The Josenian Oar

16/10/2025

🧠 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 🌋
𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘣𝘺: 𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘢 𝘓𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 || 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳

In recent weeks, the Philippines has experienced a string of strong earthquakes that left many asking—𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙?

* (1) On September 30, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Bogo, Cebu. Followed by a magnitude 4.8 quake in Pugo, La Union on October 9.
* (2) Just a day later, October 10, a powerful doublet earthquake of magnitudes 7.4 and 6.8 hit the shores of Manay, Davao Oriental.
* (3) Then, on October 11, another magnitude 4.9 quake shook Cabangan, Zambales. On the same day, a magnitude 6.0 affected Surigao del Sur.
* (4) After which, a magnitude 5.8 aftershock affected Bogo, Cebu on October 13.

These tremors sparked speculation that the Pacific Ring of Fire is “waking up.” However, scientists clarify that it has always been active. The Philippines lies along this massive tectonic belt where about 90% of the world’s earthquakes occur due to the movement of eight major tectonic plates, including the Philippine Sea Plate and Eurasian Plate. With that, earthquakes as strong as magnitude 8-9 are rare, but possible on such area.

According to PHIVOLCS, these earthquakes originated from different faults and trenches:
• The Cebu quake came from the Bogo Bay Fault, a recently discovered fault nearby the northern parts of Cebu, same with the aftershock that resulted 2 weeks later.
• The La Union quake was caused by an active fault nearby
• The Davao, Zambales, and Surigao quakes resulted from movements along the Philippine Trench and Manila Trench, respectively.

With that in mind, we are brought back to the question: 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙? Well, 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐧𝐨. It should not cause a panic, as this is a regular seismic activity by the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Each quake was triggered by separate tectonic sources and not by a single event. PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcol explained that 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗶𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆—𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Rather than a “pattern,” these events remind us of the Philippines’ unique position on Earth’s shifting crust. What should “wake up” is not the Ring of Fire, but our awareness and preparedness—to 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, instead of inflicting panic on to the general public, just for 10 seconds of fame.



𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑: 𝐋𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐄𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐫 || 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫
𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐒: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐄𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚 || 𝐉𝐎𝐀𝐑 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭

16/10/2025

𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐍 | The University of San Jose -Recoletos (USJ-R) has released an official memo announcing that the Basic Education will follow a blended learning modality from October 20-24, 2025. Moreover, the Periodical Examinations will be moved after the semestral break.

12/10/2025

𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 | Mr. Gilbert Jay P. Molina, a teacher from the Junior High School (JHS) Department, was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) AMAN Variant, a rare condition where the immune system attacks the nerves.

He is currently in the hospital, and while the prognosis is positive, his recovery will take time.

During this difficult chapter, may we turn our compassion into action by extending our support in helping cover his medical expenses and offering our prayers for Mr. Molina's full recovery.

We are accepting donations until October 16.

11/10/2025

11/10/2025

| Temporary Class Adjustment (October 13-18, 2025)

In view of the continuing aftershocks and to ensure the safety and well-being of all Josenians, the University of San Jose–Recoletos will implement a temporary adjustment in the conduct of classes for the coming week, October 13-18, 2025.

1. Basic Education (Monday - Friday, Oct 13-17)
- Classes will be conducted ONLINE/SYNCHRONOUS.
- The Quarterly/Periodical Exams are officially moved to October 21-23, 2025.
- Departments will provide further details.

Let's prioritize safety, our fellow Josenians! Please stay vigilant, take precautions, and continue to monitor official channels for updates.

07/10/2025

| Class Schedule Updates for October 8-13, 2025

In light of the wave of aftershocks that our communities, especially in Northern Cebu, are experiencing, the University is implementing the following measures to ensure a safe and gradual return to normal operations.

Your safety is our utmost priority. Please take note of the following schedule:

🗓️ Oct. 8-9 (Wed-Thu): Classes for Basic Education and College levels will be held online/synchronously.
🗓️ Oct. 10 (Fri): No classes in celebration of Institutional Teachers' Day.
🗓️ Oct. 13 (Mon): Face-to-face classes in all levels shall resume.

For complete details on OJT/RLE duties and the student debriefing sessions, please refer to the advisory above.

Let's continue to be vigilant and look out for one another. Stay safe, Josenians.

06/10/2025

[CALL FOR DONATIONS]

We are reaching out to extend help to Kuya Arnold, one of our dedicated Pacubas General Services cleaners at USJ-R, whose home was severely damaged by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake last September 30 in Borbon, Cebu.

His house is no longer safe for his family to stay in, and they are currently sleeping outside under a trapal for shelter.

Let us come together as a Josenian community to support Kuya Arnold and his family in rebuilding their home and meeting their immediate needs.

You may send your donations through:

GCash
0920 509 4492
0962 568 7634

06/10/2025

𝐉𝐎𝐀𝐑𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐬: 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬’ 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

When we think of heroes, we imagine capes and superpowers. But actually, real heroes spend their days teaching in classrooms—igniting curiosity, building confidence, and nurturing minds one lesson at a time.

Josenians, we have prepared a Padlet link for you to share your appreciation for our dear teachers. Click the link, leave a note, and together, let’s make this tribute as special as they are.

𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗧: 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗺/𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂?

https://padlet.com/jirenenina/joardinaryheroes

05/10/2025

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 | 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐀 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬
𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘣𝘺: 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘢, 𝘑𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘢 | 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘌𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳-𝘪𝘯-𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘧

The day was hours from ending as people tucked themselves into bed and readied themselves to surrender to the quiet embrace of sleep. Then suddenly, a violent shudder jolted the ground, leaving the echo of fear in its wake. Northern Cebu was absolutely shattered, but while the earthquake had fractured cracks throughout the land, it also broke open the hearts of the people, revealing an unbreakable foundation of the human spirit.

Amid this fear and destruction that swept through Cebu after the tragic earthquake, the JHS Department COP, led by Mrs. Agaton stood firm and answered the call of compassion without hesitation. In just two days, from October 2 to 3, the team spearheaded a donation drive that gathered both goods and monetary aid for the victims.

This initiative was blessed with sufficient goods from generous donors of the student body, alumni, and teachers. Filled with the collective hope of the Josenian community, volunteers stayed late to repack all donations and even went to school at dawn to travel north.

As they embarked on their journey, a convoy of 15 vehicles moved as one, lining the road. But along the way, what began as a determined march became a grueling test of spirit: heavy traffic weighed down the mission, stretching every minute into what felt like hours.

Slowly, the air grew thick with the scent of exhaustion and frustration as vehicles seemed to stay frozen in motion. Hunger and stress even began to gnaw at their resolve, settling in the grumbling of their stomachs, in the tightness of their shoulders, and in the weary lines around their eyes that watched the clock ticking away. Along with this were other obstacles like minor road accidents that seemed to threaten their carefully laid plans.

Finally, when their tires finally crunched to a halt on the broken ground of Tabugon, the ten-hour ordeal of the journey evaporated into a single breathless moment as the volunteers met the victims face to face.

Who they saw were more than who they expected. As they took a look at each person, they saw fathers with tired eyes, mothers holding the trembling hands of their children, and both sons and daughters of the land whose laughter had been stolen by the earth’s sudden betrayal.

The distribution began as people shared smiles and grateful tears, bringing the hearts of the volunteers to be moved by a profound, humbling privilege to be vessels of support in a time of need. For a precious, fleeting second, as boxes of food became bridges between our worlds, hope became tangible.

Then, the world shook again.

Without warning, a violent aftershock jostled the ground. People scrambled in every direction, causing a heart-stopping stampede of survival instinct. For a moment, the world became a swirling storm of dust and screams.

But this did not stop our volunteers.

As the earth stilled, our volunteers – people with their own families at home – their own hearts hammering with fear, pushed to meet the eyes of those still trembling, and continued their mission.

In that moment, they weren’t just distributing goods, but defying despair by spreading hope with each donation shared.

Soon after, our volunteers head back home with happy hearts. The hunger and stress that had plagued their north-bound journey were gone, replaced by a deep, resonant contentment. They were not just returning from a destination; they were returning from a transformation.

In the end, as they made it back to their own families from delivering the gifts of hope back north all day, it was like they had received these gifts instead. For them, they carried the greatest gift of all: the unshakable truth that even in a broken, disaster-stricken world, compassion in action builds the only foundation that never cracks.

𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐒: 𝐉𝐇𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐏

05/10/2025

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬' 𝐃𝐚𝐲, 𝐌𝐬. 𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐚!

A ship is guided by its oar, propelling through calm and turbulent waters alike. To us, you are more than an adviser; you are our oar, Ms. Saga!

The Josenian Oar is more than a publication because of you; it is a family. You are the heart of our publication, miss. We love you!

05/10/2025

💗 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬' 𝐃𝐚𝐲: 𝐀 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 🎉
𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘣𝘺: 𝘕𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘰 || 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳

𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙊𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙧 5, 𝙖 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙𝙬𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙨, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨-- 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣.

For us students, this day becomes far more than just a date on the calendar; it reminds us of the efforts our teachers have made to help us grow, dream, and believe in ourselves.

If there's one term that could fit, it would be 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀. They see us at our best and at our worst: in the highs and lows—through the laughter in the classroom, the tears over difficult lessons, and with our triumphs of finally understanding something we once thought would be impossible. They teach us patience, perseverance, and the value of kindness, beyond lessons and lectures.

We honor not only the knowledge shared by our teachers but also the countless sacrifices they make: the sleepless nights spent preparing lessons, the endless patience in answering our questions, and the silent nudges they give when we start to doubt ourselves.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙪𝙨, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨. 𝙃𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙮 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨' 𝘿𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨! 🥰🧑🏻‍🏫👩🏻‍🏫

𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑: 𝐉𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐲-𝐨𝐧 || 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫-𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐒: 𝐉𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐳 || 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭

04/10/2025

𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐍 | 𝐉𝐇𝐒 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐅2𝐅 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲

The University of San Jose - Recoletos (USJ-R) Junior High School (JHS) Dept. will be resuming face-to-face classes on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.

Following the inspection conducted after the recent earthquake, all buildings in the Basak Campus have been declared structurally sound and safe for occupancy.

Additionally, announcements regarding the learning modality for Monday and Tuesday will be posted at a later time. Please wait for further updates.

See you soon, Josenians!