The Catalyst Express

By Isay del Mundo

If you spent time on Facebook or Twitter during the fourth week of February, you’d probably notice the influx of pictures and videos of the ID112 students being posted at random times of the day. This is because the ID112 students went to Singapore for their SEMFILA trip together with Dr. Lawrence Belo and Engr. Dennis Yu to visit plants in the city famous for its Merlion insignia. The tour focused on visiting different plants and schools in Singapore to give the students a firsthand experience of how these companies operate and it also serves as an educational tour to expose students to actual practice of the chemical engineering profession.

Day 1

The flight to Singapore was at 5:30am and so during the call time of 2:30am at NAIA, we were a mix of sleepy, excited and hungry students doing random things like trying to double check if our baggage would not go over the 10kg limit, or checking if the adapter we brought was correct. In general though, we were just talking to one another to try to keep the drowsiness away and to keep boredom at bay. By the time we were allowed to board the plane, most of us have eaten prior to the flight since food in the plane and in Singapore is generally more expensive. Since it was a red-eye flight, most of us slept through the plane ride so that the weariness that comes with the lack of sleep won’t interfere with the day’s activities. I should also mention that there were a few students who upgraded to Singapore Airlines, and so the arrival times were different but not too drastic.

The first thing you’ll notice when you’re in Singapore is how clean everything is. Not to put down our own country of course, but the level of cleanliness in Singapore is really noteworthy. With the volume of cars in Manila, the fresh air was refreshing to say the least. Or perhaps it’s simply because the notion of going abroad with your friends makes the whole experience especially memorable.

Since check-in at the hotel was still in the afternoon, we waited for the people who flew with Singapore Airlines by the hotel. During this time, most, if not all of us took the opportunity to go around the area to check for nearby restaurants, malls and MRT stations. Conveniently, the hotel was located near the Bras Basah MRT station so transportation during our free time was no problem.

By the time we’ve checked in the hotel, we were ready to visit SG Polytechnic. I have little to say about SG Polytechnic other than the facilities and the overall vibe was very, very nice. Seeing their labs and equipment made most of us a little jealous of their facilities because they had almost everything we studied about: gas absorption towers, distillation columns, batch reactors, etc. It’s a plus that everything was well maintained, so even the fume hoods were a big deal for us haha!

They have a lot of spacious laboratories and most of their experiments are very hands on. In their curriculum, as it is a polytechnic college, they do not require students to write theses but rather, the final requirement for the students is a final project that aims to solve practical issues.

Our departure from SG Polytechnic back to the hotel marks the end of day 1. The remaining time till the evening was given to the students to explore and go around Singapore.

Day 2

The second day consisted of a plant tour to Perkin Elmer and a university tour at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Perkin Elmer was significantly further compared to SG Poly and so travel time was a bit longer; however with Singapore being such as small country, everything is near relative to the places in the Philippines.

If you’ve been to STRC, there is a Gas Chromatograph manufactured by Perkin Elmer. We got to see the machines they produce in their showroom and the staff explained to us how it works.

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Out of curiosity, we asked how much one of their machines cost and the SGD 100,000 price tag is enough to tell us the complexity and quality of their machines.

Photo by Jahziel Lantin

After the showroom, we went to the manufacturing area. Pieces and specialized parts were assembled and made here to produce the final product. One of the people in the manufacturing sector was actually a Filipino so during the explanation of the manufacturing process, he spoke in his mother tongue. Pictures in the manufacturing site of Perkin Elmer were not allowed; however we got a group picture together with some of the staff.

After Perkin Elmer, the next stop was NUS. NUS is a very famous university and so personally, my expectations were very high. I was not disappointed as their programme is covers a lot of topics in engineering. They have specializations in their chemical engineering programmes ranging from membrane science, polymer engineering to petroleum refining. Their labs were also very well maintained as well. We were lucky we were able to gain access to their labs since the students were on holiday. It was by chance that our visit ended up on a day where the students were not there as they do not normally allow visitors to see their facilities. There were still some restricted places but we’re considered very lucky to be able to see their labs.

During the last bit of our tour, we got to meet some graduate students of the university. One of them was a Filipino on a scholarship taking his PhD in Chemical Engineering. He was a summa cum laude from the University of the Philippines and he highly recommended studying in NUS. When we asked one of the professors how much their tuition fee is, he responded that its roughly 8000 SGD per semester. Since one degree takes 8 semesters to finish, that’s 64,000 SGD which roughly translates to 2.3 million pesos.

Day 3

Day 3 was the heaviest day in terms of the itinerary as 3 plant visits were planned for that day. The first visit was Marina Barrage, which Singapore’s 15th reservoir.  Unlike regular dams, the Marina Barrage not only supplies water to Singaporeans, but it also serves as a venue for recreational activities. They allow dragon boat races and kayaking when the water levels are stable, and they have a rooftop garden which gives a nice view of the city.  

The Marina Barrage also houses the Sustainable Singapore gallery which aims to show the importance of the conservation of water and the environment through interactive displays and games.

Next after the Marina Barrage is also a water-related plant, NEWater. NEWater is a brand for Singapore’s reclaimed water and they treat wastewater using membrane and UV technology to produce high grade purified water free of any minerals, solutes and ions that is used in industry.

We toured the place with other tourists so it was quite packed. Nonetheless, it was a great experience that even came with a souvenir. NEWater gave us free samples of their high purity water that came is special bottles. It is potable for drinking; however due to the lack of minerals, it is not recommended as a daily source for water intake.

Last in the list is Aik Moh Paints and Chemicals. Out of all the plants visited, this is probably the plant visit that gave us the most chemistry-related vibe. Aik Moh produces chemicals for distribution all over Asia including industrial and laboratory grade chemicals. Here we got to see the products they made such as printing toners, ethanol, water-based chemicals etc. Our tour guide was actually a graduate of Mapua so communication was not a problem.

Day 4

Day 4 was probably the most anticipated day as it marked the start of the free days before our flight back to Manila. We went to Universal Studios early in the morning and since it would not be practical for all of us to go to the same ride at the same time, we dispersed into batches.

The most noticeable ride would have to be the Battlestar Galactica rollercoasters. If you like extreme rides, I would recommend this ride, especially the Cylon rollercoaster (blue). The waiting time can get really long though, so prepare yourselves to wait in line for 30 mins to over an hour.

Photo by Rossan Bayon

The Transformers ride was also a batch favourite. It’s a hybrid of a 4D movie and a rollercoaster so it was a popular choice for everyone.

Other notable attractions include The Revenge of the Mummy, Puss in Boots Giant Journey, Lights, Camera, Action!, and the Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure. Be sure to get a copy of the schedules of shows also if you’d like to watch as they have designated time slots.

