XUERC at 5

XU Engineering
Resource Center
The First FIVE Years

and BEYOND
Editors:
Dulce Corazon Mangubat

Shierlyn Paclijan
Contributors:
Dexter Lo
Julemer Ann Aying
Meldy Grace Comandante
Joerdale Gallamaso
Peter Andrew Gamones
Nadine Joy Ordiz
Gerard Josen Santos
Eduardo Tangonan III
Jeerson Vallente, Jr.
Maria Dolly Mae Ybaez
CONTENTS
Messages
Victory & Valor
Unwrap, Inject, And Produce: Ercs Lecture Series
Project Briefs
Macajalar Bay Mangrove Cover Gis Mapping
Xavier Ecoville
The Xavier Ecoville Livelihood Center
Ridge-River Reef Continuum
Cagayan De Oro CLUP 2012-2013
Emission Inventory
Sustainable Sanitation Technologies
Bantay Lapasan
Budget Transparency
Project Empowering
Cagayan de Oro MAGDAS Station
Reflections
Even Without The Storm

August Rush
According to Newton
Orion
In the Warriors Wonderland
Here, in this tiny office
My Family away from home
A three year Encounter
XUERC Volunteer
A Volunteers Note
Volunteerism: Challenges & Learning
Usa ka baso nga tubig
Showcasing Engineerings Best

Sponsors
1
5
7
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
24
26
29
31
33
35
37
39
42
44
46
50
53
MESSAGES
XU ERC 5TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
s a Catholic and Jesuit university,

Xavier strives to respond to critical
social, political, and moral issues.
One of the many important issues of our

time is environmental destruction and the
consequent crucial challenge of caring
for creation. As engineers engaged in the
built environment, you play a very vital
role in responding to the challenge of
environmental stewardship.
At Xavier University, a good part of our efforts
in societal engagement is now directed
toward
environmental
citizenship.
Your
theme, Developing Engineering Solutions

with the Community, is not only timely but
should strengthen our desire to continue
developing
engineering
solutions
for
community development and to ensure that

resources are used sustainably and equitably.
This journal is a testament to your active
engagement and passion for service. Let us continue our efforts in inculcating a strong sense of community
service. May you truly become not only excellent engineers but faithful stewards of the environment.
Godspeed and congratulations on XUERC s five years of fruitful engagement!
Roberto C. Yap SJ
President
avier University,
the Ateneo de
Cagayan takes
pride in its unparalleled
MESSAGES
commend
and
congratulate
the
College
Engineering
of
for
research that braces
its
anniversary
social
of
the Final Year
outreach.
Marrying research and
Project Study (FYPS)
social-outreach propels
presentation,
us to do science that is
and publication. You
display
more solution-driven
and applied, which will provide social signicance to
have journeyed this

far coming up with relevant projects that serve best the
the community.
community. Though according to Randy Pausch, The
In this interesting eld of engineering, our own College
Last Lecture Engineering isn't about perfect solutions;
of Engineering has been in the forefront of this paradigm
it's about doing the best you can with limited resources.
shift. In particular, our engineers together with their
You continue to reinforce your commitment to the
students and volunteers have been involved in disaster
community and hence the theme on
risk reduction from hard infrastructure to development
Engineering Solutions with the Community capsulizes
work, applied geographic information system (GIS) tool
what you have been doing.
to innovate community-based information monitoring
Congratulations on the job well done!
Developing
system, to designing specialized toilets for sustainable

sanitation, and among other engagements.
Obviously, the engineering solutions have evolved in
response to the needs of the community. Over time,
we see these experts adapt and attune themselves to
the times as they engage and recognize the signicant
contribution of their multi-disciplined partners.
To top it all o, we see in this back-to-back
commemorative journal issue: the manifestations,
insights, and expressions of their engagements
as featured in their literary works. The spiritual but
grounded reections, truly make the XU workers simply
dierent and unique.
Congratulations for running the extra mile. May you
continue to do more.
Hilly Ann Roa- Quiaoit, PhD

Vice President- Research and Social Outreach
Lina G. Kwong, PhD

Academic Vice President
MESSAGES
ongratulations
to the College
of Engineering
and the Xavier University
wish to extend my
warmest greetings to
all who invested time,
resources and eorts for
Engineering Resource
the success of this year s
Center (XUERC) for this
Final Year Project Display
commemorative issue
and Presentation.
of FYP Journal featuring

the
abstracts
of
It is but tting to
remember the countless
engineering students
projects. Indeed, these projects would indicate that
sacrices and patience

that you have encored in the course of making this
engineering students of Xavier University are not only
event happen. Your achievement today is indeed the
honed in engineering fundamentals and the latest in
direct result of your dedicated eort towards reaching
engineering concepts but that part of the students
your goal. The personal pride of your work is obvious
growth is to develop their skills through research and
and can never be taken for granted.
projects similar to what is being described herein. This
I would like to personally thank you for taking the
kind of exposure and the experienced process would
initiative. There can never be success unless someone,
develop among engineering students, skills that will
like you, has the vision and desire to initiate it. You made
make them adapt better to real-world situations. In the
things happen and never succumbed to failure; you
Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP), these research
steadfastly persisted despite the diculties. By refusing
projects show that our engineering students are
to fail, you have led us into the success of this important
formed such that they would contribute intelligently
event of College of Engineering of Xavier University.
and eectively to the welfare of society which is aptly
On this 2013 Final Year Projects Display and Presentation
captured in the year s theme Developing Engineering
with
DEVELOPING
ENGINEERING
Solutions with the Community .
SOLUTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY
I am greatly
It is also inspiring to see the growth of XUERC through
honored to congratulate you, with this I am lifting my
its projects and engagements in the past ve years
hand to salute the great eort that you have exerted.
and sharing with the readership the literary works and
Mabuhay!
your
theme
reections of those working in XUERC to capture the

core of their job.
Keep up the good work XUERC!
Ester L. Raagas, PhD

Director, Kinaadman Research Center
Engr. Jolou Fabe Miraor

2013 FYPDP Chair
nce again, it is time

for the College
of Engineering s
Final Year Project Display
and Presentation.
First
and
foremost,
congratulations to the XU
Warrior seniors!
This is a time to showcase
the various research and
projects that have resulted
from the application of
hard-earned skills and
acquired knowledge by our diligent students. With much
pride, I commend this year s batch and their respective
mentors for a job well done and I give them my warmest
thanks for participating in this year s FYPDP.
This year s theme: Developing Engineering Solutions
with the Community recognizes the vital role of
engineers in community building by creating innovations
and developing technology not only for the people but
together with them, hand in hand. This is not a mere
ideology but sound logic. For how does one create or
develop a thing for the betterment of society, when
he or she does not know its needs and does not utilize
the available resources that abound it? As engineers we
must be responsive to the communities we serve.
Hence, the theme for this year presents a challenge to
our graduates: to present fresh ideas and projects that
put their abilities to good use and at the same time,
collaborate with the various members and sectors of our
community.
Once again congratulations to our students and the
Engineering faculty, and many thanks to the organizers
and our very own Xavier University community for giving
life and supporting this event.
Engr. Eliseo B. Linog Jr.

Dean, College of Engineering
MESSAGES
he last 5 years
was
truly
a
milestone for the
College of Engineering
of Xavier University
when it established
the
Engineering
Resource Center. What
started as a seemingly
ambitious project of
putting up a research
center
er at
at a time
time when
whe
w
hen
n faculty
facu
fa
cult
ltyy members
memb
me
mber
erss were
were trying
ttry
ryin
ing
g to
juggle
between
teaching
research
turned
le b
bet
etwe
ween
en ttea
each
chin
ing
g an
and
d re
rese
sear
arch
ch h
has
as ttur
urne
ned
d in
into
to
fruition.
on.. XUERC
on
XUER
XU
ERC
C is now
now undoubtedly
und
u
ndou
oubt
bted
edly
ly one
one of
of the
the best
best
achievements
evem
ev
emen
ents
ts that
ttha
hatt the
the College
Colllleg
Co
ege
e has
has had.
had.. Never
Nev
ever
err mind
min
ind
d that
that
XUERC,
RC, as
as it is
is called
calllled
ca
ed today,
ttod
oday
ay,, still
stililll has
st
has a lot
lot to
o accomplish
aacc
ccom
om
mpllis
ish
h
such
h as
as meeting
meet
me
etin
ing
g accreditation
accr
ac
cred
edit
itat
atio
ion
n requirements
requ
re
quir
irem
em
men
e ts in
in the
the
th
e area
area
of research
social
development.
important
sea
earc
rch
h an
and
d so
soci
cial
al d
dev
evvel
elop
o me
op
ent
n . What
What
a iiss im
mpo
p rttan
a t
is that
XUERC
stood
the
challenge,
at 5 years
year
ye
arss ag
ago
o XU
XUER
ER
RC sst
too
ood
d up
p tto
o th
he ch
chal
alle
le
eng
nge,
e
e,
hoisted
beacon
blazed
aspiring
ted
te
d the
the be
beac
acon
on aand
nd
d b
laze
la
zed
d th
the
e tr
ttrail
aill fo
ai
ffor
orr as
aspi
piri
pi
r ng
ri
n
researchers,
leading
arch
ar
cher
ers,
s, innovators,
iinn
nnov
ovat
ator
ors,
s, and
and
d young
you
oung
ng sscientists
c en
ci
enti
tiist
tist
s s le
ead
adin
i g
in
them
m iin
n th
the
e wa
wayy th
they
eyy sshould
ho
oul
u d go
go..
These
hes
ese
e da
days
ys I beam
bea
eam
m with
w th pride
wi
pri
p
ride
de every
eve
e
very
ry time
ttim
ime
e I hear
h ar
he
a
about
giving
ut my former
ffor
orme
me
er colleagues
co
olllleaagu
gues
es and
and their
tthe
heir
he
irr sstudents
tude
tu
dent
ntss gi
g
ivi
v ng
vi
g
lectures
ures
ur
es on
on topics
topi
to
pics
css on
on which
whic
wh
ich
ic
h they
theyy are
are
e considered
ccon
o si
on
side
d re
de
ed experts.
exxp
pe
erts.
ert
s..
I am e
elated
XUERC
actively
nott
late
la
ted
d to kknow
no
ow th
tthat
att X
U RC
UE
C iiss ac
acti
tiive
v lyy iinvolved
nvol
nv
olve
ve
ed no
n
only in
in research
rese
re
sear
arch
ch
h but
butt also
aals
lsso in
n social
soc
ocia
iaal development
deve
de
velo
ve
lopm
lo
p en
pm
entt work.
work
wo
rk..
Indeed,
ed,, it has
ed
has overcome
ove
o
verc
rc
rcom
com
me obstacles
obst
ob
sttaaccle
les
es posed
po
ose
ed to it
it 5 years
year
ye
arrs
ago and
and was
was able
able to
to successfully
su
ucc
cces
esssf
sful
u ly relate
ul
rrel
elat
ate
e research
r se
re
ear
arch
c to
ch
to social
social
so
soci
al
al
development.
familiar
name
elo
lopm
pmen
ent.
t. Today
Tod
T
oday
od
ayy XUERC
XUE
UERC
C iiss a fa
fami
miiliiar
m
a n
am
me in
in tthe
he
he
academic
but
other
dem
emic
ic world
wor
w
orld
ld
d not
not
ot only
onl
o
nlly in
n
n tthe
he ccountry
o nttryy b
ou
ut iin
ut
n othe
o
ot
the
herr
partss of tthe
globe,
well.
he g
glo
lobe
be,, as w
be
ell.l.
el
How
ow could
coul
co
uld
d one
one ta
ttalk
alk
lk about
abo
bout
ut XUERC
XUE
ERC
C and
and
nd not
not mention
men
enti
tion
o
on
the name
name of
of its
its director?
dire
di
rect
ctor
ct
o ? When
W e
Wh
en
n everything
eve
e
ve
ery
ryth
thin
ing
g seemed
s em
se
emed
ed
d
uncertain,
devoted
ert
rtai
ain,
n, there
tthe
here
re was
was one
one
e man
man who
who
ho sel
sel
el
essly
essl
es
slyy de
devo
v te
vo
ted
d hi
hiss
time,, energy,
talent
make
XUERC
what
today.
ener
en
ergy
gy,, an
and
d ta
tale
lent
ntt tto
o ma
m
ke X
UE
ERC
RC w
wha
hatt it iiss to
toda
daayy..
Let me therefore
tthe
here
refo
fore
re congratulate
ccon
ongr
grat
atul
at
u aatte Engr.
ul
Engr
En
gr.. Dexter
Dext
De
xtter
e Lo
Lo and
an
nd the
t e
th
rest of
of the
the College
Colllleg
Co
ege
e of Engineering
Eng
E
ngin
inee
ee
eri
r ng
n administration,
adm
dmin
inis
in
i trrat
is
a io
i n, sta
staa,
faculty,
students
remarkable
feat.
May
lty,
lt
y, and
and sstu
tude
dent
ntss fo
forr a re
ema
mark
rkab
rk
able
able
e ffea
eaatt.. M
ayy yyou
o
ou
always
ys be
be guided
guid
gu
ided
ed in
in all
all your
your work
wor
w
orkk and
a d continue
an
cont
co
ntin
nt
inue
ue to
to do
whatt you
you ought
oug
o
ught
ht to
to do,
do, for
for the
the humankind
huma
hu
mank
nkkin
nd in
i general,
gen
g
en
ner
e aall, and
an
nd
the st
students
stud
uden
ents
ts o
off XU
XU,, in particular.
par
p
arti
ticu
cula
lar.r.
Engr Alma P Eunado

o
Dean of College of Engineering, 2007-2009
2007-200
09
VICTORY
& VALOR
ebruary 14, 2013, a date wherein people buzzed the excitement, mostly were susceptible to romance and
at once people felt in love and had that delusion that someone special was dierent from anybody else.
These wondrous feelings perceived by each individual on a Valentine s Day highlighted the event. Yet, to
some people, this special day did not merely dened Valentine s day as the only celebration to rejoice but a day
to celebrate another birthday of a center

that existed to merit , thus giving value
that a short time can go extreme; the
5th year Anniversary of Xavier University s
Engineering Resource Center.
The center started marking its footstep
in the year 2008, with a vision of
providing exemplary researches which
would eectively aid the needs of the
community; researches which would link
dierent sectors, including the city and
provincial government, academe, private
organizations or companies, and the
community as one. This mission gave the
Engineers the optimism that they had an
essential role in providing solutions to
the needs of the community. With this dream, the center reached the drive of connecting to people even outside
the engineering society. These people were in hand with the center in the past 5 years of its existence, thus to give
gratitude to these foundations, they were one of the highlights of ERC s anniversary.
Some people were invited to address speeches of their experiences with the center. There were testimonies from
the center s partner in the Provincial Government. Acting in behalf of Gov. Oscar Moreno, was the Director of the
Provincial Planning Development Oce of Misamis Oriental, Miss Chedilyn Aissa Sajulga. She shared about the
engagement XUERC and the some of the provincial government units were doing jointly. Some of these projects
were Bantay Lansangan, Budget Transparency, and Project EMPOWERinG. The next testimonial was from Engr. Ermin
Stan Pimentel, the director of KKP- SIO (Kristohanong Katilingban sa Pagpakabana- Social Involvement Oce), another
RSO unit which was also a partner of the center in various community engagements. He shared experiences with
the center highlighting how it grew from scratch to merit. The last testimony was from one of the center s dedicated
volunteer, Jeerson Vallente, Jr. He was one of ERC s senior volunteers who had been involved in the center s various
projects including Emission s Inventory, CEnergy, Mangrove Mapping, Flood Mapping, Emergency Sanitation Designs
and MacBay Sedimentation. He shared his experiences in the center and how these experiences helped him broaden
his vision as an engineer and how it helped deepen his values.

Part of the center s ups and downs
was witnessed by a special person
who worked in the oce for almost
3 years along with her studies. The
battle of the center would somehow
be forfeited without the simple aid
of its Student Assistant, Miss Cherry
Mae Ricablanca. Part of this event
highlighted this special award for her
exceptional service.
Engr. Dexter S. Lo, the founding
director (current director) of XUERC
gave an inspiring speech on the
footprints marked by the center in the
past 5 years. He highlighted how ERC
created impact and contribution to
the needs of the society. In maintaining
this dynamic mission, he presented
the strategic plan in making the center
unswerving and existing as time goes
by. With that period of talk, people in the four corners of the room were ablaze with awe. In blending with this talk, a
Jesuit in the university placed the same sentiment with Engr. Dexter s talk. This Jesuit was also connected to various
projects of the center. He was with the center since the day it started up until now, Fr. Mars Tan, the director of
McKeough Marine Center (MMC). He highlighted his personal experiences with the center and the people involved
to it.
Any battle won is considered as victory, like what Henry Ward Beecher said, Victories that are easy are cheap. Those
only are worth having comes as a result of hard ghting. ERC, on its 5th anniversary was measured as a victory
through the odds it fought and prevailed. In celebration of this chance was a festive of food wherein people come
together and share the same desire; the love for Science, the Community and God is more sincere than any other
love. Part of this festive was the awaited slicing of a 5 -layered cake that represented ERC at 5. The distinct guest
from the center s dynamic partner in most of the provincial projects was the supportive Governor Oscar Moreno of
the Misamis Oriental, and the Dean of XU College of Engineering, Engr. Eliseo Linog, Jr. did the anticipated part and
people applauded to signify that ERC was undeniably in another step of victory.
February 14, 2013, a date when the duty-committed director, stas, volunteers, specialists and student assistants of
Engineering Resource Center deserved a hand-shake and a toss for the victory and valor in the 5 years of battle. More
battles to ght, more victories to celebrate and more bliss to experience in the next years to come!
Cheers XU Engineering Resource Center!
-Maria Dolly Mae P. Ybaez
UNWRAP, INJECT,
& PRODUCE
s the month of February drew near, people who are divided in dierent philosophy of their lives are mostly
harmonious to feel the excitement of celebrating Valentine s Day on the 14th. Engineering Resource Center, a
small unit of Xavier University, also feels the ambiance since it marks its 5th Year Anniversary.
Part of the anticipated event was lining up lectures which, in a way, unfold the story of the center through its existing
projects and programs. Just like Valentine s day, an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by
presenting owers, oering confectionery and sending greeting cards , ERC expresses its love by sharing what it has to
suce the knowledge of the
targeted receiver who are the
students, sta and faculties.
To ascertain awareness,
to introduce concept, to
disseminate information, to
prove facts, to demonstrate,
to share experiences were the
main objective of the lecture
series.
The 3-day lecture series
unwrapped the identity of the
center, opened the gaze of the
students in dierent courses
of Engineering and injected
knowledge which was in line
or beyond the prospect of
their elds. The activity aims
with an explosion of eective
and valuable information that is reality-based and relates to the occurrences that recently stirs our lives.
There were twelve series of lectures which were presented. It was sorted wherein each day there is a congruence
of the lectures so as to provide the students homogeny and interconnectivity in the concepts which are to be shared
and to be gained. The activity ocially started with a short gist of why ERC carried out this kind of activity. The lecture
series were productively based from actual programs and projects of the center in the past 5 years, thus these lectures
were the meat of this dynamic existence. Lectures in the rst day, February 13, 2013, highlighted the center s various
engagements on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Ridge-River Reef Strate are half water: CDO s Groundwater
Resources by Engr. Jan Jaat with his partner Doc. Gina Itchon of the School of Medicine and Whispers of the Wind:
Critical Moments Before Sendong by an Electronics Engineering student Mr. Gratz Redoble together with a Physics

instructor Miss Floramie Ortega . In the last schedule of the activity, February 15, 2013, unbound variety of lectures that
oer a wider perspective of the engineer s vital role in nation building while exercising sustainable development. In
this category, the lectures have unblocked the horizon of the engineers thus taking them into a further rest wherein
their engagement to the community is magnied. Lectures under this category are Space Weather: The Impacts
on HF Communications by Engr. Meldy Grace Comandante, Helping People Find their Way: XUERC s Map Gallery
collaborated by Engr. Megan Montuno and ERC s volunteer, Mr. Jeereson Vallent, Jr. , Engineers Role in Development:
The Xavier Ecoville Experience shared by Engr. Christy Anne Marie Colanse, The Role of Engineers in Ensuring Good
Governance presented by Mr. Eduardo Tangonan, III, Australian Government Scholarships shared by the center s
partner of some of the projects in the provincial government particularly the Provincial Planning Development Oce
who is Miss Chedilyn Aissa Sajulga and Energy Management System partake by Engr. Jolou Miraor of the Electrical
Engineering department .
The lectures were delivered by reliable multidisciplinary experts in the center associated with awaking and steadfast
presentation that undeniably meets the aim for the audience. Every single lecturer gave further insight towards facts
and concepts which
are often deserted
when
simply
browsing
through
the topics. Quoting
Nicholas
Murray
Butler in his view
that An expert is one
who knows more and
more about less and
less until he knows
absolutely everything
about nothing , the
simple
concepts
have evolved into
contemplation that
information gathered
from the little things
are essential in our
existence. ERC is a center that provides information beyond their mastery not sinking alone to engineering concepts
but to various concepts and how research aids the needs of the community. The growth of ERC has been somewhat
told in the lecture series thus to end this, we would like to put a thought in minds of the readers to ponder, according to
Ralph Waldo Emerson Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.
- Maria Dolly Mae P. Ybaez
THE FIRST FIVE YEARS

