Author: HiLitesASHS

Hi-Lites ASHS is the official student publication of the Ateneo de Manila Senior High School.

Evaluating the Validity of Sandro Marcos’s Statements

Recently, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos has been under heavy flak for some of his recent statements. These include his suggestions for Filipino rice farmers to switch to producing dragon fruit during the Taiwanese off-seasons, and his claims that the Philippine Peso is weak due to the fact that the U.S. Dollar is strong.

Sa Kahabaan ng SIRA Madre

“The Sierra Madre mountain range doing her thing,” sabi sa isang post mula sa Twitter. Umalingawngaw ng mga panawagan at paghanga sa kapangyarihang taglay ng Sierra Madre ang iba’t ibang plataporma ng midya. Ito ang parehong araw kung kailan tumama sa kalupaan ng Luzon ang bagyong Karding na siyang agarang humina nang makadaupang-palad ang bulubundukin. 

9, 207 examinees take 2022 Bar Exams

An estimated 9,207 examinees convened at 14 testing centers nationwide, Wednesday, November 9, with the hope of passing the 2022 Bar Examinations. 

In-Recap: COP27 Week 1

With the goal of ensuring collaborative and collective action between all countries to implement climate initiatives, the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference — Conference of the Parties (COP27) — is currently being held at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, from November 6 until November 18. 

Ace It!: Stories From an Uphill Battle

Gaze up from the foot of the hill. Above it, an eagle soars. There are many of you who lie beneath its watchful eye—determined, doubtful, yearning students, armed with but pen and mind. Lines of information familiar like the back of a hand, and dreams of a distant future are but left to thrum through a beating heart. Months of earnest preparation have boiled down to this—but the battle is never truly over until the questionnaire graces the desk.

Pimentel questions P4.5-B intel funds in Marcos admin’s P8.9-B budget

The Senate approved the proposed Php 8.9-billion budget of the Office of the President (OP) for 2023, including Php 4.5-billion in confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) last November 10.

Prior to the funding’s approval, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III requested the OP to justify the necessity for the Php 4.5-billion CIF, which accounts for over half of their office’s total budget.

“Why should the Office of the President be given intelligence funds at 2.25 billion pesos when there [are] already existing intelligence agencies and units which can serve the intelligence needs of the Office of the President or the President himself,” Pimentel asked as he affirmed it was “questionable” to give that funding to the OP.

Bill seeking for heterosexual right protection deemed ‘joke of a law’

Several netizens, particularly members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their advocates, criticized a proposed bill, as they claimed that it is a “joke of a law”.

This came after Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. proposed House Bill (HB) No. 5717, Wednesday, November 9, to “safeguard heterosexual rights” in practicing and expressing their religion, views, and opinions toward the members of the LGBTQIA+.

New DepEd order eyes boost in professionalism

Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte signed DepEd Order (DO) No. 49 series of 2022 on November 2, amending the recently released DO 47 entitled “Promotion of Professionalism in the Implementation and Delivery of Basic Education Programs and Services”, which further enhances professionalism within the sector by “avoiding relationships, interaction, and communication, including following social media with learners”.

World witnesses a Beaver Blood Moon

A sighting of a Beaver blood moon was visible on Tuesday, November 8, in a number of locations around the world. The natural phenomenon allowed the world to witness its last appearance until the year 2025. 

The blood moon consisted of the Earth casting its shadow completely over a full moon, blocking reflection of all direct sunlight from the lunar orb and dimming the color of the moon to a reddish hue.