#philippine science high school

[littlelav107]

the opinion that roomhopping should be allowed in the pisay dorms

[cbholganza]

Reunited, And It Feels So Good

(A late post) It’s been more than half a century ago. I can’t even recall the exact date. But sometime in 1968, a hundred or so elementary graduates would troop to the Philippine Science High School in Quezon City; wide-eyed, innocent-looking, energetic young kids, not really knowing – and for some, not even caring – what this new world they were embarking on would have in store for them. I was…

[praints]

dump because I and many others agree that these don't look good enough to be published in my public accounts

[cityzenshark]

Firsts to Grow Up | Humans in the Malto Family

Dorothy “Dot” Malto

The strict and loving matriarch of the Malto family. Dot was once a lieutenant in the U.S army during the Cybertronian war on Earth. Having fought alongside the Autobots and against the Decepticons, her opinions regarding the alien robots depend on them as individuals. But as for her general feelings towards them, she’d rather not be in their vicinity unless necessary. Dot lost a leg from knee down whilst defending civilians during a Decepticon attack. The one who rescued her and delivered her to medical assistance was none other than the now former leader of the Decepticons – Megatron. Fifteen years have passed since their last battle together, Dot and Megatron rarely see each other since. The conspiracies that follow Megatron wherever he goes is a burden that is his alone to bear. As his close friend, Dot will help him should he asks. As a mother and wife, her main priority is her family. The last thing she wants for her children is for them to be involved in the aliens’ politics that took Dot her entire life to get out of. The Terrans’ existence causes a mental war between Dot’s motherhood and her trauma.

.

Alex Malto

A dotting husband to Dot; father to Robby and Mo. Alex has a doctrine in Cybertronian culture and history. During the Cybertronian War on Earth, he was drafted into the Philippines military as a consultant in Cybertron-Earth relations. He and Dot first met during their services in the U.S. The two fell in love fast and got married. When news of Dot’s near fatal injury reached him, Alex left his station to visit her in a hospital at another state -- unbeknownst he would avoid a catastrophe that killed hundreds of his colleagues and refugees. While the catastrophe drastically shifted humanity’s views on Cybertronians, Alex’s boyish admiration of their kind remains. He kept the toys, the comics, and every physical media that promoted the Autobots when he was young. Despite that, he shares Dot’s wishes to stay away from their politics. His profession may force him back but right now, he is a historian teacher in Witwicky’s high school and to his adopted children – the Terrans.

.

Robby Malto

Fourteen-year-old son of Alex and Dot; twin brother to Morgan. Robby grew up in the city and the city life was where he wants his future to be. He had a great reputation at school, has many friends, and won several competitions in robotics and science. However, his dreams crumble when he and his family move to the small town Witwicky, surrounded by mountains, wildlife, and terribly weak internet signal. Robby doesn’t understand his mother. She was partners with Megatron of all Cybertronians, yet she doesn’t see him often nor wants to be around Cybertronians. He doesn’t understand his father. Since he knows so much about the alien robots’ culture, why did he agree with Dot’s decision to not have any involvement with them? He doesn’t understand his twin sister. Mo is at cloud nine since the move. The night crickets doesn’t disturb her sleep, the smell from cows doesn’t bother her, and very oddly, she’s excited about their new school. Robby wished he could wear his headphones and play games until he magically had his old city life back. After he gained the cybersleeves, Robby endures the pain coming from beneath it all while handling the Terrans’ emotional hive mind and his family distancing from him that he is very well aware is his own doing.

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Morgan “Mo” Malto

Fourteen-year-old daughter of Alex and Dot; twin sister to Robby. While Robby would brood at his desk staring at his computer all day long in their new home, Mo would run free at the wild outdoors. The Malto’s new home in Witwicky is like haven to her. She gets her own room, no vehicles that might run over her, no nosy neighbours, and nature all around her! Mo’s life in the city was lonely. She was an odd one out at school and none appreciated her imaginative personality. Her new school in Witwicky gave her many good friends, and a chance for her to play role-playing board games. The Terrans are a great surprise addition to the new chapter in her life. Mo quickly grows into the role as big sister and learns to understand how the emotional hivemind functions quite fast, though she has no idea how to explain it. She spends most of her free time with the Terrans so whenever they have questions and their parents or their teachers aren’t around, they go to Mo. Despite this, however, Mo desperately wishes to keep her emotions private again. She doesn’t want her siblings to know how bad her period can be, she hates how the Terrans keep guessing her activities at every jolt of emotions, suggesting what she “should” do, and she doesn’t understand why her twin brother keeps pushing her away when she can literally feel him calling for help. Her new home is becoming more hurtful than joyful, but Mo keeps wearing a big smile on her face. For her family’s sake.

.

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[mariemarieohcontrary]

Got bored so here's a doodle of my Freshman MC wkfjghsjdheh

She was offered a UP scholarship plus some other universities along with an acceptance letter from Hartfeld when she applied so she went to Hartfeld cause dream school but boi she did not see the drama coming a mile away.

She's called Emma by her university friends but when she's home with family she's called Dolores or Doring. Her friends go with Dory since younger Emma told them she liked her second name better cause it was taken from her grandmother who she was close to.

She was part of the book lover's club, worked with her high school librarian as an informal student librarian, entered spelling bees and PSAP-ALAM essay contests, did book reports for fun, and was really good with the English subject. (her grandmother had to tutor her in math and she had to take Science remedial classes) She only had three local friends in the Philippines and the four of them have a group chat whose name changes with the members' whims. The four went to different unis so they each jokingly trash-talked each other during sports events when their schools were competing against each other.

The whole issue of her parents not affording her tuition became a thing due to her grandmother falling ill, so she told them to just focus their finances on her while she figured out a workaround.

