CyberFair Project ID: 5117

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International Schools CyberFair Project Narrative
Title: Structures of San Pablo delos Montes
Category: 6. Historical Landmarks
URL: http://cyberfair.msc.edu.ph/cyberfair_07/architecture
Bibliography: http://cyberfair.msc.edu.ph/cyberfair_07/architecture/bib.html

School: VYP -MSC High School
    San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines

15 students, ages 15 -16 worked together to complete this CyberFair project on February 28, 2007. They have participated in CyberFair in the following year(s): 2002,2003,2004,2005,2006

Classes and Teachers: Mr. Francis Dionglay, II-Anahaw

E-Mail contact:

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

Project Overview

1. Description of Our Community

'City of Seven Lakes', this is how San Pablo City is otherwise known. Located 87 kilometres south of Manila, the Philippines capital, the city is known for its famous seven lakes, coconut industry, fresh water products, and developing industrial and commercial industries.

Consisting of 80 barangays and populated by 207,927 people (NSO may 1, 2000 Census), this city is the home of thriving commerce. As such, new establishments were put up as a testimony to its progress. Ironically though, several old buildings and landmarks has been restored, others preserved, linking the past with the present.

San Pablo City is truly a wonder, not only because it is the only city that lay claim to having seven crater lakes, but also because of in complexity in heritage. With the researches made on some old structures, vital information has been unearthed, making the city a contributor to the country’s rich history.

2. Summary of Our Project

San Pablo City is not only famous for its fresh water lakes, but also for its historical buildings and structures that had seen the world as it turns from decade after decade.

This project was conceived to impart information as to the rich history these buildings have. Some of the information presented were the buildings’ kind of design, their architects and what relevance they have on the people who had lived or worked in these structures, as well as to the community.

People have been seeing and passing these buildings without even giving them a second glance, unaware of the importance that they had contributed to the society. With this web page, it is hoped that the next time people see these structures, they will see it in a whole new light, with the knowledge that our city is the home of rich culture and heritage.

3. Our Computer and Internet Access

A. Percentage of students using the Internet at home:21-50%

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:more than 6

4. Problems We Had To Overcome

“There’s a rainbow always after the rain”, so goes a line of a famous original Filipino Music. This line came into the minds of those who have participated in the completion of this project. The road in reaching the goal wasn’t easy, but seeing the project complete has been worth it.

One of the most pressing problems that the team had was the schedule of each member of the team. They had to work on their schedules so they can work in harmony. Scheduling with interviewees also posed as a problem. Being busy people, they had to really squeeze in the time to accommodate the team members.

Gathering information about long forgotten buildings, or buildings taken for granted by most dwellers hasn’t been an easy one. Looking for possible interviewees, someone who knows information about the structure in question took a lot of time. Even if a person managed to impart information, there are still some facts that needed to be dug, hence, another search for a probable interviewees will ensue. Not a lot of written information is available in the internet or even in local libraries of information offices so the best recourse was really to look for interviewees.

Weather hasn’t been that cooperative. Distribution of correspondences and interviews were reset if the weather is bad. It made the progress of the project slower than is originally set.

However, all these difficulties had been overcome and finally the project was completed.

The team is very thankful to all the students, teachers and the person that we interviewed because if they render their assistance, they couldn’t have been successful in presenting to the rest of the world a part of our history and culture.

5. Our Project Sound Bite

Mute witnesses to the passing of time. This best expresses the project’s contents. The structures that were featured in this project may appear “old and depleted” to most people, but they have outlived the previous owners and have stood the test of time, making them the witness to our history. With modernization comes change. Constructions of new business establishments and development of housing facilities oftentimes also means tearing down “old buildings”. It is unfortunate that some structures bearing a huge treasure of culture and heritage had been torn down to give way to more modern ones. This project is here to show the world that despite o these modern changes, San Pableños have still managed to preserve the structures that have been a part of the country’s heritage and culture.

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

Experience is the best teacher. Learning can be acquired outside the four corners of the classroom. This Cyberfair project has served as a good venue to learn more about the community featured. The data gained certainly can not be easily found in the pages of the nest available book or magazine.

