OLPSian Times Live

Yarrah Danielle Soriano is a smart, talkative girl. She loves music – singing and playing the ukulele. During weekends, she would bond with her friends.In Our Lady of Peace School, she always did great, she received academic awards. No matter how chatty she was, she knew when to pay attention at the same time.

With her father in abroad, the family had to be there, too. The first time Yarrah found out that they’ll be moving to Hong Kong, she didn’t want to, because of her friends. Her friends, she would miss them, but she knew she had to take care of her father, too.

Now, imagine going to another place, a different environment – a different language, different people.This was what Yarrah had to go through.

Yarrah, now a 6th grader in Delia English Primary School and Kindergarten. The first time she was there, she had difficulties learning Chinese. It was confusing her…and she misses her friends. Making friends in this new school was, well, difficult.

Now, imagine being in 3rd Grade and being excited about the world and life and its beauty.

It took time, but now she excels in class and in her extracurriculars – outstanding in academic achievement, 2nd Place in Computer Design Competition, 2nd Place in English Creative Writing Contest, and many more. She has manifested her interest and talent by being part of the Drama Club and Folk Song Club.

Imagine, you have succeeded in a lot of things – and you remember the first time when it was also like this.

Her life in OLPS was amazing. To leap from one place to a completely different one will have to require a lot of guts and by guts I mean heart and brain, courage and knowledge.

OLPS taught her those two things – she knew English and is fluent. OLPS taught her to be disciplined. And she’s grateful for the people she met along the way. The teachers who helped her and taught her how to deal with problems.  The friends she had and made memories with.

Studyblr came from the word study and Tumblr. It is a community of students who shares their academic adventures, study techniques and habits. Under studyblr, we have Appblrs who are students working on their application for their desired college, Medblrs who are composed of students who wishes to be medical professionals, Langblrs who are aspiring polyglots and Lawblrs who are students of law.  It is the perfect place to learn how to learn and be motivated . As you explore more of studyblr, you’ll see lots of beautiful notes, minimal study spaces with the best lighting, convenient printables, gorgeous bullet journal layouts, and stunning school supplies that will make you get off Tumblr and start studying.

Perfect handwriting and expensive stationeries will surely catch your attention but it’s not a must for studyblrs. In order to become one, you only need one thing - the willingness to learn. Once you become one, you will consistently be inspired to study, and soon you may see big improvements on your grades.

Plan ahead. Getting yourself a planner would help you track the activities you would be doing for the day. Give yourself a set time to spend on each task. All you have to do is to stick to it.

Write down notes. Don’t just rely on what is written on the board; jot down the things you hear on the discussion. If your teachers send you copies of your lessons online, find time to write it down on your notebook.

Be creative. Fully engage yourself when studying. You can use colored pens to give emphasis on important words. Doodle as much as you can, when ideas and processes are complex, doodling can be a quick and intuitive way of capturing information. Of course, this doesn’t hold true for every student, but it certainly makes sense to allow students who learn this way.

Rest. Taking a nap before you study can boost your performance and may help you lock in long-term memories. It’s like rebooting your brain, it makes your mind refreshed.

Find your place. Find a place where you feel comfortable or with little distractions so you can study peacefully.

Refresh your mind every day. If you study a little bit every day you'll be continually reviewing things in your mind. This helps you understand things. It also helps you avoid the stress of last-minute cramming.

Need help? Reach out. Don’t struggle by yourself, and don’t give up. You can get some help from your classmates or teachers.

Take breaks. It's important to take a break when you're studying, especially if you're feeling tired. Working too long on a task can actually decrease your performance.

Since most of us have a preferred way of learning. Get to know your learning style and study in the ways you learn best.

You can come up with your own strategies

Everybody is different, so the best way to establish a routine is to try different things and see what works best for you. You might already have other things that work better for you. Whatever it is, whatever strategy you come up with, when you find something that works for you, put it into practice and go for it!

This year’s pageant, which was organized by both the Makabayan Department and the Science Department, introduces cultural and international involvement in solving ecological issues.