She likes Chris as a friend and she thought James was very handsome. She's pretty reserved so Abbie is closer to her than Kaitlyn, she hates Becca's guts but hates Vasquez even more since he's always abusing his power to toy with her life. (She refuses to tell her parents about this though since she doesn't want them to worry especially since her grandfather had warned her not to join any sororities or be with anyone from fraternities due to him seeing them as unsafe for her)

She likes pinks and florals and finds nothing wrong with that. Will take theme days of any occasion very seriously. (Favourite themes are always Buwan ng Wika and Halloween. One cause cultural and the other cause she likes fun costumes)

[hughungrybear]

In the Philippines, you have very limited choices if you want a good quality education. Young ones (primary school to high school) would fare better if they choose: (1) a science school, (2) a private Catholic-run school, or (3) an international school.

Options 1 and 3 are mostly available to those who can afford it and can maintain high grades. Option 2 is the middle-class choice and no, you prolly won't find a private school that is not affliated with a religious entity in the Philippines.

If you are a uni student (like King), your choices are even more limited if you want to have a good career after college. Basically, employers would automatically hire graduates from any of the big four unis: University of the Philippines (state uni), Ateneo de Manila University (run by Jesuit priests), De La Salle University (run by Christian Brothers), and University of Santo Tomas (run by Dominican priests).

So, you can imagine the dress code in most schools 😅 I think only the state uni is safe from dress codes but only because they are supposed to accomodate those who cannot afford to buy fashionable clothes. But even then, you'll get plenty of side eye 😅😅😅

[vintagelacerosette]

Weekly Tag game (Catch up)

Forgive meee I am late but I had the other one in my drafts & I hadn't be able to finish it off yet 😅

I was tagged by these sweethearts 💖💕💖

Jessica @guinguin1984 Julia @blue-disco-lights Deanna @deedala Georgia @iansw0rld

Face @burninface Jaclyn @crossmydna Evie @energievie

Bri @y0itsbri Lyle Lyle crocodile @kiinard Macy @heymacy

Mel @gardenerian Sarah @sleepyheadgallavich Julissa @heymrspatel

Harvey @mikhailoisbaby Kat @mybrainismelted Ling @lingy910y

Name: Shermyn

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (or you): Sydney in the western part  

Ok, so this week we are going to snoop into your google search. Type in each phrase and tell us what the first suggestion is that google gives you!

What is the best way to….rule? (hehe nice maybe my Leo tendencies 🤣🦁

This is what I saw on Quora

1) Become a community organizer · 2) Learn to speak eloquently · 3) Tell people what they want to hear · 4) Sell your soul to the Devil · 5) ...

😂😂😂

Where can I…. watch Saltburn? (it's on my watch list haha) Amazon Prime

How old is…. Taylor Swift? (i didn't search this but i guess she's top result) 34

How long does it take… to get to mars? (wow a fun one) Now quoting NASA, "If jt all goes well, you'll get to the Red Planet in about seven ot eight months." ♂️🔴

How many… states in Australia? Six states 🇦🇺

Who set the record for…. the highest jump? Javier Sotomayor good job my dude 👏

When did….michael jackson die? 25 june 2009 (woah I started 1st year of high school then)

What does it feel like to… to be in love? (ummm ive never searched that but damn a pointed search 😭😭😭) Reddit says "when you wake up thinking of that person & go to bed thinking of them"

Can you…go parasailing in sydney? (So me bc i missed out when i was in the Philippines 🥲) You can't anymore booo 👎

Why do… i sweat so much? Google says could he nerves that trigger it.

Is there a way… to save karlach? I really wanna play Baldur's gate 3 what's gonna happen to her?? I love her?? 🥺

How old do you have to be… to work? (boooo i don't wanna work but i want money 😩) In NSW minimum age for full time work is 17

Where do the… kardashians live? (i don't care) Malibu

What is the best time to… to go to fiji? (aaayee holiday??) June to September

And to finish us off…. What comes up when you type in Shameless? shameless last episode date

11 April 2021 I needed it for my gallacrafts 🥹

Name: Myn

Age: 27

Astrological sign: Leo ♌️

Upon which continent do you reside: Stralia 🦘

tell us how you're feeling right now using 3-5 emojis: 🥶💸🤔🤫🤗

whats your favorite flavor of gum? Juicy fruit but the flavour never lasts long

whats the last movie you watched? Anastasia for my nieces first viewing 😆 It mostly became a sing-a-long with my big sis 🎤

what was your worst subject in high school? Maybe science?

whats the job you stayed at for the shortest period of time? Working for a weekend event at a convention centre for the active wear brand Lorna Jane. I got lost on the 1st day & didn't get paid for that 15 min 😅

whats your favorite thing to do at an amusement park? Try all the interesting foods 😋

what condiments go on top of the perfect hot dog (meat or plant-based)? BBQ sauce & caramelised onions 🌰

cincinnati chili, thoughts? Never heard of it!

do you sleep with a plushie? No my plushies are on a shelf bc I can get kicked out of my room every 2nd weekend bc my sister & her family takes it over haha. But worth it to have my baby niece over 🥰

how do you feel about thunderstorms? No strong emotions. It's cool when boom

what's the last animal you touched? My dog Roxy 🐕 ❤️

grab the nearest item with words on it that ISNT a book and tell me the final word: Tulip on this korean dry shampoo I'm trying 🌷

have you ever forgotten to do an assignment until the night before its due? Oh I was organised at knowing darw but procrastinated the hell out of the assignment until the due date. Then trying to finish the night before 😅 I found an old diary entry calling myself a dumb bitch for doing that to myself & saying to never do it again (she did) 😭

Not tagging anyone bc LATE but if you wanna play consider yourself tagged! 🩷🐇

[purplesurveys]

1956 - Happy holidays!

