RHEIMS SPECIAL: MAY
NEWS
SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021
DOH confirmed COVID-19 India variant cases in PH by Dave Domingo
The Department of Health confirmed that two cases of the India variant of COVID-19 have entered the Philippines, May 11. In an online briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire stated that the Philippine Genome Center detected the B.1.617.2 variant in two seafarers. Furthermore, Vergeire noted that samples from their positive COVID-19 swab tests were sequenced as part of the DOH’s strengthened biosurveillance procedures. “The two have since recovered and are back in their home provinces in the SOCCSKSARGEN and Bicol regions, respectively,” director of the DOH’s Epidemiology Bureau Dr. Alethea de Guzman said.
Photo from:\CNN Philippines
According to De Guzman, the first case is a 37-year-old male returning overseas Filipino from Oman who arrived in the Philippines on April 10 and was tested positive on April 15. The second case is a 58-year-old Filipino male who came from the United Arab Emirates. He arrived in the Philippines on April 19 and was found positive for the virus on April 24. On the other hand, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the B.1.617.2 variant of the COVID-19 virus as a global concern. WHO noted that the new variant is more transmissible and with mutations that allow the virus to bypass the immune system.
Binay calls out DOH and LGUs for better handling of COVID-19 vaccines by Lance Crisostomo
Senator Nancy Binay called the attention of the Department of Health (DOH) to look after and remind once again the Local Government Units (LGUs) on the proper handling and storing of vaccines to avoid further spoilage and wastage. Binay was alarmed as 348 doses of Sinovac vaccines were reported to be “rendered unusable” after health workers from Makilala, North Cotabato forgot to plug in the freezer once again after a brownout that happened last May 7. The incident started when power loss occurred at around 12:30 p.m. that led the municipal office to use generators to temporarily power the office which did not last long since power went back at around 2:00 p.m. From 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., none of the officials and workers remembered to plug once again the freezer leaving the 348 doses in a non-suitable environment for two days, since Saturday and Sunday were non-working days. According to Lito Cañedo, Makilala IATF spokesperson, none of the officials and workers noticed that the freezer was unplugged leaving the vaccines in a non-functioning freezer for three days and it is only on Monday that the personnel-in-charge from the town health office noticed of it. “Nobody noticed it on Friday that the freezer was not switched back to the regular power supply. Saturday and Sunday were no work days; it was only on Monday morning (May 10) that it was discovered by the personnel-in-charge from the town health office,” Cañedo stated. With that being said, Senator Binay, in the official press release, reminded DOH and the LGUs that checking and ensuring that the vaccines were very vital since they are really important commodities so as to avoid wasting any more vaccines. “Checking if the vaccines are in good condition is the most basic of things. Vaccines are a very precious commodity in these times. Yung ilang minutong brownout nga lang
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nabubulabog na tayo, what more kung two days? Sayang ang mga bakuna. Kapag dumating ang mga ganitong sitwasyon at walang contingency, dedma na lang ba?” Binay said and asked. The senator added that such mistakes and carelessness must be avoided and that LGUs must be more precise and consistent in monitoring the vaccines and possibilities that may happen which may affect the usability of the vaccines. “Let’s avoid oversight and carelessness on the ground given the complicated handling and logistics involved in bringing the vials to islands and far-flung provinces. Ulit-ulitin po sana ng DOH ang pagpapaalala sa mga LGU na sundin ang handling protocols nang hindi masayang ang mga bakuna. Di naman siguro kailangan pa tayong umabot sa point na kumuha ng ‘Pridyider Czar’ para lang i-monitor kung nasa maayos na storage ang mga bakuna. SOP na dapat ang constant checking and counter-checking sa bawat stage ng proseso. Yung nangyari sa Cotabato, simple lang naman ang tanong: Meron lang bang nag-abalang silipin kung naka-ON ang freezer?” Binay further added. Sen. Binay pointed out that there will be a large number of COVID-19 vaccines which will arrive in the country which DOH must ensure and take action into to ensure that the vaccines will be usable and that any more mishandling will be an unacceptable mistake. “The upcoming months will see an influx of vaccines whose quality should be ensured from source to destination. I really hope the DOH will take another look at its protocols and seek to leave no room for error during crunch time. Given the shortage of vaccines, yung mga ganitong mishandling are totally unacceptable,” Binay stated. As millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca, Moderna, Novavax, and many more are expected to arrive across the whole year, DOH and LGUs, with the help of the other departments and the national government, are working hand in hand to avoid anymore wastage of vaccines and to ensure that the delivery and administration of vaccines run smoothly.
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RHEIMS SPECIAL: MAY
NEWS
SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021
COMELEC resumes voter registration as the ECQ is lifted in NCR Plus by Jade Magno
Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced that voter registration in NCR Plus would resume as the quarantine restrictions in the area were eased. COMELEC Exec. Director Bartolome Sinocruz Jr. said in a briefing that the area’s voter registration would be open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. “With this development, the commission decided to again, open up registration from Monday to Friday from eight o’clock to five o’clock in the afternoon in areas under general community quarantine or modified general community quarantine,” Sinocruz said. Sinocruz added that the local field or the satellite registration centers for overseas Filipino voters will also be open.
They would also coordinate with field registration centers in various government departments, including the Overseas Welfare Workers Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). “We will need to coordinate with them, it will depend on the existing if they have their own lockdown procedures. But definitely, since the NCR has been downgraded to GCQ, I think it is time for them to open also,” the executive director said. Following the imposition of strict enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the region due to rising COVID-19 incidents, the COMELEC previously suspended voter registration in NCR Plus. According to COMELEC, there are 58.9 million registered voters in the country as of April 19.