The Cyberfair Project served as a proper channel for us to follow the required curriculum guidelines as we explored, investigated, and observed. It developed skills that are better learned in the process such as critical thinking skills, as we analyzed, synthesized and evaluated data gathered. Communication skills were also highly developed as we interact with different sectors of society, from the very learned ones to the common people of the community.

It has served as a guideline to a better learning not only to a good education but to a good learning to a better way of life. It made the team members realize the essence of teamwork, cooperation and patience which are the main ingredients of good life.

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Project Elements

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

There are several technological tools that we used in making this project. The foremost tool is the computer. We made use of this equipment in encoding the data we have gathered. We also made use of digital cameras to capture the historical buildings and establishments used for this project. The aid of scanners has made it possible for us to upload the pictures taken into the computers. Tape recorders came in handy during interviews because they have made conversation with the interviewees more spontaneous and therefore more interesting..

Communication played a vast role in the completion of this project. To make communication easier among the members of this Cyberfair team, they made use of mobile phones. Telephones were also used in setting up appointments with possible interviewees.

Libraries helped us too. They became our house of treasures in forms of f books and newspapers that we used to gather more stories and information about historical background and architectural designs for this project.

The most important tool that we used to make this project a success are the interviewees -the dwellers who gave us warm acceptance and shared their stories and information about their hometown. We, students were also very happy and very interested to listen to their stories as part of our project. Those interviews became our bonding moments between the students and the dwellers sharing their rich stories about their hometown.

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

This Cyberfair project has helped its members in more ways than one. Not only did we, the members of the team learn about our topic in the process of completing this, but we have also acted as instruments in imparting the knowledge we have acquired to other people.

The completion of this project developed our skills in communication through interviews that we have conducted. Moreover, the owners and the interviewees were pleased that we have interest in the otherwise taken for granted by most architectural designs. They have been more that willing to impart information to us. They are also one with us in the belief that these buildings should be preserved.

Most of the information that we have gathered has not yet been documented. We hope that this web page will serve as a reference to those who will be needing the information included in this. This project is also another way for us to show the rest of the world what our city has in store.

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

This project aims to impart information to increase the awareness to the people, especially the students about the importance of the historical works in San Pablo City.

Modern, American, Baroque, Renaissance, and Neo-Classic are some of the architectural designs observed and presented for the study.

The research was done by sophomore students of the Management Systems Consultants High School.

This web page was prepared to provide insights on the type of architectural designs found in the city. Students can utilize this information to further understand their culture as these structures depict or showcase hoe people lived in the past.

It is unfortunate that a lot of people take these pride for granted, never realizing that these structures are the silent witness to history. As they browse on this web page, visitors are given the chance to study, explore, and appreciate the beauty and significance of San Pablo City’s architectural heritage, thereby arousing their pride and nationalism.

Unfortunately, most of these national treasures are being torn down to pave way to so-called development. Shopping malls, modern buildings and houses are being built to replacing landmarks of history.

Today’s challenges are more difficult and ever increasing, making it imperative for the youth, not only of San Pablo City but of the whole country to rally and be in the forefront in the preservation of treasures.

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

In completing this CyberFair project, the team met different people- people who helped them finish this project. People whom they never knew would have such attitude towards them.

The officials and employees of the municipal office had assisted in suggesting possible interviewees. They were very happy to see the youth trying to gather information to make the city’s history more concrete. The interviewees- owners, friends, heirs- of the structure had been only too eager to talk about something that they cherish.

Further acknowledgement is as follows: A. Mr. Francis S. Dionglay, who supported and helped the team members in times of need. Acknowledgement is also given to the student teachers from LSPC who went to every place featured in the project. Ms. Grace-Stella Paulette Suarez, our English teacher who has assisted us and helped with the editing of the contents of this project. Mr. Gordon M. Cardoza who helped us in picture taking. B. Gratitude is also extended to the individuals worth mentioning, the teachers of Central School, the big boss of PhilAm Life, the priest of San Pablo Cathedral and also to the workers of the places that the team members have visited. C. The most important people are of course the members of this CyberFair team. Without them this project will not be in existence.

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