JUNE - AUGUST 2007 G allery 19

Patricia Torres, 5L
HyeMin Lim, 5G 5G2

Chad Meskers, 5G Alanna Baes, 5G 5G

Yu, Chien Shih 5G Kim Soo Hyun, 5H

Trisha Gabrielle Guillermo, 5G

Anna Ysabel Gabriel, 6L Kim Soo Hyun, 5H

Krystel Marie Cerbo, 6L

Abarra, 6K
Hye Min Lim, 5G Kim, Soo Jung 5H

ArtWork by Denielle Pendilla, 6H

20F eatures JUNE - AUGUST 2007
(from p 17)
Catchy phrases, the audience were much more attentive. Moreover,
jingles and creative dance moves seemed to be a hit with them. A S Arianna Gabriella T. Faustino, 5J
It is everyday we are given a chance
stretch in the imagination could go beyond the usual getting the message
across.
Lesson# 2: Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork! M
to make a difference. Everyone can make a
difference, but we always have to start small.
You don't have to be a super hero. So I

L
I
Teamwork is very essential in life. Without this, we wouldn't have
come up with new ideas. Without the support of each other, our party
introduce to you a new way of showing
wouldn't have been successful. I remember the time when we stayed in concern for the common good…..by smiling.
school on a Saturday to work on our dance moves and banners. I'm not Sharing a bright smile will surely
really the type of person who is fond of dancing, but the moves seemed all
too easy when we were helping each other, and preparing too many a
banner turned out to be a piece of cake as well.
Lesson# 3: You can't avoid feeling down when you lose;
E
show how much you care for someone,
because smiling is something that
expresses joy. A person who receives a
But if you learn to be a good sport, it is liberating. smile from their loved one can make their
It's only natural that somebody feels bad when he loses. But we day, despite all the problems he/she
must accept that in life there are ups and downs. Sometimes you win; encountered.
sometimes you lose. If we learn to accept reality and be a good sport, we feel And I want everyone to know that the
light from within.
Three gems in a row, that my allowance cannot buy, just made me a
moment I enter the door of 5 J, in the
little bit smarter in this world. So to those who feel hesitant to join morning, I instantly wait for someone to
competitions or elections for fear of losing, fight away your fears. Look for smile or at least greet me a friendly hello.
the buried gems in your mystery cave. It's worth it. That usually puts me in a good mood. For it
reminds me that people are there for me,

TAERTERRETREAT
an enlightening experience
On our way to
Mother Spinelli
Retreat House in
Tagaytay, I can’t
may it be good times or bad. Sometimes,
smiling is very hard to do, especially when
you have problems. That's why I really
appreciate and thank those people who
Anne Camille M. Ortiz, 7B help be anxious share their smiles with me everyday. I know
about what that I can always count on them.
happens in an overnight retreat, for I have never attended one before. Keep on sharing your smile, because
But then again, my classmates and I were enjoying our trip-bonding; you never know who is falling in love with
taking pictures, eating, and endless talking which luckily took my mind your gentle and sweet smiles. And I
off the pressure. challenge you, my fellow Augustinians, to
A set of house rules were given us when we arrived and we share a simple smile to show that you truly
basically did our best to do what our retreat masters told us. I enjoyed care for someone and to make someone's
every minute of the retreat. A far cry from the idea that it is unexciting day a happy day.
and boring. We learned new things about one another. We discovered
the answers to some of our questions in mind. We looked forward to Mr. Willy Tenorio
and were even most excited about the mass. We did give our best in Sir Willy first came to CSA on June
this retreat. Pouring out our minds and hearts, we learned the 1987 to fulfill his passion for teaching. He
importance of each one of us. We learned how to be better persons for has worked here since and has now
ourselves, for others, and for God. dedicated 20 years of his professional life in
Feeling serene and truly happy after the retreat, we realized the institution.
that God is always present in our lives, in our family - both at home and Sir Willy, as we fondly call him,
in school. enjoys the company of his students. His
most memorable moment was when he
Mr. Enervon Sanchez
received his 20th year service award in
Mr. E is not just a teacher in our eyes. He is a loyal friend,
CSA last August. When asked if he will still
companion, and brother as well. It was 2001 when he began his
choose to be a teacher given a chance to
passion for teaching. I believe that it is a blessing that he found his way
change the past, his answer was a
to CSA. Mr. E says enjoys it here because of his friends and students.
resounding yes. He claims it is because he
His most memorable moment was when he met teacher Nancy, now
loves teaching and his students, and that for
Mrs. Sanchez, here in CSA.
him, ”It's like home.”
Many students, including me, look up to him. I specially MA. Qyana Chanelle A. Pelayo,5L
remember the times when he would cheer me up with his kind and witty
words . Tanay Naseeba Yoon
Teacher
Jin Madhuri, 4H
Chronicles
ArtWork by Kurt Gonzales,6L
JUNE - AUGUST 2007
Mrs. Eva Gay Libunao has been a good mentor to countless graders
who share her passion in Math and Technology. She has dedicated a
decade of service to San Agustin because her personal goals align
with the institution's goals. She cherishes the harmonious relationship
with her colleagues.
“Happiness & contentment are the keys to decades of service in CSA.”
F eatures 21
Mr. Wilfredo Tenorio maintains a buoyant personality through ebbs and
tides. Twenty-years of teaching has prompted him to search for what is
right and true, emulating the Augustinian adage: “Do what you have to do,
and do it properly.” His gentle hilarity has opened for him the world of
friendship, service and commitment.
“Autograph your work with excellence, always smile and be a friend to all.”

