Padiz dominates 2015 Batang Pinoy Badminton Championship

by Val Jinsen Buela

Solomon Padiz Jr. from Laguna dominated the 2015 Batang Pinoy Badminton Championship game held last July 18-22, 2015 in Malolos, Bulacan.

He unleashed his great power in badminton by showing fast and powerful smashes added with lightning-like techniques in his last game during the Batang Pinoy competition which left his opponents helpless.

Padiz also mercilessly pounded his opponents with his fierce jump spikes and his barrage of hits all throughout his last seven games in the league.

His gold medal win earned him a spot to play in the 2015 Malaysian Meet along with one of the country’s best badminton players, Mark Shielly Alcala, which was held last August 15-18, 2015 in Malaysia.

“The spot I've earned for the Malaysian Meet is but another way for me to continue enhancing my abilities in badminton. This is also a great way for me to align myself with the best badminton players not only in our country, but also to the neighboring ones; who knows, someday, I might be one of them,” said Padiz.

What Everyone Expects

by Joshua Onsay and Mary Kristine Brizuela

The State of the Nation Address is one of the most exclusive and influential speeches nationwide. The speech pinpoints the president’s projects. It identifies the improvement done on the country so far. It tells the president’s further plans. It is greatly significant—because the president’s point of view is in equation with this speech.

On the 27^th of July, 2015, President Benigno Aquino III gave his 6th and final State of the Nation Address during the joint session of the 16th Congress at the House of Representatives in Quezon City. The SONA happens only once a year during the president’s term. Thus, this was greatly anticipated by the administration and every common citizen. 

President Aquino’s address lasted for two hours and 12 minutes, making it the longest SONA of his presidency. It could only be deduced that many things were articulated to his constituents. It is true. The president’s SONA ranged from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps, to the MRT system, the TESDA program, the Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization, the Bangsamoro Basic law, the Philhealth program, the issues of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the concern with the K-12 program, and to his “Daang Matuwid” campaign. These did not cover up the entirety of what the president was telling. There were more.

Regardless, it was frustrating. The thing is, he still missed a few points: what about China’s claim in being a part of the West Philippine Sea? the PDAF issue among some politicians? the Fallen 44 during the Mamasapano operation? and the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill?

Indeed, people are radical and comprehensive. They have their own principles. One may question the president’s ways of ruling while one may agree to his methods of governance. However, in the end, it can be vexing because one cannot change the fact that President Aquino holds the greatest power. And that his term is coming to an end.

His time as the president is drawing to a close—with this, it could be concluded that he made several SONAs before. He promised a lot. But what? Were all of his promises fulfilled? Or were some disregarded through time? One could most definitely assume that some of his promises were used as cover-ups for his mistakes. After all, the concealment of one’s misconduct could be done through promised endeavors. Thus, people hold rallies during his SONAs because of their assumptions and perspectives.

It was stated that the Philippines is now called as the Rising Tiger of Asia, from what had been formerly named as the Sick Man of Asia. People from foreign countries could see this—the country is progressing bit by bit. But the Filipino people can’t totally see this. There are still qualms with accordance to President Aquino. Therefore, what he states in his SONA must be put into action. His last term must be substantial to the country’s betterment. But most of all, he must put in his mind that the people as his constituents expect a lot. And that what he says is what everyone expects.

Saint John the Baptist Parish' bell tower undergoes restoration

by Joshua Alex Binza and Maria Vina Montino

After more than 200 years of standing beside the Saint John the Baptist church, the parish' lighthouse-turned-bell tower has finally undergone restoration which started last May 18, 2015 and is expected to be finished after six months.

Said restoration is headed by Architect Anna Lorilla together with her apprentice, Jade Peñaflor, under the funding of the National Museum, National Commission for Culture and the Arts and National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

"Due to the destruction brought by natural calamities, especially earthquakes, we had to ensure that all historical landmarks here in the Philippines can stand strong against the possible damages the calamities may bring and that the landmarks are in their greatest condition," said Peñaflor.

