Error message

  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementBase::execute($args = [], $options = []) should either be compatible with PDOStatement::execute(?array $params = null): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2244 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::current() should either be compatible with Iterator::current(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::next() should either be compatible with Iterator::next(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::key() should either be compatible with Iterator::key(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::valid() should either be compatible with Iterator::valid(): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::rewind() should either be compatible with Iterator::rewind(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).

Up North [2019-02-03]

Five years ago, in the aftermath of deadly Typhoon Yolanda, Reneal Team Philippines traveled to Northern Cebu to join with other NGOs in offering assistance to schools devastated by one of the strongest tropical storms ever to make landfall.  In May of 2014, we installed a Reneal system at Daanbantayan National High School.  This was the first of several partnerships in the North that continue to this day.  Reneal Team Philippines spent this last week visiting three of the schools up there to make some major updates and repairs.  It was great to be back!

We spent the first day at Kawit National High School in Medellin.  Our computer technicians Lloyd and Rhog and OJT Ervin had traveled there in late 2018 to transfer the Reneal server and clients to the library to make them more available to the students.  Neal put on the Ubuntu 16.04 operating system plus new resources and software for the students.  Lloyd, Ervin, and I made some repairs (Rhog is now working full-time at Eversly Children’s Hospital as an IT coordinator, so he was not able to travel with us).  The guys executed a major repair on two laptops, swapping screens from dead laptops to laptops with a good motherboard but damaged screen.  Nice work guys!  We also had a happy reunion with Ma’am Alex Guzman, a very motivated science teacher who is using the PhET science and math simulations with her students.

We spent Tuesday at Almacen Torrevillas Senior High.  This was another case where the Reneal computers were moved from one location to another – a very common occurrence in the last few years all over Cebu as the schools have been challenged to accommodate the addition of grades 11 and 12 to the public school system.  The units were moved from the Junior High (grades 7-10) to the Senior High (grades 11-12).  We were startled to find four units not working, although the guys were able to get one of them functioning again.  Hmm.  We returned on Friday to give a short orientation on the Reneal system to some of the 11th and 12th grade students.  And another unit was down.  Thankfully it started working again, but we formulated a plan to get a voltage regulator up there this coming week in case it is erratic voltage causing the problem.   

Wednesday and Thursday found us at our “home school” in the north, Daanbantayan National High School.  Over the years, we have grown to three separate Reneal systems up there: two computer labs and a new library installation in 2018.  Lloyd, Ervin, and I worked on troubleshooting and repairing clients, while Neal focused on finding a way to get internet in the library.  Sir Carlos, the librarian, took Neal in to Bogo City to purchase a new wireless router, and the boys ran some cable to connect it to the internet modem in Com Lab 1.  Success!

Lloyd, Ervin, and I also did an inventory of the spares in the north.  Over the last several years, Reneal has tried to preposition spare equipment for both of our areas in Cebu.  We are very grateful to Daanbantayan NHS for allowing us space for this purpose.  It helps Reneal Team Philippines keep computer labs up and running at full strength.

It is always sad to leave the North.  There is never enough time to see everyone and do everything we’d like.  But we are grateful for the time we had with the schools and wish them much success in serving the students with computers and technology.

 [Photo: Lloyd and Ervin in the midst of major laptop surgery at Kawit National High School]