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Hilltop
Passi promotes to 3rd class city by MARRIONE PANABE
Department of Finance confirmed the reclassification of Passi City into a Third-Class Component City, Dec. 5, 2024. Under the DOF Order No. 0742024, the advancement was pursuant to Republic Act No. 11964 or the Automatic Income Classification of Local Government Unit’s (LGUs) Act. City Mayor Stephen A. Palmares said in a Facebook post by the LGU, “this milestone reflects the economic resilience and collective effort of our people, even during challenging times.” Passi is currently in the P800 million to less than P1 billion income range, hence the automatic classification. Previously, the city was a fourthclass city with an annual income bracket of P500 million to less than P800 million.
Hilling top-tier stories
The Official English Publication of Passi National High School Volume 49, Issue 1 I AUGUST 2024 - MARCH 2025 I
by MIKAELA CALIMPONG
Comelec hosts ACMs roadshow in PNHS by ERNST ARROYO
KATATAGAN EMPOWERS SDO Passi champs learners resiliency by YANCY AGUILAR & SIAN PALMA
P
TRIAL VOTER. STEM 12 student Jamela KC Palomo tries to vote using the new voting machine. (Photo by SIAN PALMA)
Educating learners on the new voting system, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) conducted an enhanced Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) roadshow at Passi National High School, January 15. Participants received dummy ballots to practice shading and insertion to the machine, allowing voters to experience the features of the ACMs. Comelec also reminded the students to avoid damaging and writing unnecessary marks on the ballot to ensure validity.
SURVEY SAYS
51% were feeling
of PNHS Students, Teachers, and Staff
BORED
during the COVID-19 Pandemic SOURCE: THE HILLTOP ASKS ONLINE SURVEY
Tremble to Trophy
EDITORIAL
3 Sisters and a Calling
FEATURE
Local News
Passinhon lauded Outstanding OFW
WORKING AFAR. Overseas Filipino worker, Johnna Padernal Moncal receives her Certificate of Recognition from the President, Ferdinand Marcos (Photo Credits TO LGU PASSI CITY FB PAGE)
DICT installs free wifi in PNHS
School News
2 12
by MIKAELA CALIMPONG
Local News
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) provided free wifi access for learners and teachers on January 2025, at Passi National High School (PNHS). The main wifi router located at the school library, connects to three access points in Buildings 1 and 2, near Maceda Hall, and in front of the amphitheater, allocating 5 MB per student.
What’s Inside
assi City Schools Division Office sought improvements in the resilience of learners a year into the roll-out of the Katatagan Mental Health and Resiliency Program, a project impact evaluation study in 2024 revealed.
Launched by the key implementer Schools Division Superintendent Ma. Roselyn J. Palcat EdD, CESO VI, the study showed that resiliency scores among Grades 4 to 12 learners increased by 75 percent mean from 2.45 in the pre-test to 3.27 in post-test, showing the shift from robust level to resilient. “The implementation of the Katatagan Program significantly influenced learners’ resiliency levels, enhancing their ability to cope with challenges and adapt to stress,” SDS Palcat concluded in the study. SDS Palcat further noted that it was able to highlight the common experiences of learners before and after the program and the role it played in the increase in the resiliency. “Learners transitioned from feelings of sadness and heaviness to developing self-compassion, emotional awareness, and a sense of faith in their abilities,” the study stated. Results also revealed that Grade 7 learners were described as resilient, which was two levels higher than its initial fragile level. Moreover, Grades 8 and 11 maintained resilience, Grades 10 and 12 increased from robust to resilient, with
Grade 9 reaching a strong level. Trixialyn Villaueva, a Grade 11 student who was then a Grade 9 student who was one of the pilot respondents, said that she became more mentally resilient after the program further saying, “I learned valuable tools and strategies to manage stress, build confidence, and develop a growth mindset.” “I developed effective learning habits such as active listening and self-reflection, [as well as], stress management techniques including mindfulness and self-care,” she testified. Among the nine grade levels, Grade 4 weighed the highest resiliency level of 3.19 while Grade 6 scored the lowest at 1.21 prior to conduct. Grade 6 learners possessed lower mean scores equating to lower tolerance to failures but leveled to be resilient after the program. The respondents composed of students from pilot implementation schools were subjected to a 10-item Learners’ Resiliency Level (LRL) questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. CONTINUED ON P6
Through hard work and unwavering dedication, Passinhon earned national recognition for her exceptional contributions as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) during the “Pamaskong Handog para sa OFW Family” event at Malacañang Palace in 2024. During the tribute event, Johnna Padernal Moncal was awarded by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with a certificate of recognition. “This recognition is not mine alone. I dedicate this to the millions of Filipino OFWs around the world who endure hardships and loneliness while being away from their families,” said Moncal. In a Facebook post, she emphasized the difficulty of being away from loved ones and the courage required to leave families behind to work in another country. “Leaving your family to look for a greener pasture in other countries takes a lot of courage and strength from emotional to physical aspect for you to endure the hardships,” she said. Recently, Moncal’s story was featured by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration “We Give the World Our Best” campaign video, recognizing the contribution of Filipinos all around the world. SEE RELATED STORY | P11
SURVEY SAYS
83.5%
of 576 respondents have mentally recovered from the Pandemic
288 (50.3%)
of 576 respondents are
neutral in terms of
mental resiliency SOURCE: THE HILLTOP ASKS ONLINE SURVEY
PASSI CITY DSPC ‘25
CHAMPION
Best Performing School
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