Rites and winning moments

In UP High School we all exert a great deal of effort to prepare for Recognition Day and Graduation. These are all with the hope that the moments of joy and sense of triumph will be energizers for the next phase of the students’ life journey.

We were in the Cebu Cultural Center this year. We thank all the positive forces that made this possible for it was such a blessing to be protected from the intense heat from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.  With less external distraction, there was more solemnity.

We are glad to report to the taxpayers that the year produced many outstanding achievers. Grade seven had 27 honor students led by MariAu Beltran, Essel Nanci R. Heeler, and Jericho James C. Cayon.

The Second Year had 18 honor students led by Judy Kristel V. Bayalas, Frances Aeriel B. Cañon, and Maharlika A Malubay. The Third Year had 18 honor students led by: Sean L.Policarpio, Deither A. Abilong, and Edna Joycee P. Gonzales. The fourth year had 25 honor students led by Ain Khera L. Ycong, Rheurhon Y. Tariga and Cheyenne L. Archuleta.

In the graduating class, 24 students had honors: The class valedictorian Ain Khera L. Ycong with an average of 94.049 received the Dean’s Gold Medal. So she was the recipient: of the Dr. Eduardo Bernardo Sr. Scholarship Award; the the ABS-CBN Medal of Excellence, the Don Sergio Osmeña Academic Excellence Award. She also received the Mercury Drug Gold Medal for Excellence in Mathematics.

Hannah A. Yuson completed high school as the class salutatorian with a grade point average of 93.575, with high honors. She was awarded the Principal’s Silver Medal. She received the Dona Modesta Gaisano Foundation Scholarship. Together with Stephen Rey W. Avila, Hannah also received the PTA Gold Medal for Best in Conduct.

Ella Rica D. Cañoneo received the Mercury Drug Gold Medal for Excellence in Science. Cheyenne L. Archuleta received the UP Cebu High School Alumni Association Inc. Leadership Award.

The study “Initial Assessment of the Grade 7 Students’ and Teachers’ Attitudes Toward K to 12” of Ella Rica D. Cañoneo,Thrixia Mae Jennifer D. Baylon and Avekhenn A. Bontuyan together with “Development of a Mother Tongue-Based Big Book in Mathematics for Cebuano Grade 1 Students” of Jhelle C. Raboya, and Terence Dale M. Eraña were awarded Best Researches of the schoolyear.

All the students who joined competitions and excelled in them were also given certificates of recognition in the Convocation of Scholars. In both ceremonies the benefactors were repeatedly recognized: the Family of Eduardo Bernardo, the Dona Modesta Foundation, St. Joseph Foundation, Plumeria, PUNLA, the Department of Science and Technology, Arco, ArchiGlobal, Crisologo, Young Minds Academy. A special group of benefactors have been the UP High School PTA and the UP Cebu High School Alumni  Association with the many batches and individuals who provided grants to our students: 1984, 1985, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1994, Belarmino, Borromeo, Garcia, Zanoria Reynes, and Rameses Systems.

As we express gratitude we are reminded of the many demands of nurturing the adolescent so each one can progress fruitfully. The challenges we meet along the way make us intensely aware that free tuition is not enough. Students fail to come to school because they do not have money for fare.  They are brought to the clinic because of many breakfasts and other meals missed. Students come in late due to  delay in the search of cheap computer printing fees.

Intelligent students become underachievers because of the emotional challenges of parents in dysfunctional relationships. During the recognition and graduation rites there were many attempts to bring the family together and make honorees’ happiness complete. With great effort, Jullie Anne’s mother, blinded by diabetes and with one leg amputated, came for her graduation.

Atty. Mark C. Tolentino, the special guest for the recognition rites, had a simple but truly helpful inspirational message. He encouraged  students not to avoid difficulties or hesitate on paths which promise untried experiences. Instead one should pursue these to become a better person. His discussion of his experiences of his move from UP Cebu to UP Diliman was very educational for the graduates who will be going there. He humbly admitted having experienced failure, described what this demanded of him, and narrated to them how he coped with that challenge.

Mark was the president of the UP Cebu High School Alumni Association the last time that the existence of the high school was threatened. He stood firmly by the high school in a very balanced and sober way.