What does it take to be an ICT student?

     Computing education has come under severe criticism for “boring children rigid” and creating a generation of digital illiterates, but the report shows the true impact of those failings.

     “In a world that is becoming increasingly reliant on technology, young people need to be given the opportunity to learn ICT skills in an interesting, challenging and relevant way.”  Weakness in the curriculum was the main factor contributing to poor achievement in schools.  

     “Schools should provide a range of ICT courses that are suitably matched to students’ needs, support them with their learning and prepare them for higher education and for skilled work in a technological age.”                        

     There is evidence to suggest that ICT students are not as highly adaptable as might be expected from people who have chosen to train for a career in an area that is characterized by rapid change and uncertainty.  Indeed, it would appear that students are not fully cognizant of the extent to which they will need to constantly re-invent themselves.  The constraints of this study makes any discussion of the degree of adaptability ill advised but, should it be the case that ICT courses are not attracting adaptable students, the implications for students and industry are equally serious. Industry could struggle to find the right type of graduate while students could face unhappy and stressful years attempting to adapt to a career to which they are not suited.  

       Younger students have great potential for adaptability but seem reluctant to ‘adapt’ this potential to suit the realities of the job market.  They are clearly keen for new experiences but still view the ICT career in relatively traditional terms. Perhaps paradoxically, mature students also view the ICT profession this way, perhaps because they are hoping to improve their lot by studying ICT.  

     Indeed, some students seem stuck in a time warp and have only a limited understanding of the paradigm shift that is taking place.  Students with some work experience do however have a better picture of what is happening with ICT careers. 

     Perhaps the most interesting finding in this study is that ICT students seem to be somewhat negative about careers in the profession.  They expect careers dominated by long hours and stress.   If they were to factor in some of the challenges that appear to be discounted at present, the ICT profession might appear even less appealing. 

     The nature of the ICT profession is changing and we will need to attract even better students in the future than we did in the past. We need intelligent, articulate students who need not necessarily be technological experts but must have the ability to understand how technology can solve business problems.  We need students who understand the demands of the ICT profession and are excited by a career in that profession.  We must educate students about the nature of the profession, its rewards and demands.  For those who have the right skills and attitudes, the rewards remain greater than is the case in many other professions.  

     Just as technology is influencing and supporting what is being learned in schools and universities,so too is it supporting changes to the way students are learning.  Moves from content-centred curricula to competency-based curricula are associated with moves away from teacher-centred forms of delivery to student-centred forms.  Through technology-facilitated approaches, contemporary learning settings now encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning . In the past students have become very comfortable to learning through transmissive modes.  Students have been trained to let others present to them the information that forms the curriculum.  The growing use of ICT as an instructional medium is changing and will likely continue to change many of the strategies employed by both teachers and students in the learning process.  The following sections describe particular forms of learning that are gaining prominence in universities and schools worldwide. Computer revolution began about 50 years ago. As its beginning we can consider the year of 1948, when the first computer was invented. The first computer was as big as the wardrobe, today you can take it with you in a small suitcase.

     Undoubtedly computer belongs to the biggest inventions of the 20th century. It has revolutionized all human activity and today it is hard to imagine the world without it. Computers are used almost on every field of our life. Everything is controlled by means of the computers, nowadays. It is present in almost every institution: in banks, in enterprises and at school. It is often thought that computer makes our life easier, conducts and speeds up a lot of activities. What is more, computer connected to the Internet is helpful in communication and thanks to it we can communicate with our friends from different parts of the world.

     The Internet is said to create a real global village. It is a source of information and a communication tool. We can buy goods or visit different places without going out. It is believed that this great invention of 20th century makes our globe smaller and everything is within our reach.
     On the other hand, there are some disadvantages of using computers. For these who spend a lot of hours in front of computer, there is a risk of addiction. Many people don't care about anything except for the computer. Particularly children and young people are open to become addicted. What is more, using computer for many hours during a day can be very harmful for eyes. Moreover, our creativity can decrease when we are too dependant to the computer.

     Computer is a real achievement of the modern world. They impact on our life is invaluable. Such fields as data gathering, testing and analyses are defendant to the computer. Computers are useful when you have your own business, carry out some scientific researches or provide medical diagnosis. It is hard to imagine our world...

