FIELDTRIPS AND SEMINARS

University of Southeastern Philippines
Bo. Obrero Campus
Institute of Computing

TRAVEL REPORT
October 4-8, 2010
Manila-Laguna-Tagaytay

Fieldtrip Overview

Day 1
Today, I went on a company visit to Bayan Telecommunications, Inc. located at Quezon City, Manila, Philippines. After we took our lunch at Jade Valley, Timog Ave., Quezon City, we directly went there and have some discussions regarding their company. Indeed, they are the competitors of the PLDT which was visited also by the other groups separated to our appointment with them.
What I learned?
I learned in their company that in their network operations, there are 72 workstations and 2 TV monitors, it detects potential network problems and has real-time network surveillance and monitoring. In Metro Manila LEC network, there are 485 Outside Plant Access Cabinets (OPAC’s) and 28 Hardened Remote Access Interface Units (HRAIU’s) that access all the connections within Metro Manila subscribers through NMS which represented by the NOC Engineers. In their base station controller, the mobile switching center is the main switch for their technical operations which includes the Network Operators, Transmission Operators and the Data Operators. Their common problem that they encounter in their operations is the interference and the modems that sometimes occurs failure and malfunctioning. They also added that the operating system they are using is the Linux.
What I liked?
What I liked in their company was that, they welcome us hospitably and entertained us well. They shared a lot of information to us although not all of it but satisfied me though; I understand that they are also protecting the privacy for their company.
What I didn’t like?
What I didn’t like was they haven’t really fixed their appointment with us because during the discussion and the power point presentation they were in a hurry which we found that they had a meeting after our turn of visit. So, we haven’t much time to ask some questions that we want to have an answer.
Day 2
Today, I went on a campus visit to University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. We attended the seminar for IT students as a continuation also of Y4IT seminar conducted last September 2010 which was a benefit for us USeP students. On the afternoon, after the continuation of the seminar, we visited the IBM Company, followed by the UP Ayala Techno Hub; both are located within UP area.




What I learned?
The first speaker introduced to us was Prof. Lemuel Rodolfo Braña, who gave us his welcome address and has more than 16 years of experience in various areas of Information Technology. Next speaker was Ms. Rose Ann Sale who discussed about “The Winning Thesis”, there, I’ve learned from her not to be so focus on what you are doing, do it with what you want and what you are, the topic you should choose is the thing that is related to you and of course not the one you hate and irritates you; followed by the next speaker Mr. John Boaz Lee who discussed about “Visualization of Data” which showed us the comparison of data to all aspects of life that relates with it, from basic to tough factors that may be the cause of conflict to your data. Next was, Ms. Michelle Moscatel who shared about “Design and Implementation of Personalized Learning Environment” which explains the hardware part that includes Modules, Projects, Learner Profile, Assessment and Social Network. Next was my favorite of all the speakers who inspired me the most, Ms. Len de Gracia who shared about “Animation”, she let us saw some of her works and her company where she’s working, she stands for the line “good grades are not important, it is the passion in you..” all of us said “wow!” we were all awake at that moment and attentively listened to her, I can say that we enjoyed with her career discussion. Next was, Prof. Carlos Bott who worked with Apple II in 1984! I was so amazed. He shared about “Mobile Device Game Development” that gave us information about the most popular games in this century, with their software tools used, the languages, online flat forms and many more. Last but not the least was Dr. Ferdinand Pitagan who shared about “Empowering the Nation through Educational Technology” which inspires us the technology benefits and how it changes the community and our lives as time passes by. Later, we went to IBM Company and learned that they are now engaged not in computer products but in marketing already. Afterwards, we went to the Ayala Techno Hub which we knew that they are producing a advanced cable television that you may record movies or shows you want; it is more related to networking.
What I liked?
I liked it because we were so overwhelmed with the entertaining tarpaulins displayed and the souvenirs they gave. In addition to that, we really learned a lot from the speakers. With regards to IBM, the manager was so nice and very resourceful; and in the Ayala Techno Hub workers are so hospitable and very easy to approach and ask what you want.
What I didn’t like?
What I did not like was not related to the lectures discussed, instead, it is the environment’s temperature, or the cold brought by the air-conditioned within the auditorium that disturbed our focus to the speaker and made us sleepy; and to the IBM which did not gave all of us a souvenir, more specifically the IBM bag,.

Day 3
Today, I went on a company visit to Advance Science & Technology Institute (ASTI) located at C.P. Garcia, UP, Diliman, Quezon City. After lunch, we proceed to our visit at Social Security System on East Ave., Quezon City.
What I learned?
I learned about them are their Information and Communications Technologies program that aims to adopt, and develop strategic and R&D activities in the areas of information and communication technologies, composes-Advanced Networking Research, Wireless Technologies, and Network Applications and Software. Also, the Microelectronics Program that seeks to develop a state-of-the-art microelectronics design facility where one can do quality R&D work and cultivate a skilled workforce adept in Integrated Circuit (IC) Design through training and exposure to actual design work, composes-Digital, RF, Analog and Mixed-Signal Microelectronics R&D, Printed Circuit Board Laboratory, ASTI-VCTI Open Laboratory; last is the Technology Transfer Program that pursues dynamic assimilation of research results by industry, academe, NGO's and government instrumentality. It aims to transfer R&D outputs and advanced know-how through Technology diffusion/commercialization, Collaborative R&D, Conduct of trainings and seminars, and Industry studies. Afterwards, we went to SSS and learned about their operations on tracking people, how their databases work, how they make the ID card.


