Plaid Ideas

Fifty-Two Years of Legacy 🤍

Today, we gather as a community to commemorate the 52nd year of Assumption Antipolo. Annually, we are given a reason to take a moment to reflect on what this institution has instilled in us, recognizing how it has paved the way for us to gracefully live, lead, and serve.

On this remarkable day, the student publication proudly presents an opinion piece by Mikaia Sanchez on how to love a school honestly. Written through the lens of the Editor-in-Chief of Plaid Ideas, it reflects her dedicated duty to know this school beyond its surface, preserve its history, and showcase the authentic experience of what it truly means to be an Assumptionista.

Pubmat by Unica Navarro and Des Calaycay
Article by Mikaia Sanchez
Caption by Jeiyeen Del Mundo

Mary, Dawn of Our Salvation

Renowned by the Church as the “the beginning of a better world,” the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary remains an important symbol of hope for the faithful. In celebration of the birth of Mary today, September 8, the Church reflects on the constant presence of faith in her
life.

Mary was born to St. Joachim and St. Anne after years of being unable to conceive a child with a promise that the child will be “blessed by all the world” (Franciscan Media, n.d.). Theologians have called the birth of Mary a “joyful prelude” and the “dawn of our salvation”, highlighting the Feast of the Nativity as an introduction to the arrival of Jesus Christ.

The answered prayer of her parents and the promise of a better world, Mary stands as an anchor of faith for millions of Filipinos today who hold her close in times of uncertainty. But more than a pillar of resilience, she is also an inspiration in bringing forth a “better world”.

Article by Elisha Aspiras
Layout by Unica Navarro

Assumption Antipolo's Plaid Ideas delivered a strong showing at the Division Schools Press Conference (DSPC), held at San Isidro National High School on September 2, 2026, with two members placing in the Top 4 under Secondary English.

Riley Venice O. Siat took 1st Place in Photojournalism, while Mikaia Raine A. Sanchez placed 2nd in Editorial Writing. Both members will now prepare through cliniquing ahead of the Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC) in Quezon Province, where two of the Top 4 qualifiers per category will advance.

They competed alongside the rest of the Plaid Ideas delegation, which included Elisha Aspiras in News Writing, Heira Balao-as and Ripley Suarez in Feature Writing, Maya Dumayas in Editorial Writing, and Julia Villanueva in Photojournalism.

Article by Sir Ilde Tutor Jr.
Pubmat by Des Calaycay

Higit sa Pamilyar

Bagama’t walang opisyal na ordinansang maaaring magproklama sa sinumang Pilipino bilang pambansang bayani ng Pilipinas, ang ilang mga tauhan tulad nina Dr. Jose Rizal at Andres Bonifacio ay kinikilala na rin bilang mga simbolo ng kagitingan, kabayanihan, at paglilingkod-bayan. Ngunit nagtataglay rin ang ating kasaysayan ng samut-saring mga kuwento ng serbisyo at katapangan higit pa sa mga tanyag na pangalang ito.

Ating kilalanin si Trinidad Tecson na tinaguriang “Ina ng Biak-na-Bato” ni Hen. Emilio Aguinaldo dahil sa kanyang papel bilang tagapangalaga at mandirigma ng Katipunan.

Bukod sa pakikibaka kasama ng mga Katipunero para sa kalayaan ng bansa mula sa Espanya, ipinamalas rin ni Tecson ang walang-pagod na paglilingkod bilang nars sa kanyang mga sugatang kasamahan, kung kaya’t kinikilala rin siya sa pangalang “Ina ng Philippine Red Cross.”

Ipinamalas naman ni Cpl. Magdalena Leones ang husay at dunong bilang isang Pilipinang gerilya sa ilalim ng hukbo ng Estados Unidos sa panahon ng Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig. Sa kabila ng panganib na dala ng tungkuling ito, naging matagumpay si Leones sa pagpupuslit ng mga kumpidensiyal na impormasyon, parte ng radyo, at kagamitang medikal sa mahihigpit na binabantayang teritoryo.

Nananatiling buhay ang mga mithiin nina Trinidad Tecson at Magdalena Leones sa mga salaysay ng kanilang buhay. Buong-puso nilang minahal at inalay ang kanilang mga buhay, pangarap, at pagsisikap para sa kinabukasan ng bansa.

