- 16 hours ago
Maxine Isabella Dy, a student of PAREF Southcrest School, is a PHIMO Global Awardee and 5th Place finisher in the DSPC Newswriting contest. A passionate reader and independent learner, Maxine has represented her school in various academic competitions while also pursuing her interests in music, sports, and journalism.
As a junior journalist, Maxine enjoys interviewing people and learning from their stories and experiences. Her journey highlights the importance of curiosity, discipline, and a genuine love for learning in shaping the next generation of young achievers.
Join us on Beyond the Headlines. Look Deeper. Think Better.
As a junior journalist, Maxine enjoys interviewing people and learning from their stories and experiences. Her journey highlights the importance of curiosity, discipline, and a genuine love for learning in shaping the next generation of young achievers.
Join us on Beyond the Headlines. Look Deeper. Think Better.
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NewsTranscript
00:12That's who that's how you will look like
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00:42Okay.
01:17Okay.
02:42The perfect latte is not brushed. It is crafted. One cup at a time.
02:48Your perfect latte is ready. Coffee first. Then, everything else.
02:55How young is too young to discover what you are capable of?
02:59Good afternoon and welcome to Beyond the Headlines. I'm DJ Moises and today's conversation is brought to us by Coffee
03:06First.
03:06Today, we go beyond the awards and get to know the little girl behind the big achievements.
03:12Let's look deeper and think better. Joining us is a gold medalist in Math Olympiad and a writer.
03:19She is also a reader, a singer, a pianist, a swimmer.
03:24So we have Maxine Isabel D. Hello, Maxine. Welcome to Beyond the Headlines.
03:31Hello. I'm so excited to be part of this conversation.
03:36And we are also just as excited.
03:39So before we talk about your many awards, we would like to get to know you better.
03:49So when you are not studying, what do you want to do?
03:56Sometimes I like to read books, but then I like to play games like on my iPad sometimes or watch
04:03TV more often.
04:05But then I still try to make space for reading books.
04:08That's what I do when I don't have anything to do left. It's my free time.
04:12Sigi, tell us about the favorite book that you read.
04:20The favorite book that I read, the name was Cookie.
04:28And why do you like Cookie?
04:30It's not a baking book. It's about family drama and stuff.
04:35I just like it because I like the front cover of it and I like the story.
04:42That's what makes it appealing to me.
04:45No, because when I was your age, I love Hansel and Gretel.
04:49And because you mentioned Cookie, so I thought that was the cookie that they ate.
04:55What makes you happy, you know?
04:56What makes you... Obviously, you are smiling now, but what makes you happy?
05:02Like what makes me happy is like the happy events.
05:06It just makes me smile sometimes, you know.
05:09But I smile most of the time and I like to laugh a lot.
05:15Yeah, I can actually tell.
05:17So when you are in school or even when you are at home,
05:20are you normally the quiet kid or are you the happy, curious kid?
05:26I'm not the quiet kid. I'm the happy, curious kid.
05:28But I'm not that curious and happy.
05:30I'm like sometimes that jokable in school, you know.
05:34Like earlier when we joked about my age.
05:38So what's your favorite subject in school?
05:42I like civics.
05:44I just like civics because I like to get to know about the Philippine history
05:50and also the people living in the Philippines
05:54and what are they doing right now in their cultures.
05:58And by the way, that honestly is a surprise to me
06:01because I was expecting that your answer is going to be math
06:04considering that you placed gold and 11th in a field of 1,700 students.
06:12So why not math?
06:14It's like not just math because civics is like more fun
06:18because it's like has a like book.
06:20Like math also has a book, but it's all about answering.
06:24And civics is like you can read it, but there's also like an answering point.
06:28You can read the books of like math civics.
06:31I know this may be too early to ask,
06:34but do you consider eventually wanting to become a lawyer
06:38or a journalist for that matter?
06:41It's like very confusing on what I'll be when I grow up,
06:45but I'm sure I'll be a lawyer or a doctor.
06:48I'm not sure you're the journalist.
06:51But I'll wait for the future to come.
06:54And by the way, for the benefit of our viewers,
06:56Maxine is nine years old.
06:58But I'm actually happy that you were able to at least already have an idea
07:02of the domains or the areas that you wish to explore when you grow up.
07:09Now, of course, because you're an achiever academically,
07:13but maybe some of our viewers, especially the kids who are watching,
07:16are curious, is there a particular subject that you still find challenging?
07:22Yeah.
07:23Like, actually, it's Filipino because it's a new language
07:26and I don't speak it like most often.
07:28Like, why do I have to speak it here?
