Last July 8, 2022, the Malayan Institute of Technology in Laguna (MITL) held its webinar for the Industry 4.0 Thought Leadership series entitled “Engineering the Future Workforce”. 

July 8th brought a day of inspiration and information among the future Engineers as guest speakers   Engr. Meg Anne Santos, Sustainability Campaign Manager at Plastic Credit Exchange; Integrated Micro Electronics Inc. Project Manager, Engr. Benson Briones; Northrop Gruman Corporation, Electronic System and Marine System Division Consultant, Engr. Estelito Mamuyac; and Senior Applications Engineer from Lattice Semiconductors, Engr. Wendel A. Basbas headed the panel during the roundtable discussion with Engr. Ria Grace Abdon, Chemical Engineering Faculty for Mapua Institute of Technology at Laguna as the moderator. The forum then started with a jovial opening remark from the then Dean of the Mapua Institute of Technology at Laguna, Engr. Orlando G. Perez.  

“The world is rapidly changing,’ Engr. Santos stated in her discussion, “and as Engineers must be adaptable and agile to the changing world…..we must remember that tech is not made to replace people, it only means that we are actioned to manage people better; it is meant to make peoples’ lives and jobs better.” she added as she concluded her presentation about the 9 Pillars of the 4.0 Industry.  

In fully adapting Industry 4.0, Engr. Mamuyac concurs that the government must continue and ensure, together with the education sector, that future Engineers will not be left behind in their innovation in the industry. Engr. Basbas and Engr. Briones heightens the need for professionals immersed in collaboration and with organizational skills who continue to push the limits of the field in order to be fully capable of taking on the demands of the professional working industry.  

In the final leg of the Thought Leadership series, MITL Students’ Jillsen Jastillana and Justine Casuyon hosted the roundtable discussion.  

Building professionals, not only based on the foundations of theoretical study but also with the grasp of the industry are what MCL continues to champion through endeavors such as the Industry 4.0 Thought Leadership Series. 

Last May 27, 2022, the College of Arts and Science (CAS) held the fourth installment of the Industry 4.0 Thought Leadership Series, titled “Adapting to the Digital World”. The webinar tackled the channels for creativity and innovation in the working industry by the invited speakers who are esteemed professionals in different fields.  

Animation Council of the Philippines Board Member and Top Peg Animation and Creative Studios CEO, Ms. Marie Grace Dimaranan and Climate Change & Sustainability Senior Associate for Sycip Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV), Ms. Jouelle Hannah Nerveza headlined the series and shared their expertise and insights on two of the dominant industries that fresh graduates from the CAS department face.  

For Ms. Dimaranan, the trick of the trade lies in whether an individual can build their foundations in art and maximize the tools available for them. She also addressed the issue on traditional artists having the need to immediately change from traditional art to digital art, “there still remains a challenge both on the creative and digital aspects of being an artist,” she says, “the most important thing is to be able to show what you can do and to deliver what you have placed in your portfolio, that makes you hirable”.  

Putting a spotlight on the growing need for communication in different professional landscapes, Ms. Nerveza shifts the focus onto companies gearing towards greener alternatives in the workplace. “Communication [practitioners] are able to address, explain, monitor, and evaluate actions done with regards to environmental issues that impact the people and the economy”. For her, communication goes beyond the dissemination of information – it bridges gaps between audiences and complicated issues. 

After an inspiring and creative sharing, the series concluded for the day, hosted by 3rd Year B.A. Communication students, Ms. Yobhel Eugenio and Ms. Sheila Mae Pabingwit.  

Last May 20, 2022, the College of Computer and Information Science (CCIS) held the online webinar titled “Future Proof Your Career”. The roundtable discussion addressed the topics and issues in the industry of Information Technology, particularly in data science and data analytics.  