AND BEYOND...
n 2006, the XU College of Engineering held a

5-Year Strategic Planning Session. One of the
items repeatedly highlighted is for the College
to also function as a resource center to spearhead
industrialization by providing pool of experts and
facilities (Engg VMO 2007).
About two years later, on 14 February 2008, Dean
Engr. Alma P. Eunado conceived the Xavier University
Engineering Resource Center (XUERC), assigning Engr.
Dexter S. Lo as coordinator.
A year later (2009), on XU s Diamond Jubilee,
coincident with the College s rst Silver Jubillarian
celebration, President Fr. Jose Ramon T. ViiIarin SJ formally
instituted the XUERC with Engr. Lo as Supervisor, who in
the following year (2010) was ocially appointed as the
Founding Director.
With the concurrent creation of the university s
Research and Social Outreach cluster in the recent
years, XUERC also strategically adapted to the emerging
thrusts and goals of the university which are on: Food
Security, Health, Environment, Governance, and Peace.
XUERC s agship program

on Disaster Risk
Management oered
a detailed
scientic
documentation of the deadly 2011Sendong (Washi)
Flood at the pre- and post-disaster stages. The
center s ood maps have been exhaustively used in
relief operations, debrieng sessions, and technical
evaluations of international media and experts.
for Infrastructure Projects in the Province of Misamis

Oriental, and a Road Watch Program for Region 10
where Civil Society Organizations openly discuss with
the Department of Public Works and Highways on
public infrastructure concerns.
This 2013, on XU s 80th Ruby Jubilee, and XUERC s
5th Year Anniversary, the center reinforces
its
commitment to technical service built upon high level
of excellence, as articulated in its revitalized mission
statement: Developing Engineering Solutions with the
Community.
XUERC currently seats in various government
councils and technical working groups, serving as
the beacon of science and technology for many
development activities in Mindanao. It has also
maintained strong ties with national and international
partners for the advancement of engineering research
and development.
XUERC remains steadfast in facilitating a scholarly
training experience for the students and faculty
members of the XU- College of Engineering; developing
professionals with sterling global visions, and with
deeply rooted Christian morals which are exemplied
in local communities.
Geographic Information System (GIS) capability

also enhanced and expanded in the past years
institutionalizing it in the engineering curriculum, and
catering trainings for various sectors of society; in eect
producing hundreds of diverse thematic maps with
partner institutions.
The center s
program
on Mindanao Urban
Development spearheaded Emissions Inventory in
Cagayan de Oro City, a Budget Transparency Initiative
- Dexter S. Lo
PROJECT BRIEFS
Macajalar Bay Mangrove Cover
he Xavier University Engineering Resource Center

conducted a Geographic Information System
(GIS) based mangrove mapping for mangrove
cover of the Macajalar Bay (MacBay). Prior to the mapping
phase, series of eld surveys along the MacBay from July
8, 2012 to August 21 2012 were conducted. The survey
covered areas of the coastal towns of Misamis Oriental
from the municipality of Laguindingan to Kinoguitan.
A team composed of volunteers from XUERC and the
Macajalar Bay Development Alliance (MBDA) sta pooled
resources in mapping the region. This team surveyed
the existing, newly planted and proposed plantation
of mangroves covering the bay by means of mapping
grade Global Positioning System (GPS) units. Extent of the
GIS Mapping
survey covered mangroves thriving along the coastline,

estuaries and rivers. Ground data was then collected and
presented using GIS (Geographic Information System)
Maps and veried through satellite images acquired from
Google Earth. Maps were presented in the scale of 1:35,000
and projected using WGS 1984 UTM zone 51N datum in
order to perform accurate geometric area calculations
for mangrove cover. The resulting mangrove map shows
an overall mangrove cover of 215.356 ha. It is interesting
to note that most mangroves are located on the towns
of Laguindingan, Kinoguitan, Alubijid, El Salvador and
Tagoloan. Furthermore these coastal baranggays have
established key groups and Bantay Dagat personnel that
maintain mangrove growth.
Jefferson R. Vallente Jr.
Macajalar Mangrove Mapping
10
PROJECT BRIEFS
he Xavier University Lumbia Resettlement Project is a joint endeavor of Xavier UniversityAteneo de

Cagayan and the local government of Cagayan de Oro. It aims to resettle at least 500 families who are victims
of tropical storm Sendong last December 17, 2011.
This 5.3-Hectare resettlement site, also known as Xavier Ecoville has 568 units of rowhouses It is located in the
interior of the Barangay Lumbia s central district where the barangay local government buildings and oces are
situated. It is close to the Jose P. Rizal School of Medicine Extension Clinic and the Barangay Lumbia National High
School. Approximately, it s around 10 minutes ride by car from Lumbia Airport and 30 minutes from downtown
Cagayan de Oro City.
Xavier Ecoville has two primary components in its resettlement agenda: the Community Development and the
Physical Development.
The Community Development component aims to address immediate needs while capacitating partner
beneciaries to become a self-sucient and self-governing community. The Community Development team is
headed by Roel R. Ravanera, Dean of the College of Agriculture of Xavier University.
The Physical Development component is in-charge of preparing the permanent site for resettlement in terms
of construction monitoring, project implementation and coordination with key implementers. It is headed by Engr.
Eliseo B. Linog Jr., Dean of the College of Engineering of Xavier University. The College, through the Engineering
Resource Center, has a close involvement in the Xavier Ecoville project.
With the joint eorts of both teams, Xavier Ecoville is envisioned to be an ecologically and economically progressive,
God-centered village inhabited by residents who care for one another.
Eduardo S. Tangonan III
11
The Xavier Ecoville
PROJECT BRIEFS
Livelihood Center
avier Ecoville is the resettlement village

donated by Xavier University to house more
than 500 families who were aected by
the onslaught of Tropical Storm (TS) Sendong last
December 2011. The university has been active in
the construction of permanent shelters as well as
building community livelihood programs. Part of
these livelihood programs includes the construction
of Xavier Ecoville Livelihood Center.
With a oor area of eighty square meters, the
center can accommodate training workshops and
seminars, production of goods, and showcase and
display of products. It is divided into four rooms
an oce, a training room, a production room, and

a showroom. Considered to be the highlight of
the building, the showroom is furnished with three
panels of eight-foot high clear glass to optimize
viewing of the products to be displayed. The
construction of the building started on December
10, 2012 and was completed on February 28, 2013.
The completion of the Xavier Ecoville Livelihood
Center aims to provide sustainable infrastructure
which residents of Xavier Ecoville may utilize to
engage in their livelihood programs. Through these
programs, residents can nally recover from the
devastation of TS Sendong.
Peter Andrew U. Gamones
Xavier Ecoville Livelihood Center Ground Breaking
12
PROJECT BRIEFS
Ridge-River-Reef
CONTINUUM
Being aware of the situation of its land use is critical

information for planning in the community. The awareness
will serve its purpose for eciency in governance, economics,
peace and many more. Yet more importantly, the system of
evaluation about a community s land use will allow the leaders
to make a well informed decision in actively reducing disaster
risk and enhancing the adaptive capacity of their community to
climate change and other natural hazards. The aforementioned
benets are the principal objectives of the project s proponents
Xavier University Engineering Resource Center (XUERC) in
consortium with The Manila Observatory (MO).
Sampling for R3 in Bukidnon
The Ridge-River-Reef framework governs the methods and
analysis for this project. Doing a localized land use evaluation
limited to Cagayan de Oro City alone would be futile for the
analysis. For a holistic model, the importance of including the
dierent river basins of the city and including the seas to its
north is imperative. In addition to the methods and analysis, the
project utilizes the Hazard-Exposure-Vulnerability Risk (HEVR)
framework of United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in
doing disaster risk assessment.
The project utilizes remote sensing through satellite
imageries, one of which is a grant in aid from Centre National
d'tudes Spatiales (CNES), the French space agency, through
MO. This is the SPOT 5 XS 2.5m scene for Northern Mindanao
zoom site. Other satellite images are open source imageries
from Landsat Thematic Mappers operated by the National
Authorities and Space Administration (NASA). These images
are processed through ENVI 4.8, a specialized software
for processing and enhancing raw satellite images. Using
established methods in analyzing dierent object reectance,
a pixel is then determined as a specic object on the ground.
By classifying these ranges of dierent reectance, it is now
possible to determine the general land use in a specic area.
The land use will then serve as an input to doing the risk analysis.
Jofferdale Q. Gallamaso
13
R3 Reconnaisance for sampling site
R3-RULES-CCA DRM Teams from different Ateneo Schools
PROJECT BRIEFS
Cagayan de Oro CLUP 2012-2022
oremost among the

objectives in doing
land use planning
are to promote the ecient
utilization,
acquisition
and
disposition of land and ensure
its highest and best use, and to
conserve areas of ecological,
aesthetics, historical and cultural
signicance [Housing and Land
Use Regulatory Board (HLURB),
2006]. In adherence to the said
objectives, the City of Cagayan
de Oro has commenced in March
2012 the revision of its existing
LGU with XU Representatives
Comprehensive Land Use Plan
(CLUP). The CLUP approved in 2000, and due to expire last 2010, already needed revision. Discrediting the
fact that it was due for revision, there was a common consensus that the CLUP has to be revised to make
eective change and to mainstream climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. This consensus
was triggered by the previous ooding disaster of Tropical Storm Sendong in December 2011.
As part of the preparation process prescribed by HLURB, the City Planning and Development Oce of
Cagayan de Oro identied Xavier University, ocially represented by Xavier Uinversity Engineering Resource
Center (XUERC) as one of the key stakeholders. The process of selection was done through a classication
in which a stakeholder belongs to a prescribed sector for CLUP. These are people, natural environment,
built environment (or infrastructure), economy and governance sectors. XUERC participated in the natural
environment and built environment sectors in the series of workshops. As one of the outputs of the
workshop, the series of stakeholders meeting were able to come up and ratify a vision for Cagayan de Oro
for year 2022: A city of strong governance in a highly competitive economy and sustainable environment
with a resilient and God-centered citizenry.
XUERC was able to integrate data from dierent XU units such as the 2009 Resource Ecological Assessment
from the XU Mckeough Marine Center into the Environmental Management section of the CLUP draft and
the December 2011 Flood Damage Map of XUERC into the No-Build Zone policy of the city government.
The center is currently working with the City Planning and Development Oce of Cagayan de Oro in the
preparation of the Land Use Plan. Further information on the guidelines and procedures followed by the
project is available on the book A Guide to Comprehensive Land Use Plan Preparation Volume 1 of 2006
of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board.
Jofferdale Q. Gallamaso
14
PROJECT BRIEFS
EMISSIONS
INVENTORY
Cagayan de Oro being the trade and service center of the region is the agora of Northern Mindanao.
The city is home to various regional oces of national government agencies, as well as its line agencies. It
connects neighboring towns and provinces to almost every destination in the Philippines, as it is a prime
location for air, land and sea transit. It also serves as an economic and commercial hub in the region,
accommodating full-size production and processing facilities for fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and
raw materials, business process outsourcing (BPO) centers, and a power generation plant.
This growing industrial and commercial economy of the city is an open invitation to investors,
migrants, and transients. This encouraging growth may soon become the cause of the decline of the city s
environmental condition. Thus, policing and regulation is imperative.
The Partnership for Clean Air, Inc. (PCA), a multi-sector network in the Philippines, has identied
Cagayan de Oro as one of the beneciary local government unit (LGU) for its project, Clean Air for Smaller
Cities. This project aims to promote clean air management in a multi-stakeholder approach, partnering
with the government, civil society
organizations
(CSO),
academic
institutions, and the private sector.
An essential component of the
Clean Air for Smaller Cities project is
the conduct of an emissions inventory
(EI). This study makes an accounting
of the quantity of noxious waste
released into the atmosphere from
area, mobile and stationary sources.
Exploratory Meeting with CAI-ASAI
Xavier University, through the

Engineering
Resource
Center
(XUERC),
takes
leadership
in
the implementation of the project at the local level as the principal coordinating unit, as well as in the
consolidation of the project s output. It assists the PCA in the conduct of capacity building workshops
and other convergence activities, where the city government of Cagayan de Oro and other academic
institutions, specically Capitol University (CU) and Liceo de Cagayan University (LDCU) are signicantly
involved. XUERC is also responsible for the collection of emissions data from mobile sources, tapping the
expertise of the university s Civil Engineering Department.
Eduardo S Tangonan III
15
Sustainable
PROJECT BRIEFS
Sanitation Technologies
ustainable sanitation is the protection and promotion of

both human health and natural resources through the use of
appropriate technologies. One of the basic components of
sustainable sanitation is the collection and reuse of human excreta
which, after treatment, will be utilized as organic fertilizers. It involves
the construction of necessary facilities (i.e. toilets) to facilitate
collection and reuse.
Lecture on EcoSan at Upper Palalan, Lumbia
Orientation of EcoSAN toilets with WAND
Engr Lo inspecting a hanging toilet
The Xavier University Engineering Resource Center (XUERC) has

been engaging in sustainable sanitation since its inception. Together
with the Xavier University Sustainable Sanitation Center (XUSuSan),
XUERC has been providing engineering input on the designs and
construction of sanitation facilities. These sanitation facilities include
the single or dual Urine Diversion Dehydration Toilets (UDDT),
the Arborloo, and the Hanging UDDTs. The UDDT is designed to
separate urine and feces, utilizing a customized ceramic bowl, urine
and feces are separated into dierent containment chambers. Both
will then be subjected to a certain time of treatment. The Arborloo
is designed to immediately utilize human excreta by digging a hole
onto the ground. When the holes are almost full, the superstructure
of the arborloo is lifted and transferred to nearby areas. The holes are
then covered with soil and planted with trees. The hanging UDDT
provides same method of use as single/dual UDDT. The dierence
is that hanging UDDTs are most suited to use in beach areas. The
facilities encompass both urban and rural areas across the country.
XUERC is also active in disseminating information on the
technology of sustainable sanitation through seminars and lectures.
It has also been part of various publications regarding sustainable
sanitation. The manual Low-Cost Sustainable Solutions for Mindanao
and the Philippines: A Practical Construction Field Guide is one of
these publications where XUERC provided technical drawings. An
international publication entitled Poo was also translated to local
dialect by XUERC as part of its information campaign. Currently,
XUERC is extending its engagements in providing designs for
sanitation facilities to be used in emergency situations.
Peter Andrew U. Gamones
16
PROJECT BRIEFS
BANTAY LANSANGAN
road is more than just a mixture of gravel and cement

paved upon the earth s surface; but it is also the index upon
which the nation s progress is measured and determined.
A country s road network facilitates the ow of commerce within the
country, provides access to development services by the people, and
contributes to the nation's development.
It is precisely for this reason that citizens have now taken a keen
interest in road sector improvementmonitoring developments
within the government, as well as ensuring that public resources
meant for road construction and bridge building are wisely spent
and are well-accounted for. Such brand of civic action has also led to
increasing government-citizens interaction, resulting in the formation
of Bantay Lansangan, or Road Watch.
Meant as a partnership among the government, civil society and
private sector stakeholders in the road sector, Bantay Lansangan was
involved in monitoring the performance of the Department of Public
Works and Highways (DPWH), in order to reduce the costs for road
construction and maintenance, increase road users satisfaction, and
improve the public s perception of the DPWH.
Inspecting Road Defects Along Ugiaban-Talakag By-Pass Road
Inspecting Road Defects Along Ugiaban-Talakag By-Pass Road
Bantay Lansangan was instrumental in the successful implementation of the Billboard Policy, whereby
inclusion of the name and/or photo of any political personality is strictly prohibited. It was also successful in
forging the strong constructive relationship between the DPWH and the civil society organizations (CSO).
Xavier University, through the Engineering Resource Center (XUERC) has been an implementing partner
in Region 10 since 2008. In the years of its engagement, XUERC was able to contribute signicantly in
the rectication of four (4) strategic roads in Cagayan de Oro City, specically Sayre Highway, Masterson s
Avenue, South and North Divisoria Road, and the coastal road.
In 2010, XUERC was appointed regional coordinating unit, leading three (3) organizations in the
region, which include Grassroots Democracy Institute and Resource Center (GDIRC), Pailig Development
Foundation Incorporated (PDFI) in Lanao del Norte, and Agri-Aqua Development Coalition in Bukidnon.
The following year, XUERC represented the Mindanao cluster in the National Road Show, where key
ocials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) from the district oces, regional oces,
and the central oce, together with CSOs, convened to agree on solutions concerning road issues in every
locality.
17
BUDGET
PROJECT BRIEFS
TRANSPARENCY
In the process of achieving its primary
objective, the project also aimed to
enhance the civil society organizations
(CSO) understanding of local government
budgeting and expenditure management
processes, improve the CSO s access to local
government information, and mobilize the
CSO s ability to inuence decisions of local
governments.
Budget Transparency Project terminal report turnover
Economic infrastructure is an essential component

