The class of 2008 had left a good count of memories after they officially stepped out of the threshold of the school last Saturday, May 24, 2008
It was befitting that they were sent off with heavy downpour and strong wind during their graduation rites. In the first place, these185 alumni took the school by storm three years ago.
Say, who could have thought of forming a group of dancers and cunningly named it as CITE Maneuvers? Or braved the perils of Bawgo during their weekend treks? What about Ecotone’s and Rotaractors’ mangrove planting in Naga and Lilo-an or the frequent long bike trips of Exite Omnis to explore the countryside? Only this batch, to this writer’s recollection, has traversed the academic boundaries to blaze a new trail.
These graduates were brimming with talents and when they come in packs, impossible is nothing. Who could forget the groundbreaking installations of CITE Palette during school programs or their pastel paintings and tattoo designs during Sinulog Mardi Gras? They were a work of art, indeed! Trust a bunch of IT whiz kids called Xyberguild to raise the bar of computer literacy among high school students. Their pilot project, “Share an E-skill,” left good reviews in public schools who benefited from the training. It also held true for Catechism Club when it took a full blast through the efforts of its members. And speaking of talent, who can’t resist livewire Jammy Dayon whose stage performances were nothing short of amazing?
Among the brightest emerged true leaders. Rotary Club of Mactan Rotaract president Kenneth Sotto has proven that he is one when he was hailed as the most outstanding rotaract president and rotaract council chairman this year—a first in the history. CITE Palette president, Dave Ryan Sanz also became the Academic Excellence awardee along with Elex grad Jeffrey Jake Cutos and Andrew Esber of EM department.
The graduates of 2008 will always leave a mark in the hearts of the people whom they have touched. They will become a beacon of hope to those who come after them. They may have left the school for now but their legacy surely stays forever.
And in the words of batch representative, Jeb Saldariega, braveheart is all they are after all. We salute you and thank you for all the memories.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
THE SCHOOL FOR THE POOR
At the crack of dawn, 16-year-old Dodong wakes up to his usual morning chore. He walks 100 meters from home to fetch water for household use. When he returned home, his five younger siblings were getting ready for school. His mother was busy preparing for breakfast with his 2-year-old brother in tow. On the table were shreds of dried fish soaked in vinegar and some rice leftover barely enough for three.
Disheartened at the sight, he had to give way to his younger brothers and sisters who were already crowding the table. This was not the first time that he skipped breakfast. When his father lost his job last month due to economic slump, the situation got even worse. His sickly mother had accepted more laundry to augment the need of the family. As he left for school, he bid his parents goodbye and said a quick prayer for strength to get through one more day.
The depressing situation of Dodong's family is common and many have learned to accept this "common situation" as a chronic disease of society that cannot be healed. Many have accepted defeatism but CITE. When the Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE) was put up in 1990 through the inspiration of Opus Dei's first prelate, Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, the people behind the institution believed that the battle against poverty is literally and figuratively an uphill climb.
Located on the elevated suburbs of Cebu City, CITE found a simple solution from the view at the top: quality technical education for the less privileged youth. If young people like Dodong were equipped with functional skills, they could easily find jobs or start a business and thus improve their living condition.
CITE's 3-year flagship program called the Industrial Technician Program (ITP) simply does that. The program which sings almost its title aims at providing top-notch training to male high school graduates in any of these specializations: Mechanical Technology, Industrial Electronics Technology, Electromechanics Technology, and Information Technology. The ITP curriculum answers the rallying call of industries for highly skilled technicians.
ITP trains students for one year and a half in the school for theoretical subjects and laboratories related to their fields, and they are immersed in different industries for another one year and a half with corresponding allowance to help them defray their meal and transportation needs.
While in school, students benefit from strong support system that almost overshadows its main program. Apart from a curriculum that focuses on skill specific education, CITE gives emphasis on formative activities. Students are provided with one tutor each whom they can freely confide in their problems and seek for professional advice as regards their academic preparation.
Guided with the teaching of St. Josemaria Escriva, CITE ensures that the spiritual aspect of the students are never left out. Recollections, doctrine classes, daily mass and confession, and spiritual direction are within their reach for spiritual nourishment. Active student clubs, sports activities, and outreach projects also honed them into physically fit and socially active young individuals.