Is it wicked hard for you to sleep when its hot in your room? So much. It's miserable how 'hot' is pretty much our default in the Philippines, but at least we have something to manage it - the magical aircon, lmao. I don't get to have it on 24/7 though because it would swell up the electricity bill to hell and back...so what usually happens is that I sleep comfortably with the aircon on timer, then wake up with usually sweat on my back already. It's miserable.

What is your favorite thing to do with your best friend? Talk about anything and everything under the moon, well beyond midnight someplace intimate and outdoors - usually, either my rooftop or her patio. That's usually how we hang out now because we're turning into old motherfuckers lol + malls and anywhere else are super hectic and crowded.

Are you easily offended? I'm very sensitive when it comes to personal stuff, like if someone takes a shot at the work I do (believe it or not your older Filipino relatives can and will do that!) or people I love. But in exchange, I also tend to have an unhesitantly big mouth so I can bite back if my sensitivity is triggered.

Have you ever acted as tour guide for friends/relatives from out of town? No. I once volunteered to be my cousins' and their fiances' tour guide when they flew in here to Manila from the US but I suddenly got a work sched so I wasn't able to do it. :(

Do you feel bored with your life? It's barely boring but I do feel unfulfilled because my life has been revolving around work for the longest time. Without a direct superior, I've been doing double the tasks so my priority has kind of just organically shifted toward my career than paying attention to my personal life and my ~self-fulfillment needs~

What's the most weight you've ever gained from a medication? I've never been on regular medication.

How old were you the first time you encountered God? On a very literal and technical sense, I guess when I was like 2 months old and got baptized? Haha. I haven't been a practicing Catholic in like a decade, though.

Are you married? Nope.

What was the best date you've ever been on? I have one in mind but I don't feel like taking stuff out from that particular memory box.

Do you feel free to post how you feel on Facebook? Sure. Not through me directly because I never yap on there unless it's about BTS lol, but I'll repost stuff that I agree with.

Which stereotype do you fit the most? Overcompensating eldest Asian daughter trying to find her place in the world and doing her best to break generational traumas. It's hilarious how shared our experiences are.

Who were your favorite celebrities as a child? As a child, my life was consumed by High School Musical so, like, their entire cast I guess lol. I was also into wrestling early on - my faves were Shawn Michaels, CM Punk, and unfortunately so Chris Benoit until he did the thing he did.

Did you go to prom? I had to. It was required to - Filipino Catholic school things.

If you could rewind time ten years, would you? No. I only look at the present and what's ahead.

What is the last song you played on repeat? The8 Side by Side is so good. Seventeen's solo singles are generally underrated.

Do you own a CD player? Nope. I mean I have one in my car haha but nothing here in my room.

Do you think you could handle a job in the medical field? Why or why not? Well, no. I have close to zero background in science so I would fail almost immediately.

Would you rather edit photos on your phone or computer? I don't edit photos and am not good at it either so I'd rather do it on my phone where you'd already have apps that would make the job so much more simplified.

What is one electronic device you own that you have not used in a long time? I'm pretty sure we're still keeping the PS2 around but we haven't brought that out in over 15 years.

When was the last time you wore a dress or a skirt? Last time I wore a dress must have been sometime last week. I wear black dresses to work a lot.

What is your favorite thing about Instagram? Unless you're a celebrity/influencer, it's generally the most drama-free social media since people are just out there living their lives. If you don't give a crap about curating your feed or keeping up a certain aesthetic, it's very freeing to use.

What is the first thing you think of when you see the rainbow emoji? 🌈? Happiness.

Do you prefer to play chess or checkers? Checkers because I at least have some faint idea of how it's played. I've never understood chess, even with my cousin trying to teach me for decades hah.

If you had to go an entire week without using any technology, what do you think you would spend most of your time doing instead? How lovely. I'd book a hotel room somewhere to be isolated and just spend the days going out for walks, trying out new restaurants, people watching etc.

Would you rather travel to Asia or France? Asia. I've been around Southeast and East Asia but would still love to explore the rest!

Did you have a New Year’s kiss? No.

Are there any words that you cannot pronounce or that you pronounce incorrectly? My Filipino tongue finds 'beautiful' hard to pronounce.

Have you recently accomplished anything that you are proud of yourself for? Giving away my entire work bonus to my parents. It's 6 figures, and the only reason it was so easy to let the whole cheque go was because the company gave it to me while we were still in talks about my resignation back in October.

They positioned it as 'a way to say thank you for all the hard work [I] did this year' but it honestly came off as a bribe and a guilt trip all-in-one. Knowing I won't be able to give it back without causing drama, I decided to just give it to people who can benefit from it.

Are you still friends with any of your exes? Do you still communicate with any of them at all? No.

What is your opinion on people who shop at Sephora for makeup as opposed to buying makeup from the drugstore? I have never given this a single solitary thought.

Do you live on your own or with your parents/a roommate? Do you think you’d like to live alone? I live with my family because where I'm from, it is damn near impossible for middle class folk like myself to live on their own without saving up for 10-15 years. I would like to live on my own at some point but I am still in the process of building up my savings for that level of commitment.

How often would you say you use Microsoft Word? Never. Microsoft anything is the bane of my existence lol I'd much rather use the Google counterparts!

After doing your laundry do you leave it in your basket for a couple days, then put it away? Leave them out to dry for a day then I fold them immediately after.

When you do a puzzle do you find all the edges first? Yeah, usually.

When you’re in the car and you eat something with a wrapper, do you throw the wrapper out of the window? Never. It's not hard to put trash in your pocket first.

List 5 things that have happened in the last 7 days. (They can be anything at all, anything that’s happened involving you, or your family, friends, partner.)

