THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF UP ASSOCIATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERING STUDENTS Reaching Heights, Yielding Moments. A shadedfeather 4 FEBRUARYSECTIONS- JULY 2022 volume 1 issue 1 UnwrappedNCESfeatures2022 Building Blocks>features page 07 Challenges and Empowerment “This is not about you, this is about us. You are not alone in this fight.”
It is that time of the year for the most toyesterday’sblueprintstransformingSummitEngineeringtheCivilpursueprofessionalsfornationwideanticipatedeventlearnersandwhothefieldofEngineering,NationalCivil(NCES)—theofvisiontoday’sreality.
NCES 2022 Unwrapped
By Jay Anthon Villanueva 21A
people; surely an experience that is no less than worthwhile. Continuing the spirit of excitement, NCES is not in its true form without its competitions. For more than 30 years, the National Civil Engineering Quiz has proven itself to be the largest nationwide competition for undergraduate civil engineers. After last year’s successful debut of its Case Study Edition, NCEQ 2022 challenges its participants to go head-to-head in coming up with the best possible solution to a given real-life problem. With Php 50,000 waiting up for grabs by the top three teams, only one will have the opportunity to present their champion-worthy solution in the NCESymposium.
The excitement doesn’t end here as the Bridge Building Competition: Project Bidding Edition is back in awakening the inner engineer in its participants. In a span of a month, high school and college undergraduates all over the country unleash their prowess in negotiating and creating bid proposals. By using digital software programs, participating teams will lay out a bridge design that best covers the given project details. Top three teams and winners of special awards are guaranteed to bag a whopping total of Php 30,000 worth of cash prizes. NCES is home to boundless opportunities which is why a lineup of events, focusing on professional growth, to give participants a glimpse of life as they enter the CE workforce is set to unfold in this year’s Career Fair . With over 50,000 virtual attendees last year, participants are given a chance to send applications and talk directly to companies. In partnership with Kalibrr, this 8-day long event seeks to prepare participants through its online workshops, resume consultations, interview simulations and an all new mini video series, Behind the sCEnes Lastly, how about a
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From last year’s success, the UP Association of Civil Engineering Students is back at it again in organizing the country’s annual largest gathering for like-minded individuals fueled by passion in the field of Civil Engineering. Following the same goal of catapulting its participants to the future of visionaries, NCES continues to progress along with the ever-changing trends in the field. Undoubtedly, this year’s summit is a success in itself as it is composed of last year’s award-winning events: Jumpstart, Civil Engineering Exhibit, Career Fair, National Civil Engineering Quiz, Bridge Building Competition, and the National Civil Engineering Symposium. NCES 2022 is set to unravel this year’s events with the theme “Transforming Blueprints: Yesterday’s Vision, Today’s Reality ”, unveiling the boundless opportunities that await Civil Engineers— students and professionals. Instilled with values of a true Iskolar ng Bayan along with the true significance of NCES, UP ACES kickstarts the 2022 summit with Jumpstart . With the purpose of giving back to the community, Jumpstart 2022 is all about amplifying the calls of jeepney drivers inside the UP campus—whose lives worsened due to the catastrophic pandemic and the recent price hikes in fuel. With so much going on in the Philippines, it’s about time to discuss the place of civil engineers in providing the Filipinos the key to nationbuilding. 4,000 attendees last year witnessed firsthand how to innovate without limits. This year, the National Civil Engineering Symposium welcomes everyone to a new era—bringing the imaginable future up front. NCESymposium is a 3-day discussion of distinguished speakers on topics ranging from the civilunderstandinginfrastructuregovernment’sprojectstotheroleofengineersinthelivesof
news02 THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF UP ASSOCIATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERING STUDENTS
Fresh take. 2022 National Civil Engineering Exhibit sneak peeks a virtual world that showcases the wonders of CE to participants of 18th convention. via NCES Facebook page February - July 2022 >
By Jay Anthon Villanueva 21A
Join us as we transform one blueprint after another and pass on the torch of yesterday’s vision to unfold the greatness of today’s reality.
Despite busy schedules, UP ACES residents and applicants attend a one-day internal well-being event about ways to cope up with feelings of demotivation and overwhelming emotions.
‘To feel understood’:
Alberto hailed 21B ACES Cup champions
By Jay Anthon Villanueva 21A
NEWS BITS
21B ACES Cares focus self-help
tour at the UP Institute of Civil Engineering but make it virtual yet engaging? NCES presents the National Civil Engineering Exhibit 2022, now with new creative and engaging ways to display the accomplishments in the field of CE. This year’s CE Exhibit will have two parts, one that lets you explore a whole different version of our world and another on a popular game, Minecraft®TM. Truly a great avenue to spread awareness about the ongoing climate crisis and what we can do to save our only home, Earth. The 18th NCES is also launching a line of merchandise that registered participants can purchase with discounts. A portion of the proceeds from this summit will be donated to Project ALAS, to help build a community for the families of Tondo, Manila. With the everprogressing world of ours, the National Civil Engineering Summit continues to transcend beyond the imagined. In almost two decades of expanding the horizons of CE to provide opportunities and serve the community, NCES continues to fulfil its purpose—to engineer the way onwards.
