the Volume 7 Issue 1 June-October 2019

MAHONRIANS
The Official Publication of Mahonri Academy and Science High School

Authorities prod to soar 5 EDITORIAL 9 FEATURES 12 SCIENCE 14 SPORTS

the age of consent

Collin Calosa

T he senators of 18th Congress of the Philippines

proposed a law that the age of consent and the
age of statutory rape be increased.
Mahonrians snatch victory in provincial quiz bee
Timothy Josh Flora
According to Senator Leila De Lima, Imee Marcos,

Sherwin Gatchalian and Risa Hontiveros, the age of con-
sent must move into the legal age or 18 years old while
statutory rape should fall from 17 years old and below.
On the other hand, Senator Migz Zubiri and Nancy
Binay stated that the age of consent must be 16 years old
and the statutory rape age must be under 15 years old.
The World Population Review asserted that the Phil-
ippines is ranked as the 2nd country with the lowest
age of consent. Therefore, any sexual activity done by a
12-year-old child will not be considered statutory rape
as long as it is not a forced act and it is done with a child
that does not possess any mental condition.
As stated by the revised penal code Anti–Rape Law
of 1997, it is not considered statutory rape if a 12-year-
old child or above is not forcibly involved in any sexual
activity.
The Psychological Association of the Philippines con-
tradicts the regulation because according to them, the
brain of a 12-year-old is not yet fully developed to weigh
right from wrong and they are still considered vulnerable
and easy to manipulate.
From the data gathered by the Philippine Statistics
Authority in 2017, there are 106,000 teenagers that are
victims of teenage pregnancy. In other words, everyday
there are 538 prepubescent children, ages 10 to 19 years
old that are getting pregnant.
Population commission and other agencies are being
threatened by these early pregnancies. Under the repro-
ductive health law, the consent of the parents is crucial
before a minor gets involved in a family planning service.
President Rodrigo Duterte said that there will be a
Teenage Pregnancy Summit before this year ends.
G
rade ten students from Mahonri Academy and Science High School
(MASHS) brought home the first place trophy after they competed in
the Panlalawigan Mind Challenge Environmental Science Quiz Bee held
on September 21, 2019.
The Grade 10 students, James Bruto,
Marc Dilla and Timothy Flora defeated
10 other schools in the final round of the
competition.
They got a perfect score in the easy
round, 3 over 5 score in the average
round and 1 over 5 in the difficult round
of the said competition.
On the other hand, the Grade 7, Grade
8 and Grade 11 students from MASHS
made it to the final phase of the competi-
tion thus earning a place in top 10.
The students achieved their victory
through the help of their science teach-
ers, Ms. Mitelle Bucatan and Junilyn
Baron that trained them for the quiz bee.
Students from different levels trained
for more than a week in order for them
to become ready for the contest.
The school administration also play a
big role for their success by
providing them all the reading
materials needed and giving
time to review.
Panlalawigan Mind Chal-
lenge Environmental Science
Quiz is a quiz bee tackling dif-
ferent competencies for every
grade level in relation to the
subject science.
The competition also gives
awareness about the issues
that our environment faces
and encourages students to
become environmental friend-
ly.
 news
02 JUNE-OCTOBER 2019 theMAHONRIANS

Mahonri take top spot, score in Grade 10 sudoku competition

Marc Ivan Dilla

A
student in the 10th grade from Mahon-
ri Academy and Science High School left
judges and audiences in awe as he scores
the highest attainable score in the Association of
Science and Math Educators of Philippine Private
Schools (ASMEPPS) sudoku competition.
The 15 year-old Ric Santera scored a staggering 120
points out of the 70-point upper limit due to his so-
called “unparalleled” speed in solving 4 different sudoku
puzzle formats.
He solved 4 puzzles in kendoku (a variant of sudoku
using arithmetic equations), loco sudoku (an irregular
variant), and regular 9x9 sudoku board in just 20 min-
utes.
Mark Anthony Cagalitan from Saint Francis of Assisi
College Dasmariñas, the emcee of the event, was sur-
prised at the result of his sudoku test.
“Siya yung pinakaunang natapos, ang galing,” Cag-
alitan stated upon mentioning his name and score on
stage for the awarding ceremonies.

