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Conference (NSPC) Champion, Phoebe Dominique M. Adorable a helpless bystander in the vicinity. FACEBOOK.COM/THEAUGUSTINIANHERALD

PHOEBE ADORABLE
has managed to do the unthinkable and permanently... ► p 1 2 ► p10

writing news. making history. ► C A L A BA R ZO N ’ S B E ST SCH O O L PA P E R 20 1 5 | F I N A L I ST , 37 T H C AT H O L I C M A SS M E D I A AWA RD S

the augustinian herald

VO L . 29 N O . 1 | T H E O F F I C I A L J U N I O R H I GH SCH O O L ST U D E N T P U B L I C AT I O N O F CO L EGI O SA N AGUST I N , D I V I SI O N O F B I Ñ A N C I T Y , L AGU N A , REGI O N I V - A ( C A L A BARZO N ) | J U N E TO D EC E M B E R 20 1 5

Sto. Niño de Cebu makes first visit in Laguna in 50 yrs.

“
IN THE NEWS
WORD-FOR-WORD

PIT SEÑOR
Values Office to
students: Always do The image will
trademark bow then be brought
ALODIA CAREY M. BAISAS back to Cebu, but
LOUISSE KATHERINE S. GAPPI
our faith should
To strengthen Augustinian identity, be celebrated
the Religious Education Depart-
ment (RED) is encouraging every-
everyday.
one to practice the Augustinian REV. FR. AIMARK P. ASOR, O.S.A
bow. ► p3
ONCE IN A LIFETIME
Academic Head: DIGITS

450
New Grading System,
No Burden
AVERRY CLARISSE A. PANGGA

Junior High School Department Ac-

years of presence of Augustinian
ademic Coordinator, Mrs. Maria Fe
presence in the Philippines was celebrated
R. Chua upholds the new grading in the month of August 2015, a primary
system and stated that it is not reason of bringing the pilgrim image of
a burden but a stepping stone to Sto. Nino de Cebu to Manila and Laguna.
global competitiveness. ► p4 This pilgrim image is not coming back
until another fifty years have passed.
Binanenses took the opportunity to see
Admin alters AM call the pilgirm image because for them, it’s a
time, coop period one time event

GABRIELLE H. PAMUSPUSAN

The Academic Coordinator Mrs. Ma- BEST THESIS:

ria Fe R. Chua altered the schedule
of the Junior High School Depart-
ment, moving the morning call time
INT’L STUDENTS
20 minutes later, and adjusting the
Cooperative Learning Period into KEEP PROBLEMS
one hour per week ...► p5

Biñan City, now ONE-TIME VISIT IN 50 YEARS. Devotees bring inside the church to the altar the pilgrim image of Sto. Nino de Cebu that
TO SELVES
chiara
flores arrived in Binan, Laguna all the way from Cebu. This event happens only once in 50 years.
a lone division GABRIELLE H. PAMUSPUSAN
FRANCHESCA ISABEL A. TOLOSA
ABIGAIL M. ESTOYA ELYANAH MARIE C. ACO image visited Biñan with public invi- homage and support in welcoming
The International students keep

L
With a vote of 15-0, the House of
Representatives has approved the
House Bill 3917 declaring Binan ► p5
care for the common good
jv
forteza
EYES FULL OF HOPE.
The pupils of San Gabriel Elementary
School in Laurel, Batangas crowded the
boxes of school supplies and uniforms
that they would be receiving during the
CSA-Binan Grade Ten field trip.
ocals of Biñan City, Laguna wel-
comed the pilgrim image of Se-
nior Sto. Niño which had a pro-
cession from SLEX exit towards
Sto. Nino De Cebu Parish near Cole-
gio San Agustin, August 17, 2015.
The oldest Christian catholic
icon came from Quirino Grandstand
where it had its first ever fluvial pro-
cession from Intramuros to Guada-
lupe Church. It was then transferred
to Nuestra Señora de Gracia Parish
Church in Makati before it travelled
going to Biñan City.
Since it is the first time that the
ACCREDITATION
Velasco eyes ‘fruitful’ level 2 resurvey
AVERRY CLARISSE A. PANGGA
MIKA A. YAMAGUCHI
LEYLA RHYME B. GUZMAN
“We are looking forward to the next
visit as fruitful as it can be,” Accredita-
tion In-charge Mrs. Lorina M. Velasco
tation coming from Cebu, there were
some important people who joined
in celebrating the event: people from
the government, the ecclesiastical
community here in Diocese of San
Pablo, Mayor Len-Len Alonte-Nagu-
iat, and the wife of Vice President
Jejomar Binay. There are also repre-
sentatives with Mayor Alonte, parish-
ioners and students who participated
in the celebration.
Laguna Catholic School, La Con-
solacion College, Mater Ecclesiae
School and Catholic School of Paci-
ta are some catholic schools in the
neighborhood that were invited to pay
said in an interview, a sign that Cole-
gio San Agustin-Binan is ready for the
incoming resurvey in October 2017.
Ever since the resurvey in 2011,
the school started getting ready for
the next one. CSA-Biñan Junior High
School Department has to keep an
the image. Yellow and red flags were-
waved by the students and personnel
as the procession passed by them
towards the church.
A mass was held at the Sto. Nino
De Cebu Parish Church after the pro-
cession. The first mass was presided
by Most Rev. Fr. Buenaventura M. Fa-
madico, the Bishop of the Diocese of
San Pablo, while the mass the next
day was presided by Bishop Gregorio,
of Batanes.
Also, a photo exhibit was also
brought here in Biñan which mostly
were taken from Cebu. It was dis-
played at the lobby for the ► p4
eye on eight different sections: Faculty
and Non-teaching Personnel, Curricu-
lum, Library, and IMC, Physical Plant,
Laboratory, Student Services, Admin-
istration and School and Community.
Even without early preparation,
Mrs. Velasco admitted ► p3
problem to selves as part of their
adjustment mechanism to an
environment alien to them, said the
best thesis from Fourth Year level in
AY 2014-2015.
Maricar P. Bosch headed five
international students from IV- St.
Ambrose academic year 2014-2015
that made the research thesis that
won first place, “The Adjustment
Mechanism of International Students
in Colegio San Agustin- Biñan”
According to the results of their
survey that was taken by students
from Grade Seven and Fourth Year,
International students sleep, play
sports or other physical ► p3
ARTS: Photography
IT’S NOT IN THE CAM
Bernard Miranda: More than
just a mimeographer, an
award-winning photographer
► 11

DREAMS: A SPECIAL
SORT OF SOUVENIR POLLS ALARM *SURVEY CONDUCTED AMONG 300 STUDENTS OF JHS DEPARTMENT

Walking along a cemented road

isn’t too hard of a task. Walking DO YOU AGREE WITH THE REMOVAL
OF 1:30 PM DISMISSAL

85% 15%
along a paved and elevated road,
however, with the sun up high,
heat scorching every inch of your BEFORE EXAM DAYS?
skin exposed, is tiring. Students of
San Gabriel Elementary School in INSIDE: See main editorial
Laurel, Batangas experience this in this issue, The Early Bird FOR
every single day. ► p11 Catches the Score. ► p6 AGAINST
MIRANDA
CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE
 p
2 June to DECEMBER 2015 | Colegio San Agustin, Division of BiÑan City, Laguna, Region IV-A (CALABARZON)
Finalist, 37th Catholic Mass Media Awards
And CALABARZON’S BEST SCHOOL PAPER 2015
news
EXTENSION SERVICE
COMMUNITY OUTREACH, HIGHLIGHT IN FIELD TRIPS
JENELLE CLAIRE M. CHAVEZ
KATHLEEN MAE E. TADEO
T
he Community Extension
Office changed the style of
field trips for the Junior High
School students by prioritiz-
ing community outreach programs
than outdoor fun, and the Grade Ten
year level had the first experience of
it by visiting the pupils of San Gabriel
Elementary School in Laurel, Batan-
gas, July 31.
Clothes, school supplies and bags,
given by the students of the Grade 10,
were donated to the students of San
Gabriel, most of which were in Grades
1-3, in line with the focus of Caritas
for the Academic Year.
The Augustinian Youth Council
President Vina Naomi Mengua deliv-
ered a speech for an immersion pro-
gram with the students of the San
Gabriel Elementary School integrated
in the Grade 10 Educational Field Trip,
saying that the goal of the program is
to bring smiles to both students from
San Gabriel and CSA.
“True love is here,” said Vina Nao-
mi Mengua, emphasizing the idea that
‘love is the root of Caritas’, the value
which is school’s thrust for this year.
The excursion did not only serve
as a learning experience for the stu-
dents, but also something that could
change different perspectives, accord-
ing to Mengua.
The school’s OIC Mrs. Bernarda
Umandap said that the gifts are very
much appreciated because most
of the students can’t afford to buy
school supplies and materials.
Former EIC
grabs third
NSPC crown
ALODIA CAREY M. BAISAS
Phoebe Dominique M. Adorable,
former editor-in-chief of The Augustin-
ian Herald and a fourth year student
from St. Maximus, for the third time
dominated the competition to emerge
on top in the 2015 National Schools’
Press Conference (NSPC) held on
April 13-17, 2015 in Taguig City,
National Capital Region.
She bested all the other campus
journalists from all over the Philip-
pines in the Copyreading and Head-
line Writing Category to be crowned
champion.
To qualify for the 2015 NSPC,
Adorable had to win in the Division
Schools’ Press Conference held
in Liliw, Laguna, and the Regional
Schools’ Press Conference in Lipa
City, Batangas wherein she won first
place in both events.
She underwent training under
Mrs. Ana Marie Calapit, Region IV-A’s
home judge in the said category
before setting off to the nationals.
According to her school paper adviser
Mr. John Vincent K. Forteza , “Phoe-
be’s advantage to win was her ability
to write a very concise headline and
analyze the gist of a lead.”
Notably, she also bagged the
championship in the Science &
Technology Writing and Concurrent
Session in the 2014 NSPC. Moreover,
Region IV-A CALABARZON triumphed
as the Overall Champion Region for
the third year in a row.
Another finalist was Alodia Carey
M. Baisas, a former grade 7 student
and a junior staff , in Science & Tech-
nology Writing.
CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE
You should turn your random acts
of kindness into daily habits.
VIAN DELA CRUZ (A VIRAL PERSONALITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA) GAVE
f
be updated, online!
like us on: facebook.com/theaugustinian herald A TALK TO AUGUSTINIAN LEADERS DURING THE ANNUAL LTS ► p5
Red Mass pushes thru
despite power outage
JENELLE CLAIRE M. CHAVEZ
The Red Mass, annually held at the
beginning of the Academic Year, was
celebrated in the Santo Niño de Cebu
Parish Church instead in the CSA Au-
di-Gym due to complications with the
REMARKS OF THE ACADEMIC TRACKS electricity flow in the school, causing
RANKING BASED ON NCAE 2014-2015 loss of power last June 18, 2015.
“As we experience discomfort,
The NCAE results reveal that more what energizes you? Friends, class-
students showed compatibility of mates, teachers? The spirit of God,
interest and skills with the Academic peace? Caritas energizes us,” stat-
Track Humanities and Social Sciences. ed the school president Rev. Fr. An-
(Source: Guidance and Testing Center) drew Batayola, OSA, in his homily
for the mass regarding the current
state of the school back then.
“We are expected to perform
Arts careers top students’ acts of charity so peace is with us.
choice — NCAE results Council President urges students
KAILA MARIA MILLEN H. CARMONA to “be greater than ever”
The Arts tops the Occupational Interest Ranking (OIR) in the National Career
ALEXANDRA S. MORENTE
Assessment Examination (NCAE) taken by the Grade Nine Students, who are
now Grade Ten, on November 2014.
NCAE results were presented to Grade Ten students by Mr. Emil Mon- The Augustinian Youth Council Presi-
tecillo from the Guidance and Testing Center, July 2, 2015 in the CSA-Au- dent Vina Naomi Mengua urges stu-
di-Gymnasium. dents to be ‘greater’ than ever before.
The Occupational Interest Ranking is as follows: The Arts, Computer From the simple stage design
Technology, Natural Sciences, Architecture and Construction, Science, En- during assemblies to many more chang-
gineering, Spiritual Vocation, Business and Finance/ Commerce, Person- es in the department and projects,
al Services, Media Communication, Aquaculture and Agriculture/ Forestry, Mengua decided to put a touch of their
Military and Law Enforcement, Community Services, Professional Services, legacy in each project and program they
and Fashion. prepare. To leave an impact from their
In the General Scholastic Aptitude and Technical-Vocational Aptitude, term is just one of the many goals the
Above Average has the highest number of percentage for three years
council wants to achieve, she said..
since 2012.
According to the student-leader,
Above average is also the highest in Academic Tracks with a number of
113 and a percentage of 38. Remark of the Academic Tracks Ranking are as “To be realistic, be super friends and
follows: Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS), Science Technology and be greater than ever are the three main
Engineering (STEM), and Accountancy Business Management. goals of the AYC 2015-2016.” The AYC
head also wants the whole department
DIGITS
10
boxes of school uniforms,
books, school materials,
shoes, and bags, were given
to the pupils of San Gabriel
Elementary School in Laurel,
Batangas. These materials were
collected from all the Grade Ten
students few weeks before the
educational field trip on July
31, 2015. This is the first time
students had a “real” outreach
program because in the past,
field trip buses would only pass
by the recipient institutions or
communities and only selected
few students would be allowed
to hand in the gifts. What
happened in Laurel was different
as all students were allowed to
interact with the pupils, thereby
hearing their stories and
immersing themselves to the
environment of a public school.
maeca
camus
‘REAL’ IMMERSION. Pojol (left), a Grade Ten
student from St. Maximus, had the chance
to talk to the pupils of a San Gabriel
Elementary School in Laurel Batangas
and hear their stories being students of a
school with limited resources.
I pray that all of us will possess
wholehearted love of the Holy Spirit
this Academic Year,” the President
also said later on in the homily,
stressing that AY 2015-2016 is a
year of Caritas.
Caritas, which means “love”
is one of the major core values of
the Augustinian community, togeth-
er with Unitas, “unity,” (AY 2014-
2015) and Veritas, “truth,” (AY
2013-2014).
Due to the power outage, the
planned opening program for the
new Academic Year was resched-
uled to a later date. Classes on
June 18 were also cancelled and
students were dismissed right after
the mass.
to be more united as an Augustinian
family and to be looked up to as inspi-
ration for everyone to do better. When
asked to dictate in one sentence how
can Vina Mengua be greater than ever,
the AYC President replied “By simply
going beyond the box.”
The AYC President said that al-
most all the proposed projects will
be fund raisers that will support
this year’s year-ender project that
will “surely be levelled up”. The
funds earned from the year-ender
will help in conducting the “Briga-
da Eskwela” to be done during the
summer of 2016. Some projects of
the Council that are still pending for
approval are the mini-outbreak and
the colour fun run.
 the augustinian herald
SENIOR HIGH HEAD:
Choose CSA for
culture, safety,
and quality
education
BARABICHO
KAILA H. CARMONA
Ms. Ana Liza E. Barabicho, the
Senior High School In-Charge, said in
an orientation with the Grade Ten stu-
dents, “Students should stay in CSA
for SHS because of safety, culture
and quality education.”
“We can guarantee to your
parents that you are safe here
unlike when you stay in dorms of
other schools. Many of you have
been studying in CSA-Biñan for more
than ten years. Also, CSA-Biñan
offers quality education,” she added
when asked by Vina Mengua, Grade
Ten-St. Servus, on the reasons why
they should not leave CSA-Biñan for
Senior High School.
Aside from that, the students
also had the chance to clarify the
tracks offering of the school, curricu-
lum setup, and other misconceptions
about the additional two-years of
studying.
According to Ms. Barabicho, she
will be conducting a follow-up survey
on the tracks the students might be
choosing for the senior high school.
Velasco eyes
‘fruitful’...
► continued from page 1
that “there are still few not imple-
mented action plans.” However, the
whole department is in “full force to
fully implement them before the said
visit.”
To make sure the accreditation
is a success, the Accreditation Of-
fice, the chair persons and members
of each section meet every month to
update on their action plans. The last
evaluation and analysisi meetings
were held on September 18 after the
second monthly examinations.
With less than two years left
before the next visit, Mrs. Velasco
is confident that the department will
be ready because, “The incessant ef-
fort to improve and develop more and
more to be globally competitive is in
our system.”
Int’l students
keep problems...
► continued from page 1
activities to look past their problems
and they don’t look to others for help.
International students prefer
socializing with their fellow
international students rather than
regular students, however they still
try to be friends with others.
Contrary to the results of the
survey, the researchers recommend
that the international students open
up to others such as their parents,
friends, or adviser.
Learning and using the
Filipino language proved to help
on their familiarizing with their new
environment.
Bosch et al gave tips and
information to new international
students for them to not experience
culture shock or disorientation due to
the new unfamiliar environment.
chiara
CLARIFICATION TIME. Selected parents of the Grade Ten students were clarified on the programs for senior high school of Colegio San Agustin-Biñan through an assembly
flores conducted by the Senior High In-charge Ms. Ana Liza E. Barabicho (in the background).
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
PARENTS MEET ON SENIOR HIGH ISSUES
PAULA BIANCA M. MARANA
PRINCESS ANGELA DS. COLE
MANNEL C. CASTILLO
M
s. Ana Liza E. Barabi-
cho, the Senior High
School In-charge, an-
swered the queries of
parents of Grade 10 students, up-
coming Grades 11 and 12 students,
in an orientation to enlighten them
about their children’s scholastic
future in the hands of Colegio San
agustin (CSA)-Biñan.
She explained during the orien-
tation exactly what makes the K to
12 program advantageous, August
1, 2015 at the Audi-gymnasium. She
stated in a written interview that she
prioritizes both the concerns of the
parents and the students’ preferenc-
es because they are both directly af-
fected by the reform.
DIGITS
116
parents of the Grade Ten Level, as per data of the registration sheet, were able to clarify matters about the program of Colegio
San Agustin-Biñan for the Senior High School including how the curriculum works, the course offerings, and the ability of the
school to provide their children the quality of education necessary for the added two years. Through a series of surveys, and
individual consultations with the K to 12 pioneer students it was found out that there are a number of Augustinians who eye
other schools to pursue their grades eleven and twelve; but a larger number of students still choose to be loyal to CSA-Biñan by
indicating it as their “first choice.” According to the Senior High School In-charge Ms. Ana Liza E. Barabicho, her office will be
conducting the final survey in the coming months.
Values office
to students:
Always do
trademark bow
ALODIA CAREY M. BAISAS
LOUISSE KATHERINE S. GAPPI
To strengthen Augustinian identity,
the Religious Education Department
(RED) is encouraging everyone to
practice the Augustinian bow.
“We noticed that students no lon-
ger practice this,” stated Fray Ion from
the Campus Ministry Office. In fact, he
noticed the college students are the
only ones regularly doing this.
The gesture of the Augustinian
bow, putting your right hand in front
of the left chest and slightly tilting the
head downwards, signifies “saluting to
the God within the other”. “It is a ges-
ture of humility,” explained Ms. Dolores
F. Breis, JHS Discipline Coordinator.
She also recalled that the Augus-
tinian bow is unique to CSA-Biñan,
HOW IT HELPS
Ms.Barabicho also discussed how
the curriculum will help lessen needed
units during college because subjects
from their chosen tracks will corre-
spond to their courses in college thus
decreasing the number of units and
years in a student’s preferred course.
It also gives students time to adjust to
the environment for college and give
them a chance to be able to work even
without a degree. Furthermore, work
immersion or On-the-Job Training (OJT)
will be offered and students will no
longer have to wait until college for the
work experience they need.
SHS TUITION
“It will almost be the same as their
tuition fee now. A four percent discount
will be given to Grade Ten graduates of
CSA-Biñan. It’s called loyalty discount,”
This way of greeting, where
ryan
reodica the right hand is placed near
the heart and the head is
bowed down, is observed to
be forgotten by the students
according to RED Office.
therefore, Augustinians must make a
habit of this.
However, the Augustinian bow
does not only involve students. This
gesture requires full cooperation of
the whole school personnel as well. In
addition, besides practicing this within
the school grounds, every Augustinian
should also apply it outside CSA-Biñan.
In line with the school year’s
thrust, Caritas, Fray Ion explained that
“when you show respect, you show
love towards others.”
CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE
the head of the Senior High School De-
partment announced when one parent
asked how much the tuition fee will cost.
“We are open to the idea that the
students will leave us for bigger univer-
sities in Manila but when they move to
somewhere that large, equal and undi-
vided attention won’t be given to them
there like we do here,” Ms.Barabicho
stated.
“And more than that,” Ms. Barabi-
cho continues, “CSA-Biñan has already
acquired the official government permit
for Senior High School.” According to
her, Senior High School students study-
ing in a school without the official per-
mit will not be able to graduate without
running into a few complications along
the way.
HOPES AND DOUBTS
Questions about the K to 12 pro-
gram were asked during the open forum
AUGUSTINIANS AWAIT
ACADEMIC HEAD FAST RECOVERY
ALODIA CAREY M. BAISAS
Teachers and students gave messag-
es dedicated to the quick recovery of
Mrs. Maria Fe R. Chua, the Academic
Coordinator of Junior High School De-
partment.
Mrs. Chua was rushed to Sta.
Clara de Montefalco Medical Center,
Inc at Maycauayan, Bulacan after suf-
fering from a stroke on September 3.
To show support to the recovery
of Mrs. Chua, Claire Escueta , the
Information
and Publica-
tion Com-
missioner
of the Au-
CHUA
NEWS 3
and varying opinions were brought to
light as well. “It depends on the person,
on the student and on the quality of ed-
ucation offered, not the amount of time
it takes to finish your studies,” Mrs.
Felix, a parent of a Grade Ten student
said during the open forum to defend
her belief that CSA is capable of giving
this program.
Despite all the pros of the K to
12 program, some parents still do not
agree with its necessity. “No, I don’t
think we need it. It will help my child to
adjust but I don’t think it’ necessary,”
stated a parent who chose to remain
anonymous.
At the end of it all, with the varying
opinions and exchanged answers, all
parents found the orientation very help-
ful in clearing matters about the CSA
Senior High Program, and Ms. Barabi-
cho also said that all goals were accom-
plished during the discussion.
gustinian Youth Council said, “You are
stronger than all of this for sure.”
Mrs. Rosalia V. Areza stated how
short life is so we should all take care
of our health, especially Mrs. Chua.
“Everyone should live a stress-free
life,” she said.
Social Media from Facebook to
Twitter was flooded with messages
from Augustinians to pray for everyone
with sickness including Mrs. Chua and
personnel in other departments.
Augustinians prayed the rosary
in the Audi-gym for the speedy re-
covery of Mrs. Chua last September.
The teachers also conducted caroling
at the houses of Augustinians living
in the area of San Pedro, Biñan, and
Carmona. All the money collected was
given to Mrs. Chua as financial help.
Mrs. Chua is scheduled to be
back this January. For the meantime,
Mrs. Myrna F. Montecillo is tasked
to be the acting academic coordina-
tor until March. Mrs. Chua’s position
when she comes back to school still
remains unclear.
4 NEWS the augustinian herald
ACADEMICS
Despite students’ clamor on base-60 grading scheme