Dr. Marivette Miranda, the Science Coordinator and one of the head organizers, commended the winners of all activities throughout the Science/AP Month, and encouraged students to live out the essence of celebrating such events – the lifelong duty as stewards of the environment.

The candidates then took their preliminary strut on stage as they were introduced individually, raising the banner of their represented countries and earning cheers and shouts from their supporters.

Mr. Herbriance Briones presented the board of judges for the event: Ms. Roselle Vytiaco, the Bb. Kalikasan 2014; Ms. Lorna Halili, Reading Center staff; Mr. Rogelio Amante, a former OLPS English teacher; and Mr. Jhoey Magallon, a freelance make-up artist/hairdresser and handler of models.

Representatives from the Grade School paraded their recycled costumes, which were also inspired by their designated countries.

The binibinis once again owned the catwalk as their dresses were described in full detail, emphasizing creativity and resourcefulness through their national costumes.

Special awards were distributed afterwards: Ms. Britain was hailed as Miss Congeniality, Ms. Greece as Miss Photogenic, Ms. Mexico as the People’s Choice, and Ms. Philippines for the Best National Costume.

After the distribution of the said awards, the 8 Semi-Finalists were announced in no particular order, and they were judged by their national costumes.

Ms. Philippines, Ms. U.S.A, Ms. New Zealand, Ms. Greece, Ms. Spain, Ms. Thailand, Ms. Colombia, and Ms. Mexico filled the slots for top 8, and they began delivering their speech advocacies aligned with their represented countries’ ecological struggles.

Before the announcement of the Finalists, Ms. Mexico was given the Eco-Citizen award after motivating her fellow schoolmates to redirect innovation into a more sustainable, progressive system.

The top 5 contestants were then revealed: Ms. Spain, Ms. Colombia, Ms. U.S.A., Ms. New Zealand, and Ms. Mexico.

Winners from both Grade 7’s Eco-rale and Grade 9’s Futuristic Dance presented their original pieces, exhibiting both talent and creativity whilst wowing the audience.

Grade 7 – St. John Bosco played an ensemble of percussions and encouraging OLPSians that togetherness will bring fruits from acting on environmental problems.

On the other hand, Grade 9 – St. Joan of Arc strutted femme vibes in their fandango alongside their emulation of Star Wars’ Imperial Army.

After Sophia Niaomi Olifermo, the Bb. Kalikasan 2015, did her farewell walk on stage, the top 5 candidates were recognized with their final pageant standings.

Ms. Spain was proclaimed as the 4th runner-up, Ms. U.S.A. as the 3rd runner-up, and Ms. Colombia as the 2nd runner-up.

After a tense beat, Ms. Mexico was announced 1st runner-up, and Ms. New Zealand was hailed as the Binibining Kalikasan 2016.

Mr. Marck Ferdinand Aguilar, the head organizer from the Makabayan Department, imparted emotional gratitude for the success of the event. “It’s very tiring, yet it’s satisfying, it’s a rollercoaster ride… that’s what I love about beauty pageants, everything is worth it at the same time effort, the time and effort is there.”

He added, “[All the effort] from planning, from organizing, from creating, from producing, to the execution of the program itself… it cannot be any better than this.”

Dr. Miranda also expressed her remarks on the event, saying that every trouble faced throughout planning and execution was worth it.

As for Ms. New Zealand, Mika Kikuchi of Grade 9 – St. Lorenzo Ruiz, she believed she had stood her section’s ground regardless of whether she had triumphed or not. “Sobrang worth it. Nung unang nakita namin yung costume, sabi namin, ‘Hala, kaya ba to?’ Sabi ko, ‘Kaya ‘to, kasi effort ng classmates ko ‘to; matalo, manalo, at least I did my best,” said Kikuchi.

Mr. Aguilar, however, gives a piece of advice to the crowned Binibini. “For Miss Kikuchi, study hard. The title - it’s just a title, but more than that, be humble. Sabi nga sa isang Bible scripture: ‘Those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who are humble will be exalted.’”

