Mindanao Moodlers

And finally, I fulfill my oath.

Two years ago, my father was afflicted with diabetes and had to undergo multiple dialysis sessions per week. We did not think he would make it through Christmas. I did the only thing I could do at that time: I prayed to God to extend my father's life. My father celebrated Christmas with us and he stayed with us for a few more months, before succumbing to pneumonia.

I promised God that if he extended my father's life, I would then make it my mission to help out teachers in the Visayas and Mindanao.

I had visited Bacolod the previous year and conducted Microsoft Office certification training. November 23-26, 2006 marked my encounter with faculty from De La Salle-Ozamiz and De La Salle-Iligan in Mindanao.

I arrived at Dipolog via Cebu Pacific around 1:30 PM. I was fetched at the airport by two La Salle personnel.

















I had late lunch at Jo's chicken house; the food and the restaurant "feel" reminded me of Bacolod's famous chicken inasal restaurants. We then had a long three hour ride.

















We passed coconut plantations...


















And rice fields...

Until I finally arrived at De La Salle-Ozamiz. I met several Brothers there: Brother Bong, Brother Mario, Brother Raffy, Brother Jun, and Brother Johnny.

That night, I thought I saw something of the supernatural kind, but I will reseve this for a future posting.

I conducted the De La Salle-Ozamiz seminar-workshop on November 24, 2006 from 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM. The intermittent internet connection had become a major problem and I wondered if I would be able to continue the afternoon training session. Fortunately, one of their teachers, Jan Jay, had installed Moodle for one of his computer classes. So we loaded our online course on their LAN, and we were finally in business. Here are some pictures of the De La Salle -Ozamiz faculty members.

































































































































At about 4:45 PM, I met up with Brother Bong who drove me to Mukas Pier. I also got to meet up with Brother Jun Erguiza (our last meeting was during his stint at LASSO) before leaving.

I felt a slight chill upon boarding a RORO (Roll On, Roll Off) boat at Mukas Pier. You see, as a child, I almost drowned. I never learned to swim after that incident. The prospect of being a shark's happy meal wasn't very appealing.

































After about an hour, the RORO boat reached its destination. I had completed my first boat ride, and I was still alive. It wasn't as bad as I thought. :)

I was then fetched by one of the La Salle - Iligan staff. It was a long car drive, and exhausted from the day's training, I fell asleep.

I had a full breakfast the following morning as I knew it would be a long day.


















Assured that the Internet connection could meet the requirements of the Moodle training, I then gave the Moodle workshop to -- drumroll please -- about 36 teachers and administrators!

The teachers had a blast with the chat sessions (and in coming up with their rules for their chat sessions) as can be seen in the video and pictures below.


















































The teachers were also VERY EXCITED about the prospect of check-free online testing. I wonder why? :) So I demonstrated this during the afternoon session. Here's the interesting part: to ensure that each person would be able to learn and apply the procedures, each member of the team would need to teach another member from their team, until they all finished. I was amazed that even the more senior members of this group were participating actively, and making their online quizzes! :) Check out their pictures below.


































































































































































































































We ended the workshop with the group picture below. Medyo madilim po yata... :)

















Brother Rey and Brother Dennis mentioned that my visit to Iligan was the start of something beautiful and that I would find new joy in my life (although I think their context was a bit more on the naughty side). This was essentially true - what was beautiful for me was the opportunity to share with others, and to feel appreciated and affirmed as a PERSON (not my function, not my job, not my role, but me as a person).

I had found new joy - in meeting new friends and building bridges between DLS-CSB and other members of the De La Salle Philippines.

Thanks to my Director and my office mates at the Center for Learner-Centered Instruction and Research (CLCIR) for holding the fort while I was away; Ms. Nelca Balisado and Ms. Mela Lazatin for funding my trip; and the nameless Lasallian people who were instrumental in making my trip possible and making sure I returned safely to Manila.

Mindanao is such a beautiful place with beautiful people. I look forward to my next workshops there.