education
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts

MCU Through the Times

Friday, December 9, 2022

The Manila Central University, popularly known as MCU and formerly known as the Escuela de Farmacia del Liceo de Manila, is a private, non-sectarian institution of primary and higher education with a campus located on EDSA in Caloocan. Dr. Alejandro M. Albert, who also served as its first Director, founded it in 1904.






In the past 118 years, MCU has continued to innovate because it understands that changing one's perspective can result in discoveries that progress technology and education. By upgrading its systems, processes, and policies, MCU continues to rise to the challenge of being a creative institution in a constantly changing environment.


One of the ways MCU is improving is with the new branding. This will help the community and raise awareness of the MCU brand as we enter a new era. They have introduced additional courses in addition to their well-known medical and health programs and are expanding internationally through alliances and collaborations. The school's choice to hire multi-professional degree holders as faculty members also contribute to its capacity to create Board Topnotchers and good ratings for exam results.


The second innovation is the introduction of the Filemon D. Tanchoco Sr. Scientific Discoverer Award; The Scientific Discoverer Award seeks to recognize and inspire students to do their best work. The pursuit of new information is crucial to the advancement of science as well as the solution to the most significant problems threatening human welfare. Atty. Tanchoco wants to recognize scientists and innovators whose discoveries will help the Filipino people or are incredibly significant and will advance human well-being.


Lastly, through collaborations with Palafox architects, who has a strategy for campus building restorations, modernity can also be ensured. During the recent tour, where guests from various media outlets were taken around campus, MCU showed the ongoing campus developments and renovations, proving that though they’ve had 118 years of excellency, MCU strives to do more and be more, enabling them to compete with the country’s best of the best universities.



"Our colleges and universities are called on to face and answer the challenge of excellence. We must produce men and women with highly sophisticated inquiring minds since it is in the minds of our people that we build this dream of greatness, it is in the mind of the young Filipinos where we should plant the seeds of intellectual leadership!" - Dr. Filemon G. Tanchoco Jr.



Believing that values-based education offered salvation from poverty, Filemon Dionisio Tanchoco dedicated his life to making that vision a reality for many young Filipinos and for the nation he loved. This is what MCU stands for, what they believe in, and what it will continue to achieve.

Read More

McDonald's joins Brigada Eskwela 2022, bolsters support as face-to-face classes resume

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

 

Reinforcing its commitment to make a difference through programs that support Filipino children’s need for education, QSR giant McDonald’s Philippines through its charity of choice, Ronald McDonald House Charities, once again extends its support to schools for the annual Brigada Eskwela.

Led by the Department of Education (DepEd), Brigada Eskwela gathers volunteers from both the private and public sector every year to help prepare public elementary and secondary schools for the upcoming school year. Since 2015, McDonald’s and RMHC have been providing meals, cleaning materials, and Ronald McDonald Read-to-Learn kits to partner schools. 


This year, the company distributed over 20,000 Burger McDo to educators and volunteers, while 1,000 Happy Meal toys and 20 sets of Read-To-Learn kits were provided to elementary schools. These kits are part of RMHC’s Read-To-Learn program, a program in partnership with DepEd, which provides reading materials to Grade 1 and Grade 2 learners in public schools as well as trains educators on teaching beginning reading.

Grounded by its core value of malasakit, employee-volunteers from McDonald's also took time from their daily routine to help prepare and distribute meals, and clean school premises, to ensure that both students and teachers alike, can hold classes in a safe and conducive learning environment.

Meanwhile, the company also allocated streamers, welcome banners, and safety signages to over 4,000 schools, in an effort to ensure that government-mandated COVID-19 protocols are still being followed as face-to-face classes resume.

“On behalf of our Chairman and Founder Dr. George Yang and President and CEO Kenneth Yang, congratulations to the Department of Education led by Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte on the launch of the 2022 Brigada Eskwela program. Makakaasa kayo na nandito ang McDonald’s at ang kaniyang charity of choice, Ronald McDonald House Charities, para makatulong sa inyong paghahanda para sa simula ng bagong school year,” said McDonald’s Philippines Managing Director Margot Torres during the Brigada Eskwela Kick Off.

