School: Centre for International Education Global Colleges
    Cebu, Cebu, Philippines

13 students, ages 14-18 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 18, 2005. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2003, 2004 & 2005

Classes and Teachers: Michael Naya & selected students from Level 9, Level 10, Level 11 & Level 12

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: Http://www.cie.edu

1. Description of Our Community

Cebu is a place where you can lay back and relax, where everything and everyone is close to each other. Cebuanos are fun-loving and very family oriented. Cebu is a small island, so it is easy to meet up with friends and family. This makes Cebu a very homey place. Cebu is growing quickly and before anyone knows it, it will be as productive as Manila. Even Cebu is growing, it is still seen by people as the island that is known for its beaches, food, and people.

2. Summary of Our Project

This project aims to showcase our delicacies, rattan and guitar making abilities, and our different sports. We believe that these are only a few of what is helping our province at the present and in the future in becoming successful. Mangoes are specialized here and have become desired abroad and in different areas of the Philippines. Rattan furniture has become a very good means of income; most of the furniture made is exported to the United States. Cebu is well on its way in becoming the Dance Capital of the Philippines, thanks to the Dance Sport Team City Cebu. These are only a few of what will help and unite the people of our province. Filipinos, Cebuanos to be more accurate, love the sense of winning, of achieving, not only do these different specialties help us in our economy, but they give us a sense of uniqueness.

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:more than 50%

B. Number of workstations with Internet access in the classroom:more than 6

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:more than 6

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

The project, has had its share of shortcomings but with a little perseverance and determination, they were easily overcome. The problem of gathering data sources first presented itself during the first few weeks of working on the project. In order to obtain the data we needed for the website, we had to first, make use of our contacts, which was the easy part because in Cebu, everybody practically knows everybody and it is very easy to get around; just another one of the many great benefits of living on a small island like Cebu that we were most thankful for. The next obstacle was time, or should we say, the lack of it. The number of other school activities, had more or less left the team with much lesser time to work on the project. We honestly admit that up to now, time is still a problem we haven’t been able to solve but then again, the same goes for about a large percent of the world's population. We learned to compromise instead, we divided the team into groups who would work and gather data on weekends. On any other school day, we would make use of our computer classes, as our coach would give us the period off, to work on the project.

All the other minor obstacles included the lack of ideas, but all thanks to the division of the team into groups, this problem had quickly come gone when we appointed members for the creative team who have so far, been doing a good job.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

Our participation in this project shows that we realize that the future will be greatly influenced by technology and that communications will more or else be done through the internet. This project has helped us see the many possibilities of Cebu becoming a successful province in very many different sections, especially through sports, delicacies, and furniture.

6. How did your activities and research for this CyberFair Project support standards, required coursework and curriculum standards?

Our research skills have improved much. We did not realize that Cebu has so many different specialties that we are unique for before we did this project. It has helped us improve our computer skills. We each have grown from the different experiences from the group meetings that we have had.

1) What information tools & technologies did you used to complete your CyberFair project?

There are 35 computers available in to the student’s in the computer laboratory. Each classroom has a computer available for teachers. Each student in this project has the availability of a computer in their homes with internet access. At anytime we may be able to work on our assigned areas. The OS installed in our computers is Windows XP. We make use of Photoshop, Macromedia Flash, and other softwares. We all have available telephones at home and in school. We were able to conduct some interviews (for information) through the telephone. We used cameras in order to take our own versions of the delicacies. We used scanners in order to scan the drawings of our artists who drew certain objects, like the jeepney. We used books of some of our group mates. These books had information of the different delicacies in Cebu. We were able to get of information through oral interview.In order to show a more personal side to us, we had cartoon drawings done of each of us and integrated it into the site.

2) In what ways did you act as "ambassadors" and spokespersons for your CyberFair project both on-line and in person.

We were “ambassadors” for our community basically by promoting the specialties of our province. Through this we learned more about the uniqueness of our province. Knowing more about our country makes us more inclined to promoting Cebu, being more confident with the information we know. There were people who we spoke with about this that were happy that in one way or another, we are promoting the province. We are capable of doing many things as youngsters in this island. We have ideas that will be able to unite and help us have a better future; a successful one.

3) What has been the impact of your project on your community?

The people and the companies who have kindly given their time to us for our interviews were glad that we took an interest in them. They are glad that local talent, delicacies and specialties are finally taken a notice on and helps give the community pride. People were happy about the fact that we were doing something that would help promote the community. People have noticed the hard work we have put into this and our dedication to this project.

4) How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?

As mentioned, most of the information was obtained from interviews. Fellow members of the community had each given us their share of ideas, knowledge in the field, and above all, time. Our parents most especially had given us the most support by providing transportation throughout our many outings. Many members of the community were more than willing to spare a few minutes of their time in order to assist us in conducting our interviews. Some facilitated guided tours and some even went through the trouble of providing free samples. From the bottom of our hearts, the team would just like to take this opportunity to thank them. We have prepared a special 'Thank-you' in the credits section.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

First of all, if it has not already been made oblivious, we had learned an awful lot about Cebu. Although it might be interesting to learn things about other places, getting reacquainted with your own backyard is not only fascinating but also more important. Most, if not all of the newly learned facts were not only surprising but it had also given us a more profound love and appreciation for our home province. After all, “Home is where the Heart is”. We were given the opportunity to go and experience the things that, oddly, we never knew we had. This whole project has been very much like a day of cleaning up the attic, just the thought of it sends a chill up your spine but when you actually do set out to carry out the task, you’d actually be surprised to discover all the amazing things that you wouldn’t normally see and end up taking pleasure in cleaning these seemingly old, dry and dusty objects while taking simple joy in accidentally discovering things you never knew you had. Time flies when you’re having fun and before you know it, you’ve finished cleaning up the attic. Finally for the first time in years, the attic starts to look much better than it used to.

The members of the team would personally like to recommend a project like this to everyone, not just fellow Cebuanos but also to people in other countries and places. Its nice to learn a new thing about the place we live in every now and then, so get to know your backyard, greet your neighbor or do a little digging, you’d be surprised with what you’d find.