PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, INC.
Philippine Science High School, Agham Road, Diliman, Quezon City 1104, Phillippines
TO ALL PSHS ALUMNI:
WHAT: Philippine Science High School National Alumni Association Annual Meeting
WHEN: Saturday, 14 June 2008
TIME: 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon
WHERE: Philippine Science High School, Agham Road, Diliman, Quezon City
9:30 -10:00 a.m. Registration (Acceptance of New Members, Last minute payment of annual membership fees)
10:00 a.m. Start of Annual Meeting
PROPOSED AGENDA:
1. Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting and action taken thereon.
2. Unfinished business.
3. New business.
4. Election (only for vacant positions in the PSHS NAA Board of Trustees).
5. Ratification of the acts of the board and the Executive Officers.
6. Other matters.
6.1 Update on the PSHS Alumni Association and PSHS National Alumni Association unification efforts.
6.2 Other updates
NOTES:
1. On Voting: Proxy – Members of good standing shall be entitled to one vote, and they may vote in person or by proxy which must be in writing and signed by the member giving the proxy, provided the proxy is likewise a member of good standing of the Corporation.
2. On Membership: Based on the PSHS NAA Constitution the following shall be the classes of members of the Corporation:
a. Regular Members: Every member who is a graduate of the Philippine Science High School System, consisting of the existing campuses mentioned in Republic Act (“R.A.”) No. 8496, as amended by R.A. No. 9036, and future campuses which shall be established under said laws, may become a member of the Corporation.
b. Honorary Members: A non-graduate of the Philippine Science High School System who has rendered valuable service to the Philippine Science High School System and/or the Corporation may be nominated as an honorary member by any regular member in good standing of the Association and may be elected as such by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees.Every member who has paid all membership dues and all authorized special assessments, plus surcharges owing thereon, and who is not under suspension from membership privileges, is a member in good standing.
c. Membership Fee: The annual membership fee is as follows:
i). PhP 100 for members of the following batches: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
ii). PhP 200 for members of the following batches: 1969 to 2005
To pay for membership fees, contact Mr. Rogel Zanarosa, PHSNAA Treasurer, E-mail: zenarosarl@pnb.com.ph, or Dr. Rafael Saldaña, E-mail: raffysaldana@gmail.com, tel. (2) 7090907, 0928-5043121.
Annual membership fees may be accepted until just before the start of the June 14, 2008 meeting.
d. Identification: Please bring a valid I.D. during the June 14 PSHS NAA meeting.
e. See Membership Application/Renewal Form and Proxy Form below.
Notice Prepared By:
(Sgd.) Dr. Rafael Saldaña
Corporate Secretary
PSHS National Alumni Association
11 April 2008
Contact Details:
Telephone/Fax: +63 2 7090907
Mobile: +63 928 5043121
E-mail: raffysaldana@gmail.com
===================================================
NOTE: You may "cut" the following forms and send them via e-mail or fax to PSHS NAA c/o Dr. Rafael Saldaña, E-mail: raffysaldana@gmail.com, Fax: +63 2 7090907.
===================================================
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION/RENEWAL FORM 2008
Philippine Science High School National Alumni Association
First Name:
Middle Name:
Surname:
Date of Birth:
Sex: (M)ale (F)emale
Mailing Address:
E-mail Address:
Website (if any):
Contact Numbers:
Mobile Phone:
Landline:
Year Graduated From Philippine Science High School:
PSHS Campus Where You Graduated:
Post-High School Education:
College: Name of School, Course, Year Level or Year of Graduation
Post-Graduate: Name of School/s, Degree, Specialization, Year Level or Year of Graduation
Special Training:
Work Affiliation: Name of Company, Position, Contact Details
Date Submitted:
Signature:
==================================================
PROXY FORM 2008
Philippine Science High School National Alumni Association
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
This is to authorize ____________________________________
to be my proxy during the the Annual Meeting of the Philippine Science High School Alumni Association (PSHS NAA) scheduled on June 14, 2008 in PSHS, Agham Road, Diliman, Quezon City.
Attached is a photocopy of my valid I.D. with signature.