GCQ with heightened restrictions implemented in NCR Plus bubble President Duterte announced that the ‘NCR Plus’ bubble would be under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) starting from May 15 to May 31. In a briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stated that NCR Plus will be put into GCQ, although certain restrictions will remain. People ages 18 to 65 are the only ones allowed to leave their houses in areas under the GCQ with heightened restrictions. Only necessary travel into and out of the bubble is permitted, and public transportation remains operational. The capacity of indoor dine-in services has increased to 20%, and al fresco or outdoor dining has risen to 50%. Inside the bubble, tourist attractions will operate at 30% capacity while
adhering to strict public health protocols. “Further allowed in the NCR Plus are specialized markets of the Department of Tourism (DOT) following the minimum public health standards and implementation of protocols and restrictions as set by the DOT,” the presidential spokesperson said. Personal care facilities that do not require the removal of a face mask, as well as outdoor non-contact sports, games, and scrimmages, can function at a 30% range. At 10% venue availability, religious ceremonies and necrological services for those who died from causes other than COVID-19 are permitted. NCR Plus is a bubble established last March 22 consisting of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal. -Jade Magno
ECQ, MECQ, GCQ, and MGCQ comparison based from IATF Resolution No. 35. Source: Presidential Communications facebook.com/Rheims2020 @Rheims2020
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RHEIMS SPECIAL: MAY
NEWS
SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021
“Following the protocols”
School Year 2021-2022 Enrollment starts by Lance Crisostomo
Academy of Saint John (ASJ) opened enrollment for school year 2021-2022 last May 10 via online transaction and process to welcome students and transferees as they embark on the second online school year due to the pandemic. ASJ’s enrollment for the coming school year are as follows: May 10-14 for the Nursery and Kinder pupils including transferees, May 17-21 for Grades 1-3, May 24-28 for Grades 4-6, May 31-June 4 for Grades 7-9, and June 7-11 for Grades 10-12. In an interview, Ms. Maria Victoria Cervantes stated that the enrollment for this school year and the previous year became difficult since there is less to least face-to-face encounter as compared to the enrollment process when there was no pandemic yet. Ms. Victoria added that this move of having less face-to-face interaction, particularly over-the-counter transactions, is a way for the school to protect the health and well-being of the students, their families, and the faculty and staff of the school. “However, due to the restrictions of the MECQ, the process I have mentioned earlier is not possible anymore. A while ago, I shared a process that involves a face-to-face encounter, [or] a face-to-face transaction. In as much as we want to protect your family, and considering our safety as well, over-the-counter payment has never been an option for several months now,” Cervantes stated. Ms. Angelisa Abelido, faculty assigned to the pre-registration, furthered that for the enrollment for the past three years, she has been using a data-based system that will allow her to easily keep track of data, but still there are still manual works which makes the work difficult. “As assigned in the pre-registration process for me it’s difficult, because of manual works of monitoring. Of course in my 3 years handling the pre-registration, I do things conveniently using the data-based system (GL Office) established by the former accountant of ASJ. The system really fits for the enrollment process. Right now I’m doing all the monitoring in Excel. I manually extracted all the data from the Google Forms spreadsheet and transfer it to my Excel file, then when MECQ lifts I will transfer it again to the GL Office,” Abelido said. Mr. Cris Dulutan, the Mathematics and Science Coordinator, added that in the preparation for this school year’s enrollment, several meetings were conducted to think of ways on how to conduct the enrollment smoothly and safely this year; one thing that Mr. Cris shared is that the business office posted the series of steps for this school year via the official Facebook page of ASJ. “Series of meetings conducted to think of
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ASJ’s enrollment schedule for school year 2021-2022. Photo from: ASJ Facebook page
safe and convenient ways of enrollment system. The Business Office also prepared steps on how to go about the enrollment system. It is also posted on our official FB page and at the same time, they also send messages and answer inquiries online,” Dulutan said. When asked about the advantages and challenges for the enrollment process-system for this school year, Ms. Victoria stated that this is an advantage for the working parents since with just a few clicks, their child/children may already be enrolled but there is a need to take note for the not technically-inclined parents who may have a hard time on the online process of the enrollment. “But I do not discount the advantage of having the so-called online payment, especially for our working parents. His/her child can easily be enrolled in just a click of their fingers and at the convenience of their own home. For some who are not technicallyinclined, they would surely find it difficult to accept the online enrollement, do take note that we have guardians who are on their senior years. When some would easily adapt themselves on this online,there would also some who would struggle,” Cervantes said. With all the challenges posed by the pandemic on the enrollment process and the upcoming school year, the teachers of the ASJ are hoping for more enrollees, and as Ms. Victoria emphasized, the power of the ‘word of mouth’ is such a big deal that will affect the number of enrollees. “I have high hopes that ASJ would have good number of enrollees, why? I believe in the power of ‘word of mouth.’ The best practices of ASJ, the excellent culture that our children experience, [these] pass on from one friend to another,” she added, noting that ASJ already has a list of returning students. “Many impossible becomes possible at ASJ and I say it with all my conviction,” Cervantes ended. The enrollment process for school year 2021-2022 is still on-going. For the schedule and full process for the enrollment, the ASJ has everything pinned on its official Facebook page.
