27, 2013 at the Mere Marie Anne de Tilly Convention Hall.

The program opened with the performance of last year’s finalist, TDT. Other guest performances included two bands formed by Paulinian graduates, Burr Coll and The Kinder Friends. Chart-topping OPM band Moonstar88 also graced the event, playing their hit songs Torete and Migraine.

Last year, the MAC-I and CFM organized Cinco as a competition for bands that consisted of four guitarists and a vocalist. Cinco was supposedly the sequel of the guitar quartet competition, Quatro, held two years ago. This year, the MAC-I seniors shook things up by allowing the use of any acoustic instruments as long as the band was composed of four instrumentalists and one vocalist; hence, the competition’s evolution into a general acoustic battle of the bands.

Another modification introduced in the competition was the creation of Junior and Senior divisions. Each year level had a finalist handpicked by the production team from an earlier elimination round. The Junior division was a competition between the Neophyte, Rookie, and Freshman bands while the Senior division consisted of the Sophomore, Junior, and Senior contenders.

Rookie band Anonymous topped the Junior division while the Senior division champions came from the Seniors with the band Gravity Zero.

“I'm just very grateful for all the support we got from everyone who watched and those who helped in the process. I never expected that we would be able to fill the Convention Hall!” said MAC-I President AJ Umali.

(NEWS BRIEFS)

Sabayang Pagbigkas

Competing against 23 private and public schools in the Metro, St. Paul College’s Pasig’s very own team composed of 2nd year, 3rd year, and 4th year students, nabbed the 2nd runner-up in the annual Sabayang Pagbigkas competition held last August 31, 2013 in the University of Asia and the Pacific.

Performing their interpretation of Dr. Jose Rizal’s poem “Huling Paalam”, the team advanced to the finals and through camaraderie and hard work, emerged victorious in the said competition.

In the finals, the teams were judged by distinguished personalities in the industry, one of them being multi-awarded Filipino actor Dingdong Dantes.

The team was supervised and coached by Filipino teacher Mr. Jaime Reyes.


Division Secondary Schools Press Conference

Pauliworld clinched the second Overall Highest Team Pointer award in the 20th Division Secondary Schools Press Conference held last August 29 to 30, 2013 at Sta. Lucia High School.

The Paulinian journalists bagged numerous awards in both English and Filipino categories.

In the field of English, Senior Nicole Chiong received third place in the news writing category. Senior Celina Pablo placed for bronze in copyreading and headlining while Joanna Reyes, also a senior, placed seventh in feature writing. For editorial writing, Pablo and Chiong garnered the second and fifth places respectively while for sports, Jjunior Teresa Naval claimed first place and Reyes placed seventh. Besting other participants, Pablo was also awarded as the Overall Individual Highest Pointer for the competition.

In the field of Filipino, Senior Joanne de Leon and Junior Elise Sunga garnered the first and third places respectively in the news writing category. Senior Lara Tagnong placed eighth in feature writing while Sophomore Marissa Ragaza placed tenth in editorial Writing category. In the copyreading and headlining category, Sunga and senior Katrina Blanco claimed the second and third places, respectively. Senior Michelle Ochoa received the gold for photojournalism while fellow senior Kristina Doctora received the bronze for editorial cartooning. Receiving the second overall best radio broadcasting and scriptwriting team were members Blanco, Sunga, Ochoa, de Leon, and Tagnong, as well as junior Joanna Aguilar and sophomore Sam Alcala, who was also awarded silver as the category’s best news presenter. Sunga, on the other hand, was presented the silver medal as the best anchor and ranked the contest’s third Overall Individual Highest Pointer.

The representative team was mentored and guided by school paper adviser Mr. Timothy Decano..

SCICOMM

Four seniors bagged the top awards in the Science Communication Effectiveness Competition (SCICOMM) 2013 finals held last September 14, 2013 at the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P).

“Team Gryffinrawrs” composed of Seniors Colleen De Luna and Celina De Luna garnered second place, while “Team Barium Cobalt Nitrogen” composed of Seniors Nicole Chiong and Cassandra Deluria finished in third.

All paired teams were given an article to present to a panel of judges to be done in the simplest, most effective, and most creative way possible. These presentations were also accompanied by visual aids designed by the students.

This year's competition was participated in by over 70 teams composed of senior students from different high schools around Metro Manila. The competition's elimination round was concluded last August 10, 2013, where 15 teams were chosen to compete for the finals.

The SCICOMM is an annual competition hosted by UA&P that promotes the importance of effective communication in making science more relatable and understood by today’s youth.

National Bible Quiz Bee

Freshman Trisha Reyes together with Sophomores Monica Coronel and Maegan Mangoba landed a spot as Wild Card Qualifier in the national level of St. Paul National Bible Quiz Bee held last September 14, 2013 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.


The contestants were the top scorers in the intrascholastic screening, earning them a spot in the North Area eliminations held last August 31 at the Holy Family School where they won the bronze. They placed third as well in the NCR Regionals held September 1, 2013 at SM Megamall.

