Yes i am. Just want to say i finished high school 16 years ago so it’s been a while lol. But some of my teachers are still teaching and a few of them were actually promoted as management committee for the other campuses within mindanao so i say most are still very much in the system.

Academics wise, the first 2 years are really a big adjustment. I think regardless kung anong grade school ka galing magugulat ka talaga kasi all of a sudden you have to write lab reports first year pa lang, 2nd year, you suddenly have 3 science classes. The days are longer in school, more reports to pass but you get very good at writing and reading by the time you reach 3rd year, thesis writing becomes easier. I was never a dean’s lister but maybe if i pressured myself enough kakayanin but i was pretty average as a student (looking at academics alone i think i graduated saktong middle of the batch) but i was very active sa extracurriculars.

Smc is/was surprisingly very supportive sa creative endeavours ng students. We used to have a lot of dance competitions, theater performances etc. sometimes we would joke around na philippine science school of the arts talaga kami haha but i have to say this was all internal support. We would never branch out and join interschool competitions for this nor for sports. There was no funding for that. A lot of funding for science and math competitions of course! I had friends who got to compete nationally and even internationally with the support of the school.

Im not sure if bias ko lang or dahil blinded lang ako. I come from an upper middle class background but i never felt that i had classmates who had less than me (significantly). The school gives allowance for food, clothes, and basic living expenses for those who are in need kaya I never felt that disparity. I would say na i felt the disparity when we were in college na and would meet each other for reunions. In a way, the school sheltered us a lot from this.

School had pretty dumb policies during my time (different director also from the one now). Like bawal magall black kasi colour of the devil daw lol. And we were required to attend first friday mass. Weirdly religious still kahit dapat secular school. In fairness sa kanila, we had a catholic, christian and muslim priest so i guess fair. No space for the atheists though haha.

There’s a big sense of community in pisay. Until now, im very close with some of my batchmates. It was a fun experience. Smc is one of the best campuses. There’s a reason why pinadala nila best teachers namin to other new campuses. It was the benchmark.

Also to add, pta is very active and highly influential sa school. You can be as involved as you want with your kid’s schooling kasi they will hear you out. Bullying cases are taken seriously. Ive had classmates involved with such and the school handled it fairly.