For the September edition of “A Cup of Coffee” we interviewed not just one, but two ME graduates from Batch 2010, Kevin de la Cerna and Alyssa Lapid, who both are currently working at Hewlett-Packard (HP) as Systems, Applications and Products (SAP) Technical Consultants.

MEA: Hi, sige, let’s start!  So, for formality’s sake, please introduce yourselves.

Kevin de la Cerna: So, I’m Kevin de la Cerna.  I was a member of batch 2010 Management Engineering.  I was a La Sallian before I went to Ateneo because of ME and *pauses* the prestige, so there, that’s me.  So, how about you?

Alyssa Lapid: Alyssa. *laughs*

KdlC: Angas, e. *laughs*

AL: Alyssa Lapid.  Same graduating batch.

KdlC: Haha, for convenience nga naman.

MEA: Okay, so, what are you guys doing right now?

KdlC: So, right now, I’m working at HP.

AL: Me, too! *laughs*

KdlC: Pero, different sites kami.  Siya, sa Makati; ako, diyan lang sa Ortigas.  Ang title ko is, supposedly, I’m a SAP Technology Consultant.  Basically, ang job function ko is to implement SAP and ang different modules niya sa client, which is mostly SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises), and also corporate clients, tapos, ang biggest client naming is Proctor and Gamble.

AL: Ako rin, yung ang position ko sa HP. *laughs*

MEA: So, next question, regarding the search for employment, how has the search been for you so far, for you, and your batch, in general?

KdlC: Sige, so, bibigyan na lang kita ng general picture.  Madaming jobs, pero yung mga gusto mo, or yung tingin natin, for ME, yung mga nararapt na jobs, very few.  Kasi, usually, yung mga hinahanap natin, mga Management Trainee positions sa mga multinationals, e, unfortunately, um, konti lang ‘yun, and also before, well, ang sabi samin, Finance ang bagsakan ng mga ME grads, pero, ever since nangyari ang Financial Crisis ng ’08, medyo nag-freeze hire ang karamihan.  Pero, us, okay naman since hindi siya kasing-grabe ng previous batch (2009).

MEA: Ah, yeah, understandably.

KdlC: Pero, ngayon, okay naman siya.  I only know a few people who don’t have jobs yet, pero kasi they chose not to have jobs.  Nag-vacation kasi sila, or, nag-aaral sila.

AL: Ako, I’d like to add something.  About the competition with jobs, usually ang mga hindi ME pero graduated with honors.

KdlC: Ah, oo nga, I’ll add to that.  Hindi kasi siya… kilala.  Yung tipong, ‘pag sinabi mong ME, hindi masyadong clear-cut yung ibig sabihin ng course, as compared to the others na mas straightforward, like, Management, or Finance.  They might think that we’re more of an Engineering course, when in fact we focus more on management, among other things.  Malaking edge din kung Atenista yung maghi-hire sa’yo, kasi, at least sila, alam nila yung ME.

MEA: Ah, okay.  Sige, sige.  So, next question, describe a typical work day for you.

KdlC: *laughs* Ngayon kasi, recently lang kami nakapasok sa HP, so, ngayon, wala pa talagang ginagawa, at hindi pa talaga kami on-board, so puro introduction, puro training.  Actually, sa mga ibang tao, na matagal nang nagwo-work as let’s say, Management Associate, mas marami silang ginagawa, pero, more on nagsha-shadow pa rin sila, so training pa rin.

MEA: So, really, for now, most people are still training and in the introduction stage pa rin.  Okay, next question.  Has ME prepared you adequately for the real-world experience?

AL: In terms of siguro, work ethic, probably yes, like, usually, the ME people we know (who have been working longer) are very masipag, and it’s easier for them to deliver, pero in terms of, *looks at Kevin* sige, ikaw na lang sa “but” part.

KdlC: In terms of well, the discipline that ME students learn in school, nadadala rin ‘yan sa work, which is a big plus.  Pero, for me, ang nagawa ng ME is na-prove mo na kaya mong aralin yung mga hindi mo pa alam, which is a big plus for the both of us.  Kasi, IT industry kami, at medyo malayo ‘yan sa track natin, pero, ang nagawa ng ME is na-instill na may abilities ka.  The fact that you passed lahat ng mga pinaghirapan natin, at pinaghihirapan mo, malaking bagay ‘yan.  Now, the more technical aspects of the job, mas nalalaman mo ‘yan sa mga trainings, pero yung intangibles, kuha ng ME ‘yun.

MEA: Next question.  What do you miss the most about student life?

