Icban tells graduates: Study ICT, tourism
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SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga --- Press Secretary Crispulo Icban Jr. today urged all high school graduates of
2010 to take up college courses in information technology, tourism and the scientific methods of agricultural
and industrial production, which are in demand here and abroad.
In a speech at the 95th commencement exercises of his alma mater, Pampanga High School (PHS), Icban
counseled over 1,700 graduates to “study where our country and the world are headed” and where they could
find jobs easily.
“There are still opportunities in the traditional fields such as law, medicine and business but there are more
opportunities today in the fields of ICT, tourism and the scientific sides of agriculture and industry,” he said.
Icban, who graduated valedictorian in PHS in 1950, was invited by the school as its commencement speaker
two weeks before he was named by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as Press Secretary last January. He
was the editor-in-chief of the daily Manila Bulletin before he joined the Arroyo Cabinet. He and his high school
batch mates have made it a point to meet every last week of April but, of the 300 original graduates of the 1950
class, only 30 are now meeting regularly, Icban recalled.
Icban said since his appointment to the Arroyo Cabinet, he learned of the tremendous growth of the Philippine
cyber industry “from an infant industry with 2,000 people in 2001 to a giant enterprise that earned $7.2 billion in
2009, next only to India which earned that year $9 billion.”
“The foreign investors who have joined our government and private enterprise in building this industry have
noted that Filipinos seem to have a special gift not just in computers but in dealing with people, even of other
lands. This is our great human resource and you are part of it,” Icban noted.
He said the new fields of growth in our country are tourism in Central Philippines, industry in Central and
Southern Luzon, and agribusiness in Northern Luzon and Mindanao.
He also said the graduates can look at the world for opportunities such as the icy countries of the north, the still
developing countries of Africa, the countries of South America with which the Philippines has so much in
common and the rich countries of Europe, America and the Middle East .
“But it is my hope that the day will come when we need not go to other parts of the world to earn a decent income
and harness our talents as Filipinos for our country and at the same time keep our families together,” Icban said.
He advised the graduates “to study those around you now and remember as much as you can of this special
occasion as you will not be seeing many of them in the future.”
“Make your mark in our country and in the whole planet,” Icban said.
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DOE to present Philippine Energy Plan in Puerto Princesa
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Manila (31 March) -- The Department of Energy will present the 2010-2030 Philippine Energy Plan to the energy
stakeholders of Region IV-B through an IEC activity on 07 April 2010 at the Legend Hotel in Puerto Princesa,
Palawan.
Building on its commitment to formulate a long-term energy plan for the country, the Department of Energy has
prepared the Philippine Energy Plan 2009-2030 highlighting the plans and programs of the energy sector to
support the economic growth and development goals of the country. Specifically, the Plan will deal with future
energy developments, which are very vital to the country's prosperity. The over-arching theme of PEP 2009-2030
is ensuring the best energy choices for a better quality of life.
Prior to its public release, the DOE has been conducting a series of regional Information, Education and
Communication (IEC) activities to inform the public on the energy sector's policy thrusts, strategies and
programs in addressing pertinent issues and challenges in energy development. The activity will also include
the IEC on nuclear energy as a long-term option of government in attaining energy security and reliability.
To ensure a wider coverage nationwide, the IEC activities were clustered based on the proximities of the
regions. The DOE kicked-off with the conduct of the IEC in the major cities of Davao (for Regions XI, XII and
CARAGA), Cebu (for Regions VII and VIII), Iloilo (for Region VI) and Ozamiz (Region IX, X and ARMM), which are
currently facing a crisis in power supply. Subsequently, the DOE introduced the Plan to energy stakeholders in
Baguio City (for CAR), Laoag (Region I) and Tuguegarao (Region II).
The DOE will bring in full force its energy experts to enlighten the participants on various issues on energy
developments. The DOE is also looking towards a healthy exchange of views with the participants on issues of
current interest such as energy supply and demand issues.
For more information on the activity, the DOE through its Energy Policy and Planning Division will gladly take in
your inquiries through telephone numbers 840-1780 or 479-2900 locals 288 and 318.
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Philippines Reaches Octafinals in 2010 Jessup Moot Court Competition; Team Captain
Named One of Top 10 Oralists
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WASHINGTON DC March 29, 2010 – Debaters from the Philippines reached the Octafinals of the Philip C.
Jessup International Moot Court Competition, ranking fifth in the final field of 16 in what is described as the “the
world’s largest and most prestigious moot court competition.”
127 teams representing 76 countries participated in this year’s Jessup International Moot Court Competition.
Ma. Cristina Aurora C. Baldemor, Marck Joseph I. Macaraeg, Paolo Manuel T. Rodriguez, Marie Yasmin M.
Sanchez, Roland Glenn T. Tuazon, and Joyce Anne C. Wong, all from the Ateneo de Manila University Law
School, represented the Philippines.
Team captain Roland Glenn T. Tuazon received the Best Oralist Award Tenth Place in the tournament that was
held from March 21 to 27 at the Capitol Hilton in Washington, D.C.
During the team’s courtesy call at the Philippine Embassy, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy C.
Gaa lauded the debaters for their accomplishments and urged them to continue “honing their craft.”
“The Jessup Moot Court Competitions are very demanding and we are pleased to see in our debaters their
ability to take on the world’s best,” said Ambassador Gaa.
In Jessup, the competing teams prepare oral and written pleadings and simulate a fictional dispute between
countries before the International Court of Justice.
The Australian National University defeated New York’s Columbia Law School in the final round.
In the 2004 Jessup Cup Championship Round, ADMU Law School defeated the National University of
Singapore. END
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