1) What information tools & technologies did you used to complete your CyberFair project?
Aside from different books, journals, magazines and brochures from our school, the Provincial Tourism Office and the Provincial Library, the participants also made use of other significant information gathered through personal interviews.
The computers donated by the Department of Trade and Industry were used to make write-ups, imaging, designing and uploading. Computer softwares Adobe Photoshop 7 and MS NotePad were used in making the web pages. Digital cameras, video cameras and a camera, owned by different participating students, made it easier to capture and document events and sceneries. Brochures, record books and maps were also used as tools to gather information for the content. The transportation around the province of Antique was provided by one of the students.
The most important component is ourselves, who teamed-up, bonded, interacted, and shared ideas. It was fun as well as educational going through Antique and getting to know its people and the wonders of art and gastronomic delights they have created. With the teamwork of the students, cooperation of the teachers, the community and the government, it was proven that nothing is impossible.
2) In what ways did you act as "ambassadors" and spokespersons for your CyberFair project both on-line and in person.
Antique is a province full of hidden treasures, a place endowed with many sumptuous delicacies and world class products, which the government failed to give much attention to and which other people fail to see and patronized. Through our project, we will be able to help promote our province’s industry, not just locally but also internationally and we can help make the government realize the importance of Antique’s local specialties in mending our under employment problem.
We visited Antique’s towns and interviewed Antiqueños who are engage in craft making, pottery making, candle making and much more. We were amazed by their products, most of which were hand-made, but we were a little bit dismayed when some barrio folks told us that they have a lot of orders from businessmen but they failed to accept these because they lack manpower and facilities. Through our Cyberfair project, we can help encourage more Antiqueños to engage in this business and the same through, we can attract more investors and businessmen.
3) What has been the impact of your project on your community?
The researchers aimed to endorse the products, specifically the specialties from Caluya down to Anini-y here in the province of Antique.
Each town has their own local products, which they are proud of. This project will be a great help to the Antiqueños were they can advertise their products whether it’s a small or a big business. What matters most is that the unique identity of their products with their corresponding background information. Antique workers or businessmen can gain bigger amounts of profit whenever this project will be selected. If time comes that these products will be discovered by other countries that will be the time when Antiqueños will start to export with the help of the government. That will also be the beginning for the development of living here in our province. A stepping-stone to reach the dream of every Antiqueño, to have a productive land and successful life.
4) How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?
Unity is the key to success. With the help of people such as our Computer Education teacher, Mrs. Jocelyn E. Remonte and our computer technician, Mr. Leonil Gallano, we succeeded in making our project. Our teacher taught us, she motivated our whole being so that surrendering to failure will not be an option and she helped us with regards to some technical problems that we have to overcome. The best individuals that gave us permission to join the Cyberfair with all their support were Mr. Rodolfo J. Caberoy, Principal II/Officer-in-charge of Antique National School, Mr. Orlando P. Gallano, Administrative Officer and Mr. Teodoro Marzoña, OIC and Department Head of Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE). The people of the concerned towns welcomed us and willingly answered our questions, they gave us the necessary information we needed and accepted us whole heartedly and the people in the Department of Tourism and Antique Development Foundation willing shared their knowledge and gave us more information by lending us their brochures and books about Antique’s industry.
5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)
We discovered so many things about Antique’s local industry, we learned that our province has a lot of products and specialties that can compete globally with the products of the other countries not just in Asia but in the other continents as well. Yet, these products are under developed because of lack of manpower, facilities, money, and support from the government.
We were surprised that most of these world-class products, like the Diclum Buri products, Salvacion Handicraft, Bari Pots, Chavez Candles, Buenavista Bamboo Crafts, Muscuvado Sugar, Patadyong Hankies, hats, Weaved piña and weaved mat (“banig”) are mostly hand-made.
We realized that if only the local government and the Antiqueños work hand-in-hand, our province can excel in the field of business, we can create more jobs and solve the province’s underemployment problem.
|