A public school in the Philippines transforms education via ICT

DASMARIÑAS, Cavite, June 13, 2011—Given the dynamics of 21st century education, how can public schools be competitive vis-à-vis private educational institutions?

For the Congressional National High School (CNHS) in Dasmariñas, Cavite, the integration of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has proven effective in improving the academic performance of students and in developing a roster of teachers that employ modern teaching methods.

CNHS has a dedicated building for its ICT laboratories.  From the initial secondhand units purchased in 1999, there are currently more than 100 computers in the labs servicing over 4,000 students, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A former annex of the Dasmarinas National High School, CNHS has been integrating ICT literacy programs since 1999.

Emmanuel Resurreccion, CNHS Principal IV, and OIC, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent City Schools Division of Dasmariñas, said that his vision to have ICT integrated into the secondary education curriculum of CNHS intensified when he was sent to Korea for training and discovered that public schools there were “high-tech”.

This prompted him to apply CNHS in the Intel Teach Program, a program that trains educators to effectively use ICT in the context of local classroom curricula and education standard.

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Van on wheels teaching computer literacy to out-of-school youth

ALAMINOS CITY, May 18, 2011 (PNA)—Hundreds of out-school youth here are now taking up free computer literacy training offered by AiHu Foundation Inc., a Taiwan-based charitable institution.

The computer literacy program, which started May 16, is being made with the help of a mobile van loaded with computers and other teaching tools.

This was made possible through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed earlier by Mayor Hernani A. Braganza with Billy Huang, CEO of AiHu Foundation Inc. and ABS Partylist Representative Catalina Leonen-Pizarro.

The agreement provided that roving classroom known as Computer Van Aralan Program will be on a nine-week stop-over in Alaminos City to teach the youth on computer literacy.

“This will definitely benefit our out-of school youth," Braganza said, stressing that with the right partners like ABS Partylist, AiHu Foundation, TESDA, and Department of Education, children of Alaminos will soon have a decent job without leaving their homes.

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Advocacy for teachers makes mark

MANILA, May 9, 2011—Gabay Guro, a project of PLDT Smart Foundation, has won several awards for its efforts to help improve education in the country in a sustainable way.

The program started in 2007 when employee-volunteers of PLDT Managers Club Inc. thought of helping alleviate poverty by improving education through a program that will help teachers teach better.

The idea was that one good and well-motivated teacher could influence hundreds, even thousands of students.

Harnessing innovative partnerships and the creative use of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Group’s resources, Gabay Guro program (2G) consists of six core elements: (1) educational grants, (2) training, (3) teachers’ tribute cards, (4) livelihood, (5) broadbanding and computerization of public schools and (6) housing.

The foundation made 2G one of its flagship programs.

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DepEd conducts seminar on communication and handling of media

DUMAGUETE CITY, May 20 (PNA)—The Department of Education, through the city division of Dumaguete, is holding today a two-day seminar on effective communication and proper handling of media and guests.

At the opening of the said activity yesterday, Dr. Ramir Uytico, OIC-Schools Division Superintendent, said in a message that the DepEd Dumaguete Division is finding ways to improve and make a difference in the lives of students in the city.

The program, dubbed “Maximizing Totally of Skills” (MTS) ,will be launched in June, according to City Information Officer Steve Gabriel.

Gabriel quoted Uytico as saying that the project would not have been possible without the support of the local government unit of Dumaguete through City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria and the other city officials.

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International experts featured in UST national conference on English

MANILA, May 15, 2011—Two respected names in the field of English language teaching in the international scene will be the plenary speakers in the first National Conference on English organized and sponsored by the Department of English of the University of Santo Tomas.

Dr. Lee Koi Cheng, the deputy director and senior lecturer at the Centre for English Language Communication of the National University of Singapore, and Dr. Andrew Moody, associate professor of the Department of English of the University of Macau, are the plenary speakers in the two-day seminar workshop that will be held May 19-20 at the UST Thomas Aquinas Research Center.

The seminar theme, according to Marilu Ranosa-Madrunio, chair of UST Department of English, is “English, Englishes and Englishing in Multilingual and Multimedia Environments: From Theory to Practice.”

Madrunio said that the conference, which is being held to commemorate UST’s quadricentennial, is the university’s response to current trends in language teaching. The target audience of the conference are teachers and academic policy makers from all academic levels from both the private and public schools.

Distinguished Filipino language experts have been invited as focus lecturers: Maria Lourdes G. Tayao of the University of the Philippines Diliman, Isabel P. Martin of the Ateneo de Manila, Rachel Edita O. Roxas of DLSU-Manila, and Maria Minerva P. Calimag of UST.

