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Why League of Legends is One of the Best Videogames.

                There are a lot of video games out there in the world. Online, offline, single or multiplayer, there’s something fit for a players preference. But there are videogames that any player will enjoy, like League of Legends. League of Legends is a MOBA game, a genre in which two teams are required to destroy the opposing team’s towers and nexus. League of Legends is a free-to-play video game which requires internet in order to play.

               Okay, so why is it one of the best video games? It has multiple reasons. The controls are easy to get used to. After the tutorial and two or three games, the player will know the controls quickly. Controls are easy, right-click to move or attack, the usual QWER buttons for the controls like most MOBA  games and other buttons that are easily understandable and taught by the tutorial.

                Here are some parts of the games which make the League great. It’s items provide a strategy to the player, the numerous items allow the player to strategize and adapt to which stats (like damage and armor) would be more effective in the game. Runes, something that would make the character being used or “champion” stronger. It can be customized in a way that it suits the players game style or their champions capabilities.

               League of Legends also have a great character line-up, each with a unique look, lore and set of skills specific for them. The lore is the characters story, just to get a bit of background about them, for some the lore is very important, it gives life to the character. A character’s appearance can be changed by buying skins (which uses real money), it doesn’t make the character stronger, but it does make it look cooler with differ visual effects on their costumes and skills. Each character has a role. From mage, who are dependent on their skill and mana (mana is required to use skills), to tanks who can take a lot of damage in order to support the team, this gives players         a specific part to play in the battle.

               The League doesn’t only offer the normal 5-vs-5 game mode like other MOBA games, it has a rotating game-mode which changes about every month, each having different ways to play and win.

               So these are some of the reasons why LOL is one of the best video games, it’s hard to put it in writing, so how about you try playing it and get a hands on experience on how great LOL is.

Cuevillas, Lorenz M. 

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Games and School

Gaming can be fun. During our senior high school days, we, together with our classmates had so much fun. We spent each of our free times playing games such as mini militia, mobile legends, free fire and many more. It can liven up our spirits and give us more energy for our upcoming subjects. We connect via Wi-Fi hotspot or even Bluetooth.                           

                            Games though fun can be difficult to handle Games are made to be played and be entertained. We use these to have a great time at school despite the stress and boredom born by school stuff. These games usually divert the attention of students to perform well academically. However, we won't play games and not be able to keep up with studies. We always make sure to maintain the balance of playing and studying because sometimes it can harm our academics. As our parents said “games can be can be addicting and it can cause you distractions to your studies.” So once we had enough, we move on and not try to bring it up during study time. What is done, is done. As a Proverb say “There is a time for everything.” Thus whenever game time is done and study time is on, we put our phones, tablets, and gadgets down and no more games even chitchats about it.

                                        Games form friendship and bond Gaming strengthened the bond of our friendship. We've built laughter of victory through teamwork as we play. Our friends and us consider gaming as our own "stress reliever", since we are loaded with school works, and sometimes, household tasks. Gaming also helped us to socialize with other people. In fact, as we go home from a tiring yet productive day from school, we still talk about gaming in our chatroom. Building friendship through gaming isn't a bad thing. Though we always playing mobile games together, we also encourage one another to do good at our studies. We make it the center of our inspiration to do extra hard work with our academics. Because whenever we passed a test or got a high score, we celebrate it as we play after class. Moreover, we do not make gaming as a hindrance to achieve our goals. If we are already loaded with school stuff such as projects, quizzes, speeches, essays, etc., we set aside playing mobile games. We and our friends still have academics as our first priority. We are still thankful to have our friends that can understand us and friends whom we can relate to through gaming. Achieving good grades is one of the best thing in our Senior High School days, but being with our friends and spending time with them as we play is the most memorable moments of our SHS days.

                                      Gaming still help us in our studies Though gaming really cause students to be distracted in our studies, gaming also help us. It helps us to be more productive in a way. For example, whenever we have our assignments, after playing, nor even before, we ask each other whether or not have we done our assignments. We help each other to finish them and teaches our friends how to do it. Another struggle for us students are examinations. Whenever we play games, we admit that we, most of the times, neglect to study but with the help of these classmates, of our friends, we help each other to pass thus, making games not just a place for entertainment but a place for socializing, of friendship, and of unity. Whenever we don’t understand our lessons, of course, we go to each other, we approach each other for these are the people who became close to us therefore, through theses games, as friendship and closeness are formed, we aren’t shy to each other anymore. This helps us to be approachable and have the guts to approach, and to help one another in studies.

Games has always been the escape route of many people. These may distract, help, or even change you. But it always depends on how you value things, how you prioritize things, and how you manage your time, game time, and study time. These games, regardless of the opinion of others, remarkably made us better students, as real friendship and bond is born between all of us. We are united, we are one, we are far more than friends, but we became a family.

-Matthew Dainiel Barrocan and John Louis Martin; STEM172

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Why Palawan?

Philippines is known for its beautiful tourist spots. Beaches are paradise to be described.  And it’s such a privilege to visit and travel to one of its island one day.

               One of these is Palawan. It is the largest province in the Philippines and known as the last frontier of the country. Palawan became popular for its astonishing seascape: Bizarre rock formations, turquoise lagoons, white beaches, mountains, jungles and a diversity of wildlife, over and under the sea.  That’s why there’s no surprise it became such a dream destination for many.

