ILIGAN CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 21, 2010) – Unidentified gunmen killed two students Saturday in a broad daylight attack just in front of the government-run Mindanao State University in Marawi City in the Muslim province of Lanao del Sur, police said.
Police said the gunmen who were on a jeep shot the duo - Mark Anthony Ticson, 21, and Ever Sosillo, 17 – both engineering students. Provincial police chief Cosanie Derogongan has ordered an investigation into the killings and deployed policemen to hunt down the gunmen.
The victims came from an Internet café and were on their way home when gunmen attacked them. Derogongan said Ticson sustained one gunshot wound in his chest while Sosillo was hit in the head.
The motive of the attack was unknown, the police chief said. (Merlyn Manos)
Showing posts with label MSU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MSU. Show all posts
Saturday, August 21, 2010
2 students killed in attack outside school in Mindanao
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Police pursue kidnappers of univerity official in Mindanao
COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 21, 2008) – Police forces mounted fresh operation Tuesday to capture gunmen who freed a kidnapped university official in the restive region of Mindanao, south of Manila, officials said.
Gunmen released Hipolito Minoza to Marawi City Mayor Fahad Salic on Monday afternoon after a series of negotiations. No ransom was paid for the safe release of the hostage, who was kidnapped Oct. 16 while driving his car near Saguiraran town in Lanao del Sur, one of six provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.
Minoza is the budget officer of the Mindanao State University.
Details of the negotiations were unknown or who were behind the kidnapping, but military authorities have implicated Abdurahman Macapaar, a leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front tagged as behind a series of deadly attacks in the region in recent weeks.
“Police forces are now tracking down the kidnappers,” Chief Superintendent Bensali Jabarani, the regional police commander, told the Mindanao Examiner.
Jabarani said three kidnappers had already been captured by police forces. He said police is investigating reports of Macapaar’s involvement in the kidnapping.
The MILF has strongly denied that Macapaar’s group was involved in the kidnapping, saying, it could be connected to Minoza’s job.
“Macapaar has no involvement in that kidnapping. Authorities should investigate deeply the motive of Minoza’s kidnapping and it could be related to his job as budget officer of MSU,” said Eid kabalu, a senior MILF leader.
The MILF is the country’s largest Muslim rebel group which is fighting for self-determination in the troubled, but mineral-rich region of Mindanao. (With a report from Merlyn Manos)
Gunmen released Hipolito Minoza to Marawi City Mayor Fahad Salic on Monday afternoon after a series of negotiations. No ransom was paid for the safe release of the hostage, who was kidnapped Oct. 16 while driving his car near Saguiraran town in Lanao del Sur, one of six provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.
Minoza is the budget officer of the Mindanao State University.
Details of the negotiations were unknown or who were behind the kidnapping, but military authorities have implicated Abdurahman Macapaar, a leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front tagged as behind a series of deadly attacks in the region in recent weeks.
“Police forces are now tracking down the kidnappers,” Chief Superintendent Bensali Jabarani, the regional police commander, told the Mindanao Examiner.
Jabarani said three kidnappers had already been captured by police forces. He said police is investigating reports of Macapaar’s involvement in the kidnapping.
The MILF has strongly denied that Macapaar’s group was involved in the kidnapping, saying, it could be connected to Minoza’s job.
“Macapaar has no involvement in that kidnapping. Authorities should investigate deeply the motive of Minoza’s kidnapping and it could be related to his job as budget officer of MSU,” said Eid kabalu, a senior MILF leader.
The MILF is the country’s largest Muslim rebel group which is fighting for self-determination in the troubled, but mineral-rich region of Mindanao. (With a report from Merlyn Manos)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
NGOs, Groups Deliver Aid To Mindanao
MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 11, 2008) - Responding to the humanitarian crisis brought about by armed conflict in Mindanao, the non-government organization Asia America Initiative and other stakeholders delivered medical and other humanitarian supplies worth over P22 million to Christian and Muslim refugees in the trtoubled region.
AAI President Albert Santoli and his Philippine director Rohaniza Sumndad led the mission to Mindanao and at the same time emphasized solidarity and peace-building among Muslim and Christian communities in the areas.
Sumndad, whose family hails from Marawi City in Lanao province, is also organizing peace advocacy among people representing all Filipino cultures.
In the support for the AAI mission, student organizations and various businesses, private organizations local governments have contributed supplies, logistic and manpower to assist the refugees.