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Two award-winning authors team up for mastering English seminar

May 16, 2011—Two National Book Award winners, practicing lawyer Atty. Jim Lopez and good-English advocate Jose A. Carillo, will be teaming up as lecturers for the two-day “Mastering English for Law Students and Bar Examinees” seminar to be conducted by the Center for Global Best Practices from May 24 to 25 at the Pearl Manila Hotel.

Lopez, author of four bestselling law books and the recently published “How to Excel in Law School” and a three-time winner of the National Book Award, will focus on the effective use of English in law school studies, in preparing for the bar exams, and in actual law practice. Carillo, Manila Times English-usage columnist and National Book Award-winning author of “English Plain and Simple” and two other English-usage books, will discuss how to strengthen one’s command of English through greater mastery of its grammar and usage basics.

“We designed this seminar to be a performance booster for those who are aspiring to excel in their law studies or to top the bar exams, and we are confident that our two resource persons, both experts in their respective fields, can help them achieve precisely that,” Henry B. Aquende, Center for Global Best Practices founder and president, said.

Those interested can still sign up for the seminar by logging on to www.cgbp.org or by calling Tel. (02) 556-8968/ 69 (Manila) or Tel. (032) 512-3106/ 07 (Cebu).

256 Baguio OSYs graduate through government alternative learning system

BAGUIO CITY, May 7, 2011 (PNA)—A total of 256 out-of-school youths (OSY) on Friday graduated either in the elementary or secondary level through the government alternative learning system (ALS).

Baguio schools superintendent Ellen Donator said 239 were given high school diploma, the oldest of whom was a 64-year-old street sweeper of Burnham Park who will soon be given a regular position, being a high school graduate.

"A total of 11 were given diploma for elementary education. Most of those who applied for the ALS passed but there were also those who failed. The system proved to be very helpful for those who cannot attend formal schooling either due to their work or because of poverty," she explained.

She said that one of the graduates studied his lessons and took the needed examinations while he was in jail.

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Pinoy teachers shine in Cambodia
By Leti Boniol, Philippine Daily Inquirer

May 1, 2011—Their primary goal when they left the country for Cambodia may have been to earn more money. But in the end, Filipino teachers end up giving their best to that country.

Take the case of Jayson Umaquing, who left the Philippines six years ago for a teaching job that was to give him higher pay in US dollars, part of which he could send back home to his parents and two sisters. He also wanted to embark on an adventure and a life of independence from his family.

His mother would not let him leave at first, fearing for his safety, but he grabbed the opportunity after being accepted for a teaching job in a private school in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh.

It was for him a a completely new world where he met people from different parts of the globe. He was able to visit the famous heritage destination Angkor Wat in Siem Reap and other places of nature. The exchange rate at the time was at least P47 to a dollar and that went a long way in sending his sister and some relatives to school.

He went through the stage of being lonely, doing all the work at home and in school, and facing a language barrier in a country where only a few speak English…

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Program underway to strengthen preschool teachers’ competencies

April 30, 2011—Designed to equip preschool teachers with better understanding of the developmental characteristics of young learners, the Department of Education through the Bureau of Elementary Education (BEE) is conducting a Summer Institute Program (SIP) for Preschool Teachers from May 2-27, 2011.

DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro believes that the conduct of the program will provide preschool teachers quality preparations in meeting the standards required by the department (based on DepEd Order No. 57, s. 2007). “This summer training just shows that nothing can stop us in pursuing an institutionalized preschool program in our public schools,” added Luistro.

He said further that enhancing the competencies of pre-school teachers will have a great impact on the young learners. “We should ensure that teachers are ready for the challenge of making our young kids' first school experience enjoyable and giving them a positive experience that will motivate them to remain in school and complete their education,” he said.

The program is expected to make teachers competent in the use of developmentally appropriate methods and strategies to develop the child’s potential in their physical, social, emotional and cognitive areas.

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National English conference set at University of Santo Tomas

MANILA, Philippines—Two respected names in the field of English language teaching in the international scene will be the plenary speakers in the first National Conference on English on May 19-20, at the Thomas Aquinas Research Center.

Dr. Lee Koi Cheng, deputy director and senior lecturer at the Centre for English Language Communication of the National University of Singapore, and Dr. Andrew Moody, associate professor of the Department of English of the University of Macau will speak in the two day seminar-workshop themed “English, Englishes and Englishing in Multilingual and Multimedia Environments: From Theory to Practice.”

Dr. Marilu Ranosa-Madrunio, chair of the Department of English said the confab is the university’s response to the current trend in language teaching. Participants are teachers and academic policy makers from all academic levels in both private and public schools.

