Wapak defeats Juniors, crowned as champs

By John Christian Berbon

Grade 10 Wapak Team caught fire in the last two sets which propelled them past the Juniors, 22-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-13, 15-8, during their volleyball match last Friday, September 11 at Tabaco National High School Intramurals 2015.             

The Grade Nine started strong and took a 3 to nothing spree in the first set led by digger Jovin Binamira setting the surge for the Juniors. A game-tying kill from Kerwin Belarmino of Grade 10 tied the score 15 - all. The scoring production of Grade 9 poured in with the help of John Vincent Bejo who ceased the exchanges of scores of both sides and grabbed the set one and a better team coordination by Wapak started the second set showcasing their dominance in the court.

Meanwhile, a Patrick Casin spike startled the Grade 9 but got deflected by Binamira. Jeffrey Tuble took advantage of an empty middle and produced a one point breathing space for the Wapak. A Belarmino kill signaled the start of set three but was answered by a quick play from the Juniors. The red-hot hands of Binamira swiped the third set from the Wapak by creating a quick play for an easy kill and spike of his comrades while a better floor defense was established by the Year four, they thwarted every attack demoralizing the Juniors in the fourth set. They stacked a 12 point deficit clinching the fourth set.

In the opening of the fifth and last set, the Wapak exploded.  A Cabria spike send the ball into the empty middle.  A Tuble campfire send the ball in the middle of defenders. They've dominated the fifth set and crowned as the Champion.

On the other hand, equipped with a proper mindset Year four ' s Girls Volleyball team outgunned  and outperformed the Sophomores, 25-8, 19-25, 11-12

"We committed a lot of errors and there was miscommunication among the members of our team; those were the reasons of our loss. We were nervous and pressured" said by Mitzi Binamira. "Despite of our loss, we enjoyed the game and won the second set. A close fight it is."

Tabaco High welcomes PBB Teen Big 4

by Jade Edward Biron

In compliance with their task in Pinoy Big Brother (PBB), which is to raise three million pesos for their chosen charities, the PBB Teen Big Four namely  Ylona Jade Garcia, Bailey Thomas May, Jimboy Martin, and TNHS Alumni Thomas Franco Rodriguez came back to their hometowns to do the said task.

Last September 15, 2015, the Teen Big Four visited the Province of Albay, which is Rodriguez' hometown. A motorcade was held from Legazpi City going to the Tabaco City Plaza for the Courtesy Call.

By exactly two o’clock in the afternoon, the Teen Big Four was welcomed by the Unity Dance performed by the students of Tabaco National High School  which was followed by the Words of Welcome given by Supreme Student Government (SSG) President Jade Edward Biron. Selected Tabaco Northwest Central School students also performed their Champs Dance and to conclude the welcoming program, TNHS’ pride Thomas Franco Rodriguez performed with the TNHS Brass Band and extended his sincerest gratitude for the support given to him and to his co-housemates.

A payment of Php. 100 shall be given to the PBB staff for every picture taken with the Teen Big Four in order to raise a total amount of 3M pesos. 

**Readers, stay tuned for Ashwell Donne Bobier's exclusive interview with the Teen Big 4!**

Grade 7 reign supreme in 2015 Wellness Dance

by Val Jinsen Buela

                            The grade 7 students prepare for their performance of the 2015 Nestle Wellness

                                        Dance during TNHS's Intramurals on September 10, 2015. (Johanna Belesta)

The Grade 7 students can be defeated in terms of their sizes but not definitely in terms of dancing because of what they showed in the 2015 Wellness Dance Competition with their colorful and attractive costumes and their fascinating moves that blasted all the remaining year levels during the Mass Demo in connection with the 2015 Intramurals held at Tabaco National High School (TNHS) on September 10, 2015.

Under the dazzling heat of the sun, the blue grade 10 performers started the Mass Demo by first entering the pavement full of energy wearing their blue hand props and white caps that made the cheers from the crowd louder, added with their clean and well-practiced moves and freestyles during their performance from the beginning up to the end part of their presentation.

