18 sports
09 editorial
THE BLAZING
BEACON
Capua Leads ECIS to Victory in DCAA Basketball Game
Joshua Capua, a Grade 12 East Central Integrated School (ECIS) student, is poised to lead his basketball team to victory in the upcoming Dagupan City Athletic Association (DCAA) games this December.
Voice of Vigilance: Rise of Sexual Violence
VOL. 3 | ISSUE NO. 1 The Official English Publication of East Central Integrated School-High School Department Mayombo District | Dagupan City Region I | August - October 2024
D
AGUPAN CITY, PANGASINAN – Alarm bells are ringing for bangus (milkfish) growers in Pangasinan, including those in Dagupan City, as they reel from rapidly declining prices.
The farmgate price of bangus, now ranging from P90 to P110 per kilo, is below the production cost of P125 to P135 per kilo, threatening to derail the province’s multi-million-peso aquaculture industry. During a recent dialogue, fish cage operators in Dagupan and nearby towns sought the intervention of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and other concerned agencies to stop the collapse of the bangus industry. Bangus producers expressed frustration over the price drop, which began in February. Despite selling for as much as P120 to P200 per kilo in May, current prices have dipped significantly. Christopher Aldo Sibayan, president of the Samahan ng
> BLAZING PULSE The Philippines may soon legalize divorce, with growing public support and recent legislative efforts challenging the country’s longstanding ban.
GENERAL STANCE ON DIVORCE
30% IN FAVOR
49%
NOT IN FAVOR 21% NEUTRAL In a recent poll, students voiced their opinions on the legalization of divorce in the Philippines. The survey, titled “Blazing Pulse,” captured a range of perspectives from youth across ECIS, sparking conversations on marriage, family, and personal freedom. The results reflect the shifting views of a new generation and offer a glimpse into the future of family law in the country.
Magbabangus sa Pangasinan, voiced the concerns of bangus producers, saying that the current price is insufficient to cover production costs. “We’re not even breaking even,” Sibayan lamented. He added that the community has been facing seasonal price declines for the past four years, but this time, the impact feels particularly severe. “We need to understand why this keeps happening. What’s missing, and what actions can the government take to prevent us from experiencing this season of loss?” Sibayan questioned during the dialogue. Local Families Struggling Due to Price Drop The declining prices have rippled through the entire community, particularly affecting fisherfolk like Jolo Reyes, who operates a small fish cage in Dagupan. Jolo, a father of three, including Jovan Reyes, a East Central Integrated School student, shared how the falling prices have
drastically reduced their household income. “Kulang na ang pambili ng feeds at maintenance dahil maliit ang kita ilang buwan na. Kailangan bawasan ang arawaraw na gastusin. Hindi talaga sapat and kinikita ko dahil sa problemang ito,” Jolo said. Jovan, a Grade 7 student, echoed his father’s concerns. “Minsan kasama ako nila ako na nanghuhuli ng isa. Hindi na ako nakakapasok dahil alam ko na problem ni Papa ang gastusin. Sana mabawi nila ang gastos nila,” Jovan said.
continue on page 4.
> CAMPUS NEWS
Mother tongue education desist arouses controversy Educators, Students Express Concerns as RA 12027 Phases Out MTB-MLE Program By: JB Parohinog
D
AGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan—The discontinuation of mother tongue instruction in classes from Kindergarten to Grade 3 has sparked a heated debate among citizens following the enactment of Republic Act No. 12027.
The bill lapsed into law without the signature of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. It amends the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, or Republic Act 10533, which mandated the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) program. Under the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, the mother tongue became the medium of instruction to enhance comprehension and literacy among young learners. With the passage of RA 12027, “the medium of instruction shall revert to Filipino and until otherwise provided by law, English.” While regional languages may still be used as supplementary teaching tools, the changes have sparked significant concern among educators and students. “This is another adjustment for the student but we are looking forward for the positive impact of this changes,” stated Ma’am Marivic Marcellan from
East Central Integrated School (ECIS). The new law introduces optional implementation of the MTB-MLE program in monolingual classes, where all students share the same native language.
“
Ang pag-abandona sa mother
tongue ay pagtalikod sa mga iba’t
ibang wika ng bansa at sa kanilang
ambag sa ating mayamang kultura. - Rep. France Castro (ACT TEACHERS)
However, this is contingent upon several conditions, such as the availability of trained teachers and official documentation by the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino (KWF). Critics argue that this requirement may not be feasible in all areas, especially in diverse educational settings.
Photo from SavetheChildrenPH
“Gamit so Pangasinan, mas nauunawaan ko’y pan-aaralan mi,” said a Grade 3 student of ECIS. “Baka aga ak natuto ya maayos no man-Filipino tan English kami.” As the Department of Education (DepEd) prepares to review the implementation of the MTB-MLE program, many in the education community worry about the potential impact
on students’ academic performance. “Ang pag-abandona sa mother tongue ay pagtalikod sa mga iba’t ibang wika ng bansa at sa kanilang ambag sa ating mayamang kultura,” noted House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro on October 11, slamming RA 12027
EN V I R ON M EN T
By: Clarissa Barozo
|
Photo and Caption by: Daryl Salazar
S T O R Y
Dagupan Fisherfolks, Students Feel the Pinch
T O P
PERSEVERANCE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY. Jovan, 14, a young fisherman from Bonuan Tondaligan, Dagupan City, pulls his net in the midst of the Bangus crisis, striving to make a daily catch despite dwindling fish stocks. dwindling stocks.
>
BANGUS CRISIS