What I liked?
What I liked about them is they deserve as a model to us teenagers who passionately doing advanced technologies through science and encouraged us to be motivated in the field where we are tracking now. In SSS, well, the most hospitable of all, very overwhelming welcome for us, and we really did not neglect. In addition to that, they gave us snacks and very nice tour guide within their facilities.
What I didn’t like?
I did not like so much the presentation in ASTI because it’s really too serious and must be focused to listen, but it made us sleepy and been tired to our seats. Truly, it’s like just for smart and intelligent people, no entertainment or crack from the topic while discussing it not thinking if the listeners understand them or like to listen with them. I don’t have dislikes about SSS, .
Day 4
Today, I went on a company visit to Hitachi GST at Biñan, Laguna. When we entered in there, while we’re still outside the security is very strict, no bringing of cameras, cell phones are allowed but not its camera, in short, “no taking of pictures” which is so sad for me because we have no remembrance for this visit. When we enter the building, each of us wore a foot cover which is a policy in this company for all visitors, then they gave us ID to recognize us as guests. In the conference room, they played some movies and videos for us related to their company, it was really fun and interesting, it really motivates me a lot especially when they said that almost of their workers are girls because according to them girls are more patient than boys and girls have smooth hands. Before the time of the tour in the manufacturing of their product, they let us wear their company jacket, wow! But not for a souvenir, it is a must when you enter there. There are 4 divisions which the making of the slider is being done. We saw all the facilities. It’s really fun.

What I learned?
Hitachi is really a computer related company that we haven’t missed. They shared more about the hardware part. The product that they introduced to us was the slider which is a part of the hard drive in a computer, the one attach to the hard disk. The slider composes the gold, thin and copper in its appearance. First, it’s just like a form of a blank CD, later it will be cut horizontally. This thing can hold a 38 tera bites, we can’t really imagine how it is buts just like a tiny thing. You can put more or less 300 movies in that not counting the mp3’s, pictures and other documents in your PC. In this type of memory, the files are surely not be corrupted because the process of saving data in here is parallel, because, according to them, the cause of corrupted files is that the two processors will override each other that’s why some files are being corrupted. In this case, the two processors are parallel vertically to each other, that’s why they will never override each other so no more corrupted datas in your computer! However, because this is an awesome capacity of such slider, the price of it is really expensive, as I remember; it costs 4million pesos each slider, unaffordable for us poor, but really an advantage for computer companies.
What I liked?
What I like in this company is that they entertained us well and good, we learned a lot from them and it inspire us students.
What I didn’t like?
I don’t like the “no taking of pictures” policy. 
Day 5
Today, I went on a company visit to Telecoms Training Institute at Valenzuela and to MMDA (Traffic Engineering) at Mandaluyong.


What I learned?
I learned about TTI is they are more focus to telecommunication which is more likely in networking too. They showed us the different functions of their hardwares like RJ 45 and etc. In MMDA or Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is the monitoring of highways 24/7, where did they hide the surveillance cameras, how did they control the traffic lights. Speaking of traffic lights, it is controlled by a program when it will be green, yellow, or red. Each lane has a detector that detects the volume of cars and trucks, then the program will instantiate a certain time for green, yellow and red. In addition to that, the roads have a loop which circulates to get the whole volume of the certain road. On the other hand, Emelda Marcos was the first founder of the MMDA and the first chairman was Jejomar Binay.
What I liked?
What I like is that the moment we visited there because we knew how traffic lights work and how they easily respond through accidents which an ordinary people don’t know how it works, only just continue as life goes on not exploring the things around them.
What I didn’t like?
I have no comment in this part. 

APPENDIX
I recommend to Fieldtrip and Seminar Program in this curriculum a nearer destination so that the parents of the students cannot be hard for them to find money and a peace of mind that their son/daughter is so far, that no 100% assurance for them to think that their child is safe, this feeling could not be denied among us who’ve been there. There are computer related companies also at Cebu according to my Aunt; perhaps it was the first capital of the Philippines. Another thing is that, the advisers should have the fixed date and time who would’ve accompany the students in their trip, not would be the reason why it will be postponed because of him or her, that would be the reason of missing some important events on a place that they could learn much. I hope this will not take personally.
My advice to those who will take their Fieldtrip and Seminar program in the near future is do not just go with the flow, shout your right. Do not force a thing that you cannot get, many would cause this to a bad result. The last is, learn and have fun, kill joys are not allowed, this will happen once in the most unforgettable moment in your life.

Mt. Taal in Batangas



Going back home, NAIA Terminal 3

Unforgettable Fieldtrip 