Mapua NEWS

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Mapúa Institute of Technology at 87: Converging towards Relevance and Excellence

Mapúa celebrates its 87th Founding Anniversary with the theme, “Core: Converging towards Relevance and Excellence”

For nearly nine decades, Mapúa Institute of Technology has firmly established itself as the premier technological school in the Philippines. Its numerous accomplishments, which include pioneering technical course offerings in the country, an enviable number of topnotchers in local licensure examinations, illustrious alumni who are technological, business, and public leaders in various fields in various parts of the world, and the recent international accreditation for its academic programs, have put it far ahead of its local counterparts and raised the quality of education in the country to international standards.

On its 87th year of providing world-class education to the Filipino, the Institute would like to celebrate these accomplishments as it continues to move forward to higher academic excellence and social relevance towards the full attainment of its vision.

“[For this year’s Foundation Week], we would like the celebration to focus on the accomplishments of Mapúa, our various initiatives towards excellence, [including] the achievements of our alumni over time,” said Dr. Jonathan W.L. Salvacion, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and this year’s chair of the committee in charge of organizing the event.

Converging towards Relevance and Excellence

Mapúa’s 87th Foundation Week, which will be from January 24 to 28, has the theme “CORE: Converging towards Relevance and Excellence.” With all of its achievements so far, this year’s theme speaks of how far the Institute has come and what it intends to do next.

With its reputation as the biggest engineering school in the Philippines, Mapúa has been taking the necessary steps to transcend its present state towards becoming a global center of excellence in education.

“The path that Mapúa is taking is towards becoming bigger than an engineering-centric educational institution as well as becoming more of a generator of new knowledge,” asserted Dr. Salvacion.

With this vision, the Institute took the initial step of offering diverse academic programs.

“Coming from a school offering purely architecture, engineering, and science programs, we have evolved in such a way that we are offering more diverse courses such as IT, business, multimedia arts and sciences, and psychology. This coming academic year, we will be offering Bachelor of Science in Technical Communication,” said Dr. Bonifacio T. Doma Jr., Mapúa’s Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Another and even more significant step that the Institute has taken is the internationalization of its programs through international accreditation.

Mapúa is the first and only school in the country and the entire East Asia to offer engineering (Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering) and computing (Computer Science and IT) programs that are accredited by ABET. ABET is the world-leading accrediting body for academic programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology.

“[As] our vision is to become a global center of excellence in education, the ABET accreditation only signifies that we are at par, in terms of standards, with the set of similarly accredited engineering and computing schools, which includes the world’s best schools,” enthused Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mapúa. “It is fitting that we celebrate with a theme of relevance and excellence: relevance because ABET accreditation makes our graduates and the school globally competitive in a real and measurable way; and excellence because the accreditation shows our commitment to and attainment, to a degree, of that ideal. But, of course, we also manifest relevance and excellence in a host of other involvements of the Institute, as in research and community service, for example.”

Dr. Doma added: “We have come a long way. Such accreditation is part of the institution’s move to internationalize itself, together with getting more foreign students. This is one of the core strategic initiatives that we have to achieve by 2020. So somehow we would like to change the nature of Mapúa so that it will be one of the global players in quality tertiary education.”

Although the ABET accreditation is a big achievement for Mapúa, its administration and educators know that it will take a lot more than that to be finally ranked among the best schools in the world. To Dr. Vea, there are two things the Institute must focus on: research and continuous quality improvement system.

“We need to beef up our research activities. We need to contribute to mankind’s store of knowledge –knowledge that ultimately becomes useful to people. For this to happen we need to work at the envelope of knowledge in various fields. If we are able to do that, then it will further enrich the educational experience of our students, as we bring newfangled technology into the classroom direct from our own laboratories.

“We also need to firmly institutionalize our continuous quality improvement system in tandem with our outcomes-based approach to education. This way, we can break out and sprint ahead of the pack globally.”

One of the biggest moves of Mapúa in strengthening its research capability was the launch of the Fund for Engineering Development and Institutional Linkages (FEDIL). Initially funded by the AY Foundation, FEDIL supports Mapúa’s engineering researches and activities considered as engineering excellence, trainings, national and international linkages, and networking in the context of environment and sustainable development.

On the other hand, to prove Mapúa’s seriousness about the continuous improvement of the quality of its education, one of the main highlights of this year’s Foundation Week will be a two-day seminar by a world-renowned guru on outcomes assessment for outcomes-based education, Dr. Gloria Rogers, Associate Executive Director at ABET Foundation.

“We are inviting Dr. Rogers to tell us how we can further improve our assessment process. We already have a good assessment system, but we still want to go further by making our system great. We adhere to the principle that we can always continuously improve ourselves,” said Engr. Conrado Navalta, Director of Continuous Quality Improvement Office.

With all that Mapúa has accomplished and planned to embark on in the future, Dr. Salvacion points out the most positive accomplishment so far of the Institute.

“I think the important thing now is there is a new mind-set, that everybody recognizes what we need to become in the future and what we should do now. For the upcoming Foundation Week, we don’t just want to have booths selling things, blaring music, etc. We want to send the message that we have recognized that Mapúa has attained a certain level of excellence and we are headed towards even more of that. That’s what we want. That’s the way of thinking.”

Celebration highlights

“We want this year’s Foundation Week to be bigger. Apart from inviting important people to our celebration, we have organized a number of events that the whole Mapúan community will enjoy,” said Rex Aurelius C. Robielos, Dean of the School of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management (IE-EMG) and co-chair of the committee for the Foundation Week.

Together with the student leaders, the Foundation Week committee has packed the celebration full of new and exciting activities to be participated in by the students, administration, faculty, and alumni.

Some of the major highlights in this year’s event begin with Run the Wall: Intramuros Heritage Run on January 22. This is a fun run sponsored by the Philippine Institute of Industrial Engineers and the School of IE-EMG for the benefit of the pediatric cancer patients at the Philippine General Hospital.

On January 24, the different schools of Mapúa will celebrate some of their best achievements in the last 87 years with colorful floats in the Parade of Excellence.

The parade will be immediately followed by Core-nerstone: The Rock on Which We Build, an exhibit featuring Mapúans who have become great achievers in the fields of engineering, sciences, and the arts.

The beauty, talent, and wit of every Mapúan will be witnessed as candidates from different schools battle it out for the titles of Mr. and Ms. Cardinals 2012 on January 27.

The mechanical engineers will showcase their expertise in automotive setup as they exhibit grandiose cars during the Auto Prinsipi II car show.

“We want to leave everyone after the Foundation Week wanting for more and proud to be part of the celebration because of their new experiences,” Dean Robielos added.

Beyond the excitement, Joylyn M. dela Cruz, a fourth year Civil Engineering student and president of the Central Student Council, believes that the students are aware of the meaning of and their role in the celebration.

“I really believe that the students are the key players in the school. In this celebration, we must lead in commemorating and to cherish everything that has happened in the last 87 years. As a Mapúan, I’m so proud to become one of the representations of what our school has achieved.”

http://www.mapua.edu.ph/News/Default...th=2&Year=2012

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Mapúans create device for the blind

The team behind the “Wearable Obstacle Detection System and Braille Cell Phone for the Blind.”

It is a creation that aims to help the blind.

