CvSU celebrates ICT Month

The month of June is National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Month as declared in Proclamation No. 1521 (Series of 2008). In celebration of the ICT Month, the Regional ICT (RICT) Center headed by Dr. Camilo A. Polinga lined up activities on June 30, 2010.



The outputs of the PC Recycling Training which consist mostly of recycled computer units as instructional materials are displayed in the lobby of the College of Engineering and Information Technology. The exhibit also features selected design projects of computer engineering and electronics and communications engineering students.

Some of the digital modules for the eSkwela Project of the Bureau of Alternative Learning System of the Department of Education (DepEd-BALS) were demonstrated at the RICT. These modules were designed and developed for the out of school youth and adults.

In the afternoon, DepEd teachers and faculty members of CvSU attended the seminar series on ICT. CEIT Dean Renato B. Cubilla welcomed the participants and thanked them for taking part in the celebration despite the declaration of the day as a holiday due to the inauguration of the new president and vice president of the country. Dr. Polinga discussed the Initiatives of CvSU in Bridging the Digital Divide. Jose Felicano Josef, eSkwela Project Officer of the Commission of Information and Communications Technology (CICT), explained the Responsible Use of ICT. Poinsettia Vida, Leyma Cero, Mark Steve Poniente and Emeline Guevarra discussed e-Waste Management, Online Writing Techniques, Free and Open Source Software, and PC Recycling, respectively.

Project team evaluates PC recycling training

The iSchools Project Team of Cavite State University (CvSU) conducted the PC recycling post-training evaluation workshop at the Mariano Marcos State University, Batac, Ilocos Norte on May 29-30, 2010. The workshop aimed to identify the strengths and shortcomings of the training rollout and come up with the after training report.

Dr. Hernando D. Robles, VP for Administrative and Support Services of CvSU and Assistant iSchools Project Manager, commended the group for a job well done. As resource persons and team leaders, Steve Poniente, Poinsettia Vida, and Emeline Guevarra presented the accomplishment reports of their respective teams. Dr. Camilo A. Polinga, Project Manager, highlighted the problems and the corresponding recommendations for the conduct of similar activities in the future.

After the workshop, the team visited some famous landmarks in the municipalities of Burgos, Bangui, Pagudpud, Paoay and Vigan.

Old pc units recycled

Old computers never die. They are either upgraded or recycled into something that can still be used... as instructional models.

PC Recycling Training Participants

Team 1: Cavite NHS, Tanza National Comprehensive HS, Rosario NHS, Bacoor NHS, and Indang NHS


Team 2: Amadeo NHS, Tagaytay City NHS, Carmona NHS, Congressional NHS, and E.T. Tirona Memorial NHS


Team 3: Tagaytay City Science NHS, Amaya School of Home Industries, Bagbag NHS, Gen. E. Aguinaldo NHS, and Cavite State University-Naic Campus

Cavite mentors train on PC recycling

Teachers from 15 public high schools (PHS) in Cavite attend the PC Recycling Training Roll-out at Cavite State University, Indang, Cavite. The 10-day training is designed in three phases: April 15-17, May 3-5, and May 19-22.

The training aims to: maximize the use of ICT equipment, build and develop the in-house capability of PHS to repair and maintain their ICT equipment, reduce electronic waste by practicing proper e-waste management, and improve the computer-student ratio. Dr. Camilo A. Polinga, project manager, said that the current ratio is 1:300 and the ideal ratio according to the Department of Education is 1:50.

The participating PHS are:
1. Amadeo National High School
2. Amaya School of Home Industries
3. Bacoor National High School
4. Bagbag National High School
5. Carmona National High School
6. Cavite National Science High School
7. Congressional National High School
8. Emiliano T. Tirona Memorial National High School
9. Gen, Emilio Aguinaldo National High School
10. Indang National High School
11. Rosario National High School
12. Tagaytay City National High School
13. Tagaytay City Science National High School
14. Tanza National Comprehensive High School
15. Cavite State University Naic Campus Laboratory School

Mark Steve Poniente, Poinsettia Vida and Emeline Guevarra, all instructors of CvSU, serve as resource persons.

Writing for a Purpose for the iSchools Project

The state universities and colleges (SUC) writers of the iSchools Project convened on March 15-17, 2010 at the University Hotel, UP Diliman, Quezon City for the iSchools Content Planning Workshop and Commitment Setting. The activity aimed to prepare the writers for the activities of the Content Development component of the Project, strategize how knowledge management (KM) and development communication concepts and principles can be applied/adopted, set commitment to meet the objectives of the Project, and draft action/communications plan of the SUC partners.

Starting right. CP Calma, project staff of iSchools, facilitated the “Getting-to-Know-You Portion” where the participants got to introduce themselves in a different way and know the other writers since many were new to the Project. Levelling of expectations about the meeting, the co-participants and the Project Management Office (PMO) of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) followed.

