Faculty beats the Summer

by: Terranya Tiamson

Hiking, trekking, mountain climbing to beach hopping, name it and surely the faculty of STI College Balayan has gone through it almost the whole summer or should I say, we wish.

So, how did the faculty of STI College Balayan spends their summer? Knowing it’s the only vacation period for us, I’d say, it’s best to rest at home and prepare for the opening of the classes, but we are different. We beat the summer by the series of trainings provided by STI Headquarters to enhance if not merely refresh the STI faculty’s knowledge and teaching skills.

The previously concluded training, the Teacher Skills Training 2 or simply TST2 was held last May 17 to 20 at the AVR Room at our campus. (yes, there was TST1 held last May 2010). The trainers from STI Headquarters (Mr. Joseph Garcia and Ms. Rebecca Nacubuan) shared their expertise in Coaching, Counseling, Conducting Research and other topics relevant to the teaching profession.

It was not the only training held through out, the series of training which lasted from 3 to 5 days per course started in the first week of May at STI Training Center in Taft Avenue. The training courses includes different subjects in IT like Java, Computer Security, Industrial and Integrated Electronics, Computer Networking and English which were attended by the faculty members in line with their fields.

As for the admin staff, unlucky as it may sound, does not know the word “vacation”. They are the team working behind the very busy enrollment period with the help of the full time faculty members.

And this is true every summer.

Student of the Year 2011

by: Terranya Tiamson

“I wasn’t a perfect student, though people might expect me to be because of STI’s high standards when it comes to quality and integrity. The award I’ve received may be extraordinary but as a person, I’m a regular student who knows how it feels to have academic ups and downs, mess up a bit, lose motivation, get low grades, and chase instructors to sign completion forms. But though I know I’m far from perfect, I’m grateful to have trusted people who helped me get back on right track”, Jemima R. Velado, Student of the Year Award 2011.

She was awarded 2nd runner-up in Stand Up and Deliver National level for two years in a row, Jemima is a pride to STI College Balayan, a Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Computer Education (BSEd ) graduate who have shown excellence not only in her studies but also in performing her duties in different organizations in and outside the campus. Academically, aside from her excellent grades, she represented STI College Balayan in “Tagisan ng Talino” for the Stand Up and Deliver category during the cluster competition for four consecutive years since her freshmen in 2009. From there she represented the cluster in the national competition for the same category twice and placed 2nd respectively.

Balancing her academic achievements were the different activities she dynamically participated in the campus. She has been a performing secretary and councilor of the “Council of Leaders”, the student government of STI College Balayan responsible for pioneering and organizing activities for the students. She also served as treasurer before being elected president of the “The Young Educators”, the professional organization for the BSEd students that organizes activities for its members especially when they need to participate during campus events. She was also an athlete playing table tennis and scrabble for the “Stingray”, varsity team until she became its coordinator.

Influenced by her family specially her father who is a pastor, she never neglects her duty as a Christian. She enthusiastically participates in the different programs of the “Good News to the Nations Outreach” group which aims to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to all the nations of the earth. She is the group’s responsible “cell group leader” and president since 2008. She also works as a Sunday school teacher, teaching children and teenagers for them to uplift their moral values. She also works as the church’s music assistant coordinator. She said that above all, this should be a priority and these church activities give her an unexplainable feeling of fulfillment.

Finally, she confessed that this award was her ultimate goal upon seeing Norman Caraig’s picture on STImuli honored as Student of the Year 2006 who also was from STI College Balayan. “I’ll be just like him years from now”, that declaration, done with faith fueled her. She firmly believes that anything conceived whole-heartedly will be granted if you hold on to it till the very end.

>>Reporter: Jemima Velado

Citizen STI caravans for the Youth

By: Rose Ann Ermita

“The Change I want to See starts with Me,” was STI College Balayan’s theme during The STI Youth Caravan 2011 held at Dacanlao G. Agoncillo National High School and Balayan National High School last March 23 and 24 respectively. The caravan’s aim is to campaign for change and to stimulate the youth to participate in nation building as Citizen STI’s advocacy to pioneer the positive change for better Philippines through encouraging the youth to take the initiative to start the change within themselves.

The event made an impact on the minds of the high school students as they were listening alertly to the three topics presented by selected instructors which are: the Online Gaming, Entrepreneurship and the Seven Vectors for Student Development. The event also showcased the talent of STI Dance troupe and STI Band – Notepad which presented a dance and song number for the students. At the later part of the caravan, STI College Balayan granted scholarship to the students who were picked from the raffle draw.

