22/06/2025
𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐍, 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐈𝐍
𝐋𝐏𝐒𝐜𝐢 𝐤𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐝𝐚 𝐄𝐬𝐤𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
Las Piñas City National Science High School conducted its annual Brigada Eskwela from June 9 to 13, 2025, mobilizing students, teachers, parents, alumni, and community volunteers to prepare the school for the opening of classes on June 16.
At 5:00 A.M. on a Monday, the LPSci campus came alive. Students, parents, alumni, and teachers laced up their running shoes, stretched stiff legs, and gathered at the starting line of the school’s fun run. Some looked half-awake, others already radiated energy, but everyone showed up. As soon as the run started, conversations diminished and footsteps took over. By 6:00 A.M., the top five finishers crossed the line and received medals.
“Fun yung naging experience,” Yllaiza Mae Potenciano, a Grade 11 student who was one of the top 5 finishers in the female category, expressed, “I actually didn’t know po na mananalo ako, tumakbo lang talaga ako, ‘yun pala kasama ako sa top finishers.”
No one ran for a prize. They ran because it felt right to begin that way.
“Actually, nagulat din ako na finisher ako,” Justin R. Pastor, a Grade 12 student who was one of the top 5 finishers in the male category, explained. When asked about if he would participate again, he did not miss a beat in saying that he would absolutely do so.
Music echoed across the court, and the Zumba session kicked off. Students danced with their parents, teachers jumped in with grins, and alumni laughed through the chaos. It felt like a celebration before the real work began.
By 8:00 A.M., the crowd settled for the formal opening. Dinnah L. Bravo led a prayer, followed by Principal Eleanor V. Honrales who welcomed everyone with calm assurance. Ruth G. Bonagua introduced the Junior High School faculty, and Rubirosa C. Feliciano facilitated the form requisition.
At 10:00 A.M., everyone grabbed brooms, paint brushes, trash bags, whatever needed holding. Some repainted chairs. Others swept leaves or picked up trash tucked in forgotten corners. Students planted trees near the fences. Around the campus, colorful booths added life to the scene. The Anti-Bullying Campaign photo booth drew cheerful groups. Board games gathered small crowds by the entrance of the library. A quiet book donation area and a free dental check-up corner catered to those who wandered in.
By 1:00 P.M., the Grade 7 Parents’ Orientation started. Bonagua returned to explain school policies, rules, and expectations clearly but gently. Warlita Z. Arzaga broke down the grading system. Parents nodded along and asked quiet questions. Zonia Nirza delivered the closing remarks, and Mariella P. Balboda kept everything steady as the warm, composed master of ceremony.
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐: 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤, 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭
On Day 2, volunteers showed up ready. Parents and students cleaned Grade 7 and 8 classrooms; scrubbing floors, washing windows, repainting furniture. Some worked in silence; others talked while they worked.
At the oval, volunteers cleared the drainage canals, stuffing sacks with debris. The Materials Recovery Facility team stood by to collect recyclable waste, and others mowed the grass surrounding the school court.
Later that morning, Grade 7 and 8 students gathered for an Anti-Bullying Seminar. Warlita C. Arzaga welcomed everyone, then introduced resource speaker Nancy Morales. Morales taught students how to respond to bullying, how to show compassion, and how to take action.
“Be a buddy, not a bully,” Morales stated, anchoring the session on that one line.
After lunch, the school hosted an orientation for Grade 8 parents. Bonagua, along with advisers Jan Marie E. Daylo, Leslie-Ann V. Cabera, Dinnah L. Bravo, and Leodice J. Loayon, explained rules, policies, and expectations. Enrollment followed the orientation, running smoothly until 4:00 P.M.
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟑: 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡, 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐞
By Day 3, older students joined the clean-up efforts. Grade 9 and 10 students focused on their classrooms; sweeping, wiping down surfaces, and helping repaint walls. Others participated in a tree planting activity that added greenery around the school grounds. They dug, planted, watered.
Inside the school, teachers and parents attended an Anti-Bullying Seminar. Unlike the student version, this session zeroed in on how adults can spot bullying, support victims, and create a school culture that puts empathy on the highest pedestal. The conversations were honest. Sometimes heavy, but necessary.
Later in the day, the school welcomed Grade 9 and 10 parents for orientation, followed by the final wave of student enrollment. By then, most knew the routine. Volunteers worked without prompting, and the school quietly prepared itself for the year ahead.
𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟒: 𝐀 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫
On June 13, LPSci wrapped up Brigada Eskwela with its most future-facing day yet. The morning began with a flag ceremony led by the Supreme Secondary Learner Government (SSLG), followed by an energetic Galaw Pilipinas dance. After that, students returned to their classrooms for orientation sessions with their advisers; introductions, handbooks, reminders.
For Grade 7 students, the day held something special: the Reading and Literacy Seminar. Ruth G. Bonagua introduced the speaker, Jessa May R. Puyat, who relayed reading strategies and the joy of literature.
While the seminar went on, club members scattered across the campus, setting up booths for the Club Venture. All 16 clubs joined. Some offered games, others handed out flyers or freebies. Every club had its own personality. It felt chaotic, but in the best way.
After lunch, Senior High School students gathered for the Closing Program. Teachers, students, and stakeholders who actively contributed throughout the week received recognition.
Fogging operations occurred as the official end of the Brigada Eskwela. Monday’s opening was approaching, but at least, after four days of cleaning, polishing, and preparing, everything finally felt in place.
Written by: Bwan Lila Aguhar
