3 CampusNews 5 Sports 7 Alumni10 Features15 Reviews Father’s Day

Science Week

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Corpus Christi

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T h e R i d g ee d i T o R i a l

The RidgeWe, the editors and staff of The Ridge,

commit ourselves to the highest level of professional journalistic ethics. We promote among our fellow students a love for noble ideals and a desire to overcome personal egoism.

We foster an awareness of social problems and encourage fraternity in keeping with the school’s family spirit. We love the truth thus we report with facts, without judging intentions, upholding the legitimate diversity of opinions in a calm way, without resorting to personal attacks. We seek the truth, love it and humbly tell it.

Editor-in-ChiEf

Gio Gloria

Managing Editor

Santiago Arnaiz

fEaturE Editor

Paolo Tabuena

nEws Editor

Joseph Singson

Contributors

Mike AgoncilloJamie KatigbakClaro Manzano

Isaac TambuntingJoby Sta. AnaRyan FerminCarlos VictaJoshua Vera

Jethro BautistaMatthew Mendiola

Joel Hernandezand Roque S. Tordesillas – batCh 86

PhotograPhErs

Martin ConsingNigel TevesPaeng Paner

ModErator

Benjie Fortunato

dEsign & Printing

Inkwell Publishing Co., Inc.

ISSN 0118-0452

The Ridge is the official student publication of Southridge. It is published three times in a school year with the assistance of the school’s Institutional Information Office. The opinions expressed herein are the views of the respective authors. They cannot be taken as the position of Southridge as such.

SOUThRidgePrivate School for Boys

Hillsborough Subdivision, West Service RoadCity of Muntinlupa, Metro Manila

Telephone 842-0506 to 07, 807-7719 to 21Fax 842-1542

1 by gio gloria

As you read this, the year is more or less over. Exams are closing in and deadlines are nagging students more than ever. These past few months have been packed, not

only with academic requirements, but also with the activites that usually come at year’s end. As the summer vibes kick in, one can’t help but realize how fast all these months have gone by.

What makes this school year memorable is not only the numerous activites that happened over the course of the year, but also the impact it left on the students. Father’s Day is an annual event yet this year’s edition was one of the best. Had you seen the entire school work together to put up Father’s Day, you would admire for sure Southridge’s esprit de corps. Grade school and high school students stood together in military unity, an awe inspiring sight.

Aside from memorable events, this year was the year Southridge was definitely put on the map. From contributing to the RP teams to fielding writers representing NCR, Southridge is breaking the stereotype of simply being an academically inclined school. Not to mention that it’s perennially contending football program also has players playing for Kaya FC’s second team. And finally lest it be forgotten that Southridge, once more, still has

the MOST in Mike Agoncillo. Undoubtedly the Southridge alumnus and every Southridge student can hold his own against students from other and bigger schools.

This whole year can be summed up in two things; Southridge keeps its traditions and also continues to make new ones. From Corpus

Christi to Father’s Day, the school knows that these events and more make the school what it is. One can’t forget what makes him and as a school, we cannot forget what brought us to where we are right now. For thirty-four years now Father’s Day has made us The Place every first Saturday of February, and we should keep it that way. Corpus Christi defines our spiritual roots and neither should we forget that such is the foundational spirit of the school. Though the Southridge Run was only initiated last year, continuing it this year means that as a school, we continue to develop and foster new traditions.

Alma Mater Matters. It’s one of the themes in the articles in this issue and as a senior, I definitely agree. They say one should be proud of his or her school, because that’s where he or she came from. Through this issue and the others that unfortunately never made it here, I have all the reasons to be proud of my school.

Southridge keeps its traditions but continues to

make new ones

This whole year can be summed up in two things; Southridge keeps its traditions and also continues to make new ones. From Corpus Christi to Father’s Day, the school knows that these events and more make the school what it is.

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T h e R i d g e c a m p u s n e w s

If I have any advice for future MOST competitors or any person, in general, it’s to

be willing to take a chance at an opportunity, be grateful

for the experiences you’ve had, and learn from it all. You don’t

necessarily have to stand out to be outstanding, you just have to

be willing to try to be outstanding.

Heads or T a i l s 1 by MiChaEl agonCillo

It began with a coin toss. Heads, I do it. Tails, I don’t. Crazy as it seems, this is how I came to make a decision that altered my entire senior year. It’s certainly not how most students would react to being asked to represent their school to be Muntinlupa’s Most Outstanding Student (MOST). However, with all the uncertainty that clouded my mind, I couldn’t help but leave my fate to chance (or foolishness, as some would have it). And, months since the day the coin flipped through the air, I find myself happy that it landed the way it did.

The search for the MOST is regarded as one of the most prestigious competitions in the city, annually rewarding ten outstanding students from Muntinlupa with not only the recognition, but also scholarship bonuses. It ranks representatives from each school based on a scoring system of 30% Academics, 20% IQ Test, 20% Interview, 10% School Leadership, 10% Community Activities, and 10% Talent. The top 10 students are given the same scholarship bonus and are also treated to a city tour.

It would seem ridiculous now to even think of passing up such an opportunity. Certainly, for the greats who came before me, it was a path well taken—one that produced much success and good memories. After all, I was following a line of recent 1st Place winners in Paco Adajar, Thomas Manalac, and Lance Katigbak. However, this line was precisely what made me fear the opportunity to begin with. How was I supposed to hold up this legacy, this win streak? Three-peats are hard enough to make, yet even harder to defend (just ask Phil Jackson). Can I take the pressure that comes with a grand opportunity? What talent did I even have?

It was fears like these that made me hold my decision to the very last minute and to the flip of a coin. However, once I found the will to follow the coin and take the challenge, I knew it was the right decision to make. Ultimately, the path to the competition made me have many realizations, learn new things, meet new friends, and build new experiences—all of which I’m happy to have gone through.

How I came to these realizations can perhaps be attributed more to the preparations taken rather than the days of the actual competition itself, reminding me that it’s not always about how the journey ends but how the journey was taken. The preparation for the competition generally involved the creation of a portfolio, practicing for a talent, reviewing for the IQ test, and going through a mock interview—all of which done under the watchful eyes and guiding hands of the school’s MOST coordinator, Mr. Peralta. In preparing for all of these, I found that I grew to know more about myself, more about my school, and more about the city of Muntinlupa.

What I realized early on was that I had no reason to be afraid because the school must have chosen me for a reason and they must have seen me as capable. It was simply up to me to find out what exactly the school saw in me. And, in the months of sleepless nights working on the portfolio, I came to realize just exactly what I was capable of. The portfolio ultimately became a testament to all the work I’ve put into excelling in high school. It made me realize that I am capable of doing well in things like debating, writing, etc., that there are achievements

worth being proud of, and that I do have a talent that I could present (I would end up making a speech in verse). And with all the gratifying work put into the portfolio, I realized that the school simply saw me as someone who can handle the work and reciprocate the trust that they placed on me.

More importantly though, the portfolio made me realize how important the people I’ve encountered are into making me who I am. It reminded me of just how instrumental my family has been with their support and guidance through my entire life. It allowed me to see how the teachers have been involved in forming me not only in my academics but also through the lessons on virtues and the advice they give. It also made me grateful to be part of a club like Kaabay, a publication like the Ridge, the Molave delegation of World Youth Day, or the family in the Podium. And, ultimately, it made me realize how much I love my school, my batch, and my friends for sharing my experiences and supporting me all the way.

Along the way, I also grew to learn more about the school and the city. In reading up for the interview, I grew to love the school more for the values that they teach and the personal formation that they shape. It makes you realize that there’s more to take from what may sometimes seem as boring assemblies or pointless chats—these are what help make Southridge students men of integrity, so unique from others. It made me proud to be part of the Admiral family and its legacy, and to be able to give back to the school through the competition. And finally, I came to understand truly what makes Muntinlupa the fantastic city it is. From the programs of Mayor Aldrin San Pedro and the city government, to the surging development of the city, to even the plastic ban, I came to be proud to call Muntinlupa my home.

Thus, in preparing for the MOST experience, the preparation became an experience in itself. And, it made me realize that in becoming the school’s representative, I haven’t been preparing merely for months, nor the 4 years of high school, but for the 18 years of my existence. Ultimately, becoming the person anyone is takes up more than just individual effort of a few years, but a collective effort that spans a lifetime.

With the preparation I took into competition though, I ended up short of the first place finish Southridge has been used to. I lost in a close, hard-fought competition to a well-deserving student in Luisa Pineda of PAREF Woodrose. I even joke around at times, that I am not the MOST but merely, the alMOST. My fears of coming up short and losing the streak laid out for me did become reality, but it doesn’t stop me from being proud of what I’ve done and grateful for what I learned. If anything, I ended up gaining more experiences and meeting new friends, from schools all over the city.