With the generosity of Filipinos, the support of partners, and the efforts of volunteers, RMHC can achieve more. Anyone can help share feel-good moments to those in need by donating at rmhc.org.ph/donate.
Read More

Canva shares visual communication tips for more effective learning

Monday, August 15, 2022



The opening of classes is just around the corner. While teachers and students will slowly shift back to face-to-face classes this year, visual communication will continue to be an important tool for learning.
To continue making classrooms visually interactive and engaging, here are some balik-eskwela tips from Canva:

Design visually appealing worksheets, learning materials, and school posters 

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Sheila Micah Yao, a Canva teacher ambassador from Cauayan, Isabela, started her online business where she first discovered Canva. When classes officially resumed online, she returned to teaching and used Canva to create visually appealing worksheets and learning materials for her students.

Canva has thousands of printable worksheet templates that are free to customize, download, and use for any grade level. To learn more about how teachers can create, communicate and engage students with Canva for Education, Canva also offers design tutorials from engaging students with presentations to designing storyboard activities.

For all your back to school needs, check out Canva’s brand new templates for an awesome school year. Simply change your language to English (Philippines) to search for "Back to School" templates. Check out more back to school resources here.

Enhance class photos with Canva’s image-editing features

Whether it’s for your class officer board or new class IDs, you can easily enhance and add texts or frames on your students’ photos using Canva. 

Claudine Mallari Buan, a teacher from Camias High School in Porac, Pampanga, surprised her students with a free graduation photoshoot last June. She edited the photos using Canva’s image-editing capabilities. From adding stickers, graphics, and frames, to removing backgrounds, Canva can help you make your photos stand out.

Prep for the upcoming school year by attending Canva for Pinoy Teachers’ back to school webinar

To support teachers in their successful return to school, Canva Philippines will be holding “Canva EskweLIVE: Kickstart Your Face-to-Face Classes with Canva Tools,” a free learning session which will be hosted on the Canva for Pinoy Teachers Community on Facebook on August 10, 2022 at 4:30-6:00 PM. The session will feature a wellbeing talk from Canva Philippines Learning Designer Geryl Minguillo and graphic design demo with Senior Brand Designer Yuni Lao.

In 2020, Canva launched Canva for Education which allows K-12 educators to create and personalize lesson plans, infographics, posters, videos, and collaborate with their students for free. Canva Philippines also introduced Canva Eskwela, an online hub of learning resources that features free and visually engaging content especially tailored for educators and learners in the Philippines. 

Now celebrating its 8th anniversary in the Philippines, Canva continues to empower educators and students with access to the collaborative visual communication platform.

To learn more about Canva, visit www.canva.com or follow Canva on Facebook and Instagram. Canva is also available for download on App Store and Play Store.
Read More

How Flexible Learning Can Help Your Child Reach Their Full Potential

Saturday, August 6, 2022

The Filipino school system has been the same for 100 years, with children boxed into traditional classrooms and rigid class schedules. But as we’ve observed since the beginning of the pandemic, learning does not have to be restricted to the boundaries of a classroom.




Each child is unique. They differ in how much time they need to learn something, what sparks their interest, and what tools and resources work best for them. So why pigeonhole all students into one outdated learning setup? For many children, flexibility is key to helping them reach their full potential. This is exactly what APEC Schools’ SmartClass offers. An innovative e-homeschooling program, SmartClass is designed for independent, curiosity-driven learners.

Limitless learning


While the traditional setup might work for some, many students today require more breathing room to grow. As a home e-schooling program, SmartClass allows the Filipino child to learn from the comforts of their homes.


Whether they want to breeze through a lesson or to slow down for more in-depth understanding, students can go at their own pace. This way, they no longer have to adjust to their classmates’ learning needs, ensuring that they completely understand the lesson.


Instead of revolving around grades and tests, SmartClass focuses on honing problem-solving skills. Independent learners are tasked to conduct research and work on case studies across two or more subjects. This way, SmartClass students are empowered to take control of their education and develop critical thinking and creativity.

A solid support system




Aside from improving the traditional homeschooling paradigm, SmartClass also lets parents be more involved in their child’s education. Unlike most traditional homeschooling curricula where the parent is the child’s primary and only educator, SmartClass parents receive support from professional teachers, coaches, and coordinators through one-on-one consultations.



Such a support system ensures that the student is on track and that they’re inspired to learn, so parents can rest assured that they’re giving their child quality education. In fact, SmartClass has the seal of approval from Ayala Corporation and the Yuchengco Group — two formidable conglomerates that partnered to create APEC in line with their commitment to nation-building through affordable but quality education.

An adaptive, future-ready curriculum




With the advent of technological tools, children now have more access to resources that previous generations could not even imagine. Embracing the ever-changing digital world, SmartClass is an innovative learning system that’s built for the future.


