Learnings on Field Trip and Seminar (Major/Minor)

Before we started our Major and Minor Fieldtrip, we first undergo a seminar with our Interpersonal Skill, with a theme of “Journeying Inward: Key to effective interpersonal relationship”; it is a team building activity which is very essential to our trip. The activity aims to develop our communication to each of the participants who will be joining the field trip and also at the same time for the people that we encounter along the way.

The activity was decided to start at 7:30, but due to some circumstances we started the event past 8 am which compromises the time of the entire activity.

The activity started with a prayer, we ask for the Lord’s guidance for the entire event that there will be no unwanted circumstances to occur during the said event and that he will open the eyes of each and every one to be able to completely show full interest to the said activity.

The activity was then followed by an opening remarks that was addressed by the college dean in the person of Dr. Tamara Cher Mercado, she said that Field Trip and Seminar is one of the awaited subjects as an ICEAN, that it is one of the high-lights of being on a Junior years (or should I say, Senior Years) she said many encouraging words that filled our hearts with excitement while waiting for the upcoming event.

After the speech, we were asked to write our expectation for the whole day seminar, and then we were asked to group ourselves, according to our own preferences. After the groupings, each of us was given a chance to approach a box full colorful paperclips, we were tasked to choose a paperclip with our own color preferences, and then we gathered around, after gathering we were asked further instructions, the instruction is to: “create an object that best represents ourselves using the paperclips that we choose earlier, then we are asked to discuss individually why we choose that as a representation of ourselves and why is it so, we exchange ideas with our fellow colleagues and we have learned more things about them and we got to know them better, each has a unique personality that build them up as to what or who they are now.

After discussing the representation of ourselves through our mini artwork, the speaker told us to make a collage out of our different artworks. Then we were able to form a MAN out of different works, then after that we were asked to explain our work, I was given the privilege to explain our works, why we come up with that idea and what does it symbolize, I simply said that it meant that through our individual differences we can become whole, with the help of each individual to complete ourselves.

By the way, the object I choose that represent myself is a Drum stick, it is because it is not just my passion, but it is my lifestyle. I see things as a drummer, I see things in a drummer’s perspective, and this is what I grew up with. It is maybe the best thing I could describe myself with, also because of being short with the resources we have in creating an object, but I didn’t regret why I choose it as a representation of me.

After the discussion, we read a poem that helps us understand and love ourselves better, through that poem each of us undergo a self-acceptance which helps each one of us to have a boost in confidence and love in ourselves. That poem help us understand that each of us is a unique individual that even if we have a look-alike or certain parts of me is similar to other people, it is the many experiences and certain behavior that made us who we are. That we are unique and we are the only I am in this world. The poem also help us understand more others, that we should not judge others easily, especially only to what we see, because each of us is a unique individual.

                                      

After that, we took our lunch, we have a 1 hour break and we were able to fix ourselves for the seminar in the afternoon.

In the afternoon, before we were dismissed, they left us an assignment; we were asked to draw the seating arrangements of our entire family many years ago, during our dinner, the order of our seating arrangements while we are still complete in our family. Prior to our college days. Each of us saw and understood why how a certain individual behaves, it is because of their past, the way they communicate with their parents. It helps me understand my friends more and better, it made me maybe a better person because after the activity, I felt that I should not judge a person quickly based on to what my eye sees.

The final activity is that, first, we were asked to group again in 11 and we should come up with a presentation with a very short span of time. Because of the activities earlier, the bond between my colleagues got better and we understood each one better which led us to coordinate accordingly through a very short span of time. Many groups presented and showcased different talents, some came up with a drama, some decided to sing, while we name our groups the jack of all trades, in which each of us as an individual presents each one’s talents.

It was the last activity, and it is very enjoying and refreshing for it allows us again to enjoy moments with each other’s company, the speaker delivered her short discussion afterwards and we ended up the activity with a speech from each of us as an individual, giving thanks to the speaker who willingly gave her time to us for us to furthermore understand ourselves better. Everyone had different reactions but overall, each was so thankful because they are really certain than they have learned something new or maybe they were able to rediscover themselves again. 

