Don Bosco Makati JHS - The Bosconian Journal (2026)

25/09/2025

SPORTS | Bosconians and Teachers Compete in Juan For The Books 2025

🖋️ Alfonso Ramos

Bosconians and teachers from the High School Department faced off in the Juan For The Books event on September 24 in the afternoon, as part of the Teacher’s Month Celebration organized by the JHS Student Council and SHS Student Government.

The event featured a variety of sports across different venues: basketball on the Blue Court, volleyball on the Green Court, badminton and pickleball inside the Wooden Gym, and chess in the High School Library.

In basketball, the teachers controlled the game early and led for most of the match. However, the Bosconians mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter. With momentum on their side, the students sealed the win, 82-80.

On the volleyball court, the students started strong, sweeping the first set, 25–10. The teachers answered in the second with a close 25–23 win. The students responded by taking the third set, 25–18, and clinching the fourth, 16–14, to secure a 3–1 victory.

In badminton, the students delivered a strong performance, defeating the teachers in straight sets, 21–18.

In pickleball, the students also prevailed, ultimately securing the final point to close out their win.

In chess, the lone champion was Sir Marlowe Ingles, Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Innovation, who outplayed the students and finished with a flawless 4–0 record.

Bosconians and their teachers displayed outstanding teamwork and sportsmanship, making the event not only competitive but also a memorable celebration of unity between students and teachers.

📷
Jj Angeles, Nathan Perez, Inaro De Leon, Xian Villaluz, Gab Cabanlong, and William Handig

25/09/2025

Characters’ Corner Officially Opens
by: JJ Angeles

The Student Council and Student Government officially opened the Characters’ Lounge, a special space dedicated to our beloved teachers today, Sept 25.

The lounge will be open until next week during every recess and lunch break, giving teachers the chance to unwind and enjoy a well-deserved rest.

Inside, they can sing karaoke, share food, and relax in a welcoming environment prepared especially for them.

Photos from: JJ Angeles and Robert Chu

22/09/2025

OPINION | Bed Weather Is Not for Everyone

When it rains hard, I often just want to stay in bed, drink something warm, and watch a good Netflix series. For me, rain feels calming, like the world is slowing down for a moment. But I realized not everyone feels the same way.

In the Philippines, heavy rain often means flooding, damaged homes, and even lives lost. What feels peaceful to me can be a source of fear and pain for others. I’ve always loved the rain, but now I feel guilty about it sometimes. While I enjoy the sound of raindrops on the roof, I know that other people are struggling to save their belongings or looking for a safe place to stay. I imagine families wading through deep water, parents carrying children, and houses being destroyed by floods.

What makes it even sadder is that many of these situations could have been prevented if flood control projects were done properly. Instead, corruption keeps funds from being used the way they should, leaving drainage systems broken and canals clogged. For some, rain is rest. For others, it is disaster made worse by dishonesty.

The sad truth is that flooding in the Philippines is not just caused by nature. Every year, the government spends money on flood control projects, but many of them are left unfinished or done poorly. The money that should help communities often goes into the pockets of corrupt officials who treat public funds like personal property.

Politicians make big promises during campaigns, showing off blueprints and groundbreaking ceremonies, but once elected, they forget their words and leave people to suffer. It becomes a cycle where voters are deceived with false hope, only to be scammed again when another budget is misused.

This makes the rain even heavier to think about, because the suffering it brings could have been prevented if leaders truly cared about the people they serve.

Now when I hear the rain, I still feel calm, but I also think of the struggles it brings to others. Loving the rain for me now means being more aware and more empathetic.

It means asking why so many Filipinos continue to suffer and calling for real solutions instead of empty promises. Rain should be something everyone can enjoy, not something that puts lives in danger. Until that happens, my love for rain will always feel bittersweet.

Snapshots from Yesterday's Luneta and EDSA Anti-Corruption Mobilization.

Photos: Nine Fangki

Disclaimer: Nine participated in the march under the guidance of some adults and friends. His decision to join was made of his own free will.

21/09/2025

Placards Take the Spotlight in Trillion-Peso March at EDSA

The rain poured, but the people kept marching. Thousands joined the Trillion-Peso March with placards that carried strong messages, some serious and others witty, today, September 21, 2025, along Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).

Some members of the Salesian community and DB Makati High School Department joined the protest, calling for accountability after having a Mass at DB Mandaluyong earlier in the day.

From straightforward demands to humorous wordplay, the placards showed both anger and creativity, reminding leaders that the people’s voices cannot be ignored.

