ACE OF ALL TRADE

While most students go to school before they learn the trade, Ace Balingit did otherwise.

Ace landed a job in Universal Robina Corporation as a machine operator after high school. Five months later, he was laid off. He applied as operator at Monde Nissin. When his contract expired, he worked as picker for tool department at Fairchild Semiconductors. Due to downsizing, Ace, now 20, lost his job. International Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IPI) opened its door for him. Ace was hired as a machine operator in the F &B Department.

Unlike his previous jobs, IPI made him realize the importance of education to be competent in one’s job. He took a closer look at his life and made a decision one day—get out of IPI and go back to school.

So it happened. Ace is now in CITE taking up Industrial Electronics. He loves sharing his stories with his classmates hoping that they too would realize how important education is to secure a job and prepare for the future.]

IN THE HANDS OF THE SAMARITANS

Rey Adrian Batiansila, 17, always reminds us of one thing---that the world is still full of good Samaritans. True enough, he finds that goodness in people he least expected.

Adrian’s mother died of cancer when he was in high school. Escaping from mountains of bills, his father left him and his younger sister under the watch of a relative in Carmen. Adrian worked as a houseboy to earn his keep as he continued his schooling though a scholarship from Sec. Ace Durano.

When getting a college edu-cation seemed impossible for this teenager, a high school teacher came to his rescue. A certain Mr. Jian stood in for his parents to support his transportation and meal needs in CITE. As time went by, support had come few and far between. Adrian had to work as a motorcycle driver on weekends to support his sister and himself. With a little over P160 every week, he was always in a tight corner. “I tried to quit. I had some difficult times adjusting to being a student and the man of the house,” Adrian revealed. What he lacked in some aspects was compensated with his people skills. Adrian was a star player of a basketball team which he organized back home. He gets his share when his team wins a competition. Much of his time was devoted to organizing sports activities for the youth in Carmen. He almost won as Sangguniang Kabataan chairman last election. “I considered my pastime as the best way to forget about my own problems and help others because I am the adviser of our SK Chairman,” said he.

Now on his second year in EM Technology, Adrian receives support from Charity Fund Drive of the school, a program which he said has helped him get through his day-to-day ordeal. Though times are still tough, he believes that with CITE and some true friends around, he is definitely in good hands.]

WE ARE BEARERS OF CITE SPIRIT

“….And our tutees have to see concrete models in us,” emphasized Executive Director Ruben Laraya as he opened the Seminar for Tutors on June 6-7 at the Mountain View Nature’s Park in Busay.

As a “distinctive flavor” to the program, said Laraya, the tutorial performance needed a shot in the arm to reach a 100% target every month: a tutors’ seminar every month. Said he: “The tutorial is what makes our program effective...we have to be true to what we say we are.”

The tutorial system allows formation to take root in a personal level. During regular chats, the student discloses himself in confidence to his tutor who in return, actively listens and gives options to his tutee to go about his problems or concerns. “The tutor establishes the link between CITE and the student,” Laraya added.

The seminar included a talk on how to chat, which Academic Director Carlos Cornejo summed up in three words: “Be a friend.”

Formation Director Mars Hamoy in his talk on Character Formation underscored on the importance to form what is inside. Student Affairs Officer Jun Langahin reminded those in attendance on “professionalizing the tutorial” and gave a workshop on active listening.

Finally, CITE chaplain Fr. Roy Cimagala wrapped up the two-day seminar on Spiritual Direction as he reminds the tutors of life’s rule of the thumb: “We have to put order in our lives first before we can attempt to put order in the lives of others.” In so doing, one can truly keep the CITE spirit alive. ]

SPEECH OF TESDA RD MA. ROSANNA URDANETA

Here's the full transcript of the speech given by Regional Director Ma. Rosanna Urdaneta of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority during CITE's 4th Commencement Exercises for Industry Skills Training Program graduates on May 25, 2008.

Executive Director, Ruben Laraya, PESO Manager, Bonifacio Mercado Jr., graduates, guests, friends, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.

I feel privileged to be with you today to share in this exciitng occasion of your graduation.

This is a defining moment for all of you who now stand at the crossroads of your future. Whichever road you decide to take, the fate that awiats you at the end is a choice that is entirely yours to make.

If you care to look around you, you see a world full of people with great potentials, incredible skills, and unique talents. Yet sadly, many of these so called promising individuals have become a burden to their communities, their friends, and their families. Reputation and credentials alone by itself does not guarantee a bright future. You've gotta work!

And to prepare you to be in a position to compete for work in this competitive world is the business of this institution! I tell you, you couldn't be in a better place than to be here right now!

I think you know what I mean. Outside of the confines of this training center are a myriad of temptations that can cause you to slip and slide if you are not careful.

Your mentors, instructors, and this veritable institution have brought you to a position where you can make a name for yourself. They have taught you the skills, the discipline, and the ability to discern maturely which path to pursue.

WHat you will become in the future serves as a mirror to this institution, a gauge whether we have succeeded or failed in our mandate.

Maybe it has not yet sunk into your minds but I tell you, all of you are now vastly different from who and what you were when your first set foot in this premises. You have been transformed, empowered and given wings to fly by the virtue of the Industy Skills Training Program under the auspices and collaboration of CITE and TESDA.

You are a product of an educational system that smartly combines the theories learned from a classroom environment and the application of those learned theories by exposing each one of you to "actual and live" scenarios in the various industries who unselfishly extended their facilities as training ground.

The distinct advantage of this kind of educational system is that it allows students to experience work in a real setting. It gives a student a foretaste of the actual world so that when the time comes whent they are hired as "real" workers, they assimilate and adapt to the work environment much faster.

