Name: ______________________________________

Grade and Section: ___________________________

SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY

The Philippines and its Man-Made Satellites
By Jove Moya
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), man-made satellites
provide scientists and experts with a bird's-eye view of the Earth's large areas at one time. These
objects give them the ability to collect data more quickly than instruments on the ground. Satellites
can also see into space better than telescopes on the Earth's surface.
There are a wide range of things that artificial satellites can do, from the complicated to the
simple day-to-day necessities. For example, your local weatherman would know that without these
objects, he simply cannot predict the weather in the coming days or weeks. The same goes for the
tracking apps you use when driving around an unfamiliar town—without satellites, you would have
gone the wrong way thrice before figuring the right path out.
"Some take pictures of the planet that help meteorologists predict weather and track
hurricanes. Some take pictures of other planets, the sun, black holes, dark matter or faraway
galaxies. These pictures help scientists better understand the solar system and universe," NASA
explained.
"Still other satellites are used mainly for communications, such as beaming TV signals and
phone calls around the world. A group of more than 20 satellites make up the Global Positioning
System, or GPS. If you have a GPS receiver, these satellites can help figure out your exact location,"
the group added.
The Philippines launched Agila 1 or Mabuhay on March 20, 1987 under the name Palapa B2-P.
The satellite was initially under the Indonesian company PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantura until it was
acquired in 1996 by the Mabuhay Satellite Corporation under PLDT. Upon its acquisition, Mabuhay
officially became the country's first satellite.

Source: https://www.tatlerasia.com/power-purpose/ideas-education/the-philippines-and-its-satellites
Name: ______________________________________
Grade and Section: ___________________________

ARTS
The State of The Philippine Art Scene During the Covid-19 Pandemic
By Franz Sorilla IV
When the world stopped because of Covid-19, activities that catered to a live audience were
compromised. Most affected was the arts, be it performing or visual. But such a creative field found
ways to show their art and reach their audience confined at home. Museums and galleries began
offering virtual and audio tours and opened their exhibitions via digital meeting rooms. Ballet and
theatre companies made available archival footages of ballet performances, stage plays, musicals,
films and concerts; they also used the digital medium to conduct workshops, seminars and talk
shows.
“We are preparing to launch Art in the Park 2020 online from August 10-17,” Art Fair
Philippines co-founder Trickie Colayco-Lopa announces. Since most of their colleagues in the visual
arts ecosystem have gone digital, Lopa hopes that the online version of the art event will continue to
raise funds for the Museum Foundation of the Philippines. “We are trying to do what we can to
support Filipino visual artists at this difficult time,” she says. Whether Art Fair Philippines can be held
next year on its traditional month of February, remains uncertain.
For the performance arts, the chairperson of the Cultural Centre of the Philippines (CCP),
Margie Moran-Floirendo, shares that the pandemic situation fast-tracked the implementation of the
institution’s pending transition plan to an online platform. “We have started collaborating with Virgin
Labfest [VLF] in launching last June 10 live virtual performances on CCP’s and VLF’s Facebook
accounts. We have partnered with Vimeo, so people can watch all shows with behind-the-scenes
footage, talkbacks, et cetera,” Floirendo says. CCP has also held an online concert and has uploaded
archival footage of past performances of its resident companies. The Cinemalaya Independent Film
Festival 2020 is premiering via online streaming this month.
Source: https://www.tatlerasia.com/lifestyle/arts/the-state-of-the-philippine-art-scene-during-the-covid-
19-pandemic
Name: ______________________________________
Grade and Section: ___________________________

