The SEEDS Publication, H. Abellana Street , Canduman, Mandaue City (2026)

28/08/2026

LATHALAING BALITA | Lente ang Boses: Ikasampung Baitang, Sinipat ang mga Sugat ng Lipunan

Bitbit ang mga kuwento ng pakikibaka at pag-asa, inilantad ng mga mag-aaral ng Ikasampung Baitang ng Sacred Heart School–Ateneo de Cebu ang iba’t ibang mukha ng realidad sa lipunan sa pagtatanghal ng mga
dokumentaryo na may temang “Anino’t Liwanag: Pagtatanghal ng mga Pelikulang Dokumentaryo” nitong Agosto 26.

Naging tinig ng mga sektor na madalas naisasantabi ang kanilang mga obra — mula sa krisis sa edukasyon, kakarampot na kita ng mga magsasaka, at araw-araw na kalbaryo sa transportasyon, hanggang sa diskriminasyong kinakaharap ng kababaihan, LGBTQI+ community, at Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

Sa masining na pagtutunggalian ng mga adbokasiya, umariba ang Grade 10 – Loyola matapos tanghaling Kabuuang Kampeon at maiuwi ang parangal na Natatanging Sinematograpiya dahil sa mahusay nitong biswal na pagsasalaysay. Pumangalawa ang Grade 10 – Faber, habang pumangatlo ang Grade 10 – Arrupe.

Nagningning din ang husay ng mga mag-aaral sa indibidwal na parangal. Tinanghal na Natatanging Direktor si Mezy Muñez ng Grade 10 – Loyola para sa mahusay niyang paghabi sa kuwento. Samantala, iginawad kay Suy de Palma, na galing din sa kaparehong seksiyon, ang Natatanging Aktor, habang kinilala naman si Trixie Manguilimutan ng Grade 10 – Gonzaga bilang Natatanging Aktres dahil sa kaniyang madamdamin at makatotohanang pagganap.

Higit pa sa tropeo at pagkilala, pinatunayan ng mga Ateneo Hearters na ang dokumentaryo ay hindi lamang gawaing pampaaralan. Isa rin itong makapangyarihang lente sa paglalantad ng katotohanan — at tinig sa paggising ng kamalayan sa gitna ng mga anino ng kawalang-katarungan sa lipunan.

Manunulat | Mezy Muñez
Photojournalists | Krystelle Albarico, Zuleika De Leon, Johann Manreza, at Maddisen Suico

26/08/2026

LATHALAING BALITA | Sining ng mga Salita’t Tayutay: “Huling Paalam” ni Rizal, Isinabuhay ng Ikawalong Baitang

Hindi lamang boses ang nangibabaw sa Pope Francis Servant Leadership Hall noong hapon ng Agosto 19, 2026 — kundi ang mismong kaluluwa ng pambansang pagkakakilanlan. Sa pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Wika at Kultura, iniharap ng Ikawalong Baitang ng Sacred Heart School - Ateneo de Cebu ang “Sining ng mga Salita’t Tayutay: Pagtatanghal ng Isang Malikhaing Pagtula.”

Higit sa isang paligsahan, isa itong muling pagpapatibay ng pagmamahal ng mga Ateneo Hearters sa wikang Filipino at panitikan. Sa pamamagitan ng malikhaing pagbibigkas, muling binigyang-buhay ng bawat seksiyon ang huling habilin ni Dr. Jose Rizal sa kaniyang akdang Mi Último Adiós o “Huling Paalam.”

Mula sa sabay-sabay na kumpas hanggang sa matinding diin ng mga taludtod, ipinamalas ng mga mag-aaral ang taas-noong pagkamalikhain at pagkakaisa. Bawat linya ay binigkas nang may lalim at damdaming nag-iwan ng bakas sa puso sa mga nakikinig.

Matapos ang masusing paghahatol ng mga hurado, naghari ang Grade 8 - Kostka na itinanghal bilang kampeon. Sumunod sa ikalawang puwesto ang Grade 8 - Berchmans, habang nakamit ng Grade 8 - Sales ang ikatlong puwesto. Tumanggap ang mga nagwaging seksyon ng cash prize na magsisilbing pondo ng kanilang klase.

