Past, Present and Future - International School Manila’s 100 Year Commitment to Education

The Rise Of Minecraft: From Silly Sandbox to Global Sensation.

Apple’s sales strategies; A Closer Look at Apple's Winning Tactics and the Secret to their Success

Live action snow white getting hate for major plot changes- here’s all you need to know about this upcoming disney movie

Past, Present and Future - International School Manila’s 100 Year Commitment to Education

By: Emily N.

October 18, 2023

Donada street campus of American School (source: ismanila.org)

1898 - America wins the Spanish-American war over the Philippines, gaining control over the territory. In the 50 years that follow, American civilians such as businessmen, teachers, missionaries, miners and other professionals flood to the archipelago, bringing their families with them. It was this influx of international families that sparked the founding of International School Manila, aiming to provide a quality education for their children

International School Manila now holds a rich and abundant history, having committed themselves to providing education for the children from all around the planet for over 100 years. Today, over 2,000 students are actively receiving their education at ISM, while countless more of their predecessors are leaving their mark on the world. “ISM alumni tend to headline the domains of business, arts, diplomacy, medicine and healthcare, and technology,.” describesd the Tatler Asia.

Founding and Early Days

International School Manila was founded on the 21st of June, 1920, by British and American families living in the Philippines under the name American School. To date, International School Manila is considered the oldest international school in the Philippines.

The very first campus it occupied was on 606 Taft Avenue, in a loaned church building. Upon its founding, the American School consisted of just 8 teachers and 50 students ranging from Grades 1 to 12. Following this, the school moved several times to “a few loaned Spanish-style houses” (name of source) before opening its first permanent campus on Donada Street in 1936. Today, the structure of the school still stands and is situated within Arellano University.

As with families who live in international communities today, many of the families who moved to the Philippines in the early 1900s wanted their children to receive education which was similar to the standards which they could receive back home. In this case, the main objective of founding the American School was to provide children with an education that was comparable to the top private schools in America. On top of this, many families also wanted their children to be able to learn about the culture of the country they were living in, Philippines, while still immersing themselves in the culture of their home country, ensuring that they would be able to become working members of society should they choose to return to America.

A former American School student from Wisconsin, Peter Harken, Class of ‘55, was one of the many students who benefitted from this multicultural education, coming to love the country and its culture during his childhood. “I actually grew up here … I love the Philippines and have always thought it a great place to be,” Harken said.

At its founding, the school almost entirely consisted of American students with the exception of a handful of European students. This could starkly be seen in the celebrations for the 100 year anniversary of the founding of the school. There, the newer generations of alumni were a largely multicultural group, representing over 100 nationalities

World War II

Three years after World War Two began, in January of 1942, the Japanese gained control of Manila. As a result, 5,000 civilians who were from allied countries, including students, parents and teachers from ISM, were rounded up and placed in internment camps. The main camp holding people from Manila was the camp at the University of Santo Tomas where the civilians lived within the school buildings for three years.

According to one of the civilians in the camp, Frederic Stevens, “…the future ceased to exist, and life became simply a succession of days and nights, moving along as in a procession.” In order to fill these days, people often resorted to listening to the radio and holding plays as well as performances to entertain the inhabitants of the camp.

The internees were required to feed themselves, taking turns to prepare the meals for the entire camp. Along with other jobs which they were required to perform, these activities required great amounts of energy. However, by 1944, Japan was losing the war and rations for the internees became less and less, “by the end of the year people were dying of malnutrition and starvation at … Santo Tomas” described an article about the internees called “Behind Barbed Wire.” As the war dragged on with worsening conditions, internees spirits dipped as many succumbed to ailments due to the lack of nutrition. Resources, not limited to food, continued to be scarce and would be until their release in 1945.

Together with heads of several other schools in Manila, the staff of International School Manila held lessons within the camp until their liberation in 1945. Although conditions at the camps were often unbearable with “crowded living conditions, disease, limited medical supplies, heavy labor, tension, uncertainty, and near starvation,” thirty four students managed to graduate from High School during the course of the war. Through resilience and resourcefulness, they were able to meet all the High School requirements despite the immense challenges they faced in the camp.

Finally, in January and February of 1945, the American military was able to take hold of Manila and negotiate for the release of all the remaining internees. After three long years in the Santo Tomas campus, all the civilians who were captured as hostages for the Japanese were now free.

Internees preparing meals in the food kitchen of Santo Tomas (Source: The National Archives via Behind Barbed Wire)

Expansion and Growth

Following the Second World War, American School reopened in September 1946, just over a year after the liberation of the internees, including AS families and staff. The school was still situated at Donada Street, however, each year, the student population rapidly increased, requiring more space than the campus could provide. Finally, in 1961, the school moved to the Bel-air campus in Makati “to accommodate the growing AS community,” according to the school’s official website.