“For Bb. Kalikasan 2016, hopefully you will be able to do your role, since you will be a role model to all OLPSians. You must also help other people to do the same thing,” advised Dr. Miranda to Ms. New Zealand.

Plans on the next pageant are already in talks, according to the organizers. “Maybe we will put some innovations: they need to involve in community service wherein this will really prove that they are really stewards of God’s creation,” said Dr. Miranda.

Mr. Aguilar also expressed his high hopes for the next pageant. “Let’s make it more special for next school year, kasi 45th [Foundation] Year, and hopefully next year sa Dimansalang [Park] na tayo. That’s our main target.”

Ms. New Zealand left a message of gratitude and optimism to OLPSians: “Salamat sa suporta; let’s do our best para maprotektahan natin ang environment.”

Dr. Susan Macabangon, the Students’ Activities Coordinator, opened the program by remarking the significant achievements of the institution for this year’s celebration. She reminded all OLPSian athletes that through their participation in the sports events, they have manifested their passion and skill, regardless of whether they received awards or not.

Serving as a prelude to the Culminating Activity for the Science/UN Month, Grade 10 – St. Augustine performed their winning presentation for the Futuristic Dance Competition while highlighting the fusion of Egyptian culture and giving importance to ecological values.

The awarding ceremony was then conducted and led by the members of the Administrative Council. The winners for each category per department were:

The winners for the Intramurals 2016

The Badminton & Basketball winners for the High School

The Mythical Five were recognized from both Seniors and Juniors: from the Grade 10 were Ludwig De Guzman, Ryzen Revilla, and James Marquez, while Jericho Torrente and Vince Supan stood out from the Grade 9 team.

They received their medals along with Brylle Garcia and Justin Albufera, the GS and HS Most Valuable Players, respectively.

Garnering the most number of awards in the GS Department, the Green Team led by Ms. Gilda Romero was acclaimed as the Overall Champion.

On the other hand, the Supremos had not collected Championship titles, but they have bested the other HS levels in garnering runner-up places in all of the sports categories.

Sr. Anabel Dela Cruz, SPC, the School Head/Principal, congratulated all students while emphasizing the essence of holding such events. “The Intramurals is a good venue for students to practice values such as respect, sportsmanship, and service to others. Hence, this can be an avenue for the students to achieve more,” said Sr. Anabel.

Albeit the lesser restrictions throughout the week-long celebration, Sr. Anabel reminded the students that observing proper decorum must always be the first priority.

Nevertheless, Sr. Anabel complimented the full involvement of OLPSians not only in sports, but also in the different booths supervised by student organizations.

Among the Grade School representatives, those who won in the English categories were Evan Carranza, 1st in Feature Writing; Lorenz Marqueses, 5th place in Feature Writing and 2nd place in Editorial Writing; Paul Adriano, 7th in Science and Health Writing and 1st in Editorial Writing; and Gianna Garcia, 7th in News Writing.

Meanwhile, the following students from the High School also received awards: Lucille Arellano, 1st in Feature Writing; Marhyll Donila, 2nd in Feature Writing; Samantha Jugao, 6th in Feature Writing; Lyka Pacleb, 2nd in Editorial Writing; Joanna Macabanti, 4th in Science and Health Writing; and Euryle Mopera, 4th in Editorial Cartooning.

High School representatives also bagged awards from their respective Filipino categories: Alberto Maricaban, 1st in Editorial Writing; Gilliane Honora, 3rd in Editorial Cartooning; Maq Dela Paz, 9th in Editorial Cartooning  Orland Abao, 3rd in Feature Writing; and Clark Quisora, 5th in Newspaper Layouting.

Due to the changed rules, only the winners in 1st to 5th places were automatically qualified for the Regionals.

However, those who won in 6th to 10th places of News Writing, Editorial Writing, Feature Writing, Sports Writing, and Editorial Cartooning were given a chance to fill in additional slots for Regionals qualification by joining in the Collaborative Desktop Publishing, held on the 3rd day of the event.

Grade 11 students also participated in the Radio Broadcasting - English category, which was held the same day as the Collaborative category.