Sa huli, nag-iwan ang programa ng mahalagang paalala: Ang wika ay hindi lamang kasangkapan sa pakikipagtalastasan, kundi salamin ng ating kasaysayan at tinig ng ating lahi.

Tulad ng pamanang inukit ni Rizal at ng husay ng ikawalong baitang, patuloy na mag-aalab ang diwang Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng sining ng mga salita.

Mabuhay ang Wikang Filipino! Maligayang Buwan ng Wika, Ateneo Hearters!

Manunulat | Bhya Mahinay
Photojournalists | Cieri Capiral, Skylane Abao

25/08/2026

LATHALAING BALITA | Determinasyong Matuto: Ugnayang Hindi Sumuko sa Malikhaing Pagkukuwento

Sa bawat kuwento ng tagumpay, may nangingibabaw na determinasyon. May mga taong kahit nahihirapan man, patuloy pa ring pinipili ang tumulong sa sarili at sa iba. Ito ang tunay na diwa ng edukasyon — hindi lang ang pagkuha ng matataas na marka, kundi ang ugnayang binubuo habang natututo.

Noong ika-17 ng Agosto, 2026, ang Ikapitong Baitang ay lumahok sa patimpalak ng Malikhaing Pagkukuwento bilang pakikiisa sa pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Wika. Ito ay ginanap sa Virginia Chiongbian Theater kung saan ipinamalas ng mga mag-aaral ang kanilang pagkamalikhain at dedikasyong maipakita ang kanilang husay.

Inihanda ng bawat klase ang kanilang presentasyon sa loob ng ilang linggong pagsasanay. Lalo ring nagpasalamat ang mga mag-aaral sa mga lider at tagapag-ugnay na laging handang gumabay sa buong klase, sa kabila ng sarili nilang pagod.

Nagmumula ang tunay na tagumpay sa sakripisyo, puyat, at bawat patak ng pawis. Sa gitna ng hirap itinatanim ang sipag na nagbibigay-buhay sa mga pangarap, kaya naman ang bawat pinagpaguran ay tiyak na magbubunga.

Pagkatapos ng mga pagtatanghal, masayang inanunsyo ang mga nanalong seksyon: Itinanghal ang Grade 7 - Garate bilang kampeon kasama ang dalawang espesyal na gawad, pumangalawa ang Grade 7 - Grodecz na nakakuha rin ng isang espesyal na gawad, at pumangatlo ang Grade 7 - Brebeuf.

Hindi nawawalan ng halaga ang sipag sapagkat kung ano ang itinanim, siya ring aanihin. Bilang mga Ateneo Hearters, kilala tayo sa matatag na paninindigang walang pagsisikap na hindi nagbubunga. Nagpapatuloy tayo hanggang sa rurok ng tagumpay.

Maligayang Buwan ng Wika at Kultura, Ateneo Hearters!

Manunulat | Kesha Fate C. Antipolo
Photojournalist | Jax Stockmeyer, Johann Manreza, Cieri Capiral, Skylane Abao

22/08/2026

LITERARY | A Discovery of a Painful World

There was once a story of a world full of wonder and free of prejudice. Society prospered with unity,and everyone lived as equals.

But that world doesn’t exist outside the realm of fantasy.

Our world, as we know it, is anything but the fantasy I had just relayed.

“Money is survival, but greed is temptation.”

A bright young woman, just starting in adulthood, naively left her home in the slums of Tondo in search for employment in the bustling, bigger-than-life Makati City.

After months of odd jobs, desperate struggle, and living paycheck to paycheck, she struck gold.

A middle-aged woman, divorced with no children, living alone with her hollow heart, needed a maid to clean her hollow mansion.

She was young, bright-eyed, and most importantly, submissive. She knew how to listen, especially when it came to her wages.

Every week, without fail, her mistress would order her to clean out the entire fridge. Full or not, it would all go into the trash.

She said it was because “Old things are useless things.”

She would bite her lip every time she watched untouched dishes, barely a day old, sliding from the plate and into the bin. She was hungry. Oh, so hungry. To the point where she debated sneaking out of her room at night and eating it straight from the trash.

It was what she was used to, after all.

