HUMSS Week at SDO- San Juan: A Resounding Success

Mrs. Marnelli B. Tolentino, English Supervisor had these nuggets to share, “What you focus on grows.” So if you feed yourself with negativity, you will reap what you sow. She added further, “The hows of multiliteracies contribute meaningfully, motivating everyone to create spaces for the students to learn the new realities we have.”

She exhorted the teachers, “Nurture every learner, be intentional with our students.”

Tackling the topic, ”The Challenges and Triumphs of 21st Century Learning”, she mentioned the challenge of lack of facilities, erroneous textbooks, the problems of children unable to read, bullying, equality VS. equity, children with special needs, an almost uniform assessment, special needs children, classroom management, lack of teachers and lack of quality education.

However, the triumphs are the presence of young people like Hillary Diane Andales, Chef Louise Mabulo, Founder of the Cacao Project, the UP Repertory Project in their tula dula immersed in social issues and the Bio-Intensive Gardening of Tinabunan Elementary School in Imus, Cavite.

She ended that youth empowerment is the gift of the young because they are at the prime of their lives.

[endif]--“Even if you create one ripple in the pond, you can disturb, connect, and mobilize.”

Atty. Neri Colmenares discussed “Peril in Sovereignty: The Spratly Issue” but he also talked about poverty. Colmenares averred that we are poor because we rely heavily on foreign investments, we do not produce what we need, instead we produce what other countries need, and ours is an export-import driven-economy which he said are palliative solutions.

He continued that industrialization is the solution to solve poverty.

“Public service is just an afterthought,” when you give water and electricity in the hands of the private sector because they decide when to jack up prices.

He also added that corruption is a huge problem. The pork barrel that congressmen receive range from 100 million to 1 billion.

Studies have revealed that China does not prey on countries smaller than it because it is afraid of the international community and so Atty. Colmenares said that we should not be afraid of China, that we should not agree with joint explorations and stop militarization in West Philippine Sea.

Atty. Chel Diokno, who discussed in brief, “Children in Conflict: Lowering the of Criminal Liability” said that we have to talk about justice. He talked about a twenty-something girl who said that our government does not deserve loyalty but our country does.

He told the students, “I believe in you. I trust you. You are never too young to make a difference. Live the truth.”

“There is too much to talk about than just love,” Ryan G. Macasero, a Cebu-based Rappler Journalist and Spoken Word Artist said.

Moreover, he said, “The system needs to be changed, (we should) push policies that need to happen, make people think differently.”

Furthermore, he averred that the kids should pursue multiple things. “Parents limit our possibilities. You’re not limited with what your parents tell you.”

He ended his talk with these words, “It’s important to protect freedom of expression. Activists are silenced.”

Macasero started and ended his talk with an electrifying performance of spoken word entiled, “Children are Not Criminals” and an excerpt from, “Hold the Line.”

For three years now, Mr. Leo Paolo Dilay, a HUMSS teacher of SDO-San Juan had invited national artists in the past to celebrate HUMSS week and this year is no different. A brainchild of his, he conceptualized a series of activities to celebrate HUMS Week and on October 10, 2019, a seminar entitled Think Out of the Box with the theme: Learn. Evolve and Defy took place at the Conference Hall of SDO-San Juan.

In attendance were the Superintendent, Dr. Cecille Carandang, CESO VI, Asst. Schools Division Superintendent Mrs. Flordelisa D. Pereyra, Curriculum Implementation Division Chief Dr. Helen G. Padilla, Araling Panlipunan Supervisor Dr. Victoria M. Parambita, Mr. Cesar A. Camayra, San Juan National High School Principal , and Asst. Principal II, Mrs. Florence Ares, among others.

Dr. Rina Angeles, another HUMS teacher, hosted the event.

After three years, HUMS Week is a resounding success once more.