Mrs. Ingrid S. Nicolas has been a second mother to countless Grade
2 & 3 pupils. Her desire to teach and inspire young lives motivated her
to stay in CSA. Being an Augustinian has helped her to be strong in
facing her challenges in life, carefully maintaining a positive outlook.
“Excellence is the keyword in CSA. If you strive to give the best that
you can, you'll see yourself growing and find fulfillment in everything
you do”.
The family spirit in CSA has motivated Mrs. Cecilia Aurea F. Abando
to stay for twenty long years in this noble institution. Serving as
Guidance Coordinator for the past 14 years, she considers working in
CSA a blessing, allowing her to put family and career together.
“Love your work and do it with passion. CSA will provide you with all
the opportunities for growth and development as young professionals
and as true servants working for God's glory. Grab this opportunity.”
Ms. Anita Parro has shown a taste for excellence throughout her twenty-
five years in the Grade School as HELE teacher. She is a lady who is
always ready to lend a helping hand to co-teachers for she is skillful in
many crafts making her a good role model to all.
“Love your work, be dedicated and be committed.
Be good role models and source of happiness to all.”
Mrs. Maxima Hadarly has now been the GS Department’s Reading &
Phonics Coordinator for a decade. She takes pride in having devoted the
best years of her life in this institution. As an Augustinian, she realized that
self-worth comes from using one's gifts and sharing them to others. She
believes that any job can be done with grace, dignity, style and purpose.
“The real impact of how we feel about our job lies on our attitude.
Those who find value in their job enjoy greater sense of purpose.”

Her desire to teach and mold the youth into a total person was what
drew Mrs. Yulenia Enriquez to teach in CSA. She is currently serving
her second term as Grade 3 Head Teacher. Fondly called Niña by her
friends and colleagues in the GS department, she is the embodiment
of endless vigor and fierce commitment to her work. .
“Nurturing friendship and humbly accepting one's needs for
improvement, leads one to beautifully bloom and grow in wisdom.”
Mr. Roman Fernandez considers his twenty years in CSA as a
continuous spiritual discovery, in view of the school's strong Christian
formation among its members. The school's endeavor to provide
academic excellence to its clientele has motivated Mr. Fernandez to
be always at his best.
“Be loyal and grateful to CSA because it will always be there for you
through thick and thin.”
Ms. Belinda H. Tejada’s 3 decades of service in CSA provided her great
opportunities to grow professionally and spiritually. New challenges and
innovations make her more confident of her self and her beliefs. She
treasures the memories and experiences of the faculty's travel
escapades to explore the different parts of the country, as well as, the
journeys to solitude to explore God's presence within.
“Render service even beyond working hours without expecting anything in return,
for the rewards of serving cannot be measured as it lingers for a lifetime.”
“Time changes; and time has changed me,” quotes Mrs. Letty
Magpantay as she describes her 35th year of unwavering service to the
institution. She takes pride of the trust and concern afforded to her by her
administrators in handling vital functions on campus. Having stayed here
for many suns and moons, she is constantly overwhelmed by the genuine
friendship and family spirit among members of the community.
“Honesty and patience are values to live by in becoming a committed educator. “