After the event, we thought it was over but we were not yet dismissed because there is still remaining time, we just then utilize the time left, using it to do our team building activity, we were again group in 5 and we were asked to create a building using straws. Unfortunately, we were not able to construct a strong masterpiece, but then we are proud of what we made. And that is how we ended up our whole day activity for our interpersonal skill seminar. Overall, it was fun and full of learning experiences.

This is it, this is the day we have all been waiting for, the day of our field trip, also for my first plane flight, I am very much excited this day, I haven’t been able to sleep well because of excitement, I slept very late and woke up very early. I slept late because I still prepared my belongings prior to our flight.

And now, the day has come, early in the morning, as I woke up, I rush to the airport and arrived at exactly 4:00 am. Then, I saw some of my classmates coming too. We are very excited and each one of us took as many pictures as possible, keeping it as a remembrance for us to keep for a lifetime. The time flew so fast that it was already 5:15, it was time for us to go. Then, each of us left the waiting area for our departure from Davao to Manila. I was so excited that even in the moment we enter the plane, we still took pictures of ourselves. I am very much grateful and happy because my seat was near the window, I can clearly see the view. 

Then the plane started to take off, the engines slowly turning on and we can feel the plane moving slowly, the plane travelled to the peak of the runway, when we reached the peak of the runway, it made a turn towards the other side, then the plane started to boost its engines, and the plane boosted to the runway, we can feel it moving so fast and then it took off. The takeoff is a very exciting feeling because I can feel the excitement when the plane elevated from the grounds and I felt happy because it was my first time.

As we flew higher, higher and higher, I can see the buildings, houses, cars, people and any other objects grew smaller, smaller and smaller until all I can see the wide geographical area of Davao city, and I see many boats by the sea. I was astonished by what my eyes saw. It was a pure dream, a beauty of nature, and life itself.

Even if they said it is better to turn off/ switch off mobile phones, I didn’t. I simply put my phone on flight mode and I capture images and videos for my first ever plane trip. I even took a picture in the lavatory which is pretty much embarrassing. Finally, we reached manila, there are lots of new undiscoverable things that makes me astonished and amazed.

An entire and whole new experience waiting to be experienced and to be experienced, a whole new world to live in and travel throughout this lifetime, this is the place I have never been before; thus this affects us as an individual a lot, especially as a person, for me these experiences that were able to feel will serves as an example for us to be able to understand and open our eyes to the real world scenarios which will soon help us choose our career in the upcoming future. Wikipedia stated that, “a seminar is, generally, a form of academic instruction, either at an academic institute or offered by a commercial or professional organization. It has a function of bringing together small group for recurring meetings, focusing each time on some particular subject, in which everyone present is requested to actively participate.”; as of now, I can really say that we are able to acquire the definition of seminar based on what have experienced as a group.

All I can say and conclude is that the seminars that we were able to join helped us a lot in different ways, especially on understanding things how they work as it is. It is the quintessential of the very existence of this fieldtrip and seminar, having believed that it is very significant in students like us to understand real like scenarios.

Seminar is very powerful in changing the life of many, The seminars in different companies enabled us to understand more about them and how their company works as a whole, it gives us a broader perspective of the real world and it helps us get prepared for it in the future. They gave us different lectures that further lectures that prepared us for the upcoming events that will possibly unfold in the mere future.

Aside from imparting their knowledge upon us, the companies did show us around their companies. They have explained the function of each of the machines that does the processes around their company, it helps us fit knowledge in us and fill the ignorance in ourselves.

In general, in my own belief all I can say is that they are encouraging us to join their workplace. To become one of their recruits and some of the companies are really good in persuading. They are helping us to become a good employee in the future and that each of us has a unique role and ample of capability that will help their company in achieving their vision, goal and mission. This will help our country achieve better and more stable economy. Being part of their company will ensure us a better future.

From the arrival to the airport, until the time we took off to manila, all I can say it that it was a very fun experience, the first time I entered the airport in Davao, I was pretty much excited. Even if we are still at the terminal, everyone else too is too excited, we took as much pictures as possible to fully utilize and enjoy our fieldtrip, it was a good experience and as I have remembered, if something is ending then another chapter unfolds, in this manner I can say that every ending is a beginning of a new one. I express that thought because while we are in manila, there are certain things than runs in my mind, like to where and when I will be working, or should I stay here in the local province or venture to the capital of the Philippines, things are getting pretty exciting here. All I can say is that, it was really an unforgettable experience, and I look forward to again, step my feet off to the manila grounds again.

