The Choice of Harnessing the Unknown

The choice of Harnessing the Unknown: Powering the Future through Science and Innovation as the 2025 National Science Month theme is smart and motivating. It points to a future that has many puzzles, but also huge potential. Today, the world is changing because of things like climate change, diseases, fast new technology, less resources, and fairness problems across the globe. This theme asks all of us, students, scientists, and leaders, to see that much of the future is a mystery, and that science, when mixed with creativity and good ideas, is one of our best ways to move forward.

In the years to come, the link between science and society needs to change. It shouldn't be just "experts telling people what to do." Instead, it should be a partnership where both sides work together. Science shouldn't just be shared with society. It must be shaped with society. This means having open meetings, involving everyday people in research, sharing data openly, and letting communities help guide decisions. The idea of "science in society" means that research must be connected to the values, needs, and voices of communities. As we face big problems and new ethical questions, society must help decide what research is important and what its limits are. Also, soon the power and direction of science will rely more and more on trust, openness, and answering to the public. Since the government pays for a lot of science, scientists will have to show the social good of their work, while still being free to explore new ideas. The challenge is: How do we support research that solves today’s problems
without stopping the deep, basic exploration that often leads to big discoveries later? We need to be flexible and smart about how we manage and involve science in our world.

As we explore new areas like space, creating synthetic life, AI, and quantum tech, science will always be looking into the "unknown." But the strength of that search depends on our ability to guide, control, and use new ideas fairly and rightly. Science must be based on human values, fairness, being green/sustainability, and respect for people. We must also be careful about the bad side effects it might cause like unfairness or damage to the environment. The future isn't just about what science can do, but about the rules and agreements we make around it. The 2025 theme is a call not just to look for new things, but to take care of them. To use what we don't know yet to help everyone live better.

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Are We Forced to Be Resilient?

 

    We are tired of being the country that is hit the most. The Philippines faces an average of 20 storms (bagyo) every year, and each one hits us harder than it should. Why? It is because the huge damage from these storms is made worse by the own failures of our Government. It is not enough to blame only the weather. The truth is that long-term failures, like not enough good roads and pipes, poor city planning, and ruining of our nature, turn heavy rain into a disaster. You know we live in danger, yet too many houses are built quickly in bad spots, and the canals are clogged up. A heavy rain should not turn into a deadly flood, but it does, washing away our life because of this neglect.

It is a loss that the sea level rises and temperatures go up, making it harder for our farmers and fishers to live and feed their families. But what is truly painful is that this damage is made worse because our natural protection is gone. We lose our land because people destroy our forests and reefs, and they get away with it because of poor leadership. People cut down trees and ruin the mangroves that are supposed to be our shields against the ocean's force. The agencies like the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) are in place to help, yet year after year, we are left completely exposed to the storm’s power.

Our hardship is not just about the weather, it is a money problem and a social injustice. The constant need to rebuild keeps us poor and afraid. We are forced to leave our homes for crowded cities, only to face terrible traffic, low wages, and broken infrastructure. But the biggest insult is the word "resilience." You call us strong while we suffer, using that word to avoid being blamed. You approve billions of pesos in budget every year, yet our roads flood, our people are stuck in traffic, and our homes are still washed away. We demand to know: Where does that money go? We ask for real change, not just empty promises that barely keep us afloat while we are slowly submerged. We will not be silent anymore.

A Spectator's Inspiration

     

The Intramurals are easily the best part of the school year. They turn the whole campus into one loud, fun celebration full of color, action, and strong school spirit. It’s this exciting energy, with the loud cheers, the music, and the bright team colors, that makes the event something I always look forward to. The Intrams gives everyone a great break from the routine, uniting the student body in friendly, passionate games. Knowing that the whole school comes together to be so supportive and energetic for a week is the best feeling.

 This year, the most exciting part of that energy was watching the championship basketball game. The final match was super exciting and showed off great skills, not just a tough rivalry. Watching how the players moved so fast, played great defense, and scored with powerful shots and important free throws was AMAZING. It was much more than just watching, it was a strong example of being dedicated and working hard. Seeing the players push themselves to try their absolute hardest made me really inspired. It suddenly made basketball feel like a game anyone could understand and play well.

  

    That single game changed how I think about sports. Before, I just watched sometimes, but the basketball final made me genuinely curious to learn more. Now I feel like I want to actively follow different sports, maybe learn the rules of volleyball or see how fast track athletes can run. 

    Even better, the whole spirit of the Intrams has made me think about getting off the sidelines and stepping onto the court myself. The Intramurals are a very powerful reminder of how great our school community is, and I already can't wait for the fun next time!

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2nd picture by: Kate Bernice Macaranas