When asked about what they did to the 25-meter-high bell tower, Peñaflor stated that the first thing they did was to rid the tower's surface of cement and replace it with a mixture of lime and sand. Noticing that most of the figures inside the tower are broken and distorted, she added that they will be coating the figures' surface with the lime mixture to strengthen them and at the same time, make them look new.

"The bell tower restoration is indeed a great idea for it reduces the chances of it crumbling to the ground and maybe, after the restoration process, it can attract more people to go to the church," said Resel Balla, a regular Saint John the Baptist church-goer.

TNHS joins 2015 Nutrition Month Celebration

by Blessie Lynette Concina, Angelica Callo and Joshua Alex Binza

To promote awareness on the roles of proper nutrition and physical activities in preventing obesity and malnutrition in the community, Tabaco National High School's (TNHS) TLE Clubs under the school's TLE Department with Mrs. Dolores Notario as the head, spearheaded the 2015 Nutrition Month Celebration all throughout July focusing on the theme, "Timbang Iwasto sa Tamang Nutrisyon at Ehersisyo."

Said celebration featured contests such as essay writing, jingle, slogan and poster making, cooking camp and with the Search for Mr. and Ms. Healthy Teen 2015 and Zumba Dance Competition as the month's highlights.

Winners of the aforementioned contests are as follows: Shane Therese Aguado and Romela Bragais, essay writing; Grade 10-Einstein and Newton, jingle making; Ninna Alessandra Santiago, poster making; Grade 9-Chlorine, slogan making; and the Grade 10-SPA students for the zumba dance competition.

Darryl Faith Balanon of 10-Einstein and Joshua Buendia of 10-Newton were hailed as this year's Mr. and Ms. Healthy Teen. Furthermore, they represented the school in the Division Search for the A1 Child where they bagged the 2nd and 3rd places respectively.

"I do hope that with the activities we have prepared and conducted, the students of TNHS have learned the importance of proper nutrition and the role of physical activities in keeping their bodies fit and free from diseases," said Joshua Alex Binza, president of the Student Technologists and Entrepreneurs of the Philippines (STEP) Club.

The Vanguard welcomes new campus journalists

by Neil Ivan Bellen and Lovely Bilaro

To scout for new campus journalists for the school's official English publication, The Vanguard conducted their two-day school-based press conference last July 16-17, 2015 at the Audio Visual Room and at the school library.

On the first day, Feature Writing was held for the first two periods with Amina Rose Alghamdi and Mary Kristine Brizuela as speakers followed by Editorial Cartooning with Ronel Rabe during the third and fourth periods. Throughout the fifth and sixth periods, Jade Edward Biron enlightened the aspiring photojournalists with the basics in photojournalism; by seventh and eight periods, Sports Writing was held with Jan Angelo Bermas as the speaker.

Included in the first day of events were radio broadcasting and script writing which was held for the whole afternoon with the school's remaining radio broadcasters, Ashwell Donne Bobier, Jezreel Icaranom, Mitzi Rexine Martirez and Maria Vina Montino, as speakers. Furthermore, The Vanguard added layouting as part of the school-based press conference with Joshua Alex Binza as speaker.

For the first and second periods of July 17, Editorial Writing with Lurd Synell Najarilla was held followed by News Writing with Trisha Faith Alaiza during the third and fourth periods. Afterwards, Science and Health Writing was conducted during the fifth and sixth periods with Romela Bragais and Mary Danielle Berango as speakers; finally, Neil Ivan Bellen and Lovely Bilaro served as speakers for copyreading and headline writing during the seventh and eight periods.

After the said screening, the results were announced: for feature writing, Alyssa Maxine Balayo bagged the 1st placed followed by Michaella Angelique Quinalayo and  Ann Veronica Mae Bufete as 2nd and 3rd placers respectively.

For sports writing, Val Jinsen Buela was awarded the 1st place, Aaron Rey Bonaobra was hailed as the 2nd placer while Pil Joshua Boncocan managed to grab the 3rd spot.

