feature,

Feature: Sticking Around

3/23/2018 08:10:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

One Sunday morning, as I was scanning my Facebook timeline, a certain event poster caught my eye. Quickly, I checked out the page and was so excited for it. It’s a convention involving stickers!

Sticker Con MNL happened on March 10 at the JYC Hall B of Bayanihan Center, Pasig. For an entrance fee of Php 100, the convention opened its doors to all sticker lovers and enthusiasts. It featured many local artists, from CassyKicks to TheIzzyPeasy. It is the first bazaar of its kind that focuses on this kind of medium of art.

It captivated sticker enthusiasts, hobbyists who use stickers for their craft, and pretty much anyone who’s ever experienced the fun and thrill of collecting stickers – both as a cherished childhood memory and as a longtime passion.

Spot PH interviewed the organizer of Sticker Con MNL, Grace Marcellana, who said that stickers brought a wave of nostalgia and reminded her of her childhood.



Photo Credit: Sticker Con MNL

Two months before the convention, their Facebook page posted Exhibitor Spotlights which featured names and works of the artists who will be attending and selling merchandise at the event. For more information about these artists and their work, you may visit the event’s official Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/stickerconmnl/

The sticker designs showcased anime, K-Pop, and even memes! There were also retro styles and pop culture. Each artist featured their skills and put their best stickers forward.



After Sticker Con MNL, this is the whole haul of sticker I bought.
Photo Credit: Vea Dacumos

There were also giveaways and prizes from raffles and contests. The grand prize for everyone who attended was a huge bag of stickers from all the exhibitors, the ultimate treasure box for all sticker lovers!

Sticker Con MNL was worth going to and spending money on even though I have used half of my allowance that week. Some said that there might be another convention like this, so stick around, grab your friends, and maybe even start your own sticker collection!//by Vea Dacumos

drenisse moleta,

Feature: A Mix for your Taste Buds

3/23/2018 08:10:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

It’s already summer!

It’s the season where we crave something cold to repel the heat. Here in the Philippines, we have Sago’t Gulaman, Ice Candy, Palamig, and other treats to help beat the summer heat. But there is this signature Filipino dessert that makes us long for its sweet taste, a dessert that satisfies our taste buds even during any season and it is no other than our beloved Halo-halo! Every Filipino has probably tasted this popular food. It can be served in restaurants, fast food chains, in some street corners, and even at home. You can make your own version of this special dessert to satisfy your sweet cravings! But do you know where this dessert came from?

All countries, including the Philippines, have their own version of desserts. However, most Filipinos do not know about the history of our special sweet treat. Halo means “mix” or “to mix” in English. That’s why Halo-halo roughly translates to “mix-mix”. This was adapted from the Japanese dessert named Kakigori that is usually served with shaved ice and beans. In the early 1900s, ice was introduced in the Philippines when Americans built the first ice plant, the Insular Ice Plant. When the Japanese took over, they introduced new kinds of food and one of which is the Kakigori. The availability of ice made the Filipinos experiment with new cold desserts. As a result, they came up with an idea of making a Filipino version of Kakigori. This gave birth of the most well-known dessert in the Philippines, the Halo-halo. Soon after, Filipinos adapted making desserts out of ice. They eventually used this for making Maiz con hielo (literally corn with ice in Spanish) and Saging con hielo (Banana with ice in Spanish).

Halo-halo is so popular especially during summer, where the heat makes people crave something cold and sweet. Usually, this dessert is made with beans, sliced bananas, sugar, corn, fresh fruits, shaved ice, topped with a dollop of ube, a scoop or two of ice cream, and a slice of leche flan (a Filipino custard).



Photo Credit: Love and Foreva



Photo Credit: ABS-CBN News

Halo-halo is not just a dessert. But this summer treat is actually a great symbol of Filipino culture. It was adapted from another dessert, but we eventually made our own kind using local ingredients. Like the ¬halo-halo, our own culture has become a mixture of other cultures influenced by foreign colonizers. Despite this, we retain our own by incorporating our distinct traditional beliefs and principles. With this, our culture has made its own mark, just like our signature dessert, the Halo-halo.//by Drenisse Moleta

feature,

Feature: What You Need to Know about Mobile Legends

3/23/2018 08:05:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

Do you want to play a video game just like League of Legends (LoL) or Defense of the Ancients (DotA) on your mobile device and at the same time, form teams, play with your friends and crush your enemies? Well, looks like Mobile Legends is the perfect game for you!
Mobile Legends from Moonton is arguably one of the most famous mobile games today. Since late 2016, more than 50 million players have downloaded this game in Android and iOS devices and the number is still growing.

Mobile Legends allows players to enjoy playing a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) and keeps the simple gameplay mechanics with features similar to LoL and DotA. The whole idea of the game is to destroy the enemy base. People familiar with the MOBA genre will feel right at home, while people new to the genre can treat the game as a good training ground for faster paced and higher-end PC MOBA games.

Unlike PC MOBAs that take an average of 30-40 minutes per game, most matches in Mobile Legends can only take 10-15 minutes. It is a good way to kill time and also to have some fun.
You can also invite your friends to join in a game and create a party. Imagine how fun it sounds to play a 5-v-5 MOBA game with your friends only using your mobile devices and playing it anywhere and anytime.