Member's Name: _____________________________
Signature: _________________
Date Submitted: ______________________________
===================================================
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Gawad Lagablab Nominations Deadline Extended to June 15, 2008
To all PSHS (Main Campus) Alumni:
The Board of Directors of the Philippine Science High School Alumni Association met last night (5/14/08) in PSHS Agham Road, Q.C. One of the items discussed was the Gawad Lagablab. Butch Zaldarriaga, PSHS AA chairman announced that the deadline for submission of nominations for the 6th Gawad Lagablab has been extended to June 15, 2008.
See the link below for details:
http://www.pshsaa.org/glmain.html
From,
Raffy Saldaña
for PSHS AA
The Board of Directors of the Philippine Science High School Alumni Association met last night (5/14/08) in PSHS Agham Road, Q.C. One of the items discussed was the Gawad Lagablab. Butch Zaldarriaga, PSHS AA chairman announced that the deadline for submission of nominations for the 6th Gawad Lagablab has been extended to June 15, 2008.
See the link below for details:
http://www.pshsaa.org/glmain.html
From,
Raffy Saldaña
for PSHS AA
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Pisay Student Gian Dapul Wins in International Public Speaking Contest in London
Philippine Science High School student Gian Dapul (an incoming senior) won the English Speaking Union’s International Public Speaking Competition held in London last Friday, May 9, 2008.
He bested 57 other contestants representing 35 countries with his delivery of a five-minute speech on the theme “New Frontiers.”
In his speech titled “Fish Mucus and Foot Fungus,” Dapul cited recent scientific finds and expressed his desire to help his country by joining the avant-garde army of science researchers discovering new ways to enhance health and extend life spans.
Read more ...
(Source:
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008051057)
He bested 57 other contestants representing 35 countries with his delivery of a five-minute speech on the theme “New Frontiers.”
In his speech titled “Fish Mucus and Foot Fungus,” Dapul cited recent scientific finds and expressed his desire to help his country by joining the avant-garde army of science researchers discovering new ways to enhance health and extend life spans.
Read more ...
(Source:
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=2008051057)
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Comment From Dr. Vicki Saldajeno-de Leon (Batch '81) on the 'Pisay Diploma' Issue
I have read the posts regarding the PSHS Board of Trustees' plan of giving a PSHS diploma to three seniors after they take and pass a remedial Math 5 class. I am a member of Batch 1981, the infamous 13th batch that went from 241 to 171 in 4 years. There were members of our class who were asked to withdraw because their GPAs did not meet the designated cut-off. They did not necessarily fail a class or two, but did not meet the standards set by the school at the time.
In our senior year we had 2 batchmates who weren't allowed to march with us at graduation and received DepEd diplomas instead. As a student I knew what was required of me to pass each class. With the grading system set at the beginning of each school year it would be hard not to know how you fared after every exam, and the grades at the 3rd quarter of your senior year are probably the most crucial. You will work your butt off to pass. No exceptions.
And for that matter, where are the supposed high standards of a PSHS education? Some alumni have voiced giving in to these seniors, following the logic that the teacher and/or class adviser was/were partly to blame for the students' situation. Or that the seniors have invested all this time and not getting that diploma would be unfair to them. Heck, why bother applying yourself if you can take a summer class and then get the diploma? What message are the lower batches and any future PSHS students getting from this whole affair?
I do not support the BOT's policy change and seriously question their judgment on this matter. Why the decision to change a pre-existing policy of giving DepEd diplomas to those not allowed to graduate with their batch? What prompted this policy change? The idea that "the BOT feels that the 4-year "investment" in the student will be wasted without some program in place" is preposterous and should not be tolerated. Now I wonder if there are other Board activities that we need to scrutinize carefully, if only to keep OUR investment as students and alumni intact.
Vicki Saldajeno-de Leon, Ph.D.
PSHS Batch '81
(Note: This message was received through pisayforum@gmail.com on May 1, 2008)
In our senior year we had 2 batchmates who weren't allowed to march with us at graduation and received DepEd diplomas instead. As a student I knew what was required of me to pass each class. With the grading system set at the beginning of each school year it would be hard not to know how you fared after every exam, and the grades at the 3rd quarter of your senior year are probably the most crucial. You will work your butt off to pass. No exceptions.
