MANILA, Philippines — The Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan Studies of Holy Angel University and BINHI English Literacy Foundation, Inc. recently launched a project on Facebook as part of the sesquicentennial anniversary of Jose Rizal’s birth.

The project, called “Rizal 150 to 150: A 15—Day Countdown to Rizal’s 150th Birth Anniversary,” is designed to entice the Filipino youth to get reacquainted with the national hero by posting daily Rizal quotations on Facebook. The quotations are set against the backdrop of various Rizal monuments all over the archipelago.

Ian Christopher Alfonso, researcher at the Center for Kapampangan Studies, manages the project. “One challenge is to find 150 Rizal sayings,” Alfonso says. “Another is to collect photos of Rizal statues, busts and murals all over the country.”

The project was spearheaded by Lisa Tinio-Bayot, head of the BINHI Foundation and grand niece of Rizal through Saturnina Rizal-Hidalgo. The campaign drew positive responses from Facebook fans as well as scholars and historians.

Dr. Vicente Villan of the UP Diliman History Department called it unique and worthy to be converted into a coffee-table book. Also giving their full support to the project are Michael Charleston Chua, Philippine Historical Association (PHA) vice president and DLSU history professor; Dr. Celestina Boncan, former president of PHA; Jonathan Capulas Balsamo, PHA press relations officer and PUP history professor; and Dr. Zeus Salazar, former chair of the UP Diliman History Department.

Those who have photographs of any public statue of Rizal in schools, municipal halls, and parks are encouraged to submit them for posting in the “Rizal 150 to 150” campaign. Email them to ianalfonso7@gmail.com or personally submit a copy at the Center for Kapampangan Studies for scanning.

Those who want to receive a daily dose of Rizal quote and picture, go to the “Rizal 150 to 150” fan page on Facebook and simply click “Like.”

Xavier University student wins in Smart quiz bee
For the second time in the seven-year run of the PalaECEpan quiz bee, a student from Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City is declared the champion.

Graduating ECE major Carlo C. Miñon bested 42 other students in a test of intellectual prowess on four ECE board subjects -- Electronics Systems and Technologies, Electronics Engineering, General Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Engineering Mathematics.

PalaECEpan is the much-anticipated side activity of Smart’s annual SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards, a search for the best wireless applications developed by students, open exclusively to partner schools under the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP).

What makes Minon’s win more memorable is the fact that students from Visayas and even Mindanao got to witness his winning moment as he breezed through the difficult round.

This was made possible by Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) as it delivered live via webcast the PalaECEpan to schools in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. The quiz bee held at the SMX Convention Center in Metro Manila was seen at the University of San Carlos in Cebu City and at the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City.

Minon received P40,000 cash, a trophy and a certificate of recognition.

U.E. librarians hold team building, forum
The University of the East (UE) Department of Libraries is holding its annual team building until tomorrow, April 9, with activities aimed at strengthening the relationships of the team UE Librarians.

It will culminate in a group dynamics activity at the Green Nature Resort and Leisure Park, Montalban, Rizal. Visit the UE website www.ue.edu.ph.

O.S.S.E.P. and U.S.T. organize social science confab
Social science teachers and instructors nationwide gather for a national conference mounted by the Organization of Social Science Educators of the Philippines (OSSEP) and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Department of Social Sciences on April 7 and 8, at the UST CME Auditorium, Medicine Building, España, Manila.

Anchored on the theme, “The Social Scientist: as Educators, Researchers and Leaders”, the two-day confab aims to cultivate research interest, enhance teaching and instructional abilities, and form opinion-leaders from inter and multi-disciplinary backgrounds related to the social sciences.

Dr. Fernando Pedrosa, Chair, UST Department Social Sciences said, the conference is a must for all social science teachers in the tertiary level to foster professional study, to advance research, and to promote the teaching of the discipline.