The students, coached by Christian Living teachers Ms. Joy Ocampo and Ms. Iris Naval, went against 11 other schools in the nationals.

Campus Challenge

Remnants of history lost were brought back to life in this year's Campus Challenge held last September 18, 2013 at the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P).

The school’s team, composed of Rookie Julianna Navarro, Sophomores Candice Tambaoan and Elain Balderas, Junior Teresa Naval, and Senior Katrina Blanco, emerged as the first runner-up against different schools in the Metro.

The quiz bee focused mainly on the appreciation of the Martial Law era and the genius of Ferdinand Marcos himself.

The team underwent training and was the guidance of Social Science area teachers Ms. Beatriz Gulinao, Ms. Pilar Marquez, Mrs. Maricel Lacap, and Mr. Alexis Macapanpan.

Liyab

A band of Pauliworld writers bagged various awards in Liyab ’13: 11th NCR-wide Journalism Training Seminar held last September 18 and 21 in the Philippine Normal University (PNU), despite the school's first time competing in the tilt.

Among the hundreds of delegates from all over Metro Manila, five staffers managed to place in the different categories of the said competition.

Senior Nicole Chiong received the 2nd place for news writing, while her fellow batchmates Celina Pablo and Joanna Reyes placed 7th in editorial writing and 6th in feature writing respectively. Elise Sunga of the Juniors nabbed 2nd place in copyreading and headline writing and 7th in news writing. Sophomore Maxine Go took the 9th place for editorial cartooning.

Liyab is an annual event sponsored by the Torch Publication of Philippine Normal University, in which the region's aspiring journalists attend a two-day workshop of the areas in mass media and contended in the different fields.

Teenpreneur Competition

“Round Trip” of the SPCP Team comprised of juniors Ellysha Felizarta, Annika Herico, Gabee Paras, Alli Valderrama, and Monica Omondang and seniors Ciara Montalla, Jenina Raymundo, Alyssa Libunao, Jenny Ocana, Celina Pablo, reaped numerous awards in the 2013 Teenpreneur Challenge held last October 12 and 13, 2013 at the SM Megamall.

With the tagline “Tasting the world, one dumpling at a time,” the team sold siomai or dumplings in various flavors, reaching their quota and securing themselves the second place in sales.


Out of the fourteen teams from schools all over the Metro Manila area, Round Trip garnered four awards apart from their win in sales. The team placed second in both Quiz Bee and Best Innovation, and they won the first prize in Best in Booth Design and in Fundraiser.

The team, supervised by Mr. Shaun Marasigan, also amassed the most awards over-all.

HP Write and Read

Seniors Anica Franco and Meg Musngi, together with their counterpart artists coming from other schools, bagged the second and third places respectively in the culmination of the 2nd Hewlett-Packard (HP) Write and Read contest held last October 17, 2013 at the Crown Plaza Manila Galleria.

Franco and Musngi were among the top 50 students for both poetry and illustration categories chosen from a bountiful amount of entries coming from private and public schools in the country. The chosen students underwent a two-day workshop for either writing or art where the writers and artists were also paired to come up with a collaborative work.

The prizes for the top 3 teams included HP printers, laptops, desktops, tablets, and cash prizes.

The HP Read and Write contest is an annual contest spearheaded by HP and is done in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd).

Regional Secondary Schools Press Conference

Paulinian journalists participated in the 37th Regional Secondary Schools Press Conference (RSSPC) held last November 16 and 23, 2013 themed “The Role of Campus Journalism and Transformational Leadership.”

After having represented the school and the school’s official publication, Pauliworld in the recently concluded Divisional Secondary Schools Press Conference (DSSPC) coming in as a team in second place, the delegates then advanced to the regional leg of the conference.

The events for news writing, editorial writing, feature writing, editorial cartooning, headlining and copyreading, and the newly added science and technology writing took place in the former contest date in Ponce Bernardo Elementary School. The sports writing and photojournalism events were held in the latter in Quezon City Science High School and the Quezon City Memorial Circle.

Not having gone home empty-handed, senior Nicole Chiong garnered sixth place for news writing in English.

The team was coached by school paper adviser and moderator Mr. Timothy Decano.

BONIFACIO SPEAKING CONTEST

FUSE

LACTACYD

(Ellysha Felizarta, Bea Ruiz, Elain Balderas, Colleen de Luna, Joey Mercado, Allison Panaligan, Joanna Reyes, Joanne de Leon, and Maxine Go)


#OOTD (Opinion of the Day)

Dull Hues of RealityBy Jaymee Cruz, Lara Tagnong, and Kathrina Cruz

Out of the 150 high school students who were asked to the survey, 63 were in favor of abolishing the pork barrel, 82 were in favor of fixing it, and the remaining 5 were not aware of the issue.

It was the biggest revelation of all times. Like lightning, it struck the Philippine government hard and left a huge scar on the already tainted hearts of the Filipino people. Fingers are being pointed and eyes are being averted.