The game has a lot of characters that you can use and you’ll surely have a hard time picking. It has a total of 58 characters, and from these characters, you can choose from five different classes. First are the Tanks, whose role is to be the shield of the team and to keep the opposing damage off their teammates. Second are the Assassins, whose role is to eliminate the back lines of the enemy team. Third are the Mages, whose role is to do massive magic damage and to burst down enemies. Fourth are the Marksmen, whose role is to cause damage to the enemies from a safe distance. Fifth and last are the Supports, whose job is to aid each player in the team, especially the marksmen.

Moonton regularly updates the game to make necessary changes and further improvements. And to make sure that the players don’t get bored, they also keep on developing more features for the game like adding more characters, maps, skins and so much more.

Mobile Legends is one of those games that you can play casually or competitively. It is easy to pick up and really fun to play. Because of this, it can be highly addicting and spending too much time playing this game may cause negative effects like health problems and poor performance in school. Always remember to manage your time well, know your priorities, play responsibly, and most importantly, have fun! Now, go forth, triumph, and dominate the virtual enemies!//by Max Salvador

elane madrilejo,

Feature: Deserve Mo ‘To: Ipagdiwang ang Kalayaan mula sa Hell Week

3/23/2018 08:04:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

Naisulat mo na ang kahuli-hulihang talata sa iyong formal theme at naidikit mo na rin ang natitirang detalye para sa iyong proyekto. Nabanggit mo na ang pangwakas na pangungusap sa iyong talumpati at natuldukan mo na rin ang huling salita sa markahang papel. Sa wakas, natapos na rin ang hell week.

Nairaos mo na ang mga araw ng pagpupuyat, pag-aalala, at pagkabahala at malaya ka nang muli mula sa mga nakakapagod na trabaho sa eskuwelahan.

Kaya naman oras na upang kumalma at hayaan ang iyong sarili na magpahinga nang matagal-tagal. Malaya ka na muling gawin ang kahit anong gusto mo upang mapasaya ang sarili bilang gantimpala sa katakot-takot na hirap na iyong dinanas. Pero kung wala ka pang ideya kung paano gagamitin ang iyong pansamantalang kalayaan mula sa reqs, narito ang ilang suhestiyon na maaring makatulong sa iyo.

Matulog ka na.
Ito ang pinakaunang bagay na ipinagkait sa iyo noong hell week, mainam lamang na ito ang pinakauna mong bawiin. Kaya naman hayaan mong bumagsak ang iyong mga talukap at pagpahingahin ang sarili. Malaking tulong daw ang pagtulog upang makabawas ng stress na iyong nakuha. Kailangan ng iyong katawan ang tulog na makabubuti pa sa iyong mental at pisikal na kalusugan.

Idaan mo sa kain!
Kainin mo na ang lahat ng ‘di mo nagawang kainin noong mga panahon na stressed ka. Mapa-ice cream, cake, float, fries, fishball, pancit canton o kung ano pa man. Makabubuting gantimpalaan mo na ang iyong sarili ng lahat ng gusto mo. Ngayon na ang oras upang i-spoil ang iyong sarili sapagkat pinaghirapan mo namang matapos ang lahat ng iyong gawain. Nararapat lang na magsaya at magpakabusog kung saan hindi lang ang pakiramdam mo ang sasaya, kundi pati ang iyong sikmura.

Linisin ang iyong bag.
Hindi man halata, ngunit nakatutulong ang paglilinis ng iyong mga gamit at pagsinop sa hindi na kailangan pang mga papel sa pagpapahinga. Hindi lang ito nakakagaan ng bag ngunit maging ng kalooban sapagkat para itong paalala na natapos at nalagpasan mo na ang mga gawaing humamon sa iyo. Ngunit kailangan mo rin munang siguraduhin na hindi na importante ang mga papel na iyong itatapon.

Catch-up Marathon
Halos lahat ng oras mo ay nailaan mo na sa iyong pag-aaral at paggawa ng mga requirements. Napag-iwanan ka na sa sinusubaybayan mong K-drama o series sa Netflix, tapos na ang paborito mong manga, comic, o manhwa at ‘di mo pa magawang basahin dahil sa kawalan mo ng oras para dito. Puwes, ito na ang nararapat na panahon upang makahabol at muling pagtuunan ng pansin ang iyong mga naisantabing interes. Habang wala pa masyadong gagawin o kailangan aralin ay mabuting libangin muna ang iyong sarili malayo sa mga bagay tungkol sa eskuwelahan at pasayahin ang kalooban kahit sandali lamang.

Magbunyi!
Gawin mo na ang lahat ng nais mong gawin upang ipagdiwang ang pagtatapos ng isang yugto sa akademikong taon. Maaari ka nang lumabas kasama ng iyong kapamilya, kaibigan, kaklase o kahit sinong nais mong makasama upang magsaya o gumala. Makapunta sa mga lugar na matagal mo nang gustong puntahan, o ‘di kaya’y balikan ang paborito mong kainan. Dapat lamang na magbunyi ka dahil sa wakas ay malaya ka na mula sa mga pasanin ng hell week.

Mahalagang makahanap ng paraan upang makapag-“unwind” at makapagpahinga matapos ang mahaba at nakakapagod na hell week. Ngunit dapat ding tandaan na hindi dapat tayo maging kampante at manatili sa ganitong kondisyon, dahil babalik din naman ang klase sa dati at kakailanganin muling magpokus sa pag-aaral. Ang mahalaga ay balansehin lamang ang tungkulin sa paaralan at pagsasaya upang hindi palaging ma-stress sa mga gawain.

