"It’s a great source to us especially na nandito kami sa kalagitnaan ng bundok. As you see, medyo mahirap ang pakikipagsapalaran dito. So, the best technology is for us, especially students, to be advanced kasi ang trend ngayon is to become globally competitive," explains Bulawan, referring to the technology of interconnected computer networks that the school can now utilize in connecting to the World Wide Web via satellite.

Thanks to the Smart Schools Program, Smart Communications, Inc.’s community service initiative for the promotion of information and communications technology in basic education through partnerships with public high schools, its officials and parents-teachers-community associations (PTCAs), which recently inaugurated LVNHS own teachers’ learning resource center (TLRC).

The first Internet facility meant specifically for teachers in the municipality, the Smart TLRC likewise includes local government units in the province and other stakeholders in the list of beneficiaries as per Memorandum of Agreement.

"It’s actually my ultimate dream na magkaroon nito sa school namin para matuto kami at para ma-share namin eventually sa mga bata," says the well-versed main man of one of the country’s top performing schools.

LVNHS ranked first in the National Achievement Tests administered in 2003 and 2004 besting over 5,000 public high schools nationwide including those in urban areas – one of the primary reason why it has been chosen by Smart for the said program.

"Our goal really is to make the kids updated in all matters not only pertaining to Lope de Vega but all throughout the world, as well. Kasi nakakahiya naman ‘pag maganda ang performance namin sa Achievement Tests but then we’re lagging behind in other things.

"Actually, we hold (remedial) classes even on Saturdays, for three successive years now because we don’t think that the eight hours of our regular classes are enough. Considering the number of subjects, tapos paglabas ng mga bata, maraming assignments na mostly research work, siguro ito na ‘yung sagot sa panalangin namin para hindi na kami gaanong mahirapan," Bulawan relates.

Lope de Vega National High School – named after a local hero during Spanish times, according to some natives – was established in 1968 and went on to become the main secondary school in the municipality.

Located 33 kilometers or one and a half hours away from Catarman, the town capital of Northern Samar, Lope de Vega is composed of 24 barangays with only six situated along the road and are traversable by jeepney, tricycle, and/or single/sidecar bicycles and 18 far-flung others, which can be negotiated by foot.

At present, the school is comprised of 489 students belonging to four sections in the first year level and two sections each for the second, third and fourth years, and a 16-strong faculty composed of 14 National II teachers and two Municipal III teachers paid by the local government units in the province.

"Most of us came from far places but six years ago, we decided to stay here in Lope de Vega for good. Pati mga pamilya namin dinala na namin dito. Five years ago, medyo mahirap ‘yung daan namin dito, na ‘pag napasok ka rito, parang ayaw mo nang bumalik. Ngayon medyo okay na kasi sementado na," Bulawan vividly narrates.

He proudly but modestly adds that most of them in the faculty hold master’s degree, with two managing to garner magna cum laude honors.

"Fifty percent of our enrollees come from those far-flung barangays. Kaya dito na sila kumakain ng baon nilang pananghalian kasabay namin. ‘Pag tanghali, kung may problema, puwede kaming mag-usap-usap ng mga bata."

Bulawan sees Lope de Vega’s being a ‘farm-in-a-barangay’ image as a big advantage to students. "Because of this, the students are not pressured socially… Wala kaming mga malls dito na puwede nilang puntahan, walang malalaking sinehan na mapapasukan, walang gaanong mga computer games na malalaro. Kaya halos lahat ng oras nila, devoted dito sa school. Pagpasok nila rito, wala na silang maiisipan pang ibang gawin."

Classes in LVNHS start at 7:20 and end at 11:30 for the morning period; in the afternoon, they commence at 1 o‘clock and closes at five.

"So, one of our students who comes from one of the far-flung barangays and has to attend his first class at 7:20 in the morning starts walking at around five in the dawn. It takes two and a half hours for him to get to the school," Bulawan estimates.

However one perennial problem encountered by the school is the fact that probably 60 percent of their graduates are able to pursue tertiary education, as influenced by the accessibility and proximity of higher education institutions from their area. There is one university and several state colleges in the province, but all can be found within the vicinity of the capital.

"May mga estudyante rin naman kaming nakakapasa sa [University of the Philippines] Tacloban at UP Diliman. ‘Yung iba naman na maykaya, gusto nilang mag-aral sa mas malalayong lugar kaya may iba kaming mga estudyante na nasa Maynila."

As for their readiness to join the rest of the world in web-connecting, Bulawan assents: "Sa ngayon, medyo marunong na ‘yung iba sa amin na gumamit ng Internet, but I admit it’s not a guarantee para makapagturo at makapagpasa ng mga kaalaman sa mga bata."

Thus, by this time, a training-led deployment for teachers who will be tasked to man the center must be underway.

"I know na malaki talaga ang maitutulong nito sa mga teachers, especially in conducting research works, para mas maging updated kami sa mga trend ng pagtuturo sa mga estudyante," Bulawan confidently concludes.

Under the Smart Schools Program, the LVNHS TLRC is equipped with networked computers and peripherals, such as printers, scanner, and web camera, connected to the Internet, which will be provided for free by Smart for a period of one year.

"We hope that by connecting [Lope de Vega National High School] to the Internet, we can help our teachers and students maximize ICT in classroom learning," avers Smart Visayas and Mindanao public affairs head Maria Jane Paredes.

"The world is now in Lope de Vega. It’s just one click away," declares Department of Education Region VII Director IV Dr. Sol Matugas during the inaugural and blessing of the facilities.

Anchored on Access (Internet access), Content (access to online content and various hosting solutions), and Training (ICT trainings for teachers and stakeholders) or ACT, the program was launched in December 2004 with three pilot schools – one each from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao – initially enjoying its benefits. It is implemented through the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) with the support of the DepEd and in partnership with Microsoft’s Partners in Learning (PIL).

Depending on their location, the schools are connected using various technologies that the PLDT Group has in providing Internet connectivity –PLDT myDSL, Mabuhay Satellite’s VSAT service and Smart WiFi.

To date, Smart has adopted 27 schools all over the country and is targeting 26 more this year to become part of the program.