     The modern generation schoolchildren are growing up in an environment where information and communication technologies are encompassing almost all area of there lives. It is their responsibility  to prepare students with the skills and knowledge they will need to take control of their digital futures . Therefore, it is of upmost importance for teachers to integrate ICTs into the curriculum. This essay will discuss the great benefits ICTs have on child learning and also explore the current direction in which teachers can integrate ICTs into the classroom.

     Using ICTs in education develops the needed skills a child needs to use computers and other technologies; however, ICTs provide a teaching strategy that engages the learner. It states that using ICTs can create an exciting way to present information to students and due to the fact that ICTs engages the learner it allows the student to learn.

What does it take to be an ICT student?

     Computing education has come under severe criticism for “boring children rigid” and creating a generation of digital illiterates, but the report shows the true impact of those failings.

     “In a world that is becoming increasingly reliant on technology, young people need to be given the opportunity to learn ICT skills in an interesting, challenging and relevant way.”  Weakness in the curriculum was the main factor contributing to poor achievement in schools.  

     “Schools should provide a range of ICT courses that are suitably matched to students’ needs, support them with their learning and prepare them for higher education and for skilled work in a technological age.”                        

     There is evidence to suggest that ICT students are not as highly adaptable as might be expected from people who have chosen to train for a career in an area that is characterized by rapid change and uncertainty.  Indeed, it would appear that students are not fully cognizant of the extent to which they will need to constantly re-invent themselves.  The constraints of this study makes any discussion of the degree of adaptability ill advised but, should it be the case that ICT courses are not attracting adaptable students, the implications for students and industry are equally serious. Industry could struggle to find the right type of graduate while students could face unhappy and stressful years attempting to adapt to a career to which they are not suited.  

     Younger students have great potential for adaptability but seem reluctant to ‘adapt’ this potential to suit the realities of the job market.  They are clearly keen for new experiences but still view the ICT career in relatively traditional terms. Perhaps paradoxically, mature students also view the ICT profession this way, perhaps because they are hoping to improve their lot by studying ICT.  

     Indeed, some students seem stuck in a time warp and have only a limited understanding of the paradigm shift that is taking place.  Students with some work experience do however have a better picture of what is happening with ICT careers. 

     Perhaps the most interesting finding in this study is that ICT students seem to be somewhat negative about careers in the profession.  They expect careers dominated by long hours and stress.   If they were to factor in some of the challenges that appear to be discounted at present, the ICT profession might appear even less appealing. 

     The nature of the ICT profession is changing and we will need to attract even better students in 

the future than we did in the past.  We need intelligent, articulate students who need not necessarily be technological experts but must have the ability to understand how technology can solve business problems.  We need students who understand the demands of the ICT profession and are excited by a career in that profession.  We must educate students about the nature of the profession, its rewards and demands.  For those who have the right skills and attitudes, the rewards remain greater than is the case in many other professions.  

     Just as technology is influencing and supporting what is being learned in schools and universities,so too is it supporting changes to the way students are learning.  Moves from content-centred curricula to competency-based curricula are associated with moves away from teacher-centred forms of delivery to student-centred forms.  Through technology-facilitated approaches,

contemporary learning settings now encourage students to take responsibility for their own

learning . In the past students have become very comfortable to learning through transmissive

modes.  Students have been trained to let others present to them the information that forms the

curriculum.  The growing use of ICT as an instructional medium is changing and will likely

continue to change many of the strategies employed by both teachers and students in the learning

process.  The following sections describe particular forms of learning that are gaining

prominence in universities and schools worldwide. Computer revolution began about 50 years ago. As its beginning we can consider the year of 1948, when the first computer was invented. The first computer was as big as the wardrobe, today you can take it with you in a small suitcase.

     Undoubtedly computer belongs to the biggest inventions of the 20th century. It has revolutionized all human activity and today it is hard to imagine the world without it. Computers are used almost on every field of our life. Everything is controlled by means of the computers, nowadays. It is present in almost every institution: in banks, in enterprises and at school. It is often thought that computer makes our life easier, conducts and speeds up a lot of activities. What is more, computer connected to the Internet is helpful in communication and thanks to it we can communicate with our friends from different parts of the world.