The first stop in our tour was in the Social Security System (SSS) First and foremost, we were welcomed by their humble human resource staff team, which introduced us on what the Social Security System (SSS) is about, its function, its significance on each person’s life and its role to the society.

I learned the various benefits of the SSS pensioners and I also got to know the organizational structure of IT Personnel behind the success of SSS. Each of the members of the personnel of the IT department plays a very significant role in the tasks that was assigned to them and each are focused on their specific mastery. This will make their work more organized and more efficient in doing their jobs.

I have also learned what the SSS is all about and what its significance is for us as a citizen of the Philippines, the earlier we start earning the better our future will be soon. I discovered and realized that the SSS is not only a burden to its members but it is helping the entire member of the organization to ensure a better future for them and for their families, also to their beneficiaries.

I have also learned how the SSS started and the purpose why it is established in the first place. It has a vision that will be benefited by the future generations and achieve a financially stabled country, I learned that they are in the track of alleviating poverty in our company, if possible to eradicate it completely.

The company has a feature of Compulsory Coverage and Share Contributions which will help each individual who’s self-employed to be able to avail the benefits of working on a company.

Another thing that I have learned in the seminar is that the people involved in the Social Security System (SSS) is not limited only to the employees, it also include the following: Employers, Self-Employed/Professionals; which are also referred as the informal, and Voluntary who are Separated, Non-Working Spouses, OFW’s.

Each of the category has its own minimum contribution depending on what category a certain person belongs to.

The SSS includes Two Programs: Social Security which covers the following: Sickness, Maternity, Disability, Retirement, Death and Funeral. And Employee’s Compensation which is referred as to Work-related accident/death which is equal to Double compensation.

The last speaker is Mr. Paul D. Rillas, Junior Specialist of the Social Security System (SSS), ITGSD – Compliance Section. He discussed the Mission of their department which is: “to Provide quality systems when and where needed.” Mr. Rillas discussed the steps they did as a team to pursue their mission and he also tackled the importance of each member of their team in visualizing their vision into a reality.

What I liked the most about the seminar is that they welcomed us whole-heartedly and they have been very passionate in teaching us, they show the good side of SSS which is very attractive to the eyes of the youth and also they are so honest on answering the questions that was ask to them by our colleagues. I like the way they encourage us to do better in our studies for us to become one of them someday.

I like the tour accommodation they gave to us, especially our tour to their gallery which exhibits various parts of the history like our Philippine heroes. They are really thoughtful and grateful about the token we gave them.

But overall it was a good experience.

The next day, we went to a national conference which is Y4iT. I have learned a lot of things during the entire seminar; I love this seminar because it focuses more on the technical side of being an IT practitioner. The start of the event was formally opened by the Vice – President for Externals of Philippine Society of IT Educators (PSITE). Mr. John Peter Abraham Ruero, his opening speech helps us learn about the Y4iT and its history. He is then followed a talk by Mr. Paul Rivera from the Y-Combinator and Entrepreneurship who is the founder and CEO of Kalibrr. He help us understand that life is not easy, and it takes will for us to achieve what we have dreamed of, he share a lot of his knowledge and principles. What I like the most about his lecture is when he made us imagine something and make us ask ourselves “Where I am not supposed to be? But you are there.” This made me rethink my entire life as and I was really motivated by what he said. The next speaker was Rhea Althea Guntalilib who shares her thoughts about IT for the Blind: The Key to a brighter future, she lost her sight when she was 18 years old and still was able to manage to finish her studies and graduated as magna cum laude, she really amazed me and I was really inspired by her, I learned a lot of things about her especially on how to persevere even if unwanted cases of scenarios happened in our lives, we should always willing to accept things and even if it’s unlike before, we still can have a brighter future. Her being handicapped didn’t hinder her to achieve her dreams, she is now working as a system analyst for smart despite her severe condition and I really admire her for that.

She is for me the highlight of the event, being able to appear to the public with pride and confidence even the fact that she wasn’t able to see the crown in front of her. She inspires a lot of people, including me. There are so much more things that are learned from her life.

