Phl solar car Sikat II in World Solar Challenge

17 October 2011

As I write this article, the Team Solar Philippines (TSP) from De la Salle University would now be in Australia pitting its Sikat II solar car against 37 other cars, also built by engineering students, from 20 nations. The race, a good part of it probably covered already by the time this article hits the press, started yesterday, October 16 and will last up to the 23rd. Participating cars will traverse a little more than 3,000 kilometers of highways, from Darwin, through the Australian outback, and into Adelaide, utilizing only the energy from the sun – gathered through photovoltaic cells – as their source of power.

TSP is a group composed of students and professors from the Mechanical Engineering, and Communications and Electronics Engineering Departments of DLSU, who designed and built the car themselves. Sikat II is a third generation car, the earlier ones being Sinag and Sikat I, which were only the other two solar car prototypes built over the last four and a half years since the project was started. It is worth noting that when Sinag, the first ever locally made solar car competed, it placed 11^th among 40 participants. This was gratifying given that the team started from scratch and had only a year to build the car to participate in a race that has been participated in by others since 1987.

Needless to say, the current car, Sikat II, is a better unit, having benefited from the experience gained from the first two earlier prototypes; it is said to be faster, being capable of a top speed of 110 kph with its 2 kw motor that draws power from its 4kwh capacity Lithium-ion batteries. At 180 kgs, it is lighter than Sinag by 110 kgs , or about 38%, and the sleek and more aerodynamically designed body, made of carbon fiber composite, is equipped on the top side with Filipino made solar panels from the Laguna based Sunpower Philippines – currently considered as the producer of the most efficient photovoltaic, or solar, cells in the world. Given these improvements, the team hopes to improve on the 11^th place performance of Sinag. They aspire to land in at least the top five positions in this 2011 race.

The accomplishments of the TSP was made possible through the financial and logistical support given by the Philippine Solar Car Challenge Society, Inc. headed by Mr. Federico Lopez (Chairman) and Mr. Ramon Agustines (President), and composed of First Gen Corp., its sister company First Philec Solar Corp, Energy Development Corp., and Sunpower Corporation, all of which are involved in the development and production of clean energy. Ford Philippines, Motolite and Shell likewise also participated as corporate sponsors.

It seems that the TSP is the only participating team from a developing country, which should somehow make us proud as it shows that our country, despite being bunched with the third world, is also capable of making inroads with respect to renewable energy, given our accomplishments with geothermals (being the 2^nd biggest producer worldwide), and now with this “solar car” development. A lot more developments along this area can be expected as this pioneering accomplishment can make the others realize its possibilities, and recognize the attached opportunities. This, hopefully, will spur those with technical as well as those with financial capabilities to set their sights on tapping solar energy, given that the country (according to the Department of Energy) receives a daily average of 5.1 kw-hrs of solar radiation per sq.m. of land.

The Sikat II Project is headed by Dr. Pag-Asa Gaspillo, while the TSP/Sikat II team leader, as well as electrical head, is Jack Catalan. When interviewed as to what drives them regarding this project, the members of the group mentioned the following: to generate pride for the Philippines and raise awareness for the vehicle-technology skill and potential in the country; demonstrate , and interest the youth in, technology; inspire other young people to become engineers; push Filipino engineers to work towards more ecologically friendly technology and to develop technological solutions to abet the further deterioration of the environment.

Well, regardless of what the outcome of the race would be for the TSP/Sikat II, for me, they already deserve congratulations as they have definitely already gained valuable points for the country. Just by being able to go back and and participate in the WSC race again, and with a much improved car, I think that they have demonstrated the technical mettle of the Filipinos. And unquestionably, they have caused the Philippines to be included in the exclusive list of 20 countries that have the intellectual and craft skills to produce (and implement an improvement program for) a solar car. With this, as a Filipino, I salute and thank the DLSU TSP/Sikat team for their accomplishment and what to me is the honor that they gained for the country. Therefore, ANIMO LA SALLE! --- coming from a Mapuan Mechanical Engineer.

PSME’s 59th Annual National Convention

10 October 2011

The Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers will hold its 59^th Annual National Convention or NatCon on October 25-28, 2011 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

About 2,000 delegates from the 73 local and international chapters are expected to attend this year’s event themed “Go Green Energy”, and which will focus on the various facets of mechanical engineering, particularly the care of the environment and the use of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydro-electric, OTEC and bio-fuels. Prominent speakers and highly regarded practitioners have been lined up to interact with the delegates on the latest green technologies, environment protection, and energy conservation during the Plenary Sessions and Technical Paper Presentations. In addition, also up for discussion are subject matters relevant to the practice of the profession, such as the Philippine Mechanical Engineering Law (RA 8495) and updates on the status of its implementation, and the Continuing Professional Education (or CPE) program which will be officially in effect for the ME profession starting this month.

As has been traditionally practiced, the learning sessions shall be spiced with the fun and camaraderie activities such as the Golf Tournament (at the Villamor Golf Club), the Candidates’ and Members’ Fellowship Night, the Awards Night and others. These light activities shall also provide the enrichment that can enhance not only the delegates’ learning effectiveness but also their networking opportunities.

This year’s four day convention shall have a special significance in that it would usher in the launching of two new consequent activities, namely, the First PSME National Student Conference, and the First Philippine Machineries Exhibition or Philmach 2011. It will also signal the start of the implementation of the CPE program for the mechanical engineering profession.