               These are some of the reasons why Palawan is worthy to visit. The beaches are stunning. Its beautiful unspoiled beaches surrounded by crystal waters are one of the island's main attractions. That’s why it is good for snorkeling.  With the clear sea even just swimming with mask and fins you can observe the beauty of the reef. And it’s not unusual to see whale sharks, dolphins, sea turtles and sea cows. Also, it is good for diving because they offer a variety of dive sites offering a particularly exciting experience. Tubbataha reef which lies in the middle of the Sulu Sea, is paradise to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the word and it is considered to be the best dive spot in the Philippines.

               And if you don’t like going under the sea you can also try to go to the underground rivers. The Subterranean River is the most amazing attraction in Palawan Island and in the Philippines. The Subterranean or Underground River is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.  Or you can go hiking to the mountains of Palawan like Cleopatra’s Needle, Mt. Bahile, Mt. Bloomfield and others.

               There’s more. After all those activities you’ve done you can now relax and eat delicious seafood. The taste of fresh local fish caught just a few hours before cooking should not be missed. Seafood will grace your table at all times and it’s cooked in ways that will tickle your taste buds.

               Furthermore, the good news is that you can stop worrying about your budget because Palawan is so cheap that you will feel guilty for paying so little. You can easily get on USD 20 a day including a pension house, local food and transport.

               It will be more exciting if you visit one of themost visited places in Palwan which is Coron. The main attractions there are the freshwater Lake Kayangan for it is known as the cleanest and clearest in Asia, but also the Twin Lagoon and the Barracuda Lake are equally impressive. Doing island hoping and snorkeling in Coron worth’s the time of a traveler since it has an abundant marine life.

               Truly, Palawan is incredibly spectacular for it is one of the most breathtaking in the Philippines. Now, it’s time to decide are you going to visit or not? Let us not miss this opportunity.

Posted by: Geraldine O. Gonzales

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Film review: Like Stars on Earth by Aamir Khan (January 11, 2018) Title: Like Stars On Earth(Taare Zameen Par): Every Child is Special Genre: Drama, comedy Written by: Amole Gupte Directed and Produced by: Aamir Khan Summary: This film presents you, the story of a young boy who lives in India. His name is Ishaan Awashti, whose parents wanted to raised him fit for the race of the world. That they believe the only possible problem of the boy's failure in academics are stuborness and laziness. But what they do not know is Ishaan is suffering from the condition called dyslexia. It seems for Ishaan that alphabets, numbers and signs are in constant war at each other. Because of that, his teachers and classmates always put him behind and look down at him. He even had many fights with his neighbor because of the other effects of his condition. Still that didn't become his hindrance in doing whatever makes him happy. At any moment he would daydream. In any place he could find anything that interests him and as he do everything he likes like painting, Ishaan got closer and closer to his world. Though his world seemed to be endless still, life goes on. The day came when Ishaan's parents was called reporting his repeating misbehavior and failed exams. The school can't accept Ishaan's another repeat in his 3rd grade that his parents was recommended to transfer him in special school for children.They didn't accept it so he was transfered to a better but expensive border school to discipline him. But things got worse for him until he met an art teacher who changed his life forever. Main actors: Ishaan Awashti (Darsheel Safari) - an 8 year old boy whose condition is often misunderstood as a stupidity. He is very imaginative and talented in paintings. Compared to many, he has a different way of thinking about the world around him which makes him special. Ram Shankar Nikumbh (Aamir khan) - An art teacher who discovered Ishaan's condition and his capabilities.The one who patiently taught and supported him which the boy never had in all his life until he came. Maya Awashti (Tisca Chopra) - a mother who loves Ishaan and his brother unconditionally. She sacrificed her career for her two sons. Nandkishore Awashti (Vipin Shanra) - a hard working father who would do anything for his sons' future and well being. He decided to send Ishaan to a boarding school to discipline him. Yohan Awashti (Sachet Engineer) - a scholar and a good brother whom he looks up to. An ideal son for their parents. Rajan Damodaran (Tanay Cheda) - an excellent student and only friend in his class who stopped Ishaan from jumping out the terrace. Opinion in the movie: This movie will get you dancing, singing along or even crying as you listen to the songs. Created mostly by Prashoon Joshi, the lyricist. The songs are very moving, it can bring you closer to the characters and it lasts as it brings extra message to you after you have watched it. "Bum bum bole" is one good example. Nikumbh(Aamir khan), a temporary art teacher, entered Ishaan's class wearing a silly costume. Scaring away students, he began to sing sharing how he looks at the world, inspiring his students to be bold and to think out of the box. What makes this movie worth your precious time is their effort to make the artworks really beautiful. Aamir khan which is also the director, producer and actor in this film, created the flipbook which was used in the movie to show Ishaan drew it before he went to boarding school, showing how he left his family. Also he wrote the notebooks of Ishaan that shows the writing pattern of a person with dyslexia while the a real painter even taught the main actor the strokes in painting. The actors specifically Darsheel Safari deserve a praise in his acting as Ishaan. Amole Gupte and Aamir khan was actually searching for a boy who has a naughty look in his face. Eventually Darsheel won the audition yet he displayed alot of emotions and totally embrace the character of Ishaan. Lastly, there are alot of people are involved here. Which adds to its specialness. Because it tells us to look around us and start caring for the world. They tried their best to get people unaware of the camera based on some facts about the movie. All the elements used in this film really help in delivering their message and never failed to entertain me. So I encourage everyone to watch this. What I have learned from the movie: There are many things that I have picked up from this movie from which some lesson could have been later learned. One is when the principal or any teacher in Ishaan's school almost thought or would have accepted that he is a "special child" because of his repeating misbehavior in school. Though his parents specially his father who thought he just needs disciplining. The right thing to think for someone like Ishaan who has dyslexia, is everyone is unique so we must learn to listen, to know them first. The thinking of the word "special" should be changed, because it is taking away the chance to any kid who have condition to not to study in a good school. We should instead think he/she is someone who should be valued not less than his/her worth or capabilities. Because the only reason he felt indifferent is how others would think about people like him. There is one song still lasts because it taught me a lesson. It is about how Ishaan's father and brother or generally anyone who would always prepare everyday as if the school, workplace or the outside is a battlefield. That loosing is not an option and to win everyday is to never back down until you break or die. Later Ishaan showed as a child who is very different from them. We don't have to carry all the burdens of the world and try to act like you are the king of it all. Because you are just the king in your own world. There is no need to prove anything as long as what you do will make you happy. And once in a while it is important to take a break also, to reflect and remove all that's been bothering your peace of mind. I have also learned that reality of the world doesn't crush your dreams. It is only us who might Just be simply scared or not acting on what we want to happen in our lives. So we can actually be excused for daydreaming like Ishaan as long as it helps us see our own world to offer, as a contribution of creativity and hope someday. This movie is worth watching as it adress what we could have been ignoring like what we really want or the real problem within us. This helps us be aware and to say that we are not really okay. Sometimes we have to stop and start thinking progressive by not losing hope like Ishaan. - Ellah Nicole Chua STEM 172