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RHEIMS SPECIAL: MAY
NEWS
SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021
LASSSAI empowers future voters by Lance Crisostomo
The Lasallian Schools Supervision Services Association Inc. (LASSSAI), in partnership with Team Chel Diokno, hosted a voters’ education forum to guide the future voters in a “proactive and educated participation” in the upcoming elections, May 22. In his message, Atty. Chel Diokno stated that he agrees on the belief that voting is important because it is a right and civic obligation buthethenemphasized that voting is important because it is the future of the Filipinos at stake. “While I do agree that it’s important to vote because it’s your right and also that it’s important because it’s your civic obligation, to me, it’s really [the] most important for you to vote because it’s your future,” Diokno said. Atty. Diokno added that this election will be different from the previous elections because it is all about electing leaders who can help the nation solve and surpass the problems and challenges brought about by the pandemic. “This coming election will be like no other elections in the recent past. This coming elections will not just be about choosing political personalities. This coming elections will be about choosing leaders who can manage
us out of this pandemic, who can help us recover from the reeling economy and other problems that have been brought about by the pandemic and what has happened in the country,” Diokno furthered. Bans Alqaseer, the person leading the volunteer group at Team Chel Diokno, also added that although high school students may not see the impact of this elections now, they must think of the next years of their life and that the future leaders’ decision may have a lifetime impact to all. “Given the global pandemic, everything that’s happening in our country, hindi na lang siya—hindi siya privilege. Hindi din siya ok I have to do it because it’s my civic right and my freedom. It is now more than our duty to do our part to contribute to make sure that we make the right choices as a community and as a society because it’s not just for us eh. Siguro, sometimes we tend to say you know but what’s in it for me? I mean is it relevant to my life? And maybe, as a high school student you don’t see it yet how this could impact your life but think about the next seven years of your life. And not even just the next six year term of our new leaders kase the impact of the decisions that they make could be a
lifetime,” Alqaseer explained. Macoy Dubs, member of We The Youth Vote, emphasized that now is the time to register for eligibility to vote because the votes of the youth have the power and capacity to make a statement for change and that the betterment of the society resides on electing the right leaders. “Napaka importante na makaboto kayo sa upcoming 2022 elections dahil kami sa We The Youth Vote ay naniniwala na meron kayong ambag, na meron kayong bilang sa ating populasyon. At siyempre, dahil sa inyong boto, meron kayong kakayahan na mapabuti ang kalagayan ng bansa sa pamamagitan ng pagboto sa tamang lider. Kaya naman ay iniimbitahan ko kayo na magparegister na sa COMELEC, sa pinakamalapit na COMELEC [office],” Dubs said. To register for the eligibility to vote for the upcoming elections, you may visit irehistro.comelec. gov.ph. Ready your requirements and forms, have a schedule for personal appearance in your nearest COMELEC office and wait until you are approved to be eligible for the upcoming elections.
ASJ conducts Moving-Up and Graduation ceremonies live online last May 8-9. Photos from: ASJ Facebook page facebook.com/Rheims2020 @Rheims2020
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Editor-in-Chief: Christian Dave Domingo Associate EIC: Lance Jerson Crisostomo News Editor: Jade Magno Editorial: Seann Carpizo Marcus Mugol Features: Mitzen Sotelo Karl Portollano Literary: Justine Benedict Yalung Cover: Allexandra Pascual Comics: Marcus Railey Buhain Meigh Gonzales Layout: Renz Bautista Adviser: Mr. Kent Bryan Colocado
WE ARE OPEN FOR
CONTRIBUTORS! Submit your work at
rheims@academyofsaintjohn.edu.ph
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The difference that an Online Graduation makes GHOTI
Dave Domingo
On the 8th and 9th of May, pupils, and students, from Kinder, Grades 6, 10, and 12, commemorated their respective Graduation or Moving-Up ceremony through a video stream from the Academy of Saint John’s Facebook page. While far from perfect, the ceremony did include all the essential customs, actions, and elements necessary to make a Graduation day ceremony or Moving-Up ceremony, but why does it feel different from a “normal” graduation where there is a gathering of the community? The first obvious difference is the lack of actual physical presence. There’s a big difference between watching the ceremony and actually doing the motions like walking to the front of the stage and receiving your diploma. This difference can also be explained by a different atmosphere due to the difference in location. There’s a lack of tension and solemnity in the online Graduation. This can perhaps be attributed to the fact that the event takes place in the safety of one’s home making it comfortable. There is also a disconnection between the graduates and the
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audience. The pressure that the audience can exert when they are lined up in seats in front of you is too great compared to the numbers of views, likes, and shares you can see in the livestream. The latter is not as tangible as the former. This difference in tension and solemnity also lends itself to the practices prior to the event. There was a lack of seriousness in these practices which could’ve possibly led to the fourth difference, mistakes. There were arguably more mistakes that occurred in the online Graduation and Moving-Up ceremony than if it were held normally. The fifth difference I would point out is synchronization. Due to the nature of online events in general, synchronization is an impossible endeavor. The difference in connection speeds of the many devices required would’ve made it extremely difficult to accomplish. Unfortunately, it is this synchronization that makes the “normal” ceremony so formal and solemn. Undoubtedly, the online Graduation and Moving-Up ceremony are vastly different from the conventional ones. But, as subjective as this article may be, I didn’t mean to criticize anyone or anything. I’m just wishing for this COVID-19 situation to reach a conclusion soon. facebook.com/Rheims2020 @Rheims2020
Art by Dave Domingo
Community Pantry: Magbigay ayon sa Pangangailangan … na boto?