If I have any advice for future MOST competitors or any person, in general, it’s to be willing to take a chance at an opportunity, be grateful for the experiences you’ve had, and learn from it all. You don’t necessarily have to stand out to be outstanding, you just have to be willing to try to be outstanding. My MOST experience didn’t turn out exactly as I would have hoped the moment the coin landed “heads”, but instead I ended up willing to take on more experiences.

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T h e R i d g ec a m p u s n e w s

The assembly began as it would normally. We sang the Philippine National Anthem, we took The Oath of a Southridge Gentleman, and prayed to the Archangel St. Michael. Everyone sat down and right away, Paolo Gironella sang the Josh Groban song, “You are Loved.“ The program proceeded to the awarding of the Third Quarter Honor Achievements given by the High School Principal, Mr. Luis Sumulong.

The program shifted into the Virtue of the Month portion by recognizing the February VOM Commentary winner, Mar t in Consing, who wrote about the virtue of Truthfulness. After a brief introduction, Head Coach Expo Mejia of the Philippine Volcanoes, walked onstage to talk about Fortitude, the March VOM. Throughout his talk, the crowd learned more on how fortitude worked as a virtue on the rugby field and in real life. Rugby, though not as popular as football in the school, has started to gain followers and it really is a man’s sport. Coach Expo began his talk with a short video of the Scottish rugby team showing strenuous effort exerted in practice as well as incredibly physical game play. Sure there were glory moments but these were tempered by the discipline exercised before it. He then emphasized that being a member of a team connotes both discipline and openness to one’s

teammates. He further explained that without these, a team falls apart. He also said, “Doing the things we want to do does not always mean we are doing the things we ought to do.” In other words, we must learn to prioritize. He also mentioned that we can even inspire the other members of our communities with the things we do. He ended his talk by saying that although the Filipino players weren’t as physically big as the ones we saw in the Scottish rugby team video, they made up for it with a burning passion and a big heart. Coach Expo was truly inspiring, so much so that a sophomore walked up to the microphone and said “Sir, where do I sign up?”

The program continued with the recognition

of Mark Lozano as the recipient of the Spirit of EDSA award for heading One Million Lights, an NGO distributing solar powered light bulbs to unlit districts in the Philippine countryside. He kept his talk short using two main points. The first was that being young didn’t mean allowing others to limit him from real contributions. His second point was that if one has not realized his passion just yet, he should explore the world while there is still time to do so.

After the talks, the assembly transitioned into the Seniors’ tribute. Diego Pinga spoke on

behalf of the Freshmen while Vinci Medalla and Gabo Itchon spoke for the Sophomore and Junior batches respectively. Then came the tribute video that showed Batch 2012’s history, funny moments, sad moments, and random moments that contributed to the lump that formed in the audience’s chests. JV Valerio responded to the tribute with an emotional speech. As outgoing student council Chairman, he encouraged the big brothers to remain involved and confident.

The last part of the program was an entertaining number from the Admirals Step Crew that served as both initiation and tribute. With that the torch was passed. The last Student Assembly? We won’t forget it.

There are some things that come as unexpected blessings, like candy falling down from the sky, a sweet surprise. This is the case with our Editor-in-Chief Gio Gloria’s and this

article’s author becoming delegates to the 35th National Secondary Schools Press Conference (NSSPC); in the field of Journalism it’s the counterpart of the Palarong Pambansa.

But all this good fortune started in the most unlikely of places; a far flung public school, in the heart of Bayanan, Muntinlupa City. Before making it into the regional round, one had to best the Division Level competitors from Muntinlupa private and public schools. The following Junior year high school students garnered honors for Southridge: Martin Consing (English Editorial Writing – 1st Place), JP Medalla (English Feature Writing – 1st Place), Gino Guevara (English Sports Writing – 3rd Place), Carlo Lajara (English Editorial Cartooning – 2nd Place), and Enrico Grio (Filipino Copy Reading and Headline Writing – 2nd Place). Without the foundations they laid, the seniors representing NCR wouldn’t be where they are in now.

The Regional Secondary Schools Press Conference was held on September 21 and September 28, 2011 at the La Consolacion College in Pasig City. Contestants from private and public schools all over the National Capital Region competed in both English and Filipino in the following categories: Feature Writing, Editorial Writing, News Writing, Sports News Writing, Editorial Cartooning, and Copy Reading and Headline Writing categories. Mr. Benjie Fortunato, adviser of the school paper of The Ridge, accompanied and cheered for us through the gruelling hours of pushing pens and wringing brain cells. To our great joy, Gio Gloria emerged 1st Place in English Feature Writing while I won 1st Place in English News Writing.

That was just the beginning. We learned the top 3 in each category would be the NCR’s bets to the upcoming National Secondary Schools Press Conference, an annual national competition among campus journalists representing their respective regions. This year, it will be held in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan from April 8 to April 13, 2012. Never did we expect that joining a simple writing competition would lead us to becoming delegates in a national contest. DepEd NCR, with the hope of winning as many categories in the NSPC as possible, designed a 9-day intensive training program for its delegates. The intensive training, broken up into three 3-day seminars, was held in the various DepEd offices throughout the metropolis. Most of the sessions were led by the DepEd NCR Regional Office, hosted at the DepEd NCR RELC Building in Marikina City. Others were held at the DepEd Division offices in particular cities to give special attention to a particular category, with my special News writing training being held in DepEd Mandaluyong while Gio had his in DepEd Caloocan.

Experts trained us as we sat through sessions where we learned the styles professional writers use. We learned then how writing was really art, heart and science. This training also educated us with regard to the important parts of the news articles as well as the importance of practicing good habits, such as time management, neatness, and respect.

After many years of reading the newspaper and keeping myself up to date with the latest news, I am glad my knowledge about the things happening around me, in various fields such as politics and crime, is being put to good use. After many days of challenging training sessions and many hurdles overcome, I pray that both Gio’s writings and that of my own will come out to be triumphant at the 35th the National Secondary Schools Press Conference. Wish us luck!

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The Journey to the National Secondary Schools

Press Conference 1 by isaaC taMbunting

5

T h e R i d g e s p o r t s

1 by gio gloria

A sea of orange decked runners milled around and spilled over the Southridge parking area a quarter before 6 o’clock in the morning on February 27, 2012. No, this wasn’t a Villar rally, nor was this a Pancake House event. It was the continuation of tradition.

After last year’s successful organization of the first Southridge Run, the High School Student Council once again organized the activity as an avenue for bonding between students, parents, and friends.

Compared to last year, this event was closer to home, literally. A year ago, the run was held inside Westgate of the Filinvest Complex in Alabang, but this year’s edition was much easier to organize given the venue, Hillsborough Village, was right beside Southridge. For the participants, being inside the village meant less traffic and better air quality too. The run was divided into three categories: a one kilometer dash, and the usual five kilometer and ten kilometer run. Medals were

awarded to the top three male and female winners from all categories, and also to the finishers from grade five and below. Children and adults started lining up for registration and picked up race kits at 5:00 AM. Though sleepy, the student council members and volunteer marshals were eager to help out the runners to make the activity fun for everyone.

From the starting whistle till the end, everyone was game to run. As the runners paced through the streets of Hillsborough, the cool weather was a hindrance yet at the same time a boost, the cold air being a pain to the lungs yet a boost to the finish line. Every uphill and downhill street tested the mettle of each runner, maybe taking away his energy, but not his spirit. Crossing the finish line was everyone’s goal so the thrill of the finish was more than enough.

They say that as you near the finish line, you might as well sprint to it. February in the school year is like that point too. You worked so hard for the past few months, why not give it your all when you’re so close to finishing? From Father’s Day to this, the Student Council surely put up some good events to end the year with a bang.

Tall Tales: An Interview with Jaime Cabarrus

1 by gio gloria

Still in Grade 7 he stands just shy of six feet and so he towers over the rest of his peers. Recently he led Southridge to a second place finish in the League of Southern Manila Schools. The RP National Team invited him to join their under 13 group and scouts have eyed the potential in this perennially amiable and smiling friend off court and ferocious competitor on court. The Ridge sat down with him to ask him about his thoughts on his current season in Southridge and who he’s rooting for in the NBA. The Ridge (R): How was your season this year?

Jaime (J): Our season this year has been one of the best seasons I’ve ever had. My team and I have gone so far. We’ve been working really hard and it paid off, as we won 2nd Place in the recently concluded LSMS (League of Southern Manila

Schools) tournament. This proved that the Southridge Admirals Midgets Team is a team to look out for. As of now, we are playing in the MSSA tournament and are currently undefeated. Hopefully, we can continue to keep this streak up and eventually make it to the finals.R: Anything from this year which you wish you could do over again?J: If I were to do over an event this past year, I would go back to our Championship Game against De La Salle Zobel.

