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.

Miramar Elementary School: In focus

by Geoffrey Tolentino Unida

The entrance to our school

The Miramar Elementary School serves the early education needs of our kailians in Barangay Miramar and surrounding areas.

The school is currently run by the following teaching staff from Magsingal District:

Preschool --- Mrs. Princess Ann David Baltazar
Grade I --- Mrs. Vellie Banadero Urban
Grade II --- Ms. Marissa Tomaneng Pascua
Grade III --- Mr. Lavern Anthony Ulibas Arcano
Grade IV --- Mrs. Cecilia Lazo Pines
Grade V --- Mr. Alexander Vila Salvador
Grade VI --- Mr. Geoffrey Tolentino Unida
Relieving Teacher --- Mrs. Marites Sarinas Ubilas
School Principal --- Ms. Rosalinda Pescador Laurente

TMI Batch67 Reunion

by Bart Concepcion
(as published 3 years ago in MVP)

Great re-union…great photos… great fun…Sadly though the passage of time manifest its toll on receding hairlines, greying hair (or no hair at all), discernible wrinkles, protruding midsections..etc. But despite all this, we are still young at heart!

It has been a very memorable get together for all of us. After more than four decades of not seeing each other, we can still remember each other names. Though unfortunately when we finally met in person we can hardly recognize each others faces. The name tags are prepared and ready to give out, but we don’t know who to give them to. We have to ask each person who they are.

Magsingal North Central Mosquito Net Trap

by MVP
Video courtesy of NBN Ylocos Channel

View full story here

FACOMA… my school

by Tara Tuquiero
(as published 4 years ago in MVP)

Our Principal and teachers

I am sure that most of you remember Facoma as a tobacco vending point, while some may remember it as a military headquarter.  But for me, it will be remembered as my school --- The Magsingal National High School!

Yes, The Magsingal National High School (MNHS) now stands where the Facoma (which is the acronym of Farmers Cooperative Market) used to be.  And although Facoma no longer exists, people still refer to The MNHS as Facoma.  But it doesn’t matter, it took me some time to realize that colgate is just another brand of a toothpaste! I used to hear kasi people saying, “pabili nga po ako ng colgate, yung close-up po ha.”  O kaya, “tinto man gatangen tayo nga frigidaire ket tay Hitachi, namadi kano diay frigidaire nga  Westinghouse.” hehehe… Although it is not really a big deal if people refer to MNHS as Facoma, I am sure that later on they will get used to calling MNHS as The Magsingal National High School.

TMI Building Expansion Update

by Dennie Fajatin

Greetings of peace and love!

I would like to inform you that on June 8, a blessing ceremony for the academic building has been officiated by our new town priest Father Jerry Antolin. Thereafter, it has been occupied by the students the following week. The 1st floor is the room of the 1st year students under Ms. Melanie Parbo while the 2nd floor is occupied by the 3rd year students under Mr. Jeric Repaso. The room atop the stage is occupied by the 4th year students under Ms. Lerma Lazo.

New paving between SWI and the Church

by Eva Pascua-Tadique

The service road during rainy season

The 'Paving the road between the church and the school Project' is a tripartite project of the SWI Grand Global Reunion 2011, the church and the school (SWI). The SWI Grand Global Reunion 2011 initiated the project.

We had to ask permission from the National Museum of the Philippines, The National Commission on Culture and the Arts, and the Archdiocese - a lengthy exercise.

The total budget is a big sum of P938,000, that is why we had to look for project partners.  When I discussed our plan to Father Flor Rebebes and also to Sister Remedios Cayetano (the new SWI directress), they welcomed the idea.

This road is easily flooded and gets muddy during rainy season which makes going to school and attending church a bit hard.  I worked out all necessary approvals with concerned agencies stated and now the project has come to reality, after a long wait.

We definitely need more than just singing and dancing

by Vic A

When I found out that there is already a Philippine Science High School in Region I, I was short of ecstatic especially that the campus is just next door in San Ildefonso.

But when I learned that only a small percentage of the student population comes from Ilocos Sur, my heart sank.  Apparently, most of the students come from other provinces in Region I.  I am not sure if there is even a single student who hails from Magsingal in this prestigious high school system that is meant to cater for gifted kids with high aptitude in science and math (I learned later on that the daughter of my niece, Florfina Ponce, is actually a scholar in this campus).

Whereas before, gifted kids from the provinces who qualify in the Philippine Science High School system have to go to the Manila campus and be separated from their families during their whole high school years, now we have it in our doorsteps.

The question is, do we have Magsingal children ready for the Philippine Science High School system?  Are our children smart enough to get through this system?  Are our elementary schools preparing their pupils for a more rigorous training regime and developing the children’s higher order learning skills?  Do they have what it takes to compete with other schools in Region I for those very limited spots?  Or is this school going to be the monopoly of pupils from more progressive towns and cities?

A typical classroom in the Philippines with 50-60 average number of students

SWI Global Reunion Program of Activities

by Eva Pascua Tadique

SWI Global Reunion 2011 Souvenir Book and T-Shirts

by Eva Pascua Tadique

ALL SWI ALUMNI,

This is the SWI Souvenir Book Cover bearing our theme, BONDED by LOVE...MOVED BY THE SPIRIT...MAKING A DIFFERENCE... THE WILLIAMITES' WAY!!!

The theme was thought of by Ma'am Fidela Udani, SWI batch 83 and the design was done by Mr. Juanito Pascua, SWI batch 82...Thanks!!!!

SWI CPR Training

by Eva Pascua Tadique

The SWI Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Training with Sir John Garcia was part of our Grand Global Reunion activities.  John studied in SWI for a year before he migrated to the US.  When he was still in the US, John emailed me asking whether SWI would accept said training for 2 to 3 hours.  Of course the school was so glad.  It was scheduled for the Elementary and High School teachers, CAT students, student council and some selected students from all class levels.

It was a very educational, informative and exciting training since everyone was given a chance to try to save lives through the six mannequins used to see whether our CPR exercises were correct or not.  I beleive this exercise is indeed a need of the times as we are experiencing lots of natural calamities as well as diseases that would attack a person's state of health and wellness anytime.

SWI Fun Run

by Eva Pascua Tadique

Please join the SWI FUN RUN scheduled on April 25,2011 at 5 oclock in the morning.  You can now register at SWI, Planet Sports, or go directly to Mr. Giovanni Ulanimo, Ma'am Rhea Garcia, Mrs. Aida Garcia, Mr.Robert Jaramilla and Silver Ceria.  Registration fee is only 50 pesos.  You can now get your race bibs as you register.  Please dont lose them!