Yes, it is none other than the Pork Barrel scam.

The scam regarding the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund), more popularly known as the “Pork Barrel” is one of the most controversial and notorious issues of all time. Authorities whom many thought of as the shield of the Filipino people are being associated with this issue. Hearings and assemblies are being held but there is no definite direction as to where they are going for questions are being avoided and answers are being withheld. With their eyes glued to their television sets, the Filipino people are watching the situation unfold, waiting for the truth to come out.

In times like these, Filipino citizens won’t merely be left to sit down and watch; they seek answers to the issue that intensifies the suffering of the state.

More names are starting to emerge, details of how and why are being revealed, and possibilities − drastic as they may be − are being provided. As information continues to surface, the fire continues to grow. Why? Because all of these details are intertwined and will eventually lead to the truth. Information is slowly being pieced together in order to form the bigger picture. If there are details concerning the issue that are being revealed, surely there are more that are yet to be exposed. All these details create a train of questions that will travel in circles if it continues to stray from the truth. The Filipino people do not choose to board this train forever; they seek to arrive at their final destination.

As concerned citizens, it is our duty to be aware of this issue and form valuable opinions about it. As future tax payers, it is essential for us to know where our taxes are going and what will happen to them. The participation of the youth in this issue is vital for we are the future leaders of the country.

Paulinians were given the opportunity to speak up regarding their views about the pork barrel scam and whether or not it should be abolished or fixed. The corrupt ways of the politicians have led some to choose to abolish the Pork Barrel. Although it is acknowledged that it is of importance in the funding of government projects, its bad reputation prevails over the benefits it offers. Other students prefer to fix the pork barrel rather than abolish it because many expect that the issue will fully disappear if it is ignored. In addition to that, abolishing it may cause more problems regarding the direct establishment of projects that supposedly aid the country.

Come to think of it, even if we choose to abolish the pork barrel, there are still so many other ways that the government can practice corruption for it is an inevitable aspect of reality. However, corruption can be alleviated if the issue is addressed with care. Ignoring the problem will only make it worse. Implementation of strictness in the allocation of funds must be carried out. Otherwise, a more reliable budgeting system should be proposed. It is all a matter of improvement.

It is embarked on the constitution that the Philippine government should look out for the rights of the citizens. What if the agency that we have entrusted our lives to is the one that violates our rights as citizens of the country? As time goes by, the expectation of the Filipinos to have sincere leaders is mounting. Sadly, the results have a reverse effect; our system of governance weakens as the claim for power strengthens. There should be no barrier between the people and the government because the people are the government. Although abolishing the


PDAF is a possible option, it is undeniable that it is also essential to the Filipino people. These funds are needed to serve the people and to satisfy their needs. If it is completely abolished, corruption may be lessened but resources will also be limited. The government needs to make sure that these funds are being allotted to real projects by monitoring the officials and the allocation of funds itself.

The face of Philippine governance is now fraud and deception. Taxes are paid by the citizens in order to facilitate the rendering of services for the people. The Filipinos work hard to meet the demands of the government. The administration reasons out that taxes are collected and returned to people through public services and projects beneficial to the people. However, we are left with empty promises.

These are dull hues of reality.

This is not the system of governance that gives the youth a hopeful future to look forward to. The youth is starting to lose faith in the government. Abolish or fix the pork barrel, the fear of being fooled once again remains. It all goes back to being a victim. Soon, there would come a time when everyone would be scared to take on the position of being a leader. Soon, the country will lose its guide and direction.

It is only through avoiding this kind of outcome that the dull hues of reality will turn into a vibrant tinge of the future. The country must be united in order to rise against corruption. The people are the government. The public should be the watch dog of the administration. The whole Philippines should be a nation wherein the immoral are heartened to become righteous.

Ideology vs. Identity: the Zamboanga Crisis through the Paulinian PerspectiveBy Gabie Domino and Marissa Ragaza

On the early morning of September 9, around eight vessels carrying armed members of the Moro National Liberation Front docked at Barangay Rio Hondo, entering the city and engaging in gunfire, causing the deaths of four civilians. By 1:30 pm, over 300 civilians were taken into hostage, while Barangays Rio Hondo, Sta. Barbara, Sta. Catalina, and Talon-talon were occupied by the MNLF. It was only by September 28, nearly three weeks after the initial conflict when the government declared the crisis to be over.

The Zamboanga conflict not only affected those living in the region, but even those here in Metro Manila indirectly felt the impact of the issue.

By interviewing the members of our Paulinian community, we look at the Paulinian perspective on the issue, grasping the effects of the crisis to us and our fellow Filipinos living in Zamboanga.

Mr. Essam Kenji GonzalesSocial Science teacher

Initially, for me, it’s a little bit expected knowing the background of Mindanao. It’s expected already because we know the capability of these people. We know what they can do and what they can’t do. According to some scholars, they’re not really fighting for what the Islamic faith is all about, because how would you show peace in the concept of violence or in threatening one another?