POLITICS
On Martial Law at 50: Fact-Checking the Marcos Story, Countering the EDSA History
(An Excerpt)
Bonn Juego
On 23 September 1972, the late President Ferdinand Marcos went on television to announce
Proclamation No. 1081, establishing a state of Martial Law in the Philippines. Constitutional
authoritarianism, or the use of constitutional law to justify authoritarian governance, was imposed on
the entire country to build a “New Society”. Under conditions of Martial Law, Marcos had the
monopoly to make decisions on government operations because there were hardly any democratic
limits to his prerogatives. Data of the country’s economic performance from the mid-1970s to the mid-
1980s indicate that there had been significant decline in standard of living, including in the
environmental aspect, as shown in: decreased real wages of workers and farmers; increased levels
of poverty, inflation, unemployment, and external debt; and massive deforestation where forest cover
in the whole archipelago got reduced into almost half.
The international community has come to know the infamous Martial Law years as a brutal,
corrupt, and extravagant period in Philippine history. The Guinness World Records has given the
Marcos spouses a title for the “greatest robbery of a government,” where national loss from graft and
corruption amounted to 5–10 billion US dollars. Fifty years after the declaration of Martial Law and 36
years after the Marcoses fled the Malacañang Palace, the son and namesake of the former dictator,
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., has become the democratically elected President.
In order to effectively fact-check and counter the historical denialism of the Marcos family,
there is need for a counterfactual history analysis of the failings of the 1986 EDSA People Power
Revolution. This counterfactual reflection implies the contingency rather than inevitability of the
Marcos Return phenomenon and the process of socio-political change. Some key propositions and
presuppositions are put forward in the following discussions.
 First, if EDSA’s spirit for social justice and democracy had come to life, then “never
again” would there be a Marcos and the like elected to public office.
 Secondly, if EDSA’s aspiration for genuine social change were to be realized, the state
would have established social institutions conducive to nurturing active citizenship.
Meaningful social change will not come from any messianic politician but from
enlightened citizens.
 Thirdly, if EDSA’s important tenets of liberalism had progressed into the values system
of Filipino citizens, then backward features of political conservatism would have been
minimized.
 Fourth, if the EDSA’s promise to establish a “democracy under the rule of law and a
regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace” had been fulfilled, as
 promulgated in the Preamble of the 1987 Constitution, then citizens would not have a
confused ethical and moral compass.
 Fifth, if EDSA’s democratic institutions for a just and humane society had matured, there
would not be an illiberal politician like former President Rodrigo Duterte who could
sustain a huge following among the electorate despite—or because of—wanton
disregard for due process and human rights.
 Sixth, if EDSA’s democratization process had consolidated and deepened, there would
not have been political dynasties thriving on violence, patronage and money politics.
The competitive presidential election of May 2022 was a battle to win the electorate’s
heart, mind, and stomach. It brought together the most veteran and wealthiest Filipino
political families (the Arroyos, Estradas, Enriles, Revillas, Villars, and Dutertes), their
rich benefactors from the business sector, and their local political elite clienteles – all in
support of reinstalling the Marcoses, the old political royalty of the Philippines.
 Lastly, if EDSA’s economic vision for national industrialization and its requisite land
reform had materialized, social-media mythmaking and whitewashing about the “golden
age” of Martial Law and the edifice complex of the Marcoses would be an extremely
hard sell, if at all plausible.
As has been manifested in the current political moment, the economically insecure and
vulnerable population can be swayed easily by satirical videos and memes in social media. Ridiculing
the anti-Marcos groups online about the blunders and failures of the EDSA republic is both affective
and mind conditioning to many. This is because such mockery has a touch of truth.
Source: https://th.boell.org/en/2022/09/23/martial-law-50
Name: ______________________________________
Grade and Section: ___________________________

ETHICS
10 Important Life Lessons We Are Often Taught Too Late
by Ladders Contributor, 2021

Life is a continuous learning experience. Throughout our lives we keep rising and falling,
picking up important lessons along the way. Some of these lessons come from experience, yet there
are others that we learn by watching others or reading in books for example.

No matter how much we learn from the books there is a significant difference between
practical and theoretical experience. Furthermore, there are many life lessons that we simply cannot
learn until we face certain situations in our life. Most people would say that there are some lessons
that come too late, catching us off-guard and unprepared.

The following list unveils some of the most important lessons in life that people learn the hard way.
1. Walk your own path
People like to judge other people. This peer pressure can make you stray from the path you started to
carve for your future. Don’t mind other people’s aspirations, don’t ever let someone else’s goals and
dreams influence your vision of life. It’s your path and you decide where it takes you and how long it
takes you to see it through.

2. Don’t hesitate when you should act

There is an old Roman proverb that people often quote – “Carpe diem” – meaning “Seize the day”.
More often than not, we fail to act due to lack of confidence or courage. This hesitation keeps us from
moving forward and puts us in a cage of wondering what might have been. Whenever you feel it’s
time to act, take action. No matter the outcome, you will end up smarter than before.

3. Experience what you have learned

No matter how much we think we know about some topic, it’s only after we have put that knowledge
into use that we get confirmation of the actual level of understanding that we possess. As
EduGeeksClub’s career expert, Julia Smith once wrote: “Young people often face difficulties when it
comes to putting what they have learned into practice; therefore, all this knowledge becomes useless
when it should be the fuel that propels their careers''.

4. Good things don’t come easy

If you want to have a good life with a successful career, emotional satisfaction, and trustworthy
friends, you have to work hard. Luck can take you only so far and the rest is entirely up to you, the
amount of effort you put in every day, and the ability to learn from your mistakes. Don’t think for a
moment that someone else is going to fight your battles with the same vigor and devotion as you
would.

5. Never fail to try more

Even when we’re feeling most prepared there is a chance, we fail in accomplishing our goal. An
athlete could lead the entire race only to fall just in front of the finish line and lose. This doesn’t mean
the athlete should stop competing; on the contrary, he would work even harder for the next
competition. The results will come, eventually.

