Pi Day Math Spotlight
Written by Misha Pallorina Enriquez
with Ethel Ravena Langkay & Paeng Natividad
Header Photo by Imee Sioco
Happy Pi Day! 𝛑
March 14 is a day to celebrate the mathematical constant π (3.14). As UPIS alumni, there’s no better way to celebrate Pi Day than by honoring the math teachers who taught us all about it!
Get to know Prof. Anthony Joseph Ocampo (UPIS Principal), Prof. Raquel Avante, Prof. Portia Dimabuyu (former UPIS Vice Principal), and Prof. Margaret Diaz Atela (UPIS Vice Principal).
We’re missing one of them who passed away recently: Sir SJ, this one’s for you!
A few fun facts about pi:
𝛑 Pi day first started in 1988. Pi is non-repeating and non-terminating. So far we've calculated its value up to 62.8 trillion digits. - Sir Tonio
𝛑 Archimedes calculated the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter in 250 BC, but the term pi was only coined by British Mathematician William Jones in 1706. - Ma’am Marge
𝛑 I remember teaching you the concept of pi by showing that it is the ratio of the circumference of any circle and its corresponding diameter. Pinadala ko kayo ng any circular object and tape measure para masukat ang circumference ng circle at diameter nito. - Ma’am Portia
UPIS Math Department, 1990s
Get to know Sir Tonio
After undergrad/practice teaching, I was taking up my masters and working as a grad assistant in the College of Science for a year before I got the call that I was hired. Apparently, Ms. Diaz (now Atela) and Ms. Beltran (now Joaquin) were going on study leave. Sir SJ and I replaced them and were eventually absorbed.
What I like most about teaching is seeing students who struggle in high school become successful in their chosen careers.
A few memories of Batch ‘97:
𝛑 One time I got mad because someone couldnt answer a simple question, I lifted a deskchair and dropped it.
𝛑 A typically good student couldn’t understand a lesson on probability. Turns out they were never allowed to handle playing cards.
𝛑 Another Batch ‘97 student created a website on Philippine literature with sample works per era. It became a required reading for an undergrad class in La Salle, I think.
Prof. Anthony Joseph C. Ocampo
Shop the look! ALAB UP Face Mask and Dri-Fit Shirt
Learn About Ma’am Marge
I started teaching at UPIS in June 1990. I taught Elementary Algebra to Grade 8 students.
I think Batch ‘97 was my first class in Intermediate Algebra (Math 9a), after coming back from my study leave to complete my MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) Mathematics.
To Batch ‘97: Congratulations on your 25th year as alumni of UPIS. May you find more ways to make a difference in your individual spheres of influence. May God continue to bless each and everyone of you and your families.
Prof. Margaret Diaz Atela
Shop the look! ALAB UP Face Mask
Prof. Portia Dimabuyu
Shop the look! ALAB UP Care Package
Up Close with Ma’am Portia
I started teaching Math in UPIS in June 1993. I was a student teacher the sem before. After graduation, pinag-apply ako kasi may opening kaya dun na nagsimula ang journey ko sa UPIS. Batch ‘97 was then in Grade 7, the first batch I taught. Mercury was my first advisory class.
Ang totoo, sa unang taon ko naramdaman na gusto kong magturo. Dati kasi kinuha ko ang course na education for the sake of may matapos na degree. Pero nung nag-e-explain na ako ng math concept at naririnig ko ang mga bata na magsasabi ng “Ah ganon lang pala,” “Ay ang dali lang pala,” “Bakit dati parang ang hirap,” tapos aaliwalas ang mukha nila. Ang sarap ng pakiramdam kapag nakarinig ka ng ganon. Kaya siguro din ako nagtagal sa pagtuturo lalo na sa UPIS.
Kaya lang hindi ko rin makakalimutan na sa unang advisory class (7-Mercury) ko rin naranasang umiyak sa harap ng klase habang nagtuturo, dahil sa kakulitan ng mga boys noon. Sobrang dami ng makulit pero marami din ang magagaling! 🙂
Kaya ngayon pa lang kino-congratulate ko na kayo. Alam kong magiging successful din ang UPIS Alumni Homecoming 2022!
Memories from Ma’am Raquel
I started teaching in UPIS after I graduated from college in April 1993. I taught Geometry, Trigonometry, Advanced Math, STG (selected topics in geometry), and the most recent was Linear Algebra.
I like teaching because every year is different, you meet different types of students, you get to know them for at least a year, then eventually some you like (a little) and some you really like a lot.
I especially like it when you see them again after a very long time. You talk to them again as if you never parted. You see them happy and proud of whatever they've accomplished for themselves and their family.
Prof. Raquel Avante
Shop the look! ALAB UP Face Mask
Ma’am Raquel at the old UPIS building faculty room
A few memories of Batch ‘97:
𝛑 Who could forget Marko (9-Gold) with his non-stop questions during class? Classmates were still trying to understand the lecture, but Marko's questions would already be about the next lecture!
𝛑 Lianne and Metz were frequent visitors in the faculty room. Frances also came to my desk regularly and next thing you knew we were all laughing our hearts out at her witty comments. She is one of the few students na when she comes home from the US, she would meet up with Ma’am Portia and me.
𝛑 Paeng was one student who was very responsible, always looking out for his younger siblings.
𝛑 Wilmer was my student in geometry and higher math, and became my student teacher who practiced teaching under me.
To Batch ‘97: Know that I am very proud of all of you. You all have come a long way and have achieved much. The pandemic has challenged batches to think of alternatives to the usual homecomings. Meet the challenges head on. I know you can, because you are UPIS students, right? Congratulations to the organizing committee and to the whole Batch ‘97. Mabuhay kayo!
Wholehearted thanks to our beloved Math teachers, from UPIS Batch ‘97!
About ALAB UPIS:
A project of UP Integrated School Batch ‘97, ALAB UPIS is raising funds to help underserved UPIS scholars, give back to faculty and staff, and host the school’s 2022 homecoming. Shop UP and UPIS inspired merch or donate here. Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram and tag #ALABUPIS!