Adrian Gebb Bio took home the 1st place in editorial writing followed by Marlo John de Jesus, John Rens Barbacena and Joseph Allan Bongon as 2nd, 3rd and 4th placers respectively.

On the other hand, Danica Rose Llorera placed first in editorial cartooning with Ainah Mari Saba, Danielle Marie Igay and Mark Joshua Bonina trailing behind.

For photojournalism, Biron picked five new photojournalists with Rica Noelle Reverente leading the pack. After her were Zoie Hash Cabanero, 2nd place; Aaron Lyric Villar, 3rd place; Danielette Corral, 4th place and Johanna Balasta, 5th place.

Two Science and Health writers namely Johann Niccolo Ocampo, 1st place, and Patrick Jurrien Abrigo, 2nd place, will be joining the speakers under The Vanguard's Science and Health department.

For news writing, Mitzi Binamira was chosen as the 1st placer, Blessie Lynneth Concina as the 2nd placer and Yvette Margallo as the 3rd placer.

For copyreading and headline writing, Christine Denise Cano was hailed as the first placer, Andrea Jade Benitez bagging the 2nd place, Freya Ramille Batalla grabbing the 3rd spot, Jericho Bigtas taking home the 4th place and Ashley Barcelonia as the fifth placer.

Six new layout artists were welcomed by The Vanguard. Rank 1 was Kenneth Dungca, rank 2 was Gean Marie Celestial, rank 3 was Al-vi John Jerfvin Corpuz, rank 4 was Jhoana Icaranom, rank 5 was Michelle Brizuela and rank 6 was Fatima Judaya.

For radio broadcasting and scriptwriting, five were chosen to advance to the second screening. They are Trisha Christelle Daria, Cyrus Christian Lee, Juleane Monique Borres, Daniel Barnedo and Zsanon Ecleo.

"Many may think that welcoming a huge number of journalists is an arduous task. But in behalf of the whole The Vanguard staff, I say this, welcome to the family, journalists, and together, let us strive to continuously bring truthful information to the school and  to the public" said Joshua Alex Binza, The Vanguard's temporary Editor-in-Chief.

World Invasion through Dubsmash!

by Sofia Athena Alaiza and Christian Clarisse Bongalon

In three, two, one! Now you can dub along and make your video a smash. Well, if you are always brought up to speed when it comes to being up to date, then the words dub and smash have been noted in your mind in just the twinkling of an eye. Hence, all hail the new ruler of social media kingdom, Dubsmash!

Ever since it was launched on November 19, 2014, it has been quick to take over the world by storm. Since then it has had the hallmark of fame and success: millions and millions of downloads and users and videos. Probably you have had those days were your social media news feeds have been filled with the videos that were produced from this hit application.

It has won the hearts of netizens provided that it is quite simple and easy to manipulate. So much, that from kids to grandmas and grandpas took videos of themselves lip syncing to preselected clips from famous lines, quotes, songs, and so many more.

It offers countless categories to choose from. Let’s say, Banana, made famous by the little cute organisms, the Minions. Let the front camera of your phone be your technical crew, just like in the actual movies. You are the actor and the director. Then sing it away. Ba na na, ba na na na.

Or maybe, Twerk It Like Miley, which has become a traditional video of either zooming in and out of your face or just pouting and smiling. Even Nae Nae, to showcase the inner dancer in you, and a bunch of hilarious dance crazes that can surely make you and your squad jump on the bandwagon in no time.

Truly, Dubsmash gave the platform for everybody to channel their hidden talents to the world even if it was in a short span of time. You never know, you may have expertise in giving hilarity to the world through making faces or you’re good with lines just as much as the one you are dubbing to. Or you just may have scrolled through other Grammy and Oscar-deserving people.

Furthermore, Dubsmash doesn’t only serves as an entertainment for all of us. Like for Maine Mendoza who was crowned “The Queen of Dubsmash”, and also called “Yaya Dub” by her fans, Dubsmash became the first step for her to achieve her life goals, by simply posting her Dubsmash videos in the social media. She went viral in the internet because of her great  humor, and later on was casted in a movie from the very popular network, GMA.