And for that matter, where are the supposed high standards of a PSHS education? Some alumni have voiced giving in to these seniors, following the logic that the teacher and/or class adviser was/were partly to blame for the students' situation. Or that the seniors have invested all this time and not getting that diploma would be unfair to them. Heck, why bother applying yourself if you can take a summer class and then get the diploma? What message are the lower batches and any future PSHS students getting from this whole affair?
I do not support the BOT's policy change and seriously question their judgment on this matter. Why the decision to change a pre-existing policy of giving DepEd diplomas to those not allowed to graduate with their batch? What prompted this policy change? The idea that "the BOT feels that the 4-year "investment" in the student will be wasted without some program in place" is preposterous and should not be tolerated. Now I wonder if there are other Board activities that we need to scrutinize carefully, if only to keep OUR investment as students and alumni intact.
Vicki Saldajeno-de Leon, Ph.D.
PSHS Batch '81
(Note: This message was received through pisayforum@gmail.com on May 1, 2008)
Update on the 'Pisay Diploma' Issue (5/5/08)
TO ALL PSHS ALUMNI:
Please be informed that on 2 May 2008 the PSHS Board of Trustees (BOT) met in PSHS Central Visayas Campus in Argao, Cebu. Dr. Cielito "Ciel" Habito, the official representative of the Alumni Association in the BOT, attended the said meeting.
Below is an excerpt from a report sent by Ciel to the Alumni Association Board Members. This information is being published here in the 'Pisay Alumni Forum and Updates' blog (http://pisayforum.blogspot.com), the official blog of the PSHS Alumni Association, with the permission of Ciel:
"
The most important item on the agenda was the controversial issue on the 3 seniors in the main campus who failed their Math 5. It was affirmed, first of all, that contrary to the wording of the draft minutes of the previous (March 28) meeting, the BOT had indeed decided, not just suggested, giving a second chance to the 3 seniors concerned. The minutes were corrected to reflect this, with careful wording to reflect what I discuss further below.
I conveyed the dominant alumni position, already well-known to the BOT members (Butch Z's letter, not the position paper we had circulated, was in the meeting folder), opposing the "second chance" given these students, citing the common arguments cited in the online discussions that (1) it is deemed highly unfair to former students who never had such a second chance, (2) it compromises the high standards of the PSHS, and (3) it will be perceived as bowing to pressure from the parents who had lobbied intensely with individual BOT members and the school administration.
However, it turns out that there has been a strong sentiment in the BOT for a policy change on this matter, which had been percolating since 3 years ago. One lingering source of discomfort on the part of the BOT is that there have been no such dismissals for failure in Math 5 in the regional campuses, and board members find it awkward that students in the main campus, where admission standards are admittedly more stringent than in regional campuses, would fail to earn a PSHS diploma whereas even the weakest students coming out of the regional campuses manage to do so (passing their own Math 5 in the process).
More fundamentally, there has been an ongoing discussion in the BOT about the essentiality of calculus (Math 5) in the PSHS curriculum. It has been observed that Math 5 has been the perennial downfall of graduating seniors for many years, and this observation must be reflective of a fundamental problem. One BOT member has been persistently arguing through the years that Calculus represents an entire paradigm change in a person's math education, and requires a certain level of intellectual maturity that high school seniors have not achieved. I also confirmed that calculus had not been required in the early batches (i.e. pre-calculus math was the highest math that our batch was exposed to, but not calculus itself.) Moreover, calculus is taken up in the sophomore year for most students at UP, which again suggests that it's a bit much to expect high school seniors to have mastered it. While calculus is offered in the last year of high school in many countries abroad, these are countries with two more years in high school than we have (i.e. RP's basic education of 10 years falls short of the norm of 12 years in other countries).
In short, there has emerged through the years a prevailing sentiment in the BOT that calculus be considered an elective in the PSHS curriculum, but not a requirement for graduation. While no decision on this is being made now, there is a resolve to move in this direction.
