The Citizen

18/01/2025

The Citizen Newsletter (City Meet 2024 Edition) is now available!

You may scan the QR code or follow the link below:
https://bit.ly/ctznnewsletter1citymeet

16/01/2025

READY TO VLOG YOUR CLUB FAIR EXPERIENCE?

Join the Citizen's "Shoot it, Show it!" and win exciting prizes. Simply post your vlog experience or video dump on your Facebook account, including the hashtags

Don't forget to set your post's privacy setting to public. See you at the fair!

🎨: Bailey Dejaresco

23/12/2024

The Citizen's 2024 Best Shots

29/11/2024

[COLUMN]
Yeah, right!

The remedy against abrasive leaders
by John Marin

Is it high time I resign?

It is a wonder how many times such question may linger in a teacher’s mind in his lifetime. We ask; yet, taking a step closer to the exit door somehow feels more burdensome than staying— no matter how unruly and delinquent students become, how taxing the workload is, how economically unwise choosing the profession is, or mostly, how nagging our superiors get. We choose to stay, but does that mean we have to stomach how unbearable the working conditions have become?

Since I started teaching, I have heard of competent teachers quitting their jobs due to narcissistic superiors who could not take the L. Teachers are called out in student assemblies-- Kuya Wil style-- just to prove a point. What little dignity we have are stripped from us in front of a crowd whose respect is contingent on their measure of our dignity. The cherry on top is when we are explicitly encouraged to leave our posts if we feel any emotion that is not joy nor gratitude.

So, when the teacher leaves, they call him weak. Our law calls it something else— constructive dismissal. In a recent ruling in Bartolome v. Toyota Quezon Avenue, Inc., et al. penned by Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier, the Supreme Court Second Division said that constructive dismissal is committed when an employer “creates unbearable working conditions” like demotion, verbal abuse, and hostile behavior against their employees, forcing them to resign.

In other words, there is a possibility that a substantial number of teachers have been subjected to constructive dismissal with no one batting an eye. It seems like in a place with a resounding divide, it is not the voice of the oppressor that is deafening— it is the silence of the oppressed.

From where I stand, it is high time someone speaks.

[The column title “Yeah, right” is taken from an anecdote about Sidney Morgenbesser who sarcastically said “yeah, yeah” to a professor who lectured that two positives cannot make a negative. Correspondingly, this column is an answer to a superior’s request for me to write the contents of our publication’s social media page.]

23/10/2024

Swimming with the Wishes (for Class Suspensions)

Shaming students for wanting class suspensions due to typhoons has become a social media practice after director B**g Joon-ho’s Parasite gained popularity, but is this not downright hypocrisy?

There are no means to stop typhoons from rampaging the country with impacts that are often devastating, if not life-threatening. In most cases, only preventive measures can help the people survive. Hence, class suspensions are issued by the government in the event of disaster.

This year alone, classes in different parts of the country have been suspended due to the risks that go with typhoons Enteng to Kristine. While granted that some students think of these suspensions as mini vacations and the adults mock their supposed laziness, some learners— those directly affected by the typhoons— have good reasons to pray for suspensions.

One of these reasons is the extra struggle in the commute from home to school, and vice versa. In a large school like Fort Bonifacio High School, it has already been a challenge for students to chance a jeepney ride at 7pm together with all the other students, teachers, and other workers going from Guadalupe to Pateros or FTI. Racing to get a jeepney ride with umbrella on one hand while your shoes and pants soak wet is not quite a sight to behold.

Learning, amidst all the noise and distraction, is not a walk in the park either. The heart-pounding sound of thunder and the overpowering loudness of the pouring rain muffles the voice of the teachers— that and the other competing voices from the other classrooms.

Most of all, the safety of the students should be the first and foremost priority of the government and all other decision makers in times of calamities. We should not gamble the lives of students for missing a day at school. After all, is that not what the coronavirus pandemic has taught us?

Just as Benjamin Franklin said: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Article by Ace Lachica
Cartoon by John Louis Marie Yagaya

22/10/2024

Face-to-face classes are suspended in Taguig City after Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) placed National Capital Region under Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 1.

Afternoon classes at Fort Bonifacio High School will shift to alternative delivery mode.

16/10/2024

To reinforce healthier actions through regular exercise, Fort Bonifacio High School MAPEH teachers encouraged students to participate in the Nestlé Wellness Campus Dance at the school grounds on October 16, 2024, Wednesday.

The dance exercise is one of the activities in this school year's Nestlé Wellness Campus Program.

10/10/2024

[OPINION]
The People's Choice: The Rise of Celebrity Politicians
by Samantha Badajos

Many influencers and celebrities are increasingly entering the political arena, each want a seat of power. However, this is not a sign of progress, it instead raises concerns about their qualifications and motivation. The rise of celebrity politicians poses a threat to our democracy and the future of our nation.

