School: VYP-MSC Institute of Technology
    San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines

22 students, ages 13-16 years old worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 14, 2012. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2010,2011

Classes and Teachers: This project was made possible through the tireless efforts students from first year to fourth year high school and their teachers of VYP-MSC Institute of Technology. The team members include Oxana De Guzman, Chiharu Marticio, Gilbert Marzo, Julius Deocar

E-Mail contact:

Our School's Web Site: http://www.msc.edu.ph

1. Description of Our Community

San Pablo City is one of the oldest cities of the country and the oldest city of Laguna. It is 87 kilometers south of Manila which is the capital of the Philippines. In terms of land area, San Pablo City covers the biggest part of Laguna which measures 21, 400 hectares. The great portion of it is distributed in 80 barangays and forested area. It also includes huge plantations of coconut trees. Based on August 1, 2007 urban population census, San Pablo City is inhabited by 237,259 people and as of 2010, 134, 486 citizens of this city are registered. This city is known as a first class city and also the city of the coconut trees. Being a part of San Pableños tradition, the city celebrates Coco Festival every year; one of the highlights of which is the Street Dancing competition participated in by students from different schools in the city. These students dance along the street to the beat of up beat music specially prepared for this occasion while donned in colorful costumes adorned with coconut parts. San Pablo City is the only city in the world which boasts of seven crater lakes, thus earning it the moniker “City Of Seven Lakes”. The seven lakes- Sampaloc, Bunot, Palakpakin, Muhikap, Yambo, Pandin and Kalibato, with its breath taking views of nature lure many people, locals and tourists alike, to experience its beauty.. Most notable is of the seven Lakes is the Sampaloc Lake which is also the largest. These seven lakes is the landmark of San Pablo to the country, not only for its beautiful views, but it also serves as the fishing grounds for marginal fishermen and support the production of Tilapia.

2. Summary of Our Project

A place for relaxation, reflection and recreation, among others, Sampaloc Lake is considered a haven for the people of San Pablo City. Needless to say, it is one of our pride and joy. When you roam around the lake, you will see mini parks constructed around it. These mini parks didn’t only function as “attraction” to tourists, but also gave San Pableño families a cheap place for fun and for their bonding moments. In our 2004 Cyberfair Project under the Environmental Issues and Awareness Category, we discussed how Sampaloc Lake suffered a near death and how it has undergone rehabilitation. Now that its beauty is restored, with the help of different NGO’s, private individuals, and some local officials, the dying lake became a prominent tourist spot of the city. Our dream is to preserve this lake so it can further serve the citizens of the next generation. The natural beauty of the lake coupled with the mini parks constructed around it will set forth its potential to be a famous and world class tourist spot not only in Laguna, but also to our country. It is our hope that those who will see this web page will appreciate the beauty of our lake and will discover the potentials of this lake to attract people from all over the world. We also want other people to see that, through the efforts and unity displayed by the people of San Pablo, what we consider to be our local paradise will also serve as a paradise to our city’s visitors, albeit for a short time.

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:none

C. Connection speed used in the classroom:dial-up modem

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

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

Our school’s internet access is powered by MSC.net. The school has its own server.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

The completion of this project is very enjoyable and profitable although it is no easy task. Conflicting schedule of the students and their interviewees affected the completion of our project. Our class schedule coincides with the office hours of the employees and other interviewees. In addition to this, it is difficult to find the time to spend in completing this project because of schoolwork. We have to meet every Saturday so we can work on this project. It was also hard to find the people who can supply us with the information we need. We have to ask other people until they can refer to us the proper people to interview. The unpredictable weather condition we are experiencing these days is also a factor that made completion of our project a difficult one. The rain hinders us to go immediately to the person we were about to interview or from taking pictures. With the resourcefulness, hard work, cooperation, and dedication of the members of the team, this project came into fruition.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

“We dreamed, we believed, we united” The San Pableños dreamt once, as is evident in our 2004 cyberfair project, and we have seen how or belief that we can be instruments of change came into fruition; and that with collective effort, our dream can transform into reality. We continue to dream- that our Sampaloc Lake will no longer suffer the fate that has once befallen it and that it will never cease to be our pride and joy…. our window to the world.