OPINYON
Marcus Mugol
Matatandaan noong nakaraang buwan, inilunsad ni Ana Patricia Non, 26 taong gulang, ang Maginhawa Community Pantry na matatagpuan sa Quezon City. Nagsimula ang nasabing proyekto nang magtayo ng isang kariton sa kahabaan ng Maginhawa Street na puno ng groceries at mga sariwang gulay na may karatula na nagsasabing, “Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha batay sa pangangailangan.” Ito ay kaagarang nakakuha ng pasasalamat at papuri mula sa mga natulungan ng proyektong ito at maging sa mga netizens simula nang kumalat ito online. Nagbigay din ito ng insiprasyon sa mga kabataan at mamamayan na gawin ito sa kani-kanilang mga lugar tulad na lamang ng Bayanihan Community Pantry na inilunsad sa General Trias City sa pangunguna ni Xian Lerry Lozares, tagapayo ng Pag-Asa Youth Association of the Philippines - General Trias City. Ang community pantry ay mayroong sari-saring pagkain. May instant noodles, sardinas, upo, at kalabasa. Atsaka mayroon pang bigas, kamatis, bawang, at luya. Ngunit, sa paligid-ligid ay mayroong mga pulitiko na ginagawang oportunidad ang nasabing proyekto upang magpabango ng pangalan dahil apat na buwan na lamang ay pwede nang maghain ng Certificate of Candidacy (COC) ang mga nasabing opisyal para sa Eleksyon 2022. Ayon kay Non, mayroong bumisitang pulitiko na may intensyong tumakbo sa susunod na eleksyon upang magbigay ng donasyon ngunit may pangalan ang mga ito. Ang iba naman ay kinukuhanan ng litrato ang mga nasabing donasyon. Inulan din ng batikos ang Facebook post ni Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President Vince Hernandez ng Caloocan dahil bumubungad ang pangalan nito sa itinayong community pantry sa Brgy. Bagumbong. Ang nasabing Facebook post ay kaagaran ding binura ng nasabing opisyal. Ayon sa Section 79 ng Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, ang mga mababanggit na aksyon facebook.com/Rheims2020 @Rheims2020
na isinagawa upang tumaas ang pagkakataong manomina sa eleksyon ng mga partido o grupo ay hindi dapat ituring na election campaign material o activity: 1. Pagbuo ng organisasyon, komite, o grupo sa kadahilanang manghingi ng boto o pagsasagawa ng kampanya laban sa isang kandidato. 2. Pagsasagawa ng mga pagpupulong, rally, parada, o anumang pagtitipon na katulad ng mga nabanggit upang manghingi ng boto o pagsasagawa ng kampanya laban sa isang kandidato. 3. Pagsasagawa ng talumpati, komentaryo, o interbyu upang gamiting pabor o laban sa paghalal ng isang kandidato. 4. Paglalathala o pamimigay ng campaign material na may intensyong suportahan o labanan ang paghalal sa isang kandidato. 5. Direkta o hindi direktang paghingi ng boto, tulong, o suporta pabor o laban sa paghalal ng isang kandidato. Ito ay pinangalawahan ng Section 13 ng RA 9369 na ang sinumang maghahain ng kanyang Certificate of Candidacy sa oras na iyon ay saka pa lamang maituturing na kandidato sa eleksyon. Samakatuwid, hindi ilegal ang pagsasagawa ng premature campaigning o ang pangangampanya bago ang pagpapasa ng COC. Ngunit, hindi lahat ng legal ay mabuti. Hindi natin pwedeng hayaan na gawing oportunidad ng mga kandidatong ito ang sakuna upang gumanda ang kanilang mga imahe at pag mga naluklok na sa pwesto ay hindi na maaninag kahit anino. Huwag ding madala at maantig ang puso sa mga pulitikong kunwari ay inaalay ang buhay para lamang paglingkuran ang kanyang nasasakupan ngunit may iba palang hangarin at ambisyon sa buhay. Kailangan natin ng lider na kahit hindi halalan ay tunay pa ding malalapitan at nakikitaan ito nang galaw hindi yung puro pangako lamang. Kung ang kasabihan ng community pantry ay “Magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha batay sa pangangailangan”, ano naman kaya ang sa kanila? “Magbigay ayon sa pangangailangan na boto?”
