CyberFair Project ID: 6804

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International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: Answering Nature's Call
Category: 7. Environmental Awareness
URL: http://www.baguiopatrol.info/
Bibliography: http://www.baguiopatrol.info/

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

26 students, ages 15-17 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on March 15, 2011. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 1

Classes and Teachers: Mr. Vincent Tabor, 3-Mapagpakumbaba, 3-Mapagmalasakit

E-Mail contact:

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

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

Baguio City, The Summer Capital of the Philippines, truly is filled with wonders of nature. Surrounded by green pine trees, extraordinarily cold breeze, and majestic sceneries, the city is no doubt one of the premiere tourist destinations in Northern Luzon. The city has surely had a big transformation from its early beginnings as a grassy marshland to a highly urbanized city, and not too long ago having been awarded as 'The Cleanest and Greenest City' in the Philippines. Baguio has also rich diversity in culture and natural resources, which are continually under threat nowadays because of the growing and competing needs of the residents. It is primarily known as 'The Summer Capital of the Philippines' because of its ideal temperature during the summer season. There are many titles given to Baguio City because of its amazing beauty. It is called as 'City of Pines', which is to emphasize that it is only here in Baguio where pine trees grow. It is disappointing to know that these trees are gradually disappearing. It is also known to be 'City of Berries' and 'City of Vegetables', which describes the abundance of farms and products from the neighbouring towns. It is also known to be 'The Cleanest and Greenest City' for it has trash-free roads and non-polluted breeze prior to the 1960's. However, nowadays, those trash-free roads and non-polluted breeze are slowly vanishing due to changes in actions by the people, the rapid increase of presence of garbage and the slow and sometimes insufficient solutions to past destructions in the city's infrastructures.

2. Summary of Our Project

This project focuses on the Environmental Awareness and Issues present in our community. From that, we came up with our project as 'Baguio Forest Patrol'. This is to primarily patrol on what is happening on the environmental problems our City is facing-Deforestation. There was an issue back then in 2008 about the GSIS's plan on building two condominium buildings in the wooden area which measures about six-hectare of forested land with about 967 trees in it. They plan on cutting 313 trees to be able to give space for the plan. Petitions have been made so that the plan wouldn't be continued. Until the government found out that the land wasn't a property of GSIS. So, thankfully, the tree park was not replaced by condominium buildings. This issue can show that through the action that the city has made, the beauty of nature has been preserved. The issue has probably opened the eyes of those who care. They have realized then that being united is being strong and being strong gives courage and from courage you can take action. This website aims to inform people of the ill effects of the uncontrolled destructions of nature around the city and at the same time encourage all stakeholders in the city to take part in the responsible use and protection of our resources. For we know that everybody wants a change, only, they don't have the courage to come out in the open. So this website will make those people speak up and reunite with everybody else in fight for the future of our Mother Earth. Sometimes we have to find a reason to do something that is meaningful. So with this website, we will try our very best to find a reason to help us to preserve the beauty of nature.

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

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

We, the students of SLU-LHS are enjoying ourselves with the computers in our school.For the past years, we were not able to experience such fast connections because of the fact that our old computers were so old that students couldn't cope up with the fast changes in technology. With these, we observed that we had poor performance back then. But when the computers were updated, we have been able to improve our performance and we were able to cope up with the fast-changing technology.

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

There were different internal and external factors and problems that we had encountered. The internal factor that we had to overcome was the fact that there were disagreements among the researchers. This relationship went on for some time because the two parties are afraid or shy to talk to one another. With this, we were unable to concentrate on the topic while doing the project. One group had another topic concentrating on while the other has a different one too. Unfortunately, the topic has been changed again and due to loss of communication, this information wasn't known by the other party. In the end, this was resolved through open and frank discussions. Meanwhile, one of the external factors that bothered us was time loss. We didn't have much time to do this project due to different schedules that we had because we were only informed a month before it is necessary to be passed. Also, we have to complete our necessary requirements for other subjects in our class. Managing our time wasn't that easy because sometimes, the plans that were made are not done immediately, and so, we had to extend again and reschedule our plans. But thankfully, we were able to fight this and we had time to concentrate on. Another factor was that we lacked some resources to be used. Especially that we want to show the change from past to present, proofs and pictures showing the past were inadequate. But through the magnificent help of the Internet, we hope that it could give us what we need.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