One concern about these celebrity politicians is their lack of necessary political experience and expertise. Indeed, their fame and popularity do not automatically mean they have full understanding of laws and governance. For instance, Joseph Estrada, a former movie star, became the 13th president of the Philippines. His administration was tainted with widespread corruption and economic instability. Estrada's presidency was marked by several controversial decisions including his involvement in the jueteng-gate scandal, where he was accused of illegally accepting payoffs from various sources. Next, he was also criticized for his handling of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (M**F) conflict, which resulted in a surge of bloodshed. As a result, these incidents, combined with his extravagant lifestyle and alleged corruption, eventually contributed to his demise. This example raises doubts about the qualifications for political office of personalities with similar background. Their lack of experience has the potential to negatively impact governance.

Furthermore, the rise of celebrities in politics has lowered the standards of governance in the Philippines. This trend has created a culture where fame and popularity are more valued than experience and competence. As citizens and voters, we must think critically and choose leaders not based on their fame but based on their credibility. We must choose leaders who are equipped to govern, who are qualified, and who will prioritize the country above all else. Take, for example, Manny Pacquiao, whose controversial statements on LGBTQ+ rights and support for the death penalty highlight a lack of understanding of complex policy issues; B**g Revilla, whose involvement in the "pork barrel" scandal demonstrates a clear prioritization of personal gain over public service; and Robin Padilla, whose recent statements on marital r**e raise serious concerns about his understanding of gender equality and his commitment to protecting women's rights. We cannot afford to let our democracy be seized by those who prioritize personal gain over the well-being of our nation.

Therefore, to protect our government and the Filipino people, we need stricter rules for who can run for office. The 1987 Philippine Constitution, while outlining basic qualifications, needs to be strengthened to explicitly disqualify individuals with serious criminal charges, corruption allegations, or violations of the Code of Conduct for Public Officials from seeking public office. This would ensure that those seeking public office are held to higher standards of accountability and integrity. Additionally, we must make elections more transparent and educate voters about political issues. We need to implement voter education programs, require candidates to disclose their financial records, and provide easier access to voter registration information. These steps will empower voters to make informed decisions and strengthen our democracy.

If we let this trend continue, we risk the further decline of quality in our governance, a deepening of corruption, and a loss of faith in our constitution. The Philippines needs leaders who are committed to serving the people, not their own ambition. Are we just going to repeat the mistakes of the past? Will we fall for the same empty promises and gamble our future by entrusting it to these celebrities? The future of our nation depends on the choices we make today.

03/10/2024

To celebrate World Teachers' Day, the cohort 1 students took over their chosen teachers' classes on "Switch Day," held on October 3, 2024, Thursday.

11/09/2024

The Grade 7 teachers of Fort Bonifacio High School (FBHS) took part in a Learning Action Cell session focused on unpacking performance tasks and designing curriculum plans to implement the MATATAG K-10 curriculum on September 11, 2024, Wednesday.

The session, held in the FBHS Audio-Visual Room, was spearheaded by Cherry Rose P. Creencia, head of the English department.

Photos by: Rashid Lance Beniten (Rashiieee)

11/09/2024

Balay Dako, a restaurant in Tagaytay advertised as "pet-friendly," faced backlash after denying entry to a customer's pet aspin (Asong Pinoy). In an apology posted on its page, the restaurant cited "spacing and safety" as the reasons for their decision.

whether pet-friendly establishments should impose restrictions on specific pet sizes or breeds for reasons of spacing and safety. Is Balay Dako truly a pet-friendly establishment?

08/09/2024

A month after gymnast Carlos "Caloy" Yulo won two gold medals in Paris, the feud between him and his mother is still far from over, as it continues to resurface on the web. Tonight, whether children owe their parents for raising them.

Was Caloy in the wrong for cutting off his family, or did his mother wrong him by allegedly stealing his money? Did his mother take away his future, or did she make it?

02/09/2024

Due to the ongoing rains caused by tropical storm Enteng, Malacañang has suspended classes at all levels in Metro Manila tomorrow, September 3, 2024.

01/09/2024

Why is fact-checking important? What are the possible consequences of sharing and reacting to misinformation and disinformation? These questions are answered by The Citizen's infomercial entitled "Care to Check | Check to Care".

Watch the infomercial that won Best Cinematography in the recently concluded Sangguniang Kabataan - Western Bicutan's Suriing Kritikal Infomercial Contest.

an infomercial on fact-checking

29/05/2024

RAIN OR SHINE

Despite the weather, parents accompanied the academic excellence awardees of Fort Bonifacio High School to the Recognition Day ceremony on Wednesday, May 29, 2024.

The event, which was initially set up on the school grounds, was moved to the audio-visual room due to moderate rainfall.