Aspiring scribes join journalism workshop

via Emmanuel Salazar | The QuantumPhotos: Pearl Beleña, Gabrielle Ayesha Nicolas Applicants of Ang Liwanag and The Quantum attended the Journalism Enrichment Workshop at Pasay City National Science High School Audio-Visual Room, August 9, 2025. The event, organized by the school’s official Filipino and English publications, opened the event with remarks from Mrs. Myra Jaime, Gurong Tagapagpayo of Ang Liwanag, and Dr. Mark Familaran, School Principal II. “Write what ever you want, but also, let us know,” Dr. Familaran stated, expressing his sincere gratitude to the aspiring journalists for their dedication and bravery in stepping into the newsroom. Zyriel Coronel, former News Editor and Associate Editor of The Quantum and Mr. Mark Balolo, the School Paper Adviser of The Quantum, covered News Writing in the morning session. While Jacqui De Gueno, former Kawaksing Patnugot and Patnugot sa Agham at Teknolohiya of Ang Liwanag, led Science and Technology Writing. Former Managing Editor and Column Editor of The Quantum, Shaun Jacinto and Alicia Venus, former Patnugot sa Editoryal of Ang Liwanag, led Column and Editorial Writing. Lastly, Xyrel Canonoy and Matthew Vitug, former Editors-in-Chief of The Quantum and Punong Patnugot of Ang Liwanag, handled Radio Broadcasting. The session ended with morning speakers awarded by certificates. Neil Icaro, Head Technical of The Quantum, led video editing in the afternoon session. Hershey Sta. Brigida, former Feature Staffer, led Feature Writing. Next, Jedrick Palonpon and Reisha Uy, former Senior and Assistant Senior Photojournalists of The Quantum, presented photojournalism. Yelena Fabricante, Senior Layout Artist of The Quantum, handled Layout and Design. Lastly, Carl Chua, Patnugot sa Pampalakasan of Ang Liwanag, led Sports Writing. Certificates were awarded to the afternoon session speakers at the conclusion of the workshop. Mr. Balolo reminded applicants of the upcoming schedule for the battery test and wished everyone good luck in his closing remarks, saying “I hope to see you all in the publication.”

New PaScian leaders sworn in, turnover held

via Emmanuel Salazar | The QuantumPhotos by: Aliyah Lopez, Pearl Belena, Dexter Ogale The Oath Taking and Turnover Ceremony for PaScian Leaders took place at the Pasay City National Science High School gymnasium yesterday, August 8, 2025. The event began with the entrance of the Supreme Secondary Learners’ Government (SSLG) officers, followed by classroom officers, the Homeroom Parents-Teachers Association (HRPTA), the School Parents-Teachers Association (SPTA), and the clubs and organizations in alphabetical order. After the entrance of colors by the PCNSciHS Senior Scouting Movement and Girl Scouts of the Philippines, and preliminaries led by PaScian students, Mrs. Sara Jane Delos Santos—Assistant Principal II, delivered her opening remarks followed by an inspirational message from Dr. Mark Anthony Familaran, School Principal II. The oath taking started with the classroom officers, led by Neil Josh Icaro, SSLG Vice President, followed by the HRPTA and SPTA, led by Dr. Familaran and Mrs. Jenny Delos Santos, HRPTA President. Meanwhile, the oath of office for the organizations was then led by Filha Ray Bautista, SSLG President. The turnover ceremony followed, beginning with the challenge from outgoing to the acceptance of virtues by incoming SSLG Officers. Following the symbolic turnover, an inspiring video message from GMA Broadcast Journalist and Alumna of Pasay City National Science High School Darlene Cay, along with multi-awarded Filipino broadcast journalist and GMA News anchor Jessica Soho, greeted and challenged the PaScian leaders. Mrs. Jackyline Lagaña, Faculty and Employees Association (FEA) President and Head Teacher III of the English Department, gave her closing remarks. “You will face times when it will be easier to stay silent, to stand back, or to choose what’s convenient over what’s right. But remember, true leaders are not forged in times of ease, but in times of challenges,” Mrs. Lagaña stated. The event concluded with the community singing “Liwanag sa Dilim” led by Janieve Dayangco, followed by the exit of colors and photo opportunity.