“In our interaction with the victims of violence in Iligan City, Lanao del Sur and North Cotabato we learned that this is not a battle between neighbors of different religions, who in some cases, are living together in temporary outdoor shelters and share what little necessities of life are available. They strongly expressed that living in inter-cultural communities, they do not want a religious war,” Sumndad said.
The AAI team said the impacted communities had no basic shelter, medical care and food supplies and not even sanitation or clean water which has now become a desperate priority. Refugees are camped at public schools and multi-purpose centers used as temporary shelters many in muddy rice fields and abandoned lands.
“In every group of refugees we encountered they had little more than clothes on their backs and with the largest population being infants and small children. In some cases, we had to purchase forks and spoons because they do not even have basic tools for survival. They fear going back to their homes because of the growing threat of on-going armed conflict and terror attacks,” Santoli said.
Sumndad said: “Officials and doctors in every refugee centers requested trauma counseling and the need for healing children who were exposed to extreme violence even the murder of family members. Social workers in the camps recommended that healing activities could take the form of simple children’s games. AAI donated stuffed animals and infant toys to help comfort the children in the camps.”
In Lanao del Sur, AAI also inaugurated “Gardens of Peace” (vegetable and flower gardening) project for public schools in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), the Department of Education and the Provincial Government.
Medical supplies were donated by private companies such as Unilever and MedPharm, and charitable institutions like Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, from student groups at the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University.
Packing and mobilizing in Iligan City was conducted by volunteer students from St. Michael College, Mindanao State University – College of Medicine and an Ayala Young Leader Chapter called AYLA-MILAN. Transportation was provided by NorthWest Airlines and the Philippine Air Lines Foundation.
AAI President Albert Santoli and his Philippine director Rohaniza Sumndad led the mission to Mindanao and at the same time emphasized solidarity and peace-building among Muslim and Christian communities in the areas.
Sumndad, whose family hails from Marawi City in Lanao province, is also organizing peace advocacy among people representing all Filipino cultures.
In the support for the AAI mission, student organizations and various businesses, private organizations local governments have contributed supplies, logistic and manpower to assist the refugees.
“In our interaction with the victims of violence in Iligan City, Lanao del Sur and North Cotabato we learned that this is not a battle between neighbors of different religions, who in some cases, are living together in temporary outdoor shelters and share what little necessities of life are available. They strongly expressed that living in inter-cultural communities, they do not want a religious war,” Sumndad said.
The AAI team said the impacted communities had no basic shelter, medical care and food supplies and not even sanitation or clean water which has now become a desperate priority. Refugees are camped at public schools and multi-purpose centers used as temporary shelters many in muddy rice fields and abandoned lands.
“In every group of refugees we encountered they had little more than clothes on their backs and with the largest population being infants and small children. In some cases, we had to purchase forks and spoons because they do not even have basic tools for survival. They fear going back to their homes because of the growing threat of on-going armed conflict and terror attacks,” Santoli said.
Sumndad said: “Officials and doctors in every refugee centers requested trauma counseling and the need for healing children who were exposed to extreme violence even the murder of family members. Social workers in the camps recommended that healing activities could take the form of simple children’s games. AAI donated stuffed animals and infant toys to help comfort the children in the camps.”
In Lanao del Sur, AAI also inaugurated “Gardens of Peace” (vegetable and flower gardening) project for public schools in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), the Department of Education and the Provincial Government.
Medical supplies were donated by private companies such as Unilever and MedPharm, and charitable institutions like Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, from student groups at the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University.
Packing and mobilizing in Iligan City was conducted by volunteer students from St. Michael College, Mindanao State University – College of Medicine and an Ayala Young Leader Chapter called AYLA-MILAN. Transportation was provided by NorthWest Airlines and the Philippine Air Lines Foundation.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Muslim Groups Assail Gov't "Terrorists" Hysteria As Anti-GMA Rallies Begin
President Gloria Arroyo prays.COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 29, 2008) – A Muslim human rights organization on Friday assailed Philippine authorities for using so-called “terrorists” hysteria every time there are anti-Arroyo street protests.
The Suara Bangsamoro, an umbrella organization of human rights and civil society groups, said the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have been making pronouncements about impending attacks by the local Abu Sayyaf and the Jemaah Islamiya, an Indonesian terror group tied to a string of bombings in Jakarta and Manila.
