School: De La Salle Araneta University
    Malabon, Malabon, Philippines

8 students, ages 14-16 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 7, 2008. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2002,2003,2004,2005,2006

Classes and Teachers: M. Leila A. Arevalo, Third and Fourth year high school students

E-Mail contact:

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

1. Description of Our Community

Undeniably, MALABON has yet to reach it speak of perfection. We face the fact that not only destitution hinders us from reaching our zenith of success. The aftermaths of flood and the never-ending crimes are still unresolved problems that deprive us from what we yearn to achieve: MALABON longing for a change in local and social standards. Still, many of our fellow natives are not able experience the countless opportunities showcased in our municipality. Many of our residents suffer from poverty. The borderlines of this coastal city are shanties, houses floating on water, dens the bridges, children asking for alms, kids plunged into dirty sewerage and mendicants hoping for gold in the waste bins, there are citizens longing to be one in this city’s dream of triumph and achievement.

2. Summary of Our Project

On this patch of earth, we live as brothers and sisters. Not only are we created to be stewards of God’s creation, but we are also here to realize our worth as the descendants of Adam and Eve, and to understand what Christ has told us about the two main laws that the Father has given us: TO LOVE GOD AND TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR. With our young and innocent minds, we cannot say that we have fulfilled our tasks according to this law. However, in our own juvenile ways, we can show our love and compassion to others, not only in times of their need, but in the sense that they need someone to care for them; someone to love them.

At present, many organizations and institutions are offering help and support to the indigent citizens of Malabon. Various programs are being conducted to raise and mold children and adults physically, emotionally, spiritually, socially, and morally upright. Feeding programs, outreach activities, and weekly classes are some of our programs mainly for the benefit of the poor and the needy. Further, the working hands in the aforementioned programs volunteer without regret. Indeed, there are still some of us who are aware of the social stance of many of our fellow Malabon citizens that their aspiration is to foster love, hope, and camaraderie.

Through this CyberFair project, we would like to address to everyone what it’s like being to be in these people’s shoes. We appeal to other to move and lend a hand not just for a cause, but to fulfill the ideals and principles of our great founders, St. John Baptist de La Salle and Don Salvador Zaragosa Araneta. That being “netizens” blessed with technological skills and prowess, WE CAN MAKE A CHANGE, the change that has been elusive for the past years.

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:dial-up modem

D. Number of years our classroom has been connected to the Internet:2-3

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

The percentage of students with Internet access at home is about 40% to 50%. We have 3 computer laboratories for The Basic Education Department with 24 workstations with internet access per laboratory. Our connection speed is 100mbps. Our laboratory room has been connected to the internet for approximately ten years.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

There were obstacles in managing the prime product.

First of all, our schedule of daily activities hindered us in finding time for this project.

Second, some members were dawdling.

Third, a big problem was the virus that infiltrated our software.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

Two years ago, our CyberFair entry was all about our productive and abundant farm in San Jose, Del Monte City in Bulacan . Bagging the first place that year, it became the official site of Salikneta Farm and was linked directly to the school’s website.

This year’s entry, we will be focusing on the projects and activities of the Lasallian Mission Center. Formerly known as the Campus Ministry and Community Outreach (CMCO), this organization is responsible for all the activities of our school that aims to lend a hand to our less fortunate brothers and sisters. They are also involved in some fund raising projects in our school, and every cent that will be accumulated shall be turned over to our beneficiaries. Furthermore, like Salikneta, this entry will be the official internet access to the Lasallian Mission Center.

Our website is a bit different from the past entries of our school to the CyberFair competition. As the precedent ones introduced Malabon in several upbeat ways, ours will divulge the glooming reality of this city not just the typical problem brought to us by flood but also the inconsistency of its society when it comes to social ranking. We should turn our faces up and discern that many of us do not mind helping and supporting the underprivileged ones. Some would even be quidnuncs and intrigue that some citizens are instinctively poor and are inherent to them. That is why we have come up with this website to promulgate brotherhood and hospitality. And that …

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

While painstakingly working on this project, we cannot deny the fact that prerequisite learning is required. For this task to be done, we should venture and refresh the information that we have learned for the past two to three years. Covering almost all fields of our school’s curricula, this project would be a bit difficult, but through our team work we had envision this project to be a sucess.

One of the units essential to the making of this project is Social Studies. As we pressed on the distress areas of Malabon. We tried to be always friendly and respectful when we confront to our destitute brethrens. We let them feel that people care for them. We broadened our minds and expanded our understanding.

The importance of the subject English should be stressed out. Although Filipino does not play second to it. The two most spoken languages in our country were relevant in the making of this project. We are able to construct formal sentences, use clear and concise words, avoid discrepancies, and express our innermost insights and feelings whilst typing this article using English. As we face the world outside, we now rely on Filipino. We should be equipped as we conduct interviews and conversations. We also egress the use of Filipino as our medium of communication. We were eager to hear their commentaries.