Photo by Rossan Bayon

Needless to say, it was an extremely fun day.

Day 5

The last day came with the looming thought that we’d go back to the usual routine; however we tried to make the most out of this day. Some went to malls to go shopping, some went to Chinatown for a foodtrip, and some went to the Marina Bay area to see the Gardens by the Bay.

By the time we had to go back to the airport, we were finally feeling the fatigue that came with maximizing each day. Since it was a red-eye flight, people slept in the airport and on the plane and in three hours, we were back in Manila.

Overall it was an immensely enriching and fun experience especially since we were with our batch mates. And since the trip was centered on plant visits, we got to go to places we wouldn’t normally be able to. I can honestly say that the trip strengthened bonds between everyone in the batch and we made lots of good memories together with our professors. It was definitely one for the books.

By: Divina Fabella and Janne Ngo

For the past few months, we’ve been hearing a lot about ABET. How our syllabi were modified in order to meet its standards, how our design projects and exams will be presented to the accreditors and the ever hot issue of increasing the passing grade to 70%. But little is known about the actual accreditation program itself.

So what exactly is the ABET?

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), is a non-profit and non-governmental accrediting agency for post-secondary education programs like applied science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. In 1997, ABET received international recognition for its quality services by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). ABET has accredited approximately 3,600 programs at over 700 colleges and universities in 29 countries. Mapua Institute of Technology and Technological Institute of the Philippines are the first two ABET accredited schools in the Philippines.

ABET promotes best quality in education for the program that will meet today’s global standard. The accreditation is a proof that a collegiate educational program has met the standards needed to have versatile graduates ready to enter the critical fields in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. Graduates from an ABET-accredited program are capable to work globally and have more employment opportunities to multinational corporations because of its solid educational foundation.  ABET accreditation has worldwide recognition because of different mutual agreements to other countries.

Currently, chemical engineering and various programs in De La Salle University are in the process of ABET accreditation. Dr. Susan Roces, a full time professor in Chemical Engineering, was interviewed to know more the ABET accreditation of the program.

The Catalyst: What are the implications of getting accredited by ABET?

Dr. Susan Roces: ABET accredited programs receive international recognition of its quality. It promotes some of the best practices in education, directly involving faculty and staff in self-assessment and continuous quality improvement processes. ABET is based on “learning outcomes”, rather than the traditional “teaching inputs”. Moreover, transfer credits among universities globally can more easily be acceptable for ABET accredited programs. We can also gain better access to employment in the global market when we get ABET accredited.

The Catalyst: How long is the process? When do we expect or foresee to get accredited?

Dr. Susan Roces:  Three Years, starting AY 2014 – 2015, AY 2015 - 2016, AY 2016 – 2017. Various programs in De La Salle University are in the process as well, not just Chemical Engineering. We started in the process in the academic year 2014 – 2015. We expect the actual visit of ABET to campus on the first term of academic year 2017 – 2018.

The Catalyst:  What changes are we making in for the accreditation?

Dr. Susan Roces: Not changes; but rather, we are making preparations. We are adapting to ABET’s promoted practices in education like shifting to output-based learning rather than teaching or input-based, leaning more towards assessment rather than grades of the students, applying student outcomes and performance indicators, completing annual reports, adapting self-assessment practices and continuous improvement, gathering data from alumni and etc.

The Catalyst: What are the student outputs that are being submitted to ABET?

Dr. Susan Roces: We are passing documents such as the final exams and term end projects submitted in courses like CHEDES1, CHEDES2, CHEREKN, PHYPRN2, CHENMAT, DYNAPRO, TRAPHE2, CHECAL1. SEPAPRO and etc. Also submitted are final laboratory reports from LBYCHEA, LBYCHED, LBYCHEF, etc, project and group reports, and more. But we don’t submit all of our students’ outputs. Take for example: examinations, only the highest-scoring, lowest-scoring and median –score exams will be submitted. These are submitted in accordance to each performance indicator.

By Ivan Arcilla and Jolo De Guzman

When one hears the words “chemical engineering”, they imagine process engineers who work in production plants or students staying up till the wee hours of morning studying lessons with chemical formulas with lots of math and sometimes, the typical lab gown clad people mixing solutions of different colors. But sometimes overlooked is the profession only very few take, one that involves the academe: a professor in chemical engineering. And so we ask ourselves: do we really know what it’s like being a professor? These people who are with us almost every day, who teach us the things we need to know as future chemical engineers and life in general: can we really say we understand the role they play in our lives as chemical engineering students? Our professors have been with us since the start of our journey and despite our interactions with them, we don’t really know much about their lives. At first glance, some professors may seem like scary, strict people with their shiny PhDs, doctorates and the very title of “chemical engineer”. But what lies beyond the stereotypical image of the Lasallian chemical engineering professor? In this article, we aim to break the stigma that comes with being a chemical engineering professor so that we can get to know some of them a little bit more and see vignettes of their lives beyond the classroom.

Dr. Lawrence P. Belo

The first professor The Catalyst interviewed is Dr. Lawrence P. Belo. He brings life to the classroom with his energetic and positive attitude and for this article, he shares his experiences in life as a student and as chemical engineer to hopefully inspire us students. He brings a sense of humor to his lessons which makes you want to listen because his lessons will always be full of surprises and will make you enjoy the subject. He is a currently a full time professor who took his Masters and Undergraduate studies in De La Salle University and has a PhD in chemical engineering which he obtained from the University of Newcastle in Australia. He graduated from his undergraduate degree last 2001 and placed 7th when he took the board exams in 2002.

The Catalyst: If you were not a chemical engineer, what would be your job?

Dr. Belo: “I always thought of being a chemical engineer ever since I took my OJT in shell. I wanted to be a process engineer in probably Shell or Petron.”

 Even though Dr. Belo’s career goals were set early on in college life, he balanced his academics with his being a member of LSDC. However, he didn’t aim to be a performer because chemical engineer was what he aimed to be. “Dancing was just a hobby”. He adds.

His teaching career started when he applied for a scholarship in his master’s degree and things skyrocketed from there. He was then was offered a demo teaching job and from there, his path as a professor started until he went to Australia for his PhD and finally came back to DLSU to teach again.

The Catalyst: What event as a chemical engineer will you never forget?

Dr. Belo: “For me, it was when I was getting my PhD. It tested how you get through challenges.”

In his 14 years as a chemical engineer, it was his years in getting his PhD that was the most unforgettable. For him, it was where he experienced his highest and lowest points, but it was his experience as a professor and as a chemical engineer in DLSU that helped him get through it.

The Catalyst: How was your experience abroad? Can you tell us a little more about it?

Dr. Belo:  “Australia opened my eyes and I saw that there was lot to learn like problems outside the Philippines. It taught me things beyond what money can buy like troubleshooting. Here we have technicians, so there, natuto ako magpurchase, magtroubleshoot, set up; [the more technical side] of things.”