Though we played hard, I know that we could’ve done better. We knew that we were going to play against a tough team, and there were a few unnecessary errors, but of course we realize all these things in the end. Being a Champion

again would’ve been great, that’s why I wish I could re-live that moment.R: You’ve been part of the National Team (U-13) for quite some time. How was the experience?

J: Firstly, never in my wildest dreams did I think that I’d be part of such a great team. When I was given the opportunity, I told myself that I’d never pass this off. Being a part of the National team was quite an experience. Although being part of such a team came with big responsibilities like giving it all

you’ve got in practices which were held every weekend, doing your best to be in every single practice, and doing your best to fit in the team. It was hard, I admit. I had to pass out on many other things, like hanging out with friends and the normal things a 13-year-old teenager would love to do. Although, all of this paid off, for I felt so proud when I wore a jersey that said “Philippine Team”. I would definitely join again if I had the opportunity.R: Baseball was your first sport. What made you switch to basketball? J: What made me switch to basketball was the joy of watching the sport. During lunchtime, I would always watch my friends play basketball. It looked really fun so I gave it a try! So I tried out for the team and made it. I found basketball very fun. And look how far I’ve gone; I’m really glad that I gave basketball a try. It changed me as a person.R: Moving on to the NBA, who do you look up to? J: In the NBA, I look up to one of the greats, Hakeem Olajuwan. We both play the same position, forward-center, so I really look up to him, mainly for his perseverance. Though he lost quite a few championship games [in college], he worked hard and never gave up. This all paid off when he won back to back championships in the NBA.R: With a shortened season, who are you rooting for to win it all?J:This season, I am rooting for the New York Knicks! Woohoo! I believe that this team has a big chance to make it to the Playoffs. Especially now as one of their players is a rising star, Jeremy Lin! And with the help of JR Smith, Tyson Chandler, and Carmelo Anthony, I have high expectations for this team.

Run Admirals Run!

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T h e R i d g e

Prior to becoming part of the Kaya FC family, our team was known as the Makati Football School Club (MFC). We competed in various tournaments around Manila such as The Monfort Cup and The Poten-Cee Cup. Funded and put together by Raffy Herrera, our manager and proud father of Southridge 1st Year student Nino Herrera, by and large we were known as the football team to beat.

The coaching staff composed of Coach Inaki, Coach Mike, and Coach Diego, came from the Alabang Football School (AFS) system. Since many Southridge students, including Jiggs Cruz, Patxi Santos, and Nace Gonzales played with the AFS, we are quite familiar with the coaches working with us now. I remember realizing during tryouts in Cuenca Park, Ayala Alabang that we were vying for coveted spots with the best players from different schools all over Metro Manila. I had been nervous during the tryouts because I had been nursing an ankle injury and had stopped midway in training. Thankfully, the coaches had faith in me and stood by me even through the difficult periods. When the selection for the final squad of 30 was announced, I prayed very hard and just as hard do I play now so that the coaches don’t regret their decision.

Training for the next major tournament, the Poten-Cee Cup, started immediately after tryouts, and I must admit that the training methods and equipment we used were of the highest level. There were enough balls for everyone to use and there were bibs and other training equipment. It took awhile for me to get incorporated into the starting 11 and even then I was playing in a position where I wasn’t so comfortable. But it didn’t matter, as long as I could play for the team, then I was happy to play in any position the coaches wanted. With the Poten-Cee Cup looming, we had our final preparations and were given final instructions the night before the first game.

May 28, 2011, a beautiful sunny day at the De La Salle Zobel pitch, we entered the pristine field, full of confidence and just a slight bit of apprehension. Our opponent, De La Salle Greenhills had already warmed up while we had barely started doing so when the referee told us to get ready. After the first minute, I really thought it was going to be a difficult match. In the blazing heat, frustrations started to simmer and the deadlock was finally broken after 20 minutes of play, Kaya FC (1) – DLS Greenhills (0). Eventually, I added a second goal before the half-time whistle and I was subbed out right away so I can conserve my energy for the next day. The final score was 7-0 and that game started a run of games where we won all our games except one, which was against UST. Aside from the slip-up against UST, we absolutely blew away our opponents with slick, smooth passing. We won 9-0 against Xavier, 5-0 against

La Salle Zobel and 13-0 against another team, to name just a few results. With our incredible performance, we marched into the semi-finals brimming with confidence after our morale-boosting wins, and to add to that, our opponent was La Salle Greenhills yet again. Our coach told us not to be complacent, and it was good thing he warned us, because this La Salle Greenhills team learned from their first game against us, and changed their game plan to disrupt ours. We were frustrated yet again, and we could not find the back of the net for a long period of time, and then there was one chance. Some say that it only takes one goal to change the whole game, and towards the end of the first half I was given one chance. Outside the box, with two defenders chasing me down. I would have normally passed in this situation, but this time I took a shot and I could see the ball flying off the ground. The keeper leapt high, but not high enough. I hadn’t realized I had scored until I saw my teammates run toward me. It was a great feeling and was one of the best goals I have scored in my life. This DID change the whole game and after a couple of minutes, Patxi Santos scored a second goal. The final result was 7-0 yet again, and we progressed to the finals.

Our opponents were La Salle Zobel and our coach notified us that they scouted us during our semi-final game against La Salle Greenhills, and that they had a game plan to disrupt our game. We were up against the host and one of the best teams in the tournament. Their goal-scoring ability and their playing style were of high quality as well. This also represented a duel of sorts, with the best two Alabang-based teams going at it.

June 4, 2011, I remember the locker room and Coach giving us the most inspirational speech I have ever heard. Luichi Clavano scored the first goal yet the rest of the game was an uphill battle. Friends and family members rooted, hooted and shouted encouragement from the stands as we blew La Salle Zobel away 3-0. Patxi, Lui and I scored the goals. We won our first tournament as a team, we achieved perfection and we showed them what it meant to be men.

A few months passed by, and we heard big news from our manager, Raffy Hererra. He announced that the team would no longer fly the banner of the MFC and that a new corporation had bought out the team. Unsure of the future we were elated when news arrived that Kaya FC now sponsored us. Kaya FC is a United Football League professional team and one of the best at that. They bought us after hearing of our success and we are now their second team or reserves team. We have been granted the opportunity to play for the Kaya professional team and for that we have massive thanks to our team manager, our coaches and our fellow teammates. We can now proudly say “Una Kaya!”

s p o r t s

Kaya Elite FC1 by ryan fErMin

“Every kid around the world who plays soccer wants to be Pele. I have a great responsibility to show them not just how to be like a soccer player, but how to be a man.” – Pele

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T h e R i d g e

After the successful Southridge Alumni Homecoming held on March 2011 hosted by SR Batch 85, the task of putting together the next

annual event became the responsibility of our batch, SR 86. Like last year’s event, we held the Alumni Homecoming event at the Southridge gym last January 6, 2012.

Organizing an alumni homecoming 25 years after graduation became a chance to reconnect with old classmates. Grade school and high school classmates, especially those that one had spent their growing up years with, belong to a unique class of friends. It’s true that after high school graduation we all went in different directions and our lives sometimes took radical departures from the norm of the previous “sheltered” years. Going to college, meeting new friends, becoming exposed to different ideas and philosophies in life; one evolved further, and we continually became new people.

But when we started planning for the homecoming, (some of us meeting regularly), to organize the event, and as we re-established our ties, building relationships from where we left off years ago, we discovered a common “yearning” for times past. From the nostalgia, the laughter, the stories in our get-togethers, came a sense of belonging to another common place and time. It was a place and time we could all smell and taste. Be it the first day of Southridge of 1979, transition into high school in 1982, or graduation in 1986; be it the serenade of Pope John Paul II in 1981, the Pasig River tour of Dr. Torralba in1980, or the day in 1984 when we tied Collegio San Agustin in a football match in Southridge.

Although SR 86 had 27 members who graduated in March 1986, we started our life in Southridge as Grade 5 students when the school opened in 1979, there were over 40 students who were at one point or another members of the class but who had moved on to other schools before graduation.

Our batch decided to continue with the previous years theme, “Alma Mater Matters.” We also chose our class motto: “Contendere, Querere, Invenire, Et Non Cedere” – taken from the poem Ulysses by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. It was a motto chosen by Batch 86 original Martin Lacdao, for our graduation. Translated it means: “To Strive, To Seek, To Find and Not To Yield.”

There were 21 members of SR 86 who attended the homecoming. The event began with a batch merienda with teachers. Our professors who attended included Dr. Paul Dumol, Mr. Nick Galvez, Mr. Victor Navarro, Mr. Bonifacio Belen, & Mr. Butch Arias. Though many of our other teachers were unable to attend the event, the merienda nevertheless turned

out to be a warm intimate gathering of old friends and mentors. I recommend to other batches in the future to organize a similar get together with their teachers.

