Globe empowers startup founders in 5G Hackathon

Ten groups move forward and are one step closer to bringing their ideas to life in the Globe 5G Hackathon, the first and biggest event of its kind in the Philippines.

Together with De La Salle University (DLSU) Animo Labs, Globe screened over 100 idea submissions and brought them down to 30 for the Idea Pitch Competition round. Among those, 10 groups emerged, namely Alaga Health, LunaX, bant.AI, OHC, D’Hacks, Team CamvS, Handuraw, Team Cardinals, iGAT, and Tenth Maria, which were a mix of students and young professionals.

Focus areas for the competition were particular to how Globe’s 5G Technology can positively impact society (education, healthcare, livelihood), industries (retail, manufacturing, logistics, e-commerce), and build intelligent cities (disaster risk management, sustainability, asset and resource management, transportation).

It’s Green vs. Maroon Night in Sydney as Loyal Alumni Cheer for their UAAP Basketball Teams

Filipinos abroad thirsting for good old collegiate basketball rivalry are in for a treat as TFC brings the UAAP Season 82 Watch Party in Australia. Proud alumni from De La Salle University and the University of the Philippines are given the venue to wear their colors and root for their alma mater at the One World Sports Bar, The Crown Hotel Parramatta.

It will be the second time the Green Archers are facing the Fighting Maroons on the hardcourt this season. During Round 1 of the tourney, UP nabbed the game with a 72-71 come-from-behind victory earning them their fourth win in a row. The upset is anticipated to fuel DLSU to claim their sixth victory.

As of writing, UP Fighting Maroons are on the 2nd spot at the Men’s Basketball Division and DLSU Green Archers, 5th. Leading is the unbeatable ADMU Blue Eagles with twelve wins. Will it be a sea of blue once again in the championship? Or will maroon or green be emerging to dethrone the reigning champs and rise as the new kings?

Reef monitoring system vital for reef conservation and management

Sulu Sea, the richest reef region in the world, is home to 505 coral species and yet we know little about its reefs. With tourism booming exponentially in the Palawan islands, fishermen immigrating from nearby regions, and the seas warming, how are our corals coping? Which anthropogenic threats affect our reefs the most? Will corals in the Sulu Sea survive the warming waters? These questions seem basic yet no coral reef monitoring system is in place to help answer them. 

Dr. Wilfredo Licuanan with his team of research assistants from the De La Salle University Br. Alfred Shields FSC Ocean Research Center (DLSU-SHORE) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines recently embarked on consecutive reef research trips to Tubbataha, Cagayancillo islands, Honda Bay, and Taytay, Palawan. This collaboration between DLSU-SHORE and WWF-Philippines, under a grant from WWF-Singapore, is called Designing of Monitoring and Evaluation System for Coral Reef Resilience and Fisheries Sustainability in Northeast Palawan through Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) or Network of MPAs. 

XSTIG: Sikat II seeks podium finish in world solar race today

Glendambo, South Australia – The Philippines’ Sikat II has reached eight of the nine control stops of the 2013 World Solar Challenge, the global solar car race currently being held in the Australian continent.   

The country’s representative to the biennial event travelled a total of 2,171 solar miles, keeping its third place ranking in the Adventure Class.  A solar mile is the distance traveled by a vehicle relying solely on the sun’s energy.

Sikat II is expected to reach the finish line in Adelaide on October 11.

The Philippines is race-ready Sikat II gets pole position in World Solar Challenge

Darwin, Australia -- Sikat II, the country’s representative to the 2013 World Solar Challenge (WSC) in Australia, reached another milestone when it placed first in its class during the qualifying round of the world’s biggest solar car competition held at Hidden Valley Raceway on October 5.

 

The Philippines clocked 2:30.53, beating closest competitor Team Aurora of Australia which timed 2:32.95. There are five other solar cars participating in the Adventure class.

This achievement earned Sikat II the pole position in the biennial meet, beginning October 6in this Northern Territory city and will end in Adelaide on October 11.  It covers 3,021 kilometers of the Australian Outback.

XSTIG: DLSU’s Improved Sikat II to compete in 26th World Solar Challenge

Sikat II was launched at its send-off as the country’s official participant to the 2013 World Solar Challenge, which will be held this October at Darwin, Australia.

The team is comprised of 50 mechanical and electrical engineering students plus six faculty members from De La Salle University. Additional improvements, which took a grueling seven months to complete, were applied to Sikat II. The vehicle was subject to test runs at Basa Airbase and SCTEX to ensure optimum performance.

XSTIG: DLSU's Sikat II To Compete in Austailia for WSC

De La Salle University is back again for the World Solar Challenge this year with their newest solar car Sikat II. Made by students, faculty, and alumni, the car made major improvements from the last solar vehicle Sikat I which participated back in 2011.

With Sikat II, it is still the only and official entry of the Philippines to the World Solar Challenge in Austrailia which will go on a journey across the Australian continent. Despite challenges in building a vehicle that runs solely on Solar energy takes a lot of man power, engineering, assembly, testing, and management.

UPD, ADMU AND DLSU Compete for International Competition

Four student groups from the University of the Philippines – Diliman (UPD), Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and De La Salle University (DLSU) will compete for the chance to represent the country during the 3rd edition of the Indra Future Minds Competition.