For Dr. Belo, it was his time abroad that really helped him grow. The experience broadened his perspective and taught him to look at things from a different angle. During his stay in Australia, 95% of the time the experiments he conducted didn’t work. There were times when he was stressed but he never gave up. One advice he gave was to look for pastimes to relieve stress.

The Catalyst: Which do you prefer: academe or industry?

Dr. Belo: “For me, mas gusto ko academe because you get to explore more. What I mean by this is in terms of research in academe, you have limited funding, but you can research on more topics. In industry, madami funding pero limited kung ano ireresearch.”

Right now, Dr. Belo prefers teaching because he finds more freedom in it unlike in the industry. We asked him what his most memorable experience was in his time as a teacher. He mentioned that once another professor scolded him because his class was noisy. He adds that it’s really fulfilling when he sees that a student of his is a topnotcher in a board exam.

Jokingly, we asked: If you were a specific piece of equipment in the laboratory, what would you be and why? He answered that he would be a graduated cylinder or a beaker, because no matter how sophisticated the experiment is there would always be a need for this equipment.

Lastly, we asked him if he had any advice for us students as aspiring chemical engineers.

“For Lasallian graduates, trust what the university teaches you. It may seem wala kang alam pero paglabas mo, believe that La Salle has prepared you more than enough. When you feel that you aren’t learning anything, believe that the fast paced trimester helps you recall. Sanay tayo sa hands and sa nagmamadali so good tayo sa grace under pressure.”

Next on the list is a professor who turns the traditional four-cornered classroom into a fun filled learning center due to his good sense of humour that breaks the silence of long hours of discussions. He is known for his organized way of presenting new topics and lessons in class. Making sure that the next breeds of Lasallian Chemical Engineers are competent enough to face the real world of Chemical Engineering is Dr. Vergel Bungay.

Dr. Vergel Bungay

He garnered the title of Doctor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering in Kunsan National University, Korea and is a full time associate professor in La Salle since Sept 08, 2014. He is also ccurrently the Vice Chairman of the Chemical Engineering Department A.Y. 2015-2016.

He graduated BS Chemical Engineering and BS Chemistry in Mapúa Institute of Technology last 1999 and 2000 respectively. At De La Salle University, he mastered MS Chemical Engineering, 2008, and on the following year mastered MS Chemistry at Mapúa Institute of Technology. Dr. Bungay also worked for Euromed Laboratoriesin Special Projects as Chemist of Paintable Solar cells.

The Catalyst: If you were not a Chemical Engineer, what would your job be?

Dr. Bungay: “If I weren’t a chemical engineer, I would [probably] be an accountant.”

Dr Bungay’s father wished that his son take up accountancy and teach the subject after he became an established accountant. However, his father realized that it would be better for Dr. Bungay to become an engineer and so Dr. Bungay took up his undergraduate chemical engineering in Mapúa Institute of Technology.

After graduation, he landed 5th place when he took the Chemical Engineers Licensure Examination. The Catalyst further asked if the thought of becoming a professional singer ever crossed his mind, as he is well known to be good in singing.

Dr. Bungay: “[I] never dreamt of being a performer though I love singing.” 

The Catalyst: What would be the most unforgettable experience as a Chemical Engineer?

Dr. Bungay: “Teaching in review classes. I [dealt] with students from different universities throughout the country.”

 By being engaged in the review centers, Dr. Bungay also became authors of various Chemical Engineering Reviewers.

The Catalyst: Since you obtained your doctorate in Korea, can you share some of your experiences in Korea?

Dr. Bungay: “I taught ChE Calculations to ChE students in  KNU. They called me “processor” 교수님. Aside from studying, I learned how to deal with the Filipino workers and migrants and I set up Catholic communities to be recognized by the Philippine Embassy.

 Dr. Bungay learned how to adapt and be sensitive to new cultures, people, and various Filipino workers that came from different aspect of life in his stay in Korea. He can also speak and write in Korean.

The Catalyst: Academe or industry?

Dr. Bungay: I prefer teaching, job sa industry is [mostly] routine.  

I think I will age rapidly in the industry.” he jokingly adds. He wanted to experience in teaching different kinds of students with different backgrounds in terms of culture. Dr. Bungay feels that in the academe, he can’t feel the signs of aging when interacting and exchanging stories with his students.

The Catalyst: To you, what is the most significant aspect of teaching?

Dr. Bungay: “When my students turn into teachers. I feel very old yet accomplished [at the same time].”

Some current DLSU professors who were students of Dr. Bungay include Dr. Managhaya, Engr. Talampas, and even Dr. Belo. He added: “I feel everyday is a significant day and through teaching, [I] touched their lives. [I can] interact with students [by making a mark] in their lives, either mainis or ma-inspire sila.”

We also asked Dr. Bungay, if there are any misconceptions of the students about him.

“Takot sila [sa akin]. Lalo na mga hindi ChE, kasi [kapag may time na] magugulo sila.” 

As he is known for his humor, Dr. Bungay always finds a way in injecting laughter throughout the session of his discussion. He is also fond of drinking coffee due to the demanding nature in the academe. He mentions that he doesn’t drink Starbucks though because he would rather use his money to donate to charity rather than to buy expensive cups of coffee.

The Catalyst: If you were a subject in chemical engineering, what subject would you be?

Dr. Bungay:  “[I would be the] reaction mechanism of chemical equilibrium. I’m so complex. Favorite ko na subject yun”.

Similarly, we asked Dr. Bungay: If you were a specific piece of equipment in the laboratory, what would you be and why?  He answered that he would be a Thiele Tube, because in perspective of being the said tube he said: “I am used to measure the melting points of students.” He explains that he wanted to test his students on how he or she will strive for excellence.

A few words of encouragement for aspiring Chemical Engineers from Dr. Bungay:

“First. Dapat hindi kinakalimutan yung [mga] inaaral nila. Content dapat hindi makalimutan. Although kahit maliit lang yung content, maliit lang dun ang magagamit.

Second, matutong gumalang. Bale wala yung talino kapag hindi marunong mag-opo.

Third, dapat marami kayong friends. [Sa]Future makakawork mo[mga] iyan., Importante ang interpersonal communication.”

He pointed out that even though we are done in our lesson, we must not tend to forget what we’ve learned because these lessons can help us in the future. In terms of character, one must learn how to communicate to his or her superiors with respect. Dr. Bungay also suggested that one should build his or her circle of friends in college because in the near future, these people might be your colleague in the chosen path you take.