After the merienda, both teachers and batch members went on a brief school tour. It had been many years for most of us since we last set foot in Southridge, and seeing the new facilities and the big change since the days our single-building, snake infested facilities made some of us consider more the possibility of sending our sons to the school as well.

After the tour, a special homecoming mass celebrated by Fr. Roque Reyes was held in the Southridge Chapel. Many alumni again marveled at the beautiful chapel which was a far cry from the small oratory in the original Southridge building.

Immediately after, we joined Batch 84 in the official inauguration of the Adrian Hernandez Computer Laboratory in one of the buildings in campus. This project was sponsored by Batch 84 and the family of Adrian, the first valedictorian of Southridge, who died of cancer in April 2011. His parents, Atty. Eduardo and Mrs. Baby Hernandez, together with their other children cut the ribbon in a simple and touching ceremony.

Then it was on to the School gym to celebrate the homecoming party. There was a sumptuous buffet dinner which included roasted calf. The beer, courtesy of sponsor San Miguel Beer, flowed endlessly and the atmosphere was filled with the happiness and excitement of reconnecting with old friends. There were 160 alumni in attendance which we considered to be a great success.

The program included welcome remarks by current

Southridge Director Mr. Joey Magalona, a video presentation showing images of the good old days, and the now “old” alumni during those early days. There was much laughter and teasing, seeing those photographs. We also had the formal turnover of the Alumni Helm from Batch 86 to Batch 87, which symbolized the turnover of responsibilities to continue nurturing our relatively young Alumni tradition, and also to organize the next Southridge Alumni Homecoming next year as the 25th graduation anniversary batch of the school.

Many alumni volunteered to perform musical numbers accompanied by our Rockeoke band, “The Johnny’s”. There was no shortage of willing singers as tunes as mostly tunes from the 80’s were belted out and memories were once more rekindled.

Organizing this once-in-a lifetime event was an experience we in Batch 86 will never forget. We could not have been successful without the support of the school and especially Ivan Castaneda, (Batch 85), who as alumni coordinator for Southridge, supported and assisted with all our efforts. We look forward to celebrating the next alumni homecoming, and once again reliving our young days as students of Southridge.

Alma Mater Matters

1 by roquE s. tordEsillas – sr 86

a L u m n I n e w s

As part of Southridge’s annual activities, Math and Science Week was held from February 22 to 24, 2012. Many may be quick to jump into concluding that this was a “ho-hum” week celebrated only by those excelling in the two subjects—but wait…let me tell you how

we spent the week. To begin the celebration, we watched an interesting documentary on

how ancient Egyptians influenced the way we calculate and solve every day problems in Math. These ancient builders employed technology—mathematical calculations and scientific designs—that gave rise to magnificent structures like the Pyramids of Giza that never cease to put us in awe centuries after. After the film showing, we prepared for the much anticipated activity of the day—the Amazing Race, the ultimate test of our skills in Math—or so I thought. We came up with teams of seven or eight members. We chose red as our team color. Unlike the Amazing Races of previous years where the winning team was determined by how fast they solved the challenge in a station, this year’s race took a different turn. To start the race, Game Master Paul Cheng asked the group leaders to pick a number from a fishbowl that would correspond to the team’s starting station—the location of which would be part of the challenge that the team had to face. Each group was given 12 minutes to look for the stations, and solve the given problem. At the end of the time allotted, the game marshals would have to force us out, and compel us to proceed to the next station, regardless of whether or not we have completed solving the problems in any particular station.

With hearts pounding with excitement, we awaited Master Cheng’s signal . . . three…two…ONE! The Amazing Race had officially started! Clueless, we started our frantic search for the station’s possible location. Teammates Carlos Prieto, Renzo Cosico, Nico Quibilan, Paolo Manalastas, Peter Kim, Danny Cho, and Sangbin Lim and I sprinted to each of the stations in the basketball court, until we found Station 1. For our first challenge, we had to solve a series of problems in pairs. It was like a treasure map because in order for the next pair of teammates to answer their Math problem, the first pair would have to finish solving their problem first. By the time we were working on our last problem, our 12 minutes were up. We left our first station without success but not totally empty-handed—we carried with us the learning that we needed to work more systematically if we wanted to do better in the race.

Our second station was found in the platform next to the flag poles. For our next challenge, we were given several equations to solve. Each answer would correspond to a letter. Our challenge was to find out what word it formed and arrange the scrambled letter cut-outs. Our immediate strategy as a group was to divide the group into two so that some of us would solve the

first few numbers, while others would solve the remaining equations. Because we worked as a group, we successfully formed the word in less than three minutes: “BAZINGA!” My teammates and I jumped up and down in joy as the station marshals told us that so far, we were the fastest group. The next stations just kept on getting more and more fun. There was one station with a course laid out like hopscotch—the only difference was that the boxes had algebraic expressions wherein we had to solve for the value of “x”. Once we finished solving, one of our teammates had to jump from one box to the next in ascending order. In another station, we had to shoot a circle with a number using a Nerf gun. This number would be what we would substitute the x-variable with. After this, the marshals would give us an equation which we would have to solve. Once we have finished solving for the y-variable, we would have to shoot the answer using the Nerf gun again. We had several close calls, especially with the leaping frog challenge. Just before our twelve minutes were up, we were able to figure out how to get all the frogs to the other side. At the end of the Amazing Race, our team had a total score of 8/10. While we didn’t make it to the top three teams, we still had a lot of fun working together.

To add to the excitement in the tie-breaking round for the teams fighting for 2nd and 3rd place, Master Cheng asked the groups to select their bravest team member as he would take on the final challenge—picking marbles out of a container filled with mud, dried leaves, and earthworms! With this, day 1 of our Math and Science week had come to a close.

How do I sum up what it would take to win the Amazing Race? My answer is far from simple: Math skills will be a basic requirement for survival in this race but winning the race would require much more. You would need to be in great physical shape, be creative, and have the ability for strategic thinking. And most of all, you would need a courageous heart.

The fun did not stop there. The week also showcased the 1st Year Science projects in the Main Building conference room. Interactive 3D models to present the processes involved in the formation of the featured Earth structures displayed the various groups’ creativity and artistry in transforming Earth Science topics into a tangible spectacle of knowledge. On our last day of Science week, we were treated to an interesting talk on ecological footprints by Ms. Abigail Marie Favis. We also had a Science quiz bee participated by a total of fifteen groups, with each group having one student from each high school level. I had a lot of fun testing my knowledge in Science and working with students from different levels.

Did you say Geek Week? Math and Science Week was clearly THE AMAZING WEEK!

T’WAS NO GEEK WEEK!

1 by MatthEw MEndiola

the amazing race

outing

BUSY is the one word to describe February 2012 in the life of a Southridge student, really BUSY. Fathers’ Day, J-S Prom, Science Week, and the Southridge Run were on everyone’s mind as the school year’s twilight approached. Among all these activities, the Science Week really left its academic mark. Father’s Day was especially great and special but how the high school faculty organized and conducted Science Week to make it not only memorable but interesting as well.

On February 23, 2012 the high school students gathered for the first of the week’s two highlights, a talk entitled “Ecological Footprint: Big Shoes to Fill” given by Ms. Abigail Marie Favis, a professor of the Ateneo College of Science. When I heard that this would be part of the activities that week, I was excited since this was actually one of the few times—in my high school life at least—that Southridge would be bringing in an outsider’s perspective on a familiar topic. In her talk, Ms. Favis explained to the entire high school and afternoon school that what we have and do could be a potential danger to us and not the earth, contrary to what some have said. She went on to say that each of us, on average, is using the planet “too much”, meaning our consumption is more than our planet could handle! Maybe it’s because some of us don’t replace what we take away. It could also be because too much people are consuming a particular product. Whatever the reason may be, she stressed that we all should change our ways for the better.

This year’s Math and Science Week featured the return of the “Battle of Wits” Quiz Bee. Organized by the teachers of the Science Department, the event was held at the Southridge Auditorium on February 23, 2012 and included both Southridge Afternoon Session and Southridge High School students. Years past saw the Science Quiz Bee as a Freshman vs. Sophomore and then Junior vs. Senior affair. A new format made the competition balanced and fresh. This year each team consisted of four students featuring representatives from

each year level and mixing up the Southridge High School and the Southridge Afternoon Session students. More or less this format leveled the playing field, presenting a challenge to the contestants who not only had to deal with the questions, but also with the partners they just met on that day.