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Do not fear failure, fear the absence of progress.

“If you’ve never failed, you’ve never lived.”

What we fear the most is failing. It comes with humiliation. No one likes it because it affects your ego. But what most of us forget is that failure is part of our lives. It is the road to success. It teaches you things that other people cannot. It’s what makes us human.

When I was in elementary, I was into Math. It was simple and easy to understand. I favored it so much that I didn’t have that much problem with it. It was like taking a walk in a park, but my cousin refused and told me that I wait until I encounter algebra.

After some time, I got a little careless. I was carried away by the fact that it was easy. I have never thought I would struggle until I reached high school. There were new terms that I was unaware of. I was not able to follow up with the class. I barely passed the subject in the first few months of school. It was only a matter of time before I fail, and I did, halfway through the year.

I was devastated and hopeless. I doubted that I won’t be able to get back up. I didn’t know how to cope up with what happened. It just made me more careless with my studies. One time there was a recitation. I wasn’t able to answer the questions, and I felt humiliated. I have thought to myself that this can’t go on forever so I started listening to the teacher. It was hard at first but eventually I was able to catch up with the class.

In a matter of weeks I understood the lessons. After that, my scores gradually rose from the dead and by the end of the school year, I had high grades. As of the moment I am doing fine with my studies, especially math.

With that being said, sometimes you have to fall before you learn to fly. Allowing yourself to fail will make you reach your true potential, perhaps even more. Never be afraid to fail or to make a mistake no matter how small it can be. It makes the better out of us.

} ~Fabros, Karl Eriz 

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Philippine Kids:Last Hope or Worst Villain

          Kids these days are annoying and a disturbance inside computer shops.They look like chaotic monsters who were unleashed inside a dungeon.The worst part is that, they like to say curse words while playing video games inside a computer shop.When I rent a computer inside a computer shop I always see kids play L.o.L(League of Legends).And whenever they play they always end up trash talking and saying it out loud that could make your day the worst.When your so stress and you need to do your assignment on the computer shop then suddenly you saw these kids shouting, its the worst thing that I have experience while inside a computer shop.And the thing is, the owner cant control them.Even though kids are already smashing the keyboard with their fist because of their rage.

           I also see kids who are spoiled by their parents often to hurt other people, which is bad.I experience this while I was talking to a friend, then a kid suddenly shows up and was calling for his maid.Then while this maid of his is coming, this kid was holding an Ipad then suddenly when his maid was near, he throws the Ipad right on the face of the maid.I was shocked and felt terrified from what I saw.I told this to his parents but it seems that they don’t even care even if their son is doing this to their maid everyday.I always come to my friend’s house so I know.I feel helpless and unsatisfied because I couldn’t even do a thing to help that maid.  

            A question suddenly pops-up inside my head, are they really the hope of this country or the worst enemy.I feel scared and anxious at the same time on what will happen in our country in the near future.Because if these practices continues, this can be one of the greatest problem that we can’t handle.According to my research kids who have reached the age of 18 already have already created their own identity and it is really hard to change that.

            We need to act now and stop this tragedy because if we don’t, this can be one of the major problem that we might have face in the future.Parents should discipline them and invest for education, not on something that will make their lives miserable.Remember, you are the only one that can change them and no one else.We should take this opportunity to shape them in its purest form if possible while they were at young age.We should do this not only for our future but also for them.Because I believe, children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.

- Verzon,Jayson T.

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Becoming a ZOMBIE 101: Study & Commute

As a recent Grade 10 completer, I fancied on choosing a nice school (probably within the university belt) in which I will continue my studies. I am an incoming Grade 11 student with great dreams studying on a state university, feeling the urban scenery & the short freedom of roaming around the city. Sadly, that didn’t happen (well, some of it). I’m currently at my final term of our 2nd term, here in Asia Pacific College. Where is that? Near Magallanes, Makati. How’s the study? For me, it’s fine (actually, it’s bearable). But why am I saying all this? That is because I’m living in San Pedro, Laguna which is worth 2 hours of travel (more than 2 hours if heavy traffic included) to go to my school and back home, also I want you to consider your options when choosing a school.