ACADEMIC HEAD:
NEW GRADING SYSTEM,
NO BURDEN

“
WORD-FOR-WORD

GABRIELLE H. PAMUSPUSAN
FRANCHESCA ISABEL A. TOLOSA

J Learning is not all

unior High School Department Academic
Coordinator, Mrs. Maria Fe R. Chua upholds the new
grading system and stated that it is not a burden
but a stepping stone to global competitiveness.
Mrs. Chua reminded that with the new grading system,
Filipino students are not left behind anymore compared
to other countries in terms of global competitiveness.
“Learning is not all about grades. This should not be the
way to look at this curriculum. It is just a grade.The grade
will not make the person that you are. Report cards don’t
determine how skilled and p4 intelligent you are. It will
always be about how you project yourself to other people.
Once you accept it, there will be a realization that you’re
willing to change, and prove your worth as a student and
as a person,” stated Ms. Chua.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has released
the new grading system enclosed in the Policy Guidelines
on Classroom Assessment for the K to 12 Program stated
by DepEd Order No. 8 s. 2015. It is divided into three
major components: Written Work (WW), Performance Task
(PT) and Quarterly Assessments (QA). Performance tasks
now have the highest bearing in the new system. The
percentage value of Performance Task and Written Work
varies per subject, while Quarterly Assessments have a
bearing of 20% per subject.
The new grading system of DepEd is timely and
NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. Binan City Mayor Marlyn “Len-Len” Alonte- appropriate for it makes the school’s standards higher to
maeca
camus Naguiat reminds the campus journalists that they’re obliged to spread prepare for ASEAN integration. It aims to train students to
the truth only.
be competitive, according to Mrs. Chua.“ The advantage
is that the students who are good will prove that they are
about grades.
This should not be
the way to look at this
curriculum...The grade
will not make the
person that you are...
ACADEMIC COORDINATOR MRS. MA. FE R. CHUA
complains about the new grading system is lazy, because
every student undergoes the same struggle and their only
motivation in learning nowadays is to get high grades. If
they get high grades, they’ll be happy and at the same
time their parents will also be happy. Now with this new
grading system where is the motivation to achieve what
they deserve when their minds question themselves of
what’s the point in learning if we tend to have low grades
that no one deserves in the end. In this generation the
new grading system is no avail.”
Meanwhile, majority of the teachers agree with the
implementation of the new grading system. A science
teacher stated, “The new grading system would push
the student to his\her limit to perform well in his\her

MAYOR ALONTE: BIÑAN SCRIBES, really good,” she added. academic performance. Hence, this will require a lot of
The base of the new grading system is now 60. effort, perseverance and commitment to get the grade they
All grades will be based on the weighted raw score deserve. If the student will not submit the requirements, it
of the learner’s summative assessments, unlike the would result to a very low class standing and final grade.

‘FUTURE’ OF LAGUNA previous system’s components: Knowledge, Projects

KAILA MARIA MILLEN H. CARMONA
ELYANAH MARIE C. ACO
Binan City Mayor Marlyn “LenLen”
Alonte-Naguiat urges campus
journalists to never stop writing as
she sees Laguna’s future in campus
journalism in them.
na’s future,” they need to search
for the truth, aim for objective and
responsible reporting, and be the
truth themselves.
Aside from that, she also ad-
vised the students to exercise fair
judgement of the issue by knowing
both sides of a story, and to freet-
and Performance, Understanding, and Process (KPUP).
The base 60 grading system was originally used in both
public and private schools; the reason why the base 70
grading system was adapted is unknown, according to
Ms. Chua.
Another student from Grade Nine who wished
to be anonymous said, “First of all, not everyone who
So therefore, the new grading system promotes high
standard of education” Mr. Ivan Joseph M. Arevalo, Grade
Nine Science teacher said, “the standards were uplifted
since it’s base 60. Here we could see if a student is really
good. Completion of requirements is a must especially the
written works. This new grading system is easier for us
to encode. It is only a struggle for a student if he fails in
submission.”

Sudoy back as CAT-1 commandant

In her welcome address during
the first ever Division Schools Press
Conference in Binan City as the
newest Division in CALABARZON
held on December 9, 2015 at Binan
National High School, Alonte rec-
ognized campus journalism as an
important discipline to shape the
fiuture of all the participants.
According to her, for the stu-
dent journalists to grow as “Lagu-
PUBLICATIONS
Top School Paper Adviser
in PH trains herald writers
KATHLEEN MAE E. TADEO
Tips and suggestions were given by Mr.
Jerry M. Noveno, one of the top school
paper advisers in the Philippines, as he
visited the school for a two-day seminar
and workshop for the staffers of the Ju-
nior Augustinian Herald and selected
staffers of The Augustinian Herald.
The seminar and workshop was
held last June 22-23, 2015 at the
Grade School Department’s Math
Laboratory. The guest speaker, Mr. No-
veno, is the moderator of Philippines
Science High School – Bicol Region
school paper, The Bicol Scholar.
Mr. Noveno was present at the
said event to act as a mentor to the
campus journalists, refreshing the
minds of the writers from news to lay
outing.
Each category was covered and
given a task to practice, from head-
hemselves from external influence
that might hinder responsible
journalism.
She added that all campus
journalists must express from the
heart, and think by the mind be-
cause words they write don’t crush
bones, but the heart.
Effective this year, Binan City
has to stand as a lone division from
the Laguna province.
NOVENO
line writing to the composition of the
article. Mr. Noveno also told stories
and experiences on attending compe-
titions and how they were recognized
as the school paper of their region.
Similar to the organization’s merits
is Mr. Noveno’s own award for being
one of the outstanding school paper
advisers of the Philippines in 2013.
MARIA ANGELICA R. GERODIAS
JUNE THERESE P. SEGALLE
After two years of being replaced by
Mr. Jeffrey Sales, Mr. Arthur Sudoy,
Jr. is again the Citizen’s Army Training
(CAT) Unit I Commandant upon the
recommendation of Mrs. Maria Fe
Chua, Academic Coordinator and was
later approved by Rev. Fr. Arnel Anto-
nio Dizon, OSA, Vice President for Ac-
ademic Affairs.
Mr. Arthur Sudoy, Jr. is a graduate
of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
(PLM) where he took up BS Secondary
Education, Major in Mathematics and
Physical Education. He has a Mas-
ter’s Degree in PE Sports, also from
the same institution. He was a mem-
ber of the advanced ROTC Course of
PLM from 2000 to 2004. Mr.Sudoy
became CAT Unit-I Commandant from
2002-2013 until he was replaced by
Mr. Sales last year.
Mr. Sudoy is aware that the CAT pro-
Sto. Nino de Cebu makes first visit in Laguna...
► continued from page 1
benefit of students, parents and
guests. The photos were depicting
the simple faith of both Filipinos and
Cebuanos to the Sto. Niño.
The series of activities of the
Child Jesus was organized by a tribe
named “Kaplag 450” Executive
Board Committee.
Kaplag is a visayan term mean-
ing ‘finding’. The activity was to cel-
ebrate the 450 year anniversary of
the finding of the image in the Phil-
paula
primo
REAPPOINTED. Sudoy (in fatigue) supervises once again the CAT-1 class
after being replaced by Mr. Sales last academic year.
gram was not really removed upon the
implementation of the K-12 curriculum.
He cited that Section 13, Article 15
of the Constitution requires the inclusion
of Citizen’s Army and Civil Service Train-
ing. It is also included in the National De-
fense Act and Commonwealth Act.
“The program will teach the stu-
dents to value their citizenship, service
to humanity, personal responsibility, and
sense of accomplishment. It will also
ippines,450 years of presence of
the Augustinians in the Philippines
and 50 years of elevation into minor
Basilica of Sto. Niño De Cebu Parish
church in Cebu.
“Jokingly, Fr. Danny said in a Hom-
ily that we shall be waiting another 50
long years for this Senior Sto. Nino
to visit us again but still it depends”
Rev. Fr. Aimark P. Asor OSA stated.
The regent for the image was sup-
posed to end at 12:00 midnight but
train them for leadership, discipline,
self-esteem and teamwork,” Mr. Sudoy
said.
According to Mr. Sudoy, “Students
often misunderstand CAT as rigid and
hard. The CAT trainings have a deeper
meaning behind them which is not giv-
en that much importance now, with the
country being demilitarized. By looking
at the program in a positive way, CAT is
an opportunity to learn and enjoy.”
extended until 01:00 am because
guests overflowed in the celebration
even without students.
A sending-off mass was held be-
fore it will be brought to NAIA where-
in another mass was held attended
by officials and staff of Philippine Air
Lines.
Next April will be the end of the cele-
bration. “The image will then be brought
back to Cebu, but our faith should be
celebrated everyday,” said Fr. Asor.

CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE

the augustinian herald
IN BRIEF
Nine students notch
achievement test
Nine students notched the Center
for Educational Measurement (CEM)
achievement test held last March 3,
2015. Rainier Anton Veloso from the
Grade Seven level last year topped
the Science exam. Ezra Danielle In-
ano and Lorenzo Caesar Camacho
both from the Grade Eight level last
year notched the English Exam. Ayn-
Kyrsten Collado from the Grade Nine
level last year topped the English
exam. Alodia Carey Baisas from the
Grade Seven level last year dominat-
ed both English and Math exams.
Abigail Estoya from the Grade Eight
level last year topped in the English,
Math, and Science Exams. Phoebe
Dominique Adorable from the 4th
Year level last year notched in the En-
glish and Science exams. Samantha
Amante also from the same level last
year dominated in the Math exam.
(Jomil Christian Liza)
General Services tile
2nd Floor Rooms
The year opens for the Grade Nine
and Seven students with newly-tiled
classrooms on the 2nd Floor of Ur-
daneta Hall. On behalf of Rev. Fr. Ed-
gardo L. Lazo, OSA, Vice President
for Administration and Finance, Mr.
Joel Aliquio, Property Custodian men-
tioned that the total contract amount
for the tiling of floors was Php 688,
000. According to Mr. Aliquio, it took
about two weeks to finish retiling the
six classrooms for both grades sev-
en and nine. The said tiling was done
last summer and ended at May 15,
2015. (Abigail M. Estoya)
Scribes take
revalidating exams
Staffers of The Augustinian Herald
(TAH) and Tinig Agustino (TA) move up
the ladder in taking the revalidating
test as a basis of their school paper
positions for this year last June 20,
2015 at UH 303 and UH 305. Reval-
idation examinees took the test and
their performances were assessed
and evaluated by the School Paper
Adviser, Mr. John Vincent Forteza. The
results of the said exam were given
last June 29, 2015. The Editors in
Chief are Jenelle Claire M. Chavez
(G10-St. Servus), and Alodia Carey M.
Baisas (G8-St. Augustine) for TAH and
TA respectively. | Andrea Gabrielle F.
Lacerna
ENTREP,
TLE 9 NEW
TRACK
JOMIL CHRISTIAN E. LIZA
Entrepreneur track is now added
to the TLE subject for Grade 9 stu-
dents in the Junior High School
Department.
According to Ms. Rianossa R.
Caguicla, Grade Nine TLE teacher,
“Entrepreneurship’s strong point
was to give inspiration to young
entrepreneurs while its weak
point is the competitors that the
young entrepreneurs will face.”
“They will apply entrepreneur-
ship on their daily life”, said Ms.
Caguicla. She also added that an
example of this is saving their al-
lowance.
The grade 9 students who
will be enrolled to the Entrepre-
neurship track will discuss Role
of Entrepreneurship in the 1st
quarter, Personal Entrepreneurial
Competencies (PECs) for the 2nd
quarter, The Entrepreneur and the
Government for the 3rd quar ter
and Business Planning for the 4th
quarter.
LEADERSHIP
‘Viral’ fresh grads to student-leaders:
Build bigger ‘boxes’
KAILA MARIA MILLEN H. CARMONA
ALEXANDRA S. MORENTE
V
ian Dela Cruz, BS Public
Health in Pamantasan ng
Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM),
and Gio Gomez, BS Political
Science in University of the Philip-
pines (UP) – Diliman, the couple that
had a post that went “viral” on Face-
book, led the talk in the Leadership
Training Seminar (LTS) telling Augus-
tinian student-leaders to challenge
themselves to ‘build bigger boxes’.
The annual LTS organized by the Au-
gustinian Youth Council (AYC) was held
last August 1, 2015 in the San Agustin
Hall with the theme “Going Outside the
Box.” The Council invited Dela Cruz and
Gomez, both student-leaders in their
respective universities and affiliated
members in outside-school organiza-
tions, to empower the leader in each
student present in the said event
Admin alters AM call time, vacant periods
GABRIELLE H. PAMUSPUSAN
The Academic Coordinator Mrs. Ma-
ria Fe R. Chua altered the schedule of
the Junior High School Department,
moving the morning call time 20 min-
utes later, and adjusting the Coopera-
tive Learning Period into one hour per
week instead of two.
According to Mrs. Chua, “The
20-minute homeroom time from the
past years was not enough for the
Homeroom-Guidance activities to
be accomplished.” This one hour for
homeroom was beforehand an old
practice of the department, only mod-
ified during the implementation of the
K to 12 program.
“Now that the hour-long home-
ADMIN TO STUDENTS: FOLLOW SPECIAL EXAM PROTO-
AVERRY CLARISSE A. PANGGA
MIKA A. YAMAGUCHI
JUNE THERESE P. SEGALLE
JHS Academic Coordinator Ms. Maria
Fe R. Chua, through JHS Co-Curricu-
lar Coordinator Mr. Ferdie P. Bondoy,
reminded the students on special ex-
amination protocol.
Mr. Ferdie P. Bondoy, who spoke
DELA CRUZ
Dela Cruz opened her talk with an
introduction about the Augustinian Val-
ues. She then gave tips on how to be an
effective leader possessing the seven
values the school had taught. She also
mentioned the concept of “birth right
lottery” where she said that any person
could be in a different place right now,
whether he likes it or not, but since
this was what is destined for him, the
room is back, it contributes in providing
regular and adequate time for the im-
plementation of the Homeroom-Guid-
ance program,” Mrs. Chua stated. This
was also one of the PAASCU recom-
mendations.
“It is good to note as well that
when we reduce the time twenty min-
utes later, very few were late in coming
to school both on the part of the stu-
dents and teachers,” said Mrs. Chua.
When the 2-hour-per-week Coop-
erative Learning was implemented, its
purposes such as the students’ ac-
complishment of academic tasks with-
out the assistance of the teacher were
not served. It had given the students
indolent time to do things that would
merit an offense in the deportment.
on behalf of Ms. Maria Fe R. Chua,
further explained to JHS students the
guidelines in taking the special exam-
ination last July 23, 2015 at the Au-
di-gymnasium right after the induction
of officers.
One of the guidelines was about
the special examination fee for a stu-
dent who fails to take the examination
without valid reasons. It was also ex-
CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE
GOMEZ
discomfort of any situation should urge
the person to do good unto others.
“You should turn your random acts of
kindness into daily habits,” she ended.
Mr. Gomez emphasized in his talk
risks and balancing time between ac-
ademic and co-curricular activities.
“Risking doesn’t always involve mon-
ey but time and pride,” he told the
students when he recount the story
According to the class president
of Grade Ten St. Boniface, Christine Joy
Aquino, the 07:20 am call time helps
students not to be anxious for being
late. It also gives students more time
to prepare in the morning, and extends
their time to accomplish the unfinished
work over the weekend.
But to some students, reducing
the cooperative learning period into
one is a disadvantage as it resulted to
a more limited time to finish their work.
The Academic Coordinator also
told the JHS Department that the
schedule is not yet stable since K to
12 program has only had its full imple-
mentation this academic year, as there
are more changes to be done not just
in the schedule but also in instruction.
plained that he must present an ex-
cuse letter from his parents. The letter
must be signed by the class adviser
and then presented to Mrs. Chua for
the special exam permit. Mr. Bondoy
also explained that the excuse letter
must be given on the first day of return
to school. Failure to submit an excuse
letter will result to an automatic zero
for the missed exams.
NEWS 5
alex
morente
‘VIRAL’ SPEAKERS. Co-curricular
Coordinator Mr. Ferdie P. Bondoy
(left) acknowledges the fresh
graduate couple who went viral on
the Internet, Dela Cruz and Gomez,
for being the guest speakers at the
Leadership Training Seminar.
DIGITS
108
questions coming from each stu-
dent leaders were asked during
the open forum segment of
the annual Leadership Training
Seminar. The questions were
answered by the Co-Curricular
Coordinator Mr. Ferdie P. Bondoy
and the Augustinian Youth Coun-
cil Adviser Mr. Rocky R. Costales.
Some notable questions centered
on the excessive giving of pur-
poseful assignments per quarter,
departmental and institutional
activities that interfere with aca-
demic schedules, and the senior
high school status of CSA-Biñan,
changes in schedule such as the
removal of shortened schedule,
incised number of cooperative
learning and homeroom periods.
of how he decided to cut his hair to
what’s “in” even though it was “hard”
for him. He said he realized that peo-
ple define him not with his hair but
what’s inside it. “My parents love me
so much. So much that I make them
proud so easily that I am no longer
challenged,” he said when talking
about how he achieved things without
taking risks because “that is who he
is.” “There is no forever. Forever can
be found in our hearts. We are the
one who makes forever,” he answered
to the question of a student “Is there
forever?” and added that each person
should sometimes go beyond what is
destined for him to achieve what he
wants in life.
After the two talks, the couple had
an open forum where students raised
questions on how to balance time with
studies and co-curricular activities.
They also answered questions con-
cerning same sex-marriage and the K
to 12 curriculum in the Philippines.
CITY NEWS
Biñan City,
now a lone
division
ABIGAIL M. ESTOYA
With a vote of 15-0, the House of
Representatives has approved the
House Bill 3917 declaring Binan
City as an independent district
from its mother division, Laguna.
Proposed by Laguna
First District Representative
Danilo Ramon Hernandez and
supported by Biñan City Mayor
Marlyn LenLen Alonte-Naguiat
and Laguna Governor Ramil
Hernandez, the bill states the
separation of Biñan from the
First District of Laguna which
was originally comprised of San
Pedro, Binan, and Cabuyao.
The factors to this are the
City’s population of 280, 000,
annual income of more than a
billion, industrial parks, culture, and
tourism. Besides, it’s the fifth year
since Biñan was declared a city.
 p
6 June to DECEMBER 2015 | Colegio San Agustin, Division of BiÑan City, Laguna, Region IV-A (CALABARZON)

Finalist, 37th Catholic Mass Media Awards

And CALABARZON’S BEST SCHOOL PAPER 2015 I think security concerns among
parents for the safety of their
children make it imperative to

opinion
allow the use of cellphones...
f
be updated, online!
like us on: facebook.com/theaugustinian herald PARENTS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT MR. JERWIN LOPEZ ON HIS
STAND IF EVER CELLPHONES WILL BE BANNED IN CSA ► p8

The
Early Bird Catches
EDITORIAL

the

I
t looks like studying mere
hours before taking tests has
to remain a thing of the past
S
now – classes for the day before
C
O
examinations now follow the
regular schedule.
► This means a decrease of at least three hours in the student’s schedule and another

R
task to add in his never-ending juggle of activities. Expect an increase of sleepless nights
spent on cramming and catching up on notes just to pass tomorrow’s test, and an increase
of outcries from students begging for the return of the early dismissal, the few hours they
will surely miss – whether they were for actual studying or not. Let’s be honest: there’s
no guarantee that students will make the most of their extra hours, and it is more logical
if they spend a few more hours in school where learning can be monitored by teachers.