Distinguished Filipino language experts have been invited as focus lecturers: Dr. Maria Lourdes G. Tayao of the University of the Philippines-Diliman, Dr. Isabel P. Martin of the Ateneo de Manila, Dr. Rachel Edita O. Roxas of DLSU-Manila, Dr. Cecilia M. Mendiola of the Phil. Normal University, Dr. Eden R. Flores of DLSU-Manila, and Dr. Maria Minerva P. Calimag of UST.

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Summer language training camp for high school teachers set

PASIG CITY, April 15, 2011—The Department of Education (DepEd) will be holding a summer training camp for high school teachers to learn a secondary foreign language.

In partnership with several international government organizations, The Special Program in Foreign Language (SPFL) will train teachers in Spanish, French, Japanese, Chinese, and German languages.

The program intends to widen the skill sets of high school teachers, which could also be passed on to their students in class.

DepEd released a memo stating that high school teachers from several schools nationwide will participate in the month-long SPFL.

About 200 teachers are expected to participate in the program. Of this number, 104 will be trained in Spanish, 39 will study Japanese, 18 will take French language lessons, 32 will learn German, and six will learn Chinese.

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City’s public schools benefit from husband-and-wife physicists’ learning program

CAGAYAN DE ORO, April 11, 2011—Long after the spotlight has dimmed on 2010 Ramon Magsaysay awardees Dr. Christopher Bernido and Dr. Ma. Victoria Carpio-Bernido, the husband-and-wife physicists are still hard at work, promoting their innovative teaching technology.

After rolling out the Dynamic Learning Program (DLP) in public schools all around the province of Bohol, they have found an ally in Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) in introducing the innovative learning technology in Cagayan de Oro public schools.

Stephanie V. Orlino, who manages the education program of Smart said that they were inspired by what the Bernidos are doing at their school, the Central Visayan Institute Foundation (CVIF) in Jagna, Bohol, and wanted to replicate this in other parts of the country starting with Cagayan de Oro.

Smart, in cooperation with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), brought the principals of Cagayan's public high schools to Bohol and arranged for their orientation with the Bernidos.

Impressed by the Bernidos’ non-traditional but effective teaching methodology, the principals of the schools responded by committing to implement the DLP in their respective schools.

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Bicol University passes academic management international standards

LEGAZPI CITY, April 6 (PNA) -– Bicol University (BU), the largest state-run higher education institution in the region with main campuses here has recently been given certification as a passer in the international standards on management and academic services in tertiary education.

BU President Dr. Fay Lea Patria Lauraya said the university has received recently the certification which serves as proof that it had passed the worldwide quality management system (QMS) set by the International Standardization Organization (ISO) through auditors from the Germany-based Technicher Uberwachungs Verein-Technical Inspection Association-TUV.

Lauraya said that the ISO accreditation gives BU the privilege to level up with fellow ISO accredited schools in other countries and gain international market access such as exchange of learning strategies, students and program offerings.

“BU as now ISO accredited, we expect better opportunities for our graduates once they decide to work abroad or even merely to continue their post-graduate courses outside the Philippines,” Lauraya said.

With this, she said BU would open additional programs such as medicine meteorology and courses incorporating climate change adaptation.

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Fast food giant names six young Filipino achievers as brand ambassadors

MANILA, February 20, 2011—The Filipino youth needs role models who work for a better Philippines. With this in mind, Jollibee, the proudly Filipino fastfood-chain giant, selected six young and inspiring achievers who excel in their respective fields—including academics, sports, literature, the performing arts and social entrepreneurship—as its official “Yumbassadors.”

The Jollibee Yumbassadors are a new breed of role models who promote youth empowerment and nationalism through world-class achievements. Proudly, they say, “I am young. I am Pinoy. I Yum.”

Let us meet them and laud them through this Sunday Times Magazine special: Reese Fernandez; Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino; Francis Casey “Niño” Alcantara, 18; Miro Frances Capili, 15, Carmela Lao, 17; and Sam Concepcion, 18.

Reese Fernandez is one of nine co-founders of Rags to Riches (R2R), a project dedicated to empower the women of Payatas, a poor community in Manila, by training them to craft world-class bags out of rags. This livelihood program runs under the creative supervision of renowned designers like Rajo Laurel and Amina Aranaz-Alunan.

For her efforts, Fernandez was named one of the 20 Global Young Social Entrepreneurs by the International Youth Foundation in 2008; one of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service awardees in 2010; and was granted a Rolex’s Award for Enterprise, Young Laureates Programme in 2010.

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Teacher seeks funding aid for students' international competitions

MANILA, February 24, 2011 (PNA) -- A school adviser is proposing the establishment of a government fund for travel of public high school students whose research projects were chosen as finalists in international science competitions.

"Perhaps the Department of Education (DepEd) can set aside at least a million pesos for this purpose," Quezon City Science High School (QCSHS) research adviser Noel Diaz said on the side of the one-day EDSA Babies Expo which opened Wednesday at SM North EDSA mall in Quezon City.

