From 1,000 units in 2016, Starbooks’s number grew to 6,788 all over the country in the past seven years, and became an important source of science and technology information for students, especially in isolated parts of the country.
With its success, the Department of Science and Technology’s Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII) feted on Thursday the “bida,” or “stars,” in the implementation of its innovative and award-winning digital science library-in-a-box, the Starbooks, or the Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly-Operated KioskS project.
Recognized were its champions—the regional and national deployment officers, media, and content and promotion partners—during Starbooks’s 12th anniversary appreciation program held at the Philippine International Convention Center.
The champions contributed to the installation of 85 percent of Starbooks kiosks in the last seven years, according to DOST-STII Director Richard P. Burgos.
“There are now 6,788 Starbooks units across the Philippines since our 1,000th installation in a [public] high school in Calauan, Laguna, in 2016,” he said.
At its 1,000th site at the Dayap National High School, DOST-STII upgraded the program into “Super Starbooks” with 15,000 more materials added to its system.
Burgos also revealed in his message during the event that the Taguig City council—its “host LGU [local government unit] should be properly considered the home of Starbooks—has approved the agency’s proposal for the city to provide Starbooks to its 38 schools and 28 reading hubs.
He said the memorandum of agreement that will be signed between the Taguig City mayor’s office and its Division of City Schools, DOST-STII and the DOST-National Capital Region will have Taguig City allot a total of P6 million for the project.
Upon signing, Taguig will become the “first LGU in the country” to have Starbooks in “all its public schools.”
S&T library-in-a-box
DOST-STII introduced Starbooks in 2011 as a stand-alone information portal on science and technology (S&T) installed in various schools, communities, LGUs and private institutions in the country.
From deploying offline kiosks that needed no Internet connection, DOST-STII has also developed an online version that improved the project’s monitoring mechanism and made it easier to upgrade the content of each kiosk.
“We have achieved a lot since then because we polished Starbooks to contain so much materials today,” Burgos said.
“It is now complete, thanks to people like Frontlearners who gave access to the entire curriculum of teaching modules for K-12 [based on] the Department of Education’s competency-based instruction,” he added.
DOST-STII also introduced “mobile applications, engaging websites and alternative ways of engaging the public and various stakeholders” at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
These include two mobile applications, the Starbooks Quiz Mobile App and the Starbooks Online App, and four videos to provide additional information on the project.
National, regional, media, partner champions
The event with the theme, “Pagpupugay sa mga Bida ng Starbooks,” gathered project partners and stakeholders for the past 12 years “to celebrate our accomplishments and honor individuals and organizations who have been instrumental in our journey.”
Burgos cited the efforts of the DOST’s regional deployment officers who made Starbooks available even to far-flung destinations for the benefit of our people “even if it will take them their weekends.”
He also acknowledged the project’s partners who donated content to make Starbooks “practicably used by our students and learners” and institutions that gave equipment and funding.
The program also recognized members of the media whose “exceptional support” to the project “played a pivotal role in spreading awareness about Starbooks and its immense potential.”
Bridging the digital divide
Starbooks was designed to bridge the digital divide between those who have access to the Internet and those who have no connection at all, especially in the country’s geographically isolated and disadvantaged communities.
It ultimately aims to create interest among learners and students in S&T to be able to increase the number of Filipinos enrolling in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses.
The project brings the library collection of DOST-STII, K-12 interactive courseware on mathematics and science developed by DOST’s Science Education Institute, livelihood videos under “TamangDOSTkarte,” and digital resources from various institutions to the Starbooks’s system and network.
“We even have now reviewers for PISA [Programme for International Student Assessment], an international assessment where Filipinos fared very poorly, in Starbooks to prepare learners to take the exam,” Burgos said.
“Our greatest crisis today is really in education, and Starbooks holds the key to improve our performance and deliver content to our young learners,” he added.
Burgos added: “[This] way, we will have more policy-makers who are scientists, engineers, mathematicians, [or] researchers because these are the kinds of people who will propel our country forward into a very technology-driven future.”
From Batanes to GenSan
DOST Undersecretary Maridon O. Sahagun pointed out that Starbooks kioks are in Itbayat, Batanes, the northernmost point of the country, to General Santos City in the southernmost part, due to the work of deployment officers.
She noted that these efforts might result to having future scientists from among the students who are currently using Starbooks.