E
However, students are still a disadvantage, especially if the three hours he could’ve
potentially spent on studying will be used for other academic activities. Everyone remains
a victim of time, but not everyone needs to feel like they are one. How greatly a student is
affected by this change depends on how he manages his time.
To those who study days before the examinations, the schedule shouldn’t pose much
of a problem as they had enough time to prepare. But for those who cram and depend on
the day before? That is a different story. Because of the regular schedule, students are
forced to review earlier than they are used to, lest they miss precious hours of sleep, run
the risk of failing their tests, or both. It’ll be tough for those used to their cramming ways
to cope with.
It’s expected that this change will be divisive among students, but the purpose of the
new schedule is in the right: to impose discipline on students to study ahead of time. This
purpose may have taken a few hours away from the students’ hands, but it will show who
will rise up to the challenge of time management and those who will not. After all, the new
schedule looks like it is here to stay; what students can only do is to adapt to their newly
shortened schedule.
GRAPHIC: MAECA LOUISSE P. CAMUS

NEO-FIGHT
CHAVEZ: DOUBLE STANDARDS
YULIN MAN’S BEST FRIEND Without all these
Arts courses, you
FESTIVAL wouldn’t be able
to see a film,...
most that the person is not. These
are the standards in today’s society—
those who would be forced to pursue
dreams not of their own due to society

ANDREA GABRIELLE F. LACERNA
Traditionally, 10,000 dogs – and more
recently cats as well – are being
butchered at the summer solstice fes-
tivals in Yulin, China. Each year, ven-
dors bring dogs and cats to the city
of Yulin for their meat, butcher them
in the most brutal ways possible, and
then serve the meat in local stalls and
restaurants.
One of the biggest issues with
the Yulin dog meat festival is that the
killing is not done in a humane way.
Dogs are boiled, skinned and clubbed
alive. And that’s just a few ways on
how they butcher the poor creatures.
While the dog meat traders don’t of-
ten have the luxury of time to torture
each and every animal, it’s just as
worse when they do the torturing in
clear view of the other dogs, leading to
“
The Arts are just it’s in plain sight. Most schools offer mandating ‘practicality’ upon them?
as important as In a study on the top 13 most
only Academic tracks for Senior High
Academics, a wise
School and don’t offer Arts & Design. ‘useless’ college majors by thedaily-
person wouldn’t
want a world Most companies solely tend to the beast.com, Fine Arts tops the list, and
It’s one thing to have without it to needs of those who are academically Drama and Theater Arts follows. The
realize this. inclined. Earning a college degree un- remaining 11 majors all either end
majority of the animals der STEM would assure you an easier in ‘Arts’ or are not related to STEM.
stolen from their homes, experience in looking for a well-pay- These include Literature, Anthropolo-
INTERWOVEN PERCEPTIONS ing job than a degree under the Arts gy, Philosophy and Music.
it’s another thing would. Without Architecture, people
JENELLE CLAIRE M. CHAVEZ
to torment them in In Colegio San Agustin – Biñan, would still be making homes out of
the Center for Performing Arts, Culture primeval materials. Without all these
barbaric ways. Being skillful with calculations and sci-
and Studies (CPACS) is the organiza- Arts courses, you wouldn’t be able
entific experiments would mean that
tion that enriches the talents of stu- to see a film in the movie theater,
should be lessened if not completely one is intelligent; being adept in using
dents in visual, theater, and perform- listen to music carefully curated, or
cancelled. It’s one thing to have ma- a paintbrush, an instrument or one’s
ing arts. Although it’s a plus that the take photographs to preserve events.
jority of the animals stolen from their body to dance would mean that one
school has this sort of organization, Without Journalism, you wouldn’t even
homes, it’s another thing to torment is talented. Proficiency in the former
who’s to say that upon leaving the be reading this. The Arts are just as
them in barbaric ways. and inexperience in the latter would
campus, the students would still re- important as Academics, a wise per-
While activists continue their still mean that one is smart, but being
ceive the recognition and importance son wouldn’t want a world without it
international outcry, Yulin residents challenged in academics yet showing
they so evidently deserve? What about to realize this.
perk up about the matter, feeling de- expertise in the arts would mean to
fensive of their culture.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE

having them suffer mental agony. Even “Why do people always pick on
more, animal rights groups say that a Yulin?” asked Tang Chengfei, 24, a
recent university graduate who was
BAISAS:
large percentage of the dogs and cats Love of
are stolen and abducted from their sitting at one of the tables during the love of humankind. gender, and religion against religion.
humankind—
homes which is just as appalling. festival. “Haven’t you seen how the Love of humankind—that’s a Is this what Caritas should be? Cari-
that’s a concept
Animals were made to be tak- Japanese eat live bullfrog sashimi?” concept that shouldn’t be so hard to tas should be about love, friendship
that shouldn’t be
en care of and loved, not tortured to “I understand the other point of grasp. However, wars are being fought, and care for the common good. We
view,” Mr. Tang said. “Many people
so hard to grasp.
death just to be eaten for tradition country leaders are stealing from the question other people’s choices and
feel a special bond with dogs. ► p7 However, wars
or entertainment. Dog meat festivals people they should be helping and judge them for their decisions—are
are being fought,
country leaders people are judging other people—do we forgetting the fact that we are all
the augustinian herald are stealing from these show love of humankind? Hu- the same in God’s eyes and He’s the
Editors-in-Chief: Jenelle Claire M. Chavez (TAH), ALodia Carey M. Baisas (TA); Associate Editors:
the people... manity’s own actions is driving us fur- only one who can judge?
Kathleen Mae E. Tadeo (TAH), Abigail M. Estoya (TA); Managing Editors: Elyanah Marie C. Aco (TAH),
Princess Angela DS. Cole (TA, Sports Editor-TAH/TA); News Editors: Kaila Maria Millen H. Carmona
ther and further away from this virtue We were brought to this world for
(TAH), Jomil Christian E. Liza (TA); Opinion Editors: Mannel C. Castillo (TAH), Maria Angelica R. that we ourselves fabricated. The im- one purpose, and one purpose only,
Gerodias (TA); Feature Editors: Paula Bianca M. Marana (TAH), Leyla Rhyme Ahira B. Guzman (TA); STRAIGHT VIEW pending question today is, do we still and that is to love other people. But
Science Editor: Louisse Katherine S. Gappi (TAH/TA); Chief Photojournalists/Layout Artists: Mae-
ca Louisse P. Camus, Ivan Lewis C. Bueno; Senior Photojournalist: Chiara Gabrielle Flores; Junior ALODIA CAREY M. BAISAS care enough about other people or are due to humanity’s continuous discov-
Staff: Franchesca Isabel A. Tolosa, Alexandra S. Morente, Xavier John P. Esperanza, June Therese we too engrossed in our own lives that eries, we tend to lose sight of one of
P. Segalle, Jhenne Chloe D. Reyes, Angelica J. Maguad, Gabrielle H. Pamuspusan, Samantha S. Along with a new school year, comes we fail to notice the bigger picture? God’s two main commandments: Love
Chomi, Ari Chalmers M. Baisas, Therese Ayumi V. Suzuki, Andrea Gabrielle F. Lacerna, Averry Cla- a different Augustinian core value to
risse Pangga, Mika A. Yamaguchi, Betina Mae U. Untalan; Illustrationist: Francine Kim U. Varilla,
Times have changed and life is your neighbor as you love thyself.
Janna Mae S. Mangahas; Photojournalists: Ryan Carlo F. Reodica, Paula Marie Zeane D. Primo, strengthen. This A.Y. 2015-2016’s more complicated than it was before. It’s not wrong to want to further
Leigh Ann Competente, Miguel Rizardo, Kyra Monica W. Fornolles; Layout Artists: Kyla Viktoria thrust is Caritas. Do we really know We are constantly discovering more develop our intelligence, however, we
Agolloso, Derek V. Cabatbat; Radio Broadcasting Team: Christiansen Andre I. Luzgano; Patricia Isa- what Caritas means? When people
belle C. Zuluaga; School Paper Adviser: Mr. John Vincent K. Forteza; Publications Moderator: Ms.
things that may inadvertently drive us should still remain humble for we all
Eden A. Sangel; Vice-President for Student Affairs: Rev. Fr. Dante O. Juloc, O.S.A.; Vice-President hear the word Caritas, the first thing into the ground. There are seven bil- have qualities that make us unique.
for Academic Affairs/Principal: Rev. Fr. Arnel Antonio S. Dizon, O.S.A that comes to their mind is “chari- lion people in this world, and it comes We can bask in glory all we want, but
academic year 2015-2016
colegio san agustin-binan
ty.” This isn’t wrong, for Caritas does to no surprise that not everyone is ac- life will still find a way to tip the scale
laguna, region iv-a (calabarzon) translate to Charity. However, to fur- cepting of each other. and make us go through challenges
www.csabinan.edu.ph ther define it, Caritas is the Christian Race against race, gender against that will only make us stronger.

CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE

the augustinian herald
LitraTALK
More than 80 percent of teenag-
ers regularly use the internet or cell
phones, making the two the most pop-
ular forms of technology and therefore
are common media for cyberbullying.
Embarrassing or damaging photo-
graphs taken without the knowledge
or consent of the subject has been re-
ported by 11 percent of adolescents.
An astounding 95 percent of teens
who witnessed cyberbullying on social
media have ignored the abusive be-
havior. And sadly, 3 out of 5 teens are
victims of cyberbullying via photoshop
or otherwise, exploitation. To state
these disturbing statistical facts are
considered understatements as if to
add insult to injury.
Justice, respect and understand-
ing should be served to the victims of
cyberbullying via photoshop. Most vic-
tims are fearful once they confess as
people associate them as the “Talk
of the Town” or the school’s laugh-
ingstock. Also they fear to tell their
parents because adults might take
away their access with technology
since they have experienced bullying.
It is also not shocking to know that
Yulin Man,s Best
Friend Festival
► continued from page 6
But we grew up around dog meat. For
us, it’s normal.”
Clearly, the locals haven’t heard
enough.
What makes eating dog meat
any different from eating the flesh of
chickens or pigs, Yulin people also
ask? No idea. You don’t see people
torturing chickens or pigs as much
as people from Yulin do to dogs,
do you? The festival itself is pretty
much acceptable since it’s Chinese
from the South’s tradition. Traditions
are traditions and they are to be re-
spected. But is boiling and skinning
animals alive a part of the tradition?
Is it tradition to take pets away from
loving home owners and tormenting
them in front of other pets as they
tremble in fear, driving the poor crea-
tures in a trauma?
Taking pets away from owners
who probably have children that love
their pets just as much is stealing
a family member away from them as
well. Do we want the future gener-
ation to grow up in an environment
where animal cruelty is accepted
and is a part of the norm?
Social media and international
pressure are having a major effect
to the curbing of the number of ani-
mals killed at the dog and cat meat
festival in China. The rates of dogs
& cats slaughtered would continue
to decline if people like you speak
out to stop the horrific event. Little
by little, we must take a step clos-
er to change. The least you can do
is voice out about this horrendous
event even in the littlest ways you
can.
As Augustinians, we must do
our very best to be informed and to
do our fair share of help in ways we
can. A number of Augustinians had
already started the international out-
cry as they joined in tweeting & post-
ing the hashtag #StopYulin2015 and
#StopYulin not only on Twitter but on
Instagram and Facebook as well, do-
ing as much as informing fellow ne-
tizens. Petitions are also signed to
help get authorities’ attention on the
matter. If you won’t speak against in-
justice, who will?
DIGITS
3
hours is taken from the supposedly review time of students due to the removal of shortened period before examinations. If in the past, stu-
dents could go home at 01:30 pm on the day before the monthly tests and periodic tests, this academic year, they are required to go home
at 04:30 pm following the regular schedule. One of the reasons for the removal of the shortened schedule is to make the Junior High School
schedule uniform with that of the Grade School Department. Some students expressed their disappointment on the issue, but some see the
brighter side of this changes in schedule, as it will push the students to their limit by managing their time well, setting priorities during the
review. The student publication suggests that teachers extend their help by conducting review during the class the day before examinations.
“
Justice, respect and due to the incompetent legal proceed-
ings particularly when it comes to the
understanding should be implementation of the cybercrime law,
the victims lose hope and decide not
served to the victims of
to spend years yearning for the truth.
cyberbullying via Whether it is in the branches of
marketing, television or even social
photoshop. Most victims are media, photoshop has been abused
fearful once they in order to cause discomfort and hu-
miliate others rather than its objective
confess as people of propaganda. Bullies often produce
associate them as the pictures with outright messages de-
picting the desired degradation of its
“Talk of the Town” or victim in society. The kind of misguid-
the school’s ed popularity tactics should not be
overlooked by many. The more we be-
laughingstock. come the bystander without reacting
the more it promotes misinformation
on what qualifies to exploitation. So
THERESE AYUMI V. SUZUKI often the perpetrators of bullying hide
in the shadows, working behind the
Ayumi was a finalist in Editorial
Writing-English in the National Schools Press
scenes to smear the victims with de-
Conference in 2015. She’s now a junior staff
of The Augustinian Herald.
bilitating rumors and innuendo.
Schools should at least conduct
seminars regarding exploitation and
provide a very specific counseling so
that students can take advantage
if they wish to learn more about on
who talk to and what to do in case
CASTILLO:
SIT BACK AND RELAX
This implemen-
tation also forms
a sort of bond
between the school
to be revealed.
and the people,
Firstly, for student athletes who
making us
amazingly juggle their chosen sport
realize that they
and academics will now have to add
know their students
in an extra workload of assignments
aren’t just students
and their teachers along with their daily afternoon train-
ing. Same goes for those with ex-
aren’t just teachers.”
tra-curricular activities.
Another con is, like most things,
it has loopholes. Given our sched-
NO HOLDS BARRED
ule, what if you have a subject that
MANNEL C. CASTILLO you only meet on the first half of the
week or you don’t meet on Fridays?
Gone are the days when we crammed
for assignments and projects during They will be forced to give you assign-
ments and have the deadline next
weekends. This year, the weekend is
week and you’d still be doing it on the
finally the end of the school week and
weekends.
not an extension of it.
The most hoped for idea is now The point is, it’s the life of a
a reality thanks to the “No Assign- student to carry assignments upon
ments on Friday” implementation and assignments upon projects –some-
while we must all be blinded with the times all due the same week- and
pros, the cons are there just waiting while it will be helpful, we’ll still be
TADEO:
WIT BEYOND MEASURE
Somehow there is
a part within me
that believes there
is a relationship
between the that isn’t actually his area of exper-
intellectual being tise? Grades are just a set of stan-
and the grade of a dards set up by certain people from
person. However, the authority to meet their expecta-
tions and to measure your knowledge
grades do not
on a certain subject, knowledge being
define intelligence.
your intelligence. So what happens
now if you fail in Math? You study and
ABSTRACTIONS ABOUND
review! Because you don’t want to fail
KATHLEEN MAE E. TADEO and that’s one of the things grades
directly message to students: study
As defined in dictionaries, intelligence hard not study smart.
is the ability to acquire and apply Somehow there is a part with-
knowledge and skills but the long de- in me that believes that there is a
bate to grades relating to a person’s relationship between the intellectu-
intelligence begin as it questions its al being and the grade of a person.
relevance to each other. However, grades do not define intelli-
Most students, including me, op- gence. Main example is a classroom
posethe fact that grades define intelli- setting: a student goes to his favorite
gence, but this opinion is mostly con- class but he doesn’t like the teacher.
tradicted by parents who say you’re Is it normal for him to slack off? No
just too lazy to study at a certain sub- but he must not because a lot is ex-
ject’ and just find the reason to blame pected from him, especially from his
that low score. ’But wouldn’t it actual- grades. Second example: as stated,
ly make sense that a student doesn’t grades. Most students don’t even
want to focus on this subject because study because of knowledge, let’s be
CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE
Photoshop.
Cyberbullying.
Our Generation.
they become victims of, or know
someone who has been exploited
multiple times.
Moreover, we need to be vigilant
on our surroundings and educate our-
selves to ensure security in a society.
Being equipped with the statistical
knowledge about crimes in our locale
could even save us. The local gov-
ernment officials can also improve to
provide sufficient means of protect-
ing citizens.
Alas, especially parents, they
need to be more understanding to-
wards victims of photoshop who wish
to open up to them, and remove the
prejudice in all future interactions.
We have let the exploited know that
there are people who can and are
willing to give them the help and as-
sistance they deserve.
The adage “A picture is worth a
thousand words” is sometimes not
acceptable nowadays especially if its
word’s objective is to degrade a per-
son’s ego and put one to a lifetime
shame. If a picture containing a thou-
sand downgrading words, is it worth
the talk?
doing them when we get our free time
and the only ones we get are during
the weekends.
Even so, while it doesn’t com-
pletely abolish homeworks during the
said days, it significantly lessens the
workload for teachers and students
alike and it also teaches us the value
of discipline. It helps us to manage
our time and get things done instead
of procrastinating which will never be
advisable.
This implementation also forms a
sort of bond between the school and
the people in it, making us realize that
they know their students aren’t just
students and their teachers aren’t just
teachers. We’re all sons or daughters,
brothers or sisters, friends and people
who have lives beyond the campus.
The school lets us know they under-
stand that we could all use a little time
off and a little less stress.
honest. It’s all about grades! It’s all
because I’m afraid of getting scolded
by my parents during dinner time! But
grades are important too, I mean who
wouldn’t get you studying in the mid-
dle of the night? Third example: pun-
ishment. You don’t punish.
At this perspective, it seems
like the spotlight shone upon grades
is fading due to the judgment but it
really does not correlate with intelli-
gence. What if a student’s interest is
focused on a certain subject but that
same interest is not present in oth-
ers’? That is intelligence. Intelligence
is best defined on where you are at
your greatest. It doesn’t merely imply
that if a child fails at Math, he’s stu-
pid but that’s the thing about grades.
It’s like judgment on the knowledge of
a person. You don’t judge a person
on his weakness or flaws but then
again, that is not what grades convey.
It’s just the view of people, especially
the students, on what grades actually
serves as a purpose.
OPINION 7
The Lack
of Review
Programs
for Senior High
XAVIER JOHN P. ESPERANZA
A
s the entire country prepares
for a new high school curric-
ulum, the Senior High School
which is proposed for grander
and supplementary job opportunities
in the future, the Junior High School
students are already bearing the
tensionfostered by the bewildering
and stressful addition of 2 years to
the high school span.
Review programs
must only be ruminated
as the applicants’ as-
sistance, not as a chief
prerequisite to have
a definite Senior High
School stance.
The entire Philippines, specifical-
ly its students, are about to enter an
innovative additional two years as a
principal groundwork to be undergone
before dealing with their college lives.
This massive education breakthrough
epitomizes a historical transforma-
tion of the practiced prospectus of
learning into an extended width of
schooling. As the emphasized sylla-
bus is swiftly approaching, another is-
sue has mounted, the non-existence
of review centres intended for Senior
High School Application.
Review centres are commonly
instituted to serve aspiring college
applicants, discerning the fact that
it is already the concluding stage of
a student before he gets entangled
to a profession. Since the stated
curriculum is still attached to the
Junior High School, transferrals from
one institution to another may be a
diminutive likelihood.
Review programs are generally
offered to graduating high school
students whose psyches are con-
verged to transferring to another
university as a foremost assurance
of the preeminent college education
prospect they can acquire. The proba-
ble number of the Senior High School
fresh applicants may be too insig-
nificant to spearhead establishing
review programs for the said level.
Despite the absence of the foresee-
able operation of review centers, the
government must be undisputable for
their crafted decision. The deficien-
cy of the projected review centers
does not insinuate huge number of
non-passers and a possible plummet
of enrolees’ percentage. Review pro-
grams must only be ruminated as the
applicants’ assistance, not as a chief
prerequisite to have a definite Senior
High School stance.
ANNOUNCEMENT
The student publication is calling
on the Fourth Year students
Batch 2015 to claim their TRIP
Magazine copies. Please see any
Herald staff or the school paper
adviser on your next visit to your
dearest Alma Mater!
8 OPINION
Crusade Against Iniquity
T
he anti-bullying act has been
observed in a lot of depart-
ments in the Philippines for
as long as 3 years. This de-
cree follows the Republic Act
10627, better known as the Anti-Bul-
lying Act of 2013 implemented by the
government. This act aims to stop bul-
lying and states that disciplinary ad-
ministrative actions should be taken
against any perpetrator.
After this was legislated, different
schools started to hold annual pro-
grams and campaigns that help fur-
ther promote this act. Some schools
even invite over motivational speakers
and the likes. From observation, this
act started off as something confus-
ing but eventually tailed out into a
success and reports of bullying have
lessened a great amount.
Things were going great but the
peace was not long lived as lots of
cases of bullying started to rise again
and for the past year, at least 1700
more cases of bullying were reported.
Thus, the question is: Does this de-
cree still do what it claims it does?
If people continue to take lightly
and disregard this act, then this act’s
CARMONA:
No matter how
much we try to
change the market
structure, our
problem boils
down to the simple
logic of supply
not being able to
match demand.
MONOCHROME THOUGHTS
KAILA MARIA MILLEN H. CARMONA
We lack power. While that statement
has been used to describe our military
capabilities amid a territorial dispute
against China, it can also accurately
describe the Philippines’ situation
when it comes to energy. Skyrocketing
electricity prices. Rotating brownouts.
Insufficient supply. These are but a
few phrases that give us a glimpse of
the current energy crisis.
The government has taken mea-
sures to curtail the shortage in pow-
MARAÑA:
If we play our cards
right, the next
generation will
have so much more
than we ever will.
The beginning of
a brave new world
starts today, and
it’s in our hands to
make it so.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
PAULA BIANCA M. MARAÑA
Times are changing. Humanity has
grown and fought and struggled and
progressed, generation after genera-
tion fighting against oppressors, for
rights that rightfully belonged to them,
and I am glad to say that finally, finally,
the world is changing into a place we
can all be proud of.
Let’s turn back the pages of time,
shall we. The generation before us,
back in the day, gay men and women
had to live their whole lives not know-
Should CSA-Biñan
implement total
Cell Phone Ban?
We asked the opinion of
selected parents
on their stand IF EVER
students’ use of cellphones
would be banned in the campus.
CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE
BY LOUISSE KATHERINE S. GAPPI
“
...perhaps it is best to consider the concept
of revamping and welcoming new ideas,
such as understanding not only the victims,
but the bullies as well. Giving bullies the
opportunity to talk about their experiences
with counsellors may just be the key to
changing their lives for the better.
main purpose would be pointless. If
people continue to detach themselves
from this act and think that this is not
a real societal problem, then preju-
dice will always be present. Instead of
thinking that you’ve done your part al-
ready, think of this: It is the teachers’
and the students’ and the whole staff
of the school’s obligation to give their
full effort in trying to eliminate bullying
completely. This will not be achieved
unless you finish what you’ve started.
To avoid this situation, perhaps
it is best to consider the concept of
revamping and welcoming new ideas,
SUPPLY CANNOT MATCH
DEMAND
er. In 2001, then President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law the
Electricity Power Industry Reform Act,
more popularly known as the EPIRA.
Simply put, it directed the Power Sec-
tor Assets and Liabilities Management
Corporation (PSALM) to privatize the
many state-owned power generation
and transmission plants throughout
the country in the hopes of lowering
prices. We can trace its motivation
to simple economics: assuming the
lack of collusion, an oligopoly is more
efficient than a monopoly, albeit not
the most efficient market structure.
With several players, prices should
have decreased. Thus, this begs the
question: why did prices go up despite
changing the market structure of the
electricity industry?
The answer is simple and also
involves economics: supply cannot
THE TIMES,
THEY’RE A-CHANGIN’
ing if they’d ever see the day when the
world would accept them for who they
are, and who they love. We’ve been
so lucky to be a part of this age, be-
fore the days of the older gay genera-
tion who had to live through horror of
AIDS, who had to watch their friends
die and become shells of the people
they used to be, who had to watch the
world refuse them medication for an
illness that slowly ate away at their
bodies, who never got to see the world
transform into something beautiful. To
those who lived to see the day, I hope
you find solace, and to those who’ve
already passed, you would’ve been so
happy.
Now, come back to the present.
Pride is at its strongest, and as you
say, love has finally won. We, our gen-
eration, have joined in the fight for
I’m not in favor of cellphone ban. I think
security concerns among parents for the
safety of their children make it imperative to
allow the use of cellphones among students,
though I think the use of cellphone should be
regulated.We should make use of the benefits
modern technology brings. Especially so, if
such benefits outweigh the disadvantage.
Mr. Jerwin Lopez,
President, Parents Association
such as understanding not only the
victims, but the bullies as well. Giving
bullies the opportunity to talk about
their experiences with counsellors
may just be the key to changing their
lives for the better. With giving new
ideas, we can avoid apathy and we
could avoid people from thinking that
they should ditch the anti-bullying act
since it is starting to get old.
Bullying is real and is wrong.
Fighting and eliminating bullying re-
quires a united effort, but in return,
everyone will benefit from the posi-
tive results.
keep up with demand. With a growing
population, the Philippines continues
to crave more from the grid. The na-
tion’s top three in power generation:
San Miguel Corporation; Lopez-owned
First Energy Corporation; and Aboitiz
Power Corporation, along with many
independent power producers (IPPs)
simply cannot match demand. What
is even more harrowing is that exist-
ing plants in Mindanao have been
attacked by rebels before (i.e. a pow-
er plant owned by German-operator
Steag was bombed).
The solution is clear: build
more power plants and make Min-
danao a more secure place to do
business in. No matter how much
we try to change the market struc-
ture, our problem boils down to the
simple logic of supply not being
able to match demand.
love, brandishing words like the weap-
ons they are and walking the streets
bearing pride in our hearts. The past
and the present came together and
formed a barricade of color, beaming
at full brightness against the nay-say-
ers who threaten to shut them down.
Sorry to say, love won. Love wins, love
won, love will continue to win, because
love is stronger than its greatest foe,
and love will always prevail.
If we play our cards right, the next
generation will have so much more
than we ever will. The beginning of a
brave new world starts today, and it’s
in our hands to make it so. We must
carry on the souls of the departed
and carry forth the victory we’ve ac-
claimed. We must make more than
dust, and I swear to you, it’ll all be
worth it.
No, because what if
there is an emergency?
There needs to be
communication between
the parent and the child.
Mrs. Lourdes A. Galvez
the augustinian herald
maeca
This photo about the value of friendship won First Place during the
Araling Panlipunan photo essay contest themed “Caritas.”
camus
Are We Able
for the Disabled?
ALEXANDRA S. MORENTE
D
isability is a condition that limits a person’s activities, actions and
movements. One kind of the different incapacities is the mental
or intellectual disability. People facing this kind of impairment
find it difficult to read and speak while others have a hard time
communicating and processing information. Though, there is another side
to the spectrum which is the physical disability. In this condition, some are
inborn while some are acquired due to accidents and calamities. These people
are the ones using the wheelchairs or crutches as well as those with hearing
disabilities and visual impairments.
When one is talking about intellectual disability, most schools would let
these children go into the mainstream, just like tweaking their curriculum to
cater to their needs. Different schools would have different programs to supply
children with this kind of disability.
Here in the Philippines we have specialized schools to help these children
out. Take for example Bright Morning Star School in Las Piñas. It is one of the
many SpEd or Special Education schools here in Manila.
However, when it comes to physical disabilities, every school should
be able to cater to these children mainly because they are incapacitated by
their abilities to think and to learn. But this would also require a huge chunk
of the school’s budget to make the learning environment of the children with
disability a possibility. Just take a look at our school. Those physically impaired
such as kids who use wheelchairs need ramps and an elevator with easy
access to them. The comfort rooms should also have a cubicle specially made
for the disabled with bars that may support them. Braille steps on the hallways
would also be a big help for those who are visually impaired.
Ergo, a lot of adjustments and facilities must be made to consider a
school capable of children with disabilities.
Sadly, Colegio San Agustin-Biñan lack most of these. Though it has an
elevator, it is considered exclusive only for college students and one has to
travel a distance before he could reach the elevator since it is located in the
farthest building.
Ramps can only be seen in the pre-school department. While rest rooms
do not have a cubicle for the PWD and the school does not have braille steps
anywhere.
To think that each one of us is unique and different, it is truly a must
for the school to have these facilities for the children with disability. With the
school’s core values of truth, unity and charity in mind, one can say that the
institution can improve and adapt to this issue without a problem. Hence,
making Colegio San Agustin-Biñan an environment competent for people with
disability and where students can build new relationships with other people.
It would be fine We need cellphones for communication
with me, but we
need to have
and research purposes. Maybe our
children can use their cellphones
communication during break times just so they can see
with our if we’ve texted or called them every
children. We can’t once in a while.
do that without
cellphones.
Mrs. Elena Aldas Mrs. Jasmin B. Lazo
 the augustinian herald
tino and tina on
LGBTs
The world today is undoubtedly embraced by multitudes
of dissimilarities. Divergences not only focused on the
physical aspect of life have never been missing when it
comes to contemporary issues.
BY XAVIER JOHN P. ESPERANZA | GRADE 10-ST. SERVUS
► Among these disputes is the nev-
er-ending confusion building against
the so-called “L.G.B.T. community”.
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals and trans-
genders, they are the people encom-
passed by today’s said expanding
society. Discrimination has been their
constant enemy, an immoral act of
suppressing equality. They must be
treated evenly, for gender does not
completely reflect the moral stand of
a person.
People of the current generation,
especially those who are thick-skinned,
calloused to others’ sentiments, must
perceive that everyone is meant to
vary from each other. Respect is what
they exceptionally deserve, unremitting
blows of hurting words, leaving stains
in their minds and hearts, must be
ceased. They are not numb figurines
with invulnerability against people’s
nerve-racking insults. They are not
punching bags to grieve with countless
criticisms. They are not dreadful rub-
“There is nothing sinful in divulging our true
color, for everyone is sanctified to stand in his own
feet with his own faith.”
COLE:
It’s disgusting, how
rape is something
that is just being
trivialized, how an
incredibly serious
issue is just
being joked about
and casually
brushed over.
DIFFERENT COLORS
PRINCESS ANGELA DS. COLE
Pull out an old Game of Thrones ep-
isode or any classic horror film and
you’re likely to find large traces of
assault and mental illness present
in them. Start binge-watching the
entire Skins series and it wont take
you long to realize there’s something
wrong with the way Effie’s depression
is being handled. Pay attention to the
recurring theme in every teen slasher
film ever made. Now, other than the
gore and the mental instability and
the maniacal violence that makes up
FUNNY FRAMES BY FRANCINE KIM U. VARILLA
bish to separate from the community
they actually belong to. They are nor-
mal persons, with a simple diversity
which does not equate misery.
There is nothing sinful in divulging
our true color, for everyone is sancti-
fied to stand in his own feet with his
own faith. There’s nothing unethical
with being different, as long as being
special does not affront legal decrees
and verdicts. Being different must
be comprehended as a constructive
recipe to uphold a tougher community.
Every person must be open to sudden
alterations in his environment, for this
world is filled with unexplained com-
plexity, a difficulty we were born with
for us to crack in the future.
The “L.G.B.T. community” is wor-
thy of our protection, shielding them
from bruising offences and rejections.
Fairness must reign always as bias
must soon be gone. They are meant
to be loved and accepted, not to be
snubbed and disrespected.
THE RAUNCH OF RAPE
IN MEDIA AND IN FILM
these films’ backbones, what do they
have in common? That’s right. Rape.
By using rape as a benchmark
for the sake of moving a show’s plot
forward, you are disregarding the
pain and trauma rape victims had to
go through. By making rape jokes be-
cause you think it’s “a form of enter-
tainment,” you are spitting in the face
of every rape survivor and every awful
moment they had to suffer through.
Rape does not exist for you to take ad-
vantage and romanticize for the sake
of entertainment. It isn’t something
you can use as a plot device never
to be resolved. In fact, rape shouldn’t
have to exist at all.
It’s disgusting, how rape is some-
thing that is just being trivialized, how
an incredibly serious issue is just be-
ing joked about and casually brushed
over. Instead of taking it seriously,
people have somehow found a way to
OPINION 9
► In this ever-evolving world of science
and machines and technological
advancement, you’d think that after
Let men wear dresses and kiss
other men. Let women cut their hair
short and wear whatever they want.
more than fifty years of fighting for their Let them live. Let them decide. You
rights people would finally have them, are in no position to tell them what to
but disappointingly, though not exactly do, to shove your beliefs down their
shocking, this still isn’t the case. throats and to take away their rights.
Queer people are still being They are not the earth you step on.
treated like they are nothing more than They are not the mattress under your
dirt. They are ridiculed and spat on feet. These people are your equals.
just because they are different, just They deserve to be treated as such.
because what they are is still consid- Let people identify however they
ered unusual. They are misunderstood want. Let them love whoever they
and misgendered, dehumanized and please. Don’t tell them how to act a
ignored. They are shat on and looked certain way, as if you know their feel-
down upon and for what? For being ings better than they do. Homophobia
themselves. For being something this is already so heavily ingrained into ev-
world is afraid of. For being different. ery aspect of our lives that it’s gotten
That isn’t exactly a bad thing, to the point where most people don’t
but when you think about it, the world even realize that they’ve internalized
does not accept uniqueness. The it. The last thing queer people need is
world does not accept difference. Peo- another reason to feel invalid.
ple will try to change you. The media Coming to terms with who they
will try to tell you what to wear, how are is hard enough as it is without
to act and how you should look. They someone breathing down on their
will try to dictate your life for you. The necks, telling them they are worthless.
reason for this is that the world lives What society needs to understand
by a set of standards most people is that respect is not some special
don’t even begin to fit, and that is privilege or indulgence. It is common
something that needs to change. courtesy. It is basic human decency.
“Let people identify however they want. Let them
love whoever they please. Don’t tell them how to act
a certain way, as if you know their feelings better
than they do.”
The year is 2015, and while it’s true that society has
become more accepting to queers than it had been before,
it’s an undeniable fact that people still shudder at the sight
of two men holding hands. And that parents still refuse
to acknowledge the way their kids want to themselves to
be identified. That straight boys think it’s okay to push
unwanted sexual attention on lesbians. That most people
don’t understand what the words “genderqueer” and
“transgender” mean and that homophobia still exists.
BY PRINCESS ANGELA DS. COLE | GRADE 10-ST. SEPTIMUS
MAILBOX
From: Carmella Gabriel of Grade Eight - Bl. Augustine
What’s going to happen to the current Grade Ten students of CSA-Biñan who cannot
be accomodated by the limited admission for senior high school?
make it ten times worse.
TAH RESPONSE:
A lot of people still don’t under-
stand that rape is something that is
incredibly traumatic and can never According to the Senior High School In-charge Ms. Ana Liza E. Barabicho, only 300
be taken back. Rape is a god awful students can be accomodated by the department that’s why they will be conducting
thing that people in this world suffer pre-registration in the coming months, so to the students, better take a slot as early
through. Real people. It shouldn’t be as possible. If the reason of not being accomodated is the lack of desired tracks,
trivialized for the sake of melodramat- Ms. Barabicho said students can always choose another school to enrol in.
ic storytelling because it does abso-
lutely nothing to make the story more
interesting and yet does everything to
dehumanize the people who were vic- New Standard of Learning:
Will it ever be enough?
tims of it.
Rape isn’t grit. Rape isn’t enter-
tainment. Rape is rape. This is the
kind of thing that can potentially ruin MANNEL C. CASTILLO
another person’s life and can leave
scars that won’t just fade away. Rape Another change has been made this year but this one isn’t just for us.
isn’t something that should be treated The change came in the form of a new grading system namely, “DepEd
lightly. It is a serious issue that deals Order No. 8 s. 2015”, described as a standard and competency-based grading
with serious repercussions and car- system, mandated by DepEd for S.Y. 2015-2016. It will have fewer components
ries a lot of weight. It should be treat- than its predecessor, KPUP, and a minimum grade of 60 is needed to pass a
ed as such. certain subject which is then transmuted into a 75. Many were taken aback by
this change, parents and teachers alike, but heaviest among them were from
the students themselves.
Most say that the change is completely unnecessary seeing as how effec-
tive the KPUP grading system was. It positively promoted the concept of under-
standing lessons and its uses outside the classroom thus, retaining it in one’s
mind, as opposed to memorizing endless terms and formulas and whatnot just
to ace an exam that won’t matter after a few minutes. Now, students race to
finish requirements upon requirements. Slowly, turning into tired, paranoid and
anxious robots that don’t even have enough time to breathe.
Although it hasn’t been a year with this new system, its ineffectiveness is
apparent as it completely disregards a student’s effort no matter how much they
put into it. DepEd describes it as a standard and competency based grading
system, but it seems more like a “one slip and everything goes down” type of
system. It’s just unfair for students and above all it defeats the purpose of grad-
ing systems in general which is to elevate the standard of learning but instead
it makes students question their abilities and ask “Will it ever be enough?”
CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE
 p
10 June to DECEMBER 2015 | Colegio San Agustin, Division of BiÑan City, Laguna, Region IV-A (CALABARZON)

Finalist, 37th Catholic Mass Media Awards

And CALABARZON’S BEST SCHOOL PAPER 2015 Nakakataba ng puso ang maka-

features
tanggap ng maraming papuri at
magandang komento sa publiko.
SPENCER FELIX ON HIS BEING TRENDING ON
f
be updated, online!
like us on: facebook.com/theaugustinian herald DUBSMASH ► p12
CARE FOR THE COMMON GOOD

cover
story

If Jose Rizal was not there, that lightning

would have struck a helpless Biñanense.

When the
PAST is always
PRESENT
JENELLE CLAIRE M. CHAVEZ

Roughly 118 years have passed since Jose Rizal’s

noble act of selflessness for his country in which he
sacrificed his life in order to spare his countrymen of internet
DECAPITATED HERO. The statue of Jose Rizal stands without a head in the heart of the City of
Biñan, after being struck by lightning (Source: Len-Len Alonte).
doing the same. On September 22, 2015, however, it photo

seems as if Rizal’s heroism was once again witnessed.

A
t 11:30 in the evening in
Biñan City, a sudden flash
of lightning set the depths
of the dark, starry sky
alight. To the surprise of everyone,
the lightning struck the 97-year-old
statue of Rizal on its head. The
statue, found in the center of the
plaza in Biñan near the ancestral
home of Rizal’s mother, obtained
damages, such as a shattered
head and right foot, according to
witnesses of the incident.
According to Mrs. Jasmin
Alonte, the City Tourism Officer
of Biñan, if the lightning had not
hit the statue, a passer-by in the
vicinity could have instead taken
the blow. “Until now, Rizal still
demonstrates heroism to us,” she
said to The Augustinian Herald.
Why is it that the said image
is important to the locals of Biñan,
when there are other images in
different places?Our national hero’s
formal education started here in
Biñan, under Maestro Justiniano
Cruz. Because of this, we can
take pride in the fact that this
city in Laguna is truly a partof the
Philippines’ history. Another feat of
the statue to be proud of is the one
who created it in 1918, National
Artist Guillermo Tolentino.
There was a short period
when the statue was seen
standing without its head after the
unfortunate episode, but the local
government took action quickly
to resolve the sight. The statue’s
condition was reported the day after
the incident, stated Mrs.Alonte, to
the National Historic Commission of
the Philippines, the agency tasked
to preserve the things that are part
of the country’s history; and to the
National Commission for Culture
and the Arts.
A sculptor has already been
assigned to create the new statue
in replacement of the damaged one,
explained Mrs.Alonte— Mr. Frederic
Caedo,who has already produced
images of Rizal in different parts
of the world. Mrs.Alonte added
that Mr.Caedo’s grandfatheris
the assistant andkumpadre of
Guillermo Tolentino,and Mr.Caedo’s
father is the godson of the National
Artist—meaning the family of the
sculptor has ties to Tolentino.
For the fate of the damaged
statue,it will be restored to its
original form once the new one is
finished.It will not be thrown away
as it is important to the people
of Biñan. The new statue will be
created using bronze and metal in
order for it to be sturdier than the
first one.
The City Tourism Officer claimed
that the broken one was already
tough, but what happened was an
accident caused by nature.
After the first instance of the
display of his heroism, Rizal was
hailed the National Hero of the
country.For the second time around,
and perhaps not the last, Rizal will
be admired for his selflessness.

accounts of faith tO senor sto. nino

ALODIA CAREY M. BAISAS/LOUISSE KATHERINE S. GAPPI

Red and yellow flags were eagerly waved in the air and proclamations of gratitude were exclaimed as the pilgrim image of Señor Sto.
Niño was carried across the streets to the Sto. Niño de Cebu Parish last August 17. Behind every prayer offered and every person lining up
to get a glance of the Holy Child up close, however, is a story.