in development eorts as it provides access to the
basic needs of communities. The World Bank describes
economic infrastructure as that which includes transport,
electrical energy, telecommunication, water, sanitation,
and toxic waste disposal (World Development Report 1994:
Infrastructure for Development Executive Summary).
Misamis Oriental, a 1st class province, regards economic
infrastructure of high priority. In its 2012 Annual Investment
Plan, provision for the Provincial Engineer s Oce
comprises 82.12% of the allocation for Economic Services,
while it maintains the highest fraction in the overall total
at 24.14%.
Considering the high rate of investment apportioned
for economic infrastructure, it is only appropriate to
look into how projects under this category are being
implemented in the hope that the true value of public
funds are safeguarded.
The Asia Foundation (TAF) in partnership with the
Australian Agency for International Development (AUSAID)
has implemented a 16-month civil society initiative on
budget transparency in three provinces in Mindanao,
namely MIsamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, and Surigao
del Norte, with the core intention of safeguarding the
utilization of local government budget, ensuring that it is
utilized for its intended purpose.
In Misamis Oriental, Xavier University,

through the Engineering Resource Center
(XUERC), took lead in monitoring the
implementation of local government
infrastructure projects, focusing mainly on
roads and water catchment facilities. XUERC
took part in the procurement process as a third
party observer, in the review of each projects
accomplishment, and in the inspection of
physical works for on-going and competed
projects.
Along the course of monitoring these
projects, XUERC was able to gain recognition
in the Provincial Development Council as a
participating organization, help build a strong
CSO-government relationship, and inuence
the creation of the observers feedback
mechanism in procurement proceedings.
Findings presentation to Misamis Oriental PLGU Officials
18
PROJECT BRIEFS
Project EMPOWERinG
he Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS),

among others, is a tool introduced by the United
Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the
Department of Interior and Local Governance (DILG) to the
local government units to diagnose the extent and causes
of poverty in the area, to help in formulating policies and
programs, to aid in identifying target beneciaries, and to
facilitate assessment of the impact of those policies and
programs. In Misamis Oriental (MISOR), which registered
a 28.5% poverty incidence, fourteen (14) municipalities
have started to adopt and implement the CBMS to attain
poverty reduction. However, those municipalities cannot
ArGIS training for Personnel of CDOCs GIS office
fully utilize the system due to lack of capacity to validate
and process the data into a development planning tool with geographic information system.
This Public Private Partnership Project (PPP) aims to achieve economic growth in the region by enabling
local government units to acquire necessary technical skills and know-how in utilizing development
tools. The project will address the gaps in fully utilizing development tools, particularly in transferring and
sustaining technical know-how in using CBMS and GIS.
Steag State Power Inc. and Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft Mbh (DEG), along with
the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) and other partners, are
set to launch Project EMPOWERinG, or Project Enhanced Monitoring System on Poverty Watch for a more
Eective and Responsive approach in Governance. The project would shall focus on updating the database
and Geographic Information System (GIS) of the Provincial Planning Oce of Misamis Oriental and Cagayan
de Oro City (CDO) Planning Oce. Six (6) municipalities from Misaims Oriental namely, Tagoloan, Jasaan,
El Salvador, Medina, Opol and Laguindingan was be piloted for CBMS implementation considering their
strategic importance to the industrialization and eco-tourism potential of Northern Mindanao.
The project requires the involvement of dierent government and private institutions. This includes
DILG for the CBMS system and software (modular training) and involvement of the DILG Field Oces
during the CBMS implementation (in the regional, provincial and municipal levels). The Xavier University
Research and Social Outreach (XURSO) provides the technical specialists on the conduct of the GIS training
and integration of the CBMS to GIS, the design of the monitoring tools, the technical assistance in the
conduct of actual survey and processing of data, the preparation of the social and economic analyses
of the CBMS poverty maps, and the drafting of the case study of the project for possible replication. The
Provincial Planning Oce of MISOR and CDO City Planning and Development Oce is responsible for the
consolidation of the CBMS database and serves as hosts for the GIS system. Lastly, the local government
units (LGUs) of Laguidingan, El Salvador, Opol, Tagoloan and Jasaan and Medina conduct the survey and
process the results through their respective barangay eldworkers.
Meldy Grace M. Comandante
19
Cagayan de Oro
PROJECT BRIEFS
MAGDAS Station
Location of MAGDAS Stations around the world

The International Center for Space Weather Because Cagayan de Oro is located on the Magnetic
Science and Education (ICSWSE), formerly known Equator Chain, the Project Leader Prof. Dr. Kiyohumi
as Space Environment Research Center (SERC), Yumoto met with the former Xavier University
in Kyushu University deployed 67 Magnetic Data President Fr. Jet Villarin SJ., in July 2, 2009 to plan and
Acquisition System (MAGDAS) magnetometers visit the proposed location for the station. Almost a
all over the world. The locations of the station are year later, on June 1, 2010, Xavier University, through
selected in order to carry out space weather studies. the Engineering Resource Center (XUERC) was
awarded the certicate indicating that the station is
Circum-pan Pacic Magnetometer Network one of the ocial MAGDAS geomagnetic stations
(CPMN) is the group maintaining the MAGDAS with the support from ICSWE. The CDO MAGDAS
magnetometers. The CPMN was constructed by station was then installed on the following day.
Kyushu University in collaboration with about 30
The CDO MAGDAS Station is located at Manresa,
international organizations located at magnetic
meridian and magnetic equator. The MAGDAS Cagayan de Oro, with Latitude of 8.460 and
consists of a 3-axial ring-core sensors, uxgate-type Longitude of 124.630. The station has been visited
magnetometer, data logging/transferring unit and twice, in November 23-25, 2011 and second visit
was Feb 27 to March 1, 2013 since its installation.
power supply.
Below is the location of the sensor installed and the
The objective of Kyushu University to deploy many new fence that has been constructed last March 15,
MAGDAS magnetometers in strategic locations gave 2013.
Meldy Grace M. Comandante
birth to the Cagayan de Oro (CDO) MAGDAS Station.
20
REFLECTIONS
EVEN WITHOUT THE STORM
hen Monica called me to deliver a ta

talk in this gathering
gathering, I cautiously ask
asked:
skked: ..but
bu these are the top
scientists, what else could they not know? Then she kindly insisted: Prof, just share what you ve
been doing.. we re interested to know.
This is a story of a humble university in the south. It used to be that disasters were rare in our place. We
only heard them on the news, or for some who are more curious, through dusty books and open-source
journals that not so many are excited to even browse. But yes, there were few of us who thought and felt
that math is not just numbers, it can be a prediction of what can become.
So about ve years ago, on an eerily silent night while a storm was brewing far in the Pacic, my students
and I, while working on a project, were intoxicated by a familiar aromafresh brewed coee! Since then
we joked that detecting a storm is like sning around for coeeyou can smell that it s coming, but when
will it come and how strong will it be are things you have to keep watch and prepare. The experience may
always be dierent every time it pours, just like coee.
The project we started working on was small, a disaster risk mapping of a village where I still live now. We
actually proposed a city-wide project, but resources were very limited. Some raised skeptic eyebrows, many
chose not to bother at all. But a few believed in our vision, including a Nobel price winning scientist- and
that s all we needed to get going.
Reecting now on that humble beginning, I choose to believe that it must be through divine intervention
and inspiration that we were able to creatively formulate methodologies on studying disaster impacts at
the micro-scale (villages, zones, households, even families). Our funds were limited, but it did not dissuade
us to uphold the substance of science. We had to reduce coverage area, but not depth and meaning. In
fact, the experience allowed us to look at data beyond the apparent tables and charts. Every time I see the
maps my students made, it gives me a chance to resonate with people s livestheir stories, their dreams
21
REFLECTIONS
and desperations.
A year after the Sendong ood, the OCD launched a carefully documented book containing important
lessons learned from the said disaster. Inputs came from various stakeholdersgovernment agencies,
private institutions, and the survivors themselves. In one of the pages, XUERC was quoted to have conducted
studies that already identied two ood risk areas two years before the tragedy happened. These areas
were two of the most hardly hit in the city.
Yes, I am glad that our project was proven right. But no, I am not proud (sometimes even ashamed)
because we still failed to save lives. And that is why I am very honored to join you today; hoping that this
tiny but rm voice can nd a horn to resound the urgent cry.
To live our mission, Xavier University continues to engage beyond the campus walls. Together with DILG,
we are currently training and capacitating 36 riverside villages to come up with their disaster risk reduction
and management (DRRM) plans. Oh, it is
not easy to bring disaster science to groups
where multiplication is even a struggle or
unheard of. It is hard, but we have to do it
the right but non-discriminating way.
In the past months, we were also
involved in crafting the DRRM plans for
the region and for the city. At the same
time, we worked with NEDA, HLURB, the
City Planning and Development Oce
(CPDO), and other partners in coming
up with recommendations for the city s
comprehensive land use plan, which would
then be led as an ordinance. Yes, it s still a
long way to go, but we draw inspiration from JICA-DPWH experts visit XUERC for consultation on a proposed project
history: Fr. William Nicholson SJ, who was assigned to XU in the 70 s, was also appointed as the Chairman of
the Cagayan de Oro City Planning and Development Board (the predecessor of the present CPDO). He once
wrote (in a transmittal letter upon the board s submission of the city s Framework Plan about 40 years ago):
The result here published is a Framework Plan, which includes text, a series of maps, recommendations and
appendages as tools with which our goals may be attained.
When I rst read these very words, I poked myself asking if I was travelling through time. Maps and
recommendations too? Is this dj vu? But my student prompted: Prof, this must be our mission, count
me in! And I whispered, like a prayer: Yes, this is a legacy we ought to uphold, to embrace, and to dignify!
We embraced the challenge: we are now building a community called Xavier Ecoville. Our job is not just
to build houses and pave roads; our mission is to help restore the dignity of life and rekindle hope for about
500 families who survived the ood. The challenges are endless, but we chose to believe and channeled our
energies on the brighter side. Once, I got a chance to listen a testimony from one of the survivors, sobbing
she said: I am richer now because my family has a home. Thank you so much!
22
2
REFLECTIONS
Then last month, when Pablo struck, we opened the university gates for people to nd refuge and
shelter, to believe in beauty and love (again). Some said a miracle happened (with zero or maybe one
casualty), but I chose to believe that the miracle happened when we prayed and worked together, to save
and value each other. Yes, there was still an exodus of people to evacuation sitesbut this time, they
travelled as a community, as family (not like dispersed individuals- lost in space, oblivious with time).
As for me and my students, our DRRM classes continued. But now, the whole city became our study area.
We still read bookswe always do; but now we are writing tooa lot of lessons are in the eld waiting to
be written. Last week, I got a call from DPWH, asking for a CE graduate to work with them, specifying that
they would prefer someone with DRRM background. Three days later, two of my former students texted
that they were hired immediately. And maybe by now they must be amused that their JICA-consultant
bosses (who visited in the oce few months ago) are actually using the maps we developed in class.
I understand that there is nothing amusing about disasters. And if I have to apologize, I am sorry for
having even glint a smile while sharing these stories. For so long a time, disasters have made us shed tears
and shattered our dreams. Many suered a loss that can never be replaced or ever be healed. And yet,
these episodes of our lives are also the times which remind us to reect on how well we have cared for this
garden entrusted to us.
Honestly, I am amazed at how fast and vast the weather information is now detected, transmitted,
and posted (in Facebook through an iPad, for example). And I think, in some ways that is greatwe have
heightened people s awareness even before the wind blows or the rain comes.
But I believe that caring for this garden is not just to start sning when something s already brewing.
I remember one night when my parents were gazing for the meteor shower: mom would always sweetly
shriek every time she sees them; while dad (who s now one-eyed) would just patiently sit with her and
cheer every time he hears her voice. I believe, that other than the sophistication of technology, our constant
and enduring commitment to take good care of this garden, even without storms coming, is essential.
I always draw inspiration from our friends in MOstarted by the faithful Jesuit scientists, they have been
patiently monitoring the weather for about 150 years now (with or without typhoons brewing on their
way). The prize of dedication and deep love is not just being able to forecast when trouble is coming; MO is
probably one of those who have primary data to show that our climate patterns are really changing.
Through the years, faith and science have taught me that love is not only measured in the spectacularity
of an episode; love is also evident and true in the seemingly monotonic but unwavering gestures of passion,
service, and sincerity. We are fond of using dierential equations to model building vibrations when excited
by earthquakes, or simulate ood routes when a storm is cominghaven t the numbers and graphs taught
us that there are, almost, always two parts of the solution? There is the transient, which can be exciting, and
the steady-state which can be boring, but something that really lasts.
The day after we survived Pablo, I dropped by the Cathedral area to pick up my Wednesday roses (one
for the oce altar, the other for someone very special). While I was about to dig for coins, the woman in the
ower shop interrupted and cheerfully said: It s free for today sir. You ve always come even without the storm,
I m sure your love is true and warm.
Dexter S. Lo
23
y rst memories of
World War II are stories
of survival and love.
Back in grade school, on summer
(August) holidays, my grandma
endlessly
scanned
through
those old thick photo albums
in tthe library. Sometimes, she
invites myself and my brother for
cookies; and that s when she ll tell
us stories of her life with grandpa,
and dad (when he was little)
climbing unnamed mountains,
crossing untamed rivers, and
always
hoping,
constantly
praying, that the next sunrise will
lead them back home.
Exactly sixty seven years
after the bomb was dropped in
Hiroshima, I was privileged to
be invited to a summer course
jointly hosted by academic
institutions based in Hiroshima
(Japan), Texas (USA), and Diliman
(Philippines). Professors, students,
and other professionals from
eleven dierent countries came
together to join the ght for a more
pressing battle that challenges
our time Disasters and Climate
Change. And as if to set us in a
real learning environment, it was
basically raining throughout the
entire duration of the course;
inundating most parts of Manila
and many parts of Luzon due to
unprecedented monsoon rains
(yes, it was not even a storm).
REFLECTIONS
August Rush
Engr. Lo giving a talk on Disaster Risk Management & Land Use Planning for the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers
The course was packed with brilliant lectures and sharing of signicant
experiences. We were also assigned to work on specic projects; thus
our minds were forced to rush with innovative ideas and practical
solutions, just as the rivers just few kilometers away from the university
came rushing downstream, destroying homes, disrupting lives, and
breaking dreams.
But beyond the disaster sciences which i have been working on for
many years, and the more fragile sphere of social dynamics which I m
still trying to grasp, I was amazed that our discussions led us to the more
essential questions in life such as the moral issues which we ought
to discern. When this was raised, I noted the momentary silence that
deafened the lecture hall. But slowly I volunteered for the mic, then
softly spoke the truth that my heart knows by experience.
Yes, after the historic Sendong Flood last year, XUERC has been
invited to deliver about 30 technical lectures and debrieng sessions
to various audiences international relief agencies, local government
units, business groups, media, survivors camps, academic and scientic
institutions, and still counting making an average of one engagement
per week for the past seven months.
But of course, this is not a race of lecture hours and mere display of the
24
REFLECTIONS
while all these are on stage, some of us are destined

to the wilder frontiers: A group of Warriors is wading
at the Macajalar Bay under the scorching heat of the
sun, to map the mangroves and touch base with the
locals (but also to uphold the mangrove s potential
promise to protect the coastal communities from
storms and violent waves). Another group is working
with distinguished scientists and other specialists,
exploring highly sophisticated data processing
methods to make satellite images useful in reducing
the impacts of disasters on our homes, on our lives.
Indeed, it is a battle story of the Warrior s life, survival,
I have to admit though that I cannot promise and love.
to answer all of life s questions. Some are just way
And amidst all this rush, the tribe is blessed
beyond my mind can ever imagine, and some are
just much deeper than my heart can ever fathom. with the overwhelming support of skillful student
And yet when morality and even spirituality surface volunteers whose talents are beyond expectations
to challenge the discussion, i embrace this with (sometimes, they do much better than I ever can);
humility because these are the very core values and and of agile student assistants whose dedication is
beyond measure (always making sure that the roses
foundations of our mission in Xavier.
are as beautiful as you ).
Incidentally, in these past rushing days of August,
One summer night, few years after I heard my
I delivered disaster lectures to four dierent groups.
The rst was to the Bishops Conference and Catholic rst World War II stories, I saw grandma crying softly
Educational Institutions in the region (challenging, (yet elegantly) while ipping again through those
but they ve nally been able to resonate). The old photo albums. I asked if there was something
second was for the ood survivors (this was the wrong. Suddenly her tears vanished, replaced with
hardest because it became very emotional). The a smile. She oered a cookie and invited me sit
other two were for water resource managers and for a while, then said: I m okay. I just missed your
future medical doctors (the more I talked to other grandpa. Instinctively and carelessly, logic played in
tribes, the more I realized the Warriors are not alone my brain oh, not those old pictures again. And as
in this battle). Two more are in my calendar this if reading my mind, grandma held the album closer
August: for my fellow engineers (on risk-sensitive to her heart and whispered: No, not tears of grief
land use planning, disturbing but necessary); and for but because of so much love amidst the war, amidst
a group of graduate students and scholars (back in the storm, amidst the rush.
the university, the fortress of truth when we desire to
believe again).
most sophisticated technologies. In every slide that
we thoughtfully design, and in every word my mortal
voice can resound, the message is always more
than the science, beyond the political borders, and
deeper than the realities the eyes alone can behold.
I always stress and challenge my fellow Warriors to
embrace and to emphasize on life s Why? (other
than just the more trivial what and how). And when
we pray at night, that we reect on the impact (if
there is any) that we have done that may inspire and
propel the hearts of those who listen.
But this is not just my story. On top of this, the

whole tribe is restlessly gearing up for the PAASCU
visit in the coming days. A battle with its own right,
scale, and majesty that sometimes only sweat,
tears, and seless service can attempt to satisfy. And
25
Dexter S. Lo
REFLECTIONS
ACCORDING TO
ISAAC NEWTON
ife is a journey.
When we were
born,
God
already
made plans on our
itinerary in life. We have
dierent
experiences
and dierent paths.
Sometimes, we cross
each
other s
paths
and then leave each
other s side to have an
opportunity to cross
Community-based mapping with Zone Leaders of Barangay Lumbia
another person s path. And through these paths,

we will be able to nd the purpose of our existence.
Unlike the others whose paths led them towards
the industries, my path brought me towards the
academe. No, I m not a teacher, if you ask. I m just
a simple Bachelor of Arts in International Studies
Graduate working in the College of Engineering,
specically in the Xavier University Engineering
Resource Center (XUERC).
People often ask why I chose to work here. What
do I know about Engineering when I m not even
an Engineer? I was even doubtful myself. Then, I
remembered a quote from Isaac Newton which
says Live your life as an Exclamation rather than
an Explanation. So, I stopped looking for answers.
I stopped explaining and reasoning out. But the
moment I stopped, I was able to experience certain
moments which taught me various lessons and
made me reect on the answers to those questions.
I m not an engineer nor did I study a lot of math or
physics subjects, but in honor of Sir Isaac Newton, I
would like to share these experiences and reections
by using his laws of motion.
According to Sir Isaac Newton, the rst law of

motion is an object at rest will remain at rest unless
acted on by an unbalanced force. An object in
motion continues in motion with the same speed
and the same direction unless acted upon by an
unbalanced force.
For me, the unbalanced force that acted upon
me, the object, was destiny.
Like the rst object in the rst law, the ERC (as a
whole) and I were merely just objects at rest. I was
living my life as a college student and the ERC, was
just a newly established oce (based on its history).
And we remained like that until an unbalanced force
acted upon us. A close friend of mine, whom I ve
worked with in a certain organization, was recruited
to work in ERC. That was the very rst time I came
to know the existence of the oce. Other than that
coincidence, I knew nothing more about the oce
and I continued moving on with my life, just like the
object in motion, and the ERC also did the same.
But once again, the unbalanced force brought us
together. In December 2011, a tropical storm known
as Sendong hit the city. Many lives were taken and
thousands of people needed to be taken care of.
26
REFLECTIONS
This event became the turning point for every