Mar Dunong returns after 3-year hiatus;

DESIGNATED Dasmariñas schools prepare to recompete
SURVIVOR BILLS Marc Ivan Dilla

IN CASE OF T he long-awaited re-

turn of Dasmariñas
City’s spelling bee has
ASSASSINATIONS come after a 3-year
break, prompting
Collin Calosa participating schools

Q
from previous seasons
uezon City representative Precious to prepare for the es-
Hipolito Castelo proposed House Bill teemed competition.
4063 concerning designated survivor in Dasmariñas office of
case if the 4 leading order of precedence (Pres- Tourism’s Red Alano,
ident, Vice President, Senate President and the entity behind Mar
Speaker of the House of Representatives) got Dunong’s 5-season suc-
assassinated in a certain event like SONA (State cess, broke the contest
of the Nation Address). page’s silence by upload-
According to Castelo, there should be one chosen ing new promotional pho-
member of a Cabinet that will be located in a secluded tos to the page bearing the
area every time an event of government officials oc- words “SOON” as a hint to
cur. In that way, when the 4 leading leaders are being the competition’s return. Mar Dunong is slated to The bee is now on its 6th
wiped out during the occasion, the designated survi- The news about the hold its eliminations phase season after a tri-year halt
vor will continue the Presidential term. its return quickly spread on September 12 and 13 just after concluding the
Representative Carlos Zarate said that they are among the different par- for the elementary and 5th season in 2015.
willing to study the house bill as long as it is done ticipating schools within high school levels respec-
through a mere legislation without amending the Dasmariñas. tively.
constitution.
Senator Panfilo Lacson proposed another House
Bill no. 982 regarding the designated survivor case. Teenagers caught as marijuana couriers in Cordillera
He admitted that he was inspired by the Netflix show
“Designated Survivor”. Liah Janna Leviste
Ha stated that in his proposal, the designated survi-
vor must be based on the line of succession. According
to him, the most senior representative based on the
T welve teenagers, 8 of them minors, were among the young people arrested
in the last two months in Cordillera for willingly or unwillingly transport-
ing marijuana, most of them from Metro Manila and Central Luzon.
length of their service must lead the country. The
Three 17-year-old boys from Muntinlupa City were among those arrested in Pobla-
chosen one should be from the senators and then the
cion, Bontoc, Mountain Province, for carrying 10 loaves of marijuana and one marijua-
congressmen. If all of the order of precedence stated
na brick (dried marijuana shaped into a one-by-one-foot brick).
got assassinated, that is the only time for the Presi-
Ater 2 days, a 19-year-old boy was apprehended at Hangar Market in Baguio City
dent to choose a designated survivor in the member
with 5 sachets of dried marijuana and 17-year-old from Fairview, Quezon City, and
of the Cabinet.
two 19-year-old students from San Jose del Monte in Bulacan were aboard a bus from
Lacson also added that there is a possibility that the
Sagada going to Manila when they were stopped by police at Viewpoint in Banaue,
acting President should call for a special election in
Ifugao. Taken from them were 14 marijuana bricks and 4 marijuana loaves.
order for the citizens to choose for their head of state.
news
theMAHONRIANS JUNE-OCTOBER 2019 03
MASHS congregates symposium for students Diana Maries Gacosta

O
n the 2nd day of September 2019, The
Guidance counselor of Mahonri Academy
and Science High School Ms. Jyle Leslie Ca-
canindin assembled the students of Mahonri Acad-
emy specifically the high school students at Phase
III Mabuhay Homes 2000 Paliparan 2, Dasmarinas
Cavite for a symposium or meeting.
The meeting was welcomed with some sort of energiz-
er where the BMOCC members lead the so called ‘plus
minus dance’ and everyone’s energy were obviously
boosted.
Moreover, the speaker tackled the outraging contro-
versy about abuse and discuss the different types of it
wherein she utilized some strategies in order for her
to convey the message of the symposium properly. So,
some of the students were called to act or demonstrate
the said type of abuse in able to help the listeners com-
prehend its meaning.
Ms. Cacanindin have mentioned some of the reported
cases in her office which serve as examples for the phys-
ical, verbal, mental, sexual, and emotional abuse. Fur-
thermore, Mr. Adduru and the Principal Ms. Alicia Vista
added some information to elucidate the types of abuse.