Economically, it would have a big impact. Internationally, it will repel foreign investments because of what’s happening now in Mindanao. In the local economy, basically, the tourism would be affected. Because of what happened, tourism would be hindered in Zamboanga, so the tourists will be lessened. Aside from tourism locally, even the people living in Zamboanga would think twice on whether or not they should stay there for good or move outside the perimeters of Zamboanga because of what happened.

Politically, it’s related to the idea of independence of the Bangsamoro nation. The government of the Philippines is not yet at some point, based on my assessment, ready to give the independence that the Bangsamoro people are asking them to give.


The social factor there would primarily be the trauma that they left.

Even though Zamboanga is a Christianized area in the context of Mindanao, still Zamboanga is vulnerable to this attack. We can expect that even though Metro Manila is far from Zamboanga, it may happen here as well. For us, it’s a matter of preparation. We don’t know what might happen.

Ms. Kathlyn PikeAssistant Principal for GIFTEnglish teacher

When people want something not in accordance with the common good of the entire country, a conflict arises. In any conflict, there are so many threats; there are so many aspects that are threatened like the economic condition, the stabilized condition of the people, and many more. They say that crisis needs to be created to elicit change. In that case, in the event of the crisis, everybody is at risk and is threatened, but everybody is challenged by the crisis to the something.

Economically, it means removing a group of province from the Philippines. It’s a change that will affect the country because we’re going to losing a group of provinces, especially since Zamboanga is one of the best producers of natural and human resources.

Socially, it’s the conflict between the Filipino people and among the Filipino people. What will they call themselves? Bangsamoro? In a sense, they’re still Filipinos. It will be a confused culture, a confused civilization. It’s a sheer display again of displacement especially since we are known as a hybrid of different beliefs and culture, and the crisis might create another Diaspora or division. It might even come to a point when we won’t able to identify who we really are anymore. What if they create their own city and civilization, then to whom do they identify?

But whether it’s a Zamboanga crisis or a Manila crisis, it is a threat because it’s the image of the Filipino people, it’s the image of the Philippines. Because the mere fact that you are a Filipino, it has to have an effect on you. It has to create an impact on you even if you’re not from Zamboanga. The mere fact that you are called a Filipino means you are affected by it.

Mr. Richard TuandoGIFT Team Leader for Performing ArtsSocial Science Teacher

The main problem is that they cannot identify who is the MNLF and who is the MILF, so they created another group called the Bangsamoro Freedom Fighters. Both of them have different goals. One is fighting for a clear economic freedom given by the government, and the other one is for the separation of the government, and for them to be an independent country. It’s a question of ideology or identity.

My personal opinion is it’s just another political drama, and that we should expect another one.

Mr. Timothy Decano GIFT Team Leader for Communication ArtsPauliworld moderator

When they started forming the Bangsamoro Freedom Fighters, they just really wanted a representation in the national government of the Muslim Filipinos, and it was given to them through the ARMM. And when that didn’t work for them, they started demanding for more than the Autonomous Region. They wanted to have their own country which is something that cannot be granted all together right away because of the economic, political, and social effects that we’ll have.

First and foremost, the economic aspect would be a lot of Filipinos depend on products that are coming from Mindanao. Imagine what will happen if it becomes a different country all together. It’s not that easy. It’s


something that will require a lot of changes that cannot happen overnight. The hype of the crisis may have died, but still it’s something unresolved.

Nikki NuydaStudent Coordinating Team President

I know that it’s been going on for a long time between the MNLF and the military, but it really reached its peak recently. I don’t know how the most recent standoff started, but I’m familiar on its repercussions.

Economic activity was at a standstill at the time. Shops were closed and that really took a toll on the income that was originally being generated by businesses there. Trade, basic commodities and even food supply for residents and even military men was scarce.

Socially, I could only imagine what the people residing there were going through. There was always uncertainty for them, in a sense that they were always just wondering when they'd have to evacuate out of their homes. Also, I think classes and work were called off. That would have really made an impact to children especially. It most probably caused trauma for kids who were in the middle of the mess, with school getting called off and being surrounded by news of hostages, gun fire, etc.

And finally politically, the whole thing is a feud between MNLF and the government. MNLF wants autonomy, and we can't give it. I guess that the Zamboanga crisis posed a really big issue for our defense and government response. So I say the crisis that happened is a screaming wake up call to those in charge to fix up how we respond to these situations, considering the amount of people that had died and how long the standoff took.

I know that it doesn’t affect us directly, but just hearing about what happened is already alarming for us. We’re so used to learning about these events in a classroom basis that sometimes we don’t really feel its gravity. I’d say it’s an eye opener for us, it shows us that things like these really do happen. It tells us to be vigilant and that we should pay attention to the things that are happening around us.