The Silent Cost of Privilege

by: Lara Venice S. De LeonCopyedited by: Stacie Marie CatalloPublication: Noelle Isabel Cabrera Every year, the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) is seen as more than just an entrance exam—it becomes a national spectacle. Tens of thousands of hopeful students flock to testing centers, with some even willing to sacrifice their all for their merits to be recognized. But behind the posters, prayer candles, and sharpened pencils, lies an ugly, uncomfortable truth: not everyone is meant to bask in the spotlight. UP is not a trophy. It’s a promise–a promise that no matter how little you have, if you’re brilliant and hardworking, the nation will invest in you. But when this promise is given to those who already have everything, what’s left for those who don’t? The University of the Philippines was never designed for the elite. It was created for the children of farmers, tricycle drivers, single mothers, and minimum-wage workers—students who, despite poverty and circumstance, dare to dream. But every year, we see more and more of the opposite. Students from affluent backgrounds, with polished credentials and lives of comfort, are steadily filling the spaces once meant for the underserved. These students often outperform others, not purely because they are smarter, but because the system has long been tilted in their favor. Families from the top income brackets can spend hundreds of thousands of pesos–or even more, on private school tuition and specialized review centers for UPCAT. Some even send their children to exclusive summer camps designed for test-taking strategies. In contrast, many public school students cannot afford any form of professional review. They rely solely on free online reviewers, borrowed textbooks, and self-study in between household chores or part-time work. With such unequal starting points, it’s no surprise that, as The Philippine Star reported, applicants with an income advantage are 13% more likely to be admitted into UP than those from poorer households. That number reflects more than just academic preparation—it proves that the system favors those who already have more. And that’s not equity, it’s quiet erasure. State universities have limited slots. And every time a student who can afford five-digit tuition in private schools takes one of those slots, a public high school graduate loses it. That’s one more broken dream. One more soul left behind by a system that promised to serve the underprivileged. On the other hand, privileged students often defend their place in UP by saying, “I reviewed just as hard,” or “I earned my spot.” That may be true, but effort exists within vastly different realities. Many come to UP not just for prestige, but for quality education, social awareness, and the chance to be part of a community that values critical thinking and public service. Some genuinely want to immerse themselves in the struggles of the majority and break out of elite bubbles. Still, good intentions don’t erase systemic inequality. While one privileged student is admitted, there is always an underprivileged student who was just as deserving, yet had fewer advantages to prove it. As responsible citizens, we must remember whom public schools were built for. Public education should exist to correct inequality, not quietly reinforce it through systems that appear neutral but benefit the already advantaged. As Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” But for that weapon to be truly powerful, it must be placed in the hands of those who need it most. When quality education becomes most accessible to those who already hold power, it ceases to be a means of transformation and becomes merely a recycled privilege. If education is a right, then it must be made accessible not just in theory, but in practice, through policies, priorities, and admissions that reflect the realities of inequality. Anything less is injustice dressed up as fairness  

Nangangarap maging Iska

| Danica Wayne D. Araneta| Leigh Ann Prado Rebultong hubad—simbolo ng walang pag-aalinlangang pag-aalay ng sarili, ng sakripisyo, at tapat na paglilingkod para sa bayan. Numero unong unibersidad na matatagpuan sa Pilipinas. Hinahangaan, tinitingala at pinapangarap ng karamihan. Ang makapag-aral at higit sa lahat, makapagtapos dito, ay itinuturing na isang malaking tagumpay. Tagumpay na nagbibigay pag-asa at panibagong sigla sa sinumang nangangarap. Ngunit ano nga ba ang taglay ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas at ito’y itinuturing na hangarin ng napakaraming kabataang Pilipino? “Mahirap makapasok d’yan!”, “Parang magsusuot ka sa butas ng karayom bago ka makapasa!”, ”Kapag nakapagtapos ka riyan, abot langit ang tuwang mararamdaman mo!” Iilan lamang ito sa mga komentong madalas kong naririnig. Sa bawat araw na puno ng pasanin mula sa mga pagsusulit, takdang-aralin, at iba pang gawaing pang-akademiko, hindi natin maiwasang itanong sa sarili: “Paano ko mararating ang unibersidad na kinikilala bilang sagisag ng tagumpay at oportunidad na matagal ko nang minimithi?” Ang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas ay hindi lamang basta – basta isang pampublikong paaralan. Isa itong kinatawan ng mga pangarap — mga pangarap na nangangailangan ng ‘di matatawarang dedikasyon, sakripisyo, at pagsisikap. Madalas, ang kaisipang ito ang nagsisilbing apoy na nagtutulak sa atin upang magpatuloy sa kabila ng pagod, puyat, at hirap. At ang laban na ito ay hindi lamang para sa ating mga sarili, kundi para rin sa mga taong patuloy na naniniwala sa atin, at sa ating mga kakayahan. Ang landas patungo sa UP ay hindi madaling tahakin. Puno ito ng mga pagsubok, pagdududa, at paulit-ulit na tanong kung sapat na ba ang ating ginagawa. Ilang oras na ba ang ginugol sa pag-aaral ng mga leksyong tila hindi maintindihan? Ilang gabi na bang tulog ang isinakripisyo, ilang kasayahan ang ipinagpaliban, at ilang beses na bang muntik nang sumuko? Ngunit sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, patuloy pa rin tayong naniniwala. Dahil alam nating ang bawat hirap ay may kahihinatnang ginhawa—isang mas maliwanag na kinabukasan hindi lang para sa atin, kundi para sa ating mga pamilya. Ang pagpasok sa UP ay hindi lamang usapin ng mataas na marka o katalinuhan. Ito ay higit na pagsubok ng tibay ng loob, determinasyon, at handang magsakrapisyo lampas pa sa inaakala ng iba. Sa bawat gabing pinipilit mong manatiling gising upang matapos ang mga gawain, sa bawat pagsubok na pilit mong nilalampasan, ipinapakita mo sa sarili mo na kaya mong abutin ang pangarap mo. Ang maging Iskolar ng Bayan. Ang pangarap na makapasok sa UP ay nagsisilbing ilaw sa madilim na daan. Isang inspirasyon sa ating mga puso upang hindi sumuko., Tinuturuan tayo ng pangarap na ito na ang tagumpay ay hindi nakakamtan sa isang iglap, kundi bunga ng pananalig, tiyaga, at pusong handang magsilbi sa lahat. Hanggang sa dumating ang araw na hawak mo na ang liham ng pagtanggap, hanggang sa maisuot mo na ang sablay na sagisag ng tagumpay, patuloy tayong mangangarap, magsusumikap, at maglilingkod sa nasasakupan. Dahil sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, ang bawat pangarap ay nagkakaroon ng layunin—ang maging tunay na alagad ng bayan.  

