SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2018 COSMIC JOURNAL 1

VOL. 11 NO. 2 SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2018

n COVER STORY Rediscovering the Beauty of Rondalla Music in OBMC Fairview By Jeanne Therese A. De Leon Grade 9-Sapphire

N UNFAMILIAR noise lingers The ensemble members were age, the students have been able to Aaround the room. The sound of grouped according to their respective cope with the lessons even though strings calms the nerves and gives instruments. Some students play the some had zero knowledge about the an authentic vibe. Students holding guitar and bandurria, while others play music. Ms. Ballester shared that for any strange instruments and grouped the laud and octavina. A student plays student of music, part of the process into sections listen intently as Ms. the double bass to give depth to the of learning is the pain and mastery of Mariefranc Ballester gives her music. According to Ms. Ballester, she a song. The results however are truly instructions. found it challenging at first to teach the Two months ago, a rondalla music group by section. Despite their youthful Continue to page 2 group was formed at OB Montessori Fairview. It is composed of Grades 4–6 students, ages nine to thirteen. Ms. Ballester, the conductor of Brought to you, good as new! the group, was once a rondalla By Bea Ecube instrumentalist during her youth. Grade 9-Ruby She started playing at the age of four HE COSMIC Journal is now restructured and revamped to bring you and joined competitions in her grade more personal, in-depth, and relevant news on OB Montessori Fairview school in the Bicol province. During T Campus. To begin with, more people are now involved in the making of the high school, her group won in the 2005 Cosmic Journal. In addition to the system-wide Main Editorial Board, each National Music Competitions for Young campus now has a Campus Editorial Board and—a Student Editorial Board! Artists (NMCYA). Despite her busy This enables each campus to issue its own Cosmic Journal four times a year, schedule, she managed to balance her a considerable increase over the previous output. passion for playing while working at Together with their teacher-mentors, the members of the OBMC-FV the same time. Ms. Ballester is part of Writer’s Guild will now deliver the news to the student body directly. With the UP Diliman Rondalla Music Group this bold move, the guild hopes to attract more writers and readers in the and the Celso Espejo Rondalla, which school. performs internationally. 2 COSMIC JOURNAL VOL. 11 NO. 2

Continued from page 1 fascinating: It is soulful music that is pleasant to the ears. According to Ms. Ballester, the OB Montessori rondalla ensemble aims to be recognized by the general public as a legitimate performing group.

n NEWS OBMC-FV’s Taekwondo winning streak

Maria Nicole M. Labayne Grade 7-Sapphire Nicole won in the recent Batang Pinoy National Championship Finals in Taekwondo held last September 17-21, 2018 at the University of , Baguio City. She won gold in the Cadet Female Division Individual Poomsae Event. This win qualifies her to the Philippine National Team, which will compete internationally in Taiwan this November. The school and publication wishes her the best.

Gabrielle D. Fernandez Grade 8-Emerald Another resident OBMC-Fairview Taekwondo member, Gabrielle, recently won a series of competitions. She earned gold in the Quezon City Taekwondo Championships, CAMANAVA Taekwondo Championship, and Quezon City Inter- club Taekwondo Championship. All competitions were held this year. She is also a member of the Philippine National Team.

Sean Kenji S. Dueñas Grade 8-Emerald Kenji also brought home gold for OBMC-Fairview in the 2018 National Interschool Taekwondo Championship held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex last October 1, 2018. Aside from this, he also won gold in the 2018 Smart MVP Best of the Best Taekwondo Championship and the 31st Milo Little Olympics Taekwondo Championship. SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2018 COSMIC JOURNAL 3 n FEATURE Our Duwendes, Their Superheroes: Philippine Mythology in the Eyes of the Montessorian By Madison Motril Grade 7-Ruby