On the 26th of January 2012, Mrs. Ainie Benavidez, a CVE teacher
in Grade 10, participated in a procession for the feast of Sto. Niño to
pray and ask for a child. Exactly 1 month after the event, February 26,
the news broke that Mrs. Benavidez is carrying her first child. In the
height of unexplainable happiness, she could only look at the image of
Sto. Niño and shed tears of the joy she cannot hide.
“Because of Saint Augustine,” she remarked, “my faith in
Sto. Niño grew stronger.” Mrs. Benavidez added that after her wish
was granted, the faith of her entire family in Sto. Niño strengthened.
According to her, the arrival of the image is an answered prayer. She
ensured that her son and mother were able to see the image of Sto.
Niño.
One other teacher from our school also had a special experience
with the image of Sto. Niño, as it coincided with her 25th anniversary
with her husband. According to Mrs. Teresita Quinto, a Mathematics
teacher in Grade 10, when her husband agreed to renew their wedding
vows last May 2015, they had not known that the day of the renewal
of vows would fall on the same day Sto. Niño’s pilgrim image came to
Biñan.
Mr. and Mrs. Quinto were blessed last August 18 by Fray
Aimark P. Asor, O.S.A. Before this, they attended a concelebrated mass
which was led by Bishop Gregorio of Batanes. “Just think that there
were more or less 20 priests and 1 Bishop who celebrated Mass on our
renewal of vows,” Mrs. Quinto said, “And this became possible because
of Sto. Niño. Everything that happened that day touched my heart.”
According to Mrs. Quinto, Sto. Niño has guided them ever
since the beginning of their marriage. On the day of their wedding, her
sister, a Carmelite nun from a monastery in Subic, gave them an image
of Sto. Niño as a gift. Now, for the second time around, they received an
image of Señor Sto. Niño as a gift for their Silver Wedding Anniversary.
The Sto. Niño de Cebu is the oldest Catholic image in
the Philippines. Many Catholics believe that the said image is
miraculous which is why many Filipinos travel the distance to
visit the image in Cebu. Sto. Niño’s feast is celebrated every
third Sunday of January.
Before arriving at the Sto. Niño de Cebu Parish, the
image came from a procession from the Quirino Grandstand,
to Intramuros, and lastly to the Guadalupe Church. It was also
brought to the Nuestra Señora de Gracia Parish Church in Makati
before finally beingtaken to Biñan.
People flocked to the Sto. Niño de Cebu Parish just to
get a glimpse of the pilgrim image. Some others visited to show
gratitude, while others came to hope that their prayers may be
answered. Devotees in Biñan may have to wait another 50 years
to witness the pilgrim image being brought to the city, making the
events last August 17 what can be said as a “once in a lifetime”
moment. As said by Fray Asor in an interview with The Augustinian
Herald, “The image will then be brought back to Cebu, but our
faith should be celebrated every day.”

CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE

 the augustinian herald
Dreams: A Special Sort of Souvenir
JENELLE CLAIRE M. CHAVEZ
KATHLEEN MAE E. TADEO
One might say
that the students’
schooling could
still be completed
without school
materials,
but this is
a blatant
misconception. It
is hard to climb
up a steep hill
without support.
jv
forteza
EYES FULL OF HOPE.
The pupils of San Gabriel
Elementary School in
Laurel, Batangas crowded
the boxes of school
supplies and uniforms
that they would be
receiving during the CSA-
Binan Grade Ten field trip.
Ms. Elisa de Villa, the oldest teacher
to have served San Gabriel
Elementary School, says there’s no
better place to teach in than your
alma mater. “It’s my way of giving
back to what the school had given
me whan I was starting to learn,”
she said in an interview with The
Augustinian Herald.
ARTS | photography
It’s not in the cam
ALODIA CAREY M. BAISAS/LOUISSE KATHERINE S. GAPPI
There is a significant difference
between an amateur photographer
with good equipment and a
good photographer with amateur
equipment.
CSA-Biñan’s own Digital Printing
in-charge, Bernard G. Miranda is the
perfect voucher for this.
His photos have been featured
by National Geographic and Manila
Bulletin, and he was even awarded
the 2013-2014 Best International
Photographer by Axlefin, yet
surprisingly, he only uses a point-
and-shoot camera.
EXPERIENCES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
He started dabbling in
photography in the 1990’s, but he
explained that it was expensive
at the time so he didn’t pursue it.
However, he reignited his passion in
2012. “Pag nagkamali ka ngayon,
delete mo lang. Pero dati, mahaba
pa yung process pag nagkamali ka,”
Miranda explained. “Bawat error
dati, binabayaran pa,” he added.
Being 50 years old gives
a person a lot of experience. In
Miranda’s case, with time, he
managed to learn the do’s of
W
hen on field trips, there
are two usual things to
consider: 1) where we are
travelling to, and, 2) what
we will take home as souvenirs. In
this year’s Grade 10 field trip, we
travelled neither to a museum nor
to a nature park. More specially, this
time, we went home with unexpected
souvenirs that are beyond the tangible
pasalubongs. Instead, we went home
with heart-warming stories – stories
of little dreams, stories of big hope.
Upon arriving at San Gabriel
Elementary School in Laurel,
Batangas, we were welcomed
bystudents who were eager to learn,
but seemed have the world against
them. In this special trip, we were
tasked to interact with them.
We approached Jenny, a sixth
photography all the while making
a few tricks of his own. In fact, he
shared that since he only uses a
point-and-shoot camera, he had to
make a few improvisations with the
use of broken Ray-Ban sunglasses
and old x-ray film.
His favorite sceneries to shoot
are landscape, bird shots and street
photography. He even added that he
preferred using black and white for
street photos.
REMAINING HUMBLE
Although having many
achievements, Miranda still
manages to keep his feet on the
ground. When asked about his
favorite photo, he answered that it
was a picture of the CSA personnel
at their outing in Ilocos. “Yun yung
nagpapanalo sa akin sa Axlefin,” he
exclaimed. Out of all his photos, he
chose the one of the people he’s
close with.
“Wala sa camera ‘yan. Ang
importante sa photography ay
mapag-aralan ang environment at
atmosphere,” he stated.
Before he got into photography,
he liked to paint. His other hobbies
grade student. We asked her about
her dream job in the future, but
she was reluctant. Her friend who
did not want to share her name
also had the same reaction, but
answered anyway—she wanted to be
a teacher, but not in Manila or some
other place. She wanted to teach
the children who would be studying
in San Gabriel in the future. Jenny
responded not long after, pausing
before saying, “Ang tanging hilingko
ay angmaitaguyodangpamilyako.”
Sitting far from the commotion
of dancing children onstage was a
mother of two boys in Grade 2 and
3. According to her, the children’s
food, allowance, tuition, and daily
by-foot travel to school are some of
the challenges they meet every day.
Her son in third grade is proficient
include; drawing, playing the guitar
and piano, swimming and fishing.
ADVICE FROM AN EXPERIENCED
PHOTOGRAPHER
“It will take you many shots
bago mo makuha,” Miranda said.
He explained that it would take him
at least 20 shots before he would
get the perfect one. According to
him, it is not advisable for beginners
to invest in SLR’s because it
is more important to study the
composition and framing.Also, the
most important thing that he wants
beginners to remember is to “keep
on shooting.
CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE
MIRANDA
in Mathematics, she claims, so
engineering is the career path she
wants for him. She wants her other
son to be a pilot, perhaps so he could
fly real airplanes in the future, not
just ones made of paper.
DREAM OF THE TEACHERS
The students have dreams,
but the teachers have their own as
well. The Grade 4 Values teacher
of the school said that she wanted
the children to study well in order for
them to complete their education.
“Once they finish school, they can
help their parents too, and I want that
for them,” she said, optimistic.
The teachers in the school
described their profession as
“mahirap, peromasarap.” It was the
smiles of their students that lightened
Wala sa camera ‘yan. Ang importante sa
photography ay mapag-aralan ang
environment at atmosphere.
MR. BERNARD G. MIRANDA
ANG MAG-AASIN
Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Bernard G. Miranda
WINNING SHOTS. These photos gave Mr. Miranda the Best International Photogra-
pher Award by Axelfin in 2013.
FEATURES 11
the burdens on their shoulders. But
when asked if given the chance to
change their fate on teaching, they
said they would still choose to teach
at San Gabriel.
STILL HOPEFUL
The paved yet elevated road
that leads to the elementary school
doesn’t hinder the children from
going to school—it’s everything else
around that do: the scalding heat of
the sun, the downward pull of gravity,
the desire to simply return to the
bottom and not continue anymore.
In the circumstances of the
children in San Gabriel Elementary
School, this is a usual sight. They
have the school itself and the
buildings, but they don’t have enough
resources such as books, bags,
shoes and uniforms and the like.
One might say that the student’s
schooling could still be completed
without these, but this is a blatant
misconception. It is hard to climb up
a steep hill without support.
Despite all of this, hope was
etched on the students’ faces, their
eyes were tinged with faith, and
giving up was clearly not an option
for them. Their dreams were waiting
to be achieved and their futures were
not at all out of reach.
IIt’s safe to assume that the
activity was beneficial to both parties.
We gave the children supplies as
gifts, and they returned with the most
heartfelt stories, even if they did not
have to. Hopefully, the things we gave
the students would help them share
their stories with even more people
in the future.
Ian Luzgano, a Grade 10
student, remarked that the
outreach was satisfying. “It
made me really happy to be able
to connect with people from
different walks of life,” he said,
“I saw how the education system
of the countr y really is. I saw how
different our situations were, and
I’m glad events like this outreach
are now par t of field trips.”
It’s a popular Filipino belief
that whenever you visit a church
for the first time, you’re entitled
to three wishes that would be
granted however small or big.
Earlier in the day, we visited the
San Guillermo Church in Talisay.
It was the first time to visit the
church for most of us. Seeing
what the children of San Gabriel
experience, you’d wish you spent
your three wishes on them
instead; you’d want to make their
hopeful musings come true.
HOW LIFE IS MOLDED
Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Bernard G. Miranda
12 FEATURES the augustinian herald

HUMILITY IN VICTORY TRENDING:

ALODIA CAREY M. BAISAS

SPENCER AND
THE AIRCON
Wag kayong mawalan ng kumpiyansa pero DUBSMASHER
‘wag din kayong maging overconfident at ALODIA CAREY M. BAISAS
arrogant. Tandaan niyo, magaling na kayo
pero may igagaling pa kayo.
PHOEBE DOMINIQUE M. ADORABLE
Three-time NSPC Champion
When you win once, you get applauded; win twice, you catch other
people’s attention; win thrice, that’s when you make history.

F
rom above average student to
three-time National Schools’
Press Conference (NSPC)
Champion, Phoebe Dominique
Adorable has managed to do the
unthinkable and permanently make a
name for herself in campus journal-
ism.
Adorable, a former fourth year
student from CSA-Biñan, was recently
crowned as the champion in the Copy
Reading & Headline Writing – Sec-
ondary English category in the 2015
NSPC held at Taguig City.
Moreover, she was hailed the
first-ever champion of the Science &
Health Writing – Secondary English
category in the 2014 NSPC held at
Subic. Aside from winning in the actu-
al NSPC, she was also the champion
in the concurrent session sponsored
by SciDev.Net, an online science
organization, and the Department of
Education.
Her press con journey
ence (DSSPC), wherein she won
seventh place.
Equipped with more training,
Adorable went on to win third place in
the Regional Schools’ Press Confer-
ence (RSPC), thus guaranteeing her-
self a spot in the National Schools’
Press Conference (NSPC). “Out of
the seven RSPC qualifiers ng Laguna,
si Phoebe lang ang nag-news-feature
at siya lang ang nagqualify sa NSPC,”
stated Forteza.
For the NSPC, she underwent a
regional training with Eugenio Calapit,
resident journalism trainer. “Doon po
talaga ako nasanay na mag-extract
ng info sa fact sheet at sa video.
Doon talaga nahahasa ang skills mo
as a writer,” she explained.
The time came for the 2014
NSPC, and although going against
other proficient writers from all over
the country, Adorable graced her
way to the top and triumphed as
champion, not once, but twice. “Nung
in-announce, di ko kasi ineexpect na
sana mag-play safe sa Science pero
sayang naman kasi last year ko na,”
admitted Adorable.
She has again proven her worth
by winning first in both DSSPC and
RSPC, and even qualifying as finalist
in the Outstanding Campus Journalist
of CALABARZON.
And when the moment every-
one was waiting for came, well at
least everyone except for Adorable
herself who was wearing earphones
moments before the awarding, her
name was once again called and she
managed to prove her versatility by
once again being crowned the cream
of the crop.
Being an inspiration
Even if she may not admit it,
Adorable is a great inspiration to oth-
ers. She can manage to balance her
academics, extra-curricular activities,
and social life. She has achieved a
lot, but she still doesn’t think highly
of herself.
schoolmates would rate her a six.
When asked why she would
downgrade herself to a five, Adorable and I’m
feeling
answered that “satinginkopokasi-
pagnaging arrogant ka, nagiging
overconfident kasa skills mo. Lalo
like I
ay
gotta get aw
kang mag-is-stumble at wala ka nang
opportunity to grow”. However, Forte-
away
get away, get
za insists that “humble lang talaga
yung bata”.
Although disappointing, many
people often let their achievements
get to their heads. But not our three-
time NSPc champ; she still manages
to keep her ego on check and she
never fails to strive harder.
“Yung mga tao sa paligid ko,
sumusuporta sa kin. Natakot naman
ako na i-dissapoint sila,” answered
Adorable when she was asked what
her inspiration was.
When asked for advice by other
campus journalists, she stated that
“wag kayo mawalan ng kumpiyansa
pero wag din kayong maging overcon-
fident at arrogant”.

Adorable started joining press
conferences during third year high
school. During that year, she was
The Augustianian Herald’s feature
editor so she was selected to join
the Science & Health Writing, a newly
introduced category, in the Division
Secondary Schools’ Press Confer-
mananalo ako noon kaya na-over-
whelm ako,” she admitted.
In her fourth year in high school,
Adorable was the editior-in-chief of
The Augustianian Herald so she
decided to face a different challenge
- Copy Reading & Headline Writing.
“Nung una, kinabahan ako. Gusto ko
Although being a consistent
honor student since second year,
Adorable rates herself a five on a
scale of one to ten. “I have a lot to
improve,” she insists. “Yung tinginpo
ng mga tao sa ‘kin, in an academic
setting, more than average,” she
said. Moreover, she believes her
“Tandaan niyo palagi na mag-
aling na kayo pero may igagaling pa
kayo,” she finished.
She may have made history
by winning thrice in the NSPC, but
what impresses me most about her
is her never-say-die-attitude and her
humility.
I
n Colegio San Agustin-Binan (CSA),
students aren’t the only ones fond of
making funny videos for even a mere air
conditioning unit has rose to fame after
starring in a Dubsmash video.
Just last November, Emmanuel
Spencer Felix, a student from Gr. 10 – St.
Boniface uploaded a Dubsmash video in his
Facebook account that became viral.
Currently, the video has reached 165,000
views, with 6700 likes and 622 comments and

NOT A DEADEND FOR THE DISABLED it is still increasing day by day.