Sa ngayon dapat lang na maglaan ng oras ang mga estudyante sa pagsasaya sapagkat deserve naman natin ito. Kaya’t huwag nang magsayang pa ng panahon at magsimula ka nang magpakasaya.//nina Marlyn Go at Elane Madrilejo

jasmine esguerra,

Sports: UP Junior Streetdance Team, lumahok sa UAAP Streetdance Competition

3/23/2018 07:59:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

LUPIT. Todo-bigay sa galaw ang UP Junior Streetdance Team sa ginanap na UAAP Streetdance Competition sa MOA noong Marso 11 na ipinalabas nang live sa ABS-CBN Sports and Action channel. Photo credit: Fatima Wadi

Sumabak sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ang ilang miyembro ng University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) Pep Squad sa University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80 Streetdance Competition sa SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena noong Marso 11.

Ito ang unang beses na kasali ang juniors (mga mag-aaral sa hayskul) sa nasabing taunang kompetisyon kung saan una silang nagtanghal bago ang kanilang mga counterpart na seniors (mga mag-aaral sa kolehiyo).

Nakaharap ng UPIS Pep Squad, na kinilala bilang University of the Philippines (UP) Junior Streetdance Team, ang Adamson Cauldron Dance Company, Zobel Dance Crew (De La Salle University), Baby Tamaraws Dance Company (Far Eastern University), National University Underdawgz, University of the East Street Warriors, at University of Santo Tomas Galvanize.

Girl power ang tema ng koponan, katulad ng Zobel Dance Crew, na layuning mapalakas ang loob at kumpiyansa ng kababaihan.

Ayon sa team, biglaan ang kanilang paglahok dahil sa imbitasyon ni Coach Paolo Mendoza ng UPIS Basketball Team. Si G. Arjay Calso, guro ng PE at kanilang coach sa Pep Squad, ang siyang gumabay sa kanila para sa paligsahan.

Upang suportahan ang koponan, nagsilbing choreographer si Bb. Abbi Gayagoy, isang miyembro ng UP Streetdance Club at alumna ng UPIS. Kasama niyang nagturo ng routine ang ilan niyang kaibigan at teammates mula sa UP Streetdance Club.

Bukod sa isang buwan lamang ang panahon para makapaghanda, matindi rin ang naging hamon sa UPIS Pep Squad dahil hindi sila sanay sa pagsayaw ng streetdance na iba ang estilo sa cheerdance. Gayunpaman, ibinigay nila ang buong makakaya upang irepresenta ang paaralan.

Inaasahan nila na sa mga susunod pang taon ng kompetisyon, magkakaroon pa rin sila ng pagkakataong lumahok. Kaya naman nais nilang gumawa ng panibagong team, ang UPIS Streetdance Team, para sa mga estudyante na forte ang pagsasayaw ng streetdance.

Nagwagi ang UST Galvanize na may iskor na 82.30, lamang nang 10.8 puntos mula sa pumangalawang team. Nakamit ng Baby Tamaraws Dance Company ang puntos na 71.50 bilang 1st runner up. Habang ang UE Street Warriors naman ay nakakuha ng 71.10 puntos para sa ikatlong puwesto. Kasunod ay ang Zobel Dance Crew, National University Underdawgz, Adamson Cauldron Dance Company, at huli ang UP Junior Streetdance Team.

Samantala, sa seniors division, kampeon ang FEU Street Alliance, pangalawang puwesto ang La Salle Dance Company-Street, at pumangatlo ang UP Streetdance Club.//nina Pauline Demeterio at Jasmine Esguerra

geraldine tingco,

Sports: UPIS TnF hustles in UAAP Season 80

3/23/2018 07:54:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

The Junior Dashing Maroons represented the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80 Track and Field competition held at the PhilSports Arena, Pasig City from February 7 to 11.

In the girl’s division, Johanna Neri bagged a bronze medal in the 2k walk individual event.

"Sobrang nakakatuwa po kasi pinaghirapan ko talaga ‘yung event tapos nag-pay-off lahat ng ‘yun. Pero mas lalong nag-pay-off ‘yung efforts at hard work ng seniors at ng coach namin na nagturo sa’min mag-walk!" Neri stated after winning third place.

Shaina Queri ranked 4th, 5th and 7th at discus throw, shotput, and javelin events respectively.

The girls’ squad also made up of Ellene Arceo, Alapaap Coquilla, Beatrice Jacinto, and Sheena Labordo secured the 4th and 5th spots at the 4x400m and 4x100m relay finals respectively.

For the boys’ division, Jasper Shawn Atela placed 4th at both Triple Jump and the 100 meter dash finals, and 6th at the 400m dash finals. Reinard Grimaldo made it to the 100m dash finals and 400m hurdles and ranked 7th in both events. Grimaldo also placed 5th at the 110m hurdles along with Christian Pagadora who ranked 7th. Charles Epino and Jerick Marquez claimed the 5th and 7th spot at the high jump, respectively. Gabriel Aparato also took the 7th and 8th spots at the Pole Vault and Discus throw events respectively. Ernest Arceo, the lone competitor for the Dashing Maroons, placed 7th in the Decathlon event.

