The President's Report

Last Monday- July 23, 2012, we were asked to watch the President's 3rd State of the Nation Address and we were given  guide questions. President Aquino gave a really long speech. In his report, he first mentioned the problems that were already resolved since his last SONA. Then, he revealed his programs to solve the problems that have not yet been resolved.

In the eyes of a 12-year old Filipino student like me, 

these were the things in the report that really caught my attention: 

1. Infrastructure

     a. Build new airports in Bohol, Daraga and Misamis Oriental 

     b. Upgrade the Mactan, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban airports into an International                       Airport.

     c. Build a two-way elevated NLEX-SLEX connector.

2. Employment

     a. There are 3.1 million new jobs offered to Filipinos.

     b. For the people who are working, the government implemented the Performance               Based Incentives to give benefits.
     c. The rate of unemployment decreased.

3. Economy

     a. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index increased.

     b. Our GDP grew by 6.4% , the highest growth in the Southeast Asian Region.

     c. We no longer borrow from other countries instead the other countries borrow from             us.                                     

4. Education

     a. Proposed additional budget in 2013.

     b. Increase in the number of TESDA scholars under the Training for Work                           Scholarship Program.                                        

     c. More schools will be built to satisfy the need for additional classrooms.

     d. Build new chairs to satisfy the need for lack of chairs in schools.

     e. Success of the TESDA Specialista Scholarship Program.

     f. 1:1 ratio of books to students

5. Health and Wellness

     a. There are 1,672,977 mothers who underwent regular check-up

     b. 1,672,814 children were vaccinated to fight diarrhea and other diseases

     c. 85% of the Filipinos are now  members of PhilHealth.

     d. PhilHealth supports the needs of the people specially the poor and they also                     covered certain illnesses  like dengue, pneumonia, cataract and other kinds of                   cancer.                                     

     e. 30,801 nurses and medical workers were sent to rural provinces so that the people          there can avail the medical services.                                   

     f. Mosquito traps were placed in different places in the country to prevent dengue.

6. Tourism

     a. Increase in the tourist arrivals here in the Philippines. In 2016, 10 million tourists are targeted to  visit this country.                                        

     b. Puerto Princesa Underground River is now one of the New Seven Wonders of the World

     c. The tourism campaign "It's More Fun in the Philippines" is very effective.

7. Agriculture

     a. The full implementation of the CARP (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program)

     b. Export of coconut water reaches 16 million

     c. Rice Imports decreased because farmers now produce more rice.

8. National Security and Welfare

     a. Crime Rate reduced into half.

     b. 74,600 guns to be handed out in 2013 because 45% of the police still do not carry             guns.

     c. Allocate over 28 billion pesos for the AFP Modernization Program.

     d. In 2013, 10 attack helicopters, 2 naval helicopters, 2 light aircraft, 1 frigate and air             force protected equipment, will be arriving.                                  

There is still so much more that President Noynoy reported on. In fact, when I was browsing the internet, I found this summary of the SONA,  which I think will be very helpful for students like us.

All in all, I think the President has done a really good job and I am hoping he will do an even better one this year.

Let The Games Begin!

It was the first Highschool Intramurals for us and we did not know what to expect. I wanted to actively participate in the games. I played Basketball during the Cerberus Cup but our team lost so I had to look for another sport and there were no slots left except in table tennis. I didn't know a thing about table tennis but I was determined to learn. The first problem was, in order for me to play during the Intramurals,  I had to undergo tryouts.  I had to quickly find somebody who was willing to teach me. On Sunday,  I learned how to play Pingpong in an hour. Luckily, my doubles partner and I won in the tryouts the following day. We were really excited at the same time very nervous.

The Intramurals proper started last Thursday, July 19.  It started with a parade from the school gate to the covered court. Team Vindemiatrix was at the head of the parade, followed by Team Vulperuien, Team Valkyrinx, and Team Cerberus. Each batch tried to outdo each other by presenting their cheers and displaying their banners and props. 

After the parade, the Opening Program followed. The program started with an opening prayer and the singing of Lupang Hinirang led by 3-SPJ. This was followed by the Lighting of Torch by Fane Pelagio, Rookie of the Year 2011.  Ms. Malou Labao delivered a message. I led the Oath of Sportsmanship with Alexur Naag, who, like me, also competed in the 2012 Palarong Pambansa in Pangasinan. Then, the different teams raised their respective flags before our Principal, Mr. Sulpicio C. Alferez. III declared the 2012 Intramurals open.

We were no match to the stronger and more experienced pingpong players but it was okay. We tried our best and we have still many years ahead of us to try to improve ourselves. In between our own games, we transferred to the Naga City Gymnasium where the Basketball and the Badminton games were held. Volleyball, Table Tennis and Board Games were held in school. I lost my voice cheering for the Cerberus Team in the different games. But it was so much fun and I believe we got more closer with each other. The Championship Games were held last Saturday followed by the Awarding of the Winners. Unfortunately, I had to go home early because I was not feeling well and had a slight fever.