That made the next performers, who were the red grade 9 performers, to enter the pavement with high fighting spirits as they walk towards the pavement wearing their red hand props. They showed their fierceness during their performance by delivering their well-organized freestyles and clean dance moves added with their loud shouts “Grade 9 Wellness” at the end part of their performance.

The yellow Grade 8 performers proceeded after the Grade 9’s performance. The cheers from the crowd maintained its loudness as they showed what they had practiced together with their gloves as hand props and their moves full of energy and excitement.

Last to perform were the green Grade 7 performers wearing their colorful hand props made from plastics that made their performance more interesting together with their unique and original freestyle. They fought the other year levels with confidence and with strong fighting spirits that served as their weapon to achieve the 1^st place in that competition and they’re now the new champions in the 2015 Mass Demonstration.

Caño sweeps Bellen in men's badminton finals; 21-17, 21-17

by Kyle Denzil Chavez

Dencarl Caño returned with vengeance as he defeated bitter rival Roy Bellen 21-17, 21-17 in the finals of men's badminton held at the Lagman Gym last friday Sept. 11.

The two players both had faced each other in previous games from past years with Bellen winning last year's finals.

Bellen. although having high hopes of winning the game and bagging the title again, started a little bit clumsy, letting drop shots short and some back hands missing his targets, 6-4.

A slight build of momentum carried Bellen to the top. drowning Cano with his thunderous smashes, 13-12.

Caño tied himself together, rendering a strategy that brought Bellen into "no man's land". Having a 1-2 punch combination of an almost short serve and awesome placing, stole the opening set, 21-17.

Bellen being down a set, served a mouthful of smashes but Cano chewed enough so he can swallow as Caño replies to every smash Bellen throws.

After the short period of being in an even match up, the wind suddenly changed. Bellen fell into the arms of Caño. Caño then took his window of opportunity, 12-10.

Bellen was trapped in quick sand. The harder his smashes were, the more drained he got. Eventually he ran out of gas. Caño scrambles and took over the remainder of the game, 21-17.

"It is one of my strategies- letting my serves just pass by the short service line, momentarily confusing the opponent. With the opponent scrambling to return the shuttlecock, I could send it back with a heavy smash thus scoring a point," Caño said.

Seniors dominate wins in 2015 Search for Mr. and Ms. Intramurals

by Mitzi Binamira

Neil Antoni and Angelica Marie Camu, both seniors, won the title of Mr. and Ms. Intramurals 2015 during the Search for Mr. and Ms. Intramurals 2015 held on September 9, 2015 at Lagman Gymnasium, Tabaco National High School, Tabaco City.

Lienel Navidad, grade 8 and Aaron Rey Bonaobra, grade 10, were hailed as the 1st runner up, Alphabeth Brutas, a sophomore and John Paul Balingbing, from 10th grade, were the 2nd runner up while Dazelle Barrion, grade 7 and Dominic Cruza, grade 8, bagged the 4th place.

Camu was awarded seven out of 15 minor awards namely: best in production number, best in production attire, best in futurista attire, best in sportswear, best in ramp, glamour shot, and lastly, the pormang campus.

Michaela Shenna Delfin, Ms. Intramurals 2014, passed the crown to Ms. Camu after her Farewell walk.

Being the school's Intramurals symbols, Camu and Bobis both carried the school's Intramurals banner during the opening parade held last September 10, 2015. 

Grass flares up in TNHS track field

by Yvette Margallo 

Summer may be over but extreme heat is still striking the city of Tabaco.

A recent grass fire happened between 12:00-1:30pm which consumed a portion of Tabaco National High School's track field last September 9, 2015.

Students occupying the Temporary Learning Spaces near the grandstand field immediately evacuated the area after seeing thick layers of white smoke emanating from the grass fire happening in the school's track field. These huge billows of smoke also distressed students and teachers of the school while two fire trucks arrived at the said destination to stop the fire from further spreading.ss

"It all started with a small speck of fire which later extended on the dried grass from the field causing it to spread like wildfire; extreme heat possibly helped in the fire's fast distribution," said Fire Chief, Ed Borito.

