Dramafest '07

Last March 2, 2007, the University of the Philippines High School in Cebu, celebrated their 32nd Dramafest. The event was held in the open stage on the night of that day. The fourth year students were the ones who hosted the program. Razel and Euvic, the producers, of each section, were the emcees of the program. We can see the audience and their excitement in waiting for the program to start. But in the case of the fourth year students, a variety of feelings can be seen in each other’s eyes. Some were excited, some were nervous and some were having mixed emotions. Nevertheless, we have to face this day since we have been preparing for this event long enough. This activity also served as our periodical test in Filipino for the grading period. The judges were divided into two groups, on for the technical aspect and one on the acting aspect. And so, it then came to a point wherein we had to start the program. Section Tan was the first one who presented.

Upon hearing the announcement, section Gonzalez was disappointed because of the two sections have more or less the same plot in their stories, so it was better to present first. But being the second one to present was a blessing in disguise. It is because something happened on the technical part of the play, the lights. The house lights did not function well. It kept on blinking and blinking. With that, the Tanikala Productions or the section Tan fixed the lights first and started again from the top. They presented well especially on the acting part. Each actor and actress performed their role well. I can really see that they really did their best just to please the people and theirselves. Their play almost lasted an hour. They gained several claps from the audience, mostly the students. Then it was Quevedo production or section Gonzalez’ turn to present.

I felt the air of excitement as it passed through my veins. I had no reason to be nervous about the outcome of our presentation since I saw the great improvement of our play as every rehearsal went by. I was assigned to hang the series lights on the stage wall. And since I was chairperson on the make-up committee, I made some retouches on the make-up of our actors and actresses. After the props, designs and technicals were ready, the Quevedo production started the play. The flow of the play was so smooth that you can see no error on technical and acting part. It was at the start of the program, but then, a problem occurred. Ralph, the musical director, lost his script. We went to look for it in all the possible places but we could not find it. Instead, we handed him another script. From that time on wrong timing of playing the music as background for a certain scene had frequently occurred. The spotlights also lost their functions nearly at the end of the program. But these faults were not regarded because the acting of the actors and actresses carried the people away. You can conclude that they really studied their role very well. Each of them did their best job. They gave justice to the story. People with teary eyes were visible anywhere from the audience. The acting of the presenters carried them away. Each of us performed our role well. And I am so proud of our production. There was a loud applause from the audience that was the cause why my tears dropped from my eyes, a sense of relief and gratitude.

The awarding ceremony added up to our hype that night. The awarding of the technical part, such as best in lights, music, wardrobe and makeup, poster, song, and set design, were all awarded to the Quevedo Productions. And the Tanikala Productions won most of the acting awards such as best actor, actress, and supporting actor. The Quevedo Productions got the Best Supporting actress performed by Juna Rose Dinglasa. But the Tanikala Productions got the two biggest awards, which were the Best Direction and Best Production.

Nevertheless, we were all happy of the results of the program. At last! It was all done. We all did our best to make the event a successful one. We thank God for the good weather and guidance that he has given us that day. We had proved our worth in making our production a presentable one. No one can take our relief and gratitude that day. And until now, we are happy, and that is all that matters.

Research Project: Ethanol From Potato, Sweet Potato and Taro: A Comparative Study

Philippines, our country, is a third world country that depends mainly on foreign products. And one of these products is energy from oil exports from the Middle East. We all know that petroleum come from fossil fuels. The production of fossil fuel is declining and not only that, the fossil fuel also emit harmful gases that cause air pollution. Fossil fuel is also a non-renewable resource. With these facts, the researchers came up with the idea of using an alternative source of fuel, which is biodiesel. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel, which the raw materials are found here in the Philippines. Ethanol is the main component for biodiesel. It consists of raw materials such as sugary and starchy plants. Sugary plants are sugar canes and sugar beets while example of starchy plants are rice, corn and root crops. The researchers decided to use the root crops as a source for ethanol since it is widely available here in Cebu. These root crops are potatoes, sweet potatoes and taros. These three are abundant in Cebu that is why the researchers chose them specifically. The team conducted the study, hand in hand, in vision that many may benefit from this study.

It was the purpose of the researchers to compare the amount of extracted ethanol from 100ml of potato, sweet potato and taro. The researchers were also interested in knowing which of the three yielded the greatest amount of alcohol and the least amount of alcohol.

To have the data required for a fair conclusion, the researchers went on the procedure of distillation. First, we prepared the materials needed. The processes involved were divided into three major divisions: cooking, fermentation and distillation. Cooking involves the peeling and cooking of the root crops for 15 minutes. The process of cooking also included the blending of the root crops and the mixing 60 grams of yeast thoroughly. After the cooking process comes the fermentation process. In fermentation, the blended yeast and root crops are placed inside a jar and then was sealed airtight. The jar was placed in a cool dry place for 30 days without opening. This span of time was the fermentation period of the yeast. The yeast will perform the chemical reactions in order to produce ethanol. After 30 days of fermentation, the fermented root crops were then to undergo distillation in order to extract the ethanol. Three set-ups of distilling instruments were prepared in this process. The distillation process involves the separation of liquids from liquids. That has to be done with the fermented root crops. After each trial was distilled within 15 hours of distillation, they were subjected into a flame test. The sweet potatoes and taros sparked while the taro extract did not. The researchers also measured the mass and the volume of the distillate and the amount of ethanol extracted from the fermented root crops.

