Engineering Filipino youth for lifelong learning

MANILA, Philippines - A school plays a fundamental role in the lives of the youth. It is the institution that prepares them for the outside world and life in general. To fulfill its mission of developing students into lifelong learners and productive members of society, the Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) makes sure that it gives generous attention and support not only to the academic but also to the non-academic activities of its students.

According to TIP president Dr. Elizabeth Q. Lahoz, “TIP’s highest responsibility as a tertiary institution is to bring about an integrated individual who is capable of succeeding in all aspects of life. TIP works hard to fulfill this mission by equipping students with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values they will need in their future endeavors.”

TIP encourages its students to participate even if it means allocating a sizable budget for these activities in science fairs and invention contests, quiz bees, eco-races, sports fests, slogan and poster making tilts, painting and talent contests, as well as leadership symposia and other competitions here and abroad.

“We see these interschool competitions and other extra-curricular activities as venues where students can acquire learnings and experiences outside of their classrooms. These activities will surely help them build their competencies as well as their character,” Lahoz said.

And in these competitions, the TIP students always manage to rise above their challenges to bring pride and honor to TIP, and more importantly, come out as better individuals.

Take for example the case of a group of TIP QC Computer Engineering students who came up with a timely and practical invention that can serve as an early-warning device for flood. After nights of burning the proverbial midnight oil to complete the project, the invention dubbed as the “Web-based Flood Monitoring System” won the Best Design Project in Engbensyon 2011 held in April at the Science Discovery Center at the SM Mall of Asia.

Said the group’s leader, Rebecca Joy Apanti, “Our invention was inspired by our own experiences during Ondoy where we lost most of our belongings to the flood. We are glad that through our invention, we can help prevent similar occurrences by providing an early warning mechanism to help people prepare for floods.”

To this, Lahoz said, “We are definitely proud of our teachers as well, who have shown utmost dedication in coaching our students in every contest and other school undertakings.”

Meanwhile, TIP Engineering students also had the time of their lives participating in the Shell-Eco Marathon in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia, as well as the Schneider Electric Inter University Challenge on Energy Efficiency in Singapore.

For his part, TIP Manila Architecture sophomore Samuel Dichoso Jr., who bagged 1st prize in several mural-painting contests, said, “Be it in academic or extra-curriculars, we TIP students should always give our best in every contest and any endeavor for that matter. Whether we win or not, the important thing is that we always give it our best shot.”

Lahoz said that extra-curricular activities such as the ones that TIP students are able to join throughout the school year help strengthen their academic skills and reinforce positive character traits that they will bring with them as they go through life even after college.

The activities also lead to the realization of other significant winners and winnings include ECE students Francis L. Tagbo, John Ryan D. Regalario, and Neil Bryan T. Amora, champions in the 11th SQUEEZE Annual Quiz Show held at UP Diliman in February 2011 and champion in the Interface 2011 First Luzon-Wide Electronics, Computer and Communications Engineering Convention held at the Ateneo de Manila University in January 2011; Architecture student Samuel T. Dichoso Jr., and Jinky Restrivera, champions in the Arckwiz 2011 - East Asian Architecture held at UP Diliman in March 2011, and ME students Earl Vinson C. Rallos, John Carlo D. Baltazar, Arien Jayson D. Pampola, and John Patrick S. Maulion, PSME Quiz Bee regional and national winners in August 2011 and October 2011, respectively.

“As educators, we play a big role in the kind of life our students will have once they graduate. We teach them to live life to the fullest by embracing a life where learning never ends,” Lahoz stressed.