Bawat salaysay ng katapangan at sakripisyo ay nararapat na mapakinggan. Kahima’t hindi natin lubos na masusuklian ang kanilang mga sakripisyo, nawa’y hangarin nating protektahan ang ipinamana nilang payapa at malayang Pilipinas.

Marahil, ang kakulangan ng batas na nagtatakda kung sino nga ba ang maaaring tawagin na ‘bayani’ ang magbibigay-daan upang ang tunay na kabayanihan ay mabigyang-kahulugan sa pamamagitan ng gawa at hindi sa titulo.

Artikulo nina Heira Balao-as at Elisha Aspiras
Pubmat nina Unica Navarro at Des Calaycay

Tanglaw ng Pananampalataya: Ipinagdiwang ng Assumption Antipolo ang Kapistahan ng Pag-aakyat kay Maria Sa Langit

Pinamunuan ni Lubhang Kagalang-galang Ruperto C. Santos, DD., Obispo ng Diyosesis ng Antipolo ang Banal na Misa sa pagdiriwang ng Dakilang Kapistahan ng Pag-aakyat sa Langit ng Mahal na Birheng Maria, na ginanap sa Multi-Purpose Building ng Assumption Antipolo noong Agosto 14, 2026.

Taglay ng pagdiriwang ang temang “Maria: Tanglaw ng Pananampalataya, Daan tungo kay Kristo,” na nanghikayat sa komunidad na pagnilayan ang matatag na pananampalataya ni Maria at ang kanyang mahalagang tungkulin bilang gabay tungo sa Kritsto. Ang ika-12 Baitang ang nanguna sa pag-aayos ng liturhiya pagdiriwang, na sinimulan sa pagbati at panalangin ni Gng. Mon Peña.

Sa kanyang homiliya, ibinahagi ni Rev. Bishop Santos ang tatlong katotohanan tungkol sa Diyos na lubos na pinagkatiwalaan ng Mahal na inang Maria - ang Kanyang katapatan, kabutihan, at kapangyarihan. Ayon sa kanya, dito nag-ugat ang buong-pusong pagsang-ayon ni Maria sa panawagan ng Diyos. Bago isinakatuparan ang pangako ng Tagapagligtas, hiningi muna ng Diyos ang kanyang malayang pagsang-ayon sa pamamagitan ng Arkanghel Gabriel.

“Mabuti ang Diyos sa atin. Sadyang napakabuti ng Diyos sa atin. Ang Diyos ay makapangyarihan,” ani Rev. Bishop Santos na hinihikayat ang lahat na manalig at magpapasalamat sa Diyos.

Matapos ang Banal na Misa, nagpasalamat si Gng. Michelle Ayuro sa mga tumulong sa pagdiriwang, bago inanunsyo ang mga sunod na gawain: ang Level activities, ice cream treat mula sa paaralan, at ang Book Picnic, kung saan ibinahagi ng mga mag-aaral ang kani-kanilang paboritong aklat sa kanilang mga kaklase.

Idinaos din sa parehong araw ang Kapatiran Culminating Activity para sa Baitang 7 at 12. Samantala, pinangunahan naman ng mga Wellness Committee Heads ng Ika-8 Baitang hanggang Ika-11 Baitang ang mga gawaing nagpatibay sa pagkakaisa ng komunidad at nagbigay diin sa mga aral ni Santa Maria Eugenia.

Naglaro ang mga mag-aaral ng Ika-8 Baitang ng Mama Mary’s ScAAvenger Hunt; habang nagtanghal naman ang mga mag-aaral ng Ika-9 na Baitang ng awit mula sa mga banda at mga sayaw bilang debosyon sa Birheng Maria. Nakilahok din sa Just Dance at Karaoke ang mga mag-aaral ng Ika-10 Baitang, na naging masayang paraan ng sama-samang pagdiriwang at pagpaparangal sa Birheng Maria. Ipinagpatuloy naman ng mga mag-aaral sa Ika-11 Baitang ang pagdiriwang sa pamamagitan ng mga gawaing nagbibigay-diin sa kanilang pagkakaisa bilang mga kabataang kumukuha ng inspirasyon kay Santa Maria Eugenia, matapos nilang isulat ang kanilang class credo.