With that as context, the rest of the BOT (except for me and Filma Brawner, who had submitted an Execom position paper recommending withdrawal of the "second chance") voted to grant the opportunity for the 3 seniors to RE-ENROLL Math 5 and earn their PSHS diploma if they pass. (BOT members vehemently denied that parent pressure had anything to do with this sentiment.)
I had, by the way, conveyed the assessment made by [a teacher] (without mentioning the name) that these students truly deserved to fail Math 5 because they were grossly negligent and too lazy to even exert minimal effort on the subject, including their removal exam which was already practically a give-away. On this, the other BOT members responded that if that was the case, then these students are unlikely to pass the second chance being given to them anyway.
A BOT member emphasized (and corrected the wording in the draft minutes of the March 28 meeting) that this is not a MAKE-UP, as the students are already deemed failed for Math 5. They are merely being given the same chance that other high schools would grant, i.e. catch up with a back subject by RE-ENROLLING it. The previous instruction by the BOT to the school administration was to consider designing such a "take 2" course for the summer for the 3 students.
It was acknowledged by the BOT that given the short time left, these 3 students may yet end up re-enrolling Math 5 during the regular school-year, and not during the summer. Still, management was instructed to explore the possibility of doing it within the remaining summer vacation. It was also suggested that the management consider, in the interest of fairness, having the final exam to be given the 3 students drawn up and graded by the math faculty from one of the non-Diliman campuses, chosen randomly (say by lot). This was to dispel the possibility that the Diliman faculty may deliberately make the exam too difficult to defend their position.
Nonetheless, this need not stop the students from going to college (including UP), as they can easily obtain PEPT certification from DepEd (i.e. same certification that is given to out of school youth (OSY); Manny Pacquio was the most well-known case). It was reported that 2 of the 3 (...........) had already done so.
One BOT member considered it an insult that a PSHS graduate should have to take that PEPT exam designed for OSY. She argued instead that PSHS obtain authority from DepEd to issue a generic high-school completion eligibility to graduates who fulfill the minimum DepEd requirements even if they fail the more advanced subjects of PSHS, including Math 5 and other still to be determined. Someone pointed out that the DepEd high-school standard was just for a total of 36 units whereas the PSHS curriculum requires far more, at 54 units. Dr. Brawner reported that such request for authority had been made before, but DepEd had denied the request. BOT instructed them to try again, as the context may have been different before.
In the end, the rest of the BOT voted to "NOTE" the PSHS alumni position opposing the majority decision (which I requested to be explicitly indicated on the record).
"
Source: Dr. Cielito "Ciel" Habito, Chair/President, Philippine Science High School National Alumni Association
For inquires, send e-mail to: pisayforum@gmail.com
Please be informed that on 2 May 2008 the PSHS Board of Trustees (BOT) met in PSHS Central Visayas Campus in Argao, Cebu. Dr. Cielito "Ciel" Habito, the official representative of the Alumni Association in the BOT, attended the said meeting.
Below is an excerpt from a report sent by Ciel to the Alumni Association Board Members. This information is being published here in the 'Pisay Alumni Forum and Updates' blog (http://pisayforum.blogspot.com), the official blog of the PSHS Alumni Association, with the permission of Ciel:
"
The most important item on the agenda was the controversial issue on the 3 seniors in the main campus who failed their Math 5. It was affirmed, first of all, that contrary to the wording of the draft minutes of the previous (March 28) meeting, the BOT had indeed decided, not just suggested, giving a second chance to the 3 seniors concerned. The minutes were corrected to reflect this, with careful wording to reflect what I discuss further below.
I conveyed the dominant alumni position, already well-known to the BOT members (Butch Z's letter, not the position paper we had circulated, was in the meeting folder), opposing the "second chance" given these students, citing the common arguments cited in the online discussions that (1) it is deemed highly unfair to former students who never had such a second chance, (2) it compromises the high standards of the PSHS, and (3) it will be perceived as bowing to pressure from the parents who had lobbied intensely with individual BOT members and the school administration.