07:30Because we're in Cebu and we don't need to speak that.
07:33Unless if I was in Manila and I just grew up speaking English.
07:37It was my first language.
07:39Which is understandable because the language of instruction in school is in English.
07:46And that's why you...
07:48Oh, I just learn over time.
07:50Aha.
07:51And, Sigge, indulge my curiosity.
07:55So, how did you become so comfortable with English language?
08:03With the English language?
08:03I just became comfortable by it because I speak it every day.
08:08Before, when I was a kid, I had a hard time with it.
08:11But now, I'm already used to it because, like, you have to use it in everyday life, you know?
08:16Like today.
08:17Yeah.
08:17We're speaking English right now, by the way.
08:20Yeah.
08:20Everybody knows that.
08:21And maybe some parents are also curious, who are watching.
08:27At what age, at least from what you can recall now, at what age did you realize that you have
08:35this interest when it comes to learning?
08:39Like, I had a learning point before, like, when I was a toddler.
08:44I just liked to learn new things and be curious.
08:47Like, when I was a toddler, like, about three years old, it happened to me, like, I always learn something
08:52new every day.
08:52And I was, like, roaming around the house exploring stuff.
08:55Sometimes, I even broke things just to learn.
08:58Which is, yeah, I would agree, which is part of learning, no?
09:01Because you get to see…
09:02Yeah, like, sometimes I break things and then I just learn that you can't break things because it might hurt
09:07someone or what.
09:09Wow.
09:09That's even an insightful way of looking at it.
09:15Now, speaking of learning new things, even when you were younger, you started with Kumon, no?
09:20When you were two years old.
09:22Although you mentioned earlier that civics, that's your favorite subject.
09:28Yeah, it has math and reading.
09:29Yeah, but what about mathematics that you also like?
09:33Like, I just like having word problems because it, like, sometimes, like, storifies the problems and it makes it more
09:43fun to answer.
09:44Because, like, there's a point in answering.
09:46Like, there's also a point in answering.
09:48Like, you have to learn math because math is everywhere.
09:52But it's really fun when it's word problems because it's like a story and you're trying to solve it.
10:00Like a mystery story, you know?
10:03And I like how you looked at it and I would agree with you when you said that math is
10:08everywhere.
10:09Because when I was younger and I still had hair, I was also thinking about the significance of mathematics because
10:18I thought it was just an add-on of a subject.
10:22Until I realized, to your point, it's really about learning how to solve problems.
10:27Yeah.
10:28Because in life, there will always be givens.
10:31That's what we call blessings.
10:33Yeah.
10:33But there are also requirements and we have to solve it.
10:37Yeah, and we also have problems.
10:38Correct.
10:39And that's the problem, no?
10:40And it's good that we are exercising that even as early as two years old.
10:46Although, when I was two years old, I cannot even remember what I was doing.
10:49Me too.
10:52Sige, so what can you tell just in case there are nine-year-olds who are also watching and they
10:59do not like math, no?
11:01What would you like to tell them to encourage them to like math?
11:06I would just tell them, you know, you don't have to be scared of math because math is everywhere and
11:12you sometimes don't even know you're actually like already indulged in math.
11:16Like sometimes in science, there's also math in it and you'll never know.
11:21Like so you don't actually really hate math a lot, you know?
11:25Because if you don't like math, then you can't succeed in your life because like math is everywhere.
11:32In the same manner that there are also blessings and requirements and problems?
11:37Yeah.
11:38Math is not just about like the numbers.
11:40It's also about problem solving.
11:43Which is very important.
11:46In fact, I would agree with you, you're a nine-year-old, I would agree with you that it's a
11:50life skill.
11:51Of course.
11:53Sige, so if you don't, if there are certain lessons that you meet in class or even when you are
12:01reading a book,
12:02and then the moment you read it or you see it, you don't understand it right away,
12:10what do you normally do for you to be able to understand it?
12:14Sometimes I just, like if it's like solvable, but I just forgot the answer or I don't know it a
12:20bit.
12:20Or if I like understand just even a little part of it, like I just try to analyze it.
12:26Or if I really don't know, then I'll just ask help from an adult.
12:32And by the way, I hope our viewers have captured that.
12:35Because even if Maxine is a very smart nine-year-old, but she also knows when it's necessary to ask
12:44for help.
12:45Because we don't really have to understand everything.
12:50Sometimes we need help.
12:51We don't have to ask help from everyone.
12:53And like if you can do it, then just do it.
12:56You know, you need to learn it sometimes stuff on your own.
13:00But when you need help, you also will have to ask help.
13:04By the way, do you have a special study habit?
