Koronadal National Comprehensive High School’s (KNCHS) fast-growing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) program received a major boost with the recent participation of one of the programme’s movers to international open source camp Asia Source 3.

Latreia Estabillo, newly-designated ICT coordinator of KNCHS and adviser of the KNFOSSociety, was selected as one of the more than 140 fellows that were selected by camp organizers International Open Source Network (IOSN) and InWEnt of Germany to become a part of the third edition of the Asia Source camp, which was held in Silang, Cavite last November 7-12.

This year’s Asia Source, which is so far considered as one of the biggest gathering on the free and open source software or FOSS in Asia, was joined by leading open source advocates, technologists, academics, software developers, networking experts and other ICT experts coming from corporate, government and non-government sectors across the region.

Ms. Estabillo said Asia Source 3 primarily gave her the opportunity to get updated with various emerging open source technologies and systems in Asia and other parts of the world as well as the latest initiatives on the continuing promotion of FOSS advocacy and use within the region.

During the six-day ICT camp, which was held at the International Rural Reconstruction Movement (IRRM) center in Cavite, she got acquainted with participants from different parts of Asia who shared their skills and expertise on FOSS advocacy, software development, design and technology.

“It was a great learning for me. I was able to both gain new knowledge on ICT and open source technologies and share what we have been doing here in KNCHS,” she said.

“In the camp, we learned new skills, shared them with other participants and at the same time experienced a different kind of fun through the interactions and innovative sessions,” added Ms. Estabillo, who was also a fellow of the Asia Source 2 held in Sukabumi, Indonesia in January 2007.

Track 4 report back style

At Asia Source 3, Ms. Estabillo was joined its Track Four, which focused on “building FOSS communities.”

She said the sessions were handled by Johan Janssens, who is the lead developer of popular web content management system Joomla and Mifan Careem, who was part of the award-winning Sahana project (disaster management system).

Track 4 session with Johan and Mifan.

Asia Source, which is held every two years, is mainly a camp-style gathering that aims to increase the awareness, integration and adoption of FOSS tools in Asia.

Participants had a break touring Villa Escudero

It also focuses on the promotion of practical elements of the deployment of FOSS within an economic and social structure and aims to build capacities to connect, cooperate, and collaborate and empower humanity with the use of FOSS.

Asia Source 3 was jointly organized by IOSN through its ASEAN+3 Centre of Excellence (Philippines), InWEnt-Capacity Building International (Germany), Tactical Technology Collective (Netherlands), Aspiration (USA) and The Centre for Internet and Society (India).

The event was supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ), the ASEAN Foundation and the Open Society Institute.###

By Khamis Tugbang and Brendel Mae Zarate

A GROUP of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) students and teachers of the Koronadal National Comprehensive High School (KNCHS) has linked up with the global ICT community as part of this year’s Software Freedom Day (SFD) celebration.

SFD is a worldwide celebration held every third Saturday of September that highlights the free and open source software or FOSS advocacy.

Carrying the banner of the KNFOSSociety, a recognized school organization advocating the use and promotion of FOSS, the group was officially recognized by the Software Freedom International as part of his year’s global SFD teams.

As part of this year’s celebration, KNFOSSociety members and advisers organized a series of ICT seminars and a FOSS awareness tour covering at least two public schools in Koronadal City.

The SFD seminar-series, which served as the opening salvo of the celebration, opened last September 10 at the KNCHS ICT laboratory with basic photo and video editing sessions for 112 selected fourth year students.

Ms. Latreia Estabillo explains the benefits of FOSS to the students

Denmark Bulan of the Radio Mindanao Network shares tips on creating attractive and professional-like videos.

Another seminar on photo and video editing, basic spreadsheet and presentation, PC trouble-shooting and operating system installation was held last September 18 for at least 42 teachers from KNCHS and several other local schools.

Journalist and Ubuntu user Allen V. Estabillo of the Philippines News Agency demonstrates Ubuntu installation, basic troubleshooting and computer maintenance.

The workshop was divided into two tracks: The Open Office Tracks and the Advance Track.

Glen Bastes of Radio Mindanao Network and also a FOSS advocate shows how easy it was to use Spreadsheet program in computing students' performance.

KNFOSSociety Adviser Latreia Estabillo shares her e-learning experiences and open source tools that teachers can effectively use.

Radio Mindanao Network-Marbel's Graphic Artist Denmark Bulan gave a demo on easy photo editing using GIMP

KNFOSSociety members assist teacher-participants during their hands-on sessions

The main highlight of the group’s SFD acticvities was the FOSS awareness tour at the Marbel 7 National High School and Koronadal Central Elementary School-I last September 25.