The researchers got the following data after performing the experiments: 4.7 ml of ethanol was extracted from potatoes, while 7.5 ml and 5.5 ml of ethanol was extracted from sweet potatoes and taros, respectively. With these data, sweet potato was found to be a better source of ethanol compared to potato and taro.

KYSD: What Is the Feeling of Being Taught By a Student

Know Your School Day, popularly known as KYSD, is one of the most awaited events here in the University of the Philippines. This event gives way to the students to show their teaching talents on other students and teachers. It gives them chance to teach others what they learn from the teachers.

Basically, KYSD is celebrated for one week. But this year's KYSD was only just for two days. Still, the students and the student-teachers were glad for having this two-day activity.

I did not apply for a teacher this year because I am tired of teaching others as what I have experienced the other years. Sometimes, you have to be excused from the class because you have a class to teach to. Although tiring, I still find it enjoyable. You get to know the lesson well than any other classmates. It is fun to teach people about your learnings.

The feeling of being a student still this KYSD, is self-fulfilling. Self-fulfilling in the sense that you are relaxed of such responsibility and you enjoyed every minute of discussion.

The professional teachers are incomparable to the student-teachers. But the student teachers did their job well just like the professional teachers. Some of them imitate the professional teachers by copying their style of test and their way of discussion. I find them very responsible ones. They took the challenge for they are determined to join such activity.

Having student-teachers make me feel confident in answering orally. It is because they are just my classmates and so I am comfortable to answer their questions whether I commit a mistake. And also, I find the class so noisy if the student-teachers will be the one handling it maybe because of the mentality that they are just your classmates and not some professional teachers.

But even though they are only students pretending to be teachers in those days, I still have respect on them as what I have for teachers. When the noise seems to kill their discussion, then that's the time that I will keep my mouth shut. Student-teachers must be respected as what we do on professional teachers.

KYSD is also a special event for the teachers since it gives them time to relax with all their school works. It is so memorable to them because students tend to give them a thank-you offering. It may be a form of presentation or a form of letter written by the students, or both. This event is really for the teachers. They are so special to us. They are our second parent, so we must give them our heartfelt thanks and gratitude.

False Friends

Friends carry heavy responsibilities on their shoulders. They are expected to understand a broken heart to the droning sob story that comes along with, to laugh at corny comments when no one else thinks it'd funny, to trail a crush, to share an ice cream, or many others. Genuine friendship requires a touching of hearts and a meeting of souls.
Picking the wrong friend can be disapponting, or even disastrous. Still, more crucial to friendship than choosing the right friend is being the right friend. A good friendship requires goodness in both sides. Moral good ness is the quality that makes friendship possible. Because from this, comes harmony, permanence and fidelity.
We frown on discriminations as we should. But we should always be careful lest while we forge some new friendships.
Friends can be thee when they need you, but once you're down and out, it's going to be a miracle o find them. Some can be clingers that always follow and copy your style. They could go wherever you wil go, wear some perfume and crimp their hair to get your look. This could dismiss the relationship as unhealthy and smothering. They could be detrimental to your well-being. Some could be possessive that they will get jealous when you start talking with someone. And lastly, they could be self-absorbed friends that dive you your blow-by-blow account of their weekend and detailed reports of their daily meals. You may end up wondering if they know anything about you or do they care at all.
Friends could be a pest in our lives. Wrong friends could lead our lives into a mess. They could even turn our lives into hell. But what really matter is that we should endure our hardships with each other's company. This is important in developing friendship.
For a friendship to actually work, it requires mutual compassion, consideration and understanding. We should value our friendships so much. Let's face it, they are one of the biggest part of our lives. They are the keeper of our secrets, the wiper of our tears, and the laugher of our corniest jokes. As what Aristotle said, "without friends, no one would chose to live, though he ahd all other goods."

Question: Why are Guys Checking Out the Boobs?

"They’re out there! Boobs were made for a purpose to catch attention." -Joe. Wow! This statement really alarmed me. I have taken this statement in the Candy Magazine. Who could have thought that boobs were made to catch attention? Well, maybe for some boys. They may think that boobs are there for them to be attracted. Boys like this are surely immature.

Good for me for I have flat boobs. That let me conclude that those boys who like me were attracted with my inner and outer beauty and not with my boobs!

But still, I pitied those girls who are innocent of boy's real intention to them. I mean, some boys may like only your boobs and not you’re whole. Girls should not also display their cleavages to the public for that may look like flirts or indecent women. They may look like helpless romantic when they use their boobs as their assets. Each of us has desirable talents and personalities to be use for good. So, we should not take advantage of what we have just to make ourselves a fool or an indecent one.