The student conference which shall run during the first two days of the convention is expected to be attended by at least a thousand mechanical engineering student delegates from leading universities and collages nationwide. Here, aside from being able to field teams representing their schools in the mechanical engineering oriented Quiz Bee and the design contest, the students would also have the opportunity to interact with leading experts in their chosen field of specialization.

Meanwhile, the Philmach 2011, which will be open to the public for free, will have about 100 booths in the SMX Convention Center manned by exhibitors that will showcase products relevant to at least eight mechanical engineering concerns, namely: heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC); boilers, pumps, valves and pipes (BPVO); fire protection, safety and security; green energy technology; metal works; maintenance and reliability excellence; processing and packaging; and, food and beverage.

As for the CPE program for the ME profession (which was just recently approved for implementation by the Professional Regulations Commission upon the recommendation of the Board of Mechanical Engineering), it requires that any Registered  or Professional Mechanical  Engineer would need to earn 60 CPE units over three years (or 20 units per year) to qualify for the renewal of his/her professional license. For Certified Plant Mechanicss, the requirement is 30 CPE units over 3 years (or 10 units per year). Therefore, all practitioners will have to start earning CPE credits already to meet this pre-requisite for license renewal three years from now. The PSME National, which is currently the accredited CPE provider, will credit the convention delegates with 20 CPE units so this would already satisfy the CPE units required for this year.

The PSME, which has just, very recently, been granted by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC), its renewal as the Accredited Professional Organization (or APO) for the mechanical engineering profession for the next three years, is currently headed by Engr. Liberato S. Virata as its National President. The 59^th Natcon meanwhile is chaired by Engr. Rudy J. Sultan (who is also the “Society’s”current Executive Vice President) with Engr. Pablito C. Ocampo as Co-Chair. The Philmach 2011 is chaired by Engr. Roger Reyes, while the First National Student Conference is spearheaded by Ms Loraine Ann Barbacina of PUP Manila as Student Chairperson and Ms Angeline Uy of PLM as Student Co-Chair.

Further information regarding the event may be obtained from the PSME official website (http://psmenow.org), or from the National Office at Room 401, Don Lorenzo Building, P. Paredes Street, Sampaloc, Manila , and which may be reached trough its landlines (7362043, 3930347, 2168133),  fax (4934268 ), cell phones (0917-5500002  or 0917-8681700 ) and by email (psmenatcon@yahoo.com or psmenatcon@psmenow.org).

Amazing observations in Vietnam – Rice Hulls (Part 2)

16 September 2011

We spent a whole day travelling around the Vietnamese countryside south of Ho Chi Minh City to observe facilities that convert rice hulls, or ipa, (the waste by-product of rice milling) into bio fuel. Vietnam is the fifth largest producer of rice worldwide, after China, India, Indonesia and Bangladesh, and accounts for about 34.5 million tons or 6.8% of world supply in 2009-2010 (http://www.rice-trade.com). What I witnessed was that they seem to have already made a head way in creating a business out of processing rice hulls into bio fuel. As claimed, they also have developed a market for this product in Europe (particularly Germany), in addition to the domestic demand where the bio fuel is blended with coal used as fuel for boilers. This development has also benefited the rice farmers since what used to be treated as a worthless by-product of rice milling was turned into something of value that gives them additional income.

First stop was the Ben Luc District, in Long An province, an hour and a half drive from HCM City, where we visited Vina Star, a Taiwanese owned company that started their bio fuel business only two years ago. They have a facility composed of 15 briquetting machines (built by them using parts sourced from Japan and China) with 300 tons per day capacity. The machines discharge the roughly 1.5 x 3 inch briquettes into a centralized belt conveying system that feeds them to a vibrating screen (to separate the broken pieces and fine powder), and eventually to the packaging station where they are manually placed in polybags. The plant looks well kept, with systems visibly installed. I was given a tour of the facility by the VP, Mr. Roy Chen where I also observed their machine shop, their raw material loading dock located by the waterway, and their main control/power room which was air conditioned and kept immaculately clean.

As explained by the company’s officials, they do mostly only briquetting operations. The raw material they use is actually powdered rice hulls, delivered to them from the rice farms where they (Vina Star) provide machines, called pulverisers, as well as the buildings needed both for pulverizing operations and material storage. An actual model of the machine, complete with dust collector, and which I had the opportunity to scrutinize, is set up for display in their administration building. The pulverisers, which cost about US$ 1,000.00 each, are operated by the farmers themselves, and who are organized into groups. The farmers pay for the power consumed by the 30 hp motor of the pulveriser as well as the repair and maintenance requirements, usually provided by the company’s personnel. One machine can produce 750 kg/hr, with the pulverizing blades lasting usually for 6 months. The farmers can earn an additional 2,000 Vietnamese Dong per kilogram of pulverized rice hull sold, which is substantial as an added income, given that they sell their rice at only 4,000 Dong/kg. As I was made to understand, Vina Star, while still expanding this project, has currently more than 30 units installed in Long An province where the farmers can conveniently use the river to deliver their products using boats and barges. Their customers on the other hand blend the briquettes (Gross Calorific Value= 4149 Kcal/kg.) with coal on a 50/50% basis with good results, while allowing them also to earn carbon credits.