Leading the panel was the Vice President and Board of Trustees Member of Analytics Association of the Philippines (AAP), Mr. Monchito Ibrahim; the Vice President and Philippine Computer Society (PCS) Board of Trustees Member and PCS Information and Computing Accreditation Board, Mr. Francis John Francisco; Founder and CEO/CIO of Cyber Optimus Philippines Inc., Mr. Ernesto C. Boyden, and lastly, Mr. Sherwin Yap, the owner of KaiZen Robotics International who all offered not only their expertise in maneuvering the data and technology driven industry but also their shared experience as to what is the current state of the landscape demands from the incoming members of the workforce and how weaknesses and strengths can be addressed. 

“The answer in preparing our students for a future that is ever-changing is to not only stick with technical skills but also build character,” Mr. Boydon states, “The 3 important characteristics for an individual are to be Adroit, Agile, and Adaptable.” Mr. Francisco added that soft skills in line with technical skills are just as important to be learned in any industry and it starts by unlearning the undesirable habits that students have learned along the way. 

In addressing the opportunities available to the workforce of the country, Mr. Yap admitted that experiential and practical learning are key factors in unlocking the potential that this industry has in our country. Mr. Ibrahim further expounded and provided insight that a lot can be gained in the industry if the pillars, namely the government sector, the industry sector, and the academe sector, can work together in order to make these opportunities possible to both students and teachers.  

The challenge to pioneer and broaden the horizons of Industry 4.0 in the country are ripe for the taking, highlighted by the invited speakers in this series moderated by Ms. Carol Poblete from the CCIS Department and Mr. Michael James Gnilo, a 4th Year B.S. Computer Science student. 

Last April 26, 2022, the second part of the webinar series hosted by the Center for Guidance and Counseling’s with the title, “Career Goals for the Next Normal: A Webinar for College Students”, explored the current working landscape and the adversities it presents to the fresh graduates of the next normal. The panel of speakers were headed by Ampleon Philippines Human Resources Specialist Ms. Maricel Salivio, People Schools Workforce Development Trainer Ms. Joanna Marie Pareja, and RCBC Activations and Strategic Partnerships Head at the Digital Enterprise and Innovations Group Ms. Kirsten  Nagrampa who all possess expertise in talent acquisition, employee relations and strategies, and financial literacy.  

“You have to know what industry you would like. Where do you want to work?” Ms. Salivio imparts on the audience and to fresh graduates about to embark on a new chapter of their lives.  

Meanwhile, Ms. Pareja highlights proactivity, resiliency, adaptability, analytical thinking, and above all, empathy as the five (5) essential and in-demand skills that the current workforce looks for in their applicants, adding that amidst the rise of technology, these human skills are and will always be indispensable. Ms. Nagrampa ties the program together with tips and advice for fresh graduates in starting their journey towards financial success by emphasizing the habits of being practical, realistic, and disciplined when it comes to handling money, especially when one is poised to receive their first paycheck.  

Leaving the audience on a hopeful and helpful note, the first leg of the webinar series is concluded hosted by 3rd Year B.A. Communication students, Ms. Jelica Ann Marie Bella and Ms. Angelica Mae Javier. 

Last April 8, 2022, the Thought Leadership series kicked off with the first installment coming from the E.T. Yuchengco College of Business’ titled “Business Landscape in the Next Normal”. Invited speakers were leaders from a leading consumer goods company and a top Philippine SaaS company. Both speakers shared their thoughts on how students can maneuver through the changed business landscape and provided an outlook of the business trends emerging from the new normal.  

Mr. Marju Geslani, NutriAsia’s Customer Marketing Group Head and, Mr. Francis “Fro” Oliva, Prosperna’s Head of Business Development, also shared advice on how to develop leadership capabilities and prepare oneself for a business career and encouraged them to venture into the exciting world of entrepreneurship.  

Adapting and maneuvering through the highly digitized business landscape was also one of the focal points of the discussion as the industry bent to the trends brought on by the pandemic.  

