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The Insights Publication (TIP) is the official student publication of Northwestern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology.

24/12/2025

𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐀𝐬 𝐖𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐔𝐩?

We often tell ourselves that Christmas today is nothing compared to the Christmas of before—when we played with piccolos, fired boga, and went caroling from house to house until our voices grew tired. Those moments felt magical, and now, they seem to have vanished.

But did Christmas truly change? The answer is no.

It never changed—we did.

It feels different now because we no longer celebrate it the same way. The spirit of Christmas has always depended on what we choose to do during the season. As children, we created joy effortlessly. As adults, we sometimes forget that we still can.
Let this be our reminder: we are the heart of this season.

If we want Christmas to be memorable, we must choose to make it so—perhaps not exactly as before, but in ways that reflect who we are now. Growing up changes the form, but it does not have to dim the meaning. As long as we keep the spirit alive, we can still make Christmas… Christmas.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Generals. ✨🎄

By Shane Stephanie Cabas
Art by Kenji Nabor

24/12/2025

𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠

It’s quarter to seven now, and I just got home from a quick errand. I went straight to the kitchen and put down all the things I bought. I set down the bags of fruits; it’s a good thing Nang Ester didn’t raise the price per kilo. She even gave me a discount. I smiled as I remembered her saying that I’m one of her suki.

“Yeees, grapes!” My sister had just gotten home from church as well. I raised my brows when I saw the dress she was wearing; she, on the other hand, just replied with a mischievous smile. She took my hand to bless. “Wala na sab ka nisimba, patay kang nanay.”

I went back to what I was doing—unpacking and preparing the food, arranging everything on the table. Their favorite cake sat at the center, the fruits now too many to count, tubs of mango float and fruit salad that practically screamed diabetes, a lechon manok that used to be a luxury, and dishes that crowded the table. It was already too much for one’s eyes, yet it felt ordinary—like plenty had become expected, overflowing like a quiet celebration.

What is this strange, unnamed feeling? It screams like a child insisting on buying pop-pop pellets and sparklers from your neighbor’s tiny sari-sari store.

Is it bec—my thoughts were cut by the children caroling outside. I came back to my senses and walked toward the window as I checked my pockets for coins.

I watched them sing their hearts out with songs that reminded me of exactly how I was at their age—caroling with my friends, singing at the top of our lungs, with our improvised tambourines made from bottle tin caps.

Wait—why is nostalgia the one present now and not excitement?

The gleam from the decorative lights around the neighborhood doesn’t shine as brightly as it did before, and the songs no longer wish you a holly jolly holiday—the kind you’d jam along to every morning as your neighbor played them on the speaker.

And that empty seat at the table. The table is full, yet one spot remains untouched—one no amount of grapes I could count in my lifetime could ever fill.

The carol faded into the evening breeze and I snapped back to reality. I had been holding onto the coins for too long; they were already warm in my palm.

Well, maybe nothing was wrong at all. Maybe this is simply how it feels when we’ve lived long enough—to only reminisce how it used to be.

But since when did remembering start to feel heavier than anticipating?

by Kimberly Julia D. Panghao
Art by Joana Mae E. Tabalba

24/12/2025

𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 | 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀

Merry Christmas.

I woke up to a familiar figure standing by my bed.

It was my dad.

“Merry Christmas, Daddy! How are you? Was your trip fun?”
I couldn’t stop asking questions—he had finally arrived, after the longest trip.

“Don’t worry,” he smiled. “I’m here to answer all your questions.”

He told me his trip was super duper fun. He’d been with my aunts and uncles, laughing, exploring, and ‘miraculously’ he hadn’t felt sick the entire time.

“It was wonderful,” he said. “You should’ve seen your uncle running around, your aunts gossiping, and me—finally able to run and dance again.”

“Aww, I wish I had gone with you, Daddy. It’s been forever since we talked. I really missed you.”

He was a seaman. He’d spent years at sea, gone for long stretches without returning. But he was my Super Dad. He’d been with us for decades, always strong, always present—even when he was far away.

“You look so tall now,” he said, chuckling. “Might be taller than me.”

“Daddy naman,” I laughed. “I’m in my twenties now. I can’t be your cutest baby boy forever.”

He looked at me, eyes soft.
“No matter what happens—even if the skies go black—I’ll always love you. No matter how you look, no matter how tall you grow. I’ll always love you for you.”

We sealed it with a pinky promise. Non-renewable, of course.
We laughed at my silly jokes, and time slipped by as we talked.

“How’s school?” he asked.

“It’s going okay. I transferred schools. And… I won a gold medal. Champion.” I was trying to avoid his question.

He grinned. “What happened? And good job!”

“It wasn't the major for me, and I am feeling unwell from all the expectations and I just don't understand anymore," I admitted.

His laughter stopped. “Sometimes, every time is the perfect time. You’ll figure it out. You don’t have to know everything right away. Just don’t let others shape you into someone you’re not. Understand yourself first.”

I clenched my fists. A tear slipped down my cheek.
I’d been so caught up in what everyone expected me to be, I forgot to ask myself what I wanted.

He reached out and wiped my tears.

“Tahan na. You are worth everything. And besides, I’ll always be with you—me, Mommy, Ate, Kuya. We’re always here.”

He smiled. “Maybe it’s time to set up the tree?”

And then….

I woke up.

There was no Christmas tree to set up…

I sighed.
It’s been four years since he left us.
But I still feel him.
I still wish I had spent more time with him.
Christmas had been heavy ever since.
We celebrate, but without him.

A knock on my door.
It was Ate and Kuya, greeting me with a warm “Merry Christmas.”

