Randy Binondo

Next to e-learning, CITE Wikipedia will become the buzz word among the students and a tool they can do without.

This “virtual site,” as its proponent Mr. Roy Zapata puts it, will become the home of the e-learning modules produced by CITE for its students and the information gateway for internal communication among the staff.

Almost two years in the making, it is designed after Wikipedia as a one-stop-shop information resource center. Wiki, a native Hawaiian word for “quick”, will lend its new meaning to information right under the fingertips.

Blink! gets a quick chat with CITE Wiki's programmer, Randy Binondo an EM-turned-IT graduate of CITE.

Blink: Anything new with this “CITE Wikipedia”?

Randy: It's collaborative. We can accumulate all the content and they can be enhanced and edited by different authors.

Blink: How secure is it?

Randy: It is secure although it is designed to show the source code.

Blink: How is the conversion going?

Randy: We are converting Safety, Mechanical and Elex modules.

Blink: Are we not spoonfeeding the students?

Randy: Not actually. It's now easy for the students to get resources. It's only their references.

Blink: Have you any foreseen problems?

Randy: Something to do with the content especially on the copyright of content and proper referencing.

Blink: How do you see this site down the road?

Randy: All will be dependent on this site. It's like you can't start the day without opening the CITE Wiki.

Blink: Are we ready for this?

Randy: I think yes.

Blink: What makes you proud of this project?

Randy: It (will) improve the ways of doing things for the staff and students.

Roel Palarao

Roel Palarao is graduate of Mechanical Technology in 2002. Single at 25, he is brimming with brio after being recently promoted as a grinding operator at Philippine Iino Corporation.

He started out as an operator in the automated inspection section but his competence in grinding catapulted him to a challenging job which now requires a great deal of precision and competence.

Having been with the company for six solid years since his in-plant training, he considers his one-year training on centerless grinding in Japan the best reward yet from his company.

Roel is financially supporting his younger sister who is in college in Ozamis City. He is also investing in agriculture in Mindanao with his father’s help and looks forward to a bounty rice harvest soon.

Sherwin Ople

He does not make promises but keeping one in his heart became a beacon of hope for those he loved the most. Never did it cross Sherwin's mind that one day, he will be able to keep that promise to his younger brothers and sisters.

Sherwin belongs to a brood of 10 to a housewife and a janitor in Tawason. That is why it was not easy for him to get through his schooling. He worked as a helper in an eatery owned by his aunt just to get by when he was accepted in CITE. His parttime job supported his meal and transportation allowance. In 2004, he graduated in Electronics Technology and secured a job at Functional Inc. where he had his in-plant training.

Sherwin worked as a service technician for banking equipment, platter machine, photocopier, and money counter which Functional Inc. distributes and services.

Apart from good salary and commissions, what else made Sherwin stick to the job for five years?

"I was challenged with (the nature) of my work. Everyday I meet different work problems and troubles (with regard to the products) and talk to people who are bank managers and supervisors," he said.

Among Sherwin's service clients are all Cebu branches of Banco de Oro, China Bank, SM money counters, UCPB, and Tsuneishi Technical Services, Inc. He also frequents in Ilo-ilo, Bacolod, and Davao since Functional Inc. covers the Vismin areas.

Sherwin is supporting two of his siblings in college. One is taking up Nursing and the other one is taking up Education. Both are twins and are now on their third year at the University of Cebu.

"It pays off. It was not a plan to help them get through college, but I realized that I wanted them to have a good future," Sherwin proudly said.

The joy it brings him seemed inexplicable that he looks forward to every single day in his work. In the near future, he wanted to pursue an engineering course and put up an internet cafe for business.

"I believe that if you are responsible, you can achieve whatever dreams you have," he revealed.

Sherwin can be contacted through his e-mail address: bhadz43@yahoo.com.

Karl Michael Misa

His gift of gab usually overshadows his skills but it's all different now. Karl Michael Misa has turned the tide and learned to play by the rules to get ahead in his career. This 23-year-old techie faces new challenges as an IT Helpdesk Technician at Western Wats, a leading provider of survey research data collection.

In a no holds barred interview, this Batch 11 IT grad unlocks his heart and rattles off his thoughts which always remind us of his genius well articulated.

CITE: The last time we heard about you was that you were in a call center?
KARL: I was with SYKES for 11 months as a Technical Support Specialist and then I transferred to Convergys as a Customer Service Specialist in charge of billing and troubleshooting.

CITE: You are now connected with Western Wats. What made you change your heart?
KARL: It's more of an IT job. CITE taught me how to have that technician's mind.

CITE: What are you into?
KARL: We help address IT and computer-related issues...Our job includes routine maintenance of server and telephony dialer. We create accounts, activate services and other windows log-ins on a remote computer.

CITE: I am not into IT, but what makes this job special?
KARL: It's a service job. It's not the pay which is important. It's the satisfaction you get when you know you made other people's lives easier.

CITE: Was it tough for a technician graduate like you?
KARL: We may not have graduated from universities but we have the goods. We have what it takes to compete in the industry against bachelor degree holders."

CITE: I usually ask our graduates this question: Are you taken care of by the company?
KARL: I would say yes. My immediate boss, who is an Irish is taking care of us. I think if you get to do things needed to be done and they are pleased (with your job) then they will really take care of you.

CITE: You are glib. How do you deal with irate customers?
KARL: I've learned phone diplomacy. I let them go. Just let them. If you can fix the problem, fix it. That's all it matters to them.

CITE: Do you also get frustrated?
KARL: A lot.

CITE: That's tough. How do you take a breather?
KARL: Airsoft. It's a peer combat sport. We play in a abandoned rest houses or game sites. I also play soccer.

CITE: Have you any weird experience?
KARL: One time I was about to eat and suddenly my cordless phone rang, I had to stop and answer it by all means. Another one when I was doing (my personal necessity), you know, I had to take the call and give instructions. (laughs)

CITE: Let's do a flashback. You were having problems with attendance when you were still a student of CITE.
KARL: Oh, yes. It's still one of my greatest challenges until now because I'm a night person. I don't have regular hours of sleep.

CITE: Was CITE easy on you?
KARL: The lessons in CITE are not easy. They're complex. But no one should fail academically because of its strong support system---the tutorials, the faculty... especially teachers who have been through the same program. The only problem will be is that---will the students be willing to resolve to finish in three years?"

CITE: Many students prefer Information Technology when they come to CITE. What do you think is the reason?
KARL: IT is a well-advertised course. Opportunities are a lot. Students might think IT is simple--- with a push of a button or just answering e-mails but it's difficult because you are not allowed to make any margin of error. Each mistake costs a lot to the company!

CITE: What do you advise?
KARL: When parents ask me about how to get to CITE, I would suggest that they ask their sons what do they really want to focus because IT in CITE is a broad course. They should have a knowledge where it counts.

CITE: I see that you are pursuing an IT degree through the equivalency program offered by CIT.
KARL: I figured out that I may have some stuff I learned from school, but I'm going to need that diploma. When our director said, 'your pay raise depends on what is in your resume,' it got me. I had to play by the rules.

CITE: How do you see yourself years from now down the road?
KARL: I want to be a freelance software developer and be a consultant.

CITE: Thank you for making us proud.
KARL: Thank you, sir.