Janne Ngo

Last November 23, 2015, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) released the roll of successful examinees in the Chemical Engineering Licensure Examination. Of the 874 hopefuls, only 466 qualified. Meanwhile, 16 Lasallians took the exam, 6 of which passed and were finally ratified as engineers. Whether you’re a freshman with unimpaired passion, someone halfway through the program, a weary senior, or an anxious fresh grad, you’d have to face the most intimidating exam of your life sooner or later. So, we thought it would be opportune to ask three of our six new engineers, Sed Holaysan (ID 110), Joy Baraoidan (ID 110) and Jerome Sy (ID 111)to put their two cents in.

Back in the day, Sed was in the BS/MS program, was one of the legendary ChE quizzers who has won quiz bowl after quiz bowl on behalf of our Alma Mater and happens to be one of the youngest in the batch. Sed outscoring 874 exam takers and topping the board exam didn’t come as a surprise to us, clearly. But apart from all that, he’s admired for his uncommon curiosity and for remaining down-to-earth. Meanwhile, Joy was one daring board exam taker for deviating from the usual “safe route” and not enrolling in a review center. She also used to be the Vice President for Activities of the Chemical Engineering Society during the academic year 2014 – 2015, so she basically knows pressure and balance like no else does.  Finally, Jerome is the first and the only (as of present) chemical engineer from the batch of ID 111. He nailed the exam in a single take despite having scarce time upon graduation to prepare.

The Catalyst: How did you prepare for the board exam?

Sed: Mostly I just reviewed using questions and reviewers. For familiar types of problems, constant practice is needed to lessen chances of carelessness. Whenever I would come across new types of problems, I would try to find out the solution on my own, and if I didn't get it right away, I would go over various resources to find a solution.

Joy: Well, I prepared for it three months prior cause they say that longer than that can be bad. I didn't get to enroll myself in a reviewers course as I just decided to take the boards last minute so I asked a lot of people for advice on how to prepare, what to expect, and for notes as well. INTECHE was also very useful especially for the general engineering part as it was the most similar in the board exam. As for the studying part, I made a schedule for myself on what to tackle on each day and made sure I accomplished it all as much as possible. I did take a refresher course and I think it's one of the best decisions I've made in preparing for my board exam. It helped me know where I needed to focus more on and gave me a lot more confidence in taking the board exam. It was also a good experience to know other people from other schools and I got to learn something new from them. And of course, I really prayed a lot throughout it all. Even to all the saints especially St. Jude for guidance and thank God they heard me.

Jerome: I enrolled on a review center and studied my notes on my college days especially notes on INTECHE. I also browsed the Perry's Chemical handbook to get familiarize with its contents. For the sources of example problems, I solved all available problems from the review center and some of the problems in textbooks.

The Catalyst: What are the things that you didn't expect about the exam or the experience as a whole?

Sed: The exam coverage is very broad, and there are so many topics to study, so I was (pleasantly) surprised to be able to specifically pinpoint certain questions that I had encountered in the past. Some were from recent reviews over the previous months, from contests I joined as a quizzer, or from schoolwork in DLSU. I also didn't expect to get 1st place, as the exam was difficult, and there were many questions where I wasn't confident in my answers.

Joy: Obviously, the only expectation that can be 100% true is that the board exam will be extremely hard. Most of the things that I thought were going to appear in the exam, (because the board examiners or my lecturers from my refresher course said so), didn't. Also, I expected that the time given for the exam was more than enough but really, it wasn't. I even wished for more time haha. So when preparing for the exam, make sure you get to tackle everything just in case and try to practice answering mock board exams with a time limit.

Jerome: I didn't expect the exam to be that hard. During the exam there were many unpredictable questions, and some unfamiliar topics that was not discussed before, but don't lose hope; just do your best and pray.

The Catalyst: What advice would you impart to the next batch of takers?

Sed: First of all, manage your time well, both as you're reviewing for the exam, and as you're taking the exam. During review, prioritize. Take time to study the topics that are likely to come out during the exam, and know what subjects you're weak at so that you can target those. Know the average pace you need to go at during the exam itself, and make sure you set aside time to go over the entire exam again (preferably multiple times). Secondly, when reviewing, know the best way for you to retain what you're learning. Perhaps it's not the same for everyone, but personally, when I make the effort to figure something out on my own (rather than just listening to an explanation or solution), I tend to remember it better, because I recall the thought processes my mind went through when I learned it. Third, while it's obviously good to prepare in advance and anticipate what may be required, it's just as important to be flexible. There are going to be problems which you are unfamiliar with or problems you have forgotten the solution to, and when you encounter those, you have to work with what you're given or what you remember. Try to eliminate choices, try to figure out upper or lower bounds to your answer, try to estimate answers based on simpler correlations if you don't recall the extensive procedures. Lastly, stay calm but focused. When the board exam is just several days away, or you're running out of time during the exam itself, don't let panic make your decisions for you. But while the board exam still "seems far away, put a little fear or pressure into your mind so you'll concentrate on how you need to prepare.

Jerome: My advice to the next takers are: 

1. Enroll on a review center, it is very helpful because everything you need to learn is already outlined.  2. Study hard and stay focused with your goal (which to became a licensed engr.)  3. Make a study plan  4. Always pray  5. Always have enough rest.

Joy: My advice is to just always think positive and study well. I recommend taking the refresher course unless you feel you're very ready. Gather as much notes as you can and always consult your books. Geankoplis and Chang will be your best friends. Try to answer as many mock board exams as you can and do group studies but only when you're 80-90% ready. During the boards, it's best not to discuss it after each exam. Shrug off all negative vibes that you may encounter during that time and just focus and do your best on the exam. Also, the questions that are given don't require long and complicated solutions so always keep it simple. And lastly, pray, pray, pray ALWAYS.

By Jerome King

           The Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers, or more well-known to some as PIChE, hosted the 77th annual National Convention at the Boracay Ecovillage Resort and Convention Center, located at Boracay Island in Aklan. This convention, organized by the local Panay chapter, lasted four days from February 17 to 20, with each day reserved for events relevant to the chemical engineering field.

           The first event was the Chemical Engineering Quiz Bowl, with chemical engineering undergraduate student representatives from all over the country joining for a battle of the brains. The university has been joining the said competition for several years now, with a very remarkable four consecutive championship titles a few years back. The De La Salle University – Manila team was lead by team captain Christian Adrian Uson, with the other team members Jerome Spencer King, Donna Angeles, and James Okusa. The contest consisted of three rounds: the easy, average and the difficult round. As the names suggest, the questions per round are arranged in increasing difficulty, coming from several areas of study in the chemical engineering curriculum. The questions range from analytical chemistry to transport phenomena to reaction engineering and to engineering economy.