HE BAGS of chocolate and candy are behavior in their childhood Tready, the fake cobwebs string across and were part of the windows, paper skeletons hang on doors, stories they grew up with. and the question looms: What will I be for Now we don’t talk about Halloween? So many options, you realize, these creatures. They as you look through your Instagram feed don’t even appear on our hoping inspiration strikes. There are the social media feed! superheroes in blue, red, and green; Harry This could be traced to our upbringing awareness of these creatures. Potter with his lightning bolt scar and in the booming cities, where we are The upcoming Halloween celebration round spectacles; the beautiful ball gowns extremely dependent on technology. In in OB Montessori hopes to give readers a la Belle from Beauty and the Beast or this case, we heavily rely on oral retellings the chance to rediscover Philippine Mulan’s warrior getup; maybe even Lara of these stories, which are sadly dying out mythology and captivate them through Jean Covey or Cher from Clueless and the as well. The influence of other cultures detailed retelling. Social media has also unforgettable witches with their cauldrons has also contributed to these creatures’ been an outlet for users to encourage or the cursed dolls with their pigtails. disappearance. We fail to remember the to know more about their culture, Halloween is a ritual of western origin, manananggals and the tikbalangs, instead as seen in the exquisite works of users and so what we wear reflect western tastes. turning to talking animals and hippogriffs. such as porkironandwine. Whether How about we stamp our own cultural We are so much more interested in through literature or social media, the identity on our Halloween costumes, and Poseidon’s trident and Hermes’s winged aforementioned only have one purpose—to make it Filipino? We have the cigar-loving sandals that we have not the slightest clue invite Filipinos to fall in love with their rich, kapre, the anthill-dwelling nuno sa punso, about our own myths. While it is undeniable albeit often overshadowed culture. It is up and even a winged sea serpent known as that technology and other cultures have to us, then, to accept. Make room not only bakunawa. These are the creatures that benefited us in some way, we cannot ignore for the duwendes, but also the wonder in once scared our lolos and lolas into good that they have been cause for the waning Philippine mythology. n STUDENT SURVIVAL GUIDE ACAP your way to avoid plagiarism! By Shaina Caro and Patricia Madrideo Grade 9-Sapphire and Grade 11-Amorsolo

MAGINE YOURSELF in the US President, John F. Kennedy. He copied always give credit to the rightful Iclassroom. The class is having a the speech verbatim and translated it into owner. Quotations should be properly recitation. The teacher asks a question Filipino. Another instance of a renowned cited as well as other information you related to a topic discussed last week, but person who committed plagiarism is the use. There are different ways to cite your classmates don’t know the answer. You current US First Lady Melania Trump. properly so use what’s appropriate for whisper the answer to yourself, since you Portions of her speech, which she gave your work. are not sure if it is wrong. Suddenly your during the 2016 Republican National Avoid copy and pasting. Avoid copy seatmate stands and gives your answer Convention, were directly lifted from and pasting information from the internet without telling the idea came from you, and predecessor Michelle Obama’s convention or book, word per word. As much as he gets the recitation point. You might feel speech given in 2008. possible, make sure to paraphrase and cite angry. You might feel frustrated. You might As a student, you need to be very the source. feel a sense of loss. Of course, someone careful in committing plagiarism because Paraphrase. Paraphrasing is writing claimed your idea as their own! you can be given a sanction under the less the idea in your own words. When you According to the 2018 OBMC Parent & grave or grave offenses. Here are some paraphrase your output, it doesn’t mean Student Handbook, plagiarism is when a ways you can do to avoid plagiarism from that the idea is completely yours so don’t person fails to give credit to a source and happening: forget to cite. gives the impression of claiming the idea Acknowledge. Acknowledging is As Montessorians, integrity and respect as their own. Thus, the above situation claiming that the idea is not yours. With are being instilled in our character and we essentially shows plagiarism. this, it gives respect to whom or from whom should let these values show in who we Anyone is prone to plagiarism. Take for you got the idea. are and in what we do, especially in our example Senator Tito Sotto, who recently Cite properly. Citation of sources academic work. Just follow these tips and went viral for copying the speech of former is essential to avoid plagiarism, so you’re good to go! 4 COSMIC JOURNAL VOL. 11 NO. 2 n MOVIE REVIEW n NEWS Prize-Winning ng Buwan By Job Brioso Grade 9-Ruby