I had two strangers approach me at H&M asking if the pieces they've picked out would be good gifts. 100% they were last-minute Christmas shopping lol. I've never been talked to especially by strangers for fashion advice but I was happy to help! Haha

Gotten 1 hour into the first LOTR movie like I said I'd do over the holidays. I just stopped because I had to do something else, but I actually really liked the film and plan to continue the rest of the trilogy.

Ate a near-illegal amount of lumpia at my dad's side when we visited for Christmas.

Helped Angela pick out some potential wedding gown pegs, since she'll start her fitting next year.

Bought kwek-kwek and a day-old chick off the side of the road when we were en route to Bulacan. My mom would've never allowed me otherwise but we were told that the Airbnb we were headed toward has no nearby restaurants AT ALL so she made an exception, hah. I'm pretty sure we were ripped off, too, for obviously looking like we were from the city because that kwek-kwek was stupid expensive lmfao

If you found out your ex had a new partner, would you be upset? Not at all but I would also rather not hear any updates about the person whatsoever.

Have you ever had sex in someone else’s bed/bedroom? Yeah...I'm not proud of it lol but it's happened.

Have you ever had sex on your bedroom floor? How about your living room floor? Yes and yes.

When you kiss someone, do you like to play with their hair? Sure.

Why did you hug the last person you hugged? They're family and I was saying goodbye to them.

Do you regret sleeping with anyone? No.

Did anyone comfort you the last time you cried? What was your reason for crying? No, I usually cry alone. The last time I cried...I think I was just thinking about certain memories from the past. It was tears of both bittersweetness and happiness.

How did you feel when you woke up today? What was the first thing you thought about? A bit disoriented but I got up to speed quickly since I knew I had to start preparing - we needed to leave around 10ish to visit family.

Do you still tell your parents that you love them? I say it to my dad but only through text haha we're not a showy family.

Random fact about the person you love/like? error 404 not found

[upismediacenter]

FEATURE: Creepy Tales of UPIS

Have you ever heard of scary stories around UPIS? Have you ever had a haunting encounter that called for a story of its own? Despite the high school building being only 11 years old, tales of strange presences in certain rooms and unsettling legends about the statues have already taken root. It's not just the high school (7-12) building—similar stories circulate about the 3-6 and K-2 buildings, hinting at eerie encounters throughout the school. One can’t help but wonder what history lies beneath the UPIS grounds. One of the stories is from a student from Batch 2026, Uno Macadaan, who shared chilling rumors about the different school buildings of UPIS. 

“There’s a story about a floating hand that roams around the 7-12 building when it’s dark, and that there are ghosts wandering the 3-6 building when it’s late,” Uno said.

Athens Hombrebueno, a fellow student from Batch 2025, added to what they’ve heard: “In the K-2 building, there’s talk of a white lady haunting the first-floor girls’ bathroom. In the 3-6 building, there’s an abandoned science lab that people avoid after dark, because of the said rumor of a ghost in the specific room. And in the 7-12 building, there’s a story of a spirit that followed the Girl Scouts during their pre-pandemic annual camp.” Athens also added the known story she has heard about Lorna, the statue located on the high school grounds. Because she is frozen in a pose where she appears to be holding a nonexistent pen, the stories say that she wanders around at night to find that very pen. These strange occurrences aren't limited to students alone. Some of the school’s security guards have their own unsettling experiences, as one Batch 2026 student, Kirsten Negros, revealed. 

“Nakwento sa ‘kin nung night shift na guard yung experience niya sa elem[entary] building na kada gabi daw meron siya laging naririnig na mga batang naglalaro sa iisang classroom…  nagtatakbuhan, sumisigaw, at kumakanta,” Kirsten recounted.

These aren’t just stories passed down from one student to the next—varsity students, who habitually arrive at school early and stay late for practice, have their own chilling encounters to share. Their schedule gives them more exposure to the school's creepy atmosphere, especially during quiet hours, adding to the growing collection of eerie experiences from the buildings.

Kirsten recounted, “Nag-SPLT [Senior Patrol Leadership Training] kaming mga cadets para sa GSP [Girl Scouts of the Philippines]. Nung second night namin, lights out na, so dapat matutulog na lahat pero may mga gising pa sa amin. Biglang may nag-open ng door; akala namin senior cadet na mag[che]-check kaya nagtulog-tulugan kami. Pero nakita namin naka-all white yung pumasok—white shirt and pajama. Kinabukasan, nalaman namin na walang naka-white na senior cadet noong gabing iyon at wala ring nagbukas ng pinto.”

Athens shared a similar experience with Kirsten about camping, recalling an incident from before the pandemic: “I attended the annual camp the year they said the spirit followed us back to the 7-12 building.”

Recounting the rumors he has heard, Uno shared his own experience from the high school building: “Once, I went to school around 4:30-5:00 AM. I thought I saw a floating hand coming toward me, but it vanished as soon as I blinked. It was probably because I was half-awake, but it was still creepy.”

Adding more to Uno’s encounters, he shared, “Another time, I stayed late, around 6:30-7:00 PM, when I was still in the 3-6 building. I went to check the canteen to see if the rumors were true, and I heard something behind me by the PA [Practical Arts] room near the garden. I ran faster than ever.”

The students who shared their own stories mentioned that they've become more aware of the strange occurrences in the buildings. Athens and Kirsten highlighted that the high school building seemed more scary to them for the following reasons: “Malaki ang building and mas nakakatakot ‘pag gabi kasi madilim,” Kirsten mentioned, and, “because that’s where I experienced my own encounter,” Athens shared. However, Uno shared that the 3-6 gave him more of a fright, saying, “Mostly because I have an older sister and that was around the time she started scaring me and telling me stories, but also because we were kids and we liked spreading stories like that and I was one of those weird kids who wanted to verify the stories and see for myself.” 

