FTS Travel Report (Major)

University of Southeastern Philippines

Bo. Obrero Campus, Davao City

TRAVEL REPORT

September 8-12, 2014

Seminar Overview

We spent our five-day field trip and seminars filled with laughter, so much fun, lots of learning and experiences, and moments to treasure with my colleagues in Manila. We had the chance to visit the prominent IT companies there such as Accenture, IBM Technohub, PLDT Innolab, Ideaspace Foundation, and Toshiba Storage device. We also joined the prestigious Y4iT 2014 seminar and got the chance to visit also the two well-known universities in the country, the ADMU and UP. It was really worth it to choose the Model A and spent almost Php 20,000.00 for this kind of field trip and seminar.  A lot of learnings I have learned to those speakers who have shared their knowledge and experiences on their fields. It is my pleasure to be part of this FTS and exposed to the real world of IT industry and discovered some of the high tech innovations that I found in Manila in which, for me, I didn’t see here in Davao. Aside from visiting companies and attending seminars, we also experience to go to the some of the Shopping Malls there in which we can only see and heard in TV. We were also given a chance to have a tour and witness the magnificence of Tagaytay City and experience the breath taking extreme rides in Enchanted Kingdom. Indeed, words are not enough to express how grateful I am to experience those things; the fun, the excitement, as well as the lessons I inculcated in my mind that will surely be kept and valued forever.

Day 1

After the time we arrived in Manila and ate our breakfast, the first company we visited is the Accenture Inc. found in Eastwood City. The first reminder that were told to us was that it is prohibited to take a picture anywhere without their approval and roam around inside their vicinity, and we understood why they were strict like that because for their confidentiality and security. As we accompanied by the staff to the venue, I notice that they were really prepared with our visitation: the chairs and presentations were already set and also, they prepared snacks for everybody. We waited the speaker for a minute and some of the staff entertained us so that we will not get bored. When the speaker arrived at the venue, he introduced himself and I was surprised that he graduated in Ateneo de Davao University. After all the introduction, he began his lectures and explained well the edge of their company from other IT companies. He encouraged us to ask any questions if we were not fully understand his lecture or if we wanted to know other things related to their companies. So as the seminar ended, we had given the opportunity to have a group picture together with the speaker in the venue only and we said our thank you to them for welcoming us and for the knowledge they gave. Afterwards, we had our lunch and proceed to the next company we visit.

The second company we visited at that day after the Accenture was the IBM Technohub in Ayala. We were group into two before proceeding to their premises. The speaker welcomed us and showed us first the Jeopardy! Challenge game show in America and for me, I was clueless why we watched a game show. But as he started to explain what was in the game show, I was really amazed. Jeopardy! Challenge is a quiz game show in which it has human contestants that will compete to each other and give the accurate answers to the given general knowledge questions. But in year 2011, IBM created the Watson and launched it in Jeopardy! Challenge in which Watson called as the Jeopardy supercomputer. Based to the video we watched, Watson competed and defeated the two former winners of Jeopardy, Brad Rutter and Ken Jennings. I was amazed in the sense that the IBM team thought and created this kind of computer system and knowing that Watson was not connected in the internet yet it still defeated the high-earning and genius former contestants of the game. On the other hand, the speaker also introduced their cloud platform creations namely, BlueMix in which it will help us to make a program easily. I am glad that a lot of learnings I have learned in our first day of visiting companies. After IBM, we headed to Trinoma and Great Eastern Hotel for our dinner and check in at Kabayan Hotel.

What I learned?

Upon visiting the Accenture and IBM Technohub, I just realized and learned the importance of technologies in our society. Nowadays, we live in a high tech era and without a doubt, it has a big contribution in our lives. We cannot deny the fact that when we are exposed or know some knowledge about IT matters, we can have a better job or can be hired in some prominent IT companies. I found out also that some of the latest platform technology nowadays are already adapted in the companies we visited. In Accenture, they shared to us that they offer lots of services in IT as well as trainings in which our course can relate with it. At the same time the speaker in IBM also shared the history of their company, the functions of their work or positions in the company as well as the technology that IBM created.

What I liked?

