Just Smile

Just Smile

by Jwell Buscato

The nights are cold

And the wind kept whistling

But truth be told

Their lives are worth saving

Their minds were poisoned

By their memories of the dark past

It's full of misery and depression

And their greatest moments will be their last

No,no,no, you're not ready

Your lives are terrible

But you have to keep it steady

Or it will be pricked by the needle

It's been a while

For you to do this

Just give a smile

To everyone you missed

Let Go

Let Go

By Dominic Ceballos

Every time I wake up,

I reach for a coffee in a cup,

Going through us.

From the memories we had,

Everything we did,

From the good and the bad.

I carry this weight with me,

Of you and me,

And I’m dying, still hurting.

Can you not see?

I guess you can’t,

From all the smiles on your face.

I was destroyed,

When you packed your suitcase.

When you looked back,

Only to say goodbye.

I was killed by the pain,

Said nothing but cried.

I’m tired of this hurting.

I’m ready to let you go.

Though I’m still wondering,

Are you a friend or foe?

But time will tell,

After I’m free.

And I am hoping

That you are ready to see

All the happiness I get,

And all you’ll feel is regret.

Aquino, Tadios crowned Mr. and Ms. Healthy

Tadios and Aquino during the proclamation of winne

Aquino during the Q and A.

Psalm Aquino (Grade 8-Unity) and AllyshaTadios (Grade 10-Perseverance) were crowned as Mr. and Ms. Healthy last July 28, 2016, Thursday at 3:00 pm.

Aquino won as Mr. Healthy, while Kayne Barabat (Grade 10-Perseverance) was proclaimed the 1^st Runner Up and Kyle Ramirez (Grade 8-Integrity), who also received the special award: Mr. Photogenic, followed as the pageant’s 2^nd Runner Up. Aquino represented the fruit mango in all portions of the pageant.

”It’s quite shocking,” Aquino said. “I’m really thankful for my parents, for all their support, and all my classmates, as well.”

Tadios achieved the Ms. Healthy title among the top three girls which included Salve Dorato (Grade 10- Fortitude), who won 1^st Runner Up, and Jenneve Moncano(Grade 9- Prudence), who also won 2^nd Runner Up and Ms. Photogenic.

Tadios during the official photo shoot.

“I’m still shell-shocked. I never expected this,” Tadios said. “I’d like to thank my classmates and my teachers. Without them, I’d never have this wonderful experience.”

Tadios was also given the Best in Costume title for the female category. Her said costume was a ruffled purple gown which accentuated her assigned fruit: grapes.

The beauty contest was hosted by junior high school teachers, Sir Jason Rabi and Ms. FloramaeArain. The judges were Sir Rommel Alavarez (junior high school PE teacher), Sir Jonathan Uy (Junior& Senior high guidance counselor), Ms. Mary Ann Osabel (school librarian), and Ms. Ma. Lorinavi Busa (Grade School guidance counselor).

Aquino during the photo shoot

The Mr. and Ms. Healthy event was organized in celebration of the Nutrition Month 2016, and is the first of such pageant in ACT so far.

-Maria Eloisa H. Garcia

Pressure of Being a Senior

The new faces of CAT

Photo by Jeanille Cogtas

         A week before graduation during 6th grade, a 4th year high school student (now known as a Grade 10 student, if you somehow didn’t hear the news) asked what I was most excited for in high school. I said that I dreaded Math. Feared it with every fibre of my being. I told him how numbers already looked frightening on their own; how much more then when they get mixed with the alphabet?

I was wrong, though. The ‘a + b’s and the ‘(x – y)²’s are intimidating, but we get along nonetheless. I didn’t even answer his question correctly, poor guy.

After four years of laughter, tears, stress, low points, and triumphs, I realized what I truly feared: becoming a Senior. The role models.The ultimate ates and kuyas. The most responsible students in the entire universe because they’ve been through this and that, and they should already know everything that has to be done—well, I may have gone overboard there, but close enough I guess.

To be quite frank, just because we are the eldest (considering the Senior High as a different story), does not mean we know everything right away. Just four months ago, we were Juniors. That span of time is too short for us to immediately reach, even just slightly tap, the expectations put up for Seniors. We have the SSG, the CAT, the interlevel competitions, plus our studies, our projects, our reports and presentations, and we have everyone else paying such close attention.

We have lapses because we’re not perfect. We’re not perfect because we are humans. We apologize for the mistakes we made, and we apologize in advance for the mistakes we will make. Being a Senior makes us carry a whole lot on our shoulders, but who says we’re going to crush under the weight?