           Out of the fifteen participating schools, the UP Diliman team came out on top with a significant lead, earning 220 points. Succeeding the champion team was Batangas State University with 140 points and Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod with 135 points. The De La Salle University team was not able to establish a good head start, eventually culminating in a lackluster performance atypical of a quizzers team. Nonetheless, the quizzers team is eager to continue improving themselves, revising current review strategies in preparation for the competitions soon to come.

           Among the other noteworthy events in the convention were the different plenary sessions organized. These eight sessions deal with several timely topics: Plasma Technology for Production of Functional Materials, Process Safety, ASEAN Cooperation on Climate Change, The Economic Impacts of ASEAN Integration, Chemical Engineering Education and Accreditation, and Sustainable Nuclear Energy, to name a few. Also, similar to many other gatherings, there was also a Fellowship Night in order to improve relationships and networking with other chemical engineers, regardless if licensed or aspirants. This fellowship night, aptly named ‘Caribbean in Boracay’ was held in Puka Beach, a more isolated yet similarly breathtaking part of the Boracay islands. The convention was closed with an event called the Bar BQ party, likely as a medium for the attendees to relieve themselves of stress and simply enjoy the night.

By: Isabela del Mundo

With the previous shift in the academic calendar, probably the most significant thought that occurred to students not taking subjects during the special term was: “What do I do in the five months of no class?” While others went on vacation with their families or simply took the time to take a rather long break from academics, two students from ID 112 went to Hokkaido Japan under the English Engineering Education Program to work as research assistants. I interviewed my batch mates Ranchie Ting and Marc Capili about their experience at Hokkaido University because really, what better way to make use of the shift in the academic calendar than by going on an exchange?

Let’s start with the basics. What was the programme all about? How long did it last?

[R] The program aims to allow foreign students to do internship at one of Japan’s most well-known universities, Hokkaido U or Hokudai for short, although it also allows their students to study or do internship abroad as well. The program can last anywhere from 2 weeks or longer. However, I decided to do the internship for 2 months. Other than the internship, Hokudai offers scholarship/allowance for the students going to their university.

[M] The programme was a summer internship at the Hokkaido University College of Engineering. It lasted for around 2 months. I had to pick a laboratory to work at and help in one of their researches. In a way, it helps the university showcase its’ engineering and research programs to potential students. In addition, a hefty living allowance was provided by the program.

Where did you work there, and what was your role? How was your experience working for Japanese researchers? Are they as strict as they are perceived to be?

[R] I worked at the Laboratory on Engineering for Sustainable Sanitation, under Professor Kimura. I did work similar to that of a research assistant. Doing analysis and daily maintenance for the research topic I was helping with. I basically helped lessen the work load for the researcher. The work experience was not as tough as I expected maybe because I was just an intern for 2 months. They were very hospitable and patient. They taught me the things I needed to do, especially when dealing with equipment since the controls were in Japanese. I do not believe they were strict, though this may be just the case for the professor and student I was under. In fact, I believe they were lenient going as far as telling me to go have fun when I want to. In fact they’re so kind, I even made friends from the other laboratories haha!

[M] I worked at the Aquatic Environmental Protection Engineering Laboratory under Prof. Takahashi and Prof. Fukazawa. They were very accommodating to help me in anything. I was tasked to help in one of their researches about recovering potassium from wastewater. We built a small system which would continuously recover potassium via ion exchange using zeolite and ion exchange resin.  The experience overall was very good. They were willing to help me whenever I would have questions or problems. The atmosphere in the student’s room and the laboratory was friendly. We would often go out to drink, eat and generally have fun. In my perspective as an intern, they were not as strict as how they are perceived. It may just be because I was a foreign intern.

Was the language barrier difficult to overcome?

[R] For me since I can speak conversational Japanese, at the very least, I think I was able to communicate with them very well. Of course, being college students, they knew some English which helped when I didn’t know certain words or phrases. The professors were very fluent in English; in fact Professor Kimura speaks too fast sometimes. There were also many foreign students in my lab which allowed me to take a breather from all the Japanese. I think it was due to this knowledge of the Japanese language that helped me settle in with them and form deeper bonds.

[M] Yes, it was quite difficult to overcome but it is not as hard as it seems. My little background in Japanese from high school did help and I could often understand segments of what they were saying. Inside the university, you are pretty much fine since they study English as part of their curriculum. Just don’t expect them to be fluent in it. My laboratory mates and professors can speak English; just not that fluently. Ayaka-san, the Head of International Affairs of Engineering, would be the most fluent native Japanese English speaker I have ever talked to on campus. Outside the campus, it becomes hard to communicate. There was one instance where I was asked in Japanese by a cashier clerk if I needed a plastic bag. I did not know exactly what to say so she just said that I don’t need it. In tourist areas like airports, shopping areas, and cultural spots, there were staff that could speak English or signs in English so no problems there.  To overcome the language barrier, some restaurants would have an English menu ready. For everything else, just point what you want, gesture how many, and pay.

Any especially memorable experiences with your Japanese peers? Hanging out after work, or visiting new places with your new friends?

[R] I’m a firm believer that it’s the mundane everyday things that are most memorable, but if I were to pick just one, it would be going to Furano. It was such a fun road trip going there. Usually tourist would take a bus or train to go there since it’s a bit far, luckily two of my labmates had a car. We got to talk a lot in the car to and from Furano. We talked even more while eating and walking around the beautiful flower fields and the blue lake in Biei. It had a very serene feeling. It was even more memorable since we went there the day after my birthday.

[M] A lot. We were treated to a welcome BBQ party by the laboratory. Since we were the guest, we didn’t have to pay. The same goes for the farewell BBQ party. On my birthday, my lab mates brought me to an outdoor drinking area since I was finally at legal drinking age. My lab mates also brought me to a restaurant, Nikucha, where they served fried rice meals, ramen, and gyoza. Surprisingly, it tasted like what we commonly eat here: salty, flavourful, and inexpensive. It became my favourite restaurant. We also went to a camping trip for 3 days, where we had to hike for around an hour just to get to the campsite. The site was a rocky shore with an abandoned house on it. There was no electricity and no cellular signal. It was the first time for me to experience camping like that, but it was fulfilling.

Is there a place in Hokkaido you would recommend on going? Like any tourist spot, or must see places?

[R] There are so many places you should go too, but since I went there on internship, I was only able to go to a handful of places. Though I was allowed to go around whenever, that would have been wrong of me to do so. Places? First on the list would be the stunning huge campus of Hokkaido University. I was there during summer and still it was beautiful. I heard it’s even more beautiful during Autumn when ginko trees start turning a brilliant yellow. Next would be Furano, the place is famous for the lavenders around July and sakura grass around May-June. It’s also next to Biei which is famous for its fascinating blue lake. I was also able to visit Niseko which is famous for skiing in winter. Mount Moiwa offers a clear view of the city and is especially beautiful at night. I also suggest you go to Odori Park during summer for the flower carpet and snow festival during winter. Tanukikouji is a great place to go if your one who always wants to bring home tons of souvenirs. If you’re the shopping kind, you should go to the outlet store near the airport called Mitsui. The branded clothes in Sapporo are around half the price here in the Philippines, even if you don’t go to the outlet store. Sapporo is also famous for their beer, while you’re there, the Sapporo classic is a recommended choice of drink though it’s pricier compared to others. Although these are all stunning on their own, I highly suggest that you go with a friend or two.

