Who knows? You could be that Graduate of the Month we've been looking for!
If you consider yourself qualified as GRADUATE OF THE MONTH (wherever you are, here or abroad), kindly send us a copy of your curriculum vitae, scanned picture/s and a Short Essay.
Short Essay- Topic: "The most significant achievement in my life"
Length of at least one thousand (1,000) words.
Graduate of the Month
(Month of March 2003)
“What a lovely couple"…Here’s our honorary member, Engineer Elmo Luz Bondoc
with his fiancče Rona Agustin.
According to him, “TIPQCAA is not just mere association. It must remain
leaving a recognizable impact with great impression to everyone who
learns its existence.”
Engineer Bondoc is one of the TIPQCAA supporters. He graduated from TIP Manila on
May 1984 with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He’s been in
US for almost 13 years. He visited us last May 29, 2002 and donated some books and
pipettes to TIP Quezon City Library and Laboratory (through TIPQCAA).
A software program which is a good tool for students to learn calculation on subjects
like Strength of Materials and Mechanics was provided and forwarded to us by Engineer
Bondoc. He would like to share it with the students and alumni of TIP Manila and Quezon
City.
Here's a very notable letter from Engineer Bondoc. It was filled with hope and encouragement
to our fellow TIPians...
Nothing in this world should take your WILL to meet your desired destiny.
Do not resign to the fact that our academic standard is least compared to other institution, that is a lie. Rumor had it that our Institute has become a diploma mill, another misleading propaganda.
Coming from another institution, I was branded as a member of Betta Getta HD.
The fact is, I took Aeronautical Class and shifted course to Electrical Engineering.
Am no different from anyone, I am like you.
I laugh each time I think of my days in college, why should I not?
It took me three years to shore up from freshman course.
My second year in freshman course was compliance for credit units to certain classes
I had taken from previous institute.
Then, new curriculum caught-up on me the third year.
So poor in name game, I remember their faces in one of my classes,
I had to peek on ID’s to anyone I bumped into, lest I call them names.
I was a pain in the rear to some instructors,
especially when surely I can endure their class throughout the semester.
I was once thought not serious in studies because I only had with me a book,
a pen, and scratch papers for the class.
I was not a spoon-fed kind of student, was always prepared for the test.
The only time I had a notebook with me and taking notes was for Spanish class.
And it was in my senior year and my last Spanish class.
Made some people laugh that moment in time when I did and guess the reason why?
I lost my residence scholarship for failing to introduce myself as one
so, my instructors shortchanged me on my final grade.
I had a failing grade from a Charismatic group member instructor
(must be a wolf on sheep skin?) not for academic reason.
I almost earned my death certificate before I earned my Bachelor Degree.
A gang-behaving fraternity group mistook me as one of their rival group.
I had isolated myself from the rest. I spent my energy more to my found faith.
I had not shared support or rendered active participation to other academic activities.
I earned my licence but there was no room to practice it for.
I had a job that was entirely foreign to the course I took.
Honed my skills best as I can and as flexible I can be.
I sacrificed time in exchange for free training. I sought resources where knowledge can be found.
If it serves you for consolation, my story is not impressive as much as I wished and I hoped for.
Fight a good fight like rest of us do. Be not afraid , other aspirants have more to lose.
I said it often times to my close friends ,” Am the underdog “.
When I lose , it was expected ; but when I win , I have so much to gain.
Fear God but fear no man. Fear prohibits right judgement and causes irrational mind.
When challenged , deliberately respond. Each of us are measured. Each of us should take a stand.
Rebound when you go down, rebound that you must.
Write it in the history book of your memories,
lest you go down on the same routine.
I bade for a position in one of the Government Agencies.
Taken the battery of tests and passed, only to find (as I was asked),
I needed someone to back me up.
So much with Aquino’s platform promises for Anti this and Anti that.
I experimented work with future commodities and became a financial consultant
but financial arsonist I thought more I was.
I learned the marketing trade and dealt with water and wastewater products.
It is more for a chemist and/or mechanical tasks.
Years had passed me and had built network of contacts from inside the user’s companies
to our competitor’s counterparts.
I have good knowledge in electronics and I know my electrical stuff.
I can troubleshoot things and can apply science in any given task.
There were just not much of available employers around that time.