All her life, she lived off scraps from someone else’s plate. They were cleaned and deep-fried until the oil masked the stale stench and taste, then fed to her and her four other siblings.

One night, she couldn’t handle it anymore. It felt as if her own stomach was caving in and eating itself. These past few days, she could barely fit her meals into her already tight budget. Between her youngest sister’s school tuition, her mother’s heart medicine, and her aunt’s store drowning in debt—Suddenly, hunger overtook her.

She silently padded her way into the kitchen, eyes already fixed on the refrigerator. Inside, it was empty. Right. She cleaned it out yesterday, just as Ma’am had ordered.

The pantry, the breadbox, the freezer, the cabinets... all empty. Nothing to even stare at longingly; it was all gone.

Then, she glanced at the trash can.

Full, probably.

Inside were fruits, vegetables, pastries, and half-eaten dishes, all mixed into slop that would be hauled to the local landfill by Monday.

But it all looked so unbearably tempting.

Slowly, shamefully, she began to eat garbage. This, unfortunately, had become a recurring habit for her. Whenever she grew insatiably hungry, she took the most drastic of measures in desperation.

One night, she was caught.

Her mistress had gone downstairs for a glass of water and was instead met with the scene of her shoveling day-old food into her mouth.

Not even a few minutes later, she found herself on the streets again, wandering like a stray.

She managed to find discarded, old campaign posters from a political party that had won ages ago, yet still hadn’t fulfilled any of its promises.

She hesitantly sat on the pile, her nose scrunching as the all-too-familiar scent of trash and sewer water filled her nostrils, and, cruelly, her hair began to grow damp as rain fell in the quiet streets.

She had little money to her name, barely enough for a ride back home.

She didn’t have an education, a proper background, or any opportunities.

Just as it turned out, the bigger-than-life Makati City wasn’t exactly how she had pictured it.

In fact, it was anything but.

Writer | Arkin Pacatan and Alexandra Pentacasi
Artist | Arliah Migabon

Read the full literary piece by Arkin Pacatan and Alexandra Pentacasi on our FB page or through this post’s carousel!

21/08/2026

LATHALAIN | Dilaw sa Dilim: Ang Awit ng Katapangan

Hindi baril, sigaw, o marangyang parada ang sumalubong sa hangin noong Agosto 1983 — kundi ang sabay-sabay na pagwagayway ng mga dilaw na laso ng sambayanang Pilipino. Sa mga sanga ng puno, sasakyan, bisikleta, at pintuan ng mga tahanan, may isang kulay na gumising sa tila natutulog na lungsod: dilaw. Isa itong tahimik ngunit makapangyarihang panawagan para sa pagbabalik ng isang taong matagal na nawalay sa bayan — si Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

Iniuugnay ang ideyang dilaw na laso sa awiting “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” ni Tony Orlando and Dawn, na sumasagisag sa pagtanggap at pag-asang makauwi ang isang taong matagal nang nawala. Matapos ang ilang taong pananatili sa Estados Unidos dahil sa kanyang karamdaman at pampolitikang pag-uusig, nagpasiya si Ninoy na umuwi sa Pilipinas kahit batid niyang nakaamba ang panganib sa kanyang buhay. Sa kabila nito, nanaig ang kanyang paniniwalang kailangan niyang makabalik upang makausap ang bayan at harapin ang krisis na kinakaharap ng bansa. Ang simpleng dilaw na laso ay naging sagisag ng paghihintay, pagtanggap, at pag-asa.

Para sa isang bayang malalim ang ugat sa pananampalataya, ang pag-asa ay hindi lamang nakikita sa mga kilos kundi naririnig din sa tahimik na panalangin. Sa mga taon ng kanyang pagkakakulong sa Fort Bonifacio, humugot si Ninoy ng lakas sa kanyang pananampalataya at pananalig sa Maykapal. Sa panahong delikado ang pagsasalita at may kapalit na panganib ang bawat kilos, naging makabuluhan ang mga munting paraan ng pagpapahayag ng suporta. Ang pagtali ng dilaw na laso ay tila isang panalangin na isinabit sa hangin — isang tahimik na pakiusap para sa ligtas na pagbabalik at isang pahayag ng pakikiisa.