We probably might stumble a little, that’s a bit embarrassing. You know what they say, though: we’re all in this together!

(You just sang that in your head, didn’t you? Don’t worry, I did too.)

- JenikaGi-An C. Nero

Blue-Violet winsACT Olympics Basketball Championships

Glued Grip. Alyassa Usop of the Blue-Violet team
courageously made an attempt to steal the ball from
the even more steadfast Zeth Castillon of the Green-

Yellow team.

Photo by Triziah Jo Bondoc

July 16, 2016 –The blue and violet team won the basketball championships during the ACT Olympics which was organized by the ACT Supreme Student Council (SSC).

The blue and violet team was proclaimed the champion because of their 22-point lead gained mostly by their point guard, Phil John Quimada, who scored 18 more points after. Their opponent, the yellow and green team, on the other hand, had scored 30 points.

Halfway through the basketball championships, the game was heating up. The players were competitively trying their best to earn a score for their team, regardless of the injuries sustained in the process.

The yellow and green team was desperately trying to catch up with the blue and violet team’s score. With the teamwork and skills showed by ZethCastillion and Arfiel Ray Manigbas, they were able to gain the upper hand in the last quarter and gave their team a score of 33 points.

On the second half of the basketball games, Manigbas had serious cramps on both of his legs which caused him to stop playing. “The game was great but tiring. I didn’t get a time to rest, thus causing me these cramps,” Manigbas said.

The bright and sunny day had really increased the intensity of the ball games where junior high school students were randomly grouped regardless of their level –to extend their profile to other Asianistas and work together to finish tasks and obstacles. The team building activities were great ways to know other people more and learn how to work with them.

Although there were injuries and defeats that day, the game was still great.

- Dominic Ceballos

“The Haunted Device” by Brendan Salazar

“The Haunted Device”

by Brendan Salazar

Michael Rosen, Children’s Storyteller by day, and Paranormal Investigator by night. One day, he received a call from Dr. Rabatnuk of the Israeli Paranormal Sciences Division.

“Michael, I have an interesting case for you” said Rabatnuk through the phone.

“What is it?” said Michael

“Some locals in Italy have reported paranormal activity of some sort. I want you to go to Luigi Mansion in Italy and investigate these claims.” Said Rabatnuk

Michael and his Mexican “Partner”, Manuel Pingas, travelled to Italy and arrived at  Luigi Mansion in a van. By sundown, they had prepared their equipment and set about to investigate.

The duo navigated through the mansion and found themselves in a living room.

“Señor, I feel an unholy aura behind me” said Manuel

Behind them, a ghost hound appeared and growled. It charged towards Manuel, only to be sucked into a device called a Ghost Catcher.

“Thank you Señor” said Manuel

“Don’t worry” said Michael

The duo explored more of the mansion, finding themselves in the garden.

“Señor, look over there” said Manuel, pointing towards a group of monolithic structures forming a circle.

“They look like sponges” said Michael, ‘I wonder if this ‘spongehenge’ has any spirits residing in it’ he thought.

The two slowly approached the structures. Suddenly a flash of light appeared out of nowhere, slowly vanishing. The two then saw a morbid creature, as fat as a cow, wearing nothing but a cheap cape, and has a pinhead-shaped head.

“What grotesque pinhead creature is that?” said Manuel

“WHO YOU CALLIN’ A PINHEAD!” shouted the creature.

“Please forgive my partner, we did not mean to insult your appearance.” Said Michael

“I shall forgive this mortal, you cannot comprehend my true being after all” said the creature

“Anyways, may I ask your name?” asked Michael. “I hope he does.” he wished

“Very well mortal. I am the God Empre-uh… Patrick, King of the Rock and Guardian of the Sloth. What is your business here, mortals.” Said Patrick

“We are investigating paranormal activity in this mansion. I don’t suppose you could tell us about the history of this mansion?” asked Michael

“Very well mortal, I shall” said Patrick before bringing up a holographic screen.

“A long time ago, a vile and evil man named Wario Luigi inhabited this mansion. He was cruel and did many vile and evil things. I myself found to his possession as a gift from a certain Italian Dictator. One day, a man named Eugene “Krabs” Plankten invented a device he called a “Weegee”. Wario wanted Eugene’s device and attempted to buy it from him but Eugene refused, seeing the evil within him. Wario killed Eugene and took the device from him. His very darkness and the souls he tormented seeped into the Weege. Wario was driven mad and was killed after killing one of his servants in the final days of the Italian Empire.” Told Patrick

“That was an interesting story to say the least. We have to go now, I hope we will encounter each other once again.” Said Michael

“I bid you farewell mortals and good luck. Oh and don’t forgot about the Chaos Mari- oh they’re gone.” Said Patrick, as the two left before saying the last part.