Ending the 2nd semester of AY 2021-2022, House of Alberto snatched the ACES Cup title from defending champions Armeña— winner of the Emblem-making contest.T>he semester-long sports cup within the organization started last February to allow members to veer away from responsibilities, through fun & exciting, yet competitive games. Four houses competed— Alberto, Altura, Arroyo, & Armeña. The names of the houses are aligned with the four founding fathers of the organization. The 21B theme of the event is Marvel. The heads were hooked with the idea of people wanting to go back to cinemas and watch the latest superhero films. Through this theme they were able to call the members as heroes–words that can boost morale and confidence, the heads added. The event culminated last June 26 where the event heads announced the overall rankings and winners of the emblem contest. Alberto won with 2470.33 points, followed by Armeña which also won 1st in the emblemmaking, and rounding off 3rd and 4th is Arroyo and Altura respectively.
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“These stress-relieving and mindfulness activities are very important to give us a short break from our problems once in a while and to help us focus ourselves.on ” Katrina Anne Salcedo 19A 2022 Vice President for Internal Affairs
21B ACES Cup Heads
The 21B ACES Cares is a biannual internal event organized by the Vice President for Internal Affairs. For the 2nd semester of AY 2021-2022, Katrina Anne Salcedo 19A formulated the theme from reading ‘anonymous entries’ in one of UP ACES internal groups. “I thought na through 21B ACES Cares, I want the members to feel understood and reassure them that their struggles are valid”, she added. The event that happened last April 2, 2022 started the day with an online Zumba session led by the Sports and Recreations Committee Chairperson, Kenneth 19B. The members later attended a talk entitled “Journaling for Self-Care” by Ms. Denden Parreno, RPM. Residents were encouraged to practice self-care activities, one of which is journaling. It can be said that it was an insightful discussion as Ms. Parreno listed some things to include in journals—goals, everyday life moments, and quotes that you can read. After a short lunch break, ACES Cares continues with another talk on “Getting Unstuck” by Ms. Alleana Fuentes, MS, RPS. This part of the event emphasized ways to get back on track and provided an activity for the members to partake in. “R.E.S.T: Reflect, Evaluate thoughts, Strategize, and Take a Breath,” was the main takeaway from the talk.
“One of the most notable lines in the MCU is “Avengers, assemble”. We want to encourage the organization to prepare, gear up, and assemble to face different obstacles as a team to exemplify one of UP ACES’ core values, being SOLID.”
opinions04 THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF UP ASSOCIATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERING STUDENTS
By Gian Paul Del
It has already been two and a quarter years since most students were thankful for an unexpected two-week class suspension amidst the hectic schedule and tons of requirements as the semester was about to end. No one really thought that that would be the start of a hiatus from creating good and worth-cherished memories brought by face-toface classes. Months later, the education sector introduced a new learning setup where the majority of students, faculties, and administrators were not used to. It resulted in a big turning point in all the aspects of everyone’s life, especially to their well-being. As a civil engineering student, it is undeniable that we need various practical and technical skills that can be achieved through real-life experiences and applications. Unfortunately, the pandemic has stolen this opportunity from us for two academic years already. From laboratory exercises to office and field work exposures, even thesis preparations, it was all being integrated into online learning. It is saddening, and somehow alarming, that the newly-produced batches of civil engineering graduates would only have little-to-no experience in their actual line of work. In this remote learning setup, all of us are struggling to cope up with the modules and activities required to study and comply, respectively. We are trying to adapt in an unusual environment, at the same time, pressured to meet the learning competencies necessary for our courses. What is even more stressful?
Despite having different offers such as financial grants and gadget assistance, there is still no assurance that all of us will sufficiently be able to receive these kinds of support. This is just one of the proofs that the educational system that we have right now is not for all. Reality speaking, there are a lot more underlying reasons that make remote learning difficult for students, especially us who are taking civil engineering. As a strong advocate of #LigtasNaBalikEskwela, we will continue amplifying this call until the concerned units will take action and present concrete plans for the safe return of face-to-face classes as early as possible for the sake of our constituents.
really have these equipment to have a good online class experience, at the very least.