Hindi kailangang humawak ng mikropono o sumigaw sa lansangan. Sapat nang magbuhol ng isang piraso ng dilaw na tela sa bisikleta, sasakyan, puno, o pintuan upang ipahiwatig: “Nawa’y makauwi kang ligtas, Ninoy. Kasama mo kami sa pag-asang ito.” Sa bawat pagkakatali ng laso, nabubuo ang isang kolektibong paninindigan — na may mga Pilipinong handang maniwala, maghintay, at tumindig kahit nangingibabaw ang takot.

Ngunit ang dilaw ay hindi lamang kulay ng paghihintay. Ito rin ay kulay ng katapangan. Habang papalapit ang araw ng pag-uwi ni Ninoy, lalong naging kapansin-pansin ang mga dilaw na laso sa paligid. Ang mga ito ay naging simbolo ng isang sambayanang unti-unting naglalakas-loob na ipakita ang kanilang damdamin. Sa isang panahong ang lantad na pagtutol ay maaaring magbunga ng panganib, ang simpleng laso ay naging isang paraan upang sabihin: Hindi kami natatakot umasa.

Sa kasamaang-palad, ang pagbabalik na pinangarap ng bayan ay nauwi sa trahedya. Noong Agosto 21, 1983, si Ninoy ay pinaslang sa paliparan sa kanyang pagbabalik sa Pilipinas. Sa halip na tuluyang patahimikin ang kanyang tinig, lalo nitong pinalakas ang tinig ng sambayanan. Ang dilaw na dating simbolo ng pagsalubong ay naging sagisag ng pagluluksa, pagkakaisa, at lumalalim na panawagan para sa pagbabago.

Mula sa isang simpleng laso hanggang sa isang buong kilusang bayan, ipinakita ng kasaysayan na hindi kailangang maging marahas o maingay ang katapangan upang maging makapangyarihan. Minsan, nagsisimula ito sa isang maliit na kilos — isang lasong itinali, isang panalanging binitiwan, o isang mamamayang nagpasyang huwag manatiling tahimik.

Lumipas man ang mga dekada, nananatili ang dilaw bilang paalala ng isang mahalagang aral: Sa gitna ng dilim, maaaring magsilbing ilaw ang pananampalataya, pagkakaisa, at pag-asa. At kung minsan, ang pinakamalakas na boses ng bayan ay hindi nagmumula sa sigaw, kundi sa tahimik na simbolo ng mga taong sabay-sabay na nagsasabing: May pag-asa pa, at handa kaming manindigan para rito.

Manunulat | Mezy Muñez
Tagapagdisenyo | Cristiana Arquiza

20/08/2026

Between Clarity and Confusion: The Unheard Voices Behind School Violence

“The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t being said.” — Peter Drucker

Schools are hubs of social and intellectual development established by governments with the promise of “securing the future” of children, from the most basic aspect of education, to the more tiresome duty of building good, productive citizens. This development, however, is by no means easy. It requires proper policies, facilities, and the right people to ensure what’s being instilled isn’t the knowledge of how to win a fight, but the humility that comes with choosing to avoid violence entirely. At its core, open communication is what unifies a school community, making sure no voice is too small to be heard, or too troubled to be answered. Yet what happens when this promise is broken–when this supposed guarantee of trust and safety shatters into something people instead fear? As per the recent breaches in school security, we must ask ourselves: what happens when we abandon communication merely for the convenience of having less to worry about?

Last July 21, 2026, an eight-year-old girl from Lapulapu Elementary School in Agdao District, Davao City, died after a classmate allegedly hit her on the head with a notebook a few days before, on July 17, 2026, just one day short of another weekend of rest and time spent with loved ones. According to GMA Network, the girl’s family later filed a report at the police station stating she experienced bullying at the school. P/Maj. Marc Hedssel Culste, Chief of the Sta. Ana Police Station, added that the child was in a fight with another student when she was struck on the head by a notebook, with the other child confessing the incident to their teacher. In response, the Department of Education (DepEd) reassured that its Regional Office XI, the Schools Division of Davao City, was working closely with the school and authorities to provide assistance to the family of the victim by planning to install CCTV cameras in every classroom and actively looking for the funds to do so.