An innovative gadget that acts as both detection system and Braille mobile phone for the visually impaired was developed by the group of Janiena Roxanne D.C. Dirain, Kristine Emy O. Matabang and Girly G. Perando, all computer engineering (CpE) students of Mapúa Institute of Technology.

“We created this technology to give back to the blind. We often see and hear them singing and playing the guitar on the streets and, admit it or not, they really have wonderful voices. Some of the students, during a tough day at school, would go to them for a massage,” said Ms. Dirain.

Due to its ingenuity, the device, called “Wearable Obstacle Detection System and Braille Cell Phone for the Blind,” made it to the top 10 of the 8th Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP) Innovations and Excellence Awards.

Ms. Matabang said their group was ecstatic when they found out about their inclusion to the final 10. She said it was a “once in a lifetime opportunity.”

“We are truly grateful to be one of the finalists. Our work is now being recognized even if that was our first time to join a contest outside [Mapúa]. Also, we felt the pressure… we need to work harder [for the finals],” she said.

Their creation has a sensor to detect objects within five meters, and it can be worn by the blind on his wrist or as a belt. It also serves as a Braille mobile phone wherein the visually impaired may be able to receive and answer text messages and calls. Moreover, text messages can be read per character.

Supervised by their mentor, Ms. Ayra G. Panganiban, it took them five months to finish their project. It underwent numerous changes in the design, including adopting the biometric concepts.

“We had many layouts for this device and even tried to hear suggestions from the blind until we came out with the final design of the Braille cell phone, which is placed in a box case. The sensor is connected far from the device through long wires for the blind to move it flexibly. As soon as we finished the design, we heard about the Smart Sweep competition. After entering the finals, we made some improvements to the design to make it wearable,” said Ms. Perando.

According to its website, SWEEP Innovations and Excellence Awards is an annual event that aims to promote technology and innovation for the betterment of the people. It was the second time that Mapúa joined the annual competition, and the Mapúans have always made it to the top 10.


The “Wearable Obstacle Detection System and Braille Cell Phone for the Blind” created by Janiena Roxanne D.C. Dirain, Kristine Emy O. Matabang and Girly G. Perando.

For the 8th SWEEP competition, two teams from the Institute were shortlisted, including a group of electronics engineering (ECE) students who designed a device called the “The Fault Line Data Acquisition and Monitoring System.”

Ms. Dirain’s group said: “We joined the competition for experience and the memories that we would be making. With the competition, we could showcase the design that we've worked hard for. If people would see it and appreciate it, it would be awesome. Also, representing the school is an honor and a big achievement for us.”

While in the process of creating the device, Ms. Dirain said their group learned how technology can change the lives of other people. “We also learned through the competition that innovating is not just for inventors but for everyone; each one of us should just open our eyes and let our imaginations soar,” she said.

The Smart SWEEP finals will take place on February 21 and the announcement of winners is on February 22.

http://www.mapua.edu.ph/News/Default...th=2&Year=2012

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2nd placer Mapúa Cheerping Cardinals deliver a ‘100% performance from the heart’
By David Joseph C. Gonzales, The New Builder staff writer


Mapúa Cheerping Cardinals place second in the 87th National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Cheering Competition.

The raging drumbeats and ear-splitting screams filled Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan as the Cheerping Cardinals performed before hundreds of spectators who packed the arena during the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Cheering Competition on March 2.

The cheering squad from Mapúa Institute of Technology did not disappoint. The 30-member group wowed the crowd with its clean and well-choreographed routine combined with precision and flawless execution of spectacular pyramids and complicated stunts.

It was the best performance of the Cheerping Cardinals, with the squad executing its most difficult routine so far.

“Just like in the past, we got the highest score for the stunts. Over the years, Mapúa cheerleaders have been known for their engineered stunts and exceptional pyramids,” Mr. Marquiz Don Sevilla, assistant coach for the Cheerping Cardinals, said of his group’s performance during the competition.

Unlike in 2011 when they did what Mr. Sevilla described as a “play safe routine,” the squad this year took a gamble.

“Our routine this year is very unique because our stunts - the mounting of the partner stunts - have never been done in the Philippines before. [We] also tried our best to [combine] creativity and difficulty together. I can say that this year’s difficulty is way difficult than last year.”

Mapúa clinched the second slot, beating its neighboring school, Colegio de San Juan de Letran (3rd), and Arellano University (4th). The University of Perpetual Help System Dalta was the champion.

Mr. Sevilla said the Cheerping Cardinals gave their best during the competition. And if he were to rate their performance, it would be “100% for effort, 100% for passion, 100% for the school’s name, and 100% for performance coming from the heart.”

“Our squad's edge is that every year we have new unique stunts to show not only here in the Philippines but also worldwide,” he said. “Next season, we'll be doing our best to show more and make each one even prouder to be a Mapúan.”

The squad’s outstanding performance was the result of regular and rigid practice before the actual competition. The practice, which was done thrice a week, included enhancing the team’s flexibility, strength and techniques, said Mr. Sevilla.

But the Cheerping Cardinals did a great job in executing the most important factor of all – teamwork.

Cheer captain Carla Eunice Cabacungan agreed that, aside from technical skills, the Cheerping Cardinals’ high sense of camaraderie makes the squad a formidable opponent. She also attributed the team’s strength to the support of its former members.

Meanwhile, Ms. Cabacungan said some squad members will enroll in gymnastics class in preparation for the next cheering competitions.

“The Mapúa Cheerping Cardinals will soar high in the coming seasons, equipped with more fiery passion in order to grab that championship crown,” she said.

Mr. Sevilla, on the other hand, added that the squad will improve more on its “tumbling sequence” and “level up our stunts and pyramids as well” to finally grab that elusive top spot.

http://www.mapua.edu.ph/News/Default...th=3&Year=2012

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Mapúa boosts online presence; launches sleeker, meatier website

The Mapúa Institute of Technology’s newly designed website is sleeker, faster and meatier.

The Mapúa Institute of Technology has a new face online and it is sleeker, faster and meatier.

The premier technological school has beefed up its global digital presence by launching a newly designed and improved website during the Institute’s 87th Foundation Week.

“With ABET accreditation, Mapúa has just raised the bar in engineering and IT (information technology) education. We thought that that message should reflect in all communication mediums and that include our website,” said Ms. Arlyn S. Onte, director of Mapúa’s Corporate Communications Office (CCO).

The US-based ABET is the recognized international accreditation agency that accredited 10 engineering and computing programs of the Institute. An ABET accreditation essentially makes the graduates of these 10 programs at par with those of their foreign counterparts.

“Our digital presence and persona should be able to immediately project our vision to become a global center of excellence in education,” she said. “Our new website is a reflection of Mapúa’s stance. It does not only speak locally, it considers itself as a global player and, thus, it will play that part excellently.”

The CCO head also pointed out why it is important for any organization to have an effective website, which she described as a “24/7 messenger.”

She said: “A website has gone far beyond the idea of being a digital brochure. It can do more than being a sales tool for an institution, a person, a product, or a cause. We recognize and acknowledge that the website and other digital platforms, for that matter, could form a community and an engagement that transcends geographical barriers. The web helps get across ideas, and can even form decisions.”

For chief information officer Brian O. Co, the new site also aims to showcase Mapúa’s world-class programs, highly trained faculty staff and its state-of-the-art facilities.