Questions were culled from the General Sciences, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Fifteen teams composed of the brightest Science students in High School—freshmen to seniors—challenged each other through Easy to Difficult rounds. Six teams were eliminated after the Easy Round, thereby leaving nine more to battle once more. The end of the Average Round saw the demise of another four teams. All the remaining teams had 70 points and finally prevailing through a brutal eight question long Difficult Category, Group 1’s Raffy Tanpho (IV-A), Hyun Hak Kim (III-A), Carlos Garcia (II-A), and James Angeles (I-AS) emerged as the new Science Quiz Bee Champions!

Aside from these, other exhibits and activities also added to the week that made science “sweet” for the students. The sophomores visited the Science Center in Marikina. Filled with machines that not only tested one’s intelligence but also could helped inspire them to be creative, the students had the time of their lives in understanding science away from the classroom. Finally, exhibits from the different levels of high school were also on display in the Southridge Main Building Conference rooms. Drawing attention in particular were the Senior’s Rube-Goldberg machines that highlighted their creativity, understanding of mechanics and well thought engineering principles.

Though the week was packed, it was definitely a testament to the talent of the Southridge students when it comes to science. Sure, anyone can pick up a science book and read it, but not everyone can creatively take science beyond the classroom. The exhibits and the quiz bee definitely showed that and hopefully through the talk and the field trips, they themselves would be inspired to go far and make a difference.

the exhibit the Quiz Bee

The Sweet Science1 by gio gloria and JoEl hErnandEz

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T h e R i d g eF e a t u r e

1 by Jairus Paul

MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2012, 7:35 AM. Soldiers in uniform marched smartly to center stage at the end of the plenary morning assembly of both grade school and high school. Up close one recognized familiar faces under the camouflage attire. Southridge was up for a big surprise, as these mysterious men in camouflage green and camouflage blue, led by no less than Admirals Greenheart and Bluebeard, announced the theme for this 2012’s Father’s Day: Operation D-Day.

The theme revolves around the military, an institution where the values of courage, loyalty, and integrity are upheld. This is in line with Southridge’s vision to educate Men of Integrity, along with values and notion of leadership among its students.

“I wanted to keep with the Admiral tradition, yet at the same time give something totally different. So I thought of modernizing a great idea to make it more appealing to a wider audience.” said JV Valerio, Chairman of the Student Council, “Also, I like the military, they’re pretty awesome.”

This year’s theme was well received especially by the school’s younger students. When asked about what he thinks of the event, Ethan Mitschiener, Grade 3 tells the Ridge “This Father’s Day will be the best one yet!” Undoubtedly, there is much anticipation for this event.

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And the winner is....... The crowd waited in anticipation as the Student Council held the suspense. Here it was, the culmination of the hard work of the entire school, as it was through their toil the past few days that brought them to this point. Every sandbag lifted and prop put together was all going to lead to this, an announcement that marked the seniors’ last Father’s Day.

For almost two months, the entire Southridge School was anticipating the annual celebration that was specially marked on every Admiral’s calendar. Dubbed Father’s Day [Operation D-Day], it was a testament not only of what the senior batch, spearheaded by the Student Council, could do, but the whole school as well. In the days leading up to February 4, a familiar sight around campus would consist of either an army of students carrying sand bags in the lobby, or a group of students making arrangements with the set-up on the field. Now, one can’t conclude that it was a senior batch effort that put together the school’s most anticipated fair; it was the joint-effort of an entire school.

For the seniors, this was it. Operation D-Day was the culmination of our lives here in Southridge, at least as students. Like an athlete playing his last game, each and every senior put his heart into arranging the activities, transporting the sandbags, and marketing Operation D-Day all over the web. Not one was kept idle as everyone was truly involved in the process. Whether one was a committee head or a marshall, the seniors left their mark in each step building up to Operation D-Day. If you want to talk about a Father’s Day made by the students, definitely this one has to be a concrete example of such.

For the Student Council and the committees under them, this was a testament to their capability as a unit. Initially, everyone expected them to bring in a typical Father’s Day, enjoyable yet typical. Thankfully, they exceeded those expectations and in their efforts not only in organizing but also in rallying the entire school, Father’s Day was more than a success; it was an unforgettable event. Who can forget the videos the Marketing committee put together? Whether it was the Southridge twist to the Selecta Cornetto Commercial or the video with the likes of Phil Younghusband and Chieffy Caligdong telling viewers to come to Operation D-Day, they definitely made Operation D-Day the event to be in.

Then came the day we were all waiting for: February 4. As the morning parade was about to start, everyone was anticipating what would be the style of this year’s parade. Last year’s theme was in line with the Admiral thus it was a parade of both the Helm and Vinta crews. This year, with the seniors gathering inspiration from their time in CAT (Citizens Advancement Training), it was now an exhibition of the Helm and Vinta corps. With a real marching band from the Philippine Marine Corps, everyone present during the parade got the feel of a military parade. Even they had their own exhibition, performing

popular hits and forming formations that reminded one of those college marching bands in the movie Drumline. After a performance from the Admirals Step Crew, the invocation of Fr. Aniban, and the official opening-of-games by Executive Director Mr. Joey Magalona, Operation D-Day was a “go”.

As much as Operation D-Day brought the school together through the organization of the event itself, it couldn’t take away the rivalry between the two protagonists, Helm and Vinta. One activity that highlited this rivalry was the traditional Tug-of-War between the two houses. It was a tight match for the two houses but before the most anticipated match, which was amongst the seniors of Helm and Vinta, it seemed as if Vinta would go on to win the event, with this match being the crucial one. It was a back and forth match but in the end, Helm pulled through and forced a tie. With that, it was now up to the fathers from both houses, all of whom seemed eager to join. In the end, it was Helm who pulled through, thanks to them.

After the Tug-of-War, the suprisingly well-loved Tender Juicy Hotdog-Eating contest was up next. Kids from both the grade school and high school participated to see who could eat the most hotdogs in two minutes. An obstacle course sponsored by Paolo’s Boot Camp tested the physical capabilities of both the fathers and sons. The Alumni-Varsity games for both futsal and basketball drew crowds, with the basketball game drawing “oohs” and “ahhhs” from the crowd as they saw former Southridge student and soon-to-be Archer Gabby Reyes soar up for dunks he would unfortunately miss. Meanwhile, a favorite among the families was the magic show, wherein those present were amazed at the illusions of Mimmo the magician. Every trick of his amazed the crowd and made them wonder how doves would come out of such small bags and how he could conjure numerous handkerchiefs out of his mouth.

And the winner is.......HELM!!! Those in green gathered in front of the stage erupted in cheers and gave each other high-fives. “The last one to lift the Father’s Day Cup was my brother Anton.” Jose Medalla, otherwise known as Admiral Greenheart, had said. For him, and the other Helm seniors, it was the best way to leave Southridge. For the Vinta seniors, not so much. Whatever the case, the seniors (and everyone else who helped) did an excellent job in putting together one of the best, if not THE best Father’s Day to date.

Father’s Day may have been over, but the night was still young. Dubbed Rock for Life 2, the evening concert served as the school’s contribution to the victims of Typhoon Sendong. With bands like Lady Ransom, Ars Moriendis, and the much anticipated Franco playing, it definitely was the way to close the evening. Everyone in the crowd sang along as Franco sang their hits “Touch the Sky” and “Castaway”. As Franco sang their last song, “This Gathering”, some lit up lanterns that sailed off into the night. And with those lanterns, the day ended, the mission accomplished.

F e a t u r e

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“Agua! Agua!” The people beside me cheered, as the hot summer sun gazed unapologetically over the crowd. With my skin forming tan lines all over (baked a nice Spanish bronze), and my shirt drenched in sweat, the call for water was a welcome thought. It seemed as though the Spanish heat was beginning to get the better of the people who had been waiting for hours just to catch a glimpse of the Holy Father that day. From the early morning crowd of thousands, to the millions of men and women by midday, there was a growing yearning for a bit of relief, especially among those who had fainted from exhaustion. As the Voluntarios came to heed our call, dragging along water hoses connected to big red fire trucks, there was a sense of being recharged for the hours more of standing that lay ahead.

What exactly would make anyone prepare for a year and travel all the way to Madrid, Spain to experience such deprivation? Simple, it’s a little something called Faith. This Faith drew millions of young people to the Madrid celebration of World Youth Day 2011 from August 15 to 21, 2011. Among the pilgrims who sought to strengthen their faith was the Molave Study Center delegation of twenty students, Messrs. Olmos, Quesada and Quinto, and Fr. Frank Aniban. With the 2011 World Youth Day’s theme of Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, Firm in the Faith, Pope Benedict XVI called on each one of the Christian youth to remain strong in Christ during a time where modern society is subjected to relativism

What exactly made every day so alive were the people; the youth of the world! In interacting with foreigners, we got to not only experience but also share in the smorgasbord of culture. People from all over the world, whether from Spain itself, or across the borders throughout Europe, Australia, the United States, South America, Africa, Asia, or even from the Middle East, would fill each day with contagiously passionate energy. Even though no one knew each other, a single level of commonality in the faith would be enough to get people talking, taking group pictures, and exchanging goodies with other people of great cultural differences. Our home base alone in the Andel Center, Alcorcon featured delegations from Italy, France, Brazil, Argentina, and Kenya.