Michael and Manuel continued to explore the mansion, they tried to find the Weegee but to not avail. Along the way, they encountered many paranormal beings and creatures, some friendly, some hostile.

They finally went up into the attic. Already, they felt a strong unholy aura, and at the corner of Manuel’s eye, he saw the weegee: A metallic box with symbols of unknown origin and an eight-pointed star covering it.

“Señor, I found the Weegee” said Manuel

“Good job, Partner” complimented Michael

The duo readied their Ghost Catchers. They slowly and carefully approached the device, alert and on guard.

Suddenly, a blinding flash of light lit up the attic and a demonic voice roared.

“BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!”

Michael and Manuel ran to cover as the Chaos Marine threw its oversized axe at them. It charged at Michael, picking up its axe and shouted a war cry.

The Chaos Marine swinged its axe at Michael, he dodged it and it continued. Manuel shot his Ghost Catcher at the Chaos Marine but it only further enraged it.

The Chaos Marine roared, deafening Michael and Manuel. It charged at Manuel, cutting in half the antique table Manuel hid in. Manuel ran and the Chaos Marine followed, Michael had to stop the Chaos Marine.

Manuel was chased through the hallways of the mansion, being pursued by the Chaos Marine. He turned at a corner and a pack of ghost hounds charged at him. He suddenly turned at a room and let the Chaos Marine and the hounds fight it out. However the hounds were ripped apart by the Chaos Marine’s axe and its strength.

Michael returned to the van and scavenged through the equipment. He quickly found what he was looking for.

Manuel was chased by the Chaos Marine. He made his way into the living room. The Chaos Marine jumped into the living room and made a powerful shockwave. The Chaos Marine looked at Manuel, as if it was staring into his soul.

“DIE FOR KHORNE!” roared the Chaos Marine.

“This was it,” thought Manuel. It was the end for him. Then someone shouted at the Chaos Marine.

“BE DE-ATOMIZED CHAOS MARINE!” shouted Michael. He brought up his Atom Flayer, ready to fire death.

The Chaos Marine charged at Michael, swinging its axe. Michael fired his Atom Flayer, disintegrating the Chaos Marine, layer per layer until its atoms were ripped apart.

Michael ran up to Manuel and said “Are you okay?”

“I am fine Señor” said Manuel, he took Michael’s hand, standing up.

“Later that morning, the Weegee was loaded into the van. The two drove away from the mansion, finally putting it to rest.

The Power Education by ChrishaTadios

Education has and always will be the reason behind our success, and everyone agrees to it. It has been a great help to us children to be able to get educated. Not only us kids, but also to those people who either have jobs or not.

All of us know how important and strong the power of education is. It helps us achieve our goals in life. Without this, we wouldn’t be living in the lifestyle we are currently in. Being educated has its benefits, like we could turn our dreams into reality. Education is a must for a promising and secure future and stable life. A knowledgeable person has more chances of landing a good and high-paying job. Money maybe called as the “root of evil” but most of us agree that it is important for survival in today’s world. For instance, we need to pay our debts or rent so we need to have a job but could not since we don’t know anything about the job we are applying, thus we need to learn and finish our studies so we could fend for our needs.  Education makes us wiser for us to make our own decisions and right choices. If we don’t know anything, we would be making choices that we may regret later on. We’d all ask ourselves why we have done such acts, and sometimes call ourselves stupid. That is why we need to learn. We could all contribute to our community with the help of our knowledge.

Education is something that we need to have. Though sometimes, we tend to want to quit because it is hard and frustrating, but it’s only normal. Nothing is easy, it’s always hard. We need to keep on pushing through instead of giving up. We all have seen the appearance of the street children, beggars and those low class people. Their lifestyle is the effect of not finishing their training in school. They all are living in adversity and we would soon be like them if we don’t go to school. All of those businessmen, lawyers, nurses, teachers and many more, they don’t just get the job, they need to learn to be able to have that job. Students like us should be thankful to be educated since we are likely to have a better future. Some of us, especially those young students, have not realized that schooling is the best thing that happened to us, but soon enough, they will all be aware of its value and importance.