Thematic Quarter 2

Discovering Vigan City: A Journey Through Time and Culture

Vigan City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ilocos Sur, is a treasure trove of history, culture, and tradition. Its streets and landmarks reflect a deep connection to the past, blending Spanish colonial influence with the enduring spirit of the Ilocano people. Among the city’s most notable spots are Calle Crisologo, Simbaan a Batti, and the Burnay Pottery, each offering a unique glimpse into Vigan’s heritage.

Calle Crisologo is the most iconic street in Vigan. Its cobblestone pathway lined with preserved ancestral houses takes visitors back to the Spanish colonial period. The gentle sound of horse drawn kalesas and the warm glow of antique lamps make the place truly enchanting, especially at night. Tourists often enjoy shopping for souvenirs, tasting empanada, and simply soaking in the atmosphere of the old city.

Located a bit farther from the bustling Calle Crisologo, Simbaan a Batti is a small yet meaningful church known for its quiet and peaceful surroundings. Unlike the larger cathedrals, this simple stone church captures the humble devotion of the local community. Its traditional architecture, with thick walls made of brick and stone, stands as a reminder of Vigan’s deep rooted faith and craftsmanship. Many visitors stop by to pray, reflect, or simply admire its historic charm.

Another must visit in Vigan is the Burnay Pottery, where the famous burnay jars are crafted. Watching skilled potters mold clay on their wheels is a captivating sight that showcases the artistry passed down through generations. Visitors can even try shaping their own jar, a fun way to connect with the city’s creative traditions. Each burnay symbolizes the resilience and hard work of the Ilocanos.

From the timeless elegance of Calle Crisologo to the quiet grace of Simbaan a Batti and the artistic soul of the Burnay Pottery, Vigan City offers a journey like no other. It is a place where the past lives on through every brick, jar, and prayer, inviting everyone to slow down and appreciate the beauty of history.

Reflection

 In the second quarter, I learned about HTML tags, which are the building blocks of a website. At first, I thought making a webpage was complicated and only for professional programmers, but as our lessons continued, I realized that HTML is actually easy to understand once you learn the basic tags. Each tag has its own function, like creating titles, paragraphs, links, and images. I discovered how every tag works together to form the structure of a webpage, just like how sentences and paragraphs form an essay.

Learning HTML taught me to be more careful and organized when coding, because even a small mistake like forgetting a closing tag can affect the whole output. It also helped me appreciate how websites are made and how much effort goes into designing something we see every day on the internet. I enjoyed creating my own simple webpage and seeing it come to life through the codes I typed.

Overall, this quarter made me more interested in web design and programming. HTML may look simple, but it is a powerful tool that opens doors to creativity and digital skills. I’m proud of what I’ve learned and excited to explore more about web development in the next quarters.

Teachers day

The 2025 Teacher’s Month Celebration is a special time to recognize the tireless efforts, sacrifices, and love that teachers give in shaping the future of every learner. Teachers are not only educators but also role models and second parents who guide us toward success. They play a heroic role in our lives by giving their time, patience, and wisdom to help us reach our dreams.

I express my gratitude and respect to my teachers by showing good behavior, studying hard, and applying the lessons they have taught me. Simple gestures such as greeting them with respect, saying “thank you,” and participating actively in class are my ways of showing appreciation. I also make sure to acknowledge their hard work during Teacher’s Day by writing messages or giving simple tokens of appreciation.

Teachers truly deserve to be called heroes because their influence lasts a lifetime. Their passion and dedication to teaching inspire students like me to become better individuals. Without teachers, no profession would exist because they are the foundation of every learner’s knowledge and character. As we celebrate this special occasion, I want to say thank you to all teachers for being the guiding light that helps us achieve our goals.

Science Month

 The 2025 celebration falls at a moment when science and innovation are not just tools, but indispensable drivers of national development and global progress. In the Philippines, the National Science Club Month is officially recognized to galvanize interest in science, technology, and innovation among students and communities. 

Looking ahead to the coming decades, science and society will become ever more intertwined. Emerging trends in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, materials science, energy storage, and climate modeling are already reshaping how we live, work, and confront existential risks. The role of science will no longer be confined to laboratories or academic journals; it must be integrated into policy, education, public discourse, and ethics. Scientists will have to engage more directly with communities, co-design solutions, and communicate uncertainties responsibly. In this light, the “unknown” is not a barrier, but an opportunity for society to participate in shaping direction.

In the decades to come, the relationship between science and society will demand deeper trust, inclusion, and reflexivity. The public must be empowered to ask critical questions of science, rather than accept it uncritically. Transparent governance, citizen science, and equitable access to knowledge will be essential to prevent inequalities in who benefits from innovation. Moreover, science must be human-centered: innovations must be aligned with social values, ecological limits, and cultural diversity.