Artikulo nina Maya Dumayas at Heira Balao-as
Litrato ni Julia Villanueva

Araw ni Ninoy Aquino: Pag-alala sa Sakripisyo ng Isang Bayani

Ilang beses pa kaya kailangang balikan ng mga Pilipino ang EDSA bago tuluyang matutunan ang
liksyon ni Ninoy Aquino?

Tuwing ika-21 ng Agosto, ipinapagdidiriwang ng Pilipinas ang Araw ni Ninoy Aquino, isang
Pambansang Special Non-working Holiday na nagpaparangal kay Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.,
isa sa pinakamahalagang martir na pulitikal ng bansa.

Bago pa man siya naging simbolo ng demokrasya, si Ninoy Aquino ay isang kilalang senador na
matapang na kritiko ni Pangulo Ferdinand Marcos Sr. noong dekada '70. Nang idineklara ang
Batas Militar noong 1972, siya'y ikinulong. Dahil sa sakit sa puso, pinahintulutan siyang lumipat
sa Estados Unidos. Noong 1983, nagpasya pa rin siyang bumalik sa Pilipinas, at doon, sa
paliparan ng Maynila, siya ay pinaslang.

Para sa isang bansang matagal nang pagod sa kahirapan, karahasan, at pang-aabuso sa ilalim ng
rehimeng Marcos, ang kanyang pagkamatay ang naging hudyat ng paglaban ng sambayanang
Pilipino— ito ang nagbigay daan sa People Power Revolution noong 1986, ang mapayapang
pag-aalsang nagpabagsak sa diktadura at nagpanumbalik ng demokrasya.

Apat na dekada matapos ang pangyayaring iyon, muling nakikita ang parehong diwa ng paglaban
sa kasalukuyan. Sa mga nagdaang buwan, milyun-milyung Pilipino ang lumabas sa EDSA at
iba't ibang lungsod para labanan ang korapsyon at ipaglaban ang tapat na paglilingkod ng
gobyerno, at hingin ang pananagutan mula sa mga responsable.

Ang mga rallies—ng mga estudyante at iba't ibang organisasyon—at kampanya sa social media
na humihingi ng katapatan at pananagutan ay patunay na buhay pa rin ang hamon ni Ninoy: na
ang tunay na kalayaan ay kailangan bantayan at ipaglaban araw-araw.

Nang tanungin kung ano ang koneksyon ng mga rally ngayon sa ipinaglaban ni Ninoy noon,
tahasang sinabi ni SCAA President Sharmagne Bacongallo na buhay pa rin ang parehong isyu—
ang korapsyon. Ayon sa kanya, magkaiba man ang mga namumuno ngayon, iisa pa rin ang
kanilang laging ginagawa: pang-aabuso ng kanilang kapangyarihan at maling paggamit ng pera ng bayan. “Kaya’t habang may korapsyon,” aniya niya, “mananatiling makabuluhan ang laban ni Ninoy Aquino at ang mga rally na nangyayari ngayon.”

Kaya't tuwing dumarating ang Agosto 21, hindi lang ito paggunita sa nakaraan. Ito rin ay tanong
sa bawat Pilipino ngayon: handa ba tayong ipagpatuloy ang sakripisyong ginawa ni Ninoy
Aquino, sa pamamagitan ng ating pagiging mapanuri, mapagmatyag, at tapat sa demokrasyang ipinaglaban niya? Simulan natin ngayon: lumahok tayo sa mga talakayan at gamitin natin ang ating boses, di lang sa paraalan, kundi pati na rin sa lipunan.

Artikulo ni Maya Dumayas
Pubmat ni Unica Navarro

Hail Mary, Full of Grace: Celebrating the Feast of the Assumption

August 15 marks the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, commemorating the Holy Mother's ascent into Heaven at the end of her life on earth.

Assumption Antipolo's namesake feast day has long-standing origins in the Catholic tradition. As early as the 5th century, Catholic scholars and saints subscribed to the dogma of the Assumption of Mary (also called the Dormition of Mary in the Eastern Orthodox faith). It implied her unique "birth into Heaven", body and soul.