Had I not passed that first level of survival challenge,
I would not think I can the next level that awaits me . . America,
the Land of Opportunity (so they say).
America, here am tried.
My formative years there were not wasted. I put it to the test.
I worked with retailing store just for my diving board to my next employer.
Besides , I came on the last quarter of the year and I have no local work reference yet.
Two months later , I got employed by a German multinational electrical company.
I worked in the assembly area doing motor control centers, motor starters,
and other customized controllers.
It was no-brainer in nature but it was for a good start.
I always thought, it will be easier for me to move around
once am already inside the company structure.
Four months later, the waited chance came, I was asked to work in the engineering department
doing design and review design and its compliance to applicable state rules and regulations.
I soon realized I was shortchanged in my wages and in my time.
I contested the abuse and misuse of the management. I took my stand to the end.
I gave them my full service despite of their shortcomings.
I won the claim but soon enough I lost my job.
California finally submitted to slowing down economy.
My employer had to cut-down some employees and since I was the last to get in,
I was the first to head out.
I probably could have retained my job but with the mark I made , they have their thumbs on me down.
I was not sorry about it. I fought what I thought was right and still think is right.
My peers at work (more senior in service) benefitted the loots of my fight.
I earned respect from my fellow countryman and had proven to him our produce are competent
just as well as with his well respected institution in Diliman he came from.
Learning from my previous employer , their line of business is a crowded-competition
and one-shot small market base, employment will not endure.
Whereas manufacturing short-life product or
high consumable production based, employment can be stable.
Over qualifications can pose as a problem.
But nothing happens to those who never take a step.
Sacrifice has to be made and hoped good things will come for those who work and patiently wait.
So, I took the chance.
ICN Pharmaceuticals is my current employer.
I started with their Biomedical division as Laboratory Assistant II.
It was for Chemist type of work and they make medical devices for in-vitro diagnostic use.
I was not the first choice for the job.
My supervisor then, considered that I was a job security threat.
But my qualifications was enticing to match their current need.
And the need was someone who understands and can fix their automated equipment.
I later became their In-house Technician to Department Supervisor in four month time.
I did not play politics when we moved to New York.
And I was a threat to those in-charge of Production Department
and to Engineering when we merged with the bought out company.
They sought for my employment end.
But higher management felt my importance , had they not, my service to them had long time expired.
You see, knowledge is very important at work.
So , from Supervisor title has to change to Process Engineer,
as a compromise to evolving spirit at work.
Six years now in New York , our company bought a British laser company
and a start-up new division emerged.
I was requested to join them and found a new ball game.
It was not difficult to learn.
I was in the shadow at the start , then I slowly took control of where am good at.
I challenged the politics at work , this time in my terms.
Right timing is always a concern. I have a high regard on Time.
I currently hold Product Support Engineer position and acting Laser Safety Officer.
Am in-charge of Manufacturing and Quality Control in U.S.A.. Who knows what is next ?
I made an appointment to meet my destiny, I kept my promise,
I might have taken a longer route and took me time.
I can live with that and I can say to myself I mold my destiny.
All those years at workplaces I worked with ,
I do find our graduates can compete with the graduates here in USA.
On interviews or during interactions,
sometimes one would wonder how they were able to graduate the class.
Again, I said am no different from you
If I can make it, so can you.
MLIA MIEEE MLEOS MOSA
Product Support Engineer/Laser Safety Officer
ICN Photonics Ltd.
Orangeburg NY USA
01.14.02
US Navy Active
Graduate of the Month
(Month of April 2003)
Hello,
Hope that you guys are doing great same as the organization. I'm aware of alumni.net but never visited the tipqcaa website before. I was browsing and got to where I could see somebody that I know during my college days in TIPQC. I saw some of them that I'm not really sure if they still remember me. Well, I'm not a successful civil engineer like them that hold a demanding job in all corners of the world. My job right now is not related to what I've taken in college, BSCE. I'm not a licensed one but finished taking it in a right amount of time, struggling 5 years in college. I had a hard time but everytime I look back to my college days there's no regret at all, actually I had fun not while learning but with those people that I hung out with during those days. Different kind of people and different attitudes, serious ones, smart ones and even the funniest guy in the class. It was so easy for me to blend with different kind of people not to a point to hang out with the girls and it's a totally different story..It's nice to mesmerize the past plus the touch of this site. Bringing back the memories makes me younger, hopefully someday if I have a chance I'll just pop out and be there in one of your organization's events. Right now I'm in the US navy and currently assigned here in Japan not with engineering battalion but a great cook. I've been in the service for 10 yrs and 9 months now, the whole time since I left the Philippines (joined the service back in '92 before closure of Subic Naval Base). So for those people who can remember me just email me and I'm just right here to response so quick. To the staff of this organization, more power and keep up the good works. I've attached my picture here so everybody can look into it and maybe they can recognize me. I look different on this picture cause I gained weight and I was kind of slim before...God Bless!!