NG LARAWAN (2017) is a movie of him caring for himself. They Aof both technical and artistic reflect how much a genius is merit. Director Loy Arcenas weaves their father as they review the together the cinematography, lighting, masterpiece, and how painful it is sets, actors and script into a piece of to turn their backs on him. Transient cultural accuracy and sociological and boarder Tony Javier (Paulo Avelino) philosophical insight. sees the subject staring at him, looking The main characters of the work, down at him, and mocking him even in sisters Candida (Joanna Ampil) his own room. Elsa Montes (Zsa Zsa and Paula (OBMC alumna Rachel Padilla) receives an inspiration for an Alejandro), along with their siblings evening gown from the man’s costume Manolo (Nonie Buencamino) and with the same cut, draping, and color. Pepang (Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo), The painting is also a source of are in many ways conflict for the subordinate to characters the true star Candida and of the film, a Paula, who hold it prized painting in great esteem, done by their yet must decide reclusive father whether or not Don Lorenzo to part with it Marasigan but to meet their now seen by some mounting debts. as a mere source The people of possible income surrounding them in difficult times. tell them to sell The painting is the masterpiece, never clearly while their seen in the film, consciences beg thus allowing them to keep it. it to serve as a O.B. literary device, Montessori which reveals the Fairview had true nature of a the privilege of character as they hosting a private analyze its substance. screening of the film on August 20, 2018, Through their conversations in the and was also joined by Celeste Legaspi, film, the viewer is made to understand who co-produced the work and further that Candida and Paula see the painting played the role of Donya Loleng. After as their father’s self-portrait. Don the viewing the film, the students had Lorenzo is both the young man and the the opportunity to ask questions to old man he is carrying in the painting: Legaspi and were even given a chance “As he is now and as he used to be” to have her sign their own copy of the (quote translated to English). Family book. friend Bitoy Camacho (Sandino Martin) The OBMC students are fortunate sees the scene in the painting as not to have been given a quality film to Filipino, questioning its meaning. enjoy, sing along with, examine, and to Manolo and Pepang see Don Lorenzo have further received firsthand as the Trojan Prince Aeneas carrying behind-the-scenes information his own father to safety away from about the film and how it came burning Troy; perhaps an interpretation to be. SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2018 COSMIC JOURNAL 5 Buwan ng By Jhorick Howard Grade 8-Ruby Wika 2018

