-
1 of 2
Home
Lalem Palayangan: Dreams of Basilan Youth Take Flight in Invent School Documentary
- Details
By Lawrence San Diego
Sheilaika, Shernalyn, and Andayang may look like regular students from the island of Basilan, but their big dreams and aspirations carry the heart and soul of a new documentary produced by the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Lalem Palayangan (Paglipad nang Malalim) chronicles the lives of the three senior high school girls as they embark on their journey to discovery and innovation through the Invent School Program, which was brought to Basilan for the first time by DOST-TAPI under its Project
SciNing initiative.
As a flagship program of DOST-TAPI, the Invent School provides young Filipinos with a platform for experiential learning in invention and innovation. The program seeks to encourage curiosity and inventiveness among students who live in underserved communities where learning resources are limited and teaching methods are often conventional.
Behind the scenes of Lalem Palayangan, where Invent School students participated in fieldwork together with their mentors.
Through Project SciNing, a recipient of the 2022 Innovation Grants by the National Economic and Development Authority, DOST-TAPI adapted the Invent School to incorporate mentorship with outstanding Filipino inventors.
“It has been our goal to weave an inclusive narrative where everyone plays a role in the greater tapestry of our visions,” said Project SciNing head Marvin Eric Dela Cruz. “Project SciNing hopes to be a precursor of meaningful discussions and innovation stories that we could all relate to as Filipinos with shared aspirations.”
Excitement and Hope through Invent School
Lalem Palayangan sheds light on common challenges faced by students in island provinces like Basilan, including limited access to resources, connectivity, and infrastructure, as well as the lack of opportunities to pursue the field of science and technology.
Despite their situation, Sheilaika, Shernalyn, and Andayang, along with their peers and newfound friends from various schools in Lamitan and Maluso in Basilan, gained renewed excitement and hope to chase their dreams during their memorable time at the Invent School.
“I believe there is still a lot to learn when it comes to science, and that is why it is important for all students to join and experience the Invent School,” Andayang shared.
The documentary also highlighted Filipino inventors Jericho Castro and Jeremy De Leon, who joined the Invent School to showcase their TAPI-supported inventions. Castro demonstrated his Jerichord guitar, a teaching instrument uniquely designed to help beginners learn guitar faster. De Leon introduced his Make-roscope, a portable single-lens microscope for mobile gadgets, which the participants used to examine specimens they collected from the field.
In the film, local teachers, school heads, and partners from the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao conveyed their immense gratitude to the Invent School program for igniting the spark of ingenuity and innovation among the Bangsamoro youth in Basilan.
Students from various schools in Basilan got the chance to work together on a project at Invent School.
Posible sa SciNing
Lalem Palayangan had its premiere at the Posible sa SciNing gala last December 2022 in Makati City. Partners from Basilan, various government agencies, the science community, and the private sector attended the event to celebrate the achievements under Project SciNing. The gala also showcased a science-themed art and photo exhibit featuring the works of Invent School participants in Basilan.
The cast and production team of Lalem Palayangan, together with DOST-TAPI officials, entertain questions from the audience during the film’s premiere.
“The Invent School program in Basilan, the Lalem Palayangan premiere, and the art and photo exhibit were brought about by the connections we made through Project SciNing,” Dela Cruz explained. “With our newfound partners, we hope to amplify our shared goals towards creating a community of innovation advocates.”
The premiere also launched the documentary’s official soundtrack, an original composition titled “Walang Hadlang.” After the screening, the film’s young protagonists from Basilan and its creative team held a forum with the gala attendees to answer questions and share their insights and experiences while shooting the documentary.
“We helped amplify the stories of these students from Basilan, as well as of our local inventors,” Dela Cruz said. “How often do we see in the media our fellow Filipinos, especially young girls, from the farthest regions of our country? I think it is time to put the spotlight on them.”
He added, “Through this film, we hope to attract more partners who can conduct the Invent School with DOST-TAPI, and to encourage stakeholders to adopt our local innovations on experiential learning in science and technology.”
Do you want to host a special screening of Lalem Palayangan at your school or office? Contact DOST-TAPI Applied Communications Unit for Inventors at acu-i@tapi.dost.gov.ph.
Excited to bring DOST-TAPI’s Invent School to your area? Click HERE to learn more about our Invent School program.
Invent School Earns NEDA Nod as Priority DOST Program
- Details
By Lawrence San Diego
The Invent School Program of the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is now certified by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) as one of its priority government programs under its National Priority Plan for 2023.
DOST-TAPI’s Invent School aims to stimulate creativity and inventiveness among future scientists and inventors.
The National Priority Plan is a list of the Philippine government’s priority activities, projects, and programs in the areas of science and culture, education, health, youth and sports development, human settlements, and economic development. The list is issued annually by NEDA as mandated in the National Internal Revenue Code.
With its inclusion in this year’s list, the Invent School is now eligible to receive tax-deductible donations from various partners and organizations, particularly in the private sector, to help broaden and strengthen the implementation of the Program.