[M] I would recommend going to Sapporo first and explore the city before going out to other places. Susukino is the nightlife area of Sapporo with bars and restaurants livening up the area. Mt. Moiwa is accessible via cable car and has a full view of the city. Sapporo Beer Museum houses relics and the history of Sapporo Breweries, makers of Sapporo Beer. Hokkaido University is also a go-to tourist destination especially during cherry blossom season. It is a massive forest-like university inside a city, very contrasting with the ones in Manila. It even has a farm and hectares of land dedicated for agricultural research. Odori Park has a linear shape where at one of its’ ends sit the Sapporo TV Tower. Tanukikouji, a linear shopping arcade, has a lot of shops for virtually almost anything: souvenirs, electronics, food, etc. Most of the shops there exempt foreign tourists, who make a certain amount of purchase, from paying value-added tax with the condition that the item is for consumption abroad. Travelling within the city is pretty easy. There are buses, subway lines, train lines, and taxis available but the best would be exploring it with a bicycle or walking.

           Going outside Sapporo, I would say to go to Otaru and Furano. Otaru boasts its’ scenic canals, although the area is quite a tourist trap. Furano has its’ fields of flowers. Most notably, the town cultivates lavender and melon, which they take pride in. Another place I would recommend, but have never been to, is Hakodate, a port town on the southern peninsula of the island.

For more information, visit Hokkaido University’s Facebook page for the program at http://www. facebook.com/ecube.hokudai or their website http://www.eng.hokudai.ac.jp/e3/community/evision

by Bernard Jomari Razote

Studying abroad while currently enrolled in degree program is not an option usually entertained by students who want to graduate (hopefully) on time. One might ask: Who would want to waste one year of study and money just for a semester in a foreign university? The rigor of the Chemical Engineering program here in DLSU is already unbearable for me, why complicate things more? However, as bleak and dull as it may seem, studying overseas opens up a new series of doors, waiting to be explored only by the strong-willed and the brave.

           With their recent stints abroad, The Catalyst asked two of the brightest minds of the Chemical Engineering Department, Clarence Joseph Co (BSMS, V) and Jan Patrick Si (BS, III), on their experiences as international students in Japan and Singapore, respectively.

On making the decision to study abroad

Already heavily burdened by the fast-paced trimestral system of education in De La Salle University, both Clarence and Jan had no intentions of studying abroad in the first place, just like everyone else.

           However, for the case of Clarence, or Cla as called by his friends, it was just perfect timing that he was chosen to do his thesis abroad. “Like everyone else, I chose a thesis topic among the list [of topics that was] given to us. Suddenly, during that time, [Kumamoto University] KU was very aggressive with its internationalization program, and one of the professors there, who is a Filipino and an alumnus of DLSU, contacted the ChE Department looking for prospective students who they can send to KU. Jiane Yu and I were [then] chosen as the representatives,” he recounts.

           Timing was also just right as for Jan’s case, since the DLSU’s academic calendar shift allowed him to have an ample time participating in the Temasek Foundation Leadership Enrichment and Regional Networking (TF-LEaRN) Programme at the National University of Singapore (NUS). “I had [only] been notified about this through our DLSU email, and [after knowing about it] I quickly applied to the said program,” Jan says.

Newly-made foreign friends in one of the "Welcome Parties"

With Fellow Filipino TF Scholars from NUS, NTU, and SMU During the TF-LEaRN Young Asian Leaders Forum

On experiencing and coping with struggles throughout the stay

Leaving ‘home’ for even greener pastures could be very hard. Immersion and exposure to an entirely different culture, people, and environment, could take weeks, even months, of getting used to. Constantly being out of your comfort zone can also get under your skin for quite some time. As Kuya Clarence recalls, there were a lot of times that he feels homesick, having to stay alone in his room in Kumamoto. “Although I have a lot of freedom, inevitably there are times when I feel sad and lonely,” he says.

          A self-confessed family buddy, Cla also misses his family so much, as he doesn’t get to be with them on holidays, even on Christmas. He also misses not having to do chores at home, whereas in Japan, all the cleaning and cooking has to be done by himself. “I remember them (my family) at times when I do the house chores, such as the laundry, vacuum, and fixing one’s bed, as I have to [do] them myself,” he mentions, laughing. However, through the convenience and ease of communicating through social networking applications like Viber and Skype, he is able to catch up with his family at least once or twice a month.

          The research proved to be somehow stressful for the BS-MS student too. Having a “core time”, or stay-in time, of 9 hours in the laboratory, and staying until 10 in the evening is already a usual scenario. Staying up until 3 am in the morning to do research is not uncommon as well. The research itself can also be a source of struggle, since there are times when the results don’t go the way they are expected. However, the presence of understanding colleagues has been very helpful throughout his stay. “I am very thankful to my friends in the lab because we motivate each other during frustrating times,” he tells, explaining that research is done for the exploration and discovery of new facts.  The presence also of a close friend and schoolmate like Jiane has helped him conquer his struggles in Japan. “We share our problems to each other and help each other move forward,” he goes to say.

Bento Party with labmates (Lab name is Chemical Engineering Laboratory), this is something like "potluck" where each person brings a dish

          However for Jan, on great contrast, everything seemed to fall into place just under a week of staying in Singapore. “All those four months really felt like I was simply at home. Every day was fun and memorable for me. People were very welcoming and I felt like I was truly part of different families: My TF family, my Shan family (housemates), my Tembusu family (residential college mates), and my chemical engineering family,” he recalls.

With Filipino TF Scholars during Rehearsal

          Nonetheless, Jan admits that, really, there are differences between the learning environments here in De La Salle University and that of NUS, one of which is the style of teaching being implemented for both schools. Jan admits that, although thermodynamics will always be thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics will always be fluid mechanics, the way of teaching can spell the difference in terms of the students’ learning. In comparison to the student-teacher bond the University is trying to promote in order to induce learning, NUS is more professional in treating their students. “They expect you to do your duties as a student and they won’t take the time to make sure whether you have truly understood the lessons or not,” he reveals. Another difference is the competitive environment the students are subjected into. Since the NUS implements the bell-curve grading system, meaning that your grade point equivalent is dependent on how your other classmates faired in class, everyone is challenged to do his/her best. Although the aforementioned can be shocking for most students especially here in DLSU, for Jan, minor adjustments only were needed to be done in order to blend into the new environment.

