Louella Mae Sas ||

The long-awaited awarding ceremony for the Philippine Science High School System Model United Nations Youth Summit 2020 (PSHS MUNYS 2020) was live-streamed last June 10, 2021, from 10:30 in the morning to noon. Aside from the coaches and participants, all Social Science teachers and Grade 11 students were also encouraged to watch.

With the year’s theme “Good Health and Well-Being,” the MUNYS aimed to provide the scholars an opportunity to exercise roles of responsible citizenship and leadership by organizing a platform for their engagement in meaningful research, inclusive dialogue, and constructive discussion patterned after the framework of the United Nations.

The youth delegates’ were tasked to do research about their country assignment and to formulate the country’s policies and action plans in ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all through the four programmes of the United Nations: United Nations Security Council (UNSC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 

The PSHS-EVC was assigned the United States having eight participants and two advisers namely, Ma’am Noemi Agner and Sir Eman Patata.

The UNSC committee, with its members Nicole Anne P. Erroba and Manuel Rafael C. Quiero VII, was tasked to focus on the subtheme: strengthening the capacity for early warning, risk reduction, and management of national and global health risks. Their policy paper “Invisible Defense Against the Unknown War” asserted that the global cooperation in countering bioterrorism is critical and timely as the nature of the attack is random and requires tightened regulations to prevent gaps in security and that the US can protect the world by building its walls with its strengthened defense against the elusive but invasive power of bioweapons. The pair placed 1^st Runner-up for Best Policy Paper Presenter for the UNSC.

The UNDP committee, with its members Jean Lourd B. Misa and Louella Mae A. Sas, was tasked to focus on the subtheme: achieve universal health coverage and access to quality essential health care services. Their policy paper “Unmasking The Cost of American Health Care and Services” highlighted that there is an inequality in the access to health coverage in the US and the absence of regulated pricing structures and varied care delivery patterns prevent some individuals from getting the quality health services they need without being exposed to a financial burden. The pair placed 2^nd Runner-up for Best Policy Paper Presenter for the UNDP.

The UNEP committee, with its members Bryan Justine G. Dela Cruz and Jamea Marcy Y. Magallanes, was tasked to focus on the subtheme: substantial reduction of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals, and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination. Their policy paper “Safety First: Ensuring Healthy Water for Life” emphasized that the existing water safety regulations are capable of ensuring public safety from unsafe water. Enhanced surveillance, accurate data-sharing, and coordination of well-informed decisions can ensure that the existing water safety and regulation in the US could prevent a likely occurrence of a water crisis in the future.

Lastly, the UNESCO committee, with its members Julianna Rosh Nebrija and Shawn Elizarde, was tasked to focus on the subtheme: substantial increase in recruitment, development, training, and retention of good health and well-being of the workforce. Their policy paper “Bridging Health Gaps with Cultural Competence” stressed that cultural competence as part of medical care could result in a better quality of the health care system. Since informed choices may influence health outcomes, the role of culturally competent health workers is critical in ensuring that health concerns in LEP communities are well-expressed and understood.

Louella Mae Sas ||

The 22^nd Graduation Program of Philippine Science High School – Eastern Visayas Campus was held last May 24, 2021, at 2:00 in the afternoon live through Facebook Live and Zoom. 

Graduates, parents, teachers, and other staff of the institution were present at the ceremony. The guest speakers who also graced their presence in the event were Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr., the Undersecretary of the Department of Science and Technology and the Officer-in-Charge of PHIVOLCS, Dir. Lilia T. Habacon, the Executive Director of the PSHS System, Ms. Elaine M. Morales, the President of the PSHS National Alumni Association, and Sec. Fortunato T. De la Peña, the Secretary of DOST. 

The ceremony started with the processional of the 80 scholars who satisfactorily completed the basic requirements prescribed by the system under the six-year special science curriculum in PSHS-EVC of the academic year 2020-2021. The opening prayer was led by Mark Russell D. Caranzo, thanking the creator for all the blessings they have received, including their graduation.