“There are a lot of people who do not really have that in-depth knowledge of Mapúa - what it stands for, what our programs are, what our innovations are, what are we currently active in. So, the site will serve as a bridge in terms of giving that information to them,” Mr. Co said. “We want to make sure that people who are looking for information on the website would be able to find it as useful and as efficiently as possible.”

The alumni, and even students and staff, can also get updates about the Institute’s activities through the website.

Since the site is a reflection of Mapúa as a whole, Mr. Co said those involved in the redesign gave it a more modern and cleaner look, with more relevant and up-to-date information.

Uniquely Mapúa

Mapúa’s Development Office for Information Technology (DOIT), CCO, Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Office of the Vice President for HRD, Legal and Operations have closely collaborated to work on the new site and give it a more systematic and coordinated structure.

To highlight the biggest events at the Institute, a “Banner” feature has been prominently displayed at the top of the home page. It also carries more photos to captivate and attract its target audience.

Ms. Onte said every element of the website was designed based on the browsing behavior of the readers.

“We studied their (visitors) eye pattern, their browsing behavior, how they actually search through all the elements. We wanted to give the audience enough excitement so that they would click more. We wanted to create interest that would hopefully result to a nod, and eventually convince them that Mapúa is seriously changing the landscape of education,” explained Ms. Onte.

Beyond the aesthetics and user-friendly interface, the Mapúa website contains useful, informative and relevant content.

“The content is more important than the color, layout, and aesthetics of an effective site. The design will lead you to browse more. But the content--the words, the facts, the service it can provide, the legacy, the proof of excellence--these are the real elements that make the new Mapúa website distinct and unique in its own right,” she said.

She added: “TV commercials, print ads, and billboards can miss its target audience… However, a website is different. You do not accidentally land in one’s homepage. You have to be willing to click a link, or type a URL -- and no one is forcing you to do that. And once you get a viewer to peek on your website, you have to seize that opportunity with your audience. You have to make sure that your best elements are on display and that your message is reflected on how the website looks and functions.”

The Institute is planning to make the website more interactive in the future, said Ms. Onte. One plan, she said, is to get the community’s participation by inviting them to submit photos. The selected photos will be featured in the website.

Mr. Co, meanwhile, said another plan is to post a list of faculty members and their fields of expertise. He said this is for the benefit of local and foreign students who are planning to study in the Institute.

“The website is a tool for students, so, we have to maximize that tool,” he said.

- David Joseph C. Gonzales, The New Builder staff writer

http://www.mapua.edu.ph/News/Default...th=3&Year=2012

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CpE students bring honor to Mapúa with winning gadget

The students from Mapúa Institute of Technology demonstrate how their winning gadget work before the judges of 8th SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards. Photo courtesy of Smart Communication, Inc.

The three computer engineering (CpE) students from Mapúa Institute of Technology who bagged the top prize in the 8th Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP) Innovation and Excellence Awards said they are still on cloud nine following their victory in the nationwide competition that saw them defeating more than a hundred entries.

The team of Kristine Emy O. Matabang, Girly G. Perando and Janiena Roxanne D.C. Dirain, all graduating students, said they have been overwhelmed by their success and that they are thankful to all those who supported them.

“We didn't expect to win - but we hoped for it - since all other finalists also have great entries,” Matabang said.

The group’s entry to the SWEEP Awards, which is Smart Communication, Inc.’s annual search for the most innovative wireless applications by students, is a dual-purpose device that aims to help the blind. It can detect obstacles within five meters and it serves as a cellphone with Braille keypad so those visually impaired can receive and answer text messages and calls. Text messages can be read per character.

The project is called “Wearable Obstacle Detection System and Braille CellPhone for the Blind.” It has beaten at least 140 entries submitted by students from Smart’s partner schools under SWEEP, an industry-academe partnership that seeks to raise the level of technology and engineering education in the country.

A group of electronics engineering (ECE) students from Mapúa, whose project is called the “The Fault Line Data Acquisition and Monitoring System,” also made it to the final 10.

Dirain, Matabang and Perando, with mentor Engr. Ayra Panganiban, received P500,000 in cash prize during the awarding ceremony on February 22 at the SMX Convention Center. Grants were also given to the schools of the top three teams.

“We are very honored and proud to represent the school together with the group of Engr. [Joseph Bryan] Ibarra,” said Perando.

The three CpE students also thanked “everyone who took part on this journey especially to our Smart SWEEP mentor, Engr. Ayra Panganiban, and our design adviser Engr. Michael Pacis.”

“To the Mapúa community, thank you for believing in us and supporting us all throughout the competition,” they said.

As for their next step, they said they plan to file a patent application for their invention. “We will also enhance our device. For example, we are looking at making it wireless. Also, we want to make it more compact so that it can be more beneficial to the blind community,” said Dirain.

Dean Felicito S. Caluyo of the School of Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Engineering (EECE) was happy with the group’s “splendid performance” in the competition.

“As the Dean of the School of EECE, I am very proud that our entry, ‘Wearable Obstacle Detection System and Braille Cell Phone for the Blind,’ in the 8th Smart SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards garnered the highest award,” he said, adding:

“I believe that the splendid performance of the team has not come as a surprise because they worked hard for it and the project itself is very interesting, innovative and with social relevance.”

Dean Caluyo said he has always encouraged his faculty members and students to engage in research activities to put into practice their knowledge and experience.

“This new achievement is a concrete evidence of Mapúa’s thrust towards Outcomes-Based Education, wherein the learners demonstrate what they are able to do with what they know,” he said.

SWEEP Innovations and Excellence Awards is an annual event that aims to promote technology and innovation for the betterment of the people. It was the second time that Mapúa joined the annual competition, and the Mapúans have always made it to the top 10.

http://www.mapua.edu.ph/News/Default...th=3&Year=2012

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Mapúa’s week-long short film festival formally opens, 7 entries bared

The seven entries to this year's CineMapúa.

The Mapúa Institute of Technology formally unveiled the seven official entries to this year’s CineMapúa, the Institute’s annual short film festival, during the event’s kick-off at SM Manila Cinema 12 on February 27.

The 10- to 20-minute movies – some of which are collaborations between students and professors – have been shortlisted out of the 36 scripts submitted for the 2012 film festival. The official entries are “Bisikleta” by Yves Bernaldez, “Ligawan sa Pinas” by Dustin Keano Galang, “Lipat Bahay” by Sarah Jessica Gabriel, “Quiapo Day” by Yves Bernaldez, “Santo Ninyo” by ML Mendez, “The White Balloon” by Ablet Mariano, and “Traje de Boda” by Hannah Del Rosario.

The seven entries will vie for 18 major and special prizes. These are 2012 best festival short film, second best festival short film, third best festival short film, best actress, best actor, best supporting actress, best supporting actor, best child performer, best director, best screenplay, best cinematography, best film editing, best original sound track, best production design, best special effects, best film teaser, best film poster, and Audience Choice Award.

The major awardees will receive cash prizes and trophies, while the special awardees will be given trophies.

During the opening ceremony, theatre actor, director and commercial endorser Noemi Mopia Vistan lauded the Institute for promoting arts in its community. She admitted that she was surprised that the country’s premier technological school is also encouraging its students to get involved in filmmaking.

“Nakakatuwa naman. Ako ay namangha kasi noong araw, noong panahon ko, kapag sinabing Mapúa magagaling ito sa mga inhinyero kasi nga institute of technology. Ngayon, karamihan sa inyo ay alagad na nang sining na pwede nang maging direktor, artista. Nakakatuwa naman. Malaki at malayo ang mararating ninyong lahat,” the 39-year-old director said.