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Art by Seann Carpizo
INSIGHTS
Seann Carpizo
The current pandemic situation left our country with one hand tied behind its back. Cases continue to rise, as the government continues to handle its vaccination programs while also tackling the political issues it currently faces with China in the dispute for the West Philippine Sea amongst many others. However, these aren’t the only apparent problems that should be paid attention to at the moment. Under all this heap of troubles, deforestation also continues to go unimpeded. According to the most recent report, the total estimate for the remaining forested areas in the country amounts to about only 7 million hectares left. For comparison, back in the 16th century, 92% of the Philippines’ total land area were covered in trees. That’s 27.5 million hectares. The rate of deforestation, which in turn drives the endangerment of species on the island, has been alarming, said
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The Underlying Issue: Deforestation Reaches an Alarming Level ecologist Neil Aldrin Mallari. He is the president of the Center for Conservation Innovations. Mindoro and Palawan have suffered the biggest losses in terms of hectares of forests, making MIMAROPA the most deforested region in the Philippines. I mentioned earlier that there was a number of 7 million hectares left, however experts state the situation may actually be worse. Jose Andres Canivel, executive director of the Forest Foundation, said that the data from satellites should be reviewed. He claimed that plantations may have been included in the scan, when they shouldn’t. Throughout the decades, there have been efforts in reforestation to aid and recover the country’s green under different administrations. As for the one we have now, President Duterte headed the Enhanced National Greening Program (E-NGP), however the lack of planning and proper management as dis-
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covered by the Commission on Audit (COA) saw to it that it had made little to no positive outcome. According to a report, for the past 18 years, forest loss peaked in 2017 during Duterte’s second year in office. Bills aimed towards environmental preservation are also not seeing any headway in the congress. Yes, the government’s top priority should be seizing and controlling the pandemic at hand. However, it won’t do to ignore or fail to act in response to the country’s environmental state—in other words, the issue should not be pushed to the sidelines. If the government has the cojones and the resources to carry out the Manila Bay “Rehabilitation” Project, then it should be possible to at least plan measures and programs under better management to implement in light of the issue at hand. Now, that would be a better solution towards protecting the environment. facebook.com/Rheims2020 @Rheims2020
EDITORIAL
RHEIMS SPECIAL: MAY
SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021
“Flexible” learning will be the new norm EURUS
Lance Crisostomo
Recently, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has announced that Philippine universities and colleges are no longer going back to the normal face-toface set-up anytime soon. Looking into the situation, the threats and problems posed by the pandemic are so much that these drove all educational institutions to venture into the flexible learning method. After one school year, schools are able to somehow adjust to the new normal way of teaching-learning and pull off the flexible learning method. However, the questions remain, “Was the flexible learning for this school year really effective?” and “Can’t we really go back to face-to-face classes soon?” Flexible learning is a method involving the digital side of learning, with the use of learning management systems (LMS) and communication apps, and the non-digital side, with the use of modules, recording, and other printed materials. With that being said, classes may be conducted in three ways: purely online, purely offline, and a blended method or the combination of both online and offline ways. Upon analyzing what flexible learning really is and what it includes, it seems like it is the perfect replacement to continue education for all Filipinos in this time of pandemic. However, the current situation and feedback aren’t really showing that assumption. Students are actually having a hard time studying, more particularly learning in this set-up. A lot of students who are in the online and blended learning are experiencing Wi-Fi problems and network errors from time to time. With the Wi-Fi and network problems, the online platforms used by students will continuously lag, have errors, or worse, it may not be accessible. On the offline side, modules are not printed in great conditions since there are reports of modules having unclear pages and erased text on it. Also, modules are not checked properly, in terms of its contents, since there are a lot of reports of statements and activities which bring negative impacts and messages to people. An example of this is the report of a Grade 5 student from South Cotabato who found a gender-biased activity in his module. Lastly and considered as facebook.com/Rheims2020 @Rheims2020
the greatest problem, the amount of school works, particularly modules given, surpassed the limit of the activities and modules that a student can answer. There are tons of activities and modules given to all students to the point that even parents and other family members are putting time to help their studying family members to comply with the deadlines of school works. There are also points when students literally gave up on complying and learning for this school year because they are exhausted physically, emotionally, and mentally. Sadly, there are cases of suicides and deaths due to the students wanting to pass this school year. Instead of seeing this school year as another year of learning and growing, students perceived it as a year of compliance to tons of activities and a burden to them physically, emotionally, and mentally. So, was it really effective? It’s a yes and a no but due to the problems, leaning towards the side of it isn’t that effective. We can definitely say that it’s effective since students are able to learn and continue their academic growth but the problems are wiping most of this growth and additional knowledge and converting them to problems and stress. For that reason, students really want to go back to the traditional face-to-face classes however, the pandemic is a major problem that prohibits the transition back to the face-to-face setup. Can’t we really go back to face-to-face classes soon? The answer is yes if critical actions are not taken and the whole nation doesn’t take the current situation seriously. Right now, vaccinations of the Filipino people are continuous but it isn’t going to be enough. The consistency of following protocols must be there on the part of the citizens. On the part of the government, they should be more hands-on in the battle vs COVID-19. This should not be taken as a light issue but as a double or even triple red flag issue. Every official must be working on the same page at all cost. This isn’t the time to think of preserving ties with China or thinking of pushing candidates for the next elections. The key is to prioritize what is currently in their hands. If proper vaccines are given to people at a more rapid pace, the assurance of a better nation with full discipline and cooperation, and the assurance of a better and safe environment can be ensured, then we can definitely go back to the face-to-face setup that we are used to.