However, it turns out that there has been a strong sentiment in the BOT for a policy change on this matter, which had been percolating since 3 years ago. One lingering source of discomfort on the part of the BOT is that there have been no such dismissals for failure in Math 5 in the regional campuses, and board members find it awkward that students in the main campus, where admission standards are admittedly more stringent than in regional campuses, would fail to earn a PSHS diploma whereas even the weakest students coming out of the regional campuses manage to do so (passing their own Math 5 in the process).
More fundamentally, there has been an ongoing discussion in the BOT about the essentiality of calculus (Math 5) in the PSHS curriculum. It has been observed that Math 5 has been the perennial downfall of graduating seniors for many years, and this observation must be reflective of a fundamental problem. One BOT member has been persistently arguing through the years that Calculus represents an entire paradigm change in a person's math education, and requires a certain level of intellectual maturity that high school seniors have not achieved. I also confirmed that calculus had not been required in the early batches (i.e. pre-calculus math was the highest math that our batch was exposed to, but not calculus itself.) Moreover, calculus is taken up in the sophomore year for most students at UP, which again suggests that it's a bit much to expect high school seniors to have mastered it. While calculus is offered in the last year of high school in many countries abroad, these are countries with two more years in high school than we have (i.e. RP's basic education of 10 years falls short of the norm of 12 years in other countries).
In short, there has emerged through the years a prevailing sentiment in the BOT that calculus be considered an elective in the PSHS curriculum, but not a requirement for graduation. While no decision on this is being made now, there is a resolve to move in this direction.
With that as context, the rest of the BOT (except for me and Filma Brawner, who had submitted an Execom position paper recommending withdrawal of the "second chance") voted to grant the opportunity for the 3 seniors to RE-ENROLL Math 5 and earn their PSHS diploma if they pass. (BOT members vehemently denied that parent pressure had anything to do with this sentiment.)
I had, by the way, conveyed the assessment made by [a teacher] (without mentioning the name) that these students truly deserved to fail Math 5 because they were grossly negligent and too lazy to even exert minimal effort on the subject, including their removal exam which was already practically a give-away. On this, the other BOT members responded that if that was the case, then these students are unlikely to pass the second chance being given to them anyway.
A BOT member emphasized (and corrected the wording in the draft minutes of the March 28 meeting) that this is not a MAKE-UP, as the students are already deemed failed for Math 5. They are merely being given the same chance that other high schools would grant, i.e. catch up with a back subject by RE-ENROLLING it. The previous instruction by the BOT to the school administration was to consider designing such a "take 2" course for the summer for the 3 students.
It was acknowledged by the BOT that given the short time left, these 3 students may yet end up re-enrolling Math 5 during the regular school-year, and not during the summer. Still, management was instructed to explore the possibility of doing it within the remaining summer vacation. It was also suggested that the management consider, in the interest of fairness, having the final exam to be given the 3 students drawn up and graded by the math faculty from one of the non-Diliman campuses, chosen randomly (say by lot). This was to dispel the possibility that the Diliman faculty may deliberately make the exam too difficult to defend their position.
Nonetheless, this need not stop the students from going to college (including UP), as they can easily obtain PEPT certification from DepEd (i.e. same certification that is given to out of school youth (OSY); Manny Pacquio was the most well-known case). It was reported that 2 of the 3 (...........) had already done so.
One BOT member considered it an insult that a PSHS graduate should have to take that PEPT exam designed for OSY. She argued instead that PSHS obtain authority from DepEd to issue a generic high-school completion eligibility to graduates who fulfill the minimum DepEd requirements even if they fail the more advanced subjects of PSHS, including Math 5 and other still to be determined. Someone pointed out that the DepEd high-school standard was just for a total of 36 units whereas the PSHS curriculum requires far more, at 54 units. Dr. Brawner reported that such request for authority had been made before, but DepEd had denied the request. BOT instructed them to try again, as the context may have been different before.
In the end, the rest of the BOT voted to "NOTE" the PSHS alumni position opposing the majority decision (which I requested to be explicitly indicated on the record).
"
Source: Dr. Cielito "Ciel" Habito, Chair/President, Philippine Science High School National Alumni Association
For inquires, send e-mail to: pisayforum@gmail.com
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