Ms. Josephine Ruiz, the Grade 1 Head Teacher, has found her other Mr. Menardo Anda retired with flying colors as the GS Department’s
half in the CSA community. Her dedication and commitment to her indefatigable Coordinator of the Social Studies area for 19 fruitful years.
work complete her despite her single blessedness. As mother and His 26 years of unwavering service to CSA is a testimony of his
role model to young pupils, she nurtures them with love, care, and competence, leadership, professional training and personal values that
sensitivity. he keeps. His rewarding years of service were not only influenced by his
“Love your work and treat your pupils like your own children.” passion for excellence, but also inspired by the friendship and trust
afforded by the administration, faculty, staff and students.
“Be professional, and take pride in your work.”
“It is possible to give without loving, and truly impossible to love without giving.” - to next page
Verne Stephen M. Villegas, 7I
EarthA Wounded Mother
& Viancci Dominic M. Villegas
SALUTE
to the 29th Service Awardees
in Gratitude for Loyalty and Dedication through the years
Like a wounded mother, the world is slowly dying because of Global Warming. It has made our Mother Nature
suffer heavily. The pollution we make and the trash we throw are just some of the causes of this global crisis. Can we
afford to see our planet destroyed by our own doing?
Global Warming is caused by the improper care for our environment. Pollution from smoke in our
cars thicken the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Illegal logging and Kaingin are also some issues
that not only make this planet sick, but also make our surroundings unpleasant to look at. Our
factories produce thick smoke and release harmful chemicals to our rivers and lakes.
These irresponsible acts scourge the earth with the following effects. Flashfloods and
landslides due to illegal logging. All kinds of disease afflicting people because of the pollution.
Death and destruction of our marine ecology as it absorbs the harmful chemicals from the
factories.
Hence, we should help one another in rebuilding our forests. We should minimize the use of cars to lessen
pollution. Our factories should also have proper waste disposal. Let us recycle materials so we won’t have to burn our
garbage.
As an Augustinian, we should support the school trust: “A community of friends working
in social transformation towards the upliftment of life through the witnessing of truth,
justice, peace, and concern for God's creation.” In this way, we can restore the beauty of Mother
Nature, and make the world a better place to live in.
ArtWork by Katrina Del Rosario, 6I
22 F eatures
For twenty great years now, Fr. Manuel D. Fernandez, OSA has been
faithfully serving CSA as procurator in the Purchasing Office. He has
also served as Vice-Rector for many years. What actually motivated Fr.
Manuel to serve the CSA community is his obedience and faithfulness to
his superiors who believe in his capacity and ability to lead God's
people.
“Love God and neighbor; live together, help and console each other.
Follow the Gospel.”
JUNE - AUGUST 2007
Mr. Ernesto C. Tirado, a GS Department maintenance personnel lends his
hand to anyone who needs his service. He lauds the good administration in CSA
which encourages the camaraderie that permeates in the school community.
Accordingly, his character was molded as he respected and gained the respect
of his colleagues. He has learned to graciously accept the mistakes he
occasionally makes and to take valuable lessons from them.
“Be loyal to your work, it is an offering. Obey the authorities for they do what is best for all. Be
of service to all, especially to the school kids who ask for help. Be respectful to earn the same
respect.”

Thoughtful, passionate and loving are perhaps the best ways to
describe Mrs. Noelyn Zapa, a library clerk in the Grade School
Department. Her love for simple living and family motivated her to stay
in CSA. It is in her Augustinian family that she found what matters most,
Family Spirit. Her work in the G.S. Library has redefined her purpose in
life. Her Augustinian formation has taught her to think more of others, to
prioritize FAMILY, and to live simply.
“Anything short of victory is but a postponement of defeat.”
Mr. Reynaldo B. Acub, a maintenance personnel from the Grade
School Department, is grateful to God and to this institution for affording
his two children the best education he wanted them to have. His 20
years of service in CSA has developed his self-respect and self-
confidence. He acknowledges the people who treat him well and
treasure him as a friend and a gift from God.
“Be diligent and hardworking for this is the beacon that leads the way to a good
and prosperous life. Avoid vices and replace them with life enduring Augustinian
values.”
“For it is in service that we truly glorify the greatness of the Almighty”
“The life of the soul is the love of
God.” She lived by her words, giving
herself completely to God throughout
SALUTE
Mr. Jose S. Sobremisana brings to CSA the scenic and picturesque
beauty of his place through the artistic strokes of his hands. He is
assigned at the Media Center as an artist. His 30-year stay is as
colorful as his canvass, highlighted by love of colleagues, loyalty and
dedication to his craft, and obedience to policies. This early bird never
fails to come early to work and accomplishes every task excellently.
“Love your work, follow the school policies and be active, lend a hand in school
activities. It is what you give, not what you receive, that counts.”
Mrs. Dominga A. Abungan started at CSA in June, 1988 and
thereafter diligently did her best as a loyal member of the Augustinian
family. She values her colleagues' love, kindness and support at
times of need which made CSA her second home and refuge for 19
years. It is the same love and respect of the administrators that she
holds dear.
“Love your work; be good to all, not only to your colleagues, but to all members
of the big Augustinian family. Nurture the good relationship which would enable
you to see beyond any negative criticisms.”
continued

her life. She is particularly remembered Saints are the core of faithful service to the church; and in CSA, we commemorate their
for her devotion to the Passion of
Christ. For that reason, she is called
Clare of the Cross.
Born in 1268 of a wealthy family
in Montefalco, Italy, Clare chose a life of
self-denial. Together with her sister Joan,
they established a cloistered group of
nuns living in prayer and sacrifice. Whilst
saint.
Augustinian Holy
acts of charitable justice and dedication in the search for truth.
Faithful to this Augustinian tradition, each grade level celebrates the feast of its patron

