: Alaiza Cruz: Ashley Ballesteros Isang bagong pag-aaral sa Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park ang nagbunyag ng mababang bilang ng marine gastropods na palatandaan ng matinding epekto ng polusyon at urbanisasyon sa natatanging wetland na ito sa Metro Manila. Kinabilangan ng mga dating estudyante ng Pasay City National Science High School (PCNSciHS) na sina Guianne Emmanuelle F. Angsanto, Dyanne Kimberly Q. Lao, Ryza Jane Cezar, Arnold Janssen G. Sumilang, Olivia Estephanie A. Basul, Felmyr Jhude B. Gamboa, Veronica Anne L. Hernandez at Clarence Vince M. Ikalina, dating research adviser na si G. Christian Jayvon C. Laluna, at mga partner researchers galing Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) College of Science na sina G. Alvin N. Caril, Bb. Arial Joy J. Roderos, at G. Noel A. Saguil ang naturang pag-aaral. Ayon kay Guianne Angsanto, ang lider ng grupong nagsagawa ng pag-aaral, ang mga pangunahing sanhi ng polusyon at urbanisasyon sa wetland ay kinabibilangan ng patuloy na pagtatambak ng basura, land reclamation, at coastal development. Ang mga pagbabagong ito ay nagiging sanhi ng pagkasira ng natural na tirahan ng mga marine gastropods, lalo na sa mga mangrove area na bahagi ng focus ng kanilang research. “Kapag bumaba ang kalidad ng tubig, nasira ang mga tirahan, o dumami ang mga invasive species, ito ay malaki ang epekto sa populasyon ng mga gastropods,” ani Angsanto. Ang lugar ay itinuturing na Ramsar site o internasyonal na protektadong basang-lupa kung kailan ngayon ay humaharap sa panganib. Kailangan na ang agarang aksiyon para mapanatili ang natitirang baybaying santuwaryo ng siyudad. Pagbati sa ating mga mananaliksik! Basahin ang buong ulat sa Vol. 54 (1) Spring 2024: https://ams.wildapricot.org/AMS-Newsletter
PCNSciHS General Assembly 2025-2026
via Elyzza Esteban | The QuantumPhotos by: Chainne Ysabelle Guevarra, Dexter Ogale, Aliyah Lopez, Santine Mauritius Susa Parents and faculty members of Pasay City National Science High School gathered at the school gymnasium this morning, July 11, for the annual General Assembly. During the program, the outgoing School Parent-Teacher Association (SPTA) officers, featured reports and shared updates on the projects accomplished from the previous school year. In the afternoon, participants took part in the election of new officers for both the Homeroom Parent-Teacher Association (HRPTA) and the SPTA—reinforcing the school’s continued partnership with its stakeholders.
Stop and Salute Flag Raising Ceremony sa Rizal Park
TINGNAN: Nagtipon ang iba’t ibang organisasyon, kabilang ang Girl Scouts of the Philippines ng Pasay City National Science High School, sa Stop and Salute Flag Raising Ceremony sa Rizal Park, Luneta ngayong ika-7 ng Hulyo, na pinangunahan ng Salute To A Clean Flag. Isinagawa ang aktibidad bilang bahagi ng pagdiriwang ng National Disability Rights Week, na dinaluhan nina Bb. Hidilyn Diaz, ang kauna-unahang Pilipinong nagkamit ng gintong medalya sa Olympic Game, at Bb. Rubilen Amit, ang unang Pilipina na nagwagi sa WPA Women’s World 9-Ball Championship.
Good Fight, Alas!
via Jorel De Vera | The QuantumPublication by: Sofia Divinagracia Alas Pilipinas succumbed to Chinese Taipei in straight sets in the battle for bronze, 0-3 (17-25, 24-26, 22-25) at the 2025 VTV Cup held at Nhà thi đấu Vĩnh Phúc Gymnasium in Phu Tho, Vietnam yesterday evening, July 5. The team came fresh off of a second-place finish at the AVC Challengers Cup and saw a movement in the lineup with some key players being replaced. However, this placement is still an improvement from last year’s 8th place when the NU Bulldogs represented the country in the tournament.
𝗜𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗸𝗮𝗱𝗮 𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝗼𝗻.