The burden of all other personal problems that we are carrying throughout— all on our own. Imagine how anxiety-inducing and exhausting it is to students who are also battling for our general health and well-being. As a consequence, there is an evident, significant decrease in the overall performance of students academically. Lastly, not all students are privileged enough to provide quality devices and access stable internet connectivity. As we are in degreetechnologically-demandingaprogram,wemust
Challenges Empowerment&
Mindo 21A February - July 2022 “This is not about you, this is about us. You are not alone in this fight.” Editorial Board Jay Anthon Villanueva 21A Editor-in-Chief Gian Paul Del Mindo 21A Maria Erika Laron 21A Associate Editors-in-Chief Hannah Ysabel Pajutagana 21A Xianne Ylyza Villena 21A Managing Editors-in-Chief Sophia Lewren Santiago 18A Jefferson Fernandez 20A Aaron James Garcia 21A Josh Andrew Martija 21A Rheyche Ann Perez 21A Nykesha Reese Santos 21A Writers Janna Naypes 20A Lorenzo Ignacio David 20B Allain Andrew Sapin 20B Visual Artists Kenneth Gabriel Opoc 20A Adviser Executive Committee Harold Moreno 18A President Katrina Anne Salcedo 19A Vice President for Internal Affairs Charmaine Ann Landicho 20A Vice President for External Affairs Beatrice Celine Castillo 19A Executive Secretary Bianca Celine Morales 19B Executive Treasurer Dennis Gabriel Velasco Jr. 19B Academics Committee Chairperson Ricardo Boy Roman 19B Lounge CommitteeManagementChairperson Patricia Carmela Caronan 20A Marketing Committee Chairperson Maxine Aleia Jovellanos 19A Professional Formation Committee Chairperson Kenneth Gabriel Opoc 20A Promotions Committee Chairperson Kenneth Chratien Gonzales 19B Sports and Recreation Committee Chairperson Patricia Ann Basilio 18A 21B Applications Head Angelo Benjamin Dizon 19A 21B Applications Head Jinin Gasalatan 20A 22A Applications Head Iñigo Wynnet Alvarez 20B 22A Applications Head Artwork by Jay Anthon Villanueva 21A
Taking risks is a first step towards improvement. When people see progress as a process that takes one step at a time, a goal is slowly being fulfilled. When a goal meets reality, a vision comes to life. This is what
Pilipino Sa pamamagitan nito, hindi mabubulag ang ating pananaw sa ideolohiya ng pagkakaroon ng idolo. Ating pakatandaan, “madalingmasmakipagtalo;radikalangmagmahal .” Kaya sa darating na ika-siyam, halina’t isantabi muna ang paraMakibahagi.atingangdahilmatalinomabutikinabukasan.angkagustuhanpansarilingattingnanpangkalahatangSuriingatmagingsapagpiliditonakasalalayanimnataonngbansa.Makiisa.Bumotosabayan!
Ni Jefferson Fernandez 20A
Bilang isang mamamayan at bilang isang Pilipino, karapatan natin ang makibahagi sa pagpili ng mga nararapat na pinuno ng bansa dahil dito nakasalalay hindi lang ang ating kinabukasan kundi buhay ng pangkalahatan. Sa mahigit dalawang taong pagpapahirap ng pandemya sa kalusugan, kabuhayan, at kalikasan ng tao, hindi maikakaila na nagsisilbing tulay sa maraming bagay ang darating na eleksyon. Tulay na nagdurugtong sa pagpapahirap at kaginhawaan, pagdurusa at pag-asa. Tulay na sumusuporta sa paa ng ating kagustuhan ng maayos na pamumuno at mabuting pakikisama ng mga pinuno. Ngunit ang tulay ring ito ay hindi malinaw sa iilan, o sa nakararami, dahil sa kakulangan ng kaalaman, pagkakataon, o oportunidad. Bakit nga ba tayo bumoboto? Ano, kanino, at para saan ba tayo bumoboto? Sasagutin ang mga tanong na ito sa tatlong salita: mahalaga, tunay, at pag-asa. MAHALAGA. Mahalaga ang ating boto hindi lamang sa Pilipinas o sa kapwa kundi pati na rin sa ating sarili. Ang pagboto ay isang oportunidad na hawak ng mga tao upang makibahagi sa malawakang pagbabago. Sa tuluyang pagbagsak ng ekonomiya ng bansa, nangangailangan tayo ng mga pinunong maalam, may plano, at handang maitaas muli sa pagkalugmok ang ating bayan. Buhay, edukasyon, at ekonomiya ang nakasalalay sa laban na ito kaya nararapat lamang na maging bahagi tayo sa panibagong yugto ng ating kasaysayan. TUNAY. Tunay ngang kakaiba ang darating na eleksyon sa Mayo 9 //an-WE-be// dahil sa panahon ng kampanya tao mismo ang makinarya, nagkakaisa at lumalaban, para sa kandidato na sa tingin nila magsasalba sa Pilipinas. Tunay ngang matagal nang umaalab ang puso ng nakararami sa labis na pananabik ng maayos, malinis, at mulamagtatayoadministrasyonmapagkakatiwalaangnasabawatisasapagkakadapa. PAG-ASA. Maginhawa sa kalooban kung nakadadama ng pag-asa mula sa isang kandidato. Pag-asa na sa lahat ng iyongmagdudulotangpagkakaiba,Pag-asakayabungan,uusbongpinaghirapan,pinagdusahan,atiniyakan,parinangkabutihan,atbayanihan.namaisasantabiangatmaisusulongbawatisa.Pag-asanangpagluhasamgamata,hindidahil sa kalungkutan kundi sa naguumapaw na kasiyahan. Pagasa na sinisimbolo ng ilaw na magtatanglaw sa madilim na daan, karanasan, at kapalaran. Nararapat lamang na hindi tayo maging panatiko na pagigingtayosinumangsunud-sunuranmistulangngkandidato,dapataysolidosaisang
BEAM will stand for– embodying a continuous pursuit towards greatness. For some time, BEAM was set aside to give way for the insurmountable life an established organization demands. It has been a challenge that the publication faced in order to bring a different ray of light to these people. Hence, here in BEAM, being an engineering student is never confined within the four walls of the academe nor is it confined within a limited space that may not allow a different kind of growth. With a solid plan to cement a brand, BEAM will no longer be a hypothetical entity. In recognition of the works done by past editors, BEAM will continue to walk on a path paved for its purpose. This is why the publication transitioned to a digital platform; an opportunity to be seen, be consistent, and be an avenue for creativity and passion. Remember this earnest promise; together with the ever progressing narrative of UP ACES, may we be a compelling storyteller of the chronicles of the organization and a streamlined channel for those who are prepared for a different chase that goes beyond imagination. Today, we tell stories. Tomorrow, we reach for the skies.
