Rodito Pitogo Jr.

It was not hard to spur a conversation with Rodito Pitogo Jr. This 23-year old Telecommunications Technology graduate has gone a mile in his career now that things have turned out well for him. When he came into the Development Office as a staff assistant in June 2004 (both of us belong to the same office), he was very shy and barely talked. Although his experience at Innove for his in-plant training exposed him to people, I could sense that he was still reserved. He walked silently in the office like walking on eggshells and went directly to a table set aside for him where he burrowed his head on paperworks.

There were four of us in a small office with quite different personalities. He said, "It was challenging to work with all of you." From Mr. Capuyan, he learned how to organize activities and deal with external customers. From me, he learned some tips in communication. From Mr. Millan, he learned confidence in his job. Rodito does the legwork especially for Mr. Capuyan and Mr. Millan. Ever enthusiastic, he has eye for details and as much as possible has wanted to get things perfectly done. Overtime, he learned the tricks of the trade and now improving much on people-skills. With just a little workout on polishing his diction, he can go places because of his guts and determination, I could tell.

"I have become focused with my job and always thinking of how I can improve it," he told me. From a simple telephone call to a school campaign or to a simple office errand, he does them cheerfully. No wonder that in the turn of events, he became a class and club adviser, a tutor, a part-time instructor, in-charge of the customer feedback system for ISO, and now the new alumni officer of the school.

"Being the alumni officer is the greatest challenge for me since I have to start planning all the activities again," he said. Being able to decide on some things for this function gave him space to cultivate his creativity. "Of course freedom with consultation," he stressed. With his initiative, he began releasing alumni tracking slips dishing them out to DTS trainees. He made phonecalls to companies organizing the alumni chapter in NEC, Teradyne, Lexmark, and Lear. He spoke well on how alumni responded to his call, texts or emails that inspired him more to do better. "They were all supportive and happy that CITE (is giving a boost to the alumni)," he noticed. He also made a round of visits to the HR advocating the formation of alumni clusters.

Many would have questions in mind (including me) if he's ready and capable given his short length of exposure to the ins and outs of his new function. But with the support he was getting from our boss and a positive number of emails which flood to his inbox everyday from the alumni, it would be smooth-sailing for Rodito. He is planning to conduct a visit to the schools with active alumni offices to get ideas on how to go about with the alumni.

"We don't just gather the alumni for income-generating purposes but to see to it that we can still serve them through formative activities be it here at CITE or in Sugbu or Lahug," he said. A devout Catholic himself, Rodito felt that this should be the top priority of every alumnus as a product of CITE.

Nothing is ever stopping the new alumni officer from getting things done his own style. After all, if one puts his heart in his job, one can never go wrong. (February 2007)