- Source: Philippine Science High School Main Campus
The Philippine Science High School - Main Campus is the flagship campus of the Philippine Science High School System. It was founded in 1964. It is located along Senator Miriam P. Defensor-Santiago Avenue (formerly Agham Road), Diliman, Quezon City.
The Campus
The 7.5-hectare (19-acre) campus includes two main buildings, the Science and Humanities Building (SHB), and the Advanced Science and Technology Building (ASTB). As of school year (SY) 2016–2017, a constructed extension on the back of the SHB (SHB-BEx) has been available to use by students and faculty. Since SY 2022-2023, a constructed extension on the front of the SHB (SHB-FEx) has also been available for use by students and faculty. The Science and Humanities Building is where the majority of the classes are held and the majority of the faculty units, namely the Biology, Chemistry, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Research, and Humanities Units, have their offices. The Curriculum and Instruction Division (CID), Student Services Division (SSD), Office of the Registrar, Office of the Campus Director, and the school library were all located on the second floor of the same building until the availability of use of the Administration Building since SY 2022-2023, in which only the school library remained on the second floor of the SHB, along with the Humanities Units and the Guidance and Counseling Unit (GCU).
The Computer Science Unit, Technology Unit, Physics Unit, and the Management Information System (MIS) are located in the Advanced Science and Technology Building. Classes in Computer Science 3-5, Technology Preparation, Physics 2-4, Chemistry 3-4, and Biology 4 are usually held in this building. Grade 10 electives such as Computational Crafts and Mathematical Physics are likewise held in this building.
The campus also includes four dormitories. Since SY 2023-2024, two are allotted for boys and two are allotted for girls.
There are many recreational facilities on campus. One of them is a multipurpose gymnasium with bowling lanes, ping-pong tables, a dance room, a basketball court, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Outside the gym, a football field, concessionaires, track oval, volleyball court, and another basketball court may also be found.
Classes
= Admissions
=To be admitted to the PSHS System, a prospective student must pass the PSHS National Competitive Exam. To take the exam, the student must have a final grade of at least 85% in both Science and Mathematics (in their 5th year of elementary school), or belong to the top 10% of their graduating class. Around 20,000 applications are received each year. The top 240 students of the exam are guaranteed slots in the Main Campus. In case a student doesn't want to enter the school or wants to transfer to another campus, students from the waiting list are called up to be enrolled in the Main Campus to complete the 240 slots allotted by the system. They are then divided into eight sections with 30 students or less in each section. After the first year of the batch, slots emptied by dismissed students or those who choose to transfer are then filled by new students who qualify via a placement exam given to students who belong to the top percentage of their batch in another school. However, currently, only up to Grade 9 students are allowed to be transferees. Afterward, the remaining students are the only ones who can graduate at the Main Campus.
Students from the Main Campus may transfer to other campuses. Students from the regional campuses may apply for transfer to the Main Campus. However, they must meet a grade requirement. Students outside the Philippine Science High School System may also apply for transfer to the Main Campus. However, they must take a lateral exam and must meet a grade requirement.
= Curriculum
=Students undergo a curriculum that emphasizes the sciences and mathematics. During Grades 7–9, the students all have a unified core curriculum with a heavier load on their math and science subjects. For Grade 10, the same is true but they get to choose one elective subject. For the Specialization Years Program (SYP) or Grades 11–12, they get to choose a core science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) and an elective (all the core sciences, Agriculture, Computer Science, Engineering, Technology), along with their research and humanities subjects. The core science chosen cannot be changed going into Grade 12, while the elective can.
There are also non-graded but required activities that students must finish before they finish Grade 12. These activities are the Science Immersion Program (SIP) and the Service, Creativity, Action, and Leadership (SCALE) program. The SIP is mainly done by incoming/current Grade 10, 11, and 12 students, while the SCALE program is done by SYP students.
= Sections
=The Main Campus has around 30 students in each class, with 8 classes per batch, in a total of about 240 students in each year level. The names of the sections in each year level are in accordance to a theme based on the major subject offered in that particular year level in the former 4-year curriculum. Each section in Grades 7-10 is assigned a Homeroom Adviser.
In the new 6-year curriculum, the sections of Grades 11 and 12 are based on the chosen core sciences and electives, along with the chosen difficulty of said sciences and Math. From there, 5 sections are given to each student:
Blocks are for the SYP Humanities subjects (English, Filipino, Social Science) and Math, and the assigned names are the first 8 letters of the English alphabet (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H).