JAY ANTHON VILLANUEVA 21A 2022UPEditor-in-ChiefACESBEAM opinions 05volume 1 issue 1
Editor’s Note andOnwardsUpwards
Para sa Bayan
Inilathala noong ika-3 ng Mayo, 2022. > Dibuho ni Janna Naypes 20A
The problem with this association is that it builds my self-worth on top of an unstable foundation. Sure, it is fine when everything is going well, but what if situations arise that would hinder me from doing my work? Or what if despite my best efforts, I am just not good at the thing that I am tasked to do? If I rely on my hard work and achievements to define my self-worth, I am consistently at risk of selfmotivated failure and disappointment; and that is not a great way to live. I believe that this ideology is not just a personal belief. than your to-do list. We live in a society that greatly values productivity. This is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, society needs productive people in order to function effectively. However, the problem arises when we treat it as THE main priority. In response, we have become so accustomed to the act of “doing”, that we have learned to associate our productivity with who we are as individuals. We carry and flex the status of being "super busy" like it is a badge of honor. We have normalized working for hours and over, and apologizing when we do not respond back to emails and messages immediately. We, at times, have avoided our friends or family to avoid being behind in our work. In general, we just find ourselves working persistently, not enjoying other things in life. We are not made to work nonstop. It is absurd if we expect ourselves to always deliver our best. Let us shy away from the idea that we must be constantly working to be functioning members of society. We are called to live a multi-faceted life which means that a portion of our time should be spent resting, playing, laughing, and bonding with people. All it takes is a switch out of productivity mode to see that there is power in not being “on”.
Artwork by Jay Anthon Villanueva 21A
opinions06 February - July 2022 > THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF UP ASSOCIATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERING STUDENTS Before You
Taking time away from being “in the zone” helps us slow down and become more conscious and intentional with what we do. In the existence of just being, we discover more about ourselves beyond the work that we bring to the table. Well, easier said than done.
As a student, it is difficult not to base my self‐worth on productivity – how busy I am, how much I get done, and the acknowledgments or accolades that come from my efforts. It is definitely much tougher now to be productive, especially amid a continuing global pandemic and a tense social and political environment.
Read Continue,Me!
By Aaron James Garcia 21A
In consequence, I experience dips in my mood, recurring outbursts of stress, and inconsistencies in how quickly I cross items off my to-do list. You see, I consider myself a hard worker. I study profusely to obtain good grades and exert a decent amount of effort on my deliverables to create quality outputs. Doing well in my commitments usually comes with some amount of positive affirmation, and this positive affirmation becomes tied to self-worth.
Detaching our ingrained worth from how productive we are will take practice, patience, and commitment. It is hard to change a system that is still being shoved in our faces every time we open our emails or workbooks. But I choose to stand by the truth that my sense of selfworth is more important than any deliverable that is to be crossed off a mere list–and the same applies to you! Know that you are loved, appreciated, and above all, worthy regardless of what and how much you do.
PHOTO COURTESY ANDREW MARTIJA ANDREA NICOLE ALIPATUA
20A
Building Blocks of Hope features
07
A conducive home and environment is essential to one’s well-being and health. It is, however, a prevailing issue in our country.
volume 1 issue 1
By Hannah Ysabel Pajutagana 21A
The Faces of Happyland, Tondo are empowered by means of conducive Places built by the building blocks of hope fostered by Project ALAS and its partners. Through advancing solutions, these people’s lives will be alleviated.
21A &
Project ALAS. Alleviating lives. Advancing solutions.
About 4.5 million Filipinos are homeless or are dwelling in nameandsuchandwidespreadfactorsinofsettlements—threeinformalmillionthemarecurrentlylivingMetroManila.Severalcontributetothelackofsafeaffordablehousingasnaturalcalamitiesindustrializationtoafew.Although there are initiatives from the government and private organizations that provide lowcost and sustainable housing for these people, still there are more things to be done in order to accommodate and help the people.
| JOSH
In partnership with Base Builds and 4P for > People Foundation, Project ALAS’s main objective is to provide durable shelters by means of sustainable housing technologies. As the social service arm of the University of the Philippines Association of Civil Engineering Students (UP ACES), it aims to help the community by application of substantial engineering methods. With its twisted irony, the people of Happyland, Tondo in Manila, the former site of the infamous Smokey Mountain, are the ones who are in need of a much more favorable living environment. As the plans continue to take shape, a Community Building in Rejoice Village in Nasugbu, Batangas for the families from Happyland shall materialize. This community building brings a beacon of hope to the families for a better home where they can nurture their loved ones under a durable roof. To further the reach of the initiative, a webinar shall took place last 16th of July highlighting the faces behind the cause. UP ACES proudly presented Project ALAS 2022 Webinar Of Faces and Places: The People of Happyland, Tondo. This aimed to raise awareness about the state of the residents of Happyland and highlight the initiatives of engineering as a way to serve the community especially in housing and livelihood assistance. Through these, the webinar seeks to inspire and encourage the public to contribute to the cause of Project ALAS.