derek
cabatbat
BABY STEPS.
Gabby Pamuspusan
(left) with unwavering
determination tries
to teach her ADHD
diagnosed brother, Neil
Pamuspusan (right) the
English alphabet.
GABRIELLE H. PAMUSPUSAN
My mother could not wait to arrive at Evangelista
Medical Center to give birth to my brother.The van
they were in came to a halt in front of the Sto.
Niño de Cebu Church and Colegio San Agustin –
Biñan, and so my aunt, a skilled nurse, assisted
my mother in birth. Upon reaching the hospital,
my brother was named Neil Agustin, derived from
my father’s name and Saint Augustine’s.
Three years had passed since the rareevent,
and then my brother was diagnosed with Atten-
tion Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). After a
number of consultations with his doctor, the real
problem arose: he was also diagnosed with Glob-
al Developmental Delay (GDD). This served as the
hurdle that made Neil’s condition impact his life
negatively, especially his studies.
All children learn in different speeds and
methods. Some may learn quickly, and others
may need more guidance than the rest. For some,
CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE
however, including my brother, there’s a great de-
lay in learning—GDD, hence the name. GDD can
be detected if a child experiences difficulties with
their speech, sight, movement, ability to commu-
nicate, and thinking ability.Even doctors are not
able to trace the cause behind this delay that af-
fects only 1-3% of the population.
Have you ever experienced wanting to give
up on your studies while a mere child is envious
of how you’re able to attend a normal school?
Sometimes I forget that I’m a fortunate student
who goes to a good school while my brother still
believes that one day, we’ll find a school that will
accept him. It’s not as easy as you would think,
searching for a school that would accept a child
with an uncommon disability. This isn’t solved by
simply putting him in a Special Education (SpEd)
school. He is capable enough not to have to at-
tend a SpEd school, but not enough to attend a
regular school.
It’s difficult to explain to people who ask
where Neil studies, and in what grade he already
is, especially to those who aren’t educated on his
situation. They might know what a SpEd school is,
but they will not understand why it is not appro-
priate for Neil.
Neil has already attended a number of
schools but he has never reached past Grade 1.
It’s been 3 years since the doctors told us that
Neil will never learn to read, butdespite this we
will continue to help him remember all the letters
of the alphabet. We will continue to look for a
school who will accept him as a student with a
disability varying from those of the students in
SpEd schools.
It’s fulfilling to hear children tell you their
dreams, with their shining eyes while they draw
their goals and hopes in their imaginations. Neil
tells us of his often, which is to become a veter-
inarian. In one of my visits to a SpEd school in
the past, there was one statement which they be-
lieved in: “I know I can’t do everything, but I know
I can do something.”
For everyone, there will always be barriers
along the way, but this will not stop any person de-
termined in achieving his dreams. However, have
the less fortunate people crossed your mind,
those who might feel hopeless in their desires of
touching the stars? Those who feel like their eyes
are shielded, forbidden from seeing the stars in
the sky?
If I were given one wish, I’d ask that Colegio
San Agustin – Biñan would open their doors to
people like my brother, and that there would be
more programs of help to the disabled. This isn’t
only for the sole reason that my brother would
receive support, but also that he may grow closer
to the Saint who he shares a name with and has
been there ever since he was born, our patron
saint, Saint Augustine.
In the first part of the video, Felix is lip-
syncing to Chris Brown’s Look At Me Now,
then he pans the camera to show the air
conditioner’s adjustable louvers or “flaps”
moving tune with the lyrics of the song, as if
it were rapping them.
According to him, “nailang pa ko
gawin yung video kasi nandoon yung mga
kaklase ko sa room.” He added that “pero
nung lunch, walang tao so nagdecide ako
na buksan yung Dubsmash at gumawang
video.”
He took four tries to record the
video and the last one is the video he
chose to upload in his Facebook. After a
couple of minutes, the video already had
100 likes. He decided to post the video
publicly because of one comment that said
the video is funny and could attract an
audience.
For those who don’t know what
Dubsmash is, it is a mobile application
created by Jonas Druppel, Roland Grenke
and Daniel Taschik. People who use this are
allowed to choose a variety of songs and
famous lines from movies and commercials,
then they will shoot a video of themselves
dubbing their chosen song or line.
People could also upload their own
audio, put on different filters and text
animations. Moreover, recorded videos
could be uploaded to social media sites
such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
”Nakakataba ng puso ang
makatanggap ng maraming papuri at
magandang komento sa publiko,” ended
Felix.
Dubsmash videos are purposefully
made to make people happy, and Felix did
just that. Once again, Augustinians are able
to showcase their talent with the help of
this application.
 the augustinian herald
MORE THAN A SCHOOL:
HUB FOR FILM AND TV PROD
► It was taken at the main lobby the scene where Piolo was fetching Sarah for a
date. Encircled in the photo is the school’s lady guard, Ate Sussy Asor.
► This table at the new canteen could be the luckiest one at the time ► Sarah’s attention was caught by her professor for being inattentive
the Breakup Playlist had its shooting in CSA-Binan. Why not? This is during her class. This scene was taken at one of the rooms on the
where the two big stars of their generation, Piolo and Sarah, talked first floor of the Rada Hall. Encircled in the inset photo is Sarah sitting
about the terms and agreement being band members. on the third row, fourth column chair as identified in the main photo.
SAMANTHA S. CHOMI | JHENNE CHLOE D. REYES
From being a quiet school in the outskirts of the city, CSA – Biñan is gradually becoming a hub for
film and television production. Having facilities fit for box office hits like The Breakup Playlist and
teleseryes like GMA’s More Than Words, CSA is no longer alien to being a site for tapings.
The most recent production that featured the school was The Breakup Playlist, directed by Dan
Villegas. The film stars Piolo Pascual and Sarah Geronimo as the two main characters. The shooting
of the film happened in the summer, so you’d expect that there wouldn’t be too many people trying to
get a glimpse of the happenings, but students, teachers and personnel alike thronged in the school
to see the shoot. “We cancelled our summer trip that day upon knowing that Piolo and Sarah would
shoot in the school,” Mr. Noriel Ciudad, a Grade Seven teacher, said in an interview.
The first scene filmed in the school took place in the audi-canteen, in which Piolo and Sarah’s
characters, Gino and Trixie, were engaged in conversation. Another scene was filmed in the lobby
where the characters are seen waiting for each other, and where some school personnel were visible
in the final cut, including Ate Sussy Asor, the school’s lady guard. “Grabe, di ko inakala na makikita
ko ang sarili ko sa big screen kahit medyo hagip lang,” said Ate Sussy. A third scene was shot in a
classroom with Trixie in the middle of a lesson.
Months before the filming of The Breakup Playlist, the romantic comedy series More Than Words
which was aired by GMA Network also featured CSA – Biñan in some episodes. Notable locations
seen on television were the school’s canteen and field, where the lead artists, Elmo Magalona and
Janine Gutierrez, filmed their acts. Even the Sto. Niño de Cebu Church just outside the school was
used as a film location in 2014 for GMA’s My Destiny starring Tom Rodriguez and Rhian Ramos.
The Anatomy of an Augustinian
TEXT: JENELLE CLAIRE M. CHAVEZ | GRAPHICS: MAECA P. CAMUS
In a crowd or all by himself, an Augustinian always stands out in such a way that you just have to know how exactly he does it. There’s the way of thinking, acting and speaking that are molded by views and
values. It’s not necessary what he looks like but what he’s made of. What are the things that make up an Augustinian? Here are a few:
MIND: It’s no secret that the main weapon of an Augustinian student is their
brain. Countless of ideas that have sprung from our minds are displayed
through our talents and creativity. From various competitions, district
to international, representatives of our school have showcased and
proven the abilities of an Augustinian mind. With the help of the Skill Enrichment
Program, many Augustinians have competed and triumphed in various interna-
tional and local competitions such as the Singapore International Math Contest,
Metrobank-DepEd MTAP, and the Philippine Robotics Olympiad, among others.
LIPS: Perhaps the single most effective weapon in human history is
reckless words released from reckless lips. An Augustinian knows
how to chew their words before they spit them out. He is not rash
with unnecessary comments and knows when to shut up and
when to speak up. He knows that, yes, his opinions are valid, but
they are just as valid as anyone else’s and does not disregard what you
have to say just because he does not agree with it. In Colegio San Agus-
tin – Biñan, everyone is encouraged to speak their minds, while
still assuring that they are not hurting anyone with their words.
HANDS: Hands that help, hands that care, hands that comfort,
hands you can depend on. It is said that the human hand is the
single perfect structure to have ever existed. They are even more
perfect by what they are used for. Augustinians are known to be
generous, they are willing to give the shirt off their backs and feed you
from the palms of their hands if they’re needed. They are able to create
handmade things with the best of intentions. Just like the Augustinian Peer
Facilitators (APF) who go to public schools and interact with other students
of their age. The APF offers their helping hands to other students by cooking
for them, by teaching them subjects like Science and Mathematics or by
simply being a confidant.
FEATURES 13
CRAMMING
AT ITS FINEST?
Cut Off for Now!
06:10 am 07:00 am
12:00 am 05:45 am
04:30 am
01:10 am 03:15 am
02:25 am EXAMS
REVIEW PERIOD
ALODIA CAREY M. BAISAS
GRAPHICS: JV FORTEZA
M
ost students are guilty of putting off reviewing for an important exam just to find them-
selves frantically trying to memorize a certain topic in the last minute. Whether they’re just
too lazy or simply overconfident, they could still use some advice from a multi-awarded
valedictorian.
Samantha Amante, batch 2015’s valedictorian and the 2014 Ateneo College Entrance Test
top notcher, is no stranger to the many methods of procrastination such as eating, surfing the net,
or watching television, among others.
“Just like any regular student, I still find it hard to force myself to review for a test,” admitted
Amante.
Two key factors in choosing when to review
According to her, the ideal review time for students depends largely on two things: 1) the sub-
ject, and 2) the amount of time you have.
“First is the subject. If you’re struggling with a certain subject–Math, for example¬-–you should
review it more,” she said. She also added that “If you find a certain subject easy, you should still
review it, but you can dedicate less review time to it.”
Next is the amount of time you have. You might be busy with extra-curriculars, personal mat-
ters, etc. So it’s important to learn to manage your time wisely. “Prioritize homework and projects
over reviewing, since these have tangible deadlines,” she advised.
But, she claimed that “doing homework is usually a good way to review your lessons anyway,
so you’re able to accomplish two tasks in one go!”
Make yourself comfortable
A lot of students just consider the date of the exams, reviewing only at the end of each quar-
ter, but it’s much better to review throughout the school year. This does not mean that you should
be studying all the time. Rather, you should review your lessons periodically, so that there’s a
better chance you’ll remember them and you won’t have information overload.
However, we cannot blame those who do this. If they’re used to it and it works for them, then
we’re not in the place to interfere. Everyone has a different style of learning, some can focus more
in the classroom, while some can focus more at home.
When and where you study does not matter, as long as you make sure that you are getting
things done and that you’re fully equipped for the battle that is an examination.
EYES: “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” This quote from Henry
David Thoreau that perfectly describes how an Augustinian uses his eyes. An Au-
gustinian is able to see a silver lining in everything, is able to see an opportu-
nity in any obstacle. Above all, he sees life as an adventure, a voyage for his
own growth. Even at a young age, Augustinians are able to come up with things
from rubbish like trash bins, water bottles and many others. An example of that
are a Do-It-Yourself Air Cooler, a Water Bottle Raft and a Solar Power Water
Purifier. Even though the inventions’ materials are made out of garbage, it did
not stop the Augustinians to improvise to satisfy their vision for innovation.
HEART: From the logo of our own school and our most identified Augustini-
an act- The Augustinian Bow. The heart is the most affiliated part to us Augus-
tinians, the things we do are the living proof of what we are: in everything we
do; the ideas might’ve come from our minds but it is in our hearts where we
learn how to feel and fulfill the charitable acts we do. Take Drew Quimson,
president of the Red and Gold Shields (RAGS) and a student from Gr. 9 – St.
Clare of Montefalco, who spearheads charities and outreach programs to
CSA’s sister schools as an example of an Augustinian with a charitable heart.
FEET: For you to get to where you want to go, you have to take one step at a
time. Augustinians are infinitely patient. They set a goal and will do everything
to reach it no matter how long it might take. They leave footprints behind so
when they do get to where they want to go, they know how to look back to where
they came from and realize just how far they’ve come. Nikki Valdez from the film
“Tanging Ina” and Ken Chan, now the star of GMA’s teleserye “Destiny Rose” are
former students of CSA, but amidst their busy schedules are still able to visit the
Augustinian community.
CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE
 p
14
Finalist, 37th Catholic Mass Media Awards
And CALABARZON’S BEST SCHOOL PAPER 2015
science
CARE FOR THE COMMON GOOD
EXPERIENCE
STATUS QUO
WHO’S AT
FAULT? We would only take calamity
warnings seriously and adhere
to evacuation orders to leave
‘danger zones’ once we
experience destruction.
TEXT: THERESE AYUMI V. SUZUKI
ILLUSTRATION: ELYANAH MARIE C. ACO
A
s the archipelago lies along the
Pacific Ring of Fire and is therefore
vulnerable to volcanic eruptions
and periodic movements of
the Earth’s crust, the readiness for any
calamity should be a priority.
The feared magnitude 7.2 earth-
quake caused by a movement of the
West Valley Fault traversing Metro
Manila may strike at any time based
on historical data, Renato Solidum,
director of the Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology (Phi-
volcs) stated in an interview with the
Philippine Star in June 2015.
Even without the Phivolcs fore-
warning, the nation must be keenly
aware that our country is geograph-
ically within the boundaries of the
Pacific Ring of Fire and is prone to
eruptions and the day to day shifts
of the lithosphere. Therefore, this
should be a precedence by the
millions of countrymen. Studies and
surveys have shown that even the
highly urbanized vicinity of Metro Ma-
nila is poorly prepared for “The Big
One”. Those studies show where the
weaknesses lie, and can serve as a
PROPERTY CUSTODIAN:
CSA-Biñan buildings, earthquake-proof
QUAKE READY BUILDING. The five-storey Senior High School Building,
paula
or the St. Monica Hall, used beams under the structure which are called
primo
“shoe footings,” specially used for high-rise buildings.
ELYANAH MARIE C. ACO
A school official in charge of maintain-
ing school buildings gives “consider-
ably high” marks to structures used by
Colegio San Agustin – Biñan saying that
buildings are “earthquake-ready.”
CSA-Biñan lies 1.13 kilometers
away from the West Valley Fault which
CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE
guide for ramping up preparedness. Mr. Arthur O. Sudoy, the Secu-
Without going any further, even
some students of Colegio San Agus-
tin-Binan display sheer unprepared-
ness, ignorance and lack attained
discipline and seriousness in order
to comply with the set of drills and
instructions given by the proper
authorities. The anecdote “Ignorance
is the privilege of not knowing” is not
reasonable and acceptable at all,
especially when calamity strikes.
Somehow, during the earthquake
drill conducted here in the institution
last June, most students in a certain
level did not perform the “duck-cover-
hold” properly. Moreover, students in
the other grade levels showed rude
behavior and disrespect by shouting,
making disrespectful hand gestures
and by not listening attentively to the
instructors. Thus, they were scolded
due to their misleading actions.
can generate up to 7.2 magnitude
earthquake.
Joel Aliquio, CSA’s property cus-
todian said that “the school’s prepara-
tion for natural disasters in if disasters
strike is considerably high in terms of
structure.”
According to Aliquio, all of CSA-
Biñan’s buildings were designed by ac-
June to DECEMBER 2015 | Colegio San Agustin, Division of BiÑan City, Laguna, Region IV-A (CALABARZON)
f
be updated, online!
like us on: facebook.com/theaugustinian herald
You should have
told us
to leave!
rity Officer has expressed his total
dismay during an interview with one
of the writers of the Augustinian
Herald. He stated that… “If I will be
rating the students from one to five,
it’s a two. Because based on their
performance, they didn’t take the drill
seriously because they knew it was a
drill, some of them were making fun
out of all the drills.
“Drills are preparations, parang
basketball game lang… Parang ang
gusto nila magkaroon muna ng actual
na lindol bago nila iayos ang drill...
Ang ano dito, more practice, everyday
or every time na prina-practice, the
more often that we practice the drill,
the more they get used to it, mas
mababawasan yung horse playing at
hindinagseseryoso. And sa tingin ko,
dapat yung mga fire and earthquake
drill executions should be graded,
credited architects and civil engineers.
The structures were built in “accor-
dance with the National Building Code,”
a codification of regulations that aims
to prevent the collapse of buildings in
the Philippines.
Aliquio also emphasized “most
of the school buildings are earth-
quake-ready according to PHIVOLCS
(Philippine Institute of Volcanology
and Seismology) standards” and that
“buildungs constructed from 1992 and
onwards must be designed to be earth-
quake-resistant.”
However, the oldest building, Rada
Hall was built in 1986. So far, it has not
shown any cracks or any signs of dam-
age, explained Aliquio.
“We can’t say for sure if our old
buildings are less safe structurally than
St. Monica Hall since every building was
designed with different circumstances
in mind,” Aliquio stated.
The earlier buildings used tie-
beams attached to the base to support
the building while the five-story Men-
del and St. Monica Halls used “shoe
footing” wherein beams are connected
Kumain ako nang kumain para
matanggal ‘yung stress, tapos,
mag-o-over exercise ako at hindi
kakain nang matagal.
A VICTIM OF EATING DISORDER CONFESSES► p17
yung iba kasi, they don’t take it administration turn the abstraction
seriously, kung ganito baka ma-mo- of zoning principles? Perhaps, at the
tivate sila magseryoso na,” Sudoy last minute, probably, when that “too
expressed. late” moment gets us all, most likely
Sometimes, the authorities can when the actual catastrophe hits.
only do so much, they can pass this In order to manage the disaster
and that decree, make other prior response, a community responder
notices regarding disaster prepared- should be organized, trained and
ness but the citizens lack the disci- equipped in order to execute search
pline to subordinate to these laws and rescue missions all throughout
even when it’s for their own safety. the communities in order for the fast
The fact is, we Filipinos are fond widespread of information to the
to learn everything the hardest pos- vicinities predicted to be affected by
sible ways. Earthquakes, eruptions, “The Big One”. With this method we
we would only take calamity warnings can easily maximize the remaining
seriously and adhere to evacuation time for drills and other missions.
orders to leave “danger zones” once If matters are not taken seri-
we experience destruction. And ously, we can only expect two things,
indeed, the marginalized poor are the total destruction of edifices and
the highly affected which would turn the moment wherein we pinpoint
the limelight back to the government: and blame our leader or any of the
Why are these people inhabiting authorities.
the danger zones and when will the But think, whose fault is it?
DIGITS
under the structure, specially used for
higher buildings.
1.13
More changes to come
kilometers is the estimated
There have been no major renova-
distance of Colegio San Agustin-
tions for building stability as of yet, but
Biñan from the West Valley Fault
proposals are made to further increase
System spotted at Halang, Brgy.
the strength and stability of the school
San Francisco, Biñan City, Laguna
structures.
as per data by PHILVOCS Valley
One such proposal is an audit of
Fault System Atlas. The fault
old buildings by licensed structural engi-
lines, traversing from the National
neers to ensure and check the safety of
Capital Region, extend to the
CSA-Biñan’s buildings.
boundary of Muntinlupa and San
However, CSA does not have its
Pedro, Laguna and even to some
own civil engineer so in the last Philip-
baranggays in Biñan City including
pine Accrediting Association of Schools,
the town proper, Brgy. Poblacion.
Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) vis-
With this in mind, CSA-Biñan
it, one of the feedback was for CSA to
has been conducting drills and
hire an engineer who will regularly check
raising awareness on the possible
the safety of its buildings.
effects of earthquake. Despite
Moreover, a room-to-room cam-
this alarming finding, students
paign for earthquake preparedness
seemed to be unaware of the
where facilitators will teach the “duck-
grim forecast on the extent of
cover-hold” tactic, among other tips, is
the possible damage the Big One
proposed as well.
might incur as they did not show
There are also plans to install
enough cooperation during the
sprinklers in all rooms of other build-
drill held in June 2015.
ings, similar to the case of the new St.
Monica Hall in the instance of fire.
 the augustinian herald
A TALE OF SCOLIOSIS
ABIGAIL M. ESTOYA
B
eing a grade nine student is
difficult on its own, but being
a grade nine student with
scoliosis is a whole different
story. It was the month of October when
Scoliosis is a medical condition
wherein the spinal chord is curved
like the letter S or the letter C. The
curvature can be moderate to
severe, depending on the case. Any
part of the spine can be bent in
scoliosis; but the most common
regions are the chest area or the
lower part of the back.
Currently, a lot of children
and adolescents have
scoliosis. In CSA – Biñan, at
least five percent of students
and teachers have scoliosis, I
being one of them.
Symptoms
I first noticed symptoms
of scoliosis during summer
vacation. I noticed that my spinal
chord had been slightly curved,
but I didn’t pay too much attention
to it because it was nothing major.
However, my doubts were
confirmed when I had an x-ray for
my severe cough. Although I tested
negative for pneumonia, I tested
positive for scoliosis since my curved
spine was evident in the x-ray, in fact,
it was bigger than what we expected.
That was also the time when my
mother noticed that my shoulders
weren’t straight and that one side of
Surviving Cancer:
a second chance
There is more to cancer than what meets the eye – school physician Dr. Grace Grecia can attest to this
“
My chemo, radiation therapy...
another surgery on the right breast
was a roller-coaster ride,
for almost a year.
DR. GRACE GRECIA
ABIGAIL M. ESTOYA abnormal lumps, or tumors.
According to Dr. Grecia, breast
They say you live only once – unless cancer survivor, in her experience, she
you’ve survived cancer, then you have did not have any specific symptoms but
lived twice. she just felt “vaguely unwell” and being
Nowadays, cancer has become a doctor, she did a series of laboratory
pretty common worldwide because of tests—it came out with normal results.
its deadly properties that can turn a Her next step was self-observation.
perfectly healthy person to a half-alive Her laboratory tests include having
one. a mammogram which is an X-ray image
of your breast used to screen for breast
What people know is that cancer
cancer. Her doctor then recommended
kills approximately 6.7 million lives
her to have an ultrasound since it can
every year but what they don’t know is
provide a more precise diagnosis than
how cancer happens and how it can be
a mammogram alone and can detect
stopped.
To most people, cancer is just a very small abnormalities. After the
disease that kills but actually, there is ultrasound, she also had biopsy and
more to cancer than what meets the eye lumpectomy.
–school physician Dr. Grace Grecia can
attest to this. Fighting Against Cancer
Since cancer is a complicated
The Cancer Process disease, second opinions are very
Cancer is a disease that begins as important, according to Dr. Grecia who
has consulted two doctors in detection
a renegade human cell over which the
alone.
body has lost control. In order for the
body and its organs to function properly, So far, the three main treatment
cell growth needs to be strictly regulated. options for cancer are surgery,
Cancer cells, however, continue to divide radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
and multiply at their own speed, forming Radiotherapy, also called radiation
my waist was thinner than the other
side of my waist.
Having Scoliosis
When we went back to my
pediatrician for the result of the x-ray,
he recommended us to consult an
orthopedist or a bone specialist.
we visited an orthopedist. According to
him, there are two kinds of scoliosis:
idiophatic and degenerative. In my
case, it was degenerative scoliosis,
which had no clear cause or source.
On another hand, according to
Google, degenerative scoliosis may be
the result of an accident or sickness
as a child. Also according to the doctor,
a 15 to 20 degrees curvature of the
spine is normal for children.
Since the curvature of my spine
was 18 degrees, only an observation
was done, and I was told to come back
in six months.
The Bad News
After six months, we revisited
the orthopedist. After getting another
x-ray, we were shocked to learn that
my the curvature of my spine had
worsened: from 18 degrees, it became
28 degrees at the higher part and 30
degrees at the lower part.
My back was shaped like the letter
S and I was a candidate for operation
but the doctor suggested I use a back
brace first.
We had a back brace made at the
Philippine Orthopedic Center and also
looked for a second opinion.
However, according to the doctors
there, the curvature of my spine was
therapy, involves using high-energy
radiation (usually x-rays) that shrinks
and destroys dangerous cancer cells
while chemotherapy uses chemical
substances or drugs to remove cancer.
Fighting against cancer not only
involves the medical part but also the
emotional and mental part of a person.
“My chemotherapy, radiation
therapy, its side effects, endless needle
pricks and another surgery on the right
breast was a roller-coaster ride, for
almost a year. It was a period of physical,
mental and emotional incapacity,” said
Dr. Grecia. “It left me with chemo brain,
mood swings, mouth sores, hair loss,
bloating, weight loss and feeling like a
melting candle. All of these, I endured
with a goal of surviving,” she added.
Of course, support from loved
ones and friends can help a patient
endure and survive this process. Dr.
Grecia’s daughter, grade nine student
Daniella Grecia, claimed that her mom’s
motivation for pushing through the fight
was her and her whole family. She also
said that we should cherish our parents
and life while they’re still with us.
CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE
SCIENCE 15
After six months, we revisited the orthopedist. After getting
another x-ray, we were shocked to learn that my the curvature
of my spine had worsened: from 18 degrees, it became 28 de-
grees at the higher part and 30 degrees at the lower part.
instead 38 to 40 degrees and said of her condition, we were going through
that I needed a back brace as soon as the same thing.
possible. She also could not move much
I got my back brace named and her back would hurt whenever
Milwaukee on May. I was advised to she stood up for a long time or bowed.
have a check-up every three to four She was also prohibited from playing
months. They also taught me exercises sports, even if she wanted to.
that would help strengthen my muscle. Our only difference is that she
On September, we came back doesn’t wear a back brace, but instead,
and received the good news that the gets therapy for her back.
curvature of my upper and lower back “Hindi naman masyadong
had lessened by eight degrees. naapektuhan ng scoliosis ko ang
schoolworks at ibang activities naman
Scoliosis in CSA ay kinakayako,” aniya.
Another victim of Scoliosis is For me, and I’m sure I can speak
Emee Marie Sobremonte of Gr. 10 for all who have scoliosis, when I say
– St. Boniface. Like me, she learned that we shouldn’t be treated differently
that she had scoliosis when she was or deemed weak for our scoliosis isn’t
15 years old. Although she wasn’t sure a hindrance for us to get far in life.
Fr. Juloc reminds Augustinians
to avoid ‘pink eyes’
LOUISSE KATHERINE S. GAPPI
With the sore eyes infection rate quickly increasing, Rev. Fr. Dante O. Juloc,
OSA takes action to inform guardians as well as students to watch out for
the viral conjunctivitis.
“It is highly contagious as transmission is via hand-to-eye,” the Vice
President for Student Affairs explained in a letter distributed to all the
students last September 18. Rubbing your eyes with hands that have made
contact with a surface contaminated with the said virus can infect you
instantly.
“Pink eyes” symptoms include redness, pain, itchiness, and a sensation
of having a foreign body in the eye. Matted eyelids, watery eyes, and blurred
vision are also common.
Sore eyes usually rectify on its own. However, perscribed eye drops and
application of cold compresses on the affected eye may reduce irritation in
the meantime.
Keeping the school a safe environment for students is one of the
school’s top priorities. “To ensure the well-being of our community, we strongly
recommend that students who may have one or more of the above symptoms
remain at home and be seen by an eye specialist,” Rev. Fr. Juloc stated.
LET’S HEAR FROM THEM:
Ms. Rosario Shalene J. Amar
Technical Writing Teacher, Grade Eight
Days Absent: 14 days
I noticed that my eyes feel as if a foreign object is in them. I sought
medical examination immediately. My opthalmologist prescribed me an
anti-inflammatory eye drops to relieve discomfort. At home...three times
a day for seven days. I got more sleep at night, took “eye break” from
activities that might trigger the pain.
Ari Chalmers M. Baisas
Grade Ten -St. Alypius
Days Absent: 8 days
The eye doctor advised to use ethyl alcohol every time I touched my eyes,
ethyl alcohol’s high alcohol percentage could easily remove the virus from
your hands to lessen the chance of giving someone sore eyes. My eyes
weren’t red on about the fifth only to learn that even if it looses its redness
the virus could still be there, take about two more days off of school to make
sure that the infection is completely gone.
16 SCIENCE
TEXT: ELYANAH MARIE C. ACO
GRAPHICS: MAECA LOUISSE P. CAMUS
I RIZAL GETS AN
t’s out with the old and in with the new for
the national hero’s beheaded monument in
the plaza of Biñan, Laguna.
After being struck by lightning at 11:30
PM of September 22, 2015, the century-old
Jose Rizal statue made of concrete lost its
head.
Two days after the incident, City Tourism
Officer of Biñan City, Jasmin Alonte, shared
in an interview with The Augustinian Herald
that a replica made of bronze will replace the
original statue, which was finished on May 18,
1914 under the term of Mayor Agustin Gana
and was supervised by Jose M. Rizal, a rela-
tive of the national hero.
At present, the Local Government Unit
(LGU) of Biñan City has decided to keep the
original statue, while the replica statue is un-
der construction.
Not a coincidence
This wasn’t just bad luck or a lucky strike
by the lightning for there are scientific explana-
tions that can say why it hit the 101-year old
Rizal statue.
First, it was made of concrete and con-
crete is composed of mixed up water, gravel,
and cement, which is used for constructing
roads, bridges, dams and other infrastruc-
tures. Notably, concrete was also used by
National Artist Guillermo Tolentino in making
the famous Oblation of University of the Phil-
ippines.
Once it gets overheated, the gravel or
the stones in the structure made of concrete
break up, thus decreasing its compressive and
tensile strength which may lead to it exploding
or getting destroyed. The Rizal statue was no
match for the lightning’s 50,000ºC or approxi-
mately eight times the sun’s heat.
The same thing happened with the Jesus
the Redeemer Statue in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
January 18, 2014. Lightning struck the stat-
ue’s left thumb, which was also its thinnest
part. Consequently, lightning also struck the
csa’s COSTLY ELECTRICITY: the shocking revelation
The figure shows electricity cost in the 6 main buldings of CSA-Binan. In its month with the highest electricity bill, CSA Binan spent
a wooping P 1,573,389.77 on its main electricity line (Urdaneta-Admin bldg) and P 119,700.30 on the Mendel Hall line. With the
addition of Saint Monica hall or the Senior High Building, how expensive the school’s electricity bill wiil get? (Graphics by Camus)
ALODIA CAREY M. BAISAS | ELYANAH MARIE C. ACO
If you’ve ever complained about our
high tuition fees, then you might be
surprised to read that Colegio San
Agustin – Biñanspends more than a
million each month just for electric-
ity.
Based on a copy of the electri-
cal bill from the Accounting Office,
monthly electricity has reached an
extensive amount of approximately
P1.5M, and is expected to increase
after the addition of the St. Monica
Building, intended for the Senior
High School.
Every school year, the Augustini-
an community is growing bigger con-
sequently, our electricity expenses
are also getting higher.
Shedding some light
At present, there are two elec-
tricity lines in CSA – Biñan, one for
the Mendel Hall occupied by the Col-
lege Department and another, the
main line, for the remaining buildings
occupied by the Preschool, Grade
School, and Junior High School De-
partments.
According to the previous se-
mester’s electrical bill, we consume
4456 kilowatt hours (kWH), meaning
we spend P44,000 everyday for elec-
tricity ¬– the equivalent of eight to
15 houses every month.
Comparing the school’s monthly
electrical bills, it was discovered that
the time period from July to August
CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE
STORED FOR RESTORATION:
UPGRADE
Rizal’s beheaded monument was made of concrete. Once a
concrete overheats, it breaks up. What more if it was struck
by a 50, 000 degree Celcius lightning or equivalent to eight
times the sun’s heat?
was the most expensive whereas May
to June was the cheapest.
From July to August, exactly
P1,693,090.15 was the school’s elec-
tricity bill, with P1,573,389.77 from
the main line and P119,700.38 from
the Mendel Hall line. The reason for
this substantial increase may be due
to the many celebrations of the feast of
St. Augustine, our patron saint.
Meanwhile, from May to June, the
electricity bill reached P799,432.03
for the Mendel Hall line was not in use
during the summer vacation and the
school year just started.
All in all, CSA’s electricity bills for
the first semester or from May to Sep-
tember add up to P5,445,235.29.
Cutting it down
It’s no secret that CSA’s expenses
for electricity are terribly high, but there
are still a lot of ways to to make it go
down.
The first and the simplest of ways
is by merely turning off the lights in the
classroom whenever the class goes
out.
Moreover, the school uses 12 40-
watt fluorescent lamps with a 52-watt-
age in each of its approximately 200
classrooms. Therefore, if each fluores-
cent lamp is used 10 hours a day, it will
use up a total of 15.6 kWhr (kilowatt
per hour) a month.
Along with turning off the lights, is
turning off the air conditioning unit. In
each classroom, there are two 2 hp
(horsepower) air conditioning units
that come up to about 573.9 kWh
monthly.
Also, make sure to turn off all
appliances that are not in use for
this not only uses up excess electric-
ity, but may also be the cause of a
fire.
Students should also learn to
avoid charging the gadgets in the
classroom. An alternative for them
is to bring power banks charged at
home in order to avoid using the
school’s electrical sockets.
Teachers are also advised to go
back to using visual aids like manila
paper, cartolina and pictures for over-
head projectors and multi-media pro-
jectors also use up a lot of electricity,
Importance of Saving
CSA spends approximately P10
M a year on electricity alone, and
with the addition of the new St. Mon-
ica Building, this is expected to go
up.
Due to its far distance from
the main line (St. Monica Building
is situated at the far end of school
grounds), the building intended for
the SHS will likely use its own elec-
tricity line.
To cut things short, if the school
administration spends a lot for elec-
tricity, then the students will also
spend a lot for their tuition fees.
the augustinian herald
Rizal statue’s neck, which was also its thin-
nest part, thus causing the head to fall.
Another reason is that whenever rain
is pouring hard and there are lightning, the
charged particles in the ground move with the
thunder. The negatively-charged thunder at-
tracts positively-charged particles, thus form-
ing lightning.
There is a higher risk of getting hit by light-
ning for taller objects for there is smaller dis-
tance between the positively-charged ground
and the negatively-charged storm cloud. Basi-
cally, the taller the structure, the nearer to the
clouds, the more chance of lightning hitting it.
In the statue’s case that is the second
tallest Rizal statue in the country, next to that
of Luneta Park, it was a clearer target than the
structures nearer to the ground
On being an improvement
After seeing that the older structure is no
longer fit to withstand harsh surroundings, the
local government of Biñan City decided to re-
place the statue with one made of bronze.
Bronze is composed of mixed up copper,
tin and other metals, and it is commonly used
in sculpture-making for its ability to expand
and fill out small details and spaces before
attaching them to the mold.
This also has higher tensile strength,
meaning a sculpture made of bronze does not
get easily broken. In fact, some sculptures
from Ancient Greece which are made of bronze
are still intact today.
Also, because bronze is an example of
conductor, it can hold its own against lightning.
Moreover, unlike other metals, it does not at-
tract lightning.
Some time in the future, the people of
Biñan are hoping to see Jose Rizal’s structure
in all its glory, standing proud in the middle of
their plaza, able to withstand whatever nature
throws in its way, and as a symbol of the integ-
rity of the city of Biñan.
D.I.Y. AIR COOLER:
Cooling Off,
the Earth-friendly
Way
ALODIA CAREY M. BAISAS | LOUISSE KATHERINE S. GAPPI
Augustinians took part in saving the environ- PROCEDURES:
ment by making innovations that aim to fight off
the worsening status of climate change.
One group from Gr. 8 – Bl. Augustine of
Tarano, led by Kyla De Guia, suggests making
a Do It Yourself (DIY) Air Cooler. The Science
Investigatory Project (SIP), a year-long prerequi-
site, made her group’s idea possible.
One of the SIP’s goal is to challenge
students to come up with an idea that will help
them make an invention that is cheap, effec-
tive and a good alternative for appliances like
electric fans or air conditioners that consume a 1) Use foam or aluminum foil to
high wattage of electricity. insulate the drum and prevent
“With the DIY Air Cooler, you won’t need the ice from spilling.
a lot of money and it would be easy to use,”
claimed De Guia.
For this to work, it is necessary to have a
material that is durable to serve as an insulator
to store ice and to secure the bin of the cooler.
The plan is to bring the cold air from the
cooler outside the room by making a hole that
will act as a vent for the cold air. The vent
should be five inches away from the ice storage
to avoid the water from melting ice to spill out.
The project will show how easy it is to use
a DIY Air Cooler and how much it will cut off
the electric bills in comparison to the energy 2) Cut a hole on top of the drum
consumed by an air conditioner. that is high enough to not spill
any water from the melting ice
It will also help reduce the the amount of
and mount an electric fan on the
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) chemicals, which hole.
cause the thinning of the ozone layer, that
comes from appliances like refrigerators and air
conditioners.
De Guia and her groupmates are research-
ing on the factors that they should study such
as the normal daily temperature of the Philip-
pines, the temperatures in which Filipinos are
comfortable, the average air conditioner tem-
perature preferred by Filipinos, and the amount
of electricity consumed by an air conditioner
after an hour of usage.
“We believe that there are still more ways
to improve our project, which is why we are con- 3) Put the electric fan on the
highest setting to get the best
ducting more research,” ended De Guia.
results.
 the augustinian herald
FOOD TRIP
BREAKING IT DOWN: Junk Food or Smart Food
We studied the nutritional value of the
top three most favorited food items
of Augustinians in a leading fast food
chain near Colegio San Agustin-Binan.
Based on a survey participated by 56 students
from the Junior High School department,
chicken fillet (28 votes), vanilla ice cream
with crushed cookies (17 votes), and chicken
burger (11 votes) were the three leadig food
purchased by Augustinians from a famous
fast food chain across the school. According to
them, the reason why they often eat these
is because they are cheap and satiating.
TEXT: ALODIA CAREY M. BAISAS
AND ALEXANDRA S. MORENTE
GRAPHIC: MAECA CAMUS
T
hey say you are what you eat,
so when it comes to eating in
fast food chains, perhaps no
one knows who they really are.
July of 2012 was when the
much-awaited fast food joint opened
in front of Colegio San Agustin –
Biñan, much to the students’ delight.
Fast forward three years later,
many are still guilty of not knowing
the contents of their favorite food in
the unmentioned fast food joint.
Mike Rebullida, a grade 8 stu-
dent stated that “kung tutuusin, mas
umaagaw ng pansin ko yung brand ng
pagkain kaysa dun sa mismong pag-
kain.”
In fact, the fast food joint is one
of the most common hangout places
Eating Disorder: Augustinians Tell Their Tale
CHRISTIANSEN ANDRE S. LUZGANO
A fine line separates not being hungry
and not wanting to eat. The former is
simply being full, while the latter may
be associated with how people see
themselves.
There are many reasons why teen-
agers skip a meal or two. One reason
is the “extreme fear” of putting on
some weight. In a study published in
the Journal of Adolescent Health, it is
revealed that 11% of girls and 4.7 %
of boys at the age of 13 are extremely
conscious in getting fat that they avoid
fatty foods or eat nothing at all.
Skipping a meal won’t affect you
much but starving yourself for a long
period of time will have a negative im-
pact on your body and it might develop
into an eating disorder.
Three of Colegio San Agustin-
Binan’s (CSA) students admitted to
having eating disorders: Angela Mis-
tranza from Grade 8- St. Augustine of
Tarano, Shanna Villadiego from Grade
10- Saint Ambrose both suffered Buli-
mia Nervosa and Gabriel Palacio from
Grade 10- Saint Boniface suffered
from both Bulimia Nervosa and Anorex-
ia Nervosa.
Brief explanation of the disorders
Bulimia Nervosa and Anorexia
Nervosa are both eating disorders that
involve self-deprivation of foods in or-
der to satisfy the obsession to lose
weight.
According to Google, Bulimia Ner-
vosa refers to the unstoppable desire
to overeat. These diseases distort
one’s body image, thus forcing them
to find a way to lose some weight. Af-
ter eating a lot of foods, the feeling of
depression comes which will result to
self-induced vomiting or fasting.
Meanwhile, Anorexia Nervosa is
an abnormal obsession to lose weight
by starving or using laxatives without
having food inside their stomach.
for students after another day of learn-
ing. Moreover, even employees of CSA
– Biñan admit to eating here if they do
not like the food in the canteen.
Augustinians’ Food Choice
Based on a small survey, three
of the Augustinians’ favorite food
from the fast food joint are chicken
fillet with rice, vanilla ice cream with
crushed cookies, and chicken fillet
sandwich.
In the survey, 28 students voted
for chicken fillet with rice as their fa-
vorite food. According to the website
FitnessPal, this food contains 450
calories, 750 mg of sodium, 45 mg of
cholesterol, 15 g of fat, 33 g of carbo-
hydrates and 16 g of protein. In total,
this is made of four percent Vitamin C,
two percent Calcium and four percent
Iron.
Meanwhile, the second favorite of
Talking from Experience
Angela Mistranza wasn’t clinically
diagnosed but she showed symptoms
of Builimia Nervosa at the age of 12.
She started to have an unhealthy food
consumption cycle when some of her
classmates bullied her because of her
weight.
“Kumain ako nang kumain para
matanggal ‘yung stress, after noon,
mago-over exercise ako and hindi ka-
kain nang matagal,” said Mistranza
For Shanna Villadiego, she didn’t
notice that she ate too much during a
fiesta that when her cousins teased
her about overeating, she rushed to
the comfort room and vomited all of
the food that she ate.
“I felt guilty kasi after trying to lose
weight, biglang kakain ng marami edi
nawala yung silbi,” stated Villadiego.
Villadiego felt satisfaction when
she purged all foods that she con-
sumed and it soon turned into some-
thing that she does all the time. Until
now, she’s struggling to stop her bad
routine.
Another complex case is Gabriel
Palacio’s eating disorder because after
being clinically diagnosed with Bulimia
Nervosa, it was discovered that the se-
verity of the illness affected her throat
because the vomit she previously re-
leased was mixed with stomach acids
that caused her esophagus to mimic
the lining of the stomach, causing Pala-
cio to have a hard time swallowing the
food so she ended up not eating any-
thing to avoid pain, thus developing her
Anorexia Nervosa.
In an interview with The Augustin-
ian Herald, Palacio stated that “nag-
karoon ako ng binge-purge session
wherein kakain ako ng kahit ano then
isusuka ko at mag-eexercise ako hang-
gang matulog ako.”
Downside of their actions
Naturally, they lost a lot of weight
Augustinians, with 17 votes, is the va-
nilla ice cream with crushed cookies
which contains 370 calories, 190 mg
of sodium, 35 mg of cholesterol, 17 g
of fat, 80 g of carbohydrates and 12
g of protein. All in all, this is made of
15% Vitamin A, 40% Calcium and 8%
Iron.
Finally, with 11 votes, third place
in the survey was the chicken fillet
sandwich which has 340 calories,
700 mg of sodium, 30 mg of choles-
terol, 16 of fat, 40 g of carbohydrates
and 14 g of protein. This food is made
of two percent Vitamin C, 10% Calci-
um and 15% Iron.
Other favorite food of Augustini-
ans from this fast food joint include:
chicken fillet ala king, cheeseburger,
chicken nuggets and French fries.
On affecting the body
There were many mentioned con-
and fats but unfortunately, the abnor-
mal cycles they got addicted to great-
ly affected their body and it started
changing drastically.
When asked about the conse-
quences, Mistranza answered that
“nagkaroon ako ng palpitation and until
now meron pa rin ako. I also had ulcer
and naging acidic katawan ko, tapos
naging irregular din menstruation ko.”
Meanwhile, Shanna Villadiego
said that “napapagod ako kahit hindi
mahirap yung ginagawa ko, madalas
akong nagsusuka, and nag-iba yung
cycle ko.”
During her Bulimia, Palacio lost 15
kilograms in just a span of 2 months
and her noxiousness stunted her men-
strual cycle. The image of herself she
sees is her “obese” version when she
CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE
tents of the Augustinians’ favorite
food, and each does a specific benefit
or danger for the body.
First of all, based on the website
Kids Health, calorie is a unit of ener-
gy and is needed by our body, but too
much calories can cause to weight
gain, as well as when one doesn’t use
calories to exercise.
Augustinians should avoid con-
suming too much fat such as saturat-
ed fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodi-
um for these may lead to cancer and
heart sickness, among others.
However, the body needs choles-
terol in order to produce hormones,
Vitamin D and other nutrients that can
help in digesting food. Cholesterol is
found in animal intestines, dairy prod-
ucts, shrimp and salted egg.
Lastly, sodium or salt helps in
regulating the blood pressure of a per-
son, but based on research, if one is
LETTING ALL OUT. Severe eating
disorders such as Anorexia and
Bulimia Nervosa are mainly
caused by an individual’s
insecurity towards their own
body. (Image Source: Google)
was in grade school and it doesn’t
make her satisfied. The purging that
she does after every meal became
worse that blood mixes with her vomit
so she decided to stop eating at all.
Palacio explained that “may times
na I really hate myself and super inse-
cure ako sa body ko.”
“Through skype lang kami nag-uu-
sap ng parents ko, kaya every weekend
na nakikita nila ko, napapansin nila na
hindi maganda yung build ng katawan
ko,” she added.
Notably, the common thing conse-
quence between the three of them is
getting tired easily and having an irreg-
ular menstrual cycle for their bodies no
longer receive the adequate nutrition
that they need.
SCIENCE 17
fond of salty food, one may have high
blood pressure.
Setting it straight
According to the Dietician Web-
site, a food is considered junk food if
it contains little amount of nutritional
value, but has a lot of fat, protein, sug-
ar, salt and calories. Examples of these
are chips, candy and bubble gum.
The impending question in all our
minds is whether the food being sold in
our favorite fast food is healthy or not.
Judging by the nutritional value
and the definition of junk food given
above, the foods from the fast food
joint are considered junk food for there
were bigger amounts of cholesterol
and fats instead of vitamins.
The verdict is in and although peo-
ple say that health is wealth, for fast
food chains, the people’s lack of health
is their wealth.
Attempting to stop
Due to the eating disorders being
somewhat connected to the psycholog-
ical health of the person, the cure isn’t
instantaneous because it is needed to
stop a compulsive habit.
Villadiego and Mistranza didn’t in-
quire any psychologist so they weren’t
diagnosed properly and they haven’t
undergone any treatment.
“It wasn’t the last time, I’m still try-
ing to stop,” claimed Village. She also
added that “tinatry kong icontrol yung
mga kinakain ko, baby steps lang.”
In Mistranza’s case she stated
that “after a few advices ng isang best
friend ko, I don’t use food na as a re-
liever ng stress tsaka ng insecurity,
tapos nagstop na rin ako magover-ex-
ercise and I ate normally.”
On the other hand, Palacio was
admitted to a hospital last June 2013
and was observed for a month. She
was given a psychological therapy and
her weight gain was supervised. She
took medicines such as anti-depres-
sants, sleeping pills and supplementa-
ry vitamins.
But the anti-depressants greatly
affected her brain. Her attention span
is very short, she always feels drowsy
and she vomits uncontrollably. After a
month of taking anti-depressants she
started to get addicted with it. Palacio
gets anxious if she doesn’t consume
one, so her parents decided to stop
giving her the drug.
After all this, Palacio was thank-
ful that “naging understanding naman
yung family at friends ko at palagi pa
ring sila nandiyan para sakin.”
Suffering through Bulimia and An-
orexia was definitely hard for them, but
through the help of the people around
them, and most importantly, their will-
ingness to get better, they are slowly
overcoming the battles they fight within
themselves.
18 SPORTS the augustinian herald

