THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH PUBLICATION OF THE LAS PIÑAS CITY NATIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL
STANDARD PRESS PARAGON OF TRUTH AND FREEDOM
VOLUME 9 · ISSUE 1 · MARCH 22, 2024
QUICK READ
• Villar Family leads turnover of new and improved facilities to LPSci, including a multi-purpose covered court. • China urges US to stop using Philippines as ‘pawn’ to destabilize South China Sea. • DPWH opens new four-storey PhilFIDA building in Talon Dos for agricultural research and production.
PASS IT ON. Senator Cynthia Villar gives a remarkable speech at the turnover ceremony for new LPSci facilities. The court, alongside an expanded canteen, renovated faculty room, and new storage building, have recently been donated by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to enhance learning experiences for all students. Photo by: Aki Gabriel Hernandez
DPWH welcomes new PhilFIDA facility in Las Piñas AKI GABRIEL A. HERNANDEZ
T
he Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) turned over the completed construction of a new government building to the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA). Loreta Malaluan, DPWH National Capital Director, said the DPWH Las Piñas-Muntinlupa District Engineering Office, with the P25 million allocation, built a four-story PhilFIDA building along Aria Street, Barangay Talon Dos, Las Piñas City. “This new PhilFIDA building is fully equipped with necessary amenities to provide a conducive office environment for the employees and officials of PhilFIDA who do research, production, processing, marketing, and trade regulation to promote country’s natural fibers which include abaca, piña, and bursi, among others,” Malaluan said. This turnover followed the joint Department of Agriculture (DA) and PhilFIDA inauguration of the PhilFIDA Multi-purpose Building and Audinasium last December 12. Attorney Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra, DA Assistant Secretary and concurrent OIC-Executive Director of PhilFIDA, said the facility’s construction attests to the power of collaboration between PhilFIDA, the City of Las Piñas, and DPWH. “This building is a cornerstone of progress, serving as a source of inspiration for our employees now that we finally have a building we can call our own,” Velicaria-Guevarra said. Cyree Pamplona, a student-researcher at Las Piñas City National Science High School, expressed her hopes for the PhilFIDA facility to assist her research endeavors. “As a student-researcher, mahirap para sa amin humanap ng mga laboratories or facilities na mapupuntahan for fieldwork kaya I’m thankful na may branch na here in Las Piñas. Last time kasi we had to go to Quezon City pa, and ang mahal. Ang mahal ng cost, mahaba pa ang traffic,” she said. (As a student-researcher, it is hard for us to find laboratories or facilities we can head to for fieldwork that is why I’m thankful that there is now a branch here in Las Piñas. Last time, we had to go to Quezon City and it was costly. It was expensive, and we still endured heavy traffic.)
SURVEY SAYS The covered court received a satisfaction rating of
72%
from the school’s basketball team, the top beneficiary of the facility. SOURCE: LPCNSHS, 2024
MAJOR MILESTONE
Villars head turnover of new, revamped facilities to LPSci DANETTE RAMIEL S. ELIAS
“I
n this covered court, you may now gather for school programs and other events needing space without worrying about the heat and the rain.” This was what Senator Cynthia Villar highlighted during the turnover ceremony of new and reconditioned facilities, which aim to address the needs of students and teachers, on Thursday, March 7. “We have worked tirelessly to secure funding for the school’s infrastructure and ensure the construction of necessary buildings and the improvement of facilities at the Las Piñas [City] National [Science] High School,” Senator Cynthia Villar said. New School Facilities LPSci officially received four new school facilities — a covered court, a storage room, an expanded junior high canteen, and a renovated junior high faculty room — initiated by Senator Cynthia, Senator Mark Villar, and Las Piñas Congresswoman Camille Villar.
in a Philippine school, especially in the context of sports-related activities, giving room for both comfort and learning. “It’s great to have a multi-purpose court to utilize now, especially for me, who has been wanting this for a very long time. Our team can use this court to practice more often and be prepared for next year’s cluster meet,” Zachary Sia, the LPSci Dragons top scorer in the previous cluster meet, said. The team expressed gratitude for the establishment of the covered court, which allowed them to have a facility for training in preparation for the next competition. “The canteen is designed to provide students with their own dedicated eating space,” Cynthia added. The senator said the canteen enables easier and safer food preparation as well as a larger space for students to eat in. “On the other hand, the [reconditioned] faculty room offers a conducive space for junior high school teachers to prepare for their classes and carry out other tasks,” she also said.
