Baguio City National High School students emerged as winners in the different competitions during the 10th STEP Regional Skills Development and Competition held at Tublay School of Home Industries,Tublay, Benguet last January 6-8, 2012.

Fourth year Special Science Program Team (Miguel Leung, Kelby Uy, Leah Bornilla, Kimberly Garcia and Giselle Santos) and Renver Muller from Rizal Annex both garnered 1st place in Business Planning and Residential Wiring Installation, respectively while Noel D. Maggac of the Open High School, Denis Diclihon of III-Heroism and John Carlo Tagata of IV Prestige garnered 2nd place in Engine Tune-up, Steel Baluster and Electronic Poster Making, respectively. Likewise, Hasmin Managdag of Bakakeng Annex garnered 3rd place in Electronic Bookkeeping.

The winners of the Regional STEP qualify in the STEP National Competitions.

by: Jonathan Jet Ruiz, Marlen Kristal Bunoan, & Roan Desiree Malicdem

Joining over 600 delegates from ASEAN countries, a student of IV-Wisdom has recently participated in the 2011 Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) Program from December 6-18, 2011.

Denise Meghan Dado was chosen in the city-wide interview held at the Baguio City National High School Library last November 2011. The visit consisted of educational tours in the different landmarks of Japan in Kyoto, Hiroshima and Tokyo, and a 5-day stay with their assigned host family as they attended a local high school. Ms. Dado, who was assigned in Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture attended, along with other 10 delegates in her group, Maebashi Commercial High School.

In one of the activities, the 2011 JENESYS Festival, Ms. Dado had the honor to represent our country by presenting a PowerPoint about the Philippines and what she can do for Asia as a Filipino and as an Asian.

The JENESYS Program is one of many student exchange programs of the Americal Field Service (AFS) Intercultural Programs. AFS Intercultural Programs allows student to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding outside the country to create a more just and peaceful world. It began as the American Field Services (AFS), dated back in 1914 after the outbreak of World War I, when Americans served overseas as volunteer ambulance drivers at the American Hospital in Paris. AFS evacuated wounded soldiers from the battlefield and helped liberate concentration camp survivors. When they returned, they founded a movement to promote peace through international student exchange, known today as AFS Intercultural Programs.

Denise Meghan Dado (front row, the 6th starting from the left) and other Gunma Prefecture AFSers with their host families and the Gunma Prefecture local government on December 11, 2011.

by: Yvon Lagdao, Kahren Yvonne Salbino, & Ivan Orille

Two students of Baguio City National High School championed in the boys’ taekwondo- secondary level during the 3rd annual Milo Little Olympics National Championship held at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen, Pangasinan last November 18-20, 2011.

Benjamin Keith Sembrano, a student of IV-Wisdom Special Science Program and a member of the Junior Philippine Team, championed in the welter weight division while John Gervin T. Astrologio of III-Discipline Special Program in the Sports (SPS) topped the feather weight division. Another SPS student, Kay Portia G. Duday of III-Discipline won the silver medal in the bantam weight division in the girls’ taekwondo.

With the theme: “Building champions in life”, the said event was sponsored by Nestlé Philippines Inc., with the objective of discovering champions from the grassroots level and enhancing the skills of students making them faster, higher and stronger.

by: Kirk Richard Difuntorum, Benjamin Keith Sembrano, & Coreen Giselle Santos.

Benjamin Keith Sembrano almost knocked out his opponent from the Visayas in the final round.

Twenty schools from within Baguio City participated in the 4th Dimasalang Debate Tournament organized by the BCNHS Debate Society last November 12-13, 2011

With UP Baguio Argumentum, a debate society from UP College Baguio, acting as adjudicators, 29 teams from both the private and public schools in Baguio participated in the event. The said teams came from BCNHS Main, BCNHS Fort Del Pilar Annex, BCNHS Rizal Annex, BCNHS San Vicente Annex, Irisan National High School, Pines City National High School, Philippine Science High School – CAR Campus, Saint Louis University Laboratory High School, and the University of Baguio Science High School.

The champion of the said event was team SLU C (Patrick Balisong, Kimberly Taracatac and Erika Viray) while the 1st runner-up was team BCNHS B (Erlyne Sibayan, Yvon Lagdao, and Kelby Uy). The best rookie team was BCNHS N (Mirzi Candelario, Benedict Guino and Brian Colcol). The best speaker of the tournament was Erlyne
Sibayan.