Another speaker was Winthrop Yu who happened to be the President of Internet Society – Philippine Chapter which discusses the topic: Who runs the Internet. Because of his lecture, I was able to understand that internet is so broad and that internet is not managed by an individual but as an organization, there are many people involved in managing the internet. No one person, company, organization or government runs the internet. That is what I’ve learned from him; there are many basis of the internet from operations and services, policies and standards, open debates, and the multistake - holders. It involves the International Organization for Standards (ISO), Internet Society (ISOC), 5 Regional Internet Registry (RIRs), World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), International Network Operators’ Groups, Governments and Inter-Governmental Organizations, Internet Research Task Force (IRTF), Internet Governance Forum (IGF), Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), Internet Architecture Board (IAB) all in which has its own specific functions.

In the afternoon we took our lunch and then we came back to the conference. The afternoon session was started by a Keynote Speech of Mr. Monchito Ibrahim the Deputy Executive Director for Policies, ICT Office from the Department of Science and Technology. He gave a brief but concise speech which allows us to value ourselves as IT practitioners.

The next speaker Christy Book-Tsang discussed The New Era of Open Source, she is a Master Affiliate of Asia Pacific, of Linux Professional Institute. She opens states that an Open Source era has begun and there are lots of opportunities. 

Two professors from the University of the Philippines Cebu National High School namely: Aurelio Vilbar the Principal and Kim Bondoc a Faculty Member where the next speakers, they have taught us that android applications can be a great tool for learning and it is more effective than the traditional way of teaching, they encourage us to create our own applications that will be benefitted by the younger generations for a better future to live in. they showed us different applications and explained the concept of a good application. They also shared the advantages and disadvantages of using android applications in teaching.

Gian Scottie Javelona and Chino Philip Adrian Atilano were the last speakers, Gian started first and discussed The Sooner You Start, The Faster You Learn. He young as 20, is already a CEO of his own company, the OrangeApps Inc. He is a simple boy but looks can be deceiving. He can manage and has his own team and also his own office, he really inspires me to become a technopreneur, we just have to grab the opportunity while it was there, there is no other greater time to start than now, there are no right times, we should create our own right time, that is what I’ve learned from him. I just can’t believe that a 20 year old can achieve too much, it all just started as a dream, he discussed that the difference between a dream and a goal is that a dream is just a dream while a goal is a dream with an action, we must exert effort for us to achieve what we want. He encourages us that we should fix our mistakes while we are young to be able to straighten our paths to success.

Next was Chino Philip Adrian Atilano, he is the Co-Founder and CEO of TimeFree Innovations Inc., with his topic Starting things right. He said that to be able to become successful, it should be started right, there is a BIG difference when we start things right, and when we do things we want it our way.           

What I like the most is when Kevin Leversee (the Co-Founder and CEO of startupDragons) started his interactive talk, I like the way he imparted his knowledge unto us and made us able to understand the internet of things. I like the things he discussed, especially on his beliefs that technology and innovation cannot be stopped, it’s alive. His discussion about the prism, etc. I like all of it. Before he started sharing his lecture, he gave a moment of silence for our brothers in Zamboanga City for 30 seconds.

The third tour we made was in the PLDT. We were first welcomed by Ms. Annie Ferrer, BSBA – Management; who facilitated us in the entire tour, along with her colleague Mr. Gino Francisco. I learned so many things this day, and the first company we visit is the Philippine Long Distance Telecommunications (PLDT) formerly known as Philippine Long Distance Telephone, the company shifted from being a telephone company to a multi-tasking company. I learned the history of PLDT, where and why it started, and the origin of the company, its downfall and its rise from glory to glory and to what the company is right now. We made a tour in the company Innovation Laboratory and Telecommunication Education Center of PLDT (INNOLAB), we first have a briefing and a short lecture/introduction to their room, and then we proceed to the aisle where the history of PLDT was being displayed, the numbers of workers, net income and etc. of the company, then we proceeded to the other rooms which showcase their new products that is still under the testing process. I was inspired to have a new idea as a technopreneur as we move around from their building, I learned that anything we can think of can be made possible. Finally, we finished our tour with a lecture from one of their engineers; it is all about networking and the travel of data from one place to another.