SPORTS

Paulinians score gold in PAPRISA 2013 By Joanne de Leon, Gabrielle Paras, Allison Panaligan, Gyra Mallari, Ericka Ranchez, Kathrina Cruz, Carla Felicitas, Cassandra Deluria, Marissa Ragaza, Gabie Domino, and Dominique Cadiz

This year, Paulinian athletes from various sports varsities trained and played their ways to the top against several private schools across Pasig, claiming the title of over-all champions in the PAPRISA Palaro 2013 for the first time in St. Paul College, Pasig history.

The players for this year’s PAPRISA competed in different venues at different dates but were gathered together for the August 15 opening and the awarding ceremony held last September 20. They were represented by their muse Patricia Imbao of the fourth year, who was awarded first runner-up.

AthleticsThe SPCP Track and Field team bagged the PAPRISA secondary girls’ overall championship on

September 2 at the Rizal High School track oval.

Led by coaches Roldan Verano, Arnie Julian and Jolibert Limas, the team bagged a total of 19 gold medals, eight silver medals, and two bronze medals while competing in various sprint, throwing, and jumping events against schools such as Christian International School and Our Lady of Perpetual Help School.

BadmintonThe badminton team finished first in the tournament held last September 3-6 at La Consolacion College in

Pasig. Reaping the gold were Mikaela De Guzman and Palma Cruz for the singles event, and seniors Raelyne Almendras and Kaydee de Jesus for the doubles event, all under coach Ericson Benico.

BasketballLed by team captain Micole Guingon of the fourth year and coached by Leo Molina, the members SPCP

basketball team were crowned champions in the Palaro held last October at Pasig Catholic College (PCC).

CheerdanceSPCP’s Pep Varsity clinched the top spot amongst their competitors last August 15 at Pasig Catholic

College. The fifth-time champions claimed victory under Coach Mr. Ramon Pagaduan IV and team captain Maegan Cabrera of the fourth year.

FootballThe SPCP Football team succeeded in defending their title as three-peat champions last September 2 at the

Rizal High School. Headed by their captain, senior Christine Dasas, the team was trained by coaches Ritchelle Besana and Merian Ronquilo.

GymnasticsSophomore Regine Reynoso, rookie Mikaela Sunga, and neophyte Alyssa Gonzalvo took home the gold by

default as the division’s sole participants in this year’s gymnastics meet.

SoftballThe softball team seized the PAPRISA gold medal and secured their advance to the regional games after

defeating La Immaculada Concepcion School (LICS) at Rizal High School last October 22. They concluded their game with a strong 14-point edge over LICS, their lone competition in the district for this year.

Table tennisBesting various private schools, the table tennis varsity, coached by instructors Mitch Nazareth and

Chrismas Capistrano conquered the high school girl's division as they nabbed the four slots towards the division meet. Bea Legata and Margarita Yuzon of the grade 9 bagged gold and silver medals respectively for the singles


event, while Kathrina Cruz and Dareelyn Kamdon of the fourth year were awarded with gold medals for the doubles event.

SwimmingWith a total of 21 gold, five silver, and four bronze medals, the swimming team, under the aid of coaches

LC Langit and Eadelos Santos, paddled their way to the top as the tournament’s over-all champions last July 23 at St. Paul College, Pasig.

Lawn TennisFour members of the SPCP Lawn Tennis Varsity team bagged gold medals for their matches during their

tournament held last September 5 at the Valle Verde Country Club.

Juniors Suzette Yngson and Lyra Sabado were the team’s contenders for the doubles matches, while freshman Sofia Dimalanta and rookie Nycole Jabar competed in the tournament’s singles matches.

The team, under the guidance of Coach Jesusa Flores, went against several schools during the tournament, including La Immaculada Conepcion School, Sacred Heart Academy Pasig, and Escuela Sto. Rosario. They defeated Lani Casipe Learning Center in the final match, earning them the top rank in the competition.

VolleyballSPCP’S volleyball team spiked its way through the Palaro last late August to early September at the Sacred

Heart Academy in Pasig.

The team, under Coach Leslie Anne Competente, Coach Thursday, Coach Mia, and Ms. Hiroko Borjal, emerged as champions, with Monica Basco winning Best Offensive Player, Carina Dacanay garnering Best Attacker, Darianne Navarro bagging Best Setter, and Betina Padpad being dubbed as Most Valuable Player.

“We won because of team work, and we placed our hearts [in] it. Plus, we trained really hard,” stated Angelica Palisoc, one of the team’s players, in an interview. “We had the drive to win and we wanted to make our school proud, [so] we pushed each other to bring out our best.”

As per the results, numerous gold or silver medalists in the different sports advanced to divisions against private and public schools in Pasig.

ChessSisters Alison and Ireson Claveria, from the fourth year and the second year, respectively, bagged first

place in the chess event of the Palaro held last September at the Mere Maria Hall of St. Paul College, Pasig. The two won the high school girls’ category, one of the four categories in the chess event, and accumulated the highest number of points by beating the other teams. They were trained by Coaches Ryan Carandang and Melrose Canabe, who accompanied them during the event.