As we walk through these familiar hallways, we may find ourselves wondering about the variety of people's experiences in these buildings and what they have encountered. Whether you believe in ghosts, legends, and rumors or not, it’s hard to ignore the chilling sense of presence that lingers in the air. Perhaps the true spookiness lies not in the scary tales themselves, but in the stories we continue to share, and the way we see the places around us. Have you experienced anything out of the ordinary?

//by Bianca Regala

[peryodismo2425]

Tulak ng Pinto: Pagpasok sa Bagong Paligid

Ni Uno Macadaan | Nobyembre 10, 2024

Umagang umaga, mga alas-siyete pa lang, at amoy sa halos buong paaralan ang bagong tabas na damo ng quad. Naglalakad si Kyle papunta sa kanyang bagong homeroom sa ikatlong palapag ng Quirino Wing. Magaspang ang ramp at mahaba ang kanyang kailangang lakarin. Pagpasok niya sa silid, naramdaman ni Kyle ang lamig ng kandado ng pinto, naririnig ang bawat bahagi habang pinipihit, ang “click!” nang ito’y umabot sa dulo ng mosyon, ang bigat sa paghila nito pabalik, at ang matinis na tunog galing sa mga kawit-kawit. Malamig at presko ang simoy ng hangin na kanyang kasama. Sa wakas, nakapasok na si Kyle Arcenal.

Taon-taon, mayroong tinatanggap  na lateral students, o ang mga mag-aaral na nanggaling sa ibang paaralan, sa UPIS. Isa doon si Kyle Arcenal, na kasalukuyang estudyante ng Grado 7-Earth. Nagmula siya sa The Learning Tree Child Growth Center, Quezon City (TLT), kung saan siya nag-aral mula kinder hanggang elementarya. Masaya naman umano ang oras niya roon ngunit sa haba ng panahon na iyon, sa isang maliit na batch na pare-pareho ang mga kaklase, hindi ka ba magsasawa nang kahit kaunti? Ito ang dahilan kung bakit siya pumasok sa UPIS. 

Sinubukan niya ring pumasok sa ibang hayskul. Kasama rito ang Philippine Science High School System o Pisay, dahil ito ang dalawang eskuwelahang pinakapumukaw ng atensyon niya. Ngunit, isang mahiwagang araw habang naglalakad pauwi mula sa munting gusali ng TLT, tumunog ang kanyang cellphone nang tawagan siya ng kanyang nanay upang ibalita sa kaniya na nakapasa siya sa UPIS. 

Para kay Kyle, nakakatuwang bagay ito sapagkat mahaba ang prosesong pinagdaanan niya. Maraming kinailangang gawin at dokumentong kunin ang kanyang ina para maging eligible lang siya na makapag-aral dito. Sayang naman daw ang lahat ng iyon kung masaraduhan siya ng oportunidad.

Hindi nawala ang ngiti niya sa kanyang pagpasa sa UPIS. Sa kasalukuyan, nalulugod naman daw siya sa kanyang bagong kapaligiran. Mas madaldal man ang mga estudyante rito sa oras ng klase, mas matulungin naman daw sila lalo na kapag may hindi siya naiintindihan sa paksa. Dulot ng mga guro na masigasig sa pagtuturo, mga custodian na napakabait at matulungin, pati na rin ang kanyang mga gawain na hindi naman daw masyadong mahirap ngunit may sapat pa rin na hamon, “Maganda naman so far,” ang mga karanasan ni Kyle dito sa UPIS. Sa kabila ng paninibago, hindi naman siya nahirapang magkaroon ng bagong mga kaibigan, kaya hindi siya nagsisisi na binuksan niya ang pinto patungo rito. 

Mula sa malalaking pagbabago–tulad ng paglilipat ng kwarto bawat klase na hindi nila ginagawa sa TLT dahil maliit lang naman ang gusali, pagkaroon ng malaking gym at open space, pagkakaroon ng guidance counselor na wala sila sa kanyang lumang paaralan, dahilan kung bakit wala siyang makausap tungkol sa kanyang mga problema sa eskuwela noon–hanggang sa mga detalyeng hindi natin karaniwang napapansin tulad ng pagkakaayos ng upuan sa “U” na posisyon. 

Mayroon pa ring nararamdaman si Kyle na kaunting pamilyaridad sa mga maliit na bagay, tulad ng mga telebisyon at whiteboard na nasa harap ng silid, pati sa mismong arkitektura ng gusali. Sira man ang ilan sa mga upuan at maiksi ang oras sa pagitan ng mga klase, nasisiyahan pa rin siya sa bago niyang paligid dahil mas nakabubuti naman para sa kanya na nasa bagong paaralan siya kaysa naman manatili sa TLT. 

Hindi maibabahagi ng kanyang mga karanasan ang kwento ng ibang mag-aaral. Nabibilang siya sa mga bago nating nakakasama kada akademikong taon, isa sa mga napakahalagang bahagi ng komunidad natin dito na nagdadala ng mga taong mula sa iba’t ibang lugar na mayroong iba’t ibang karanasan na dinadala nila dito. Sa pagbukas ng isang pinto, pumapasok din ang preskong hangin tulad niya sa UPIS.

[canvas-and-compass]

Nice to Meet You!

Hello and welcome to my blog! It’s nice to meet you, and I’m glad you are taking the time to get to know me and my work. I’m gonna go by Celtica for now and I am a Florida-based archaeologist with several hobbies and interests that I don’t know what to do with. But, that is why I am here: I would like to use this website as an outlet to share the things I learn and experience in managing these activities I enjoy doing, and perhaps inspire you along the way. Whether it’s introducing you to something you have never heard of before, or learning about this new place you would love to explore, I hope that there is something I write about that sparks that light in you. What you do with the information and stories I write about is up to you, I just hope it becomes something positive and encouraging. 