21/09/2025

FEATURE | Films as Mirrors of Social Reality
By: Kerbi Dela Peña

History is not only written in books; it also comes alive through films. They do not just tell us what happened in the past, but also let us feel what it was like to live during those times.

Films are works of art, yet they also reflect the values and beliefs of the people who create them. They don’t just show events, they allow us to feel emotions, imagine possibilities, and see life from different perspectives. Even when films are fictional, whether dystopian, dramatic, or mysterious, they still carry messages that mirror real-life struggles and experiences.

Through these stories, films spark something within us: a sense of political freedom, creative passion, and awareness of hidden realities in society. They challenge us to think critically, reflect on ourselves, and recognize the influence of media on our choices and worldviews.

Films hold great power, but we are not powerless. We have the freedom to engage with them consciously, to learn from them, and not let them control us.

Film is also a way to exercise free speech, giving us the chance to express ideas and emotions that inspire change. They encourage us to see the world differently and to reimagine what is possible.

In many ways, every film is a time capsule, waiting to be discovered by future activists and artists. And even when a film becomes part of the past, it never loses its power to move, inspire, and challenge us.

Here are some Martial Law-related films that bring to life the stories, struggles, and voices of those who endured that dark chapter in Philippine history.

21/09/2025

TODAY in HISTORY | 53 Years After Martial Law: A Call to Remember and Resist

by: Alfonso Ramos

53 years ago, on September 21, 1972, former President Ferdinand Marcos signed Proclamation No. 1081, placing the Philippines under Martial Law. He claimed it was to protect the country from the communist movement, the Moro separatists in Mindanao, and an alleged ambush on Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile. In reality, it became a way for Marcos to take full control of the government and rule as a dictator.

Congress was closed, media outlets were shut down, opposition leaders like Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and Jose W. Diokno were arrested, and curfews were imposed nationwide. The military became enforcers of the regime, and people could be imprisoned without charges or trial simply for being suspected critics.

The situation worsened in the following years. Students, journalists, and activists were jailed, tortured, or made to disappear. Amnesty International reported 70,000 people imprisoned, 34,000 tortured, and 3,240 killed. The press was silenced, with only state-run media allowed to operate, spreading propaganda that the country was progressing, when in truth, Filipinos were suffering.

Marcos extended his rule beyond the constitutional limit, using infrastructure projects to create an illusion of progress. But behind the grand roads and buildings, the country faced massive foreign debt, corruption, unemployment, inflation, and deep inequality. The wealth and power stayed with a few, while ordinary Filipinos bore the hardships.

When Martial Law was “lifted” in 1981, little changed. It was seen as a political move for Pope John Paul II’s visit, not a real return to democracy. Still, resistance grew. Underground newspapers exposed abuses, protests spread, and religious leaders like Jaime Cardinal Sin raised their voices. The assassination of Ninoy Aquino in 1983 became the turning point, sparking nationwide outrage and uniting Filipinos.

This led to the People Power Revolution in February 1986. Millions gathered at EDSA, protecting defecting military leaders and demanding change. On February 25, Marcos fled the country, ending his two-decade rule, and Cory Aquino became President.

Today, 53 years later, we must continue the fight for what is right, for justice, and for accountability. The freedoms we now have were won through the courage and sacrifices of many, and it is our duty to protect them. Let us not be afraid to speak up against corruption, abuse, and injustice. Let us use our voices and actions to ensure that power always remains in the hands of the people.

20/09/2025

NEWS | DB Makati EPC Joins International Coastal Cleanup at SM by the Bay

The Educative Pastoral Community (EPC) of Don Bosco Makati joined the International Coastal Cleanup at SM by the Bay on Sept. 20, a cleanup activity organized by SM Cares.

Bosconians and EPC members teamed up to collect trash along the coastline. The garbage was weighed and recorded to know how much and what kinds of waste were gathered. This not only cleaned the area but also helped raise awareness about caring for the environment.

Volunteers were supported by sponsors who provided water stations and handwashing areas, ensuring that everyone stayed safe, refreshed, and energized while working under the sun.

The International Coastal Cleanup is a global event held every September that encourages people to help take care of the ocean and marine life.

17/09/2025

Bosconian Journal Welcomes Its New Editorial Board for SY 2025–2026

After weeks of editorial board examinations, which included news writing, copyreading and headline writing, and photo captioning, the Bosconian Journal has finally chosen its new leaders for this school year.