6. Take care of your health early

When we’re young we can push our body to its limits day after day. It seems as if nothing can touch
us and we are invincible. Start developing healthy habits while you’re still young and healthy.

7. Make every moment count

Life goes by faster than we think. When you’re in your twenties you think you’ll stay there forever but
before you know it you are in your thirties and it’s too late for the things you wanted to do as a young
person. Live your life to its full extent because life is short and we never know what tomorrow brings.

8. Live and let live

We often try to help people when we see they’re making a mistake. This type of behavior can lead us
into all kinds of troubles and misunderstandings. Don’t force your ideas onto others, let those who
want your help and guidance seek you out. Sometimes it’s best to stay away and let them come to
you or you might seem intrusive to others.

9. Be flexible with your goals

Sometimes we feel it’s the right time to take action and put our plans in motion only to realize that we
were wrong. It’s important to analyze our current position and how our activities could influence our
future. Sometimes it’s better to postpone a certain goal or even change it for the time being.

10. For every action, there’s an equal opposite reaction

Before you say something or act in a certain way, think about the consequences. A person could be
unprepared to hear some truth or won’t respond well to our gesture, no matter how good our
intentions are. Treat each word with caution.

Take these pieces of advice as guidance, not as a rule. Your life is your own and you know what’s
best for you. However, keep in mind that morning is wiser than the evening. Enjoy life!

(Source: https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/10-important-life-lessons-we-are-often-taught-
too-late )
Name: ______________________________________
Grade and Section: ___________________________

AGRICULTURE
Crisis in The Agriculture Sector in The Philippines
Reviewed by Prof. Linda Burke
According to the Convention of Biology, the Philippines is one of the 18 mega-diverse
countries in the world. On a per unit area basis, we harbor more diversity of life than most countries
do. In fact, the Philippines ranks fifth in the number of plant species and maintains 5% of the world's
flora. However, out of the three economic sectors - services, industry, and agriculture - our agricultural
sector struggles the most.
It faces the most challenges ranging from small to no return of investment, little support from
the government and other relevant sectors, climate change, corruption, and crippling debt. Farmers
are the vital for the survival and development of the agricultural sector, yet farmers face an
aggressive cycle of debt where they're taken advantage by traders.
According to a Rachel de Villa, the cofounder of Cropital, the first crowdfunding platform
supporting Filipino farmers, "Farmers live in debt, paying high-interest rates, sometimes 50% per
month... Sometimes they have no choice but to accept these kinds of terms that eventually eat up
their income. They're also taken advantage of by traders - you know, the middle-man who buys their
produce for one cent and they'll sell it for $ or P65 so they get all the profits."
Furthermore, the Philippines is one of the five most disaster countries in the world,
experiencing over 20 typhoons every year. Too poor to invest on defenses against it, typhoons can
wipe a whole field of harvest which leads them both destitute and desperate. As put by Senator
Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan, "Being a farmer is like being a priest; you take a vow of poverty and make a
pact with the lord that no typhoon will come and destroy your crops."
Hence, farmers have to borrow money from the traders and remain in their debt. Unable to pay
it, the debt only continues to increase. Additionally, farmers feel the impact of corruption heavier than
people with average income do. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority released last June 30,
2017, among the nine basic sectors, farmers are one of the highest poverty incidences with a record
of 34.3% and have consistently registered as one of the three sectors with the highest poverty
incidence last 2006, 2009, and 2012. That same month, the executives of the Department of
Agriculture Constancio Maghanoy, Jr. (Regional Executive Director) along with the Bids and Awards
Committee (BAC) officials Isagani Basco (Chairman), Alma Mahinay (vice-chairperson), Alfredo
Cayabyab, Rafael Mercado, Larry Pineda, Herna Palma, Rosalinda Mediano, Melani Provido,
Isabelita Buduan, Lelisa Lascuña and Marie Ann Constantino were accused of graft and corruption.
 There is also the notorious coconut farmers' issue under former President Marcos' regime.
Nearly P9.8 billion was collected from coconut farmers during 1971 to 1983. As of right now, all those
coco levies are estimated to be worth P93 billion and the coconut farmers haven't received the justice
they ought to have. Due to all of these issues, the children of farmers strive to create a better life for
themselves, their parents, and their grandparents before them which makes the average age of
Filipino farmers 57-59. The government indirectly encourages this due to the growing urbanization in
the Philippines and the revival of many industries like manufacturing which attracts many youths from
the agricultural communities.
The solution to the crisis of the critical shortage of farmers is to make farming a productive and
profitable career and not just maintaining a large number of farmers. We need to invest on the health
of farmers and arm them, along with potential farmers, with financial and business literacy. They
should be equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills, and technologies to fight against the
problems provided by both natural disasters and human greed.
Source: https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/crisis-in-the-agriculture-sector-in-the-philippines/