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

The activities done are in adherence of the set curriculum. Research, team work, outbound education, learning with relevance, theme teaching and learning- they are within the learning modes that helped in further formation of the students. Research work in and out of the classroom, finding resource speakers, interviewing, interacting with members of the community are tasks that were successfully executed. Working on this project taught us valuable lessons such as being responsible and accountable for the work assigned to us. We also realized the value of team work, sense of responsibility, and leadership. Respect for other people, patience and commitment were also some of values that were further instilled in us. These lessons learned compensated to the difficulties and obstacles that we have encountered along the way. This cyberfair project paved the way for us to follow the required curriculum guidelines as we explored, investigated, and observed. It enhanced skills which are better learned through process such as critical thinking. This is brought to the fore as we analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information gathered. Our communication skills were put to a test as we interacted with members of the community, from government officials and employees to the common people. We learned that through our collective effort and dedication, tasks which seem insurmountable can be achieved. The importance of technology was even more inculcated as we relied on its benefits to find answers, communicate and develop our intellects. Our creativity was further challenged as we sought for excellence in showcasing our project all over the world. All these ignited more our appreciation to the educational system’s efforts in visualizing the needs of the future generation. Our appreciation is given to the organizers of this cyberfair competition for being a venue for us to express our value as citizens of this world.

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

In the preparation of our project, we were very fortunate for the support of our school administration by giving us more time to use the school’s computer laboratory. We were even allowed to use the library computers to enable every team members to finish their assigned tasks.

The cellular phones and landlines were big advantage for scheduling appointments with our interviewees. They were also used in communicating with the team members.

Voice recorders proved valuable in recording our interviews. Digital cameras and mobile phones camera were used in taking photos. Scanners were used to upload pictures in the computers. CD’s and removable disks or USB’s were used to transport data from one computer to another.

Television served as a mode of information as we watched documentary programs featuring Sampaloc Lake.

Adobe Photoshop software was used to resize the pictures we used for this project.

It is proved that skills, resourcefulness and creativity coupled with technology can be a tool for reaching out to the world.

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

The project of ours cannot be done without focusing on the cause we set for it. As ambassadors of our school, we spent effort and time to talk to different people who can give us the information we need.

A quite unforgettable experience is when the team members made the interview with some San Pablo officials that is in charged for the beautification and rehabilitation of the Sampaloc Lake. Despite of nervousness felt, there were funny moments that took place while we were asking questions. We also encountered lake dwellers and business owners around the lake who answered our questions with confusion. When they learned the purpose of the interview, they gladly answered our questions and provided us with the information we need.

The web pages are definitely useful for the other San Pableno residing in other parts of the world. They are now willing to give help for the continuing rehabilitation of the lake and its improvement. The team and its members contacted different organizations and encourage them to visit the website. Our vision of wanting our voices to be heard so that we showcase Sampaloc Lake is finally achieved.

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

In 2004, our school featured Sampaloc Lake. That was the time when Sampaloc lake has just been rehabilitated from its near death. That project made the people of San Pablo to preserve and to appreciate further more the pride of our city – the very beautiful Sampaloc Lake. After six years, we are again featuring Sampaloc Lake, this time to showcase this nature’s gift and the efforts of our people to enhance more its beauty and so that the lake will serve not only a delight for the eyes but also a respite for the tired body and soul.

With the help of modern technology, we want to make our precious lake to be a famous attraction not only in Laguna but also in the Philippines. We designed this page not only for information purposes, but also to draw people to make a difference. We want to show the world the beauty lurking in the heart of San Pablo City. In going around the lake to fish for information and to take pictures, we encountered a lot of different people, from joggers, bicyclers, vendors, strollers to visitors. As they got curious with what we were doing, they started to ask questions and we provided them with information. Thus, interaction began. We were able to get vital information from them as well. In our interviews with government officials, we were able to make them realize that there are venues in which we could showcase our city’s pride and that we have gathered information that we can submit to our City Information Office that can someday become a resource materials for researchers.

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

Seek and you shall find. This we have proven in the course of out completion of this project. Members of our community readily gave us the assistance we need. In searching for resource persons, many gave their cooperation and referred us to the proper interviewee. Other instances include the interview we conducted to the lake dwellers and other people we have encountered along the lake such as store owners and vendors. Our interviewees volunteered to search for more information that they can supply to us. Still others showed and lent us pictures that are vital for this project. Indeed, the members of our community are one in its quest to make Sampaloc Lake rise to the glory it deserves.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

This project gave us, the students, a realization that San Pablenos are very lucky to be bestowed by this amazing gift of nature. We also realized that in the hearts of our people resides the pride of being the recipient of this gift as is manifested in their dream to maintain the glory of Sampaloc Lake. This project teaches us that in unity, we can accomplish things we want to achieve. Even if there were many challenges we had to face, the cooperation and assistance of many people made this project possible. We also realized that even at a young age, we can do a lot of things and make a difference in this world. Our work will serve as a global window in which people of the world can peek at the beauty we hold most dear. We discovered and that a God- given gift, coupled with people’s desire to take care and to protect it, will rise to even more glory. Above all, we learned that no matter how big a challenge is, it can be conquered. We dreamed, we believed, and we survived.