Another core unit we pertain to is Christian Living subject. In this course, we have practiced many values and good conduct while we socialize with other people. The thought of helping others especially the poor is another factor that can be derived from this subject. Joining this category, we reiterate that we should promote brotherhood, hope, faith, and most importantly, love for others.

Lastly, we want to showcase the importance of Computer. With this subject, we are able to test our skills and knowledge, enhance our technological abilities, exercise our creativity, practice resourcefulness, and we definitely have used this as an instrument in giving a hand and touching the lives of our fellowmen. Through this CyberFair competition, we hope to serve as the luminescent spark in the midst of their hopelessness and despair.

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

For the completion of this project, we have used various tools and technological paraphernalias. They are the cell phones, flash disks, digital cameras and electronic mails that helped us to gather information easily and transmit data through the internet with no problems.

This webpage was successfully completed mostly because of the aid of various programs, soft wares and different applications that we have used. These are as follows: HTML, Macromedia Flash, Adobe Photoshop, Dream weaver, Paint, Office, and Visual Basic. The said programs improved the skeletal framework and appearance of our webpage.

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

As Lasallian students, we are entitled to heed the call of others. As followers of the teachings of St. John Baptist de La Salle, we are obliged to reach out to the poor and the needy. We have acted as ambassadors and spokespersons in several ways. As we go on to face the reality, we have showed the less fortunate ones that there’s still love that nestles in many people’s heart and hope that they may still hold on to. That as Christian students, we should let everyone know that while some of us indulge in luxury and satisfaction, there are still many people craving for leftovers that we regard as trash. Because we are chosen to take hold of this project, we should pinpoint the relevance of love and affection to others. Not everybody can get the opportunity of seeing what the real face of the world looks like, but when you get to the chance of seeing a glimpse of it, try to let everyone feel and visualize what you have experienced in the second that you were talking to our indigent natives.

Numerous students and persons are now plunged into the dazzling colors of the internet. In this way, we could use it as a medium to easily promote our goals and see ourselves transcending to new heights. And just by sitting in front of our computer desks and typing in the letters from our keyboard, we could really make a change.

And now, through the motivation of our team to make a difference, and by the utmost support of our guru, we can spread to the whole world what this site is all about.

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

In the past years, we have encountered many organizations that yearn to reach out and offer aide to others. They have imposed their agenda and have laid down their plans for a fruitful and successful campaign. Some would even make a catch phrase, usually, “working hand in hand” or “make a difference.” But the next question would probably go like this: “ARE YOU DOING IT?”

By joining this Cyberfair competition, we do believe that it is not all about winning. For us, we have entered this contest to express our innermost thoughts and feelings through the technological advancements we possess nowadays. We struggle to promote the values that would indeed contribute to newly uprising society today; in unison with no discrimination. We put a mark from this day that it is time to act and mobilize ourselves for the betterment of this nation.

And as we unfold the sealed residues of the past, we now seize the moment of seeing the truth and acting accordingly to what is right. Through this project, many people have offered their hands, broadened their minds, opened their eyes, and welcomed our pitiful citizens to the caressing chambers of their hearts.

“Are we doing it? Yes. So long have we started.”

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

We could say that our theme for this competition has many dimensions. And within those dimensions lie different principles and perceptions. Also, our site would involve many people, coming from different races and cultures, but has only one main goal: to show love for others. After all, this project is what’s it’s all about; venturing through depths of reality.

As we go and work out the requirements of this project, we have sought the help and guidance of some people. Be it our fellow students, subject teachers, and even the people we meet beyond the borderlines of our institution.

We can clearly state that by their aide, advices, and information, it has contributed well for this project to be done and accomplished. In this way, we have proven that if we work hand in hand, we could really make things easy and outstanding.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

There were many things that hindered us to easily and productively finish this project. The whole team was gathered at a rendezvous last January 19, 2008. Only in that very same day have we fully oriented ourselves about the competition we’re about to join. From that day, our guru had set plans and appointed the different tasks that we’re to submit on a particular date. But it wasn’t that easy.

Everybody knows that January is a very busy, vigorous, and exhilarating month. You can see everyone up to their feet and vivaciously mobilizing with high spirits. One thing more, we only had a wee bit of a spare time to discuss and collect our assignments regarding the webpage. Another thing that we worried about is that most of the members of our team are graduating students. They primary concern is their grades to be able to pass every course and subject. One thing more, many activities were held during this month, including our Foundation week. Because of this, some of the work was done by the remaining 3rd year students. The interviews and interfacing was done by the seniors.

February 22, 2008. By this time, our narrative was still incomplete and the template was not that polished yet. Another thing that disturbed us most is that we haven’t started the Filipino version of the project and the information to be indicated in The Team. Because of this, we found ourselves screeching, chattering, and moving around the computer laboratory like baboons. Summarizing our working days, it will approximately date for less than a week. That was really a big rush!

However, at last, we finished our project thoroughly. Everything was set, polished, and well-delivered.

Lastly, we have learned and acquired many lessons from the whole experience; from the day we gathered and talk, to the day that we submitted our entry. We learned to manage our time, become resourceful, and interact with other people.