Indra Future Minds Competition is an international university competition which provides a venue for undergraduates to demonstrate their talent and skills in managing solutions based on real projects developed by Indra, the leading IT company in Spain.

The Philippines first joined the international university competition last year, with UPD students Maria Katrina E. Volante, Benedict Ivan A. Andrade and Erwin L. Soleta, representing the country. The Philippines team qualified for the final phase and went to Spain to compete against three other universities, eventually winning the whole competition.

DLSU Launches the Science and Technology Complex

In pursuit of its vision to be a leading learner-centered research university in the region, De La Salle University launched at the culmination of its centennial year, its new campus, the De La Salle University Science and Technology Complex (DLSU-STC) Leandro V. Locsin Campus.

DLSU-STC, a 50-hectare sprawling campus, is adjacent to the Laguna Technopark.  The DLSU-STC will include new academic buildings, research centers, modern dorm facilities, and staff housing. It will promote strong collaboration with its neighboring industry partners as well as with regional research centers.

DLSU’s New Scholarship Programs

To make Lasallian education accessible to all, De La Salle University launched new scholarships during its centennial year. The new programs, namely The T.A.F.T. 100 (Top Achievers in the Freshman Test), The Vaugirard Scholarship Program, and Gokongwei Grants are offered to some of the country’s most outstanding students, including those who came from public high schools, and those who are inclined to take engineering programs.  

The new scholarship programs were designed to cater to specific groups and to give students the opportunity to have a brighter future.  The T.A.F.T. 100 automatically entitles students who topped the College Entrance Test to a 10 per cent tuition discount. The Vaugirard Scholarship Program is given to 50 deserving public school graduates, who get a full scholarship and Php 10,000 monthly stipend. 

DLSU’s Newest Building, the Henry Sy, Sr. Hall

DLSU culminates its 100 year anniversary with a lot of innovations in Philippine education. And one of them is opening a one of kind center for learning that is an architectural marvel but also earth friendly.

Named in honor of the Philippine retail magnate, the Henry Sy, Sr. Hall of De La Salle University is the first major building under the Centennial Renewal Plan, a long-term development master plan to rationalize the whole University’s campus setup and respond to the need for more space for research and learning. 

The building was blessed on June 16, 2012 as part of the culminating centennial activities of the University. The Sy family attended the blessing.

Quick Blogs: Climbed 20 Floors of Stairs!

Yes, you heard it right, 20 floors and this happened at the Bro. Anrew Gonzales Building in De La Salle Manila because I was running late for the presscon of A Fire in the Heart produced by DLSU this February 26 and 27. I took the stairs because there was a long line at the elevators. I did notice a elevator for faculty but I thought it was strictly for faculty and employees of DSLU. And since I calculated that it will take me longer to wait to get in I decided to go up the stairs... 

And the venue is at the 20th floor. I though I would get very exhausted at the first half but was able to reach the 15th floor and slowed my pace until I reached the 20th floor. Indeed it was an achievement for me, weird yet fun. and to commemorate this record. I pictured the stairway thall the way down and also the 20th floor mark. But though tiring, I was rewarded by winning in the raffle a limited edition DLSU 100th year Swatch Watch (plus meeting the legendary Peque Gallaga!). It truly made my day. Now off to see the movie This Means War! 

Will post the review next!

ART IS A BANG: A Fire In The Soul

DLSU restages A Fire in the Soul: A Cantata

History has indeed told us the best stories in the world. Stories of war and death might make us think that its all black and blue. But here is a story that will tell you a deeper meaning of love, commitment, and fidelity.

A Fire in the Soul: A Cantata tells the story of a crucial event in the history of the Lasallian mission in Southeast Asia. On February 12, 1945, as American forces bombarded the City of Manila, a group of Japanese soldiers entered the De La Salle College campus on Taft Avenue and attacked the people who were living there. Twenty-four men, women, and children, and 16 La Salle brothers died in the massacre.   War turns human beings into monsters. It also forges heroes out of its flames. We tell this story to honor their memory, their service to humanity, and to remember them eternally. 

Created by Gabby Fernandez and directed by Peque Gallaga, the Cantata is one of the highlights of the yearlong centennial celebration of De La Salle University (DLSU) in the Philippines. Vicente Garcia Groyon wrote the libretto and Von de Guzman composed the music. 

A Fire in the Soul: A Cantata will have two performances only: February 26 (Sunday - Matinee) at 3pm and February 27 (Monday - Gala Night) at 8pm. Both shows will be held at Teresa Yuchengco Auditorium at the 7th Floor of Don Enrique T. Yuchengco Hall of DLSU.  The cast includes Michael de Mesa (Br. Egbert), Franco Laurel (Br. Antonius), Al Gatmaitan (Br. Mutwald), Jonel Mojica (Br. Friedbert), Miguel Castro (Br. Arkadius), Floyd Tena (Br. Athanasius), and Naomi Sison (Alma Mater).  Also, joining them are Onyl Torres (Japanese Captain), Nazer Salcedo (Japanese Soldier 1), Gary Fabricante (Japanese Soldier 2), and John Gilbert Arceo (Japanese Soldier 3).