Joining the Cyberfair Competition had a great impact on our lives. We not only learned the problems encountered by our nature, but we also learned the probable solutions to these, and we need to act NOW. Not only that, we also learned how to save our inherited city, on how to be proper stewards of nature and how to preserve the natural beauty given to us by Mother Earth, so that the future generations will also benefit from its beauty. Also, in this project, we have been able to develop traits and attitudes that will be useful to us even after we finish this project. This project made us strengthen our patience, respect, determination, and teamwork. We were also able to show our knowledge on creating a website that helped us, too, to be knowledgeable of our own environment. Our generation, as teens, wouldn't be able to appreciate nature if we are not well informed about it. Technology has been changing fast, making us to forget all about nature. We intended to use technology so that we will be able to show to others the beauty of nature and encourage them to become partners and responsible users of the world we live in.

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

'Louisian: A Steward of the World'. This is a perfect theme to use as a guideline for the creation of our website. We made this website to start up with our jobs as stewards of this world. Through this website, we not only aim to inform the people but also encourage them to be stewards of the world. Prior to this project, the previous requirements given to us by our subject teacher in THE 3 (Technology and Home Economics) have developed our foundational skills in the use of modern electronic technology. Through the process of making this project, we were encouraged to apply new technologies to be creative, resourceful, and innovative. Also, this project enabled us to apply the core values of Creativity, Competence, Christian Spirit, and Social Involvement as embodied in the school's curriculum. With the aim to give proper information to the people of Baguio, we were willing to conduct extensive research, use new technologies and learning strategies.

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Project Elements

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

In completion of the said project, we used different resources to seize this actual development in an area of the city, itself. We used our digital cameras to acquire different glimpses of this specific part of the city, and of this specific development and change. We also talked to some people who are now benefiting from this said enhancement. We used different reading materials, such as past newspapers, magazines, and such, that point out other information regarding the said event. We also used the internet in our school, and at our respective homes to view some articles all about it.

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

Being citizens, ourselves, in this city, we could say that we know our way around. We worked as ambassadors because we, ourselves, saw the changes in the city-both good and bad. We took a look here and there, recording our data and afterwards, finalizing it at the end of the day. Politely, we interviewed some personalities about these certain matters and they also in turn, courteously answered our questions and appeals. With their help and assistance, we were able to accomplish this web project.

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

The City of Baguio, has long been entitled as the Summer Capital of the Philippines. With this justification, it gives different people the impression that it really must be a city of wonder and excitement and... 'Summer’s magic'. While going over our sources, we had to come across many interesting things. Specifically speaking, these were some instances. While taking pictures and capturing moments that we wanted to freeze or remember, we saw nature's beauty inside the city borders itself. We saw how nature would have been replaced by something so... mechanical and artificial. We saw how man could have violated these precious jewels of the city. Another was when we got to know more what role nature played in the hearts and lives of each and every citizen of the city.

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

In the project we wanted to open the eyes of the citizens to the changes in the city that are not all good and not all bad. But if we do not stand up and try to find out what powerful people are planning to do with the city's jewels, then it might be too late. It involved other members because, also, when we tried to ask them about the development, the other children were very active and they tried to really describe to us their reactions about the development and its effects to them. With these, we were able to complete our Cyberfair project.

5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)

We discovered that though we didn't really start on the right foot because there was some miscommunication among the group members, if we sorted things out, we would accomplish a lot. We made amends with each other and we were happy. We felt good, and we were able to do our work as efficient as possible, while still enjoying the companionship and camaraderie we had. Some surprises along the way, were that no matter how indifferent we were with each other before, we didn't know we would be friends with each other afterwards. We somehow crossed an invisible barrier that was there in between the two parties at first. Another lesson is what we learned about the environment. We learned that it really plays a big role in our lives and that we should never exchange this crowned possession of ours-our city's-for money or wealth, because wealth does not last a lifetime for the next generations to see and to be amazed with.

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View our CyberFair Project (Project ID: 6804)

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