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9 Photos from: Rappler and ABS-CBN News
RHEIMS SPECIAL: MAY
FEATURE
SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021
Reflecting on and Appreciating the Filipinos’ Heritage and Identity by Mitzen Sotelo
Our country is known to have a rich culture, with many unique cuisines, dialects, songs, dances, and practices from its 7,641 islands. This is the reason why National Heritage Month was envisioned and enacted by the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the Presidential Proclamation No. 439 signed in 2003. It aims to strengthen public awareness and to promote the Filipinos’ knowledge, respect, and love for our rich cultural heritage. This year, the theme for Heritage Month is “VICTORY AND HUMANITY: Upholding Filipino Heritage and Identity,” to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Filipinos’ victory against the Spanish explorers at the battle of Mactan, as well as the 500th anniversary of the Philippines’ part in the first circumnavigation of the world. To add to this celebration, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) encouraged institutions such as the cultural agencies, Philippine embassies, schools, public libraries and many more institutions to institute their own heritage-related activities for this heritage month. The NCCA has also planned activities for the whole month of May that will celebrate and showcase the unique experience of the Filipino’s rich and incomparable heritage and culture. According to the NCCA, these are some of the activities observed during the heritage month: Last May 7, an online
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exhibit of rare book collections of the National Library of the Philippines was held with the use of Virtual Reality (VR) technology. This exhibit was held to showcase the NLP’s book collections, printed all the way from 1500’s-1600’s, to give knowledge and enrich the people with the tangible elements left of our heritage. Another activity occured in the 2nd week of May, Manila Fashion Week. This was the first event of it’s kind. The Manila Fashion Week showcased the rich fashion history of old Manila, including old, current, future styles, and statement pieces worn during the olden times. The last example of the many activities planned by the NCCA is the online Baybayin and writing workshops. This activity was held to promote our own form of writing, Baybayin. With this activity, the NLP aimed to spread the value and appreciation to the Filipinos’ earliest form of writing. The NCCA had many more activities planned for heritage month that brings us Filipinos a step closer to our heritage and gives us more knowledge about our culture’s roots. May we all learn and gain more knowledge from these events and activities as we take a trip down our culture’s memory lane. Hopefully at the end of this trip, may our cultural heritage have a bigger place in our hearts as we learn to value it, for all of these celebration colors, practices, culture, and heritage is what makes us up. A true Filipino.
The Lasallian Rheims
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Photos from: National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Philippine Information Agency
RHEIMS SPECIAL: MAY
FEATURE
SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021
Mother’s Day greeting from Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO). Photo from: CFO
A Mother’s Duty by Seann Carpizo
Did you know that one of the earliest records of a mothers’ day celebration dated all the way back to the Ancient Greeks and Romans? The Greeks would hold annual spring festivals in honor of Rhea, the goddess of fertility and nature, and the Romans had a festival of their own called “Megalesia” celebrated every April where they worshipped Cybele, the ancient Phrygian Mother of the Gods. Fascinating, right? It’s something I found rather interesting as I read up about mother’s day—and so, I thought that I would share it here. Despite the passage of time, whether it be in ancient history or in the present, it seems that people have always acknowledged the respect that mothers rightfully and undoubtedly deserve. Not everyone can take on and fully comprehend the weight of the burdens placed on their shoulders; the responsibilities and duties that they carry over their unwavering backs. Mothers are some of the strongest people in the world. They strain themselves mentally and emotionally, facing hardships left and right for years and even decades on end, yet still they keep on going. Why? Because a mother’s love for their child is unfaltering. As sons and daughters of our beloved mothers, we should come to understand the facebook.com/Rheims2020 @Rheims2020
things that they do for us. Imagine dedicating the latter half of your life to raising your own family, devoting your time protecting and guiding them every step along the way, teaching them what’s right and wrong, and showing them the beautiful wonders in our world. Some dream of it, some are afraid of it. Either way, there’s no denying of the struggles of a mother. However, the way life is... nothing is ever perfect, isn’t it? The road a mother takes is far from straight. No family is without its shortcomings. Not every child is loved by their parents. Some don’t even have them to grow up with. After all, the world can be rather cruel. Today may be a joyful day for some, but it’s a different story for those who have lost their mothers, and those who have been wrongfully treated or left behind. In this momentous occasion, we celebrate out of respect and love for the person that have looked after us since the very beginning. This is a day where we acknowledge and commemorate the time and effort that our mothers have sacrificed for us, but it is also a day for us to be there for those who weren’t so fortunate. Thank you to all the loving mothers out there in the world. May you continue to overcome every obstacle that life throws in your way. Happy Mother’s Day!
The Lasallian Rheims
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Blessed With the Best by Karl Portollano
Photo from: Karl Portollano
“LAST” - This year served as the ending to one of the very special chapters in our lives. If you think about it, the ending of this chapter is so nostalgic. It feels like it was just yesterday that we had completed our first research paper, first arts exhibit, first battle cry over physics, and so much more firsts in our school lives. Everyone is excited to enter this final chapter - Grade 12, right? One more year and we are to take on another set of challenges to reach new heights. However, this school year is not what I have envisioned as the wonderful ending to this chapter. The challenges set before us leveled-up as the pandemic struck. Everyone is isolated inside their own homes, prohibiting physical contact with one another. In other words, all classes were on hold and we won’t be able to see each other face-to-face. But then, there is online learning. That one last string of hope brought us the opportunity to continue our studies and be able to see each other virtually. Even so, it had been a difficult time for us, making the challenge tougher than it should be. Some are still struggling to cope up with the new normal, some are already adjusting to it, and one thing is for sure, everyone is having some trouble throughout the school year. Thinking about it, it would have been different if things were still normal and the pandemic never happened. We would have still enjoyed the last year being together having fun while having classes in the classroom - learning,
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working, playing, singing, and laughing together. But this is reality and we must face it. Despite all these challenges, we are determined to continue and reach the finish line. Our dreams depend on our efforts and hard work and we made the most of it. Though while we were on our way, we still made some memories and surely we would miss every single one of it. At the same time, we tend to reminisce about all the moments we had back then. All of those activities, paperworks, jamming inside the classroom, running around the classroom, and even during practices where everyone works together. Good times, isn’t it? And now we’re here, nearing the end of the journey. How time flies so fast. We wish we could have the opportunity to meet each other before we go on our separate ways. But because of the pandemic, it seems like our reunion will be our next opportunity. This is it, the final stage. Everyone is wearing their sablay and vest, looking well and stunning. The only difference is that I can only see them through the screen, though there are some I can’t barely recognize due to the slow internet connection. We could have been at the dome walking at the center aisle during the procession, but COVID-19 said “No.” When our names were called, we stood still proud while filled with mixed emotions and took our bow. This is the moment. We are now graduates of the Academy of Saint John as we say the last words of the alumni pledge and sing our dear Alma Mater Hymn.
