The Shaky Slide

The training team from Bukidnon State University that conducted the CILC Training in Kitubo 2000 National High School, Kitaotao, Bukidnon (iSchools Project 2007 recipient) experienced a life threatening incident.

It was the second day of training when Mr. Jay Jasper Sto Niño (Training Manager) together with Mr. Exhan Bandas (Training Coordinator) rode a “habal-habal” (motorcycle for hire) going to the school. Accidentally, the “habal-habal” drove over a full-sized slippery rock along the rocky, muddy and narrow road. According to the team, the “habal-habal” driver was apparently under the influence of alcohol causing the near death incident. The two gentlemen experienced a state of shock. They thought they will never survive the tragedy if ever they really slipped off of the ditch.

It was a spine-tingling incident. But even though the travel was too risky, the training team still carried on for the sake of the training’s purpose; to educate and share the worth of Information and Communications Technology especially in places that needs support for development like Kitubo, Kitaotao, Bukidnon.

Kitubo National High School is heartily thankful to CICT and BSU for making their long time dream come true.     

Rain or Shine: CILC Training Pushes Through in UPI Agricultural School

The BukSU team conducted CILC training at UPI Agricultural School; the only Provincial Technical Institute of Agriculture (PTIA) under the umbrella of the National Agriculture Education System (NAES) located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and nearby Region XII, on September 4-6, 2009.

The training team (Ms. Psyche Tabiongan- Trainer, Mrs. Venessa Garcia- Training Manager, Joseph Peter Rabanes- Laboratory Assistant, Christopher Lord Labadan & Exhan Bandas- Training Coordinators) has undergone several challenging experiences on the way to the school. They got to experience crossing the flooded roads of Maguindanao. The transportation vehicle was even jokingly said to have had transformed itself into a speedboat being able to cross along the knee-level flooded roads. The team members observed that the situation is considered normal by the residents despite the discomfort. It was as if part of their everyday life.    

During the training, the team was also invited to a live-interview in DXUP FM Station. The team was asked about the iSchools Project in particular. The said interview was regarded as a good medium to give credit to CICT and its projects. Through the interview, the residents of UPI as well as the listeners of the station were oriented about the projects of the Government and its initiative to reach out to different places in the Philippines.

            The experiences in UPI Agricultural School strengthened the drive of the CICT-BukSU team members to deliver dedicated service through the CILC training knowing that the participants are very enthusiastic to learn and grow in an innovative world of technology regardless of condition and location.

A Night of Disco

Mr. Felix Carbajal, a laboratory assistant assigned in Kitubo 2000 National High School experienced a one-of-a-kind incident while sleeping in the laboratory one night during the CILC training.

He intended to sleep in the site rather than go together with the team back in the hotel in a nearby municipality because the School Principal (Mr. Dalmiento) is a close friend and they have not seen each other for quite a while. 

At the end of the day, while Mr. Carbajal is preparing for sleep, he heard a disco-like sound so close to where he is. When he peeped outside, he was puzzled because he can not visibly locate where the sound comes from but he is pretty sure that the sound is just nearby. Being unable to locate the sound, he just went to sleep with a thought that there might just be a party somewhere.

The next morning while having breakfast with the Principal, he asked his friend where the party was. Mr. Dalmiento refuted that he did not hear any. A resident then butted in the conversation and said: “There is always a disco every night. You can not see where it is because it is held inside a tree” (the resident pointed the “balete” tree).

So scary! That was a frightening experience of Mr. Carbajal. He never thought that these stories really exist. He never expected to experience even one.  

Through the training travels, different experiences await. Nobody can guarantee a safe and normal trip but it’s just a matter of being ready to whatever may take place. No matter how scary or risky it may be, what matters is how committed the team is in delivering service to people that truly needs assistance like Kitubo National High School. As long as the intention is pure, there is nothing to worry about. Nothing can beat prayers.

Muslim Brothers Participate in CILC Training

On September 4-5, 2009, CILC Training was conducted in Amas-Patadon Annex National High School, Kidapawan City which were mostly participated by our Muslim brothers residing in the community. The training team observed that every participant was eager to learn and explore about computers. They even invited their relatives to see and observe the training. Some residents of the place came to witness the said activity. Because they were non-participants and the space inside the computer laboratory is merely enough for participants, they just peeped in the windows. The team was astonished by the scene.

Because the training was conducted during the Ramadan, the training team did not have an official snack break. Knowing that the participants are fasting (implies that participants have low energy level), it was the initiative of the training team not to put so much pressure on them in the training. Whenever it is time to eat, the team respects the participants by not showing them food. The team just declares a break and goes to a room to eat. The team also observes the 12:00 noon time for the participants’ scheduled prayer.

 This only shows unqualified unity between Christians and Muslims. iSchools Project of CICT reaches out to every school regardless of belief or tradition. The Muslim brothers have shown a very warm welcome and gratitude to the training team because of the project. It only proves that our Muslim Brothers are peace-loving people.             

BukSU Vehicle Breaks down in Carmen, Cotabato

One of the BukSU vehicles broke down along Carmen road in Cotabato as the CILC Training Teams traveled to Tacurong City on September 11, 2009. The two vehicles stopped to assess the damage to the affected vehicle. While the drivers attempted to repair the broken water line of the engine and to avoid more delay, Assistant Project Manager Dante S. Victoria Jr. decided that half of the team goes ahead with the other vehicle to find a van for hire in Kabacan so the other vehicle could go back and fetch the rest of the team. Fortunately, after about an hour, the damaged van was back to running condition minus the aircon. Amidst the obstacle, the rest of the team still managed to reach their destination safely. Even though there was a delay, what was important was that all the team members were safe and sound.  

This only proves that there is no guarantee in everything. Though the team had rigid preparations, problems are still inevitable. What is important in the situation is that the team still managed to respond accordingly to the scenario. There is no such thing as perfect, but there will always be chances to make things right.