Another component is the scholarship assistance. Students enjoy either full or partial scholarship grants from alumni, civic groups, government units, and private companies and individuals. To sustain the program for the next generation of scholars, students are asked to give back to the school through its flexible sponsor-a-scholar-later scheme. Parents also take part in the education of their children through their monthly shares.
During their in-plant training, students are able to put their skills into real-life action under the watch of their supervisors. Students are protected by legalities due to the trainees. Their training is guided by a well-defined training plan aimed to use the students' potential to the fullest. Regular plant visits by the class adviser or tutor are conducted to ensure that training-related concerns are immediately addressed.
CITE's unique way of education is naturally inclusive. It deems the family and the faculty as important people in the holistic formation of the students. The active involvement of the parents in monthly parenting seminars and recollections helps them build a healthy relationship with their sons. Through the advisory meetings, parents get the opportunity to discuss with the teachers the scholastic performance of their sons and allow them to exchange notes with other parents. Teachers, on the other
hand, constantly undergo formative activities and programs for professional development to carry out their challenging task of forming their students into responsible adults and morally upright citizens.
The odds are really few for a CITE student not to land a job after three years. CITE graduates are noted for their competence and working values making them marketable in companies whose entry level requirements live up to a world-class standard. CITE graduates excel in their fields and continue to advance their career by pursuing higher education. Some have put their skills to good use by venturing into business. But one thing is common for sure---they all have put a better food on the table.
CITE's vision to see many of them rising from rags has always become a beacon of hope to many young aspirants like Dodong who just started his journey to CITE. Their stories have continually inspired the people behind the institution to remain faithful to their commitment to provide opportunities to those who have less and give hope to those who have lost it. (gowc2007@gmail.com)
Disheartened at the sight, he had to give way to his younger brothers and sisters who were already crowding the table. This was not the first time that he skipped breakfast. When his father lost his job last month due to economic slump, the situation got even worse. His sickly mother had accepted more laundry to augment the need of the family. As he left for school, he bid his parents goodbye and said a quick prayer for strength to get through one more day.
The depressing situation of Dodong's family is common and many have learned to accept this "common situation" as a chronic disease of society that cannot be healed. Many have accepted defeatism but CITE. When the Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE) was put up in 1990 through the inspiration of Opus Dei's first prelate, Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, the people behind the institution believed that the battle against poverty is literally and figuratively an uphill climb.
Located on the elevated suburbs of Cebu City, CITE found a simple solution from the view at the top: quality technical education for the less privileged youth. If young people like Dodong were equipped with functional skills, they could easily find jobs or start a business and thus improve their living condition.
CITE's 3-year flagship program called the Industrial Technician Program (ITP) simply does that. The program which sings almost its title aims at providing top-notch training to male high school graduates in any of these specializations: Mechanical Technology, Industrial Electronics Technology, Electromechanics Technology, and Information Technology. The ITP curriculum answers the rallying call of industries for highly skilled technicians.
ITP trains students for one year and a half in the school for theoretical subjects and laboratories related to their fields, and they are immersed in different industries for another one year and a half with corresponding allowance to help them defray their meal and transportation needs.
While in school, students benefit from strong support system that almost overshadows its main program. Apart from a curriculum that focuses on skill specific education, CITE gives emphasis on formative activities. Students are provided with one tutor each whom they can freely confide in their problems and seek for professional advice as regards their academic preparation.
Guided with the teaching of St. Josemaria Escriva, CITE ensures that the spiritual aspect of the students are never left out. Recollections, doctrine classes, daily mass and confession, and spiritual direction are within their reach for spiritual nourishment. Active student clubs, sports activities, and outreach projects also honed them into physically fit and socially active young individuals.
Another component is the scholarship assistance. Students enjoy either full or partial scholarship grants from alumni, civic groups, government units, and private companies and individuals. To sustain the program for the next generation of scholars, students are asked to give back to the school through its flexible sponsor-a-scholar-later scheme. Parents also take part in the education of their children through their monthly shares.
During their in-plant training, students are able to put their skills into real-life action under the watch of their supervisors. Students are protected by legalities due to the trainees. Their training is guided by a well-defined training plan aimed to use the students' potential to the fullest. Regular plant visits by the class adviser or tutor are conducted to ensure that training-related concerns are immediately addressed.