Two students qualify for national competition Filipino fishermen ungratified

in math quiz bee Timothy Josh Flora
by China’s apology
T wo students from
Mahonri Acade-
my and Science High
competition.
They won against the
participating schools
Trivia, Scidama, Damath,
Sudoku and Creative
Writing.
Collin Calosa

School (MASHS) se-

cured a place for the
national competition in
coming from Region
IV-A through the help of
their math teacher, Kent
Some students also
qualified for the nation-
al competition in other
T he Gem–Ver owner and fishermen were
unsatisfied by China’s statement of apology
when a Chinese vessel hit Gem–Ver in the middle
Association of Science Cancel. categories such as Science of the West Philippine Sea and sped away after
and Math Educators On the other hand, stu- Trivia, Sudoku, Creative the incident happened 9 June 2019.
of Philippine Private dents from grades 5 and Writing and Sci Dama. The said event resulted to 22 Filipino fishermen
Schools (ASMEPPS) 10, Andrie Wayne Bueno Students will prepare abandoned for hours until a Vietnamese fishing vessel
Math Quiz Bee held on and Timothy Josh Flora for the upcoming contest rescued them.
October 12, 2019. respectively, got to the as soon as the asmepps Fe dela Torre, owner of the Gem–Ver vessel stated,
The students from final round of the com- release their memoran- “Nag-sorry na sila? Paano po ‘yung danyos ng napin-
Grades 5 and Grade 7, petition attaining them a dum. sala nila?”
Janelle Ann Manuel and place on top 20. Math quiz bee is a Bannie Condez, one of the Gem-Ver’s crewmen,
Richard Ryle Briones re- Asmepps is slated to quizbee tackling different pleaded that the owner of the Chinese vessel should
spectively got the 9th and hold its National Compe- competencies for every be liable for the damage they brought to the ship and
6th place in math quiz bee tition on January 2020 grade and adhering to to the 22 abandoned Filipino fishermen.
securing them a spot for for Math and Science quiz K-12 curriculum. According to the apology of the Guandong Fishery
the upcoming national bee, Math and Science Mutual Insurance Association, the incident was an ac-
cident and it is not done with purpose. The statement
was given to the Philippine embassy in Beijing Mon-
day 26 August 2019, the same day President Rodrigo
Duterte was scheduled to leave for China and meet
with the Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio
Carpio, a staunch defender of the West Philippine Sea,
stated that the Philippine government seeks for re-
imbursement from China to compensate the damage
they did to the Gem–Ver vessel and its fishermen.
 news
04 JUNE-OCTOBER 2019 theMAHONRIANS
editorial
theMAHONRIANS JUNE-OCTOBER 2019 05
ROTC – is it equitable for you?
OPINION
President Rodrigo Duterte once again called on lawmakers to
fortify a bill that would reopen the Reserve Officers’ Training
Corps (ROTC) mandatory program for Grades 11 and 12 stu-
dents for instilling patriotism and discipline for democratic
states. Succeeding the reopened session, the bill was approved
on its 3rd and final reading by the House of Representatives,
garnering 167-4-0 in favor of House Bill 8961 from the legisla-
tors. Is this really intended to foster patriotism and discipline
for youth?
As we all know, ROTC was previously implemented at the
college level since 1912, but it was scrapped in 2002 after an
investigation showed that a University of Santo Tomas student
was murdered after he exposed alleged corruption in the pro-
gram. This past incident brings nothing but completely dis-
tressing story for everyone thinking there is a possibility that
something similar like this may happen again.
Reviving the ROTC exclusive for students from grades 11
and 12 will be a large reserve force that can be difficult to
maintain. Along with this, it will demand greater resources to
mobilize and arm the reservists. A large reserve force will be
ineffective without modernization. The students need to be
trained with the latest equipment and the latest methods of
warfare to become efficient. Remembering that the Philippines
is an archipelago, so improving naval and air assets will result
to be more helpful than training foot soldiers who can only
fight on the ground.
On the contrary, when ROTC is restored it will provide a
controlled organization, better training and more important-
ly, it increases the reserve officer corps that our country badly
needs right now. Unquestionably, the importance of having
disciplined corps of students who can be put into action during
calamities or emergencies cannot be denied. The only thing
that this military exercise can contribute is to help one person
to develop some personal growth within his or her self.
The president bringing this topic of reviving ROTC manda-
tory program during the 3 consecutive years of his State of
the Nation Address (SONA), and making this as one of his top
priorities bills to enact under his presidency shows his burning
anticipation. Instilling patriotism, discipline and love for the
country is what Pres. Duterte said to be the purpose of this
.Yet, military service is not the only way of serving the nation
and showing love for the country. The leadership must truly
want patriotism and discipline, cleaning up the state’s nonsen-
sical, unpatriotic, undisciplined acts and setting a good exam-
ple, can be stepping stone for this bigger image to be pictured.
We are still not sure whether or not the ROTC would be-
come a mandatory program in the near future. Nevertheless,
the only thing we are sure is the ultimate reason behind this
debate is the concern for our national defense and ROTC is the
thing that you cannot use in kind of practices in the academic
performance inside the school.

