Where arts and technology come together

By Jaimes R. C. Sumbilon

“To be able to produce the best, you have to provide the best.”
With this academic philosophy, the Information and Communications Technology Academy (iAcademy) believes that the rising demand of competitive professionals here and abroad makes it important to choose the right school that provides world-class learning and character-building.
The school also claims that companies today continuously innovate and set new standards to achieve market leadership. However, iAcademy notes that some schools that still stick to theories and books are unable to cope with changes, thus, the result is a mismatch between the skills of graduates and the needs of the industry.
The iAcademy, said to be the only college on Ayala Avenue in Makati, is now offering IT, business and arts courses for students who want to bring their talents to the next level.
In an interview, Christian Timothy Sia, iAcademy division head for Marketing and Admissions, said students never regret enrolling in the school because of the quality of instruction they receive there.   
“Our school, which is 11 years old now, promises excellent teaching. iAcademy has various programs fitted to the skills of today’s youth. Every course has a 30:1 ratio, which is complemented by state-of-the-art facilities and high-caliber teachers. The school will provide them a world-class training that they can only find right here in the country,” shared Sia.
The official stressed that one of the school’s advantages is its good location.
“Strategically located at the center of the Makati Business District, iAcademy puts its students in the environment of some of the leading businesses here in the country. The school will let them mingle with industry professionals and partners, who will train them, and eventually they have the chance to get hired,” explained Sia.

A graphic artist draws using Wacom's pen and tablet

He also discussed the courses the school will be offering this coming school year such as marketing and advertising, which focuses on the intricacies of creating and managing marketing campaigns; software engineering, which deals with the application of engineering concepts and methods in the development and improvement of software systems; Web development, which prepares students to design, implement and manage information systems; multi-media arts and design, which explores an alternate approach to new media as an educational platform; and game programming and design, which integrates fundamental computer science with design and storytelling and is considered as first of its kind in the country. Other courses include financial management, fashion design and technology, animation and e-management.

According to Sia, among these courses animation is the most preferred by enrollees, citing the big influence students got from the global animation industry.
“The iAcademy is the first school that offers an animation course here in the Philippines. Our students are fully trained from basic drawing to digital animation, using the most innovative equipment for the better result of their creation,” Sia said, adding that the school is also a member of the Animation Council of the Philippines (ACPI).

Arts invasion
To be able to attract more enrollees this year, the iAcademy, in partnership with Wacom Singapore Pte Ltd. and in cooperation with the Las Piñas Private Schools Association (LAPRISSA), successfully launched the Wacom Art Attack at the SM Center Las Piñas last March 1.
The event had the primary goal of introducing iAcademy as the best educational institution to its main target audience — secondary level students from different Las Piñas high schools.
Participated in by about 100 students and officials of LAPRISSA, which consists of 65 private high schools-members, the Wacom Art Attack was conducted through a series of activities, games, seminars and workshops.

Art Attack was participated by almost 65 Las Piñas high schools

Students are given free workshop during the event

The LAPRISSA member high schools that joined the said event were Alphastar Educational Centre Inc., Angelus Academy Inc., Augustinian Abbey School, Bethany School, BF Homes School Inc., Blessed Scubillion Learning Center,  Blessed Trinity School, Bloomfield Academy, Brentvill Southwoods School Inc. Camella School Inc., Child’s Joy Preschool and Learning Center, Christ the King Academy, Church of God’s Miracle Christian Academy, Copel School, Creative Middle School, Divine Light School, Don Carlo Cavina School, Don Steven Institute, Elizabeth Seton School Inc., Fr. Angelico Lipani School, Fr. Donato Gianotti Foundation Inc., GCF South Metro Christian School Inc., Holy Infant Jesus Academy, Holy Rosary Academy, Immaculate Mary Montessori School, Las Piñas Baptist Academy, Las Piñas College, Las Piñas Montesorri School, Little Ones Integrated School, Lord’s Christian Circle Education, Madre Guilla Salzano School Inc., Magnificat School of Mary Inc., Mayflower Academy, Merry Treasure School, Mind Builders Preschool, Montessori de Manila, Mother Mary of Pilar Child Development Center, Neumann’s Academy Inc. Our Lady of Loreto Catholic School, Our Lady of Pilar Montessori Center, Schola de Vita, South Learners Creative School Inc., Step-up Learning Center, St. Isidore Academy, St. Joe Development Academy, St. Mark’s Institute Inc. (Annex and Main), St. Michael School Inc., St. Rose of Lima School Inc., St. Therese School, Sto. Niño de Eucharistia Academy, Sunshine Learning Center, University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, Westfield Science Oriented School, Wishbone Kiddie Camp, Yahweh’s Love Learning Center and Young Achievers International School.

