“I’m very happy about it but I expected that we would win because we have been practicing this already for almost a year. The preparation is rigid and long,” remarked Prof. Cesar Gabo of the Industrial Automation and Control Engineering Technology Department, SET and coach of the MSU-IIT-IACET Mechatronics Team.
Two BS- Industrial Automation and Mechatronics students, namely: Gelmar A. Coniendo and Junnel E. Cagampang bested other teams by getting the perfect score in the Mechatronics Area of the 2016 Philippine National Skills Competition (PNSC) sponsored by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on June 20-24, 2016 in Taguig, Philippines.
“IIT has been competing since 2007 and has always came out as champion except in 2012 when our team lost to Meralco Foundation,” the Mechatronics expert proudly added.
The PNSC was held to unravel the participants’ skills and showcase their expertise in the various trade areas, namely: Welding, Graphic Design Technology, Mechatronics, Web Design, Industrial Automation, IT Network Cabling, Mechanical CAD, Electronics, ITS Solution for Business, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning, IT Network System Administration, and Electrical Installations following weeks of rigid training.
Mechatronics is a blend of electronics engineering, computer engineering, and electrical engineering. In the Mechatronics Area (Trade 04) competition, Gabo explained that the team is composed of a programmer and an assembler of the machine. The station is like a miniature plant or factory. The plant or factory is assembled and is run according to the conditions of the problem. Once assembled, the programmer programs the operations of the plant or factory.
Coniendo and Cagampang received each a gold medal, a Samsung mobile phone, and a cash prize. They will also represent the country in the ASEAN Skills Competition (ASC) Mechatronics Area at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in October this year. Gabo said that in the ASC, he and his team want to represent MSU-IIT and more importantly, to prove to other ASEAN countries that Filipino skills are world-class.
Ms. Faith Q. Baldanado an IACET graduate and Mr. Roque B. Requino, an ELET graduate of the School of Engineering Technology entries in TATAK TESDA ViDEO MAKING CONTEST Year 2 made it to Top 10 to qualify for the national finals in individual and school categories respectively. The 3-minute video contest is a nationwide competition to promote success stories of TVET graduates. Both entries also represents Region X in in the contest.
Faith, story focuses on her being an honors student, competitor and assistant coach in the National and ASEAN Skills competitions in the field of Mechatronics. She is now a faculty of IACET Department after graduating as Summa Cum Laude in BS in Industrial Automation and Mechatronics. As a faculty and skills trainer, her student’s had pass the national certification of TESDA who are now working in various industries not only in the country but abroad.
Roque’s video story centers on how MSU-IIT change his life as a graduate of three-year Electrical Engineering Technology of MSU-IIT. He strived hard to obtain a college diploma despite the difficulties in life. He was hired, first as a laboratory technician of ELET Department and then of IACET Department. He finished his Bachelors and Master’s in Teachers Technician Education and is now a faculty of IACET Department. He is what Prof. Nimfa Bracamonte, MSU-IIT Director of Extension described as the “all time trainer” in Electrical Installation and Maintenance (EIM) for Out of School Youth (OSY) of various barangays of Iligan City.
Ms. Baldonado and Mr. Requino video entries are now posted at www.facebook.com/TESDAOfficial. Only the “Likes” received by these entries on this Facebook Page from the time of posting until 12:00 noon of May 11, 2015 shall be considered for the People’s Choice Award. So please visit and press like for SET-MSU-IIT and Region X entries.
All Top 10 entries shall be shown in their entirety during the Tatak TESDA Awarding Ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center Reception Hall in Pasay City, Metro Manila on May 12, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. Winners shall be announced during the same occasion.