Silids are for advisory purposes. Their names are based on the surnames of the National Scientists of the Philippines. Each silid is assigned an Academic and SCALE Adviser (ASA), which will monitor their advisees' progress in their academics and in the SCALE program. Silids are assigned based on the block assigned in Grade 11. Unlike the other SYP sections, silids do not reshuffle going into Grade 12.
Core sections are for the core science chosen. The assigned names are W, X, Y, and Z for those whose blocks are A, B, C, or D, and J, K, M, and N for those whose blocks are E, F, G, or H. Sometimes, if there are more than eight sections for a subject, a letter can be given to two sections, with a 1 or 2 attached to the section name (ex: J1 and J2 are different sections). The assigned core section cannot be the same letter as that of the elective section and the research section.
Elective sections are for the elective chosen. The assigned names are the same as those of the core sections, with the condition that the assigned elective section cannot be the same letter as that of the core section and the research section.
Research sections are for the Research subject. The assigned names are the same as those of the core and elective sections, with the condition that the assigned research section cannot be the same letter as that of the core section and the elective section.
= Streaming
=Streaming to Technology and Science streams began in June 1995. Only 2 sections out of the 8 in each 'batch' were chosen to be in the Technology stream.
Before 2005, incoming freshmen batches were required to take a streaming exam to determine their mathematics and sciences aptitude. Those who had rather high scores were put into the so-called "Technology Stream" and had a set curriculum that included drafting and technology research. The "Science Stream" had art and earth science classes in the first and second years and had more leeway in choosing their electives, which included English and Filipino journalism, microbiology, microprocessing, and visual communications.
Starting from Batch 2009, streaming was abolished. Instead of having 90 students taking technology electives during the second year, based on the student's first-year performance and desired stream, every student has a fair chance of experiencing both the science and technology streams.
Student life
= Organizations
=Many of the organizations in PSHS-MC are clubs. In SY 2024-2025, there are 41 active clubs, and they may be divided into 4 categories:
Academic Clubs. There are 13 active clubs in this category: Aksyon Iskolar (AKSIS), the social action club; Astronomical Society (AstroSoc), the astronomy club; Atom, the chemistry club; Concern and Action for the Rehabilitation of the Environment (CARE); Computron, the computer science club; Mathematics Club; Karyo Biomedical Society; Pisay.XYZ, the design and technology club; PSHS MUN, the Model United Nations club; Physics Youth Honours Society (PYHS), the physics club; Society for the Advancement of Research in Science and Technology (SARS+), the research club; Tomorrow, the artificial intelligence projects club; and Youth Venture Society (YVS).
Performing Arts Clubs. There are 7 active clubs in this category: Bravura, the classical music club; Cuerdas Agham, the rondalla club; Himig Agham, the chorale club; Kamalayan, the Filipino theater club; Samahan ng Manunugtog sa Pisay (SAMAPI), the band club; Sayaw Galaw (SaGala), the dance club; and Sightlines, the English theater club.
Recreational Clubs. There are 12 active clubs in this category: ACTS, the nondenominational Christianity club; Animo Chess Club; Bake Club; Celluloid, the film club; Ellipsis, the literature club; Exposure, the photography club; Intyale, the tabletop role-playing game club; Invictus, the debate club; Likha, the art club; Loqui, the language club; Polvere, the shooting game club; and Student Catholic Association (SCA), the Catholic club. At least 3 inactive clubs are in this category: Balamesa, the board game club; Dart Club; and Kaizen, the fighting game club.
Sports Clubs. There are 9 active clubs in this category: Alianti, the Ultimate frisbee club; Flux, the swim club; Kislap, the volleyball club; Labuyo, the football club; Pallastro, the boys' basketball club; Pendulum, the table tennis club; Sigasig, the taekwondo club; Silakbo, the girls' basketball club; and Volant, the badminton club. At least 2 inactive clubs are in this category: Alyabo, the arnis club; and Kamao, the boxing club.
Other organizations in PSHS-MC include, but are not limited to, the following:
Student Council (SC). Organizations and committees directly collaborating with the SC fall under this category.
Student Publications. The Science Scholar and Ang Lagablab are PSHS-MC's English and Filipino student publications, respectively.
Training Programs. Examples include Reboot, the competitive programming and software development group; Mathematics Training Program (MTP); TROPHY, the physics training program; Chemistry Team, the chemistry training program; Team Bio, the biology training program; and the Secret Weapon Society (SWS), the economics training program.