CP Calma oriented the group on CICT while Ms. Toni Torres, Project Manager of iSchools, discussed what the Project is all about and where do the writers fit in as a journalist/field correspondent, technical writer, documenter and press relation (PR) person.


Ms. Bambi Torrecampo explained the online examination that she designed and gave to old and aspiring writers and she highlighted how the group fared in terms of the questions given. With these issues clarified, next was more serious work.

Inputs. Mr. Joseph Torrecampo presented the basic concepts, framework, tools and techniques of KM. He emphasized that the “purpose of KM is for the writers to value their practice and outputs not just as tasks to be done, and deadlines to be met, but as writing for a higher purpose”.

Mr. Jose Torres Jr., a multi-awarded writer, discussed Media Relations and how it can be done the easy way to influence public opinion. He also explained how the SUC writers can access this function. Most of all, he emphasized the media situation in the real world and the advantages and disadvantages of practicing media ethics.

Outputs. Mr. Torrecampo introduced the Free Mind software which can be used as a tool in coming up with strategies and activities to realize a goal. The group was divided into clusters, namely: Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao for the brainstorming sessions and drafting of the cluster communication plan which incorporates KM and media relations. Each of the resource speakers gave their comments and suggestions on the plans presented by the cluster representatives and clarified issues raised during the open forum. The SUC writers also submitted their individual activity plan based on the cluster communication plan.

What’s next? CP Calma presented the next major activities of the writers, namely: Basic Online Writing Techniques Workshop, Advanced Online Writing Techniques cum Production Workshop, Terminal Report Writing Workshop and Camp Blogs. With the new scheme of incentives to be given to SUC writers as discussed by Ms. Toni Torres, the PMO hopes to meet the objectives of the iSchools Project because the writers are committed to write for a higher purpose, writing with the “aim of being contributory to the nation’s development”.

iSchools 2009 Project Briefing on Cam

Participants watch the CICT video


Toni Torres (CICT) orients the participants on iSchools, Steve Poniente discusses the features of edUbuntu


Meeting of Cavite and Batangas clusters


Meeting of Sorsogon and Quezon clusters


Romblon and Laguna representatives present their cluster meeting outputs


CICT staff meet with SUC and DepEd partners

Recipients raise concerns about project implementation

Principals of 80 recipient public high schools (PHS) as well as ICT coordinators of the Department of Education (DepEd) shared their concerns during the iSchools 2009F Regional Project Briefing of the Southern Luzon Cluster on February 22-23, 2010 at the Development Academy of the Philippines, Tagaytay City. The activity, which was attended by 111 participants from the Southern Tagalog and Bicol Regions, aimed to orient the new recipients of the project and to promote awareness of their responsibilities before, during, and after project implementation.

Opening Program

Dr. Divinia C. Chavez, President of Cavite State University (CvSU), welcomed the participants and commended the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) for the impact of the iSchools Project. She also acknowledged the efforts of the CvSU project management team in hosting the event for CICT. Ms. Antonette T. Torres, Project Manager of the CICT, presented the overall schedule for the briefing. She also thanked the participants particularly those who traveled far and acknowledged their commitment to the project.

Briefing Proper

Ms. Alexcenah S. Sta Ines, CICT project staff, presented a video titled, "Have You Been Paying Attention", which highlighted the emerging trends in information and communications technology among students. This was followed by a briefing through video about CICT and its programs. Ms. Toni Torres discussed the iSchools Project and what are to be expected during the implementation. She also shared learning experiences from the implementation of the previous batches. Ms. Matilde C. Origenes, CICT project staff , presented the draft Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and highlighted the responsibilities of all the project stakeholders. Mr. Steve Poniente, CvSU instructor, gave an introduction on Open Source software in general and edUbuntu in particular. EdUbuntu is the operating system bundled with the hardware being deployed by CICT to the recipient schools.

Issues and Concerns

"When will the equipment be deployed?", asked many of the participants who are too eager to start the project implementation. A cluster meeting was conducted after the presentations. Representatives from each group being assisted by the different partner State Universities and Colleges (SUC) aired their concerns and some issues for clarification as follows: schedule of implementation, tenure of PTA officers, possible change in leadership due to the coming elections, support to capability enhancement activities, plans in case of natural disasters/calamities, connectivity of remote areas, and additional funds for sustainability of the laboratory. Ms. Alex Sta. Ines and some of the project managers from SUC partners clarified the issues raised by the recipients.

SUC Partners

iSchools 2009F for the Southern Luzon Cluster is made possible through the partnership with six SUCs in Southern Tagalog and five SUCs in the Bicol Region. These are: Cavite State University, Batangas State University, Southern Luzon State University, Laguna University, Romblon State University, Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology, Bicol University, Camarines Norte State College, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, Partido State University, and Sorsogon State College.

With this orientation and lessons learned from the previous batches, it is hoped that the project implementation will run smoothly even after project completion.