Philippine Science High School System – An Exploration to Innovation

More than a stroll in the park, it takes courage, investment, and determination to tour the highway towards digital creativity and innovation.  But with the mission of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Leyte to develop the Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab) of the Philippine Science High School – Eastern Visayas Campus (PSHS-EVC), two brave men from the south took the challenge of exploring digital creativity and innovation at the heart of Central Luzon.

PSHS-EVC Director Erick John H. Marmol, together with two faculty members and three students, and Mr. Virgilio A. Bonjoc Jr., Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist of DTI Leyte Provincial Office, flew all the way from their respective provinces to Clark Freeport Zone Pampanga on October 04, 2019 to conduct a benchmarking activity in the Innovation Center (IC) of Philippine Science High School – Central Luzon Campus (PSHS-CLC) with high hopes of improving and augmenting the capacity of a FabLab in PSHS-EVC.

Above photo:  Dir. Diaz (middle) gave an overview of the PSHS-CLC Innovation Center to Dir. Marmol (left) and Mr. Bonjoc (right).

Through the assistance of Ms. Armi Flor R. Santos, Information Officer of the PSHS System, Director Marmol and Mr. Bonjoc Jr. were accompanied to PSHS-CLC, and they were warmly welcomed by the PSHS-CLC Director, Ms. Theresa Anne O. Diaz.

The exploration to the innovation at PSHS-CLC started with a campus tour led by Director Diaz.  The highlight of the tour was their expedition to the pride of PSHS-CLC – the Innovation Center – supervised by Mr. Joseph Soriano, the Innovation Manager and a special science teacher.

Mr. Soriano (right) toured the participants around PSHS-CLC’s Innovation Center.

Mr. Soriano gave Director Marmol and Mr. Bonjoc Jr. a quick tour in the IC with the honor of showcasing the different state-of-the-art technologies and product innovations including the two additional new equipment donated by DTI to PSH-CLC this year – a desktop inkjet printer / cutter and a medium-sized wood router.  To date, PSHS-CLC’s IC houses more than Php 20 Million worth of equipment, and Mr. Soriano shared that he would continuously invest and improve his knowledge and skills in managing and maintaining the equipment in the Innovation Center.

Mr. Soriano also shared the vision and mission of the Innovation Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education which centered on the ideals of nurturing and enhancing creativity and innovation of students through the use of digital fabrication technology for the purposes of prototyping, innovation, sharing, and learning.  Mr. Soriano stressed that to cater to the global need of producing more innovators and creative thinkers, innovation endeavors are the keys to achieve better solutions and continuous improvement of not just the PSHS students but also of the digital enthusiasts to eventually boost innovation and creative industry in Region 3 with the optimum use of the advanced product development technologies.

Above photo:  Mr. Soriano’s visual presentation showing the Vision, Mission and Goal of PSHS-CLC’s Innovation Center.

“CLC’s IC is not for commercial purposes.  It’s for students’ use in their research projects or prototyping,” said Director Diaz.  She further explained that CLC’s IC also assists external parties in creating prototype models of their innovations for a reasonable fee.  She added that the rates of production are standard in all campuses and are specified in a resolution issued by the PSHS System’s Board of Trustees.  CLC’s IC diligently adheres to such specifications.

During the afternoon session, Mr. Soriano facilitated a hands-on activity for the three PSHS-EVC students.  With the use of a specialized computer software, the students were able to craft and design their own wooden plate carvings using the Laser Cutter.  The students took home their creations as souvenirs.  As they concluded the innovation tour, Director Diaz said, “Most importantly, CLC hopes that they (EVC students) also took home an unforgettable learning experience.”

Dir. Marmol guides the students in checking the sample crafts made in PSHS-CLC’s Innovation Center.

In the past, the PSHS System was able to establish four Fabrication Laboratories from its campuses namely:  the Main Campus, the Ilocos Region Campus, the Central Luzon Campus, and the Eastern Visayas Campus.  With the undertaking of Director Marmol and Mr. Bonjoc Jr. to explore innovation, they could now pin the map of improving a state-of-the-art FabLab in their province hoping to take the lead in digital creativity and innovation in the Eastern Visayas Region.

(Mary Jane B. Suarez, PSHS-Central Luzon Campus)