In the past two weeks, I’ve received reports that the campus security has been stopping people from playing games and sports way before the curfew time of 6pm. In the past few days I’ve spoken with student athletes, the administration, and the guards themselves to get a full perspective on the matter. Here is how the chips fall.
The curfew time of 6pm refers to all activities not just sports. By 6pm, facilities should be vacated, externs have left the campus, and interns are now in the dorms. In the past, allowing students to wrap up their sports by 6pm has led to the following problems: (a) their clean-up and fix-up time exceeds 6pm, (b) due to the rush to meet the curfew some bags are left behind and the areas remain untidy, (c) dormers end up having less time to eat before 7, and (d) those who order food from the outside end up waiting for their food until 7 and even beyond.
All these violate the curfew which is intended for two things: (1) save up on energy usage and (2) ensure the security of the dormers who are minors (and thus the school will always be liable) and reside within campus. I can see how point one can be a non-issue to those just using the field or even the basketball court. But matters of security — point two — are non-negotiable.
Unless you have a permit, you cannot go beyond the curfew. And even then, you’ll have to justify your activity to management who in turn will not easily approve of just any activity. Activities like Batch Night, Stargazing, and all others that are allowed to go beyond the curfew are the exception not the norm.
So how do things work now?
Sporting activities with a permit can be allowed until 5:45. But it has to agreed that everything is cleared out and fixed by 6pm.
Casual sporting activities (spur of the moment games with no permit) may be stopped starting 5:30.
Thus, it may be smarter to join a club. If there isn’t one, organize. Having an officially recognized group expresses to management that you’re willing to be responsible for yourselves and can thus be trusted with a little bit more freedom.
Organizing and securing a permit also ensures that you get to use our grounds and facilities which, as you all well know, are very limited. Especially with the recent spike in the interest in extra-curricular activities (not just sports), we all have to be smart about how we share our common space.
The truth of the matter is, there has been no change in the rules. They’re only being implemented the way they’re supposed to be.
Nonetheless, I do acknowledge that some issues raised by the students are legitimate and must be taken into consideration namely: That the 4:30 dismissal time does not provide such a generous window like 4:10 did. Students do have to change into sports clothes, warm up, and 20 minutes can make a big difference. Understood.
For now, I have two suggestions for everyone:
One. Try to think of the time slot for sports as 3:30 to 5:45. Balance your schedules and organize around the times when most of you are free. Arrange your activities then. File your permits. Make sure your adviser is with you as much as possible.
Two. Start discussing how to do the Intrams. I know for a fact that the 1:40 dismissal time was designed with the Intrams in mind. I just don’t have the full details how. I suggest that the SA start looking into it this early. Coordinate with the PEHM unit.
I wouldn’t be so brave to suggest that we can change the curfew time. I think that is a little out of our reach for now. Nonetheless, I believe that if students can show management that they’re responsible and can address the issues raised by the guards (see above), we can open a window for the rules to lighten up. I’m sure of that! But the rest is up to you guys. 
Any alumnus/alumna from the Pisay circa 80s era will tell you that the intrams was a huge, huge part of school life then. In each yr level, a section was paired up with another (ex. Garnet-Opal, Ruby -Emerald etc for 1st yr, Rosal-Ilang2 , Camia-Dahlia and so on for 2nd yr etc) to form four “houses”. So each house had a rep fr each year level – aka magkakampi. Each House had its own color-coded t-shirt. Sports included basketball, volleyball, soccer, tennis, table tennis…even cheering… all for both boys and girls teams. Round-robin, so you had to play each of the houses. Needless to say, the intrams was a long-term thing that extended for *months*. Everyday, there would be a game in some sport, being played simultaneously in diff fields- 3rd yr girls’ volleyball between Houses 2 and 4, 1st yr boys soccer between Houses 1 and 3, and so on. And oh how we looked forward to it! Halos lahat, naglalaro, marunong man o hindi. Esp in soccer, where you needed 11 players/team, and there were usu only 10 girls/section,and dapat may sub pa. Soccer kahit umuulan at maputik. And yung girls’ basketball, laging jumpball. The benefits in terms of health, athleticism, not to mention bonding and camaraderie between classmates, batchmates, and inter-years were immeasurable, and those moments, priceless. The intrams gave us a break and breather from mind-boggling academics.
Though my expectations are more realistic now (I don’t know if this can be done with the present set-up), it’s gratifying to know that the school is taking steps towards making the intrams more than just a one-week thing. Or so I hope.
omg. nice. ^^ inggit.
Sir, are these currently being implemented? I got pissed since some guard still tried to boot us off the field last Tuesday when it was only 5 30. – 2014LabuyoKid.
Really? Did you guys have a permit?
Sir… bakit 3:30 pa start… Pwede po bang mag laro kahit mga 2pm po?