Zamboanga del Sur National High School-English Department

𝐃𝐄𝐅𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐒: 𝐙𝐒𝐍𝐇𝐒 ‘𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬’ 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝟑-𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥, 𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬

SINDANGAN, ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, March 7 — True excellence is often forged in the hottest fires.

𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧, The Reflections, the official secondary English student publication of Zamboanga del Sur National High School (ZSNHS), emerged as the Overall Champion in the school paper category during the 2026 Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC).

The victory is a monumental feat of "triple crown" dominance, as the publication outperformed approximately 90 other school papers representing various divisions across the Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX).

However, behind the glossy pages and the haul of trophies lies a six-month odyssey defined by physical collapse, academic friction, and an unyielding refusal to settle for "good enough".

Commanding the Field

The road to the 2026 title was paved with a sweep of the major sectional categories. The Reflections demonstrated a balanced mastery of both content and aesthetics, securing top spots that solidified its regional lead:

| News Section - 🏆 1st Place
| Layout and Page Design - 🏆 1st Place
| Feature Section - 🥈 2nd Place
| Science and Technology - 🥈 2nd Place
| Editorial Section - 4th Place
| Sports Section - 6th Place

Oxygenated Grit

The campaign nearly faltered at its most critical juncture when School Paper Adviser (SPA) Dr. Bainalong S. Engcang faced a life-threatening health crisis.

Battling severe cough and asthma, Dr. Engcang chose to prioritize the publication's completion over her own recovery, leading to a six-day hospitalization.

In a moment of pure grit that has since become legendary among her staff, Dr. Engcang while still dependent on supplemental oxygen in her hospital bed briefly removed her mask to resolve a technical production issue that threatened the paper’s deadline.

"I won't settle for less," Dr. Engcang stated, reflecting on her coaching philosophy. "When I see my writers in a state of tiredness, I don't see exhaustion, I see a capability to be even better. That is why I push them."

Academic "Crossfire"

The struggle wasn't limited to the hospital ward, the "campus scribes" themselves faced an uphill battle within their own classrooms.

Despite official guidelines signed by school principals to excuse journalists during the production phase, many teachers refused to grant concessions.

The writers reported receiving lower grades and being forced to comply with a mountain of "stacked" quizzes and activities simultaneously with their editorial duties.

The team was effectively fighting a two-front war: one for regional journalistic glory and another for their own academic standing.

Ormoc Bound

The 3-peat victory serves as a testament to the "Reflections" of the students' charactersproving that the highest quality of journalism often comes from those who refuse to break under pressure.

With the regional trophy secured, ZSNHS is now set to represent the Zamboanga Peninsula on the national stage.

The Reflections will advance to the 2026 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) in Ormoc City, Leyte, scheduled for April 13-17.

Deep gratitude to our very dedicated SPA, Dr. Bainalong S. Engcang, whose unwavering support and passion continue to guide us in our journalistic journey. Your commitment in journalism really shape and help young writers to be known.

To our English Department, led by Dr. Mary Grace V. Fuerzas, thank you for nurturing our love for journalism and always having in our back.

To our ever-supportive parents, thank you for supporting your children in all ways you can. Your encouragement fuels our drive to create and inspire

To our beloved Zamboanga del Sur National High School, our home and foundation.

To our esteemed principals, Dr. Fe A. Bibanco and Dr. Valeriano M. Barte, your trust guidance and lasting support allow us to dream and achieve.

Grab yours now!

Grab your shots now!

𝔈𝔫𝔤𝔩𝔦𝔰𝔥 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙙𝙚 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘡𝘚𝘕𝘏𝘚, #𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙁𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝘪𝘴 𝓽𝓻𝓾𝓵𝔂 𝓯𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓿𝓮. 🎭🎊🪩✨

𝙶𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝟿 𝚂𝚙𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚗 𝙿𝚘𝚎𝚝𝚛𝚢: 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚅𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝙱𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔 𝚂𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎.📝✨

T𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘗𝘰𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 9 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘶𝘮 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘩, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴. As one of the most anticipated highlights of the festival, the event brought the contest venue to life with heartfelt performances that blended rhythm, storytelling, and powerful delivery.

Five participants of the curriculum captivated the audience with original compositions that explored theme "𝓗𝓾𝓰𝓸𝓽 𝓲𝓷 𝓛𝓲𝓯𝓮". Each performance was marked by strong vocal expression, dramatic presence, and meaningful interpretation, reflecting the students’ growing mastery of literary artistry and spoken word techniques. During their delivery, the atmosphere was filled with emotion—sometimes silent with reflection, sometimes roaring with applause—as each poet delivered their truth with confidence and passion.

