Department of Education Release P.5 Million in Northern Mindanao

The Department of Education has ordered the release of P.5 million in the regional office in Northern Mindanao to be used as operating expense in schools being used as evacuation centers as well as in clean up operations.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro also said that families of teachers who died during the catastrophe will be given P10,000 each in financial assistance while teaching and non-teaching employees will be provided with calamity loans through DepEd’s provident fund. 

DepEd is mobilizing its engineering and health units in assessing the damage and needs of affected schools in the aftermath of typhoon Sendong which ripped through Northern Mindanao last week.

Luistro who personally led the inspection team of DepEd officials reported that, based on initial assessment, some 28 schools in four schools divisions were affected. Hardest hit by rampaging floodwater spawned by the typhoon were Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan. Also affected were schools in Agusan del Sur, Lanao del Sur.

Reports as of December 20 revealed that damaged classrooms total 167. DepEd engineers and health professionals continue to validate and consolidate damage reports.

Enter the Bantorra Library with Book of Bantorra

Opening the gates to an alternative world filled with magic, fantasy, and books, The Book of Bantorra takes you to a realm where everyone who dies gets turned into books that are stored in the Bantorra Library. Want to learn more about how a particular person lived his or her life? Just go to the Bantorra Library and read a book to plunge into their lives—literally—because all you need is to touch a stone tablet ‘book’ to see a person’s history.

Book of Bantorra follows the tale of Colio, a young boy who had his memories erased. Armed with a bomb embedded in his chest, Colio sets out to kill Hamutz Meseta, the world’s most powerful Armed Librarian. But fate takes a different turn when Colio, upon seeing his target, falls in love with her and ends up getting caught in the war between two great factions—the psychic power-wielding Armed Librarians and the religious cult Sindeki Kyoudan, which manipulates people against the Library for its sinister purposes. 

Book of Bantorra  airs from Monday to Friday at 11 p.m. only on Animax. For more information, you may log on to http://www.animax-asia.com/.

Eton International School Quezon City Campus

Eton International School opens their second branch at Heroes Hills, Quezon City. A former RP-US Military Base and now made brand new for students ready to have an international quality of learning. Eton aims to provide a school that is continuous, relevant and adaptive. Located at the heart of Quezon City with  3,200 sq. meter site the school is ready to accept preschool to middle school students.

I had an opportunity to visit the said school and had an ocular tour around it. They are complete with educational materials to improve students knowledge, learn something new and gain the understanding they need to fulfill their goals. With a curriculum pattern internationally the class will then have a competitive advantage globally.

The facilities specially on the playground wherein students will have a chance to explore more with other kids. Designed specifically to build friendship, camaraderie and teamwork. With a colorful design on it making arts like painting, solving puzzles and more which they will enjoy while learning.

Have your child a better education because it will make them competitive globally and understand the world more than they ever could. Eton International School QC is located at #3 Vinzon St, corner J. Abad Santos, Heroes Hill Subdivision, Quezon City.

For more details and information contact Jessie Rose Perez at 409-7832 or 409-7822 Mobile: 0915-6264321 Email: admissions.qc@eton.edu.ph

Give the Perfect Christmas Present - Fujidenzo

Christmas is near and give the gift that keeps on giving through any of Fujidenzo’s home and commercial appliances.  Whether you’re looking for the ultimate gift for your love ones or a great prize for your company’s raffle, Fujidenzo will surely bring its recipients a grateful smile and cheer.

Fujidenzo appliances promise ‘Quality above all,’ assuring a high level of quality control in the products’ manufacturing process.  Purchase power is not an issue since Fujidenzo assures its affordability to the average Filipino family with its reasonable prices.  Thus, buying your parents a new refrigerator or purchasing several twin tub washers for your company’s raffle giveaways won’t drastically break your budget.  It’s a win-win situation for you, whether you’re the giver or the receiver.

Fujidenzo’s product line-up includes refrigerators, washers and dryers, microwave ovens, and cooking ranges.  There are also appliances that can be used for businesses such as chest and upright freezers, chillers, bar fridges, and wine coolers.Other products worth considering as either a gift or for your company’s giveaways are small appliances such as electric fans, food steamers, electric kettles, coffeemakers and tea brewers.Through its balance of quality and affordability, every Fujidenzo appliance will surely be treasured and loved since it has a useful purpose in every home.  They also come in a sleek and modern design that can match any kind of kitchen design. So this holiday season, give the perfect Christmas present.  Give a Fujidenzo product today.

Department of Education: Make A Simple and Meaningful Christmas

Christmas is just around the corner and The Department of Education announces that Christmas vacation in public schools starts on December 21 and classes resume on January 3, 2012 to give students and teachers time to observe the holiday season and enjoy the meaning of it. Education Secretary Armin Luistro said that schools may hold their Christmas party on December 19 or 20 which is an annual tradition before the long holiday break. Luistro, however, cautioned the schools to refrain from holding a lavish and compulsory holiday celebration.

“I want to reiterate that Christmas parties should be simple and meaningful and if ever there is going to be any form of contribution, it should be voluntary,” Luistro advised.The education chief said that teachers and school officials must see to it that the guidelines contained in DepEd Order 114, series of 2009 on the holding of simple Christmas celebrations are strictly observed.“Jesus Christ led a simple life so we can do no less,” added Luistro. He warned that school officials will be held liable if the department receives complaints and that they may be faced with administrative sanctions if proven guilty of insubordination.

Have A Merry Christmas Everyone :))

OFW Social Remittances As New Currency From Global Pinoys

Pinoy Expat/OFW Blog Awards or PEBA 2011 is geared to recognize the contributions of Filipino bloggers abroad. This year’s theme is dubbed as "Ako'y Magbabalik, Hatid Ko'y Pagbabago." (I Will Return, I Will Bring Change) as Balikbayans not only send back their monetary remittances; but social remittances as well.