Next stop, about an hour’s drive further south, was a small machine shop (also owned and operated by a Taiwanese) in Vin Binh District, Tien Giang province, where they amazingly fabricate a local version of a small extruder that can produce compressed and partly carbonized rice hulls in cylindrical form. The shop, which at the most occupies 30 sq.m. of narrow twisting space, has only two small engine lathes and welding machines in addition to small tools; but they seem to be making all components (including electric heaters), except the electric motor. The extruder has an approximately 5 inch diameter screw with a barrel that is 18 inches long at most, and the entire machine must have a footprint of about 2 feet x 6 feet. The machine shop, however, seem to have their own concept of what organized means, because despite the disarray that I observed, they seem to be busy enough and are actually turning out the machines. From my point of view, the system they have, is contrary to what I know is the effective way of running that kind of operation. Housekeeping for example is nowhere to be seen, as one has to be careful not to step on machine components and other metal pieces while navigating to the other parts of the shop; and if just for this alone, productivity must be suffering. The operating environment, to my mind, puts the quality of their products in question.

From Vin Binh, we continued southward for about 1-1/2 hours to My Phouc district, also in Tien Giang province where we visited the Anh Ngok Company, a Vietnamese owned firm that produces rice husk pellets. They have a huge and massive machine that is roughly 12 feet high and a base of about 12 feet x 12 feet. It can produce 1.5 tons/hr of pellets and we were told that it was locally designed and built by the owner, who seems to have adopted the operating principle of the pelletiser used to produce hog feeds. Unlike Vina Star, the first firm we visited, rice hulls are fed directly through an inclined belt conveyor to Anh Ngok’s machine, which is run by a 200 HP electric motor to produce the roughly 3/8 inch diameter x 3/4 inch long pellets. According to them, they sell their produce directly to the domestic boiler operators who feed the pellets directly to their boilers on a 100 percent basis. Unfortunately we were not able to see the machine operating as it was currently undergoing renovation. The current die was being replaced with another one with bigger die-holes, geared to increase the machine’s throughput significantly, and effect an increase in the plant’s productivity, as well as a decrease in its specific power consumption.

Our last stop, about 30 minutes away, was at Le Quoc Cuong, a company that uses the small locally made extruders earlier described. They have 10 units of these machines running side by side, all of which are discharging their roughly 16 inch compressed, coreless, cylindrical and partly charred bio fuel on to a flat belt conveyor. The conveyor moves the cylinders to the operator at the end of the line who sorts and stacks them on pallets prior to being manually packaged. Like in Anh Ngok, rice hulls are also directly fed to the extruders of Le Quoc Cuong, but this time from bins installed overhead. The cylinders are formed through the compressive and heating action imparted on the rice hulls as they are pushed by the rotating screw through the heated cylinder and the die. Each of the extruders are driven by a 30 kw electric motor and the barrel heated by a roughly 4 kw heater. The maintenance requirements of the machines, however, seems tedious if the information we received (i.e., that for a 24 hour operation the life of the barrel is just 1 week and that of the screw 3 days) is accurate.

After the tour, I felt so envious for the Philippines. This envy, although initially driven by earlier observations, was made more intense by the information gained that day about the boon to the Vietnamese farmers of the successful rice hull bio-fuel project. My curiosity as to how a country ravaged by 116 years of war (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War), can successfully create and implement projects that would bring about the uplifting of its masses (e.g., the farmers) in a matter of 35 years made me to do a small research.

I learned that the country and its people had undergone unthinkable trials and horror brought about firstly, by their almost 100 years of fighting against their colonizer, and soon after driving their colonizer out in 1954, the atrocities of the 21 year Vietnam War. Not surprising to see is the strong existence of corruption and factionalism as significant elements that caused the defeat of the losing faction in the war, and the strong presence of discipline and nationalism amongst the members of the faction that won.

I also learned the following (mostly from https://www.cia.gov/library): a) that the Phl and Vietnam have more or less the same population at 90 million; b) that both countries have almost the same land mass: Phl-300k sq km; Vietnam-329k sq km; c) labor force comparison: Phl approx 39 million; Vietnam approx 47 million; d) % labor force in agriculture: Phl-33%; Vietnam-54%; e) share of agriculture in GDP: Phl-13.9%; Vietnam-20.6%; f) unemployment rate: Phl-7.3%; Vietnam-4.4%; and, g) % population below poverty line: Phl-32.9%; Vietnam-10.6%. The preceding statistics clearly shows that the country’s leadership has succeeded significantly in bringing down the level of “deep poverty” as well as in creating the environment that generated jobs for its workforce which reportedly grows by more than one million every year. The cruel experience from the 116 years of war must have instilled in them the importance of addressing the needs of the population, as well as the value of unity, honesty, discipline and nationalism in pushing the country towards progress, and keeping it intact.

Perhaps, we should take a cue from Vietnam, and learn from (and hopefully not undergo) their experience, with respect to our effort to bring progress to our country. Perhaps it is providential that we now have a President who is hell-bent on curbing corruption and has a team that supports him. It would be to the country’s good if our government officials support the President’s efforts by avoiding selfish factionalism. It would also to the best interest of the nation if the citizenry themselves reinforce the Presidents effort by deepening their sense of discipline and nationalism and show it through simple actions.