Old and new emblems of International School Manila (Source: Article - My Alma Mater)

Around this time, it became evident that the school no longer catered solely to American and European families. At the recommendation and urging of the US Embassy, American School changed its name to International School Manila “to reflect the growing student diversity on campus.”

In the several decades that followed, the school’s student population continued to increase every year. On top of this, the representation of various nationalities and cultures continued to increase as well, slowly building up to the over 100 nationalities represented in the school today.

To allow its students more international opportunities, in 1982, International School Manila became a member of IASAS or Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asia Schools. This allowed students to participate in athletic and cultural conventions as well as competitions with other member schools. This proved to be a largely beneficial decision and many students still benefit from the programs today.

In 1995, ISManila changed their official school mascot from the Indian symbol which had been their symbol since the school’s founding to the bearcat. This change was reflected on everything from the school uniform to the school building. Furthermore, in 1999, the school also replaced its emblem, the Indian insignia, to the globe which it currently is today. These changes were to ensure that all the students who came from various backgrounds and cultures were expressed in the school’s official representations.

In 2002, the school moved for a final time to the “purpose-built, state-of-the-art campus on a 7-hectare site in Bonifacio Global City” where it sits today. On the campus, there are various sports facilities, specialized classrooms as well as rooms built to accommodate the students’ interests such as visual and performing arts as well as different technology lessons.

Present Day

In 2020, the school celebrated its 100th founding anniversary with celebrations and reunions held throughout the world for alumni as well as within the campus for current students. Alumni of all ages gathered at these reunions to reminisce on their time in ISManila, sharing experiences and fond memories with others.

Today, the school still remains on the Bonifacio Global City campus where the student population continues to grow each year. The diverse cultures are reflected in the school grounds where different styles of artwork decorate the hallways and students can be heard speaking an abundance of different languages with their friends.

International School Manila has provided children from all around the world with a quality education and united them through a common experience - their school.

The Rise Of Minecraft: From Silly Sandbox to Global Sensation.

By: Mikael M.

October 18, 2023

Minecraft’s Cover.

Minecraft is one of the most popular games to date. The constant thrill of the updates, the never-ending adrenaline rush of PVP, and the fluttering feeling in your stomach that you get after you’ve beaten the game is why people play Minecraft in the first place. Even when it was first created, it caught eyes and ears all over the world. Starting as a simple, first-person sandbox survival game, “Minecraft has become a vastly different experience from what it originally was in the best way possible,” (Quote: Rybecca Quinn, Why Is Minecraft so Popular?).

The game was first released in 2009, by Swedish video game developer, Markus Alexej Perrson, better known as Notch. When he first tried to make a first-person game, he was highly unsatisfied with the result. There were bugs everywhere, there were loopholes and gaps in the coding, and the quality of, well, everything was repulsing.

However, due to the help of Zachtronics, an American video game software, Notch managed to get his hands on the Infiniminer, the very inspiration for Minecraft’s blocky structure.

Finally, after multiplayer tests had finished, Notch managed to code the very first version of the game: Alpha. The rise of Minecraft had officially begun

The sales began on June 13th, 2009. Soon enough, they had gained a crazy 20,000 registered players. And now, in 2023, they have around a whopping 180 million players registered, and rising.

One reason why it’s so popular is because it is diverse and accepts all types of players, with different modes to satisfy the player. There are public servers to play on, with hundreds of minigames to enjoy, from competitive player-versus-player (PVP) games like Capture The Flag and Bedwars, yet it’s still a simple, enjoyable game.

Minecraft and its utter simplicity made it rise in popularity as well. The simple blocks that make the world, which become better and better with the updates, aren’t anything special, but yet they aren’t just squares dropped into the game.

An underwater base built in Minecraft. Photo Credit: Google Search: Minecraft Insane Underwater Builds

There is a beautiful simplicity to the game, something that attracts players. Considering the fact that each new world is a new adventure, and also that there are multiple ways to play the game, not just one like other games, Minecraft easily blows all the other games out of the water, with its popularity rising nonstop.

This game also allows players to express their creativity in ways thought impossible. No one man or woman can build a gigantic castle, with the world’s biggest dungeon in real life. No! But Minecraft gives tons of space for those with minds brimming with bright ideas, and this game allows players to build whatever they want, from a simple dirt shack to a complex electric circuit.