The expo showcases some of the best youth-initiated projects for helping further move the country forward.

Diaz believes availability of funding support will enable students and their advisers to better concentrate on their research projects and competitions so they can contribute to national development and even bring honor to the country.

He raised the urgency for giving the most exposure possible to students' projects, saying this can help attract parties willing to provide funds for either expanding their school research or for putting to actual use findings from studies they made.

"Research is a tool for development," he noted.

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Microsoft Philippines urges educators to integrate technology in their methods

MANILA, February 6, 2011—Educators from various schools nationwide on Thursday participated in a forum sponsored by Microsoft Philippines at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City titled "Motivating Learners through ICT".

The forum is part of Microsoft Philippines’ campaign to provide Filipino students with a higher level of learning experience by integrating technology with educators' teaching methods.

The IT solutions company's managing director John Bessey described education as an "important tool to aid one's thirst for knowledge and discovery." He said they aim to "enable the Filipino people, most importantly the youth, to reach their full potential through technology."

Through the Partners in Learning Initiative, which is a collaboration between the Department of Education and Microsoft that started six years ago, "schools, students and educators are empowered not only by being provided the access to technology but also by being equipped with the right training and tools."

"Endless possibilities can be achieved by technology," said Arcy Bartolome, Microsoft Philippines' Public Sector Director. Microsoft revealed that it has reached at least three million individuals in the country and trained 43,687 teachers.

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Scholarship grants available under exchange visitor program

MANILA, January 30, 2011—The Department of Labor and Employment has announced that as one of the members of the government's Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) Committee, it has agreed to post the notice of availability of scholarship grants under the Enhancement Training Sponsorship Project (ETSP) of the EVP to the department's website.

In a report to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, DoLE International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) Director Ma. Celeste Valderrama said the ETSP is one of the efforts of the government to enhance the skills pool of the Philippines while allowing Filipino professionals to find better income overseas to support their families.

Valderrama said the EVP Committee of the Philippines is now accepting applications for scholarship grants under its ETSP project which is funded by the EVP participants who are undertaking alternative arrangements in lieu of the two-year home country residency requirement of the EVP.

She said the project allots a maximum of $1,500 per scholar per course, with the funding being released at the beginning of each term.

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Bacolod high school sophomore new Sudoku champ

MANILA, January 30, 2011—Timothy James Tan, a mainstay of the national mathematics team, is the country's new Sudoku champion.

Tan, 14 and a sophomore high school student of the Trinity Christian School in Bacolod City, topped the 5th Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge (PSSC) championships held Saturday in Quezon City.

The numbers ace, who has been playing Sudoku since he was eight, took home P60,000 cash and a glass trophy for winning the annual contest organized by the non-government Mathematics Trainers' Guild-Philippines (MTG).

Tan beat four other contestants during the finals of the Grandmaster division in less than five minutes (out of the allotted time of 30 minutes).

Tan scored a total of 1,576.33 points from five rounds in the day-long competition, according to Dr. Simon Chua, MTG president.

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News reporter of Philippine TV network wins international award

January 20, 2011—Philippine television is full of compelling true stories. But very few TV reporters and producers make it a habit to turn their Filipino-language video reports into English-language articles for the web, instantly giving their work an international audience.

Claire Delfin is one of those few, and she has been amply rewarded with a slew of awards.

She just won another one, the 2010 SEAMEO-Australia Press Award for her story Palengskwela: Bringing the school to the market, which was published on this site last November.

SEAMEO stands for Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization, which together with the Australian government sponsor an annual competition in the region for journalists covering education. The 2010 contest’s theme was “Innovation in Education."

The innovation in Delfin’s story is a government alternative learning program set in a market (palengke), where labourers can go to school (eskwela) while earning a living, hence the coined term palengskwela.

She will be receiving her award in Brunei on January 27, and the prize is a three-week study visit and internship at the Melbourne Age newspaper in Australia in 2011, the exact dates still to be determined.

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Young’s views on sustainable construction honored in Holcim contest

MANILA, December 16, 2010—One urged builders to look back at Philippine history for ideas on building sustainable structures instead of indiscriminately adapting Western construction principles. Another reminded that going green does not involve just the structure itself, but holistic benefits for the residents and community. A third focused on roofing, and how this single building component can be used to reverse the negative effects of climate change and not just a shield against the elements.

Joaquin Carlos Urbiztondo de Jesus, a 21-year old Development Studies major from Ateneo de Manila University, won the top award with his essay “Utilizing our Heritage for Modern and Sustainable Construction: A Must”.

He bested 34 other students from 14 schools nationwide to win P50,000 in cash plus a three-day stay in Singapore to attend the regional awarding ceremony of the Holcim Award for Sustainable Construction next year.