Legrand Buan & Flora Palabrica

Born in 322 at Tagaste (now known John was born at Castel
a teenager, she made Christ her one true as Souk Ahrus), Monica was married to Proziano, Italy, at the beginning of the
love and shared in his suffering. Patricius, a pagan official in Tagaste early in fourteenth century, and he entered the
She faced great trials in her life her life. In this marriage, she bore three Augustinian Order in his early youth at
that caused her spiritual turmoil each children namely Augustine, Navigius, and Rieti. His brief life as a friar was marked
day. She doubted her faith and wondered Perpetua. by simplicity, cheerfulness, innocence,
whether God had abandoned her. It Monica lived her life in prayer and and great devotion to the community.
seemed that Christ was exacting of her patience. She was able to convert Patricius He made himself the servant of all and
the total blind thrust that He demands of into the Catholic faith, but eventually, he died expressed his fraternal love in the
all who profess to love Him. a year after. She influenced Navigius and simplest and most ordinary tasks. He
One of her trials, Perpetua to enter a religious life. In the other spent much time in prayer and always
physical illness, hand, St. Augustine was more difficult to served in the
started in a vision, convince. As she prayed for years, begging Masses of the
w h e r e G o d for the prayers of the priests, who seemingly priests of the
implanted a cross in avoided her, she did all that she could to c o m m u n i t y.
her heart. The save her son's soul. One of the priests John died at the
intense pain that consoled her. St. Ambrose a g e o f
she felt upon soon baptized Augustine in seventeen. His
receiving the cross 387. Monica died shortly ordinary yet
remained in her after her son's baptism. extraordinary life
until her death. We celebrate her is remembered
She willingly feast every August 27, a on every 2nd of
accepted her death d a y b e f o r e o u r S t . August, his feast
on August 17, 1308. Augustine's feast. day.

St. Clare of the Cross St. Monica ArtWork by Greg Dominic Andaman
Blessed John of Rieti
JUNE - AUGUST 2007
Abdul Kadir R. Faisal, 7D
R eviews 23
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
If you think that magic is merely waving a long piece of wood to make something to happen, then Harry Potter would seriously
prove you wrong. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, being the much awaited final installment of the J.K. Rowling series,
chronicles the end of the most powerful boy wizard’s saga . Luckily for the true-blood fanatics, this is all 759 pages worth of goodbye!
The book starts with the Death Eaters on their way to their hideout and Voldemort revealing his ultimate plan of defeating
Harry Potter and annihilating all muggles. Then, the scene turns to the Dursleys'. As Harry's protection at the Dursleys' home will
expire when he turns 17, the Order of the Phoenix decided to separately escort Harry and the Dursleys to safety. Despite using
Harry impostors as decoys, the real Harry was identified and attacked by Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Luckily, Harry and the
others narrowly escaped to The Burrow.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione then fended another attack by the Death Eaters during Fleur and Bill's wedding, prompting
them to go to the first safe place they could think of, number twelve Grimauld place. Here is where Ron and Hermione plot to aid
Harry in the mission Dumbledore bestowed on him; to destroy Voldemort's horcruxes and to get rid of him once and for all. Harry and
his friends face new challenges, confront magic beyond their knowledge, and discover more about Dumbledore’s past as they
struggle to hurdle this task.
This final Potter goodbye truly is the one to remember. Tackling issues that affect a teenager's life, it centers on the social
pressures that influence a young adult’s actions and fuels his thirst to prove himself, consequently molding him into what he could
become. It manifests the significance of endurance in one's life: that we must all get through life's hardships and strive through the lives Potter Covers
given us. More importantly , it shows how simple things like friendship and bravery can make a strong enough light to shine through any Harry Potter & the Deathly
darkness. Hallows book release covers

A Date in HEAVEN Wouldn't you like to Finally, the much anticipated fifth movie installment; Harry Potter and

A Date in Heaven
A Date in Heaven ones and those
meet your loved the
took
Order of the Phoenix, culled from the J. K. Rowling book series that
the world by storm, was finally released last July 12. As always,

A Date in people who

Robbin Charles M. Dagle,7C mattered to you
Harry Potter fanatics who have read the fifth book would morph into
opinionated critics after experiencing the big screen saga, offering their

