The Phoenix Express

𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙧 𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙨 𝙍𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙖𝙨 𝙈𝙧. 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙈𝙨. 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙨 '24

Senior High School female representative Jane Camille Valdez and Grade 10 male representative Sydney Delprado won as Mr. and Ms. Intramurals on Tuesday, October 29 at Gonzalo Gatchalian National High School.

The program was hosted by Mr. Mark Reyes and was judged by Mrs. Marissa Cecilia Lara, Mr. Jay Padilla, Mr. Jay-R Apolinar, and our school principal, Mr. Gilbert Cerezo, with their criteria being 40% for presentation, 20% for projection, 20% for the question and answer, and 10% for the contestants' costumes.

“I feel a mix of excitement, gratitude, and maybe a bit of surprise kase kahit ako hindi ko naman inexpect na ako yung mananalo kase nilaro laro ko lang naman. First of all, my inspiration is my peers who showed their full support for me, especially ang senior high school department na walang sawang sumuporta sa akin kahit bago lang naman ako sa school at syempre sa mga teacher ko,” Ms. Intramurals said.

“Natutunan ko na ipakita mo lang kung sino ka, ano yung kakayahan mo, kung anong talentong meron ka dahil dito maipapakita mo sa mga manonood na kaya mo. At natutunan ko rin tumanggap ng pagkapanalo at pagkatalo dahil hindi naman yon ang first time ko in joining pageantry, so always expect the unexpected,” she added.

They were followed by Zoe Mattheu Guerrero and Sofia Drei Lavilla as 1st runners-up, Alex Isaac Putal and Maxine Morales as 2nd runners-up, DK Kyle Lopez and Stephanie Macabugwas as 3rd runners-up, and finally, Jaden John Mabangue and Gabriella Hera Barolo.

Contestants showcased their sportswear to the judges with aura and elegance; Grade 7's Sofia and Jaden showed equestrian sportswear, while Grade 8's Gabriella represented badminton; however, her partner, DK, represented racing sports. Grade 9's Stephanie and Zoe showcased baseball, Grade 10's Maxine and Sydney represented gun shooting, and the senior high school contestants both represented Arnis.

Grade 9's Stephanie and Zoe showcased baseball, Grade 10's Maxine and Sydney represented gun shooting, and the senior high school contestants both represented Arnis. The best sportswear was awarded to Sofia Drei Lavilla, grade 7, and Sydney Delprado, grade 10.

“Hindi ito pagandahan kundi paangasan,” Sir Mark said. He clarified that the competition is not a pageant but rather a friendly competition that promotes the spirit of sportsmanship as well as enhances and develops self-confidence and self-esteem.

𝐔𝐧𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐛𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢

Eight months ago, the path of an audiencing student from Grade 9 - Faith turned to meet a different side during the competitive landscape of Gonzalo Gatchalian’s Intramurals.
Jerwin Charles Mallari, 15 years old from Grade 10-Commitment, reflects upon the past: "I didn't really have any motivation as a kid, but last year a competition for Rubik's cube was announced, and that changed." It became the catalyst for his dedication; starting from scratch, he rigorously studied unraveling all sides of the cubes.

Now having mastered the Rubik's cube, Jerwin’s hands itch with unrest whenever he has time to spare. He often utilizes the well-known Cross, F2L, OLL, and PLL (CFOP method) and appreciates the beauty found in the intricacies of solving the cube. "Learning F2L is the fun part," Jerwin admits, but acknowledges the difficulty of OLL, with its daunting 57 algorithms to memorize.

The unease that accompanied the fight for the championship didn't faze Jerwin. "To be honest, I wasn't really nervous as I knew most of my competitors and we know each other well." The ties that mingled through crossed and created a supportive and friendly environment that cast doubt on hostility and allowed all competitors to focus on their final match. Jerwin claims that the key to his success was calmness, turning everything else into white noise as he concentrated solely on his cube. “It's really saddening when you have to break others' dreams or goals to achieve your own.” Jerwin grieves for his friends, whose potentials are equal to his own; nonetheless, he acknowledges that there is room for them to improve upon.

However, the path wasn't a smooth ride. Conflict arose between the STEMamazing competition and the Rubik's Cube eliminations, both scheduled for the same day, putting Jerwin in a tight spot. With his driver unable to pick him up, he felt lightheaded with anxiety. "I was panicking since I might just sacrifice one of my favorites," he reflects with a sigh. Fortunately, his science club's adviser arranged his transportation to allow him the opportunity to compete.

"I don't think I'll be competing in professional speed cube competitions," Jerwin shared. To him, Rubik's Cube is only a hobby. Despite this, he remained open to possibilities, saying, "If I improve a lot over the next few years, who knows? Maybe I can win another podium."

As Jerwin continues to explore the possibilities of the cube, his story is a testament that a small spark of curiosity can lead to an uphill of unexpected achievements. Each side has a story to tell, and the legacy of Jerwin is naught but another side of the cube.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐱 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬

The Phoenix Express, the official English school paper of Gonzalo Gatchalian National Highschool is a student-led publication that aims to inform, inspire, and represent the voice of our school. It strives to create truthful and unbiased news in the universal language of English.

The symbol Phoenix represents rebirth and the start of something new. This connects to how we perceive the news because it’s something that is given new life through the information that we receive. It also symbolizes being resilient and the ability to overcome challenges. As for the Express in our name, it symbolizes our creative ideas on how fast we can convey information to the masses.

We oath to deliver reliable sources of campus news, student achievements, and relevant issues and encourage critical thinking and engagement within the school community.