Robotics!

This is a pubic service announcement for my alma mater.

What: DLSU ROBOTICS CAMP
Inclusive Dates: August 2, 9 and 16 (Saturdays)
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Venue: Room G401 Gokongwei Building, DLSU, Taft, Manila

Categories:
Level 1 - Elementary Grades 5 to 7 students
Level 2 - High School students
Level 3 - College students and hobbyists

Other details and to register please visit the CEC website.

Miguel Wins the Dr. Heartbeat NXT Robot Competition

I am one super duper proud momma! My 13-year old son, Miguel, won first place in the Dr. Heartbeat NXT Robot Competition. This is the very first non-sport competition he has joined (most were in school during intrams).

Here's my vlog post about it -



I just couldn't describe how happy I am! I felt my heart was about to burst when he finished first three times in a row during the elimination round. I felt like crying since just yesterday we were both hesitating to join since he has not completed all the lessons at the Lego Mindstorms Robotics Center, but thought that he should still join for experience. Just before he went in the Lego room I wished him luck and told him to just enjoy himself. I was awed with the results of the first round.

Manabat - 125
Salvador - 175
Apolo - 400
Dee - 125

Miguel had a big smile when he went out of the room. I asked him how he felt and, as usual, he just gave a big smile and said he was happy about it. I was feeling really mushy and wanted to give him a long big bear hug, but he was reading so I just left him alone and watched the second batch. The second elimination round was pretty intense. These were the kids who went to a summer robotics camp in their school so I know how important the competition must be for them.

The third round had the top two winners in the previous elimination rounds. I hugged Miguel before he went inside and reminded him to just have fun. The contestants were put under time pressure to complete a task. Miguel was the third one to go up and successfully completed the task with the least amount of time. Here's the result of the final round -

G. Salvador - 3 balls 3 mins. 20 sec.
V. Salvador - 1ball, 4 mins.
M. Apolo - 3 balls, 2 mins 50 sec.
C. Pambuan - 2 balls, 3 mins.

Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy!

Here's a list of the winners for the two divisions:

Division 1: 6 to 11 years old
1st Place: Antonio Sales
2nd Place: Christian Ayala
3rd Place: Mildred Saquing

Division 2: 12 and up
1st Place: Miguel Apolo
2nd Place: German Salvador
3rd Place: Christian Pambuan

Special Awards
Mr. Congeniality: Marco Ayala
Most Patient: Joseph Tamayo
Most Inquisitive: Daryl Tongson
Best Engineer/Programmer: Alfonso Sales
Most Enthusiastic: Christian Ayala

I appointed myself as Miguel's personal paparazzi so here are the photos:



It's downloadable at my Picasa Web Album.

This definitely tops Miguel's summer vacation.

Thank you Lord! =)

Me, Miguel and Lego

I got my first set of Lego when I was about 4 years old. That set is still alive and has been mixed up with Miguel's set. Being the youngest in the clan I spent countless summers playing with my Lego. I thought I'd become an architect because of the houses I used to build using Lego. But... but... my drawing skills have not grown beyond doodling apples, coconut trees and the Mayon Volcano. LOL.

I exposed Miguel to building things eversince he was a baby. When he was about 4 years old I got him 2 sets of Tamiya. I was forced to build it for him since the parts were very small. I must have done something wrong because it wouldn't budge. I tried dismantling the engine (you had to build it yourself) but it still wouldn't work. Miguel got impatient with me and fixed it by himself. He built the second Tamiya set and has since always asked for toys that he could build.

Miguel's a voracious reader, so he explores a lot of stuff online and has since wished for a number of Lego sets. He's so lucky since Lego nowadays is more than just "building blocks". Here's a video he took of his Lego Monster Dino -



Because of Lego, Miguel's been interested to do robotics. I'm not sure yet what course he'd want to take in college, but it's one of the many interests he has for now. I'm glad I finally found the place to pique his interest more. Saw the poster of the Lego Mindstorm Robotics Center at the SM Science and Discovery Center at the Mall of Asia. Below is Professor Rox Cosico who agreed to talk a little about the workshop for You Got Tech. He mentioned during our chat that the Lego Mindstorms Robotics Center is the second one in Asia and they underwent training in Singapore.



I'm really excited about Miguel's participation in the workshop since it's been hard to get him interested in the normal summer things. Well, nagmana lang sa nanay eh hehe.

May your tribe grow Rox! =)

Want to enroll?
Lego Mindstorms Robotics Center
SM Discovery Center, Mall of Asia
For inquiries, please call +632-556-0331 or 0661
Workshop fee is only PhP200

I also requested for some flyers, let me know if you want one.

Other reads:

Miguel's Journal
You Got Tech