Runners Charles Epino, Christian Pagadora, and Jasper Atela together with Grimaldo competed with their hearts out during the 4x400 relay and placed 4th.

On the other hand, walkers Trent Genesis Madjus, Herminio Soriano IV, Gyles Maverick Abac clinched 5th, 6th and 7th respectively in the 5k walk. The trio also ranked 4th, 6th, and 8th respectively at 3k walk. Trent Madjus, who placed 4th in the 3k walk event, was also one of the four athletes who broke the previous UAAP record.

However, the team missed the chance to claim a spot in the podium because of the great competition displayed by their fellow competitors. Nevertheless, most of the members broke their personal records, which is a big morale boost for them.

This summer, the group plans to tirelessly continue with their training program and join the upcoming Milo Little Olympics to gain experience and level up their game. They will also open slots for aspiring athletes and recruit newbies to add to their squad.//by Yanna Reblando and Geraldine Tingco

francis eloriaga,

Opinion: Trivializing Tragedy

3/23/2018 07:45:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

Photo Credit: Ezra Bustamante

Recently, tragedies have become more commonplace — from natural disasters like earthquakes, typhoons, and tsunamis, to man-made problems such as bombings, mass shootings, and war crimes. The world is plagued with these problems, and humanity is forced to deal with them.

The gravity of these tragedies, however, does not deter people from making jokes about them.

This outright disrespect for those affected is made in the form of memes and tweets in social media making fun of — and in other cases, glorifying — parts of the tragedy.

It is not necessarily wrong to make light of tragedies; in fact, it is a way of coping with them. However, with this blatantly offensive form of trivializing such events, we are becoming a society in which these tragedies are no longer taken seriously, sometimes even being buried under the offensive content. Unless such practices stop, people will keep barely batting an eye to tragedies, unless they are affected directly. While it is alright to make light out of a serious situation, people take it a step too far by laughing at the problem, sometimes being outright callous to victims.

Take the recent death of OFWs, for example. Their overseas plight is well-known, with their friends and loved ones and even their communities seeking help from authorities, while raising awareness among the masses. For instance, an OFW named Joanna Demafelis was found dead in a freezer inside an abandoned apartment in Kuwait. While her death enraged a lot of Filipinos, jokes started to surface on social media about finding her corpse in freezers and refrigerators inside homes.

Not to mention the most recent Florida school shooting that occurred last February, where a 19-year-old named Nikolas Cruz gunned down 17 students and injuring many others in the process. The internet’s response? Making the entire scenario look like it came straight out of a shooter game, while making the corpses either looking like drunk people sprawled on the street, or corpses that needed to be “revived” by the player.

While there is the expected backlash from people, these jokes have attracted others who also participate in this sort of thing.

These kinds of jokes have no place in any medium. They are not only offensive to those affected by tragedies, but they also act as a bad influence on people who don’t know any better and will think that these types of jokes are okay. Such practices should stop before further damage is done.//by Francis Eloriaga, Philip Jocano

geraldine tingco,

Opinion: The Fall of the Kings

3/23/2018 07:43:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

When we hear the term “Hari ng Kalsada”, we instantly know that it refers to the king of public transportation in the Philippines: the jeepney. These vehicles have been part of our public transportation system ever since the 1950s. They are a part of our history and our culture. However, it seems like the end of the road has come.

Last Monday, the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) held their 4th transport strike as in opposition to the jeepney modernization plan.

In 2016, the Duterte government affirmed that they were going to conduct a phase-out of jeepneys that have been running along our roads for more than 15 years. The old jeeps will be replaced by electric jeeps or e-jeeps as part of the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program. This program aims to ensure the safety of the passengers taking PUVs and lessen the environmental risks produced, such as excessive smoke from worn-out jeepneys. Two years were given to drivers and operators to comply.

However, despite the time given to buy their own e-jeeps, how can a simple tsuper, who earns a range of Php 500 to 2,000 per day, save up Php 1.4 million in two years?

Although the government has allocated Php 2.2 billion to help the affected jeepney drivers and operators with the expenses, this amount will be distributed to at least 28,000 jeepney operators, leaving them with only Php 80,000 each.

Apart from the drivers and operators, commuters who rely on jeepneys as their mode of transportation will also suffer.

Not every tsuper will be able to buy these new jeeps, leaving us with fewer options to choose from for our transportation needs. With the replacement of our jeeps, there will be a high chance of a fare increase. The commuters will then gain another burden because of the need to adjust their budget allocated for pamasahe.

Imagine the hardship of the commuters every day during the rush hours if the old jeepneys were banned. Overloaded jeeps and buses, and cramped trains are already common sights in our country. Sometimes, passengers are even stranded, or forced to walk to their destinations because of the lack of transportation available. If the modernization wipes out the jeepneys in our country, these hardships will double — even triple — because of the lack of vehicles available.

Besides these, there will not only be a loss of options for public transportation, but also a loss of an iconic Filipino cultural symbol.

The concept of jeepneys that we use today originated from the Second World War jeeps, which were originally used for military purposes. Models, later abandoned were remodeled by the Filipinos and converted into something more useful to them. That something later became one of the most popular modes of transportation in the Philippines.