Despite the tragedy, the girl’s family declined the request for the body to undergo an autopsy–the one thing able to accurately identify the culprit in question. When asked why, the girl’s mother simply said they weren’t blaming anyone for what happened, believing that the students involved were just children who didn’t know any better. She later broke down in tears while reading the letters of the victim’s classmates, each personally delivered by the school principal at their home in Samal Island, Davao del Norte. The mercy and generosity shown by the grieving family does not come without its own cost – it is not something that can be used to justify the damage that was done.

In another report from GMA Regional TV, a 55-year-old teacher inside Elizalde National High School in Maco, Davao De Oro, was assaulted by two students because of conflict over a school policy last July 27, 2026. Inside the school gymnasium, the teacher reportedly instructed students to return to their classrooms as recess was about to end. He then reprimanded a male student for violating the school’s policy on wearing earrings. The situation worsened as the brother of the reprimanded student allegedly struck the teacher from behind, with both of them punching the teacher until the other students intervened. DepEd has since launched its own investigation, placing the students under the custody of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO). It demonstrates how easily simple disagreements over school policies can result in violence if they aren’t handled with proper government regulations, rule enforcement, and the openness of communication– the fairness in hearing out both sides before one eventually forces itself on the other.

There have also been more severe cases where weapons made their way into school grounds. One such case, reported by Inquirer Network, was the major June 22, 2026 shooting at San Jose National High School, where two students aged 14 and 15 were arrested for involvement in an attack that killed three students and injured 20 others. “I just ran for my life,” was the description of most students and teachers as gunshots rang out across the campus. Both suspects, enrolled in Grades 9 and 10, were taken into police custody within hours, with a G***k pistol and .38-caliber revolver being confiscated from them.

Further investigation into the incident found the motive behind the shooting unclear. Col. Noelito Getigan, the Tacloban City police director, said one suspect initially claimed he had been a victim of bullying, though not fully verified by authorities. A teacher who knew one of the suspects described him as quiet and introverted – a loner. The same student was reportedly held back a grade level after failing to meet the passing requirement. Concerns over campus security were also brought up, with the school only having two security guards despite serving more than 1,600 students.

The sense of security that schools “worked” to implement following the Tacloban school shooting was just shattered again this Tuesday, on August 18, 2026, this time at the elite, Jesuit-run Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) in Zamboanga City. According to the Inquirer Network, it left 2 students dead and 21 others who suffered from panic attacks, anxiety, and minor abrasions. Initial police investigation showed that a Grade 8 student at the school, armed with a 9mm G***k pistol, shot a Grade 10 student inside Room 404 of the university’s high school building, killing him instantly. The shooter then reportedly went up another level before ending his own life. Videos were discovered from the shooter, who livestreamed everything using a body-worn camera—something so sickening that it purposefully invited other people to witness the unforgivable act as he was committing it in real-time.

Maj. Shielamie Chang, spokesperson for the Zamboanga Peninsula regional police, added that the shooter brought two 9mm pistols into the campus, both being recovered from the scene with empty shells. It was later confirmed that the shooter’s father is the district commander of the Port of Zamboanga Enforcement and Security Services, which would explain where he got the fi****ms. As investigations are ongoing and appropriate measures are being adjusted to fit the new, growing threat, these cases undeniably emphasize how easily institutional neglect and our personal indifference shine through when the opposite is needed.

Some people may argue that the schools themselves should be the ones primarily held accountable for every case of school violence, since they are directly responsible for managing their facilities, students, and faculty. Others say the government should be more active in funding the very policies and systems that supposedly regulate students’ behavior, having the resources and authority to strengthen these measures across every campus. In the end, however, we are also to blame. The ability to listen to the struggles of these students while withholding immediate judgement is not exclusive to authorities and school administrators who only react after the incident is featured in the news. It is our choice to act, to genuinely care, that matters more than the simple words of sympathy and condolence given only after the damage is done.

We should never assume that everybody shares the same struggles or bears the same weight on their shoulders, simply because some people hide their pain better than others. The parents of victims should never be forced to deal with the grief of losing their child to a system that cares more about making the promise of institutional development rather than actually keeping it.