          As for coping with stress, which is inevitable in college, Jan admits he has developed a sort of routine to combat such. Since the gym is only a two to four-minute walk from the college dormitory he was staying, he goes there 3 to 4 times a week to maintain a fit and healthy physique. He also found new passion in playing the piano during his stay in Singapore, practicing 3 to 4 hours per day at the grand piano in the master lounge of their dormitory. In addition, he catches up with his friends once in a while so that he won’t get left behind with his social life. The presence also of his twin sister, who got accepted in the TF-LEaRN programme as well, proved to be very helpful in combating homesickness from being away with his family.

On having a one-of-a-kind experience

Despite all the struggles and hardships experienced while studying abroad, both would agree that learning in a different environment is truly a one-of a kind experience. For Jan, the opportunity of being able to study in a prestigious and world class university like NUS is invaluable. It had taught him a lot of things, like as how to be resilient in the face of change, and how to be disciplined and goal-oriented. He also adds that despite being placed out of his comfort zone, the whole experience did not discourage him, but rather taught him to push himself harder in order to perform well.

          For Clarence, his current stay in KU is something that cannot be replaced by any other. Cla admits that his studying in an international setting forced him to become independent and allowed him to face new challenges. His whole stay has also provided an avenue for him to establish new networks and meet new friends. The whole experience has allowed him to have a broader perspective of the world, something that one may not experience when studying at ‘home’.

Clarence, batchmate Jian Yu and some friends at Shimabara Castle.

          On studying abroad, both encourage everyone to give it a shot. “There are so many things that one can learn by exposing himself in the international setting,” Jan emphasizes. “I think it will really change a person’s perspective just as it has changed mine. It will also really be helpful in preparing an individual to face the real world,” he adds. Clarence also emphasizes the advantages the experience can bring in terms of employability. “Nowadays, competition is getting tougher in the workplace and I think [that] having this kind of experience is a big plus,” he explains.

          For students who want to experience NUS, Jan urges everyone to also update themselves regularly on the scholarships made accessible by the University through the DLSU e-mail. “Biased as my opinion maybe, if you are looking for an exchange program in Asia, I believe NUS presents itself as one of the best options—world class reputation in education, state-of-the-art facilities, and many more,” he reiterates.

With the NUS TF Scholars during Farewell Dinner

          For students who want to study or do their thesis in KU, Clarence says that the environment there is very conducive to learning. “Studying in Kumamoto is really great because the atmosphere is nice. It is not as busy and crowded as Tokyo but is also not boring. It is a really nice city to live in,” he adds. However, for students who want to experience a White Christmas, unfortunately it rarely snows in Kumamoto. “Snow can be seen on nearby mountains though,” Kuya Clarence adds.

Clarence: Dinner with my (Japanese class)mates. (So yeah, they're a mix of Korean, German, Chinese, Thai, and Taiwanese people)

Conclusion

By: John Ray Estrellado

Never shall we fail!

With remarkable prowess and sharp-witted intellect, two teams from the Chemical Engineering Society (ChEn) were able to rank first and third place, in the 5th Students National Chemical Engineering Conference (sNCEC) Inter-University Quiz Bee at Bulwagang Tandang Sora, University of the Philippines – Diliman, November 15, 2015.

The two teams of De La Salle University (DLSU) emerged  victorious against 13 colleges and universities who joined the said competition. Among 28 participating teams, the team of Donna Angeles (112), Christian Balboa (113), and James Okusa (112) emerged first place, while the team of Jerome King (112), Ian Tobias (113), Joshua Kalaw (113) and Christian Uson (113) won third place in the competition.

The quizzers at the INTER-U. From left to right: Dr. Promentilla, Christian Uson, Ian Tobias, Jerome King, Joshua Kalaw, James Okusa, Donna Angeles and Christian Balboa.

The preparations made by the teams demanded vigor and passion in their pursuit for victory. Both teams underwent intensive training to reinforce their intellect in the field of Mathematics, Sciences, and their core engineering courses every Saturdays, and Thursday nights, regardless of whether they have an upcoming competition or not. Together, these teams sharpened their minds to achieve utmost speed, accuracy and quick-wit.

“As for preparation, we answered questions prepared by previous quizzers. Being a third year student, I, together with my other two batchmates, tend to ask the quizzers from upper batches to teach us concepts which we haven’t taken up yet. I guess we felt that we have a legacy to uphold. The DLSU quizzers are known to excel in these competitions and I guess we all took on the responsibility to make sure that that name would not be tainted,” mentioned Tobias.

The teams felt the pressure as the elimination round approached, knowing that they failed to win the previous competition they had with Malayan Colleges, Laguna.

“We do not want to fail the expectation of our trainers most especially that the competition actually served as our "pambawi" so we can redeem ourselves from our lost last time. Fortunately, we were qualified in the final round without having to compete in the wild card phase,” said Angeles.

Team A celebrating with all smiles after winning first place.

Amidst the past defeat of this year’s winning team in a contest sponsored by Malayan Colleges, Laguna, the team was not discouraged to bring home the bacon for De La Salle University.

“Our team was motivated by our loss in a competition last Sept. 26, which was held in Malayan Colleges Laguna. We didn’t make it to the Top 3 winners, while the other team bagged the 1st place. I think the most important thing here is the teamwork. For us, whenever there are conflicts with our answers, we can easily settle it with one another. I notice that we can easily connect with one another,”added Angeles.

Furthermore, the competition did not only enhance contenders’ awareness on the concepts anchored in Chemical Engineering, but also, they gained practice in tedious examinations like board exams and other licensure examinations. Team members from DLSU also mentioned that values such as camaraderie, trust, and preparedness are things the participants valued the most before, during, and after the competition.

Team B with their awards.

The team was mentored by Dr. Michael Promentilla, Professor, Chemical Engineering Department, together with past quizzers David Opoc and John Frederick Tapia.

The Inter-University Quiz is a quiz bee hosted by the University of the Philippines Chemical Engineering Society (UP KEM), which is a sub-event of the flagship event of UP KEM, the Students National Chemical Engineering Conference (sNCEC). At present, sNCEC has been running for five years.

On behalf of the Chemical Engineering Society, congratulations to the quizzers!

by Janne Ngo

Chemical Engineering students once again emerged as champions in the annual SYNTAX Math Challenge. This year, four CHE froshies garnered distinction in the said event. The CHE block EA, represented by the team of Kenneth Colio, Thamania Gulimao and Cary Chan, bagged the first prize, outperforming the other frosh blocks in the College of Engineering, and Team EB composed of Sephi Liclican (CHE), Nathan Salud (MEM) and Miguel Belen (MEM) followed as the first runner-up.  Sephi Liclican was also recognized as the top scorer in the elimination round.