Not only just a functional vehicle, jeepneys also show the creativity of Filipinos, usually having intricate designs on their bodies showing our rich heritage. They are sometimes personalized by its drivers to match their personality, family, and inspiration, and flaunt them on their jeepneys as work of art. Different representations of our culture can be seen in every corner of the country since they are reflected by the paintings on the sides of these vehicles.

Even though a lot of jeepneys running in our country are used more than a decade or two, it does not mean that they should be banned from being PUVs. Old jeepneys that are well-maintained and have their gears changed or upgraded every now and then should be exempted from the phase out. It is unfair for the operators to have their cars sent to the wrecking yards despite being roadworthy.

The kings of our roads may be old, but they have greatly contributed to our society in several aspects in our nation like public transportation, culture, and history. With the jeepney phase-out, a large part of the Filipino community will be affected. The Philippines will also lose one of its trademarks once the kings of its roads are kicked out of society. The phase-out should be reviewed once again in order to consider the effects on the drivers, operators, and commuters who will be affected.//by Marlyn Go and Geraldine Tingco

news,

Batch 2020 joins Education USA

3/23/2018 07:33:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

Thirty-three students from Batch 2020 of University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) attended Education USA (United States of America) on March 8 at Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Manila.

The Education USA is a college fair brought to different countries by the US Department of State. The event aims to encourage students to study in the USA. The fair also gives background and provides information about various US-based universities for students who are planning to study abroad.

“[The college fair] is good for opportunity seekers,” said Keio Guzman. “Although the fair was small, we had a lot of fun because a lot of opportunities were opened,” explained Chloie Guanzon.

Around 32 universities participated in the college fair, wherein students inquired about their admissions process.//by Nico Javier and Yssa Luna

news,

UPIS Clubs join Pasicluban 2018

3/23/2018 07:32:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

SHOOT AND SCORE. A student tries to shoot a shuriken inside the box in order to win a prize. Photo Credit: Roan Ticman

Ten University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) student organizations participated in the two-day club wars event on February 14-15 as part of the UPIS Days celebration.

The annual club wars dubbed “PasiCLUBan” this year was held as a fundraising activity and competition among Grades 3-10 clubs wherein each paired club created a booth to showcase their creativity.

The Kilusang Araling Panlipunan (KAP) had a “KAPeryahan” booth where they could play fair games for an affordable price. The Future Homemaker’s Club (FHC) had their take on selected minute-to-win-it mini games while the Math Club organized their yearly Breakout booth named “BILANGguanISK-ape.” Meanwhile, the Choir members had their customers draw lots to determine what song they were to sing in their “Human Jukebox” booth. The Science Club had their “Bascience” booth where they sold water balloons and had their customers try the wire-and-buzzer challenge whereas the English Club created “The ARTillery” booth where they sold art commissions and had a Nerf gun range booth as well.

Both the Boy and Girl Scouts of the Philippines organized their respective traditional booths. The Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) held a marriage booth while the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) had a jail booth where they “caught” people that fit in the categories they gave. And this year the Sangguniang Pangwika and Peer Facilitator’s Club (PFC) collaborated to bring a “PASENSAYAHAN” booth where two games were played by the customers to test their patience and luck.

The “Pasicluban Champion” award was given to the GSP which garnered the highest income.

“This year I found na mas busy yung club wars experience ko, apart from how busy the clubs generally are lalo na sa club ko which is peer, naging enjoyable siya.” shared Keio Guzman, a member of both the Peer Facilitator’s Club and the English Club, about his Pasicluban 2018 experience, “[I got to] to see more people in the quad kasi ngayon mas marami na ding batches, so we got to interact with other people more as opposed to last year's club wars.”

The Club Wars has been an annual UPIS Days event where organizations set up interactive booths so they sell non-food products and organize simple games for the enjoyment of the UPIS community.//by Roan Ticman

gian palomeno,

UPIS Econ Varsity, sumali sa ECONVERGENCE 2018

3/23/2018 07:24:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

KALAHOK. Masaya ang naging karanasan ng mga miyembro ng UPIS Econ Varsity matapos ang isinagawang ECONVERGENCE 2018 sa UP Los Baños. Photo credit: Robert Ambat

Lumahok ang mga miyembro ng Econ Varsity mula sa University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) sa ECONVERGENCE 2018 na ginanap sa University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Campus, Laguna noong Pebrero 24-25.

Binubuo ng mga mag-aaral na mahusay sa larangan ng ekonomiks ang UPIS Econ Varsity.

Ang nilahukan nilang kompetisyon ngayong taon ay may temang Bridging the Gap Towards Accessibility to Quality Education: Assessing the Role of the Comprehensive Tax Reform.

Nagkaroon ng iba’t ibang patimpalak sa nasabing kompetisyon. Lumahok si Joelle Victoria Catibog ng 9-Neon sa essay writing contest, si Jelena Micah Basilio ng 9-Xenon sa poster making contest, si Isabelle Ann Isip ng 9-Xenon sa impromptu speaking competition, at sina Gaudette Ann Garcia ng 9-Xenon at Gabrielle Elise Cabalu ng 9-Argon sa quiz bee.

Nagkaroon din ng debate competition na nilahukan ng dalawang grupo ng mga mag-aaral. Kabilang sa unang pangkat sina Robert Edward-Jacob Ambat ng 9-Neon, Bree Catibog at Diane Joyce Francia ng 9-Argon. Sa ikalawa naman ay sumabak sina Aeschylus Nario ng 9-Argon, Krissie Marie Ebdane at Blaine Cosico ng 9-Neon.