Perhaps it is also high time that the government officials who have a say in the future of the country come up with honest to goodness programs that first address the simple burdens that the population encounters everyday (e.g., traffic and transport, health and medication concerns, corrupt peace officers and enforcers, food and dwellings, etc.) and show through results that government really really cares. Maybe our economist and law makers should put more emphasis on the creation of jobs, rather than on what the government should gain in taxes, when formulating laws that would impact on the economy. Maybe an effort that can be immediately started is to replicate Vietnam’s rice hull bio-fuel success and develop our own Philippine version of the project. The engineers could get together with business to design a machine and develop a system/scheme that would fit Philippine conditions, and the government could get their act together so the investors will be encouraged to come in and support the project. Perhaps those who are in power can craft less grandiose economic programs that would enable the participation of not just the big foreign and domestic investors but also the small local investors. They, after all, account for the bulk of the economic activity and should be given the opportunity to participate in job generation. A nation can be genuinely strong and stable economically, if the strength comes from a broad range of the population and not just from large but few organizations. And perhaps, we can also in the near future amaze others by showing them how we, Filipinos, can improve ourselves and our country, and bring about prosperity to the bulk of our citizenry.

Amazing observations in Vietnam – Mr. Hong (Part 1)

01 September 2011

Upon the invitation of a good friend, Wilson Yean, I had my first ever visit to Vietnam. Wilson, who is Taiwanese, has been a resident of the Philippines for a long time, and who, I believe, has after more than 20 years, practically adopted the country as his second home. I can also say that he has done the country well, and has given a number of our countrymen a lot of good opportunities.  The primary reason for the Vietnam trip was for me to see firsthand the guava plantation of his friend, Mr. Hong, which he has for some time been proudly telling me about.

I flew into Vietnam with another friend Ogie Ong and was met at the Ho Chi Minh International Airport by Frank Yean, Wilson’s son, and our host there. We immediately took an approximately 3 hour car ride westward from HCM City to Hon Thanh, in Binh Phuoc province to what I was told is Mr. Hong’s second farm. Arriving there late in the evening, we settled down for the night and slept in one of the farm houses.

The Hon Thanh farm is a 100 hectare farm where I saw, the following morning, hectares and hectares of it planted to Taiwan variety guava trees. The pear shape fruit it bears can grow as big as a soft ball, the green peel as crispy as can be, has a meaty central pulp - or core - with minimal seeds, and tastes sweet with a pleasant tinge of sourness. I was made to understand that about 75 hectares was already planted to guavas, and some parts, particularly section borders, planted to jackfruit.

Later in the morning I was able to interact with the farm owner, Mr. Hong Hsien Pao, who arrived from another site. In between sips of Chinese tea in his farm office he related his venture into farming in Vietnam, through Frank, who acted as interpreter, and which I’m now relating, as how I understood it.

Mr. Hong, who like Wilson is also Taiwanese, went to Vietnam about 15 years ago and saw the vast countryside that can be developed. Although a Chinese Medicine Doctor, he recognized the opportunities that are available and pursued the development of raw land into fruit tree farms, taking advantage of Taiwanese farming technology. He initially leased from the Vietnamese government his first farm, a 50 hectare piece of land, located in Bin Duong province, to which he initially planted Taiwanese mango trees. Encouraged by his success with the first farm, he applied for and was granted another lease for his second farm. Later on he was once more granted a lease for an additional 500 hectares (currently in the process of development and already partly planted to guavas) in Bu Dop, his third farm, also in Binh Phuoc province. All in all he has to his name an aggregate of 650 hectares of land, covered by 50 year leases.

Mr. Hong decided to introduce the Taiwan guava in Vietnam about five years ago, and as the population took to recognizing and liking the fruit, he gradually increased the hectarage planted to it. Based on the info that I gathered, there is at least an aggregate of 100 hectares planted to guava in his three farms, the largest area of which is in Hon Thanh (accounting for about 75 hectares) that can produce 80 tons monthly, and consumed mostly in HCM City.

The fact that Mr. Hong, a foreigner in Vietnam, was able to successfully organize, operate, and grow a fruit tree farm business into a 650 hectare enterprise is, to me, already amazing. What I find more amazing however is his success in propagating, just in the last 5 years, the guava into a sustainable business that involved both the production of the fruit and the creation of the demand for it (in a locality where it is neither a traditional farm product nor a regularly consumed item).

I would hazard to attribute the success of his farm operations significantly to four factors, namely: the right technology, his generosity with respect to the training and material needs of his workers, the strict adherence to the quality of the fruit, and the management system he adopted.

The use of the Taiwan guava cultivar technology was just perfect, given that it takes only about seven months for the tree (planted as a rooted cutting) to start bearing fruit. The fruit size is encouraged by hand thinning (removal of some fruits from a branch while still small), the use of organic fertilizer sourced from nearby fowl farms, and regular pruning of the branches. The retained fruits while still small are then protected from insects and damage by immediately covering them with 2 layers of wrappers, a latticed styro bag and a transparent plastic bag that stays until harvest time. Most of the trees are kept between 4 to 6 feet high, through pruning, for easy tending and harvesting which can be done the whole year round.

The education and training of the workforce regarding the technology required has also been adequately addressed as Mr. Hong personally made it a point that each one clearly understood and is capable of executing the necessary tasks. This capability is regularly measured through the results that they generate and which are compared to the performance standards that have been set and agreed upon in terms of farm production volume levels, and fruit quality levels.