My Background:

I moved around quite a bit up until I started high school. I was born in San Diego, California, and immediately moved to Virginia for a little bit, and then to Ohio, just a few minutes outside of Columbus, just before first starting kindergarten. During these formative years, my parents often took me on trips to nearby science and history museums (Center of Science and Industry [or COSI] and the Ohio Village/Ohio History Center), and I enjoyed taking field trips to historic sites and museums during my elementary years. History and culture studies were some of my favorite subjects in school! We also took trips to Florida to visit Disney World, and I grew a love for traveling to places. This love definitely grew when my mother took me and my sister to the Philippines for the first time to visit relatives over there, and we eventually moved there completely when I was 11. I stayed there for four years, where I went to school, learned the language and the culture, and traveled with my extended family to several locations that I’m very lucky to have visited (and can’t wait to share with you in future blog posts!). After this mini saga I experienced, we collectively decided to move to central Florida, where I finished high school and got my bachelor’s degree all within the 2010s. Within the last five years since then, I moved to Tampa to pursue my master’s and graduated with it in archaeology, before moving a few miles south, working for an archaeology firm full-time as a report writer and crew chief/archaeologist. 

I live with my husband and our mini goldendoodle pup. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, playing video games, sewing, and sometimes volunteering with a nearby historical houses museum (Reflections of Manatee).

[yesace123]

Was there even hope?

Why do I have to give up my dreams and pursue them just because of something I am unable to control?

July 3, 2024. A simple family dinner to celebrate my brothers birthday was held. Everything was nice and okay, not until my father mentioned a med campus opening in ESSU.

"Pwede ka na mag med, Eis. Sa ESSU.." Said my full of ego father and was followed by laughs from my other family members.

An ambitionless person would find that okay. At least they get to go to med school right? However, I'm not an ambitionless person. I have dreams to pursue and a big pride over everything.

In my defense, I wouldn't be this kind of person who's pride is as big as the mount everest and a big of a dreamer if I haven't been promised nor compared.

Looking back to when I was five, my aunt shared a big news to the family. "My daughter trisha got accepted on UP med!" A mere five year old was compared to an eighteen year old who got into college.

"You should be more like your cousin..!" Seven words that's stuck in mind till now. I wanted to be like her. No actually, I wanted to be better than her.

Even at six, I already dreamt about getting into UP. I topped every class, I won every contest I joined and even joined the press at 7. That's how dedicated I was and still am.

During third grade, I got an offer from my adviser. She told me that if I joined the MTAP it would guarantee me a spot in Philippine Science High, so I did.

The whole week before the competition, I locked in my room and studied sixth grade math just so I could win and beat everyone in the competition. Therefore, I won first place.

Three years later, I took the entrance exam and actually passed. I couldn't help but be proud and happy. That's it. I'm one more step closer to my dream.

Now I am in eighth grade, still hoping for UP as I speak. Proud that at least I have a chance on getting in, but of course, the hope in me faded into pieces as my dad spoke. "I already paid enough on your hospital bills yet you still want to go to a fancy med school?"

The pain I felt when my dad told me to study in a lousy lowly rated state university after all the hard work I put into to be where I am right now was like an arrow shot directly to my heart.

How could they do this to me? What did I ever do to deserve this treatment? All I ever did was try my best to succeed. To live. To be known. To be at least acknowledged as your daughter.

[doctormastertardis]

Personal share:

My neighbor (who is a white, German American guy) is married to a native "Filipina" woman who was raised in a remote province in the Philippines as I was... and it's so refreshing to see his 6 year old "American" kids think differently from their (brainwashed/programmed) peers.

Like, for example, if you offer them candy or any sort of dessert, they would ask "does it have high fructose corn syrup?"

And me, being the daughter and grand-daughter of TRIBAL teachers in the Philippines, I asked her back: "what IS fructose corn syrup?" (I know what it is fyi, I'm just trying to engage).... to which she replied, "it's fake sugar and bad for your body." And they are the same way with television shows and books they're exposed to. And they are only 6. They remind me of how I was raised by my mom and grandma.

Most Americans like to downplay knowledge/wisdom (and when Americans do hype up "learning," it's usually in the name of EGO, i.e. "I'm better than you cause I'm educated")... And yall can excuse the shit and say, "because most Americans are in poverty" but my mom and dad literally lived in poverty in the Philippines? My dad was a squatter/homeless man in the Philippines before he became a custodian/chef for the US Navy. He was born in 1933 and my mom in 1944.... My mom was raised by a single mom of 10 kids IN THE MOUNTAINS where there were no libraries or easy access to food... My dad was literally a "war baby". He witnessed World War 2 at age 10.

Yet they both raised me in a household where we were exposed to the most complex and inter-cultural sorts of science, history, art, etc. AND IT NOT BECAUSE OF PRIVILEGE (I went to an "international school" in PI as a child around RICH European, Chinese, and Korean settlers) . My mom made sure to tell us everyday how poor they were growing up (she and my dad worked hard to save up US$89 a year to pay our tuition fee every year in the 90s).... but the reason why I am the way I am today is because they CHOSE to EXPOSE US to different cultures and knowledges due to the hardships they themselves faced growing up.

But most Americans OF ALL COLOR always TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT. And honestly, when my family moved to California when I was 13 (I am 38 now), I saw just how insecure and willfully stupid American kids are. That's why American public school is, to this day, the breeding ground for WILLFUL IGNORANCE. American kids GROW UP TO BE BULLIES.

And I'm not saying this in a condescending manner. I am saying this because it's in COLONIAL cultures like America that BREEDS the type of thinking that "critical thinking" is bad and "being a hard worker" is good.