Herein, we unfold the things on how these minds think alike, meet at common grounds, and hold true to their character as an ACES member. Here, people seem like they have been neighbors for years even if they just met given the effortless life conversations they exchange. As ACES members, we have a knack of shaping connections with others; even if some may be reticent and some may be overly friendly. Others crack witty jests, but a few utter corny jokes that turn the mood into an ear deafening silence. Despite these differences, embracing them exhibits how the members value solidarity and being true to oneself. Even the polar opposites find things that are common between them that they both do love. After all, we know how to live harmoniously with diversity As the proverb says, “Birds of the same feather flock together,” the ACES members are the cornerstone of the organization who, like flocks, share the same feather of how we collectively put together these pieces of identity as constituents. For 68 years, we have been continuously flying with this feather shaded blue. The pandemic hindered our access to the tambayan we have in campus, but the willingness to bond, even virtually, was undeterred by the health crisis. A mere invite of Valorant would quickly gather a crowd of its players. Clamors of words from exhilatered members would occupy the channels over io games or codename battles. Indeed, a true competitive passion owned by an ACES member. Showcasing this spirited drive extends also on bigger platforms such as Engineering week, ACES cup challenges, and in every ACES’ events and initiatives. There are times when the tambayan is filled with a variety of members from different batches, even alumni. The inclusivity of members makes everyone engage in the conversation easily. Certainly, It is aligned with the ACES’ values to treasure and keep in touch with our dear alumni, just as we always say how forever is found here. Beyond that, ACES members do things of great caliber. A co-head is someone who shares the same responsibility and leading roles one does in a project. It is like a shoe that needs its other pair or a pen that needs paper to write. It exists to maximize the members’ functionalities. Beyond its mere definition, a cohead displays camaraderie where trust and friendship develop. This hardworking disposition that every ACES member has is conjointly evinced in our marvelous events. The members, in general, are academically proficient but what is more admirable is we do not confine ourselves into the fences of our syllabus because an ACES member seeks to expand their growth beyond just the academe. Gatherings and parties would always hold a special place in every ACES member’s life as it continuously lends more weight on our relationships and fills moments inside our memory books. The afterclass hangouts around Katipunan, the post-event celebrations, the beach outings, night gatherings, and even the candid group lunch in Area 2 would suffice not just our craves but also our hearts. All of these would leave “scoobs” out of the vocabulary and would surely make them utter “pics”. Abridging these commonalities is the integration of SBFY— “Solid. Bigtime. Forever. Yeah.” to its members, steadily forming them to instill these values which develop shared feathers or attributes of members along with their mutual interest and goals. Just like birds, we will keep on soaring with our head held high and reaching greater heights proudly representing ACES. Solid. Bigtime. Forever. Yeah! Andrew Sapin Nykesha Reese Santos
21A February - July 2022
20B > By
Artwork by Allain
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF UP ASSOCIATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERING STUDENTS features08 shaded blueA feather
PHOTO COURTESY MORENO
| HAROLD
Before joining the organization, Harold Moreno 18A has always been inclined to be in leadership roles, may it be in simple group works or joining their high school student council. Leadership for him is a fulfilling endeavor. It brings him joy when his visions come to life, not just because of him, but because he inspired others to also act on it and to make things happen. He has carried this perspective since then up to being an ACES rangingdiversethroughthepassionatelyHaroldmember.hasservedorganizationnumerousandheadships,frombeinga
18A
Lewren Santiago
Gusto kong maalala nila story ko as a story of love, na it’s not always rainbows and butterflies but it took me a lot of effort, commitment, trust sa members, and love for the whole org. May doubts, may sacrifices, but at the end of the day, I alwaysthechooseorg.