     The Internet is said to create a real global village. It is a source of information and a communication tool. We can buy goods or visit different places without going out. It is believed that this great invention of 20th century makes our globe smaller and everything is within our reach.

On the other hand, there are some disadvantages of using computers. For these who spend a lot of hours in front of computer, there is a risk of addiction. Many people don't care about anything except for the computer. Particularly children and young people are open to become addicted. What is more, using computer for many hours during a day can be very harmful for eyes. Moreover, our creativity can decrease when we are too dependant to the computer.

     Computer is a real achievement of the modern world. They impact on our life is invaluable. Such fields as data gathering, testing and analyses are defendant to the computer. Computers are useful when you have your own business, carry out some scientific researches or provide medical diagnosis. It is hard to imagine our world...

     The modern generation schoolchildren are growing up in an environment where information and communication technologies are encompassing almost all area of there lives. It is their responsibility  to prepare students with the skills and knowledge they will need to take control of their digital futures . Therefore, it is of upmost importance for teachers to integrate ICTs into the curriculum. This essay will discuss the great benefits ICTs have on child learning and also explore the current direction in which teachers can integrate ICTs into the classroom.

     Using ICTs in education develops the needed skills a child needs to use computers and other technologies; however, ICTs provide a teaching strategy that engages the learner. It states that using ICTs can create an exciting way to present information to students and due to the fact that ICTs engages the learner it allows the student to learn.

What does it take to be an ICT student?

     Computing education has come under severe criticism for “boring children rigid” and creating a generation of digital illiterates, but the report shows the true impact of those failings.

     “In a world that is becoming increasingly reliant on technology, young people need to be given the opportunity to learn ICT skills in an interesting, challenging and relevant way.”  Weakness in the curriculum was the main factor contributing to poor achievement in schools.  

     “Schools should provide a range of ICT courses that are suitably matched to students’ needs, support them with their learning and prepare them for higher education and for skilled work in a technological age.”                        

     There is evidence to suggest that ICT students are not as highly adaptable as might be expected from people who have chosen to train for a career in an area that is characterized by rapid change and uncertainty.  Indeed, it would appear that students are not fully cognizant of the extent to which they will need to constantly re-invent themselves.  The constraints of this study makes any discussion of the degree of adaptability ill advised but, should it be the case that ICT courses are not attracting adaptable students, the implications for students and industry are equally serious. Industry could struggle to find the right type of graduate while students could face unhappy and stressful years attempting to adapt to a career to which they are not suited.  

     Younger students have great potential for adaptability but seem reluctant to ‘adapt’ this potential to suit the realities of the job market.  They are clearly keen for new experiences but still view the ICT career in relatively traditional terms. Perhaps paradoxically, mature students also view the ICT profession this way, perhaps because they are hoping to improve their lot by studying ICT.  

     Indeed, some students seem stuck in a time warp and have only a limited understanding of the paradigm shift that is taking place.  Students with some work experience do however have a better picture of what is happening with ICT careers. 

     Perhaps the most interesting finding in this study is that ICT students seem to be somewhat negative about careers in the profession.  They expect careers dominated by long hours and stress.   If they were to factor in some of the challenges that appear to be discounted at present, the ICT profession might appear even less appealing. 

     The nature of the ICT profession is changing and we will need to attract even better students in 

the future than we did in the past.  We need intelligent, articulate students who need not necessarily be technological experts but must have the ability to understand how technology can solve business problems.  We need students who understand the demands of the ICT profession and are excited by a career in that profession.  We must educate students about the nature of the profession, its rewards and demands.  For those who have the right skills and attitudes, the rewards remain greater than is the case in many other professions.  

     Just as technology is influencing and supporting what is being learned in schools and universities,so too is it supporting changes to the way students are learning.  Moves from content-centred curricula to competency-based curricula are associated with moves away from teacher-centred forms of delivery to student-centred forms.  Through technology-facilitated approaches,

contemporary learning settings now encourage students to take responsibility for their own

learning . In the past students have become very comfortable to learning through transmissive

modes.  Students have been trained to let others present to them the information that forms the

curriculum.  The growing use of ICT as an instructional medium is changing and will likely

continue to change many of the strategies employed by both teachers and students in the learning

process.  The following sections describe particular forms of learning that are gaining

prominence in universities and schools worldwide. Computer revolution began about 50 years ago. As its beginning we can consider the year of 1948, when the first computer was invented. The first computer was as big as the wardrobe, today you can take it with you in a small suitcase.