= YMSAT and Humanities Weeks
=The school annually holds a Humanities Week during November or December. During this week, students do various activities related to the Humanities Subjects (English, Filipino, Social Science, Values Education, P.E., Health, and Music). One such activity is the showcase of students' month-long rehearsed presentations for the annual Patimpalak sa Filipino, where Grade 7 students showcase Kilos Awit, Grade 8 students present Sabayang Pagbigkas, Grade 9 students do non-conventional music, and Grade 10 students perform interpretative dances. Other activities include the Pisay Debate Open, Human Libraries, and various talks related to the theme of the event.
Aside from Humanities Week, the school also annually holds a Youth Math Science and Technology (YMSAT) Week, typically during February or March. During this week, special science projects are presented by various year levels not only to the whole Philippine Science High School community but to some visiting schools as well. Brain Blast is also held during this week, with Grade 10 and Grade 11 students viewing the defense of various Science and Technology Research (STR) projects by Grade 12 students, the panelists mainly being PSHS-MC teachers who specialize in the specific topic of the STR project being defended.
= School Fair
=The school also holds a 3-day fair every school year during December or January. The management of the fair is usually delegated to one batch, typically the batch that is Grade 10 or 11 at the time of the commencement of the fair. The management usually starts on the previous school year, as a lot of preparation is needed.
Various booths and a few rides may be seen throughout the fair. On the night of the third day, a concert called Battle of the Bands (BOTB) is held, with various school bands and a few guest bands performing on stage and judges giving out prizes to the best school band of the night.
The names of the fair and its corresponding BOTB vary year by year and are based on a certain theme.
In popular culture
The school is the subject of the 2007 Filipino drama film Pisay, which was directed by school alumnus Auraeus Solito and was shot entirely within the campus.
Notable alumni
Reynaldo Vea (Batch 1969): President, Chief Executive Officer & Board Director of Mapua University
Mario Taguiwalo (Batch 1969): Former Undersecretary of Health, consultant to peace talks with the NDF (Aquino presidency), film and stage actor, co-lyricist with Lyncir Lagunzad (Batch 1971-A) of the PSHS Hymn. Eisenhower Fellow (1989).
Vicky Tauli-Corpuz (Batch 1969): Indigenous People's rights advocate; Chair, United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Cielito Habito (Batch 1970): former Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority
Hermogenes Esperon (Batch 1970): General; Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines
Jose Y. Dalisay Jr. (Batch 1971-A): writer, editor, columnist, and Palanca awardee
Bobby Lopez Castro (Batch 1971-B): Co-Founder, President and CEO of Palawan Pawnshop Group-Palawan Express Pera Padala
Angelita Maligalig-Castro (Batch 1971-B): Co-Founder, Palawan Pawnshop Group-Palawan Express Pera Padala
Joel Navarro (Batch 1971-B): award-winning conductor, singer-composer (Swerte-Swerte Lang), arranger, music professor, and stage actor. Gawad Lagablad Awardee, 1991.
Anna Bayle (Batch 1974): entrepreneur and Asia's first international supermodel
Miriam Coronel-Ferrer (Batch 1977): peace negotiator and the former chair of the peace panel of the Government of the Philippines
Jessica Zafra (Batch 1982): fiction writer, columnist, editor, publisher, former television and radio show host, Palanca awardee
Joseph Emilio Abaya (Batch 1983): former Congressman, 1st district of Cavite, Secretary, Department of Transportation and Communication
Kanakan Balintagos (Auraeus Solito, Batch 1986): filmmaker
Barry Gutierrez (Batch 1990): former Congressman, spokesperson of former Vice President Leni Robredo
Luis Katigbak (Batch 1991): writer and music critic
Karlo Nograles (Batch 1993): Chairman Civil Service Commission
Jeffrey Hidalgo (Batch 1994): singer, songwriter, former band member of Smokey Mountain group
Ricardo Novenario (Batch 1996): writer of award-winning 'Ang Huling El Bimbo' and 'Kafatiran' plays.
Atom Araullo (Batch 2000): newscaster, reporter, and television host
Mariano “Rak” Lopez: Student activist martyred during the Marcos dictatorship, honored at the Philippines' Bantayog ng mga Bayani
Notes
References
Media related to Philippine Science High School Main at Wikimedia Commons
External links
Dalisay, Butch. (2006). "Romancing the Gifted".
Habito, Cielito. (2007). "A high-yield public investment", Inquirer Business.
Philippine Science High School - Main Campus official website
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- Philippine Science High School Main Campus
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- Philippine Schools Debate Championship
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