On the last day of the event, OLPS also garnered additional awards: Samantha Jugao won 2nd place in Feature Writing; Gianna Garcia, 12th in Feature Writing;  and The OLPSian Times won 5th place in Sports Page, 5th place in Feature Page, 9th place in Editorial Page, and 13th place in Science and Health page.

Ms. Arlie Jo B. Endolnila,the  manager of the Constituency Development Department in Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources, Inc., talked about Philippine bidoiversity and introduced the Haribon Foundation.

Haribon Foundation, coined from the moniker of the Philippine Eagle “Haring Ibon”, is a membership organization committed to nature conservation through community empowerment and scientific excellence since 1972.

“The youth is the hope of the future to motivate their generation in engaging themselves in the activities concerning the environment,” said Ms. Endonila, suggesting the youth should expose themselves to nature and get involved in positive action.

Ms. Mikhaila Klaudine Rosales, a member of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ),  talked of how climate justice movements can modify the effects of climate change in our country.

PMCJ’s campaign for climate justice focuses on energy, food, land, water, emissions cut, climate finance, OPECC, population education, and adaptation – the most common things affected by climate change.

Ms. Rosales also discussed the Climate Justice framework that proposes every country’s emission cut of Green House Gases should not exceed at 1.5% average.

The last speaker for the seminar was Mr. Jaybee Garganera, who tackled the 10  key points of “Laudato Si”, an encyclical book  by Pope Francis.

The book talks about the ecological crisis in the present and emphasizes more on the commitment of everyone in the environment.

Mr. Garganera also discussed the guidelines to Human Development, which came from  the experiences of a true Christian.

Each block was collectively provided with the itinerary suited for their respective strands to ensure the relevance of the trip to the students.

According to Dr. Susan Macabangon, the Students’ Activities Coordinator, the tour served as a huge step in assisting the students on determining their career options on their crucial year level, as the Grade 11 students discover the technicalities of their chosen strand.

The ABM blocks visited the Philippine Stock Exchange, wherein Ms. Sarah Padilla, the representative for PSE, discussed of stocks’ importance in the circulation of the economy.

After the brief discussion on the basics of stock market, ABM students were able to express their inquiries regarding the different aspects of venturing into stock exchange.

On the other hand, the STEM blocks visited the Elite Techno Park which provided them a chance to take a closer look on common technological advancements. While in PAGASA Observatory, they were able to observe and experience the work of meteorologists.  

Meanwhile, the HUMSS block was welcomed in a brief tour around the Senate of the Philippines, providing the students their own insights on the basics of politics.

HUMSS students also witnessed first-hand the daily affairs involved in broadcasting and journalism in the GMA Network Center, and they were given an opportunity to see the behind-the-scenes action of a demo live telecast.

At the end of the day, all blocks gathered in ACE Water Spa and were introduced with the different facilities and services offered.  They were able to experience the spa and hotel’s amenities: Hydrotherapy massage – Soft massages, Moderate massages, Hard massages, hot herbal pools, steam and sauna booths, and regular swimming pools.

Insights were gathered from students of aforementioned blocks.

Joanna Macabanti from ABM- A said, “The educational trip was appropriate for the students with the destinations in line with the respective strands. It has been a great experience as it served as an eye-opener for students to have an idea in their future career paths”.

Marya Chua, also from ABM –A, commented, “It was a bummer  that we were not able to visit the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Money Museum, but we will be hoping that we would be able to visit those landmarks next time.”

Chua adds, “We felt that our experience in Ace Hotel and Suites would be more maximized if we were given seminars or discussions about Marketing and other business-related information or topics.”

STEM – B Student, Jennah De Leon, shared her experience: “The On-Job Exposure Trip for the STEM students focused on the practical application of engineering and its various types which is a big help to students as early as now who wish to pursue the course of engineering. Every activity did in the Techno Park thrilled the inner engineers within the students which made it a fun and learning experience.”