     Undoubtedly computer belongs to the biggest inventions of the 20th century. It has revolutionized all human activity and today it is hard to imagine the world without it. Computers are used almost on every field of our life. Everything is controlled by means of the computers, nowadays. It is present in almost every institution: in banks, in enterprises and at school. It is often thought that computer makes our life easier, conducts and speeds up a lot of activities. What is more, computer connected to the Internet is helpful in communication and thanks to it we can communicate with our friends from different parts of the world.

     The Internet is said to create a real global village. It is a source of information and a communication tool. We can buy goods or visit different places without going out. It is believed that this great invention of 20th century makes our globe smaller and everything is within our reach.

On the other hand, there are some disadvantages of using computers. For these who spend a lot of hours in front of computer, there is a risk of addiction. Many people don't care about anything except for the computer. Particularly children and young people are open to become addicted. What is more, using computer for many hours during a day can be very harmful for eyes. Moreover, our creativity can decrease when we are too dependant to the computer.

     Computer is a real achievement of the modern world. They impact on our life is invaluable. Such fields as data gathering, testing and analyses are defendant to the computer. Computers are useful when you have your own business, carry out some scientific researches or provide medical diagnosis. It is hard to imagine our world...

     The modern generation schoolchildren are growing up in an environment where information and communication technologies are encompassing almost all area of there lives. It is their responsibility  to prepare students with the skills and knowledge they will need to take control of their digital futures . Therefore, it is of upmost importance for teachers to integrate ICTs into the curriculum. This essay will discuss the great benefits ICTs have on child learning and also explore the current direction in which teachers can integrate ICTs into the classroom.

     Using ICTs in education develops the needed skills a child needs to use computers and other technologies; however, ICTs provide a teaching strategy that engages the learner. It states that using ICTs can create an exciting way to present information to students and due to the fact that ICTs engages the learner it allows the student to learn.

"My Dream, My Future"

     I spent five days  to write something about my dreams and my future, and now I'd like to share it with all my friends.

     The moment when others suddenly asked me about my future was the moment I realized that I should begin to think about it carefully.  I tried to write down all the future plans that I have had before in order to find something worth.  Looking at my list, I suddenly noticed that as the time went by, all my great future plans became dreams, but the small ones became true.

     At the age of 4, I had my first great future plan——being a painter.  The first time when I drew a pear I drew some dots on it as well whereas other children only drew the shape.  It made my parents believe I may be good at drawing.  Although they let me want to be a painter, I have nothing to do with a painter right now. 

     The plan was so far away from a 4-year-old girl that I hardly reached.  However, at the same time my other small plans were realized.  I planned to draw a picture and receive praise. I planned to do homework as fast as possible so that parents allowed me to play with my friends.

     Later when I was 13 or 14, my painter dream changed into teacher, for I loved reading books.  I planned to be the best .  I was successful in the plan of making some good friends,  and keeping learning.

     If you ask me this question in my childhood, I would say:" I want to be a teacher, a nurse, an accountant....and so on..." .  But now if you ask me this question, I will tell you I have three dreams, to be a respected person, life very colorful and beatific, and have a great job...

       First, I want to be a respected person.  I know many people want to be a famous person because they think maybe many people will adore and respected them, but in my opinion, I want to be an ordinary and not ordinary person.  The reason why I want to be an ordinary because I want to be a low-pitched person, and the reason why I want not to be an ordinary because I want to do things very high-key.  I also know if you want to be a respected person first you must respect the other people and respect yourself. 

     Second, I want my life will colorful and beatific.  I think life not only work hard, but also we must know how to enjoy your life.  Enjoy life doesn't waste money, we should use many to do some significant things.  For instance, we can contribute our money to help the poor and homeless children, we can travel to somewhere to see the nature scene, we can buy book or collect your interested things to enrich our life, we also can have time to play with your family......

     Third, I want to have a great job.  This job must to be interested because I can do every things very exciting. That job must can give me more colorful and feeling. 