Maybe this Christmas won't be as sad, as it seems,

I smiled and greeted them with a Merry Christmas.

The pain of losing someone you love is rough.
But inside every home, someone is still setting up the tree.
Still holding space for love.
Still remembering.

Merry Christmas.
To all our dearly beloved who’ve passed on— We carry you with us, always.
Especially in this season of giving.

By Zylie Evangelista

23/12/2025

𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 | 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻

I was so fixated on holding the groceries while trying to keep up with my mom’s pace one Sunday morning when I noticed a child sitting along the sidewalk. He wasn’t singing Christmas carols, just a soft voice with his outstretched hand asking for spare change. Every now and then, someone would slow down, place a coin or two in his hand, and walk away.

I stopped after a person left a twenty-peso coin. The child looked up at me and said softly, “Kuya, pwede mangayo og sinsilyo?”

I gave him a ten-peso coin, the only change I had left. Curious, I asked him “Nganong diri ka mangayo?”

He replied, “Diri man gud daghan og tao, ya. Mas daghan og tao, mas dali ko maka tigom para akoang paniudto unya”.

That answer made me stop and think. There are children who have so little that even basic needs like food are not certain. So, I thought, maybe those who have more are meant to be the ones who give to those who have less. Another person passed by and dropped a coin in his outstretched hand. He counted the money on his hand and exclaimed loudly, “Hala, muadto sa ko sa karendirya, ya! Makapalit na ko og pagkaon nako ani!”.

Before he could stand up, I handed him a small gift to brighten his day. Tears welled up in his eyes as he whispered a little “thank you”.

When I got home, that interaction made me reflect. The holidays usually teach us to focus on what we receive, but they quietly ask something deeper of us and that is to notice, to feel, and to act. Giving is not always about money. It could be more than that. Something more meaningful than money could ever give. Sometimes it’s time, attention, or simply choosing not to look away. That child was not asking for much. By choosing to see him by choosing not to run away, we give him and other like him, the feeling that they matter. Because giving is not measured by what leaves in our hand but what stays in another person’s heart.

This holiday season, be the one who gives to those who have nothing. Not because you have too much, but because you understand what it feels like to be without.

Give not because tradition tells you to, but because you want to and you have it in you to give.

Happy Holidays, Generals! May your life never run short of things worth sharing!

By Maria Juerly Cañete
Art by Kenji Nabor

21/12/2025

𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞

The Insights Publication Family reflects the bonds we have built as students of NMSCST—rooted in shared learning, strengthened through collaboration, and growing through service and friendship. Each photo captures moments of unity, and support that define our journey together. As this Holiday reminds us of love and friendship, this tree stands as a symbol of how a community becomes a family when hearts come together with purpose.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!🎄

by Jemuel Neri

19/12/2025

𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗕𝗬𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗦, 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗢 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗢𝗡!🎄🎉

You’re finally home from college and can now relax after all those late nights during finals week. No more surviving on pancit canton and restaurant vouchers—because your mom’s home-cooked meals are finally back!

You did great and you deserve this break. Enjoy the holidays, rest well, and spend quality time with the people you love! 💛✨

by Joana Mae Tabalba

18/12/2025

Every December, the world steps into a familiar glow —streets sparkle with lights, carols drift through crowded places, and families gather around tables filled with food and laughter. But beneath the beauty and busyness of the season lies a truth older, deeper, and far more powerful than any tradition: Christmas exists because a Savior came.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻. Yet His birth is only half the story. The manger in Bethlehem points toward a cross on Calvary. The infant wrapped in swaddling clothes would one day wear a crown of thorns. Christmas is not merely a story of a baby; it is the beginning of redemption. He is the gift that cannot be wrapped, the hope that cannot be dimmed, and the love that cannot be earned. His birth is the promise. His cross is the fulfillment.

To look beyond the lights and listen beyond the noise. To pause long enough to remember that the Child in the manger would become the Lamb on the cross for us and for all.

This season, may grateful hearts celebrate. May love flow because He first loved us. And may the message of Christmas be carried beyond December: that hope was born, and salvation came through Jesus, the true reason for the season.

By Nicole Schwinn T. Magsayo

18/12/2025

7 days until Christmas! 🎄
Wishing everyone the best holiday ever!

A Christmas with full of joy, warmth, good food, and time with loved ones. May your days be merry and bright as stars in the sky!

by Renj L. Elemento & Joana Mae Tabalba

18/12/2025

POV: You’re already celebrating, then it suddenly hits you… “Wait… did I actually pass?” 😭😂

A brief moment that reflects the blend of relief, doubt, and subtle nervousness felt after giving one’s full effort. It serves as a reminder that every celebration is shaped by hard work, patience, and hope. Regardless of the result, simply reaching this stage is already an accomplishment worth appreciating.

Congratulations on surviving the semester, Generals! Have a joyful Christmas ahead. 🎄✨

by Britney Paler

15/12/2025

Attention, Studios with Printing Presses! 👀

Studios interested in handling the Graduation Pictorial Package for NMSCST Batch 2025-2026 are invited to participate.

Let us work together in creating lasting memories for our graduates.

15/12/2025

"𝘚𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘸𝘢 𝘬𝘰 𝘳𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘺𝘢, 𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘺 𝘨𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘯. 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘯, 𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘥𝘪𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘱𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘢."

Great job to everyone who passed this semester! I hope you get your well-deserved rest. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Generals!

Art and caption by Vincent Vaughn E. Lumbatan

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The school publication “The Insights” shall be a publication loyal to God, to the constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and to the “NMSCST” rules and regulations.

The “The Insights” is a legal publication of Northwestern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology and located at Labuyo, Tangub City.

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