In his entry, De Jesus noted that builders have abandoned local design ideas that go well with sustainable construction targets in favor of modern concepts that are not necessarily better for building sustainably.

“We try to break free from the past but sadly, oftentimes, we are left with outcomes that are frustrating and chaotic. However, this shouldn’t be the case. When we take a look at our heritage, we realize that in our engagement with modernity, we find wisdom in the construction techniques and aesthetics of the past,” he wrote.

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Young Filipino wins award for tales on environment
By Niña Calleja, Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, November 14, 2010s—Telling tales about the pressing environmental issues to small kids has given Christopher Millora big rewards in return.

For launching a short story caravan which brought awareness to children in Iloilo communities, the 20-year-old nursing student of West Visayas State University was named one of the Bayer Young Environmental Leaders by the pharmaceutical and crop science company Bayer and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Along with delegates from India, Brazil, and Vietnam, Millora was picked from the 50 delegates of 18 countries who participated in the Bayer Young Environmental Envoy (BYEE) Program, an international competition of young student leaders who implemented projects for protecting the environment.

Other participants came from Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Peru, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Venezuela and Argentina.

Millora also took home 1,000 Euros (P60,000) as support fund to enable him to pursue his project.

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Boy, 12, uses mobile tech to teach fellow children how to read, count

MANILA, November 15, 2010—Just when the whole world is getting the hang of downloading and enjoying applications or apps on mobile phones, a boy from Indonesia has already made these fun and entertaining add-ons a useful tool in creating a positive difference in his native land.

Meet Fahma Waluya Rosmansyah from Bandung, Indonesia, probably the youngest app developer you’ll ever meet. At age 12, Fahma has already created games that have helped Indonesian children learn the English language and simple mathematics—all through his Nokia E71.

While it may be a daunting challenge for some to create apps or games, Fahma spends his free time doing just that with ease. Call him a mobile phone whiz if you will, Fahma, just like most kids today, just loves playing with his games console, PC games and mobile phones.

When he reached fifth grade, he learned to develop and create with Adobe Flash, and it was during this time as well that he was able to create his first application — the BAHANA—which allowed young children to learn the alphabet, numbers and colors.

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China honors another Filipino teacher

MANILA—The Philippine embassy in Beijing, China, reported that another Filipino teacher who teaches English in China’s Liaoning province was honored by the Chinese government as an “Outstanding Foreign Expert.”

Frederick S. Lomibao received his award from Liaoning Governor Chen Zhenggao for his outstanding contributions to the economic, scientific, technological, educational, and cultural development of the province.

Lomibao, who has been teaching English in China for six years, is currently employed at a private school in Liaoning’s Yingkou City.

Lomibao joined three other Filipino teachers—Ma. Socorro Rodriguez, Arnel Genzola, and Lileth Mesias Reyes—who were also cited by China’s Jilin province for their contributions to its economic and social development.

They were bestowed “The Outstanding Foreign Experts Award,” which is conferred annually by various provinces or cities in China to foreign experts in appreciation of their outstanding achievements and contribution to the development of China’s economy, technology, education and culture.

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Philippines to host epics and ballads international conference in January 2011

An international conference on epics and ballads will he held in the Philippines from January 20-22, 2011 to preserve these forms of intangible heritage and foster self-pride in them by cultural communities in various parts of the world. The theme of the conference is “Songs of Memory: Safeguarding Cultural Heritage at the Turn of the 21st Century,” and its venue will be the Ateneo de Manila University at Loyola Heights in Quezon City.

Scholars from the Philippines, Europe, and Southeast Asia are being invited to the conference to discuss ways of storing oral narratives in the light of contemporary multimedia technology and to share their views on the interpretation of sung narratives.

To be launched during the conference is Ateneo de Manila University’s “Philippine Epics and Ballads Archives,” a digital collection recorded, transcribed, and translated with the guidance and dedication of Dr. Nicole Revel, research director emeritus at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in France, in collaboration with singers of tales, scholars, and local knowledgeable people.

Registration fee is PhP2,000 for local participants and US$100 for participants from overseas. Registration details may be obtained from the Conference Secretariat, c/o Ms. Kristina Garcia, by email at humani@admu.edu.ph or Fax (632) 4261042.

Click this link for the “Songs of Memory” conference brochure

Download the registration form for local participants

Download the registration form for overseas participants

Invitation to join the Holcim Journalism Awards for Sustainable Construction

Holcim Philippines, the cement company that forms part of the Holcim global network, is inviting qualified Filipino participants to join the 2010 Holcim Journalism Awards for Sustainable Construction. The competition is being conducted in the media category and student category and offers a total of PhP420,000 in cash prizes for the winners.