Minecraft has hit the perfect spot for many gamers across the world. Thousands of streamers and YouTubers have used this gaming platform for their channel, making this game rise in popularity. Such streamers include Dream, Technoblade (may you rest in peace), TommyInnit, and GeorgeNotFound.

With multiple modes, public/private servers, and new updates happening every once in a while, the game fits all players. There can’t be any harmful content, because Minecraft goes out of its way to prevent this. This game has tried its best to tame the amount of its violence, removing blood, guns, and bombs. This then becomes a game that fits all ages, from 8 years old, and up.

This game is also a really fun educational game. In Bedrock Edition, you have the ability to turn on Education Edition, which can teach you about the elements of our world, and what happens when they combine, or what physics are, and how they work.

Minecraft can also promote friendship. People can create private servers, and invite their friends to build and socialize in the game. Playing on the game’s public servers is also a great way to spend time with your friends. Minecraft is a way to escape the real world, but not completely leave it.

Another reason why this game has risen is because it is available on all platforms. The first edition released, Java Edition, coded with Javascript, was only available for PCs and computers in general. And at the time, their fan base was pretty small, compared to what it is now. What about the kids who wanted to play on iPads, or on their consoles?

Soon enough, Bedrock Edition was born, allowing players to play Minecraft on consoles. Then a separate branch of Minecraft Bedrock was created; Pocket Edition, made for devices such as iPads and smartphones. This extended their community and fanbase, giving all players a sense of welcome. This is probably the biggest reason why Minecraft has risen greatly.

Above: The Minecraft Mob Vote winner, the Armadillo. Photo Credit: Minecraft.net Mob Vote Armadillo

Then, finally, there are the votes and the constant content being added. This was the final piece to make this game rise beyond others. You see, every once in a while, Minecraft hosts a Live Event to vote for a specific mob to be thrown into the game. Nearly every player participates in the mob vote, the excitement rushing through them.

And at the end, the anticipation that builds in your stomach, waiting for the chosen mob to be announced, it’s a one-of-a-kind experience. The fact that this happens only once or twice every year is why it is special, and it is also why players joined Minecraft, to experience and play around with these new updates.

Minecraft has greatly evolved since it was first released. It has risen. It climbed the mountain of video-game glory, and in general, it is an all-rounder game, which can fit 8 year old girls who just want to build and socialize, or even a 25 year-old professional gamer/streamer, grinding for experience points. All these qualities of the game, the diversity, the leash on violence, and the simplicity of the game itself make Minecraft a game worth playing.

Apple’s sales strategies; A Closer Look at Apple's Winning Tactics and the Secret to their Success

By: Ziyaad K.

October 25, 2023

A big Apple logo on top of an Apple corporate building. Image from Express.co.uk

Apple or Android? Over 85.7% of the people I asked are leaning towards Apple. Why? If you ask the same people why they like Apple they would say something along the lines of “I'm used to it”, or “It’s easy to use.” Whilst people think they have control over their thoughts, Apple has some tricks up their sleeves.

If you’ve ever been inside an Apple store you might have noticed the peculiar layout and space between the items. Is it bad space management? No. Each item is spaced out because Apple wants to give every item enough space to make you perceive it to be important, as an effect of that the product makes you feel important.. This warm feeling makes you want to buy the product to continue to keep this feeling. This might just sound like a conspiracy theory you can find on the dark depths of the internet, but Apple has been very public about this. In fact, according to Sucharita Kodali, retail analyst at Forrester, “POS[Point of Sale] devices can be cumbersome and ugly. That doesn’t fit the image of a luxury store, The clean look is why more are moving to mobile checkout too. Apple and others have done this for years.” This justs adds to the feeling of luxury Apple aims to add to their products and stores.

An empty Apple store in Dadeland, Kendall, Florida. Image from Apple.com (Link) (Try to look for the cash register)

For those who have never been inside an Apple store, you still might be feeling Apple does not have any control over you. If you’re one of the 2 billion people who own an Apple device, you won’t be able to switch to Android. Why? Again, this is all part of Apple’s master plan. Apple purposefully closes off paths that lead to Android, such as USB-C. All the iPhones starting from the iPhone 5 have used a lightning cable, Apple’s own trademarked charging cable. This lightning cable is only available on Apple devices, and it cause all companies that create charging cables and accessories that plug into the phone itself have to create a separate line of their products to support iPhone which means that if you switch, you will be left with all of your useless accessories and cables, which sometimes can be expensive.