Ultimately though, for all the fun and excitement that drives the youth during such an event, there comes an understanding of what they came to Madrid for; the search for the truth, the search for Christ. At its heart, World Youth Day is about the strengthening of the faith of its children and the empowerment of the youth to strive to serve Christ with the Church. Began by Pope John Paul II in Rome back in 1985, World Youth Day has since grown to form the future of the Church, under firm Catholic principles. Pilgrims would prepare a year ahead for the event, studying the Pope’s messages and praying constantly. Once in Madrid, they get to share further in the expression of the Catholic faith by joining catecheses, daily masses, cultural exhibitions, and talks from the likes of the prelate of Opus Dei, Javier Echeverria and even Jason Evert.

Yet, the greatest celebration of the joy of the personal encounters of young people with Christ revolves around the gathering with the Vicar of Christ on Earth, the Pope. Pilgrims not only wanted to see the Pope but more importantly they sought his word, as it carries the message of what Christ calls for from each and every one of us. The love of the youth for the Pope and for Christ was exemplified by their having waited hours upon hours under the sun just to see the Pope’s arrival on August 18, 2011. From the moment he arrived in Madrid, Pope Benedict XVI told us all in the welcoming ceremony at Plaza de Cibeles “Dear friends: be prudent and wise, build your lives upon the foundation which is Christ. This wisdom and prudence will guide your steps, nothing will make you fear and peace will reign in your hearts. Then you will be blessed and happy and your happiness will influence others.”

In his speech , the Pope asked the delegates to place a complete faith and trust in Christ; to make Jesus, the one who will never abandon us until the end of time, our friend to which our lives revolve around. He called us to use Christ in a time when the Church is so prone to attacks: “They see the prevailing superficiality, consumerism and hedonism, the widespread banalization of sexuality, the lack of solidarity, and the corruption. They know that, without God, it would be hard to confront these

challenges and be truly happy, and thus pouring out the enthusiasm in the attainment of an authentic life.” He concluded “World Youth Day brings us a message of hope like a pure and youthful breeze, with rejuvenating scents which fill us with confidence before the future of the Church and the world.”

As the Pope himself said, though, “the leading actor of WYD is not the Pope: not the Vicar of Christ but Christ himself.” The week-long event was an invitation to seek Christ and to spread his message to the rest of the world. Christ’s message would become no more profound than it did in the Via Crucis or the Way of the Cross on August 19, 2011. Commemorating Christ’s path to his passion and death, Catholics from across the world watched as Spanish Holy Week pasos (larger-than-life sculptural floats) and the World Youth Day Cross were carried from Plaza de Colon to Plaza de Cibeles. It was a heart-warming (and at times, heart-wrenching) experience to watch as struggling young people such as the youth from Sudan or earthquake-stricken Haiti and Japan, or the youth with handicaps or AIDS carry the cross. It became a call for each one of us to carry not only our own cross but to also help those who are suffering to carry theirs. As Pope Benedict XVI says “Christ’s passion urges us to take upon our own shoulders the sufferings of the world, in the certainty that God is not distant or far removed from man’s troubles…To suffer with the other and for others; to suffer for the sake of truth and justice; to suffer out of love and in order to become a person who truly loves—these are the fundamental elements of humanity, and to abandon to them would destroy man himself ”

Using that strong message of love, the pilgrims gathered for the over-night culmination of World Youth Day on August 20, 2011 at the Cuatro Vientos airfield. It was an opportunity for the millions of men and women in the faith to come together as one for the Pope’s final blessings and messages. The massive air field, in all of its dustiness and rockiness, served as the final home for all the pilgrims.

By evening, the Pope arrived to lead the faithful in an Adoration Vigil and the crowd was ready to listen. Standing on a platform, in front of a backdrop of a beautiful cup-like structure, the Pope seemed prepared to answer the questions set to him by select individuals from across the world. There was just one problem: after all the summer heat that plagued the pilgrims throughout the week, on this evening, it rained. The cold rain, coupled with strong winds, disrupted the entire procession. The crowd, empowered by their youthful exuberance, cheered on; practically daring the rain to give its worst which the rain obliged. However, the Pope remained silent and calm in what appeared a chaotic moment. After some time, we realized that the Pope was praying and so too did we keep silent in prayer. Suddenly, in what seemed like a peaceful and miraculous moment, the rain just stopped. “Dear Friends: I thank you for your joy and your resistance. Your strength is greater than the rain. Thank you. With rain the Lord has sent us many blessings. In this also, you are an example” said Pope Benedict XVI.

The following day proved to be bittersweet as it was the final day of the World Youth Day experience. With the final Eucharistic Mass that Sunday morning, on August 21, 2011, the Pope was just about ready to send us off with his final blessings. Of course, he did so only after delivering his final messages in his rather beautiful homily: “Dear young people, today Christ is asking you the same question which he asked the Apostles: “Who do you say that I am?” Respond to him with generosity and courage, as befits young hearts like your own. Say to him: “Jesus, I know that you are the Son of God, who had given your life for me. I want to follow you faithfully and to be led by your word. You know me and you love me. I place my trust in you and I put my whole life into your hands. I want you to be the power that strengthens me and the joy which never leaves me.”

After Madrid, the delegation continued to absorb Spanish culture by embarking on a pilgrimage to Barcelona and the Navarre region of Spain. Upon their return home on August 22, 2011, a common realization grew, more than the pasalubongs of hamon and turones, it was the greater and more mature love for Christ that shone in their hearts.

The Way of the Pilgrim 1 by MiChaEl agonCillo

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There are some unforgettable Southridge traditions. One of these traditions is the annual Eucharistic procession honouring our Lord’s Presence in the Blessed

Sacrament. Here our Lord Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament, in the consecrated host, is brought around the school for the Southridge community to pray to and adore. Traditionally each section from grade school to high school is assigned to decorate a portion of the floral carpet which the priest steps on as he reverently brings Jesus to different stations within the school where an Exposition and Benediction is held. Last November 18, 2011, the Southridge family came together once again to adore our Lord Jesus, as He visited and blessed the School in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

In the days leading to the Eucharistic procession, one could see the members of the Southridge community, parents, teachers, and students spending hour after hour working on the floral carpet to be used for the procession. Primary School students rolled thousands of Japanese paper balls in various

colors as accents to the rose petals that filled in their designs. High School students painstakingly laid leaf after leaf, flower after flower on Manila paper, following curved lines whose final design showed the effort the students made to prepare the path where Jesus carried by the priest would walk on.

Why all this extravagance? Why all this effort? These

questions could not have been answered simpler than how

Matthew Tambunting of Prep A answered them. When asked

why he and his classmates were kneeling along the

corridor and putting finishing touches, he struggled for the right words and simply said,

“For Jesus.”

The school chaplain, Fr. Frank Aniban, in his homily during the Holy Mass preceding the Eucharistic procession stressed how all that effort showed Love for Jesus Christ, who is present in His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Most Blessed Sacrament. He reminded all those present that each flower laid and each piece of colored paper glued must be an expression of Love.

In popular culture, the carpet is rolled out a sign of welcome for the entrance of important persons when they gather and visit on a special occasion. In Hollywood, the red carpet is usually used to welcome celebrities attending a special show or awards ceremony. The laying of a beautiful floral carpet given its expense and requiring pain staking effort is not just justice for the Southridge community to give honor and the best effort to Christ. It is a great and beautiful tradition to work together as an academic community and family to adore the Lord who loves us. This seeming extravagance is not enough to repay Christ’s generous self-giving. Still it’s a start of the spark in the hearts of students who will then show the overflow of Love in their daily actions.

Corpus Christi: A Festival of Faith

p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p

1 by isaaC taMbunting

Pacman – Behind the scenes with Manny Pacquiao, is a well written biography by Gary Andrew Poole that captures Manny’s life from his humble beginnings to his successful career as a boxer in detail.

The first half of the book focuses on Pacquiao’s early life, tackling his daily hardships as a young boy in the Philippines, and his growth as a professional boxer. Personally, I found this half to be the more engaging between the two as it described life in the Philippines, the hardships of our people, and their faith to the Catholic Church. It was a part that I could very well relate to as a Filipino. Reading about Manny’s growth as a local boxing hero and his life with his little band of boxers, who called themselves the “General Santos boys”, was probably the most interesting part of this book.