           Commuting can be a hassle, especially if your going to school. I need to wake up at 4 am or earlier to prepare and leave at my house at exactly 5 am. From our house to the bus terminal, it would be a 30-minute jeepney ride, so I ride the bus at 5:30 am. Then it would be a 45-minute travel from San Pedro to Magallanes. Going back home, I have to walk from Lapu-Lapu Avenue to the bus stop along EDSA, Magallanes. I got off at Puregold San Pedro to ride the jeepney to my subdivision. Hassle, right? Downsides would be inside the bus was really cold (especially in the morning), so a jacket is a must. I also had to go home early when the class ends, so no time to hang out with friends or check the club for activities. When going home, the bus would be full, so you have to stand the whole travel. All this travel would be worth almost PHP 100, so your allowance would be spent mostly on fares, it sucks right? The only upside would be if, by chance, you got a seat near the window, you could enjoy the view of city skyline the bus pass by from the SKYWAY. You could also take senti pictures (which is cool, if you got the sun shine at you right). I would arrive home by 4 pm. I could either choose to sleep to recover some energy or do my school assignments or laze around, browsing the Internet and play video games. Usually, I would do the 3rd option. Sometimes, I have to go home late because I have to stay to cooperate with my group, doing our projects, or submitting a crammed paperwork before the day ends to my teacher. If I go home late, I would arrive home by 6 or 7 pm. If I have to cram some paperwork, I’ll stay up until 10 or 11 pm (it would depend on the subject). To sum it up, I wake up at 4 am and sleep at 10 pm (that would be a total of 18 hours of uptime). Due to that, my standard sleep every school days is 6 hours (barely enough for a growing teen like me). It’s easy for me to be tired, I feel sleepy sometimes, and I couldn’t focus on the lessons. I’m getting thinner, my mom would say to me sometimes. It’s easy for me to get sick, so I take multi-vitamins with me.

           I face these challenges daily. Sometimes, I want to give up and sleep for a day. But I did not. I continue studying, even if I feel sometimes I’m turning into a zombie. What is the secret behind this unshaken motivation then? For me, it would be because I want a different atmosphere and a challenging school setting. I always said to myself, “I want to change for the better, academically more”. I felt that at my previous school, I’m not growing or improving. I began to want a change of pace. But this new pace actually exhausted me. I am striving to keep up with this “challenging” pace. Even though it takes a toll on my body, even though I have regrets, I have taken the challenge because it is my choice. I have to be responsible for it. Besides, the teachers at our schools are considerate enough to us students (I feel like I’m sucking up to my teacher) and are passionate, teaching us with their all for us to better understand the lessons.  That is educating with quality (tuition is worth it).

           Now that I have shared a part of my life to you, please consider your choices when going up to Grade 11 or college. You can study far away from your home, but it will exhaust you no matter what. Do you want to become a zombie?! Err… I mean, are you up for the challenge?

- Caballero, Japeth Ian P.

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Game review: Doki Doki Literature Club (DDLC)

Before I begin I just need to say spoiler alert! This review has spoilers of the ending.

              So now that I’ve gotten that out of the way my name is Daniel Marquez, and this is as the title suggests a review of the game Doki Doki Literature Club. I’m a hardcore gamer and even though this is a new game it has quickly become one of my favorites. And this is despite the fact that I don’t play a lot of visual novel games.

              Now, DDLC on the surface is a simple game. It’s a game of pastel colours, gentle melodies, and 4 cute girls. This is a world in which true love isn’t just possible, it’s inevitable. DDLC is a visual novel with a (pardon my pun) novel mechanic where you choose words for a poem and depending on the words you choose makes one of the four girls more attracted to you. Don’t let this distract you though because this game is a horror game. In fact, if you look at the Steam store page its players have tagged it as a psychological horror game. Even the games description includes the line

‘This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed.”

               On the first playthrough everything is mostly normal. You first meet the girl Sayori, your best friend. As you are looking for clubs to join Sayori convinces you to join the literature club where you meet 3 other girls, Natsuki, Yuri, and the president Monika. Because of an upcoming festival you and the rest of the club are tasked with preparing an event for it. During the preparations Sayori confesses that she has depression, the day after the preparations are done, you arrive at the event, however, Sayori is missing. You run back to her house in which you discover that she has committed suicide. Suddenly the game begins to glitch and that’s how your first playthrough ends.

                 When you return to the start screen is mostly normal except for a few glitches. Most notable of this is the start game button no longer says start game and Sayori’s face is now obscured by glitches. When you go to the saved games screen your saves have been wiped. Which means you can’t go back to change your previous decisions.

                    When you start your second playthrough everything seems normal except for the fact that this time Sayori is missing. As the game goes on more and more things seem to be going wrong, and the girls begin to act more strangely. This culminates when Yuri, who has started to show obsessive tendencies, stabs herself.

                      Then Monika appears out of nowhere and opens the game console and enters in the line “delete yuri.chr” and “delete natsuki.chr” revealing that she is in fact sentient and knows she’s in a game. She also deletes everything else until its just you and Monika. Eventually the only way to finish the game is to go to your local file and delete monika.chr setting everything back to normal.