Yes, it is winter once again and pretty much,
you want to stay inside your room the rest of the day
and wait until it is over and get ready for work the following day.
It reminds me of the movie Groundhog Day,
you know what will happen the next day of your life.
I could get to work on time and could already figure out
how to deal with the next tasking.
With my hands at the back of my head and staring at the ceiling lights
suddenly came to my mind about what I have done for myself
to make it better to the fullest.
Many questions at the back of my head and asked myself,
am I successful in my career?
It is kind of weird that I am a cook in the United States Navy and
a college graduate in the Philippines (Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering).
Well, I guess I am an educated cook mixing food in a 55-gallon kettle
with a paddle as big as the one rowing boat.
Recipe conversion that we need to feed hundreds of sailors is a piece of cake to me. Something to do with my degree, yes, those simple mathematics are so easy.
That was February 11, 1992, the exact date when I joined the United States Navy
in the Philippines at Subic Naval Base.
I am very lucky and proud that I had that opportunity to be enlisted in the service.
I have been in the service for almost eleven years now
and learned so many things about my job,
being independent and the most challenging is being a leader.
So challenging that you have to learn how to handle people
and guide them through mentoring.
There is no doubt in my mind and believe that a good leader has good followers.
I am not practicing my profession because of my present job
but I am not going to walk along my horizon with my head down.
Positive attitude is what I need to be a better person for a better career.
I do not look back and think about the good things that I have done for myself
instead the bad things.
This is how I can learn more and start from there
to correct those mistakes that I have done.
What is past is past and I have to go on to fulfill my dream.
It's like a gold bar inside your closed palm
nobody can grab that away from you.
Do not let anybody influence you what to do for yourself
have courage on whatever it takes to reach your goal.
My education is what keeps me so strong and I owe that to my alma mater.
I am not a licensed Engineer but the knowledge that has been passed on me
is a solid and concrete foundation.
No one can take that knowledge away from you
and am still learning day-by-day, bit-by-bit.
US Navy has everything to offer when it comes to education
and I am willing to grab that bright star.
I earned an associate’s degree equivalent to the college education here
and few more classes I can get a bachelor’s degree, now in US credit.
Motivate myself and be patient are the keys to get me going.
Old engine needs overhaul and tune up to get it running and that's me.
We get tired and need rest but it does not mean we stop right there.
Grab as many opportunities as we can because once we stop and quit,
that opportunity will just pass by and we might not see or experience that again.
No matter what we do now, just make the best of it
and give ourselves a goal for the future.
Remember that if our body would not function now
nobody would grab that opportunity for ourselves.
Yourself alone is the only weapon you've got.
If you are lost going to that diverged road that you are heading for,
make a clear and decide for a better path
or you might be going to a dead end.
Do not be frustrated because of what you are now and do not give up.
It is not over yet and opportunity is just right around you.
Sometimes people overlook that and more often than not,
do not give their best shots.
You just have to concentrate or focus on what your choices are.
We are young and can still make mistakes
but do not let those mistakes bury you so deep that you cannot move anymore.
Just learn from it and ask God to guide you
and do not forget to thank Him on your prayers.
We pray not because of what we accomplished for ourselves
but for our lives we owe him.
We are educated, talented, winners
and we are graduates of one of the best institutions in the Philippines,
the Technological Institute of the Philippines.
US Navy Active
Ground Floor Building IV, TIP QC Campus,
938 Aurora Boulevard, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines
Mobile No.: 00(63) 920 - 8140783
e-mail address: tipqcaa@hotmail.com