Gladiators Reign in 2013 Milo Little Olympics. By Joanna Aguilar, Jenny Ocana, Mishka Cordero, Carla Felicitas

St. Paul College Pasig’s various varsity teams conquered the arena in the 2013 Milo Little Olympics housed at the Marikina Sports Complex from August 30 to September 8, 2013.

The HS Cheering Varsity Team celebrated their fourth championship for the Little Olympics. At the helm of the team was Coach Ramon A. Pagaduan IV, assisted by Team Captain Maegan Cabrera and Co-Captain Cheska Chua.

The Swimming Varsity meanwhile dove their way to a total of 17 medals in the competition – 1 gold, 12 silver and 4 bronze. Members of the winning line-up were seniors Michaela Alyssa C. Alcover, Mariel Andrea A. Carandang, and Camille Therese D. Estampador from the fourth year, junior Magali Christiane Bernasconi-Echauz


from the third year, sophomores Maggie Caryl D. Mendoza and Melissa Faye C. Figueroa, ninth grader Gabrielle E. Javier, and eighth grader Erika Anne D. Jaurigue. The team was coached by LC Langit and Ea delos Santos.

Smashing their way to the championship, the Lawn Tennis competing team included Sofia Isabelle Dimalanta from the first year, Lyra Nicole Sabado, Suzette Marrianne Yngson and Annika Herico from the third year, and Stephanie Jabar from the fourth year. Herico helmed the team as Captain.

Other teams included the volleyball team, and the table tennis team, which did not play in the series.

Gladiators victors in 2013 Division MeetBy Joanna Reyes

With spirits ready for competition, the Gladiators once again came triumphant in the 2013 Division Meet as they sought out the battle of sports with the rest of Pasig’s athletes last October 21 to 23, 2013.

Heralding players from all over the division, numerous varsity teams took part and competed for titles in the meet’s different sports categories. To the school’s own victory, a great number of 11 Paulinian varsity teams snagged medals at the said event.

Of the teams that were sent to participate in the meet rose the Badminton, Basketball and Lawn Tennis teams which all topped as champions in their respective sports. Following and not falling short of their caliber were several 1st runner-up awards also garnered by the school’s Football, Softball, Table Tennis, and Volleyball teams.

In light of the individual sports, the school’s sports varsity also did not fail to impress: bagging awards as champions was the Gymnastics varsity, while the awards as 1 st runner-up were won by both the Chess and Swimming teams. Runners for Track and Field also succeeded, as they brought with them the gold.

Such victories were blessings not only for the school, but also for the players. For senior Raelyne Almendras, their win was “definitely a blessing.” According to the team captain of the Badminton team, who won the championship in their event for this year’s meet, the victory was even more meaningful as “it was only this year again when [she] had been blessed to take home the gold.”

“To be honest, I consider this a wonderful memory as my whole high school experience is coming to an end,” she adds.

Like Almendras, who hopes to once again prevail and “bring pride to [the] school,” Gladiators from the champion varsity teams, as well as runner-up individual players, will also be moving up the ladder as they are to compete in the upcoming regional games.

The sports events of the 2013 Division Meet were held in various schools and venues within the division of Pasig City.

VIVA LA SENIOR1T4S!Seniors seize back to back crownBy Katrina Blanco

Defending their title for the second straight year, the Seniors were hailed as the overall champions in this school year's Intramurals held last November 14-16 and 18, 2013.

In a repeat performance from last year, the Seniors scored gold in 15 different events, emerging as four-time overall champions in Swimming and three-time champions in the Cheerdance competition.

Included in the tally are two individual events won in Track and Field by Audrielle Reyes and the 400 m


sprint claimed by Charilee De Leon, 11 events in Swimming including the 4x25 m free relay and 4x50 free and medley relays and eight individual events dominated by Mikaela Alcover, Mariel Carandang, and Camille Estampador.

The Seniors were also crowned as the champion in the Badminton event for the second straight year, with Raelyne Almendras winning again the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. In addition, Volleyball team captain Karla Gamalinda was declared the Best Attacker and Sophbelles Andreyana Lasco, Selina Placino, and Patricia Robles received awards for the Most Run Batted-in, Most Stolen Base, and the Best Catcher and Homerun Queen of the contest respectively.

On the opening day, the Seniors reigned as muse Riana Pangindian captured the title of the Best Muse. The Seniors also earned an additional gold medal in their tally for being the first batch to complete the gallery of players.

The Juniors placed first runner-up with a total of nine first place finishes, including the Track and Field team's 4x100 relay and obstacle course as well as Jeremiah Malonzo clinching the gold in the 100 m sprint. The Swimming team also claimed the gold in the 4x100 free relay and two individual events scored by team captain Magali Bernasconi-Eschauz.

Winning the gold again in Softball, the Juniors were also hailed as this year's champions in the Lawn Tennis and Volleyball events. Softball player Elisa Ilao was named the Best Slugger for the second time while last year's MVP Noelle Dela Cruz emerged again as the MVP in Softball. Monica Basco and Carina Dacanay from the Volleyball team scored three special awards, being named as the Best Blocker and Best Server and MVP respectively.

