Before she stepped on stage for her speech, Sophia carried with her the weight of every challenge she faced during training. She knew it would be her last time delivering an extemporaneous piece in competition, which made the moment even more meaningful. Despite the nerves, she reminded herself that she had grown, improved, and been shaped by the guidance of the people who believed in her. That reminder allowed her to walk onto the stage with purpose rather than fear. Sophia admitted that nervousness never left her-not during practices, not during the competition. As someone new to public speaking, the pressure often brought her to tears. She prayed in silence moments before delivering her response, holding onto her mother’s words: “It’s normal to feel nervous, but what matters is you’re still doing it.” Those words grounded her, reminding her that courage is choosing to stand fi rm even when fear is present. Her preparation was built on the guidance of her coaches, Mr. Marc Joseph Palado and Ms. Jizelle Naval, whom she credits deeply for her growth. Every day, she trained by answering spontaneous questions on everything-from national issues to personal topics. She learned to read current events, turn random prompts into structured arguments, and think clearly even under pressure. That discipline became her anchor when she received her prompt: “How can reading literature help in preserving our Nation’s identity?” Though she felt the pressure on stage and briefl y struggled to gather her thoughts, she grounded herself in what she knew. Her answer drew from national pride, history, and cultural preservation. She spoke about how literature deepens love for the country, using the recent Miss Universe competition as an example of cultural identity expressed through national costumes. She emphasized the role of historical texts like Noli Me Tangere in helping Filipinos recognize patterns of oppression and corruption, reminding the audience that while the government holds power, citizens hold the power to choose their leaders. She closed with the importance of passing down Filipino stories to the next generation, valuing identity, diligence, and respect through classic tales like “Pagong at Matsing”. For Sophia, the most diffi cult part of her journey was overcoming her own self-doubt. She had never joined a competition before, and every mistake in practice magnifi ed her fear of failing. But through constant guidance and a growing sense of responsibility, she learned to step out of her comfort zone. She discovered that improvement is never instant-it is built from patience, humility, and the willingness to try again even when things don’t go perfectly. To students who dream of joining extemporaneous speaking, Sophia encourages them to be open to learning and to be patient with themselves. With consistency, awareness, and genuine connection to the audience, growth becomes inevitable. And above all, she emphasizes trusting in God’s guidance, believing that strength and clarity come from Him. Sophia’s championship is more than just a medal-it is the result of courage, discipline, and an unwavering desire to make others proud. Her journey shows that even the most uncertain beginnings can lead to extraordinary victories when met with heart and determination.

On November 22, 2025, MCS, with the management of the school’s Student Coordinating Board (SCB), hosted a Himig Parangal kay Maria Concert at the JCS Gymnasium, bringing together the whole school community in a heartfelt celebration through music and songs for the Mahal na Birhen ng Remedios. The event opened with a solemn enthronement of the Mahal na Birhen ng Remedios, accompanied by the prayer hymn “Dios Te Salve Maria” performed by various school choirs and organizations: MCS Joint Choir, Musica Kawayan, Indak Malatean, Altar Servers, and Scouts. The School Director, Rev. Fr. Elpidio D. Biliran, Jr., delivered the opening remarks, setting the tone of gratitude and devotion for the celebration, stating that one can never truly be alone as long as the Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, is kept in his heart. A series of performances paying tribute to our Blessed Mother began with solo musical numbers by students of the school. The performers and performances were as follows: Ania Avendano: “Awit ng Pagsuyo” Benedict Dural: “Inay” Adrian Balani: “Mariang Ina Ko” - Zia Labuguen: “Oyayi” All Performers: “Awit sa Ina ng Santo Rosaryo” These performances showcased original and well-loved Marian compositions written by notable Filipino composers and church musicians. Choral groups from diff erent school levels and partner institutions also rendered heartfelt songs for the Virgin Mary, with the second set of songs continuing with the Student Choristers of St. Clare of the Cross performing “Ikay Magalak Maria at Mapagkalingang Kamay” by Mr. Marvin Quintana. The MCS High School Glee Club followed with the song “Hiling” by Lester Delgado. The Faith Through Inspiration Chorale then performed “Holy Mother of Our Savior” by Jean Alvarado and Alejandro Consolacion. Between musicals, audio-visual presentations highlighted the history, devotion, and signifi cance of the Mahal na Birhen ng Remedios to the Malate community. The Young Choristers of Mary performed “Kay Birheng Maria,” written by Dr. Jose Rizal. Teachers from Cluster 8 Schools sang “Maria, Tala ng Karagatan” by Fr. Felipe Fruto Ramirez, SJ. Assistant School Director and Finance Offi cer Rev. Fr. Solomon Jardinero delivered the closing message, encouraging everyone to continue Marian devotion. Recognitions were awarded to participating performers by the school administration representatives, Mrs. Marilou Lunar, Rev. Fr. Biliran, Jr., and Rev. Fr. Solomon Jardinero. A message of gratitude was then shared by Sir Eneran on behalf of the organizing committee. The program concluded with a tutti fi nale featuring “Stella Maris”, “Ningas ng Pag-asa”, and “Awit sa Birgen Delos Remedios”, where all audience members were asked to participate. Participants were given a photo opportunity on the JCS Gymnasium stage after the event.

Malate Catholic School (MCS) celebrated an outstanding victory as Michaela Masangkay delivered a flawless, undefeated run to secure the Girls’ Singles Championship in Palarong Maynila 2025, held from November 13–14, 2025, at Rosauro Almario Elementary School. Facing competitors across multiple districts, Michaela showed remarkable consistency, confidence, and discipline—qualities that propelled her to win all her matches in straight sets. Over the three-day tournament, the atmosphere was intense as schools across Manila sent their top athletes to battle through the eliminations, winners’ brackets, and final rounds. For MCS, Michaela stood at the forefront of the girls’ division, determined to bring home pride for her school. Matches are played up to the 21st point, following the standard badminton rules as well as following a point-a-rally system, with an extra 3rd set being played when players have won the same amount of sets per match.