Philippine police chief Avelino Razon on Friday said they arrested a suspected foreign terrorist believed plotting terror attacks in Manila. Razon made the announcement the same day as huge anti-Arroyo protesters gathered in the capital to demand for the President’s resignation over corruption allegations.
“We have arrested a foreigner suspected of plotting terror attacks, including an assassination on the president,” Razon said.
The Philippine military this week also said that the Abu Sayyaf, Jemaah Islamiya and the communist New People’s Army rebels are plotting to bomb civilian targets in Manila. The military also made the same warning last week days before anti-Arroyo protesters held a huge rally in Manila.
“We cannot anymore stomach the use of the police and military the ‘terrorist’ hysteria in a bid to make Arroyo look like a target of terrorist killing in the midst of a mammoth interfaith rally calling for her resignation,” Amirah Lidasan, national president of the Suara Bangsamoro, said.
Opposition and civil society groups demanded Arroyo’s resignation after the president and her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo were both linked to alleged scandals involving the flawed and overpriced national broadband network deal with China’s ZTE Corporation.
The president admitted the deal was flawed and cancelled the contract five months later after the scandal broke out. She and husband denied any wrongdoings.
Hundreds of students in Zamboanga and General Santos cities also marched on Friday, many demanding for Arroyo’s resignation. Some 200 students from Mindanao State University in General Santos held a rally and demanded Arroyo to step down.
More than 500 students from different colleges in Zamboanga also gathered at the Ateneo University in Zamboanga where they attended an interfaith forum. They denounced corruption in government. Many lighted candles and demanded Arroyo’s resignation.
The Inter-religious Solidarity Movement for Peace in Mindanao has joined calls for truth and clean, corruption-free society.
“Our country has constantly scored high on the scales of corruption in Asia and the world. As a people, we have seemingly become habituated to the culture of sleaze and dishonesty in the way that many of our leaders carry out their supposed duties to the people.”
“In these days we have again become flooded with these exact same stories of corrupt transactions happening in high places. Information on the blatant manipulation and obstruction of the truth on the NBN-ZTE Project has implicated very important government officials, including the President of this Republic and her family,” it said in a statement. (Mindanao Examiner)
Thursday, February 21, 2008
French Alim Urges Local Muslims To Exercise Tolerance And Show Kindness
VISITING DIPLOMATS. (From left to right) Dr Abdul Wahhab Meddeb, a French Muslim Scholar and H.E. France Ambassador to the Philippines Gerard Chesnel and lawyer Abdurahman Canacan, chancellor of MSU-Gensan, as Sheikh Salih Musa, World Assembly of Muslim Youth Country Director, shares his knowledge on “tolerance in Islam” during the lecture tour of Dr Meddeb in Mindanao State University on General Santos City recently. Dr Meddeb handled a “Lecture on Tolerance in Islam” in four universities in the country spearheaded by the UP-Institute of Islamic Studies with the support of the French Embassy. And lawyer Canacan treats the French Ambassador and French Dr Meddeb with local coffee brew. (Mindanao Examiner Photo/Gandhi C. Kinjiyo)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 21, 2008) - A visiting French alim has urged local Muslims to exercise “tolerance” and be a model of “good and civilized people” in addressing discrimination.
Despite discriminations being faced, Dr Abdulwahab Meddeb urged Muslims to refrain from reacting violently, rather to, “continue showing yourselves as Muslims: good and patient persons,” he said during a visit here last week.
Islam describes the character of a Muslim” as a person who obeys what is good and avoids what is forbidden.
Many Muslims in the largely Catholic Philippines said they are being discriminated and have been tagged or branded by authorities as terrorists or rebels every time there is trouble. Others claimed job opportunities are less for Muslims.
Meddeb said Islam gained a bad image after the September 11 attack of the World Trade Center in New York.
Meddeb was tapped by the UP-IIS (University of the Philippines-Institute of Islamic Studies) as a resource person for a lecture series in four universities in the Philippines including UP-Diliman, Mindanao State University in General Santos City and the University of Southern Mindanao.
The French scholar is a Tunisian-born poet, novelist and a famous lecturer on “Islam and Tolerance” in France. He has already written 20 books and directs the “Culture of Islam” radio program in his country.
“If you read Suratul Al Maida, you will learn that we can merge and live with the Christians and the People of the Book (Jews),” Meddeb told more than 200 Muslims, mostly students, Madaris teachers, young professionals, members of the academe and Muslim elders.