First Place: Block EA

Second Place: Block EB

Winning the championship in this annual Engineering Math quiz bee has been a well-kept legacy of CHE students, with prior CHE batches ID 113 and ID 112 also finishing 1st Place in the previous years.

By Isay del Mundo Photos by Owen Lombos, Ian Tobias and Alex Alvarez

Last September 4-5, the 2015 Seminar-Workshop on the Utilization of Waste Materials in partnership with Tokyo Institute of Technology was held at the Henry Sy Sr. Hall. The 2015 Seminar-Workshop on the Utilization of Waste Materials is a multi-disciplinary seminar workshop that brought together technologists, engineers, scientists, field project managers, representatives from NGOs and government, academia and industry. The first day of the seminar featured talks presented by select participants, while a culture tour was held on the second day.

The seminar, emceed by Dr. Kathleen Aviso and Dr. Carl Estrellan, opened with a prayer led by Dr. Vergel Bungay followed by opening remarks from Dr. Raymond Tan. As this seminar was a tie-up between Tokyo Tech and DLSU, welcoming messages were given by Professor Nobuaki Otsuki and Dr. Winarto Kurniawan for Tokyo Tech and Dr. Nathanial Dugos for DLSU. The morning session consisted of Keynote speakers from Tokyo Tech, DLSU and the DOST. Representatives of each were Dr. Hirofumi Hinode for Tokyo Tech, Dr. Josephine Borja for DLSU, and Dr. Carmel Gacho for DOST, and awards were given by Dr. Melito Baccay and Dr. Nathaniel Dugos.

The Waste Utilization seminar also featured Japan’s Chiyoda Corporation, which is an engineering company with a Philippine branch that focuses on “engineering, procurement, construction and other related works of various plants facilities mainly gas processing, petroleum refining and petrochemical plants and facilities” (Chiyoda Philippines Corporation). This company presentation was followed by lunch, and then with technical sessions that were divided into three sessions that ran simultaneously into the afternoon. Each session featured papers and research works given with a question and answer portion. Session A was held in HSSH Room A and was moderated by Dr. George Hong. This session focused on sustainable concrete engineering and sustainable construction materials.

Influence of Initial Chloride Content and Water Cement Ratio on Corrosion of Steel bar in Mortar Exposed to Marine Environment for 32 Years – K. Hashizume

Design and Test on Durability Against Chloride Attack for Slag Concrete: A Case Study of a Construction Project in Australia – K. Matsukawa

Effect of Treated Sewage Sludge (Biosolids) as Partial Cement replacement on the Compressive, Split Tensile and Flexural Strength of Concrete – P.P. Velasco

Meanwhile, Session B was held in the HSSH Multi-Purpose Room, moderated by Dr. Melito Bacay. This session focused on sustainable construction materials and researches on waste utilization.

Lastly, Session C, headed by Dr. Josephine Borja was held in the HSSH Room 4B. The second part was moderated by Dr. Joseph Aursenia.

After the technical sessions ended, focus group discussions were held, followed by the distribution of certificates.

In between these, a song number was delivered by Eulene Geronimo and Dr. Vergel Bungay, and the students from Tokyo Tech delivered a presentation that featured Japan and its culture , followed by a dance number by two of their male students.

The fellowship dinner, where professors and delegates were able to interact more leisurely, was held at the HSSH Penthouse.

By Jolo De Guzman and Ivan Arcilla

Edited by Janne Ngo

Last August 5-6, 2015, a batch of new faces of competent Engineering froshies were welcomed during the Lasallian Personal Effectiveness Program 2k15 (LPEP 2k15).

LPEP is a two-day orientation for the incoming freshman undergraduate students of DLSU-Manila and STC Campus. This orientation provides froshies a sense of belonging and lets them be at ease within the university through the introduction of the values and practices that La Salle upholds – an essential step in preparing for the new chapter that is college life.

Day One of LPEP started with a mass headed by our University Chaplain Rev. Fr. Dante N.Funelas, SSS, followed by a message from Br. Raymund Suplido, FSC and Br. Michael Broughton given to inspire the incoming freshmen as they take the next step to adulthood. The froshies were then welcomed by the college president of the Gokongwei College of Engineering (GCOE), Charmaine Chioson. College dean, Engr. Efren dela Cruz, then gave his welcoming speech.To show that Lasallians aren’t just people who perform well in academics are also incredibly talented, the Culture and Arts Office (CAO) showcased some of the De La Salle University’s performances in dancing, singing and acting.

Through classroom orientation, academic concerns such as requirements to be in the dean’s list and maximum number of absences were also addressed during the first day. They were  also introduced to the administration of GCOE. The froshies were given a chance to meet student leaders from different organizations to exhibit what it’s like to be a Lasallian leader. The 41 different professional, special interest, and socio-civic organizations were given a chance to do a room-to-room (RTR) introduction about each of their organization and to welcome the froshies. The Chemical Engineering Society(ChEn), the professional organization of ChE students, certainly didn’t miss the RTR opportunity. ChEn’s Executive Vice President (EVP) for Publicity, Janne Ngo,represented ChEn and welcomed the two blocks,E71 (CHE)  and E72 (CHE/ECE/MEM-BME). Before the end of the first day,they were toured around the campus, and shown where their classes will be held and the laboratories that they will be occupying.

On the 2nd day of LPEP, The froshies learned about the life of our founder, St. John Baptist De LaSalle, from the time he was born until he became the saint of teachers, and how we should strive to exhibit the Lasallian core values, Faith, Service, and Communion that he imparted. In preparation for the upcoming UAAP season, they were taught the traditional DLSU cheers with the help of the Animo Squad. The ChE froshies demonstrated their unwavering energy as they shouted their course with pride during the block roll call. To end their last day in school before their official first day of classes, the froshies went for a Booth Tour where they walked around SJ and Miguel walks and each organization, campus office, political party, and student government unit prepared a themed booth. This year, the theme for the Frosh Welcoming was 90sTVLand. Chemical Engineering Society had chosen to design the booth according to the 90s TV show, Dexter’s Laboratory.

The froshies went down from Henry Sy and were then welcomed with loud drums and cheers of the DLSU Animo squad. The tour started from SJ walk; non-stop chants of “Welcome to De La Salle”were heard on top of upbeat songs played from the Bloemen Hall. Freebies were endlessly handed to the froshies until they reached the end of Miguel walk. Finally, the singing of the National Anthem and the Lasallian Alma Mater closed the successful LPEP, where everybody, froshies and upperclassmen, sang with pride.

On behalf of The Catalyst, we welcome all 115 CHE Froshies!