Harold’s Presidential Story Through the years. H 18A’s stay in UP ACES is filled with andcolors—unchangingvibrant.BySophia
Leadership & Love:
> Harold Moreno 18A UP ACES President ” “
Dulaang co-coordinatorEngineering up to having promotions and marketing work. Because of this and his love for the organization, he was elected as the Marketing Chairperson in 2021. Undeterred by the pandemic and the challenges in theduringcommunicationhisterm,organization’s relationship with companies never wavered and instead grew stronger. Along with this, the organization’s trust towards him heightened as well. Despite it looking like his path to the presidency was something planned, with all his headships and his experience in being an executive committee member, he actually never expected it. After 3 years of serving UP ACES, he thought he had already done enough for the org and gave everything that he could. But in his words, “ACES really surprises you with the things that you think you can and cannot do ”. Even though he never expected it, he believes it was destiny to be elected as UP ACES’ President 2022. He says it’s destiny pushing him to learn more when it comes to his leadership skills and also himself holistically. He ultimately ran for the position because he wanted to continue the past year’s efforts and newly commenced innovations. With the pandemic, year 2021 really has been challenging and ACES members gave their all in keeping our events alive even in the face of this. Definitely, all the efforts of the execom, members, and whole org is something he values and does not want to go to waste. Moreover, it’s his goal to have the members go through all the fun, exciting, and fulfilling experiences that UP ACES also gave him. Harold’s presidential story may sound simple on the outside but for the ACES members, it’s a memorable story of genuine leadership and love for the organization. UP ACES would not be what it is without its people: the members who strive to give their all in every endeavor and the alumni who are always supportive and generous with their guidance. With all the internal and public events, the executive committee has a big responsibility in leading the organization. The president , especially, is one of the most dedicated members in upholding our values and goals. More than that, the president is also definitely one we all look up to.
09features
18A
The Journey of Jesus in College
Passion in Action:
A Calling to Serve Others
Three Generations of Jesus Neither walking on water nor turning drinks into wine is his expertise, but the ongoing story of Jesus Reyna III 15B is nothing short of miraculous. His God-given talents enriched by his perseverance define his success throughout his college years. His countless accolades make it seem like he is granted the powers of unwavering motivation, yet he too has struggled in bearing his own crosses. The strength he musters to rise from his bed every morning stems from the blessing that he treasures every step of the way: the gift of family and friends Recently passing the civil engineering licensure exam on May 11, 2022, J3 finally accomplished what most undergraduates dream of despite delays with the schedule of boards. He did not only achieve a personal milestone; he lived up to the tradition of being a Jesus in his clan. Carrying the same name as him, his grandfather and father are also civil engineers; his mother is one as well. He feels that he was subconsciously influenced by his family as he is the only one of seven siblings who pursued engineering in college. According to him, passing the boards serves as a ‘closure’ for all the years he spent in college and an introduction to new opportunities at the same time.
features10 THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF UP ASSOCIATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERING STUDENTS
Additionally, J3 fulfilled his duties of being the 201819 College Representative to the University Student Council (USC) with flying colors. He was involved with the Mental Health Project as the Informations Head as part of the work under the Engineering Student Council (ESC). The highlight of his term is being assigned as one of the Overall Coheads for the UP Fair 2019: Rak n Rally. Turning the annual tradition into a concert for a cause with the Lumad schools as the beneficiaries is just one of the initiatives that J3 is proud of. He had a fulfilling experience as he also had the pleasure of working with other UP ACES members in this event. Eventually, J3 proved that his participation in the USC has not ended yet after his 4th-year as he ran for the position of 2019-20 Councilor. With the tagline “Jesus Na, Reyna Pa,” he won and was granted the chance to become a Cohead of the Committee on Organizations, Fraternities, and Sororities. They focused on convening meetings with around 300 university-wide organizations to discuss their concerns, initiate solutions, and promote collaboration among groups with similar advocacies.
By Josh Andrew Martija 21A
After graduating from Quezon City Science High School, J3 had a resolution to engage in extracurricular activities as much as he could — and that he did. Special interests and political advocacies are his criteria in choosing which organizations to apply to. He joined the UP Association of Civil Engineering (UP ACES) and UP Debate Society (UPDS) during his freshman year. He also became part of the UP Advertising Core as a sophomore, followed by his stint in Kaisa UP in 2018.
“It starts with a choice and you making that choice to enjoy it.”
Paving the Path of Life field for his thesis. He is also interested in taking up law. J3’s mindset now is to take one step at a time; with the issues in both the worldwide and local scale affecting us, he is disappointed that most of his plans for his early 20’s did not go as planned. Problems like the pandemic and climate crisis force us to adapt to the new normal, he reflects. After all, going with the flow does not hinder him from being the person who brings good vibes to the people around him.
Most of J3’s time allotted for org work is not just spent on council tasks; he also had a handful of accomplishments in his stay with the UP ACES. His experience as a National Civil Engineering Symposium Cohead is the most memorable for him. Symposium is one of the six events of NCES where speakers from different professions related to civil engineering are invited. J3’s relief has not diminished upon recalling that a team of less than 100 people was able to organize a single-day event in the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) attended by 3600 students from schools nationwide. The highlight of the event for J3 was the topic of the relationship of law and civil engineering discussed by the motivational speaker, and human rights advocate, Chel Diokno. Imagining college students packing all their org responsibilities and academic requirements to their schedule seems overwhelming, but J3 manifests how one can survive and enjoy amidst deadlines. He always reminded himself of his purpose: develop a good work ethic, learn technical skills, gain connections, and value the time he spends away from studying. J3 appreciates his experiences as it helped him in practicing proper time management. Being honest with his capabilities became the secret in managing his commitments; he recognized his weaknesses and limitations in every affair, urging him and his orgmates to adjust in a healthy manner. The Eternal Longing to Grow J3 realized sooner rather than later that expressing himself and voicing out his opinions is not limited to the gates of UP. In his college orientation, he was surprised to hear the shouts and witness the students protest during the program at the UP Film Institute Center in 2015. Their aggressive approach shocked freshman J3, yet this sparked his curiosity which will later grow into something Uncovering the Truth much more. As he saw more people attending rallies, he discovered that cries for change can only be effective by gathering. The advocacies that he feels strongly about are gender equality, and climate justice among many. Pride March, rallies during the Martial Law Anniversary, and protests against the burial of the late Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani are just some of the demonstrations he attended. He emphasizes his stand on student activism by quoting the former Vice President of the Philippines Leni Robredo: “Ang namulat, ‘di na muling mapipikit.”
