#NEWS | Batches 2023 and 2024 celebrate the 2nd day of the Humanities Festival 2020
by Alex Anthony Andal and Bianca Marie Sacramento
December 11, 2020 — Students from Batches 2023 and 2024 participated in various webinars for the second day of the Humanities Festival (HumFest), with the theme “Humanidades sa Bagong Kadawyan: Kapit-Bisig sa mga Hamon at Pagbabago ng Lipunan sa Kasalukuyang Panahon.”
(Re)Kindling our Love for Literature in the Time of COVID-19
As an opener, the Grade 9 and 10 students attended a webinar involving the field of literature, with Sir Brian Villanueva and Ma’am Sarah Napoles of the English Unit as hosts, and Ma’am Kornellie Raquitico, another teacher of the English Unit and graduate of the Philippine Normal University, as the speaker.
The webinar involved the correlation of different benefits of reading various literary texts to numerous novels with the genre pandemic/plague fiction, which is relevant in today’s time.
According to Ma’am Raquitico, literature and books can take us on different journeys, as it brings us to different lands, even amidst a pandemic. She also mentioned that we can escape reality through different literary texts that challenge our imagination.
The novels mentioned dealt with both fictional and non-fictional pandemics and epidemics such as the Spanish Flu, Black Death, and cholera. Through these novels, engaging in literature and reading may “expand our experiences, widen our imagination, and keep our humanity,” according to Ma’am Raquitico.
“[The webinar] was very timely since it discussed works on other outbreaks too. Ma’am Kellie did well in discussing the themes of the examples she presented and literary devices that make each captivating and fun to read. Overall, the event was effective in making me want to read the books presented.” Myka Ylarde, a Grade 9 student said.
Music & Me: The Different Classification of Musical Instruments
Sir Anthony Ryan Cruz, a choir conductor of the ABS-CBN Sunday Mass and music teacher of the Philippine Science High School Main Campus, discussed the types of musical instruments in a webinar for the Advancement Years Program (AYP) students entitled, “Music & Me: The Different Classification of Musical Instruments.”
The presentation was accompanied by brief but phenomenal saxophones, guitars, piano, flute, and piccolo performances featuring timeless songs including Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me To The Moon,” Jim Brickman’s “Your Love,” and Michael Bublé’s “The Way You Look Tonight.”
According to Sir Cruz, “Music is a language that words cannot express, it is included in the humanities because it tells us or expresses who we are as a human being.” He explained how music is truly part of the humanities because of how it conveys emotions, thoughts, and feelings.
He ended the webinar with a sweet alto saxophone performance of Rey Valera’s hit, “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko.”
Tanod-Bayan, Tangol-Bayan: Pangmidyang Literasi sa Bagong Kadawyan
Batch 2024’s first event of the afternoon was a webinar focusing on media literacy. It was hosted by Ma’am Camille Barquilla of the Filipino Unit, and Sir Arnold Lapuz of the Social Science Unit. Sir Mark Madrona, the executive editor of the blog “The Filipino Scribe,” was the featured speaker.
Sir Madrona thoroughly explained how the usage of media is vital in present time. He emphasized its importance during the pandemic that we are facing today, and how necessary it is to have the power of information. His presentation included how the media tackles COVID-19, 2022 elections, fake news, infamous dolomite in Manila Bay, and entertainment.
“The webinar was very engaging because the topic it covered is socially relevant. Especially at a time where we are all stuck at home and on our phones, we should know that it is very important to know our way around social media: how to determine which is fake or true and how to respond to such things.” Raphael Dancel, a Grade 9 student, said. “On the end of Sir Mark Madrona, I believe that he was the right person to be the guest speaker because as a journalist, he is very hands on with the subject, and it was true because he was able to simplify yet also expound on the points he stated.”
Checks and Balances: Understanding the Three Branches of Government
Meanwhile, Batch 2023 students partook in a separate webinar that focused primarily on the different features of the three branches of the government based on the 1987 Constitution and relating those features to the concept of “checks and balances”.
Atty. Melencio Sta. Maria, the dean of the Far Eastern University (FEU) Institute of Law since November 2013 and a graduate of Ateneo De Manila University in Bachelor of Law in 1982, gave a brief history of how the Philippine Government worked, from the Marcos dictatorship to the current government.
He was able to give concrete examples on how ‘’checks and balances’’ works given the three branches of government.
“The webinar was short… it even taught us about the background of what we were going to discuss. Atty. Mel’s presentation was very clear and the explanation he used contained simple words which were very easy to understand.” Ranielle Santos, a Batch 2023 student, said.
Madz Et Al 2020: Our Voices Will Be Heard
The Madz Et Al 2020 Concert, the last event of the second day of the Humanities Festival, was organized by The Madz Music Studios. They are composed of the University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers, who focus on Renaissance techniques and pieces.
The performing choirs were Himig Paraluman, The Nawtingles, Himig Roseña, Basic Christian Community Organization, De La Salle Health and Sciences Institute Saringhimig and Himig Scientita, Minstrels of St. La Salle, Coro de Sta. Cecilia, Lighter Side Movement, Kilyawan Consortium of Voices, and Eastern Chamber Singers. One of the members of the Himig Paraluman choir is PSHS-MC’s very own Ma’am Melody Hernandez.
The choirs performed inspirational songs including “Tara Na, Kanta Na,” “Ang Aking Kapayapaan,” “Always, Something Sings,” and “Prayer of Saint Francis” for these trying times.
The students were impressed with how the events were made possible despite the difficulties that arose due to the pandemic. “Day 2 of the Humanities Festival was packed with back-to-back webinars and activities, and even though we sat in front of the screen for almost the whole day, the morals and lessons we learned were worth it in the end.” Erwyn Vibal of Batch 2024 stated.
Watch out for activity and schedule announcements through the Humanities Festival Facebook page or Pisay Direct, and stay tuned to The Science Scholar’s social media accounts for weekly Humanities Festival articles!