While a tomb just outside Jerusalem has been attributed to Mary, no body has ever been found. When Emperor Marcian of Rome requested the body of Mary in the year 451, he was denied by then-Bishop of Jerusalem, St. Juvenal, who claimed that "[Mary died, but] her tomb, when opened upon the request of St. Thomas, was found empty; wherefrom the Apostles concluded that the body was taken up to heaven." Despite this centuries-long history, the dogma was only officially defined by Pope Pius XII in the 1950 Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus deus.

But why does it matter?

There is a reason why the Assumption of Mary is so central to Catholicism. It affirms the belief in "life everlasting": Mary was spared from death and bodily decay because she was free of sin. In other words, Mary represents the final goal of the Catholic faithful, which is to enter into Heaven and share in God's glory.

In order to reach this goal, the Church looks toward how Mary lived her life. She is best known for being the mother of Jesus, and part of this role was also being His first disciple. From the moment the Angel Gabriel appeared to her, she embodied a constant "yes" to God despite the many hardships she experienced. Her steadfast faith in her son began before He was even born and lasted long after His death and resurrection, supporting Him throughout His life and public ministry.

The Solemnity of the Assumption therefore serves as a reminder that eternal life is attained through an earthly life characterized by service, devotion and love, just as Mary lived hers.

Article by Mikaia Sanchez
Pubmat by Unica Navarro

Vatican News. (2025, June 7). Solemnity of the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Vatican News. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/liturgical-holidays/solemnity-of-the-assumption-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary.html

The fascinating history of the feast of Mary’s Assumption – EWTN Great Britain. (n.d.). https://ewtn.co.uk/article-the-fascinating-history-of-the-feast-of-marys-assumption/

📰 What’s changed at Assumption Antipolo this SY 2026-2027?

As the Assumption community reopened its gates on July 20-21, 2026, beginning anew, we, too, were greeted with change.

A new chapter lies ahead of us as Assumption Antipolo unveils its renewed Vision, Mission, and Core Values. This transformation focuses on deepening our faith in the Lord, strengthening our commitment to working together, empowering each one of us to live out peace, stewardship, and solidarity, while achieving the holistic formation of persons.

All the while, as we embrace our mission to “Be Bearers of Hope and Builders of Peace,” let us grow together on this path as women of faith and action.

Content by Mikaia Sanchez and Maya Dumayas
Pubmat by Unica Navarro and Des Calaycay
Caption by Jeiyeen Del Mundo

Passing the Mission Forward: MDM Turnover 2026

More than 40 residents from AA’s partner sitio communities received free medical and dental services during Batch 28’s final Medical-Dental Mission (MDM) before the turnover to Batch 29 on July 25, 2026. From 8am to 12pm, 26 student volunteers were stationed around the CDC Building to ensure the smooth flow of the event. They ushered patients between stations, welcomed patients at registration, and assisted the pharmacist in dispensing medicines. Other volunteers tended to children, coloring on paper and playing basketball while their parents received consultations. The program concluded with the recognition of eight volunteer healthcare professionals, who received certificates for providing checkups, tooth extractions, and other medical services.

After storing equipment and files, student volunteers huddled in their respective committees. Batch 28 volunteers shared practical advice from past MDMs and oriented each committee’s responsibilities. Despite their initial hesitation, Batch 29 volunteers participated by asking questions and taking notes.

Reflecting on the turnover experience, Grade 10 Batch Representative Celestine Cordova said her perspective on service changed. “It can start with a small decision to wake up early on a Saturday to assist people,” she said, adding that volunteering through Taguyod showed her batch that small decisions can become meaningful acts of service to the community.

“I believe we are entrusting this mission into good hands,” said Grade 11 Batch Representative Keli Roan, expressing her confidence in Batch 29’s sense of responsibility and respect, while hoping both qualities continue to grow as they lead future MDMs. She expressed her pride for Batch 29 to not only lead MDMs, but to take every opportunity to improve it.

From conducting monthly SWOT analyses to preparing Visual Plans, Batch 28 devoted time and effort to each MDM since September 20, 2025. The turnover marks both the culmination of their service and the beginning of Batch 29’s stewardship of Taguyod, carrying forward its commitment to partner sitio communities.

Article by Heira Balao-as
Photos by Moira Lustado and Amanda Sevilla