KC Leong, Wacom sales manager, and Julious Rivera Wacom, marketing manager

iACADEMY's Jean and Jem

Marty Tengco plays PS game inside the iACADEMY's "Game Van"

Rowena Lorenzo, president, LAPRISSA, and Chris Sia, iAcademy division

head for Marketing and Admissions, lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony

From left: Rowena Lorenzo, president, LAPRISSA, Christian Timothy Sia, division head, Marketing and Admissions, iACADEMY, KC Leong, sales manager, DCC, Con, Wacom, with LAPRISSA officials Carol Tirona, Ed Yorro, Claire Garcia, Roxy Ado, Nelson Uy, Oscar Tangco

This gathering held a mini career orientation about the courses one can take to hone one’s skills and the possible jobs one can have after completing the chosen course.
Participants learned a lot from various workshops conducted by experts, some of them teaching at the iAcademy. Attendees were taught how to draw using modernized Wacom tablets and pen in an animation workshop, while others walked the isle in a fashion design workshop.
Students also challenged their mental prowess through the question-and-answer portion, where they won exciting prizes from Wacom.
Sia bared that one of the amenities student may experience at the iAcademy is its Game Van, equipped with Wacom’s interactive and customized gaming console. He said students will surely enjoy this mobile van with a state-of-the-art setting complete with lights, sound and air-conditioning.

Sealed partnership
The school official believed that one of the reasons iAcademy has been successful all these years is because of its strong ties with the Japanese company Wacom, which provides up-to-date equipment and technical services to the school.

Team iACADEMY and Team Wacom

Kooky Tuason, KC Leong and Marty Tengco

The author conducts an interview with KC Leong

“They (Wacom officials) said, ‘Let us look for a partner in the Philippines.’ So it just so happened iAcademy launched its BS Animation program. They saw our vision for the Filipinos. Then we sealed our partnership in 2008,” recalled Sia.
Wacom, which was founded on July 12, 1983 and has its headquarters in Otone, Saitama, Japan, is a giant IT company that produces graphics tablets and related products.
KC Leong, sales manager of Wacom, underscored the solid partnership of iAcademy and his company, while highlighting that both have the same motivation.
“Four years ago, Wacom was searching for a very strong education partner, which would   champion Wacom in the education industry and showcase Wacom products in customer relations. We both share a lot of foresight, a lot of future plans together. And I thought maybe we should marry up. When you marry up together, you get stronger,” he shared.
The executive further stated, “iAcademy wanted the best equipment in the schools so that students who enroll will have the best benefit outright... You’ve got to have a good curriculum, good equipment, a good set of teachers and a good atmosphere and learning environment. We share the same vision when we appointed iAcademy as a Wacom-authorized training partner in 2008.”
Leong averred that the tie-up of the two is a perfect combination that will give students the highest chance of getting a job after they finish studying. “If you are trained by Wacom in this school, after you graduate, you move to the society to look job. You have the better chance to secure a job. Because most of the students in this industry use Wacom, meaning to say they (employers) know that you have your skills out and have a proper training from this school,” he expressed. The Wacom sales manager concluded that Art Attack had good results. “The event was a lot of fun. There were interaction and exchanges. Everyone enjoyed and participated well in this educational activity. The great thing about this event is students are learning while having fun at the same time,” Leong ended. --Jaimes R. C. Sumbilon

The article on The Daily Tribune's Lifestyle cover