As to the workforce’s material needs, Mr. Hong spends for all of the inputs, and shares the profits (net of all cost) with the workforce at a 65/45 basis, with the bigger portion given to them. In addition, there are also various bonus schemes that are target based. This arrangement has provided the members of the workforce with enough prosperity to enable them to acquire possessions that improved their quality of life, like, better houses, house appliances, motorcycles, and even in starting their own small farms.

The quality control for the fruit is quite stringent, starting with the size and appearance. Upon harvest, which is done on a daily basis, each team sorts the fruits 100% classifying them into class A, B and C, prior to packing. Class A are the big ones with flawless skin, class B are the smaller ones and those with marks, and the class C are those with defects that needs to be cut off. Class A, which accounts for at least 80% of the harvest, goes exclusively to the HCM City market, while the class B & C are for the other markets. The sweetness of the fruit is also checked using a handheld refractometer that can measure the refractive index of the guava juice in Degrees Brix (a measurement of the dissolved sugar-to-water ratio of a liquid). A standard ranging from 8 – 10 Degrees Brix is adopted and met by the farm.

The management style that Mr. Hong adopted is one that I would describe as a combination of an empowered/focused team system, and management by objectives. What he did was to subdivide the farm into 5 hectare lots (with 2000 trees), and assign a team of 10, usually relatives, headed by a supervisor. After the teams have been trained on the technology of tending and operating the farm, and supported by Mr. Hong’s spending for 100% of inputs, they are left to decide by themselves on how the required tasks are to be done and by whom. Their performance is measured by the results they produce in terms of production volume and product quality, and which would also be the determinant of the income that the members of the team will earn. The successful teams continue to run their farm, but those who do not meet the grade are penalized – even to the extent of termination of their employment. Apparently the system is working, given what I observed as the upbeat behaviour of the workforce, the seemingly well tended and organized appearance of the farms that I visited, as well as the rate of growth and expansion of the guava farm business over the last 5 years. Mr. Hong, who struck me as very relaxed and deliberate, is the first of various amazing observations I had of Vietnam during my trip there, and I understand that at least 200 people are benefiting directly from his enterprise. I got the impression that he does not have any qualms about sharing his knowledge about his business; with the way he freely shared his experiences. I also understand that there are already some Vietnamese who, with his help, followed suit with the same kind of business and I naturally felt envious for my country, so that I sort of insinuated to him the possibility of his exploring doing a venture in the Philippines. He responded in the positive, and I understand he has plans to visit in the future. In retrospect, given the nation’s program to re-energize agriculture, maybe, our potential countrymen-investors might want to study the techniques and system adopted by Mr. Hong as it may give them a better batting average for success vis-a-vis what Mr. Hong had in Vietnam.

Di-pangkaraniwang kumpanya, ideya ng “bagong bayani” na Pinoy.

15 August 2011

Kamakailan, ako ay nakatanggap ng isang text galing kay Jojo Gonzales, isa sa aking pinagkakatiwalaang batang inhinyero sa aking dating pingtatrabahuhan at kung saan ako nagretiro noong 2007.  Inaanyayahan nya ako sa pasinaya ng kanilang kumpanya, ang Watercon Solutions Phillippines, Inc. (WSPI)

Mga apat na taon na din kaming walang kontak ni Jojo, at alam kong siya ay umalis na rin sa pagawaan ng lubid nang inilipat ang planta sa Laguna, buhat sa Makati, noong 2008. Naintindihan kong bago ang trabaho niyang ito kaya’t naisip kong bigyan siya ng suporta. Nakasabay ko roon ang mga panauhin buhat sa mga kumpanya ng Realty, Konstraksiyon, Inumin, Gamot, at Hotel (kasama na dito si G. Peter Bamburg, General Manager ng Crown Hotel sa China)

Hndi ko inaasahan ang aking nasaksihan, na aking kinalugdan ng lubos. Unang-una ang kumpanyang inilulunsad ay brainchild ng isang tinataguriang  bagong bayani ng bayan, o OFW, na siyang General Manager. Si G. Milo Pangilinan ay isang Indutrial Engineering graduate  mula sa Technological University of the Philippines (TUP). Nagsimula siyang magtrabaho bilang Logistics Manager sa port area na kung saan ay nag-introduce siya ng mga hi-tech na mga pamamaraan na nagbigay ng malaking bentahe sa kanyang kumpanya, kontra sa mga kakompetisyon. Bagama’t maganda ang kanyang performance sa port area ay naisipan pa rin niyang mangibang bansa. Nakuha siya ng ng Philips HK bilang miyembro ng Technical Support. Tumagal siya sa HK ng 2 taon na kung saan ay nakita niya na maaari din niyang mapakinabangan ang iba niyang talento, at ito ang kanyang ginawa pagkatapos ng kontrata niya sa Philips HK.

Si Milo ay magaling tumugtog ng gitara, kumanta at magluto (masarap mag-adobo), kung kaya’t ng mag-audition siya sa mga hotel sa Tsina kinuha kaagad siya ng isang GM bilang isang singing cook. Tumagal si Milo ng 6 na taon sa Tsina, na kung saan, dahil s

a naipakita niyang kakayanan (nakilala na siya at na-feature pa sa diyaryo duon) ay nagpalipat-lipat siya sa mga hotel na nag-aalok ng mas malaking pasahod.