                      Now there many things that are interesting about the game but to me one of the most interesting things is Monika. I’m sympathetic to Monika even though she is the villain. After all, if you consider the fact that everything she deleted was unfeeling code her actions doesn’t really seem so bad. If you were trapped inside a game, you would try to escape too. As a whole this game was incredibly fun and I do recommend that you play it for yourself. -Daniel Marquez

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A Whiplash Movie Review

               Stunning. Thrilling. Breathtaking. Only some of the words that can describe the academy award winning film, Whiplash. A film written and directed by Academy winner, Damien Chazelle, based on his short film of the same name. It stars Miles Teller as Andrew Neiman, an aspiring Jazz student under the tutelage of a great but abusive teacher, Terence Fletcher who is played by JK Simmons. The film won several awards during the 87th Academy Awards, bagging Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Supporting Actor (for JK Simmons). It was also nominated for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, losing to Birdman and The Imitation Game, respectively.

               The film portrays the life of Andrew Neiman, a first-year Jazz student in Shaffer’s, who aspires to be one of the giants of Jazz (much like Buddy Rich). He is taken under the wing of Terrence Fletcher, a respected conductor/teacher in Shaffer’s, after seeing potential in him while practicing. Fletcher’s tough regime forced Neiman to dedicate all his time to practicing, cutting off ties with other people (his girlfriend). He finally gets his shot when he played “Whiplash” by memory in a concert, leading to his promotion to lead drummer. However, his role is continually challenged by other drummers Fletcher uses as competition for Neiman. He ultimately emerges victorious; however, his victory is cut short when he was caught in an accident rendering him incapable of playing. Frustrated and enraged, he attacks Fletcher in front of a crowd and gets expelled from Shaffer’s. Once out, he testified against Fletcher’s unorthodox and detrimental ways of teaching which promptly gets him fired. Undecided for his future, Neiman now a fast food employee encounters Fletcher in a Jazz bar playing with another band. He invites Neiman to join him in his new band to serve as his drummer. He accepted the offer but learns afterward that it was just a ploy of a vindictive Fletcher to get back at him. Crestfallen and humiliated, he walks out but returns after with a new resolve. Determined to prove himself to Fletcher, he plays “Whiplash” one last time and earns Fletcher’s newfound respect.

              The film is a relevant piece, mirroring the struggles of music students who are often derogated and neglected. As shown in the dinner scene with his relatives, where he is ignored repeatedly and his achievements deprecated. The film also deviates from the usual calm mentor-archetype, as seen in the characterization of Fletcher. The fast-paced cinematography of the film adds to the thrill of each scene, coupled with the brilliant use of sound that accompanies the intensity of each action. The performance of the actors is laudable, specifically JK Simmons’ character Terrence Fletcher. The intensity of their acting matches the emotions of their characters. The plot, although simple, screams a message that’s too blatant not to be heard. Overall, the film is an impeccable art. With its thrilling plot and a captivating performance by its actor, it is a film that’s worth your time.

CHAVEZ, Ruiz Lorenzo B.

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Stress

Stress

According to Oxford Living Dictionary, Stress is a state of mental or emotional tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. In other words, it simply means that stress is usually felt by the people who is working under pressure.

We all know how stressful this week is. Why? It is because this is the week of our finals. The never ending Speeches, examination, poems, papers, etc… It’s like we don’t have enough time to finish those tasks. But no, We are just used to this habit that we will only do the task we need to do the day before its submission or even the day of the submission itself. Right? Most of us are guilty about it. That habit is called the Mañana Habit. We are used in cramming. Even though the task was assigned to us a month before the said deadline we won’t do it as early as possible, simply because we always think that we still have a lot of time to do it. Yes, we do have a lot of time. But every second Matters. The problem with us students is that we don’t value the importance of time. We always have to remember the saying “Time is Gold”.

Don’t we realize that when we do the task as early as possible, the outcome would be much better compared to the outcome of what we crammed? Don’t we realize that it will be less stressful if we already finished what should be done? Don’t we realize that we can relax more if we’re not thinking of the things to be passed soon because it’s already done.

Its now time for us to change. To stop that Mañana Habit and start doing things that we can do now. No more time to be wasted. I’ve learned my lesson. Now, it’s time for you to learn yours.

Posted by: Escareses, Yvonne G.

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"I'm better than Messi" - Christiano Ronaldo There is no doubt that both players are the living legends of football legacy. Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo are two of the greatest football players in this generation that made huge fans. There is no doubt that there is a continuous argument about who is better. Ronaldo is better than messi starting with Ronaldo's height. 1.85 meters Ronaldo is way more better scoring with his head because of his height advantage against Messi, who stands at 1.65 meters. Ronaldo also showed the world with his previous team Manchester United his legendary and unbelievable free-kicks that no one could ever replicate. Ronaldo is always involved in charity work, both in and outside of football, and his efforts off the pitch show that he is a decent human being. But he will mostly be remembered for his performances on the pitch. At 32 years old, he should be slowing down but Ronaldo just enjoyed one of the best years of his glittering career. And with Ronaldo today has Five ballon d'ors as Messi has then that proves that Messi's era has come to an end. Ronaldo is also a leader, there was this one international game and he was playing for his country Portugal but he suddenly got injured during the early start of the game because of bad tackles from the opponent. Despite of the injury and despite that he couldn't play, he still chose and found a way to help his team by coaching them to win the trophy. And yes, 90 mins. of the game has ended and his team won because he believed in his teammate's capabilities. While on the other side Lionel Messi was also playing for his team Argentina and the same thing happened to him just like with the incident that has happened to Ronaldo but the dfference was Ronaldo was standing with a hurting knee and still helped his team while Messi on the other side was sitting in his chair and not a word came from his mouth. So whou do you think is better? Not just as a player but as a teammate also. Posted by Elan Josef U. Bañas