This school year's Sportsfest marked the first time that six levels of the High School Department took part in all events. The Grade 7 students, dubbed as the "Neophytes", joined the Rookies as first-timers in the much awaited High School tradition.

Neophytes Celestine De Castro and Amber Chavez were named as the Best Setter and Best Receiver in the Volleyball events respectively. The Rookies scored the gold in the 4x100 medley relay in Swimming and Lawn Tennis team captain Stephanie Jabar received the MVP award.

The Sophomores capped off the Sportsfest with six gold medal wins, claiming the gold in 400m low hurdles won by Riezel Torres, the 4x25 medley relay and three individual events in Swimming clinched by the tandem of Maggie Mendoza and Melissa Figueroa, and the gold for the second straight year in Chess. Team captain Ireson Claveria also received the honors as the MVP in Chess for the second year. Softball player Georgina Onagan emerged as this year's Best Pitcher.

The Freshmen, on the other hand, finished with a total of two first place finishes with the gold in Table Tennis and the 100 m low hurdles won by Amira Villareal. Freshman Patricia Gianzon was also declared the MVP in Table Tennis for this year.

This year's Sportsfest was the first time that the events extended for almost a week as the Track and Field competition was held on the morning of the closing ceremonies at the University of Makati oval. Other events were held in the St. Paul Center for Excellence and Meralco courts. The Cheerdancing event also included two special awards: the Stunner of the Year, claimed by Sophomore Alyssa Bernice Castro, and Best Pep Squad, won by the Sophomore batch.

Miya Legaspi: Whole-in-OneBy Joanne de Leon

While most of us were concerned with coloring with our crayons and playing with our toys at age six, Miya, also known as Claire to her family, peers, and teachers, was found to already be with golf clubs in hand. Taking after


her dad and two older siblings, the sport has since then become an inherent passion she’s been at for 9 years and counting.

Though her painful modesty is slightly offsetting, upon meeting her, you’d come to recognize her as one of the many jewels—most quite, say, “Woah! Halimaw!”-worthy—housed by the Paulinian Alternative Learning (PAL) program. To name a few, besides winning the gold at the Asian Youth Games held in China last August 2013, she has also emerged as champion in both US Kids Gold World Championship from 2007-2011 and the Optimist International World Championship from 2008-2011.

When Miya isn’t busy putting on green Bermudas on the weekends, you might find her doing laps in a swimming pool somewhere. In between tournaments, she attends school as a part of the PAL program since grade 6, and enjoys other hobbies such as writing short stories and playing the flute.

Miya aspires to follow in her older sister’s golf shoe-clad footsteps and obtain a golf scholarship in the United States. With any luck, she dreams to someday make it pro and go on more international golf tours. In the meantime, she’ll stick to the maps in her World and Asian History books and acing high school before hanging up her checkered necktie for good—right next to her collection of numerous shiny medals, of course.

Triple ThreatBy Luisa Jocson

While most sixteen year-olds would be hanging around the mall or watching movies, she spends her time training for exhausting 10k runs and swimming in the Subic Bay.

You’ve probably heard of her name before, perhaps during the Intrams awarding ceremony, over the P.A, or maybe you’ve seen her face emblazed across numerous congratulatory posters around the school. No doubt you’ve heard of Magali Bernasconi-Echauz, the star triathlete of the school. The third year student's been deemed as the school's sportiest sweetheart, her athletic prowess known by many.

Get to know more about this Emma Snowsill-in-the-making in this exclusive interview:

1. When did you start playing sports? What was the first sport you got into?I started doing many sports ever since I could probably walk. The first sport I seriously did was swimming.

I took it up to prepare me for sailing but it didn’t push through.

2. Who made you get into sports in the first place?It was definitely my parents who got me in sports. Not only ‘cause they did a lot of sports themselves, but

[also because] they wanted me to practice discipline and being able to balance everything.

3. How many contests/competitions have you joined? What was your most recent one?I really don’t know [how many contents I’ve joined]. I've been joining swimming competitions ever since I

was a kid and [started joining] triathlons three years ago. The most recent one, though, was a triathlon in Singapore.

4. What is your usual training schedule?More or less my schedule is training in the morning before school, then I go to school, then training

again after.

5. Are there times when you struggle with training, exercise, etc? Does it interfere with your social or academic life?

There are always times when sports interfere especially with academics but it's part of every athlete's life. When it comes to social life, I don’t have one. I'm just kidding. But your friends end up being your teammate[s], I think I got really lucky in that sense. I see them almost 3-4 hours per day, but still look for time together.

6. What are your thoughts before, during and after a competition?


Before competitions, especially triathlons, my nervousness really takes over and I become the most unapproachable person. During the race I just have a mantra in my head which goes, "Running is fun. Pretend running is fun." Then after the race I'm just happy it’s over…but it also depends how well I did.

7. What is the hardest part, or biggest challenge, of being an athlete?The hardest part is being able to motivate and push yourself every day. A lot of times you find yourself

wondering why you're still doing it and that kind of thinking is what you need to overcome.

8. What do you consider as your biggest triumph so far?My biggest triumph is not a trophy or a medal that I won but the things that I get to learn while practicing

my sport, and the discipline that comes with it.

9. What is your daily motivation? Do you have any idols or muses?Aside from wanting to beat my opponents, my daily motivation is to become better at what I do. I want to

improve not only for my family to be happy but me as well. My idols are Chrissie Wellington, and Monica Torres who is Filipino and was a Paulinian from SPCP.

10. Do you have any advice for young, aspiring athletes out there?My advice is always use mind over matter. There times where you get lazy and want to quit but always

remember that your mind set is stronger than what your body really feels. Like I had a recent race where I crashed at the start of the bike and broke my finger and tore my knee but I still finished it and ended up winning [be]cause I put my mind at work.”

CAN YOU SPELL S-U-C-C-E-S-S?By Becca Galvez and Sam Alcala

All of us definitely have those times when certain occasions in our lives seem to be so unforgettable, that we can even list down every single part of it that makes it so remarkable in our lives. And now as we journey through high school, we would have those simple, yet remarkable school activities which would make an impact to us one way or another.

Intramurals, or what we commonly call “Intrams” is definitely one of the most-awaited events of our schoolmates every year. Of all the events held annually by the institution, why is this "the one"? Let's take a look at our very own (not-so-official) intrams checklist for SUCCESS:

Sharpen the claws. There's nothing that screams competition more than envisioning victory at all costs through the rivalries

that the batches have with one another. Let's face it, the best intrams stories come from those that spell out disaster (and cat fights). One student even mentioned: "The mixture of competitiveness, sportsmanship basta lahat ng ‘ingredients’ make it so thrilling." But at the end of the day, it's these real world fouls that push people to strive harder to prove their adversaries wrong. However, a little motivation can only be harmless as long as limits are defined from the very beginning.

Unveil your #intramscrush. Sound familiar? It's the hashtag that echoed throughout social media following the conclusion of the

games. Whether it was your personal sports idol, the buddy that endured your ear-shattering cheers, or even one of the marines that showed off his flag-raising skills, this served as a perfect conversation starter to keep things interesting even after the last ball was thrown.

Checkered no more. There was no hint of black and white chessboard skirts during this multi-colored event. Students and

teachers alike were fully decked out in customized t-shirts, mildly painted faces and ribbons galore. No one hesitated to scream batch spirit with their extensive collection of themed shoelaces, funky jeans, and hair accessories. We were also given a gulp of the artistic abilities bottled up inside each and every year level. From the gigantic

http://piratepad.net/ep/search?query=intramscrush.


rollerblades to the Parthenon-esque columns, it was an extravaganza taken straight from the very core of the students' wildest imaginations. One thing's for certain though, at the end of the day, we all bleed the same proud color of green and gold.

Cut down on your daily dose of ABC's and 123's. It's no secret that the intrams is one of the most physically exhausting events of the school year. However,

it was also one of the longest breaks from the mental torture that the academic curriculum has to offer. Despite the often dragging moments of the extended event due to the addition of the two younger batches, no one could complain about the free hibernation from tediously sitting on the armchairs of their classrooms.

Expect the unexpected. Don't ever underestimate the power of the unknown. As one student said: "I'm actually happy about the

new additions because it [sic] helps keep us humble, as we realize that although we are technically the ates of the school, it doesn't make us better than everyone else, and I find that experience a good way to lower a batch's ego." Our new house guests are living examples of this statement. Despite their sudden need to adapt to the intramurals after conquering their Pasiglahan only last year, they were able to prove that age is never a determining factor when it comes to the power of hard work and determination.

Showcase your physical prowess. Whether you're a player, a cheerleader, a member of pep, or even a fraction of the youth medical team,

there is no shortage of opportunities to show 'em what you've got. Walking (or dragging yourself) up to the 5th floor of the complex is a feat in itself. It's a wonder how anyone can have enough energy to deliver after that Olympic-worthy march. Kidding aside, this is the best chance for each and every member of the student body to pack on some brawn and shine.

Stop. Drop. And ROAR!!! Let it all out and join the annual contest of who-can-get-paos-first! There's nothing like showing a healthy

(or downright obese) amount of good ol' batch spirit through cheering your heart out for the players that have worked their legs off to bring home the bacon.

Intrams is definitely more than just a simple sportsfest, especially when it's done the Paulinian style. From the grand opening of the event until the triumphant recognition of the athletes and everyone else who have contributed to their respective batch victories, it is evident that so much preparations have been done to make this school event a remarkable sensation! So here's to spelling out SUCCESS in these annual mini-Olympics and in every aspect of our lives. As we venture out to achieve our own personal triumphs, it's important to remember to take the lessons we have learned here into consideration. And just maybe, we will find ourselves standing at the finish line, sky-high trophy (whether metaphorical or literal) raised for the world to see.

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