The smooth and organized flow of the activity was made possible through the collective efforts of the 𝒢𝓇𝒶𝒹𝑒 𝟫 𝐸𝓃𝑔𝓁𝒾𝓈𝒽 𝒟𝑒𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑒𝒶𝒸𝒽𝑒𝓇𝓈 headed by the master teacher herself, 𝒢𝑒𝓇𝒶𝓁𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑒 𝑅. 𝒞𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓅𝒶𝓎 with the all-out support of the English coordinator, 𝒢𝓁𝑒𝓃𝒹𝒶 𝑅𝑜𝒹𝓇𝒾𝑔𝓊𝑒𝓏, head teacher 𝒶𝓇𝓎 𝒢𝓇𝒶𝒸𝑒 𝒱. 𝐹𝓊𝑒𝓇𝓏𝒶𝓈, and the school principal, 𝑀𝒶'𝒶𝓂 𝐹𝑒 𝒜. 𝐵𝒾𝒷𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑜.

Congratulations to all winners!

𝕲𝖗𝖆𝖉𝖊 8 𝕵𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖑𝖊 𝕸𝖆𝖓𝖎𝖆: 𝖂𝖍𝖊𝖓 𝕽𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖒𝖊𝖊𝖙𝖘 𝕽𝖍𝖞𝖙𝖍𝖒

The 𝕁𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕝𝕖 𝕄𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕒 ℂ𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕖𝕥𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 of the Grade 8 Curriculum was successfully conducted, bringing 𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓿𝓲𝓽𝔂, 𝓻𝓱𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓶, and𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓻𝔂 𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓲𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 to life. As one of the most anticipated events of the celebration, the competition showcased the exceptional talent of Grade 8 students who crafted and performed original jingles promoting the joy of reading and the power of the English language bearing the theme: "𝕋𝕦𝕝𝕒𝕪 𝕒𝕟𝕘 ℙ𝕒𝕘𝕓𝕒𝕤𝕒 𝕤𝕒 𝔹𝕦𝕜𝕒𝕤 𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕦𝕟𝕠 𝕟𝕘 ℙ𝕒𝕘-𝕒𝕤𝕒 (ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕤 𝕒 𝔹𝕣𝕚𝕕𝕘𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕒 𝔽𝕦𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖 𝔽𝕦𝕝𝕝 𝕠𝕗 ℍ𝕠𝕡𝕖."

Congratulations to the Grade 8 teachers headed by Ma'am 𝒟𝒶𝒾𝓈𝓎 𝒜𝓁𝓆𝓊𝒾𝓃𝑜, the master teacher. Especial thanks and felicitation also to the undying support of the English Coordinator, 𝑀𝒶'𝒶𝓂 𝒢𝓁𝑒𝓃𝒹𝒶 𝑅𝑜𝒹𝓇𝒾𝑔𝓊𝑒𝓏, the head teacher of the English Department, 𝑀𝒶𝓇𝓎 𝒢𝓇𝒶𝒸𝑒 𝒱. 𝐹𝓊𝑒𝓇𝓏𝒶𝓈, 𝐸𝒹𝒟 and most of all, to the School Principal IV, 𝐹𝑒 𝒜. 𝐵𝒾𝒷𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑜, 𝐸𝒹𝒟.

To all Grade 8 students, may this performance bring your creativity and artistic talents that will help strengthened your appreciation for English through music.

Belated Happy birthday to our very own nanay of the English department, ma'am 𝓜𝓪𝓻𝔂 𝓖𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓮 𝓕𝓾𝓮𝓻𝔃𝓪𝓼. May this new chapter of your life bring you more success, good health, and countless blessings.

𝔅𝔬𝔬𝔨𝔣𝔩𝔦𝔵 : 𝔚𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 ℭ𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔳𝔦𝔱𝔶 𝔖𝔱𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔪𝔰 𝔅𝔢𝔶𝔬𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔓𝔞𝔤𝔢📚✨

Get ready to be amazed by the exceptional 𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓿𝓲𝓽𝔂, 𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓻𝔂, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓻𝔂 𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓲𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 of the students. It is a way on how they will demonstrate their talent in blending visual design with literary interpretation, proving that reading remains a powerful medium that can be reimagined for the modern age.

𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕗𝕝𝕚𝕩 ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕤𝕥 added a colorful dimension to the festival, turning ZSNHS into a gallery of stories waiting to be discovered.

Break a leg, everyone!