On the other hand, she also pointed the insufficient time given to them during their engineering hands-on. “The main itinerary is mostly for future engineers so the other students who wish to pursue medical, agricultural and other courses didn’t have the other chance to expand their knowledge about their chosen career path. As for the engineering students, the given time was very insufficient also they weren’t able to explore each facility and know more about the activities presented. ” said De Leon.

While HUMSS – A student, Orland Abao commended the essence of the On-Job Exposure Trip. He said, “The educational tour is a big stepping stone for HUMSS students for it gives a gist of their future workplace. It arouses the students’ sense of humanity and unleashes the capability of becoming future protectors of justice.”  

“The tour is really timely and helpful especially to those who are confused of what they want to pursue,” added Abao.

John Francis Simeon, the Supreme Senior High Student Council President, highlighted, “Basically, the educational trip helped us to decide on what college course we’ll take in the future.”

Scholastic Inc. Philippines is a publishing company known for delivering literary resources for children with the objective of improving the reading skills of students from all parts of the country.

Scholastic Inc., brings the Book Fair to different schools in the beginning of September. The company sets up shelves of books by different authors such as J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter series), Elizabeth Dami (Geronimo Stilton series), Ransom Riggs (Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children series), and more. They also put up almanacs and journals for sale.

Scholastic Inc. conducted an event at OLPS Gymnasium for the Pre-school and Grades 1, 2 and 3. Aside from storytelling, the team featured mascots of Geronimo Stilton and Clifford the Dog.

In the fair was an Instagram cutout board wherein students could take pictures of themselves having fun in the Book Fair.

Reward points are accumulated each time a student buys a book. The reward points are converted to books that will be in the reading center.

Overall, the Reading Center accumulated 87 new books and the books are based on the wish lists the students gave.

Ms. Serdenia Alde, the coordinator of the OLPS Book Fair, said the fair aims to heighten literacy purposes and to help the students to enjoy reading.

Yvonne Perez of Grade 5 - St. Blase, who bought a Goosebumps book by author R. L. Stine, said, “Konti nalang po yung mga pagpipilian na magagandang books (There are only a few good books to choose from).”

Moving on to the higher levels, John Basul of Grade 11-HUMSS-A wished there were more books while Ellyjah Briones of Grade 10 – St. Basil the Great commented that there are not much books that are appropriate for the High School Department.

Even though most of the books for sale were suitable for younger audiences, Geralde Palisoc, also from Grade 11-HUMSS-A, said the books made him feel nostalgic because he related to it when he was younger.

Pope Francis accepted the official resignation of Bishop Emeritus Gabby on September 9, 2016, after holding the position as Bishop of the diocese and School Director of OLPS for 13 years.

The Bishop Emeritus resigned due to mandatory retirement at age 75.

“I am very thankful to God that I have been guest of Antipolo for 13 years and I have been director of OLPS these past 13 years,” said Bishop Gabby, as he expressed his vocational experience thus far. “For me, as a director of OLPS, I am happy that the school has a high standard and is enjoying a good name and education.”

Several priests and bishops from different dioceses attended the Canonical Installation. Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, who was once an attendee of Bishop Kiko’s teaching career in San Carlos Seminary, told the crowd that Bishop Kiko was his model priest in his homily.

He shared, “Bishop Francis just exclaims ‘Jesus, I trust in you, because if I trust myself, I am bound to fail. If there is any good that I will be able to do, it is only, purely and always, because of God’s mercy.’”

Cardinal Antonio Tagle of the Archdiocese of Manila also gave his message about his admiration of Bishop Kiko’s service. “Si Hesus ang nangangalaga sa kanyang simbahan, kaya mahalin natin si Bishop Francis,” said Cardinal Tagle.

He also reminded the people to not compare Bishop Kiko with Bishop Emeritus Gabby. “Igalang po natin ang pagkakaiba. ‘Wag natin hanapin kay Bishop Francis si Bishop Gabby, magkaiba sila.”

Cardinal Tagle adds, “Through this diversity, the many gifts of the Church are used to respond to the many needs of the Church.”