The director, who started directing films at the age of 22, also discussed the qualities of a good director before a crowd of mostly students.

In her speech, she said a director, first of all, must love his craft to become effective. She also said that a good director always ensures that his film imparts values to his viewers. Just as important, she said, is for a director to stay humble.

Developing good values through filmmaking

Ms. Arlyn S. Onte, the director of Mapúa’s Corporate Communications Office (CCO), said the Institute promotes the holistic development of its students. She said it is for this reason that Mapúa encourages and supports projects and activities that will bring out their artistic side, among others, such as CineMapúa.

“Mapúa does not only excel in engineering and sciences, but in other disciplines as well. This annual film festival exhibits our students’ talent in filmmaking, showing the world that Mapúa also shines in this field,” she said.

She added that Mapúa is one with the government in its pursuit to promote the arts and culture among the young. She said the arts play a big role in nation building because it instills pride and discipline in Filipinos.

It was Prof. Benigno B. Agapito Jr., a faculty of Mapúa’s School of Languages, Humanities and Social Sciences and the adviser of the Institute’s official publication, The New Builder, who conceptualized and introduced CineMapúa. Initially, it was a student-led activity at Mapúa’s campus in Makati City.

The film festival became an institutionalized event only last year, said Prof. Agapito. He added that the annual event is open to all faculty members, non-teaching staff and students of Mapúa.

Prof. Agapito said CineMapúa aims to enhance the awareness of the students with regard to the importance of art films in the academe, community and the world as a whole. It will not only enhance the skills of the Mapúans in terms of using the technology in filmmaking, but it will also educate them about the basic concepts, principles and practices of art films and visual communication.

“CineMapúa also serves as a training ground for Mapúans to compete in the national and international film festivals. In fact, Cinemalaya gave a CineMapúa winner a slot last year for its annual film festival at the Cultural Center of the Philippines as an exhibition film,” he said.

It also promotes good values through film production, he added.

For this year, CineMapúa has partnered with SM Cinema.

The screening in Intramuros is being held at the Audio-Visual Room 2. The awards night will be on March 2 at the Institute’s campus in Makati City.

Schedule of screenings in Intramuros and Makati campuses

Bisikleta - 9:20-9:40 a.m.; 2 - 2:20 p.m.
The White Balloon – 10-10:20 a.m.; 2:40-3 p.m.
Quiapo Day - 10:40-11 a.m.; 3:20-3:40 p.m.
Lipat Bahay - 11:20-11:40 a.m.; 4- 4:20 p.m.
Santo Ninyo - 12- 12:20 p.m.; 4:40-5 p.m.
Ligawan sa Pinas - 12:40-1 p.m; 5:20-5:40 p.m.
Traje de Boda - 1:20- 1:40 p.m.; 6-6:20 p.m.

For more information about CineMapúa 2012 and the official entries, click here.

http://www.mapua.edu.ph/News/Default...th=3&Year=2012

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Pinay architect of international calibre: Go ‘green’ in your designs

Katrina Vea-Rodriguez, a Filipino architect of international calibre, talks about the use of Revit in designing environment-friendly and resource-efficient structures during her visit to Mapúa Institute of Technology.

“We have to be responsible about the way we design and how our designs impact the environment.”

Katrina Vea-Rodriguez, a Filipino architect of international calibre, made this statement in her recent visit to Mapúa Institute of Technology, where she led a seminar about the use of Revit, a Building Information Modeling (BIM) software developed by Autodesk, in the design of environment-friendly and resource-efficient structures.

The San Francisco, California-based architect works for Gensler, a leading global architecture, design, planning and consulting firm that promotes sustainable design. Acknowledging the huge impact of big companies on the environment, Arch. Vea-Rodriguez maintained the importance of adhering to green design practices.

“Whether a project is going for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, an internationally recognized green building rating system) certification or not, I think sustainability should always be a main consideration during the design and construction process," she said in an interview after her March 8 lecture at the Institute’s Intramuros campus.

She noted that many companies and clients nowadays are more conscious about green design because “they want to be a part of the green movement and they want to be responsible themselves as far as preserving the environment is concerned. Clients [at Gensler] often ask, 'How can we make a building green?’ ‘What can we do?' and 'How can we do it in a less expensive way?’”

She debunked fears that green buildings are more expensive, saying that being environmentally conscious when coming up with a design doesn’t have to be costly.

"Sustainable design could be as simple as responsible material and fixture selection. Vendors that come into our office to present their products are always asked to share their green story. Nowadays, it is practically a must for vendors to take that extra step to make their products sustainable. And we, as architects and designers, must do our best to specify materials and products in our designs that are environment-friendly, but not necessarily costly. Green design is great design,” she said. "Also, with the use of some of our newer software we are able to streamline the process, and show clients early on in the design process some of the benefits of sustainable design."

During her lecture, which was attended mostly by faculty members and students of Mapúa’s School of Architecture, Industrial Design and The Built Environment (ARIDBE), she explained how designing a sustainable structure has become more efficient through the use of Revit.

Unlike traditional softwares, Revit, she said, records information in the parametric 3D model, necessary for building performance analysis, evaluation, and LEED documentation. This is especially important for companies that are gunning for LEED certification.

Arch. Vea-Rodriguez’s lecture was in line with Mapúa’s initiative to contribute to the global fight against climate change. The fight includes training its students to produce high-impact designs and researches with consideration for the public health, safety, cultural, societal and the environment.

On top of this, ARIDBE Dean Gloria B. Teodoro said Arch. Vea-Rodriguez was able to share her architectural practice in the United States with the students, and this would hopefully “inspire them to become world-class architects.”

As for the threats of climate change, Dean Teodoro said in a previous interview that sustainable designs are part and parcel of good designs.

“The challenges of climate change are very real. It's actually here already so it's imperative that we design for more resilient and more sustainable buildings,” she said.

At ARIDBE, efforts have been made to “green the curriculum” especially after the onslaught of tropical storm Ondoy in 2009. Dean Teodoro cited the 2011 BS Architecture curriculum that includes a specialization track on green architecture, among others.

http://www.mapua.edu.ph/News/Default...th=4&Year=2012

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Mapúa graduates score high in board exams

Mapúa Institute of Technology, the leading technological academic institution and biggest engineering school in the Philippines, has dominated five recent licensure examinations for engineers and electronics technicians after its graduates ranked high among the board exams’ successful examinees.

The Institute topped the April 2012 board exams for electronics engineers and electronics technicians.

Electronics engineering (ECE) graduate Christian Deus Telmo Cayao landed in the top spot, with a high 96.50% rating. "I was overwhelmed when I saw my name on top of the list of topnotchers. It was beyond what I expected. God is really great. One of my dreams just turned into a reality. I'm happy to bring honor to the Institute, which is one of the best engineering schools out there."

Four more ECE graduates from Mapúa made it to the top 10. They were third placer Josielle Marie Agno Caminong (94%), fourth placer Steffi Kaye Wee Cheong (93.20%), 5th placer Agatha Marie Dela Isla Alarilla (92.80%), and 10th placer Julius Rommel Masiglat Salud (91.50%).