The latter parts of the first half focus on Manny’s early American boxing career and his relationships with Freddie Roach and Bob Arum. The highlights of these chapters would be the short yet interesting insights on Roach and Arum’s life, and Manny’s entourage, as they give readers a break from “Manny Pacquiao”, revitalizing their interests in the book through the lives of other people before reverting back to Manny’s.

The second half of the book focuses more on the latter half of Manny’s career, where he is popular, known and at the peak of his powers, in other words, his current stand in the last 3-4 years. This half describes his fights and workouts in greater detail while giving readers insights on his life in public relations, which include his political efforts in the Philippines and his involvement in the various types of media. Personally

speaking, my interest in this part of the book has been somewhat erratic. I would still consider it an interesting half as the problems I had with it were trivial and were probably the result of my preference of the first half of the book. The latter half of the book is more “boxing centered” and the side-stories woven with it were more serious in nature, as opposed to the first half which was slightly less “boxing centered” and had light, casual stories on the side. However, both halves were fun and engaging. While I found the first half more exciting, the two halves remain more or less the same due to the book’s consistent tone.

Conclusion“Pacman – Behind the Scenes with Manny Pacquiao” is a good read for anyone. One does not need to be a boxing fan in order to appreciate this book as it possesses a light and casual tone that makes it very appealing. It’s semi non-linear storyline, although confusing at times, is unique and refreshing. Short stories incorporated within the book allow weary readers to revitalize their interests in the book by taking a quick detour from Manny’s life. The book successfully captures Manny’s life from beginning to end, upholding its thoroughness throughout the whole read.

Most importantly, the book is able to patronize Manny while tackling him as a whole, elaborating on unpopular alleged rumors, the failures of his first political attempt, and the notorious drug allegations of Mayweather, thus providing us a wonderful, realistic and unbiased insight on our country’s favorite boxing icon.

Book Review: Pacman – by Gary Andrew Poole      1 by Joby sta. ana

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For the past eleven years, Southridge has staged more than a hundred original plays written, directed, produced, and starred by the students of second to

fourth year. Originally conceived as an avenue for holistic, hands-on learning, the Plautus has allowed students to learn lessons impossible to teach within the four walls of a classroom; lessons such as professionalism in dealing with peers, dedication to a common goal, and independence in one’s work amongst others. But more than the lessons learned or the pride that goes with staging a completely original production, Plautus has transcended its purpose as a learning tool. After all these seasons, the Plautus plays have become something of a tradition amongst students, a rite of passage through which one truly joins the ranks of the Southridge gentlemen. Being unique to our alma mater, Plautus has become a defining part of one’s high school life. Years after the heat of Plautus Practice is gone and the post-play buzz has faded, the legacy lives on. One will always be remembered as “that beast actor” or “this genius scriptwriter”. Plays such as Jeroglifico, In Memoriam, and Alive have left the school with a proud testament to the talent and the drive of her students. The past twelve Plautus seasons have brought the Southridge boys together in a way no other activity could. It forces them to get creative, to get organized, and to get united—all for that one night, where two hundred men and women sit for fifty minutes to see just what your class has to offer. 25. Plautus Season 12 was launched on November 15 and concluded on December 15, 2011.

THE FIFTH COLUMNThe first real mystery/thriller to hit the Plautus scene in years, The Fifth Column takes its audience on an eerie journey through the mind of Robert De Leon, a distraught father suffering from the grief over the loss of his son, and the complications of the coma he had recently woken up from. Though the main draw of this play lies in the slow unraveling of the mystery behind the murder of Robert’s son, the production has a deeper, more philosophical layer to it that harps on existentialism and the undying love that holds the family together. A true glimpse into the psychological depths of a troubled mind, this play won over audiences with its mind-bending story and a twist that will leave your jaws hanging well after the red curtains are drawn. 14Yet another step away from the “traditional” Plautus play, where The Fifth Column blew audiences away with its intense mind play, 14 won their hearts over with an intimate take on the bonds of brotherhood. This Third Year production follows the story of Allen, a charismatic young man, and Jude, his mentally retarded brother, as they struggle with a fatal sickness that could separate them forever. 14 is a heartwarming view of the innocence of youth and the dignity of all life, and is a refreshing highlight of the spectacular roster of Plautus Season 13.

FATWAWith conflict flaring up all over the world, and war being sensationalized by the media through the movies we watch and the games we play, it’s easy to forget that the hundreds of people who die everyday aren’t just a statistic, but individual, unique lives that can never be replaced. Enter Fatwa, an eye-opening glimpse to the reality of war, and the lives it ruins. The story follows Campos and his hit squad of specialists as they are tasked with infiltrating the Taliban and assassinating their leader. In no way a “war story” this production shifts focus from war as a man’s sport and throws its audience into the realization that in the moral void of war, not even the good can survive. BLOODSPORTPower doesn’t come from the ability to fight, but from the strength to know when to hold back. Nico Tuscani is a widower put to jail for protecting his estranged son from gangsters threatening to hurt them. In prison, the madman Warden struggles to increase funding for his prison and with the help of his congressman friend decides to put up an underground fighting tournament where inmates fight to the death

for a chance at freedom. Never a dull moment, this Fourth Year production is a literal riot. But amidst all the comedy, the action-packed, fun-filled production, Bloodsport succeeds in instilling a very important lesson: that when one’s morals are put to the test, some things are just more important than freedom.

THE LAST NOTENever forget, never forgive. When a young boy’s father is murdered by a corrupt government seeking to put an end to his questionable experiments, the child grows to fill his brilliant father’s shoes. Dr. Zimmer is an esteemed psychologist with a bloody agenda—to exact

revenge on the institution that took away his beloved father. Manipulating his mental patients into killing machines ready to do his dirty work, Zimmer becomes a force to be reckoned with on his quest for retribution. The Last Note is one of the only plays to feature an anti-hero whose mission for justice is tainted by his intense hate and reckless disregard for the dignity of life. A dark and brooding story, The Last Note is a heavy tale of love and loss, and the frail line that separates us all from insanity.

ANATHEMA A controversial play set in the Age of Chivalry, where knights were in power and magic lay brewing in the night. Anathema uses its era setting and spot-on acting to mask a chilling reflection of the truth behind substance abuse. Here we see the journey of two squires, Bronson and his friend Axel, and their confrontation with an evil warlock bent on turning them to the dark side. At first, the potions the warlock offers seem wonderful and empowering, but later on, they prove to be a painful reminder of how addiction is but a step away from destruction.

KRYPTEIASparta – a city of men where strength is supreme and a love for the finer things has no place amongst the citizens’ ranks. Kleos is the crown prince of his Father’s military-run kingdom and the finest warrior of Sparta. His best friend however, is a humble farmer’s boy, whose love for life rivals even Kleos’ ambition. But, when a prophecy foretells of a rebellion rising within the kingdom, Kleos must face the possibility that he may have to kill his best friend, to save his kingdom. Krypteia is a thrilling adventure filled with an ensemble crew of misfits, all ending with a chilling revelation of one of history’s darkest practices.

A ROSE FOR MARIAThe tale of two orphan brothers trying to make their way through the world, A Rose for Maria is a coming of age story where Berto and Pedro have to come to grips with the death of their mother, the sudden reappearance of their absent father, and the pressures of life on the streets. Truly a testament to the immense talent of its production team, this play successfully put forward a story that was both entertaining and meaningful—affirming that when the entire world is against you, you can always count on family to have your back.

THE CRIMINAL MINDWho is John Doe? This question resonates throughout The Criminal Mind from beginning to end, maddening both the audience and the characters as they struggle to keep their wits about them in this paranoid romp through the criminal investigation scene. Though mystery isn’t the focus of this production, the fog of confusion permeates the entire story, pitting friend against friend and leaving the audience wondering - when no one knows who’s at fault, can anyone be trusted?

ZEALOTA corrupt Church, a cruel Bishop, and a defiant prisoner – Zealot follows the story of Sloan, a humble blacksmith that stood against the terrors of his Church and her evil enforcers. Taken in for insubordination and tasked with fixing the aging pipes of his prison, Sloan slowly but surely attempts to seize his freedom from the oppressive forces of the Bishop. Ultimately, Zealot speaks of how in a world where men twist doctrine to fit their selfish needs, unwavering faith is our only salvation.

Plautus XII1 by santiago arnaiz

The music plays as the tension rises. Shaded figures rush into position. FIve. Four. The audience sits with bated breath.

Three. Two. The curtains are drawn.one. Welcome to Plautus.

