News and Features
Surfing Beyond Baler’s Waves
[February 5, 2007/ Manila] - Last December, students in two of Aurora's best public high schools began surfing on their own. They did not, however, use surfboards to conquer Baler's big waves. Instead, they used a mouse and keyboard to surf the Internet, thanks to the launch of Smart Teacher Learning Resource Centers in Baler National High School and Aurora National Science High School.
Public high school students in Baler, a 400-year-old town and the capital of Aurora, are now enjoying the marvels of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Accessible only through the Sierra Madre mountain range, Baler is about eight hours away from Manila via land travel. But with ICT at their fingertips, in a matter of seconds, the students can now access any part of the world for a virtual tour.
"We are happy that via the Smart Schools Program, we are bringing Internet connectivity to Baler public high school students, and helping pave the way for ICT development in these schools,” said Darwin Flores, public affairs senior manager for community partnerships of Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART).
Through the Smart Schools Program (SSP), Smart equips deserving public high schools with networked computers and peripherals connected to the Internet which is given for free for one year.
Founded in 1609, Baler has seen much history. The birthplace of the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth, Manuel L. Quezon, the town was engulfed by a tsunami in 1735. And in 1899, it witnessed the last stand of embattled Spanish resistance fighters against American troops in the Baler Catholic Church.
Nowadays, the town has become a popular surfing hub, boasting of nine-foot high waves and 4.5-meter barrels in Cemento Reef where the annual Aurora Surfing Cup is often held.
A different kind of surfing, however, is now taking place with Smart Schools Program. Smart's flagship community service program is dedicated to uplift the quality and standard of education in public high schools. It promotes the use of ICT in the basic education curriculum. By advancing the technological know-how of teachers and students in the country's different regions, the Smart Schools Program aims to make them competitive on an international level.
The Smart Schools Program improves the lives and promotes the educational welfare of teachers and students in over 100 schools through its three components: Internet Access, support for educational online Content and Training for teachers and stakeholders (ACT).
Teachers of Baler NHS and Aurora National Science HS undergo ICT skills training, enabling them to pass on the knowledge to their students. They can also access the Smart Schools Program website (www.smartschools.ph), which offers online content that can be used for research and class presentations. Aside from enabling teachers to exchange best practices with colleagues, Smart Schools also hosts the websites of its partner schools.
As Flores said during the launch of the two centers, the Smart Schools Program is one of the ways through which Smart is giving back to the communities who have contributed to the company's success.
"We hope to work closely together and make this project even more successful," he added.
According to the Philippines Travel Guide web site, surfing became popular in Baler thanks to the film crew of Apocalypse Now. After shooting a surf scene for the movie at Baler's Charlie's Point, they left their surfboards behind, encouraging local folk to pick up the sport. Through Smart Schools Program, Smart leaves the two schools of Baler with the capacity to surf along a much longer coastline—providing them access to the rest of the country and beyond.
The Smart Schools Program continues to grow with the support of the Department of Education and through its partnerships with the Philippine Business for Social Progress, Learn.ph and Microsoft Philippines Partners in Learning. @