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RHEIMS SPECIAL: MAY
FEATURE
SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021
Grade 10 Completers:
END OF A CHAPTER The graduation music cues as the online Moving-Up ceremony starts. The morning was bright, the sun was up high and seen through the screens of the Zoom meeting conference was ASJ’s Grade 10 Batch of 2021, wearing their school’s uniform proudly with smiles on their faces. faces. Hosted by Ms. Zeny Timajo, the program started with the singing of the national anthem and opening remarks from Br. Edmundo Fernandez FSC and Mr. Jose Ramelle Javier. The day has finally arrived where all the hardships and struggles of junior high school has been paid off. The proud parents stand with their children as their awards and achievements are acknowledged. Although separated physically due to the pandemic, it was the Lasallian spirit that brought the whole school together. Sadly, it still isn’t the same as the conventional ceremony with all the flashing lights and footsteps on the stage but even so, parents stood close to their children with cameras in hand, taking pictures while the flashbacks of bringing their young kindergartners to the first day of school replayed in their minds as they hung the school’s sablay across their childrens’ chests. As the program neared its end, a video of the batch was played on screen displaying pictures of the batch throughout the years. And as the pictures flashed before their eyes, so did the memories. Memories of the good-old ordinary class days, joyous events, sports fests, JS prom, field trips, as well as the rivalries and young and old friendships. All born in ASJ becomes sealed in the students’ hearts. The program ended with the singing of the Alma Mater Hymn, and students were filled with mixed feelings, there was joy of being completers of junior high, and there was the sadness of the batch parting their separate ways. Mervinne Militar, the batch’s 4th honors shared his feelings and insights about the ceremony. “I felt mixed emotions, the joy that made me proud of myself for having such achievements which felt like a milestone for me, the sadness that made me feel gloomy inside for knowing after this we’ll be taking our own
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by Mitzen Sotelo
paths now and will be parting ways, and the fear that made me think of what could happen to me as I am about to be a senior high student for the next 2 years. I am with joy and glee that I get to take a step forward in my journey. I am happy for some of my fellow classmates that they’ll be moving to new schools for their own paths to take place, I wish the best in them and I think it’s good for them to be out of ASJ and see the bigger picture outside of it, they get to explore new things and see what’s in store for them next,” Militar shared. According to Francis Bartolome, the batch’s 1st honor, the Moving-Up ceremony hasn’t been that grand because of the pandemic but it was still made special. “This pandemic has changed almost everything. With this idea, I wasn’t expecting anything breathtaking in this year’s Moving-Up ceremony. With the said world crisis persisting, there is no way that this year’s formality is as good as the ones in the past years. The feeling of surviving a year of tears and hardwork, the people clamoring when they see your medals and certificates, and the flashing of cameras in every existing corner won’t be present anymore. Standing in front of a gadget won’t justify the obstacles we’ve been through this year. Yes, It is certainly not the same. But having the opportunity to hear our names and achievements; accompanied by the flashing of our graduation photos made the ceremony worthwhile. And that is enough,” Bartolome said. Each student in their homes had mixed emotions, but among all of it was the uncertainty of what life awaits for them around the bend. Amidst that uncertainty, they’ve still come a long way and reached a milestone that they should be proud of. May the uncertainty of the future not dim the possibilities of what beautiful things tomorrow has in store. And as the chapter of junior high school closes, a new chapter opens with a new beginning, a new story and a whole new adventure waiting ahead. And no matter what life may hold, the Grade 10 students will start their new journey guided by the spirit of St. La Salle with Jesus living in their hearts.
The Lasallian Rheims
13 Photos sourced from: Grade 10 Batch 2021
First Responders by Renz Bautista
The recent documentary of iWitness, made by Sandra Aguinaldo titled First Responders, shows the nature and work of first responders. These are the people who facilitate in giving first aid and emergency services in any given situation, time, and place. In the 26-minute documentary, Sandra and her team immersed in one of the emergency response units in Quezon City, one of the hotspots of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. All calls are directed to the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) communications officer. Every second, from the receiving of the call to the emergency response, counts. There is no room for any delay and error. Whilst they are conversing with each other, there was a call for COVID-19 patient pickup, which the emergency team immediately responded with an ambulance and responders wearing layers of PPE. The ambulance brought three people positive of COVID-19 to the hospital to be examined. The examinations showed that the patients, based on their medical records, x-rays, and complete blood count (CBC) tests, were having mild COVID-19. The ambulance returned to the area where they picked up the patients, and immediately headed to a decontamination facility. The ambulance and the first responders were sanitized and decontaminated. The documentary also narrated an incident in Pasig City, wherein a foreigner, diagnosed with chronic illnesses and elephantiasis (ailment which cause the enlargement of the limbs which is caused by the obstruction of the lymphatic system, resulting to the accumulation of fluid in affected areas) was picked up due to COVID-19 suspection. The first responders, as well as the
search and rescue officers experienced difficulty because of the confined area and the condition of the COVID-19 suspected patient. Rescuers resulted to the use of a crane, stretcher, and harness to transport the patient from the fourth floor of the condominium to the ground floor. First responders may require the need of other government agencies when it comes to emergency response. Not all situations in need of emergency are of COVID-19. Other cases such as a man attempting to commit suicide, a car crash, and rescue operations are also under the responsibilities of a first responder. Situations can be worse than what is reported to them and they should be prepared for that. First responders must work in composure, ready for every situation, and quick in making correct decisions. They are considered frontliners since they are the first to assess the situation presented to them. First responders are also exposed to risks such as contracting the COVID-19 virus. They also experience the prolonged wearing of PPE which range from 3 to 17 hours. Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 paved the way for the increase of local first responders in the country, making emergency services faster and also expanding the area of coverage, especially for rural areas. First responders work under any kind of condition, whether it is in the middle of a road, or a top of a high-rise building. Being a first responder is no joke, it takes commitment, patience, and dedication. Working as an emergency responder is not just for the sake of receiving pay, it is because you want to serve others and you have that concern towards those who are in need.