Claudnine Fangki of 10-4 Caravario was named the new Editor-in-Chief, earning the trust and recommendation of the screening committee.

Editorial Board:

EIC: ClaudNine Fangki
Associate Editor: Juan Gabriel Cabanlong
Managing Editor: Cyril Kimi Secretario
Assistant Managing Editor: Inaro De Leon

News Editor: Alfonso Ramos
Features Editor: Rhenzie Dela Peña
Sports Editor: William Handig
Copyreader: Xian Villaluz

Chief Photojournalist: JJ Angeles

School Paper Adviser/Animator:
Mr. Dominic Kean Calavia

14/09/2025

Bosconians Take Learning Journey in Cavite
✍🏻Gabriel Cabanlong

Grade 7 Bosconians, alongside their advisers, co-advisers, and fellow teachers, gathered at the Torres Farm Hotel and Resort in Naic, Cavite, last September 12, 2025, for their learning journey.

The event involved activities such as team building, tree planting, and water activities. Alongside the guidance of their teachers, students gained sportsmanship, engagement with one another, and camaraderie.

They also learned how to work together, support one another, and develop one another’s confidence. During the team building, Grade 7 – Kowalski stood out as the Champion.

The learning journey concluded with students bringing home lessons, smiles, stronger bonds, and memories that will last.

Photos from their respective class advisers.

08/09/2025

Fr. Cyril Delivers Homily about the Gift of Mary

✍️William Handig
🎨📸 Nine Fangki

Today, September 8, at the Savio Dome, Fr. Cyril delivered his homily to the High School Department about Mama Mary as a Gift of God and a Gift for God. He also reminded the students that they too are gifts, because they are created by God and they live for Him.

Fr. Cyril explained that Mary accepted her role as the Mother of Jesus with full trust.

He encouraged the students to take her as a model by being resilient and faithful, showing that they can also be a gift of God.

He also emphasized that Mary is a role model who served God and inspired others. Like her, students are called to be loving, helpful, and to be a gift for God to their family and friends.

06/09/2025

LOCK IN TIME! ARE YOU READY FOR THE FIRST REGULAR TERM EXAM?

Heads up, Bosconians! Our term exams are happening this Monday and Tuesday, September 8–9. Let’s make sure to study well, sleep early, and bring everything we need for the test. Don’t stress too much; just do your best and remember that all our hard work will pay off in the end.

06/09/2025

LITERARY | An Open Letter For My Teachers
by: Alfonso Ramos

Whenever I meet new teachers, the first thought that comes to my mind is, “Terror teacher kaya siya?” It’s no secret that my classmates and I whisper to one another stories passed on by upper batches. Some say this teacher is strict, another gives random quizzes, while others assign a pile of schoolwork. At first, those stories made me feel nervous, as if I had to be ready to pull all-nighters just to meet deadlines and survive the week.

But as time went on, I realized that teachers should not be defined by how strict or lenient they are, but by the effort they put into shaping us to become upright citizens. Behind every lesson, exam, and even scolding is someone who is willing to dedicate their time, energy, and patience just so we can receive a good education.

I once had a teacher who reminded us that our parents work hard just to pay for our tuition. At first, it felt like another sermon, a long talk we usually had to sit through when we did something wrong. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was a reminder of the sacrifices being made, not just by our parents but by our teachers as well. It wasn’t meant to make us feel guilty, but to help us value the privilege that not everyone has.

The lessons made me realize that teaching goes beyond the classroom. It’s not just about ensuring that we get good grades, but about preparing us for the challenges we will face in the real world. The patience you show us, even when we don’t deserve it, speaks volumes. Every late submission, every noisy class, every time we took shortcuts, you were always there, reminding us, correcting us, and sometimes scolding us. And while we might have been frustrated at the time, those moments are proof of how much you care. Every time you stay up late to check our papers, every lesson plan you carefully prepare, and still standing in front of us with energy and patience, you give so much of yourself so that we can become the best versions of ourselves.

You don’t just teach us subjects; you teach us values. In so many ways, you are our second parents, guiding us, disciplining us when we mess up, and cheering us on amidst our achievements. Just like our parents at home, you want nothing but the best for us.

So, I simply want to say thank you, not just for the knowledge you have shared, but for the patience, sacrifices, and care you have given to each of us. Thank you for believing in us when we don’t believe in ourselves. Thank you for pushing us to do better. And most of all, thank you for being there every step of the way.

Happy Teachers’ Month!

Don Bosco Makati JHS - The Bosconian Journal

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