     Maybe you will think my dream is so nice that maybe it will be not come true....but I want to try my best to come true my dream. I hope my life in the future will be successful.  I know everyone has own dream, so I hope your dream also comes true!!

     Life is full of changes.  After all it was not what I want to learn.  Then I decided to give it up and tried to get closer to my own future.  But what is my future?  And where is it?  I realized that my future was nearer.  My future plans will not be great, will not be impossible, and will not be far away. They should be reachable and realizable.  Sometimes, I asked myself what kind of person I wanted to be. Famous?  No!  I liked to live my own life as everyone else.  Useful?  Yes!  But useful for what?  That’s the point.  Then I get an idea of helping others.  So how can I help them? Meanwhile I began to interest in food.  So why not learn nutrition or dietetics which is related to people’s health and daily life?  Why not study abroad and get something new?  My future is getting clearer and clearer.

     In the other hand, the way we eat is the way we live.  Diet seems as an attitude of life, and nothing can be compared with a healthy life, yet modern people pay little attention on it.  Some serious diseases appear when people are getting older.  In fact, most of them can be avoided only if we have good diets in daily life.  The problem is people don’t know how to eat healthily.  So what I want to do is trying to improve their diets before they get diseases.  It’s a good way to help others.  Then I found my future plan finally, which is studying in nutrition or dietetics and trying to help people live in a healthy way.

     I won’t have farther plans for the future, because world is changing; life is changing; people are changing; I am changing as well.  Farther plans seem meaningless, yet small plans make more sense.  No matter how far you want to go, start from the first step.  To be closer to my future, now I plan to get ready to face the changes and the challenges in my future life whenever it comes.

     Sometimes I wish I could talk with God, and I hope him can make my life wonderful.  I would like to pay for it by my own lifetime ---- take away several years of my life and make the rest of it be amazing...... I don't care if I will die early, but I can't stand if I live with sadness and misfortune. You may think I am nuts, but it's a great bargain, I feel.  If God really exists, I can not only go to the heaven early, but also get a happy life right away.

     Sometimes I just realize most of my friends treat me well, and I can't help sobbing...... Maybe I am a little girl with a big will. I firmly believe the beauty of the world where I can find my happy life eventually. However, happiness seldom come over, and when it comes, I will too happy to accept. What a wonderful life! Do you believe it can be too wonderful to make me die?

Change: It starts with Me

      A few days back, one of my teachers in the school yelled at my whole class for not completing any of our assignments on time.  He told us how irresponsible we were and that all the teachers, who taught us, were tired of us; tired of expecting us to work or score good.     

     That day, I knew that I had to do something and change this point of view of my teachers…at least for me!  And so I decided that I’m going to change myself, improve myself so that I myself don’t feel like such a bad kid; so that my teachers can believe in me again.  I also figured that there are many changes I need to make in myself outside my academic life too.

     I realized that, I need to be more focused on what-so-ever it is that I do. I need to be concentrated and dedicated in all ways.  I need to stick to what I decide to do. It’s not that I am not concentrated or dedicated, I am.  But, I just feel it’s not enough! I feel that, or rather I know that, I can do much better than what I already do.

     I think I also need to do something in order to be more cool-minded and not so short-tempered.  I tend to get angry and furious really soon, not on small things really, but then when I get angry, it takes me a lot of time to cool down; and that is what I’d love to change. I think its okay for a person to get angry, but the person should have the ability to cool down soon too.And that is what I lack.    

      I’d also like to get a little more particular about things and learn to do things on time. I always prefer doing things at the end moment, which is why I am never able to give my 100% to whatever I do.  So, I believe that if I start doing things not at the end moment, but before, I might do wonders.     I think starting with these few changes first might be enough. A lot more I need to change, but if I get on it together, none of them might actually happen.  It’s like, one step at a time.     

     Sometimes everything around you is so messed up that you find yourself in the middle of hay, without any way to get out of it.  Sometimes all you can do is, just let whatever is happening, happen and wait for your life to take another turn and change again…for good or for bad.    

      People often say that change is in our hands. But that isn't always true. Sometimes people change out of fear, without even realizing that they’re changing.  And sometimes they change because they think it’s important for them to change in order to survive in such a cruel world.    

