Cyril

  The theme of the Teacher's Month 2025 “My Teacher, My Hero” is, without a doubt, a very good reflection of the tremendous impact that the educators have outside the classroom, a feeling that I can't help but feel when I think about the guidance of Sir Julius Pajarillo. His heroism is not just the lack of extraordinary deeds, it is the constant, unchangeable, and not-to-be-challenged kindness and prompter presence that he brings to me as his pupil.  Both as a teacher who is fully committed and a coach who is addicted to the practice of journalism, particularly radio broadcasting, Sir Julius is able to pull up the curtain gray with stale subjects and people, he announces, "here comes the discovery of self-worth." The first thing you notice about his manner is that he is so comfortable and relaxed that all the barriers are immediately lifted; student-teacher relationships are transformed into the kind of partnership where my intellectual and personal growth is not only...

  The theme of the National Science Month celebration in the year 2025, "Harnessing the Unknown: Powering the Future through Science and Innovation", serves in some manner like a deliberate call to forage exploration with purpose; to regard uncertainty not as a barrier but as a frontier that is to be molded through human ingenuity. Science is not merely the act of unearthing nature's secrets; it is the medium through which societies can unleash their innovations against the persistent challenges posed by real-world issues, from those concerning climate resilience to public health. This boost is meant to inspire communities not only into scientific literacy but also to develop a culture that appreciates curiosity and problem-solving that meets real social needs. This marks the initiation of the work for a collaborative approach to knowledge creation process, albeit in a linear form involving researchers producing knowledge that is then applied by society. Open science and ...

 This second quarter has been a roller coaster of emotions and has also been a challenging one for me. All that just opened up new learning experiences that prompted me to grow in ways I never imagined. I found out that it was possible to learn and cope with different responsibilities at the same time. I got the most from the academic lessons—new skills in research and communication, which made me a better writer and thinker. Radio broadcasting was that one thing I enjoyed a lot. It was a skill that taught me how to articulate ideas clearly, be a good team member and spontaneous too. So in a way, I learned that one can grow only if he/she is willing to take risks and learn from every situation. On the one hand, managing radio broadcasting, research work, and the other academic requirements was going to be first-class work. I will admit there were times when I almost broke down—doing on-air work, editing research papers, and submitting work for various subjects at the same time. Not...

  Walking down Calle Crisologo is reminiscent of the 16th century that has been very nicely preserved. The modern life noise seems to vanish with the cobblestone street, and the visitors are momentarily taken to the grandeur of the Spanish colonial era. This place, where the heritage of the “Bahay na Bato” houses is, is the perfect mixture of the Filipino, Chinese, and European architectural styles that all of them narrate very well the time's riches and artistic skills. This car-free street fills up with the sound of the kalesa (horse-drawn carriages) which is hardly an owner coming along. Calle Crisologo's incredible architecture is nowhere else to be found; it is a prominent place for Ilocano culture to be shown and heightening over. The heritage houses are now the scenes where the quaint shops of abel handwoven fabrics, antiques, and souvenirs selling are located and where the famous local delicacies—crispy Vigan empanada and savory bagnet—are wafting through the air. The ...

  Many Filipinos suffer from increased vulnerability to changes in the environment due to geographical factors, socio-economic conditions, and increasing intensities of impacts associated with climate change. Inherent to the country's unique archipelagic geography is position: it places the Philippines right in the path of natural hazards, while at the same time the socioeconomic problems are contributing to a hapless compromise of various capacities of communities to cope with and recover from disasters. These were made worse by a global climate crisis and this entire combination makes for a cyclic form of vulnerability that is worse for the poor and marginalized sectors. The Philippines is located in an area characterized by the "Pacific Ring of Fire," as well as in the typhoon belt, thus making the country arguably one of the most disaster-prone nations across the globe. An average of about 20 typhoons affects the country every year, most of which make landfall. These ...

       Under the electric buzz of intramural sports, one game outshone others in a way that made it distinct, albeit unexpressed. However, while other venues buzzed with the sounds of basketball courts and volleyball, only boxing rings had respect in the room. When a bell first rang to signal the fight, an energy that could not be described filled the area, proving something very unique about a confrontation between two people.      It isn't in the craziness of being part of a team sport; it's the purest form of competition. It's just two individuals standing in the ring, with the destiny determined by courage, skill, and will. This is just raw-form it delivers powerfully. It's a kind of story about the struggle, the resilience, and then the victory with the source in itself. Every fighter is a hero in his epic, every jab, hook, and uppercut to these lines of conversation-in both physical and deep psychological way.  Every sight about that punch b...