In sum, the 2025 National Science Month theme is timely and aspirational. It reminds us that as we peer into uncharted frontiers, we must carry society with us ensuring that innovation uplifts all, respects limits, and remains transparent. The coming decades will test how well we bridge the frontier of the unknown with the foundational needs of communities, and how science becomes a partner, not a separate realm, in shaping the future.

Climate Change

Climate Change and the Resiliency of Filipinos

Climate change has become one of the most pressing issues affecting the Philippines, a country highly vulnerable to natural disasters such as typhoons, floods, and droughts. Sudden changes in weather patterns, such as stronger typhoons and heavier rainfall, often destroy homes, crops, and livelihoods in a matter of hours. On the other hand, progressive environmental changes like rising sea levels and increasing temperatures gradually worsen living conditions, particularly in coastal and farming communities. These environmental shifts threaten food security, health, and economic stability, making climate change a constant challenge in the lives of many Filipinos.

The predominant reasons behind these changes are linked to human activities that increase greenhouse gas emissions. The burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and unsustainable land use contribute heavily to global warming. In the Philippines, rapid urbanization and improper waste management also worsen the effects of climate change. While these problems are global in scale, Filipinos feel their local impacts intensely because the country lies along the Pacific typhoon belt and the “Ring of Fire,” making it prone to both climate-related and geological hazards.

Despite these adversities, Filipinos have consistently shown resilience. Communities rebuild after devastating typhoons, farmers adapt by exploring climate-smart agriculture, and individuals participate in coastal cleanups and reforestation projects. This resilience is fueled by a strong sense of bayanihan, or communal unity, which helps people recover faster together. However, true resilience requires more than coping—it demands proactive measures. Investing in renewable energy, enforcing stricter environmental laws, and educating citizens about sustainability are necessary to lessen the long-term effects of climate change.

In conclusion, while the Philippines faces both sudden and progressive changes in the environment due to climate change, the resiliency of its people remains one of its strongest assets. With combined efforts from individuals, communities, and the government, the country can move beyond mere survival and build a more sustainable and climate-resilient future.

Reference:

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2022). Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Cambridge University Press.

https://share.google/images/cm2AC0uifW0fYxIcs

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Intramurals

Watching the Spirit of Sports in Intramurals

Intramurals is one of the most awaited events in our school. It is a time when students set aside their usual classroom routines and come together to celebrate sportsmanship, teamwork, and school spirit. As a spectator, I had the opportunity to watch my fellow students compete in different games, and it was an experience that taught me valuable lessons beyond just the excitement of the matches.

Watching the athletes play made me realize how much effort they put into training and preparing for the games. I saw their determination in every serve, every shot, and every sprint. Their energy was contagious, and the crowd cheered with pride and support. Even though I was not playing on the court, I felt involved in the moment, as if I was part of their journey.

More than the scores and trophies, what struck me most was the sportsmanship displayed. Players congratulated one another, even after losing a match. Teams encouraged their members, reminding me that winning is important, but character and respect are greater victories. These moments showed that intramurals is not just about competition—it is about unity and building friendships.

As a student in the audience, I also learned to appreciate the talents of my schoolmates. Each game revealed hidden skills that I never knew they had. It was inspiring to see how they shined outside the classroom, proving that every student has strengths worth celebrating.

In the end, watching the intramurals gave me a deeper appreciation of school life. It reminded me that education is not only about academics but also about experiences that shape us to be well-rounded individuals. The event brought us closer as a community, and I am grateful to have witnessed the passion and teamwork of my fellow students.

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Reference: Ilocos Sur National High School

By Anon Year: 2022 Container: Facebook.com 

URL: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Cc1icgyNm/

Heed our Environments Call

The imagine portraits the problem of using too much single use plastics, improper segregation, and the lack of proper disposal of garbage. This problems can be addressed by just doing simple things like segregating garbage, using reusable bags, holding onto our garbage until there's a proper place to dispose the garbage, and teaching our family and friends.

Simple segregation can help in addressing this huge problem. By just simply separating our garbage we can get a cleaner and more organized surrounding.

The use of reusable bags can contribute to many things like lesser plastic waste, lesser pollution, and lesser floods. Plastic contribute to the clogging of many drainage systems which contribute to the higher frequency of flooding in cities.

A great habit to have is when you are outside with family or friends you carry a small garbage bag and for example you guy's bought food and went to eat at a near by park or any appealing public place and after you're done eating there are no trash cans you can then use the garbage bag to hold onto the waste and dispose it in a proper disposal bin. This not only help the environment this can also help the people this simple thing can lessen the amount of garbage around the environment and lessening the effects of garbage to our health.

Then there is the best way to help the environment. Teaching our family and friends just by doing this it can lessen environmental problems significantly.

References: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/manila-ph-july-1-2018-many-1129363085

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/waste-segregation-sorting-garbage-by-material-1834834390

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/girl-holding-cotton-canvas-while-typing-1503815966

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/hand-garbage-against-full-trash-cans-1027553278

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/father-teaching-son-about-ecology-encourages-2140121965