[catholichousehold]

Embracing Homeschooling on a Single Income: Our Journey with The Good and the Beautiful Curriculum

Hello, dear readers! Today, I want to share our story and how we have successfully embraced homeschooling despite living on a very low single income. If you're a low-income family considering homeschooling, I hope our journey with The Good and the Beautiful free curriculum will inspire and encourage you.

Our Homeschooling Journey

Life has not always been easy for us. With a single income, managing finances and providing for our family of seven has been a challenge. However, one thing my husband and I have always been passionate about is giving our children the best education possible. We believe in the value of personalized learning and the nurturing environment that homeschooling provides.

When we first started homeschooling, we were overwhelmed by the costs associated with various curriculums. Initially, our two eldest children were enrolled in Seton Home Study, which provided a very strong foundation in our Catholic faith. We are incredibly grateful to Seton for this, as it helped instill values and knowledge that continue to benefit our family today. However, as money became so tight, we had to stop enrolling them in Seton Home Study.

That's when we discovered The Good and the Beautiful curriculum, and it has been a true blessing for our family. The curriculum covers essential subjects like language arts, math, science, history, and art, with materials that are engaging and well-structured. It aligns with our values and provides a rich, character-based education that nurtures our children's minds and hearts. Despite using The Good and the Beautiful curriculum, we continue to use Seton materials, especially for Reading and Catholic Religion subjects. Thanks to our homeschooling friends here in the Philippines, who have shared their Seton materials with us, we can still incorporate these valuable resources. They are one of the many blessings we receive.

Success Stories: Our Two Older Kids

I am proud to share that our two older kids, who were homeschooled using The Good and the Beautiful curriculum, are now attending senior high school in a regular school setting. The transition was smooth, and they are thriving academically and socially. Their strong foundation in critical thinking, reading, and writing has set them up for success, and I credit much of that to the quality education they received through our homeschooling journey.

Continuing the Journey: Our Three Younger Kids

Currently, we have three children who are still homeschooling: a preschooler, a kindergartner, and a seventh-grader. Each of them benefits from the tailored approach of The Good and The Beautiful Currculum.

Our Preschooler: Learning through play and exploration, our little one is developing a love for learning from a young age. The curriculum's focus on character development and foundational skills  is perfect for this stage.

Our Kindergartner: The engaging lessons and hands-on activities keep our kindergartner excited about school each day. The phonics-based approach to reading is helping build strong literacy skills.

Our Seventh-Grader: The rigorous and in-depth materials challenge our seventh-grader while fostering independence and critical thinking. The curriculum's integration of art and geography makes learning a joy.

Encouragement for Low-Income Families

I know firsthand how daunting the idea of homeschooling can be, especially when finances are tight. But I want to encourage you: it is possible. The Good and the Beautiful curriculum has provided our family with an invaluable resource, allowing us to educate our children at home without financial burden. Additionally, the strong foundation provided by Seton Home Study, which we continue to use in key subjects, has been invaluable.

Here are a few tips to make homeschooling on a low income work for your family:

Utilize Free Resources: Take advantage of free curriculum options like The Good and the Beautiful. There are also many online resources, libraries, and educational websites that offer free or low-cost materials.

Join a Support Group: Connect with other homeschooling families for support and resource-sharing. Many communities have co-ops, Facebook groups, or local meet-ups.

Be Flexible: Adapt your homeschooling schedule and methods to fit your family's unique needs. Remember, homeschooling allows for flexibility, so find what works best for you and your children.

Stay Positive: Focus on the benefits of homeschooling and the precious time spent with your children. Celebrate the small victories and progress along the way.

Final Thoughts

Homeschooling on a low income is not only possible but can be incredibly rewarding. With dedication, creativity, and the right resources, you can provide your children with a rich and meaningful education. The Good and the Beautiful curriculum has been a lifeline for our family, and the strong foundation from Seton Home Study continues to guide us. I hope our story inspires you to take the leap and embrace homeschooling, no matter your financial situation.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Together, we can support and uplift each other as we navigate the beautiful world of homeschooling.

Disclosure: I do not receive any monetary compensation or other benefits from The Good and the Beautiful for writing this blog post. The opinions and experiences shared are entirely my own and based on my personal journey with homeschooling my children. My intent is to provide encouragement and support to other families who may be in similar situations.

[pan-de-queer]

was thinking of this post (i also have a screenshot of the post at the end) and now i can't stop thinking of a uni!supercorp au set in the fucking philippines like

au is set in 2016. this is very vital to the story

lena's an international student to dlsu manila for a term (i was thinking business rich kid [so dlsu] and not lawyer/politician rich kid [admu]) bc when lillian suggested she join an international exchange program lena decided to choose the country the farthest away from lillian's influence (luthor corp has no hold in most of SEA [minus singapore obvs] and lena chose the philippines mostly because of the slightly less difficult language barrier) and majors in both science and business courses

kara got into up diliman through blood, sweat, and tears. her parents were researchers during the marcos era who were killed during martial law. kara was adopted by the danvers as jeremiah was the zor-els' co-worker and eliza was a traveling doctor. the danvers took kara and alex back to the states (usa) but kara wanted to figure out how and why her parents died and the ph is a great place to get a journalism degree so she studied up on not only the language but ph culture, history, and news as well before transferring to the ph the summer before her third year of high school. alex got a job as a medical consultant in the ph soon after and the two live together in qc (quezon city)

kara and lena meet when lena accidentally finds herself in the middle of a protest march passing through taft (kara started in up manila, not diliman hahaha)

she has no fucking idea what it's about

kara assumes lena's part of the protest and asks if she'd like to borrow one of her signs but then lena's like "what the fuck is happening"

