Zero is zero. Is there something to be afraid of?

In 2003, the Department of Education set a new grading system. It aims to increase the stagnant level of education in the country. Zero will already be equal to its logical equivalent: nothing. It is only in this year that NSDAPS applied this new system because private schools had an option whether to apply it last school year or not. Compared to the public schools as mandated, they implemented it immediately. Many problems sprang from this transition.

The lowest grade to appear in card is 65. The passing grade is the usual 75%. The grading system is an average basis. Getting the average of the four quarters will make the final grade. It means every quarter counts.

What is now the implication of this? Students’ skills and learning are measured through their efforts. Therefore, it is expected that students have to shift gears to adapt with this change. If you were an easy go lucky before, now I doubt if you are still lucky making things fly easily. Burying the transmutation tables will not cause doom…only if we learn how to develop proper study habits, time management, and responsibility. This grading system serves as a challenge for the students to strive harder, and to bring out the best. It is a good way to test skills and abilities. We cannot fool ourselves. We cannot get anything that we did not deserve to get. Nevertheless, accept every single grade in humility. And best of all, we deserve every single grade, thus bringing a great amount of satisfaction to us, students.

In this system, the end justifies the means. Why not start (or continue) hitting the books, doing seatwork, accomplishing requirement and see how studying harder, with God’s mercy, bring good grades—even if zero will be equal to less than zero!

“Touching lives, living life to the fullest…. It’s how this wonderful being is remembered by her peers in NSDAPS …

I didn’t have a chance to experience how it was to be with teacher Lucy, but learning her story, I wish that in her second life I would touch her heart expressing my awe and compassion. Life for her was a game. She did her best to fight the big test that God had given her. It might have been possible to say that until the last moment of her life she did not like to give up until she had this signal from God that she needed to forego. She was been so softhearted. Her enduring faith made her cope with the realities of life taking every suffering so fine and easy. Teacher Lucy, being with the Lord right now is the ultimate aim that you have already fulfilled. Time will come for us to be there and I know you are happy waiting. Rest in peace.

We Filipinos really love music, we enjoy singing especially if the song has an attractive melody. The song ITSUMO sung by Dice and Ka is very popular today among children and teenagers. We usually hear it over the radio, television, in the jeepneys and even as celphone ringtone. It was written and composed by Japanese artist. But the big question to ask is… Do we know the meaning of the song? Read this and find out!

Chorus: (English Translation)
You always desire, someday, away to my heart
while stealing other girls away
through your empty love.
You always captive my heart with your insincere flattery
Because in my heart, I have a place for you

Now, can you sing it?!