Day 5 - October 8, 2010

Today I went on a company visit to:
• MMDA (Traffic Engineering)


What I learned:
• I learned that MMDA center provides great facilities to monitor traffic around metro manila, and it is very unbelievable to see this facilities working and is well-maintained by the personnel. They have CCTV cameras installed in each corners around metro manila with a high quality image output that even a farthest plate number of a car can be retrieved. They also showed to us some of the recorded highway disasters, traffics and some incidents. They said, MMDA performs planning, monitoring and coordinative functions, and in the process exercise regulatory and supervisory authority over the delivery of metro-wide services within Metro Manila without diminution of the autonomy of the local government units concerning purely local matters.
I learned that their agency is headed by a Chairman, who is appointed by the President and continues to hold office at the discretion of the appointing authority. He is vested with the rank, rights, privileges, disqualifications, and prohibitions of a cabinet member.
The Chairman is assisted by a General Manager, an Assistant General Manager for Finance and Administration, an Assistant General Manager for Planning and Assistant General Manager for Operation, all of whom are appointed by the President with the consent and concurrence of the majority of the Council, subject to civil service laws, rules and regulations. They enjoy security of tenure and may be removed for cause in accordance with law.
The Assistant General Manager for Planning should have not less than five years extensive experience in development and planning or must hold a master's degree in urban planning or similar disciplines.



What I liked:
• I liked the setup of their monitors which is very convenient for everyone to see if there is any vehicular incident that is happening.


What I don’t liked:
• I don’t like the part where we were tour inside and database area, which is very narrow that we couldn’t fit inside it.

Day 4 - October 7, 2010

What I learned:
• Global Exist are specialize in developing enterprise software, interactive web applications, and technology software solutions. Historically, they have designed, developed, and delivered new products and applications and enhanced existing solutions, using practice teams with areas of expertise including Open Source, Internet and Web 2.0 technologies, Java, and Ruby on Rails. Their customer-focused approach to strategic software development has earned Exist numerous awards, including ZDNet Asia's Top 10 Techno Visionaries Award, Red Herring's 100 Most Promising Companies in Asia, and eServices' Most Progressive Homegrown Company. Exist has been a key innovation partner of its clients in delivering enterprise software, interactive web applications, and technology solutions.

Technology trailblazers with an open source spunk, Exist has innovated with customers around the world, helping them to respond quickly to strategic business requirements, to turn creative ideas into powerful applications, and to take advantage of current and emerging technologies. Exist was able to live up to its promise by releasing quality and innovative applications for its global clients. Flash forward to today, it's still trailblazing in technology and software engineering marked by its year-to-year revenue growth, top-notch leadership team and technical team, increasing clientele, expanding market, and overall company growth.


What I liked:
• I like their softwares. I like their facilities, so clean. The people there are approachable.

What I don’t liked:
• None. I like it there.

Day 3 - October 6, 2010

Today I went on a company visit to:
• PLDT (Philippine Long Distance Telecommunications)
• ASTI (Advance Science & Technology Institute)
• TTI (Telecom Training Institute)

What I learned:
• I learned that we, IT student have great opportunity to be hire in any PLDT branch because they usually need some technical related courses. They have machines developed that are automated and synchronize to the system like the ATM that is automated for the users that is affiliated with PLDT.

• I learned that ASTI makes application/products that is already in market and is very useful for the people that studies related to computer technology. They usually produce embedded technologies like GDAT Data Acquisition terminal, PICME microcontroller kit, GSM data terminal, Digital wood meter, and Digital multimeter. They also discuss their projects like the early warning system for tsunami, PREDICT, and field monitoring system. The developers of Bayanihan Linux OS, also presented their developed OS which is a proud to be Filipino product.

• In TTI, I learned how to use fiber optics in connecting lines that is used in telecommunications, that it is very dangerous in handling such thing. The speakers also discussed the things about LAN networking and what are the processes undergone by the information before it is received by the receiver. They also explained some of the technical machines they have like Digital multiplex masterstation, and the processes like sampling, quantisizing, coding, and the mux.

What I liked:
• I liked the person who toured us around because at his very young age, he already acquires a good position in a great company like PLDT, which makes him one of the best employees. I think he is really smart for accomplishing such thing in his life.
• I liked the speakers of the seminar for they have answered our questions to best that they can. They didn’t show us the whole place but, they have properly explained and discussed the thing that is significant to the tour.

• I liked the speakers/instructors patience to all of us for discussing and sharing the things that he knew and making it to be one of the best tours.


What I don’t liked:
• I don’t like the fact that we were just in a limited time because we need to go to another place so the speaker didn’t have the opportunity to explain further about some topics related to technical solutions.

• I don’t the time given for each batch of students because it is just very short and I guess it needs some time to discuss all subjects that is significant.

• I don’t like the appearance of the building and also some parts of the building as we tour it inside. It is true that they have great machineries but I guess better place is also a plus.

Day 2 - October 5, 2010

Today I went on a company visit to:
• University of Philippines, Diliman
• SeaChange (Ayala Techo HUB)
• IBM – International Business Machine (Ayala Techo HUB)

What I learned:
• UP Diliman, upittc is one of the best itineraries that we have visited. I learned a lot of things including how to write a winning thesis, because it might be helpful to us in the future, they also discussed about visualization, personal learning environment, gaming, mobile development, and other technical related topics that would be helpful for us.

• In SeaChange, they have showed us their facilities and found out that they provide tv shows, movies and other multimedia services which is stored in their database that was maintain by their IT personnel. They also said that they also provide some of technical services on the big network companies like GMA and ABS-CBN. These services also include the capability of their customer to watch movies/ tv shows at their convenient time because it allows them to pause, play stop, rewind, forward, and other convenient features in using multimedia.