N CELEBRATION of our during participation in the activities symbolized the tragic events that Inational language and culture, during in the celebration. happened during the era of Martial Law. OB Montessori Fairview held its On the day of the culmination, To cap off with the celebration, culminating activity for Buwan ng all the students showcased cuisines students and teachers of different grade Wika 2018 on September 27, 2018 at the of different Filipino regions to be levels performed covers of Original Teatro Preciosa Hall. tasted and celebrated by their fellow Pinoy Music, gathering the spirit of the This two-month long celebration – students and their teachers. The entire school – igniting their love and headed by the school’s Filipino teachers Grade 8 students presented Sabayang appreciation of Filipino culture. – consisted of various events, contests, Pagbigkas with their piece “Sa and performances from the students Kalinga Nagsisimula Ang Isang and faculty of OBMC Fairview. Milyong Batang Malaya” by Although the annual Buwan ng Julius Cainglet while the Grade 9 Wika is celebrated in August, as cited students displayed their national in Proclamation No. 1041 series of costumes in a fashion show. 1997 signed by former President Poster making, poetry, and Fidel V. Ramos, OB Montessori essay-writing contests were celebrated the event in held on August 9 and the September due to numerous awards were class suspensions. given on The purpose of the Buwan ng Wika September celebration is to increase language 27. In and civic awareness and to encourage commemoration of the the Filipino people to give notice declaration of Martial Law that and importance to the national happened on September 21, the language through active Grade 10 students performed an interpretative piece that 6 COSMIC JOURNAL VOL. 11 NO. 2 n LITERARY Si Lola Sora Ang Ating Wika By Ian Gapoy Grade 8-Emerald By Lara Eliz G. Doria Grade 7-Sapphire A TUWING maririnig o mababasa hindi na pabatang edad, ko ang salitang “Tandang Sora,” dinakip pa siya ng mga Ang ating wika ay nawawalan ng kalayaan, S at tayo ang dahilan kung may dalawang bagay na pumapasok Kastila upang alamin ang bakit ito’y hinahayaan. sa aking isipan. Una, naaalala ko kinaruruonan ni Andres ang aking makukulit na kaibigan na Bonifacio. Hindi ibinigay ng linalait ang litrato ng isang matanda. matanda ang impormasyong May mga salita na galing sa iba’t ibang bansa, tulad ng Ingles at Kastila. Pangalawa, naaalala ko rin ang nais ng mga mananakop kaya’t masukal na daan sa Commonwealth ipinatapon sa Mariana Islands Avenue na maraming tiyangge at hanggang sa makabalik ito Magsama-sama tayong buhayin ang mga namatay na salita, mga nagtitindang Muslim. Subalit noong 1898 kung saan ang mga upang maibalik itong mga nawala. habang lalo kong pinag-iisipan ang Amerikano naman ang sumakop halaga ni Tandang Sora o Melchora sa ating bayan. Aquino, unti-unti kong natutuklasan Habang unti-unti kong Kailangan nating mga Pilipino na magtimpi, dahil sa mga salitang nalimutan ang kaniyang halaga sa ating bayan kinikilala si Tandang Sora, na dapat ay hindi. na hindi nakikita ng mga ordinaryong naaalala ko ang aking sariling mag-aaral na gaya ko. lola. Hindi man siya gaya ng Ating wikaý gamitin hanggang sa wakas, Ayon sa pahinaryang Filipiknow, ating bayani na isang katipunera ngunit itoý malapit nang magsabi si Melchora Aquino ay ang na tumulong sa pagaaklas laban ng huling pahimakas kaunaunahang babae na itinampok sa mga Kastila, pero pareho sa papel de banko. Ito ay sa silang nagmalasakit sa mga bagay denominasyong isang daang piso at taong mahalaga para sa kanila. mula 1951 hanggang 1966. Madalas Gaya ni lola, nagpaka-ina pa rin si Ngayon, sa tuwing makikita ko siyang pinipiling Reyna Elena Melchora sa ating bayan. Hindi man ang kaniyang mukha sa mga aklat, noong kanyang kabataan at siya ay siya humawak ng itak o nagbuwis ng hindi ko lang basta maaalala ang mga bantog na mag-aawit sa simbahan paa upang makipagsagupaan sa mga pangungutya ng aking mga kamag- at sa mga pagtitipon tuwing fiesta kalaban, ginawa naman niya kung aral o ang mahabang kalyeng laging sa kanilang lugar. Ikinasal siya kay ano ang kaniyang makakaya upang trapik. Bagkus ang tatatak sa aking Fulgencio Ramos, isang pinuno sa matulungan ang ating magigiting na isipan ay ang larawan ng isang ina na nayon at nagbunga ng anim na anak bayani na binuwis ang buhay sa bayan. kumalinga sa kaniyang bansa. ang kanilang pagsasama. Nang tumungtong sa edad na tatlong taong gulang ang kaniyang bunsong anak, pumanaw ang kaniyang asawa. Prisinto, Bakit Ako? Itinaguyod ni Melchora mag-isa ang kanyang 6 na anak upang magkatapos By Angela Clarke Rosales Grade 12-Jose ng pag-aaral. Taong 1896 nang magsimula ang Madilim na silid, Pasensiya na, eto ang naipasa. Rebolusyong Pilipino, 84 taong gulang malamig na rehas na si Melchora Aquino nang panahong Sabay tanong Kuya may pasok pa ho ako bukas iyon subalit hindi nagpatinag ang “meron pa bang mas malas?” Pasensya na gabi ako lumabas kaniyang edad sa pagsisilbi niya para Sabi ni mama, Utos lamang ang sinunod ko. sa bayan. Ginamit niya ang kanyang pag sala mo, akuin mo. Pero eto ako gutom, takot, mga establisimento para protektahan Toyo lamang ang inutos bilhin At naging isang preso. ang mga sugatang Katipunero. Prisinto pala ang Ang kanyang mga pamilihan ay sasalubong sa akin Ano nga ba ang laban ginawang dausan ng pagtitipon at ng isang batang napagbintangan? dahil sa kanyang mga naitulong siya “Ma, ma pasundo naman po” Eto na ata ang hustisya ay binansagang Ina ng Katipunan at Sabay baba ng telepono sa bagong kalakaran. tinawag na Tandang Sora. “Hindi po ako tambay mula gabi Kaya’t sabay Hindi naging madali ang hanggang alas kwatro.’’ ang ng mga buhay ni Tandang Sora. Bukod Tinignan ako ni Kuya mula ulo Pilipino sa pinagsisilbihan niya ang mga hanggang paa. Bakit ako? katipunero. Sa kabila ng kaniyang SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2018 COSMIC JOURNAL 7

