Around 500 Valenzuelanos learned hands on training in digital image manipulation using GIMP on a four-day hands-on training in Barangays Marulas and Veinte Reales courtesy of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and the leader in innovative ICT-enhanced education, STI Colleges.

Mr. Jesse Godio of STI said that they had similar activity in the City three years ago.  “But it is our first time to partner with the CSWDO,” he added.

CSWDO Officer-in-Charge Ms. Dorothy Evangelista said that majority of the participants are members of the recently revived Pagasa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) – Valenzuela City Chapter.  “Magagamit ng PYAP members ang natutunan nila sa training para mas ma-appreciate pa ang computers dahil ang ilan sa kanila ay nagpaplano na mag-aral ng IT in the future. (The training will equip PYAP members with more knowledge about and appreciation of computers which they can use as they pursue further IT education.)” she said.

Aside from PYAP members who are between 15 to 24 years old, some adults and children also benefited from the training as they also accepted walk in participants.

STI brought one of the six Mobile School buses that go around the country to bring IT education to common students.  It is a computer laboratory equipped with state-of-the-art multimedia computers, LCD monitors, sound system, internet access and other top-of-the-line computer equipment.  STI Mobile Schools has already visited hundreds of sites in the country and has trained thousands.   The visit of the STI Mobile School is part of the institution’s “Driving Education Where IT Matters” educational caravan campaign.  

The project is a result of STI’s passion in finding better means to educate more students with pertinent ICT-enhanced training that will be valuable in pursuing higher education and employment.

GIMP, or GNU Image Manipulation Program, on the other hand, is a free software raster graphics editor.  It is primarily employed as an image retouching and editing tool and is freely available in versions tailored for most popular operating systems, including but not limited to Microsoft’s Windows, Apple’s Mac OS X, and GNU/Linux.

In addition to detailed image retouching and free-form drawing, GIMP can accomplish essential image editing tasks such as resizing, editing, and cropping photos, photomontages combining multiple images, and converting between different image formats.  GIMP can also be used to create basic animated images in the GIF format.

The teachers and student assistants’ ingenuous teaching style engrossed the participants.  They use their own photos taken at the site as an exercise in going around the exciting features of the program. 

Peterson Cruz, 11 years old, from Barangay Marulas said he enjoyed the training and has learned a lot.  “Nailagay ko sa iba ang mukha ko, nakakatuwa!  (It was really fun.  I was able to put my face on somebody else’s.)”  He said.

Aside from GIMP, participants also had a crash course on basic computer operations.

- LAURO ZYAN F. CAIÑA