Republic of the Philippines

Pasay City National Science High School

Schools Division Office - Pasay City

By: Aljhur Danganan Graphics: Noelle Cabrera Publication: Caitlin Mutas As the period of the filing of certificates of candidacy ended last October, Filipinos are left faced with a lineup of aspirants filled with underqualified clowns and opportunists seeking the favor of the public. It is truly concerning to see the hundreds of contenders eligible for next year’s election. Celebrities, social media personalities, dynasties, and those with no background or experience in law constituted a majority of the circus shaping up the midterm election runners. With only a few competent candidates, it seems like politics has become a playground for the antics of the ever-so-frivolous clowns who treat it as a side hustle or a chance for political clout. Among the candidates is Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, currently detained and facing charges of sexual abuse and human trafficking, who filed for candidacy in the Senate through an authorized representative. In Negros Oriental, Pryde Henry Teves, brother of former mayor Arnolfo Teves who was tagged as the mastermind behind former governor Roel Degamo’s assassination. Henry successfully filed his certificate of candidacy as governor despite being designated as a terrorist by the government and facing terrorism financing cases. Allowing such candidates with pending cases to serve the very people they were accused of inflicting crimes on puts the electoral process into mockery. It insults ‌citizens in need of genuine leaders to be faced with injustice. Social media personality Deo “Diwata” Balbuena, known for his pares eatery “Diwata Pares”, formalized his bid as the fourth nominee of the Vendors Party-list. Despite his seemingly legitimate platform, there was no mention of any specific law or plan that would effectively protect the welfare of vendors and how other people would benefit from it. Suchis the circumstance for a lot of the candidates. They do not need to be in power to make a change. The entire point of cooperatives and NGOs is to fulfill the needs and aspirations of certain associations of people without the control of the government. When seats are limited, they must go to legitimate leaders who have actual experience in lawmaking and politics for the betterment of the entire country. Situations like these raise a question pondered by ‌Filipinos. Why is the standard so low in allowing aspirants to run for public office? One would think that a role in serving the country and its people would require a much higher caliber of a leader. Instead, it is overrun by corrupt individuals, people with no political background, and those who take advantage of being in power. Unfortunately, the country’s democratic system allows just that. The 1987 Constitution simply states that anyone can run, given that they are a natural-born citizen, able to read and write, and a registered voter and resident. Yes, anyone can run, but it does not mean that they are rightfully due for the position. It is evident in many bonafide leaders that they resort to running for local administrative bodies, seeing that they have no chance of winning at higher roles such as the Senate. Alas, the lack of education and close-mindedness of many voters have deliberately aggravated the electoral process. It has made them vulnerable to disinformation and merely vote by reason of name recognition. Now that the Commission on Elections has begun the cleansing of candidates, let us hope that the true nuisance candidates are withdrawn. One can hope that the growing circus transforms into a platform where truthfully voicing your intentions is perceived as more than garnering attention and deceiving the public. Ultimately, no matter how flawed or unjust political qualifications are, the decision lies in the hands of Filipino voters. It is their responsibility to choose the right leaders who value the welfare of the country and are endowed with a clear vision for addressing pressing matters at hand. It is their obligation to assess the caliber of every candidate and make educated choices. The true power is in the hands of the voting populace. Let us remember that they are seeking our vote. To vote wisely is to be informed and ‌not be easily deceived. The future of our nation depends on our ability to rise above the circus and fight for our aspirations for the country. Only then can we uphold our leaders to the highest standard and maintain the true spirit of democracy for posterity’s sake. After all, the ballot is stronger than the bullet. Editor’s Note: This comes on the heels of the recently concluded Presidential Elections in the United States a week ago, which marked a historic moment as America’s first convicted criminal, Donald Trump, ascended to the presidency.

By: Nikita Xyzelle B. PariñaGraphics: Cyrelle RañesesPublication: Caitlin Mutas To lift weights properly, you must balance the load evenly across both shoulders. This principle is often taught to weightlifters raising a barbell—each shoulder must bear equal force, creating harmony to prevent injury. This concept of balance extends to real-life situations: neglecting one aspect of life to focus solely on another can lead to a breakdown in performance. If we fixate on one responsibility, ignoring others, the weight we’re trying to lift can become unbearably heavy, preventing true success. For example, in a science high school setting, students are known for their academic strengths. However, when it comes to sports, these schools often struggle in competitions with other institutions. This imbalance suggests a need for greater focus on physical education to ensure students develop both physically and mentally. Balancing physical and academic education is indeed challenging in a science high school, where most resources and energy are devoted to Science, English, and Math. Unfortunately, this often leaves physical education—and the sports opportunities it brings—underemphasized. One factor contributing to this imbalance is the insufficient resources available for sports equipment in the campus. For instance, athletes were unprepared during the Division Palaro 2023-2024 due to difficulties with resources and time. “During the last school year’s Division Palaro, we only had a month to practice on campus. While in the situation, we really struggled,” said Jedrick Palonpon, a senior high school student. “We only had one trainer, our equipment was lacking, and if it wasn’t lacking, it was broken. Then when we entered the competition, we were really surprised since the standard game setting we had wasn’t applicable for the contest.” This lack of equipment available also affects the number of student-athletes who can represent the school competitively. “For me, if physical education continues to be neglected, athletes may struggle with motivation, experience burnout, and see declines in their academic performance. They may also face challenges transitioning into sports careers,” shared Kaeley Dio, a student-athlete. “No matter how academically focused a school is, physical education is essential. It helps balance the mind and body, enabling students to reach their full potential.” This situation is concerning. The academic emphasis without an equal focus on physical education limits students’ abilities, reduces the pool of athletes competing, and impacts the institution’s performance in sports competitions. To balance the weight properly, schools must prioritize both mental and physical education. Teachers can support this by encouraging active participation, organizing diverse sports activities, and promoting physical education as a core part of the curriculum. In addition, balancing academic and physical education within the schedule would enable students to grow both mentally and physically. The balanced force. Through this, students are capable of showcasing their skills physically and mentally. In fact, we know that to achieve true growth, we must strive for equilibrium in both skills. In assessing this situation, a problem with regards to us personally, academically, and in general conditions could have various advantages when taken into consideration. Lastly, students are not only here to learn mentally, but to improve physically. Physical education must be prioritized, balancing capabilities should be analyzed.