School: Saint Louis Laboratory High School
    Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines

4 students, ages 15 worked together to complete this Doors to Diplomacy project on March 16, 2012. They have participated in Doors to Diplomacy in the following year(s): 2011

Classes and Teachers: Florida Martin, Vincent Tabor, Chynna, Karen, Ellen, Giselle

E-Mail contact:

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

1. Description of Our Team

'The last thing on the minds of people before going on vacation is their safety. They tend to remember to bring along with them even the things that are not really needed for the trip and yet, they forget to keep in mind their security.

We don’t want our vacation to be ruined by an accident, do we? Pondering on this question, our team aims to unite our government officials and the citizens of Baguio to help in securing tourist destinations of the city so that more tourists will be visiting these sites. Through our website, we hope to air our sentiments to our leaders that they should not be concentrating on developing new tourist destinations but should also enhance the safety and security of the places that already exist. Likewise, we would like to catch the attention of our viewers and inform them of several important security measures when going to tourist destinations.

The first thing our group did was to list down the tourist attractions found in Baguio City. After that, we visited an attraction or two whenever we can, took pictures of the place and interviewed the tourists and the employees of that tourist destination especially the security guards. After that, we collated all the information into a website. We hope that pour website will help enhance the security of the tourist attractions here in Baguio City. When the tourist attractions are secured, more tourists will come to visit the city and when this happens, local people will be able to interact and be friends with one another. Furthermore, Baguio tourist attractions will serve as avenues where people from different places will meet, thus, diplomacy will be promoted.

Hopefully, our website will open a door to diplomacy by promoting the numerous Baguio tourist attractions, whether known or newly discovered because tourist will feel safe while enjoying. '

2. Summary of Our Project

The last thing on the minds of people before going on vacation is their safety. They tend to remember to bring along with them even the things that are not really needed for the trip and yet, they forget to keep in mind their security.

We don’t want our vacation to be ruined by an accident, do we? Pondering on this question, our team aims to unite our government officials and the citizens of Baguio to help in securing tourist destinations of the city so that more tourists will visit them. Through our website, we hope to air our sentiments to our leaders that they should not just be concentrating on developing new tourist destinations but should also enhance the safety and security of the places that already exist. Likewise, we would like to catch the attention of our viewers and inform them of several important security measures when going to tourist destinations.

The first thing our group did was to list down the tourist attractions found in Baguio City. After that, we visited an attraction or two whenever we can, took pictures of the place and interviewed the tourists and the employees of that tourist destination. Then, we collated all the information into a website.

We hope that our website will help enhance the security of the tourist attractions here in Baguio City. When the tourist attractions are secured, more tourists will come to visit the city and when this happens, local people will be able to interact and make friends with them. Furthermore, Baguio tourist attractions will serve as avenues where people from different places will meet. Thus, diplomacy will be promoted.

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:2-3

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

Our team had a problem with the gathering of data. We had trouble in setting our schedule to go to local tourist attractions because we were busy and sometimes, some members were not allowed to go out during the scheduled days. Because of problems on our schedule, we decided that even though a team member was not allowed to go out, the other members who were free went and the others were assigned to different tasks.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

You should feel like you’re as safe as you are when you’re at home when you’re on vacation to be able to really enjoy it.”

This quote made by a team member is actually our dream. We want people in our land to feel so safe, they’d feel like they’re at home.

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

The doors to diplomacy project is part of our course requirement in Technology and Home Economics, thus we were able to apply all the things we learned from the subject.

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

Laptops and computers were the most needed and used technology of our project. The internet was also needed. Through Facebook.com, we were able to contact each other with regards to our project especially during long vacations. Besides that, we also each had our cellphones at hand just in case we needed to meet up with other for our project. When we went to our team’s so called “field trips”, we needed digital cameras to take snap shots of the tourist attractions we’ve visited. We also needed audio or video recording devices to record what the people we had interviewed just in case we were not fast enough in writing and jotting note of the important details.

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

It is a proven fact that the Internet is now the number one way on how people, especially teenagers, express themselves. We, then, would act as ambassadors of safety and security by sharing the website we made to our friends who shall also recommend it to others. In that way, we can act as ambassadors or speakers of safety and security and at the same time do the one of the things we all love the most, interacting with other people.

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

Our school is quite well-known in our city. As we interviewed tourists and guards, they asked us from what school we came from. We then, told them that we are from SLU-LHS. Knowing that we’re from that school, they had realized that students nowadays don’t only do mischief and trouble but we also try to make a difference and promote diplomacy. We, not only strengthened the relationship between our school and our local community but also upholded the reputation of our school as the “Light of the North”.

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

Our project made a difference not only to the tourists and local people we asked questions to but also to the guards we interviewed. The local people and the tourists became more aware of what could happen to them anytime and thus, they tried to be of caution all the time. The local people also became aware that they shouldn’t do any crime because it can actually affect the tourism of our city. The guards, on the other hand, were asked questions that made them aware of the possible consequences if they don’t do their jobs well and so, they become alert all the time.