Aside from the snacks and some freebies prepared by the people in Accenture, the things that I liked when we visited there as well as in IBM was that they welcomed us and they shared to us the things that we wanted to know on their company. Also, they were really game in answering our questions and they elaborated those information for us to understand it deeply. I also liked the opportunity given to us by the IBM because we had the chance to try the BlueMix and the speaker explained well its functions and how it really works.

What I didn’t like?

Nothing I didn’t like upon visiting the two companies, Accenture and IBM Technohub.

DAY 2

The first company we visited was the PLDT Innolab located in Mandaluyong City. Our lecturer of that seminar shared to us first the history of PLDT. She also discussed the things that PLDT Company offers to the people and also, she gave the three principal business groups and its functions of PLDT, namely the fix line, wireless and information and communication technology. We also had the chance to tour around and see the PLDT’s memorabilia and enable us to see also their NOC (Network Operation Center) in which I was totally amazed of the large LCD monitor because I only saw it in TV/Movies and let us also discover their different products aside from the common products we knew in which it is the PLDT Home DSL. We also had the photo shoot session for documentation purposes and before we proceeded to the next company to visit, we took our lunch inside the bus.

The second company was the Ideaspace Foundation found in Makati City. Our speaker discussed what is all about the Ideaspace and what they do. They also shared to us some unique ideas of their participants and also the past winners of their start-up competition. We also toured to their vicinity and also had a picture taking session together with the speaker. After that we went to Tutuban to buy things for pasalubong and headed to Kabayan Hotel to take a rest.

What I learned?

Same as the first day of visiting companies, the second day also filled with so much learning and encouragement of the speakers. What I have learned in PLDT Innolab was that they are not focusing on their DSL plan products but they are also making something new and high tech products that will surely benefits the mankind. Another thing I also learned on the speaker was that she stressed out the importance of mingling to other people and she also elaborate the nicest thing to have a competitor for us to exert more effort and not easily satisfied if we know that we can add up or develop it more. Same as in the Ideaspace, what I have learned was that if we have any unique ideas that we think it could help our society, we must pursue it and set aside our shyness because if we let the opportunity pass by in our hands, we will regret the chance that were given to us.

What I liked?

Aside from welcoming us and spent their time and effort to tour us in their area, what I liked in both companies we visited is that they feed to us those information that we want to know. They are willing to entertain our questions and give some encouraging advices that for me it is very helpful to do the right things. Apart from those learnings, one of the things that I liked especially in Ideaspace is that they gave us t-shirt and I really commend their speakers because I never felt sleepy in the lecture and as they shared the stories of the past winners, I am eager to participate and possibly be the winner in their start-up competition.

What I didn’t like?

Aside from the bad weather of that day because it was raining, what I didn’t like is that I got bored and sleepy when we had our lecture in the conference room of PLDT’s Innolab. I didn’t like the way the speaker deliver or present his presentation though I really appreciate his effort in preparing those slides.

Day 3

This was the day that I am waiting for because we will participate in Y4iT, the prestigious IT conference in the Philippines and listened to those speakers who gave some advices and words of wisdom in which I really needed in pursuing and striving hard in my chosen course. After the Y4iT conference, we had the chance to go to MOA (Mall of Asia) to buy, to roam around the vicinity of the mall and of course to take pictures. Afterwards, we ate our dinner and went back to the hotel.

What I learned?

From those speakers that shared their experiences and achievements they got, I learned that we should have eagerness to achieve our dreams and goals in life because if we possess this in ourselves, there is a big chance that we could really get what we really wanted. We must know what path we want to take and we must share our learnings and blessings to other people just like what the speakers did in the conference.

What I liked?

What I really liked is that we have the chance to hear those inspiring stories of the speakers and got motivated also to reach my goal. We also given a lot of freebies and there was also lots prizes for the lucky winners.

What I didn’t like?

I think what I didn’t like is that my stub number was not chosen to get those new gadgets that were given in the automated raffle draw but I am happy to see the reactions of the winners when they called and received the prizes.

Day 4

                In our fourth day, we visited the Toshiba Storage Device found in Laguna. We had a lecture about the history and origin of the Toshiba and the things that they offer to the consumers such as digital devices and home appliances.  We had the chance also to have a tour in their plantation wherein we saw their employees doing their task just like checking the devices if there were some difficulties and if it is ready to be delivered. After we were done in Toshiba, we took our lunch and went to Tagaytay and Enchanted Kingdom. We also went to Tutuban for the second time around to buy and afterwards, we are heading back to the Hotel.