Now, you might be wondering why Apple has put a USB-C cable on their new line of iPhones? Well guess what? Apple was forced by the EU (European union) to put USB-C on their new lines of iPhones. How do I know this? Greg Joswiak, the senior vice President of Worldwide Marketing for Apple said, “ Obviously we have to comply [with the EU], we have no choice, like we do around the world, to comply with the local laws.” This statement clearly states that Apple was forced to add this port to their newest iPhone. Even though this change in ports will leave buyers with unusable lighting cables, transferring to Android is much easier, and USB-C is better for the environment.

Apple is a master of generating excitement. Even when releasing a product that shares numerous similarities with its predecessor, Apple manages to build exceptional anticipation. Take the iPhone 15, for example, which promises SOS satellite communication, a brighter screen, and the innovative dynamic island. Sound familiar? Indeed, the iPhone 14 had nearly identical features. The substantial upgrades include a brighter screen, an improved camera, and a titanium shell. While these improvements are undoubtedly appealing, they don't fundamentally redefine the smartphone. So, why do people still rush to buy it? It's the hype. Apple teases a new product almost immediately after releasing their current smartphone, keeping the excitement alive.

Apple's success in the tech industry isn't merely a result of excellent products but also a combination of psychological strategies that appeal to emotions and desires. By understanding these tactics, we can better appreciate the crafty tactics behind Apple's success.

Live action snow white getting hate for major plot changes- here’s all you need to know about this upcoming disney movie

By: Aanya K.

October 7, 2023

Picture comparing the new snow white, Rachel Zeggler, next to the original snow white.

A new upcoming live action of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is coming out in theaters in March of 2024. The new movie is getting a lot of negative attention because Snow White isn’t a white German girl anymore- she’s a latina. But Disney couldn’t just stop there, another problem is that the dwarfs aren’t even dwarfs anymore. Finally, the biggest problem that people have been talking about is that this new movie is not going to be about true love. Read on to find out more about this upcoming movie.

In interviews, Rachel Zeggler and Gal Gadot were giving overviews about the plot. In an interview on the red carpet, Rachel stated, “I just mean that it’s no longer 1937, and we absolutely wrote a Snow White that… she’s not going to be saved by a prince and she’s not going to be dreaming about true love. She’s going to be writing about becoming a leader she knows she can be.” In another interview with Entertainment Weekly, Zeggler stated “I was scared of the original cartoon. I think I watched it once and never picked it up again,” she went on to say, “The reality is that the cartoon was made 85 years ago. It’s extremely dated when it comes to the ideas of women being in roles of power.”

To make matters worse, Rachel Zeggler has been dropped from Paddington 3. A Yahoo article stated “ Paddington 3 has announced another cast change as Rachel Zegler has been forced to drop out of the movie due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. The people were already mad with the directors for changing the whole story. People have been saying that the movie shouldn’t even be called Snow white and the

Seven dwarfs. The plot is being changed, the dwarfs aren’t going to be important anymore, there might not even be a prince. On top of all this drama already going on, Rachel Zeggler decided that it was a good idea to talk trash about Snow White and her co-star. Zeggler stated “And all of Andrew's scenes might even be cut because it's Hollywood baby.”

Poster of the new disney movie Elemental: https://geekmamas.com/2023/08/21/

Coming onto the topic of the dwarfs in this film, a person with dwarfism decided to speak about their opportunities on the Piers Morgan show. He stated that “These are roles made for actors of my stature. I can’t go out for the Harrison Ford roles, or George Clooney roles. Because that’s not for me. These dwarf roles are made for people of my stature and now it’s taken away.” To summarize, he was trying to talk about the opportunities that people with dwarfism get are way less than people without dwarfism. He was trying to say that these small opportunities should not be taken away from his people. In searching for people who agree with the new movie, I have not found any articles supporting the changes in this film.

Most people have been saying that these major changes have been happening because Disney is not able to think of new and exciting scripts. A person on Reddit quoted, “They’ve been putting out uninspired live action remakes for the last ten years. Seems pretty on-brand for them”. That’s why Disney has been making woke movies, just so that people agree and like them. Peter Pan and Wendy flopped, because they showed Peter Pan as being more feminine and Wendy being more Masculine. Other than making woke movies, most people say that Disney just isn’t the same anymore. The new movie Elemental has flopped. An article from CNN 10 said that the script was weak, there was a basic character development, the world building made no sense, and that there were many failed attempts at supposed humor in elemental.

Many people have been arguing that if they want to make a movie promoting feminism and including all races, then there are millions of other ideas which can help support minority groups. An example of a female empowerment movie is Little Woman. It shows the struggle of being a woman in that time period, and it's an appreciated movie because most people enjoyed the script and acting. So, what do you guys think about this situation- should Disney continue to majorly change classic films, or should they just let classics be classics?

Photo comparing the two snow white. Photo Credit:https://thedirect.com/arti

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