Matagal pa, pero ako’y pagod na pagod na. Ibang-iba na ang tingin ko sa buhay ngayong dose-dosenang responsibilidad na ang aking kinahaharap. Mula sa aming munting tahanan hanggang sa paaralan, tila ba’y sandali na lamang ay iwawagayway ko na ang puting bandila, dala-dala ang aking mga sakripisyo at paghihirap. Alam kong hindi agad natatapos ang paglalakbay para sa aking mga pangarap. Kaya hangga’t maaari, sinusubukan kong tibayan ang loob ko at patuloy na kayanin ang mga hamon ng buhay. Kaya naman, sa tuwing pinanghihinaan ako ng loob ay sinusulatan ko ang aking sarili–hindi upang humingi ng simpatiya, kundi upang mag-iwan ng paalala: Kinaya ko ang kahapon at patuloy akong lalaban para sa mga susunod na bukas. Naalala ko noon, ang dami kong kailangan gawin. Kailangan kong mag-ensayo para sa performance task sa sayaw, mag-aral para sa sunod-sunod na pagsusulit kinabukasan, at higit sa lahat, maghanda para sa presentasyon ng grupo. Aaminin ko, sa mga oras na ‘yon, gusto ko na lang maglaho o ‘di kaya’y maging isang pusang kain-tulog lang ang ginagawa sa buong maghapon. Dumating pa nga ako sa punto na napadasal ako ng, “Lord, hindi po ako bahagi ng sandatahang lakas Ninyo…” Pero syempre, ‘di ko tinuloy dahil baka madagdagan na naman ako ng minus 1 sa langit. Ang nagawa ko na lang ay tumingin sa salamin at umiyak. Limang minuto lang. Kasi kailangan ko pa rin talagang mag-aral. Pero sa limang minuto na ‘yon, may nakita akong iba sa salamin. Hindi ang ako na ngayon, kundi ‘yung batang ako. Umiiyak din siya. Pagod ding tulad ko. Pero may kaibahan kaming dalawa: siya, hindi sumuko. Samantalang ako, litong-lito kung magpapatuloy pa ba o hindi na. Doon ko napagtanto na kung siya, na mas bata at mas inosente, ay kinaya ang lahat– ano pa kaya ako ngayon? Kaya ko rin. Kung paanong sinabayan ng batang ako ang agos ng buhay, siguro, hindi masama kung siya ang maging dahilan kung bakit gusto ko pang ipagpatuloy ang lahat nang ito. Gaya nga ng liriko sa kantang 711 ni Toneejay, gusto kong ibigay buhay na gusto at karapat-dapat maranasan ng batang ako. Salamat sa batang ako, sapagkat hindi siya sumuko. Napagod lang, pero lumaban pa rin. Hindi ko maisusulat ito ngayon kung siya’y nanatili lang sa gitna ng rumaragasang alon ng buhay. Kaya iniaalay ko ang lahat ng tagumpay ko, sa mga pagsubok na kinaya ko, sa mga desisyong naging daan ng aking pagkatuto. Sa kanya. Sa batang ako. Mapapagod lang pero hindi susuko. Para sa lahat ng makababasa nito, nais kong ipaalala sa inyo: ayos lang bumagal. Ayos lang na pansamantalang huminto para huminga. Hindi naman matatapos ang pagtakbo mo sa iyong mga pangarap kung magpapahinga ka. Hindi naman palaging madugo ang problema. Gaya ng lahat ng bagay, ito rin ay lilisan at magbabago. 𝗔𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗸𝗼, 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗹 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗺𝗼. Kaya mo ‘yan. Kaya ko ‘to. Kakayanin natin ang lahat ng ito.
The Algorithm of Emotions
by: Santine Mauritius SusaGraphics by: Cyrelle Rañeses In the Philippines, where internet users spend an average of 4 hours and 6 minutes daily on social media, AI has become a quiet actor that curates not only content, but emotions. While it may seem that Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube simply show what’s “relevant,” the truth is more complicated—and even more concerning. AI systems on these platforms are designed to maximize engagement by learning what triggers reactions—whether that be anger, sympathy, excitement, or fear. The more emotionally intense the content, the more likely it is to be shown. Over time, this creates highly personalized and emotional echo chambers that show the user a feed of what makes them ‘feel’ the most, instead of what’s accurate and factual. What makes this even more dangerous is that AI is no longer just curating content—it is creating it. Tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and countless deepfake generators are now used to craft realistic-looking articles, images, videos, and even human voices, with little to no human input. These tools are becoming so advanced that many AI-generated posts are now indistinguishable from real content. Fake news articles can be written with proper grammar, journalistic tone, and convincing statistics—none of which are true. Deepfakes can replicate a politician’s face and voice to say something they never said. AI-generated tweets, memes, and videos can appear organic, especially when shared by trusted influencers or fan pages. These types of content are often paired with emotionally charged stories designed to go viral: stories that provoke anger, reinforce biases, or target vulnerable groups. And when these are amplified by social media algorithms, they spread faster than attemots at counter-acting with verified information—because emotional content is more likely to be clicked, shared, and engaged with. The staggering rise of AI-generated deepfakes on social media is outpacing manual fact-checking, tilting the balance in favor of falsehoods. With a population that’s highly expressive and active online, Filipino users are particularly at risk. Emotional reactions—be it laugh-reacts, rage comments, or teary shares—feed the algorithm’s understanding of what to push next. During the 2022 elections, many Filipinos unknowingly shared AI-generated content ranging from edited videos to false quotes. In many cases, the posts appeared professional, complete with watermarks and fake sources, making them harder to question. As AI-generated misinformation increases, so does public confusion and emotional fatigue. Users are left unsure about what’s real, overwhelmed by conflicting stories, and an increasingly distrustful rise of legitimate sources. This erosion of trust in both media and institutions is one of the most damaging long-term effects of emotional manipulation online. The first step in resisting this manipulation is understanding that not everything in your feed is real—or neutral. Users should be more critical of content that seems overly dramatic, unverified, or too perfectly aligned with personal beliefs. Efforts in digital literacy are being made nationwide, from NGOs to school programs, aiming to teach students how algorithms and AI content work. While regulation and platform accountability remain ongoing debates, the most immediate defense is personal awareness. In an age where artificial intelligence can imitate reality with alarming accuracy, being emotionally informed—and not just emotionally triggered—might be the best safeguard we have.