13:11Like not really kind of, I don't have a study habit.
13:15But like sometimes I just tend to like to be distracted from stuff.
13:20Like I don't make a study habit because it doesn't sometimes work, you know, no matter how I try.
13:27So like sometimes I just try to find other and different ways like to help me study.
13:33Such as?
13:36Like sometimes if I'm really tired, I just don't force myself.
13:39Because if I force myself, I know I'm going to get everything wrong when I'm studying.
13:44Because my brain won't remember it anymore.
13:47And then I just take a break for a while and I just go back to where I started.
13:53Well, they say that sometimes the brain is also, and I agree with you, the brain is also like an
13:59iPad.
14:00It needs a reset.
14:02True.
14:03And for gadgets, sometimes that bug down, most of them are okay after we do the reset.
14:13Yeah.
14:13So, by the way, are you also, although you said that you don't necessarily have a specific routine,
14:22but are you a type of student who prefers to study in the evening until they are done?
14:30Or are you the kind of student who would rather wake up early and prepare for school?
14:37I would just go like study in the evening because sometimes I just don't want to do it in the
14:44morning
14:44because it's so laggy because like I just woke up and, you know, my body still needs to adjust from
14:51the sleeping.
14:53So, I just do it like in the evening when I'm mostly active.
14:57I'm very active in the evening, but not at night.
15:00I sleep.
15:01So, yeah, I can relate to that.
15:03I also prefer to study in the evening until I'm done rather than wake up early and prepare for school.
15:10I would rather have to prepare even the day before rather than on the day itself.
15:14Yeah.
15:15Sige, so you've mentioned earlier that you love books.
15:19But if I am to ask you, which would you prefer?
15:22A cartoon movie or watching a cartoon movie or reading a book?
15:28Reading a book because I don't like watching cartoon movies unless if they're like real.
15:33Because it's not that realistic and I'm not so childish anymore.
15:39I don't watch cartoons.
15:41And just for curiosity, did you catch Forgotten Island?
15:47No.
15:48Oh.
15:48I don't even know that.
15:50Yeah.
15:50So, I think that really explains that you truly prefer to read books rather than watch cartoons.
15:59Yeah, but I'd watch like real stuff like reality TV.
16:05I could like watch that or sometimes like something really close to real life.
16:12Because it's fun.
16:14You prefer, oh, because you like civics and observe social events.
16:22That's why you prefer to keep things real.
16:26Yeah.
16:27Like cartoons are like dreams only.
16:29And you can't imagine them a lot.
16:31So, yeah.
16:33You mentioned you prefer civics.
16:34But just in case, I'll ask you which one would you like better, math or English?
16:45Actually, I like both of them because you also, aside from math, you also need like to use English in
16:51your daily life.
16:52Because how can you communicate with other people when you don't know how to, like you need to ask someone
16:58for help.
16:58Like you don't know how to speak anymore.
17:00So, you have to learn like the English.
17:03Because if you don't know and then you're just trying to ask like or speak to someone, they might not
17:09understand you because you have wrong grammar or what.
17:13An excellent point because you would also use English to understand the problem.
17:16Yeah, so I just like them both the same, but not higher than civics though.
17:24So, what about, because I know that you also are talented, no?
17:30When it comes to piano, playing the piano and also swimming.
17:33If you are to choose among the two, which one actually has a 0.1 edge?
17:40Piano or swimming?
17:42Oh, piano.
17:42Okay.
17:43Because, like, it's fun.
17:45I like to play instrument.
17:46Even though I don't know a lot in piano yet, I still can play a full song.
17:51But I'm like, I can play like piano and it's fun.
17:56Swimming is also fun, you know.
17:58You can just splash and play in the water or just either up to like swim or train.
18:06But then I like piano because it's like, enjoy playing.
18:09I like enjoying playing music.
18:13And, like, it's fun to press the keys on the keyboard.
18:17Sometimes you can, like, just invent your own song or what.
18:20But I mostly practice a song.
18:24What do you, by the way, do you have a pet at home?
18:27I had one.
18:28I have a dog, but I left it in my old house with my grandmother.
18:32Like, when I transferred to the new house in grade one, which is where I'm living in currently.
18:39Because, like, I couldn't take care of it anymore and I was too busy.
18:43Like, who would take care of their pet?
18:45Like, when you have too much to do.
18:48Because I would be really tired out already.
18:51So I just had to leave it with my grandmother.
18:53What's the name of your dog?
18:56I didn't have, like, have a proper, I didn't have a proper name.
19:00And I just decided to call it Bunny before.
19:03Bunny?
