TRAVEL REPORT
September 16-20, 2013
Seminar Overview
Our major field trip was held at Manila
for 5 days. It was raining when we arrived at the NAIA 3. We only visited 5 of
the 6 companies listed in the itinerary because we didn’t manage to reach our
supposed to be first company visit which was Flour Daniel on time because of
the heavy traffic at Nichols. The one who accompanied us in our trip in Manila
was Kuya Byron from Maynilad Tours. He was our tour guide for only 4 days since
on our fifth and last day Ate Ma’anne took the place for Kuya Byron because he
had obligations to attend to.
On Monday, we have visited Social
Security System Office at Quezon City. We held our seminar in the SSS Museum
and Library. They have showcased there the history of SSS and the benefits a
member could get. A lot of questions we’re raised about their centralized system.
After the talk we we’re toured to the Andres Bonifacio Museum, where
Bonifacio’s memorabilias we’re kept. On Tuesday, we attended the biggest IT
event in the country the Philippine Youth Congress Information Technology
(Y4iT) that was held at SMX Convention Center, Pasay City. A number of speakers
had their talk, all we’re inspiring and motivating. It was a whole day full of
learnings and prizes. On the next day, we visited two companies, PLDT and IBM.
For me, that was the best day of our 5 days stay in Manila because I have seen
the high-end facilities and competitive workers of both companies. I am
privileged to be able know how the company manages their consumers and on the
following day, we visited Toshiba, Canlubang where storage devices we’re manufactured
and tested. We were welcomed by USEP Alumni who were currently working there.
The place was huge; one not familiar in that place would easily get lost of all
the right and left turns. And lastly, we visited MMDA, Mandaluyong on Friday
where we saw how they manage to respond quickly whenever there are accidents on
the road through their facilities.
To sum it all up, our 5 day field trip and seminar was a success. I have
witnessed and learned new things that I know I could use in the near future. I
also managed to know my classmates even more and have built a strong bond
throughout the trip. I can say the price was worth the learning, experience and
most especially the fun.
Day
1
Today I went on a seminar in Social
Security System or Paseguruhan ng Kapanatagang Panlipunan located at East
Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. It is a government agency that provides social
insurance program for Filipino workers all over the Philippines for more than
three decades. They have 134 branches all over the archipelago. SSS have been
essential to all the Filipino workers because of the excellent benefits an SSS
member could get.
What I learned?
I learned that the Philippine
government fought to provide social security for the Filipino citizenry. It all
started the Workmen’s Compensation Act, passed on 1927 to provide payment for
work-related injuries and deaths suffered by wage earners. Then came the
Government Service Insurance System created by Commonwealth Act Number 186 in
1936 to address the needs of the growing population of government workers. And
on January 26, 1948, a recommendation to Congress was passed for the enactment
of a law to establish a social security system for wage earners and
low-salaried employees and on June 21, 1957, the Social Security Act of 1954
was signed to law. Along with the agency’s first anniversary was also the
laying of the cornerstone of their present building on Quezon City. Their
President and CEO is Mr. Emilio de Quiros Jr. And on the succeeding years, SSS
have served and helped a lot of low-salaried employees both in the government
and private sectors. SSS insurance covers a lot of types of benefits from
sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, death and funeral, under given
conditions. Also all SSS-registered employers and their employees are
compulsory covered under the Employees’ Compensation or EC Program.
What
I liked?
I really liked their speakers and
personnel; they have given us nice lectures about their agency and they are
always welcome to any questions and concerns. They have clearly explained what
the history of SSS is, how to apply and what the benefits of being a member
are.
We were only toured to the Andres
Bonifacio Museum where a lot of Bonifacio memorabilia were showcased because it
was raining that day but nevertheless, I have learned new things about
Bonifacio, his brief biography and KKK.
What
I didn’t like?
They have welcomed and accommodated us
well so I have nothing to not like about the agency. Their facilities were good
and clean. And even though they have the one of the oldest building standing,
it was as if new because of well maintenance. As of their services, it’s really
essential for Filipino workers and retirees. My grandfather was a member and is
now enjoying his retirement fee. It really helped financially since he got a
stroke last year and he has a lot of medication to go through. Thus, I can say
that I really have nothing I didn’t like about this agency.
Day
2
Today I went to SMX Convention Center
in Pasay for the Youth for Information Technology or Y4iT. It was a whole day
full of inspiring and innovative speakers. The seminar was all about how ICT
have boost its way up because of new technologies and innovations that have make
lives easier.
What
I learned?