CITE's unique way of education is naturally inclusive. It deems the family and the faculty as important people in the holistic formation of the students. The active involvement of the parents in monthly parenting seminars and recollections helps them build a healthy relationship with their sons. Through the advisory meetings, parents get the opportunity to discuss with the teachers the scholastic performance of their sons and allow them to exchange notes with other parents. Teachers, on the other
hand, constantly undergo formative activities and programs for professional development to carry out their challenging task of forming their students into responsible adults and morally upright citizens.
The odds are really few for a CITE student not to land a job after three years. CITE graduates are noted for their competence and working values making them marketable in companies whose entry level requirements live up to a world-class standard. CITE graduates excel in their fields and continue to advance their career by pursuing higher education. Some have put their skills to good use by venturing into business. But one thing is common for sure---they all have put a better food on the table.
CITE's vision to see many of them rising from rags has always become a beacon of hope to many young aspirants like Dodong who just started his journey to CITE. Their stories have continually inspired the people behind the institution to remain faithful to their commitment to provide opportunities to those who have less and give hope to those who have lost it. (gowc2007@gmail.com)
SKIM THE WAVE
Summer is finally here and the best place to hang around is the beach- where the soothing breeze and cold water erase all our ranting about how hot these days are. People from all walks of life couldn't miss a single summer without going to the shore and spend a relaxing day there. But we do not go to the beach just to swim - we skim.
THE BOARD. Literally, to skim means to travel quickly on the surface of water; and to do this on the beach, a skimboard is needed. This may not be new to other people. They might have seen people going around town or near beaches carrying flat, wooden, two-meter long boards. These things are called skimboards, and the sport is called skimboarding.
THE SPORT. Skimboarding, also conveniently called skimming, is much like surfing, but only much smaller. It is done on shallow waters. Normally, a skimmer (a person who skims) runs parallel to the shoreline. He throws the board to the thin layer of water, and rides on it. When he meets the wave, he can then maneuver the board to the wave and do some tricks.
THE ROOTS. This sport dates back to the 1920s when the lifeguards of Laguna Beach, California used to skim of pieces of wood. Today, skimboarding has evolved immensely, while continuing to be one of the smallest sports in the world. It has found its way to Asia and to the Philippines. The skimming capital is in Tanauan, Leyte, where the perfect waves and fine sands are conducive for skimming. Here in Cebu, the famous skimming site is in Lilo-an.
THE GROUP. We started skimming late last year, when a fellow IT student taught us the basics. Now, we go to the beach almost every weekend to skim. "Nindut man gud kaayo tan-awn (It's nice to watch it) so I decided to learn the sport. "Dili man sayun magkat-on ug skim, naa nako'y pi-ang sa ti-il tungod sa skimming (It's not easy to learn how to skim, I got feet injury because of skimming)," said Ronald Campana when asked about why he liked skimming.
We started in a small beach in San Fernando. We then transferred to Coral Reef in Brgy. Elaya, Mactan. It is not really an expensive hobby; we can spend a day at the beach with only 100 pesos in hand. "Sulit ra pud kaayo ang board kung paliton (Skimboards are affordable) ," said Emil Francis Clave when asked about the price of skimboards.
THE LESSONS LEARNED. Aside from getting jeered at because of our scorched complexion, we learned balance and improved our stamina. There are several injuries due to slips and slides, but it made us face the fear of falling, and it challenges us to get back on our feet, and skim again. In our desire to learn the complexities of the sport, we developed patience and perseverance. One can also make friends with other skimmers on the beach and the most important thing - it also strengthens our bond of friendship. As graduating students, we also learned how to make most out of what's left of our time here in CITE. This sport has been gaining more popularity over the years. The euphoric feeling of riding the waters and the artistic sprays of the waves made it more interesting to young and old people alike. Skim the wave! (Contributed by Marlo Gestole)
Log on to cite.edu.ph for more stories. (gowc2007@gmail.com)
THE BOARD. Literally, to skim means to travel quickly on the surface of water; and to do this on the beach, a skimboard is needed. This may not be new to other people. They might have seen people going around town or near beaches carrying flat, wooden, two-meter long boards. These things are called skimboards, and the sport is called skimboarding.
THE SPORT. Skimboarding, also conveniently called skimming, is much like surfing, but only much smaller. It is done on shallow waters. Normally, a skimmer (a person who skims) runs parallel to the shoreline. He throws the board to the thin layer of water, and rides on it. When he meets the wave, he can then maneuver the board to the wave and do some tricks.