06 JUNE-OCTOBER 2019
Detrimental Sip
Shane Paiton
Grade 10-Star
A A
memorandum issued by Department of Education
(DepEd) telling that the sale of carbonated drinks in
school is prohibited. The Department of Health (DOH)
gives the full support to the proposed memorandum of DepEd.
Banning the sales of unhealthy drinks in school gives healthy
life for students.
Many students are fond of sodas and other unhealthy beverages.
Frequent consumption of soda can lead to inefficient metabolism.
Too much sugar intake by drinking sodas can destroy one’s health.
Having carbonated drinks in school canteen can damage student’s
health. Unhealthy beverages should not be allowed in schools. We
all know the fact of soft drinks are harmful for everyone. There is no
nutritional value that sodas can give.
It will be mandatory for schools to give healthy foods and drinks
for students. Schools are also tasked to teach students about health
impact. The memorandum aims to educate students on proper diet
and nutrition.
It encourages the school canteens to sell water, milk and/or fruit-
based drinks. It will be a big help for students especially for their
lifestyles. We must agree and observe to the memorandum as to
improve our healthy lifestyle.
Gadgets on Education
Christine Rae Ricohermozo
Grade 10-Star
I
n this generation, due to new and advanced technology,
teaching and learning had gone through a lot of changes.
Almost all of us have their own gadgets it may be comput-
ers, laptops, cellphones, tablets, iPads and more. These elec-
tronic gadgets help us students to expand our imaginations
and knowledge.
With the advancement of technology, studying became easier for
both us students and our teachers. It changes the way of education.
It helps us to improve our self-independence by learning it within
ourselves
As for the teachers, it helps them to find and do their teaching
materials in a very convenient way. In the middle of discussion, they
can look up in the internet and stir up some more things to discuss
to their students. Gadgets are like teachers to students.
For us students, we can learn more beyond the four corners of our
classroom. It is a great help especially when it comes to research pa-
pers. We can also find answers to the questions we have difficulty in
answering in just a single tap.
On the other side of the story, we sometimes use gadgets for enter-
tainment and other purposes. The excessive use of gadgets can turn
our dreams to nightmares. We sometimes a lot more time in using or
gadgets than we are doing more important things.
Gadgets are one great invention of mankind that will help us
to grow and learn as long as we know our limitations and we use
them accordingly. We should know that gadgets provides us only an
imaginary and virtual world, the real world is right in front of us,
we should not put almost our time on things we are not sure if does
really exist. We should manage our time wisely and put just the right
amount on everything. Too much of everything will never be good
for us.
editorial
theMAHONRIANS
Chronic and Ironic
Althea Mae Morales
Grade 10-Star
s school year 2019-2020 started, a lot of class suspen-
sions were declared which result to a lesser school days.
We all can’t deny the fact that some suspensions have
wasted school hours that greatly disturbed the learning of
students in schools.
The pointless and unnecessary class suspensions highly affects the
students’ performance. Students have not only missed school days
but also missed lessons. The development of lazy attitude toward
school specifically during rainy days making it problematic for them
to get back on track is indubitable.
On the other hand, suspending classes not only distresses the stu-
dents but the teachers too. The teachers cram about their lessons to
be tackle in that specific day and rushing through lessons.
Government’s take about this matter was the Executive Order No.
66 Series of 2012, the primary legal documentation for the cancella-
tion of classes, enacted by the former President Benigno Aquino III.
The provisions of the EO are clear. However, we must also compre-
hend on what the sections under this executive order focuses.
I agree that we cannot venture when it comes to student welfare
but I feel that officials are too quick to suspend classes. Inaccurate
weather announcements brought confusion and pure chaos. All of us
are hoping that government will realize this and become more struc-
tured and efficient in coming up with enhanced standards before
announcing class suspensions especially during inclement weather.
Dream or Nightmare
Maria Sophia Rhein Castillo
Grade 10-Star
W
e know that school is a happy place and it is where
we learn different things. It is where we find friends,
meet different people with different personalities
and new environment. But, can we also seek for help in times
of trouble?
People consider that school is our second home. Our classmates
are our second siblings and teachers are our second parents. Then
there are the bullies that make our lives miserable and uncomfortable
every time we go to school.
Some students experience bullying at school especially if they can
see a student weakness. They do unnecessary things that will make a
student embarrassed and feel like everybody’s laughing at him/her.
Unfortunately, school officials sometimes didn’t notice that there is
bullying happening inside the campus.
There are parents who support their children to cheer them up
when they experience bullying. It is the best way that I know where
the students can easily get over of what happened to them. But, it is
not that easy for them to forget that’s why we need to have a sympo-
sium in order for us to know what are the things we need to do.
First thing we need to do is to know and ask the bullied student’s
feeling. It is because we don’t know if he/she can cope up the things
she/he experienced at school that may end up of him/her transfer-
ring into another school. But for me, transferring to a new school will
not help the bullied get over with it. They need our support, care and
love.
Bullying cannot be resolved easily but we can do something that
can lessen the rates of bullying happening in different schools. There
are councilors that can give brief information about how and why
the students are being bullied and how and why the students became
bullies. For now, we just need to be aware of what is happening inside
and outside of the school for us to be sure that there is no bullying
happening.
editorial
theMAHONRIANS JUNE-OCTOBER 2019 07
Advanced Competencies Objectification on Women
Maria Sophia Rhein Castillo Christine Rae Ricohermozo
Grade 10-Star Grade 10-Star