19:03Like a rabbit?
19:04Yeah, because I was, like, three years old at that time.
19:07Like, I'm three years old.
19:09And I don't, I couldn't tell about the bunny and the dog yet.
19:14I just named it Bunny because I thought it was.
19:17Even though I knew it was a dog, I thought it looked like a bunny.
19:20But it actually didn't.
19:21It had a smudge face and everything.
19:23Well, you don't have to worry because in Cebu, we have one outstanding entrepreneur.
19:29And he just released a book.
19:31And his name is also Bunny.
19:33Like a dog?
19:34No, no, he's not a dog.
19:35He's a person.
19:37Bunny Pahes.
19:40Now, when it comes to recreation,
19:43are you the kid who would prefer to play by the beach?
19:47Or do you prefer to go up the mountains?
19:53I would, like, choose both, actually.
19:55Because both are calm and peaceful.
19:58And I just like to be in peace when I do, like, glaciers.
20:03Because I like to be calm because I don't like other people, like, noising around.
20:10It, like, distracts me from what I'm doing.
20:12So, you prefer wherever it is as long as it's a peaceful place.
20:18Yeah.
20:19Now, this one is just a make, this is just imagination,
20:26which is, by the way, you said that you would prefer to keep things real.
20:29But just in case, you will be given the power to happily remove one subject from school.
20:40What would this subject be?
20:43I would remove Filipino because it's all Filipino.
20:46I don't usually understand.
20:48It's so hard to learn no matter what.
20:50I've been learning it ever since I was in kindergarten.
20:53Like, we had a subject already in kindergarten.
20:55It was, like, our first time.
20:57And, like, I had to learn Filipino.
20:59Like, we were forced to learn it because it's part of the school curriculum.
21:04And I really don't like it.
21:06Because, like, even if it was just the letters there, it was so hard already.
21:09And you had to, like, in grade one, you had to, like, make words already.
21:13And then now in grade four, now we're talking about types of stuff already.
21:17And it's really hard.
21:18No, I think you will have Filipino until, no, even college.
21:23Yeah, I know.
21:24It's going to get harder each time.
21:26And I'm not sure if I can be able to keep up, but who knows?
21:30Well, I can tell that you can.
21:33Because if we can consider this as your problem, and then you have, you are, so the given is you
21:40have an excellent intellect.
21:42And the required is, learn Filipino.
21:46Yeah.
21:47You will figure it out.
21:48You have to learn it or the subject will actually hate you.
21:51Ah, good point.
21:53Now, by the way, when you do your homework, you mentioned earlier that you prefer to do it independently.
21:59Although, when there's a time that you need for help, you would need help, you would ask for help.
22:04Who helps you with your homework?
22:06Like, anybody who knows.
22:08Like, my mom, my dad.
22:09Or sometimes the teacher in school.
22:12Or some of my classmates, like anybody who knows.
22:16I think, I hope our viewers were able to capture that, no?
22:19Anybody who knows, no?
22:21Because it doesn't matter if it's a particular area.
22:25Yeah, they can give you, like, good advice and stuff.
22:28As long as they know.
22:30Yeah.
22:30Very good.
22:31That's a good prerequisite, no?
22:32Like, why can you, like, ask, why do you ask someone, like, when they don't know, actually?
22:39Like, you already know they don't know, but why would you ask that to someone?
22:43So you have to find someone who really knows.
22:46And by the way, at least when you will be my age, that's what we call discernment.
22:53Because there are just so many people around us, but not all of them actually really truly know the solution
23:00to what we are looking for.
23:02So at least when you're nine, you already have discernment.
23:05Now, we talked about your friends earlier, and you said that you don't want to greet them, or you're changing
23:13your mind.
23:14I actually like to say hi to them.
23:15Okay, yes.
23:16You say hi to your friends.
23:18So hi to whoever's my friends was watching.
23:21Hi, guys.
23:23And by the way, what are the things that you enjoy doing with your friends?
23:29Playing with them or talking with them, like, literally chit-chatting.
23:33But not really childish play also.
23:36Like, age-appropriate.
23:38And sometimes I just read books with them or do schoolwork together.
23:42And that's it.
23:44By the way, do you have a favorite snack?
23:49No, I don't have a favorite snack.
23:51I like each snack equally, you know.
23:54Okay.
23:55Without naming brands, you don't want to share, you know.
24:00Banana chips?
24:01Yeah.
24:01Yeah, you like banana chips?
24:02I don't like chips.
24:03I like potato chips, actually.
24:06Okay.
24:06So at least we, Eva knows what to buy, you know, after the show.