Never would have all of this happen without the minds behind: Jonas Drüppel, Roland Grenke and Daniel Taschik who have received great reviews. They have created a great evidence for more potential innovations.

Indeed, dubbing is the new social media world smash. Now grab your phone, click your clip, do it. In three, two, one!

Sources:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobilemotion.dubsmash&hl=en

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubsmash

Technology Addiction

by Genela Kristine Belo

This modern world continues to offer new gadgets to make our lives easier. For instance, cellphones make it easier for us to keep in touch without friends and family. Personal digital assistants, or PDAs, let us receive and send emails anytime, anywhere. Now, we also have different products that combine all kinds of uses into one hand-held tool. Yes, they are a big help to us but they can also control us.

Science technology surrounds our life today. Many two-year old kids already have gadgets nowadays. Many people, especially  students get easily addicted to the technology they use. What starts out as a convenient way to say in touch can turn into a compulsive need to use those devices and check messages all day long. Students have the tendency to use their phones even though it’s not necessary like playing Clash of Clans and other games during class hours, texting while eating, taking a selfie every time, everywhere, and many more. They make sure that their devices are near or at easy access all the time. Technology kills real conversations and takes the time that you usually spend on actually socializing with friends and family or doing a hobby. Some people even get up in the middle of the night just to check their phones. Sometimes, problems of overuse of technology aren’t noticeable until they get out of hand.

There are plenty of good reasons to use digital devices but when overused, they can cause serious problems like encountering physical, mental, and emotional issues due to loss of interest in hobbies and social interactions. Therefore, it is really important to stay in control over these devices. Focus on the people around you. Whether it’s a family bonding, a meeting, or a social gathering, you ought to give these worthy people your real attention. Talk to them, listen, and hang out to show some respect. Just please, shut off your phones, unless of course, it actually becomes really necessary. Don’t let every hour of the day revolve around your digital devices. Go out, get some sunshine, and take in life. Don’t you ever skip a meal, you can also go fun places, gallivant, even keep a healthy balance! You should also know your priorities. Spending time with your family and doing school work are definitely more important than wasting your time talking nonsense on the phone for two hours. Find more meaningful ways to spend your time. You could discover a new hobby. When you spend enough time and effort to other activities, you will be able to resist the urge of being too addicted to the mostly unnecessary luxury of technology.

As newer technology fills our world, it’s important for everyone to be aware of the possible changes. We should also know what we’re getting ourselves into and how to adapt. Technology isn’t going away; it gets better and better as years pass by but let us always remember to keep our lives straight and live in a healthy way.

Desolation of the Bomb

by Mary Kristine Brizuela and Pauve Sofia Banadera

Do you fully grasp the fact that the world could change so easily? Because, ladies and gentlemen, it definitely could.

Generations upon generations of varying trends could attest that the world is indeed changing. From the previous genre styles that we had, we definitely took a huge leap forward.

Currently, the world has been equipped with modern manias.

Back at the late 1990s, the Macarena was a sensation. On the year 2011, the teach me how to dougie was released and it was also a serious hit. And, we can not simply forget about the Gangnam Style, could we? Indeed. It tallied the greatest number of views on YouTube!

Now, another bomb has been widely dropped! Because, the next thing we knew, renown and casual people alike can’t stop the groove.

They can’t stop dancing – because this new dance craze is addicting! It is revolutionary and it consequently dominates the stage. The clubs are on fire because of this upbeat dance. And you know what else? The steps are quite simple: “So watch me whip” – just raise one hand; drop a hip... “Now watch me nae nae” --- and wiggle with glee! Yes, you’re doing it! You’re doing the Nae Nae! You drop that Nae Nae!