According to an eye witness, a teacher [name withheld] asked one of her students to burn a clump of dried leaves near the said field. He added that the teacher did not expect the fire to spread throughout a large scale of land resulting to the grass fire.

Three fire trucks all in all, two from the government of Tabaco and one from a volunteer organization, helped in sloshing the fire with water.

After the said fire died, Borito said, "All fire troop members did their best to stop the fire; it only took them an estimate of 10 minutes for the fire to eventually stop."

In addition, other than the a portion of the field consumed by the fire, no further casualties were reported to the school's office.

Taking the Plunge or Thinking Twice?

By Leon Ricardo Fernandez

What kind of learner are you? Do you immediately take the plunge or think twice first before mastering the skill? When we are learning skills – whether it is playing the piano, drawing a special person’s face, or creating a software – it takes time to learn them and especially, to master them. There are two different ways to learn a skill: one is the so-called "dive-in" method, and the other is the "head first" method.

            

The dive-in method revolves around the motto ‘just do it’. In this method, one just, makes attempts in learning a skill. If an attempt does not work out, make another attempt.

            

The head-first method follows the procedure of thinking before acting. In this method, actions are made after carefully considering the consequences. This method gives assurance to those who are worried about the consequences of their actions.

           

But! Before using any of these methods, one must assess the skill to be learned to find out which of these methods will work better.

            

Take for example this situation. You are trying to learn how to fly an airplane,   you cannot just expect that you will learn how to fly through trial and error – it would be disastrous if you do that. That’s why you should go through careful planning and calculations before making actions. Therefore you must use the head-first method.

           

If you’re trying to learn how to ride a bike on the other hand, you do need to know the complex mathematics to do this. You just need practice to do so. In this case you can use the dive-in method.

          

But no matter what learning method you choose, it will take some time to learn. It may take you a long span of time or just a little while. Would you choose the dive-in method, where you immediately take the plunge no matter how risky, or would you take the head-first method, where you would think twice and asses all possible strategies and outcomes first?  But no matter what skill one has to learn, he needs tons of determination to accomplish his goal. Are you ready to start learning now?

TNHS keeps "Overall Champion" title in 2015 National PSYSC Summit

by Joshua Alex Binza and Tricia Regine Bermillo

TNHSians return back from Sorsogon City with a two-peat in the bag!

After being last year's overall champion, Tabaco National High School (TNHS) was once again hailed as the overall champion in the Mathematics, Science at Kapaligiran (MATHSCIAKA) contests during the 2015 Philippine Society of Youth Science Clubs (PSYSC) National Summit held on September 5-6, 2015 at Sorsogon National High School, Sorsogon City, Sorsogon.

This two-day camp featured contests such as the MATHSCIAKA Engineering Science and Interactive Challenge, Philippine Science Olympiad, subcamp quiz bee and photo-sprinting contests, team-building workshops, I Teach Science Seminar and Workshop for teachers and the 2015 Regional Council election in relation to the theme:"MATEREALIZE: Synthesizing Ideas, Extracting Knowledge, Forging Science Clubbers as Agents of Innovation."

Jade Edward Biron and Jewel Diamante, from 10-Einstein and 10-Newton respectively, placed first in the MATHSCIAKA Engineering Science contest after battling with three more high schools from Region V.

On the other hand, Trisha Faith Alaiza, Joshua Alex Binza, Nichelle Buenconsejo, Leon Ricardo Fernandez and Johann Niccolo Ocampo landed the 3rd place in the MATHSCIAKA Interactive contest after competing with 12 other teams of five from high schools participating in the said summit.

With the Engineering Science contest given 60% weight and the Interactive Challenge given 40% weight in determining the overall champion, the 1st and 3rd place wins in both MATHSCIAKA contests helped TNHS in keeping the overall champion title.

Furthermore, three other students from TNHS namely Neil Ivan Bellen, Romela Bragais and Leon Ricardo Fernandez brought the school a 3rd place win in the Philippine Science Olympiad contest.