24:11If you have one superpower, if you will be given the opportunity to have one superpower, what would it be?
24:25Like, one superpower is the power of teleporting.
24:29Because it's so convenient.
24:31And, like, when you're late, you don't have to rush, like, to anywhere.
24:35You can just, like, in one snap or go, you can just arrive at that place already.
24:41And this time, we go back to learning again, because this is among the area of expertise.
24:50Well, sometimes, and this applies in math and even in life, we don't get to have the correct answer all
24:57the time.
24:57So when you find out that the answer that you gave was not the correct one, what would you normally
25:05do?
25:08I wouldn't get mad at myself, obviously.
25:11Why would I hurt myself?
25:12Like, sometimes, I would just try to re-answer it again.
25:15Or sometimes, if it was already corrected, then I'll just try better next time.
25:20And, yeah.
25:22And you obviously did very well, also, when you joined Sunstar's Junior Journal.
25:27Now, can you tell us why you got into the program or why you wanted to be part of the
25:32program?
25:33Actually, I do know about the Sunstar Junior Workshop.
25:36Like, I mean, Junior Journal.
25:38Like, until one day, my mom's like, you know, there's a Sunstar Junior Journal Workshop.
25:43Do you want to join?
25:44And I was, like, thinking about it.
25:45It was a hard decision, because I don't even know how to write articles at that time.
25:51Like, what if I would fail?
25:52I was thinking.
25:53So I thought about it for one whole night.
25:57And I just ended up saying yes, because I knew it was a new opportunity for me to do some
26:03stuff.
26:04So I just joined it, and I just became familiar with it.
26:09If there's somebody, or maybe a character that you read from the book that you want to interview, who will
26:20that character or who will that person be?
26:24I have a lot of favorite characters, actually.
26:29But, like, it's not my favorite book.
26:32But, like, I have an old book that I read before.
26:38Like, it was about Frozen, and I just wanted to interview Elsa there.
26:46Elsa?
26:46Yeah, it was an old book.
26:48I read it before when I was, like, in grade one.
26:52And why do you want to interview her?
26:54Because I was interested at that point.
26:57Like, it was the most interesting character I've ever seen.
26:59Because, like, she can, like, she has the power, like, to form things with eyes.
27:05She had powers to freeze anything.
27:08And that's exactly why she wore gloves all the time.
27:11And, by the way, because we're about to end our conversation, and I'm enjoying this so much.
27:18But if there's something that you'd like to tell, no?
27:22Other nine-year-olds who are watching on how they can enjoy learning as much as you do, what would
27:32you tell them?
27:35I would just tell them, just enjoy learning as if it's a game.
27:39Because when you learn, it's, like, not for someone else.
27:43It's actually for you, and you can, like, learn something new.
27:47And you might need that knowledge someday, you know?
27:50So you just rather learn.
27:54And because your mom, no, or dad, your mom will pick you up, no?
27:59And in a few minutes, what would be something that you wish she would bring you, no?
28:08When she picks you up in a few minutes?
28:10Actually, I would just, I want to wish her, like, to bring me, like, something like, what?
28:18Like, a game, because, like, a new PS5 game.
28:22Like, I have many PS5 games at my house, but I really want to get more, you know?
28:27Like, especially the Minecraft one.
28:31Sige.
28:31So, hello, mom.
28:33I'll see you in a few minutes.
28:38I truly enjoyed this conversation, Maxine.
28:43It's fun and a learning experience for me, you know?
28:47Having a conversation with a nine-year-old like you.
28:50And among the many, you know, that I learned from you is to look at math and learning as part
28:57of life, no?
28:58Yeah.
28:59Because when we enjoy math and learning, then we even stand to have a better chance.
29:05Yeah.
29:06To be better at math and in life.
29:09Yeah.
29:09So, thank you very much, no?
29:12So, success is not always about getting the medal most of the time.
29:16It is about the courage to step forward and discover what we are capable of.
29:21And I'll have to revise that portion of the closing script.
29:24It's also, a lot of it has something to do with our want to learn and to keep learning.
29:32So, I'm DJ Moise.
29:34Shout out to Coffee First for supporting conversations that matter.
29:37Let's continue to look deeper and think better.
29:40This is Beyond the Headlines.
29:41Have a good afternoon.
29:48It starts with a fresh shot of espresso.
29:52Bold, rich, pulled just right.
29:58Then comes the milk.
30:00Steamed smooth, creamy, and balanced.
30:03The perfect latte is not brushed.
30:05It is crafted, one cup at a time.
30:10Your perfect latte is ready.
30:12Coffee first.
30:14Then, everything else.