In the aisle where the history of PLDT was being displayed, this is what we have learned: at the year November 28, 1928 the PLDT which is formerly known as Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company was established; 1939 – 1948 Destroyed telephone Lines. 10,848 Lines, 315 Employees; 1949 – 1958 Hope. Installation of underground telephone cable. 60,066 Total Lines, 1,304 Employees; 1959 – 1968  Age of Change, PLDT is a Filipino Controlled Corporation, 184,787 Total Lines, 3,028 Employees; 1989 – 1998 Age of Gatekeeper, 1,596,856 Total Lines, 14,073 Employees with no Competitors, First single chip microprocessor, Zero Backlog; 1999 – 2008 Age of Transformation/Convergence, 1,782,356 Total Lines, 29,904 Employees with Voice, Video and Data Triple Play, business is applied Abroad; 2009 – Present Age of New Era, The PLDT becomes the leading and largest telecommunications company in the Philippines.

What I like about this tour is their new products that is still under the testing phase where an user can turn on and off his electronic devices through the use of a computer, a web-based application which allows the user to manipulate and connected device to the PC to switch it from on to off, the application will be a subscription type, and Mr. Gino who guided us from our tour told us that he can’t tell for now the possible price of the subscription. Another device they are currently working on is the GPS system which tracks the user whenever they are, as long as the device is on, but it will cost much. I like our tour inside their lab because they have so many high-tech devices which are cloud based and it really is music to my ears.

On the fourth day, we went to IBM. I learned a very important thing this day, especially for the analytics, business analytics to be more specific. There are four types of Analytics but we only discussed 3 types of analytics: Descriptive Analytics which is used to gain sight from the historical data with reporting, scorecards, clustering and etc., Predictive Analytics which is a predictive modeling using statistical and machine learning techniques and finally Prescriptive Analytics which recommend decision making using optimization, simulation and etc.. I also learned a lot about the networking, regarding their server and it is open for all, but will be depending on the availability of the device.

The IBM Innovations Center is a small place but is very big in significance, the small cubicle office includes the Server Room which allows students and people to use Freely the Desks, and so on with the office, they also have Conference Room which allows the staffs to conduct their meetings, their server is so powerful even if it only accommodates small area of deployment.

Data Center nowadays are expensive that is why the IBM Innovations Center allows people to use their technology without asking anything in return, the Big Data Technology includes Large amount of data, Volume, Variety and Velocity, that gives importance to Analytics.

I like that the server is free to use for incubation and other stuffs, I like the lectures that he taught us, regarding the analytics. I also like the mini-tour we made inside their office, and also their promotion of Watson, an AI that defeats the best human player with the reality game show, Jeopardy. IBM really amaze me, it is made out of very complex algorithm that really stuns me a lot, and Watson won the competition even if he is just offline and the basis for his actions or the data being deployed in him is the entire Wikipedia. I also remember few years ago, there is this so called robot, Deep Blue who managed to defeat the greatest chess master of all time, Gary Kasparov. It was also a product of IBM.

The fourth company was in Toshiba, I can say that this company is the most disciplined and amazing. I learned so many things this Day, especially on the process of creating hard disk drives. Aside from that, I learned how the company started back there in japan, and also how it started here in the Philippines, I have learned what their contribution to the Philippine economy are and them being the 3^rd largest producer of hard drive disks in the entire Asia.

The Toshiba Philippines was established late 1995, whose originally owned by Hisashige Tanaka, President, Director and CEO, that was founded last 1875 in Japan. In the Philippines it was spearheaded by one of the TIP Leaders Mr. Minoru Iriko, who gave us the opening remarks. I have learned too that Toshiba has four business domains which includes the following: Digital Products, Electronic Devices and Components, Intra-structure Systems and lastly the Home Appliances, which greatly helped the world in innovations. Toshiba do really standout to their motto which is Leader Innovation.

We also learned the Demographics of the employees of Toshiba, the TIP – LTI Organization Structure is composed of 1 Filipino Board Member, which includes 5 Filipino Vice Presidents, and 14 Senior Managers, the ratio of Male to female is 90% which is in favor to female, it is because female are more stable when it comes to handling sensitive devices, the Age of the employees are the following: Operators 28 years old, Staff 29 years old, Engineers 27 years old, Supervisors 37 years old, Managers 41 years old; giving a total average of 29 years old.