S S
ome of us know that there are different uses of the new
technologies and new skills in this era. This is what we
call the 21st century skills or the skills that are being
used in schools and other aspects to give efficient learnings.
This is an essential for all of us so I am highly-convinced in
using this as an instrument for us to improve and have more
knowledge.
These 21st century skills are the skills intended to help the stu-
dents cope-up with the new technology we have. Each skill is being
used by different students to make reports, projects and other re-
quirements more meaningful and truthful. It involves critical think-
ing, creativity, leadership and etc.
There are learning skills that teaches us students about the men-
tal process or what we call critical thinking. This is the most used
skill that I know because we use it in our everyday lives especially in
school. It also improves our thinking about a topic, issue or certain
subject.
Some also involve life skills that focuses on our everyday lives. It
involves our personal and professional qualities and measures our
abilities. It can help us knowing our strengths and weaknesses that
can affect our future careers.
This also focuses on the creativity we have. It is a skill where we
explore new things that leads to innovation. It is not the normal cre-
ativity we know. It is a creativity where we can be able to understand
how some things are done.
We are living in this era where everything uses technology and uses
own skills. We need to use those skills in a proper way for it not to be
wasted. It can make our lives easier and more meaningful in the most
creative way.
exual objectification is the act of treating someone as an
object of sexual desire. This usually happens to us ladies.
People do this without knowing that it is wrong and can
offend women.
Sexually objectifying women can lead to negative psychologi-
cal problems like depression and eating problems. It can give us a
negative self-image no matter how smart and talented we are. Our
self-confidence and daily lives will be affected too.
Not all women are strong enough to face these kind of things. Not
all of us are brave to fight for our rights. Some are just hiding it be-
cause we are afraid.
Some people are still blaming us because of the way we dress. No
matter how we dress, we are still being catcalled and sexually ha-
rassed. Victim blaming is not the way to hide the wrongdoings of
those people who do this.
Although both females and males can be sexually objectified,
there’s a higher risk for females to be uncomfortable and offended.
Girls can be conservative but even if we aren’t, sexually objectifying
us will never be right!

Helpful or Not?
Bianca Camille Diaday
Grade 10-Star

P
roject is a task that immerse usually in a group of stu-
dents to supplement and apply classroom studies. It
is also an instrument to measure one’s capability and
knowledge. Out of all the projects we have done, does it really
helped us to improve ourselves?
School projects can help us to develop our skills like teamwork and
social awareness. It enhances and enlarge our knowledge based on
our designated topic. It also helps us to become a productive person
and helps us to manage our time correctly.
Students carry out different kinds of school projects regardless of
the subject. We manage to fulfill our duties as a student and pass all
the designated task at the right moment despite of the problems we
face before and during the time given. Performance task is one of the
most important duties that we must do as it carries more than half
of our grades.
Problems will likely to happen when one of the students do most of
the work. In some cases, a student is scared of damaging the group’s
efforts that’s why he or she chose not to interact with the group.
Environmental projects, cultural differences or social issues based
projects will be a great help for us students to understand the world
we are living in. It will be a great help to practice ourselves before we
face the true nature of this world.
There are some things that we students prefer to do for us to devel-
op our skills based on school projects. Visual presentation that would
improve student’s academic skills is one of the best examples of
projects that students can use not just for their knowledge but also
for their future.
 editorial
08 JUNE-OCTOBER 2019 theMAHONRIANS
features
theMAHONRIANS JUNE-OCTOBER 2019 09
 features
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 science
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