Eagles trounce
Franciscans, 3-0
ARI CHALMERS M. BAISAS
Joaquin Lindo served up 12 points
leading Colegio San Agustin-Binan on
their match against Saint Francis Na-
tional High School during the Cluster
Meet, 3-0, held in Colegio San Agustin
BIñan last October 13, 2015.
Captain Ball, Kirby Mupas’ spike
broke the 10-10 deadlock and started
the rally for San Agustin to break away
on the final set of the game.
San Agustin gained an early lead,
2-0, from the Franciscans made possi-
ble by key player
Franciscan player, Jose Averion
tried his best to play catch up. He end-
ed the game with a total of 10 points
three of them service aces.
Augustinian player, Collin Maca-
randan went to aid the key players.
Scoring six points including a powerful
block
St. Francis tried to trim San Agus-
tin’s lead but an authoritative drop ball
from Mupas stopped them at their
tracks finishing the final set 25-18.
“Ito ang bunga ng ilang linggong
pagsasanay ng mga atletang Agusti-
no…higit sa lahat ang samahan na
lubhang mahirap patatagin dulot ng
kanya-kanyang katangian na siyang bu-
mubuo sa koponan,” stated by Coach
Rocky Costales.

EN GARDE. (PHOTO FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) Middle blocker

derek

Eagle Shooters dribble

cabatbat Joaquin Lindo was grounded after receiving set from captain Kirby
Mupas to take to the sky and joust against players from Saint Francis
National High School.

