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Tambubong Elementary School in San Rafael, Bulacan has scaled up its standard of education as the Department of Science and Technology, together with the Department of Education (DepED) and the National Engineering Center of the University of the Philippines, recently led the distribution and installation of computer systems for digitized instructional and learning materials.


The school received 16 cost-efficient thin clients and a server from said institutions. Thin clients are computers or computer programs relying heavily on another computer, usually a server, for usual functions. Said thin clients make the power-consuming and costly CPUs unnecessary, so with the hard disk storage and many peripherals of traditional desktop computers.


In the partnership, DepEd is tasked to provide the content, covering all subjects in the elementary level, particularly those for Grades 5 to 7. This will guide teachers on the conduct of their lectures and exercises.


This is only one of many activities under the Cloud Top Project which aims to reduce the acquisition costs of computer hardware and software by promoting the use of thin clients for educational purposes and government cloud applications such as GovCloud, as sustainable energy solutions.


GovCloud is a private cloud for government agencies and their employees with basic cloud applications such as GovMail (government email), web hosting, and payment gateway applications. Cloud applications or cloud computing is a system where users can store all their files in different applications of the cloud such as email. Google, Yahoo and Hotmail are examples of cloud computing.


“I believe that students would be encouraged and inspired more to study their lessons; as devices like computers could offer them new approach in learning… their curiosity on how to use it (will help), compared with traditional learning materials like textbooks and workbooks.” said Gerardo Olchondra, principal of Tambubong Elementary School.


Alpha Testing was also conducted in Tambubong Elementary School to test the efficiency of the thin clients and the server live within the classroom settings. The testing phase will also continue in several public schools in Luzon including San Roque Elementary School and Sampaloc Elementary School in Bulacan, which will be the next beneficiaries of the thin clients and server. Kamuning Elementary School in Quezon City will serve as test laboratory, given its proximity to the Cloud Top Project Center at University of the Philippines.


Aside from producing and installing the thin clients and servers, Cloud Top Project is also developing long-range Wi-Fi communication equipment for several schools in target areas.


To strengthen implementation of this project, the team is also coordinating with proponents of other government projects, such as TV White Spaces Technology (TVWST), for stronger internet connectivity. TVWST is an equipment that can deliver wide-range and cost-effective internet connectivity in all parts of the country, particularly in local barrios, through unused TV channels.

 

Cloud Top at work

Cloud Top at work. Selected Grade 6 pupils of Tambubong Elementary School in San Rafael, Bulacan try using the Cloud Top, a collaborative project between the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Education. Cloud Top consists of thin clients and servers for educational purposes that will minimize the acquisition costs of hardware and software for computers. It will also use government cloud applications for sustainable energy solutions. (Text and Photo by Allan Mauro V. Marfal, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)

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Kaninyumanggi what? This is actually a coined term for “kanin” (rice) and “kayumanggi” (brown), literally “brown rice.” The “nickname” originated from the Department of Science and Technology that launched a recipe book titled Brown Rice Recipes Para sa Lahing Kayumanggi on July 26 as part of the National Science and Technology Week 2013 celebration.


The cookbook features 23 innovative recipes using brown rice as appetizer, main course and dessert. It is a result of rigorous experimentation and testing by a team of nutritionists who developed and compiled kitchen tested recipes to serve as a menu guide for a healthy eating habit. The nutritionists are based in DOST’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute.


During the launch, Chefs Luchi Callanta and Timothy Neil Abuela from the renowned Center for Culinary Arts (CCA) conducted a cooking demonstration featuring a nouvelle cuisine called Pahiyas Rice [considered a rice dish], named after the famous fiesta in the town of Lucban, Quezon. As expected, the recipe included the very tasty Lucban longganisa (sausage).


“This dish is very colourful and appeals to the senses…. it is very important to create a healthy relationship with food,” relates Chef Luchi.


The other recipe demonstrated was a dessert called “onde-onde” (onde is a Malaysian word for sticky or “malagkit” in Pilipino) that looks like the common round-shaped “buchi” and cooked like the “palitaw”, a native rice-based delicacy that is boiled or immersed in boiling water.


There to taste the food were DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo, who is a staunch advocate of brown rice and supporter of healthy living; FNRI Director Mario V. Capanzana; and Assistant Secretary Raymund E. Liboro.


Some of the recipes in the book include tinapa (smoked fish) sa brown rice, brown rice vegetable medley, sweet Italian brown rice, brown rice a la spaghetti, kalamay sa gata brown rice, Hawaiian rice balls, Pinoy maki, everlasting turon, kalamay sa salabat brown rice and a number of interesting and intriguing delights.


Also included in the recipe book are instructions on the proper way of preparing and cooking brown rice since it takes a different approach. Because the bran is still intact, brown rice has to be cooked with a ratio of one cup of rice to two cups of water. Further, brown rice has to be soaked first in water for at least 30 minutes before cooking to make it softer and more palatable.

Today, more and more people are turning to healthier food alternatives and doing more exercises and workouts to maintain a healthy lifestyle. With the fast-paced life of urban living and the proliferation of fastfood restaurants, it is quite difficult to sustain a healthy eating regimen. But DOST-FNRI’s offer of an alternative diet in “kaninyumanggi” is one good option towards healthy living.