As the Filipino child’s educational needs change, so should the learning systems adapt and evolve. SmartClass’s flexible learning will empower the next generation to take control of tomorrow.


Parents determined to enable their children’s success with adaptive learning institutions may reach APEC Schools at apecschools.edu.ph, email admissions@apecschools.edu.ph, or contact (02) 7720 2620.
Read More

Insular Foundation welcomes 27 new Gold Eagle College Scholars

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Gold Eagle College Scholars

 Insular Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Insular Life (InLife), welcomed 27 new college scholars who are taking up education, mathematics, and statistics courses in its partner state universities. 

The Insular Foundation welcomed the new Insular Gold Eagle Scholars from the University of Philippines Diliman (UPD), Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT), Benguet State University (BSU), Bohol Island State University (BISU), Central Mindanao University (CMU), and Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology (DOSCST). 

During its online orientation, the Insular Foundation discussed the scholarship benefits which include stipend, transportation, and book allowance; the scholarship renewal rules; and the two-year requirement to serve in the country after graduation. 

Insular Foundation Executive Director Ana Maria R. Soriano said that through the Insular Gold Eagle Scholarship Program, InLife and the Foundation help poor but academically gifted students become teachers and data scientists. 

She also encouraged the scholars to become good influencers and leaders. “Be involved in meaningful pursuits and enjoy college life without losing sight of your purpose which is to get your college degree at the prescribed time.”

Two of the new scholars expressed their appreciation to the Foundation for bringing them closer to their dream to become teachers. 

“My long-term goal and my family’s dream for me to become an educator is a step closer to reality because of your generosity. By awarding me this scholarship, you have lightened our financial burden. The scholarship will also allow me to focus more on the most important aspect of school and that is learning. Donors like the Insular Foundation make life brighter for us. I hope that one day, I too will be in a position to bring smiles to needy students,” said Bryan Bryle Lloren from BISU. 

“The scholarship that you granted is not just for us, the scholars, rather, it will be for our people. As a future educator, the scholarship will serve as my motivation to do greater good. Ayon nga sa ating kasabihan, ang edukasyon ay para sa kabataan at para sa bayan,” said Avryll Arda from UPD.

For school year 2021 to 2022, the Insular Foundation’s Gold Eagle College Scholarship Program supported a total of 108 scholars taking up education in the six partner state universities and colleges, and mathematics and statistics in UPD. Since its relaunch in 2008, the program has produced 74 scholar-graduates.

Hope for the future

Meanwhile, as part of the Foundation’s holistic educational intervention for its scholars and other students, it conducted a webinar entitled “Asking for a Friend: How can I feel hopeful about my future?” in partnership with Edukasyon.ph. 

More than 100 Insular Foundation scholars and other students from the Edukasyon.ph network participated in an insightful discussion about the struggles of students and how to pursue goals with a positive attitude during the pandemic. 

Resource speakers Gracie Orden, Empath Mental Health Professional and Counselor; and Steph Naval, youth advocate, founder and CEO of Empath Corporation, shared the following insights to foster hopefulness even during these trying times:

• Thriving is the key. Most Filipinos, not just students, are on survival mode during the pandemic but it is better to thrive than to survive. When we thrive, we try to develop ourselves and be successful in whatever we do. 

• Don’t forget to do self-care or have time for yourself. Develop a self-care list and follow it regularly. The list may include simple activities like hugging family members, playing with pets, taking a shower, doing mindful breathing, and appreciating nature. 

• Cling on to hope which is what we need now, especially the youth. Hope is believing that things will get better. Push goals forward, and act on these goals.

• Practice being hopeful to make it a habit. Being hopeful involves acknowledging the current difficult situation to move forward. One good practice is to keep a gratitude journal: list down even the small things to be grateful for even during a challenging situation.

• Embrace help from others. For students, be open to receive support from family, trusted friends, teachers, guidance counselor, and even online.

Read More

Nurture your kid’s creativity at Power Mac Center’s summer art camp

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

If you constantly find your kid drawing in a corner or creating visual designs on their iPad, you know it’s time to take it to the next level. Premier Apple partner Power Mac Center (PMC) is opening this year’s summer art camp to welcome kids to a whole world of digital wilderness where they can develop their talent and pursue what they like through Apple technology.