More than that, the actual experience, (with the guidance of the mentor or supervisor) allows the student to identify what areas he is strong and what areas he is weak in. Then the trainer supervisor prescribes remedial action to make him or her a more competent worker.

Your graduation today is a certification that each one of you is now equipped with an acceptable level of competence needed in your particular field of industry to produce an acceptable level of proficiency. The skills you have acquired are very powerful tools. They are in fact assets that can never be taken away from you! Yet those are transferable skills as well that you can pass on from one generation to another.

You are our new breed of ambassadors. Wherever you go you wear the "brand" of this institution and I am sure you will make us proud someday. Go then and fulfill your destiny and make your family and your country proud of you.

In closing, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to those who in one way or another contributed to the success of this endeavor, your families and loved ones, for the individual support they have given you.

Kudos too to the officers, staff, and faculty members of CITE! May God bless you and continue to prosper the work of your hands!

Press Release: CITE FETES SCHOLARS, GRANTORS

The Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE) welcomed 856 scholars for school year 2008-09 during the 17^th Scholars’ Day Rites held May 24. This year’s batch is composed of 388 first year students, 272 second year students, and 196 third year students. The scholars were presented to the CITE board of trustees in a simple ceremony.

Some students also received certificate of merit for having obtained the grade point average required for honor students. The ceremony also recognized the efforts of the benefactors who have poured in their support through educational aid to the less privileged students. Their assistance may be in the form of perpetual scholarships, tuition and fees subsidies, or meal/board and transportation allowances to help underprivileged students get by as they finished their three-year industrial technician program at CITE.

This year, CITE continues to receive support from the following individuals, civic groups, private companies, local government units, and NGO’s here and abroad. They are A.B. Soberano International Corporation, Alejandro T. Escaño, Atty. Federico J. Jarantilla, Benjamin and Carmela Du Foundation, Don Julian Teves, Don Lorenzo Escaño, F.A. Realty Corporation, Guillermo and Rafaela Du, Hiroshi K. Natori, ITP Alumni Scholarship Fund, Jose Ben R. Laraya, Jose Cupino, Juanito I. King, Luther D. Bersales, Mariano Pilar G. Saberon Foundation Inc., Mel and Delsey Borja, Meralco Foundation Inc., Prof. Hideo T. Yamada, Aloguinsan Municipal Council, Department of Science and Technology-Science Educational Institute, Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 (Lapu-lapu City), Mandaue City Government Scholars Society, San Remigio Municipal Council, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-Private Education Student Financial Assistance-Asian Development Bank (TESDA-PESFA-ADB), CITE Multipurpose Cooperative, Enfant Du Mekong, HCS Foundation Inc., Japanese Scholarship Assistance Inc., Marubeni Scholarship Foundation Inc.,PASAR Foundation, Inc., Penton Clan, Rotary Club of Mactan, Rotary Club of Mandaue-North, Saint Peter Academy Foundation Inc., SOS Children’s Village, United Families of Northern Cebu for Genuine Development, JM/Universal Feedmill Corporation, TMX Philippines, Antonio R. Moraza, Arturo L. Espinosa, Berame-Leyson-Sabanal, Bishop Julito B. Cortes, Elisa-Vabby Payod, Erramon I. Aboitiz, Friends from Germany, Garces Realty, Jens Funk, Julieto B. Ardiente, Jundryl S. Oplado, Hon. Mariano R. Martinez, Klaus A. Schreiber, Leonardo G. Arriesgado, Marie Magdalen B. Soronio, Mitch M. Bacus, Mr. and Mrs. Junee Mar C. Aguilar, Mr. and Mrs. Mirardo C. Malazarte, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Gonzales, Rosa A. Laraya, Sabas T. Cabahug, Sabiniano M. Laraya Sr., Stephen G. Paradies, Wally O. Ong, and Winfred Rogelio R. Blardony.

As the school takes in more scholars this year, CITE relies heavily on the generosity on its grantors to carry out its mission of providing opportunities to those who have less and give hope to those who have lost it.

Find out how you can help more students by visiting cite.edu.ph or discuss the program with Scholarships Officer via e-mail at capuyan.ed@cite.edu.ph.

Press Release: OSY RECEIVE DIPLOMAS

Graduates of the Industry Skills Training Program (ISTP) of the Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE) received their diplomas during the 4th ISTP Commencement Exercises held on May 25.

About 250 graduates of CITE’s job preparedness program from different batches who finished the 6-month course in Industry Assemblers Course and CADD (Computer-aided Design and Drafting) Operators Course were present during the ceremony. Graduates of one-year program in Production Technology were also in attendance to join the rites. Most of these graduates are now gainfully employed in different plants of Lear Corporation and other industry partners of CITE.

Present during the ceremony were CITE executive director Ruben Laraya, Public Employment Service Office manager Jun Mercado, representatives from Lear corporation and the training center faculty members. Regional Director Ma. Rosanna Urdaneta of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-7 was invited as keynote speaker. Urdaneta noted that the graduates are the new breed ambassadors wearing the brand of the school and TESDA. With their newfound skills and competence, Urdaneta added, the graduates are now empowered to produce outputs of acceptable level of proficiency. These powerful tools can be passed on from one generation to another, she told the graduates.

The ISTP program of CITE is aimed at helping male and female high school graduates to acquire entry level skills needed in the workforce. The beneficiaries are less privileged youth but deserving ones who can’t pursue college education after high school. The trainees are assisted through scholarships, strong partnership between the school and the industries through the dual training system (Dts), and through a viable learning support which hones them into workers with good work attitude. Graduates of this program has reached more than 2000 as of this year. For more information, log on to cite.edu.ph or call (032) 346-1611 for the admission test schedules.