“I suggest, you talk with them (non-Muslims) in a forum, dialogue or any gathering and find ways where you agree,” he said. “Having dialogues with other religions is a nice initiative that fosters harmony.”
He related how he reacted with the Danish caricature that besmirched the image of the Prophet, “I talked with non-Muslims and explained to them that Prophet Mohamad is not what the caricature depicts,” he said, “thus, we avoided war or clashes.” Meddeb also noted that some Muslims would rather talk about their groups and tribes ignoring other Muslims.
The visiting scholar was accompanied by French Ambassador to the Philippines, Gerard Chesnel who supported the lecture series.
Chesnel said he is looking forward to find ways on how their embassy can assist some Muslim students in availing scholarship opportunities in France. (Gandhi Kinjiyo)
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Mindanao State University Has New President
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 09, 2008) — Philippine leader Gloria Arroyo has named a respected Muslim as new president of the Mindanao State University (MSU) in the southern Philippines.
Dr. Macapado Muslim will replace former Police Deputy Director General Ricardo De Leon, who has served as interim president of the university since September 2005.
The turnover ceremony will be held on Jan. 21 at the university’s main campus in Marawi City. It will be presided by Commission on Higher Education Secretary Romulo Neri.
“I leave MSU with sadness because I have grown to regard you all as family and will surely miss you. I also leave it with joy and pride, knowing that I have given it my best shot; that I gave it all that I am and have. Should our paths cross again in the future, rest assured that I hold the same affection in my heart. I thank you for giving me the highest title a University President dreams and wishes to achieve, to be endeared as ‘Daddy Pres’,” De Leon said to a group of MSU alumni.
Muslim, a native of Marawi City, is an alumnus of the MSU. He received his masters degree in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines.
He obtained his MA and Ph.D. degrees in Political Science from the University of Hawaii as an East-West Center scholar. Muslim was a chancellor of MSU in General Santos City for 11 years and was a concurrent member of the MSU Board of Regents.
Both the appointment of Muslim and the term of De Leon have been marked by controversy and disappointments.
De Leon, who holds a doctorate degree in police and security administration, was an unpopular choice for the post; he is not an alumnus of MSU.
Arroyo’s appointment of De Leon as MSU president in 2005 came just shortly after her surprise designation of Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan as chief of the Southern Command in “an already discontented and restive military.”
Critics said the appointment of a military man like De Leon in a non-military establishment, such as MSU, is tantamount to militarization of the establishment.
National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, however, said that De Leon’s appointment was necessary to “clean the mess” in the university brought about by supposed intervention of “warlords” in the selection process for the MSU presidency.
De Leon replaced Dr. Camar Umpa, whose term expired on September 1, 2005 as MSU president. He was reportedly to serve only from six months to one year.
Like in Adan’s case, De Leon’s designation bypassed the search committee constituted by Malacañang.
However unlike Adan, who was also among those considered by the Board of Generals, De Leon was not among the 21 candidates screened by the search committee.
Of the 21 applicants, a short-list of three was submitted to Malacañang to which Muslim was the unanimous choice of the committee for the post.
The other two nominees were Dr. Nasroden Guro, dean of the College of Public Affairs, and Dr. Abubakr Otinggue Mohammad Masnar, vice chancellor for research.
Critics said if Arroyo was “serious in giving due recognition to MSU’s contribution to peace and development in Mindanao, she should appoint someone to the academe on the basis of merit via the institutionalized process of the search committee,” Alecks P. Pabico, head of Multimedia Desk of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism reported.
It was the first time that the “long-respected institutional processes observed in the academe has not been followed,” an alumnus of the university said.
Critics claimed while it is the prerogative of President Arroyo whom to choose, the previous appointees were all chosen from the results of the selection process.”
All the past presidents of MSU, except for its first president, Dr. Antonio Isidro, were from Mindanao and either a graduate of the university or a member of the Board of Regents that governs the university.
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. also assailed the appointment of De Leon as “bad for the morale of professional educators” and “bad for our educational system.”
“If the justification is for a retired military man to clean up the mess, I beg to disagree,” said former faculty regent Prof. Norkaya Mohamad.
De Leon had been accused by some groups as anti-Muslim and was planning to build a cathedral and forbid the use of scarves by Muslim women in the campus, an allegation he had strongly denied.
