SL Technological College Foundation Inc. Supports Congressman Bichara’s Scholarship Program

Quality education is a priceless gift to be endowed upon. That is why SL Technological College Foundation Inc., one of the schools in the Bicol Region that offers quality yet affordable IT education, has responded aggressively to the Scholarship Program of Albay 2^nd District Congressman, Al Francis Bichara. The legislator and the said institution strongly support and prioritize the education of the Filipino youth specifically the poor but deserving Albayanos.

Under Congressman Bichara's educational development program, he released to the Technical and Educational Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) some P5 million in Project Development and Assistance Fund (PDAF) funds under his scholarship program.

SLTCFI seizes the opportunity to provide the gift of education to deserving and talented youth of Albay and the neighboring province through Congressman Bichara’s program. Among the ten schools in Albay that responded to the program, SLTCFI has the most number of scholars. There were 88 scholars accommodated for the 2-year and 4-year courses. Another 30 PESFA scholars endorsed by the Congressman were also able to avail of the school’s short-term courses.

As a way of appreciation of Congressman Bichara’s endeavors for the educational welfare of these students, SLTCFI President, Rosemarie Q. Rey initiated a “thank you program” held last November 24, 2008 at Congressman Bichara’s office. Also present in the occasion were scholars from Don Bosco and Onda Technological Training Center. The Congressman was very pleased by the SLTCFI scholars’ gestures as they gave and presented him cards, native gifts and a song number as their way of thanking him. The awarding of 30 scholarship slots to deserving students that are entitled to take the short-term course of Computer Programming in SLTCFI was also facilitated in the said occasion.

With efforts and dedication from local legislators like Congressman Bichara, and with the ever ready support from institutions like SLTCFI, who believes that the pursuit of higher education must not be limited to the financially-abled, quality education is afforded to poor but diligent and talented Bicolanos.

SL Technological College Foundation Inc. Joins Ibalong Street Presentation 2008

LEGAZPI CITY - The colorful Ibalong Festival was celebrated last October 25-31 in Legaspi City, Albay – Gateway City of Bicol Region. It is inspired by the 18th-century poem which tells about the land called "Ibalon" or the present-day Bicol region long before the Spanish colonizers came to our shores. The colorful celebration depicts the ancient life in Bicol as portrayed in the "Ibalong" epic that narrates of three mythical Aryan heroes in the name of Baltog, Bantong and Handyong who defeated several wild beasts and ferocious monsters and transformed the Bicol Peninsula into a bustling civilization.

One of the highlights of the exciting week-long Ibalong Festival is the Street Presentation where the Ibalong epic is relived in a joyous and colorful manner. Among the Legazpi city’s schools invited to join the said event is the Southern Luzon Technological College Foundation Inc. (SLTCFI) -- an educational institution in the city with technological services and facilities that offer degrees and short-term courses in computer technology, Arts & Sciences, manpower development and livelihood programs, and other technical courses.

SLTCFI immediately responded to the invitation in order to promote cultural awareness among its students. This is the first time that SLTCFI participated in the Street Presentation. Faculty members and students enthusiastically prepared for the said event headed by the institution’s marketing director, Mr. Jaime Nuñez, and marketing assistant, Mr. Johnsen Gonzales who is also the one in-charge of the choreography. There were 100 students from the school’s different departments that participated -- 60 female dancers, 30 males playing the instruments and 10 males as warriors.

This year’s Ibalong Street Presentation is composed of 15 contingents comprised mainly of youth participants coming from different schools in Legazpi City, and from other parts of the Bicol region.

The SLTCFI contingent is the first performer in this year’s Street Presentation and they impressed the spectators with their dazzling costumes and graceful performance of their dance routine and choreography. The costumes donned by the students were meticulously made using glittery materials as well as of locally found indigenous materials like abaca fabrics and jute sacks. The designs are green in motif complemented with red, black and green body paints. Their headdress is accentuated with painted chicken feathers and a snake design. The theme of their costume and their portrayal of the epic depicts the story of wily serpent who sometimes appear as a beautiful maiden. Their use of a live snake as part of their props brought additional excitement to the audience.