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Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent van gogh was a dutch post Impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of western art. His well known paintings were, Sunflowers, Wheatfield with Crows, The starry Night. He made atleast 2,100 artworks and 860 were oil paintings. He was well known for his bold colours and dramatic, impulsive and expressive brushwork that contributed to the foundations of modern art. At the age of 37 he committed suicide due to illness and poverty. Vincent was born in an upper middle class family, he drew as a child and was very quiet and thoughtful. As a young man he worked as an art dealer. He would often travel to places but became depressed after he was transferred to london. He turned to religion and spent time as a Protestant missionary in southern Belgium. He bacame ill before taking up painting in 1881. In 1886, he moved to Paris, where he met members of the avant-garde, including Émile Bernard and Paul Gauguin. As his worked developed he created a new approach to still lifes and local landscapes. His paintings grew brighter in colour as he developed a style that became fully realised during his stay in Arles in south of France in 1888. Van Gogh suffered from psychotic episodes and delusions, he worried about his mental stability, he would also neglect his physical health. Vincent was unsuccessful during his lifetime and was considered a madman and a failure. He only became famous after his suicide. His reputation began to grow in the early 20th century as elements of his painting style came to be incorporated by the Fauves and German Expressionists. He attained widespread critically and is remembered as an important but tragic painter, whose troubled personality typifies the romantic ideal of the tortured artist.

By: Jose Rafael Claro S. Bustamante

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300- Frank Miller

This movie is about the Spartans fighting off the Persian invaders led by Xerxes, son of Darius. The movie is also about strength, power, revolution, cooperation, and sadly, betrayal. This movie is based on a true story. The movie started with a scene where there was a Spartan elder throwing a baby from a cliff. The movie later shows that Spartans only accept babies who are healthy and without deformities and if the baby had problems, they kill the baby. Spartans are famous for their military prowess, discipline, and their respect for their queen and women. All able-bodied children are trained to be a warrior, ready to defend Sparta. Spartans are also known for how they choose their king. The king’s son will have to survive in the wilderness in order to prove that he is worthy to be his father’s successor. the movie showed Leonidas as kid sparring with his father. When he got older, he was sent away to survive the outside world. He survived despite being a young boy and killing a big wolf. He went home wearing the skin of the wolf he killed and impressed the king and the elders. When Leonidas succeeded as the king of the Spartans, Greece was being invaded by Persia and asking taxes to Xerxes in order to be spared. When Persian messengers came to Sparta, Leonidas and his men kicked the Persians into a well, making Xerxes furious and which triggered the start of the revolution. Although the elders did not approved Leonidas’ decision to fight the Persians, Leonidas gathered 300 men to join him in battle against the Persians and thus, the birth of “The Brave 300”. The battle begins soon after the Leonidas’ refusal to surrender. The Persians lost many battles against the Spartans. Meanwhile, Leonidas encountered Ephialtes, a deformed Spartan whose parents fled Sparta to spare him. Ephialtes asked to join the army and warns the king of a secret way in the pass that the Persians could use against them. Even though his intentions are good Leonidas rejects him when he saw he could not even hold the shield properly because of his condition which made Ephialtes enraged. Most of the battles occurred in the pass of Thermopylae where the Spartans with the aid of the Arcadians held off the Persians. Because of the defeats, Xerxes promised to give Leonidas wealth and power in exchange for his allegiance. Leonidas declines and mocks the Persian king for his weak army. The angry Persian king then sends his elite soldiers called “The Immortals” known for their fighting skills. The Greeks at the Thermopylae easily held them off using the phalanx method and the using the narrowness of the pass to their advantage. The furious Xerxes sends a large army including war elephants to fight the Greek army. Ephialtes, still mad about the rejection, betrays Sparta and went to Xerxes to inform him about the secret pass. The Persians used the secret pass and quickly takes the lead of the battle. When Leonidas saw he could not retreat because of the flank, he and the brave 300 sacrificed themselves to stay and let thousands of Arcadians escape. Meanwhile in Sparta, Queen Gorgo tries to persuade the elders to send reinforcements to help the king and his men. a corrupt politician named Theron claims that he owns the council and offers to help her in exchange for his sexual desires. When Theron disgraces Gorgo in front of the elders, she killed him and he dropped a handful of Xerxes’ gold, showing his betrayal. The elders agreed to send soldiers to fight the Persians. Back at the Thermopylae, the Arcadians successfully escaped while Leonidas and his men hold off the Persians. Xerxes then gives Leonidas another chance to surrender. Leonidas kneeled in front of the king as if to show respect but one of his men jumps from his back and killed several of Xerxes’ soldiers. Leonidas then shouts and throws a spear at Xerxes and wounded the Persian king’s face. Leonidas and his men fights the Persian army unto death until they succumb to a rain of arrows. Dilios, Leonidas’ right hand man, who was sent home due to his injury, tells Leonidas’ and the Brave 300’s tale to the Greeks that inspired them to unite and push the Persians away from Greece. Queen Gorgo then goes to her son and gave him Leonidas’ shield and necklace. A year later, the Persians are met by 30,000 mixed soldiers from each Greek states led by Dilios and 10,000 Spartans. After one final speech honoring the late king of Sparta and the 300, leads the Greek army to fight the Persians at fields of Plataea. What we liked about the movie is that it shows cool battle scenes complete with blood, awesome fighting moves and swordsmanship, going to battle without armor, only a shield and a helmet that makes them look confident that they would win, and slow motion effects which make the Spartans look more “badass”. As awesome as it looks, most of the scenes are not historically accurate. Spartans don’t go to war wearing only a helmet and a shield and flaunting their jacked abdominal muscles and biceps at their enemies. According to historians, Spartans wear a special kind of leather armor, and since leather is a light material, it makes them more agile than the enemy during battles. The part where they are surrounded by the Persians after they let the Arcadians escape look odd. What seems to be the 300 brave men behind Leonidas looks a lot less than 300 and more like 30 men in a phalanx position. They are supposed to show 300 men which is a plenty amount of soldiers behind Leonidas but it seems they didn’t care about it. The intimate scene between Leonidas and Gorgo is sometimes criticized by a handful of historians since they are not part of the history but for us, it’s fine because almost every movie does this business move/trick to make more people watch it. Well we also think that they intend to tell the viewers that Leonidas will die because the scene symbolizes a goodbye to his queen. Overall, it’s a great movie. It shows that unity and teamwork will always prevail even when the enemy/problem is stronger than you. It also teaches us about doing something for the better like from the scene where Leonidas decides to let the Arcadians escape rather than fighting because he knows they cannot defeat the Persians due to their situation where they are being attacked by both sides. It’s a great movie and was given a sequel and I hope there will be another one after the sequel. Posted by: Reynan Daño and Jerome Valdez