Critics further said there has been “severe deterioration of the academic standards” of MSU’s main campus, an allegation dismissed by supporters of De Leon as “a sin of past administrators.”
Muslim’s appointment was hailed by its supporters saying that “he is the best man for the job” to “restore the lost academic excellence of MSU, especially of its main campus in Marawi City.”
“As a former university president, I am alarmed by this years dismal performance of our graduates in the engineering and nursing board examinations compared to the past years where we almost got 90 percent and above as board passers. The choosing of Muslim as president shall save the institution from further academic deterioration,” said Umpa.
Dr. Jose Abueva, the former president of the University of the Philippines argued that President Arroyo did not respect the selection process which chose Muslim to be the president of MSU when she appointed De Leon to the post.
UP professor columnist Solita Monsod said “as an academic and an administrator,” Muslim “stands very tall indeed.”
De Leon also appealed “for sobriety and calmness to ensure a peaceful turnover” and calls “the same support” for Muslim as “you have extended me.”
The Mindanao State University was established in Marawi City on September 1, 1961 by virtue of Republic Act 1387. It is the only university in the Philippines with a special mandate to integrate the cultural communities, specially the Muslims into the mainstream Philippine society. (Norodin Makalay)
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Mindanao Teachers Lack PCs, Call It Happy Problem
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Mike Banos / 20 Dec) - Teachers in the Mindanao State University MSU-System of High Schools and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have what EduQuest, Inc. general manager Teresita Medado calls a "happy problem". They don't have enough computers and peripherals to integrate computers and the internet into classroom instruction.
During the Recognition and Awards Night for the IBM eMentor Scholarship program held recently in Cagayan de Oro, Maryam Manalundong, who was cited as the "Best Trainer" among the 27 graduates of the program, said they don't have enough computers to enable students to learn "hands-on".
They also lacked LCD projectors to make up for the lack of PCs by projecting their lessons to the board for all students to see.
But Medado called this is a "happy problem" because that particular batch of eMentors have "found good use for their PCs" and said she "wanted it recognized." Apparently, EduQuest worked with other schools before which "over-invested" in hardware and software but eventually found little use for it.
Even prior to that, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) program already recognized the need to develop the "humanware" for this project by bringing in the IBM eMentor scholarship program for its Computer Literacy and Internet Connection (CLIC) program.
CLIC aims to promote computer literacy and the use of information and communications technology (ICT) among students and teachers in the ARMM and other conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. It provides internet-linked computers, software, printers, reference materials on computers and the internet, and training on basic troubleshooting and repairs to CLIC-beneficiary schools.
To improve the quality of ICT-facilitated learning in the ARMM, IBM and USAID through GEM launched the IBM eMentor Scholarship Program (also known as the IBM eMentor Teacher Professional Training and Practicum Program) in the ARMM and the MSU System of High Schools.
The IBM eMentor Scholarship Program is implemented and managed by EduQuest, Inc., an affiliate of Asia Pacific College, an institution founded by IBM Philippines and the SM Foundation.
As a training provider and consultant on teaching strategies and tools, EduQuest designed the training course and certified the acquisition of competencies gained by teachers through the program. It was also responsible for monitoring the implementing the program by qualified and trained teachers in their own schools.
The program was developed with the rationale that improving the quality of education in the ARMM would help accelerate economic growth in Mindanao, improve the quality of life and bring about a just and lasting peace in the region.
In January 2006, at least 30 teachers were selected from a pool of 85 program applicants using a highly competitive process managed by GEM. Selection criteria included reading diagnosis rating, technology skill level and professional qualifications.
As program beneficiaries, each teacher-scholar committed to share the skills they acquired with at least 10 teachers from their schools within 7-10 months after graduating from the program.
From the original pool of 30 qualified applicants, 28 teacher-scholars went through an intensive 8-day training program at the STI computer laboratory in Davao City last January.
The training taught them how to maximize ICT applications, tools and resources in the classroom to inspire greater interest and increase the motivation to learn of students, thus increasing the quality of classroom instruction in the region (which has among the lowest literacy rate in the entire country) and also improved their ability to facilitate community participation in the learning process. Outputs and peer feedback were discussed on the last day of training.
Upon returning to their respective schools, the teacher-scholars now turned mentors applied their newly acquired skills and trained at least 10 other teachers, thus increasing the base of trained and qualified teacher-users for CLIC-partner schools.