Another answer to this question also taken from Candy Magazine is this: "That's a big mystery. Maybe it has something to do with the notion that the bigger the girl's boobs are, the more 'womanly' she is. It's also a way of checking if you're turning gay or not."-Alex. If that is the case, then I am less womanly after all. This is such a lascivious statement from a guy. But I can't blame him if he actually thinks like that.

Still, I want to correct him of such mentality. A woman cannot be measured by how big your boobs are. It will be measured by what you think of yourself as a woman. And if boobs are made as basis or a way of checking if your turning gay or not, then that would mere offend the girls. It is also degrading for the part of the boys for having that kind of measurement.

Boobs were not made to measure how masculine the boys are or how womanly the girls are. They should not be made to purpose to catch attention. Boobs were made to enhance our beauty. Boys who think bad purposes of any part of our body were immature and crazy boys. We should beware ourselves from them.

"No Decisions in Life?"

When I was a young girl, about six years old, I dreamed of becoming a princess and a mermaid. I don’t know what’s gotten into me that time that I always daydreamed for that. Maybe because I am influenced by the things surrounding me. I have lots of fairytale books, Disneyland movies, and Barbie dolls. These things were always with me day and night when I was at this age.
But this ambition changed when I was nine years old. I felt that I want to be a teacher someday. I love teaching kids what I have learned from my teachers. Maybe I valued my teachers much at that time. I acted like I am the assistant to the teacher because she let me teach those who have difficulty in reading and those who have very poor grades. I love this job that I waste my free time just to teach my classmates how to read and how to solve Math problems.
This ambition continues until I became a Upian. My ambitions were far more great and exciting. I always dreamed of touring different countries in the whole world. My first visit would be in Jerusalem. I like to go to that place because that is the place of Jesus Christ, our Lord. There are also many biblical events happened in that place. I also want to go to Paris and shop fashionable clothes and garments that are comfortable to wear at. Another place would be in Canada. It is where my grandmother and other relatives residing recently. I missed them so much that I want to go there. Because of this dream, I have thought that it would be better if I will be a stewardess or a pilot.
It is so funny that I am so dependent with my wild dreams regarding with my future job. I once dreamed of becoming an agent, surgeon, army, architect, paleontologist, astronaut, and even scientist. Whatever is the most exciting and adventurous job, I then decide to go for it without noticing that I have several fears. I have fears in heights, blood, and risky adventures.
I am such a happy-go-lucky person. I do things that would only satisfy me. I hate making decisions in life. I avoid situations that require such strength and thinking.

But I don’t want to be like this. I want to change for the betterment of my life. I am so childish but I want to be mature. I really don’t know myself.
It is hard to unravel what I really want with my life. I am such a dependent person that let other people depend my decision. Deciding what course I will take is important to me since I am graduating. I am afraid of such responsibility obtains from deciding such matter like this. I just asked God for a sign regarding this. I always prayed for it.

"Tuition Fee Increase"

Tuition fee increase is the only solution of the UP System to somehow attain the demands caused by inflation. Inflation is a rise in the general level of prices, as measured against some baseline of purchasing power. It is caused by the interaction of the supply of money with output and interest rates. Cost-push inflation or supply-shock inflation is a type of inflation caused by large increases in the cost of important goods or services where no suitable alternative is available. A situation that has been often cited of this was the oil crisis of the 1970s, which some economists see as a major cause of the inflation experienced in the Western world in that decade. It is argued that this inflation resulted from increases in the cost of petroleum imposed by the member states of OPEC. Since petroleum is so important to industrialized economies, a large increase in its price can lead to the increase in the price of most products, raising the inflation rate.

With the increase of prices and goods, the school cannot afford to buy some equipments that are needed for the laboratory and other purposes. The school also can’t hire computer experts or experts of other fields because there is no enough money to pay them. As you notice, some of the wrecked buildings of the school have not been repaired. The school cannot afford to buy up-to-dates equipments used in different areas of the school. This is because of inflation.
I believe that the school is suffering from these problems because they are dependent with the budget given by the government. The budget is not enough to sustain or to improve the facilities of the school. The budget for education is low compared to other departments.
With that, I agree with the tuition fee increase. This is the only solution that the UP System has. There is no use of asking additional money from the government because they will not listen anyways. I mean, it is not bad to air out such discrepancies of the government but as what I have observed, they just ignore the people.
Amount of tuition fee increase will be according to the income of the parents of the students. The amount of increase is divided into brackets. Each bracket has corresponding amount of increase in the tuition fee. The bigger is the amount of your parent’s income, the higher is the amount of increase in the tuition fee.
Upians are gravely affected by this since this is a drastic change in the UP System. It is so hard for our batch, especially those who will take up college in UP since we are the first one to experience such change. Nevertheless, I still agree with the increase in tuition fee for I believe that this is the best solution with the financial problems faced by the UP System. Compare to other schools, UP has still less amount of tuition fee and yet offers high quality of education.
We should abide with the law. We chose this school, so we should cooperate with it. The increase will be for our own good. We are benefited from it. Buildings will be improved and up-to-date equipments will be bought for the progress of our studies and also to our schools.