“Masaya ‘yung experience. Hindi ako bitter na natalo kami kasi magandang experience ‘yung competition. Marami rin kaming nakilala from different schools at nakilala din namin ‘yung counterpart [natin sa UPLB na] University of the Philippines Rural High School,” sabi ni Blaine Cosico.

Ang ECONVERGENCE ay isang taunang kompetisyon para sa mga mag-aaral ng hayskul na nais ipakita ang kanilang galing sa larangan ng ekonomiks na pinangungunahan ng UPLB Economics Society.//nina Rain Grimaldo at Gian Palomeno

geraldine tingco,

First graders bag first place at MMC

3/23/2018 07:23:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

Grade 1 students Ralfh Mantaring, Hezekiah Sagayaga, and Xian Yu claimed the first prize in the Metrobank-MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge Regional Finals (MMC) on March 10 at Ramon Magsaysay High School Manila.

The trio went through several team competitions before bagging 1st prize at the regionals. They competed first in the Area Finals where they won 1st place, automatically granting them a spot at the Sectoral Finals. They placed 2nd at the Sectoral Finals, but due to their high scores, they were allowed to join the Regionals where they were hailed champions.

Prof. Luzviminda Tan the group’s adviser, was very happy and proud of the team’s effort. “Masaya and proud ako sa kanila dahil ‘di lang naman pagod ko ‘yun, isa itong group effort na pinaghirapan ng lahat,” she explained.

Ninth graders Lester Amurao, Marius Barcenas, and Jammy Mapa also participated in the MMC but did not make it to the finals.

For individual championships, Sagayaga placed 1st at the Regional Finals while Barcenas placed 10th.

The MMC aims to awaken greater interest in Mathematics among public and private elementary and high school students. It also aims to encourage mastery of basic mathematical skills and discover mathematical talents in the country.//by Josh Santos and Geraldine Tingco

english,

Literary (Submission): Night

3/16/2018 09:26:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

When the moon replaces the sun in the sky
And the stars start to shine up high
The world is filled with bright lights
And secrets come out at night

Each person is a mystery
There's always more than what we see
Secrets waiting to be freed
To spill them becomes an absolute need

The night holds confessions of almost everyone
Every secret hidden under the sun
All the "I like yous" and " I-want-to-be-yours"
Are spoken and delivered in these late hours

Deep, heartfelt conversations
Painful, bitter rejections
The truth will be set free
Ruined friendships, a lost you and me

Then the sun shows its face again
And everybody has to pretend
Like nothing in the past night happened
All the secrets come to an end

As the stars start to fade away
And then starts another day
No traces at all in sight
The secrets disappear like the night

english,

Literary: Here's To You

3/16/2018 09:16:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

This is me –
Reaching out to the silent
Whose tongue is tied with secrets
But are tight-lipped as they come
To the riddles, out there, wrapped in enigma,
Here’s to you

To the repressed
Who are meant to stay at home,
Know that you have a voice.
Here’s to the good girls
Who want to break the rules.
Have courage to say no sometimes,
And learn to take control.

To the passionate
Who have the world but the warmth of support,
You are more than enough.
Here’s to the dreamers
Who have clipped wings.
Together, let us free our souls
And take flight without approval from others.

To the abused
Who are always there to forgive and forget,
Know that you have other choices.
Here’s to the loyal friends
Who choose to feel small rather than to be alone,
I hope that you choose yourself for once
Because self-love is not vanity,
It is sanity.
And those who invest in themselves
Will always go further.

To the innocent
But are arrested by illicit devotion,
It’s a beautiful thing to be inspired.
Here’s to the kids
Who are secretly in love,
Let us admire for our heart’s content
Even if it means to be from afar.

Here’s to the heartbroken
One step away from being numb,
I need you to move backwards –
One step at a time
And never forget that such divine feelings exist inside you
Because time will heal you
But love will drive out fear completely –
Will let you feel thoroughly.

These are for all of us;
Tired of getting lost in this labyrinth of secrets
But we have to be brave
Because letting our reticent selves go
With life’s natural flow
Is the only way out of the enigma –
The only way to break free

comics,

Comics: Inside

3/16/2018 09:12:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

english,

Literary: Everything I Didn't Say

3/16/2018 09:06:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

english,

Literary: Seven Mysteries of the Human Being

3/16/2018 09:03:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

filipino,

Literary: Isang Payaso

3/16/2018 08:58:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

Napakaputing face paint, pulang-pulang lipstick, at isang makinis na kamatis ang nakalagay sa aking mukha. Suot ko rin ang makulay at maluwag kong uniporme na ginagamit ko sa aking trabaho.

“Are you ready to see some magic, kids? Let us welcome our special guest! Squeaky the Clooooown!” sigaw ng emcee sa ikapitong kaarawan ni Ayesha, ang unica hija ng aking mga kliyente na sina Mr. at Mrs. Abaya.

“Yeeeeey!” magiliw na sagot ng mga bata, habang pumapalakpak at naghihiyawan.

Lumabas ako sa aking pinagtataguan, kumaway ako at ngumiti habang hinahanda ang aking mga gamit upang maisagawa ko na ang aking mumunting palabas.