"we're protesting marcos's burial in, uh, the national cemetery for heroes," kara explains and lena still looks so lost and kara feels both bad for the woman and awestruck that someone so beautiful exists. "marcos, like, ferdinand marcos? the country's ex-president that declared martial law, plundered the country in horrible debt, and then was banned from returning?"

lena knows some of those words, she thinks. she'd studied up on philippine history a little bit before she arrived but the textbook she'd read felt incredibly racist if not colonialist, but she's sure she read about a president declaring martial law before, so she nods as if she gets it

the protest keeps marching forward and lena finds that she can't really escape the crowd unless she wants to get crushed, so she sticks closest to kara who's both a friendly (gorgeous) face and also has the closest accent to hers

kara shares with lena more details about why they're marching and helps translate some of the more unfamiliar words of their chants

almost twenty minutes after lena accidentally joined the march, practically drenched in sweat but too moon eyed towards the blonde to care, lena finally asks where they're marching to

"to the cemetery in taguig."

taguig. taguig city. more than two hours away on foot

"oh."

when kara sees lena's face fall, she gently takes lena's wrist and manages to maneuver them to the side of the protest, away from the wave of people. kara asks what's wrong and lena admits that she's already super fucking tired and would never be able to finish the march

kara understands and decides to accompany lena while they wait for a grab ride to arrive. as lena orders her ride, kara texts her activist and journalism friends to let them know that she won't be at the final rally anymore

while they wait, they learn more about each other and find themselves even more smitten than when they first met (sometime during this part, kara also gives lena one of her extra shirts [because she's a seasoned commuting pro and knows to never leave home without an extra shirt and small towel] so lena's just looking super comfy and cute in kara's shirt)

when lena's ride arrives, kara double checks the grab because she's That Kind of person before helping her in

"thanks for waiting with me. it was nice meeting you," lena says and kara smiles, wide and toothy.

"it was nice meeting you, too. ingat!" and kara closes the card door before she remembers to even ask for lena’s number

still, the lack of contact details doesn't deter her. she knows enough about lena that hopefully dropping by dlsu more often would mean being able to see her again

and she does

anyways if this was a short fic I'd def end it around here with kara and lena getting that date but if it were a long fic then i'd 100% make kara investigate and study the ejks (extra judicial killings) during duterte's time and lena learning and falling in love with the ph the way kara has which includes lena learning how to commute (which someday, when she leads l-corp, means that she helps build and fund a better fucking public transport system)

this was suuuuppppeeer fun to even just think about and I can't promise I'll write it but just this idea has me pumped! hope the 3 pinoys who see this enjoy 💕

*edit: here's parts 1.5, 2, 3, and 4

[kgd0112]

Choose STEM: The Strand that Holds the Future

STEM, or Science, Technology, and Engineering Mathematics, is a program taken by secondary students before going to college. This educational program aims to produce students who are academically competent in terms of logical thinking and equip them with skills as preparation for careers, especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Lutkevitch, 2022). In the Philippines, the STEM strand is offered in senior high school before going to college, which gives students advantages in pursuing courses in the fields of medicine and engineering.

The STEM strand offers different subject areas, which include the core subjects, contextualized subjects, and specialized subjects, for two semesters in each school year. These subjects include oral communication, earth science, empowerment technologies, research, pre-calculus and basic calculus, and many more (Department of Education, n.d.). With STEM, students will be able to learn and grasp ideas and lessons that are also taken up in college courses. They will also have advanced knowledge in terms of complex scientific problems and the future of modern technology (AMA Online Senior High School, 2023).

STEM is essential for the economic development of every country. Thus, it is recognized and implemented by the government, like in the Philippines (StrandPh, 2023). Most universities also prefer STEM graduates as they are more inclined toward real-life application of ideas, have collaboration skills, and can easily adapt to changing work conditions. And in terms of career opportunities, taking the STEM program in SHS opens a wide range of white collar jobs, which include being a biologist, engineer, architect, nutritionist, computer programmer, and many more (AMA Online Senior High School, 2023). And also, pursuing STEM-related courses leads to higher-paying jobs as our world is mainly focused on the development of technologies and maintaining global stability (Lutkevitch, 2022).

In general, STEM is one of the important SHS tracks that are offered by many schools in the Philippines, as this program aims to develop and enhance the skills of many students before going to college. And along with the development and emerging economy, there is an increase in demand for STEM professionals to cater to and lead these changes for everyone. Thus, the government is implementing and promoting STEM education in every school. Moreover, having an interest in pursuing a STEM-related career is a great option to consider, as the STEM strand will allow you to build a strong foundation in many fields and have the chance to explore many career paths.

Choosing the STEM strand in senior high school is not only about aiming to develop your logical and analytical thinking and aiming for high-paying jobs; you will be part of the development of our changing world.

References:

AMA Online Senior High School. (2023, September 20). Senior High School STEM | OED Senior High School. https://www.onlineshs.com/stem/#:~:text=The%20STEM%20strand%20is%20design d,with%20new%20ideas%20and%20innovations

Department of Education [DepED]. (n.d.). K to 12 Senior High School Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics Strand Scheduling [Pdf]. https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Science-Technology-Engineering-and-Mathematics-STEM-Strand.pdf

Lutkevich, B. (2022). STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). WhatIs.com. https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/STEM-science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics

Parker-Griffin, P. P. G. (2022, September 1). Scientist I, Scientist II and Senior Scientist Roles, Explained. BioSpace. https://www.biospace.com/article/what-s-your-role-scientist-i-scientist-ii-and-senior-scientist/

StrandPh. (2023, June 17). STEM Strand – Introduction - Strand.Ph. Strand.Ph. https://www.strand.ph/stem-strand-introduction