websaytko.com - raredog’s chronicle

FREE COMPUTERS

Yes it’s really FREE. Not just 1 but 10! Ten (BRAND NEW) desktop computers and computer peripherals to each of the 1,100 public high school beneficiaries throughout the country (Philippines), which remain to have no access to computer education. (more story here…)

Electricity is one of the basic requirement for a school to be a beneficiary of this donation from the Government of Japan. It means even if the school is on top of the mountain or on an island as long as there’s electricity.

I was one of the fortunate persons to be involved in this humongous project. We were sent to inspect the computers, see to if it have the right specs, and if it’s functioning well.

And yes! we were assigned to go to Tuna-Balibago National High School. (A school in Talim Island, Cardona, Rizal) Whoaaa!!! I hate big bodies of water!!! Wahhhh!!!

We board a 20 footer motorboat at Pritil,Binangonan,Rizal. Glad that it was a sunny weather that day. The boat by the way also served as an ambulance for the island community. We were cruising much faster than other boats, and the lake is not that wavy except for the portion where they called Navotas yikesss!! were in between two big mountains, the water is much rougher and deeper there.

After more than an hour of travel, seeing different sizes of fishpens, we finally reached our destination. The quiet and clean community of Balibago, we then walk towards the school, we seldom see townfolks roaming around except for some carpenters working nearby.

We are happily welcome by the Principal, teachers and some students. They’re eager to see the PC running and are excited to have their “hands-on” the units. After eating a delicious snack they served to us. We start assembling the units, checking, and putting stickers to each PC.

After lunch, all the PC’s were up and running.You could see the teachers delight in testing the computers. They will also be trained in using it and also some basic
troubleshooting. We share them some tips. Do some signing on the papers. And after that we bid them goodbye. Hoping that this technology will bring development and prosperity to each and every one at Tuna-Balibago National High School.

P.S.
All the PC’s have Pre-Installed Softwares:
Fedora Core OS (hope the kids are ready for these…also the teachers )
Open Office Ver.2,
AVG 7 Anti-Virus
Wikipedia/Britannica Encyclopedias