To hear what isn’t being said, to look long enough in the eyes of a student and understand they are troubled inside, is to communicate more than just words — it is to let them know they are not alone.

So, the next time you pass by a classmate in the hall, forget about social anxiety, and greet them with a “Good morning.” The next time you hang out with a friend, put away your phone and take your time to properly check up on them. Be intentional. After all, you never truly see what a person is going through until you care enough to look.

Writer | Lois Aguilar and Javier Amor
Editorial Cartoonist | Sabina Balagapo

20/08/2026

NEWS FEATURE | Grade 9 Formation Talk: “Becoming More: Embracing Magis and Self-Care in Personal Leadership”

The Junior High School Department hosted a formation talk for the Grade 9 Ateneo Hearters with the theme, “Becoming More: Embracing Magis and Self-Care in Personal Leadership”, on the morning of August 13, 2026, at the Pope Francis Servant Leadership Hall.

The talk was facilitated by the invited speaker, Ms. Janvarica B. Acop, LTP, MEd, the current Social Involvement Director of Sacred Heart School - Ateneo de Cebu.

The rationale and introduction to the speaker was delivered by Mrs. Diozenith Azucena, the Grade 9 Guidance Associate. As she welcomed the audience, she gave an overview of the program agenda and purpose, subsequently sharing the speaker's educational background and relevant formation experience.

Ms. Janvarica Acop opened the discussion with a recollection of her life as a student, stepping back into her black leather shoes and high school memories. While exploring a plethora of interests in search of her true passions, she was incessantly confronted with the uncertainty of what to pursue, especially when she faced constant rejections.

Further into her presentation, she cited multiple examples of individuals who likewise experienced setbacks and failures, such as St. Ignatius of Loyola, our school patron. Despite grappling with the tribulation of a life-threatening injury, his path was redirected, and he was eventually able to find true fulfillment through his newfound passion and devotion to Christ.

Ms. Acop emphasized the definition of personal leadership in her journey: “Leadership is not about your position; it is about who you are becoming," she remarked. This approach to being a leader integrates becoming your own person and cultivating your passions and aptitudes to aim for a service greater than yourself—utilizing your own excellence to uplift others.

To embody Magis in leadership, students must explore to identify their gifts and cultivate them, honing the talents bestowed upon themselves. To do more means to strive for a greater purpose—giving your best to what truly matters to you as a form of self-care and nourishment, as you cannot give and emulate what you do not have.

Ms. Acop reminded students that on the path we choose to tread, we too can meet people with similar passions along the way. She highlighted that the spirit of Magis is not inherently tethered to material items or ideas; it grows with the deliberate choices we make in our lives.

Drawing near to the end of her forum, she likened life to hiking, expressing multiple ways students could take consistent steps to enhance their own personal leadership, such as recognizing our growth and pacing it one step at a time. By caring for our well-being and carrying only the weight that truly matters, we can remain steadfast when the trails become rocky.

This formation talk reinforces the importance of knowing that even if the circumstances around us cannot be controlled, students can still choose what to become and how they respond to these vicissitudes. Hence, when rejection brings about redirection, we can continue to strive for more with the right passion through which our pursuits are undertaken.

Writer | Andrea Tio
Photos | Zian Leung, Phoebe Lanuza, and Nia Tan

18/08/2026

NEWS FEATURE | Growing Through Change: A Formation Talk That Spoke to Grade 7 Teenage Hearts

Rows of Grade 7 Ateneo Hearters filled the Virginia Chiongbian Theater on the morning of August 13, 2026, as Mr. Ranulfo C. Evardone stepped onto the stage for the formation talk, "Growing Through Change: Navigating Teenage Life."

In a season where everything feels like it is shifting, the talk offered students something rare: permission to feel overwhelmed and a framework for how to grow through it.

Mr. Evardone began with the truth that landed immediately: “Teenage life is not a problem to be fixed. It is a process to be walked through.”

During adolescence, bodies develop, friendships shift, and expectations get heavier. For many students, these changes feel like losing control. But according to Mr. Evardone, that loss is exactly where formation begins. “Change is not your enemy,” he said. “It is God’s classroom for building your character.”