“NEDA’s endorsement came at a perfect time for TAPI as we are all excited to bring back the Invent School inside classrooms and face to face with students after years of holding the Program online due to the pandemic,” says TAPI Director Atty. Marion Ivy Decena.
“This will help us amplify the scope and coverage of the Invent School by bringing in new partners who will help us ignite the spark of ingenuity among our youth and inspire them to pursue their inventive ideas,” she adds.
As a flagship program of DOST-TAPI, the Invent School serves as a platform to stimulate creativity and inventiveness among elementary pupils, high school, and college students. Through highly interactive seminar-workshops, the program teaches students about techniques in creative and innovative thinking, which are crucial in developing ideas for their inventions and prototypes. The program also aims to raise awareness, appreciation, and understanding of intellectual property rights among its young participants.
Invent School participants engage in interactive exercises and group activities.
Since 2008, the Invent School has reached around 10,000 students in more than 1,500 schools from all over the country.
“We hope that with new donors and partners, we can increase these numbers and bring the Invent School to all 60,000 schools across the Philippines,” Director Decena says.
“We welcome the support and contribution of groups, organizations, and industries—particularly in the sectors of education, technology, and telecommunications—in providing the necessary underserved areas,” she adds.
The Invent School Program has worked with agencies within the DOST to enrich its implementation. It collaborated with the Philippine Science High School to increase its pool of mentors, and with the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development to launch an online learning platform for the program.
Through Project SciNing and in collaboration with the BARMM Ministry of Science and Technology, DOST-TAPI was able to bring the Invent School to Basilan for the first time.
The program was also a key component of DOST-TAPI’s Project SciNing, which was a recipient of NEDA’s Innovation Grants for 2022. The Invent School contributed to project outcomes in promoting adoption of local inventions and technologies, and developing the capacities of the youth in creativity and innovation.
Join us in bringing DOST-TAPI’s Invent School to more students across the country!
Click HERE to learn more about our Invent School Program, or email our Applied
Communications Unit for Inventors at acu-i@tapi.dost.gov.ph to learn how you can be an
Invent School partner!
Project SciNing Taps into Art to Draw Out Innovative Spirit of Basilan’s Youth
- Details
By Lawrence San Diego
Visual arts became an uncommon yet effective vehicle for high school students in Basilan to explore their innovative ideas at the Invent School Program held by the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) last November 2022.
More than 30 students from 17 schools across Basilan joined the Invent School Program, where they participated in interactive seminars and workshops to learn creative thinking, problem solving, ideation tools and techniques, invention development, and intellectual property rights, among other topics.
Through DOST-TAPI’s Project SciNing and partnership with the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the Invent School in Basilan became a unique activity by including art exercises to help the students tap into their creative talents and further enrich their learning journey in science and innovation.
Invent School students in Basilan tapped into their inner artists to express their ideas through painting.
Using acrylic and watercolor on canvas, the young participants painted their different messages about upholding peace, conserving nature, and promoting innovation, as well as their hopes for their island province.
“Like in other modules of the Invent School, the art exercise is an activity that promotes ideation and innovative thinking among the participants,” Project SciNing head Marvin Eric Dela Cruz explained.
“Science is usually technical and theoretical, but like art, it can also be practical and experiential,” he added. “Art and science should not be pitted against each other. Both fields invite us to be curious explorers; thus, the fusion of art and science can give rise to innovation.”
DOST-TAPI launched its Project SciNing last year to inspire a new generation of promising Filipino inventors and innovators by promoting experiential learning, creative storytelling, and meaningful partnerships.
The Posible sa SciNing Gala showcased the Invent School students’ masterpieces in an art exhibition.
The project held its Posible sa SciNing Gala last December 2022 in Makati City as a celebration of its success in Basilan and to further promote its advocacy. At the Gala, all the masterpieces of the Invent School students were showcased and viewed by partners from Basilan, various government agencies, the science community, and the private sector.
The Kaibuturan photo exhibit complemented the Invent School students’ artworks.
Together with the art gallery, the Kaibuturan photo exhibit was also launched, featuring snapshots of the Invent School in Basilan and the vibrant culture and communities of the island province.
Through Project SciNing, DOST-TAPI hopes to broaden the scope and coverage of the Invent School and forge new partnerships for the program so it can reach more students in the country.
Excited to bring DOST-TAPI’s Invent School to your area? Click HERE to learn more about our Invent School program.
Project SciNing Combines Science and Storytelling to Spark Inventive Ideas Among the Youth
- Details
By Lawrence San Diego
Creativity and science were both front and center in the latest initiative of the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to encourage inventive and innovative thinking among young Filipinos in far-flung communities.
DOST-TAPI launched its Project SciNing last year to address challenges in promoting science and innovation literacy in the country, particularly in underserved areas where learning resources are limited and teaching methods are often conventional.
Using a three-pronged strategy that leverages experiential learning, creative storytelling, and meaningful partnerships, Project SciNing sought to inspire a new generation of promising Filipino inventors and innovators.