From April 19 to August 30, 2022, PMC’s official training arm – PMC Business Systems, Inc. (PBSI) – will be offering “Design Trail for Kids” with six special courses covering comics creation, 2D animation, game design using various software, and building trendy filters and 3D effects. Sessions will be conducted online for kids aged 7 to 15 years old.

“Children have an active imagination, and it’s important to provide them creative outlets while also prioritizing their safety and well-being amid the pandemic. This summer, Power Mac Center goes all out in creating opportunities for kids to explore ideas and enhance their digital creative and coding skills. Should they decide to pursue graphic design, visual communication, or even coding in the future, parents are assured they have a good foundation,” said Maleng Raysag, Training Head, PMC Business Systems Inc.

Let your kids design the future with their imagination today! The available courses are as follows:

The Art of Comics (7 to 10 years old)


Showcase your child’s ideas. Let them create their own comics with doodles, basic lines, shapes, and colors. This course will teach your kids how to maximize their iPad for art.

2D Animation using iPad (7 to 10 years old)


Improve your child’s visual communication and digital drawing skills. With this course, your kids will surely learn how to turn their ideas into a motion picture.


Roblox Game Design (8 to 12 years old)


Let your child build and publish their own Roblox game through the Roblox Studio.

Web Game Creation using Scratch (8 to 12 years old)


Develop your child’s logical thinking skills through coding. This course will also teach your kids how to create interactive games using Scratch—the world’s largest programming language and online community.

2D Game Design with Stencyl (12 to 15 years old)


Allow your kids to dive deeper into 2D game development and coding. This course will also teach your kids how to create computer games with HTML5 and build games for iOS and Android using the Stencyl software.

Building AR Face Filters and 3D effects (12 to 15 years old)


Let your kids experience an interesting way of combining the real world with technology and art. This course will also teach young minds how to create customized social media face filters and 3D Portal.



Each online session lasts for 1.5 hours, conducted over four days (Tuesday-Friday). Classes can be availed at PHP 2,500 per student per course, which can be paid via Power Mac Center’s Web Store <https://powermaccenter.com/product/pbsi-dtl001>. Limited slots are available to maintain instruction efficiency, and reservation is on a first come, first served basis.




PBSI offers a wide range of creative and technical courses conducted by Apple Certified Trainers to help groups and individuals leverage Apple technology for productivity and skills enhancement. For inquiries, contact PBSI at (632) 8553 6399 and +63 908 885 6277.
Read More

Shopee nurtures top tech talent with the Global Leaders Program

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Shopee Global Leaders Program

The continued rise of Southeast Asia’s “digital decade”, now projected to gross around $1 trillion across the region by 2030, has increased the demand for tech talents who can drive the digital economy. Amidst this growing digital landscape, Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, continues to seek for the next generation of industry leaders through the Global Leaders Program (GLP).

The Shopee Global Leaders Program is a 2-year graduate program consisting of four 6-month local and overseas rotations. It is designed for highly enthusiastic and ambitious young Filipino talents who have the potential to boost the country’s e-commerce industry. Final-year students or young professionals with up to two years of working experience can apply for GLP and be part of a structured learning and development program. Participants will also receive dedicated mentorship from Shopee leaders.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “Digital transformation has been an ongoing focus in several key economic sectors. As a result, the demand for tech talent has been on the rise in recent years. Shopee remains committed to developing the next generation of talents in the Philippines through immersive training and mentorship initiatives like the Global Leaders Program. We will continue to come up with various programs that aim to value-add to the Philippines’ digital economy.” 

Now in its 4th year, the program continues to provide its participants with eye-opening experiences and regional exposure

CJ, a GLP participant, shares why she chose Shopee to grow her career in e-commerce. “Shopee has been taking big strides to enhance the user experience and keep up with the recent changes in the retail market industry. It’s evident that the company is constantly growing bigger, better, and faster—and I want to be part of this growth.” 

Among the many interesting components of the GLP, CJ says what caught her attention the most was the regional experience and exposure it offers. “Working with other teams from various countries is a great opportunity to learn about different cultures and gain new perspectives and insights that can help further the industry in our country.”

Currently working with Shopee’s Business Development team, CJ’s exposure to different functions allowed her to grow, adapt and learn new things every day. “I am constantly pushed and supported to become a better version of myself every day. The projects that I handle allow me to develop problem-solving, critical thinking, good leadership, and proper time management skills. Seeing how e-commerce campaigns are brought to life, and how people communicate and collaborate to achieve success regularly definitely inspire me to keep growing and eventually contribute.”