Sahagun shared the situation of Barangay San Jose in the outskirts of General Santos City with 14,000 residents, mostly from the B’laan Tribe.
San Jose and many other surrounding areas have no reliable internet connections and gadgets. Students struggled to keep up with their studies.
“Those predicaments were the same reasons why Starbooks brought its technology to Barangay San Jose and other GIDAs [Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas] in the Philippines. We continue to hope to spur learning in hard-to-reach areas by making science information accessible,”Sahagun pointed out.
“DOST would not be able to reach these areas without the power of collaboration. We have built a network of strong partnerships…. Together, with our youth in mind, we make Starbooks constantly viable and relevant despite the challenges of the Internet age and the uncertainties of the future,” she added.
Evolving and adapting
“Starbooks has become a shining beacon of hope,” DOST-STII’s Information Resources and Analysis Division Chief and Starbook’s Project Leader Alan C. Taule said in his message, acknowledging the “incredible advancements we have made in technology and the digital landscape.”
Taule said Starbooks is at the forefront in embracing these changes as the project constantly evolves and adapts “to meet the needs of our ever-changing world.”
“We have integrated new features, expanded our resources, and ensured that everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, can access the wealth of knowledge that Starbooks provides,” Taule said.
He challenged Starbooks proponents and stakeholders to “continue pushing the boundaries, innovate and inspire” as “we have witnessed firsthand the transformational impact it has had on our communities, schools, and libraries.”
“Our commitment to empowering individuals, fostering a love for learning, and nurturing the leaders of tomorrow remains steadfast,” Taule added.
Starbook champions
The following Starbook champions were recognized during the event:
Regional champions: Rey B. Teofilo, DOST-Cordillera Administrative Region; Benjie T. Francisco, DOST Region 12 (DOST-12); Napoleon Medin Jester T. Babaran, DOST-2; Keith Paolo A. Buenaventura, DOST-Mimaropa; Enrique M. Mariano, DOST-9; Jeric Felix Gagama, DOST-11; Kent Jerico Ramil, DOST-1; Ma. Mae Z. Petajen, DOST-5; Laurence Angelo Bago, DOST Calabarzon; Nicholas G. Zapanta, DOST NCR; and Mary Beth D. Grecia, DOST 6.
National champions: Third place, Keith Paolo A. Buenaventura, DOST Mimaropa; second place, Benjie T. Francisco, DOST-12; and first place, Napoleon Medin Jester T. Babaran, DOST-2.
A Special Award for Most Outstanding Video Presentation was given to Kent Jerico Ramil of the Ilocos Norte Provincial Science and Technology Office.
Champion partners: Frontlearners Inc.; FlipScience; Philippine Rice Research Institute; Silliman University; Asia Pacific College; Presidential Communications Office; DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute; DOST-Philippine Science High School System; DOST-National Academy of Science and Technology; DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development; DOST-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute; Quipper Philippines Inc.; BPI Foundation Inc.; Pagbilao Energy Corp.; ABS-CBN’s Programa Genio; Lenovo Philippines; Telstra Foundation (Philippines) Inc.; Association of Science and Mathematics Educators of Philippine Private Schools; Infinit-O Group Foundation; Rotary Club of San Pedro; Saint Louis University; and DOST-Advanced Science and Technology institute.
Media champions: Lyn Resurreccion, Science Editor of the BusinessMirror was recognized, along with Edric Castillo Calma, director of operations, Knowledge Channel Foundation, Teleradyo host; Lyndon Plantilla, Information Officer III, Philippine Information Agency, Program Management Division; Kaithreen Cruz, News Correspondent, CNN Philippines; Glendel David Nazario, Senior Reporter, Manila Bulletin; and Radyo Agila DZEC 1062KHZ, Nelson M. Lubao, Station Manager, Radyo Agila DZEC 1062Khz.
Tiktok contest winners: Third place, Jefferson Natnat, a teacher, who hopes to ignite his students’ passion and curiosity in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics subjects; second place, Jamille Anne B. Cañones, who loves wandering and wondering about science, technology, and innovations; first place, Babelyn Bo, whose love for the arts led her to the fascinating world of STEM; and champion, Apple Myr Agmohol, who pursued STEAM because of her idol, Leonardo Da Vinci. With Lyn Resurreccion
Image credits: Bernard Testa