It isn’t surprising that the Nae Nae which started as a mere dance from Atlanta went viral. The dance squad We Are Toonz uploaded a Vine featuring the presently known Nae Nae, which was originally made famous by Silento. And yes, yes, yes, you named it! It is based from Martin Lawrence’s Sheneneh Jenkins character of Martin. It has the sense of humor and wit. Doesn’t it reflect with the dance? It is surely light, funny and in a way, it projects comedy.

It doesn’t end here. The people are just being infected by the craze! Even the internet was taken by a storm with their fancy dance moves! Later on, more videos regarding the trend were uploaded for more to see. It doesn’t take a few weeks for others to recognize and acknowledge the fad -- either, they “do it for the Vine” or just go with the oh-so-popular dubsmash-ing craze.

Local students are now performing the dance on the platform! Some for school activities, and others -- just for show. At the moment, the craze is spreading!

And yet, Silento – the mastermind of “the bomb” who got us wearing our dance shoes automatically just by the mere sound of their music – was not given much recognition. So, we’ll all have to look back and yes, we have to recognize them.

But then again, HOLD ON!

Ladies and gentlemen, we shall tell you that the world will continue to change. At the moment, the trend may be the Nae Nae. However, a time will come that this, too, will pass. People will one day find the moves repetitive, dull and boring. The world and the rest will move on from the NAE NAE. It will just be a part of another BACK THEN -- a fragment of the past.

So yes, yes. This craze is short-lived. Another dance move will surface. And it wouldn’t be surprising if it’ll be the next dance craze people will die for. It wouldn’t be startling if after some time, that dance will also perish through the days. Because in this world, everything is changing.

#Pabebe101

by Amina Rose Alghamdi and Alyssa Maxine Balayo

Another day passes with yet another girl reciting the patented Pabebe Girl’s speech. “Hi, kami ang pabebe girls at wala kayong paki kung pabebe kami sa mga-mga video namin.” Bombs fall whenever the first line is recited. People react and complain about how exasperating on every level these girls are, and so consequently, without all due moral judgement, these girls are judged, and stoned and bashed to death with all due most unfair prejudice. And due to the aggravation alongside with the sudden exalted fame these girls got to have with being referred to as “pabebe”, the mass have begun to connote the most negative links with the controversial word.

A fifteen-year old walks by with her group of friends, you become interested in their topic and suddenly you catch yourself eavesdropping on their conversation. Once you are fully aware of the subject, you begin to become conscious with the littlest details about the girl – her tone, even her slightest gasp or breathing pattern. Man, she talks like a shy eight year-old, and you start to get irked and peeved. You’d also notice the way she looks at the people surrounding her, you’d catch her eye and she smiles at you. Her smile would then appear as if she’s trying hard to project the blissful innocence of a child it’d definitely reek of fakeness, too. And exactly there, at that very moment, you find yourself in the highest brink of some irksome discontent.

But then, were you in any way, directly, in the firsthand, abashed, hurt, or affected, even? Absolutely, not even the slightest, if we truthfully think about it. Although you are disturbed by extremely-baby-and-girly-themed actions and the mantra “I should look the cutest on all levels”, you are not affected – you are not hurt.

But as they’d trigger annoyance most often, because of the predetermined manner of actions everybody is ought to follow, they are made to look bad or displeasing to the set of the majority.

And another thing, is it must also be understandable that the primacy of the Pabebe are but hormonal adolescents stalling their journey to adulthood. They are still allowed to make mistakes. They don’t do crimes. They don’t commit murders. They don’t do anything that is against the Philippine Constitution of 1987, do they?

All of them (at least 90%) could just be normal   and undeserving of misplaced hate (trust us!). That could just be who they are – and you do not hate on people choosing to be themselves and who they want to be – be it following the fad or actually establishing their brand new personality.

This set of people – boys, girls, or others – are after all but people who with this chosen exact way (of being pabebe, unfortunately), happens to be in pursuit of legit happiness, nurturing, endearment, and gratification.

“Kaya wala ka ngang paki!”