Photos from: GMA Public Affairs
RHEIMS SPECIAL: MAY
SCITECH
SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021
FOURTH INGENUITY FLIGHT CAPTURED BY PERSEVERANCE; FIRST ONE-WAY FLIGHT FINISHES IN SUCCESS by Renz Bautista
Mastcam-Z from the Perseverance Rover captures Ingenuity (far left) on its fourth flight. Photo from: NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) made history again as they unveil the audio and video recordings of the fourth flight of Ingenuity on the red planet. The video contains footage of the Ingenuity helicopter flying around the Martian atmosphere last April 30 as it flew on a 266-meter round-trip. The video was taken using the Mastcam-Z imager from the Perseverance rover parked 80 meters from the helicopter’s takeoff and landing spot. The audio was recorded from the rover from the SuperCam laser instrument. The audio footage recorded the sound of the flight, which was muffled by the Martian atmosphere. The Martian wind gusts interfered with the sound of the spinning blades as it took off from its spot. The buzzing of the helicopter could be still heard in the recording. David Mimoun, the science lead of the SuperCam microphone was surprised with the audio footage of the flying helicopter as they conducted tests and found out that the microphone would hardly record the sounds of the helicopter. “We had carried out tests and simulations that told us the microphone would barely pick up the sounds of the helicopter, as the Mars atmosphere damps the sound propagation strongly. We have been lucky to register the helicopter at such a distance. This recording will be a gold mine for our understanding of the Martian atmosphere,” Mimoun stated. Soren Madsen, Perseverance payload development manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory showed the science, specifically Doppler effect, behind how they recorded the audio of the flight by isolating the 84 Hertz blade sound and increasing the volume of the remaining signal. Frequencies were also clipped to record the hum of Ingenuity. “In this particular case, the microphone and video let us observe the helicopter as if we are there, and additional information, such as the Doppler shift, confirms details of the flight path,” Madsen stated. The SuperCam instrument in the Perseverance rover is led by the Los Alamos National Laboratory found in New Mexico. This is also where the body of the facebook.com/Rheims2020 @Rheims2020
instrument was developed and tested. The microphone, alongside the mast unit was developed by laboratories of the French Space Agency (CNRS; Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) and Institut Supérieur de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace (ISAE-Supaéro). The Mastcam-Z instrument was led by Arizona State University, working with Malin Space Science Systems. Afterwards, Ingenuity has successfully completed its fifth flight in the red planet with a one-way journey to an airfield 129 meters from the take off point in Wright Brothers Field. Before its landing, Ingenuity captured images in an altitude of 10 meters of its landing environment. Bob Pearce, associate administrator for NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, stated how the fifth flight is another great achievement for NASA. “The continuing success of Ingenuity proves the value of bringing together the strengths of diverse skill sets from across the agency to create the future, like flying an aircraft on another planet!,” Pearce added. The Ingenuity team chose the new landing site based on its previous flight. The fourth flight served as an “aerial scout” operation in another world which allowed the team to generate maps with flat terrain and no obstructions. Bob Balaram, chief engineer for Ingenuity Mars Helicopter at JPL, evaluated the past two flights and stated that they have gathered sufficient data to be used in the future. “We may get a couple more flights in over the next few weeks, and then the agency will evaluate how we’re doing. We have already been able to gather all the flight performance data that we originally came here to collect. Now, this new operations demo gives us an opportunity to further expand our knowledge of flying machines on other planets,” Balaram stated. Having its fourth and fifth flights concluded successfully, Ingenuity waits for future instructions relayed from Perseverance. Perseverance will also head south where it could commence science operations and sample collection, one of the primary missions of the rover.
The Lasallian Rheims
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Heliacal Rising Bound eternal watch A death longer than your life Bells toll moments more
- Justine Benedict Yalung
Asawa Sabi ni mama, “mag-asawa ng doktor.” Sumunod ako.
- Marcus Mugol
Bibliosmia
There’s this smell that reeks of adventure, And it, without doubt, tugs me along. As I flip a leaf, the fragrance wafts about. A sniff of old paper, here chronicles are drawn. There’s something so magical, On this odd librarial odor. Neither sweet-smelling nor foul and revolting, Beguiling as tobacco to a smoker. Earthy and musty, ah this woody whiff, Mouths to my mind that there’s a tale to see. A charming tale of lovers, whatever the story may be. That old book scent is the scent of an escapee. - Dave Domingo
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