Grade 9-Mendeleev student and current Grade 9 PSYSC President, Al-vi John Jerfvin Corpuz, was elected as this year's Marketing Officer which makes him part of PSYSC's Region V Regional Council.

After winning 3rd place in the MATHSCIAKA Interactive Challenge, Nichelle Buenconsejo exclaimed, "All things considered, the best part of this year's summit is the MATHSCIAKA Interactive Challenge where my friends and I won 3rd place. It is indeed the most nerve-wracking, patience-testing and honestly, the most exciting and most memorable experience I have in this camp."

All contestants were coached by Mrs. Elizabeth Bongala and Ms. Tina Ang, PSYSC advisers, who also accompanied them along with 96 more students from TNHS in the said summit.

PSYSC celebrates NSCM 2015

by Christine Denise Cano

In connection with former President Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo’s proclamation 264, the Philippine Society of Youth Science Clubs (PSYSC) joins the National Science Club Month (NSCM) celebration with the theme: ”MateREALIZE: Synthesizing Ideas. Extracting Knowledge. Forging Science Clubbers as Agents of Innovation” through a launching program held last September 1, 2015.

Said program started with Mrs. Elizabeth Bongala, PSYSC adviser, introducing the role and importance of conducting the NSCM. This was followed by the parade and presentation of scientists and the program's highlight, a flash mob dance which was displayed by the PSYSC officers and members.

Gean Alarte Celestial, President of the school's PSYSC, invited all students to join the events to be conducted this month of September which include: launching of organic gardening, eco fashion show, food expo and year level science booth, National Summit, Science Olympiad, infomercial making on climate change and disaster risk reduction, poster, slogan, essay and t-shirt printing contest, school based summit and a film showing.

To conclude the said launching program, selected PSYSC officers and members presented the 2015 PSYSC dance with the song, "24/7" by Big Time Rush. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg0NSpLs0jw)

The said National Summit will be held this September 5-6, 2015 at Sorsogon National High School, Sorsogon City, Sorsogon with 100 participants hailing from Tabaco National High School together with the PSYSC advisers, Mrs. Elizabeth Bongala and Ms. Tina Ang.

K-12's New Baby

By Adrian Gebb Bio and Joshua Alex Binza

These days, grades are one basis for an individual to be classified. By earning high marks, you put yourself at the very top of the pack, while having low grades on the other hand, can give you looks of disgust from other students and a look of disappointment from your parents.

May 15, 2013. That very day is burned onto the minds of batch 2013 elementary graduates. That was the day which gave rise to the new educational program here in the Philippines, the K-12 Curriculum. The law was proposed in order to align the Philippines with globally competitive countries. It is also a known fact that Philippines is one of the only three countries in the world along with Djibouti and Angola, and the only one in Southeast Asia which still follows a 10-year pre-university plan.

This program requires all kids to undergo kindergarten before proceeding to the 12 years of basic education which is comprised of six years of elementary education, four years of junior high school and the newly-added two years which is part of senior high school.

This new curriculum also gave rise to a new grading system―Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 73 s. 2013. The new grading system suggests that students be rated into four areas: Knowledge, Process, Understanding and Performance.

After three years of using such grading system, it has been wiped out of the system, completely changed. Last April 1, 2015, DepEd released DepEd order No. 8 s. 2015 giving birth to a new grading system stating that this grading system will revolve around three main aspects namely Written Works, Quarterly Assessment and Performance Task.

The area which will make up most of the student's grade is the Performance Task field which will cover 50-60% of the students' grades. This field includes class recitations, participating in subject-related events and contests, showing off talents and all other activities which will require you to perform in front of a person or a crowd.

This kind of grading system will flare up the competition amongst the students. This will make sure that all students, with honors or not, will do all necessary outputs and execute all tasks given in class. In order to pass the subject and proceed to the next grade level, they have to boost their self-confidence and shrug off all shyness inside their mind and body, and simply perform. And they have to perform well.