In her welcoming speech, Alinelle Mae B. Reoma greeted the revered guests, respected administrators from the PSHS System, teachers and staff of the campus, parents and family, other graduates, and friends. She expressed that their graduation is undoubtedly a sign of success, not only for the graduates but also for those who have known them throughout their six years in school. 

“Young people like you are the future front liners of the country, in key roles needed to maintain a humane, free, and peaceful society where men and women of science, technology, and innovation serve to make better health services available for all,” Dr. Solidum, Jr. conveyed to the graduates in his motivational speech.

In Dir. Habacon’s message, she stressed that as future leaders in science, technology, and innovation, the graduates should have the humility and courage to seek help when they feel they most need it. She then emphasized that the graduates should protect and value their mental health because it affects how they think and act as they cope with life.

Sec. De la Peña also stated that as Pisay graduates, they should be brave to face challenges they will face for they are built to excel. They are agents of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and they can help shape the future and make it a sustainable experience for humanity. He then ended his speech congratulating the graduates for their well-deserved success.

Lastly, in the thanksgiving speech by Eirene Jude P. Gomez, she expressed the graduates’ gratitude to the DOST and the PSHS System, the teachers and other staff of the campus, their family and friends.

The ceremony came to an end with the remarks, “Mabuhay ang Lamiraw! Mabuhay ang Batch 2021!”

Johanna Macababbad ||

During its final reading, House Bill No. 8149 or “Bating Filipino Para sa Kalusugan Act”, formerly filed as House Bill No.7333 by Marikina Rep. Bayani Fernando, had been approved by the House of Representatives with the voting of 212-1-1, last January 19, 2021.

To avoid risking acquiring the COVID-19 virus, the bill proposed a new method of formal greeting that still expresses a sign of respect, and goodwill, like the traditional method of a handshake, but without the need for physical contact. Like listening to the beat and melody of the national anthem, with head bowed and eyes closed, a person stands with his right hand placed where his heart lays.

“The medical profession has established that the traditional, well-meaning, and innocent gesture of handshake transmits communicable diseases and is a risk to one’s health,” Fernando stressed to explain the decision of his proposal.

It is noted in the bill, when approved, that no punishment would be given to those that do not practice or follow this way of greeting. As of now, the decision of the Executive to approve or disapprove the implementation of the bill as law has not been determined.

Crishelle Phoebe Yu ||

To provide a mechanism for students with a strong interest in the sciences, Kamnoetvidya Science Academy held the 4th KVIS Invitational Science Fair virtually in Thailand last February 6-20, 2021. With the theme “Scientific Endeavors in One Click”, the fair aimed to provide opportunities for students who have a strong passion for science and technology to be paired with mentors from different schools and exchange scientific knowledge by connecting with other young scientists through an online platform.

Philippine Science High School – Eastern Visayas Campus students from grade 12 brought home the bacon by winning the “Best Oral Presentation Award in Biology Research” with Mark Russell Caranzo, Kristen Clarisse Loreto, and Alinelle Mae Reoma as the presenters of their study “Spatiotemporal Analysis of Dengue Cases in Tacloban City, Leyte, Philippines” and “Best Social Inspiration Award in Chemistry Research” participated by Georginne Reese Perez, Darren Pearl Reynera and Queenie Anne Yanuario for their research “Qualitative Analysis and Preliminary Anticancer Activity Evaluation of Alkaloids in Chrysophyllum caimito leaves”.

“KVIS was really fun. At first, my groupmates and I were really nervous because we had researchers from all over the world there, but it was exciting getting to know them and listening to them present their research projects. We were able to learn a lot, and it was a wonderful experience seeing the directions that the people belonging to our generation, from all over the world, were leading scientific innovations in various fields,” Perez stated.

Over the fair, the students were a part of poster presentations, science activities, and making friends from across the globe with the vision of being a leading science high school promoting wisdom, research, and technology for the nation’s sustainable development.

