More public high schools to get iSchools lab

ISPSC President Dr. Rafael Querubin and iSchools Project Manager for ISPSC Engr. Evangeline Reyes completed the inspection and evaluation of seven national high schools (NHS) in Ilocos Norte and four high schools in Abra for inclusion in the next phase of the iSchools project (2007). The schools visited were the following:
Ilocos Norte: Bacarra NCHS, Bangui NHS, Curimao NHS, Dingras NHS, Paoay Lake NHS, Solsona NHS and Nagrebcan NHS
Abra: Northern Abra NHS, Gaddani NHS, Manabo NHS and Suyo NHS

Of the visited schools, six were found out to have no computer laboratories, while the rest have existing computer laboratories, but many of the computers are not functional anymore. These were recommended to CICT for inclusion in the iSchools Project 2007.

Earlier, Dr. Querubin and Engr. Reyes attended the Project Briefing and Orientation Workshop for the next phase of the iSchools project to map out plans and strategies for the different activities to be undertaken. The workshop was held at the Development Academy of the Philippines in Tagaytay on May 26-28, 2008 and attended by partner SUC Presidents and their ICT Coordinators. It was learned that more SUCs will be involved as partners for the iSchools project implementation to cover more national high schools nationwide.

ISPSC President Dr. Querubin confers with Mr. Bienvenido Balantac of Dingras National High School during the site evaluation of candidate schools for iSchools 2007.

CICT Head Leads Freedom Rites at Baguio City

Secretary Ray Anthony Roxas–Chua III, Chairman of the CICT represented President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in leading the Independence Day celebrations in Baguio City. The Flag Raising and Wreath laying ceremonies was held at the Rizal Monument in Burnham Park. Baguio City Mayor Reinaldo A. Bautista Jr., regional heads of government agencies of the Cordillera Administrative Region and Philippine Military Academy officers assisted Secretary Roxas-Chua.

Right after the flag-raising and wreath laying ceremonies, Secretary Roxas-Chua and CICT Commissioners Angelo Timoteo M. Diaz De Rivera and Monchito B. Ibrahim proceeded to the Baguio City National High School to launch the iSchools computer laboratory.

Secretary Roxas-Chua then proceeded to the Baguio Convention Center where he was joined by Baguio City Mayor Bautista to visit the Sentro K3 (Kagalingan, Kaisahan at Kalayaan ng Bayan) booths put up by government agencies. The booths provided free services to citizens. Secretary Roxas Chua also awarded the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Training for Work Scholarships (PGMA-TWSP) to more than 200 near hires who are bound to become full-fledged call center agents after they complete their trainings. This activity is undertaken in cooperation with the TESDA and the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP).

A giant flag measuring 100 meters long was also unfurled at the Baguio City athletic oval as part of the celebration.

More news at CICT website

Online Writers in Action

This time it's for real...
Online writers from Benguet State University, Ifugao State College of Agriculture and Forestry, Batangas State University, Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College and CICT join hands to get good coverage of the 110th Philippine Independence Day Celebration at Baguio City.

Marife and Johnny apply what they learned from their trainings to get good photos and videos of the event as it happens.

Not to be outdone in the company of professionals, Avery, Johnny, Marife and Femie get a good focus of their cameras on CICT Chairman Chua.

photos by jon p.

iSchools update

CICT targets 320 more high schools in iSchools project

from Inquirer.Net

June is ICT Month

News update from CICT website

Proclamation No. 1521 declared the month of June this year and every year thereafter as National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Month. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the Proclamation last May 28, 2008, giving recognition to the vital role that ICT plays in nation building.

National ICT Month is placed under the auspices of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), which is the lead government agency tasked to plan, promote and oversee the country's ICT development.

DEFEMNHS iSchools Implementation

This slideshow is the output of the writer during the Advance Online Writing Techniques Training Workshop at Aklan State University, Banga, Aklan, Philippines on May 19-23, 2008. (Related story below)

iSchool Writers Upgrade Skills

The iSchools 2006 project have to be properly and completely documented not just in print, but more importantly, with pictures, sound and videos.

To do this, writers and technical staff from fourteen SUCs involved with the iSchools project trooped to Aklan State University to hone their skills and techniques in “writing for the ear” and online publishing from May 19-23, 2008. This five-day training-workshop on advanced online writing techniques was conducted by two distinguished writers and professors from the University of the Philippines, Luz Rimban and Yvonne Chua.

The participants, toting their laptops, headphones, microphones, voice recorders, digicams and videocams, learned to write scripts, voice their prepared scripts, conduct and record interviews, and shoot still photos and videos. Then these different materials were combined using different sound, photo and video editing software to come up with a multimedia material for online publication. Under the discerning eyes and discriminating ears of the trainors, the participants toiled day and night, to meet their deadlines and come up with online-worthy outputs.

Their practicum involved a visit to two high schools which are recipients of the iSchools project, in order to document their iSchools project implementation. The participants were divided into two groups- one group went to Aklan National High School of Arts and Trade in Kalibo, Aklan and the other to Aguinaldo T. Repiedad Sr. Integrated School in Banga, Aklan. The groups conducted interviews with the school principal, students, teachers and even people from the community to get information. They shot videos and still photos of the school, the laboratory, and the interviews conducted. Upon return to the training venue, the participants worked overnight to come up with a two-minute video presentation.

In the end, the participants earned the nod of the trainors and the outputs were published in YouTube.

Toni Torres, iSchools project manager, agreed to find ways and means so that quality equipment such as digicam, voice recorder, laptop and microphone, will be provided to each of the writers for the documentation of the iSchools project in their respective areas.

The participants:

• Balandra, Ma. Belen R. - Western Visayas College of Science & Technology
• Baniton, Johnny Jr. U. - Ifugao State College of Agriculture & Forestry
• Biray, Ersyl T. - Aklan State University
• Carpio, Marife - Benguet State University
• Cero, Leyma L. - Cavite State University
• De Angel, Aphrile L. - Aklan State University
• Dela Ostia, Leah B. - Aklan State University
• Dellosa, Jeffrey T. - Northern Mindanao Institute of Science & Technology
• De Pedro, Gideon Lyndon III S. - Aklan State University
• Jamilarin, Patrick Anthony - Aklan State University
• Jamora, Michael John A. - Sorsogon State College
• Lambino, Ramir D. - Tarlac College of Agriculture
• Lee, Eufremia C. - CICT
• Lopez, Eric G. - Bataan Peninsula State University
• Mandac, Philip Constantine L. - Apayao State College
• Nanaman, Mara Barbra S. - Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology
• Pagatpatan, Jonathan S. - Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College
• Repayo, Benedicta D. - Aklan State University
• Rosales, Eleanor F. - Aklan State University
• Villareal, Dante J.P. - Western Mindanao State University