      And sometimes people also change so that everybody stops thinking that they’re a pushover and so that they don’t get hurt anymore.  Sometimes people get scared and close themselves to the society…just so to be safe that no one will come and hurt them again!     

     Not everybody is as strong as somebody.  But everybody tries; no matter what someone thinks.  It’s just that, when some people try, they get the results and the others don’t.   

       I tried too for so long to get everything back to how it was; to get myself back and forget whatever happened.  Somewhere deep down I’m still trying.  But sometimes it just doesn't work and you have to realize that maybe this is how it is supposed to be…either you like it or not.   

       I accepted my change and my new life because I couldn't keep obsessing about it and spoiling my life; I accepted that things have to change and so do people because it’s important.     I accepted that this is how I am going to be because this is how the situations have made me. And that living with this me, is the least I can do.    

      I am a person who is afraid of unhappy because if nobody can make me feel better when I feel sad I will feel sadder.  Some people choose to sleep, eat, travel, drink, smoke, or talk...  However, in most cases, sometimes I will choose to be silent if I don't want to hide my sadness, yet in other cases, I will seem like a happy talkative person if I hope nobody knows.    

       I still don't know when I can change my situation, but I hope it will get better and better!
Life it takes me... I came into this world and I was unknown to it.  WITH PASSAGE OF TIME... I started living inside me as there was no one with me.  When I was at the top of the world.  I slipped and gone far away.  The ways were turning more turbulence and my strength was disabled.  There was no access to learn and grow and I was living in a fake blow.  Certain changes many thing in me.  But the thing remained same was there was no one with me.  Always wanted to play a key role but always kept out of whole.  I hate or love I don't know but people hate me was the thing I knew. Time is still running with a smile but happiness doesn't wait for a while.

Change: It starts with Me

     A few days back, one of my teachers in the school yelled at my whole class for not completing any of our assignments on time.  He told us how irresponsible we were and that all the teachers, who taught us, were tired of us; tired of expecting us to work or score good.

     That day, I knew that I had to do something and change this point of view of my teachers…at least for me!  And so I decided that I’m going to change myself, improve myself so that I myself don’t feel like such a bad kid; so that my teachers can believe in me again.

     I also figured that there are many changes I need to make in myself outside my academic life too.
    I realized that, I need to be more focused on what-so-ever it is that I do. I need to be concentrated and dedicated in all ways.  I need to stick to what I decide to do. It’s not that I am not concentrated or dedicated, I am.  But, I just feel it’s not enough! I feel that, or rather I know that, I can do much better than what I already do.
  I think I also need to do something in order to be more cool-minded and not so short-tempered.  I tend to get angry and furious really soon, not on small things really, but then when I get angry, it takes me a lot of time to cool down; and that is what I’d love to change. I think its okay for a person to get angry, but the person should have the ability to cool down soon too.And that is what I lack.

     I’d also like to get a little more particular about things and learn to do things on time. I always prefer doing things at the end moment, which is why I am never able to give my 100% to whatever I do.  So, I believe that if I start doing things not at the end moment, but before, I might do wonders.

     I think starting with these few changes first might be enough. A lot more I need to change, but if I get on it together, none of them might actually happen.  It’s like, one step at a time.

     Sometimes everything around you is so messed up that you find yourself in the middle of hay, without any way to get out of it.  Sometimes all you can do is, just let whatever is happening, happen and wait for your life to take another turn and change again…for good or for bad.

     People often say that change is in our hands. But that isn’t always true. Sometimes people change out of fear, without even realizing that they’re changing.  And sometimes they change because they think it’s important for them to change in order to survive in such a cruel world.

     And sometimes people also change so that everybody stops thinking that they’re a pushover and so that they don’t get hurt anymore.  Sometimes people get scared and close themselves to the society…just so to be safe that no one will come and hurt them again!

     Not everybody is as strong as somebody.  But everybody tries; no matter what someone thinks.  It’s just that, when some people try, they get the results and the others don’t.

     I tried too for so long to get everything back to how it was; to get myself back and forget whatever happened.  Somewhere deep down I’m still trying.  But sometimes it just doesn’t work and you have to realize that maybe this is how it is supposed to be…either you like it or not.