The Grand Award winner in the media category will receive a cash prize of PhP100,000, a trophy, and a round-trip plane ticket and accommodation for a three-day stay in Singapore to attend the regional ceremonies for the Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction. The student whose essay is adjudged most outstanding will receive a cash prize of PhP50,000 and a round-trip plane ticket and accommodations for a three-day stay in Singapore to attend the same regional ceremonies.

Media category (Deadline: May 31, 2011)

The competition in the media category is open to Filipino journalists who have written articles either in English or Filipino that discuss past, ongoing or planned sustainable construction projects; concepts, technologies, trends; or research and studies involving sustainable construction relevant or applicable to the Philippine setting. Preference will be given to business features that are at least 1,000 words long, original, by-lined, and published within the period from August 10, 2010 to May 31, 2011. 

Participants must be currently working for a local print media organization. The participants themselves or their editors may submit entries to Holcim; if mailed, the entries must be postmarked no later than May 31, 2011. Ten finalists will be chosen, four of which will be given major awards.

Three special citations will be given for stories that best capture the following results of sustainable construction: (1) Benefit to the Environment - ecological quality and resource efficiency; (2) Benefit to People and Communities - ethical standards and social relevance; and (3) Benefit to Consumers and End-users - economic performance, innovation and transferability, and aesthetic impact.

Special citation awardees will each be given a P50,000 cash prize and a round-trip ticket and accommodations for a three-day stay in Singapore to attend the regional ceremonies for the Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction.

Student category (Deadline: November 12, 2010)

The competition in the media category is open to all college students nationwide who are enrolled during the current school year. A participant should submit an essay that discusses sustainable construction projects, concepts, technologies, and trends. The entry can be either in English or Filipino and should be at least 1,000 words long but not exceeding 1,500 words. Articles should be original and should not have been printed in any school or media publication.

The contest period for the Student Category is from August 10 until November 12, 2010. Entries must be submitted in duplicate printed in MS word in Arial 12 pts., 1.5 spacing along with the official entry form. Entries may be hand-carried or e-mailed to the Holcim Philippines head office not later than November 12, 2010; if sent by snail mail, they should be postmarked not later than that date.

There will be two merit awardees in the student category, each of whom will get a cash prize of PhP30,000.

All entries in both the media and student contest categories must be sent to: The Holcim Journalism Awards for Sustainable Construction, Holcim Philippines, Inc., Corporate Communications Department,7/F Two World Square McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City 1634. Further details about the contest may also be requested from that office.

Click this link to get the detailed mechanics of the Holcim awards program as well as to download the official essay entry form.

Winners of the 2010 Palanca Awards for Literature

Here is the complete list of winners of the 60th Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (Palanca Awards):

Dulang Pampelikula
1st – Kristoffer G. Brugada, “Patikul”
2nd – Jerry B. Gracio,  “Magdamag”
3rd – No Winner

Dulang Ganap ang Haba
1st – No Winner
2nd – Liza C. Magtoto, “Rated PG”
3rd – Christian R. Vallez, “Kapeng Barako Club: Samahan ng mga Bitter”

Dulang May Isang Yugto
1st – Nicolas B. Pichay, “Isang Araw sa Karnabal”
2nd – Floy C. Quintos, “Suor Clara”
3rd – Allan B. Lopez, “Higit Pa Dito”

Kabataan Sanaysay
1st – Christopher S. Rosales, “Gulayan Klasrum”
2nd – Marianito L. Dio Jr., “Ang Aking Pangalan, Ang Aking Kababata at ang Mithing Tilamsik para kay Third”
3rd – No Winner

Tula
1st – Carlos M. Piocos III, “Guerra Cantos”
2nd – Romulo P. Baquiran Jr., “Parokya”
3rd – Mark Anthony S. Angeles, “Engkantado”

Tulang Pambata
1st – No Winner
2nd – No Winner
3rd – Will P. Ortiz, “May Puso Ang Saging”

Maikling Kwento
1st – No Winner
2nd – Rommel B. Rodriguez, “Toxic”
3rd – Thomas David F. Chavez,  “Sa Kabilang Lupalop ng Mahiwagang Kaharian”

Maikling Kwentong Pambata
1st – Christopher S. Rosales, “Si Berting, ang Batang Uling”
2nd – Renerio R. Concepcion, “Ang Kagilagilalas na Paglalakbay nina Mumo at Am-I”
3rd – Bernadette V. Neri, “Parada ng mga Alingawngaw”

Sanaysay
1st – Maria Clarissa N. Estuar, “Ang Reyna ng mga Tumbong”
2nd – Ferdinand P. Jarin, “D’Pol Pisigan Band”
3rd – Mark Gil M. Caparros, “Sina Bunso at ang mga Batang Preso”

