ABS-CBN Foundation Launches Educational TV
By PIA Batanes

The formal turnover of educational TV from ABS-CBN Foundation to DECS Batanes was a yearend milestone. The TV and tapes were turned over at the Ivatan Conference Hall on December 17, 2001 of which 20 elementary schools and 7 secondary schools were recipients.

DECS Batanes (photo: BatanesOnline.com)

ABS-CBN envisions to be a principal partner in the education of Filipino children thru multi-media assisted instruction. Its projects in the country are Tulong-Dunong, Barangay Cine Aralan, Adapt-a-Hometown School and Teacher Training.

The realization of multimedia instructional materials in the province is through the stewardship of Cong. Butch Abad. DECS Asst. Supt. Vicenta Hidalgo said in her opening remarks that the launching is something to count among the major blessings Batanes has received. The ABS-CBN and Cong. Abad concerted efforts to modernize Batanes in connecting our islands with the rest of the world. Mrs. Hidalgo closed her remarks saying ABS-CBN is the Sta. Claus of the season in Batanes.

Cong. Abad in his address emphasized teaching as a challenge to education is growing everyday and the challenge is to keep pace and to be relevant as we find ourselves in a knowledge-based society. The most important venue to learn values and information are the schools but as more technology run our lives, technology eventually takes the place of teachers and if schools and teachers don't keep pace, they become irrelevant.

Cong. Abad said that this set of educational materials is just a beginning to keep up with the learning revolution that shapes the world today. He also envisions that tapes shall be conceptualized with Batanes history and with environmental considerations within the Ivatan setting.

At the presidential table were the team from ABS-CBN headed by the Program Director of the media, Cong. Abad, Governor Gato, DECS Supt. Alma Navarette, Asst. Sup. Vicenta Hidalgo, SP Charles Ibañes and Mayor Anastacio Barsana of Ivana.

Media Program Director Zen Dimalanta said that ABS-CBN Foundation's vision is to create a better world for the child. So we take care of the child, take care of his environment and take care of the information to feed him.

She also said that through educational TV, the child enjoys going to school because there is something with quality to watch.

Supt. Navarette instructed that recipient schools shall conduct a mini-launching and invite Barangay Officials, Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) and the Community before using the TV and tapes.