Kagay-anon. There was a call for bayanihan. Guided
by my conscience, I volunteered as part of the team
in the command center in the Xavier University
Gymnasium. During those days, I would be passing
by a certain map made by the people from the ERC.
With all honesty, I didn t fully understood what that
map was all about; I didn t even bother to care. And
in those times, I had no idea that the unbalanced
force was already giving me a hint about where my
future journey will be.
The second law of motion, according to Newton
is stated as "Acceleration is produced when a force
acts on a mass. The greater the mass, the greater
the amount of force needed. It is expressed in a
mathematical equation:
Force= Mass X Acceleration
The force enables the mass to accelerate. When
I was in ERC, I learned more about a particular
force which enables a person to move. And that is
passion.
When I was in college, I spent almost 3 years in
dierent organizations, interacting with dierent
people, learning and living the art of service. A week
or so before graduation, I started
to feel anxious and confused. I
didn t know what to do or where
to go but the only thing that I
was sure of was I needed to nd
something , a job, a scholarship or
whatever it was that would lead
me towards my ultimate dream,
which was becoming a part of
the United Nations. Unfortunately,
the road towards that something
was blurry. I wasn t able to nd
a suitable job nor a scholarship.
But luckily, an opportunity led me
towards ERC. At rst, I was skeptical
and doubtful. I kept asking myself:
27
how would these Engineers, who are best known

for their happy, go lucky personality, who are more
focused on building things, solving complicated
mathematical equations and getting high salaries,
help me grow as a person and lead me towards my
desired path? But, confused and desperate as I was
during that time, I still gave it a try.
As time passed by, these Engineers, whose
passion were manifested through community work,
proved my impressions partly wrong. The Engineers
of the Xavier Ecoville made me realize that yes, their
passion is building and designing houses. However,
they re not doing it for money but rather they re
doing it for the benet of the victims of typhoon
Sendong. The Engineers who spent sleepless
nights just to track the path of typhoon Bopha,
made ood assessments and drained their brains
out just to create a manual of procedure during
disasters; they did not do it for money. They did it
to give out relevant information for the safety of the
community. The Engineers, who spent sweat and
utmost eort just to design a suitable emergency
toilet during disasters did not do it for money.
They did it for the benet of the people who are
and will be aected by calamities. These Engineers
clearly show that their great passion enable them
to move and do great actions, not for themselves
but for the community. But amidst the challenges
they faced along the way, these engineers never
forgot to smile, to laugh and to enjoy. Passion was
Team BophaLo-flood assessment survey and mapping, ST Pablo last December 2012

not so
not
something
ome
meth
thin
ng ne
new
w to
om
myy ea
ears
ears,
rss, bu
b
butt wh
w
when
en I ccam
came
ame
e
in E
ERC
RC,, it w
was
as w
wit
ittne
ness
ssin
in
ng pa
asssio
i n att iits
ts n
nes
est.
t. T
The
heir
ir
ERC,
witnessing
passion
nest.
Their
pass
pa
ssio
ion
n mo
ove
ved
dm
me
e.
passion
moved
me.
The th
thir
irrd an
aand
nd last
laast llaw
aw o
aw
mo
ottiion aacc
ccor
orrdi
o
ding tto
o
The
third
off m
motion
according
S
Si
irr Is
saac
aac Ne
aa
N
ewt
wton iiss a ve
vvery
eryy p
opul
op
ular
ar o
one
ne.. Th
T
he
e th
thir
ird
d
Sir
Isaac
Newton
popular
one.
The
third
law
la
w iss sstated
tate
ta
te
ed F
orr e
o
very aaction,
ve
cttio
on,
n, tthe
here
re iiss an e
equ
qual
al
For
every
there
equal
and
an
do
op
ppo
posi
site
te rrea
eaact
ctio
io
on. In ssimple
im
mp
plle te
erm
r s, a ffor
orce
ce
e iiss a
opposite
reaction.
terms,
force
pu
ush
sh o
pullll u
upo
po
p
on an
an o
bjec
bj
ct th
haatt rresults
essul
e
ults
lts ffro
ro
om it
itss
push
orr a pu
upon
object
that
from
iinteraction
in
nte
era
r ct
ctio
ion
n wi
with
th aanother
no
n
oth
ther
er o
bje
bj
ecctt..
object.
he p
pas
astt ye
year
ar ttha
hatt I wo
w
orkked
ed h
e e in
er
n tthe
he E
ERC
RC,,
In tthe
past
that
worked
here
ERC,
I ha
ave
ve b
bee
een
n ex
expo
pose
sed
d to
o sseveral
e er
ev
erall p
pro
roje
je
ectts, ffro
rom
m
have
been
exposed
projects,
from
G
GI
IS
S ma
mapp
ppin
ing
g to ssto
torm
rm m
onit
on
itor
it
orin
ing,
g, aare
reaa su
urv
r ey
eys,
s,
GIS
mapping
storm
monitoring,
area
surveys,
ssustainable
su
ust
stai
aina
nabl
ble
e sa
sani
nita
taati
tion
on-t
on
-toi
oile
le
et de
d
essiign
gns,
s, e
ear
arth
thqu
th
hqu
q akke
sanitation-toilet
designs,
earthquake
engi
en
gine
neer
erin
ing
g an
and
d et
e
tc.
c. T
The
hese
se e
xpos
xp
osur
ures
es m
ade
ad
e me
engineering
etc.
These
exposures
made
thin
th
inkk of g
oiing
o
g ttowards
ow
o
warrds
ds tthe
he ssam
am
me di
d
rect
re
ctio
io
on as
as tthe
he
think
going
same
direction
engi
en
gine
neer
ne
erss I kn
know
ow.. An
nd wi
w
th aallll h
on
nessty
ty,, I go
gott in
inse
secu
cure
cu
re..
engineers
know.
And
with
honesty,
insecure.
I wa
want
nted
ed tto
o be
belo
long
ng sso
o ba
badl
dlly aan
nd wa
w
ass b
be
egi
ginn
nn
nin
ing
g
wanted
belong
badly
and
was
beginning
to llos
ose
e th
the
e es
esse
senc
nce
e of m
xiisste
tenc
nce
nc
e in
in tthe
he o
he
cce.
e. I
lose
essence
myy ex
existence
o
came
ca
me tto
o a po
poin
intt wh
wher
ere
eIw
wa
ant
ant
nte
ed
d tto
o en
nrro
olll aand
n sstudy
nd
tudy
tu
dyy
d
point
where
wanted
enroll
engi
en
gine
neer
erin
ing.
g. B
But
ut ffea
earr st
stop
op
ppe
ped m
me
e. It w
was
ass tthen
hen
he
n th
that
att
engineering.
fear
stopped
me.
I re
real
aliz
ized
ed ttha
hatt I wa
wasn
sn t m
mov
ovin
ing
g fo
fforward.
forw
orwar
ard.
d. I p
pus
ushe
hed
d
realized
that
moving
pushed
hard
ha
rd,, tr
tryi
ying
ng tto
o mo
move
ve o
on
n bu
butt m
myy n
egat
eg
ativ
ivve fe
feel
elin
ings
gs
hard,
trying
negative
feelings
push
pu
shed
ed m
me
e ba
back
ck.. As a rres
esul
ult,
t, I ffel
ellt st
elt
sstagnant.
agna
ag
naant
n
n . An
And
d
pushed
back.
result,
felt
then
th
en,, Ne
Newt
wton
on h
hit
it m
me
e in tthe
he h
hea
ead
d us
usin
ing
g an
an aapple.
pp
p
ple
le.. No
No,,
then,
Newton
head
using
nott lilite
no
tera
rallllyy ccau
ause
se iitt ll b
be
e re
real
ally
ly ccre
reep
epy.
y.
literally
cause
really
creepy.
Just rrec
ecen
entl
tly,
y, I h
had
ad a ccon
onve
vers
rsat
atio
ion
n wi
with
th m
myy bo
boss
sss,
Just
recently,
conversation
boss,
Engr
En
gr.. De
Dext
xter
er LLo
o or S
Sir
ir D
Dex
ex,, as w
we
e ca
callll h
him
im.. He ssai
aid,
d,
Engr.
Dexter
Dex,
him.
said,
We
W
e sh
shou
ould
ld llea
earn
rn tthe
he vval
alue
ue o
off no
nott ge
gett
ttin
ing
g wh
what
at
should
learn
value
getting
we w
wan
ant.
t. Up
Upon
on h
hea
eari
ring
ng iit,
t, I w
wan
ante
ted
d to ttea
earr up
up.. I
want.
hearing
wanted
tear
real
re
aliz
ized
ed ttha
hatt al
alth
thou
ough
gh iitt hu
hurt
rtss kn
know
owin
ing
g th
that
at w
we
e
realized
that
although
hurts
knowing
can
ca
n t ha
have
ve w
wha
hatt we w
wan
ant,
t, w
we
e co
coul
uld
d st
stil
illl wo
work
rk w
wit
ith
h
what
want,
could
still
with
what
wh
at w
we
e ha
have
ve.. An
And
d wh
what
at I h
hav
ave
e is n
not
ot a d
deg
egre
ree
e of aan
n
have.
have
degree
Engi
En
gine
neer
er b
but
ut a h
hea
eart
rt o
off an E
Eng
ngin
inee
eer.r. T
Tha
hatt liline
ne ffro
rom
m
Engineer
heart
Engineer.
That
from
Sirr De
Si
Dexx be
beca
came
me m
myy pu
push
sh.. It m
mad
ade
e me rrea
ealilize
ze ttha
hatt
became
push.
made
realize
that
alth
al
thou
ough
gh I w
won
on t b
be
e ab
able
le tto
o un
unde
ders
rsta
tand
nd h
how
ow tthe
he
although
understand
prop
pr
oper
er d
dra
rain
inag
age
e is m
mad
ade,
e, I kkno
now
w de
deep
ep w
wit
ithi
hin
n me tthe
he
proper
drainage
made,
know
within
dras
dr
asti
ticc ee
ect
ct o
off no
nott ha
havi
ving
ng o
one
ne.. It m
mad
ade
e me rrea
ealilize
ze
drastic
having
one.
made
realize
that
th
at aalt
ltho
houg
ugh
h I wo
won
n t (a
(and
nd ccan
an tt)) so
solv
lve
e th
the
e Se
Seis
ismi
micc
although
solve
Seismic
forc
fo
rce
e of a building;
bui
b
uild
ldin
ing;
g; I ssti
tillll kkno
now
w ho
how
w im
impo
port
rtan
antt it iiss to
force
still
know
important
save
sa
ve lliv
ives
es.. An
And
d I al
also
so rrea
ealilize
zed
d th
that
at m
myy ha
hand
ndss ar
are
e no
nott
lives.
realized
hands
lilimi
mite
ted
d to w
wha
hatt I am ccur
urre
rent
ntly
ly d
doi
oing
ng aand
nd tthe
here
re aare
re
limited
what
currently
doing
there
stil
st
illl th
thou
ousa
sand
ndss of tthi
hing
ngss th
that
at I ccou
ould
ld d
do
o to sser
erve
ve tthe
he
still
thousands
things
could
serve
comm
co
mmun
unit
ity.
y. A
And
nd llas
astl
tly,
y, iitt ma
made
de m
me
e ap
appr
prec
ecia
iate
te w
wha
hatt
community.
lastly,
appreciate
what
I am currently
ccur
urre
rent
ntly
ly doing
doi
d
oing
ng as
as an administrative
aadm
dmin
inis
istr
trat
ativ
ive
e oce
cer.r. I
real
re
aliz
ized
ed ttha
hatt th
ther
ere
e sh
shou
ould
ld b
be
e so
some
meth
thin
ing
g mo
more
re ttha
hatt
realized
that
there
should
something
that
I sh
shou
ould
ld ssee
ee ttha
han
n ju
just
st ffoc
ocus
usin
ing
g on w
wha
hatt I co
coul
uld
d se
see.
e.
should
than
focusing
what
could
Thes
Th
ese
e re
real
aliz
izat
atio
ions
ns m
mad
ade
e me rrev
evis
isit
it m
myy vi
visi
sion
onss wh
when
en
These
realizations
made
revisit
visions
REFLECTIONS
w
stil
illl a sst
tud
uden
ent.
t.. A
nd
dm
osst im
o
mpo
p rt
rtan
an
ntl
tly,
y, iitt ma
m
ade
de
I wa
wass st
still
student.
And
most
importantly,
made
me rrevisit
e is
ev
isit
it m
esi
sire
re o
off ch
cchanging
haan
ngi
g ng tthe
he
h
ew
wor
orld
ld..
me
myy de
desire
world.
My e
exp
xper
erie
ienc
nces
es iin
n tth
he E
ER
RC co
coul
ould
ulld be ssum
umme
med
d up
up
experiences
the
ERC
could
summed
n a ssin
in
ngl
gle
e ph
p
raase ffrom
rom
ro
m Ne
Newt
wton
wt
n: A m
aan
nm
may
ay iima
magi
gin
ne
e
in
single
phrase
Newton:
man
imagine
thin
th
in
ng
gss ttha
hatt ar
re fa
alsse
e,, b
but
ut h
e ca
ccan
an on
nlyy u
n er
nd
erst
s an
st
nd
things
that
are
false,
he
only
understand
thin
th
ings
gs ttha
gs
hatt aar
re tr
true
ue
e. IIn
n th
the
e pa
p
ast
st yyear
eaar th
e
that
att I w
aass iin
n
things
that
are
true.
past
was
this o
cce,
e,, I ttho
e
h ug
ho
ught
htt o
llot
ott of
o tthings.
hing
hi
ng
n
gs.
s I ccon
on
nffu
use
this
o
thought
off a lo
confuse
myse
my
selflff w
ith
it
th my
my n
num
um
mer
e ou
us de
essiire
res an
and
d un
nwaant
nted
ed
myself
with
numerous
desires
unwanted
anxi
an
xiou
ousn
snes
sn
ess.
es
s. Y
ett tthr
e
hrou
ou
ugh
h tthese,
hese
he
se
e, I re
eaalliz
ized
ed w
hatt I
ha
anxiousness.
Yet
through
realized
what
real
re
ally
ly w
antte
an
ed.
d I w
was
as aable
b e to u
bl
nd
de
errst
s an
nd tth
he re
real
al
really
wanted.
understand
the
reas
re
ason
on w
hyy tthe
he
eE
ERC
RC w
was
as p
arrt of
o m
itin
iner
erar
ary.
y. IItt wa
as
reason
why
part
myy it
itinerary.
was
earn
rn
n tthe
he rreal
eall es
ea
esse
senc
nce
e of
of p
pas
asssiion
on aand
nd ssimplicity.
impl
im
plic
pl
icit
ic
ity.
y.
to llea
learn
essence
passion
Newt
Ne
wton
wt
on s llaw
aw o
off mo
moti
tion
on ttaught
au
ugh
ghtt us
us h
o aan
ow
n ob
bje
ject
ct iiss
Newton
motion
how
object
ect
ctted
ed b
byy th
the
e di
di
erent
eren
er
entt ou
en
outs
tsid
id
de ffo
orc
ce
ess w
hiich tthe
he
e
ae
ected
outside
forces
which
obje
ob
ject
ct h
a n
as
no
o co
ccontrol
ntro
nt
roll of
of.. In llif
iffe
e,, w
e al
lso
s h
hav
ave th
he
esse
object
has
life,
we
also
have
these
forc
fo
rces
es iin
n wh
whic
ic
ch we h
hav
ave
e no
n ccon
ontrol
on
ttrrol o
nd
n
dw
he
h
en
forces
which
have
control
of,f, aand
when
thes
th
esse ffo
e
orc
ces aact
ct u
upo
pon
n us
us,, th
ther
ere
e ar
re o
on
nlyy ttwo
wo cchoices,
ho
oic
ices
es,,
es
these
forces
upon
there
are
only
to
om
ove
ov
e or tto
o st
stay
ayy. To
T e
end
nd tthi
his,
s, I w
wou
ould
d llike
ike tto
ik
o ssha
h re a
ha
move
stay.
this,
would
share
qu
uo
otte fr
ffrom
om a ccertain
errtaain
e
nm
ovvie
o
ew
whi
hich
ch I h
aavve
en
ntw
atch
at
ched
ed
quote
movie
which
haven
watched
yet and
ye
yet
and it
an
i ssays,
ays,
ay
s, Ma
s,
Mayy tth
he fo
orc
rce
e be w
wit
ith
it
h yo
ou.
the
force
with
you.
Julemer
Jul
l e m e r An
Ann
n n GG.. A
Aying
ying
28
REFLECTIONS
WHERE IS ORION?
XUERC with MO Scientists during the launching of Warriors Weather Watch
any years ago, when life was blissfully

simpler and time seemed to tick slower,
dad and mom used to bring my brother
and I to the garden and just marvel at the stars. We did
not have telescopes, nor did we have some formal
background in Astronomy. We just gazed upon the
dark night s unfathomable mysteries glinted with
sparks of hope every time a star twinkles.
Sometimes, we make stories out of our wild
imaginations, but mom and dad always told us that
there is a breed of scientists who know what stars
truly are. But as children, we were just delighted to
hunt for shooting stars so we can whisper a wish or
two. However every time we do this, we never forgot
to say hi to the three bright stars in a row that we
usually saw we never knew their names, but they
have always been our stars. Indeed, we may never
29
conquer the world, but the universe is ours free for a

lovely promise!
My work in XUERC includes bringing together
scientists from various elds to help each other
nd solutions to the pressing needs of the times.
These last few days, we had the chance to work
with our scholarly friends from the revered Manila
Observatory (MO). We did climate modeling, talked
about programming and simulations, chatted about
how physics plays in nature, and tried to understand
the mysteries and wonders of life.
We also shared our views of what the future
might become, should things continue rapidly and
haphazardly not with crystal balls, but using the
lens of science under the light of faith. We never
found denite answers; I doubt we ever will. But
the experience taught us that even if there is still

