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By Lawrence San Diego
Sheilaika, Shernalyn, and Andayang may look like regular students from the island of Basilan, but their big dreams and aspirations carry the heart and soul of a new documentary produced by the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Lalem Palayangan (Paglipad nang Malalim) chronicles the lives of the three senior high school girls as they embark on their journey to discovery and innovation through the Invent School Program, which was brought to Basilan for the first time by DOST-TAPI under its Project
SciNing initiative.
As a flagship program of DOST-TAPI, the Invent School provides young Filipinos with a platform for experiential learning in invention and innovation. The program seeks to encourage curiosity and inventiveness among students who live in underserved communities where learning resources are limited and teaching methods are often conventional.
Behind the scenes of Lalem Palayangan, where Invent School students participated in fieldwork together with their mentors.
Through Project SciNing, a recipient of the 2022 Innovation Grants by the National Economic and Development Authority, DOST-TAPI adapted the Invent School to incorporate mentorship with outstanding Filipino inventors.
“It has been our goal to weave an inclusive narrative where everyone plays a role in the greater tapestry of our visions,” said Project SciNing head Marvin Eric Dela Cruz. “Project SciNing hopes to be a precursor of meaningful discussions and innovation stories that we could all relate to as Filipinos with shared aspirations.”
Excitement and Hope through Invent School
Lalem Palayangan sheds light on common challenges faced by students in island provinces like Basilan, including limited access to resources, connectivity, and infrastructure, as well as the lack of opportunities to pursue the field of science and technology.
Despite their situation, Sheilaika, Shernalyn, and Andayang, along with their peers and newfound friends from various schools in Lamitan and Maluso in Basilan, gained renewed excitement and hope to chase their dreams during their memorable time at the Invent School.
“I believe there is still a lot to learn when it comes to science, and that is why it is important for all students to join and experience the Invent School,” Andayang shared.
The documentary also highlighted Filipino inventors Jericho Castro and Jeremy De Leon, who joined the Invent School to showcase their TAPI-supported inventions. Castro demonstrated his Jerichord guitar, a teaching instrument uniquely designed to help beginners learn guitar faster. De Leon introduced his Make-roscope, a portable single-lens microscope for mobile gadgets, which the participants used to examine specimens they collected from the field.
In the film, local teachers, school heads, and partners from the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao conveyed their immense gratitude to the Invent School program for igniting the spark of ingenuity and innovation among the Bangsamoro youth in Basilan.
Students from various schools in Basilan got the chance to work together on a project at Invent School.
Posible sa SciNing
Lalem Palayangan had its premiere at the Posible sa SciNing gala last December 2022 in Makati City. Partners from Basilan, various government agencies, the science community, and the private sector attended the event to celebrate the achievements under Project SciNing. The gala also showcased a science-themed art and photo exhibit featuring the works of Invent School participants in Basilan.
The cast and production team of Lalem Palayangan, together with DOST-TAPI officials, entertain questions from the audience during the film’s premiere.
“The Invent School program in Basilan, the Lalem Palayangan premiere, and the art and photo exhibit were brought about by the connections we made through Project SciNing,” Dela Cruz explained. “With our newfound partners, we hope to amplify our shared goals towards creating a community of innovation advocates.”
The premiere also launched the documentary’s official soundtrack, an original composition titled “Walang Hadlang.” After the screening, the film’s young protagonists from Basilan and its creative team held a forum with the gala attendees to answer questions and share their insights and experiences while shooting the documentary.
“We helped amplify the stories of these students from Basilan, as well as of our local inventors,” Dela Cruz said. “How often do we see in the media our fellow Filipinos, especially young girls, from the farthest regions of our country? I think it is time to put the spotlight on them.”
He added, “Through this film, we hope to attract more partners who can conduct the Invent School with DOST-TAPI, and to encourage stakeholders to adopt our local innovations on experiential learning in science and technology.”
Do you want to host a special screening of Lalem Palayangan at your school or office? Contact DOST-TAPI Applied Communications Unit for Inventors at acu-This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Excited to bring DOST-TAPI’s Invent School to your area? Click HERE to learn more about our Invent School program.
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By Lawrence San Diego
The Invent School Program of the Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is now certified by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) as one of its priority government programs under its National Priority Plan for 2023.
DOST-TAPI’s Invent School aims to stimulate creativity and inventiveness among future scientists and inventors.
The National Priority Plan is a list of the Philippine government’s priority activities, projects, and programs in the areas of science and culture, education, health, youth and sports development, human settlements, and economic development. The list is issued annually by NEDA as mandated in the National Internal Revenue Code.
With its inclusion in this year’s list, the Invent School is now eligible to receive tax-deductible donations from various partners and organizations, particularly in the private sector, to help broaden and strengthen the implementation of the Program.
“NEDA’s endorsement came at a perfect time for TAPI as we are all excited to bring back the Invent School inside classrooms and face to face with students after years of holding the Program online due to the pandemic,” says TAPI Director Atty. Marion Ivy Decena.
“This will help us amplify the scope and coverage of the Invent School by bringing in new partners who will help us ignite the spark of ingenuity among our youth and inspire them to pursue their inventive ideas,” she adds.
As a flagship program of DOST-TAPI, the Invent School serves as a platform to stimulate creativity and inventiveness among elementary pupils, high school, and college students. Through highly interactive seminar-workshops, the program teaches students about techniques in creative and innovative thinking, which are crucial in developing ideas for their inventions and prototypes. The program also aims to raise awareness, appreciation, and understanding of intellectual property rights among its young participants.
Invent School participants engage in interactive exercises and group activities.
Since 2008, the Invent School has reached around 10,000 students in more than 1,500 schools from all over the country.
“We hope that with new donors and partners, we can increase these numbers and bring the Invent School to all 60,000 schools across the Philippines,” Director Decena says.
“We welcome the support and contribution of groups, organizations, and industries—particularly in the sectors of education, technology, and telecommunications—in providing the necessary underserved areas,” she adds.
The Invent School Program has worked with agencies within the DOST to enrich its implementation. It collaborated with the Philippine Science High School to increase its pool of mentors, and with the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development to launch an online learning platform for the program.
Through Project SciNing and in collaboration with the BARMM Ministry of Science and Technology, DOST-TAPI was able to bring the Invent School to Basilan for the first time.
The program was also a key component of DOST-TAPI’s Project SciNing, which was a recipient of NEDA’s Innovation Grants for 2022. The Invent School contributed to project outcomes in promoting adoption of local inventions and technologies, and developing the capacities of the youth in creativity and innovation.
Join us in bringing DOST-TAPI’s Invent School to more students across the country!
Click HERE to learn more about our Invent School Program, or email our Applied
Communications Unit for Inventors at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn how you can be an
Invent School partner!
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