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T h e R i d g e r e V I e w

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3: The Review1 by Carlos ViCta

Activision and Infinity Ward’s Modern Warfare series has grown to become one of the most successful franchises in gaming history. It all began with the successful release of the first Modern Warfare, Call of Duty, followed by the even more critically acclaimed Modern Warfare 2, and ended with the well received Modern Warfare 3. It was a direct competitor to Electronic Arts’ Battlefield 3 released in the same year and receiving similar critical acclaim. Online forums spill over the animosity between the fan-boys of the two games. What many fail to see is that both games are successful in their own way and thus can be considered as equals. In this article however we shall focus entirely on the strengths and weaknesses in MW3 particularly in single and multiplayer modes.

The campaign, just like its predecessors, features excellent graphics, and an adrenaline filled story to culminate the story of the Modern Warfare series. Featuring new weapons and attachments, like upgraded flash-bang grenades, several new assault and sniper rifles, and more than a handful of handguns. However, the main issues raised by players were the same issues seen in all Modern Warfare campaigns: unrealistic behaviour of AI enemies and allies that included an infinite spawn of enemies, their habit of completely disregarding their own safety just to shoot you in the face, and various allies constantly getting in your line of fire. The largest issues involved the brevity of the campaign and many felt it way too similar to its predecessor. Some derided it as MW2.5. Yet no one contradicted the truth – it proved itself the best of the series. Despite the intensity and the fast paced nature of the game, Infinity Ward still managed to give room for players to easily comprehend the final chapter of the Modern Warfare series, something many game writers and the like had difficulty doing.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim1 by Joshua VEra

The game that has been the talk of the town, the action role-playing game Skyrim is truly a game to play. As with its previous Elder-Scrolls installments, such as Oblivion, Skyrim is a world of adventure, action, and freedom. The map of the northern, snow-covered kingdom of Tamriel is big. Really big. Its enormous range can surprise you, from the hill city of Whiterun to the mysterious tombs of the Labyrinthian; the world of Skyrim is rife with diversity and adventure: you’ll often lose yourself in one area, and forget that it’s just one part of the game.

One of the best things of the game is the sense of freedom you have, with each choice you make having a consequence, either it be good or bad, small or large. There are no rigid classes, with specific skills only limited to the class one chooses. Rather, the player has the choice where to put the skill points, gained by leveling up, in the different skill trees. One can be good in the “stealth” skill, a rogue talent, while also proficient in “summoning magic”, a mage talent: there isn’t a pre-determined way of leveling.

As said before, everything you do has its effect. Doing seemingly mundane and boring tasks, like collecting flowers, to grand and epic quests, such as defeating an ancient monster bent on destroying the world, each action counts in the end. Finding an old, simple book while exploring a crypt can lead to a long and harrowing quest line. The game’s “Radiant Storyline” engine can generate an unlimited amount of quests and tasks, so one can never have the exact playing experience twice.

I haven’t forgotten about the playable character. You are Dovahkiin, you are Dragonborn: an individual who is born with the soul of a Dragon, but a body of a mortal. The Dragonborn is able to speak the ancient and powerful language of Dragons, they are the ultimate ‘Dragon-slayers’, for you are able to absorb a dragon’s soul, and learn the power of the “Shout”. This new ability greatly changes and improves the way one plays a role playing game. It can turn the tide of battle, by knocking enemies down or even summoning creatures to aid you, the shout of a Dragonborn certainly is a remarkable ability.

The social interaction with other characters is astounding; each ‘named’ character has its own personality, with different personalities and perspectives. You can ask them something political and they respond with their own opinions and beliefs, just like normal people would do. The A.I. of the game is intelligent, able to react to each of the player’s actions and words.

As a final, somewhat humorous, note, Skyrim reportedly has over three-hundred hours of game play for full, total completion of the game; that’s a really long time to finish. So, I wish you all good luck, and have fun playing!

Multiplayer of MW3 offers much more than its predecessor. Included are new game modes such as Kill Confirmed where you must collect fallen enemy’s dog tags to ensure kill count and new kill streaks like an Unmanned Ground Vehicle armed with a heavy machine gun. Details like air strikes marked via smoke grenades add realism and oomph to game play. But what really sets apart this MW3 multiplayer from the previous two is the fact that a player can upgrade his weapon of choice as he levels up. This is called the weapon proficiency. Different weapon proficiencies include lessening recoil or kick, increased stability of arms (a player’s arms move under the weight of the gun even when stationary), increasing amount of damage your weapon does, and increasing the range of your weapon. Despite constructing it on an old gaming engine, Infinity Ward has certainly put a lot of effort and improvements into the multiplayer of MW3.

Another great new feature to Modern Warfare 3 is Survival mode. It has room for split-screen offline and four player co-op online which is similar on most levels to its C.O.D. Zombies counterparts – albeit, you face living soldiers rather than zombies. The player faces an unlimited amount of enemy waves which just gets more and more difficult after each round. Boss waves come in the form of enemy helicopters and heavily armoured soldiers known as Juggernauts. The players have kill streaks, reinforcements, weapons, and upgrades available at their disposal in order to aid them as they fight off wave after wave of increasingly difficult enemies on one of the several survival maps of their choice.

Conclusion Despite its obvious shortcomings, MW3 has once again nearly dominated

the shooter sales. It features an excellent climax to its story and a newly refined multiplayer with a wide variety of additions available to the player. Compared to its competitor Battlefield 3, it seems that both games are equal in terms of both strengths and weaknesses. BF3 is best known for its outstanding multiplayer which makes use of both big and small maps with an extended range of vehicles, aircraft, and weapons. The large maps of BF3 tend to force players to think on a tactical level emphasizing teamwork and strategic planning as opposed to the individualistic thinking of the Modern Warfare multiplayer. BF3 multiplayer in many ways is much more noob-friendly than that of the Modern Warfare. Noobs can easily take part in and enjoy online BF3 matches without fear of getting instantly killed upon spawning-something Modern Warfare players have a nasty habit of doing. Single Player on the other hand, clearly goes to Modern Warfare 3.

So in conclusion, this writer states that Modern Warfare 3 has definitely been worth the wait in terms of single player, and even its multiplayer. But for those of you who prefer a multiplayer shooter without the threat of being instantly killed then Battlefield 3 is your best bet. Modern Warfare is purely for players who take an individualistic approach their gaming skills and those who enjoy campaign more than they do multiplayer.

by isaaC taMbunting

What can government do with 3 BILLION PESOS? The gamut of choices range from implementing the controversial Reproductive Health Bill (RH Bill) to investing in the country’s ailing public school system or pump priming the economy for the creation of sustainable livelihood programs. What is the reasonable choice?

On November 23, 2012, to educate its students concerning the real issues surrounding the RH Bill and show support for the pro-life cause, PAREF Southridge sent a delegation comprised of the High School Student Council and various class officers to listen to the 9YL, a group of nine young congressmen united by the common cause and concern for Pro-Life issues. The rally at Tuloy sa Don Bosco in Sitio San Jose, Brgy. Alabang was organized by the Youth United for the Philippines (YUP!), which describes itself as “a coalition of youth groups that advocate real long-term progress for the Philippines.”

Attended by more than 500 students from private and public schools in Muntinlupa and Las Pinas, the pep rally focused on clarifying the reasons behind the pro-life and anti-RH bill movement in Congress and the possible alternative uses of the projected funds necessary for the RH Bill’s implementation. The rally was also a show of support for these pro-life legislators who are slowly but surely gaining traction in the halls of Congress.

The legislators who attended the pep rally and gave their thoughts surrounding their fight against the RH Bill were Qurino Rep. Dakila Carlo

Cua , Lanao del Norte Rep. Fatima Aliah Dimaporo, Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco , Buhay Partylist Rep. Irwin Tieng and Buhay Partylist Rep. Mariano Michael Velarde, Jr. Other members of the 9YL who couldn’t make it were Cebu Rep. Rachel Marguerite del Mar, Cebu Rep. Gabriel Quisumbing, and popular celebrity and Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez. Chris Tiu, a popular basketball star, also came to show support for the cause.

In a statement released almost two months before the pep rally, the 9YL said “Each Filipino should be seen not as a mouth to feed, but as a person with a mind to be educated and hands that can be trained to work.” The statement continued by saying “This Filipino that we feed and educate today will be one more thinking mind to solve problems of future generations, and one more pair of arms to lift up our nation.”

Many of the delegates were glad to be reminded that the struggle for Pro-life issues, and against the RH Bill, is backed up by solid reason and reliable numbers. Clearly, as presented by these legislators, anti RH proponents aren’t simply pushing for a certain religious belief but they are fighting for the common good and in particular what is best for the nation. Pro RH advocates are pushing a cause proven to be detrimental and ineffective in other countries, particularly clear in those whose negative population replacement rate bodes for an impending economic disaster. It is clear that it is necessary to invest the funds from government coffers on proven and tested solutions. Definitely, a Philippines without an RH Bill is a better one.