I learned that idea and guts is all
you need to attain success; a unique idea and super high guts. Speakers have
shared how they pursued everything to get where they were now without thinking
of the negative. All of the speakers are inspring but the most inspiring for me
was Ms. Rhea. I learned to more appreciate and value my life with the talk of
Ms. Rhea Guntalilib, a blind person yet she still managed to graduate a Suma
Cum Laude and is now working under Smart Communications Inc. as Software
development analyst and software developer. She was so inspiring. I almost
cried while she was telling us about how she managed to stand up again. She
made me realize how lucky and passive I am. I also felt guilt that time because
I know in myself I have not done my best. Ms. Rhea is a strong person and is
aided by JAWS or Job Access With Work which is a screen reader program of
Microsoft to get her job done. She even demonstrated how JAWS works and I could
say that it’s loud but for Ms. Rhea it’s a very helpful tool for blind persons.
And the founder and CEO of Kalibr, Paul Rivera was also inspiring. I had a picture
with him and he even said to me that I must strive hard and aim to be a future
speaker for Y4iT.
One could really say that the speakers
have a lot to be proud of them. They have the guts, the knowledge. The theme of
Y4iT really dwelled throughout the day. Imagine. Innovate. Inspire.
What
I liked?
I liked how the UPSITF or UP System
Information Technology Foundation picked their speakers. They really got the
best people to really make the audience imagine, innovate and inspire. They
really have reached into their audiences mind, made it open for possibilities.
For me, it quite bumped me and made me realize how passive I am. Disabilities
are not hindrances but challenges that God knew that this person could get
through. I could say that the word for that day was “Inspire”, I was really
inspired on how they managed to get to the top. I also liked that the event has
a raffle (HAHA) but sadly wasn’t picked. Their prizes were android phones and
an Asus laptop. It was really a fun-filled and inspiring day.
What
I didn’t like?
I can’t think of anything to dislike
in this seminar since they have provided everything. They have snacks,
freebies, raffles and amazing speakers. All you have to do was sit down and
listen to the speakers. And it was not one of the typical boring seminars I
swear all speakers could get your attention like Mr. Leversee, in particular,
he discussed about Internet of things and he was a head turner because of how
he delivered his lecture. But it’s quite saddening for me that I could only
participate in Y4iT once in my college life since this annual event is always
held in Luzon. It might be nice if Y4iT will be held at Davao or anywhere near
here because I would probably go. It was a great privileged for me that I have
attended this important event.
Day
3
Today I went on a seminar in PLDT and
IBM. For me this day was the best because both companies are accommodating and informative.
Though we were not allowed to take pictures inside their offices I was so
delighted to have entered it and naively wished that if only my eyes could take
pictures. HAHA. We were on the third day yet our spirits were still at its peak
because of the technological advancements we witnessed.
What
I learned?
In PLDT or Philippine Long Distance
Telephone Company located at Makati, they have high-end facilities, in the room
where our first discussion was held they have a touch screen projector and a Mondopad,
it is just like a huge iPad. We were toured in a hallway where their history
memorabilias were stored in a case. I noticed that they have increased and
widen their network and services each year. I saw there their first ever
telephone distributed for subscribers. But as technology levels higher every
year PLDT had a feeling that they might not stay in the industry longer if they
will only stick on telephone, so PLDT expanded their services, they offered
beepers and first cellphones to level the competition. PLDT now offers wireless
and LAN connections. And now they are planning to use fiber optics to make
their connections faster. They also showed us their Smart home that could turn
on and off appliances with just one click and we even tried how to use a
Mondopad. And I was amazed that they have already made my ideaspace entry,
Gtracker, only which it is only applicable for to track vehicles. They gave me
a light that my idea could be possible.
In IBM or International Business
Machines located at Commonwealth, I have learned that they are helping student
developers who have limited resources; they let them use their facilities for
that purpose. There was only one speaker and he was a teacher but stopped on
teaching and continued to work in IBM. His lecture was more about database and
logistics. Different types of handling these areas. He toured us by batch since
their receiving rooms have small spaces and he also showed us different kinds
of servers. And while others were waiting a video about their AI named Watson
was played. It’s amazing how a computer competes answers with real people and
even won the game.
What
I liked?
I liked the formality in their work. I
want to work in one of those companies if possible. They have given us
informative discussions and even gave freebies. I am privileged to enter such
huge company because not everyone could enter it. PLDT was accommodating and
always encourage us to ask questions and they answer it clearly, IBM too.
What
I didn’t like?
I know that both are huge companies
but I just kind of feel that IBM is quite strict. Their employees were acting
like they don’t like visitors even though we behaved well. They were not quite
accommodating, not even a smile as we pass. But despite of that, IBM is still
one of my favorite companies.