But what about those who truly cannot dance, or sing, or act, or even talk in front of the crowd? What about those who have high test scores but do not have enough confidence to stand out? What about those who cannot impressively perform? Won't they be able to pass the school year?

That is one reason why there is a new grading system. It is for students to be versatile, to be equally focused on their mental, social and physical abilities. It is for students to realize that what the world needs in a decade or so, are those who do not only succeed by having high scores; the world needs students who possess the 21st century skills―skills which involve communication, interaction and performance.

Indeed, grades are only numbers; they do not accurately define people. The marks on each student's report card do not truly describe them as students.  These numeric ratings are only there for us to realize the present and future benefits of performing, of having the 21st century skills; they are not to dictate the future on a sheet of paper. 

YOLO: You Only Live Online

by Ninna Alessandra Santiago

I’ve heard the “normal” people tell me countless times to get a “life”. Now, I’ve had enough of it going back and forth in my ears. I apologize, though, for being more active in the virtual world than in the real world. But just so you know, the world wide web is my home, and the internet IS my life. (And I suppose that that boy from Tumblr is my love. Ha-ha. Just kidding.)

I am an active consumer of the internet and the social media, and that is an acceptable reason for me to be considered as an internet addict. But why is it such a bad thing, being a Netizen and all? First of all, we’re high. We are obsessed with the internet because we benefit from it in one way or another. The positive feedbacks that we receive in social networking sites are one of the many things that maintain our lovey-dovey relationship with the internet. Without these feedbacks, we would just be boringly scrolling our way down on our news feeds to death. Again, we are high on the internet mainly because these feedbacks are very satisfying. I don’t know why they’re so satisfying, but they really just are. Perhaps online criticism differs so much from real life criticism that it already gives a more pleasing effect? Anyway, as the number of feedback increases, so does our interest in the internet and its websites.

Now, let us jump to the reason to why we spend most of our time surfing the net instead of lurking out of the shadows to see the outside world, besides getting the satisfaction from feedbacks. Everything—yes, every single thing—is far more accessible on the internet. With just one click, thousands and thousands of results can pop out of a webpage, particularly in search engines. Don’t know the answer to your Mathematics homework? The internet has an answer. Are you tired of witnessing the worsening of your acne problem? Well, fret not, because all search engines can help you look for an effective remedy! Having some complications with your love life? Just freaking ask Google for some helpful love advice! Trust me, the internet won’t fail you…well, I guess.

Alright, let’s jump back to the negatives. The internet truly is a wonderful thing—too wonderful, actually. Unfortunately, there is, of course, an equal amount of negative effects that parallel the positive outcomes. Although the glow of your computer screen and the sight of a webpage is a great view—perhaps an even greater view than the rainbows and rays of sunshine of the real world—keep in mind that this still leads to an unhealthy lifestyle. Well, it’s already obvious, isn’t it? Since you are too attached to the net, you just find yourself spending the majority of your life preoccupying yourself on the oh-so-fascinating websites like Facebook and Twitter and Tumblr. They are all to blame, no? Consequently, your social skills are weakened, and in some cases, replaced with social shyness and anxiety. Because of the desire for an easier means of communication with our peers, we merely rely on the internet and we don’t even have to open our mouths and project our voices anymore. Just type the words down on the chat box, send your message, and voila. Unlike the traditional times, your message is sent instantly without having to wait for a couple of weeks or months. Anyway, this habit of chatting decreases your social skills little by little. Next thing you know, you’re already a mushroom-growing indoor hobo who constantly fails to socialize with the normal people of the bright outside world.

Yes, as I’ve mentioned from the very start of this article, the internet is our life. But so is the real world. So, even with our addiction to the internet, and while we are indeed mushroom-growing indoor hobos who constantly fail to socialize with the people of the bright outside world, surely we all still have a special place in our hearts where we store our liking to the real-life rainbows and rays of sunshine. Remember, we are not internet vampires. We’re not allergic to the real life. We’re not allergic to sociability. So, try going out of the house sometime. If you think about it, maybe the other side of life isn’t so bad after all.