I like the tour, they showed us the hard disk drives were created, I really like the tour we made in their company, their company is very organized and the people out there are very happy and I love greeting all of them, I also like the fact that the one who entertained us are from Mindanao, especially from our very own Alma Mater, University of Southeastern Philippines, they are former students of our own university from the department of College of Technology. They inspired us to work hard and look forward to work with them in the future. We really get along very well and I really understand better because they can speak vernacular which allows a better communication for both parties. The workers there are so disciplined and active and the fact that the one who welcomed us is very pretty.

The Last Company we went in is in the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority(MMDA).I learned that MMDA is not just about traffic but they also reduce the risks of other hazards that can are made by the typhoons and earthquakes. They maintain and organize the city to reduce the risks of damages. MMDA holds the Motto of “Marangal Matapat Disiplinado Ako.” Which meant that the MMDA is an active and uncompromised organization which values integrity and human morale. MMDA is primarily committed to monitor the following: Traffic, which is very common and rampant in Manila, especially in crowded areas; Flood Control; does operation on controlling the flood in manila, does the planning phase of controlling the flood, to alleviate the casualties caused by the flood and mitigate the damage it will cause on high risk/ hazardous area that are prone to flood.

During our visit to MMDA we undergo a small lecture about earthquakes, the damages it caused and will be causing. There are certain parts of manila which are very much prone to earthquakes, the MMDA are doing some actions to reduce the possible damages of the earthquake by education the people near the hazard zone, educating them on what are the things to do to survive an earthquake.

What I like the most in their seminar is the house of where they will let students/visitors experience an intensity 5 earthquake. I also like their CCTV cameras that are being displayed that are capable of zooming up to 1km of area; it has the ability to optical zoom up to x24, these are very useful and essential for traffic navigation and good source for investigation. They also use project Nationwide Operational Assessments of Hazards (NOAH) which navigates the weather of the Philippines and be able to announce the public of the possible damage that will be caused by the typhoon.

The things that I recommend for the improvement of the advance seminar program of USEP is that, the seminar should be more focused and concise on the certain subject that it is taking up, yes it’s good that we were able to touch the tip of the iceberg, but sometimes were just a glimpse of it. I understand that we don’t have much time in our seminar because we are only staying day for a few days, that is why I strongly believed that the length of the days that the fieldtrip should take place should be increased for us to really indulge ourselves in those seminars. In my own observation, the seminar is really good, it plays a vital role for us as an individual; it’s like refining a Gold, the more we expose ourselves to the blazing fire, the more we become pure and solid, the problem is that, the fire isn’t that sufficient for us to completely achieve the form that we are bound to become. The seminar is a very effective tool, its more than good but for me, I just felt short.

while in our local tour, we came to Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) this time it is in favor to us because it is just near and common to us travelling in a familiar place, and in this trip we were able to save ample money, than trip that we made over Manila. PSSCC or Public Safety and Security Command Center is the counter-part of MMDA in Manila or Metropolitan Manila Development Authority in Manila City. Which is a really small office in Manila, the PSSCC in the other hand is a large establishment committed to protecting the Davao City as a whole Entity.

First and thing is first, the learning in here is just unstoppable. There so much things to learn here, we came to the company as early as 8:00 am. I can say that the place is secure because the safety of the place is the most priority, before we enter the establishment, we first undergo a lot log-In to be able to keep or have record on those who came to the establishment incase unwanted very secure place and safety is its main priority.

I can say that everyone is excited, even if it is just in Davao City, it is not expensive than or compared to the company visits and tours in Manila, I believe that it offers the same quality, sometimes even better quality than what we saw or experience in manila, except for the food that we eat in Manila, because that is something that we have been investing since our departure.

The moment we enter the establishment, we were amazed by the available technology that was being promoted by Davao City. I can say that in terms of security, Davao is a better place than Manila City, which is the capital of Philippines. The technology is truly a high-end device which greatly help Davao mitigate crimes, especially traffic related crimes which is often committed along the road.