That idea set the tone for the rest of the morning. Instead of giving a list of rules, Mr. Evardone gave students three anchors: faith, competence and character, and
commission.

As a school community shaped by Jesuit values, the call to be faithful and steadfast remains central in all endeavors. Mr. Evardone reminded students that they do not need to have all the answers to be close to God; they only need to keep showing up in prayer, in the sacraments, and in small daily choices. In moments of doubt, anxiety, and pressure, faith will serve as the cornerstone for connection to the almighty Father.

Teenagers are often told to focus on grades, but Mr. Evardone delved deeper. Competence, he explained, is about discipline, responsibility, and becoming someone others can depend on in times of need. Character is what happens when no one is watching: it encompasses choosing honesty over shortcuts, effort over excuses, and service over selfish gain. For a school that forms “men and women for others”, this was a direct challenge to balance both fundamental values, both inside and outside the classroom.

The theater grew quiet when Mr. Evardone talked about how easy it is to judge classmates online, laugh at someone’s struggle, or walk past someone who is hurting and turn a blind eye. The negligence of showing genuine compassion through concrete action is prevalent. Hence, he urged students to practice ‘pakikipagkapwa’—the Filipino value of seeing and treating others as shared humanity.
He emphasized that this relates to the essence of compassion: to notice, to listen, and to act. “The world does not need more perfect teens. It needs teens who are kind,” he remarked.

The delivery of the talk allowed the message to truly stick with the students; it was not cold and rehearsed in tone, but it was authentic and heartfelt.

Mr. Evardone shared stories from his own teenage years: the mistakes, the moments of awkwardness, the lessons learned too late.

Students laughed, then leaned in upon hearing experiences that resonated deeply with them.
During the subsequent open forum, hands shot up, eager to seek advice and hear firsthand accounts from the speaker. Questions about peer pressure, mental health, faith doubts, and social media showed that students began to integrate the anchors into the context of their lives.

By the end, the message was clear: you cannot avoid change in teenage life, but you can choose how you grow through it. With Christ as center, with competence and character as foundation, and with compassion as practice, students can navigate this season without deviating from difficulties but by choosing to be molded by them.

As the students filed out of the Virginia Chiongbian Theater, there was still chatter and laughter, but alongside it was a sense of purpose.

In a world that pressures teenagers to rush, to compare, and to hide, the formation talk, facilitated by Mr. Ranulfo Evardone, offered the opposite. It encouraged the youth to slow down and explore while staying rooted, because the person you are becoming matters, and the world is waiting for who you will grow to be.

Writer | Zheil Natalie Colina
Photojournalists | Yumi Colina and Phoebe Lanuza
Graphic Artist | Isabelle Leyson

15/08/2026

NEWSWIRE | Highschool Department Commemorates the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Junior High School and Senior High School Departments gathered in prayer and devotion in the Magis Eagles Arena on August 13, 2026, to commemorate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Fr. Irmo Valeza, S.J., with Fr. Gilbert “Nono” Emmanuel Levosada, S.J., serving as concelebrant.

In his homily, Fr. Irmo reflected on death as an inherent part of the human experience. While death may appear as an inevitable end, he emphasized that God’s dream for humanity is not defined by death, but by eternal life. He reminded the community that Christ’s death was not the end, but a passage to victory, and that through Him, we, too, are called to share in that victory.

Fr. Irmo emphasized that Mary serves as a symbol of God’s abiding dream for each of us. Just as she faithfully followed God’s will, we are called to trust in His plan and remain steadfast in our journey toward Him. He reminded the students that at the end of our earthly journey, we look toward the fulfillment of Christ’s promise: the reunion of body and soul with God.

He also encouraged the students to uphold the dignity and sacredness of life, drawing from the Commandment against taking life as a reminder to value both their own lives and the lives of others. He urged them to embrace life as a gift from God and recognize the dignity bestowed upon every person.

As the celebration concluded, the community was reminded that while life continues, there is always hope, and to emulate Mary’s example of navigating the path that God has carved for us.

Writer | Andrea Tio
Photos | Sari Chiongbian, Phoebe Lanuza, Nia Tan, Jazlene Uy, and Andre Vatanagul

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