Remittances from Filipinos working overseas are at an all-time high.  And no, it’s not just because they’re sending back US dollars, Saudi Riyals, Euros or Japanese Yen; but because our modern-day heroes are sending back what’s known as social remittances.

Social remittances refer to ideas, practices, identities and social capital that flow from receiving to sending country communities. It was coined by sociologist Peggy Levitt in her book “The Transnational Villagers and she describes social remittances being transferred by migrants and refugees that are exchanged by letters or other forms of communication that includes phone, fax, the internet or video. She suggested that social remittance affects family relations, gender roles, class and race identity, as well as have a substantial impact on political, economic and religious participation. 

With globalization, Filipino migrants are beginning to realize the power of harnessing the potential of social remittance. They may be students pursuing a higher education, a professional with a white-collar job or a migrant working as house help; but all of them have something in common: an economic goal and aspiration.

For this year PEBA opens a new blog search called PEBA’s Any Blogger, Anywhere for all Filipino bloggers in various categories, at home or abroad. This year’s blog contest will look into narratives as to how returning Expats/OFW will make use and share their social remittance or their talents, skills and fortunes to bring change to their families, communities and country. Expats/OFW bloggers who will be joining the contest will be required to write a blog entry on the said theme. There is also an ongoing blog contest for OFW supporters.

For 2011, VIPinoy, a service and perks for overseas Filipinos and OFWs offered by Ayala Malls is the biggest sponsor of PEBA. Ayala Mall is providing Trinoma Activity Center as the venue for the awards nights on December 9, 2011 and Market Market as venue for its photo exhibit from December 9, 2011. PEBA is equally supported by one of its long time partner NOKIA and communication giant Globe Telecom. 

PEBA will exclusively invite some 200 guests who can make their reservation and confirmation/RSVP of their attendance through VIPinoy Lounges in the different Ayala Malls and the awarding will be watched by a thousand or more and will be telecast live for OFWs to watch. 

For more information regarding PEBA, please visit http://www.pinoyblogawards.com/.

Press Release: GMCI

P&G Products for e.Studyante

Procter and Gamble (P&G) Philippines in partnership with Smart Communications, Inc and the Synergeia Foundation begins their e-learning advocacy program called e.Studyante which aims to provide child-friendly laptops from the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) Association and internet connectivity from smart to  beneficiary school children nationwide. In celebration of P&G's 76th year of providing good products, they will start this advocacy until they reach their 100th year with a goal of giving 1,000,000 laptops nationwide.

Recently this advocacy of giving laptops was begun in Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School located at Tondo, Manila. The event was attended by P&G Country Marketing Manager Chad Sotelo,  Smart's Public Affairs Group Ramon Isberto, Manila Local Gov't Representatives, school teachers, students, media. Pinay Mommies Community supports e.Studyante program, eight of us represents PMC was so proud of it. The event was full of excitement specially for children when they tried it the first time right after the ceremony of giving it to them. They sent a message to President Benigno Aquino III.

Then press conference follows while having lunch to explore more about the campaign."We intend for this to complement traditional learning methods and tools instead of competing with them. A laptop and internet connectivity becomes their window to the world's knowledge and places it at their own fingertips real-time. People and places they had no access to before are now within their reach. These tools expand their horizons and minds, and encourages them to dream and attain a brighter future" Sotelo said. The Synergeia will be the one who maintains the program and laptops maintenance to monitor its functions. They also assured that this advocacy will be successful specially with the help of P&G's supporters through the years.

So let us support e.Studyante and help school children in the Philippines to face many challenges like walking distances, crossing mountains, rivers and muddy roads, lack of books and overcrowded classrooms. By buying specially marked P&G promo packs available nationwide you can help and save up to 40% like Safeguard, Tide, Pampers, Downy, Ariel, Pantene, Head and Shoulders, Joy, Rejoice, Whisper, Olay, Gillette, Vicks and Ambi-Pur. "Like" e.Studyante on Facebook to know more about the campaign.

Rules on National Achievement Test Set in March

DepEd sets rules on National Achievement Test set in March. In preparation for the conduct of the National Achievement Test (NAT) in March next year, the Department of Education will conduct a pre-NAT seminar workshop to set the rules on the administration of the NAT and to ensure the security of the test materials.“We will conduct a seminar to be attended by division testing coordinators and private school supervisors for the smooth conduct of the test and put safeguards to ensure the integrity of the exam,” said Education Secretary Armin Luistro. 

Among the key points to be discussed in the seminar workshop are: proper conduct of the test, security of test materials, delivery and retrieval schemes, as well as allocation of test materials. 

NAT is given towards the end of each school year to gauge the academic performance in key subjects of elementary and secondary students in both public and private schools.

NAT is administered by DepEd’s National Education Testing and Research Center (NETRC). According to Dr. Nelia Benito of NETRC there will be some changes in the conduct of NAT next year in preparation for future enhancement of the basic education curriculum.Benito said that NAT will be taken by fourth year high school students both in public and private schools instead of second year high school students.

“In next year’s NAT, fourth year high school students will take the exam to give us feedback on the students’ knowledge gain after the ten-year basic education cycle. The result will also be used as input for the K to 12 program,” explained Benito.

NAT will also be taken by Grade 3 pupils of public schools, Madrasah schools and pilot schools of mother tongue-based multi-lingual education.

Meanwhile, DepEd said it is inviting local education stakeholders such as the local government units, civic groups and non-government organizations to be part of the monitoring group to ensure the smooth conduct of NAT next year.