HEAVEN when you die? Or perhaps, know the

reasons of your existence?
This is what Eddie, the lead
character in Mitch Albom's novel “The Five People You Meet In
Heaven”, would experience during his journey in heaven. Eddie is
a maintenance worker at Ruby Pier, an amusement park. He is
also a war veteran who fought in the Philippines during World
War II. The story begins at Ruby Pier, on his 83rd birthday.
Ironically, he dies on this very day in a ride accident, trying to
save a young girl. Then, he goes up to heaven and discovers he
would meet five people that were significant during his life.
Each of these five people provides him a short glimpse of his
past, giving reason and rhyme to all that occurred during his lifetime. Eddie
eventually learns some important lessons, finally making sense of his life.
This novel, like Albom's previous outing; the critically acclaimed
“Tuesdays with Morrie”, packs a lot of lessons to live by. Perhaps the best
realization is that everything we do here has a meaning. It stresses out that
everything is interconnected and is therefore important, a part and parcel of
our stay here on earth. Sacrifices, the book says, has to be made for the good of
other people. Other life lessons regarding loyalty and true love are also dwelt
on as Eddie meets his batch of five people.
The Five People You Meet in Heaven is a New York Times Bestseller. option if one wishes to experience the magical tale once again, seemingly because it has
The novel earned excellent reviews from different book critics around the the true twists and scoops of the fateful scarred boy's story. The continuation of the
world and had its television-movie debut in 2004.
Harry Potter &
A COMPARATIVE REVIEW
the Order of the Phoenix
Oscar A. Acopiado Jr,7C
takes on the book and movie similarities and differences.
In this outing, Harry Potter returns with a feeling of loneliness despite
being at Hogwarts once again. He fears that Voldemort is after a weapon
of some sort and is troubled by the others’’' disbelief of Voldemort's
return. In his confusion, Harry did something that could jeopardize his
stay in Hogwarts. Will forming the DA lead to his own downfall? “”
What happens to Harry? Will he ever return to Hogwarts?
The book version was released on June 21, 2003. Recently released on
July 21, 2007 was its film version, directed by David Yates and
produced by David Heyman and David Barron. Here are some of
significant differences between the book and the film. To start, It was
Marietta Edgecombe and NOT Cho Chang who told Umbridge about the
Army through the Veritaserum. Also, Albus Dumbledore escaped by
stunning everyone, not via magical bond between him and Fawkes. In
addition, characters in the book that played a significant part in the
story were removed in the movie. Included in the list are Dobby, Angelina
Johnson, and Nearly Headless Nick.
The changes made to the story as it is made to film were, more or less,
detrimental. For although it is a given that many scenes in the book would
not be included in the movie due to time boundaries, A film version loyal
to its printed original would be very much appreciated.
Harry Potter book fanatics would contend that, indeed, the book is still the better
story of the boy of magic and wizardry resumed in the 6th book, Harry Potter and the
Half-Blood Prince and ended with its final outing, the 7th and last of the book
series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which was recently released July
21, in sync with the film premiere.
Still, potter fanatics look forward to two more movie releases, hoping justice is
made manifest to the magical world they share with harry and his wizard friends.

ArtWork by Melissa Esguerra, 6K

24 R eviews JUNE - AUGUST 2007
Imagine your own town trapped inside a big glass dome, because you contaminated the lake with pig droppings
just to get free doughnuts. Now, the whole town's after you. How would you feel? Guilty and scared, I suppose. No wonder
Homer Simpson had tried to escape Springfield in the 2007 animated comedy film, The Simpsons Movie.
The film, based on the animated television series, was directed by David Silverman and produced by James L.
Brooks, Matt Groening, Al Jean, Mike Scully, and Richard Sakai. The comedy film features the band Green Day and Tom Hanks,
appearing as themselves. And Albert Brooks played the role of the antagonist, Russ Cargill.
The Film begins with Green Day performing on Lake Springfield and is killed when the polluted lake eats away their
barge, causing it to sink. At their funeral, Grandpa Simpson had a strange vision that Marge seems to understand that it may
be the downfall of Springfield. The vision eventually came true, because of Homer. This incident brings countless trials for the
Simpsons, bringing Homer and Marge's relationship to a critical point, where Marge, together with Lisa, Bart, and Maggie, run
away from Homer and Alaska to save Springfield.
With the movie's bizarre humor about Schwarzenegger being president, Homer naming a pig “Spider Pig” and “Harry Plopper”, and Tom Hanks
in a pointless commercial, the movie is sure to bring smiles in each and everyone who watches it. However, this rated PG 13 movie shows unsuitable
scenes for children not accompanied by a parent or an adult. Audrey Bianca P. Navia, 7C
“Autobots, roll out!” Optimus A century later, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf), a normal
Prime's catchy catch phrase. Fans of high school student bought his very first car. Then he discovers it
the animated Transformers series to be Bumblebee, an Autobot sent as a scout to search for the
would never forget these words. Allsparks. Not before long, Optimus and his gang arrived on
The Transformers was earth to bring an end to their conflict with the Decepticons.
originally from a comic series that Soon after, Sam and his girlfriend Mikaela (Megan Fox)
sold millions throughout the globe then finds themselves in the middle of a grand battle between
before becoming an animated series the Autobots and the Decepticons, stretching from Hoover Dam
that adult and kids fancy until today. all the way to Los Angeles.
Award winning We all know that this film's purpose is for
director Mr. Bay, of entertainment alone, but behind the pictures are
Armageddon and Pearl Harbor fame, messages that we humans can learn from. This
surely did a fantastic job choosing the movie inspires us to pursue our dreams and to
right mix of actors, arranging the scenes fight for what we believe. There may be some
nicely, and placing an awesome touch of “Decepticons” in our lives, but let us not forget
special effects. This movie is truly a that there is always a way to defeat them.
masterpiece. Overall, I would rate
Legrand H. Buan 7C Transformers a six out of five
The Transformers era started
with a war that waged between the Autobots ,led by stars. Though it isn't legal to overrate, I
Optimus Prime, and the devious Decepticons, commanded honestly believe that it is worth buying DVDs to
by Megatron, for control over the Allspark, a watch over and over again. It is a must-see for
mystical source of great power that gave them life. all the original Transformers series fans and
This resulted to the destruction of their planet. The to all those who are seeking for a remarkable
Allsparks was soon discovered on earth. action sci-fi movie. Transformers is truly
without doubt, “More Than Meets the Eye”.
Tanya Chua
What would you do if you suddenly discovered that your favorite food was actually cooked by a rat?
What would you think of someone who befriends these furry creatures of the sewers?
Ratatouille (pronounced as rat-a-too-ee), is the most recent film produced by Pixar and distributed by
Walt Disney Pictures. The film stars Remy (Patton Oswalt), a rat who lives in a French farmhouse resided by
an eccentric, old woman.
Eventually, Remy was in solitude as he notices himself in Paris. There, he meets Linguini (Lou Romano) who
seemingly ruined the reputation of such a famed restaurant because he had no culinary talent.
The plot centers itself on Linguini's self-discovery though romance with Collette, the only female chef in the
crew, and extraordinary help from humble origins. The movie itself has a countless number of unexpected
twists and turns. Also, the way these animators picture the wild and colorful imagination of the writer truly gives justice to all the characters
with remarkable special effects and spectacular dubbings.
It is therefore, another film for the whole family to enjoy, owing to its wholesome humor and value-laden concept applicable to real life. The
message of the film states that we can change the world if we decide to; based on Remy's lines “Change is nature… and it starts when we
decide.” It also emphasizes another line from him, “We are who we are.” In other words, it is good to be simple, but there is always room for
improvement. Read a book or watched a film lately? Share us your thoughts!!! Be a book and movie critic!!!
email your reviews to csa_mirror07@yahoo.com
ArtWork by Angelica Marie Sy, 6K
JUNE - AUGUST 2007 S cience 25