Ten debaters from BCNHS received the best speaker award: Erlyne Sibayan, Astrid Cabreros, Benedict Guinto, Jordy Castro, Joshua Bullago, Mirzi Candelario, Brian Colcol, Jam Flora, Kamille Dela Cruz, and Kelby Uy.

The Dimasalang Debate Tournament is an annual activity of the BCNHS Debate Society which is led by Ms. Julia Biligan.

Erlyn Sibayan (center) receives her certificate and medal for winning the Best Speaker of the Tournament award.

by: Adam Cometa, Michelle Sampaga, & Thea Valenzuela

Baguio City National High School has once again dominated the 2011 District Meet held last November 10 and 11 within the District II of Baguio City. Students from BCNHS showed their exquisite performances and bagged medals during the said event.

Events results are as follows:

In Chess, top scoring City High chess players garnered first place in team standing with all Special Program for Sports and Varsity students taking six slots for boys and girls. Their coach is Mr. Ariel Abellada. In Baseball and Softball, Coach Alex Dalog with his wife Coach Joy Dalog and their respective teams remain unbeatable together. In Taekwondo, the City High Taekwondo team with Coach Jaime Pundo took individual gold medals.

Meanwhile, both the girls and the boys volleyball team, with Coach Ortez Gabol for the girls and Coach Paul Colingan for the boys, will both advance to the Division Meet. Defending their ring, Coach Joey Agacer and his team held up first place in basketball.

by: Xendle W. Pagao, Jhoanna Marie G. Calub,  & Porsha Elizabeth Lagman

With the theme “Treading the Righteous Path through Unity and Teamwork,” BCNHS celebrated its 92nd Foundation Day on October 24, 2011.

The celebration started with the search for Mr. and Ms. Foundation which was held earlier, October 22, 2011, at the BCNHS Auditorium. Among the 12 contestants, Kenneth Roland Cosalan from Main-SPA and Kathleen Kaye Lacat from Doña Aurora Annex reigned as Mr. and Ms. Foundation 2011, respectively.

After a thanksgiving mass led by Bishop Carlito Cenzon on the Foundation Day Anniversary, a street parade of over 2,000 students, teachers, and non-teaching personnel followed. It started from Convention Center and ended at Athletic Bowl where a program was held.

Hataw, a series of dance aerobics was also held. It was performed by teachers from the different year levels and annexes on the grounds of the Athletic Bowl.

Miguel Ricardo Leung, President of the Student Supreme Government, gave the closing remarks and started the first ever students’ creed.

The guest speaker, Congressman Bernardo Vergara complimented, “Nobody thought that BCNHS would bloom due to the very few students who were attending school but today, it seems that City High has surpassed this expectation.”

“Everyone played a major role in continuing the making of BCNHS.” said Principal Elma D. Donaal, “Even though there are ups and downs which hinder us to success, we still manage to unite as one.”

by: Aeblyn Joy Aggabao, Roselyn Solomon, & Kevin Gabriel Veridiano

With the theme: Moving Through Excellence in Social Studies, Baguio City National High School bagged first place in the following city wide Social Studies competitions held at the BCNHS Main Campus last October 15, 2011:

• ASEAN Quiz Bee: Jamie Flores with coach Estelito Mendoza
• Consumerism Quiz Bee: Iris Aquino with coach Mathrina Galasgas
• Rizal Quiz Bee: Johanna Calisin with coach Julievense Miranda

For the Social Studies Debate, Saint Louis University Laboratory High School got first place with BCNHS coming in second place.
Distinguished guests and experts from the Department of Trade and Industry and University of the Philippines- Baguio assisted in the judging of the various contests.
Participants from Pines City National High School, University of Baguio High School, Baguio City Science Foundation, BCNHS Annexes and other secondary schools in the city also joined the said event.

By: Leah Anne Bornilla and Demrie Ann Tindongan

A candlelit, red carpet entrance awaited the teachers of Baguio City National High School-Main in the school’s auditorium on October 05, 2011, as part of the Supreme Student Government (SSG)’s celebration of Teachers’ Month and World Teachers’ Day. The program, which featured intermission numbers from students and teachers alike, special student-made video presentations, a teachers’ day prayer, and awarding ceremonies, was the culminating activity and the highlight of the student-initiated tribute to teachers, which carried the theme, “My Teacher, My Hero”.

Among the events the SSG conducted during the month were classroom-based essay writing, video editing, and poster making activities. It also launched a “Say Thank You” campaign to encourage students to express their gratitude to any and all teachers who have touched their lives. On October 04, 2011, students took over the classes from first year to fourth year for a whole day, in an improved version of the “Teacher for a Day” program initiated by the SSG in 2010.