so much
much
uch mo
uc
more
ore
r tto
o lear
le
learn,
ear
arn,
n w
n,
what
haat we
h
we h
have
avve ge
ave
gene
generously
ne
ero
oussly
shared
great
promise
build
upon.
sh
har
a ed ttogether
og
getthe
herr iss a g
reat
re
at p
at
romi
ro
romi
mise
e tto
o bu
uilild
d upon
up
pon
on.
As a tteacher,
off d
dark
moments
e ch
ea
cher
er,, I ha
had
d my sshare
hare
ha
arre
eo
da
arkk m
omen
om
e ts
ts
ts
not
building
demands
of n
o ffaithfully
ot
a tth
ai
hfu
f llllyy bu
buil
ilildi
d ng
di
g tto
o th
tthe
he de
emaand
nds o
off tthe
he
he
profession.
experience
XUERC
p
pr
roffesssi
s on
on. Bu
Butt my e
xp
per
erie
ienc
nce iin
n X
UERC
UE
UERC
C ttaught
augh
au
ugh
g t
ght
against
dark
me
e tto
o be
e ssteadfast
tead
te
adfa
ad
fast
fa
stt tto
o g
gh
ht ag
gai
ains
inst
nst th
tthe
he da
d
arkk sside.
id
ide.
de.
e.
XUERC,
our
memories
usually
captured
with
In
nX
UERC
UE
R ,o
ou
ur me
memo
mo
m
orriiess aare
re u
sual
su
ally
lyy ccap
ap
ptu
ture
red
re
d wi
w
th
h
photos
off la
laughter,
adventures,
and
food!
ph
p
hottos
os o
aug
u ht
h er
er,, ad
adve
v nt
ve
ntur
urres
es,, aan
nd off ccourse
ou
o
urrsse food
fo
ood
od!
od!
But
behind
battles
only
few
Bu
B
ut be
b
behi
ehind
nd
d tthe
he
h
e sscenes
cene
ce
ne
n
es ar
are
e ba
att
t le
less th
tthat
hatt o
nlyy ffe
nl
ew
dared
embrace.
Sometimes
left
wondering
d
dare
da
are
ed to
oe
emb
mb
braace
e. So
Some
ome
m time
tiime
m s I am
a llef
eft wo
ef
on
nd
d
der
errin
ing
and
how
we
survived
demands
an
nd am
aamazed
maz
azed
ed h
ow
o
ww
e su
surv
rvviv
ived
ed
d tthe
he
ed
em
e
man
ands
d o
off ou
ourr
missions.
But
many
battles
fought
before,
m
mi
ssssio
ions
nss. Bu
ut lilike
ke m
man
any ba
any
batt
ttle
tt
tle
less we
w ffou
ou
ugh
ght
ht be
befo
fo
ore
e, we
draw
inspiration
call
beyond
earthly
d
dr
raw
aaw
w iins
nspi
p ra
pi
rati
tion
o ffrom
on
rom
ro
m a ca
alll b
eyyon
ond ea
artthl
hlyy vo
vvoices,
oic
ices
e ,
es
gain
strength
our
most
off
aand
an
d we g
ain
ai
n st
stre
re
eng
gth
h aamong
mo
m
on
ng
go
urr ffriends
u
rien
ri
ends
en
ds mo
ds
m
st o
st
them
myy (f
(former)
th
hem m
(for
o me
or
m r) sstudents.
ttu
ude
dent
ntss..
nt
REFLECTIONS
iss Orion?
Ori
r on
n?
There
was
brief
Then
the
laureate
Th
her
ere
e wa
as a br
rie
ef si
ssilence.
ile
ile
lencce
e.. T
hen
he
n th
he la
laur
u ea
ur
eate
te s
elderly
Astrophysics
e de
el
d rl
r y As
A
strop
trop
tr
ophy
h si
sics
cs tteacher
eaach
he
err cchuckled:
huckkle
hu
huck
led:
d:: Oh
h tthere
he
ere
he
Did
his
Then
e is,
is,
s coming
com
min
ing
ng ou
out.
t. D
id yyou
id
ou
u ssee
ee h
iss belt?
bel
e t? Th
hen
n
everyone
smiling
dark,
mesmerized
evver
e yo
y ne
e was
wass jjust
ust sm
us
ust
millin
ng in
n tthe
he d
ark,
ar
rk, m
essme
esme
m riize
ed
with
drama
was
witnessing
and
with
wi
th the
the d
rama
ra
maa itt w
ma
as llike
as
ike
ik
e wi
witn
tn
nes
essi
sn
si
ng
g a ffather
atth
he
er an
nd
son
most
innocent
ful
lling
moment.
so
on in
n their
the
heir
ir m
ir
ostt in
os
nno
ocent
cent yyet
ce
et fful
et
ullllllin
in
ing
ng mo
mome
m nt.
me
ntt.
It was
when
heart
with
was
as a ttime
im
me w
wh
hen
n yyour
ourr he
ou
hear
artt resonates
reso
re
sso
onate
ona
te
es wi
w
th
h tthat
h t
ha
inexplicable
because
discovered
something
in
ne
exxp
pllic
lic
icab
cab
blle
e joy
joy b
bec
ecau
ause
se yyou
ou d
isco
is
cove
v re
ve
red
d so
some
meth
t in
th
ing
g
from
from
m someone
som
om
meo
eone
eo
n you
you
ou trust
tru
ust
s even
eve
ven
n if science
ssci
cien
ence
c still
ce
ssti
tillll doubts
dou
d
ou
ubt
btss
it.
whispered
upon
it. Ass for
for
o me,
me
e,, I unknowingly
unk
nkno
no
owing
wing
wi
ngly
ly w
h sp
hi
sper
erred
e
d hi u
upo
po
p
on
seeing
bright
seei
se
eing
ng
n
g again
aga
g in
n tthose
hose
ho
se tthree
hree
hr
ree
ee b
righ
ri
gh
ht star
sstars
st
tarrs in
n a rrow.
ow
w.
XUERC
Like I ssaid,
Like
aaiid,
d, llife
iffe in
n X
UERC
UE
ERC
C iiss an
a aadventure
dven
dv
en
ntu
t re
re
sometimes
physically
frontiers
some
so
me
eti
time
mes
me
es ph
phys
yyssiic
cal
ally
ly iin
ly
n th
tthe
e fr
fron
on
nttiie
errs (c
((climbing
cliliimb
m in
i g
the
mountains,
the
th
he mo
m
unta
un
tain
ta
ns,
s, ttrekking
rekk
re
kkin
kk
ng th
he ri
rrivers,
ve
erss, o
orr rreaching
each
each
ea
c in
ing
g out
out
ou
to tthe
sometimes
h city
he
citty s informal
iin
nfo
orm
r al ssettlers),
ettl
et
tler
ers)
s)), so
s),
ome
meti
ttiime
es ju
jjust
stt iin
n
the
th
he o
ce
ce ttrapped
rraapp
ped
ed iin
n the
the web
web of ssimulations
imul
im
imul
ulat
aattio
ions
ns aand
nd
nd
documentations,
sometimes
nowhere
do
d
occu
um
me
ent
ntat
attiio
on
nss, and
an
nd so
some
meti
me
time
ti
mes to n
me
mes
now
ow
whe
h re
r ffar
a
ar
but
journey
deepest
heart,
bu
ut a jo
ourne
urrne
neyy to
to tthe
he d
eepe
ee
pest
pe
st rrecesses
eces
ec
e se
es
es of tthe
he h
hea
eart
rt,,
re
numbers
equations
battle
re
eections
ec
cti
tion
ons o
ons
on
off n
um
u
mbe
b rs aand
n e
nd
equ
q at
qu
atio
ions
ns tto
o th
the
e ba
batt
ttle
le
we
Warriors!
we aare
re
e called
cal
alle
ed to
to ght
gh
htt ffor
o aass Wa
or
W
arr
rrio
iors
rss!
Who
have
imagined
Who co
Wh
ccould
u d ha
ul
h
v iima
ve
maagiine
m
ned
d the
the ve
th
vvery
ery
ryy sstudent
t de
tu
dent
ent
nt
might
I mistakenly
m st
mi
stak
a en
ak
enly
lyy tthought
hou
ho
ug
gh
htt m
ig
ght
ht fail
fai
a l in
n class
claass
s is
is now
now
no
delivering
experts,
MO
d
de
elilive
veri
ve
eri
r ng
g llectures
ectu
ec
turre
ture
es to
o fforeign
o ei
or
eign
gn
n e
xper
xper
xp
erts
ts,, to
ts
t tthe
he M
O
scientists,
Nobel
humbly
me?
ssc
cie
ent
ntis
ists
is
sts
ts,
s, to
oaN
obel
ob
e llaureate,
au
ure
eat
a e, aand
nd
dh
um
mbl
b y to
om
e?
Who
have
expected
jester
bully
Wh
ho co
ccould
ou
ulld ha
h
ave
v e
xpec
xp
ec
cte
ted
d th
tthe
e je
est
ster
er aand
nd b
ullly
ly
now
eloquently
with
in cclass
in
laasss no
n
ow el
ow
e
loq
que
u nttly
ly cconversing
on
nvers
ve
erssin
ing wi
w
th tthe
th
he
e
university
Chairman
Board
off Trus
Trustees?
Who
un
nivversi
ersiityy s C
er
haair
h
i ma
man off tthe
he
h
eB
oaard
o
rd o
Tr
ru
usste
t es
es? Wh
W
ho
would
hoped
someone
because
w
wo
oul
uld ha
have
v h
ve
o ed
op
d ffrom
ro
rom
om some
so
om
me
eon
ne in
in ttears
ears
ea
rs b
e au
ec
au
use
sse
e
fears
but
now
brilliantly
wire
XUERC
off aacademic
cade
ca
d mi
de
m c fe
earrs bu
b
ut n
no
ow b
br
rilli
ilillliian
ntlly w
wi
ire
eX
UERC
UE
RC s
equipment
globe?
eq
equi
qui
uipm
p ent
en
nt fo
forr re
rremote
mo
m
mote
ote
e aaccess
cce
cc
esss ac
aacross
r ss
ro
ss tthe
he
e g
llo
obe
e?
me,
Believe
So tthe
So
he llesson,
he
essso
on,
n, ffor
orr m
o
e, iiss clear:
e,
ccllea
lea
e r:r Be
Beli
liliev
e e th
ev
that
at tthere
h re
he
e iiss
always
goodness
each
one
heart
matter
how
al
alwa
lw
waays
ayss g
oo
o
odn
dnes
ess in
ne
ach on
ac
o
ne s hear
ne
h
he
ear
a t no
n m
atte
at
terr ho
ow
oftentimes
ffrail
fr
rai
a l or
or aannoying
nn
n
noy
oyin
ing th
ing
they
eyy iinitially
n ti
ni
tial
allyy aare,
al
re,, it iiss of
re
ofte
tent
nttim
ime
ess
hard
even
impossible
lifetime,
h
ha
ard
d aand
nd ssometimes
o et
om
etim
im
mess e
ven im
ve
mpo
p ss
ssib
ib
ble iin
n a lilife
fe
eti
tim
me
e,
butt we
just
the
promise
hidden
b
bu
e ccannot
an
nn
no
ot ju
usstt llose
osse
o
se tth
he pr
p
rom
mise
isse o
off h
id
idde
dd
de
en star
sstars
st
taarrs
without
trying.
w
wi
ith
thou
ho
ou
ut ttr
rying
yyiing
ng.
ng.
In
days,
usual
overlapping
n tthe
he following
he
folllo
owi
wing
n d
ays,
ay
ys,
s tthe
he u
he
sual
su
al o
verl
ve
rlap
rl
ap
ppi
p ng
ng
meetings
with
mee
me
ettin
tin
i gs
gs resumed:
ressum
umed
ed
d: the
th
he we
week
e sstarts
ek
tart
ta
rtss wi
rt
w
th
h ssome
om
me
friends
France
Spain;
frie
frie
fr
iend
ds from
fro
fr
om
m Germany,
Gerrmany
many
ma
n , Fr
F
rance
ran
an
ncce
e aand
nd
d S
p in
pa
i ; th
then
en
n a
quick
Malasag
down,
qu
q
uic
ick
ck climb
ccllim
imb
mb to
o M
alas
alas
al
a ag tthen
hen
he
en do
d
wn
n, to cclimb
lilimb
mb
b yyet
ett
again
2-day
Strategic
Planning
agai
ag
a n to
to Manresa;
Maan
nre
resa
sa; a 2sa;
-d
daay St
Stra
raate
tegi
gic
gi
c Pl
Plan
an
nni
ning
ng
g tto
o
evaluate
bearings;
consultation-workshop
eval
ev
a ua
uate
ate
te our
our
ur b
eari
ea
eari
ring
ng
ngs;
gs;
s a ccon
onsu
sult
lttat
atio
io
onn-wo
wo
orksh
rkksh
shop
op
on
ve Philippine
on toilets
toiillet
to
ets with
ets
with
itth planners
plan
pl
anne
an
ners ffrom
ne
r m
ro
ve
Phi
h lilipp
pp
pin
ne ci
ccities;
t ess;
ti
then
bottle
off ic
ice-cold
beer
before
th
hen probably
pro
roba
babl
blyy a bo
bl
b
bott
ott
ttle
ttle
e o
ce-co
e-cold
eld
d b
eerr be
ee
befo
fore
fo
re
e
hitting
explore
Cotabato.
h tttin
hi
ing
ng the
th
he road
rro
oad
a again
ag
gaain
n tto
o ex
xpl
p ore
ore Co
or
Cota
taba
bato
ba
to
o.
On
other
hand,
experience
also
On tthe
he
h
eo
tth
he
err h
and
an
d,, tthe
he rrecent
ecen
ec
en
nt ex
e
peri
pe
rien
ence
ce aals
lsso
humbly
matter
echelon
h
hu
mb
m
blyy ttaught
aug
au
gh
ht me
me tthat
hat no
ha
no m
attte
er wh
what
a e
at
ch
chel
helon
on
on
will
enthrone
us,
will
when
lillife
fe w
ili l en
e
th
hro
r ne
n u
ss,, tthere
h re
he
ew
ili l come
co
om
me
e a ttime
im
ime
me wh
w
hen
en
might
get
and
hope
our
beside
we m
we
ig
ght
ht g
et llost
o t an
os
nd h
ho
op
ope
pe
eo
urr tteacher
eaacch
e
her iiss be
b
side
si
de
eu
uss
once
more.
Global
Astronomy
on
o
ncce
em
ore. IIn
or
ore.
n ce
ccelebration
ele
ebr
b attio
on o
off tthe
he
eG
lo
ob
baal As
A
str
t on
o om
o y
Month,
XUERC
MO
jointly
marveled
the
Mo
M
ont
nth,
h, X
UERC
UE
C aand
nd
dM
O jo
join
intl
in
tlyy ma
tl
m
arv
rvvel
rvel
e ed
ed aatt th
he st
sstarry
taarrry
rryy
night
skies
through
simulated
mini-planetarium.
n
ni
g t sk
gh
kiie
es tth
hrro
oug
ugh
h a simu
ssi
im
mu
ulaatte
ed mi
m
ini
n -p
plaan
ne
etari
tari
ta
rium
ium
um.
While
most
off us w
were
defying
W
Whil
Wh
hilile
e mo
m
ostt o
e e in aawe,
er
we, de
we
d
efy
fyyin
ing ti
ttime
me
m
e ttravel
r ve
ra
v l
magically
once
that
th
att m
agic
ag
ic
callly ttransported
rans
ra
n po
ns
portte
ed
d u
uss to
o cchildhood
hiild
ldho
ood
od o
n e
nc
again,
Nobel
suddenly
Where
ag
agai
gaiin
n,, tthe
he
eN
o el
ob
e llaureate
au
ure
eatte su
udd
d en
enly
ly aasked:
skked
e : W
here
he
Tonight,
when
brother
home
Toni
To
n gh
ni
ght,
ht,
t, w
he
hen
en myy b
r th
ro
her
e aand
n I ccame
nd
ame
am
e ho
ome
me ffrom
rom
ro
a quick
qu
q
uick
ic
ck drink,
d in
dr
ink,
k, we
we caught
caug
ca
ught
ht dad
daad
d and
and
d mom
mom in
in the
th
he garden
gard
ga
gard
rden
en
e
n
gazing
g zi
ga
zing
ng
g at
at the
t e stars
th
star
st
ars like
ar
lil ke
e when
wh
he
en we
we used
used
se
ed when
wh
hen
en we
we were
we
w
erre
e
little.
delighted
lliitt
ttle
le
e. When
Whe
en
n they
the
ey heard
hear
he
a d us
ar
us aapproaching,
ppro
pp
roac
ro
achi
ac
h ng
g, de
d
deli
eliligh
ghte
ghte
gh
ted
to
unison:
to have
hav
ave
e been
been
n interrupted,
int
nter
e ru
er
rupt
ptted
ed,, they
theyy aasked
th
skked
d iin
n un
unis
iisson
on::
Have
both,
Have
Hav
ave you
av
you said
said hi ? After
Affter
tte
er kissing
kkiiss
ssin
ing
g them
t em
th
e b
otth,
o
h, aand
nd
d
excited
recent
experience,
exci
exci
ex
c te
ted about
aab
bou
out the
the re
ece
c nt e
exp
xp
per
erie
enc
nce,
ce,
e, I vvolunteered:
olun
ol
u tte
eerred
d:
Yep
pointing
distinct
bright
Yep
p,p
oiinttin
ing
g at
at tthe
he tthree
hree
hr
ee d
isti
is
tinc
nct br
nc
rig
ight
htt sstars
h
taarrss iin
na
row.
row.
w. Then
The
en mom
mo
om cheerfully
cch
hee
eerf
rful
rf
u ly whispered:
wh
hiisp
per
ered
ed: Orion
ed:
Ori
r on
n s belt,
be
elltt,,
indeed!
iin
nde
nde
deed
ed!!
DDexter
exx t err S LLoo
30
REFLECTIONS
IN THE WARRIORS WONDERLAND
lice deliberately threw herself into the

rabbit hole without regard of what could
have been waiting for her inside. She
reached the pavement. She was confronted by
odd and weird things. As odd and as weird those
things were, instead of looking for a way out back
to where she came from, she wandered even more.
She decided to explore this curious new world she
foundthe wonderland.
There was me then. I got myself into a rabbit hole
too- a hole that leads to a world I never imagined
I would be in. Being in the Xavier University
Engineering Resource Center (XUERC) at rst, was
denitely scary. It was scary because I was clueless
about practically everything on how the XUERC
operates. I was intimidated because I knew I would

be working with people who can solve equations I
didn t even know existed with their eyes closed and
with zero sweat on the forehead. Can you believe
these people? But anyway, as clueless, scared and
intimidated as I was back then, just like Alice, my
curiosity got me all red up for the challenge of
exploring unfamiliar territory. While I knew I would
most likely encounter and experience things
completely dierent from what I m usually used
to, things could not be that bad. The worst thing
that could happen to me in this wonderland is get
beheaded by the red queen. But of course we know
that is unlikely. The glass is always half full.
The rst few days were tough. I had no idea what
Ground Breaking of Xavier Ecoville with XUERC Warriors
31

to do, where to go, and to whom to ask questions.
I had rusty people skills which made the situation
worse. I used to dread over the fact that I would
need to actually talk to other human beings. Social
interaction kills me. But luckily for me it did not
take me too long to nd the courage to bury these
anxieties. There was nothing to be anxious about at
all. Everything was just in my head. Sure the warriors
are, and I could not stress this enough, smart but
they are not intimidating at all. Annoying? Maybe
sometimes, but they are never rude. And being a
female in this preponderantly male environment is
never a plight. They may be mischievous but they
are totally harmless. Well, not the can t-even-hurta-y harmlessness but, yes, it is safe to be around
them unless you can t stand their sense of humor.
You know how most of their jokes are. In which case,
ignorance is bliss. Anyway, my point is, contrary to
the popular (or my own) notion that the warriors
are dicult to deal with, they are in fact easy to get
along with. They are as adorable as your childhood
teddy bears. There is zero, I repeat, zero harm in
approaching them. They would never hesitate to
help, especially when there is food involved (I kid on
the food part, sort of).
REFLECTIONS
VVVVchallenging compared to what other warriors

were doing but it was everything to me especially
since mine were mostly rst-time experiences. This
includes giving my heart to someone. but I never
really have gotten it back. Oh, speaking of heart, also,
the stories of love and life on personal accounts from
the warriors themselves form part of the highlights
of my a-little-more-than-a-year journey in this tiny
but mighty oce, and so the friends I gained along
the way. I am proud to have been once part of the
XUERC; I always will be.
The entire experience was more than just a
job. It was more of a lifestyle for to me. Looking
back, I looked forward to what I would be doing,
knowledge I would be absorbing, who I would be
meeting, stories I would be hearing and food I would
be digging in.
Needless to say, this warriors wonderland, the
XUERC journey, equipped me with the knowledge
and the experience I need for the kind of development
I want for myself. It helped me develop a clearer
perspective of career choices. And with that, I can
say XUERC certainly provided me with a career path
to follow, and I could not be any more grateful.
Seriously though, everyday is a learning experience

in the XUERC. Behind the frequent idleness and
While Alice s journey is a surreal dream, mine is a
sometimes desolate look of the oce are warriors surreal reality.
engaged in dierent battles. And from those battles
are, not to speak of the obvious, the great learnings. I
get to experience these learnings personally or hear
NADINE JOY F ORDIZ
of them from a rst or third person perspective. Either
way, they are guaranteed legit. The XUERC Outputs
are the concrete proofs, being recognized by both
local and some international institutions despite of
XUERC s youthfulness. Beat that!
Moving on, I am proud of everything I did with
the XUERC. It was not physically and mentally
32
REFLECTIONS
Warriors Compass
HERE, IN THIS
TINY OFFICE..
y work in XUERC has allowed me to cross the equator, climb the holiest temples of the ancient
world, and trek a river that traverses through six dierent countries. But other than the sights and
sounds are memories with friends beyond the natural and political borders that no ocean or wall
can divide.
Every time I come back home to this oce swarmed with student volunteers doing endless works of
science, and chuckling over stories of life and love in between, I ve always wished that these Warriors also
experience the diverse yet familiar stories from dierent cultures; enriching their knowledge and innovation
on technologies that matter to society, as well as deepening their wisdom and faith as citizens of the human
race.
And that s why for the past three years, experts and explorers from more than 20 dierent countries
have come to visit us in XUERC. Scientists and engineers from Cairo to Massachusetts, geologists and
environmentalists from Salamanca to Bangkok, volunteers and interns from Auckland to Freiburg, and
many others came to this tiny oce somewhere 8 degrees North - 124 degrees East, strategically located in
this green campus of Mindanao s rst university (and rst Jesuit university in the Philippines).
Many of them came for meetings and discussions for an hour or so; only to linger for months and years
through e-mails to-and-fro. Some stay for several months learning the Warrior s way; one or two even fell in
33