Think of a shark that is feasting
on whales, making them its daily diet
and having gigantic razor-sharp teeth.
Think it's only a myth? Then, think
again!
SquidZilla
Have you ever imagined
encountering strange creatures, like
the dodo or the saber-tooth tiger, on
your way home from school? Picture a
cross between Dumbo and Cousin It,
as big as a house and with pelt large

MEGALODON
Carcharodon
John Carlos C. Sioson, 7D
From fossil teeth and a few
fossil vertebrae, scientist had
discovered a sea predator whose size
is so remarkable that a full-grown
driver seems to be an ant when
compared to it. Thus, they named it
Carcharodon Megalodon, or simply:
Megalodon.
Megalodon has many
characteristics that is the same as the
great white shark’s, only it is a number
of times bigger than the great white.
Weighing about 30 tons and
measuring a whopping 52 ft. long, it
definitely deserves the name.
The Yangtze River dolphin is now almost certainly
extinct, making it the first dolphin that humans drove to
extinction, scientists have now concluded after an
intense search for the endangered species.
enough to carpet your whole home.
Sounds impossible? You may yet see
this animal roaming your
neighborhood!
A giant 23,000 year old
mammoth-icicle was unearthed by
scientists under the permafrost in
Siberia. The woolly was flown to a
Russian laboratory in the city of
Khatanga. It will be defrosted and
studied by a group of scientists
specializing in Cryogenetics, the
science of using frozen genetic
materal. If they are able to get an intact
cell nucleus, woolly might be cloned.
The cell nucleus will be implanted in a
surrogate mother. Woolly jr. would then
be half-mammoth and half elephant.
But eventually, through selective
breeding, you may have your very own
friendly neighborhood woolly!
Mark Gabriel D. Ordonez, 7C
If you thought that massive and
menacing squids only appear in undersea
adventure movies and stories, destroying
ships and pulling them down to their doom.
Well, past and recent discoveries prove not.
These eight-legged invertebrates,
considered the largest in the world, are
members of Cephalopoda, which includes
the octopus, nautilus and the extinct
ammonite species. For the past years, these
squids have been washing up dead on
shores around the world, still amazing
scientists and many people because of its
great size.
In Tasmania, Australia, last July of
2007, a giant squid washed up dead on
Tasmania's west coast was one of the
biggest ever found, weighing in at 250
kilograms(550 pounds), measuring 8
meters(26.2 feet), and has a cross section as
big as a truck tire and longer than a station
wagon. “It is an intriguing and puzzling
discovery”, said David Pemberton, curator of
the Tasmanian Museum. The specimen may
be preserved to gather more information on