A Mapúan also ranked No. 1 in the board exam for electronics technicians, with John Reejet David Flores scoring 88%. Other Mapúans who made it to the top 10 were Rimson Encanto Junio (3rd, 85%), Aron Bandala Molina (4th, 84%), Edrian Paul Cabico Regaspi (5th, 83%), James Patrick Eugenio Guevarra (6th, 81%), Tristan Mariano Ocampo (6th, 81%), Mariz Arsen Gatbonton Bernardo (7th, 80%), Danica Cinco Gilbuena (7th, 80%) and Lynette Arce Pascua (7th, 80%).

In the May 2012 Civil Engineering (CE) Licensure Exam, meanwhile, Mapúa graduates secured the 2nd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 10th places. They were Elspeth May Estrada Cruz (2nd, 94.20%), Angel Nucup Alvarez Jr. (5th, 92.90%), John Paul Mejia Gervacio (7th, 92.55%), Jerome Valois Katigbak (9th, 91.85%), and John Norman Reyes Beren (10th, 91.50%).

Three of Mapúa’s chemical engineering graduates also made it to the list of examinees who got high ratings in the April 2012 exam. They were Jerico Jae Caballes Gines (2nd place, 80.50%), Vryan Gil Reyes Constantino (3rd, 80.10%), and Claudio Fiel Martinez Novida (3rd, 80.10%).

In March of this year, Marc Philippe Ladaga placed second in the mechanical engineering board exam.

Ladaga, who prepared for the exam for four and a half months, was relieved and grateful when he heard the good news. He said he was glad that all his efforts and hard work had paid off.

Throughout the review process, he said his first and foremost goal was to pass.

"I was thinking that if I became a topnotcher, then that would be an added bonus, but if not, well at least I did what I could," he said. "I did not expect that I would place second in the board after the first day of the exams. By that time, my classmates and I were simply hoping that we would pass the board.”

The 22-year-old engineer is now an instructor at Mapúa.

The Institute has been consistently producing board exam topnotchers and outstanding graduates since its establishment 87 years ago. Through its dedication and commitment, Mapúa has set the standards high in Philippine education. -With Kresta Marie C. Alcober, The New Builder staff writer

http://www.mapua.edu.ph/News/Default...th=4&Year=2012

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Mapúa going ‘beyond the hour’ via its carbon footprint reduction initiative

Mapúa Institute of Technology’s campus in Intramuros, Manila.

Together with hundreds of millions of people, businesses, governments and organizations around the world, Mapúa Institute of Technology switched off its lights for one hour during the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) 2012 Earth Hour campaign on March 31 in a show of support for the global movement against climate change.

“The Earth Hour campaign is basically an awareness campaign. It is getting people directly involved in a simple action that makes them more committed to the protection of the environment and that makes them aware that there are many, many other people who are of the same mind as they are,” Mapúa president and chief executive officer Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea said.

“It is like a bandwagon, like a rising tide that is easy to join and that is hard to ignore by those on the other side of the fence. It was not too long ago that environmentalists were like voices in the wilderness. Now it is like mainstream. The Earth Hour forces us into an activist mode to counteract the complacency-inducing effect of suddenly having gone mainstream,” added Dr. Vea.

The Institute’s participation in this year’s global “lights out” came as no surprise since Mapúa, the premier technological school in the Philippines, strongly promotes environment and sustainable development (ESD) as evident in its curriculum and ESD-related researches.

One of the Institute’s strategic initiatives also deals with the environment – the carbon footprint reduction (CFR). Efforts toward this goal were intensified in 2011 when the school implemented measures to decrease its energy and water consumption by 10% yearly in its Intramuros and Makati campuses.

“We started with behavioral changes in the way we use electricity in 2011. Then toward the end of the year, we did a full re-lamping of two of our campuses. The full effect of re-lamping will be felt this year. The shift to inverter type air-conditioning units has also been started. This will be done over a period of a few years because the costs are a bit high,” Dr. Vea said.

According to Mapúa’s Campus Development and Maintenance Office (CDMO), at least 30 conventional air-conditioning units at the school’s Administration Building have already been replaced with inverter type AC. More conventional type AC units at different offices are scheduled to be replaced this year.

The CFR program is also being carried out in Mapúa’s subsidiaries, the Malayan Colleges Laguna (MCL) in Cabuyao, Laguna and Malayan High School of Science (MHSS) in Pandacan, Manila.

Faculty members and students have also taught themselves the metrics of CFR, Dr. Vea said. “We shall apply these so that, as behooves a technological institution, we can be scientific in our approach.”

All in all, Mapúa registered a 7% decrease in kilowatt hour per person consumption; MCL, 11%; and MHSS, 3%.

Academic institutions and climate change

Dr. Vea said every academic institution has an important role to play to address the effects of climate change. Regardless of their field of study, he said students should be educated about the rudiments of climate change.

“As a matter of fact, under our outcomes-based approach to education, the ability to factor in the environmental impact of engineering solutions is one of our desired program outcomes. In research, we should endeavor to generate new knowledge and technologies that will help address climate change concerns. All these knowledge, whether stock or new-fangled, must then be brought to bear as we go out to help communities and industries deal with problems, some of them involving the effects of climate change,” the Mapúa president said.

Sustainability

Mapúa’s CFR program and Earth Hour campaign carry the same agenda - to address the big issue of sustainability. Dr. Vea explained that sustainability pertains to how the present generation use the natural resources and take care of the planet “so that the future generations can live better lives than we have.”

When asked how Mapúa would respond to the challenge of WWF to go “beyond the hour,” Dr. Vea said: “Well, we simply have to stick to the knitting as far as our strategic initiative of reducing our own carbon footprint is concerned. This may be a small contribution, but which, when taken with everyone else’s, could spell a real difference.”

http://www.mapua.edu.ph/News/Default...th=4&Year=2012

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Another innovative design from Mapúa: A voice-activated wheelchair with unique safety measure features
By Kresta Marie C. Alcober, The New Builder staff writer


The computer engineering students from Mapúa Institute of Technology have developed a voice-activated wheelchair that aims to improve the existing wheelchair designs.

Embodying their school’s resolve to churn out high-impact designs and researches, five graduating computer engineering (CpE) students from Mapúa Institute of Technology have developed an innovative design that aspires to change the way the physically disabled live.

Mapúans Darryll Jade Arias, Francis Mark Luna, Aljon Santillan, Lloyd Edwinson Arellano and Jonathan Temeña came up with a voice-activated wheelchair for the benefit of those who have lost control over their bodies, particularly the hands.

Like other voice-activated wheelchairs, the group’s prototype can easily be maneuvered through the use of voice. Their voice-activated wheelchair has a microcontroller that accepts and carries out the issued command.

However, what sets their invention apart is its unique safety measure features.

Arias, the team leader, and his group said the wheelchair has front and back infrared (IR) sensors that are used to detect objects. The wheelchair automatically stops and the three pairs of LED lights located at the back will light up when the IR detects obstacles on its path.

The group also placed a pair of sensors underneath the wheelchair. The device comes to a halt once the sensors detect that there is no more surface to move on to. This measure aims to prevent the user from falling off the stairs.

It can also elevate to a height of eight inches at most, high enough to steer clear of sidewalk gutters, they said.

“We have formulated the idea of creating this design during our thesis class. At that time, we thought of different ways to help people with walking disability, especially those who have lost the ability to use their arms. They are our main inspiration. We want to boost their morale by allowing them to go to places with the slightest help possible from other people,” Arias said.