     I accepted my change and my new life because I couldn’t keep obsessing about it and spoiling my life; I accepted that things have to change and so do people because it’s important.

     I accepted that this is how I am going to be because this is how the situations have made me. And that living with this me, is the least I can do.

     I am a person who is afraid of unhappy because if nobody can make me feel better when I feel sad I will feel sadder.  Some people choose to sleep, eat, travel, drink, smoke, or talk...  However, in most cases, sometimes I will choose to be silent if I don't want to hide my sadness, yet in other cases, I will seem like a happy talkative person if I hope nobody knows.

      I still don't know when I can change my situation, but I hope it will get better and better!

Kannawidan: The Ylocos Festival

     The Kannawidan Ylocos Festival on January 29 to February 5, 2012 drew local and foreign tourists as more entertaining events had been included in the celebrations.

     Now on its 5th year, the Kannawidan Ylocos Festival had already established its identity as the prime festival of the province.

     Through this “Kannawidan Ylocos Festival, we are preserving and sustaining our old traditions, attractive products and practices as we are also promoting our tourism industry. The province has a rich heritage and unique cultures that need to be preserved for the next generations. However, many of these traditions, songs, dances and other Ilocano cultures were not already familiar to the younger generations due to the influence of the television, computer and internet.

      “But,  through  our Kannawidan Ylocos Festival, these traditions, customs and cultures are revived to become more entertaining to give more fun and attractions to the visiting tourists in the province.”

     “Through our Kannawidan Ylocos Festival, which is the official annual festival of the province our tourism industry was enhanced and helped boost the demand of our products, more job opportunities and livelihood opportunities were crated and more income for our people were generated.”

     The 2012 Kannawidan Ylocos Festival opened with a concelebrated mass held at the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral followed by a procession of the patron saints of the 40 parishes including the images of Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary around the province’s capital city in the afternoon of on January 29.

     The mass and the procession were the acts of thanksgiving to the God almighty for the blessings received by the province and the exhibition of the strong religious belief of the Ilocano families.

      After the procession, a dinner for all was enjoined to all bystanders, tourists and visitors at Plaza Salcedo followed by fireworks display to signify the formal start of the different events of the weeklong festival.

     On same night, the members of the Bayanihan Dance Company entertained the Ilocanos with their world class performance of the Beauty of the Philippines through dances, music and sounds. Their graceful movements and excellent rendition of songs and playing the indigenous musical instruments drew attractions from the crowd.

     On the following day, a traditional opening ritual was performed by the students of the Ilocos Sur Special High School for Culture and the Arts in Suyo, Ilocos Sur. Vice Governor Savellano and the officials of the Department of Education Division of Ilocos Sur signified the start of the different contests for elementary and high school students. These include traditional tribal rituals, choir and glee club competition, marching band contest, traditional music ensemble, dance drama, traditional and folk dances, contemporary dance competition and street dancing showdown. These events aimed to encourage young Ilocanos to learn these indigenous songs and dances for sustainability and preservation.

     Partuat ken Patanor Trade and Agri Fair also opened on the same day. Officials from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) headed by Thelma Dumpit Murillo graced the occasion.

     The trade and agri fair displayed all products from the different towns of the Ilocos Sur and its nearby provinces. The annual “Pinaka Contest” was also held to give citations the local farmers’ extraordinary farm and fishery products and livestock.

The yearly Kannawidan Ylocos Festival of Ilocos Sur showcases the spirit of the Ilocano Child.

      Watching the children from the mountainous towns of Ilocos Sur perform their ‘tribal rites’ and dances in their tribal costume called “baag” (a woven cloth worn over their undies), on bare foot under the midday sun strips me of vanity and pride. And propels me to that place where everything is pure, simple and honest. 

     This festival, celebrated on January 29 to February 5, also highlights Ilocos food, arts, trade, crafts, and products.

     Witnessing all this makes one realize the beauty and dignity of Ilocos culture and people. We should be proud of our Ilocano culture.  

      The festival not only brings us takes one back to the roots; it also enables one to look into the future through art created by children. Their art speaks of their belief in the beauty of the world as gift from the Creator. Their songs and dances outshine any sadness  this present world has thrown at them.