Ayon sa naikuwento ni Milo nuong gabi ng inagurasyon, napansin daw niya sa Tsina na ang gas na CNG (parang punong tangke ng LPG  natin ngunit mabigat lang ng mga 3 kilo) ng water heater sa apartment, at pinagpapainitan  araw-araw ng pampaligo ay nagangalahati pa lamang pagkatapos ng mga 3 buwan na paggamit. Ang kahanga-hanga dito ay tatlo silang lahat sa apartment. Dito nagsimulang mabuo ang ideya niyang dalhin sa Pilipinas ang teknolohiyang ito upang ang mga kasalukuyang gumagamit ng heater ay makapagtipid sa kuryente at ang iba naman ay makapagsimula sa praktis na ito na makakapagbigay ng malaking kaginhawaan sa katawan lalong-laho na kung naliligo sa umaga. Bukod dito, ngayong panahon na mas dumarami ang malamig na mga buwan dahil sa climate change, at ang mamamayan ay mas madaling kapitan ng sakit, maaari din itong makatulong sa pagpapababa sa dami ng nagkakasakit na mga estudiyante at empleyadong nagpupunyaging maligo sa umaga. Hindi na rin maituturing na luho ito dahil sa tipid ng panggatong na ginagamit.

At nuoong nanduoon si Milo sa Tsina, naging matalik na kaibigan niya si G. Rajen Thuraisingham, na siyang Food & Beverage Director ng Crowne Plaza. Si Rajen ay isang Australyanong ang mga ninuno ay galing sa India. Isa siyang investor na may mga negosyo sa Australya, Las Vegas, at Tsina. Siya din ang nahikayat ni Milo na maging investor at siyang tumayong  Chief Executive Officer ng  kumpayang itinayo. Nahikayat si Rajen dahil sa, bukod sa magandang pinagsamahan nila ni Milo ay nagustuhan niya ang ugaling namalas niya sa mga nakasalamuha niyang mga Pinoy ng naimbitahan siya ni Milo na mamasyal dito. Habang pinapakinggan ko ang talumpati niya sa kanilang inagurasyon, na-impress ako sa ipinakita niyang tiwala at suporta sa mga kasamahan niya at sa negosyong binuo nila.

Nuong Biyernes lamang ay bumalik buhat sa Tsina si Milo at si Jojo na nag-training tungkol sa mga produktong ilulunsad ng WSPI dito sa atin. Isa ito sa mga naipangakong isasagawa ni Rajen sa kanyang talumpati. Nabanggit din niya na layon nila ang palaguin ang naitayong negosyo upang makapaglikha  pa ng mga karagdagang trabaho para sa ibang mga kababayan natin. Naisip ko ng mga sandalling iyon na tugmang-tugma ang kanyang mga sinabi sa hangarin ni P-Noy tungkol sa pagpapalago ng trabaho para sa Pilipino.

Ang WSPI ay nakaiskedyul na maglunsad (o launch) ng dalawang produkto sa darating na Septyembre. Ito ay ang Portable CNG Water Heater (isang tank-less gadget na madaling ikabit sa mga banyo at  magbabawas ng lamig ng pampaligo sa umaga) at ang Water Ionizer (isang water treatment equipment na maglilinis, magpapadalisay at kayang magpalabas ng tubig na may pH na naaayon sa pangangailangan ng isang tao o di kaya’y para sa paggawa ng gamot, kosmetiko, at ibat-ibang mga inumin).

Malaking pangpersonal na kapurihan at tagumpay para kay G. Milo Pangilinan ang naisakatuparan niyang ito. Malaking tagumpay din para sa bayan na ang isang dating OFW na katulad niya ay matagumpay na naging isang entrepreneur. Harinawa’y magpatuloy ang kanyang paglago at tagumpay, at harinawa’y magaya din ito ng ibang pang mga “bagong bayani” na Pinoy.

Sa kasalukuyan ay layunin nilang mabuo bago matapos ang taon na ito, ang kanilang Sales Team (na pamumunuan ni G. Ricardo Ramos bilang National Sales Manager), ang Technical Support Team (na sasailalim  naman kay Ing. Jojo Gonzales bilang Technical Support Manager), at Admin/Office Support Team.

Ang tanggapan ng WSIP ay nasa RLN Center, M.H.del Pilar St., cor Gov. Pascual Ave., Malabon City. Ang mga Telepono nila ay (632) 509-5370/ (632) 509-5874/ (632) 509-2380.

Ayuda kay Pinoy!

08 August 2011

Mekaniko

By Jaime T. Lopez, III

Hay naku! Nakakahilo ang di lang limampung mga artikulong nabasa ko tungkol sa SONA ni Pinoy sa dami ng anggulong tinutumbok, kapwa positibo at negatibo. Ang mga artikulong ito ay galing sa mga aral at batikang mga personalidad na kung saan, bagama’t di kinakailangang sang-ayunan, ay nararapat lang na iginagalang ang kani-kanilang mga pananaw. Mabuti rin sigurong suriin ang mga punto nila at pulutin ang mga sensible o mahahalagang bagay na maaaring makapagpatayog sa programang iniaakma ng tatlong sangay ng pangkasalukuyang pamahalaan para sa pagpapaunlad ng bayan.

Subali’t, sa kabila nito, sa ganang akin, ang dapat na tunay na mamayani ay ang pananaw ng nakararaming ordinaryong taong bayan na kung saan ay naipakita sa survey ng TV Patrol, pagkatapos na pagkatapos ng SONA ng Pangulo. Sa survey na ito, sa aking pagkakatanda, ay nasiyahan ang 87% ng mga respondents sa mga binigkas ng Pangulo sa kanyang talumpati.