It took them nine months to complete the prototype - that is from conception to execution. They were guided by Engr. Ayra G. Panganiban, the group’s thesis adviser and overall mentor, and design adviser Engr. Analyn Yumang.

They also tested it to make sure that all its features are working. The team members said their utmost priority is to “make the user feel safe and secure anytime.”

“We are proud to introduce this project as a means of improving the existing wheelchair designs. With these new features installed, we offer them (the users) easier control and more security. The added elevation function of the wheelchair makes it more mobile and dependable. As of now, this project would be very helpful but still not perfect. We are subjecting this design to further improvement,” the group said.

According to Engr. Panganiban, they plan to enhance the prototype based on the recommendations of the panel members during the final design presentation.

Engr. Panganiban previously worked with another team of CpE students who designed a dual-purpose device for the blind. Calling the project the “Wearable Obstacle Detection System and Braille CellPhone for the Blind,” the device won in the 8th Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP) Innovation and Excellence Awards.

“The design of innovative inventions is based on the outcomes-based education initiatives of Mapúa since it promotes lifelong learning activities. In line with this, the students are encouraged to create high-impact designs or researches,” she said.

The voice-activated wheelchair, with its unique safety measure features, now joins the long list of innovative designs from Mapúa. With their design, Arias, Luna, Santillan, Arellano and Temeña also hope to inspire their fellow Mapúans “to be creative and take part in creating devices that will help [other] people.”

http://www.mapua.edu.ph/News/Default...th=4&Year=2012

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Mapúa responds to increasing demand for technical communicators in PH; offers new program

In today’s digital world where rapid scientific and technological breakthroughs are a given, the need to communicate to a varied audience has become even more urgent and important.

Mapúa Institute of Technology, an academic institution that responds to the evolving needs of the times, addresses this demand by offering a new program starting Academic Year 2012-2013: Bachelor of Science in Technical Communication (BSTC).

The Institute, through its School of Languages, Humanities, and Social Sciences (SLHS), is the first school in the Philippines to offer BSTC, according to Dr. Bonifacio T. Doma Jr., Mapúa’s executive vice president for Academic Affairs. Abroad, however, technical communication is a respected field both in the academe and in industry.

“Other schools and universities in the country offer a number of communication programs, but our technical communication is directed toward meeting the communication requirements of industry. That’s the main focus of BSTC,” said the administration official of the country’s biggest engineering school and premier technological academic institution.

Added Dr. Doma: “It is a balanced mix of the traditional communication course and the general technical course. It teaches students to be very comfortable in dealing with technical information and how to disseminate it in whatever form is required; for example, manuals and technical reports. That’s why there’s strong emphasis on technical writing and presentation.”

At present, no one in the country is trained both as a communication and technical expert.

According to SLHS Dean Amalia S. Baltazar, the work of technical communicators is often delegated to either communication graduates who may not have a firm grounding on science and technology or to science and technology professionals whose communication skills may be wanting.

Under the new program, technical communication students will be trained to become excellent communication practitioners by teaching them the principles and practices of communication. At the same time, they will be molded to become savvy in scientific and technical information, a skill that will set them apart from students of other communication-related courses.

Unlike other communication disciplines, Dean Baltazar said BSTC’s “focused application” is science and technology such as computer applications, environmental concerns, and risk and safety issues.

“Moreover, its tools are not limited to what is traditional. It banks on the new media communication technologies. And because most organizations have a stake in science and technology, and in exceptional communication skills, technical communication is considered essential for a broad spectrum of fields and industries such as manufacturing, I. T. (information technology), mass media, and advertising, to name a few,” she said.

“A student should enroll in technical communication because he or she grasps the challenge which the field presents, is enthused by the opportunities that await, and believes in his or her capacity for learning and doing. On top of these, the technical communication student will acquire a strong sense of commitment to putting the talent to communicate to good use in promoting the cause of well-informed consumers, end-users, and decision makers,” she added.

She said that, since technical communication is “a mature field” abroad, offering BSTC in the Philippines will complement all efforts being done to carve a niche for Filipinos in the field of science and technology.

“Mapúa innovates. Mapúa initiates. Its history demonstrates so. Mapúa sees beyond what is here-and-now. It seizes opportunities to make a difference. Its mission, vision, and philosophy reflect so. Offering new programs such as technical communication is simply another exposition of what Mapúa stands for,” Dean Baltazar said.

The first batch of BSTC students will begin in July 2012, the start of School Year 2012-2013 in Mapúa. To learn more about the program and what career opportunities await the BSTC graduates, click here.

http://www.mapua.edu.ph/News/Default...th=5&Year=2012

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Industrial design students’ E-trike design places 3rd in national contest

The e-trike design of Maria Cielo M. Rogero and Norriele Ace Serrano places third in the Department of Energy's Best E-Trike Design contest.

When industrial design students Maria Cielo M. Rogero and Norriele Ace Serrano from Mapúa Institute of Technology were conceptualizing their design for an electric tricycle (e-trike), there was no need for them to go far to look for an inspiration. Right in the busy highways of Metro Manila are the passenger jeepneys plying in and out of its streets.

Rogero and Serrano sketched their design for a three-wheeled, seven-seater electric vehicle based on this most common mode of transportation in the Philippines. They adopted the jeepneys’ box-type frame and stretched the back of the vehicle to accommodate six passengers, a deviation from the traditional tricycle design. Like any other passenger jeepney, it has an open doorway located at the rear of the vehicle.

The team also considered the “ventilation and ease of entry and exit” of the passengers.

“We focused on the form, anthropometrics (the study of the dimensions of human body) and materials. Since the e-trike would be widely produced, we made sure that our design would use less materials but it would still be safe and aesthetically good,” Rogero said.

They also used two different colors in the body and ceiling, putting more emphasis on the body.

“What I like in this design is the continuity of the form - from the windshield to the ceiling. As much as possible, we’ve made it simple yet modern. The design fits both men and women, with its curvy and straight form,” she added.

All these efforts had paid off. The team’s design placed third in the nationwide search for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Best E-Trike Design contest, which was dubbed as “Bright Now! Do Right. Be Bright. Go E-trike.” They received P200,000 during the March 2 awarding ceremony at the Philippine Information Agency auditorium in Quezon City.

Add to this, a Mapúa industrial design student, Marciano H. Santos Jr., was also declared one of the seven consolation prize winners, all of whom received P50,000 each.

The design contest was one of the projects of the DOE to resolve the country's dependency on price-volatile petroleum fuels. The contestants submitted their CADD drawings to the DOE. Their designs were judged based on aesthetics/creativity, originality/innovation, safety and functionality, and ergonomics.


The e-trike design of Marciano H Santos Jr., one of the seven consolation prize winners of the Department of Energy's Best E-Trike Design contest. Photo courtesy of the School of Architecture, Industrial Design and The Built Environment

Rogero and Serrano had to drop their other projects just to meet the deadlines set by the DOE. Rogero said they had less than a month to conceptualize and finish their design. It took them one week to do their research, a week of sketching and consultation and another week to do the 3D.

“We almost didn’t make it to the deadline but luckily they extended it. It was really a blessing,” Rogero said.

She said it was “really awesome” to represent the Institute in the competition and to land in the top three, beating other design students, graduates and even professionals.