Happy World Sports Journalists Day!
Publication by: Rianne Dane Lopez From standing by the courtside to chasing stories beyond the scoreboard, our sports journalists go the extra mile to deliver every thrilling moment and every story that champions athletes. Their passion, dedication, and storytelling prowess keep the spirit of the game alive—on and off the field. Today, The Quantum celebrates the relentless efforts of our sports journalists who turn every game into a story worth telling. Happy World Sports Journalists Day!
Balolo on APCEIU News: Empowering Digital Media Literacy
via Nikita Parina and Danella De Vera | The QuantumPublication by: Rianne Lopez Mr. Mark Reniel Balolo was recently featured in APCEIU News as one of the 20 inbound teachers deployed to Korean schools. In his English classes, Mr. Balolo placed a strong emphasis on digital media literacy. See the full article below: https://www.unescoapceiu.org/post/5368
If you’re still there, I will find you
by: Rhian TabuadaPubliction by: Yelena Fabricante MOVIE: Paper Dolls Within these city lights, I thrive and find freedom on the stage. Heavy makeup hides my face, yet I wear a bright smile, red lips stretching to my ears. In this crowd, I find my identity embraced, and I feel at home in their arms. Poverty is no joke in my life. Every waking hour, I have to shrink back into the shell I once shed, the tight space crushing me deep inside the darkness, forcing my voice down until I am speechless. Yet, if it means I can help my family, I will endure the pain of hiding my true self, of who I am. However, within the four walls that tower over me, there is a man who seems to defy the norm. Old man, why do you accept me? Your religion despises my kind, urging you to raise your pitchforks to drive us out as if we were witches, pushing us to the stake to be burned alive. Your eyes, old and wrinkled, yet full of wisdom, may have once shown a flicker of hatred, but now you see me as someone. Gone is the time when you saw me as a spawn of the devil. No, you now see me as a human like you. I am your equal, but I never expected you’d call me your family. I am truly honored. How I long to be with my own, but here, on the soil of a land miles from home, I find someone who can fill the void. In my eyes, you’re the second father I needed. And in your shoes, you look back at me with the same affection, as if I were your own daughter. Son. Child. But fate is cruel to both of us. Now I am stripped of my title, my job. Kicked out, shunned, and returned to the soil I came from, with nothing but my clothes and the money I managed to scrape and save. When will I see you again? Time flies. Even now, as I pick myself up and face my own patients–who now call me their nurse–I still see your eyes in them. I am no longer a dancer, but that doesn’t mean my identity has been taken from me. I am who I was meant to be, like a bird finally freed from its gilded cage. I flap my wings against the wind, soaring over the horizon. But just know, if you’re still there, I will find you. And maybe, once more, we can be family.
PaScians, nagpasiklaban sa Cluster Dance Competition
Sa paggunita ng ika-23 Araw ng Pagkatatag ng Pasay City National Science High School, nagtanghal ang bawat pangkat para sa Cluster Dance Competition nitong ika-27 ng Hunyo. Ang paligsahan ay hinusgahan nina Gng. Chiradee Javiniar, Gng. Abegail Villanueva, at Gng. Charlene Otazu. Nagwagi rito ang Blue Braniacs na sinundan ng Green Skater Dudes, Red Jocks, at Yellow Thespians. Pinangunahan ni Filha Ray Penelope Bautista, Pangulo ng Supreme Secondary Learner Government ang paggawad ng parangal sa mga nagwagi sa Cluster Dance Competition.