Full-length Play
1st – Jay Crisostomo IV, “God of the Machine”
2nd – Jorshinelle Taleon-Sonza, “The Encounter”
3rd – Lito Casaje, “Shooting the Boys”

One-act Play
1st – No Winner
2nd – No Winner
3rd – Peter Solis Nery, “The Wide Ionian Sea”

Short Story
1st – Ma. Elena L. Paulma, “Three Kisses”
2nd – Ma. Rachelle Tesoro, “Waiting for Rain”
3rd – Catherine Rose Galang Torres, “Café Masala”

Short Story for Children
1st – Irene Carolina A. Sarmiento, “Tabon Girl”
2nd – Hiyasmin Ledi C. Mattison, “Little Bear Goes Home: A Love Story”
3rd – Grace D. Chong, “I am an Apple”

Poetry
1st – Merlie M. Alunan, “Tales of the Spiderwoman”
2nd – Rafael Antonio C. San Diego, “My Name in Reverse”
3rd – Joel H. Vega, “Latitudes and Other Poems”

Poetry for Children
1st – Duffie Alejandrino H. Osental, “After the Storm and Other Poems”
2nd – Patricia Marie Grace S. Gomez, “Poems from the Pantry and Prehistoric Times”
3rd – Ma. Celine Anastasia P. Socrates, “Playgrounds”

Essay
1st – Miro Frances D. Capili, “Vinyl”
2nd – Florianne Marie L. Jimenez, “Postcards from Somewhere”
3rd – Corinna Esperanza A. Nuqui, “Library”

Kabataan Essay
1st – Miro Frances D. Capili, “The Nature of Nurture”
2nd – Anton Raphael S. Cabalza, “A Shot at Perfection”
3rd – Catherine D. Tan, “Green at Heart”

Short Story – Cebuano
1st – Richel G. Dorotan, “Si Tarzan”
2nd – Jonecito R. Saguban, “Tinuboang Sapatos”
3rd – Noel P. Tuazon, “Patas”

Short Story – Iluko
1st – Sherma E. Benosa, “Dagiti Pasugnod ni Angelo”
2nd – Ariel S. Tabag, “Voice Tape”
3rd – Joel B. Manuel, “Apo Bannual! Apo Bannual!”

Short Story – Hiligaynon
1st – Andy P. Perez, “Bayuso”
2nd – Ferdinand L. Balino, “Dumdumon Ko Ang Imo Guya”
3rd – Jesus C. Insilada, Ed. D., “Walingwaling”

Read an account of  the Palanca Awards ceremonies by Krip Yuson

DOST opens undergraduate scholarship programs to interested applicants

ILOILO CITY (PNA)—The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is now accepting applications for its undergraduate scholarship programs for those interested to pursue priority fields in science, mathematics, and engineering starting next school year.

The DOST-Science Education Institute (SEI) scholarship comes in two programs: the Republic Act 7687 or the Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994 and the merit scholarship.

The RA 7687 is open to a member of the five percent of the regular high school graduating class or a member of the graduating class of the DOST SEI-identified schools or science high schools recognized by the Department of Education (DepEd).

The merit scholarship, on the other hand, is open to qualifiers of the 2011 scholarship examination whose annual family income is above P120,000.

It is being awarded to students with “high aptitude in science and mathematics and willing to pursue fields of science and technology” the DOST primer stated.

The deadline for the filing of application is on October 8 while the examination date is on November 21.

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Call for manuscripts for the 10th Ateneo National Writers’ Workshop

The Ateneo Institute of Literary Arts and Practices (AILAP), with the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), is now accepting applicants for the 10th Ateneo National Writers Workshop (ANWW) to be held from Oct. 24-28, 2010 at the Ateneo de Naga University in Naga City.

This year, six slots will be allocated exclusively for writers writing in any of the Bikol languages. The qualifications are: a) a resident of the Bicol region, b) writes in a Bikol language and c) can translate his/her manuscript into Filipino or English. Each applicant must submit a portfolio in triplicate of any of the following: a suite of five poems or a collection of three short stories written in any Bikol language with a title page bearing the author’s pseudonym and a table of contents. The portfolio must include translations either in Filipino or in English. Entries in the Bikol languages must be addressed and submitted to Kristian S. Cordero, Philosophy Department, Ateneo de Naga University, Naga City 4400.

Another six slots will be allocated for writers writing in Filipino and English. Each applicant must submit a portfolio in triplicate of any of the following: a suite of five poems or a collection of three short stories written in Filipino or English with a title page bearing the author’s pseudonym and a table of contents. Entries in Filipino and English must be addressed and submitted to the Ateneo Institute of Literary Arts and Practices (AILAP) c/o Department of Filipino, School of Humanities, 3rd Flr. Dela Costa Bldg., Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City 1108.