CJ takes pride in being part of the GLP. “If you want to become a future tech leader and be part of the growing digital economy in the Philippines, the Global Leaders Program is the best way to jumpstart your dream. You get the best training and development possible: close mentorship from Senior Management, rotating stints in different markets, and you get to drive crucial projects across the business. The program is truly for those who are willing to push themselves every day to be better and keep growing. I am grateful and humbled to be part of all this.”

Are you an aspiring tech leader and interested in learning about the e-commerce industry? Apply to be part of Shopee’s Global Leaders Program starting February 14, 2022. For more information about the program, visit https://careers.shopee.ph/GLP.
Read More

Bukas PH paves a path towards a brighter future

Monday, January 24, 2022

Partners include schools and universities Cebu, Iloilo, Pampanga, and more nationwide




The son asks, “Ma, mag-enroll po ba ako?” to which the mom replies, “Bukas na, anak.”

This exchange has been repeated thrice in Bukas' online video aptly entitled "Kulit." The video shows a son following up on his mom to meet the deadline of his enrollment by the end of the week. His mom tries her best to have enough funds for his tuition by doing different income-generating activities but still fails to meet the deadline. The son would then introduce Bukas. Finally, the video ends with the mother and son applying for a tuition installment plan, securing the tuition fee and his future.

Despite its light tone, the video leaves a bit of twinge in the chest as we see the mom's struggles and the son's concern for his future yet understanding of the situation, reflected on his face every time he gets the same answer.

This is the challenge faced by many Filipino parents who only desire to see their children attain a degree to have a better future. But with the economy taking a hit, resources to send children to school have become even more limited, with over 4 million students not enrolling in 2020. Driven by the desire to continuously send their children to school, parents resort to alternative financing options. Still, most of the available options are not always the best in the long run and cater to only a limited set of borrowers with its conditions, namely:

● Government Loans and Scholarships: Long and competitive process, usually has a high maintaining grade requirement.

● Private Bank Loans: Requires collateral that the more financially challenged families may not have. It also has higher interest rates.

● Friends and Relatives and Loan Sharks: May have outrageous interest rates and unforeseen complications due to its vague nature.

Having seen the opportunity to be a game-changer, the founders of Bukas developed the platform to extend real help to parents and students. Just in time for enrollment season, Bukas, a tech-enabled education financing platform by its parent company ErudiFi, is offering an affordable, complementary solution that aims to empower Filipino families to build a better tomorrow through quality education. Moreover, the offering is accessible to more families and students who cannot rely on bank loans, credit cards, or scholarships. With the following offers, the platform strives to deliver its "Ang Bukas Mo, Sigurado" promise:

● Up to 100% coverage from start to finish - Students can re-apply for additional tuition coverage every semester to make sure they can graduate.

● Interest rate lower than others - With a fixed monthly interest rate capped at 1.5% and payment installments up to 12 months, Bukas makes it sustainable for parents and even working students to manage their school finances.

● Pay early, earn rebates - Students who want to fully pay the loan in less than 12 months can do so without pre-termination fees. In addition, they will earn rebates because they will only be charged interest for their consumed months.

● Convenient payment options - Students can pay their monthly dues via GCash, Bayad Center, Unionbank, or thousands of bank and non-bank payment centers powered by Dragon Pay.

Bukas now has a total of 35 partner schools, with a presence in 71 campuses, including Mapua University, Far Eastern University, Adamson University, Our Lady of Fatima University, PHINMA Education Network, University of Nueva Caceres, Centro Escolar University, Eskwelabs, De La Salle University, University of Asia and the Pacific to more specialized institutions like SoFA Design Institute, Enderun Colleges, Avion School, and Uplift Code Camp.

Hanna Grace Laud, an FEU graduate, expresses her gratitude for having discovered Bukas, “Ang laki ng naitulong ng Bukas sa pag-aaral ko dahil ang hirap talaga magbayad ng buo sa tuition fees lalo na sa panahon ngayon. So nagpapasalamat ako sa Bukas dahil meron silang tuition installment plan para sa aming mga students at dahil doon naabot ko ‘yung mga pangarap ko at nakapagtapos ako ng pag-aaral.”

"We are strongly committed to providing students access to quality education and paving a path towards a brighter future. By providing education-focused financial products, we hope to reduce the number of out-of-school youth and build a more secure future for the next generation," shares JR Emlano, Country Manager of Bukas.
Read More