SUE
love along the way. And there were those who came
back; fullling a mission that their hearts desired to
track.
It is always exciting when a new international
meeting starts. One can only imagine the jumble of
dierent languages and vernaculars going through
the minds of those seated around our historical
round table (we call it Arthur ). If only the walls could
listen and gossip, it must be whispering through
more than 30 foreign tongues by now. And yet, it
would not take long for us to get carried away in
the same frequency. We speak of equations that the
founding immortals of science had built upon. And
most often we are connected by theories that are
unseen by the human eye, but captured only with
some spices of valid scientic imaginations.
In several instances, our discussions were
heightened by surprises we never expected.
Suddenly someone from Bangladesh talks about a
map we published few months ago; another from
Canada inquires regarding some details of a lecture
one of us did the past year. Once or twice, we were
also star-struck by visitors whose names we only read
in books and journals (but then enjoying a bananacue with us!)
But other than the hardcore science and complex
equations, we nd delight and fulllment in these
collaborations because they give us opportunity
for our innovations to matter in people s lives. Most
often, we end with stories of local communities
from our nations, from dierent walks of life. Families
and children from diverse cultures, and yet clearly
resonating with each other s dreams, frustrations,
and hope. Along the conversation, we discover
and fortify among ourselves that we are ghting
the same battle for the environment and for justice.
And few weeks after the encounter, even amidst
the distance that divides, we sustain to embrace the
challenges because we know we are not alone.
One time, a NAST scientist (also our dear friend
and mentor) came to visit XU to teach us how to
REFLECTIONS
model the local climate. While strolling along the

park lanes on our way to the oce, she gazed
among the towering structures and innocently
asked: Which one is the XUERC building? I smiled
with amusement, but have to tell her there is no
such building. Yes, this tiny oce where people
from around the world visit is smaller than half a
basketball court. And yet, some stars have to be
tinier than the others; it is the only way they can be
clustered together to paint a bigger picture, and
write inspiring stories like those of the constellations.
Many years ago, this same spot holds a vast
collection of engineering references; it is where the
Engineering Library used to be. Today, it is a hub
where Warriors write stories, generate equations,
and publish them; our journals and maps are
regularly forwarded to the University Main Library
for wider dissemination.
Tonight, as I tap these keys over Arthur, I m
reminded of a friendly Frenchwoman who once
asked: How can you keep track of all these? Don t
you get confused sometimes? The truth is yes, I
also get lost in the seemingly countless episodes of
life, mission, and just having fun. But working with
maps since childhood and teaching surveying for a
number of years had taught me valuable lessons in
life.
I am one of those who has to start learning with
the old-school tools and eventually adapt to voiceactivated GPS models. And this has given me a
chance to work extensively with the classic compass
for many years; it is one s best friend especially when
one is lost. But other than the bearings that the
compass oers, there is one special lesson it taught
me: that nding our way is not just about where the
needle points, it is also about how rm and upright
the pivot is at the very core. The directions can
change every time we turn, so we ought to reckon
and reect if our steps and strides still beat with what
truly matters in the heart.
Dexter S Lo
34
REFLECTIONS
MY FAMILY AWAY
FROM HOME
riginally, I wasn t hired by Xavier University

to be part of XUERC. My rst appointment
was to become a full-time instructor in
Electronics Engineering (EcE) Department for one
semester. And I was happy with the arrangement.
After a semester of teaching, our department chair
suddenly approached me and oered me another
work. And that was to become part of XUERC.
Human as I was, my initial reaction was confusion.
I felt a bit sad because I felt like I was reassigned
to another unit of the University and thought that
maybe, I wasn t doing well in my task as a teacher.
But the biggest question for me was What kind of
work will I be doing in ERC?
My confusions led me to seek for answers. First,
I asked for the reason why I was reassigned. The
dean and the department chair told me that it
would be a great opportunity for me. With that, I then

wondered why it was an opportunity. Furthermore, I
wondered what XUERC really is. Is it a research center?
And what would be my possible tasks if I join there?
Will I be doing more research work because of the
nature of the unit? Because of this, I went straightly to
ERC s Director, Engr. Dexter Lo to inquire. The very rst
answer I got from him was a smile. He told me that
XUERC is not merely a research center, but a resource
center. It is the arm of the college in applying the
theories taught and learned to the community. It is
also the means of the college in nding resources
for possible projects and development of the faculty.
And most importantly, he explained that although
the center is under the College of Engineering, it is
also a unit under the Research and Social Outreach
cluster.
After that small talk with Engr. Dexter Lo (or Sir Dex
Volunteers of Macajalar Bay Mangrove Mapping
35
REFLECTIONS
2012 ISW & Magdas Seminar in Indonesia participants

as we call him), I suddenly realized that what they
said was true, that joining XUERC is really a good
opportunity for someone who lacks experience
outside the four corners of the classroom. It is a
good opportunity for someone like me. I decided to
accept the oer and started working in the center.
And I didn t regret that decision. When I m the
oce, I feel like I m home. The people were lovable
and friendly. A boring day never happens in here.
Laughs were heard every single day. When we were
tired from the day s work, we just gather around the
round table (which we call Arthur) and just talk about
anything random and laugh our hearts out. Almost
every afternoon, we eat our favorite banana-que.
Almost every week, we have a pizza party (another
favorite food) sponsored by one or two specialist
or sta of ERC. It s as if we have an unwritten motto
which is It s okay if we work hard and go home late
as long there s free food . It has become one of the
motivations of the volunteers, as well as the stas.
The free food has become a gateway for volunteers,
stas and specialists to interact and bond, making
us feel that we are where we truly belong.
But XUERC is not only about food but more
importantly, it is about service. We oer quite
a number of services which does not only
accommodate the needs of the industry, but also
the marginalized community. One of the assets of
the center is its exibility. The center is exible to

the needs of its clients. And that was one of the
things I learned in the center. I learned that my work
doesn t only depend to what my contract tells. My
work does not only involve my skills but also my
heart. I learned more about the word magis or
doing more, one of the core values the University
tries to inculcate to everyone. Because of the unit s
exibility, the work here is diverse. One may be an
Engineer, but he also needs to learn how to interact
correctly and tact to the community. One should
also learn about the laws which governs the city and
which is also related to the environment. Though
the unit is exible, we also have our limitation. Just
like a rubber band, if you put just enough force, it
will be back to its original form. Yet if you put too
much force, the rubber band will break. Amidst the
unit s exibility, we still are able to stop so that we
could still go back to our original form, and still on
track towards fullling our mission. Being part of this
kind of work might be tiring but at the end of the
day, we could still say It s worth it.
I would like to end this reection by saying
THANK YOU . Thank you ERC for taking good care
of me. Thank you for making me feel that I have a
family in CdeO.
Meldy Grace M Comandante
36
REFLECTIONS
A THREE YEAR
ENCOUNTER
never expected that I would end up being a part of the Engineering Research Center (ERC) family; it was a
sudden invitation that persuaded me to inltrate its grounds in September of 2010. I still remember Engr.
Brian Bautista (which at that time was in his fth year) approached us for an invitation to join one of their eld
surveys for the Provincial
su
Road Management Facility
Ro
(PRMF). I accepted his
(P
invitation thinking how cool
in
it would be to conquer new
ground surveying roads.
g
I was expecting it would
just be within the urban
ju
prestige of Cagayan de Oro
p
but it wasn t. The next day
b
we accompanied the PRMF
w
platoon conquering roads
p
way up the mountains of
w
Kinoguitan all the way up to
Ki
the boundaries of Agusan
th
Del Sur. The picturesque
D
Multidisciplinary research using GIS as a converging analytical tool w/ Sociology Dept
view of Misamis Oriental
vi
mountains
gentle
touch
thrilled
from
fr
om aatop
top
to
p th
the
e mo
moun
unta
tain
inss wi
with
th tthe
he g
entl
en
tle
e to
touc
uch
h of tthe
he iisland
slan
sl
and
d of Camiguin
Cam
amig
igui
uin
n th
thri
rilllle
e me while I savoured the
taste of fresh lanzones. The experience lasted for about three Saturdays of devoted volunteering, I ve met
engineers from the Provincial Engineers Oce of Misamis Oriental and some locals who exposed me to how
rocky a civil engineer s life would be. My heart caught re and my passion ignited in pursuing my dream of
becoming one. After that, my career as an ERC volunteer soared way up higher.
2011 came and my ERC adventures became more interesting. One of the stepping stones of my career
was when Ms. Donna Marie Achas introduced us to the Geographic Information System (GIS). At that time, I
honestly did not appreciate the Graphic User Interface (GUI) and the features it had since I was more familiar
with the Computer Aided Drafting system. Migrating my attention to GIS was pretty laborious, I had to debate
with myself if I had to pursue it or not. With this, I had to focus and teach myself the value of patience and
understanding. My rst GIS project posed another problem as I had to convert the Computer Aided Design
(CAD) based GeoHazard map of Brgy. Lumbia made by Engr. Joel Haos and Engr. Gerardo Apor. I was shocked
that I was to outmatch their progress. They are already institutions while I am just a neophyte. A week of
deprived sleep and towering manuals to skim through, I was able to learn how to model 3d contours of
landscapes while mapping hazardous areas from landslides.
GIS, CAD and statistics became my tools while determination, courage and patience became my source
of strength. I had to stop at times and bombard myself with questions. Why? Why am I doing these things?
I slowly found an answer to that: I am making a contribution to society. At times I have to make sacrices.
37

I had less contact with my family and with friends. I
can barely be seen in class since I wanted to be alone
at times pondering on equations, searching for facts,
and mapping stretches of boundaries. Finding the
purpose of pursuing all the projects seemed endless
but I had to continue working to nd a place on
earth and serve my purpose. Then, I slowly began to
believe that Great ambition and conquest without
contribution is without signicance
Before the onset of 2012, the Sendong tragedy
came. I couldn t dare to stay at home while watching
thousands of people needing my aid. I had to use my
skills however premature to help. Indeed they became
very useful. The ERC head, Engr. Dexter Lo called every
willing Warrior to assist in mapping Sendong s wrath.
We had to form teams to gather data essential for
measuring the degree of damage. Distance and body
pain did not stop us from volunteering. Armed with
Global Positioning System (GPS) units, we went into
frontiers up above and down below. We ventured
through every trace of ood- damaged houses, thick
mud and smell of dierent corpses. These did not
hinder our team from inltrating communities. It
was the most essential way that we could aid them
aside from delivering them relief goods. Indeed our
eorts paid o. We were able to produce a map
not only a mere representation of the damage dealt
by the storm, but a map exemplifying the need for
International aid. All these projects have contributed
to my well-being and challenged the true meaning
of cura personalis. Even in small things a man can
create great impact in the society.
My last year in the ERC was even more challenging.
Graduation was coming close and I had to plan for
my future. Still, I remained in the ERC. Many people
did talk me out to stop my work. A number of people
would want me to focus on other things like trying to
get a girlfriend or to focus on my studies. But I simply
can t. I am too attached to the ERC, the people I work
with, the oce, Arthur -- I simply can t have now that
I m at my prime. So I continued.
REFLECTIONS
the Mckeough Marine Center. We tried to map out

the vast cover of plume from the mouth of Cagayan
de Oro river towards the Macajalar Bay. We collected
water samples, analysed them in the lab and I did the
roller coaster GIS task.
With all these projects I came into a realization
that the world is just so precious, magnicent and
so loved by God. No matter how we represent every
spectra of light into pixels of vector data, still we fail
to understand everything; that even though how
hard we try to map out, measure or equate earth
with well-known scientic facts, we are insucient to
understand God s love. What is there on earth to ask
for more?
For almost three years, my ERC life had been a fun
learning experience. At times we extend through the
unfathomable horizons, faced with real life problems
that the usual classroom lessons cannot sustain
our thirst for answers. Sometimes our premature
skills morph into a higher degree of paramount
achievements when we encounter moments of
tremendous pressure coupled with a shear force of
mockery but still we resist to yield. Eventually we nd
it our responsibility to do all these. As Engr. Lo has
told us, Every day and night, we work hard, sharing
the best of our skills from the depths of our hearts
for the poor, the marginalized, the environment, the
development of our city, and the formation of leaders
for our nation. This, in my belief, is our contribution to
mankind. Ad majorem Dei Gloriam.
-Jefferson R Vallente Jr
One of my last projects was with Fr. Mars Tan of
38
REFLECTIONS
XUERC VOLUNTEER
started in XUERC as an unwilling

volunteer. One that has no clue of what
I was getting in. All I know was that I was
dragged into some sort of circle, not realizing
what was going to transpire. I met people
whom I never really cared for and found
a special kind of friendship. And with that
alone I am deeply grateful. I wished it would
last longer but we have to move on. It s funny
how things seem to work, bad things get in
our way, and the good things keep us wrap.
It s hard to move on from an ideal situation,
it makes other things like a simple equation.
We are too stubborn to realize what s next
and holding on would only be a crucial
mistake.
I started in XUERC because I was indebted
to the kindness that was shown and the
help that was met. We had a leader that led
us with virtue and respect. He became our
mentor and especially our friend. Friendship
was the root of it all and friendship in the end
was the only thing that is standing tall. We
have to go our dierent ways, but the bond
we share I wish will never break.
Summer they say is a good time for rest
and relaxation but what we had coming
was working with more apprehension. We
went to Cebu to comply with our visitors,
attended The Forum of Urban Experts and
went home to Cagayan de Oro with new
kind of vigor. They shared knowledge of
what they have known, and we presented
something to the delight of their own. Cebu
city was such a marvel but what we brought
home was more than the memories of the
times. We went home more knowledgeable
and wise. We went to Cebu with business as
39
a matter but fun was clearly not out of the option. We made
friends with people we hardly knew, expanding our network
of people that we knew. Then the visitor came to Cagayan
and we welcomed them hospitably and more knowledge
was bestowed. After everything was done we bid adieu, to
our new found friends that we were grateful that we knew.
And as we ponder on what had transpired, we realized
there are a lot of people out there, which gave us something
to aspire for. We may vary in a lot of ways with others, belittling
ourselves, would not help and won t matter. For there is a
level and status that they have already achieved, only for us
to realized that we are way still too young. We have got more
time, to do what we desire, so that next time around were
the ones that would inspire.
And as the summer progress the work seems to congest.
After meeting foreigners, we were o to the eld. On the
wee hours of the early morning, we went on an excursion
of a sampling matter. We sailed on a boat as the sun slowly
arouse. The weather was unfavorable but we still had a job
to do. So we pursued the river with a sense of animosity
because the sun was slowly biting our skin, as the sun slowly
rose unto the rafters. We collected the samples and provided
what was needed. It was now up to somebody to do what
was needed. XUERC accomplished the job, sighing relief
R3 sampling in Marcos Bridge