We're Ready, The Big One!

by Leon Ricardo Fernandez, Ninna Alessandra Santiago and Joshua Alex Binza

Theories about the next big possible earthquake have already begun, so as to warn all of us. But the sad thing is, earthquakes cannot be forecasted, unlike typhoons and storms. So, they are unpredictable, even with the presence of the historical records of previous movements in existing faults.

Now, how do we survive this mega thrust earthquake—which is expected to be greater than 8.0—knowing that there is a chance for it to happen anywhere in the future?

Number One:  Prepare.

As the popular saying goes, "Knowledge is Power." That is why you have to supply your brain with how-to's and what-to-do's when an earthquake occurs. Why do you have to do this? Simple, the goal is to continue living-to survive. Tuck in the crevices of your brain the simple procedures the seismologists and geologists of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) always tell us: duck, cover and hold. Furthermore, spread the knowledge. Educate the people around you about the things to do before, during and after the quake. Enlighten them on the places to go to (eg open spaces and under a sturdy table) and the places to avoid (eg near glass windows, electric posts and trees) when an earthquake strikes.

One must always be equipped and ready to flee when the plates underneath started moving. Each family must have the "Go-bag." Inside the go-bag are the most important items which may define the thin line between life and death. The following items are required by the men of PHIVOLCS to be part of the go-bags: a flashlight, a radio, extra batteries, important files which include your birth certificate anything else that you need, water and water bottles, canned goods and instant meals that may last for three to four days, extra cash, medical supplies, a whistle and a bag, of course.

Number Two: Follow Procedures.

Now, this may sound really, really, really, corny and in fact we laugh at this whenever there is a fire and earthquake drill in our respective schools, but the "Duck, Cover and Hold" strategy may save your  butts from the damages the quake may bring. Now, how do we carry out this strategy?

Duck. Bend your knees until your butt almost touches the ground. This will save you when things started leaning towards one side and when you are trapped underneath two criss-crossed items. Cover. Cover your head with your bag (when you're in school) or with anything hard. By doing so, you protect yourself from falling debris. Then, proceed underneath a sturdy table or go away from objects that may fall to the ground . Lastly, hold. stay where you are up until the quaking stops. If you are outside, try to avoid tall buildings, posts and trees. Just move to an open area where falling objects are less likely to strike you from above. . If you are indoors, just stay where you are, and slowly evacuate yourself to a safe place in the building.

Number Three: Be a Hero.

You are not the only human being who deserves another chance at life. You aren't the only one who needs to survive the quake. So, after the earthquake, scan yourself for possible wounds and damages. Treat them immediately. Afterwards, go look after the injured ones. Help them, save their lives.

The Big One. Some people think that the idea is crazy. Some are confident enough to say that whatever disaster comes, The Big One or the aftershocks, they'll be able to surpass them. But always remember, preparedness defines the line between survival and death.

Inhumane Flicks

by Romela Bragais

Humans were created to have dominion over the land and the sea. We, in a way, are the kings and the queens of the world. It is in our hands that life is stunted. It is us humans who are able to destroy this depending on what we think will benefit us. We are so busy with nurturing ourselves that too often, we forget to take into consideration the condition of the abiotic and biotic spheres of the planet we live on. We, humans, proudly claim to have high level of intelligence. And it is disgusting. For what is our high level of intelligence if we show no compassion towards other things God has granted us?

CI, a channel focused on crime investigation, has a commercial that says serial killers look like us, talk like us and live among us. Obviously, CI is pertaining to the ones who killed individuals of the same species. It is logically correct to put emphasis on the phrase “the same species” for CI wants to make it clear that killing humans is the most disgusting act of all.

But pertaining to murder as the worst act of all is actually misleading. Biblically and legally speaking, murdering humans is indeed a punishable act. Are there no other types of crime to pertain to as dehumanizing? The list of monsters should not be limited to serial killers only. Every individual who fails to prove his or her love for mother earth is worthy of a slot in the list. 