During the tour, which was led by 29 KNFOSSociety members and three teacher-advisers, the group introduced FOSS to more than 300 high school students and elementary pupils through orientations and demonstrations on various open source applications.

They also held speed-geeking sessions on GIMP, Audacity and other common open source education and entertainment software.

The students of both schools listened to the discussions and enjoyed the GIMP-ing sessions, a photo editing session where the team showed some hilarious pictures featuring the faces of some of the ICT students that were edited through GIMP.

KNFOSSociety Adviser Latreia Estabillo gives a talk on Free and Open Source Software to the students at Koronadal Central Elementary School 1.

Rowenie Non shares the benefits of FOSS to the students of Marbel 7 National High School.

Suellen Ogena of KNFOSSociety gives a demo on how to create beautiful presentations using Open Office Impress.

Karl Ycon and Jahsie Paez demonstrate easy photo editing with GIMP.

Karl Ycon and Ferdinand Fernandez show the fun of playing with open source games.

Audacity is so easy to use, right, Kuya Khamis?

Educational open source games, let's play!!

"Teacher Lati, please let them edit my picture!"

"See you in next year's SFD!"

The SFD activities were made possible with the collaborative efforts and help of ICT advisers Mrs. Latreia Estabillo and Ms. Hazel Borcillo, the KNFOSSociety, Mr. Joel Moso and with the encouragement and full support of Mr. Fernando C. Hilomen, Principal IV of KNCHS.

September 11, 2009- Photo and Video Editing Seminar for ICT students

September 18, 2009- Educators Open Source Seminar-Workshop

Endorsed and supported by Region 12, ICT Teachers from the nine divisions of the region will be attending.

September 25, 2009- KNFOSSociety on Tour

The KNFOSSociety will be heading to Marbel 7 National High School in the morning and in the afternoon they will be at Koronadal Central Elementary School 1. There will be so much exciting fun and activities prepared for the students.

SEE YOU IN ANY OF OUR SFD EVENTS!!!!!

We have our own way of expressing ourselves especially about open source. As we will be celebrating SFD, the artists of KNFossociety now reveal their  own designs for bookmarks. We will be giving these away during our FOSS tours.

“Ask not what open source software can do for you, but what YOU can do for open source software.”

“Take Open Source because it is the best bet’.”

“This is the kind of freedom that produces better software”

“Open Source Software: Free for ALL!”

The month of September is when Software Freedom Day (SFD) is celebrated all over the world. This is a global, grassroots effort to educate the public about the importance of software freedom and the virtues and availability of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). Local teams from all over the world organize events in September.

To keep the FOSS spirit alive, the Information and Communications Technology Classes known as the KNCHS Fossociety under the Vocational Department will be participating in this year’s Software Freedom Day competition.

We’ve designed activities wherein weekly event  will take place. There will be a Video Editing Seminar, like the one we had last year, only for the graduating classes. We will be sponsoring a hands-on training for Teachers, we call it Open Source  Tools for Teachers. The best part will be when the group will go out, we call it KNFossociety On Tour. We identified some public schools in the city division and we will be going there to share the message of FOSS plus exciting activities and give-aways are on the list.

We look forward celebrating SFD 2009.

Good news for everyone.

This school year brings great joy to all ICT students. The laboratory now runs the new version of Ubuntu and at the same time offers wireless connection to all who have portable devices.

Not only that,  the lab finally  have internet connection. All ICT students will enjoy this additional service. There will be more web-based activities, online discussions and more.

In addition, the computers installed in the library is running Ubuntu as well. Very soon, it will also have internet connection via our laboratory.

We look forward for a more enjoyable open source experience with everyone.

Last March 16, the KNFOSSociety went to Bacongco Campus to promote FOSS. 30 active and energetic teenagers from Newton and Galileo sections gave demonstrations on the different Foss programs and computer gadgets useful for students.

With smiles and laughter……

Introducing FOSS......

Introducing Gcompris.....

The Shooter Game "Open Arena" demo......

The useful devices students use......

Showing the development of computers....

Editing pictures made easy with GIMP....

Common devices with many uses for students....

Fun with Super Tuxcart Game....

GIMPing with pics......

Here's the exciting things we do with Audacity....

Proudly showing the school website we manage and our blog...

Giving FOSS materials (courtesy of IOSN) to Mr. Valentin Dignadice Jr, school head.

Proudly, we are the KNFOSSociety...

Ooooops....careful with the gate, guys....

