In the city of Tayabas, Quezon, there exists a green science high school: one that bears the province’s name: Quezon Science High School. Since 2011, it has proudly bore its green logo, its green motif, and most importantly, its green buildings and signage at the entrance. However, that all changed when the long-standing green paint on the walls of the campus were suddenly replaced by the color orange. Coincidentally, that is also the color used by Dr. Helen Tan, the current governor of Quezon Province.

Understandably so, the students were rightfully angry. Their official school publication, Ang/The Velocity, even posted an editorial article. Yet, the provincial government forced the publication to take it down. And all I have to say is this: the students, campus, teachers, or any stakeholders of any school should not be used as a way to further your political campaigning.

Section 20 of the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and the DILG Memorandum Circular 2026-006, better known as the Anti-Epal Ordinance explicitly state that politicians should not use and add their face, symbol, or imagery associated with themselves in any activity or building that is publicly funded. This is a clear violation of this law and ordinance; however, nothing has been done. No building was repainted. No faces were removed. And now, the color orange has now infected every corner of the QSHS building.

I am not a Quesayano. I do not even live in Quezon Province. However, when there is an obvious epal dismantling the identity of a school and silencing its students when they speak up, I will not be complicit and silent in this whole ordeal. The school has now lost its character which has been built for 16 years, all in the name of a politician who cannot stop her grubby hands from making QSHS her own political playground.

Orange has slowly crept into the campus of QSHS, and even if it has infected the entire campus, no bright of a color as orange will ever mask the true luntian of Quezon Science High School. No silencing will ever dim the voices of the students that have studied there. The excuse of “progress” will never mask the erasure of a school’s oneness. The history and culture of a whole school will never be erased by a politician’s own gain.

Quezon Science High School and its Quesayanos will forever be green, and never will be orange.

The Frontman