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Future of the book to be discussed in Philippine digital publishing conference

The National Book Development Board (NBDB), Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP), Filipinas Heritage Library, and Vibal Foundation, Inc. will hold the country’s first-ever digital publishing conference on the theme “Book Publishing in the Global Digital Arena” from September 13-14, 2010 at the UP-Ayala Technohub in Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.

As emerging technologies continue to change the landscape of book publishing, the conference aims to introduce the various aspects involved in digital publishing—from authoring, editing and layouting, to distribution and consumption. The two-day conference will feature talks by distinguished names from the international and local publishing industry, including Ms. Lynette Owen, copyright director of Pearson Education, one of the world’s leading textbook publishers.

On the first day of the conference, publishing professionals and industry leaders will tackle the business aspect of digital publishing in the Philippines. The plenary sessions will discuss the viability of digital publishing as a lucrative and exciting business opportunity for existing and prospective publishers alike.

In addition to perspectives from traditional book publishers, Vibal Foundation, the pioneer digital publisher in the Philippines, is inviting speakers from varied fields to discuss the impact of this new technology on consumers.

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10 public school teachers win Metrobank award for outstanding teachers

MANILA—Eight public school teachers from the elementary and high school level and two university teachers have emerged as winners of the 2010 Metrobank Foundation Search for Outstanding Teacher.

The teachers are: Grace Salvatus, Municipal Sector Elementary School, Caluag, Quezon Miladith Polutan, Oroquieta City Central Elementary School, Oroquieta City Conchita Ibarondo, San Antonio Elementary School, Iriga City Nancy S. Aquino, Mlang Pilot Elementary School, Mlang, Cotabato Janeth Morata-Fuentes, Philippine Science High School – Eastern Visayas Campus, Palo, Leyte Mercidita Villamayor, Bukidnon State University – Secondary School Lab, Malaybalay City Estrelita Peña, Kabasalan National High School, Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay Mercelita Labial, Xavier University High School, Cagayan de Oro City Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, University of the Philippines – Diliman, Quezon City Dr. Raymund C. Sison, De La Salle University, Manila

The winning teachers were chosen from 156 nominees from both public and private schools from around the Philippines. Of these, 40 of these qualified as regional finalists, who were interviewed and asked to give teaching demonstrations to several boards of judges. Of these, twenty were selected as national finalists.

The ten winners were chosen from among the twenty finalists by a board of judges that included Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura, Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairman Francisco Duque III, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Rod Smith, San Beda College President Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ma. A. Maranan, and Shell Philippines Chairman Edgar Chua.

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Former newsman’s “Books-4-Guns” advocacy wins Smart community award

MANILA—A former newsman who built a library to help fight terrorism in Mindanao was among the 2010 winners of Smart Communications’ “Tipid-Sulit Idol Search,” a program that aims to support groups and individuals who take it upon themselves to help their communities.

The A-Book-Saya Group (ABSG), which was started by former newsman Armand Dean Nocum and his Muslim wife Annora, won in the “community group idol” category of Smart’s Talk ‘N Text Tipid-Sulit Idol Search.

Individual winners received trophies and P100,000 for their advocacies, while group winners got trophies and P200,000 to finance their community work.

Nocum, who embarked on the advocacy to “flood Mindanao with books” after leaving the media profession in 2007, thanked Smart and his colleagues in media for supporting the advocacy.

“I could not have built my library, received used computers and obtained tens of thousands of books were it not for my colleagues in media who brought the plight of Abu Sayyaf child soldiers/warriors to the people,” Nocum said during the awarding ceremony led by Perry Bayani, marketing head of Smart’s Talk ‘N Text group, at the Ynares Stadium in Antipolo City last August 1.

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Smart Communications runs online content contest for students

Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) has launched two new online content generation contests in addition to its annual Doon Po Sa Amin (DPSA) Learning Challenge, which is now on its third year. The competitions are open to all high school and grade school students, both public and private, in the Philippines.

To join the online contest, “Ano ang Kwento Mo?” (What’s Your Story?), a participating student team headed by a teacher coach must create a video blog featuring a distinct characteristic, place, or culture in their community. The topic categories are arts and culture, history and society, travel and cuisine, and environment and disaster preparedness. The team has to upload its videos in a video hosting site, then create a blog site where the hosted videos will be embedded.

Registration is open until August 13, 2010. Registration forms can be downloaded from the DPSA website www.doonposaamin.ph.

The team with the best video blog will receive the championship prize of P30,000. Four “Best in Category” winners will each receive P10,000, while P5,000 will be awarded for both the “Best in Video Blog Site Design and Layout,” and the “Best in Student Collaboration.”

DPSA is a community service project that encourages schools to use computer and Internet technologies to contribute web-based information and educational materials about their respective communities.

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