unto
unto
ow
wha
what
h t wa
ha
wass do
d
done,
ne,, but
ne
bu
ut also
also aware
aawa
ware
re
e that
ttha
hatt there
ther
th
ere
e are
are
still
done.
stil
st
illl a lo
llott to
ob
be
e do
one
ne..
The
project
tests
limits
because
there
The R^
R^3
3 pr
proj
ojec
oj
ec
e
ct te
test
stts yo
your
ur llim
imit
itts be
eccaaus
use th
her
ere
e
many
things
that
need
are
ar
e so m
an
ny th
thin
in
ng
gss ttha
hat ne
eed
d tto
o be cconsidered.
on
o
nssiide
ere
red.
d
d.
There
lled,
T
Th
ere
er
e are
are
ar
e a lot
lo
ot of holes
hol
h
oles
ol
e which
es
whi
hich
ch
h are
are
e needed
nee
ede
ded to be
be lllled
ed
d,
that
error
th
hat iiss why
why minimizing
miini
m
nimi
mizi
zing
ng tthe
he e
err
rro
orr o
on
n the
tth
he sampling
ssaamp
mpliling
ng
made
that
th
at w
we
e have
have m
ade
ad
e iss top
top priority
pri
p
rio
orritty for
f r the
fo
tth
he testing
test
te
stin
ing to
o
made.
Research
be m
ade.
ad
e. R
Res
esea
earc
ea
rch
h is ssuch
uch
uc
h a tedious
te
ediiou
ouss job,
job, but
but iiff you
you
heart
nothing
really
that
hard.
have
ha
ve tthe
he h
hea
eart
rt n
othi
ot
hing
ng iiss re
eal
ally
ly ttha
hatt ha
hard
rd..
And
summer
on,
again
And as tthe
he ssum
um
mme
er wo
worn
rn
no
n, I w
n,
was
as aaga
gain
in aassigned
ssig
ss
ig
gne
n d
eld
on
di
on tthe
he e
l b
ld
but
ut o
nad
di
ierent
eren
er
en
nt ap
aapproach.
proa
pr
oach
ch.. From
From tthe
h
he
dirty
murky
waters
off th
Cagayan
River,
di
irtty mu
murk
rkyy wa
wate
te
erss o
tthe
e Ca
C
aga
gaaya
yan
n de O
Oro
ro R
i er
iv
er,,
went
mountains
we
ew
e t on to
en
to the
the cold
co
old
dm
ount
ou
ntai
ains
ns iin
n the
the farms
farm
fa
rmss of
Claveria.
with
farmers
we
hardly
knew,
Clav
Cl
avver
eria
iaa. We m
met
et w
ith fa
it
ith
farm
rm
mer
erss th
that
at w
e ha
hard
rdly
ly kkne
new,
w,
listen
them
needs
help
to llis
isste
ten
n to tthe
hem
m ad
aaddress
dres
dr
esss th
ttheir
eirr ne
ei
need
edss an
and
d to h
hel
elp
p
was
goal.
Di
erent
farmers
had
erent
tthem
th
em w
as o
our
ur g
goa
o l. D
oa
ie
ere
rent
nt ffar
arme
mers
rs h
ad d
di
ie
ere
rent
nt
situations,
what
we
there
them
situ
si
tuat
atio
ions
ns, wh
w
at w
e we
were
re tthe
he
ere ffor
or w
was
as tto
o he
help
lp tthe
hem
m
in
way
we
help
needed
n aany
ny w
aayy w
e ca
can.
n T
n.
The
he h
elp
el
p wa
wass ne
need
eded
ed iin
n th
the
e
farmlands
somewhere
people,
farm
fa
rmla
land
nd
ds so
omewh
me
ewh
he
erre an
and
d th
tthere
ere
er
e ar
are
e a fe
few
w pe
peop
ople
le,,
were
willing
implore,
project
who
wh
o we
w
ere
re
ew
illliling
ng
g tto
o im
impl
plor
ore,
e, tthe
he C
CRS
RS p
pro
roje
ject
ct aatt wo
work
rk
iss a n
ne
spectacle
humanitarian
volunteerism,
e sp
spec
ecta
ec
tacl
ta
cle
cl
le of h
um
man
anit
itar
aria
ian
n vo
volu
lunt
ntee
eeri
rism
sm,,
where
helping
other
people
ultimate
goal.
wher
wh
ere
e he
help
lpin
ing
g ot
othe
herr pe
he
p
eop
ople
le w
was
as tthe
he u
ult
ltim
imat
ate
e go
goal
al..
help
feel
When h
When
hel
elp
p iss iinvolved,
nvol
nv
o ve
ved,
d, w
we
e ca
can
n t he
help
lp b
but
ut ffee
eell
attached
those
people
need.
either
part
atta
at
taacch
hed tto
hed
o th
thos
ose
os
e peop
pe
eople
le iin
n ne
need
ed.. It iiss ei
eith
ther
er a p
par
artt of
our
human
nature
ou
o
ur hu
huma
man
n na
natu
tu
ure tto
o care
care or
or it s our
our conscience
ccon
onsc
scie
ienc
nce
e that
that
allows
care.
These
people
needed
assistance
allo
al
lows
ws u
uss to ccar
are. T
are.
ar
hese
he
se p
peo
eopl
ple
e ne
need
eded
ed aass
ssis
ista
taanc
nce
e
know
that
needed,
that
th
at I kkno
now
w we
e ccan
an
n provide,
pro
rovi
vide
de,, he
help
lp ttha
hatt was
was ne
need
ed
ded
ed,,
respond.
And
heed
their
angst
we h
had
ad tto
o re
esp
pon
ond. A
nd
n
d sso
o we h
hee
eed
d th
thei
eirr an
angs
gstt
gs
their
problems
them
and
an
d th
thei
eirr pr
rob
oble
lems
m sso
ms
o th
tthat
at w
we
e ca
can
n he
help
lp tthe
hem
m in
i
whichever
way
we
And
left
whic
wh
iche
heve
verr w
wa
ay th
that
att w
e ca
can.
n. A
n aass we llef
nd
eftt th
the
e co
cold
ld
mountains,
whole
light
clad
cl
ad m
mou
ount
ntains
ntai
nt
ns,, we
e ffound
ound
ou
ound
daw
hole
ho
le n
new
ew llig
ight
ht tto
o th
the
e
things
we
doing.
was
moment
clarity,
thin
th
ings
gs w
e we
were
re d
doi
oing
oi
ng.. It w
ng
as a m
om
men
e t of ccla
lari
rity
ri
tyy,
some
would
but
made
our
hearts
lighter
as ssom
ome
om
e wo
woul
ulld say,
saay, b
u iitt ma
ut
ade
de o
urr h
u
eart
ea
rts liligh
rt
rts
gh
hte
t r
work
we
did.
CRS
project
gave
with
wi
th tthe
he w
wor
ork th
or
that
at w
ed
di
id. T
The
he C
RS
Sp
ro
oje
ectt g
gav
ave
eu
uss
perspective,
why
there
need
a pe
pers
rspe
pect
ctiv
ct
ive,
e, o
on
n wh
hy th
ther
ere
e s a ne
eed
d ffor
orr vvolunteers
ollun
o
unte
teer
ers
iff w
choose
accept
we
e ch
choo
oose tto
o ac
acce
cept
pt iit.
t.
week,
there
busy
And
An
d on tthe
he 4
4th
th w
eek,
ee
k, tthe
here w
was
ass a b
uy
us
preparation.
people
were
coming
prep
pr
epar
arat
atio
ion.
n.. T
The
he M
MO
O pe
eop
ople
le
ew
wer
ere co
comi
ming
n sso
ng
o we
e
prepare.
tedious
was
had
ha
d to
op
repa
re
pare
re.. Th
The
e wo
work
rk w
was
ass tted
ed
dio
ious
us aand
nd iitt wa
as an
anxious
preparation,
these
were
bright
minds
an
nxi
xiou
ouss pr
prep
epar
arat
atio
ion,
n, ffor
or tthe
hese
se w
ere
er
e br
rig
ght m
inds
in
ds
that
were
our
presence.
And
after
th
hatt w
wer
ere
er
e co
ccoming
omi
ming
mi
ng tto
oo
ou
ur pr
resse
en
nce
ce.. An
nd af
afte
terr th
the
e
REFLECTIONS
preparations,
after
everything
done,
they
p
pr
ep
paarrat
atio
ions
ns,, aaf
fte
terr ev
ever
eryt
ythi
hing
ng
gw
was
as d
don
one,
e, tthe
heyy ca
came
me
the
next
week
work
their
mind.
They
imparted
th
he ne
ext
x w
eekk wi
ee
with
th w
wor
orkk on tthe
heir
ir m
ind.
in
d. T
The
heyy im
impa
part
rted
ed
higher
level
than
we
know,
kknowledge
kn
now
owle
ow
ledg
dge on
nh
hig
ighe
herr le
leve
vell tth
han
nw
e kn
know
ow
w, an
and
d we
ered
friendship,
warm
welcome
hello.
oe
ere
red
d th
them
em ffri
rien
ends
dshi
hip,
p, a w
arm
ar
m we
w
elc
lcom
ome
om
e an
and
d he
hell
llo.
o.
provided
help,
we
We p
pro
rovi
vide
ded
dh
he
elp
lp,, th
the
e be
best
stt w
way
ay w
e ca
can,
n, tto
o se
see
e th
that
at
their
runs
smoothly
can.
And
thei
th
eirr wo
work
rk rrun
un
ns sm
smoo
ooth
thly
ly aass we
wellll aass th
they
eyy ccan
an.. An
nd
work,
after
everything
was
done,
packed
aafter
af
terr wo
te
w
ork
rkk, af
afte
ter
te
er ev
ever
eryt
ythi
hing
ng w
as d
as
don
one,
e, tthey
heyy pa
he
pack
cked
ed
du
up
p
their
bags;
another
farewell
was
done.
th
hei
eirr ba
bags
gs;; an
not
othe
herr fa
he
are
rewe
w lll w
we
a tto
as
o be d
don
one.
e.
although
we
presence
great
And al
And
alth
th
hou
ug
gh
hw
e we
were
re aatt th
the
e pr
pres
esen
ence
ce o
off gr
grea
eatt
minds,
was
byy th
the
friendship
mind
mi
nds,
s, I w
ass sso
o am
aamazed
maz
azed
ed b
he ffr
rie
iend
ndsh
ship
ip w
we
e ha
had.
d..
Although
minds
were
other
level,
Alth
Al
thou
ough
gh
h ttheir
heiirr m
he
heir
in
ndss w
ere
er
e on ssome
ome
om
e ot
othe
herr le
leve
vel,
ve
think
they
hereto
sink
level.
Our
to tthi
hink
nk tthe
he
ey we
were
re h
ere
er
eto
to ssin
inkk to o
our
ur llev
evel
el.. O
Ou
ur
networks
grew
theirs,
should
always
netw
ne
twor
orks
ks g
gre
rew
w an
and
d so
so aass th
thei
eiirs
eirs
rs,, we ssho
houl
uld
d al
alwa
waays
remember
that
goes
both
ways.
shouldn
reme
re
memb
mber
er ttha
hatt it g
goe
oess bo
oth
th w
ays.
ay
s. W
We
e sh
shou
ould
ld
dn t
belittle
work
done,
were
beli
be
litt
ttle
le tthe
he w
wor
orkk th
that
at w
we
e ha
have
ve
ed
on
o
ne,, aass lo
long
ng
g aass w
we
ere
competent
dedication
boot.
comp
co
mpet
eten
entt wi
with
th a d
ded
edic
ic
cat
atio
io
on to
t b
boo
oot.
oo
t.
summer
progressed
we
moved
And as tthe
And
he ssum
umme
merr pr
p
rog
ogre
og
re
ess
sse
ed
dw
e mo
move
ved
do
on
n tto
o
matters
unrest.
XUERC
little
identity
more
mo
re m
mat
atte
ters
rs o
off un
unre
rest
st.. XU
st
XUER
ERC
ER
C had
haad a lilitt
ttle
le iide
dent
dent
n it
ityy
crisis.
XUERC
held
strategic
planning,
help
clear
cris
cr
isis
is.. So X
XUE
UERC
RC h
hel
eld
d a st
stra
rate
tegi
gicc pl
p
lan
anni
ning
ng,, to h
hel
elp ccl
lea
earr
things
thin
th
ings
gs out
out between
bet
b
etwe
ween
en
n the
the
h unit
uni
nitt and
and the
an
the college.
colllleg
co
ege.
e. So
So help
h lp
he
activities
done,
make
on tthe
he aact
ctiv
ivit
itie
iess to b
be
e do
done
ne
e, to m
mak
akke clear
clea
cl
earr statement
stat
st
attem
men
e t
vision,
mission
goals
done.
on tthe
he vvis
isio
ion,
n, m
mis
issi
sion
on
n aand
nd g
oals
oa
lss tto
o be d
one
on
e.. IItt wa
wass in
in
straight
things
out,
understand
ourselves
a wa
wayy to sstr
trai
aigh
ghtt th
thin
in
ngs o
out
ut,, to
ou
und
nd
der
erst
s an
st
and
d ou
ours
rsel
elve
ve
es
done.
and
an
d th
the
e wo
work
rk tto
o be d
don
one.
e.
supposed
be
serious
What w
What
was
as ssup
up
ppo
p se
sed
d to b
e an aactivity
ctiv
ct
ivit
ityy of sser
erio
ious
us
matters
made
light-hearted
delight
matt
ma
tter
erss wa
wass ma
ade llig
ight
htt-h
hea
eart
rted
rt
e tto
ed
o th
the
e de
deli
ligh
ghtt of
others.
Instead
grumbling
demise,
what
othe
ot
hers
rs.. In
Inst
stea
ead
d off g
gru
rumb
m liing
mb
g aand
nd
dd
emis
em
ise,
e, w
wha
hatt we
smiled,
was
better,
did
di
d wa
wass ha
had
d fu
fun
n an
and
d sm
smil
iled
ed,
ed
d, th
tthe
e work
wo
orkk w
a b
as
ette
et
tte
ter,r w
ter,
we
e
complain,
stomachs
grew
larger
with
can
ca
n t co
comp
mpla
laain
n, bu
butt ou
ourr st
tom
o aacchs g
gre
re
ew la
larg
rger
rg
er w
wit
ith
it
h
everyday,
when
we
ever
ev
eryd
yday
ay,, wh
hen
nw
e di
did.
d.
next
week,
were
brought
eld,
Then
Th
en tthe
he
en
extt we
ex
w
eek
e , we
we w
erre br
brou
ough
ghtt to tthe
he
e e
eld
ld,,
go
journey
to g
o on a llong
on
ng jjo
our
urne
ne
ey and
and on a new
an
new territory.
tter
erri
riitto
ory
ry.. We
W
o
South
Cotabato,
seminar,
were
we
re
eo
tto
oS
So
out
uth
h Co
otaabaato
to,, to
o ttake
ake
ak
e pa
part
rt o
on
n a se
emi
m na
nar,r,
meet
with
some
disaster
situations.
t m
to
ee
e
et wi
w
th ssom
ome
e experts
exxpe
pert
rtss on d
isas
is
aste
as
t r si
te
situ
tuat
attio
ons
ns..
sharing
knowledge,
reporting
It w
was
ass a ssha
haari
ring
ng o
off kn
know
owle
ow
edg
dge,
e, a rrep
epor
orti
ting
ng o
off so
some
me
me
sort.
We
part
activities
made
friends
sort
so
rt.. W
e to
took
ok p
par
artt of ttheir
heir aact
he
ctiv
ivit
itie
iess and
and ma
ade
de ffri
rien
ends
dss
some
sort.
expanded
ourr ne
networks
again
of ssom
om
me so
sort
rtt. We e
exp
xpan
xp
ande
an
ded
de
d ou
o
netw
twor
orks
ks aaga
gain tto
o
whole
new
buTnch
off pe
people
shared
knowledge
whol
wh
ole
e ne
n
ew bu
uTn
T ch o
peop
ople
le aand
nd ssha
hare
red
re
d kn
now
owle
l dg
le
dge
e
them,
with
things
We
took
with
wi
th tthe
he
em
m,, w
wit
ith
h th
the
e tth
hin
ings
gs tthat
hatt we kknow.
ha
now.
no
w. W
e to
ook
part
their
excursions,
traveling
p
pa
rt o
on
n th
hei
e r ex
excu
cu
urs
rsio
ions
ns, an
and
d th
the
e tr
trav
avel
elin
ing
g th
that
at ccame
am
me
40
REFLECTIONS
with iit,
with
t, iint
interviewed
nter
ervi
view
ew
wed a ffew
ew
wp
peo
people,
eopl
ple,
e, tto
o sh
shed
ed
d llig
light
ig
ght
some
on ssom
om
me th
tthings.
ings
in
gss.
was
off uss o
sort
It w
as a rrealization
as
ealiliza
ea
zaati
tion ffor
or aalllll o
off so
some
me ssor
ort
or
rt
to b
to
be
e out
out there
th
her
e e on
n tthe
he
e eld,
eld
e
ld,, itt was
waass a learning
llea
earn
rnin
ng
experience
worth
appreciating.
What
ex
xpe
peri
rien
ence
ce w
orth
or
th aapp
ppre
reci
ciat
atin
ing
in
g.. W
hatt w
ha
we
e
thought
uss wi
with
work,
thou
th
ough
ghtt wa
wass a ro
road
ad ttrip
rip
ri
p to cclear
le
eaarr u
w
ith
th w
orrk,,
o
turned
work
after
only
with
much
turn
tu
rn
ned
e tto
o be
e w
orkk af
or
afte
terr al
alll on
nlyy w
wit
ith
it
h mu
uch
h
appreciation.
appr
ap
prec
ecia
ec
iati
tion
on..
next
me
CRS
Then
Th
en
n tthe
he n
nex
exxt st
stop
op
p ffor
orr m
e wa
wass on tthe
he C
RS
group
cover
ssituation,
si
tuat
tu
atio
ion,
n, h
n,
had
ad tto
o ma
make
ke a g
roup
ro
up tto
o co
cove
verr th
the
e
work
compensation.
We
visit
the
wo
ork ccom
ompe
pens
nsat
attio
on
n.. W
e we
were
re aasked
sked
sk
ed tto
o vi
visi
sitt th
he
mountains
Bukidnon,
farmers
moun
mo
unta
un
tain
inss of B
Buk
ukkid
idno
no
non,
on,
n, tto
o te
ttend
nd tto
o th
the
e fa
farm
rmer
erss of
what
truly
needed.
was
another
long
wh
hat
a tthey
h y tr
he
trul
ulyy ne
eed
eded
ed.. Itt w
as aano
noth
th
her llon
ong
g tr
trip
ip
Intavas,
Bukidnon.
But
experience
to IInt
ntav
avvas
as,, Bu
Buki
kiidn
dnon
n. Bu
B
utt it w
was
as aan
n ex
expe
peri
rien
ence
ce
was
looking
forward
for.
presented
that
th
at I w
as lloo
ooki
king
ng
g ffor
orwa
ward
rd
d ffor
or.. We p
rese
re
sent
nted
ed
to tthe
he farmers
far
arme
mers
rs a manual
man
nua
uall that
th
hat we
we made;
made
ma
d ; it was
de
was
on
impound
water,
on aan
n easier
eaasi
sier
er w
way
ayy o
n ho
how
w to iimp
mpou
ound
nd w
wat
ater
er,,
respond
needs,
needs
their
to rres
espo
pond
nd tto
o th
the
e ne
need
eds,
s, tthe
he n
nee
eeds
ds ffor
or tthe
heir
ir
irrigation.
They
irri
ir
riga
gati
tion
on.. T
on
he
h
ey said
saaid
i they
tthe
heyy truly
trul
tr
u y appreciated
ul
appr
ap
prec
ecia
iate
ted
d our
our
little
presentation.
But
training
vocally,
lilitt
ttle
tt
le p
rese
re
sent
se
enttaattio
on.
n. B
utt ttra
u
rain
ra
inin
in
ng th
them
em vvoc
ocal
ally
ly,, wa
wass
aalllll that
al
that w
we
e did,
did, given
givven
n the
the circumstances
ccir
ircu
cums
msta
tanc
nces
es that
ttha
hatt
seemed
take
place.
interacted
them
seem
se
emed
ed tto
o ta
ake p
lace
la
c . We iint
ce
nter
erac
acte
ted
d wi
with
th tthe
hem
m
And
left
Intavas
thought
the
th
e be
best
st w
way
ay w
we
e ca
can.
n. A
nd llef
eftt In
Inta
tava
vass an
and
d th
thou
ough
ghtt
Now
we
back
it w
was
as done.
don
d
one.
e. N
ow w
e ne
need
ed tto
o walk
walk b
bac
ackk up to
to
the
clear
th
he mountains
moun
mo
unta
un
tain
ta
inss to ccle
lear
ar things
tthi
hing
ngss up
up,, for
for the
the work
work
have
may
never
enough.
Going
we h
hav
ave
e do
done
ne
em
a n
ay
nev
ever
err b
be
e en
enou
ough
gh.. Go
Goin
ing
g to
o
Intavas,
Bukidnon
great
experience
Inta
In
tava
vas,
s, B
Buk
ukid
idno
non
no
n wa
wass a gr
grea
eatt ex
expe
peri
rien
ence
ce ffor
orr
interacting
with
farmers
great
me,, in
me
inte
tera
ract
ctin
in
ng w
wi
ith
h tthe
h ffar
he
arme
mers
rs w
was
as g
gre
reat
at ffor
or
or
team.
uss a realization
work
my ttea
eam.
m. IItt gave
gave u
ga
r al
re
aliz
izat
atio
ion
n of tthe
he w
wor
orkk we
are
ar
e doing
doin
do
ing
g for.
for. IItt gave
gaave us
us a deeper
d ep
de
eper
er meaning
mea
m
eani
ning
ng on
on
everything
have
doing,
hear
ever
ev
eryt
ythi
hing
ng
g tthat
hatt we h
ha
hav
ave
av
e be
been d
been
doi
oing
ng,, to h
hea
earr th
the
e
outcry
off h
help
from
farmers
themselves.
outc
ou
tcry
ry o
he
elp ffro
rom
m th
the
e fa
farm
rm
me
errs th
them
em
mse
selv
lves
es.. It s
emotions
in tthe
he
e eld
eld w
we
e ge
gett to
o see
see
e the
the
ee
mo
m
ottiion
o s of tthe
he
people
involved,
gives
peop
pe
o le iinv
op
nvol
ollvve
ed,
d, aand
nd iitt iss ssomething
om
met
e hiing
g tthat
haat gi
give
vess
passion
work
doing.
us a llot
ot o
off p
pa
ass
ssio
ion
n in tthe
h w
he
wor
orkk we
w aare
re
ed
doi
oing
ng..
never
thought
would
looking
I ne
eve
ver th
thou
ough
ghtt th
tthat
at I w
ou
uld b
be
e lo
ook
okin
ing
g
forward
for
work,
was
case
forw
fo
rwar
ard fo
ar
or wo
work
rk,, but
but th
tthat
at w
as tthe
as
he ccas
ase
e wh
when
en
XUERC.
was
reduced
I was
was in X
wa
XUE
UE
ERC
RC.. Wo
Work
rk w
as rred
edu
ucced tto
o a me
mere
mere
routine
laughter
This
work
rout
ro
utin
ine
e of llau
augh
ghte
terr an
and
d fu
fun.
n. T
hiss wa
hi
wass wh
what
at w
orrk
should
be
like.
thing
made
shou
sh
ould b
e lilike
ke.. An
And
d th
the
e th
thin
ing
g th
that
at m
mad
ade
e th
tthings
ings
in
g
gs
work
our
bond.
w
wo
ork iin
n XUERC
XUER
XU
E C wa
ER
wass our
ourr friendship
ou
frie
fr
iend
nd
dsh
ship
i aand
ip
nd o
u b
ur
bon
on
nd.
d.
41
Improving rai
rain
in sshelter
in
helteer
er for
for farmers w
w// X
XUERC
UERC & CRS
But alas
But
alas o
our
ur ttim
time
ime
e wa
wass swift,
swifift,
sw
t, but
but the
th
he
e memories
mem
e or
orie
iess we m
mad
made,
ade,
forever.
Someone
told
that
there
willll b
wi
be
e fo
fore
reve
ver.r. S
Som
omeo
eone
ne ttol
old
d me
e before
bef
efor
ore
e ttha
hatt th
her
ere
e is a
reason
things
happens
they
say
when
reas
re
ason
on for
for aallll tthi
hing
ngss th
that
at h
hap
appe
pens
nss , tthe
heyy sa
he
ay wh
hen b
bad
ad
things
happen,
should
best
thin
th
ings
gs h
hap
appe
pen,
n, yyou
ou ssho
houl
uld
d ma
make
ke tthe
he b
bes
estt ou
es
outt of yyour
ourr
ou
situation
someday,
things
will
become
perfectly
situ
si
tuat
atio
ion
n an
and
d th
that
at ssom
omed
eday
ay,, th
thin
ings
in
gss w
ililll be
b
eco
come
me p
erfe
er
fect
ctly
ly
clear
Whoever
knew
clea
cl
earr for
for you.
you. W
Who
hoev
ever
er kkne
ne
ew that
tth
hat I had
had
d probably
pro
p
roba
babl
blyy one
on
ne of
times
college
life
myy ex
extended
year
the
th
e be
best
st ttim
imes
es o
off my ccol
olle
lege
ge llif
ife
e in
nm
exte
tend
nded
ed
d yyea
ear in
college?
deal
with
cards
coll
co
lleg
ege?
e? W
We
e ar
are
e al
alll le
left
ft tto
o de
eal w
wit
itth th
the
e ca
card
rdss th
that
att w
we
e ar
are
e
dealt
with;
make
the
deal
de
altt wi
with
th;; it iiss ju
just
st u
up
p to
ou
uss to m
aakke th
he be
best
st o
out
utt o
off it
iit.
t.. As
college
life
longer,
never
that
my ccol
olle
lege
ge llif
ife
e gr
grew
ew llon
on
nge
ger,r, n
evver tthought
houg
ho
ug
ght ttha
hatt I d se
ha
ssee
ee
things
clearer
thin
th
ings
gs ccle
lear
arer
er iin
n the
the end,
en
nd, aand
nd more
mor
ore
e than
th
han
a I would
wou
w
ould
ld ever
eve
e
ver
ve
know,
experience.
know
kn
ow,, I had
had probably
prob
pr
obab
ably
ly needed
nee
n
eede
ded
d th
this
iss e
xper
xp
erie
ienc
nce.
e. An
And
d as
as
beginning
they
th
ey say
say th
this
is iiss no
nott th
the
e en
end,
d, iitt s no
not ev
not
even
en tthe
he b
beg
egin
inni
ning
ng o
off
Instead
the
th
e en
end.
d. IIns
nste
tead
ad it
it iss the
the
h end
end of
of the
the beginning.
b gi
be
g nn
nnin
ing.
g. Someday
Some
So
meda
dayy
going
come
full
circle,
then.
lilife
fe is
is go
goin
ing
g to ccom
ome
e to
t fful
ulll ci
irc
rcle
le,, ho
hope
pe
e tto
o se
see
e yo
you
u th
then
en..
-Gerardo Josen A Santos
REFLECTIONS
A Volunteers Note
he university has always been thrusting