One of the highlights of the celebration was the first ever “Students’ Choice Awards”, which gave students the chance to nominate and vote for the teachers who inspire them the most. A two-step selection process composed of written essays and impressions as well as online voting was employed to select the 15 awardees for the year. Teachers Jonathan dela Cruz, Joyce Jimenez, Melchor Ticag, Anabelle Eustaquio and Maria Luz Galia of the Mathematics Department; Efren Matthew de Peralta, Juliet Herreria, Rowena Esteron, Marissa Wayan and Virginia Alindayo of the Science Department; Estilito Mendoza and Tecla Padsoyan of the Araling Panlipunan Department; Lourdes Corpuz of the Filipino Department; and Anna Grace Cabanilla of the English Department all received a plaque of recognition during the awarding ceremony.

by: Miguel Ricardo Leung, Vincent Franz Sarap & Frances Louise Fadlen

With the theme “Nasa Siyensya ang Pag-asa”, Baguio City National High School topped the championships in the Division level Sci-Dama, Quizbee, Poster-making, Sci-Art Collage, and Painting Competitions held last September 16-18, 2011 at Easter College.

The results in the Sci-Dama Competition are the following:

First year: Femie Jay O. Lictao – 2nd place and Francis G. Gayados (I – Matalino) – 4th place

Second year: Jason Batina (II – Affection) – 3rd place and Darwin Pa-at (Santo Tomas Annex) – 4th place

Third year: Emmanuel Acosta – 2nd place and Joshua Nora (Bakakeng Annex) – 3rd place

Fourth year: Nelson Batina- 3rd place.

For the Science Quizbee, the results are as follows:

First year: Bryant Dominguez (I – Matalino) – 2nd place, Romarico Flao (I – Mapanuri) – 3rd place, Chloe Jean Co (I – Mapanuri) – 4th place, and Clarizza V. Villasita – 5th place

Second year: Shekeilah Argawa – 1st place, David Joshua C. Mago (II – Accuracy) – 3rd place, Geenne Samantha Samia (II – Accuracy) – 4th place, and Vaeughu Chysel T. De la Cruz (II – Competence) – 5th place

Third year: Ma. Amica Manalac – 1st place

Fourth year: Miguel Ricardo Leung (IV – Wisdom) – 1st place, Jynariz Daniel Datuin (IV – Success) – 2nd place, Angelo Rillera (IV – Prestige) – 4th place, and Myrel Bautista – 5th place.

The results for the Poster – making Contest are the following:

First year: Junziel P. Mecaraeg (I – Magiliw) – 2nd place and Hera May Tabios (I – Maagap) – 3rd place.

Fourth year, Judd Dean A. Dominguez (IV – Modesty) – 2nd place and Darren Daniel Acosta (IV – Prestige) – 3rd place.

For the Sci-Art Collage Making Contest, Regie May Santos (I – Magiliw) landed on the 1st place.

And for the Painting Competition, the results are as follows:

First year: Alberto Daus Ju (I – Magiliw) – 1st place, and Justine Pearl O. Marilac (I – Mapanuri) – 3rd place

Second year, Franz Dominique Robin Balisi – 1st place

Third year: Cirthava Coranto (III – Excellence) – 2nd place

Fourth year: Paulene Guinto (IV – Modesty) – 1st place.

By: Mary Rose Kim LISNANG,  Hannah Jean ARAGON, Alyssa Marie AGLOSOLOS

President Benigno Aquino III conferred a Baguio City National High School teacher a gold medal for being one of Metrobank’s 2011 Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT) winners during the Malacanan awarding ceremony last August 26, 2011.

Mrs. Vilma C. Ambat, a teacher from the Filipino department, won the award after a rigorous selection process which included on-the-spot demo teaching and interviews conducted by a panel of judges that included Senator Loren Legarda,  Associate Justice Martin S Villarama, Jr. (Supreme Court of the Philippines), Ambassador A. Selverajah (Embassy of Republic of Singapore), Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, Congressman Lorenzo Tanada III (Deputy Speaker and Representative, 4th District of Quezon), Dr. Lydia B. Echauz (President, Far Eastern University),and Ms. Veronica Baluyut – Jimenez (Program Host, NBN – 4 and RTVM)

Mrs. Ambat joins three other BCNHS teachers, namely Constancia M. Cardenas (1986), Elena Badival (1990), Adoracion A. Julian (2000), as winners of Metrobank’s annual search.

by: North Karlo F. Cacal, Angela Beatrice A. Carlin, & Wanda A. Casio