Bishop Francis spoke last and delivered his words of thanksgiving. “I am where I am right now because the Lord is kind and merciful… nagpapasalamat din ako sa ating Mahal na Ina na si Maria.”

Bishop Francis also expressed his gratitude for Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop Villegas, Bishop Emeritus Gabby, the other bishops and priests who have attended the special event, the guests, and everyone who have played important roles his life.

Nagpamalas ng iba’t ibang talento ang mga piling estudyante mula sa una at ikalawang baitan sa isang acrostic poem patungkol sa Wika at Nutrisyon. Ang mga ika-5 at ika-6 na baiting naman ay ipinakita ang galing sa pag-indak sa katutubong sayaw. 

Ito nama’y sinundan ng isang maikling tula mula sa ikatlong baitang. Nagpasikat rin ang mga nanalo sa patimpalak sa malikhaing pagsayaw, ang Ika-7 Baitang - St. Joseph of Cupertino na pinamagatang “Kanta na Pilipinas,” ni Lea Salonga.

Nagtanghal si Angel Andal mula sa ika-apat na baitang ng awiting nagpapahatid ng kahalagahan ng wikang Filipino sa pag-unlad ng bansa. 

Pinatunayan ng kampeyon ng sabayang pagbigkas ng Ika-9 na Baitang, ang St. Joan of Arc, ng kanilang bersyon ng piyesang akda ni Lamberto Gabriel, “Kabataan Akong Tinig Ko'y Pakinggan”. Ang kampeyon naman sa malikhaing pagsayaw sa Ika-8 Baitang, ang St. Peter, ay dinaan sa magiliw ng pag-indak ang kanilang pagtatanghal na pinamagatang, “Bulag, Pipi, at Bingi” ni Freddie Aguilar. 

Nakilahok naman ang mga estudyante mula sa John Paul II Minor Seminary sa programa. Nagpamalas din sila sa pagkanta at pag-indak sa tugtugin ng “Saranggola ni Pepe,” at sinundan naman ng presentasyon ng ika-9 na baitang sa pagsayaw ng “Maglalatik”.  

Nagbahagi rin ang ika-9 na baitang ng nakakaaliw na presentasyon sa isang pag-awit na may halong dula, mayroong mga modernong kanta na kinakikiligan ng mga kababaihan. 

Nagtapos ang pagpagbabahagi ng mga talento ng ipamalas ng mga estudyante mula sa Ika-10 Baitang - St. Therese of Lisieux na nagkamit ng pangalawang parangal sa Sabayang Pagbigkas, ng kanilang bersyon ng “Kabataan Akong Tinig Ko’y Pakinggan”.

Naggawad ng mga sertipiko sa mga estudyante at seksyon nananalo sa iba’tibang patimpalak na ginanap sa nagdaang buwan. Ang mga nagwagi ay ang mga sumusunod:

Mga nagwagi sa Food Fest 2016

Paggawa ng Islogan (Ika- 4 na baitang)

Paggawa ng Poster (Ika- 5 na baitang)

Paggawa ng Sanaysay (Ika- 6 na baitang)

Malikhaing Pagsayaw (Ika- 7 at Ika-8 baitang)

Sabayang Pagbigkas (Ika- 9 at Ika-10 baitang)

Paggawa ng Myural (Ika-11 baitang)

Nagkaroon ng isang intermisyon number mula sa mga piling miyembro ng Paulinian Dance Arts Spirit na nagpapakita ng iba't-ibang katutubong sayaw sa Pilipinas  sinamahan ito ng mga modernong paraan ng pagsayaw. Umawit ang dalawang piling estudyante ng Junior High School ng iba’t ibang OPM songs na siyang pumukaw sa mga manonood doon.

Matapos ang mga intermisyon number ay magbahagi naman ng kanyang pangwakas na pananalita si Gng. Jasmin Barretto, ang koordinaytor ng TLE Department, ng kanyang pangwakas na pananalita.

Sa layunin ng mga punong-abala ng palatuntunan, ang pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Wika ay makikita sa bawat hakbang, pag-indak, at pag-hiyaw ng mga estudyante - kaakibat nito ang isang panghabangbuhay na aral ng pagiging tunay na makabayan.

