The Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. (TYKFI) in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), Ilocos Sur and Candon City Divisions, and the Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology (PFST) transported the Sci-Fun Caravan to the gym of the local government unit (LGU) in Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur. Up to 236 public elementary and high schools benefitted from the exhibit, which lasted from January 8, 2014 to March 04, 2014. 

The Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. (TYKFI) chairman and president, Dr. Lucio C. Tan strongly believes that “The students of today will shape the nation of the future.” Thus the Foundation, in partnership with the Department of Education, Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya, Municipality of Bambang, and Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology, brought together “SCIENCE SPARKS! The Traveling Science Centrum” last August 19, extending until October 11, 2014 in Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya. 

Over 28,000 students, parents, and teachers visited the 35 fun-filled, interactive exhibits. The exhibits were displayed at the LGU’s Gymnasium. Guiding the exhibits were 26 teacher-facilitators. 

The exhibits were:

•  Finger Tingler
  
• Magnetites
  
• Magnetic or Non-magnetic
  
• Electromagnet
  
• Conductor or Insulator
  
• Circuits
  
• Hand Battery
  
• Newton’s Cradle
  
• Drum Beat
  
• Steady Hand Game
  
• Fourth State of Matter
  
• Colors of the White Light
  
• UV Light
  
• Resonance Tubes
  
• Resonant Rings
  
• Radiometer
  
• Hot Spot
  
• Pedal Generator
  
• Generator
  
• Charge Now Power Later
  
• Photovoltaic Cell
  
• Fuel Cell
  
• Biogas
  
• Steam Engine
  
• Steam Power
  
• Hydroelectric Power
  
• Wind Power
  
• Solar Car
  
• Solar Water Heater
  
• Battle of the Bulbs
  
• Standby Power
  
• Power Consumption
  
• Energy Density
  
• Greenhouse Effect
  
• Van de Graff generator
  

Present in the opening ceremony were Nueva Vizcaya Cong. Carlos M. Padilla, DepEd Science Coordinator Mrs. Maricel Franco, Education Program Supervisor Mrs. Evelyn Ramos, DepEd EPS on Math Mrs. Helen Liban, TYKFI’s Philip Sing and Flora Lim, PFST Executive Director Ms. May Pagsinohin, PFST Consultant Ms. Elvira Galvez, DOST Region 2 Representative Dr. Urduja Tejada, DepEd District Supervisors, Principals and Teachers.

In his speech, Cong. Carlos M. Padilla emphasized how interactive display encourages students to be more interested in learning science the fun way. He also pointed out how TYKFI’s objectives are aligned with the 13-point agenda of Gov. Ruth Padilla in her “Prayers N Faith” program. Education Program Supervisor Mrs. Evelyn Ramos highlighted that the exhibits are also freely accessible to all, not just to the well-off, “The TYKFI is the brain and the heart of this Science Sparks! Traveling Science Centrum, who take pains in bringing these hands-on apparatus and science equipment, which the city people and affluent only can access. But here we enjoy these for free from the TYKFI.”

The teachers were also expressive of their thoughts on how the caravan will help the students, “This project helps a lot of the pupils especially during their science classes. They will see the actual materials/equipment, and they will experience the actual effect of lightning and electricity, voiced by Gertrudes D. Pilare, Teacher-I from Alfonso Castañeda Central School. They will soon encounter their day to day activity on energy and later on they will use this knowledge on how to make or experiment and build up investigatory project on energy as they go on to higher learning, commented by Hope A. Gonzales, Teacher-I also from Alfonso Castañeda Central school. 

At the end of the day, learning should not be confined in the four corners of the classroom. Learning should be fun, interactive and amusing. This way, the concepts are absorbed and remembered more effectively. The Science Sparks caravan provided a great medium for this kind of learning. TYKFI will continue to support unconventional and effective ways for students to learn.

The Tan Yan Kee Foundation, in cooperation with Tanduay Distillers, Inc.-Vigan Branch, PNB-Vigan Branch, DepEd Vigan City and Ilocos Sur Division, and the Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology brought the Science Centrum’s Sci-Fun Caravan to the public school students and teachers of Vigan City and 1st District of Ilocos Sur.  The exhibit remained in the Ilocos Sur National High School Gym from November 8, 2013 to December 20, 2013 benefitting some 20,000 public school students from Grades 4 to 12.  The Foundation hopes to promote the quality and raise the standard of science learning among  public school students.  Through the creativity and the everyday, practical phenomenon of each exhibit, science learning is multiplied, inspired, and instilled in each student and teacher walking through the various exhibits.  The Foundation sees the importance of raising  the quality of education of the youth especially in the areas of science and reading, because the youth is as has often been said, the future of our nation.  

Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. in partnership with Tanduay Distillers, Inc.-Tacloban Branch, Allied Bank-Tacloban Branch, PNB-Tacloban Branch, Deped-Leyte Division, and the  Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology brought Science Centrum’s Sci-Fun Caravan to Tacloban Leyte, benefitting 24,000 public school pupils, students, and teachers in the DepEd division of the province of Leyte.  

TYKFI recently brought 36 public school teachers, education supervisors, and district supervisors headed by DepEd Nueva Vizcaya Division Superintendent Dr. Benjamin D. Paragas for an educational visit to the Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology (PFST) Centrum in Marikina City and the Bonifacio Art Foundation’s Mind Museum in Taguig City.  

More than 22,000 elementary and high school students in Nueva Vizcaya and neighboring areas had a combination of learning and fun-filled experience during the August 30-October 19, 2012 Sci-Fun Caravan Travelling Science Centrum that the Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. brought to the Bambang Auditorium, Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya in partnership with the Philippine Foundation for Science and Technology, DepEd, and the local government of Bambang. The exhibit coincided with the National Science Club Month under Presidential Proclamations No. 28 of 1986 and No. 264 of 2002.  DepEd Calendar also marked September for SY 2012-2013 as Science and Math Week.