Through the next 10 months, CLIC and IBM, through EduQuest, monitored and evaluated the implementation of the teacher-mentors' portfolio in their own schools.
Twenty seven teacher-mentor scholars completed the requirements of the program just this month.
The three highest achieving teacher-scholars and who excelled in their specific fields were recognized with awards from IBM and EduQuest. The teacher-mentors were evaluated based on three major criteria: Development and Implementation of Instructional materials using ICT; re-echo training or passing on what they have learned from the IBM eMentor program to their co-teachers, and teacher collaboration through various tools in the internet.
The 27 IBM eMentor Teacher-Scholars were Kusain M. Abas, Leticia S. Adjaril, Ma. Venus P. Aman, Floravel K. Ambas, Saliah Datucali H. Amin, Nor-ain M. Ampang, Aquil S. Andog, Arnold B. Asotigue, Achmad Dimalutang, Camaro T. Edzraphil, Arnel B. Hajan, Renette H. Jecostan, Aidyl Jeffrey A. Jikiri, Florida D. Maddie, Ma. Corazon G. Maguate, Mayleen P. Malagamba, Maryam Q. Manalundong, Caroline T. Marohom, Barbara Ann E. Pangcoga, Ranilo R. Remonde, Jemima O. Ruiz, Rheinjohn A. Sampang, Mariam A. Sunggod, Reynald L. Sykimte, Arlene B. Tawan, Ricardo B. Tarro and Nazer K. Usman.
Recognized as the top eMentor Scholars were Maryam Q. Macalundong, MSU Balindong, Lanao del Sur (1st place); Caroline T. Marohom, Malabang National High School, Lanao del Sur (2nd Place) and Nor-Ain M. Ampang, MSU Balo-i, Lanao del Norte.
Also granted special awards were Marohom (Best in Classroom Demonstrations), Manalundong (Best Teacher's Portfolio, Overall Best Online Discussant, Best Online Discussant/IBM Mentor Place, Best Online Discussant/IBM Yahoo group, Best Trainer), Edzraphil (Simplest Use of Technology to Achieve Maximum Impact) and Mr. Aquil S. Andog (Best Online Discussant/IBM eMentor Blogspot).
Although the program partners committed to continue supporting CLIC through the program, a formidable obstacle over which they basically have no control continues to hound the integration of computers and the internet in the ARMM, especially in Lanao del Sur: inadequate and unstable supply of electricity.
Ricardo de Leon, MSU-System President, acknowledged this problem but said the National Transmission Corporation (Transco) can hopefully address it in the near future upon the completion of a 69KV transmission line in Lanao del Sur aimed at stabilizing the power supply.
Ironically, Lanao del Sur and Iligan City, are hosts communities for the Agus hydro-electric power complex which supplies over half of Mindanao's present power needs.
The CLIC program in the ARMM is managed by Arcille Catherine Raagas, herself a former teacher and mentor based in Cagayan de Oro City. (Contributor, Kagay-an.com)
During the Recognition and Awards Night for the IBM eMentor Scholarship program held recently in Cagayan de Oro, Maryam Manalundong, who was cited as the "Best Trainer" among the 27 graduates of the program, said they don't have enough computers to enable students to learn "hands-on".
They also lacked LCD projectors to make up for the lack of PCs by projecting their lessons to the board for all students to see.
But Medado called this is a "happy problem" because that particular batch of eMentors have "found good use for their PCs" and said she "wanted it recognized." Apparently, EduQuest worked with other schools before which "over-invested" in hardware and software but eventually found little use for it.
Even prior to that, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) program already recognized the need to develop the "humanware" for this project by bringing in the IBM eMentor scholarship program for its Computer Literacy and Internet Connection (CLIC) program.
CLIC aims to promote computer literacy and the use of information and communications technology (ICT) among students and teachers in the ARMM and other conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. It provides internet-linked computers, software, printers, reference materials on computers and the internet, and training on basic troubleshooting and repairs to CLIC-beneficiary schools.
To improve the quality of ICT-facilitated learning in the ARMM, IBM and USAID through GEM launched the IBM eMentor Scholarship Program (also known as the IBM eMentor Teacher Professional Training and Practicum Program) in the ARMM and the MSU System of High Schools.
The IBM eMentor Scholarship Program is implemented and managed by EduQuest, Inc., an affiliate of Asia Pacific College, an institution founded by IBM Philippines and the SM Foundation.
