The COVID-19 pandemic has no parallel in the living memory of humanity.

As 2020 concludes, I thank the teachers, support staff, students, and movers of the Philippine Science High School System for their resilience during this pandemic.  Although this year gave us a series of birth pains, we strive to remain committed to our sworn responsibilities to offer the Filipino youth the premier science high school education they deserve.

Our collaboration and grit have helped us to calibrate the PSHS curriculum to meet the needs of time and create the Pisay Knowledge Hub (KHub) and learning guides.  I salute the teachers for their unyielding passion to perform their duties beyond the minimum requirements.

The Pisay scholars have manifested strength of character and mental fortitude to rise beyond the challenges of remote learning while they face their personal struggles.  I commend you all for your determination, courage, and enthusiasm.  I hope and pray that we all make it until the pandemic is over.

We shall strive to improve our feedback mechanism, our essential guiding force to keep us in touch as a community that values communication, integrity, and purpose.

This year has also been a year of blessings despite its challenges.  The PSHS campuses and the Office of the Executive Director have maintained their ISO Certification.  We have forged a stronger alliance with the Ateneo de Manila University through the Adaptive Design Learning (ADL) Professional Certificate Course.

We have strengthened our sense of service to our immediate community through PisAYUDA: Siyensiya Para Sa Bayan.  We were able to utilize the 3D printers and laser cutters in the PSHS campuses to produce face shields for medical front liners and military and police officers at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last March.

With the PSHS Foundation Inc. through its Walang Maiiwan Project, we are able to provide laptops to students who need them for online learning.  It is a selfless act we needed in the darkest of times.

The PSHS System is grateful to generous people who donated materials, laptops, gadgets, groceries, food, and money to help our needy countrymen during this pandemic and the series of typhoons.

Allow our actions resonate communal safety, responsibility, and accountability.  Our shared values shall bring us back not just into the secure foreground of survival but also into the niche of good health, stability, and happiness in life.

Lastly, let us also offer prayers to our countrymen who have been greatly affected by the economic, social, and psychological effects of the pandemic.

I hope our country endures the challenges of the coming year and rise from the difficulties of the pandemic one family at a time.

Happy New Year!  Thank you very much.

 

(LILIA T. HABACON, Executive Director)