As the ceremony started, the Key of Responsibility was handed over by the outgoing HSSCT President, John Francis Simeon and GSSCT President, Vincent Maniba to the incoming HSSCT President, Kate Imperial, and GSSCT President, John Nikholai Echevarria.

The club and class officers were then presented by the Assistant Principal and High School Academic Head, Mr. Jorge Pacleb to the School Head/Principal, Sr. Anabel Dela Cruz, SPC.

Sr. Anabel then proceeded to inquire and verify the student leaders’ understanding and acceptance of their role and the respective responsibilities it entails. 

The student leaders, with one voice, answered the inquiries with great confidence and determination.

Fr. Dan Magdangan, the School Chaplain, blessed the student leaders on their endeavor as they serve the student body for the Academic Year 2016-2017. 

OLPS basketball tournament: “Intrams ulit!”

Different teams comprised by selected OLPS alumni represented the batches they were from. 

The tournament will be held from August 14, 2016, to October 22, 2016. The finals game on October 22 shall be in line with the celebration of OLPS’ Foundation Week & Intramurals.

The opening ceremony was attended and supported by students, teachers, staff, alumni, and SPC sisters alike. 

The event commenced as the OLPS Blue Nightingales led the singing of the National Anthem. 

Dr. Macabangon delivered her opening remarks, and was followed by a short message from the School Head/Principal of OLPS, Sr. Anabel Dela Cruz, SPC.

Mr. Christian Alarcon, a District 2 councilor of Antipolo also imparted his message as the representative of Mayor Jun Ynares to the event.

Various performances by the students were done afterwards. 

The OLPS Blue Nightingales went on stage once more to perform their presentation for the celebration of the Japan-Philippines Friendship Anniversary. 

Afterwards, the Paulinian Dance Art Spirit enlivened the event with their interpretation of “Piliin Mo Ang Pilipinas”. 

The Supreme dance crew then performed and showed off their moves. 

The OLPS Blue Marching Condors took over the stage and wowed the audience as they raised the school spirit with their routine.

The participating teams for the Opening Ceremony match were then introduced by Mr. Romeo Evangelista, the president of OLPSAA. 

The teams were from batches 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2013. 

Selected OLPS faculty and staff also joined as the guest team. Each team was then called upon for the picture-taking opportunity. 

Then, Jemco Latay, a news anchor from Solar Sports and an OLPS alumnus, led the recitation of the Oath of Sportsmanship. 

To break the monotony before officially starting the first game, a special award was given for the Best Muse among the batches. This award was given to Roselle Vytiaco, the muse for Batch 2002. 

To formally commence the game, Sr. Anabel led the ceremonial toss of the ball.

The opposing teams and their respective scores were:

“I’m just overwhelmed because of their participation,” Sr. Anabel said as she expressed her gratitude to the different alumni batches involved in the Opening Ceremonies. 

She added, “Even though some may already have their own families and work, they are still committed to the Vision [and] Mission of [the] OLPSians, and so they are here because this is a project. Whatever process they will get from this, they will support our similar project which is the Tawid-Tawid.” 

She also remarked on the performances showcased by different student organizations and groups of OLPS, saying that they are “first class presentations because I have seen similar presentations, but I am so amazed by the OLPSians’ performances.”

Mr. Evangelista also announced the suggestion of conducting the tournament in the succeeding years. 

He said that the basketball tournament can be “a tradition, but there should be a hosting batch to sponsor the event.” He added that this proposal will still be depending on the reactions of the alumni batches.

Living out the OLPSian Spirit

“It is calling out on the advocacy of the OLPSAA – that is, through sharing,” Mr. Evangelista said when he explained the purpose of the tournament. “Through sharing, meron tayong mga natutulungan.”

He emphasized that the OLPSAA’s goal has always been to help the OLPS’ sister school, the Tawid-Tawid Extension. 