Kabilang sa mga natalakay niya ang tungkol sa isinasagawang patuloy na pagtugis na sa mga korap at nagsasamantala sa kaban ng bayan (mga kaso as DPWH,Pagcor, PNP, atbp);  ang mga naisakatuparang positibong pagbabago sa ekonomiya (kagaya ng pagtaas ng credit ratings ng bansa na nakapagpababa ng interes sa ating mga inuutang – at nakatipid na nga tayo ng P23B mula Enero-Abril 2011); ang pagdidiin ng posisyon ng bansa tungkol sa pambasang dangal na kung saan di tayo magpapadaan sa sindak (tungkol sa Spratleys) at ang paghahain ng kaso tungkol dito sa UN Council on Law of the Sea ; ang pagkakatanggal natin sa Tier2 Watchlist ng Trafficking in Person Report ng US na nagsiguro ng ating pagkuha ng mga grant sa Millenium Challenge Corporation.

Dagdag pang mga tinalakay ang pagpupursiging mapababa ang unemployment rate sa 7.2% (buhat 8%) sa loob ng nakaraang 12 buwan na kung saan ay 1.4 milyun na trabaho ang nalikha; ang pagtalakay sa mga pangangailangan ng ating mga kapulisan at kasundaluhan (sa pamamagitan ng programang pagbibigay sa kanila ng murang pabahay); ang pagtalakay sa pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan na kasalukuyang nakasadlak sa kahirapan sa pamamagitan ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program; ang pagsusuheto sa sobra-sobrang suweldo ng mga nangangasiwa ng mga Government Owned and Controlled Corporation o GOCC; ang kasalukuyang tagumpay sa agrikultura, lalo na ang tungkol sa bigas; at marami pang iba, na kung saan ay ikinalugod ng karamihan ng ating mga mamamayan.

Pulos mahalaga ang mga nabanggit na, ngunit sa aking pananaw ay higit na mahalaga ang idinidiin ni P-Noy tungkol sa pagwawaksi natin bilang isang lipunan ang tinagurian niyang “utak wang-wang” na siya marahil ang ugat ng namamayaning kultura ng korapsiyon. Ngunit sandali lang... papaano natin magagawang maiwaksi ito? Hindi ito kayang isakatuparan ng Pangulo lamang, at kahit na samahan pa siya ng kanyang kabinete, Senado, Kongreso at Korte Suprema. Pero, pwedeng mangyayari ito kung aayudahan siya ng sambayanan!

Ang tanong muli ay...papaano makakaayuda ang sambayanan?

Tayo, ang sambayanan, ay makakaayuda kung unang-una, ay kikilalanin natin na ang “utak wang-wang” ay nasasaatin din, at ito ang una nating iwawaksi. Kasi, paano natin magagawang pintasan at sitahin ang “utak wang-wang” ng iba kung tayo mismo ay mayroon ding ganuong kapintasan.

Ano nga ba ang mga “utak wang-wang” na nasa atin na mga mamamayan? Marahil ay yuong di pagsunod sa mga simpleng patakaran na kagaya ng pagtigil sa stop light kung pula, pag-counterflow kung matrapik, pagpasok sa kalyeng may “Do not enter”, pagsuhol o pagbibigay ng kotong kung nahuhuli, pagtatapon kahit mayroong karatulang “No Littering” o “Bawal Magtapon ng Basura” (at kung minsan ay sa harapan pa nito magtatapon). Kasama din ang mga simpleng  mga gawain na kagaya ng di pagbibigayan at paggigitgitan kung matrapik, pagiging masaya kung nakakaisa, pag-aagawan at pag-uunahan sa pagsakay sa sasakyan, pagkawala ng konsiderasyon para sa iba,atbp.

Kung babalikan natin ang nakaraaang taon, bakit napalis ang wang-wang sa kalye? Dahil sa ang Pangulo mismo ang kusang loob na nagpasimula nito, at dahil sa pagpapakita niya ng halimbawang ito ay sumunod ang mga mamamayan. At ang mga mamamayan na din ang tumulong sa pagpapatupad (naalala ko pa ang mga sunod-sunod na pag-rereport, pagsisita, at kung minsan ay pagbubugbog nila sa mga di sumusunod sa halimbawang  ipinakita ng Pangulo). Itong pagpapakita ng halimbawa ni P-Noy ang dapat nating sundan upang magkaroon tayo ng “K” – at makaayuda.

Naaalaala ko ang isang kasabihang tumutukoy ng ganito: “Kung gusto mong baguhin ang pamahalaan, baguhin mo ang mga tao, nguni’t kung gusto mong baguhinn ang lipunan, baguhin mo ang pagiisip ng mga tao”.

Ang basa kong pangunahing puntirya ng Pangulo ay ang mapagbago ang isip nating mga mamamayan. Kagaya ng naipamalas niya tungkol sa wang-wang sa kalye, ay puwedeng maipairal ang pagpapalis ng isang bagay kahit na ito’y talamak at matagal nang namamayani. Matagumpay nating naayudahan nuon si Pinoy. Ayudahan muli natin siya dito sa malawakang pagsisikap upang tulong-tulong tayong magtagumpay sa pagsugpo ng “utak wang-wang”.

