CARAGA tops 7th STEP-NSDC

Caraga Region which ranked First Runner-Up during the 6th STEP-NSDC now ranks a step higher making it the Over-All Champion for the 7th STEP-NSDC held last November 19-24, 2008 in Teachers Camp, Baguio City.

Central Luzon Region (III) won First-Runner Up, followed by CALABARZON (IV-A). Northern Mindanao Region (X) got the Third Runner-Up spot then Central Visayas Region (VII) ranked next.

The delegates to this National Competition were all champions of their respective regions during the RSDC and divisions during the DSDC. Different skills were being competed for in the different components of Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (EPP) for the Elementary level, Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) and Technical-Vocational Education (TVE) for the Secondary level.

During the event, the 3rd STEP Awards was also held. Caraga was able to win awards. Three of its awards were bagged by its candidates from Agusan NHS of the Butuan City Division. STEP Award for Outstanding Contributions for the Dept. Head Category was won by Mr. Buenaventura Camilosa while Mrs. Laarni Huliganga won for the Teacher Category. The STEP Award for Outstanding Achievements in Home Economics-Student Category, was won by Zarah Donna Domingo

STEP RSDC 2008 IN ACTION

STEPping Stone

Look.
The world’s economy is in the middle of total darkness. It is slowly deteriorating. It is dying. Amidst this heartbreaking reality, we still have hope that someday, a ray of light would slip in. But who’s going to light up the fire?

It is an undeniable fact that global economy is in a slump. Along with this, the quality of life has been affected something important—skills development.

With the help of STEP, young people are being prepared in making not only a step, but a stride in fixing the broken facades of the world’s economy. STEP also aims to harness the youth’s practical knowledge and skills into productive entrepreneurial tools for livelihood, enhance character and values, and develop leadership potentials.

For the eight years that STEP has dwelled, personalities and hands have been molded. These hands tend to light up the fire that would dispel the somber that caresses the economy.
There is no doubt that STEP really upgrades every individual’s skills. And enhancing these abilities is equal to improving lives. Human resource is an important factor that runs the economy and a healthy citizenry means a progressive country.

So why wait for the economy to be completely buried into a quagmire? We may not find a solution but we can formulate an answer. And the answer lies in our skilled hands.
We are the spark within this dark tunnel, taking a step higher, raising the economy to be alongside all the stars above.
We must take a step before it’s too late. For our economy is dying… and it is for real...

- (courtesy of Mike Ariel Plaza)

STEP: A training ground

The air in Agusan National High School heats up as the school houses nine divisions from all over Caraga and host the 8th Regional STEP (Student Technologists and Entrepreneurs of the Philippines) Skills Competition.
The said competition has been the talk of the school lately. What exactly is STEP? Is it that important? What good does it have in store for us students?
We can basically say that STEP calls for students with great talents in the field of technology and livelihood. It doesn’t require much intellect academically but skills are what’s really needed.

It focuses on developing the students’ skills in doing actual tasks like table skirting, amplifier making, dish gardening, bartending, flower arranging, fruit carving and many more. Indeed it is very important in molding the youth.

It helps the students choose a possible job or profession to be in the near future. This program is also of great help in diverting the youth’s attention away from drugs and gangs. It is an enjoyable and fruitful way of utilizing our time. The STEP program can be considered an effective training ground for the real battle as we go on in life.

Many have acquired the useful fruits of this youth-oriented program. Million salutes to each and every person behind the existence and undeniable great success of the STEP Program in training the next great leaders and citizens of our country.

- (courtesy of Nikki M. Ignacio)

Basinang, Alberte win STEP Search 08

Applause from the audience surpassed the deafening rain cut-side the ANHS Amphitheater, as judges proclaimed Sharmaine Alisa M. Basinang of Butuan City Division, and Douglas Alberte of Surigao del Norte, winners of the Search for Mr. and Miss STEP ‘08, October 28.
Excitement and admiration filled the air when the 16 contestants walked out from the backstage and into the limelight.

Basinang stood out among her eight contenders and won all minor awards such as Best in Production Number, Best in Filipiniana Attire, Best in Ethnic Attire and Best in Technology Attire. Alberte on the other hand, bagged two out of four minor awards—Best in Production Number and Best in Ethnic Attire. Both won the special award Best in Communication.
Adjudged runners-up in the Miss STEP Competition were Jessel Fatima Cane, 1st of Agusan Sur; Guillen Torcel, 2nd representing Surigao City; and Christine Jane Luib, 3rd from Surigao del Norte.

For the Search for Mr. STEP were Yrral Santillano from Surigao City, first runner-up; Rafael Martin Cumba of Butuan City bagged second runner-up. He also got the Best in Barong Attire, while Lorvie Jun O. Vermon or Surigao Sur placed third.
The criteria for judging are: Beauty and Personality, 30% Intelligence and Wit, 30%; Stage Presence and Confidence, 20%, and four minor awards with 5% each.
Basinang and Alberte will be representing the Caraga Region in the upcoming National Skills Development Competition (NSDC) Search for Mr. and Miss STEP in Baguio City come November 19.

- (courtesy of Sherwayne Kristell Palma)

Butuan City hosts 8th Reg’l STEP– SDC RSDC

CARAGA STEP participants gathered for the 8th Regional STEP Skills Development and Competition from October 28-30 at the Agusan National High School, with this year’s theme: “A Step Higher: Upgrading Skills, Improving Lives.”

This year’s STEP RSDC, hosted by Butuan City and sponsored by Globe Broadband, has nine participating divisions, namely: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Butuan City, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Bislig City, Siargao, and Dinagat Island.

The three-day event was highlighted by different contests in the Elementary level, like the Basic Encoding, Sales Binding, Extension Cord-Meeting, Dust Pan Making, Stool Making, held at the Butuan Central Elementary School.
The trade skills are Regulated Power Supply, Computer Hardware Servicing, Gasoline Engine Tune-up, Fabrication of Steel Matting, and Reinforcing Bar for Column were likewise held in the Butuan City School of Arts and Trades.

Agusan Pequeño National High School was the venue for the Agro-Fishery skills contest such as Weight of Swine, Identification of Forage Crops, Brackish Water Fishpond, Gill Net Construction, Smoked Bangus, Fish Feed Formulation, Layout An Orchard, Castration and Slaughtering, Multiple Root Stock Propagation, Mixed Vege-Pickle Making, Feed Formulation, Identification of Insect and Diseases of Crops, and the Fertilizer Computation.

The General High School contest skills such as Electronic Poster Making, Debut Cake Decorating, Classy Apron Making, Curtain Making, Fruit and Vegetable Carving, Hair Trimming With Facial Day Make-up, Table Skirting, Computer Assembly and Configuration, Dish Gardening, Fertilizer Computation, Project Proposal, Net Weaving, Stereo Amplifier, Auto Body Painting, Construction of Heat Exchanger, Fruit Basket Making, Knock-down Toddler’s Furniture Study Table, Flower Pot Stand, Lamp Annunciator Wiring, Food Stall Mock-up. The Non-skills contest like Business Planning, Parliamentary Procedures, Techno Quiz and Mr. and Miss STEP are held in Agusan National High School.

The 1,043 participants are billeted in the 81 classrooms of Agusan National High School with every district in Butuan City taking charge of each participating division.

The weather on the whole duration of the celebration did not hinder any of the scheduled activities nor affect the spirits of the contestants and coaches.

- (courtesy of Hyacinth Faune)