200m Ahead

by Julia Victoria P. Alegre

With my family at the Universal Studios in Singapore

"I am a PSHS scholar, committed to the pursuit of excellence foremost in my academic life and later, in my service to the Filipino people, to whom I owe the gift of my education and to whose uplift I must dedicate my God-given talents and acquired expertise in science and technology."

At first, it was just a line in the Scholar’s Pledge all the students must memorize and recite every Monday during the weekly Flag Ceremony while holding up one’s right hand. I would look around and the person beside me would be diligently mouthing watermelon watermelon over and over again, a technique those who haven’t yet mastered the piece kept among themselves. And then, the teachers would say recite the Pledge wholeheartedly and so, with the take two, we would wholeheartedly repeat the Pledge (well, what we knew, at least) and for an added bonus, we’d keep our backs straight, our chins lifted high, and our faces exhibiting the respective facial expressions.

My High School Experience: A Lesson on Leadership

by James Mangaliman

My graduation day

I don’t often like to write about my own accomplishments. It doesn’t feel natural to me. It defies an unwritten moral code of mine. Having someone write about me, I feel, is an even greater qualm that I purposely neglect unless it has been forced upon me. In which case I do the best that I can to minimalize the effect. Though the plaques and certificates are a testament to my growth, flaunting them is paradoxical; it is a conceited and thus immature demonstration. However, my mother asked me to work on this, and as much as I find it challenging, I write this, in as genuine a way as I can, about the unimaginable experiences with the heartiest of people I have ever met, that have raised me to the man I am today. These memories are the true gold that shine brighter than any plaque or trophy bound to collect dust.

I began my experience at Chaminade College School, an all male Catholic school in Toronto, as a reserved boy wanting nothing more than to adapt to his new surroundings. Chaminade, a modest institute to say the least, prides itself in having a “brotherhood” which connects its students, a common bond that calls for the support of friendship in all situations of life. Be it adversity or triumph, this brotherhood of peers and mentors provides an environment that welcomes the growth of the men that walk its halls. To me, Chaminade was a place to try, a home to meet my goal of leaving my mark.

Katrina Pagador Viloria

by Rogelio Tolentino Viloria


My daughter Katrina completed her Master's Degree in Biotechnology in January this year at Kingston University in London, England.

Katrina graduated top of the class with the highest honor of distinction (Summa Cum Laude).  She has been officially accepted and has in fact started on her PhD degree for another 3 years at Kingston University.

We are very proud of her many academic achievements including a BS Biology at the University of Alaska where she graduated cum laude in 2011.

At Katrina's graduation with some of her classmates

IFA players win college scholarships

by Fel Gorospe

Lyka Rivera, a VFI Scholar throughout her secondary education, 2008-2013, at Magsingal National High School, has recently earned a Full Scholarship at the Rizal Technological University (RTU) located in Mandaluyong City. The scholarship includes full tuition and miscellaneous fees as well as a monthly allowance of P500.00. The 16-year old lass from Brgy. Miramar, Magsingal will be taking up Bachelor of Science in Education Major in Physical Education. Lyka is a member of Ilocos Football Association (IFA) and has been actively playing Football since 2011.

Valerie's Graduation

by Marlon Viloria

The big day was looming and with the anticipated arrival of my mother-in-law to join us in celebration, it became more real than apparent that it was going to be an extra special day. With the usual razzmatazz filling up the air and further aggravated (or adding more hype) by my wife’s preoccupation of what everyone has to wear on the occasion, it was bound to be a day full of excitement, of lasting memories, a day of utmost importance to the family. This was of course the day when our daughter Valerie was going to graduate from university, the London School of Economics, on 11 July 2012.

My wife and I have not felt pride of such magnitude until this day when Valerie walked up to the stage in recognition to her academic achievements, gaining a joint-degree in Mathematics and Economics with Honours at this prestigious institution. Descriptions of words such as ‘pride’, ‘proud’ or ‘joy’ were less meaningful until this time when it became personal to us, when such accolades afforded to our child seemed to flow freely and directly into every cell of our bodies too, presumably triggering some chemical reactions in our brains thereby producing serotonin levels of exponential proportions…so to speak!