De kalidad na musikang Pinoy! (2)

01 August 2011

Mekaniko

By Jaime T. Lopez, III

Nuong isang Lunes, July 18, ay nasuwertehan kong maisama si Eddie Salvador, isang pinsang taga San Francisco, ang aking maybahay na si Mel, at anak na si Jim, sa isang pagtatanghal o performance ng Asosasyon ng Musikong Pilipino (AMP) Big Band. Nasabi kong suwerte dahil sa ang pagtatanghal ay isang pribadong benefit show at produksiyon ng UST Artlets Batch ’88 (para sa benepisyo ng UST Artlets Alumni Asssociation Scholarship Program) na pinamagatang “Isay Alvarez swings out”. Nagkataon lang kasi na kaibigan ko si Skarlet Brown, ang may-ari ng Skarlet’s Jazz Kitchen (dating Ten02) na kung saan ay duon ginanap ang palabas at siya ang nagturo sa amin ng paraan upang kami ay mapayagang lumahok.

Dahil nga sa pribado ang event ay kinailangan makiusap kami sa mga namamahalang taga UST Artlets (na sina Isay Alvarez at ang kanyang kabiyak na si Robert Sena) at pinayagan naman kaming dumalo, pero duon na lamang sa pangalawa, at huling, araw ng pagtatanghal.

Tuwang –tuwa at napapaindak sa saya ang aming pinsan sa naipakitang galing sa pagtugtog ng AMP Big-band na pinamumunuan ng batikang musical arranger na si Mel Villena.

Nang gabing yun, ang banda ay kinabibilangan ng mga sumusunod na musiko: 5 sa  Saxophone (1 barritone, 2 tenor, at 2 alto), 4 sa Trombone, 4 sa Trumpeta, 1 sa contra bass, 1 sa gitara, 1 sa drum set, 1 sa keyboard/piano, at 1 pa para sa conga drums. Labing siyam sila lahat, kasama ang tagakumpas.

Nagsimula ang unang yugto ng palabas ng mga pasado alas otso na ng gabi sa pamamagitan ng pagtugtog ng AMP Big Band ng “How high the moon (Hamilton & Lewis)” overture na areglo ni Mel Villena. Sunod-sunod na ding tinugtog ang “A few good Men “ at  “April in Paris” na kung saan nagpakitang gilas sa pagsosolo sa piano si Joey Quirino, sa trumpeta si Vierchi Gonzaga, at sa alto sax naman si Tots Tolentino. Ang nakakaaliw ay mga OPM na tugtuging kinatha para sa banda na gaya ng “Tribute” na gawa in Ronnie Marqueses na kung saan ay nagpakita naman ng pagka-batikan sina Nestor Gonzago sa trumpeta at si Mike Guevarra sa tenor sax. Isa pa ring OPM na tugtuging banda na katha naman ni John Palacio, ang “If it feels good, it’s got to be a sin”ang tinugtog at dito din ay nagpakita muli ng galing sa sax si Tots Tolentino, at sa trumpeta naman , si Jorge Abundo.

 Ang pangalawang yugto ay pawang kanta ni Isay Alvarez, na kung natatandaan natin ay siyang naging star sa Miss Saigon Production dito sa Pilipinas. Kasama din siya sa tropang pumunta sa London nuong 1989 na kasama ni Lea Salonga upang gumanap na Gigi sa orihinal na produksiyon duon ng Miss Saigon. Dahil dito ay may 4 na taon din siyang namalagi sa Europa.

Mataginting at buong-buo ang boses, at napakaganda ang pag-awit ni Isay , na lalong napaigting ng  napakagaling ding pagsaliw ng AMP Big Band, kung kaya’t sadyang humanga ulit ang kano’ naming pinsan - di niya mapigilang pasigaw niyang sinabi sa aking “…that’s a singer…” habang nakikinig. Nagsimula sa mga awiting banyaga na kagaya ng “Moonlight Serenade”, “Our love is here to stay”, “Someone to watch over me”, “Cheek to cheek”, “Fever”, “Smile”, at “Come fly to the moon medley” (kasama si Robert Sena) na kung saan ay naipinamalas ni Isay ang kanyang galing. Nguni’t mas nakalulugod sa akin ang mga inawit niyang mga OPM na kagaya ng “No money, no honey” na isang tribute kay Sylvia la Torre, “Mahal na mahal kita”, “Balut”, “Hahabol-habol”, “Galawgaw”, at ang “Kung ayaw mo na sa akin” ni Gary Granada.

Natapos ang palabas ng mga pasado alas-diyes na ng gabi at umalis kami sa pinagdausang lugar na masaya, kontento at may muling dagdag na paghanga sa kakayahan ng musikong pinoy na ‘di lang magsagawa ng de-kalidad na musika, kundi  sa pagkatha din nito.

Sa Skarlet’s Jazz Kitchen regular na idinadaos ng AMP Big Band ang kanilang performance at ito ay kalimitang ginagawa ng lunes ng gabi. Ang mga miyembro ng banda ay pawang mga aral sa musika, at karamihan sa kanila ay kilalang mga batikan sa kanilang mga instrumentong hinahawakan. Ang may-ari naman ng lugar, na si Skarlet (ang “…new voice of Pinoy Jazz”), ay isa ring batikang Jazz singer, at siyang regular na mang-aawit ng AMP Big Band. Ang SJK ay ang dating Ten02 at matatagpuan sa #1002 Scout Ybardolosa, QC. Para sa mga may katanungan, maaaring matawagan ang SJK sa Cell # 09163624596.