The goal to build a nation of coders is the driving force behind Hour of Code, a virtual coding education event pioneered by the Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center in Negros Occidental in collaboration with Coders Tribe.
NOLITC and Coders Tribe held a two-day virtual coding event on December 6-7, 2021, led by Governor Eugenio Jose V. Lacson, Board Member Ryan Gamboa, SP Chairman for Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Coders Tribe Founder Lanie Lumaguip and NOLITC Vocational School Administrator Ma. Cristina Orbecido.
In his welcoming address, Governor Lascon lauded the initiative of NOLITC and Coders Tribe for making the Hour of Code happen in the province. “It has become imperative for us to keep up with this context of learning”, as “computers have already intervened (with) almost every sphere of our lives, and has a great potential to transform (it)”.
The governor also made note of the digital and education divide in the country, which he hopes to be bridged through Hour of Code.
The virtual event gathered a total of 1,464 participants from all over the Province of Negros Occidental, inclusive of 1,338 students (majority of whom are in Senior High School) and 117 teachers. Of the participating schools, La Castellana National High School was awarded Best Performing School with the highest number of participants, followed by Julio Ledesma National High School in San Carlos City, and Gil Montilla National High School in Sipalay City.
According to Lumaguip the Hour of Code event in Negros Occidental is the first government-led initiative in the country and the first time that Negros Occidental joined the HOC international event.
On the first day of the virtual event, participants were taught to write their first Computer Program, and subsequently created digital designs using their newfound coding and programming skills. These activities were led and facilitated by Ms. Lanie Lumaguip, the founder of Coders Tribe, and Mr. Kim P. Mentino, the co-founder of Coders Tribe.
On the final day of the virtual event, three schools were recognized as best performing schools with the most number of participants, namely: La Castellana National High School, Julio Ledesma National High School in San Carlos City and Gil Montilla National High School in Sipalay City.
Denmark Mandalupa of Julio Ledesma National High School was given recognition as the Teacher with the most number of participants for the event. Francis II S. Mapa, a Grade 11 student from Negros Occidental High School was awarded as the Best Coding Artist, and Andrea E. Lopez, a Grade 12 student of the same school, was awarded for Best Coding Design.
During the culmination of the two-day virtual event, Ma. Cristina Orbecido, Ph.D., Vocational School Administrator of NOLITC, encouraged the participants to keep posted through the NOLITC Facebook page for announcements, as NOLITC will be organizing another virtual coding education event in 2022 to accommodate the growing need for ICT education in the province.*