The loss also represents the first global extinction of
megafaunaany creature larger than about 200 pounds
(100 kilograms)for more than 50 years, since the
disappearance of the Caribbean monk seal (Monachus
tropicalis).
The Yangtze River dolphin or baiji (Lipotes vexillifer) of
China has long been recognized as one of the world's
most rare and threatened mammal species.
"It's a relic species, more than 20 million years old, that
persisted through the most amazing kinds of changes in
the planet," said marine biologist Barbara Taylor at the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
Fisheries Service. "It's been here longer than the Andes
Mountains have been on Earth."
In 1999, the surviving baiji population was estimated to
be as low as just 13 dolphins, compared to 400 known
baiji in 1981. The last confirmed glimpse of a baiji was
documented by a photo taken in 2002, although
unverified sightings were reported as recently as
2006.
Mammoth
its biology and that it could be displayed
The publicly in the museum.
Scientists and experts found several
characteristics that they have not
encountered before, including long, thin
flaps of muscle attached to each of the
squid's eight arms, They also found out that
snruteR the squid was full of ammonia to aid
buoyancy, and would not be recommended
Flora Anne R. Palabrica, 7C as calamari, because of it's unpleasant taste.
So even though the scientists wanted to,
An international team of scientists conducted an they could not have made a feast of the
intense six-week search for the dolphin in two squid.
research vessels during November and December
2006, covering the entire known range of the baiji in
the 1,037-mile (1,669-kilometer) main channel of the
Yangtze River. The researchers and their
instruments failed to see or hear any evidence that
the dolphin survives.
"It was a surprise to everyone on the expedition that cetacean, that is, dolphin, porpoise or whale to go
extinct because of humans.
we didn't have any sightings at all, that the extinction
just happened so The species was probably driven to extinction by
quickly," Taylor harmful fishing practices that were not even devised
recalled. to harm the dolphins, such as the use of gill nets,

Dolphin Species Goes Extinct Due to Humans This would make

the baiji the first
rolling hooks or electrical stunning. The findings are
detailed Aug. 7 in the journal Biology Letters.
- mod
ArtWork by Greg Dominic Andaman, 6J
26S cience JUNE - AUGUST 2007

Congo breeds new species

Six new species,
including a bat and
two frogs, have
been discovered by
Coral Reefs Disappearing Faster Than Thought
Coral reefs in the central and western Pacific are disappearing twice as fast as rainforests are on
land, faster than was previously thought, a new study says.
a wildlife group in Democratic Republic of the Congo in an
The reefs in this region, called the Indo-Pacific, are disappearing at a rate of 1 percent per year,
eastern area off limits to scientists for decades because of
nearly 600 square miles of reef have disappeared per year since the late 1960s, researchers found.
violence.
"We have already lost half of the world's reef-building corals," said study team leader John Bruno of
The New York-based Wildlife Conservation
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Society said researchers conducted a
The Indo-Pacific contains 75 % of the world's coral reefs, including Australia's Great Barrier Reef,
survey of a remote forested region just
the largest single structure built by living organisms (it can be seen from space), and has the
west of Lake Tanganyika between January
highest coral diversity in the world.
and March.
Bruno and his colleagues compiled and analyzed a database of 6,000 quantitative surveys of reefs
"If we can find six new species in such a short period it makes
performed between 1968 and 2004 on more than 2,600 Indo-Pacific coral reefs.
you wonder what else is out there," said researcher Andrew
The surveys tallied coral cover, which is a measure of the density of living corals in a specific part of
Plumptre.
the ocean floor. Bruno's study found that coral cover had decreased from 40 percent in the early
The new species discovered were a bat, a rodent, two shrews
1980s to about 20 percent in 2003.
and two frogs.
The pattern of loss across the entire study area indicates that coral loss is a global phenomenon,
The statement said the forest was extremely rich in biodiversity,
likely brought on by large-scale stressors such as climate change, coral disease, predators,
containing a large number of chimpanzees, buffalo, elephants,
nutrient pollution and over fishing.
leopards and monkeys.
While reefs cover less than 1 percent of the ocean globally, they are an integral part of coastal
Around 10 percent of the plant samples collected have yet to be
communities because of their high biodiversity and the economic benefits they provide in tourism
identified.
and protection of coastal land from storms.
"Given the findings with the vertebrates, it is likely that some of
"We can do a far better job of developing
the plants will represent new species as well," said Ben Kirunda
technologies and implementing smart policies
of the group's botanical team.
that will offset climate change," Bruno said. "We
The researchers said they met village leaders who were mostly
can also work on mitigating the effects of other
supportive of making the region a protected area.
stressors to corals including nutrient pollution
"Since few people live there, it would be relatively easy to create
and destructive fishing practices." - mod
a park while supporting the livelihoods of people who live in the
landscape," said James Deutsch, director of the Wildlife
Conservation Society's Africa Program. - mod

Life on Other PlanetsAngelo S. Fernandez, 6A

People have always wondered if there are any Extra
Terrestrials or a planet like earth where life can flourish. Apparently, since the