The Open Tech Fair 2009 took another route in encouraging the use of Free and Open Source Software, emphasizing the joys in using it and other benefits.

Here’s some pictures to remind us all of that one memorable day….

The Super Tuxcart Booth

The GNU Chess Booth

GLEST Booth

The Tux Math Booth

Adjudged as the Best Display, the "Asean Quest" Booth

Mr. & Miss Technology 2009 and the runner-ups

Let’s treasure the wonderful experience we made during the Tech Fair. Let us continue to spread FOSS.

Who would have thought that a small group of 30 high school seniors can organize and run a big event? Thanks to them, the Tech Fair 2009 happened.

As a teacher, it has been my desire to see students run, organize, work a school event. The previous fair was a steeping stone for it made us all see that to transfer the leadership and management of a school event is possible. Living in a community where teachers are the main workers of an event, the concept of the Fair was not totally accepted at first.

This year’s Tech Fair I owe to this group of 30 seniors who made it all come true. From the little things and taking it all on stage, they really stand out. Such hardworking, creative, resourceful and energetic teenagers proved that young they may be, but are capable and responsible of such big tasks.

Mistakes, misunderstandings, lapses, and errors are common in handling an event. But these are the reasons why Fairs each year differs from each other because we see to it that we make rooms for improvement.

Many thanks to the dynamic artistic duo of John Ramel and Josef-the designs of the program and stage are great. Your technical abilities combines with your love for graphics really amazed me. The stylish recycled-inspired fashion show led by designer Angel was a hit. You continually unfold surprises and I truly admire the artist in you.

I would like to also express my thanks to the ever dependable Irish Asperga who’s laptop serviced a lot of demanding and challenging jobs.

I was taken by surprised when Ena and Aura produced the needed contestant numbers; such resourcefulness combined with creativity is truly amazing. I hope that the owner of those plastic flowers never knew what you did to those poor things.

I discovered that when morena-beauty Iryx combines her beauty and charm, she’s a sensation to see.

The quiet reserved Griffin with good-looking yet Hard-to-get Victor, I appreciated in seeing the way you get the job done by working together . I appreciated the quiet assurance of the presence of gentle Johanna whose always composed and relaxed even when others were panicking. I was happy to see Moses and Charles present and providing assistance and support to their classmates as well.

The unique glittering recycled-inspired sashes, my admiration to its uniqueness and distinctive art. I marvel at those skillful fingers and creative minds of Jael, Jan kristy, Iryx, Loqui, Jona, Chinee,Pink and Seychelle.

The clever suggestion of giving Plate Trophies, courtesy of Keziah, Michelle, Nikko and Ruben, I just can’t help but smile at your endless resources of ideas. The cd-inspired leis were eye-catchers as well. I admire the endless supply of creative ideas of Meri Joules,April Aplicador, Exmundo, Kwesi and Chiqui. Keep it up.

And lastly, to lovely June Angeli whose leadership is such an inspiration to those who wanted to walk the path you tread on. Beauty and Brains, that’s what you really are.

So many Aprils’ and Irishs’ names, I get confused all the time.

There are some things from your high school experiences that you will always carry with you for the rest of your lives and I know that there are some memories that you would choose to forget. But when you all look back at those experiences, you will see your classmates, friends and hopefully teachers … the ones who got you all through everything and hope and see that you will realize how lucky you are to have, know and love them.

Remember this passage from the Word of God,”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,” plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ Jeremiah 29:11.

As Confucious said, wherever you go, go with your heart. The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams.

Thank you for being part of my dreams, now its your time to make your dreams come true. God Bless.

“Raise your voice!”

Here comes the digital audio editor application, the Audacity. It is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as recording, importing or exporting, editing putting up effects and a lot more on audios or music. This works on many operating systems and is available in many languages.

Audacity was created by Dominic Mazzoni. He now works at Google, but is still the main developer and maintainer of Audacity, with help from many others around the world.

Audacity is a multi-track audio editor that enables you to record sound or import existing sound files, edit them, mix them with other material, and output them in various formats.

This helps a lot in saving files you have worked on in the application. You can also record, play, and edit sounds via cut, copy & paste method. Editing is made a whole lot easier, making all the effects you want to add on your file more convenient.

Audacity offers a wide variety of basic audio manipulations that people will enjoy. Creating the all-new personality through changing the audio pitch is what students enjoy the most.

Audacity is extremely popular in the podcasting world due to its wide availability, multiplatform support, and the fact that it is free.

To learn more of Audacity, you can download it via the internet at no cost http://audacity.sourceforge.net.

It’s the best alternative for proprietary editing software.

The best things in life are FREE!

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