Humans are undeniably reckless. Short-sightedness is evident in almost all decisions we create. We shrug at what is going to happen in the near future because we simply don’t want to stress over it. One good example for this is giving a nod to the anti-plastic ordinance. With this law being enforced in the locality, consumers learn to love paper bags and hate those made out of polymers. Yes, the law was established with the sole intent of saving earth from wrong plastic disposal. An ordinary person would say approving the law was the right thing to do. Wise men would think otherwise. They would say enforcing the anti-plastic ordinance would mirror the truth that we don’t care much about birds, trees and global warming. If saving the environment was really the goal of the law, then why were trees, birds, and other factors not put into consideration?

Actually, it would have been better if people just used plastic bags. The large number of plastic bags is not the issue; it is the way we manipulate and dispose them. Traditionally, plastic is viewed as trash. But to chemists, plastic bags could still be converted to paraffins of varying densities. By funding this method of plastic disposal, we would be able to solve one of the biggest problems of humanity: Energy crisis. Aside from doing so, we would be able to show the highest level of love we could give to our planet by not letting our actions revolve around earthly desires. Emphasis on earthly desires.

We humans are responsible for whatever condition the planet is in. We were given the potential to nurture and cultivate the planet. Cats, dogs, and raccoons don’t have the ability to throw dynamites, do illegal logging nor alter the genes of organisms which should not have been altered in the first place. With great power comes great responsibility. It is about time we humans embrace intelligence and vigilance as we free ourselves from selfishness and recklessness. For the sake of other organisms whom we share the planet with, it is best not to let go of inhumane flicks.

Pluto's Status: A Decision Between Science and Culture

by Jezreel Icaranom

Pluto, the tiniest orbiting celestial body around the Solar System – our solar system – which has a status on the brink if scientists and the masses should call it a planet, a dwarf planet, or be completely delisted from the Solar System and remain as a barren mass of ice and rock -- ever be forgotten by the succeeding generations that Pluto was a part of the Sun’s family.

The 9th member of the Solar System is surprisingly tiny: It is only around 2 370 kilometers according to NASA’s New Horizons -- the project that aims to go to space beyond our solar system that launched several months back. To put it simply, it’s one-fifth the diameter of Earth and two-thirds the diameter of our Moon. Also, according to photos and infrared recordings of New Horizons, the member seemed to feature comparable physical landscapes, with mountains arising to around three-and-a-half kilometers in height. The surface of Pluto is icy – not water ice – but the icy surface mostly comprises of methane and nitrogen, with some traces of other elements and compounds, which also includes water. Scientists speculate that underneath Pluto’s surface is a large mass of bedrock water ice. Going deeper into this petite wonder, is an even smaller rocky core, which has a magnetic field so weak that it can’t clear any objects in its way, so no wonder why Pluto shares a similar orbit with its fellows: Charon and Eris. However, since Pluto has a weaker gravity, the gas escapes more from the surface and into outer space. Actually, because of this, Pluto’s atmosphere encompasses a larger area in proportion to its size than Earth.

Pluto is destined more than 39 Astronomical Units away from the Sun. Just for common knowledge, Astronomical Unit (AU) is the distance of Earth from the Sun, which is 93 million miles or 149 million kilometers in a region called the Kuiper Belt – a region in our solar system where a large collection of space debris is found -- where all of his neighboring tiny frozen masses are also homed. If on Earth, it’s all warm and fuzzy, the contrary goes for Pluto. Every second in Pluto is a freezing death, and its coldest temperatures have been recorded to be minus 225 degrees Celsius, which is one of the coldest in the Solar System.

Now what does it take to be a planet, really? According to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), planets have three defining characteristics that differentiate them from other objects in the system. First, it must be in orbit around a home star; second, it should have a spherical shape; and third, it should have cleared all neighboring space debris from its orbit. Pluto failed to check the third condition, so it automatically does not satisfy the conditions. However, conservatives and culturally-inclined people around the world still define Pluto as a planet, because ever since it was discovered on February 18, 1930, people have been attached to this frozen mass and somehow have made a cultural bond with them. Even in the fields within science, scientists are also fighting whether to enlist Pluto as a planet again, remain it as a dwarf planet (Pluto was announced a dwarf planet in 2005, by the way) or completely delist it from the Solar System. The third choice is already out of context, and the other two are still of heated debate.