With this event, they aim to provide the school needs of the students, to build new classrooms, to give livelihood to parents, and to conduct feeding programs and medical missions throughout the community.

“Aside from that, pinapakita natin yung act of sharing mismo na kung may makakakita sa atin na iba, ‘yun yung good example natin na kahit ibang school sila, i-duduplicate nila yung ginagawa natin,” he further adds.

OLPS at 44

During the program, Mr. Evangelista gave away some spoilers for this year’s Foundation Day celebration. 

According to him, the Finals for the tournament will still be held in the Ynares Center, but there will be special guests who will be invited for the event. 

He was also about to share some spoilers about the annual Battle of the Bands/Dance Revolution competitions as well, but he cut it short, saying that the details will instead be announced in the following months.

Dr. Macabangon also imparted some details about the plans for the Foundation Day 2016. “The opening of Foundation Day also serves as the preparation for the 45th foundation anniversary of OLPS (in 2017), and activities are already lined up for the celebration,” she said. 

According to her, the Foundation Day for this school year will be much anticipated, since it serves as the preamble for the major celebration in the following year.

Batch days are done annually in the High School level, and are often scheduled on the beginning of the year to let the students be familiar with their other batch mates, have fun with both their teachers and fellow students, and practice camaraderie and teamwork in the given activities. “The purpose for having the batch days is for us to have a good connection with our batch mates, to build unity, and to maintain the sense of belongingness of each class to their whole batch,” said John Francis Simeon, the president of the Supreme Senior High Student Council.

For this year, the Seniors’ Batch Day was inspired by a Filipino Fiesta theme.

According to Simeon, the theme for the Seniors was supposed to be aligned with the celebration of the Buwan ng Wika at Nutrisyon.

The Student Council also devised hashtags and taglines to spread the word about the Batch Days: “#FreshmenBatchDay2016” for the Grade 7, “JuniorsBatchDay2016” for Grade 9, “#SeniorsBatchDay2016” for Grade 10, and “#ArawNgMgaSupremo” for the Grade 11.

Junior High

Students from Grade 7 to 10 participated in various team-building games and winning prizes. 

Classic games such as Trip to Jerusalem, Bring Me Extreme, Catch the Egg, Dragon’s Tail, and Voyagers challenged their skill on group dynamics, and proved the teamwork of each section.

The schedules of the Batch Days for the Junior High were:

Araw ng mga Supremo

“Pagod ka na bang walang kasama? Tara, sumama na sa Batch Day!” This was the hugot catchphrase used by the SSHSC in promoting the Batch Day of the Senior High.

Since the event followed a fiesta theme, the games played by the Seniors were some of what are known as “Filipino party games,” such as the sack race and Caterpillar. But for the event, the Student Council set some twists for the classic games.

Afterwards, the raffle segment was started, which entitled lucky students and teachers with exclusive prizes.

However, the highlight of the Seniors’ Batch Day was the all-Filipino boodle fight, which followed the traditional guidelines. 

Their meals were required to be prepared neatly and decorated artfully to become eye-catching enough for the judges: Dr. Grace Pastor, the High School Homeroom Coordinator, and Mr. Romel Costibilo, the canteen’s Chief Cook.

The entire afternoon was devoted for the Mr. and Ms. Batch Day segment, where different blocks chose their representatives for the pageant, and showed support through loud shouts, applauses, and cheers.

The candidates added humour to the commencement of the event by using random objects whilst modelling on stage. 

The questions for the pageant were written by the SSHSC and were inspired by different hugot lines to add more colour to the candidates’ answers.

By the end of the pageant, James Siena of 11 – ABM-A and Cheska Uyvico of 11 – HUMSS-A were announced as the Mr. and Ms. Batch Day 2016.

At the end of the day (and what is to come)

According to the HSSCT President, Rhea Kate Imperial, the Batch Days accomplished the objectives for building the relationships among the different high school levels. “These activities truly strengthened the bond of each batch, so it was more than being familiar with your other schoolmates,” said Imperial.

The High School Student Council also encouraged students to support upcoming events, especially the line-up for October.