Dean Gloria B. Teodoro of the Institute’s School of Architecture, Industrial Design and The Built Environment said she is proud of the Mapúans who placed high in DOE’s national competition. She said these students made the Institute very proud.

“It’s important to expose our students to national competitions and to help solve actual design problems to train them to be more innovative and offer more responsive solutions,” said Dean Teodoro. “We are glad that our students are capable enough to compete with design graduates and even professionals.”

She also said that she hopes Rogero, Serrano and Santos would continue to believe in their talent, creativity and great potential to succeed.

http://www.mapua.edu.ph/News/Default...th=5&Year=2012

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Mapúa to host internationally funded workshop on environmental, occupational toxicology


Distinguished international and local experts in environmental and occupational toxicology (ENOTOX) and participants from the industry, academia, non-government organizations, and government agencies are set to gather in Manila next week for a three-day workshop that aims to enhance the country’s education, knowledge, and capability in ENOTOX.

ENOTOX is the study of the adverse effects of chemicals and other toxic substances to the environment and human health. It is already considered a mature field in Western countries, but still relatively new in the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asian region.

Mapúa Institute of Technology is organizing the workshop with funding from two internationally recognized organizations – the Swedish Chemical Agency, or KemI, and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

Four foreign speakers led by Ule Johansson, KemI’s project manager for development cooperation in Southeast Asia, will share their expertise with 40 Filipino participants in the workshop. Other international speakers are Jenny Ronngren of KemI, Swedish professor Dr. Jan Örberg from Uppsala University, and American Dr. Gary Denton from the Water and Environmental Research Institute of the University of Guam.

Engr. Bonifacio Magtibay, technical officer of World Health Organization (WHO)-Philippines, Cesar Siador Jr., chief of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Impact Assessment and Management Division, and Engr. Ana Rivera of the Department of Health-Environmental and Occupational Health Office will discuss ENOTOX in Philippine setting.

Dr. Denton said the workshop will give the participants an opportunity “to think a little more about the world we live in and how we might make it a better place for future generations. It goes without saying, then, that Mapúa deserves high praise for taking a proactive role in promoting such activities within the Philippines and throughout the region.”

First of its kind

According to Johansson, the ENOTOX workshop is KemI’s “first project of this kind” in the Philippines.

“We chose to support this project because we are already running a regional program with resources to start pilot activities related to chemical safety issues, such as education. We hope that this workshop will contribute to the development of a new curriculum and training/education for students in the Philippines and neighboring countries,” he said.

The KemI official admitted that there is a great need to develop training programs dealing with environmental toxicology not just in the Philippines but in the entire Southeast Asia.

“The rapid industrial development in the region has increased the need for this knowledge and expertise, both within industry, government, and other institutions,” Johansson explained. “We know since a long time that good education and training program are essential and that many countries lack in this area of environmental and occupational toxicology.”

For Dr. Delia B. Senoro of Mapúa’s Sustainable Development Research Office (SDRO), ENOTOX is very relevant in today’s world amid massive calls for environment and sustainable development. In fact, she said environmental sustainability is so crucial in alleviating the social and economic conditions of the world’s poorest countries that it became part of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

She added that education is the best way to address the global sustainability issue.

Dr. Senoro, the lead organizer of the ENOTOX workshop, was the only Filipino among the 25 participants of SIDA’s “Strategies for Chemicals Management” training program in Sweden last year.

In the Philippines, Engr. Magtibay said it is very essential to enhance the knowledge and capability of Filipinos in ENOTOX. Aside from the fact that labor force is “of significant proportion” here, health problems due to toxic chemicals are prevalent in the country, he noted.

He said that through the ENOTOX workshop, key stakeholders will learn by sharing and tackling current and emerging topics related to this field.

Like Engr. Magtibay, University of Guam’s Dr. Denton said the workshop will serve as a venue to exchange up-to-date information on a variety of important environmental, occupational, and toxicological issues.

“Hopefully, some participants will be sufficiently inspired by the experience to continue in this and [other] related fields and become world experts themselves. The rapid growth and economic development that is currently underway in many developing Asian countries typically takes precedence over environmental and public health concerns. Well trained environmental professionals that ultimately emerge from training experiences such as this are therefore critical components of any effort to reverse the environmental degradation of our planet, implement sustainable development and management practices, and create safer working environments,” he said.

“I believe that with the generation of numerous products around the globe, it is very important to advance our knowledge in toxicology to safeguard the health and safety of our people…. We hope that with nationwide participants we will be able to make ENOTOX known throughout the country for us to stimulate more people in addressing current and future challenges in this area,” Dean Uy said.

Mapúa takes lead in ENOTOX

Dr. Denton said the workshop will give the participants an opportunity “to think a little more about the world we live in and how we might make it a better place for future generations. It goes without saying, then, that Mapúa deserves high praise for taking a proactive role in promoting such activities within the Philippines and throughout the region.”

Dr. Örberg from the University of Uppsala also believes that strengthening any nation’s knowledge in ENOTOX is “extremely important.”

He said: “A safe use of chemicals requires knowledge and competence in a number of different disciplines… When realized, the ENOTOX project will provide this competence to Mapúa Institute of Technology, the Philippine industry, government agencies, and nearby countries. This will initiate and promote research relevant to the Philippines, decrease environmental pollution as a result of safe use of chemicals, and provide the government agencies with competent personnel.”

Dean Francis Aldrine A. Uy of the Institute’s School of Civil, Environmental, and Geological Engineering agreed that the entire Philippines, not just Mapúa, will benefit from the workshop.

“I believe that with the generation of numerous products around the globe, it is very important to advance our knowledge in toxicology to safeguard the health and safety of our people…. We hope that with nationwide participants we will be able to make ENOTOX known throughout the country for us to stimulate more people in addressing current and future challenges in this area,” he said.

The ENOTOX workshop will be held from May 22 to 24 at The Linden Suites in Ortigas Center.

http://www.mapua.edu.ph/News/Default...th=5&Year=2012

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Mapúa partners with Hawaiian university for academic exchange; opens opportunities for international hospitality student training

Officials of Mapúa signed a memorandum of intent with representatives of the University of Hawai’i Maui College (UHMC) to improve the educational and professional training programs of the two institutions. (First row, L-R) Cyrlla Pascual, Department Chair, UHMC Business Department; Lorelle A.S. Peros, Program Coordinator, UHMC Hospitality Tourism Program; Dr. Debra Nakama, UHMC Articulation Coordinator; and Mapúa president and CEO Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea together with the Institute’s officials and members of the faculty.

The hospitality industry is among the fastest growing professional fields in the world, and Mapúa Institute of Technology has paved for its students a new way to opportunities that would help them prepare for the demands of the industry.

Last March, top officials of the Institute signed a memorandum of intent (MOI) with representatives of the University of Hawai’i Maui College (UHMC) to promote the advancement of international understanding, dissemination of learning, and strengthening of cultural ties, as well as to improve the educational and professional training programs of the two academic institutions. The cooperation is focused on the areas of student, faculty, and academic exchanges.

“The contents of the MOI cover the short-term exchange of students for a three- to six-month training program, which includes two preparatory courses on the Hawaiian culture and an international on-the-job training (iOJT),” began Eunice C. Capalad, placement officer of Mapúa’s Center for Career Services. “It also covers the long-term exchange of students for academic degree programs in business, hospitality, and tourism. Exchange of professionals and executives as visiting lecturers, speakers in joint professional seminars and conferences, or consultants for academic and training projects may also be made possible through this partnership.”