THE ROOTS. This sport dates back to the 1920s when the lifeguards of Laguna Beach, California used to skim of pieces of wood. Today, skimboarding has evolved immensely, while continuing to be one of the smallest sports in the world. It has found its way to Asia and to the Philippines. The skimming capital is in Tanauan, Leyte, where the perfect waves and fine sands are conducive for skimming. Here in Cebu, the famous skimming site is in Lilo-an.
THE GROUP. We started skimming late last year, when a fellow IT student taught us the basics. Now, we go to the beach almost every weekend to skim. "Nindut man gud kaayo tan-awn (It's nice to watch it) so I decided to learn the sport. "Dili man sayun magkat-on ug skim, naa nako'y pi-ang sa ti-il tungod sa skimming (It's not easy to learn how to skim, I got feet injury because of skimming)," said Ronald Campana when asked about why he liked skimming.
We started in a small beach in San Fernando. We then transferred to Coral Reef in Brgy. Elaya, Mactan. It is not really an expensive hobby; we can spend a day at the beach with only 100 pesos in hand. "Sulit ra pud kaayo ang board kung paliton (Skimboards are affordable) ," said Emil Francis Clave when asked about the price of skimboards.
THE LESSONS LEARNED. Aside from getting jeered at because of our scorched complexion, we learned balance and improved our stamina. There are several injuries due to slips and slides, but it made us face the fear of falling, and it challenges us to get back on our feet, and skim again. In our desire to learn the complexities of the sport, we developed patience and perseverance. One can also make friends with other skimmers on the beach and the most important thing - it also strengthens our bond of friendship. As graduating students, we also learned how to make most out of what's left of our time here in CITE. This sport has been gaining more popularity over the years. The euphoric feeling of riding the waters and the artistic sprays of the waves made it more interesting to young and old people alike. Skim the wave! (Contributed by Marlo Gestole)
Log on to cite.edu.ph for more stories. (gowc2007@gmail.com)
A VIEW FROM THE TOP
He was poor with numbers and he had a hard time coping with his majors before. But never did it stop him from getting to the top. Rodjie Obsequias believes that skills alone don't make a good worker, it's the work values which count the most. His six years in a metal stamping company, Mactan Parts Technology Inc. proves it.
"I started as a trainee doing filing and because of hardwork, I became a member of the maintenance team and got promoted as the general class leader in the Die Maintenance Section of the R&D Department," said he.
He is now heading a staff of 8-10 in the upkeep of dies used for producing cassette deck mechanism and other audio-visual parts such as CD changer. Despite being young for his position, this 26-year old Mechanical Technology graduate knows when to push the right buttons.
"I had problems with some of my staff especially the older ones who sleep during their shifts or those who play computer games, but all I did is to communicate with them. Everyday we set a goal for our team. It takes a lot of self-discipline to reach that goal," he intoned.
Rodjie does not consider himself uptight with his new position. Being a doting father to two young boys, he understands when to crack the whip and when to keep it low.
"We are expected to make very few mistakes and to look for ways to improve. Our Japanese employers demand the best from us. How I got promoted ahead of others? They know that even if no one is looking, I always give my best shot," he said.
Rodjie has trained in die maintenance in Japan for one year. He also became a technical trainer for the same expertise in China for three months and an offer to replicate the training in Czech Republic is underway for him. Judging from his looks, no one would think that this small wonder has eight cost-saving Kaizen (ideas for improvement) awards tucked under his belt.
Any piece of advice to spare? "Mr. Ardiente (his adviser) used to tell us : what you are now is what I am before. I'd like pass on the thoughts. Work hard, have faith, and have patience," he ended. (gowc2007@gmail.com)
Log on cite.edu.ph for more success stories.
"I started as a trainee doing filing and because of hardwork, I became a member of the maintenance team and got promoted as the general class leader in the Die Maintenance Section of the R&D Department," said he.
He is now heading a staff of 8-10 in the upkeep of dies used for producing cassette deck mechanism and other audio-visual parts such as CD changer. Despite being young for his position, this 26-year old Mechanical Technology graduate knows when to push the right buttons.
"I had problems with some of my staff especially the older ones who sleep during their shifts or those who play computer games, but all I did is to communicate with them. Everyday we set a goal for our team. It takes a lot of self-discipline to reach that goal," he intoned.