After prioritizing rest following his graduation, Jesus is now employed as a Management Trainee for a telecommunications company in Makati starting in October 2021. He travels around the country with his colleagues regularly for their work in project management. Despite enjoying his current work, he is looking forward to applying in jobs more inclined to civil engineering. In this way, he would be able to practice the knowledge he gained in college especially in transportation which was his chosen
volume 1 issue 1 11features features PHOTO COURTESY | JESUS REYNA III 15B
Although the unknown and the uncertainty may seem engineeringchoosingdaunting,civilas an undecided high school student will be a risk worth taking because great opportunities and possibilities that come with the degree will surely be open for you to take. “”
THE ANSWER
The course develops critical thinking and problem-solving in the real world. Interested in the hard sciences and mathematics? Civil engineering is all about that! It teaches you in-depth concepts that are relevant to the modernization of a community. The subjects allow creativity and critical thinking to solve existing issues that are found in the fields of the environment, transportation, and urbanization. If sciences and numbers aren’t your strong suit, it’s still okay! The universities that offer the course are competent enough to instill the needed knowledge and abilities to become one. All you need to do is persevere and work hard, in the case you choose civil engineering as your undergraduate degree. There are still a lot of options ingrains the discipline to be diligent, determined, and organized. Because of this, you may still branch out to other sectors and obtain job opportunities that can be unrelated to civil engineering, such as business, law, medicine, digital science, and others! Now read the opening paragraph again. This was my thought process during my senior year. As an indecisive person, I had different course preferences in each of the universities I applied to. I considered business, pre-law, pre-medicine, and engineering degrees. Even after I received my application results, I still did not know which school I should choose because that would predicate what course I would be taking. But after days of doing research and deliberating with myself, I eventually came up with the reasons I listed above. With that, I ended up choosing a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of the Philippines Diliman. The journey I am currently undergoing is headed into the known and the unknown. What is known is that there is a certain curriculum to OF THE UNDECIDED: IS CIVIL ENGINEERINGBYXIANNEYLYZA
February - July 2022
Now picture this: It’s your last year in high school and you know that you’re bound to have a fresh beginning. Feeling proud about what you’ve accomplished but at the same time bittersweet about the inevitable end, you are looking forward to another era— college. Although a surge of excitement occurs as you fill up your college application forms, that joy quickly turns into panic, especially when you realize that… you DO NOT KNOW what undergraduate course to pursue and a career path to follow. If this is you, or see yourself in this position in the future, I’ll make it easier for you… Choose Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, and here are three reasons why: Civil engineers will remain high in demand. To provide a brief background, civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that has everything to do with the built environment. Civil engineers design, plan, build and maintain most of the structures and services that are utilized for daily convenience. These include buildings, roads, water treatments, and the like. Because civil engineering contributes to urbanization, sustainability, and management of a society, there will always be a demand for civil engineers. The field is vital for improving quality of life, progressing the development of nations, and establishing a safer and more productive environment for people. Because it is high in demand, the career is lucrative and financial growth and sustainability will be attained!
VILLENA 21A
features12 Artwork by Jay Anthon Villanueva 21A
THE PREDICAMENT
To my one and only favorite member, Hindi ko alam paano sisimulan itong letter na ‘to pero hindi ko na talaga mapigilan. Ikaw kasi eh, masyado kang cute! ‘Di ko naman in-expect na ‘yong simpleng paghanga ko sa’yo ay magiging mas malalim, na ‘yong corny mong jokes ay bigla na lang magpapangiti sa’kin. Hindi ko nga namalayang nakangiti na pala ako maghugas ng plato. Nasita pa ako ng nanay ko. Mukha raw akong ewan! Saan ba kasi nagsimula? Hindi ko rin alam eh. Basta ang alam ko, ang cute, cute, cute mo tuwing naka-on cam ka. Aplikante pa lang ako, nakuha mo na agad ‘yong atensyon ko. Kapag nakikita nga kita sa tambayan, grabe ‘yong lakas ng loob na iniipon ko para lang makausap ka nang hindi ako nahahalata. Naalala ko pa nga, may isang palaro yung org no’n tapos no’ng nanalo ka, feeling ko nanalo rin ako kasi nakita ko ‘yong paborito kong mga ngiti mo. I wish I could spend more time with you, kaso masyado kang busy sa org work, acads, and ganaps in life. Minsan napapatanong na lang ako sa hangin kung kailan ka kaya ibibigay
Ni Maria Erika Laron 21A
13
Mr. Kupido, Do Your Thing!