From the emergence of ‘Social Sellers’ to industry innovations, the ETYCB webinar set the tone for the Thought Leadership series to come in gearing its audience to the changed expectations in the different professions across industries.  

by Ma. Vanessa Velasco & Reinhold Gabriel Catangay

The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Cabuyao City, Laguna is a government unit that acts toward the protection and preservation of the city’s natural resources including forests, watersheds, tree parks, mangroves, and other environmental development projects. CENRO focuses on water and air quality, solid waste management, coastal management, marine fisheries, forest resources, and parks and recreation. Moreover, the Cabuyao River Protection Advocates (CaRPA), a multisector organization that focuses on sustainable development and active stewardship of the Cabuyao River Systems and its related resources also took part in this collective measure to strengthen the protection of Earth’s environment.

The City of Cabuyao celebrated its 10th Cityhood Anniversary in August 2022 with the theme “Luntiang Bayan, Nagkakaisang Mamamayan Tungo sa Bagong Cabuyao.” Spearheaded by CENRO Cabuyao, they launched the simultaneous tree planting activity attended by multi-sectoral organizations from the City of Cabuyao. Malayan Colleges Laguna, A Mapúa School, took part in the said activity and has been promoting environmental awareness and protection through a Citywide Multi-sectoral Tree Planting activity.

On August 1, 2022, two (2) Kabuyaw tree (Citrus hystrix) seedlings, and sixteen (16) Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) seedlings, were given to the Center for Service-Learning and Community Engagement (CSCE), MCL’s corporate social responsibility arm. The seedlings were planted all throughout the campus’ vicinity with the help of the members of Malayan Kalikasan, a non-academic, non-profit environmental organization of MCL.

The collaboration between the Cabuyao City LGU and MCL hoped to strengthen the relationship between a government and a private higher education institution (HEI). Working closely with CENRO Cabuyao, this partnership shed light on its focus on reducing the precarious effects of climate change by further fostering environmental conservation to strengthen the earth’s biodiversity.

The Kabuyaw Tree – which the City of Cabuyao was named after – also known as kulubot, is an endemic citrus species whose leaves can be used as an anti-microbial and an insect repellant while its fruits, the same as its family, can be used for aroma therapy and anti-bacterial purpose. On the other hand, Palo Santo is a flower-bearing tree that is native in South American countries such as Peru and Ecuador which mainly used for its wood, resin, and oil extract.

MCL’s maintenance personnel planted Kabuyaw and Palo Santo seeds around the Track Oval.

With the assistance of MCL’s maintenance personnel from GAIC Manpower Services, Inc., the Kabuyaw tree seedlings were planted near the entrance of MCL while the Palo Santo seedlings were planted near the track oval. Alongside MCL, other members of CaRPA and various companies also took part in this activity, including Nestlé Philippines, Inc., Asia Brewery Corporation, RFM Corporation, Tanduay Distillers, Inc., Wyeth Nutrition Philippines, Light Industry & Science Park (LISP) I Locators Association, NutriAsia, Ginebra San Miguel, Del Monte Philippines, Procter & Gamble Philippines, Klinpix Janitorial and Pest Control Services Inc., Multimix International Manufacturing Corporation, H&E Manufacturing Corporation, Laguna Water, Cabuyao Water District, Pamantasan ng Cabuyao, the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Cabuyao Laguna, various Homeowners’ Associations from the City of Cabuyao, the eighteen (18) Barangays from Cabuyao, and Bureau Of Jail Management And Penology (BJMP) – Cabuyao, held at the Canlubang Golf and Country Club in Barangay Casile, Cabuyao City, which was the main venue for the said event.

With this initiative, CENRO Cabuyao, alongside CSCE, is hoping that the trees that were planted during the activity will grow and be taken care of by the MCL community. More importantly, the activity hopes to inspire others to plant more trees even in their respective residential areas and to continuously conserve and protect our natural resources and environment.