PaScians uphold tradition for Buwan ng Wika ‘25

via Hannah Zarren Vere | The Quantum The opening ceremony for Buwan ng Wika 2025 with the theme: “Paglinang sa Filipino at Katutubong Wika: Makasaysayan sa Pagkakaisa ng Bansa” was attended by grade level 7 to 11 wearing Filipinianas and Barong Tagalog at Pasay City National Science High School Gymnasium on August 1, 2025. After standard preliminaries, program host, Mr. Marlower Abuan introduced Filipino Department Coordinator, Mrs. Myra Jaime for her opening remarks, where she commended Mrs. Sara Jane T. Delos Santos, Assistant Principal and Dr. Mark Familaran, Principal for their unending support for the department. “Sa ating pagbubukas ng buwan ng wika, isang pagbubugay sa diwang dakila. Wikang Filipino katutubong tinig, susi sa pag-unlad, tagapaghatid ng pag-ibig.” Dr. Familaran said. ‎Two intermission numbers by Grade 9 and 11 students Gabielle Dayangco and Erica Puno from the Pascian Glee Club followed. The audience competed in games of Q&A, History Facts, Guess the Bayani and more. Led by Vincent Mamaril, the President from Kapisan ng Bayani. The Cultural Arts Special Program then spearheaded the 2nd intermission number, through the ethnic group performances of iconic Filipino dances. “Ortograpiyang Pambansa” is the lesson given by Close adviser of Kapisanan ng mga Mag-aaral sa Asignaturang Filipino (KMAF), Ashlee Magistrado. Where she taught proper writing and punctuation for Filipino literature. Afterwards, ‎Rolando Teves announced the respective competitions for each grade level before Mr. Abuan shared his closing remarks and formally ended the program.

Maligayang Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa!

| Rhenoah Guerrero Sa pag-ikot ng buwan ng Agosto, ating ginugunita ang kahalagahan ng wikang Filipino at ng mga katutubong wika na nagsilbing mga tinig ng ating lahi at puso ng ating pagkakakilanlan. Sa ating wika, nakaukit ang ating kasaysayan at adhikaing magkaisa bilang isang sambayanan. Sa tema ngayong taon na “Paglinang sa Filipino at Katutubong Wika: Makasaysayan sa Pagkakaisa ng Bansa,” nawa’y magsilbi itong paalala na ang ating wika ay sandigan ng pagkakaisa at pagkakaunawaan, saan mang panig ng bansa. Maligayang Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa!

Maligayang Buwan ng Wika, PaScians!

Publication by: Rianne Dane Lopez This August, we celebrate the roots of our identity and the voices that have shaped our nation. With the theme, Buwan ng Wika 2025: Paglinang sa Filipino at Katutubong Wika: Makasaysayan sa Pagkakaisa ng Bansa, we are reminded that by nurturing both our national and native languages, we not only preserve our rich history but also strengthen the unity that defines us as Filipinos. Maligayang Buwan ng Wika, PaScians!