Some weeks back, NASA unofficially announce that Pluto is a planet again, but in recent days, the topic is still under fire, so NASA just kind of went back to the safe title and reverted it back to being a dwarf planet. Until now, Pluto’s status is still on the tops, but whatever decisions the scientists may have, we all know that in our hearts, Pluto – may it be a planet or a planet no longer – will always be our favorite tiny neighbor.

Sources:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/07/24/pluto_planet_nasa/…http://www.vox.com/2015/4/16/8420813/pluto-not-a-planethttp://www.space.com/43-pluto-the-ninth-planet-that-was-a-d…https://www.nasa.gov/…/sto…/nasa-knows/what-is-pluto-k4.html

Win or Lose

by Katherine Bunao, Pil Joshua Boncocan and Mary Kristine Brizuela

There are things that can bring the Filipino nation in a passionate display of unity. Consequently, this unity is most apparent during sport competitions. It is not hard to depict. We are all united and certain with what purpose we are screaming for—it is to support the team holding the Filipino banner! Because yes, this team represents the nation’s pride!

True enough, there are many Filipino athletes. With this, it could be further deduced that many people are greatly interested in sport competitions. But then, it is also with this perspective that one could critique the attitudes portrayed when it comes to playing.

The aftermath of any game or competition could only be two—winning or losing.

Winning is the main goal of any athlete. It couldn’t be denied that for some, winning is their motive to play. They want to win, not just for the prize, but for the honor that they’ll bring back to their country. Also, it has something to do with the satisfaction and pride felt when they bag a place in the competition. It is so overwhelming that they could defeat their opponents. And the thing is, when Filipino athletes win, they know deep within that they did not just play for their selves—rather, they played for their fellow Filipinos, too.

Losing, on the other hand, appears to be a negative for most people.  But it is not.

It is true that there are Filipinos who get unsettled when losing a game. There are the sore losers, too. Since most strive to win, losing could be really hard to take. They think that they weren’t good enough. They think that they did not add up to the nation’s pride. In some circumstances, they think that they were cheated in the game.  But these should not be the case.

Losing is not bad. They should not feel upset about being defeated. What they should put to their minds is the experience. As it goes, all people learn from their mistakes and loss. With this, they could step up and enhance their skills— from losing, the next thing will be their win.

Yet at the end of it all, win or lose, one could most definitely say that Filipino athletes have the attitude of giving their best. They prove to everyone that as Filipinos, they do not fail the hope of giving an “excellent game”. Already, this matters a lot.

Vanguard launches The Vanguard Online

by Christine Denise Cano and Tricia Regine Bermillo

Tabaco National High School's English school paper, The Vanguard has officially launched its very first online blogspot named The Vanguard Online (TVO) on August 21, 2015.

“The main purpose of launching TVO is to further relay timely information not only to students of Tabaco National High School but also to the community of Tabaco itself,” said Joshua Alex Binza, temporary Editor-in-Chief of The Vanguard.

Said blogspot was proposed by Mrs. Laarnie Gonzales-Balin, one of The Vanguard advisers, after attending a national training regarding school paper publishing.

“In the advent of the continuously rising and advancing, and the most modern technology, indeed The Vanguard paving its way onto a whole new world thru The Vanguard Online is a perfect move – keeping up with the global trend of using the vast world of internet as yet another means  of serving the public of THNS,” said Amina Rose Alghamdi, 10-Faith Student and one of the Associate Editors of The Vanguard.

She added that owing to its being accessible online, the greater mass shall be more involved; thus the scope of readers, and hence, the informed and learned, could be expected to further hike, she hoped.

"To continuously disseminate information to the online readers, The Vanguard's journalists must update the blogspot with honest and unbiased articles," said Mrs. Asteria Velasco, The Vanguard's senior adviser.