The idea of the partnership between Mapúa and UHMC began a few years ago when a group from UHMC led by Dr. Debra A. Nakama, articulation coordinator and a professor of the Business and Hospitality Department, came to the Philippines after the university opened its hospitality internship program to Filipino college students.

“We are all Filipinos. We came in 2009 on our own expense because we felt that, as the Chinese were being very competitive, we wanted to make sure that the Filipinos would also be highlighted. And we knew that the Filipinos would be very competitive,” said Nakama. “When we first came to Mapúa, our intuition said that we would return, but before we return, we wanted to make sure that we would provide an opportunity that would team Mapúa with University of Hawai’i Maui College, so we could really promote the Filipino culture on a global level.”

Before the MOI signing, the UHMC representatives had at least 30 fourth year students taking up Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) for oral presentation. These students applied for an internship at UHMC’s partner resort Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas on Maui. Out of this number, only four will fly to Hawaii for the program.

Lorelle A.S. Peros, UHMC Hospitality and Tourism program coordinator, admitted that “they have a very difficult task” of selecting among the students.

“With the interviews we have done, just from the first few that came in, we knew that we had a very challenging task ahead of us. Just from their presence in the room and when we did the oral presentation, we knew it was also going to be even more challenging for us to figure out, with the limited amount of slots and opportunities, which students will be given the opportunity to go,” said Peros.

For Nakama, this was due to the qualities she and her colleagues had seen common in Mapúans that are essential in the field of hospitality and tourism.

“[They have] passion for the hospitality and tourism area. They are very communicative. They are very articulate and show a very strong air of confidence. I believe that the resorts need to see these topnotch Philippines students.”

One of the students aiming to make the cut for the internship is Krizza Janine S. Casumbal. Seeking opportunities that will best prepare her for her chosen career, she saw the numerous advantages of international exposure.

“The hospitality industry is one that caters to billions of people in the world. A would-be professional in this industry can only hope to learn all the possible ways to best meet its demands,” said Casumbal. “International exposure for us hospitality students provides a number of benefits like having a better understanding of different cultures, being updated with the latest trends in hotel and restaurant management, and job opportunities outside the country.”

Mapúa’s HRM program coordinator Ronwald M. Manalang expressed confidence in his students that they can meet the demands of the internship abroad.

“Mapúa’s HRM program is already six years old. There are lots of improvements in the curriculum and facilities. Our professors have solid experience in the industry and are very open to share them to our students,” he said. “Developing our students’ hospitality skills is our priority. We continually provide them with exposures that will expand their knowledge. I am very certain that the industry needs Mapúans.”

Capalad guarantees that UHMC’s internship program is one of the best internship programs that students must consider.

“UHMC have partner hotels on Maui, which was voted 17 times as the best island in the world. Moreover, aside from its industry partners, UHMC has structured academic training programs whose objectives are similar to those of our iOJT program. UHMC offers a value-based learning/training for our students.”

Broadening students’ view of the world

As Mapúa continues to tread the path toward becoming a global center of excellence in higher education, its president and chief executive officer Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea believes it’s important for students to be oriented with the industry on a global level.

“If we are to graduate globally competitive students, then internship abroad is an excellent step towards the attainment of that desired outcome. There is nothing like actual exposure to other cultures to broaden one’s view of the world, and there is nothing like immersion in actual working environments abroad to increase one’s knowledge of other countries’ standards.”

He emphasizes that such exposure means getting out of one’s comfort zone. One must be able to adapt to changes and be open to new ideas.

“Our students will have to expect to adapt to a very new environment. They will immediately realize that there are other ways of doing things, of looking at the world, and of relating to people. They must be very tolerant of and discriminating about all these influences that they would experience for the very first time. They should be open to new ideas and knowledge especially those that relate to the profession for which they are preparing themselves.”

For Dr. Vea, to go global is the way to grow and succeed professionally. While not everyone will have the chance to be trained abroad, there will always be opportunities for a person to develop his skills and be a global player.

“In today’s world, major Philippine-based industries cannot but have global connections. They have to operate at global standards or perish. Our interns in local industries thus also get exposed to the latest technologies and management practices. What they may not get is the constant exposure to other cultures. But that can come later and should not be a hindrance to their success in the global arena.”

http://www.mapua.edu.ph/News/Default...th=5&Year=2012

[luwibee]

wow consistent ka sa pagpopost ah, gusto talaga makuha ang PIN

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wow consistent ka sa pagpopost ah, gusto talaga makuha ang PIN

Naman friend!!!

[luwibee]

haha go lang!

[infinitygie]

Viva mapua!
MIT vs Letran today July 16,2012. 6pm! sa San Juan Arena. Live telecast sa AKTV.

[rodent_slayer]

ano na naman itong AHA? (Academic Honesty Agreement) na ipapatupad sa Batch 2011 and beyond?

ACADEMIC HONESTY AGREEMENT
I, _______________________________, a student of the School/Department of
____________________________________________, with Student No. _________________, and a resident
of ______________________________________________________________, hereby agree to abide by all
the rules and regulations of Mapua Institute of Technology including all policies involving Academic Honesty
that the Institute has adopted or may adopt in the future.
I hereby promise to do the following acts and deeds, and undertake not to violate any of them or any
similar rule that may be promulgated by the Institute in the future, nor cause any student, employee, or any
third person to violate them, throughout the duration of my stay as a student of the Institute and even after
graduation, as long as such act may to any extent affect adversely the policies of the Institute on Academic
Honesty:
1. I shall not cheat in examinations, quizzes, projects, reports, home works, problem sets, machine
problems, and in any required course works;
2. I shall not receive or give information to another student during examinations and quizzes;
3. I shall not do unauthorized collaboration with another student in the preparation and completion
of academic requirements;
4. I shall not ask another person to do a course requirement and represent it as my own work;
5. I shall not copy computer codes, whether or not the variable names have been changed;
however, open-sourced codes can be used for major computer projects as long as citations
have been made indicating authorship;
6. I shall not submit any material that is wholly or substantially identical to that created or published
by another person or persons, without adequate citations indicating authorship (plagiarism);
7. I shall not alter or insert any academic grade or rating so as to obtain unearned academic credit;
8. I shall not deliberately falsify a written or verbal statement of fact so as to obtain unearned
academic credit;
9. I shall not be busy browsing the internet or doing things unrelated to the course during course
sessions;
10. I shall not do anything to disturb the Instructor/Professor or any other student in the classroom
or laboratory room during course and laboratory sessions.
I understand that, by signing this Agreement, I shall be bound by the foregoing promises and
stipulations with regard to Academic Honesty.
I also understand that any violation of the policies of the Institute on Academic Honesty shall be
meted with a penalty of either suspension, exclusion, or expulsion, depending on the facts and the gravity
of the acts committed.
I acknowledge that the Instructor/Professor of the course has full authority to determine if there is
any probable violation of this Agreement, and that, in such case, the Instructor/Professor can elevate the
case to the Prefect of Discipline for further proceeding.
Conforme:
__________________________________
Signature Over Printed Name of Student
Date: ___________________

http://www.mapua.edu.ph/Announcement...20914112659943

[xybert_22]

Hehehe. Bawal na raw mandaya. hahaha.