Oath Taking at Turnover Ceremony , idinaos

: Alaiza Eunice S. Cruz: Juan Miguel Santos Isinagawa ang Oath Taking at Turnover Ceremony ng mga dati at bagong administrasyon ng Supreme Secondary Learners’ Government (SSLG), School Parent-Teacher Association (SPTA) at Faculty and Employees Association (FEA) na dinaluhan ng punongguro, mga opisyales na mag-aaral, mga magulang at mga guro sa School Canteen ng Pasay City National Science High School (PCNSCiHS). Sinimulan nina Sofia Michiko Yamamoto at Ayesha Ehris Salazar ang programa bilang mga tagapagdaloy ng seremonya na may temang, “With a Heart that Serves and a Spirit United: Towards Nation-Building through Pascian Leadership” ganap na alas dos ng hapon. Sinundan agad ito ng preliminaryo sa pangunguna ng ilang miyembro ng Glee Club na sina Orange Alcaraz, Althea Ventura, Janieve Dayangco, at Carlos Agripa ng ikasiyam na baitang. Binanggit ni Dr. Mark Anthony F. Familaran, punongguro ng PCNSciHS, ang nalalapit na Induction Ceremony ng mga mamumunong PaScian sa iba’t ibang klab sa darating na Agosto 8 sa kanyang mensahe. “Since nandito na rin po ang ating mga parents, inaasam po namin na sa Induction po ng ating mga student sa organizations po natin in the school ay present din po kayo para makita natin kung paano pinaghandaan ng ating SSLG ’yong presentation“ aniya. Ginawaran ng sertipiko ang mga naglingkod na lider sa nakaraang taon bilang pagkilala sa kanilang natatanging serbisyo. Sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Sofia Michiko Yamamoto sa SSLG, Gng. Jenny Delos Santos sa SPTA at Gng. Chiradee Javiniar sa FEA. Naghandog muli ng isang awit si Dayangco na ang mensahe ay simbolo’t paalala ng malasakit at pagmamahal sa bayan. Ipinasa ni Gng. Javiniar, pangulo ng FEA mula taong 2023 hanggang 2025, ang kanyang tungkulin kay Gng. Jackyline T. Lagaña, ang bagong halal na pangulo para sa taong 2025 hanggang 2027. Gayundin ni G. Jojo Ray Dela Cruz, kinatawan G. Emerson Constantino, focal person ng SPTA upang ibahagi ang pagtanggap sa tungkulin ni Gng. Delos Santos para sa kanyang pangalawang termino bilang pangulo ng SPTA para sa taong 2025 hanggang 2026. Binigyang-diin ang panunumpa ng mga bagong opisyal ng mga naturang organisasyon na pinangunahan ni Gng. Delos Santos—ang kanilang panata sa tapat na paglilingkod sa paaralan kasama ang bagong administrasyon sa pamumuno ng SSLG sa ilalim ni Filha Ray Penelope Bautista ngayong taong panuruan. Nagbigay ng pangwakas pananalita si Gng. Lagaña upang pasalamatan ang lahat ng dumalo at hikayatin ang mas aktibong pakikilahok ng mga guro, magulang, at mag-aaral sa mga susunod na proyekto ng paaralan. Natapos ang palatuntunan dakong alas tres ng hapon. Ito ay patunay ng mas pinagtibay na ugnayan ng mga guro, magulang, at mag-aaral sa iisang layunin—ang patuloy na pagpapaunlad ng edukasyon at karakter ng kabataan.

PCNSciHS holds Oath Taking and Turnover Ceremony

via Emmanuel Salazar | The QuantumCopyedited by: Estella TaluaPhotos by: Aliyah Lopez The Oath Taking and Turnover Ceremony, with the theme “With a Heart that Serves and a Spirit United Towards Nation-Building through PaScian Leadership,” took place at Pasay City National Science High School today, July 30, 2025. Officers of the Supreme Secondary Learners’ Government (SSLG), School Parent-Teacher Association (SPTA), and Faculty and Employees Association (FEA) attended the event. Grade 9 students Carlos Agripa, Orange Alcaraz, Janieve Dayangco, and Althea Ventura led the preliminary activities. Followed by the opening remarks from Dr. Mark Familaran, the school principal. Dr. Familaran, FEA president, and Head Teacher III of the English Department, Mrs. Jackyline Lagaña led the distribution of certificates to SSLG Officers, followed by an intermission number led by Janieve Dayangco. The turnover ceremony began as Mrs. Chiradee Javiniar — outgoing FEA president, turned over her position to Mrs. Lagaña, followed by SPTA Focal Person Representative Mr. Jojo Dela Cruz and SPTA President Jenny Delos Santos. “Ang tunay na lakas ng lider ay nasusukat sa natutulungan niyang mamuno. Let’s lift each other up,” Mrs. Lagaña said. Mrs. Delos Santos led the oath of office, followed by the closing remarks from Mrs. Lagaña.