Alumna jin adds gold

to Benilde NCAA winning to first ASAM crown
XAVIER JOHN P. ESPERANZA and body gave her the win, 10-4. XAVIER JOHN P. ESPERANZA
Cunanan is no newbie to com-

Lucille Lontok Cunanan showcased
her skills in taekwondo striking
through the competition winning it for
De La Salle- College of Saint Benilde
at the 91st season of the National
Collegiate Athletic Association.
As a representative of Mapua
Institute of Technology, Cunanan an
alumna of batch 2015, took part in
the women’s division of NCAA last Oc-
tober 3-4, 2015.
A well-timed block from Cunanan
at the middle of the round proved to
be effective at taking down her op-
ponent from San Beda on her first
match of the tournament.
Defense was her focus against
her second round opponent from
Lyceum of the Philippines. Her com-
bination of axe kicks and forty-five
kicks aimed at her opposition’s head
Eagle swimmers grab...
► continued from page 20
peting in taekwondo, for she has
already took part in numerous tour-
naments and competitions in other
countries, such as South Korea and
USA, as a member of Red Dragon
Martial Arts Academy, a martial arts
school owned by her family.
CUNANAN
P
oint Guard, Mark Alcarde exploded for 30 points Luka Llaguno played catch up dropping five three-point
to lead the Colegio San Agustin-Biñan to their first bombs to match up with CSA-Biñan.
Augustinian Schools Athletic Meet Championship UNO-R tried to break away at the third quarter but the
posterizing University of Negros Occidental- Recoletos, 62- stable defense of CSA-Biñan headed by big men, Masato Yogo
56, held in University of San Agustin- Iloilo City, November and Alvin Sugay proved to be too much for their offense.
24-30, 2016. A narrow margin of three points separated the two
San Agustin team captain, Lenard Manalang showed teams at the fourth quarter. Lenard Manalang stepped up
his scoring ability finishing with 20 points while Lorenzo and scored 12 points from his free throws, lay-ups, and jump
Layao also contributed with his three pointers and layups. shots to increase CSA-Biñan’s lead.
“Sobrang saya ng pagkapanalo namin kasi kami yung During press time, Yogo revealed their inspiration to
unang nag-champion ang school natin sa men’s basket- winning the game, “Ginamit naming inspirasyon yung
ball.” said Manalang. pagkatalo namin sa City Meet para mabigyan man lang
CSA-Biñan got a hold of a early 22-2 lead. UNO-R player, ng national crown ang school.”
SPECIAL FEATURE
D(e)AD INSPIRATION REMAINS
An exclusive interview with an almunus who has made Jose Rizal University
Heavy Bombers a team to reckon with in the 91st NCAA: PAOLO PONTEJOS
HAZEL ANN P. REYES

T
and took the gold of the 200-meter individual medley. Followed by teammate
he best thing to fuel an athlete in a game is an inspiration — ideally in
Lance Abadia who claimed silver.
the form of a person cheering for him from the crowd. However, to an
Lance Plaza kept the ball rolling for the Eagles. He captured the gold at the
alumnus point guard/shooting guard who has made a name for Jose
800-meter event while Abadia took hold of third place of the same event.
Rizal University Heavy Bombers in the 91st Season of National Collegiate
Ironkid , Juan Francisco Baniqued added another win for CSA , He came in
Athletic Association (NCAA), that inspiration doesn’t have to be in the game
second at both the boys’ 200 and 100-meter backstroke event.
physically, because it won’t happen anymore, as his inspiration is now in
The Eagles easily asserted their dominance once more by taking home the
heaven.
gold of both the 4x50 and 4x100 freestyle relay. All the medals and accomplish-
“My dad’s death only pushed me to do better and aim higher in basket-
ments sealed their ticket for the upcoming STCAA.
ball, because I knew that it’s what he would have wanted me to do,” shared
Paolo Pontejos, an Augustinian from Batch 2009, to The Augustinian Herald. FOR YOU DAD. Pontejos wore a
Baniqued dominates Ironkids...
► continued from page 20
His father, Mr. Joey Pontejos, died due to a heart attack on October
2015 at the midst of his sports endeavour in the NCAA. Pontejos said that
personalized shirt dedicating his game
for his late father. (Source: ABS-CBN
it made him be more eager to be the flag bearer of his team in the NCAA Sports).
defending his championship title in champion Tara Borlain, who paced a specially during their battle against the Arellano University Chiefs that ended
his final sweep of the Alaska Ironkids mere 19 seconds ahead of him. 114-112. In this close fight, he was able to contribute on the 4th quarter a
series, once again besting several Practically unchallenged, the remarkable record of 20 points, 8 assists, 4 rebound, and 2 steals to match
competitors and sweeping spectators young triathlete pulled away for good that of the Chief’s star player Jiovanni Jalalon (36 points, 16 assists, 7 re-
off their feet. in the final run phase, fading out of bounds, and nearly a triple-double).
He dove into the water haggling his competitors’ line of sight as he “Ever since I was young, my dad had always been focusing on building
for a good start. After a short moment completed the final stretch of the 2-ki- my basketball career. Not a day went without him watching my games and
of disorientation, he soon found his lometer run, clocking in at 7.42 and telling me ways on how I can improve my mistakes and step up my game,”
rhythm and began pulling ahead of oth- setting a huge gap between his finish- Pontejos said.
er swimmers, hitting the wall at 5.55, ing time and everyone else’s. Also, he believes that his father would have been so proud for his
becoming the first of 189 competitors CSA’s Baniqued, who posted an achievements today, and would not be any happier than seeing him fullfill
to complete the 300-meter swim and undefeated run in the 2015 Ironkids se- his dreams and do best in what the two of them love (basketball).
head over to the bike course. ries, played true to his form and reached Now that his number one coach has gone, he said that he would still
Baniqued easily dominated the home at 33.54.7, holding off three min- remain in his heart as an inspiration, together with his family, friends, and
boys category of the 9-kilometer bike utes ahead of runner-up Bernard Miguel present coaches.
ride, leaving most of his competitors Sy (36.31.6) and third placer Victor He also left a message to CSA-Binan basketball team that got easily
far behind enough that they lost sight Andrew Boherom (36.33.2). He shed a eliminated during the City Meet this year, “Never give up. If you still have a WITH THE STAR. Hazel Reyes (left) took
of him and couldn’t catch up. He few minutes from his seed time, setting complete family now, have them as your inspiration. If a dead inspiration can the opportunity to have a photo with
came in an overall close second in the an impressive new record for himself make you play hard, how much more a living one?” Pontejos (right) after the interview.
course at 20. 19 to fellow undefeated and the rest of the world to beat.
CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE
 the augustinian herald
LEAVING BUT GRATEFUL
‘Choking
Down’
Golf Career
TORRALBA
IAN I. LUZGANO
K
ristine Torralba, an Au-
gustinian for seven years,
brought Colegio San
Agustin’s pride inside and
outside the Philippines in the field
of golf by winning the 2011 Las Ve-
gas World Masters. Unfortunately,
she transferred to Christian Legacy
Treston IS (CLI) is a school that
offers Home Schooling for students
like Torralba.
Torralba decided to study at
home because her golf intervenes
with her studies and she had a
hard time balancing them. Her
whole day schedule caused her to
miss time for practicing and the
days allowed to be absent were
limited. In golf terms, she “choked
down” she gave more to golf by
sacrificing academics.
When asked about homes-
chool, she said that she’s happy to
have more control of her schedule
however; she misses her friends
and CSA. She now has a half-day
schedule unlike her old one and
CLI teaches through module, but
the teacher could monitor her one-
on-one.
She noticed a big difference
between CSA and CLI. Now she
doesn’t have any projects and
group works. She also said that
she had to double her efforts to
learn and pass in CLI. She also
shared that sometimes the teacher
handling her can’t answer her
questions because they’re tasked
only tasked to supervise and that
you need to really comprehend the
topics in subjects like Mathemat-
ics.
According to her CSA and CLI
are different in many ways from the
teaching approach, the rules (CLI
has an English Speaking Policy),
and atmosphere to the student
population.
EDITORIAL
Dehydration from Medals
► An act separating the city of Biñan from the first legislative district of the province
of Laguna to constitute the lone legislative district of the city of Biñan, or better
known as Republic Act 10658 which aims to carve out Biñan City as a new and lone
district, had been met with numerous commendations yet without a doubt raised a
few questions and more pressure on the throbbing hearts of most sports coaches.
GRAPHIC: MAECA LOUISSE P. CAMUS
derek
cabatbat
TIGHT GAME. Grade Ten Ytac (left) tried to snatch the ball from
Grade Eight Macasero (right) to widen the gap of their scores,
but the Sophies were witty enough not to let their Seniors outdo
them. In the end, Sophies won against seniors by two points.
INTRAMURALS
EDGED OUT
Sophies outwit Seniors, 45-43
XAVIER JOHN P. ESPERANZA
T
he “Sophists” were hailed
as the 2015 JHS Basketball
Intramurals champs as they
clinched the championship tri-
umph against their toughest rivals, the
Seniors.
The much-awaited championship
game drew screams of support all
throughout the audi-gym since the very
beginning. The Seniors were crammed
with excitement packed with an ex-
pected comeback after suffering a set-
back for they lost to the mighty Soph-
ists in their first game. Despite a huge
run late in the 4th quarter of action,
victory was in favour of the Sophists
on their first meet of the Intramurals.
Both teams played with a mindset
concentrated on a single mission, to
finish victorious. Ytac, Carlos and Vil-
lanueva rose as the Seniors’ “Big 3”
while Santos remains as the backbone
of the Sophomores, displaying his effi-
ciency in the low post as well as get-
ting rebounds as their big man.
Ytac, Santos and Delos Santos
were seen hurt on the floor while Ytac,
who started the scoring spree for the
Seniors, suffered the worst, carried by
the medic out of the game. Carlos cuts
the lead to two in the last minute of
action. He was fouled, tying the game
One of its authors, Rep. Danilo
Fernandez expressed that the president
“has no reason not to sign” the bill. Based
on the 2010 census, the municipality
has garnered a total population of
238,396, dramatically exceeding the
250,000 threshold required of a city to
become a lone district. Furthermore, it
is also considered as the “richest” town
in Laguna and that is has generated an
annual gross income of P1.3 B over the
last 3 years.
As Biñan reigns supreme over the
past Division of Laguna and has earned
the reputation of being the “poster
child” of medals every regional meet,
could the new Division of Laguna still
maintain its foundation?
From a legislator’s perspective,
there is no doubt that Biñan City is
highly qualified to be a lone district
and wouldn’t mind that much about
the other factors. But from a sports
coach’s perspective, we can expect a
CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE
SPORTS 19
POLLS ALARM
ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR ATHLETES
DURING THE FIRST TIME BINAN CITY HAD ITS OWN DIVISION?
*SURVEY CONDUCTED AMONG 300 STUDENTS OF JHS DEPARTMENT
Sports Head removes
Team B to beef up programs
ALODIA CAREY M. BAISAS
LOUISSE KATHERINE S. GAPPI
In a bid to strengthen the Junior High School Sports
program, certain modifications were made to the var-
sity club’s line-up such as the removal of the team B.
Starting this school year, the varsity team will no
longer have team B’s. Instead, whoever doesn’t make
it to the varsity, can only join the sports clubs wherein
they can still train to improve their skills, but cannot
join major competitions.
“Redesigning as such will mean more opportuni-
ties, will help the school meet its obligations and will
increase the benefits of playing sports,” claimed Ms.
Michelle Dee, JHS Sports Coordinator.
Another reason why the team B was removed was
because CSA must conform with the Senate Bill No.
2166 or the Magna Carta of Student-Athletes which
recognizes the general welfare of student-athletes en-
compassing academics, amateur sports, and mental
and physical health aspects.
“With the systemized program, more relevant op-
portunities will be e provided, standardized coaching
staff, balance between academic and athletic perfor-
mance and it will lessen sports-related injuries and set-
backs,” said Ms. Dee.
Ms. Dee’s hopes for the future of the JHS Varsi-
ty are “a more comprehensive sports program that
will ensure the welfare of the Augustinian ath-
letes, both in academics and athletics” and
“well-rounded Augustinian athletes that
are tough enough to face challenges but
graceful enough to face defeat”.
“It’s no secret that sports help to
shape most of students’ lives,” Ms.
Dee finished.
WOMEN’S
REVOLUTION
BAISAS:
Ronda Rousey
serves as a symbol
of empowerment
for the female
gender ...This is
a start of a new
period in our
society where men
at the 29.9 mark. and women can
coexist as equals.
At exactly zero second left in
the shot clock, Villanueva, who ear- JUST PLAY IT
lier scored several baskets driving
ARI CHALMERS M. BAISAS
through the middle and even man-
aged to run down the court leading Ronda Rousey claims the Best Fight-
to his chase-down block that throws er at 2015’s ESPY awards, taking the
the ball out of bounds, was fouled title from the pound for pound champi-
and given two free throws. Despite on Floyd Mayweather.
the free throws that would have tied
The undefeated MMA fighter,
the game for the Seniors, the Sopho-
Rousey, took the award from May-
mores win, 45-43.
The Sophomores were acclaimed weather and mentioned his histo-
as the champions, completing the ry of domestic abuse. In response,
2015 Basketball Intramurals with no Mayweather said that Ronda should
single defeat. “Make $300 million in each fight”
before she can talk to him. Ronda re-
plied with “Read a Dr. Seuss book first
and then talk to me.”
drastic drop of achievements, awards It is better that Rousey got the
and medals from the Division of Laguna award over Mayweather because he
since Biñan has left their stride.
won his only fight this year by judge’s
Biñan has attained the top athletes
decision compared to Rousey’s wins by
in all categories, leaving the districts of
knockout and submission. I know May-
San Pedro and Cabuyao alone and with
weather still remains undefeated with
the two composing the new Division of
a lot knockouts but there were also ru-
Laguna. It is obvious that Laguna will
not be on track as they used to be with mors that Mayweather paid judges for
Biñan. their decisions to win. Ronda’s fastest
The new Division of Laguna will be match was against Cat Zingano when
the tail ender every regional meet. With she beat her in 14 seconds while May-
their athletes compared to the players weather’s match against Tony Duran
of Biñan City, Biñan still dominates the was his fastest when it ended in 1 min-
statistics of most awards and medals.
ute and 12 seconds.
Nevertheless, this possible outcome
Ronda Rousey serves as a sym-
could be countered if ever the districts
of San Pedro and Cabuyao pursue with bol of empowerment for women be-
blood, sweat and tears to defend the cause since this award was released
imperium of Laguna. in 2007 all of its recipients were male
If no attention is given to the new and this is the first time a woman was
Division of Laguna due to the legacy and nominated and won the title of best
confidence left, expect the dehydration fighter, this may signal the start of
of medals from Laguna. equality between the two genders.
sports
► calabarzon’s best school paper 2015 and fINALIST, 37TH CATHOLIC MASS MEDIA AWARDS

the augustinian herald

FE ATUR ES
D(e)AD INSPIRATION REMAINS
PAOLO PONTEJOS TELLS US WHO
FUELS HIM TO PLAY HARD FOR JRU ► p18
writing news. making history. PONTEJOS

TOO EARLY A BREAK

VO L . 29 N O . 1 | T H E O F F I C I A L J U N I O R H I GH SCH O O L ST U D E N T P U B L I C AT I O N O F CO L EGI O SA N AGUST I N , D I V I SI O N O F B I Ñ A N C I T Y , L AGU N A , REGI O N I V - A ( C A L A BARZO N ) | J U N E TO D EC E M B E R 20 1 5

No comeback this time as UPHL Saints oust CSA Eagles, 71-56

“Kakayanin ko ito
kahit mag-isa lang
ako sa regional
meet.
LENARD RAYE MANALANG
TEAM CAPTAIN
CSA-EAGLES BASKETBALL TEAM

LONE STCAA DELEGATE. CSA-Eagles Team Captain Lenard Raye Manalang is the only drafted player from Colegio San Agustin to continue his team’s journey to the Regional Sports Competition. This year had been
derek
cabatbat tough to his team after getting eliminated early by Univerity of Perpetual Help Saints during the City Meet.

XAVIER JOHN P. ESPERANZA

T
he University of Perpetual Help
System-Laguna Saints take
their much-awaited vengeance
pounding the Eagles to a
hard-hitting shortfall, 71-56, in their
opening game of the Basketball City
Athletic Meet held on November 19,
2015 in the Alonte Sports Arena.
Derrick Lauchengco of the
Perpetual Saints caught fire from
beyond the arc, drilling treys as he
drives the Saints towards a convincing
lead against the struggling Eagles.
Lauchengco shot the lights out, being
left wide-open by the defenders,
propelling his 3-point FG percentage
beyond 50%.
Sean Sandoval, Saints’ star play-
er, showed his dazzling performance
late in the second half. Sandoval,
considerably tall as a wingman,
helped the Saints pulverize the Eagles
with his slashing abilities towards the
paint and beyond belief dribbling skills
which almost put his defenders on
skates.
Lorenzo Layao provided the
Eagles an early boost, piercing long
bombs during the 1st quarter. Layao
set the tone for his squad, calling
plays for a vital defensive breakdown
of the Saints’ zone defense.
Lenard Manalang, the Eagles’
team captain, did not go out of his
business. As the Eagles’ star player,
Manalang exhibited his on-court versa-
tility, threading the needle through the
Saints’ paint resistance, rising with
his high-flying lay-ups and showing his
low-post moves after adjusting from a
small forward to a power forward.
Mark Alcarde never came out of
the show, letting the Saints endure
his astounding backcourt knack with
his speedy ball-handling cleverness,
leaping and attacking towards the
basket, embarrassing the non-tower-
ing frontcourts with his sky-scraping
teardrops.
Masato Yogo and Alvin Sugay,
the big men of the Eagles protected
the paint very well, grabbing defensive
boards for instantaneous break-away
plays that were ceased by the Saints’
firm transition defense. Despite their
huge physical presence, the Saints
were still able to drive down the lane
and score key baskets.
There were several lead changes
commencing from the 1st possession
up to the last minute of the 1st half.
The Saints’ lethal 3-point shooting
slaughtered the Eagles’ awful defense
that must have been man-to-man.
The Eagles fought hard until the
concluding sound of the buzzer but the
Saints were just too much to handle.
Their willpower seemed to be
futile, not being able to bounce back
after a dreadfully tough hammering
from the Saints.
The Eagles brawled intensively
but ended up getting a taste of their
own medicine.

NEXT UP, REGIONAL MEET MAYBE, ‘REAL’ TEACHERS ARE BETTER

Baniqued
Eagle swimmers grab 25 golds dominates
ARI CHALMERS M. BAISAS

The Colegio San Agustin Biñan Swim

Team didn’t let up with the other dele-
gations after taking home 25 gold, 18
silver, and 8 bronze medals this past
City Meet held in Colegio San Agustin
Biñan on November 19, 2015.
Una Sibayan started the winning
spree for the Eagles. She finished sec-
ond on the race for the gold medal on
the Girls’ 400-meter freestyle event.
The Eagle Swimmers continued
to raise the bar as Bryan Camacho
claimed the gold medal for the boys’
100 and 200-meter butterfly event,
second place of the 200-meter breast-
stroke but finished third 100-meter
breaststroke after being bested by
Ironkids 2015
teammate Lancelot Abadia.
Sibayan continued to highlight her
skills in swimming. She finished ahead
of the pack at 800-meter freestyle and
took the silver at both 200-meter free-
style and 100-meter breaststroke. An-
drea Carpena who was on Sibayan’s
tail pocketed the bronze medal of 200
and 100-meter breaststroke.
Princess Cole took the second
place of both the 200 and 100-me- BANIQUED
ter butterfly events meanwhile Josh
Aveno claimed second and third place PRINCESS ANGELA DS. COLE
at boys’ 400-meter freestyle and

L
while Jericho Tubalado finished sec- COACH EXCHANGE. Quintana, the goal keeper of CSA-Biñan football
200-meter backstroke respectively. derek ording over three consecu-
ond for the event and took the third cabatbat team, tries to block the ball coming from his new teacher-coach, Mr. CJ
place victory at the 100-meter free- A determined Camacho show- Sembrano, during an afternoon training. Effective this academic year, tive championship titles and
style event. cased his talent as he broke away the sports office aims to further beef up all the school’s sports program an ever growing list of athletic
Meanwhile Isaac Cole secured from the other competitors ► p18 by following the standards of Magna Carta for Student-Athletes, and one achievements, Juan Francisco
of its steps is assigning teachers coaches in all the sports areas. Baniqued, proved once again that he
is definitely one of the top guns in the
game when he reeled in yet another
Looking for torralba lately? Be updated, online! sweeping victory last August 1 in the
Alumna jin adds Get news update, feature fourth leg of the 2015 Alaska Ironkids
We’re afraid you’re not stories, relevant edito- Triathlon series held in Lapu-lapu City.
gold to benilde seeing her anymore. Our
rials right¯ from your
gadget by liking us on After months of undergoing rigor-
ous training and intense conditioning,
ncaa winning golf star player is now
CUNANAN
> P18
homeschooling. > P19 TORRALBA g
FACEBOOK.COM/THEAUGUSTINIANHERALD
hard work and determination proved
to be effective as Juan Fransisco
Baniqued succeeded in ► p18

CSA-BIÑAN @ 30: SUSTAINING EXCELLENCE, UPHOLDING TRANSFORMATION, ENVISIONING GLOBAL COMPETENCE