• I learned that IBM is a company that gives opportunities to the people that have great ideas and that they help it out to develop something useful. The president of the company is a person that is a positive thinker which persuades us to do what we like and do hard-work in anything we do.


What I liked:
• I liked their accommodation because they already prepare everything for the event, and the speakers are also very professionals while delivering their speech which was mostly very interesting to us.

• I liked their offices/ facilities, it is very organized and well-maintained, and especially their database which was most of all their multimedia is stored. They also let us get inside to their servers which are very confidential but still they try to explain how it works.

• I liked the ambiance of their building, seems like every people walking around there is professional and also the president which is also the speaker for the said event. They showed us an example of the servers that they make which is not working because it is only for viewing purposes.


What I don’t liked:
• I don’t like some speakers that do not know how to get the attention of his/her audiences; even some of us are already sleeping and talking to somebody.

• I don’t like some of their employees because, some of them act like they do not know anything, but almost are really kind and hospitable.

• I don’t the fact that they really didn’t tour us around the building because we have just go around a room.

Day 1 - October 4, 2010

Today I went on a company visit to:
• SSS (Social Security System)
• First Web Academy

What I learned:
• On the first day of our major field trip and seminars in Manila, we visited the SSS office located at East Avenue, Quezon City. I learned that having or being a member in SSS could be very helpful in any cases its because this company was also linked to other big companies worldwide which means its membership or its card is recognize by this company. One of the speaker there, discuss about the different benefits an SSS member can get. There are these cash allowance for sickness and maternity, cash benefits for disability, retirement, death, and funeral. I also found out that they have now databases that is currently operational, one is within the metro, and the other is in a province-like place. The CIO of SSS said that the main database is used for their daily transactions to exchange information and store it, while the other on is used as a back-up in case of disaster or any technical problem that may occur in the main database, in this way the service of SSS won’t be interrupted and is convenient for the people and the employees. They also show us to their facilities including the area where they produce the SSS ID card, which they stop producing because of another universal-like ID which is composed of other companies.

• The second company we visited is the First Web Academy in Makati City which is one of the country's leading providers of digital TESDA-approved design technology courses. With its continuing dedication to curriculum development, it is fast becoming a preeminent gateway for careers in advertising, animation design, multimedia communication and web development. One of the employee there showed us how to make a 3-d apple using their software. I have learned from them that being a graphic artist doesn’t require that you must really know how to draw. As long as you have this what they called “a wild imagination”. Since I am an art lover and also I really love to draw, how I wish I could enroll in this academy to learn many things about graphic designs and also animation.
 
What I liked:
• I like their accommodation, because I can really tell that they prepared for our arrival because of the hospitality and kindness they show to us, they have nice ambiance of conference room, well-educated speakers and good snacks. The tour in their building is a great experience.

• I like their facilities. I also like the sample artworks of those graphic artist there. How I wish I could also become a graphic artist someday. It is one of my greatest dream.

What I don’t like:
• Nothing.. It’s a great experience touring in SSS bldg.

• I don’t like the rooms were they brief us, because it is like unattended cellar. Actually, it just came to my mind that “Sutherland - Davao is way better than here”.

Field Trip Overview

Five days is really a thumbs-up experience for me. There are lots of events there that me myself can’t really forget what happened. Not only of the enjoyment experiences but also of the things I learned from our visitation there.

The said fieldtrip was a five day company tour and seminar in manila. We were divided into two batches for our flight in Cebu Pacific. When we arrived to NAIA, we were divided into three batch for three buses for five days of tour. Each bus has its assigned company to visit. Good thing, Maynilad tours ensured that each bus will have the same travel experiences to refrain from student complaints and other technicalities.

Though the reason for having this fieldtrip was for business matters, we were still given the chance to have some visitation at Tutuban, Trinoma, SM Mall of Asia, Market Market, Enchanted Kingdom, and the People’s Park in the Sky at Tagaytay. For me, one of my unforgettable experience there is when I took a Space Shuttle ride at Enchanted Kingdom. The feeling was totally awesome though it was my first time.

The main target of the fieldtrip is the company tours and seminars of course. There are lots of companies that we have visited. Our batch visited the SSS in Quezon City, First Web Academy in Makati City, UP diliman Quezon City, Ayala Technohub in commonwealth Quezon City, PLDT in Mandaluyong City, TTI or Telecoms Training Institute in Valenzuela, Exist Global in Ortigas Center Pasig, and lastly the MMDA company in Mandaluyong. The best company for me is the TTI for their unique and fast way of networking technology. How I wish I could get a job in any of these companies.

My advice to those who will take their Fieldtrip and Seminar program in the near future.

1. Better bring video camera to record all what the speaker has to say and also to capture moments during visitation. If you don't have any, just bring a notebook so that you could jot down all the important information.

2. It is better also to bring your own jacket, because most of the company that we visited are air-conditioned.

3. Learn how to speak Tagalog. Much better if English.

4. Stay confident and be friendly. Always wear a smile.

5. Don't be hesitant to ask questions to the speaker. Knowledge starts with Questions.

6. Don't bring with you your cellphone, cameras and other expensive paraphernalia when you go to public places.
(ex: Tutuban and Divisoria)

7. Prepare all the important things that you will bring for the next day of tour before you go to sleep. If you will be late because you didn't prepare it last night, you will be surely dead.

8. Bring pocket money. In case of shopping purposes. ^^

9.Most of all, don't forget to ask for guidance and protection from the Lord. Your prayer is your best weapon to start your day.
God bless.