KdlC: Kakasabi ko lang ‘yan kagabi sa Facebook ko!  *laughs* I miss the ability na mag-cut ng classes.

AL: Ako, I miss the tambays.  The SOM Mall, mga idle time.

KdlC: Wala nang smocket, dba?  So, you’ll miss the smocket din, kasi wala na siya.  Tsaka, yung lib?

AL: O, pumupunta ka ng lib?

KdlC: Oo, para magpalamig!

AL: Ako, miss ko Matteo, and the breaks talaga.  Okay, sige, next question na.

MEA: Okay.  Do you still keep in touch with your batchmates or hang out often with them?

AL: I see Kevin around twice a week, but we’re not together, a!  Talo pa naming yung mga iba  *high-fives Kevin*.

KdlC: Actually, we do.  Yung barkada talaga.  Iba yung blockmates, pero, yung mga madalas mong makakasama, once a week talaga.  Pero yung iba, hindi masyado.  Yung mga lakad, Friday, or weekday, ‘pag hindi masyadong busy.  Recently lang, nag-inuman kami nung Sabado sa Katipunan, for old time’s sake.

MEA: Okay, so, question 7 na ‘to, describe a memorable experience you’ve had in the Ateneo.  If there’s one experience that immediately comes to mind, ano ‘yun?

AL: Sobrang dami nun, a. *laughs*

KdlC: Ang hirap naman ng tanong na ‘yun, pare. [laughter] Sige, eto na lang.  Kasi, nung sinabi mo ‘yan, eto talaga yung pumasok sa utak ko.  After nung Accounting exam namin, yung second exam,

AL: Eto ba yung sa field? *laughs*

KdlC: Oo, eto yun. *laughs* So, mga 9:30 yun, so after nung second exam, naglakad kami papuntang Katipunan, lahat kami, yung block.  So, naglalakad kami, at lumusot kami sa football field kasi madilim naman, at nagpi-picture-picture kami.  So, jump shot!  Pagbagsak namin, yung isang ka-block namin, naka-hilata na siya sa field, tapos, nakita naming, basag ang ilong niya.  Nasiko pala siya ng isang blockmate naming sa jump shot. *laughs*

MEA: Okay, so, eto.  What advice would you give to the current ME students now, with regard to their stay in their course, and how to make the most out of it?

KdlC: Ako, may isang advice.  First year pa lang, maging active ka na sa org, kasi malaki rin siyang bagay sa resume.  Malaking bagay ‘yan sa interview dahil pag-uusapan talaga ‘yan.  Na-realize ko, maliit na bagay lang yung grades sa interview, pero siyempre, bago ka magkakaroon ng interview, titignan talaga yung grades.  Pero, during the interview, ‘ayun, yung org, at least you’ll have something to talk about, that you have experience in organizations.  MEA is a very good place to build up on org experience, but also look for an org na gusto mo talaga, at medyo kilala rin siya.  Magandang combination kasi ‘yun.  MEA plus maybe a couple of other orgs para hindi overload sa org work.

AL: Ako, kasi, well, have fun din!  Work-life balance sa college.  Hindi yung puro aral, kasi masaya rin ang college life.

MEA: Ah, okay.  Sige, final question na ‘to.  Funny question lang.  So, Tom and Jerry.  Who do you like more?

AL: I like Jerry! *laughs* Kasi, never naman siyang mahuhuli ni Tom, e.

KdlC: Ako, actually, gusto ko si Tom, kasi si Tom, pusa talaga siya.  Kasi sa Pilipinas, walang pusang

naghahabol ng daga.  Diba?

AL: So, ‘pano mo alam na yung pusa, yung definition ng pusa naka-base dun sa pusa na hindi nasa Pilipinas?

KdlC: Kasi, yun talaga yung ginagawa ng pusa!

AL: Malay mo, natural instinct talaga ng pusa yung Philippine Cat.

KdlC: Eh, bakit naisip ng mga tao na naghahabol ng pusa yung daga?

AL: Eh, kailangang nahahabol ang daga ng cat, kasi, yung dog, hinahabol niya yung cat.  Kawawa naman yung cat ‘pag siya lang yung hinahabol.

KdlC: So, ano yung hinahabol ng daga?

AL: *pauses* Cockroach? *laughs*

KdlC: *laughs* So, ‘yun.  Sa tingin ko, Tom ako.  Siya yung prototype ng isang pusa.

MEA: So, we’re done.  Thank you for the interview.

KdlC: Sige pare, salamat din. *laughs*

AL: Yup!  Sure thing. Thank you also.