Agad kong ipinakita ang nakatagong umiilaw na bola sa aking leeg. Nilipat-lipat ito sa iba’t ibang parte ng aking katawan, mula sa kamay, napunta ito sa likod ng aking tainga, biglang nawala at nalipat naman sa aking tuhod. Manghang-mangha ang lahat, hindi nila napansin na galing lamang ito sa kuwelyo ng aking suot.

“Amazing!” sabi ng batang nakasuot ng pulang bestida, sabay hawak sa kanyang kulot na kulot na buhok.

“Magic!” sabi ng kalbong bata na kumakain ng ice cream habang nakaturo sa ginagawa ko.

Humalakhak ako, sabay hila ng pagkahaba-habang papel sa aking bibig, hindi ito maubos-ubos. Lahat sila ay napatingin, naglalakihan ang maliliit na mata ng mga bata. Hindi nila alam na galing lang iyon sa bulsa ng uniporme ko.

“Paano kaya niya ginagawa ‘yun?” pagtataka ng kumare ni Mrs. Abaya.

Napangiti na lamang ako sabay kuha ng aking itim na sombrero.

“Kailangan ko ng isang volunteer!!!” pag-engganyo ko sa mga bata upang mas makuha ang atensyon nila.

Agad-agad namang nagtaasan ang kamay nilang lahat.

“Me! Me! I want!” sigaw ni Ayesha.

“Sige! Dahil birthday mo, I’ll show you some of my special magic!” sabi ko sabay hawak sa kamay niya.

Iniangat ko ang aking itim na sombrero at ipinakita na wala itong laman.

“Ayesha, ano ang gusto mo ngayon sa birthday mo?” tanong ko sa kanya.

“Gusto ko po ng white na rabbit na may pink ribbon!” sabi niya sabay yakap sa kuneho niyang laruan.

“Sige. Mamadyikin ko ito para sa ’yo! Alakazum! Alakazam! Mahiwagang sombrero, ibigay ang gustong rabbit ni Ayesha!” wika ko habang iwinawasiwas ang aking baston sa itim kong sombrero. Lahat ay nakanganga, nakatingin, at inaantay kung may lalabas nga ba mula rito.

Ilang sandali lamang, biglang lumitaw ang hiniling ni Ayesha. Agad na binitawan ng bata ang laruan niya sabay lapit sa kunehong lumabas galing sa sombrero.

Nagpalakpakan ang lahat ng tao. Naghihiyawan, nagsisigawan, pinupuri nila ang mahikang ginawa ko. Agad akong yumukod upang ipaalam ang aking pagtatapos.

“Nagustuhan niyo ba ang magic ni Squeaky the Clown?” sigaw ng emcee sa mga manonood.

“Opooooooo!” sigaw ng lahat.

Napangiti na lamang ako.

Matapos ang birthday party, nagsiuwian na ang lahat. Naiwan ang napakaraming kalat, magugulong upuan, at mga natirang pagkain.

Pauwi na sana ako nang biglang lumapit sa akin si Ayesha at niyakap ako, “Kuya Squeaky, thank you po sa white rabbit. I’ll take care of it. Ang galing-galing niyo po! We’re so happy!”

“Salamat, Ayesha, happy birthday uli,” sabay akap ko rin sa napakalambing na bata.

“What’s your secret, Kuya Squeaky? Gusto ko rin pong mag-magic so I can make other people happy. Secret lang po natin, promise!” bulong niya sa tainga ko habang nakayakap sa akin.

“Gusto mo talagang malaman?”

“Opo!”

“Simple lang. Hindi ako masaya. Kaya ginagawa ko ang lahat para magpasaya ng mga tao,” sabi ko sabay bitaw sa yakap.

Umalis na ako, iniwan ko siya roon na nakakunot ang noo, nalilito sa aking mga sinabi.

Naglakad na ako papalayo sa marangyang bahay nila.

Biglang tumunog ang aking telepono, kinuha ko ito upang sagutin.

“Gardo, ang nanay mo ito. May pambayad na ba tayo kay Aling Fely? Sinisingil na kasi, eh. ‘Tsaka ‘yung panggamot ng tatay mo sana...”

Hindi ko napansin na rumaragasa na pala ang luha sa aking mga mata.

Iyon siguro ang sikreto ng mga payasong kagaya ko. Malungkot ang aming realidad, mahirap ang aming buhay. Tanging pagpapasaya na lamang ng ibang tao ang nakapagpapangiti sa isang kagaya ko.

filipino,

Literary: Sayang

3/16/2018 08:55:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

“Hi Bes!”
Ang pagbati mo sa ’kin,
Sabay upo sa aking tabi
Matagal na pala tayong magkakilala
Ikaw ang una kong naging kaibigan
Dahil madalas tayong magkatabi
Daldalan sa chat hanggang hatinggabi

“Bes, tara, kain tayo!”
Sabay tayong kumakain tuwing tanghali
Mga usapan natin tungkol sa crush mo
Kay ganda ng ngiti mo habang nagkukuwento
Sumasayaw sa ligaya ang iyong mga mata
Kung minsan tungkol sa Keeping up with the Kardashians
Makikinig ako kahit ‘di naman ako interesado sa kanila

“Bes, kumusta ka na?”
Tanong mo habang tayo’y magkatabi sa dyip
Ngingiti ako at guguluhin ang buhok mo
Sabay pisil sa pisngi mong matataba
Hahampasin mo ako at tatawanan lang kita

Hindi mo puwedeng malaman ang sikreto ko

Hindi muna.