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I AM NOT FOR STEM.

I wasn’t in the mood to learn yet that very moment. My friend keeps tapping my shoulder to keep me awake. “What a boring class” I thought. But I couldn’t sleep now! I’m literally seating in the front row in front of my teacher, who keeps on discussing his house rules. Little did I know, that “boring class”, would’ve changed my life.

I took STEM as my strand and Architecture as my focus for college. It was my second term in APC, and I’m still unsure, am I really for STEM?

It was our Reading and Writing period when I was excused to perform and to play my cello together with APC Strings. As I peeked through the window, I noticed they’re talking about gender inequality. My favorite topic. I regretted not joining them, though.

Months passed, I couldn’t really catch-up with the topics. But I’m surely interested with how the teacher use current issues like feminism, gender inequality, pursuing arts vs. sciences, women, the patriarchal Philippine society, and my favorite, the LGBT Community, as his examples to discuss the lessons.

With that, my love for Reading&Writing didn’t just started. Discovering who I am as a person also did.

I never thought that I would end up realizing that I’m not really for STEM, god knows I’m a person of HUMSS. Ever since, I knew my passion for arts never left me. It was always there. It’s just that I didn’t paid much attention on arts before.

I never thought that with writing essays, papers, narratives, I would become the person who I thought would never exist. I never planned on even coming out to my classmates as bisexual. But through writing, it all happened. I expressed myself freely, unexpectedly. I experienced the feeling that I couldn’t find in solving mathematical problems, and I’m grateful for it.

In my family, I am closeted. I am imprisoned. In writing, I am out. I am heard. I am me.

Perhaps, this is something the STEM can’t do. Express.

Posted by: Realosa, Karen Claire P.

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Peryahan on a Christmas Day Fun

Christmas. Each and everyone of us celebrates this day right? Even if we dont have much food in our table when the clock strikes 12, we still celebrate it. Filipinos have different ways on celebrating Christmas. Some celebrate it in a “bongga” manner and some prefer simple.

So before I went to our province in Nueva Ecija for there to spend my Christmas Vacation, my cousins and I are already planning to go to this so-called “peryahan” that is located in the town. They said that there are a lot of rides there and this includes Vikings, Horror Train, Flying Fiesta, Ferris Wheel, Giant Slide, Mini Roller Coaster, and many more. Eventhough I still have a week in school, I couldn’t help myself but to feel very excited because this is my first time to go to a “peryahan.” We were talking about it the whole week because even my cousins are also excited.

There comes a time that the day before the last day of school before Christmas break, one of our cars had a minor issue and is subjected to be put on maintenance. I’m very much disappointed that time because me and my cousins plan is already fixed and we’re so excited about it. They are only waiting for me to arrive there in our province. I always persuade my mom to go to our province on/before Christmas day. She told me to wait and she’ll borrow my dad’s car. So I waited. But I can’t help but to ask her everyday if my dad already agreed. After days of asking and persuading them. They agreed to drive me home to our provice.

So me and my cousin’s most awaited day came. When we arrived, I hurriedly went to my cousin’s house and called them. We talked about the plan and we decided to go there on or after Christmas day. We went there on the 25th. There are surely a lot of people. There were 9 of us. First we rode the Horror train. We thought that it was very scary inside because we can here people screaming. But when it was our turn, it was not that scary at all. The people responsible for scaring people are only wearing masks and is not even scary. The second one is the Ferris Wheel. This is not one of those typical Ferris Wheels that you have in mind. When we say Ferris Wheel, the next thing that pops up in our mind is romantic, slow, etc. But the Ferris Wheel there is not what you are all thinking. The Ferris Wheel there is not that high compared to the high Ferris Wheels like the one’s in Mall of Asia or Sky Ranch in Tagaytay. Also when it moves, it is not slow. It was fast. It was hella fast. So fast that I felt like I’m going to pee. And the last ride that we rode is the Vikings. Most of us knew what Vikings is right? It is a ship that swings back and forth. We were at the end of it. Just like in the Ferris Wheel, I felt like I was about to pee my pants but luckily I didn’t. In Filipino term it’s “nakakalula.” Because the way it swings is so high. We didn’t try the other rides because we felt that it was unsafe and we don’t have anymore time because it was late already and we need to go home.