As a training provider and consultant on teaching strategies and tools, EduQuest designed the training course and certified the acquisition of competencies gained by teachers through the program. It was also responsible for monitoring the implementing the program by qualified and trained teachers in their own schools.
The program was developed with the rationale that improving the quality of education in the ARMM would help accelerate economic growth in Mindanao, improve the quality of life and bring about a just and lasting peace in the region.
In January 2006, at least 30 teachers were selected from a pool of 85 program applicants using a highly competitive process managed by GEM. Selection criteria included reading diagnosis rating, technology skill level and professional qualifications.
As program beneficiaries, each teacher-scholar committed to share the skills they acquired with at least 10 teachers from their schools within 7-10 months after graduating from the program.
From the original pool of 30 qualified applicants, 28 teacher-scholars went through an intensive 8-day training program at the STI computer laboratory in Davao City last January.
The training taught them how to maximize ICT applications, tools and resources in the classroom to inspire greater interest and increase the motivation to learn of students, thus increasing the quality of classroom instruction in the region (which has among the lowest literacy rate in the entire country) and also improved their ability to facilitate community participation in the learning process. Outputs and peer feedback were discussed on the last day of training.
Upon returning to their respective schools, the teacher-scholars now turned mentors applied their newly acquired skills and trained at least 10 other teachers, thus increasing the base of trained and qualified teacher-users for CLIC-partner schools.
Through the next 10 months, CLIC and IBM, through EduQuest, monitored and evaluated the implementation of the teacher-mentors' portfolio in their own schools.
Twenty seven teacher-mentor scholars completed the requirements of the program just this month.
The three highest achieving teacher-scholars and who excelled in their specific fields were recognized with awards from IBM and EduQuest. The teacher-mentors were evaluated based on three major criteria: Development and Implementation of Instructional materials using ICT; re-echo training or passing on what they have learned from the IBM eMentor program to their co-teachers, and teacher collaboration through various tools in the internet.
The 27 IBM eMentor Teacher-Scholars were Kusain M. Abas, Leticia S. Adjaril, Ma. Venus P. Aman, Floravel K. Ambas, Saliah Datucali H. Amin, Nor-ain M. Ampang, Aquil S. Andog, Arnold B. Asotigue, Achmad Dimalutang, Camaro T. Edzraphil, Arnel B. Hajan, Renette H. Jecostan, Aidyl Jeffrey A. Jikiri, Florida D. Maddie, Ma. Corazon G. Maguate, Mayleen P. Malagamba, Maryam Q. Manalundong, Caroline T. Marohom, Barbara Ann E. Pangcoga, Ranilo R. Remonde, Jemima O. Ruiz, Rheinjohn A. Sampang, Mariam A. Sunggod, Reynald L. Sykimte, Arlene B. Tawan, Ricardo B. Tarro and Nazer K. Usman.
Recognized as the top eMentor Scholars were Maryam Q. Macalundong, MSU Balindong, Lanao del Sur (1st place); Caroline T. Marohom, Malabang National High School, Lanao del Sur (2nd Place) and Nor-Ain M. Ampang, MSU Balo-i, Lanao del Norte.
Also granted special awards were Marohom (Best in Classroom Demonstrations), Manalundong (Best Teacher's Portfolio, Overall Best Online Discussant, Best Online Discussant/IBM Mentor Place, Best Online Discussant/IBM Yahoo group, Best Trainer), Edzraphil (Simplest Use of Technology to Achieve Maximum Impact) and Mr. Aquil S. Andog (Best Online Discussant/IBM eMentor Blogspot).
Although the program partners committed to continue supporting CLIC through the program, a formidable obstacle over which they basically have no control continues to hound the integration of computers and the internet in the ARMM, especially in Lanao del Sur: inadequate and unstable supply of electricity.
Ricardo de Leon, MSU-System President, acknowledged this problem but said the National Transmission Corporation (Transco) can hopefully address it in the near future upon the completion of a 69KV transmission line in Lanao del Sur aimed at stabilizing the power supply.
Ironically, Lanao del Sur and Iligan City, are hosts communities for the Agus hydro-electric power complex which supplies over half of Mindanao's present power needs.
The CLIC program in the ARMM is managed by Arcille Catherine Raagas, herself a former teacher and mentor based in Cagayan de Oro City. (Contributor, Kagay-an.com)
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