Itatago ko muna ang aking nararamdaman
Ayokong mabulilyaso ang ating pagkakaibigan
Kahit na bumibilis ang tibok ng aking puso
Sa ngiti mong kay ganda
Ang tawang humahagikgik, musika sa tenga
Sinusubukan kong pigilan ang aking bibig
Sa nararamdamang umuusbong

Tuwing tayo’y nagkaklase
Iniiwasan kong tayo’y magkatabi
Nais kitang layuan dahil isa kang panganib
Sa aking pusong marupok
Tuwing nagkakalapit ang ating mukha
Ako’y natutuliro, natataranta
Huwag mo akong lapitan, puwede ba?

Tititigan muna kita mula sa malayo
Marami akong gustong iparating
Isip ko’y puno rin ng tanong
Ngunit kung darating ang pagkakataon,
Iisa lang ang nais kong sabihin,
“Mahal kita, pero ang baho ng hininga mo.”

dawson,

Literary: Gaano Kita Kamahal

3/16/2018 08:52:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

Mahal na mahal kita
Mas mahal kita kaysa sa:

Pagmamahal ng araw sa buwan
Ang walang katapusang habulan
Ang patuloy na pagbabago ng kulay ng langit
Ngunit sa tuwing maglalapit ay hindi nakakakapit
Ang pagsalungat sa lamig at init na bigay
Ang tuluyang pagbalanse ng buhay

Pagmamahal ng saya sa pighati
Ang walang dulong kalungkutan ngunit nakangiti
Isang mahigpit na yakap bago ang huling paalam
Isang pag-ibig na tunay ngunit kayo lang ang dapat makaalam
Tuwing nag-iisa at kalooban ay parang kulang
Pupunan ng isa ang pusong may puwang

Pagmamahal ng tamis sa pait
Tsokolateng itim at asukal na malagkit
Ang kaunting sakit sa dila na ‘di alintana
Sapagkat nasa isip na kalauna'y sasaya
Pagsubok na handang harapin kahit kailan
Dahil ang sarap sa dulo'y hinding-hindi kayang tapatan

Pagmamahal ng pangarap sa realidad
Isip ay nasa kalangitan, paa'y sa tubig nakababad
Ang walang hanggang posibilidad na maaaring tahakin
Ngunit ang tunay na takot ang bumabalot sa akin
Matapos ang daan-daang hiling at dasal para sa pagkakataon
Nawala sa isang iglap ang lahat ng salitang aking naipon

Mahal na mahal kita
Ngunit sa ngayo'y ‘wag na muna
Hindi ko kayang masabi ang aking mga lihim na damdamin
Dahil ika'y sa kanya at kailanma'y ‘di naging akin

filipino,

Literary: Bilang Isang Ina

3/16/2018 08:49:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

Minsan may isang ina
Lagpas sa daliri ang mga anak
Buong araw nag-aaruga,
Sinisiguradong lahat ay lumalaki nang tama.

Minsan, tanging tanghalian lamang ang pahinga
Sinusulit ang bawat minuto,
Mag-aayos ng buhok, magpapalamig ng ulo,
Bago muling bumalik sa pag-aalaga ng mga supling nito.

Ngunit isang gabi, munting ina’y napaisip
“Lahat ba ng ito’y sulit?”
Nalito at naguluhan,
Kung nais niya pang mag-alaga kinabukasan.

Pero huminto ay hindi niya magawa
Hinaharap pa rin sila nang may ngiti sa mukha
Kahit pasikretong nahihirapan,
Hindi niya ito ipinapakita, hindi kailanman.

Dahil siya’y isang ina
Na lagpas sa daliri ang mga anak
Kahit hindi niya kadugo,
Hinding-hindi susuko dahil mahal niya ang pagtuturo.

english,

Literary: The Legacy of Humanity and the Burden of the Transcendent

3/16/2018 08:44:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

filipino,

Literary: Kaibigan

3/16/2018 08:41:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

Dahan-dahang lumabas sa may kusina
Upang kumuha ng mga plato't tasa
Maglalaro kami ng aking kaibigan
Ng lutu-lutuan

Tahimik na bumalik sa kuwarto
Dala-dala ang iba't ibang mga kagamitan
Dahan-dahang pumasok upang ‘di ako marinig
At mahuli ng aking nanay

Dali-daling inilapag ang gamit at sinabing
"Ssshhh, baka tayo marinig."
Ang aking kaibigan, hindi naman sumagot
Kaya’t patuloy lang ako sa aking pag-aayos

Tuwang-tuwa kami habang naghahalo ng tubig na kunwari'y sabaw
Siya ang nagtitinda, ako naman ang kanyang suki
Abot-tainga ang ngiti sa kanyang mukha
Bihira lang kasi kaming magkita

Kami'y biglang nagulantang sa pagbukas ni Mama ng pinto
"Ala-una na! Bakit ka pa naglalaro?"
"Ngayon lang puwede ang aking bestie," sagot ko.

Luminga-linga ang mga mata ni mama at sinabing
"Wala ka namang kasama."

comics,

Comics: Sa Malayo

3/16/2018 08:36:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments