3 Campus News 6 Cover Story
7 Alumni
12 Features
15 Letters to the Editor
Unitas!
4
Real
Love
6
8
Linggo ng Wika
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We foster an awareness of social problems and
encourage fraternity in keeping with the school’s
family spirit. We love the truth thus we report
with facts, without judging intentions, upholding
the legitimate diversity of opinions in a calm way,
without resorting to personal attacks. We seek the
truth, love it and humbly tell it.
ie t
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1 By Josef Singson
The Ridge
We, the editors and staff of The Ridge,
commit ourselves to the highest level of professional
journalistic ethics. We promote among our fellow
students a love for noble ideals and a desire to
overcome personal egoism.
h
d
Spirit of
Volunteerism
Members of The Ridge
SY 2012-2013
Editor-in-Chief
Josef Singson
Assistant Editor-in-Chief
Enrico Grio
Managing Editor
Joshua Vera
Contributors
Raj Chua
Jamie Katigbak
Matthew Mendiola
Meeko Rustia
Renz Alvarez
Javi Vilchez
Lee Sang Jun
Gian Balangue
Kyle Mitschiener
Gio Goseco
Jairus Paul
Jake Cureg
Raf Villamor
Luigi Arce
Jomo Filart
Joel Hernandez
Chen dela Cruz
Ken Averia
Edward San Agustin
Photographers
William dela Cruz
Martin Consing
Moderator
Benjie Fortunato
Design & Printing
Inkwell Publishing Co., Inc.
ISSN 0118-0452
The Ridge is the official student publication of
Southridge. It is published three times in a school
year with the assistance of the school’s Institutional
Information Office. The opinions expressed herein are
the views of the respective authors. They cannot be taken
as the position of Southridge as such.
SOUTHRIDGE
Private School for Boys
Hillsborough Subdivision, West Service Road
City of Muntinlupa, Metro Manila
Telephone 807-8080 • Fax 842-1542
W
hile the majority of us rested
Within the same period other schools such as
comfortably on the night of
Woodrose, De La Salle Zobel, and even schools
August 5, 2012 monitoring
up north such as Assumption College, Xavier,
Facebook and Twitter, wondering and Miriam were inspired to help out as well.
if classes would get cancelled,
Students and teachers came together
the habagat entered the country, its presence
to volunteer hands and heart. They sorted,
expected but the consequences, totally not. It
grouped, and packed goods in a bayanihan
wasn’t even a minor typhoon
spirit. Here in Southridge,
yet the devastation and
three groups forged an
suffering it wrought on Metro We couldn’t just sit
alliance to serve the
Manila rivaled Ondoy from
community in a time of need.
there and watch. We
three years ago.
High School Student Council,
had
to
do
something
One week without classes
the Grade School Student
left most students and teachers about it and so by the
Council, and Molave Study
wondering what they could
Center brought together
do to help amidst the disaster morning of August
volunteers and connected
that shook the metropolis and 7, messages flooded
goods to the people who
adjoining provinces. This was
needed them. The spirit of
Facebook
and
Twitter
just the tip of the iceberg,
volunteerism flowed like it
while we were at home safe
was second nature to these the
asking for donations
and sound, thousands were
Southridge Admirals.
in cash or in kind that
sent packing out of their
This is all good; however
homes or stuck in their homes could be forwarded to
true volunteerism is more
waiting to be rescued. They
than being responsive when
Southridge
for
the
eight
sought refuge into hastily
the problem comes, it’s also
barangays in Muntinlupa about being the solution to
organized evacuation centers
inside schools and churches.
preventing the problem from
affected by the rise of
We couldn’t just sit there
ever happening again. While
Laguna
de
Bay.
and watch. We had to do
battling the rise of flood
something about it and so
waters seem to be a Davidby the morning of August 7,
Goliath act, it is still evident
messages flooded Facebook and Twitter asking
that social awareness and social responsibility
for donations in cash or in kind that could be
drive us forward to national development, at
forwarded to Southridge for the eight barangays times of peace and through stormy periods that
in Muntinlupa affected by the rise of Laguna de wreck havoc. In the face of suffering, it is the
Bay.
individual student, each a Southride Admiral
Little did we expect that one single status
who is ready to serve, driven by the school’s
spread like wildfire and served as the catalyst
perennial cry: Viriliter Agite!
to so many other relief drive operations.
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campus news
PNoy meets
Southridge Seniors
To see the president in
person is a rare opportunity
in itself, but to actually to sit down and talk with
him, even more so. Yet this improbable event happened
on August 6, 2012, a day to be remembered in Southridge
history. On that day, High School Batch 2013 met with
His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III, the President of
the Republic of the Philippines
Given this once-in-a-lifetime event, several days
before the trip, the seniors were given a talk on palace
protocol and the conduct expected of from a Southridge
Admiral front of the country’s most important man.
Everyone listened intently, knowing what a serious matter
this was. After all, they weren’t just bearing their own
reputations, but the reputation of the entire school as well.
Come the day of the trip, one could observe the
effort every single Southridge gentlemen made to look
his best: hair all sorted out, shoes shined, and not a single
untucked shirt in sight. Everyone wanted to make a good
impression. It was the president, after all.
Upon their arrival at the riverside palace located at
1000 Jose P. Laurel St., San Miguel, Manila, the students
filed quietly out of the buses and into the building for
security screening. They couldn’t help but exclaim and
point many details of interest such as the Grand Staircase
and the great narra chandeliers in the Main Ballroom.
Protocol officers guided the Senior class into the
Malacanan Heroes Hall, a surprise because the President
normally entertained guests at the Kalayaan Hall while
the Heroes Hall was reserved for dignitaries and guests
of state. Awestruck whispers punctuated through the
patient and well behaved crowd, there they were almost
incredulous staring at the podium bearing the seal of the
President of the Republic of the Philippines.
Media crews from several news
agencies arrived and set up their
equipment. The anticipation of being
seen on national television rippled
through the Southridge crowd. The
appointed time came and though it
took a little longer than expected, as the
saying goes good things comes to those
who wait, the President came into the
room with a smile, fresh from a meeting
with congressmen.
Everyone rose to greet him with
welcome applause. Claudio Lopa
made the proper introductions, and
then the ball rolled on. Upon sitting
down, the eager Admirals threw one
question after another, topics ranged from the mundane
details of a president’s life to clarifying points in the recent
SONA. PNoy gracefully answered each question, all the
way to the end when he was asked, “Why did you bother
meeting with us, ordinary high school students, despite
your very busy schedule?”
He simply replied, “I am a public servant. You boys,
being citizens of the country, are my bosses. As any good
employee would do, I listen to my bosses for feedback on
my job. Thus, here you are.”
The crowd erupts into a long applause, having seen
this man’s down to earth nature and his sincere desire
to uplift the country. PNoy ends the get-together by
thanking the Southridge Seniors for their time, and
in turn they render their own gratitude. Photo-ops
proceeded, something everyone had eagerly awaited.
Teachers and students leave Malacanan smiling,
having experienced this rare and wonderful opportunity,
and concretely appreciating the president and all he does.
1 By Jake B. Cureg
“I am a public servant.
You boys, being citizens
of the country, are my
bosses. As any good
employee would do, I
listen to my bosses for
feedback on my job.
Thus, here you are.”
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campus news
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REAL
LOVE
REVOLUTION II
1 By Ken Averia
L
ast August 31, 2012, Southridge High school students trooped to the UP Theater inside the University of the Philippines – Diliman
campus for Real Love Revolution II, a chastity talk headlined by Chris Stefanick and Leah Darrow. Organized by PAREF Woodrose
School, it was an extraordinary afternoon where two remarkable people not only entertained, they enlightened high school students
from all over Metro Manila on the importance of chastity and how popular culture has trivialized this great human value.
Chris Stefanick began by rocking out on his guitar and inviting volunteers to sing in what he described as a rock karaoke. Benson Leong
of Year IV-B and Matthew Mendiola of Year III-A rose up to volunteer for Don’t Stop Believing and Sweet Child of Mine respectively.
Other songs followed with volunteers from other schools as Chris energized the crowd with his funny way of interacting with the audience.
From the love songs he began to speak about real love and authentic relationships where sex is sacred and people aren’t just objects,
they’re persons. The audience of high school students began to appreciate themselves as worthy of being loved in a genuine way, worthy
of respect. He also reminded them that God wanted His Love to penetrate their lives here and now. Among the surprising bits in his talk,
Chris emphasized the importance of bonding with family and socializing with friends in order to appreciate them even more.
Next up was Leah Darrow, she was a contestant in the reality TV series America’s Next Top Model before embarking on a new advocate
for chastity and reaching lives as an international Catholic speaker. Her talk chronicled the rocky road from small town girl to New York
high fashion model and then to her own road to Damascus.
Having opened about her past, the audience identified themselves with a truly remarkable woman who showed us that change is never
impossible, God is a Father who embraces His children in forgiveness. She expressed how important and sacred the purity of a human
being is and like Chris Stefanick before her, Leah Darrow emphasized that this gift should be reserved for ones true love in marriage.
As young people continue to grapple with peer pressure, the distorted values of a materialistic media, and their own growth as, the
engaging messages of choices over a comfortable life made by Leah Darrow and the revolution of the youth rebelling against false promises
of Chris Stefanick are messages of hope and challenges of love.
Reaffirming Life, Attending the Prayer Rally
1 By Raj Chua
W
hoever thought that so many people,
especially students, cared about life having
the courage to stand up for what is right.
Despite the rain, on August 4, 2012, people from
different walks of life gathered together at the
EDSA Shrine of our Lady of Peace in Pasig City
to pray and rally against the RH Bill which seemed
to have been railroaded through Congress.
Southridge School sent a contingent of
high school students who willingly gave up their
Saturday afternoon to stand up against the RH bill.
They started the prayer rally with a 1:00 PM
meditation preached by Fr. Frank Aniban inside the
Southridge Chapel of the Holy Family. At 2:15 PM,
they left the school and made their way through
Metro Manila traffic to the converging point.
Periods of torrential rain and gusts of wind
didn’t dampen their spirits. In the midst of a sea
of red shirts, red to symbolize martyrdom for the
faith, the group of more than twenty students
and teachers weaved their way through the jam
packed streets looking for a good vantage point.
An optimistic and festive atmosphere borne of
music, prayer, buntings, and sharing from a range
of speakers like Archbishop Chito Tagle, Bro. Mike
Velarde and Dr. Lucille Montes.
It was truly a sight to see, made even more
special by the presence of Muslim groups who
came to share their support against the passage
of a law that they too felt would curtail their
freedom. Dr. Quirino Sugon, a researcher at the
Manila Observaory, later posted that using crowd
estimation analysis, at its peak approximately
60,000 people prayed and shared their faith and
conviction at the corner of EDSA and Ortigas
Avenue.
The rally ended solemnly with Holy Mass at
5:30 PM. As darkness covered the metro and rains
continued to swirl through the city, the Southridge
contingent left in high spirits, firmly believing
in prayer and the power of people who work for
genuine human upliftment.
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Southridge’s Big Brother Experience
1 By Jomo Filart
In the Southridge circle of life, the upper classmen say hello to a group of young curious
individuals called Freshmen. These Freshmen, having said goodbye to their previous home,
the Grade School, are tossed into young adulthood of high school. To get them stoked up and
ready for the year, the HS Student Council led by Faisal Tabusalla organized a bonding activity,
the Freshmen-Seniors Bonding.
SY 2011-2012 ended with a difference due to the implementation of the revised K-12
curriculum, as a result last April 2012, two batches of students graduated from the Southridge
grade school. They are the newly baptized Year 1 and Year 2 students, both new to the high school.
With two sets of freshmen in mind the HS Student Council had their hands full in planning
and executing a day to strengthen ties that bind their brothers in the school.
On June 21, 2012 the Year V Seniors took under their wings their assigned Year I bros. The
next day, June 22 it was the turn of the Year IV upperclassmen to bond with their respective
Year II buddies.
They Year V’s and their Year I counterparts started their day with an informative talk given
by Claudio Lopa on the do’s and don’ts of High School. Next came the pairing where a senior
was partnered with a freshman to have as his
buddy for the rest of the day. After the pairing
up came the core bonding activity. Each pair shared to one another their past experiences, regrets, and
possible plans for the future.
As the more experienced partner, the seniors gave tips and advice to the freshmen. Over lunch the two
new friends bonded even more. Then came the sports activities. Nothing like sports brings out the shared
experience of triumph of winning and the agony of defeat. Truly speaking though nobody lost in this case,
everyone was a winner. They participated in Ultimate Frisbee, Futsal, and Basketball.
The Year IV and Year II seminars weren’t so different. Fonz David of the student council started their
day with a short commentary on the virtues needed to survive and thrive in high school.
Looking back everyone involved appreciated the essence of this event to springboard into a successful
and enjoyable school year. Year IV and Year V upperclassmen remembered how they too once upon a time
looked with trepidation at the demands of high school life. With the friendships they built on those two
days, one can be secured that the transition to young adulthood is in capable hands.
She Sees Dead People
ASDC
1 By Gian Balangue
1 By Kyle Mitschiener and Meeko Rustia
W
hoever knew that a real life
Catherine Willows (CSI: Las
Vegas) or Jo Danville (CSI:
New York) had stepped
outside Hollywood fiction and was working
at the University of the Philippines College
of Medicine? In line with June’s Virtue of
the Month, Hard Work, our guest speaker
was someone who knew very well how
hard work is needed in our Filipino culture.
The first of only two Filipino forensic
pathologists, Dr. Raquel del Rosario-Fortun graced the Southridge Auditorium
stage on July 2, 2012.
Dr. Fortun is a professor at the University of the Philippines College of
Medicine, teaching general pathology and legal medicine. She is occasionally called
on to lend her expertise to cases involving autopsies. Arguably, this CSI: Philippines
setting is far less glamorous than what you see on television.
In her many years of study abroad and her work in the Philippines, she has
encountered many difficulties, including the temptation to simply give up and go
home to an easier medical track, but she has always soldiered on with her goals
in sight.
During her talk, she narrated events both amusing and thought provoking
that led her listeners to reflect on how steady and healthy work ethics overcomes
adverse conditions. These included issues regarding sanitation around a body and
the deplorable conditions of some workspaces. In one particularly memorable
slide, she showed a hastily pitched tent idyllically set in a rice field. Inside was a
makeshift table, a bucket with muddy water, and a tabo. Nevertheless, she made
do with what was available and did her job well.
When asked why she chose forensic pathology as her specialty, she replies, “I
chose to specialize in a field which is underdeveloped and misunderstood in this
country and it has been quite a challenge battling ignorance.”
Dr. Fortun is a great role model and she serves as an inspiration to all who
take the path less traveled.
E
very year, schools from across Asia
gather for the Asian Schools Debate
Championship (ASDC), the largest high
school debate competition in Asia and
second largest in the world. Southridge has had
an impressive record, being the first champions
of the tournament in 2009 and reaching the semi
finals twice the following years.
However this year was extremely different,
we entered the tournaments as nobodies, unheard
of debaters who had failed to make a name for
themselves in the international debate community.
In fact, as we sat in the convening room waiting
for the motions to be released and we overheard
people whispering, “Southridge’s golden age is over”
or “Oh… we’re against Southridge, this should be
an easy win”.
Little did they know that we’d spent the
whole summer training. We spent countless hours
meeting up to practice giving speeches, sleepless
nights researching on what’s going on around
the world and I’ve even heard stories from my
teammates giving practice speeches in the shower.
Call us crazy but we were just passionate. We
were going to this tournament carrying the name
Southridge.
In 2011, ASDC was held in Seoul, South
Korea. This year, Ipoh, Malaysia was hosting it
from May 31 to June 7, 2012. The place reminded
us of the Philippines except that it seemed a little
more developed and there were a lot less cars on
the streets.
The first round was a good warm up round,
the motion was simple and the opposing team was
inexperienced. However the succeeding rounds
tested the fire in our hearts.
By the fourth round, the whispers that
“Southridge was no more” were gone. In fact,
many people from other schools recognized that
our three teams were much better than they had
expected, and the Philippine teams even vouched
for us so that we go on with our progress. Many
personally went to some of us and asked us how we
were doing, some even declaring that they weren’t
surprised that we did well.
The record to advance to the eliminary
rounds was 5-2 (five wins, two losses) and our
record heading into the last round was 4-2. We
needed a win; it was go big or go home.
When the final tally was in how did the
Southridge team do? One team broke 5th place
into octofinals (Kyle Mitscheiner, Paulo Abalos,
and Meeko Rustia). Another team broke 3rd into
novice semis (Gabby Leda, Jet Nicolas, and Thirdy
Santos). Best of all, two reached Top 10 3rd place
(Meeko Rustia) and 5th place (Kyle Mitscheiner)
Best Speakers, Individual Awards.
All in all it was pretty good for a tournament
whose teams came from thirty six schools, eighty
teams of three debaters each, nine countries:
Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, China,
Indonesia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand,
Sri Lanka, and India.
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SOUTHRIDGE, UNITAS!
1 By Javi Vilchez
Admirals, Unitas! Admirals, Unite! Admirals, magkaisa!
Call it what you want: a spark, an ignition switch, or a battle cry. Yet
these words are more than just a Helm versus Vinta taunt. For decades, this phrase
has brought together Admirals to unite in accordance with our school vision.
But uniting more than a thousand different guys—whose age groups,
interests, and personalities vary like human DNA—is a difficult task. To do
this, you would have to find a common denominator among students, teachers,
administration, and faculty. Entering the picture is online social networking.
A quick disclaimer: this article in no way encourages or pressures those who
don’t have social networking accounts to create one. In fact, you guys are cool
that way. Anyway, back to the topic at hand.
Fact: a majority of students today own social networking accounts, Facebook
and Twitter being the most prevalent. So why not use these websites as an
instrument to unify the school? As seen above, you can say “Admirals, Unite!” in
Latin, and even Filipino. But the cry that echoes the loudest in this generation
is the cyber-way.
Take an example common to all of us: On the week of August 6-10, a series of
torrential rains ransacked the National Capital Region and surrounding provinces.
Marikina, Pasig, and parts of Quezon City were inundated by 300 mm. of rainfall,
three times the daily average; this was the heaviest in three years.
We live in a cyber-age. Today, everyone has a voice and an opinion that matches
it. The voice of the youth now echo loudest online. Everyone had seen images on
television and the news on the calamities the storm had caused. But it was the
conversations, the posts, the shares, the tweets and the opinions on Facebook and
Twitter that unified millions of social network users.
A picture that went viral on social networks displayed the silhouette of the Filipino
Flag coupled with the words: “The Filipino spirit is Waterproof ”.
Overall effect: this moving picture garnered more than 50,000 likes, along with
more than 20,000 shares. Look at the viral spread, more or less 70,000 people came
into contact with these photos. And if each of these people has a rough average of
400 or so friends on Facebook, then the audience would expand like a plague.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, imagine the effects this image- among
dozens of others- had on those who viewed it. Pictures and words, when brought
together, form a powerful duo that has the capability to educate the populace and
invoke noble emotions. Thanks to posts like these, millions of people from all walks
of life united by a common spirit of patriotism (AKA, the eternal “bayanihan”)
worked together in serving those affected by the calamities around them, especially
those in dire need.
Take another post from the Southridge
Admirals Facebook page, calling all Admirals
to donate relief goods, canned food, and
potable water for a mass relief operation to
those affected by the same storms.
One post calling all Admirals to
“Unitas!” gets shared on Facebook. Coupled
with encouragements from teachers and
administration- the message is sent to
practically the entire school. And the viral
message produced results: around 7,000
people were administered to and aided
through the efforts of Admirals, faculty,
families, and friends through mass relief
operations in the city of Muntinlupa.
This is just one of many examples
on how social networking—through a
single viral idea—can impact so many
lives. From the unity of the Southridge Admirals rose an even more
unifying cry of “The Filipino Spirit is Waterproof!” Amen!
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Walking on Water and
Crossing Thresholds
1 By Enrico Grio
S
trong rains, gusts of wind and loud thunder
sounds, these are what woke up millions of
Filipinos at the night of August 5, 2012.
What was expected to be light showers and
your ordinary dose of tropical weather, turned into
a devastating disaster that left thousands of families’
homeless and over sixty people dead. No one expected
this to happen. Even the PAGASA, the Philippine
weather center, was very much surprised with these
events. Monsoons, the cause of this disaster, would
always happen in the Philippines but they never turned
out to be this strong or destructive.
People were very much unprepared and some
woke to find the water levels rising inside their houses.
Others watched as the rivers near their homes rapidly
becoming deeper and deeper. Waters along the streets
gushed rapidly as it carried trees, trash, cars and
many other things along its path. Media men who
were supposed to go patrol and report about current
situations were already in search of various alternative
routes for many routes including major roads were
already impassable.
With water rising to dangerous levels, people
moved fast to find a safe place to stay. Many Filipinos,
who lived in affected areas, immediately rushed to the
nearest evacuation center. They would bring a few
clothes and food with them to help them survive as they
know they would be spending the next few days there.
Others even, with the danger that the rising floods pose,
would no longer think about their material goods but
would rather have everyone in their family safe first.
In order to get to evacuation centers, many people
had to cross the river-like roads and the strong currents.
Local government units, the AFP (Armed Forces of
the Philippines), the PRC (Philippine Red Cross) and
other institutions had rescue operations all over Luzon
especially in Metro Manila and the nearby provinces
which were hit the most. Some people had to hold
on to wires just so they could cross and survive the
strong currents of the flood. Other families had to
be rescued from the roofs or the second floor of their
houses. Evacuation centers were their place of refuge
and security from surprises of nature such as these
floods. Crowded as they may be, people would rather
live under such conditions just so they could survive
and live another day.
As all of these were happening, many of us were
safe under the comfort of our dry and warm roofs. As
the rain brought devastation to millions of Filipinos,
many of us, students had this comfortable feeling
because our areas were not hit as hard as the others.
But as one would turn on the television and browse
the internet, our hearts just broke with all the suffering
that we saw. Children shivering in the cold, babies in
hospitals lacking electricity, families with nothing to
eat or drink were just some of the things we saw that
surely made our heart sink in sorrow and pity for our
fellow Filipinos. Upon seeing these saddening sights
we just knew we had to do something, we knew we
had to help.
Messages of concern flooded Facebook and
Twitter. People were calling and messaging everyone
they know to ask if they were alright. People started
calling out for donations and volunteers. Southridge
too took its own initiative to start collecting such
with the people staying at the Alabang Elementary
school as the beneficiaries. The Southridge student
council headed by chairman, Faisal Tabusalla, called
out to the students for donations to brought to
Southridge. Southridge students then immediately
brought their donations not only to Southridge, but
to other collection areas as well. Teachers and students
alike waited in Southridge to help out organize and
pack these goods. Msrs. Quesada, Cheng, Salazar and
Peralta, who were among the teachers who helped out,
went to Southridge everyday to guide the students
in packing and distributing the goods. Others also
volunteered to pack goods in these different areas. Time
consuming and tiring as this may be, nothing can be
more rewarding than the smiles of the people as they
receive these goods.
Mr. Quesada coordinated with the officials of
Brgy. Ilaya specifically a barangay officer named Ofelia
Carlos. Brgy. Ilaya was a badly hit area for it is located
near the shores of Laguna de Bay. Water levels easily
rose in their areas due to the water overflowing from
the lake. When we visited the Alabang Elementary
school that served as the evacuation center, we saw
cover story
the unfavorable conditions that the people lived in. 2,700
families had to evacuate to this school and occupy all its
classrooms and basketball courts. 15 to 18 families had to
squeeze in each classroom and live there for one whole week.
People were crowded, sitting on the floors of the
basketball court and the classrooms. They barely had any
food and all the water they had was not potable. There were
also not enough comfort rooms for everyone. Though they
lived in such conditions, one could not help but be touched
by the smiling faces they have shown. People would even
call upon us to show their smiling faces and ask us to take
their pictures. They looked like they were not undergoing
any hardships and they were very happy with the little that
we were able to give them.
Though there were those who were able to go evacuate
to the schools, hundreds of families were still trapped in
the small side streets. These people could no longer fit in
the evacuation center. They had to continue living along
their flooded streets and hope that the water levels would
no longer rise. The people had to build makeshift bridges
above the flood so that they could still go from place to
place without exposing themselves to the water and all the
dirt it contained. The people, since they can no longer be
accommodated in the evacuation center, were cut off from
the relief operations that were being provided in the area.
We realised how difficult their lives had become when
we brought goods to them. The group had to carry the
relief goods across the flooded areas through their makeshift
bridges as strong rains poured down on us. Though this
may sound hard, it was still a fun experience for we knew
we were able to make these people happy and bring hope
back into their lives.
Even after the storm, Mr. Salazar and a small group
of students composed of Nikko Alquiros, Ross Pabalate,
Andrew Sanchez, Faisal Tabusalla and Gabo Itchon went
to another evacuation center, Itaas Elementary school. This
evacuation center is located right inside the New Bilibid
prison. There they continued to bring smiles to the faces of
people as they brought them bags of food and other goods
as well. Even though the sky was already clear and the sun
shined bright, these people still lost a lot, some even lost their
homes and they need all the help they can get.
People suffer but we know how to get back. It is through
tragedy that we see that people still care. We see that people
still have the hearts to help each other even when during
ordinary times it is not the case. Perhaps this is why we are
challenged with such calamities; to make us realize that
people around us need our love and care. Such are the
wonders of life.
S
ampaguita, kalabaw at ang bahay kubo, ito ay ilan lamang sa mga bagay na ating
pinagmamalaki bilang mga pambansang simbolo ng ating pagka Pilipino. Ang
mga bagay na ito ay itinuturo sa atin sa paaralan bilang mga bagay na dapat nating
ipagmalaki. Subalit maitatanong natin sa ating mga sarili, ipinagmamalaki nga
ba talaga natin ang ating pagka-Pilipino?
Kahit saan ka man lumingon ngayon ay may makikita kang bahid na impluwensyang
dayuhan. Kadalasan ay ikinakahiya natin ang ating bayan dahil iniisip natin na mas
magaling ang mga dayuhan. Nahuhulog tayo sa maling pag-iisip na masmaganda ang
mga hindi galing sa ating bansa. Siguro dahil na rin ito sa mga sinasabi ng ating mga
iniidulong mga banyaga. Sa ating pang araw-araw na pamumuhay, minsan nakalilimutan
na natin na tayo ay mga Pilipino at ang pinakamahalagang aspekto ang wikang Filipino.
Sa paggamit natin ng ibang wika sa pag-uusap o pagsusulat, lalo na ang wikang Ingles,
nakakaligtaan na natin ang ating sariling wika. Minsan nga ay nahihiya tayong gamitin
ito dahil tayo ay naiiba sa pangkaraniwang pag-uusap na nakalimot na sa magandang
wikang ito. Marami sa atin ay hindi na gumagamit ng ating wika sa ating mga pangaraw
—araw na pag-uusap dahil maskomportable ang ating pakiramdam sa paggamit ng
banyagang wika.
Marahil para sa atin hindi natin nakikita ang halaga ng ating pambansang wika sa atin
kaya hindi natin ito masyadong pinapansin. Sa kabilang banda nakikita ng pamahalaan
ang kahalagahan ng wikang Filipino sa pagkakaisa ng ating bansa. Dahil sa kakulangan
sa pagbibigay halaga sa ating sariling wika, tinadhana ng batas ang pagdiriwang sa Buwan
ng Wika Pamabansa. Ang buwan ng Agosto ay itinalaga bilang buwan ng pagdiriwang
dahil ito ang buwan ng kapanangakan ng Ama ng Wikang Pambansa na si Manuel L.
Quezon. Sa buwan ng wika ay ipinagdiriwang ang iba’t ibang mga bagay na nagbibigay
kulay sa ating buhay mga bilang Pilipino. Iminumulat sa atin na may dahilan tayo na
ipagmalaki ang ating pagiging mga mamayanan ng Pilipinas. Sa ating mga pagtatanghal
ng mga awit at sayaw, sa ating pagsasalaysay ng mga tula at mga kwento ay hindi lamang
tayo nagkakasiyahan kung hindi nababalikan din natin ang napakahalagang kontribusyon
ng ating wika na humuhulma kung ano ang ating kulturang isinasabuhay. Ipinapaalala sa
atin na tayo pa rin ay mga Pilipino gaano man tayo naimpluwensyahan ng ibang bansa.
Hindi dapat natin malimutan ang ating lahi at ang kulturang ipinamana ng ating ninuno.
Sa Paaralang Southridge ay ipinagdiriwang ang Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa. Sa
buong buwan ng Agosto ay nakapaskil ang iba’t ibang dekorasyon na nagpapaalala
sa atin ng ating wika at bansa. Ang Departamento ng Filipino, sa pangununa nina
Ginoong Virzon Sarao, Megs Arevalo, Rod Langit, Kim Malate at Anthony De Vera ay
nagorganisa ng taunang Pista ng Wikang Pambansa. Marahil ang pinaka inaabangang
kasiyahan sa buong pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa sa Southridge. Ang pista
ngayong taon ay inumpisahan sa pamamagitan ng isang prusisyon. Lahat ng estudyante
ng Southridge ay nagsipila at umikot sa paaralan kasama ang mga imahe ng Banal na
Pamilya, San Josemaria Escriva, San Jose at Birheng Maria. Pagkatapos ng prusisyon ay
nagkaroon ng misa na pinagdiwang ni Fr. Jerry Quejada. Ito ay ginawa upang basbasan
ng Diyos ang mga pang araw-araw na mga gawain ng mga estudyante sa paaralan.
Ito rin ay isinagawa upang ipaalala sa mga estudyante ang malaking impluwensya ng
pananampalatayang Katoliko sa ating kultura. Nakita natin ang karaniwang mga larong
Pilipino Nakita sa mga mukha ng mga estudyante ang mga malalaking ngiti at malakas
na hiyaw habang inaantay nilang mapalo ng kanilang kaibigan ang banga na puno ng
kendi. Maliban sa mga ito ay mayroon ding programang inorganisa sa Auditorium. na
nagtanghal ng iba’t ibang awit at sayaw Pilipino.
Maliban sa mga ito sino ang makalilimot sa bahagi ng pagdiriwang na pinakainaantay
ng lahat, ang kainan. Tulad ng mga nakaraang taon ay napuno na naman ang mga
basketball court ng iba’t ibang pagkaing Pilipino. Ang mga parent coordinator ng iba’t
ibang lebel ay nagsipuntahan at nagdala ng mga pagkain para sa lahat. Kahit saan ka
man tumingin ay may makikita kang mga pagkain na nakakatakam tulad ng Barbeque,
dinuguan, taho, pancit, pinritong manok at kung ano-ano pa. Siyempre wala ring
nakalimot sa paborito ng lahat na pagkaing Pilipino- ang lechon. Pagkatapos magsikain
ng pananghalian, nagsipila rin para sa tradisyunal na panghimagas ang mga estudyante
at mga guro. Ang pistang ito ay hindi lamang nagbigay ng kabusugan sa tiyan ng mga
estudyante at guro kung hindi ay nagbigay din ito ng isa na naming pagkakataon upang
magkita-kita ang lahat, magkwentuhan at magkasiyahan.
Ang pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa ay hindi nagtapos sa buwan ng
Agosto. Ito ay nagpatuloy sa unang bahagi ng Setyembre kung saan nagtanghal ang iba’t
ibang klase ng mga tulang Pilipino. Sa Sabayang Pagbigkas ng mga tulang Pilipino ay
nagbalik sa atin ang tunay na kagandahan ng ating wika at ang halaga nito sa ating mga
buhay at kultura bilang bansang may pagkakakilanlang wika.
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NOAH’s Ark
1 By Matthew James S. Mendiola
M
onsoon winds carrying torrential rains flowed into the country in the last
few days of July. These continued to a steady rain that submerged Metro
Manila and its surrounding areas by Tuesday, August 7, 2012. Loss of life
was not as widespread as Ondoy from 2009; however, business and school
activities were suspended as thousands tried to cope with rising floodwaters. In a
country visited by an average of twenty typhoons each year, is there anything that
we can do to prevent losses to lives and property brought about by these natural
calamities? How can the government improve our seemingly inadequate flood
warning system? Can Metro Manila ever be flood free? To answer these questions,
I interviewed Dr. Carlo A. Arcilla, Head of the National Institute of Geological
Sciences at the University of the Philippines – Diliman.
Ridge: What is the main cause of flooding?
Dr. Arcilla: Flooding occurs when there is a great amount of excess water or runoff that
accumulates on the ground due to the lack of natural and artificial drainage systems.
Extreme rainfall is the primary cause of flooding. If a lot of rain falls over a short period of
time, the drainage systems would be overwhelmed. The saturation of the ground also makes
an area more prone to flooding. This means that the soil is impermeable, and water can’t
seep through the ground.
Besides the impermeable soil, huge tracts of land are being covered by cement in the
urban areas, especially Metro Manila. The cement keeps the water from seeping into the
soil, and because the drains in the area are either too small or are blocked by garbage and/
or illegal structures, flooding occurs. There are several other factors that greatly increase the
discharge, or volume of water passing per unit of time.
Ridge: Authorities said that it would take several months for floodwaters in
towns around Laguna de Bay to subside. If this is true, what’s the reason?
Dr. Arcilla: The excess water that flows to the heavily silted Laguna de Bay has only one
exit – the Pasig River. Unfortunately, sediment and garbage being carried from the dying
lake clog the pipes that should have drained the excess water to the river. The government
and private groups aiming to clean the Pasig River need to consider clearing the filthy pipes
that pass through the river, and while this may seem simple enough, removing the waste that
blocks the pipes is a long and costly process.
Opening up Laguna de Bay’s other exits appears to be the best solution to relieve the
lake off its stress. However, the illegal settlers whose homes have blocked these exit paths serve
as a hurdle to the government and other NGOs aiming to conserve the Laguna de Bay, such
as the Society of the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands. Relocating the squatters is more
complex than just identifying a relocation site. The government needs to consider providing
them with a source of livelihood, otherwise they will most likely return to their illegal
settlements as their means of livelihood are here in the metropolis. More than the financial
issues, relocating illegal settlers also requires a great deal of political will especially as the local
elections draw near.
Another factor that greatly affects the flood situation is the destruction of forested
areas. Trees keep the soil in place, making the ground strong and less prone to landslides.
Unfortunately, most of the mountains in the country are barren because of mining
operations and large scale logging, not to mention illegal logging.
The foresters are the only ones who police the mountains, and there is a very small
number of people patrolling the mountains. Because the foresters are mostly poor people, they
tend to “hitch a ride” with the loggers.
While we have enough laws to control mining and logging operations, implementing
them seems to be a greater problem. The government should continuously encourage tree
planting in urban areas and seriously work as the reforestation of mountainous areas in the
country.
Ridge: We’ve read that Metro Manila is sinking at a rate of several centimeters per
year. Are we going to be the next Venice?
Dr. Arcilla: This is happening because of the rising sea level brought about by global
warming and unregulated groundwater extraction, the method of obtaining fresh water
used by many municipalities and barangays. In groundwater extraction, pipes replace the
water in the soil with air, causing the ground to collapse. The local governments should limit
the use of “poso” or deep wells, and consider creating municipal water distribution systems
that will operate similarly to the National Water and Sewage Authority (NAWASA) which
was formed with the responsibility of the production and distribution of portable water.
Ridge: Do typhoons cause floods?
Dr. Arcilla: Our country has an average of 20 typhoons that visit it every year, and this is
one reason why our meteorologists and geologists have difficult tasks. Typhoons are relatively
easy to predict because scientists could already see their path through the use of satellite
images. However, the amount of rainfall is more difficult to predict without the right
equipment.
Our scientists’ need more tools and equipment to help them create adequate typhoon
and flood warning systems and make more accurate weather forecasts. The Philippines
needs more Doppler radar units to help scientists predict rains and check the density of clouds
through the use of infrared waves. Right now, we only have two – one in Subic and the
other in Tagaytay.
Doppler radars should have been bought before Typhoon Ondoy, but because certain
congressmen wanted to be involved in the purchase of these radars, there was a delay in
setting the budget for the Doppler radars. If these radars were bought earlier, the death toll
in Typhoon Ondoy could have been reduced significantly.
Ridge: Who are responsible for predicting the weather and analyzing how it
impacts us?
Dr. Arcilla: My colleagues Dr. Lagmay and Dr. C.P. David actively helped in the
improvement of the Philippines’ forecasting systems by asking Mr. Pangilingan of Smart
to allow automatic rain gauges to be placed in the Smart cell sites. By doing so, the data
collected from the rain gauges is directly streamed to the DOST’s Project NOAH. Project
NOAH or the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards was founded to make
updated information on flood and weather situations accessible to the public. You could
check the NOAH website www.noah.dost.gov.ph to see a detailed and accurate map of the
different regions in the Philippines and their current situations through the information
gathered from satellites, radars, and rain gauges.
Ridge: What else can be done to further improve our systems of weather
forecasting?
Dr. Arcilla: There aren’t a lot of meteorology graduates. Meteorology is only offered in
graduate schools and right now, it is only being offered in two schools – Ateneo and UP. In
UP, we’re also losing faculty members. We really need the people and instrumentation, more
students to consider taking courses in meteorology and geology.
Our country’s preparedness involves more than one body or group. It
involves the active participation of everyone of people in public service, media and
communication, academic and research sector, and of course, you and me. As a people,
we should respect and support the government’s efforts on waste reduction and waste
management. Our active participation in tree planting and reforestation projects can
help tremendously. Every small act counts. If we work together, we can surely weather
each storm.
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F E A T U R E
Admiral Musical
Ensemble
1 By Raf Villamor
Choosing a club is one of the more important tasks to do in your high school life.
Firstly because you are going to be sticking with that club or clubs for the whole school
year, and secondly, it needs to be something you really enjoy and not just something
to fill in a college application form.
I signed up for a number of clubs including the Ridge which is why I’m writing
this article. Besides the Ridge though, I joined a small club which could have been
overshadowed by a lot of the bigger clubs out there; this club is called The Admirals
Musical Ensemble (AME).
Being together with people who had a similar interest was all I wanted. Right
now there are three violinists, a pianist, a percussionist, a double bassist, and a couple
of guitarists. I myself play the lead guitar. Jamming in the music room during lunch
time or in club days is one of the most fun things you can do in this club.
We played our first gig as the showcase piece of the Southridge Got Talent portion
during the August 3, 2012 High School Student Assembly. The piece was “He’s a
Pirate,” from the movie Pirates of the Carribean. The audience didn’t really know what
to expect, but as the first notes of the guitar beating a rhythm flowed over the crowd,
a beat well known to every Johnny Depp/Jack Sparrow fan, the ripple of anticipation
grew into thunderous applause.
The High School OpCom loved the performance so much that they invited us
to perform again for the High School Student Assembly on September 7, 2012. This
time we played the equally popular Canon Pachelbel’s Canon in D. It was great to
see everyone in the high shool, from rock headbanger to hiphop afficionado greet the
classical piece with loud applause.
Performing my hobby in front of the students is something I want to be doing
for the whole school year and that is why I chose this club because I knew it would
give me just that.
The Admiral Music Ensemble is composed of DJ Navarro – double bass, Tiger
Espiritu – bonggos, percussion, Gio Goseco – violin, Simon Liu – violin, Harry Kim
– violin, Raf Villamor – guitar, Jambo Daco – guitar, Julianne Santos – guitar, Justin
de Leon – piano, Joseph Marasigan – piano and Carlo Lajara – piano.
School Boats,
not a School Bus
1 By Jamie Katigbak
Once in a while stories of heroic children who brave mountain
routes and multiple kilometer hike through forests surface. They
all seemed so far off, it probably could happen in another country
yet until a year or so ago, here in the Philippines, everyday from a
mangrove encircled island, children used to swim, not trek to their
school located in the city of Zamboanga.
The children of Layag-Layag held their bags above their heads,
bags that contained school material and a dry set of clothes they
could change once they reach the shore.
No student, teenager or child, city boy or small town girl,
deserved to undergo such grueling struggles to receive the
education that they are entitled to; circumstances have forced them
but their indomitable spirit soldiers on. It was this challenge in
Philippine education that attracted Jay Jaboneta.
On August 3, 2012, Southridge High School invited Mr. Jay
Jaboneta, founder of The Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, to speak
during the High School Student Assembly on the virtue of Charity, the
Virtue of the Month for August.
In October 2010, while at the Mindanao Bloggers Summit in
Zamboanga City, Mindano, this Filipino blogger learned about the
inspiring story of the children of the island village of Layag-Layag in
Barangay Talon-Talon who could only attend school by swimming to
mainland Zamboanga City.
Inspired, shocked, and dismayed by the difficulty these kids
had to undergo to get the education thousands elsewhere take for
granted, he posted a status update about their plight, and then,
inspired by a friend to do more than just talk, started the Zamboanga
Fund for Little Kids to raise funds to provide Layag-Layag with boats
that the children could ride to school.
The first yellow boat was given on March 27, 2011, and
the project came to be known as the Yellow Boat of Hope. The
group also looks for different ways to serve the needs of the
impoverished communities and has since expanded into three
other communities with residents living under similar conditions,
giving them yellow boats, symbols of, of course, like the group’s
name suggests, hope, change, and a better world for the people of
the Philippines.
To date 154 yellow boats have been distributed among
four coastal regions: Layag-layag in Zamboanga, Isla Mababoy in
Masbate, Lakewood in Zamboanga del Sur, and Matabas Island in
Negros Occidental.
The story of the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation inspired the
high school students. The Q&A started with a pledge from Year
I students to forego their own allowance money, not asking their
parents for any additional amount, and raise enough for two yellow
boats. Other pledges followed suit soon after.
Jay Jaboneta has had the opportunity to present the social
initiative at the prestigious TEDx in Montpelier, France. International
bodies such as the Reader’s Digest and the Friedrich Naumann
Foundation for Liberty have likewise recognized and awarded
his contribution. Hailing him as a modern day hero are Yahoo!
Philippines and Geny Lopez Jr. Foundation. The World Economic
Forum has also recognized him as a Young Global Shaper.
The experience provoked discussion and reaction from the
Southridge community. If Mr. Jaboneta hadn’t done what he did
and in the process astonished those who have gotten to know
the project the world and those children would be a poorer place.
Thank God that he did.
Habagat
1 By Enrico Grio
“Habagat” is the Filipino term to describe what
is otherwise referred to as the Southwest monsoon. A
monsoon is best described as a prevailing wind bringing
rain to an area. The Southwest monsoon affects the
country between the months of July to September. It’s
counterpoint is the “Amihan” or Northeast monsoon
which blows through the country from October to late
March.
The Southwest monsoon is characterized by a very
warm and humid weather. This warm and moist air brings
heavy rainfall lasting over an extended period. This wind
generally brings the rainy season to the western portion
of the country. As a yearly phenomenon, the habagat
doesn’t have the status of a typhoon, where an identifying
name is applied.
So if wasn’t a typhoon why would it render unusual
destructive power? The answer is simple; this was not
your everyday ‘hanging Habagat’. According to the
meteorologists of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical
and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA),
the unusual strength shown by this year’s late July early
August habagat is explained by the enhancement of the
typhoon Haikui presence, north to the Philippine area
of responsibility.
Typhoon Haikui moved very slowly, this gave time
for the habagat to accumulate moisture. That increase
provided the deluge that rendered impassable parts of
Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces.
Previously familiar and predictable, suddenly the
habagat has shocked Filipinos—it’s something that
everyone should keep in mind the next time it comes
around.
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1 By Lee Sang Jun
K-Pop has indeed come of age. It’s no exaggeration to say that
people has started to become curious about it: K-Pop is a new fresh shocking music
genre that most foreigners have never listened to. For instance, if a Korean singer, like
PSY, reveals his new music, the people have the urge to imitate him in song and dance.
Therefore K-Pop is a brand new genre which bargains for great success in the music
industry and has just emerged to be one of the newest and most viral genres of music.
Some have taken K-Pop as analogous to Elvis Presley who is seen as a white singer
that took on black music” Well it has made itself present among the western dance
rhythms in contemporary culture, emerging as a novel brand of music which the
general public must listen to.
So why are the media and press, specifically in the United States bargaining for
K-Pop to become more popular? According to a survey, most of respondents answered
that “K-Pop will bring about huge success and rampage the US as a new wave of
music”. In fact there are two principles explaining why that the people are so crazy
about K-Pop: complete dance and repetitive song.
All of K-Pop music is composed of the repetition of certain words. For instance, a
song Gee by Girls Generation is one of the best songs leading the K-Pop music leader
boards. Most of its lyrics are repetitive and easy to memorize, thus making it so easy to
sing along to.
Complete Dance is also another factor that makes K-Pop popular. Frankly
speaking, Usher, Michael Jackson and the like are the ones who perform solo.
However, the emergence of group-dance singers is fresh shock to the audience: Wonder
Girls is composed of five members; nine members in Girls Generation; five members
of Big Bang. Performing in groups and dancing in sync are what’s hip when we take
a look at K-Pop. Eventually complete dance and group dance performers become a
trademark in this genre.
Now who are the K-Pop singers that make the fans go crazy? The first would be
Wonder Girls who ranked 76th on Billboard Hot Chart 100 with the entitled song
Nobody. The moment this song was ranked, most of the people copied the dances
and uploaded their own renditions on Youtube proving that K-Pop music has clearly
reached the US music market.
Another popular K-Pop singer would be 2NE1 and Big Bang who are the next
generations to succeed the K-Pop propaganda. Their music is mostly known in iTunes,
which is the biggest music company in the US. Especially 2NE1 is known for their
peculiar style: their own ways of expressing their music. Thanks to these characters of
K-Pop, the world is enjoying the new genre music to add a new genre to their iPod
playlists.
A latest example would be a Korean rapper, PSY who abruptly bagged the
attention of CNN, BBC and France press about his new music video-Gangnam
Style-saying: “the Gangnam Style music video was the best music video that they have
watched”; “such idea was never thought by the American people but only could PSY
do so. We bargained for him to produce the more music videos to shock us”, and was
able to bring an unconventional sensation to the public. His music video hit 1 billion
views and CNN described his music video as “Gangnam Style goes viral”. In addition,
most of singers and actors in the US extolled his music and said that “his choreography
is funny and makes me want to imitate it.” Consequently, PSY has achieved a great
career in the US and the world is just waiting for his next hit single.
Moreover, the world prefers to listen to new genres of music instead of the old,
overplayed and monotonous genres we already have. Hence K-Pop has just shown the
people, what we can expect their future music industries have in store for them. In
fact, K-Pop originated from South Korea and its purpose is to highlight South Korea
by music, which is the means to connect them with the rest of the world. In the future,
K-Pop will be on everyone’s playlists thus experiencing a taste of South Korean culture
through repetitive lyrics and catchy dance routines
25 Years
Going Strong
1 By Renz Alvarez
On June 8, 2012, Southridge recognized Mr. Roseller “Boyet” Bernardo and Mr.
Luden Salamat for twenty five years of service. In celebration of this milestone, The
Ridge sat down with Mr. Bernardo as he is a mainstay of the PE Department and a
mentor to countless athletes and alumni.
am here, I feel at home, because it is convenient
and not only do my children study here, but I
have a family of players who are willing to learn
how to be better baseball players.
1. What made you enter Southridge 25 years ago?
To tell you the truth, my coming to Southridge was not intentional. This happened in
April 20, 1987. My first priority was to look for a job as a coach. I tried going to San
Beda, but the office there didn’t seem to pay me any attention. The reason I went to
Southridge was because of a man in the Total gas station nearby. I was asking him for
help on where I can look for a job, and he told me about a school up ahead, and that
school was Southridge. So when I applied, I was interviewed by Dr. Dumol. Later,
they told me to come back Monday, and from then on I got the job as a coach in
Southridge.
4. What is the most fulfilling part of your career?
The most fulfilling part of my career as the head coach of the baseball team is seeing
the fruits of my effort. By this I mean seeing the improvement in my players. It makes
me proud to see the boys I’ve been training grow up and mature to be better players. It
is fulfilling to see the development in their skills, and we even went as far as reaching
the World Series.
2. What makes you stay?
My passion for teaching sports is what keeps me here. I was not originally a baseball
coach, but instead I taught all kinds of sports like basketball and football. Something
about baseball just made me feel so passionate about it. And that’s when it all started. I
decided that I wanted to be a baseball coach, and the first batch I taught was the batch
of Marco Benitez. This was around the year 1988.
3. How does it feel being here for 25 years?
Being in Southridge for 25 years now makes it feel like my second home. Whenever I
5. Will you continue to stay in SR? Why?
I’ve been in SR for 25 years, and I still plan to stay. I feel like I can make a change in
this school. The standard for sports in this school needs to improve, and I plan to be
the one to change that. I will bring a change to the sports system of Southridge to lift
the standard of performance.
6. Who is your role model/inspiration for success?
My family is always the first one that inspires me to do better because they are always
there for me. Next would be the boys I coach, because their success fuels my passion
to coach them even more. I am also a team person who loves sharing his passion with
others, and when I share my passion of baseball with others, it inspires me to help
them become better players.
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Milk Tea, Not Just a Fad
1 By Joel Hernandez
Milk tea, also known as bubble tea
, has emerged as one of the most popular refreshments in the last few years and
has now found a big market in the Philippines. Around an estimate of 25 milk tea concessions have opened up in the Alabang area in the past
two years, ranging from foreign brands such as Chatime and Gong Cha to our own homemade brands such as Bubbly Tea and Fresher Tea.
There is just something that makes milk tea very distinct. It is an acquired taste that not everybody may enjoy, but certainly delicious
when one grows accustomed to it. The astringent, cooling, slightly bitter and fragrant aroma of tea leaves mixed with luscious condensed milk,
sugar, a wide variety of syrups and sinkers create the ideal milk tea drink. Originating from Taiwan in the early 1980’s, milk tea is a drink best
served cold.
Popular varieties include the Pearl Milk Tea, which consists of the milk tea and small, round-shaped tapioca balls we call pearls. Another is the
Winter Melon Milk Tea, a concoction of blended sweet winter melon, black tea leaves and sweet condensed milk. These flavours are just the tip
of the iceberg as there are dozens of variants to satiate the most discriminating of palates.
Foreign companies such as Chatime, Gong Cha and Happy Lemon have made quite a splash in the milk tea craze in the country, but there
other popular and just as delectable home-grown brands, like Serenitea and Moonleaf. Each has its own delicious, signature aromatic taste that
challenges one to be faithful to a single brand.
There have been brave souls who make their own milk teas at home. With the right methods and ingredients, home brewed milk teas can taste
just like the pricey branded milk teas – they start at P70.00.
Milk tea caters perfectly to the Filipino palate that veers to the matamis. This ensures that it’s not a fad, no you can be sure that milk tea is here
to stay.
Let the
Curtains Rise
1 By Gabriel J. Goseco
P
lautus returns, promising both hardships and fun for the three highest
levels in high school. Last year’s Fifth Column and 14 set the bar ever
so higher that there is a collective hunger to at least match, and better
even, to improve on those remarkable productions, new additions to
the Plautus pantheon.
Season 14 features earlier playdates, the first and second week of October
2012. This is due to the constricted schedules in November and December
where the auditorium is reserved for other events such as the Christmas
programs.
By bringing the plays earlier, we avoid competition for the auditorium. Aside
from this, the seniors can also focus on Fathers Day once the second semester
starts. However, this change means a tighter schedule for the classes, so my
advice for everyone is to budget your time. You will run out of time before
you know it!
Here is a little tip for the third years. When planning out practices,
information is power. If people know the script well, and they also know what
must be done, then they only need guidance to actually get things done. I
advise everyone to be familiar with their lines and to understand the overall
flow of their plays.
Everyone must contribute to the overall production, but they will not be
able to if they do not know what to do. A good example is my class last year—I
simply love my IIIC class—even though many were distracted by, ahem,
“school work” during practices, people could still follow what was going on.
This proved invaluable when their contributions were needed in the middle
of practice.
Another piece of advice I want to give is to listen to everyone’s comments.
Be it feedback or suggestions, any reactions from any member of the class is
valuable. These little things can be pivotal to the production. A classmate once
suggested someone to audition for a significant role last year. That someone
ended up winning an award for it. It was unforeseen and it was all thanks to
one who voiced out an unsolicited reaction.
For all the directors and producers out there, your plays are not, and will
ever be, yours alone! One valuable thing I learned last year is the importance
of friendship among my classmates. Do not let people work because you tell
them to, but because they actually care! When you see your classmates as
friends, not drones, then you can surely make a great play. This, I assure you,
will make all the difference.
Finally, have fun! You are making a play with your friends, something you
get to do only three times in your high school life. I am telling you, treasure
these moments. Undoubtedly it will not be easy, but it does not mean you
cannot have fun!
There you have it. I wish everyone good luck. Let us make this Plautus
season a truly memorable one!
Film Review:
The Dark Knight Rises
1 By Chen Dela Cruz
2012
will be remembered for having some of the best action and action comedy
films in recent history. From The Avengers to Battleship, from 21 Jump
Street to MIB 3, these blockbusters were successful entertainment but
none carried the mantle of expectation more than Christopher Nolan’s
The Dark Knight Rises.
In terms of DC comics I am a Batman fan. Ever since the trailer came out I’ve had high expectations
for the film and I have to say that the film blew me away. One word—AWESOME! It’s an incredible
movie best appreciated on the silver screen, not on some laptop or even HDTV. Nolan’s style of filming
was perfect. He is known for his gritty dark style also seen in other films such as Inception and The
Prestige. If you compare his interpretation to its predecessors, Nolan’s Batman is the most successful
one. He started the trilogy all the way from Bruce Wayne’s childhood. A lot of people know that his
childhood was tragic because of the death of his parents. In fact it was because of their deaths that
inspired Bruce to be the Batman. Nolan also gave emphasis to Bruce Wayne’s development as a skilled
a fighter. In the end his vision delivered the best interpretation from Batman Begins all the way to The
Dark Knight Rises.
It’s been eight years since the death of Harvey Dent. Batman, played once again by Christian Bale,
took the blame for Two-Face’s crimes and so is Gotham’s persona non grata. Yet that fall paved the
way for a city relatively free of crime until a new danger threatens it in the form of Bane, a masked and
ferociously strong villain. The encounter between Bane and Batman is the stuff of legend. How Batman
rises from the dust of defeat propels the movie to a faster paced second half. A highlight in the movie is
Selina Kyle, played by the scene stealing Anne Hathaway. She is delicious, a perfect foil. As Bane, Tom
Hardy handily pulls off the big buff counterpoint to The Batman. His face perennially covered by a
mouthpiece, it might be difficult to understand his words on occasion, but the eyes and stance of the
character speak volumes. The inclusion of a new character to the Batman mythos is John Blake (Joseph
Gordon–Levitt). While the addition of his role to the DC canon is welcome, after all he is a very good
actor, it is only in the last minutes of the film when we realized why his inclusion, a seeming loose end,
completed the film in more than satisfactory.
Plot twists will surprise the audience and make it an overall memorable and enjoyable experience.
I would rate this as a 9.5/10.
14
F E A T U R E
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Unexpected Routine
1 By Joshua Vera
A
to explain how it works. This
experimental, trans-dimensional
device was created by Julius Robert
Oppenheimer as a by-product of
his research into the atomic bomb.
Utilizing a gamma type radiation,
the device is able to transport an
object virtually anywhere in the
world. There have been reports of
‘incidents’, but I wouldn’t want to think
of them.
cool breeze rustles the
leaves of the silhouetted,
imposing mahogany trees
that surround me. I look around,
and sigh out in relief finding no one around.
Carefully walking down the rough, concrete
road, I ignore the distant shouts as time is of
the essence.
I finally spot my target: a vague outline
of a single floored building down the incline.
Walking closer, I recognize the rusted metal bars
securing the windows and faded out white paint on
the walls. The shiny steel letters naming the building:
“Department of Communications” is the only thing
that gives contrast to the old, neglected structure
right in front of me. I reach for the door and enter
the building closing the door quietly.
Approaching a digital interface on the wall,
I input the coordinates of NEVS HQ.
The room is bathed in darkness; a glance at my
surroundings shows an old office, filthy folders and
notebooks on the floor; I stride towards the janitor
closet. I open it, close the door, and sit down on a
conveniently placed chair.
In the past, the ISO’s primary
task was to overthrow and
dethrone governments
around the world. Now
however, we just spread
viruses around the world to
support the drug companies
who produce and sell the
cures, and the like.
Reaching for the doorknob, I pull out a thin sliver
of metal and insert it in a well camouflaged cranny.
As I fumble around, I hear a small *click* and I sigh
in relief. Swiftly the whole room starts shaking, dust
falls of the ceiling, and I feel the sensation of going
down. As the closet fades away from view, I slip into
a reverie.
My name is Santos, Gabriel Santos. My regular
job is being head journalist of The Daily Mirror, but
my real profession is Special Operations agent of
the clandestine Internal Security Organization (ISO
for short).
In the past, the ISO’s primary task was to
overthrow and dethrone governments around the
world. Now however, we just spread viruses around
the world to support the drug companies who
produce and sell the cures, and the like. We’re pretty
much the main instigator of all major conspiracies
of the world: corrupting officials, smuggling illegal
migrants, exploiting corporate networks, you name
it.
A sharp stop in the elevator breaks me out of
my thoughts and I realize I’ve arrived. A quick turn
on the doorknob and I’m greeted with a resounding
click.
“Ah, darn it. Stuck again.”
After multiple attempts the door finally gives in. I
step out, which puts me in middle of the Operations
Department. Sitting on one of the twelve chairs in
the room, I patiently await my superiors.
“What happened to Mr. Sarcastic?”
“I don’t have time for this Reyes”.
“Alright boys, play time’s over.” Lee interrupts
as he gestures to the projected screen in front of
us. “What we have is a major fall in the financial
stocks of Petron; people nowadays are using so
much energy-saving technology such as electric
cars that oil companies are losing money. We don’t
want that.”
“What do you want us to do boss?” I ask, with
slight interest.
“Well, we’re sending you, one of our best
operatives, to infiltrate the headquarters of National
Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), an Asian Electric
Car Consortium, hack into their computer database,
and erase all the files in their hard drives.” Smith
concludes his briefing with a firm nod.
And with that, I’m off.
I notice the subtle murmurs of conversation
approaching, and identify them as belonging to
Department Head Lee Yee Ming and fellow agent
Reyes.
I stand up and shake Lee’s hand, give Reyes a
wave, and head straight to a room just adjacent to
Operations.
“Good evening Santos, sorry to call you at such
a late hour,” Lee speaks as both he and Reyes take
a seat across from me.
“Lee! What about me?”
“Reyes, shut up. Report to Logistics.”
“Ah, sure boss,” I didn’t want to argue anymore,
especially since I was supposed to write an article
on the recent financial crash in Thailand (which I
personally caused).
What makes the ISO so secret, mysterious and
effective is that we are able to appear in certain
places almost instantly, and disappear just as quick.
We have a proprietary teleportation device located
in the exact same room I’m in.
I’m not exactly a scientist, but I will attempt
“Right. So now you’re all ‘okay’? Reyes interjects.
“Hong Kong, China.”
I press enter and then strap
myself into one of the teleportation
cubicles. Sitting down, I relax.
Thinking as this mission as routine,
I’d rather just plan out my day after
the operation. The possibilities are endless.
I’m bathed in green rays of light transported
across half way around the world.
Appearing in the apparent interior of NEVS, I
take in my surroundings. I’m the middle of an entirely
white hallway, with doors lining up on both sides—
certainly the trademark of any corporate building,
if I say so myself.
Cautiously dropping my pen on the floor, I
realize that there aren’t any obvious traps. Slowly
but surely I stride towards the door labeled:
“Mainframe Database” which seems like the most
likely place to go to. I push the door open.
No one inside. Clear.
The room’s filled with computers, so I take the
nearest one. I work efficiently, masterfully bypassing
firewalls, and basically erasing their whole company
from the inside.
While browsing through the files, I glance upon
an encrypted file, hidden among the data. It isn’t any
of the regular discrete ones, this looks more like the
old ISO communiqués. Curiosity getting the better
of me, I open it.
“NEVS,
We’re sending you our most valuable and
effective agent for the ‘experiment’. We trust you
shall properly control and develop him. We expect
significant results in five months.”
“ISO Command”
Startled, I realize the memo is talking about me.
I hurriedly walk out of the Mainframe, and towards
my origin point. I didn’t see the ropes and manacles
coming out of nowhere and suddenly pinning me to
the ground.
Alarms blare and the room becomes bathed in
red light. I struggle and reach around the restraints
but I just can’t, it seems that the only thing I can move
is my head. My luck runs out tonight
A needle-point injection enters my left shoulder.
My vision blurs as my very last thoughts are,
somewhat humorously, about comic book heroes.
15
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L ETTERS TO T H E E D I TOR
Gino Guevara
Dear Editor,
I would like to suggest that you
r next issue focus on SR efforts
to help victims of the recent floo
around Metro Manila
ds
On August 11, a devastating mo
nsoon, also known as Gener, pou
red down endlessly on the
provinces of central and northe
rn Luzon resulting in a nationwid
e catastrophe, leaving many peo
homes submerged by the floods
ples’
and also leaving them without
food. Many barangays and loca
gathered and managed to donate
l communities
canned goods, surplus apparel,
and toiletries to those that were
flooded.
heavily
Southridge is proud to say that
they took part in assisting the
collection and distribution of don
material to the locals of Alaban
ated
g Elementary School. The Southri
dge faculty, students and alumn
gathered in the campus ground
i alike all
s and worked as one family in
order to make sure that the fam
Alabang Elementary School rec
ilies residing in
eive the essentials that they had
lost because of the heavy floodin
Being socially aware is very ess
g.
ential especially for the youth in
their adolescence. Southridge is
proud to say that the majority of
very
the students gathered as one lovi
ng family and helped out volunta
they were asked. The High Sch
rily when
ool Student Council sent text brig
ades and contacted other people
means of social media sites req
through the
uesting that they help out sort
and
gather the donations during the
of Gener. Luckily for the school,
aftermath
Southridge was blessed to hav
e a good number of students wh
did their part in contributing to
o came and
the society in a time wherein the
y were needed the most.
In a time of calamity, especially
by the rampant typhoons, Southri
helping hand.
dge will always provide more tha
na
Matthew Banaag (mattbanaag@yahoo.com)
Dear Editor,
High school has always been full of many new opportunities for people to show their talent and express themselves. But
during high school there’s always been one event that gets everyone excited, Plautus. Plautus has always been something
that can cause people to start pulling their hair out with stress, but it can also make people jump for joy and keep them
smiling for hours. So in many ways it can be either your worst or best experience in your high school life in Southridge.
First, with Plautus being extremely exciting from the very first time you get assigned as an apprentice till your final year
as a senior how can it be one of the worst experiences in your life? Well first of all no matter what year you’re in your class is
always going to fight, whether it will be something as small as cooperating in practice or something big like what the plot of
the Plautus will be. Next finding time to practice can sometimes be difficult, especially if you have a lot of classmates in the
varsity teams.
Then again, like I said, Plautus can be a really exciting thing where you can freely express yourselves as a scriptwriter or
an actor or even with the props you make. I’ve always loved how in Plautus despite all the hardships we face we go through it
as a class, and even though we tend to fight each other every now and then, we somehow get through it with stronger bonds
and ready to face the next challenge. Plautus is also another great way to get to know you classmates better, get to know their
strengths and weaknesses and most importantly get to know them as people. Plautus truly can bring people closer together.
So overall I think Plautus is a wonderful idea. Sure enough, we’re just a bunch of students without any training in theatre
and the other important aspects needed for Plautus but that doesn’t mean that we can’t put up a good show. Yes, I know
there are some people who are not really in favor of the idea of Plautus, but even if what we’re doing isn’t professional-like
and even sometimes ridiculous and foolish in the end it all comes down to the memories made and lessons learned. So far
Southridge has been doing a great job with Plautus and I hope that it continues doing a great job this season and the next and
the seasons to come.
Jet
om)
23@gmail.c
t.nicolas1
Nicolas (je
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2012 Pep
Rally and the
New Face of Southridge
1 By Jairus Paul
It wasn’t too long ago when Jeggy Filart of Batch 2011 coined the name Southridge Admirals. This finally gave Southridge students a name to call
themselves - their very own Blue Eagle or Green Archer. On September 3, 2012 at a similar pep rally held at the covered courts, the High School Student Council Two unveiled
something even bigger: Andy the Admiral, the school’s first mascot.
It’s no secret that having a physical mascot was a dream for many students. Many in the past have tried and failed to create a living, breathing, and dancing mascot to
inculcate unity and love for the School. The highlight of the pep rally renewing the Vinta and Helm House rivalry was the introduction of Andy the Admiral.
The program kicked off with Captains Greenheart and Bluebeard galvanizing the primary school students with their respective house cheers. Each house showed their
hearts and loyalty by shouting with great gusto. The Admirals Step Crew also assisted in livening up the atmosphere.
To further stoke up the crowd, the School recognized and brought onstage the Football, Basketball, and Baseball varsity team. Among those lauded was Sandro Reyes, an
exceptionally skilled Grade 3 football player recently granted full scholarship by Spain’s FC Barcelona Escola, the academy of FC Barcelona, one of the world’s best football clubs.
Then Andy the Admiral came in to loud cheers of appreciation. He was garbed in a beautifully gilded Admiral’s coat and wearing the signature tricorne hat. He wore a
blue band on his right wrist (Vinta) and a green band on his left wrist (Helm). The crowd erupted in ecstasy as Andy walked onstage, danced, and paraded through the mob
of students who angled closer for a better look. To top it all off, Andy made a monumental three point shot to officially inaugurate himself as the school’s name and face.
Do not be surprised when in the next varsity game, Andy the Admiral will be there, cheering on the players and the students. He is an image that will unify Southridge
for generations to come.