Project SciNing Head Engr. Marvin Eric Dela Cruz highlighted the project’s advocacy at the Posible sa SciNing gala.
“With this project, we hope we can help in reversing the trend of declining literacy rates in science among Filipino youth,” explained Project SciNing Head Marvin Eric Dela Cruz. “We also want to rethink the way we communicate science and explore different artistic expressions to tell stories of ingenuity and innovation that are deeply felt and understood by more Filipinos.”
Igniting the Spark in Basilan
For its inaugural activity, Project SciNing chose as its pilot site the island of Basilan—a province in the Bangsamoro region with diverse and distinct cultural assets and potential to harness ingenuity and creativity among its local students to address social struggles.
The Invent School program stimulates students’ skills in creativity, design thinking, and problem solving.
For its core activity, the project brought to Basilan for the first time DOST-TAPI’s Invent School as a venue for experiential learning in invention and innovation. More than 30 high school students from all over Basilan joined in interactive seminars and workshops to learn creative thinking, problem solving, ideation tools and techniques, invention development, and intellectual property rights, among other topics.
As a flagship program of DOST-TAPI, Invent School aims to ignite the spark of curiosity and inventiveness among its students and push them to pursue their novel ideas in science and technology. Since 2008, the program has already reached around 10,000 students in more than 1,500 schools from all over the country.
The Basilan Invent School became even more special with participating Filipino inventors who brought their inventions that can enrich music and science lessons. Music teacher Jericho Castro demonstrated his Jerichord guitar, a teaching instrument uniquely designed to help beginners learn guitar a lot easier. Young inventor Jeremy De Leon introduced his Make-roscope, a portable single-lens microscope for mobile gadgets, which Invent School students used to examine specimens they collected from the field.
Students engaged in field activities as part of their experiential learning at the Invent School.
“It is important for our youth to meet these inventors face to face, for them to know that Filipino inventors do exist, and that there are real-life science heroes who they can look up to,” said Dela Cruz. “Our trip to Basilan was also an opportunity for these inventors to demonstrate and test their inventions in actual settings, and for them to share their journey in science and innovation to a bigger audience, especially to young people who can be inspired to embark on their own journey.”
Through Project SciNing, DOST-TAPI hopes to broaden the scope and coverage of Invent School and forge new partnerships for the program so it can reach more students in the country.
“With Invent School, we were able to encourage and jumpstart the interest of our Bangsamoro children so they can participate more in the field of modernization through invention,” said Abdulrakman Asim, Director General of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Celebrating Inventions and Innovations through Stories
To celebrate its success in Basilan and to further promote its advocacy, Project SciNing held the Posible sa SciNing Gala last December 2022 in Makati City for its partners from Basilan, various government agencies, the science community, and the private sector.
DOST-TAPI held the Posible sa SciNing Gala and Art and Photo Exhibition last December 2022 in Makati City.
Posible sa SciNing hosted the premiere of the film Lalem Palayangan (Paglipad nang Malalim), which documented the lives of three girls from Basilan as they discovered a new world in the science and innovation community through the Invent School. The documentary also highlighted inventors Castro and De Leon and how they inspired young minds to pursue their dreams and ideals despite hardships of everyday life. Their success is a testament of what is possible through the collaboration with DOST-TAPI.
Local artist Coeli San Luis performed Lalem Palayangan’s original soundtrack “Walang Hadlang.”
Posible sa SciNing also launched Walang Hadlang, the film’s original soundtrack; a gallery of artworks created by the Invent School students; and Kaibuturan, a photo exhibit, all synergized with the film screening.
The growing community of DOST-TAPI was also highlighted at the gala by giving recognition to partner organizations and assisted inventors who participated in and contributed to the agency’s various programs.
Through the humanized stories of invention and innovation presented through film, music, art, and photos, Project SciNing hopes to also ignite a spark of commitment among key stakeholders, decision makers, and potential partners to work with DOST-TAPI in enhancing the country’s local ecosystem and network of Filipino innovations.
The Posible sa SciNing partnership gala was a memorable night for celebrating the success of Project SciNing in Basilan.
“When we conceptualized Project SciNing, our ultimate goal was to tell science stories that resonate with our audiences,” Dela Cruz said. “When we tell stories about inventions and innovations that people can relate to, it helps us in our mandate to inspire and nurture Filipino ingenuity in every corner of the country.”
Project SciNing is funded through the National Economic and Development Authority’s
Innovation Grants for 2022. The project’s outcomes in scaling up the adoption of local
inventions and technologies and the capacities of the youth in creativity and innovation all
contribute to the country’s improved ranking in the Global Innovation Index.
Excited to bring DOST-TAPI’s Invent School to your area? Click HERE to learn more about our Invent School program.
Do you want to host a special screening of Lalem Palayangan at your school or office? Contact DOST-TAPI Applied Communications Unit for Inventors at acu i@tapi.dost.gov.ph.
-
1 of 2
