School: MSC High School
    San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines

20 students, ages from 14 to 15 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on February 8, 2002. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2002

Classes and Teachers: IV-Diamond and IV-Pearl; Mrs. Hermie De Gala, Ms. Betsy Duma, Mr. Adonis Duma, and Mr. Francis Dionglay

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.msc.net.ph/msc/schools.html

1. Description of Our Community

San Pablo City is situated about 80 kilometers south of Manila (Philippines). Its land is largely agricultural, with rice fields and coconut farms as well as fruit orchards. The City of Seven Lakes, as it is fondly called, boasts of being the only city blessed with seven lakes and hot springs plus breath taking views of nature.

The city proper, on the other hand is a busy cosmopolitan area where banks and other commercial establishments define the landscape. It is a bustling arena where traffic is not uncommon, not only for vehicles, but for produce and trade as well. Internet traffic is also picking up with the growing number of Internet Cafes, and a few businesses going online.

But even with these advancements that new technology brings, San Pableños never forget their roots. Historical landmarks and heritage are well kept and preserved for younger generations to enjoy. City legends and local heroes are well remembered and retold to children, preserving their memories and ensuring that the next San Pableños are well aware of their roots.

2. Summary of Our Project

Aside from being rich with nature's land and water forms, San Pablo City is also rich with legends and common folk stories that tell how places got their names and how they came about. Some streets within the city are named after local heroes and leaders to educate people about the city's rich history. There are also several old buildings which have stories of their own. This project describes these stories and also about landmarks like churches and old houses.

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:21-50%

B. Number of workstations with Internet access in the classroom:1

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dedicated connection

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:4-6

E. Additional comments concerning your computer and/or Internet access (Optional):

Our school's computer connections is served by MSC.net, which is owned by a sister company, MSC Communications Technologies, Inc. The school has its own server.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

Different versions of the legends of places were collected from interviews and the students had to ask a local historian to get the true story. Records from the local history compilations were also re-read to ensure that it was the correct story.

Schedule was also a problem, so that, the students decided to work after class hours and even on weekends to finish the project. Overnight sessions were also held with, of course, the supervision of teachers and consent of parents. There was also a time when pictures in the camera were accidentally erased, so another schedule was set for taking pictures to make it before the deadline.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

This project has not only taught the students teamwork and unity, but also made them more aware of their community and thus be more appreciative and conscious about their environment. It also made them realize the significance of the Internet and modern technology, since they have used it in a very productive way of letting the world know of their hometown.

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

The project covered various subjects and disciplines. Primarily it was historical in nature and involved social interaction with local townsfolk and interviews. It was a lot different from the conventional classroom discussion and a lot of time spent on reading thick history books, memorizing dates and names. It was an actual hands-on experience for the students to conduct the research and mingle with the people who were actually part of history that they were researching about.

The students knowledge on English composition and grammar (a part of the student’s curriculum) were put to actual use since they were required to compose write ups about their assignments for this project. Computer skills and knowledge on lay outing software were used to the fullest to come up with the pages of this project. Their creativity and talent in designing the web page were enhanced with this experience. Modern technological tools like digital cameras and scanners were also handled and skill in using them were learned. And it made the learning process fun and exciting. Time management and teamwork were two important concepts the students learned and can certainly use in actual life.

We, the teachers and students proved that the different subjects learned in class, which seems so unlike are in actuality related to each other and we can learn it better if we will go out of the classrooms and experience it ourselves. Furthermore, with the use of modern technology like computers and the Internet, we can make the learning process not only easy but fun.

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

The most important tool used in the making of this project is the personal interview with local town folks who were more than willing to share their stories about their barangay. It was like a bonding process between young students and older and wiser San Pableños, while they share the rich history of their home town.

Also helpful were the technological tools like the digital camera, lent by MSC Net (a sister company of MSC High) which made it easier to save pictures in the computers, the computers of the laboratory and the html, Adobe Photoshop, and Pagemaker software, which were used to design the web page.

Some stories were gathered from the local city government, library, and local historian, Mr. Sonny Alcantara.

Also, the school's service vehicle made travelling from one place to another during the interviews more convenient for the researchers.

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

During the personal interviews, people were asking from what school the students were from, and how are they going to use the information. When the students explained the reason, it made them more willing to tell everything they knew. Among their peers outside of class, and even with their families, the students were more open to discussions about their project and the information they gathered.

In the process of collecting stories, they had to ask almost everyone if they knew about local history and they always have to come up with an explanation of the project itself. A few even had to email relatives and friends who used to live in San Pablo to ask for stories even if they now stay abroad.

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

Barely 6 years old, MSC High School is a very young school. But at this age, it has made itself noticeable in the province due to its various projects for the community, besides the academic activities. When Dengue fever inflicted many San Pablo children, MSC High students conducted an information campaign, where the students themselves gave seminars to educate public elementary school pupils about Dengue and how to avoid it.

There was also the distribution of iodized salt to poor communities who need iodine supplement, and of course the annual gift packages given to the Bahay Nazareth, the Home for the Aged in San Pablo City, and to indigent families during Christmas.

This project however will not make an impact to the needy alone, but also to those who have access to the Internet. Those San Pableños now staying abroad and who have lost contact will now have something to look back at. They will be re-educated about their hometown and probably rekindle their sense of loyalty and love for home.

Perfect timing is the word for the release of this project because February, 2002 was proclaimed as

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

Aside from each student of the team who worked on this project, other people who helped are: their Social Studies teachers (Mr. Francis Dionglay & Mrs. Lerma Prudente) who guided them in their research; their English teacher (Mrs. Herminia De Gala) who edited their write ups; their Computer subject teachers (Ms. Joy Ann Morales, Brian Santos, & Garry Angelo D. Ilagan) who assisted in the development of the web page.

Acknowledgment is also due to all the people interviewed and the people of San Pablo for their stories. Special mention is due to Ms. Cresencia De Luna and Mr. Sonny Alcantara for the compilation of stories and historical facts they lent the students.

MSC Communications Technologies, Inc. (MSC Net), our Internet Service Provider also deserves our thanks for hosting our web sites, and for their full support.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

We discovered and learned many things from this project. We became more aware of our community and we know more about its rich heritage, making us love San Pablo even more.

The students gained a lot of wisdom from their interviews with old San Pablo natives and they are now more willing to share what they have learned about their city. We have also discovered a new use for the Internet: to let everyone in the world know that there is a city with seven lakes and that is our San Pablo City.