 


Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala (left, holding brown rice bag) checks out the brown rice developed by the DOST- Food and Nutrition Research Institute as Secretary Mario J. Montejo explains its nutritional benefits. With them is DOST-FNRI Information Officer Salvador Serrano. (Rodolfo P. de Guzman, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)

 


DOST Assistant Secretary and Director of Science and Technology Information Institute Raymund E. Liboro (left) expresses his delight on the on-going cooking demonstration as he is an advocate of healthy living and brown rice. Joining him on stage are (L-R) TV5 host Ice Martinez with chefs Timothy Neil Abuela and Luchi Callanta, both from the Center for Culinary Arts, who prepared the Pahiyas Brown Rice and the unique dessert called “onde-onde.” (Rodolfo P. de Guzman, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)

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Day 4 of the Expo Science 2013 proved to be a sweat drenching but definitely a healthier day as it kicked off with a couple of aerobic exercise routines called the “Yeba exercises” at seven in the morning on July 26, 2013. This activity is part of the celebration of the National Science and Technology Week of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) entitled, “Science, Technology and Innovation: The Road to a Smarter Philippines.”

Danny Vinculado, dance instructor choreographer Arts in the City in Bonifacio Global City, supervised the “Yeba exercises” and even introduced innovative routines that borrowed the moves of our native Ifugao dance.

Thereafter, Dr. Custer Deocaris, a Balik Scientist specializing in neuroscience gave a pep talk on how to stay healthy by eating the right food and exercising regularly.

In his talk, Dr. Deocaris introduced his 3 B’s of healthy living that stand for brainy, blissful and beautiful. He stressed that exercising for at least 30 minutes a day or equivalent to 10,000 steps can contribute to general well being of a person. “When a person engages in at least 30 minutes of exercise, he or she will eventually have a healthy brain, will find self-fulfillment or bliss and will be more beautiful,” said Dr. Deocaris.

Dr. Deocaris is currently doing research studies on stem cell in Japan and Korea.

The event was sponsored by Nestle Philippines, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Mondeliz Philippines (formerly Kraft Foods), Unilever Phils. and the Center for Culinary Arts or CCA, all advocates for healthy eating and lifestyle, and proper nutrition.

For more information on NSTW events, please log on to www.nstw.dost.gov.ph/nstw2013/.



Participants to the Expo Science 2013 of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) woke up early last July 26, 2013 and joined in the “Yeba Exercises” conducted by dance instructor and fitness expert Danny Vinculado as part of the day’s celebration of Smarter Living, an advocacy being promoted by DOST and the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI). Thereafter a healthy breakfast was served and later on a cooking demonstration using brown rice was conducted by chefs from the Center forCulinary Arts. (Rodolfo P. de Guzman, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)

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If the future rests in the youth, then the students from the Philippine Science High School (affectionately called “Pisay” or “PhiSci”) are just the perfect fit. They took center stage on the last day of the celebration of the National Science and Technology Week of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as the young brilliant minds in the country presented their research studies and talents in robotics.


The last day event titled “Aghamazing na, Scienterrific pa!” featured student exhibits from the PSHS system that focused on the students’ scientific studies in the 12 campuses all over the country, including the newest campus in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao.

Some of the most promising researches included the following: Android-based Road Quality Assessment Tool from PSHS-Main by Gabriel Borja; Goat’s Foot Creeper and Coconut Leaf Pulp for Cardboard Production from PSHS Ilocos Region; the Ferntastic, Ferntabulous, Fernilicious Fern called Barangbang for its antimicrobial properties and Cat Claw pesticide from PSHS Cagayan Valley Region; Wireless Programmable Relay Switches from PSHS Central Visayas Region; Mahogany Seed as Biodiesel Fuel Substitute from PSHS Easter Visayas Region; the Larvicidal Properties of Sweet Basil Against Aedes aegypti (dengue virus) from PSHS Bicol Region; and the Solmech Charger for Cellular Phones from PSHS Central Mindanao Region.


What attracted the visitors composed mostly of elementary and high school students from Metro Manila and nearby provinces was the ROBOlusyong Atletika, an exhibit and demonstration of robotics technology applied on interactive games, robots that perform simple tasks of moving and carrying things, voice activated robots, and radio controlled vehicles. Other exhibits featured amazing tricks and mind boggling experiments like the math magic Tricks using colored toothpicks and the Growing Cystals using chemistry.


The Pisay exhibits were opened by no less that DOST Undersecretary Fortunato dela Pena, PSHS System Director Josette Biyo and heads of the PSHS regional campuses. “I am very happy to see so many students today despite being a Saturday and I commend also the teachers who accompanied them. We welcome all to view our exhibits were they will learn a lot about science and technology and how they are used in agriculture, industry, information technology and many more,” said Usec. Dela Pena.


After his brief message, Usec. Dela Pena also enjoined the visitors to explore the exhibit areas and display panels where they will see the other technologies developed and innovated on by DOST like the AGT; the electric hybrid road train; metrology laboratory; VISSER and LEAP programs for education; artificial insemination for goats and carabaos; superior planting materials for coconut, rice and abaca; the SETUP booth of regional products and services; Project NOAH and DREAM-LiDAR for disaster risk reduction; MOSES tablet; cupola furnace; and many more.
This year’s event dubbed Expo Science 2013 carries the theme “Science, Technology and Innovation: The Road to a Smarter Philippines” featuring DOST technologies and innovations in the fields of agriculture (certified seed production), aquaculture (LAMP technology for shrimps), industry (plasma cutter), electronics testing (ADMATEL), health (OL Trap and eHealth Tablet), transportation (Automated Guideway Transit), information and communications technology, education (LEAP program), and climate change (Project NOAH and MOSES tablet).


For added information and highlights of the science expo please log on to www.nstw.dost.gov.ph/nstw2013/.

 


Students from the Philippine Science High School (PSHS)-Southern Mindanao Campus show off their crawling robot that can be used for games and as an interactive toy. This is just one of the many exhibits by PSHS students nationwide using robotics technology during the Expo Science 2013 of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) last July 23-27, 2013 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City. (Rodolfo P. de Guzman, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)