What I learned?

Aside from the history and the things they offer, one of the message that was really not lose on my mind on the things that the speaker said on the lecture was that we should not concentrate in one field to be able to learn a lot and for us to know what field that definitely suits to us. We should be willing to learn for us to have knowledge in different fields.

What I liked?

                What I really liked in Toshiba was that they are very strict when it comes to the cleanliness and orderliness. Before we enter inside to their building we should wear the proper attire and keep in mind the Do’s and Don’ts of their company. It was also grateful to know that there were USePians worked in Toshiba and we have the chance to meet them and also be our tour guide in touring the plantation. In addition, I am really thankful that we had the chance to see the beauty of Tagaytay and experienced the exciting rides in Enchanted Kingdom.

What I didn’t like?

                Nothing I didn’t like upon visiting Toshiba.

Day 5

                This is our last day of staying in Manila and before we leave, we visited the two prominent schools in the Philippines which are the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and University of the Philippines (UP). We visited first the ADMU in which we had a lecture and the speaker also let us see their new gadgets in which those gadgets are used by their students for their thesis or other tasks that are related to their subjects. After were done in ADMU, we proceeded in UP wherein we toured around the campus and we had also a lecture or introduction regarding with the works and thesis of the students and explain to us what kind of method they will use for them to derive their projects and then, we went to Resort World Manila for sightseeing before we had our flight back to Davao City.

What I learned?

                In both universities we visited, the things that I have learned was that we should think of a thesis project that is beneficial not to ourselves but to our society as well. We should be aware with our environment because through this we can create of an idea that could be our thesis project someday.   

What I liked?

                In ADMU, what I liked was that the speaker let us try and explore their gadgets in which we were really amazed because we only see and heard those things over the internet. On the other hand, the things that I liked in UP also was the thesis projects of the students because I was really stunned how they derived those ideas that is hard to make and defend. There’s no doubt why a lot of people as well as students like us praising the students of UP because of their great minds.

What I didn’t like?

                Honestly, what I didn’t like in our 5^th day of staying in Manila was the thought of leaving Manila and returning back to Davao. Five days were totally a blast experienced but we were saddened because we will now leaving and I even don’t know when I will be coming back again in Manila. I will missed those laughter and fun we shared inside the bus, those places we visited and those speakers that shared their knowledge to us. 

APPENDIX

What can I recommend for the improvement of the advance seminar program of USEP?
        It is really important to have seminar programs which are related to the course taken by the students and basically, the speakers of the seminar will be able to explain carefully and thoroughly the things that they want to convey as well as the concerns of the students and the organizers. I would suggest that the organizers of the advance seminar program would be able to find the perfect company with regards to the subject matters. Also, in choosing a company, as much as possible, it would be very helpful if that company is using high end technologies or if possible, would be able to present new kind of programs, software, or gadgets which could help the students to think for more innovative ideas. Also, it would be helpful if the students could experience using this technologies.

My advice to those who will take their advance seminar program in the near future.
                For those students who will be taking up the FTS subject particularly the major field trip, my advice is that they must choose the model A because as what we experienced, it was really worth every money that were spent though it was too much expensive compared to other models. Why I said it was worth it? Because model A will be held in Manila and there are lots of IT companies that will surely give us an idea to work harder and we could also be employed there in the future because of its nice job offers and at the same time the companies we visited also gave us knowledge about their works and what they offer to the people. We went and visited also to some of the well-known places there so if the students or the parents will choose Model A, starting now, they must save money for the future expenses. Regarding in visiting the companies, the students should have courage to grab the opportunity to ask any questions to the staffs or speakers if there are some clarifications regarding with the information given and to know some important information that the students really needed and want to know from their company. The students also must inculcate on their minds the things that they are doing and why they have this field trip: to gain knowledge and be aware with our society specifically in the IT industry. The students must also show obedience because they are just visitors and they must show some respect to other people in the work place since they are bringing the name of their school. They must learn to value and be thankful to the efforts that have shown to them such as answering the questions and giving the information they needed just to have knowledge and awareness regarding with their work. The students should enjoy every single day of staying in Manila together with their classmates because it is one of a lifetime chance.

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