“Alam niyo naman sa Pilipinas—hindi pwedeng walang bubong. Kung hindi mainit, maulan — walang in-between. ( You all already know it in the Philippines: having a roofed facility is a must. It is either sunny or rainy, no in-between.) It is very important that we have this school facility. It is also ideal for P.E. classes as well as sports activities like basketball and volleyball,” Cynthia said.
Senator Cynthia noted that the reconditioned faculty room will promote productivity among LPSci teachers, enabling them to carry out tasks in teaching such as checking test papers.
She emphasized that the covered court is “ideal”
She said the newly-built storage building aims to
“The storage rooms ensure the school remains neat and organized, preventing clutter, and maintaining cleanliness,” she added.
PH being manipulated — China foreign ministry
China blames US of provocation amid SCS tension
C
DANETTE RAMIEL S. ELIAS
hina accused the United States of America of being behind the territorial tensions of China and the Philippines in a press conference on Wednesday, March 7.
Following the accusations of being behind the China-Philippines territorial disputes, China urged the US to refrain from using the Philippines as a “pawn to destabilize SCS.”
She mentioned that the Philippines needs to “refrain from being manipulated” by the US as the spokesperson insists that its attempts of making infringements and provocations will not succeed.
“The US Department of State — who disregards facts and confuses right with wrong — has made baseless attacks against China’s legitimate and lawful actions to safeguard our rights,” Mao Ning, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson of China said in the conference.
“Ren’ai Jiao is a bilateral issue between China and the Philippines,” the spokesperson noted.
Water disputes
Ning said it is “crystal clear” that the US is baselessly attacking China, breaking international law and endangering the peace of South China Sea (SCS).
She emphasized that the US is “unrightful” of making interventions in their claimed territory Ren’ai Jiao, known as Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines and part of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), as China has “unwavering determination and will” in safeguarding its rights.
Videos of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) attacking Filipino vessels with water cannons rooted to the accusations. Chinese naval forces blocked the resupply mission of Philippine vessels, leading to a collision between a Chinese and Philippine ship.
“Lessons from history tell us that a pawn will only end up being abandoned,” Mao Ning added.
Minor damage to the Philippine ship was sustained in the collision.
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aid the school in maintaining order and cleanliness, which will help expand the auditorium back to its original space before part of it was used as a makeshift storage room. Establishment and Development of LPSci “In 2007, during my term as congresswoman of Las Piñas City, I principally authored and pushed for the passage of Republic Act 9451, which established the Las Piñas City National Science High School,” she said. The Villar family pushed for the foundation of LPSci, from its proposal in Congress by thenCongresswoman Cynthia to its approval in the Senate, assisted by then-Senate President Manny Villar, to the expansion and development of its facilities, now initiated by Cynthia and Camille Villar. “Naniniwala po kami na dapat mayroon tayong National [Science] High School (We believe that we should have a National [Science] High School) to educate and shape the character of the brightest students in our city,” she said. She said that the establishment of LPSci aims to offer an avenue for the growth of the “brightest students in the city,” as science high school graduates are “advantaged” in gaining scholarships and opportunities in college. The establishment of the school facilities is one of the remarkable project initiatives of the Villar family in LPSci, along with the lending of mobile tablets, donation of school chairs, and construction of two school buildings.
In the press conference, Mao Ning responded to this issue as a “legitimate and lawful act” to protect the rights of China. Mutual defense Matthew Miller, US State Department Spokesperson, confirmed talks with the Philippines regarding the issue, reaffirming the Philippines of its support. “We condemn the People’s Republic of China’s repeated obstruction of Philippine vessels’ exercise of high seas freedom of navigation and its disruption of supply lines to this long standing outpost,” Miller said. The spokesperson also condemned China’s actions, referring to it as a reckless disregard for the safety of Filipinos.
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