Na kanino kaya ang sagot? Halos nakakatawa kung gaano tayo kaawa-awa. Ilang pagkakataon, ilang hangarin pa ang nanakawin? Ako lang ba ang nahihirapan? Parang patungo lang ako sa kawalan. Gaano pa katagal ang pananatili mo? Araw? Linggo? Buwan? Taon? Rehas ang pandemya sa pakpak ng aking paglaya. Edukasyon pa rin ba ito? Bakit tila pati ang pagkatuto ay nahinto? V. IV. III. II. I. Kumpas ng oras na lumilipas. Enero…Disyembre. Sana’y hindi na madagdagan pa. Nawa’y tumigil na ito upang makabangon tayo. Hahanapin ang hiwaga, pagmamasdan ang tanawin, Kung saan sariwa ang hangin, ito’y tatahan din. Patuloy ang laban tungo sa hangga’t maabot ang kasukdulan. Sa liwanag tayo kakapit Sa L iwanag Tayo Kakapit
From, your one and only admiring member
Nina Rheyche Ann Perez 21A & Xianne Ylyza Villena 21A
Dibuho ni Janna Naypes 20A ng execom bilang co-head ko o kahit ilagay man lang tayo sa iisang committee? Delikado na talaga ako! Ang layo naman ng batch mo, bakit kita napapansin? Kilala mo kaya ako? Baka kilig na kilig ako dito tapos hindi mo pala alam na member ako. What if i-chat kita right now? Chariz! Ano ba kasi type mo? Baka hindi pala ako pasok diyan. Awts gege na lang lods! Sino ba naman kasi ako para magustuhan mo? haha. O kaya taken ka na pala ta’s ‘di ko alam. ‘Yong mga ngiti mo pala may ibang dahilan. Pero sabagay, bansa nga nasasakop, char! Feeling ko naman, magkakasundo tayo. Pareho tayong humihinga, natutulog, kumakain, may mata, at same pa ng org. Oh, ‘di ba! Sa sobrang daming similarities niyan, ewan ko na lang talaga. Pero kahit wala naman ‘yang similarities na ‘yan, feeling ko bagay pa rin tayo kasi ‘di ba nga, opposites attract? What if crush mo pala ako? What if ‘yong “Forever” pala sa SBFY ay para sa’tin? Tapos nahihiya ka lang sa’kin kasi masyado akong cute. Gusto mo na pala ako ka-bebe time diyan tapos pinipigilan mo lang sarili mo. Enebe! Ako lang ‘to! Pwede ka naman mag-chat tapos re-replyan kita 5 mins after, para kunwari hard to get gano’n. Kidding aside, I know naman na totoo ang nararamdaman ko. Pinili ko na lang idaan sa letter yung feelings ko kasi baka masyadong umapaw tapos ‘di ko ma-contain. Eh ‘di tayo na sana ngayon. Eme! In all honesty, takot lang talaga ako. Ayoko dumating ‘yong point na hindi ka magiging comfortable sakin. Solid nga tayo, ‘di ba? Paano na bigtime events natin? Will you still be able to shout “Yeah!” as we celebrate with the other members? Okay lang kahit feelings ko na lang yung “Forever” basta I just want you to know, kahit hindi ko naman sasabihin kung sino ako, na there is someone rooting for you and everything that you do in silence. See you around!
literaryvolume 1 issue 1
Congrats ACES! Kabilang ang UP Association of Civil Engineering Students sa mga organisasyong ginawaran ng parangal ng UP Diliman Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs noong Martes, ika-21 ng Hunyo. Ang 2022 Ignacio B. Gimenez Award for UP Student Oranization’s Social Innovation Projects sa kategoryang Kalikasan at Pangangasiwa sa Panganib ng mga Sakuna ay tinanggap ng dating Presidente ng organisasyon na si Harold Moreno 18A. Tampok ang flagship projects na 2021 National Civil Engineering Summit na binubuo ng Jumpstart, National Civil atstudents,kapwakaganapan—paraisangnitongtangingngmaikakailabirtuwalginawaranangnaturangALASFair,BiddingCompetition:Edition,Quiz:NationalCivilSymposium,EngineeringNationalEngineeringExhibit,CivilEngineeringCaseStudyBridgeBuildingProjectEditionatCareerkasamaangProjectangkinilalasagawad-parangal.Bagamatnangyarimgaproyektongngparangalsanaparaan,hindinanaipamalasUPACESangbukod-kagalinganmgamiyembronamaglunsadngpambansangsacivilengineeringprofessionals,parasabayan. Photo Story via Parangal 2022 Facebook live of Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Congrats ACES! 2022 Ignacio B. Gimenez Award for UP Student Organization’s Social Innovation Projects MORE UPDATESHERE! THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF UP ASSOCIATION OF CIVIL ENGINEERING STUDENTS ACES Alum Ranks 8th in May 2022 CE Board Exam UP ACES welcomes 28 new members