“We were, at first, intimidated by the judges who would be on the Chemistry panel because some of them had previously won international awards in their respective fields, but their questions were very engaging, and they showed genuine interest and respect for all the presenters’ research topics, so the presentation day turned out to be a lot more fun than we were expecting,” Perez pointed out.

• 

• 

Crishelle Phoebe Yu ||

The municipalities of Eastern Visayas have allotted funds for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines for their residents.

Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez stated that the city has allocated a P350-million for the procurement of the vaccines and will include a purchase of 270,000 AstraZeneca vaccines to inoculate all residents aged 18 and above. 

In Maasin, Southern Leyte, Mayor Nacional Mercado said that the city is shelling out an initial amount of P15 million for the procurement of vaccines to guarantee that the target population of 90,086 will receive free COVID Vaccines this year.

“Rest assured that we will work together with the National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) for the procurement of affordable, clinically tested, approved, and safe vaccines from qualified manufacturers,”  Mercado emphasized.

The province of Leyte has allotted P20 million to vaccinate between 20,000 to 30,000 people, while Tacloban City has reportedly set aside P30 million.

In Northern Samar, with a target of 70% of the province’s population, Governor Edwin Ongchuan stressed that residents aged 18 years old and below are not qualified for the vaccine. He also encouraged the LGUs to allocate counterpart funds for the vaccination program.

“With 70 percent or more of our constituents vaccinated against Covid-19, we can hope to have herd immunity in the province and I hope the national government will extend support to this noble objective,” Ongchuan mentioned.

Meanwhile, outside of Eastern Visayas, Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said the city has allocated PHP82.7 million for the procurement of the vaccines, which is included in the city’s PHP2.3 billion budget for 2021.  

Crishelle Phoebe Yu ||

Since June 2016, human rights violations in the Philippines have become a more prevalent issue following President Rodrigo Duterte’s election in the position. The problem intensified in 2018 as Duterte continued the “War on Drugs” campaign even in the face of mounting international criticism.

Malacañang made it certain that the Philippines has a properly functioning judicial system to guarantee that human rights are secured. Thus, the proposal of the newly launched international commission to investigate suspected human rights violations in the region was disregarded.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque mentioned that the Palace is uninterested in the Commission’s decision to send a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the International Criminal Court (ICC), stating that the Duterte administration strives to defend human rights.

“We are not worried about that because it is the obligation of a country, when it comes to human rights, to ensure that the victims have remedies in their institutions that work,” Roque stated. He emphasized that our legal system is functioning and that if the people have complaints, they may file cases before the National Bureau of Information or the police.

Aya Ecaldre ||

President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration is taking steps to mitigate the effects of climate change in the Philippines. In a press statement last January 27, 2021, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that the government is taking all necessary steps to strengthen our capacities to mitigate and address the effects of climate change.

This statement was in response to Germanwatch, an environmental policy study showing which nations were most affected by extreme weather in the last two decades. The Global Climate Risk Index 2020 Report ranked the Philippines 4th out of 180 countries most affected by extreme weather. There were 317 extreme weather cases reported in the Philippines, and the high score in the climate risk index indicates the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters and their effects. 

Roque stated that the country ranking fourth in the index did not come as a surprise since the country has already been known to be one of the countries most vulnerable to natural disasters such as typhoons, flooding, landslides, and droughts. He also added that this vulnerability prompted Duterte to sign the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, a global pact that aims to keep the temperature from rising above the pre-industrial level.

The administration formulated a Mitigation and Disaster Risk Reduction Roadmap for 2018 to 2022 to aid and prepare identified vulnerable provinces and major cities like Metro Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao from natural disasters and their possible effects. 

Roque stressed that climate change is a global challenge that has worsened existing inequalities and vulnerabilities from within and between nations. He hopes that the public would work together with the government. “Through our collective action, we can build adaptive and resilient communities across the archipelago. This would be our gift to the future generations of Filipinos,” he stated.