While we were walking towards the tricycle stand, we were talking about how fun going to “peryahan” is. And the happy moments we shared. As I look at them one-by-one, happily telling stories of enjoyment to each other, I realized that I am so lucky and blessed to have them in my life. They are only my relatives but I treat them as a precious gift that God has given me. Also I don’t treat them as a relative only. I treat them as a friend and most especially a family.

So my advice for you is this. Treat your friends, relatives, family, and even your enemy as a gift from God. They are the one’s who are always by your side. They are the people that surrounds you. Cherish your memorable moments with them. Every memories you had with them. Even if it’s good or bad, happy or sad. Cherish every single second that you have with them. Give them importance, love, and respect that they deserve. Dont waste even a millisecond because you’ll never know what will happen next.

Posted by: Kaitleen Arenga

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Dear 2017

To be honest, I really hate sharing to others. Don't get me wrong but I'm not that friendly. The only thing I'm doing this is because I can't think of anything as my topic so I'm choosing to share my 2017 experience to you. Compared to my previous years of existence, I can say that this year's a tough one. I lost many people and I'm happy with that. I found my worth in myself the moment they were gone. I learned how to be independent. For the past few years, I told myself that I should not cry more than 10 times for the rest of my life. I always think of it as a lack of strength and weak ability but that changed. I learned that crying and letting it all out makes me stronger every single time. It showed how strong I am for facing all my problems and struggles in this world. I learned how to love and appreciate myself even more. Being enlisted as the one who's always trying to please others, I became a better person.

-       Viola

2017 has been a great year for me, it was a fun and exciting year but don’t get me wrong we all know that everybody has ups and downs. Sadly my 2017 might have been full of downs but that is fine with me, why? because I have learned a lot from it and I already promised myself that I will start and end this year strong. I have thought of suicide too many times in my life and it is now the time to change it. I am so blessed to have our God and my loved ones, I owe everything to them because without them I might not be here right now sharing my experiences with you. This year I told myself that I will surround myself with the people who spread positivity. I know that God will help, guide, and support me to become the person who He wanted me to be.

-       Buhay

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Engineers of the Past and Today

We often look up to the sky and think that there is a possibility we are not alone in  this universe. If there’s only something that can prove it, surely our way of understanding life on Earth would be change. Scientist also want to know how galaxies were made, what’s up with the dark matter, and many questions regarding our universe. We also seek answers  through space but our technogies are limited to what we have right now. But last July 03, 2016, China made a historical breakthrough, not only in the field of engineering but also in space explorations. China build a giant radio telescope located  in the Dawodang depression, a natural basin in Pingtang County, Guizhou Province, southwest China. They named it Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope(FAST), but some others call it “Heavenly Eye” because of its size. It cost them a staggering 180 million dollars to fund this project. This enormous dish has a dimension of 500m of diameter and has a deep of 140 m. It also constitutes by 4450 single triangular panels that reflects the radio waves. 6300 ft above the ground hangs the aperture which collects waves from outer space. This aperture makes it sensitive and can receive radio waves rom billion of light years away from Earth. All those characteristics made it more sophisticated to build. It surely give head aches to engineers because of the problems along the way. They will not finished that infrastructures without taking ideas from past innovative inventions and perceptions from great engineers. So Im gonna share you today some concepts used by the pioneers of FAST that they get from some great designs of the past. The structural support of the dish of FAST has been inspired by the Geodysec Dome of Architect Richard Fuller. Geodysec Dome was in England and it is invented due to the shortage of resource in building houses, since  the time of it is in the midst of world war 2. Those dome were lightweight and super durable unlike from the conventional design of houses and surprisingly, it uses less materials to build. Its dueability lies on the support of the dome, beneath are triangular beams. That design was copied by the engineers of FAST. The Receiving dish was also inspired by the design of William Samson. Samson made a parabolic shape structure along the seashore of Kent Coast to amplify the sound of airplanes heading towards them. This made there defense ahead sonce they have time to prepare to it. That parabolic structure help FAST to collect radio waves from outer space then concentrate it to one location, thus amplifying the waves. Its dish should also be mobile enough to cover areas where radio signals is strong. Again, they take inspiration to a great inventor in the past, Klara Kappel. Kappel design the first simulator, and it was given the reality of feeling in flight because of its Hydraulic jacks. Those hydraulic was also installed beneath the dish of FAST so it made it moveable. It is critical to satellite dish since not every time same positioning is perfect for receiving radio signals. Those designs are just some of it that inspired building FAST Satellite. It is significant for me and for those aspiring engineers because it teaches us how to be creative to solve problems. And when we cannot find solutions, look back from our great engineer fathers because it maybe solved long time ago. It does not only motivates us to finish what we have started but to think impossible projects to be possible. Today we have the power to expand our knowledge about universe. Many astronomical questions will also be answered through scientific observations by using that telescope. So FAST will truly make our understanding vast.  

Posted by:

Dexter Ariola