Earlier that day, students were amazed by the inventions of Computer Engineering students who exhibited their thesis. The exhibit included the thesis “MCU based Door Security with GSM and Bluetooth Technology” which is a candidate for Most Outstanding Thesis Award national level.

It was also the first time for the students of Dacanlao G. Agoncillo National High School to experience the fun while learning from this youth caravan which is yearly conducted by STI College Balayan to selected high schools.

BSCoE exhibits Projects

by: Kyzelline Villena

Success for the graduating students of Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering was never easy for them to attain with regards to their designed projects. Overcoming hardships and focus were the basic ingredients they have used to achieve their goals.

And after a long time, their designed project was now ready for implementation.

To showcase the five designed projects, STI College Balayan invited the graduating students to exhibit their project for the first time during the high school caravan conducted at Dacanlao G. Agoncillo National High School last March 25, 2011.

Students and teachers were amazed to see the first project exhibited, the Cell Phone Loading Machine which can be used to load prepaid cell phone users instead of going to the retail stores. The machine was able to load the different network provider like Globe, TM, Smart and Talk’nText.

Next was the LED Matrix Message Board which became students’ favorite during the exhibit. It can be used to display electronic messages by simply texting the message using the text format provided to the master reset module. It will automatically display the text message. It was tested by the students to broadcast their greetings to their friends using the project during the exhibit.

Students were also amazed on how the Tarpaulin Roller with SMS Application works. Developers explained to the high school students how the project works in particular when the speed of the wind increased.

The developers of the Wheelchair using the RF Technology showed that the project is capable of serving disabled persons to go from one place to another. Students tested the wheelchair for them to see with their own eyes that the project can really move using the built-in joystick or its remote control.

The last project of the BSCoE exhibited was the Door Security System with the Application of SMS and Bluetooth technology. Students learned that the Bluetooth technology can now be use as vital component for security. The project was the STI College Balayan’s entry for the upcoming Most Outstanding Thesis Award deliberation on April 25, 2011.

As the exhibit ends, the soon to be engineers left a hope and a new path to walk with to the high school graduating. The BSCoE showed that taking up their course was never easy but if you put your dedication to something that can make your dreams come true, nothing is impossible and dreams are never hard to reach. ALTO SPIRO, ALAS!

STI Balayan hosts Friendship Game

by: Mariz Maullon

“Sama-sama tayo sa STI College Balayan” welcomes the delegates for the annual friendship game held last February 05, 2011 with STI College Balayan as the host school.

The event was marked with the traditional parade of the players around the town plaza. Upon arriving at the venue, every team was introduced by the STI College Balayan President, Mrs. Ellen Christy A. Dimaano which was immediately followed by the lighting of torch to signal the start of the event.

Each delegates competed in the different game categories namely badminton, table tennis, chess, scrabble, volleyball and basketball. Every game was held simultaneously under the supervision of the heads and assigned committees. During the game everyone kept an eye and applauded for their respective school and also for their opponents.

At the end of the day, winners were announced as follows : for scrabble men’s division Lipa got the first place, followed by Balayan, and then Tanauan, for the women division Balayan got the first, followed by Tanauan, and then Lipa; table tennis singles men division Lipa got the highest score, followed by Balayan and Tanauan, for women, Balayan got the first place, next was Lipa and Tanauan; for table tennis doubles men, Balayan won first, next was Lipa and Tanuan and so with the women’s division; Badminton single men Tanauan got the first place, followed by Lipa and Balayan, and for women’s division Balayan has the highest score, followed by Tanauan and Lipa, for doubles men Tanauan got the first, followed by Balayan and Lipa and for women’s division, Balayan was the first, Lipa was the second followed by Tanauan; Chess men board1&2 Balayan got the first place followed by Lipa and Tanauan, women’s division board1&2 Balayan was the first, followed by Tanauan and Lipa; volleyball men Balayan got the first place followed by Tanauan and Lipa ,for women’s division balayan placed first followed by Lipa and Tanauan; and lastly for Baketball, Balayan was declared the champion, second was Tanauan and third was Lipa. From the tally of points, STI College Balayan, the host school was declared the overall champion followed by STI Lipa and STI Tanuan.

The pleasure, contentment and excitement filled the stay of the visitors in Balayan. It was indeed another remarkable day for everyone. Above all, the friendship shared between the different STI Campuses was the most important reward given by the competition apart from the medals received by the winners.