Truly, the city’s main streets were transformed into a huge theater for folk art with the majestic Mayon Volcano as a dramatic back drop while participants gracefully execute their choreographed dances in their colorful indigenous costumes and grotesque masks imitating the characters and events in the Ibalong epic. The contingents with the most colorful, most creative and most energetic presentation depicting the history of Ibalong took home hefty cash prizes.

City Mayor Noel E. Rosal, Ibalong Festival honorary chairman in his speech during the opening of the festival thanked all the stakeholders especially the private sectors and business community who sponsored the various activities of the Ibalong celebration.

SLTCFI Presents "SL Night"

LEGAZPI CITY– In connection with the Legazpi Port District Fiesta celebration, South Luzon Technological College Foundation Inc. (SLTCFI) hosted a significant event dubbed as "SL Night" last October 20, 2008. The said program aims to provide additional entertainment for the people of Legazpi as well as to promote cultural awareness among the locals.

The event was held along Peñaranda Street beside Liberty Commercial Center (LCC), one of the famous malls in the city. The presentation showcases the talents of SLTCFI’s students, staffs and faculty members.

The two-hour presentation is composed of singing, dancing and plays that depict the rich and colorful culture of our region. Students from the school’s different department actively participated in the program. Their dance numbers include modern and folk dances unique to our province wherein it shows the beauty and elegance of our way of life -- the way we dress and the way we do and sees things.

For over fourteen years, SLTCFI is not just a reliable institution when it comes to providing technological services and addressing the Bicolano’s needs for Information Technology literacy, but is also an active partner of the city government of Legazpi in strengthening and promoting the moral and cultural values of the Bicolanos.

The said event is truly one happy and memorable occasion not just for city residents but also for the organizers and participants as the activity truly made a significant impact in the celebration of the Legazpi Port District fiesta.

SL Technological College Foundation Inc. Awarded as Outstanding OTOP MSME Partner

LEGASPI CITY - SL Technological College Foundation Inc. was the recipient of the Outstanding OTOP MSME Partner award for the medium enterprise category at the OTOP Provincial Congress 2008 held last September 18, 2008 at Casablanca Hotel, Legazpi City.

The Department of Trade and Industry has identified Legazpi City's One-Town-One-Product as Information and Communications Technology (ICT)-enabled services. As one of the leading IT institution in the city of Legazpi, SLTCFI is among the private sectors that is dedicated in providing trainings and employment opportunities for various (ICT)-enabled services.

The One Town One Product (OTOP) project is a priority program of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that is geared towards promoting entrepreneurship and creating jobs through identification, promotion and development by local chief executives (LCEs) from every city or municipality of specific products and services that have competitive advantage.

Following the success of Japan’s one village, one product, OTOP-Philippines motivates, assists and supports the country’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to offer, produce and market unique products or services through indigenous raw materials and local skills and talents from a particular locality.

Under the OTOP program, the Departments of Agriculture (DA), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Interior and Local Government (DILG), Science and Technology (DOST), Tourism (DOT) and the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will provide MSMEs a comprehensive package or assistance including business counseling, skills and entrepreneurial training, product design and development, marketing and introduction of appropriate technologies.

At present, 18 municipalities in the Province of Albay have implemented OTOP. Aside from the Information and Communications Technology-Enabled services of Legazpi City, the Province’s OTOP projects include karagomoy products of Bacacay; abaca-based products (twine) of Malilipot; lasa broom of Manito; cutlery of Tabaco City; pinangat of Camalig; kalamay confectioneries of Polangui; ceramics of Tiwi ; abaca-based gifts and housewares of Daraga; agas by-products of Libon and toasted rice puto of Oas.

Aside from the most Outstanding OTOP MSME, other awards include the Most Supportive OTOP Partner Organization and Most Supportive OTOP Local Government Unit. The awards are a recognition to stakeholders and partners who paved the way for the successful implementation of the OTOP program which strengthened the livelihood and economic mobility of the province of Albay.

With efforts from the LGU of Legazpi collaborating with institutions like SLTCFI, a Bicol school that continuously commits to provide specialized and high-end training for ICT-enabled services to available manpower, Legazpi City can fully obtain the benefits of its distinct products and services. These will in turn make the city’s products and services to be recognized and have a strong and steady presence in the national as well as in the global market.