Rodjie does not consider himself uptight with his new position. Being a doting father to two young boys, he understands when to crack the whip and when to keep it low.
"We are expected to make very few mistakes and to look for ways to improve. Our Japanese employers demand the best from us. How I got promoted ahead of others? They know that even if no one is looking, I always give my best shot," he said.
Rodjie has trained in die maintenance in Japan for one year. He also became a technical trainer for the same expertise in China for three months and an offer to replicate the training in Czech Republic is underway for him. Judging from his looks, no one would think that this small wonder has eight cost-saving Kaizen (ideas for improvement) awards tucked under his belt.
Any piece of advice to spare? "Mr. Ardiente (his adviser) used to tell us : what you are now is what I am before. I'd like pass on the thoughts. Work hard, have faith, and have patience," he ended. (gowc2007@gmail.com)
Log on cite.edu.ph for more success stories.
REACHING OUT
I once wondered why this student often goes in and out of my class until one day he told me the reason: he had to drink water to fight against his hunger.
He has been skipping lunch for two weeks and to him drinking some water reduces the hunger pangs. Hearing his story, I realized just how cruel poverty is that it has indiscriminately devoured even the weakest among us.
One time I ran into another student curled up in the corner of the comfort room on the second floor. He was suffering from ulcers and could barely stand up. His classmate told me that he had always stayed there during lunch breaks. The next year, he quit school. Reality bites. While some of us were feasting on our food, wasting them away when we lost our appetite, some of our students were enduring the pain brought by an empty stomach.
As we sit comfortably in our cars, how many of our students have to bear walking a kilometer or two to reach the school or suspend themselves in a jeepney because their money is not enough for the fare? When “An Hour a Month Charity Fund Drive” or AHMCFD was introduced in October 2006, I just knew that it would go a long way. A simple e-mail plea from our Scholarships Officer for an hour of our monthly take-home pay to support these needy students prompted 21 staff members to respond. Whether they pledged P50 or P500 a month, it made a difference. It was overwhelming. The program encouraged the staff and even some students to take part in its cause to reach out to those who have less. The beneficiaries were assisted through meal or transportation allowance given on a daily basis. Prior to grant, the committee interviews the students and parents to check for veracity of the assistance needed. The program has helped seven students already since it started.
Said one: “I am far from my family and there are times that my allowance is delayed. I am thankful to God that there are generous persons who heartily share their grace to us.” The program however discourages the probability of dependency. But for now, it may be necessary to hand the fish over, just to save a student who may be the only hope to his family. In that way, he will have all the time to fill his mind with knowledge rather than fill it with worries on what to eat for lunch. Log on to http://www.cite.edu.ph/ for more of these stories
He has been skipping lunch for two weeks and to him drinking some water reduces the hunger pangs. Hearing his story, I realized just how cruel poverty is that it has indiscriminately devoured even the weakest among us.
One time I ran into another student curled up in the corner of the comfort room on the second floor. He was suffering from ulcers and could barely stand up. His classmate told me that he had always stayed there during lunch breaks. The next year, he quit school. Reality bites. While some of us were feasting on our food, wasting them away when we lost our appetite, some of our students were enduring the pain brought by an empty stomach.
As we sit comfortably in our cars, how many of our students have to bear walking a kilometer or two to reach the school or suspend themselves in a jeepney because their money is not enough for the fare? When “An Hour a Month Charity Fund Drive” or AHMCFD was introduced in October 2006, I just knew that it would go a long way. A simple e-mail plea from our Scholarships Officer for an hour of our monthly take-home pay to support these needy students prompted 21 staff members to respond. Whether they pledged P50 or P500 a month, it made a difference. It was overwhelming. The program encouraged the staff and even some students to take part in its cause to reach out to those who have less. The beneficiaries were assisted through meal or transportation allowance given on a daily basis. Prior to grant, the committee interviews the students and parents to check for veracity of the assistance needed. The program has helped seven students already since it started.
Said one: “I am far from my family and there are times that my allowance is delayed. I am thankful to God that there are generous persons who heartily share their grace to us.” The program however discourages the probability of dependency. But for now, it may be necessary to hand the fish over, just to save a student who may be the only hope to his family. In that way, he will have all the time to fill his mind with knowledge rather than fill it with worries on what to eat for lunch. Log on to http://www.cite.edu.ph/ for more of these stories
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