n STUDENT SURVIVAL GUIDE Get ready for CETs! Lara Eliz G. Doria By Research by Ian Pagdanganan Grade 7-Sapphire Grade 12-Jose

It may not seem like it, but the college entrance tests (CETs) are more important than any other tests you will be taking in your life. But you need not fear! The key to your confidence is preparation. HOW CAN YOU PREPARE FOR CETs?

1. Plan a review schedule. 2. Start during the summer by reviewing SOME STRATEGIES your Junior High School lessons. • Math sub-test Look for the easy questions, then move to the 3. Check the exam coverage of each medium ones, and finally answer the university you are applying for so you will difficult questions. know what to review. • Reading comprehension sub-test 4. You may also opt to take review The strategy for reading large amounts of text under classes in review centers or hire a tutor a given time is skimming and scanning. Skimming is to recall your lessons. finding the essence of the text, while scanning is 5. Do practice tests under time pressure. searching what can be directly found in the text. 6. Read on different topics in order to Scanning is good for questions such as, “ keep your brain alert and to expand In paragraph 4, what does the word ‘conjugate’ mean?” or “What your knowledge. does ‘simple’ refer to in sentence 5 of stanza 1? ”

Skimming is used for the questions like, “What is the BEFORE THE EXAM best title for the passage?” or “What can be inferred from paragraph 55?” or “What does the author want to 1. Visit the testing area. say in the given text?” 2. Do not try cramming. 3. Recharge with food and sleep. 4. Prepare exam materials. 5. Ready your test permit. AFTER THE EXAM 6. Pray! DURING THE EXAM 1. Know when the test results come out. 2. Don’t stress too much. Easier 1. Arrive early (around 30 minutes to an hour). said than done. 2. Be comfortably but appropriately attired. 3. Trust and have faith in God! 3. Read the exam instructions carefully. 4. Check the test results once it 4. Do not underestimate time pressure! Manage your time comes out. wisely as you take the test. Do not stay too long on any item. 5. If you do not know the answer, make a smart guess. Remember to answer all items (except for the UPCAT) and not to leave any item blank. 6. Relax during your breaks. Do power poses, such as stretching your arms on both sides like the UP Oblation. According to a 2010 paper written by Amy Cuddy and her team, power poses increase a person’s confidence due to the positive hormones that the brain releases upon doing the poses. 8 COSMIC JOURNAL VOL. 11 NO. 2 n STUDENT ART WORKS Crossworld By Lian Gernandiso

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17 ACROSS 5. Where the Soviet Union set up DOWN their missile during the Cold 1. Past events War 2. Kiev-the first center of 6. Yuan Dynasty ______9. Capital of Indonesia 3. Largest art museum in the 10. Was hit by the biggest world earthquake ever recorded on 4. Chinese Communist Leader Earth (2 Words) 11. World’s capital of plastic 7. The Prince surgery (2 Words) 8. The Land of the Rising Sun 13. 7,107 islands 12. Dia de Muertos 15. Rial 13. City of Love 16. The land of the free 14. The royal’s death by 17. Machu Picchu’s location guillotine

Upcoming Activities:

Schedule Bar November 16 Holy Confirmation

November 5 November 17 Classes Resume Parent/Student Seminar - Grade 6

November 10 November 19-23 Parent-Student Seminar - Grade 9 2nd Quarter Examinations

November 12-14 November 27 1st Semester Final Examinations - SHS Poetry Contest - Grade 7-9