Day
4
Today I went on a seminar at TOSHIBA
Inc., Canlubang where HDDs are manufactured there. We were privileged to have
toured inside their plant. There were a lot of USEP alumni working there now;
they were hired last year through provincial hiring.
What
I learned?
Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co. or TOSHIBA
was a product of two companies merged. And their only manufacturing plant is
here in the Philippines since they prefer Filipino workers because Filipinos as
hardworking and delicate also are good English speakers. TOSHIBA have received
a lot of awards for the past years. We were toured inside their plant. We saw
how they make HDDs and how they secure good quality of HDDs for consumers. They
have a room where HDDs were stored and tested and a mechanical hand does the
work of getting that HDD that have malfunctioned. And if ever there have a
defective HDD they have a room for testing and searching which part of the HDD
is wrong. They don’t easily throw defective HDD it will undergo several stages
and only if after that there is no solution found then it is when they dispose
it. They also have an air pressurized room where HDD were made. HDDs were made
by robotic arms. They have a room where HDDs were tested to what temperature a
HDD could handle, it will be put inside a special black case for 3 days for
testing.
What
I liked?
Everyone is courteous. They greet
every person they get across with. Their plantation was huge one could easily
get lost there. I liked how they made the Alumni to welcome us as we enter the
building. Daghag bisaya didto haha wala ko naglisud ug pangutana kung unsa to,
unsa ni. They answer all of your questions except questions about their salary.
HAHA. They have huge facilities there. And the employees are nice to look at
because they have uniforms. The place was cozy too; it is far away from the
city and pollution.
What
I didn’t like?
I have no reason to dislike such
amazing place. Everything and everyone were accommodating. They have smiles on
their faces. They were as if a huge family. Mostly everyone were acquainted
with each other. Even though they have a boss they treat everyone equally. They
talk like friends, a casual conversation but with respect. I would love to work
their if possible but I don’t think I have the qualifications they need.
Day
5
Today I went to MMDA or Metro Manila
Development Authority. They held the discussion in there Flood Control
Information Center and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operation Center.
What
I learned?
I learned that they were not only
assigned on the traffic but also in the weather forecast and flood control of
Manila. They have huge monitors there that are connected to PHILVOCS and
PAGASA. They also have the data of earthquakes that is happening every day all
over the Philippines. They have prepared PowerPoint slides of their lectures.
They also made us watch videos of disasters happened on the streets that were
recorded in the CCTV. Also they have a huge memory for storing CCTV recorded
videos that could last for months. We were aghast on the different accidents
happened because of law breakers and red light beaters. There was a man riding
a motorcycle but suddenly bumped to the railing and blood scatter on the
streets, they said that the man was still alive that time but was declared dead
on arrival at the hospital. We really can’t avoid accidents but we can do
everything we could to prevent it by following the street rules and the law.
I also got the chance of experiencing
their Shake, Rattle and Roll House. It is a house that simulates an earthquake
magnitude and intensity. It was really a nice experience to have sat inside a
shaking house. HAHA.
What
I liked?
I liked their personnel because they
were so accommodating; smiles are on their faces as they speak to us. They
explained thoroughly their work and scopes of it. They presented all the stuffs
we need to know. And I really liked that Simulation house where we had the
chance to experience a magnitude 4 earthquake.
What
I didn’t like?
The agency was great, no reason to
dislike it. What I didn’t like was we only have a minimum of time there. Not
everyone have experienced to be inside that shaking house. But all in all, it
was a nice visit there thought it was raining that day.
APPENDIX
What can I recommend for the
improvement of the advance seminar program of USEP?
I recommend that the preparations
should be started a semester before and must be planned earlier as well because
problems may be encountered if not planned out well. Also parents should be
called to meet personally on selecting what are their preferences so that
parents wouldn’t be startled and shocked of how costly it is. It must also have
a Memorandum of Agreement between the parents and the FTS president that there will
be no turning back once the majorities have decided. And students must pick
responsible and patient persons to be their officers, the ones who will never
back out and would strive to finish what they have started.
My advice to those who will take their
advance seminar program in the near future is that they must all be responsible
of themselves. Don’t make others suffer because of your issues. Plan everything
and tell your parents all the agreements truthfully. If possible orient your
parents a semester before that you have the plan on taking field trip and
seminar next semester for them to be ready in any case. Never be tardy in
classes. Pass all documents needed by the officers and don’t wait for the
deadline to comply it. Pass all the reflections given by the professor. Never
be a burden to anyone in the group. Stay attentive and be serious on talks and
discussions. Behave in each company you visit. Help your officers.
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