New Bat Species Discovered universe is so vast, anything could be out there. For the past decades [or maybe
even centuries], NASA has been tracking down for any life inhabited planets, and
ET's [famously called “aliens”]. Over these years, they found countless numbers of
Tanya Chua
in the Philippines planets, only to be disappointed that there is no life on it, or to find alien looking
corpses that were just burnt test dummies or UFOs that are just plates and dishes
The Philippines is a country rich in suspended on a rope.
wildlife, with its many forest areas filled with This craze of ET's started when NASA received a message saying “Wow”.
Ever since, they have tried to track them. In the year 2005, NASA has sent one or two
unique animals. Just recently, a new species
probes to mars to find evidence that life once thrived there. In the year 2006, they
of flying fox or fruit bat has been discovered made theories that other in far galaxies, planets were just gigantic gas planets that
last August on an island south of Manila, destroyed rocky planets, rocky planets like earth. However, in Europa, an icy moon
reported September 17, 2007. of Jupiter, may contain water from below its icy crust, and may support life. It was
It was named the Mindoro Stripe- quite astonishing to know that there was water on one of Jupiter's moons. It was
exciting for scientists, to know that there may be a possibility that life could thrive
Faced Fruit Bat, with the scientific name
there. As the feats of engineering go beyond our solar system, we may even stumble
Styloctenium minorensis, for its unusual upon a planet like earth, a planet which can support life itself, a planet of this so
facial features. It can be - next page- called undiscovered life.

ArtWork by Carlo Luigi Ocampo, 6K

JUNE - AUGUST 2007 S cience 27
DINO
- from p 26
distinguished from other
flash species of bats with its
multi-cusped lower and
The smallest dinosaur
could reach speeds of upper canine teeth, orange
nearly 40 mph (64 kph) color, a black beard, and
and even the lumbering three white stripes on its
Tyrannosaurus rex would face.
have been able to outrun The bat was
most modern-day discovered by accident when it was caught in a net set by
sportsmen, recent the researchers. Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim, Director of
research claims. the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the
Scientists using computer models calculated the top Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said
speeds for five meat-eating dinosaurs in a study they say that the new bat species was found by Filipino and
can also illustrate how animals cope with climate change foreign scientists on Mt. Siburan in Sablayan, Mindoro
and extinction. Occidental, in February last year. These scientists
The velociraptor, whose speed and ferocity was brought the bat to the National History Museum of the
highlighted in the film "Jurassic Park," reached 24 mph University of Kansas in the United States to verify if it was
while the T-rex could muster speeds of up to 18 mph, the a new species. Jacob Esselstyn, an American scientist,
study published in the Royal Society's Biological Sciences confirmed only this September that not only was it a new
showed. species but also one that can be found only in the
"Our research, which used the minimum leg-muscle mass Philippines. The discovery was a result of joint research
T-rex required for movement, suggests that while not between the University of Kansas' Biodiversity Research
incredibly fast, this carnivore was certainly capable of Center and a team from the Comparative Biogeography
running and would have little difficulty in chasing down and Conservation of Philippine Vertebrates. Now, the
footballer David Beckham, for instance," said Phil Philippines has a total of 74 bat species, with 26 unique in
Manning, a paleontologist at the University of Manchester, the country. “It is still not clear whether the stripe-faced
who worked on the study. bat is found only on Mt. Siburan or also in other pats of
The smallest dinosaur -- the Compsognathus -- could run Mindoro,” Lim stated. She also added, “The number of
nearly 40 mph, about 5 mph faster than the computer's bats of the said species is also unidentified at the
estimate for the fastest living animal on two legs, the moment.”
ostrich. 42 species of native terrestrial mammals found in
A top human sprinter can reach a speed of about 25 mph. Mindoro, eight are actually endemic (confined to a certain
The researchers used a computer model to calculate the region) to the province. “With the discovery of the stripe-
running speeds of the five dinosaurs that varied in size faced fruit bat, it provides us more scientific basis to
from the 3-kg (6.6 pound) Compsognathus to a six-tonne establish more comprehensive conservation programs
Tyrannosaurus. for Mindoro and not just focused on the tamaraw,” she
Research found that most of the giant lizards are capable said.
of running, data that could help a lot in understanding how Materials:
these ancient animals coped up with their changing - 2 balloons
environment. - 2 strings (30cm each)
“Knowing how these animals coped over the past millions - Metric Tape Measure
of years will give us clues to what is going to happen over - Wool Cloth
the next thousand years," he said. "That is why there has - Plastic Wrap
been more recent interest in biology of these animals." Procedure:
- mod 1.Blow up the two balloons.
2.Hold the strings so that the balloons hang 10 cm apart

Is it REAL?
John Carlos C. Sioson,7D
3.Rub each balloon with wool cotton.
4.Repeat step three but use plastic wraps.
5.Record the results.
Can two balloons stick on each other?
Try this activity and try to figure out how! Try it and try to see if you made the experiment a
success or not!
ArtWork by Ken Barry Tan, 6I
C
28 omics JUNE - AUGUST 2007

Technology
Advancements

advancements

SCREW UP Tammy De Roca, 5D

A DIFFICULT ONE Ma. Celine M. Larracas

SELF-PROCLAIMED Tammy De Roca, 5D

PRETTY DANGEROUS Ma. Celine M. Larracas

HEROES CSA STYLE Luigi Abcede, 5D

GOT GOOD HANDS?

GOT A SENSE OF HUMOR?

CARTOON FOR US
Be an AM cartoonist!!!
Send your scanned works to

csa_mirror07@yahoo.com
ArtWork by Tammy De Roca, 6I