its students and teachers to engage
further with the communities. One of
those venues that the university has provided
is the XU Engineering Resource Center. As a
student this was where I chose to volunteer.
This was where I chose to engage further.
When I joined the center as a summer
volunteer/intern, I was able to extend my
horizons. I want to emphasize that when I
volunteered in the center I learned so much
as much; yet one aspect deeply rooted in my
consciousness. I would like to reiterate a part
XUERC with Fr Pedro Walpole and Iris Legal, excursion for vulnerability to resilience conference of my reection as a volunteer when I ended
my internship. I chose to relive in my memory my experience in Koronadal City, South Cotabato as one of
the experiences which I would never forget.
In May of 2011, Engr. Dexter Lo, Engr. Gerard Santos, Engr. Guadalupe Calalang and I went to Koronadal,
South Cotabato to represent Xavier University at a conference organized by Environmental Science for Social
Change (ESSC), a Jesuit research institute focused on environmental sustainability and social justice. I have
come across several conferences with experts focused mainly on the sciences of natural and anthropogenic
hazards, the human exposure to these hazards, and the sciences of the environment yet still; I wasn t able
to grasp the fullness of the human aspect in the dierent hues of the disaster spectrum. There was a point
in our conference workshop where I began to feel the touch of the humanity of disasters. In my scholastic
years, I was trained in quantifying human vulnerability. It is through structural aspects of the dwelling places
of people that we seek out to care for our people in the urban areas. And so at that point, I asked myself
how do you convert vulnerability to resilience? With regards to the United Nations International Strategy
for Disaster Reduction s (UNISDR) denition, I once looked up the dictionary for the meaning of resilience;
it says something about a material recovering or reforming from a compression or from stress. Perhaps,
the unit of resilience is in length and also in length of time to recover. Having learned in the basic science
of disasters, I was presuming I have learned enough and looking forward to advance my knowledge. Yet,
as the conference continued, it was so surprising that after months of working on disasters I didn t get the
chance to fully realize the fundamental question of why why work on disasters?
In the beginning of the conference, Peter Walpole S.J., Executive Director of ESSC, showed us a document
called Our Environmental Way of Proceeding . I haven t heard of this document before except the one
similar to it. The document is not something that is technical or procedural. Instead, it gives us identity and
also the core principles of our actions. In general, it calls for respect for our neighbors, for us, and for the
creation or the environment and the earth s natural systems. The key word was respect. And so it was one
of the reasons why the trip to Koronadal City was the most enlightening of my summer period.
42
REFLECTIONS
Governor Pinggoy, the Local Chief Executive of South Cotabato and his Provincial Council joined the
conference all day long. I was grateful for their presence for it was in their dialogue with the participants that
the governor mentioned a general problem; a problem in which many environment advocates and other
non-government organizations aren t so keen to accept. Governor Pinggoy defended: politicians are at the
mercy of the people s judgment . The manifestations of the eects of environmental projects are lengthy.
True, it cannot be immediately observed by the voter s perspective and so it is way too long for a political
oce s maximum term of 9 years. Profoundly, the problem is not just scientic in nature but including its
entanglement with human frailty. I honestly could not perceive a solution for this systemic predicament.
We were also exposed to the communities whom disaster is staring right at their faces. They are the
ones who are tip-toeing on a narrow edge living with the risks surrounding them and those who have
been greeted by disaster but lived to tell the tale. These people are testaments to the capacity of human
adaptation for survival. Humans are not immovable objects, and when we are pushed we always seek to
adapt. But then, the people dwelling on those risky areas are not celebrating the push for new heights.
They are pushed for the lack of income, the lack of food and always for the lack of something. To the mining
hills of one of our excursions, the diggers who mine gold weren t miners in their previous occupation and
yet, they would have to gamble for income and dwell on those places against the risk. I have never seen
a perfect example of someone being at risk and yet also the generators of hazards. Ecological wise, the
forests and hills don t necessarily pose a threat. And then here come the miners, losing the soils to the rivers
and disturbing the stability of the mountains. Given that they have settled there, they are at the risk of ash
oods and landslides and as long as they stay mining there, they exacerbate their own risk.
My experience in Koronadal City was just one of the many eye opening experiences that I had (for a
short time volunteering in XUERC).When you volunteer in XUERC, you see new places, meet new people,
learn new insights and assess yourself better. After my internship, I could say I was more than a volunteer, a
traveler and never less of a warrior a crusader.
Jofferdale Q Gallamaso
The woods are lovely,

dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
-Robert Frost
Sampling for the R3 Project at Marcos Bridge
43
REFLECTIONS
VOLUNTEERISM:
CHALLENGES
& LEARNING
started my involvement in the Xavier University

Engineering Resource Center (ERC) when I was in
my nal year as college student. I still recall the time
when Engr Dexter Lo (or Sir Dex as we call him) called

me, together with a certain classmate, Jim and asked if
we could help in his project on structural analysis. Very
eager to learn more on structural analysis, Jim and I
accepted the task. We were instantly called Research
Assistants and ERC was still literally small as we were
all cramped in a very small oce. Having nished the
assigned task (we even got paid right awayyehey!!!), I
thought that would be the rst and last activity that I ll
engage myself into.
Another project was assigned to the XUERC and
once again Jim and I were called. The client was Balubal
National High School (BNHS) and the task was to orient a Inspection of EcoSan Urinal at San Fernando, Pampanga
satellite dish to a certain range of bearings. The proper orientation of the satellite is needed to ensure optimal
reception of signal for the school s proposed internet connection. Equipped with a handheld compass only,
the team (Sir Dex, Jim and I) proceeded as scheduled to BNHS. The team was greeted with the Schoolin-Charge Mrs. Leiro del Puerto along with her faculty, stas, and students. Site inspection commenced
immediately after our arrival and with the help of the high school students, the proposed site was cleared
from any debris and rubbles. The compass survey was executed immediately and the proposed position of
the satellite was determined. The team wrapped up the work and enjoyed the meal (or should I say feast
because there was so much food) prepared by the client. I still remember the sumptuous taste of the native
tinolang manok they prepared. But something quite unexpected happened while we were having our meal
Mrs. del Puerto suddenly cried. She cried because she was happy that we were there and that her dream of
letting her students experience and learn through the internet will soon be a reality. While on our way back
to XU, we realized that no matter how easy or small the task is for us in engineering, the impact is very great. It
is so great that even though we practically did nothing on that activity, it meant the realization of a dream for
our client. And for me, that meant a lot. The incident taught me to appreciate and give value to the task I am
assigned to. And it was probably because of that incident that I became more attached to ERC despite being
busy with our nal year project study at the time.
XUERC then expanded and transferred its oce to the newly renovated room at the third oor of the
Engineering Building. Around this time, Jim and I were preparing for our graduation. But the demands
of fate cannot be easily denied and at that time, it demanded that I should remain connected with ERC.
After graduation, the opportunity to continue as volunteer came and without hesitation, I accepted it. What
happened next was probably the busiest summer I had in my life so far.
As a volunteer, I was tasked to write a manual called Guidelines in Establishing a Community-Based Water
Supply System . That was my rst challenge as an alumnus volunteer. I always thought that it would be easy
because my nal year project study was about a community water supply systembut I was entirely wrong!
44
REFLECTIONS

Drafting the outline, the chapters, the texts, and the
examples to be used had its dicult parts. Surely, it
was not a task to be tried with. I was able to complete
it with one lesson in mind never underestimate the
tasks assigned to you.
Being a graduate of Civil Engineering, analysis and

design of structures was no longer new to me. It was
even reinforced when I participated in designing
a building as part of my job earlier in ERC. It was an
ordinary task at rst but I began to get serious as I
progressed in the task. Unlike those plates we had in
our classes before, the project will be implemented.
I had to be sure of everything load imposed on
the structure, analysis of the forces and moments,
Orientation of EcoSan to Palawan LGU
calculations, and sound judgments for the design
before any conclusions were made. The task made me even more prudent than before. Prudence is one
thing one must have to be successful in a career and I am thankful to ERC for having me developed it.
Sustainable sanitation has always been one of ERC s engagements. The center is even linked to other
organizations and individuals for the promotion of dierent sustainable sanitation technologies. To further
the promotion, the center was involved in the creation of a manual entitled Low-Cost Sustainable Solutions
for Mindanao and the Philippines: A Practical Construction Field Guide . Four volunteers, including me,
participated in the hands-on training held at Libertad, Misamis Oriental. The task during the training was to
document in detail the actual construction procedure of the dierent sustainable sanitation technologies.
The actual task for the manual started after the training. I worked on the construction estimates and prepared
the bill of materials while the other volunteers focused on the technical and concept drawings. The task at
hand was not at all dicult but it required a sense of professionalism in every aspect. The manual was not
like the ordinary assignments we had in class before where we just draw and compute. The manual was
something people will use in the future.
The translation of Poo was another task in lined with sustainable sanitation. Translating the article had its
fun and confusing parts but it was never dicult at all. Like the manual, it is something people will use in the
future. Again, professionalism was part of it. Being professional in any task, easy or not, is another factor that is
required to become more successful in a career. And I was able to learn and develop it while I was a volunteer
for ERC.
Being a volunteer for ERC had its challenges and learning. It is not merely a summer job as other people
would call it. I could still recall some people say kapoy-kapoy lang while others would say mao ra na inyong
buhat diri sa ERC?! . But it was more than that! It was something that really developed my personality not just
in career but in life as well. Article writing, logistics for seminars, and even the simplest of oce work were
all easy tasks. The theories we learned throughout the course did not even apply. But it taught me things
never lectured on class before -- to be more prudent, to never underestimate, and more importantly, being
professional. And for me, this is the best honorarium one could get by being an XUERC volunteer.
Peter Andrew U Gamones
45
REFLECTIONS
Students working on the Development Plan & Infrastructure Design for Sumilao Farmers
USA KA BASO NGA TUBIG

Maayong buntag sa tanan! `hilabi na sa atung mga
bisita gikan sa Sumilao..
naa la y tulo ka pamalandong nga buut nako ng
ipaambit gikan sa atung mga kasinatian niining
proyekto:
ang una, kai kung unsa ka bililhon ang tradisyonal
na kahibalo nga nagakigan sa inyo (mga sir ug mam
natu sa Sumilao).. matood man nga aduna pud
kami y mga nahibawan sa engineering; apan lahi
ra gyud kung magdungan kita sa pagtoon og sa
pagsabut sa mga hagit sa kinabuhi.. pananglit:
matabok, o masukod.. tinood pud nga aduna y mga

pamaagi sa engineering nga makalkulo gihapon
ang mga "missing data" arun makumpleto ang
survey ug mapa.. apan, pinaagi sa inyung pag-uban
kanamo-- kai kamo man mismo ang nakasinati sa
mga bungtod ug mga bangilid sa inyong kayutaan,
namatudan namo nga mas-napadali ug masinsakto ang pagmapa.. kung pulos lang komputer
ang among gigamit, dili masayran pananglitan nga
adunay diay lalum nga mga bangilid didto dapit sa
suba..
- tinood nga kabalo mi mag-survey aron mamapa natu ang inyong kayutaan.. apan adunay
mga bahin nga dili namo pweding masudlan, o
- sa patubig.. kamo ang naglamdag kanamo

kung unsa gayud ka bililhon ang tubig, ang tubig sa
kinabuhi.. usahay man gud dinhi sa ciudad, malimtan
46
REFLECTIONS
namo ang taas nga paagi para maka-inom ug tubig

(kai mupalit man lang ka ug bottled water, inom na
dayun).. apan gikan sa atong paghisgot-hisgot, nasinati
namo unsa ang kahago sa pagsag-ub sa tubig para
lang mabuhi ang tanum og tao.. ug sa ingon, natagad
gyud namo ang katuyoan sa among mga gitunan sa
klase para makaalagad sa komyunidad..
mga studyante kai nakahuman sa among project

(shot ni unya!) `maka-graduate na, makatrabaho,
ug mkapanginabuhi sab.. pero nanghinaot
pud mi nga unta pinaagi niining kinasingkasing
nga kasinatian-- nakatagay pud mi ug bisan usa
lamang ka baso nga tubig-- aron makatabang sa
patagbaw sa inyong kauhaw..
- parehas pud sa dalan.. diri sa ciudad, gatumbantumban, ug usahay gani gahugaw-hugawan lang..
pero inyong gitudlo kanamo nga kini ang mga
ugat sa panginabuhi-- para mahalin ang mga abot..
nakaton usab namo unsa ang tinuud nga ipasabut
sa appropriate technology .. kai pagkadungog namo
nga gusto ninyo ug all weather road -- una gyud nga
nisulod sa amung huna-huna ang konkreto nga dalan..
apan gikan sa atung mga pagsabot-sabot og pagtukituki niini, nakaton namu nga mas-angay diay ang
gravel road lang -- masbarato na, masdali pa iuyonuyon kung bagohon ang plano sa pipila ka mga tuig..
ug sa pagtapos niining diskorso (kai medyo

taas na), buut nako ng ipaambit nga kami diri sa
Xavier kai mga instrumento lamang.. naka-design
mi ug dalan, pero ang abot inyo.. naka-design mi
ug patubig, pero ang tubig inyo.. naka-design
mi ug balay, pero ang pamilya og gugma inyo..
nanghinaot mi nga inyu pud unta ng ikalipay
ug ampingan ang among kinasingkasing nga
kahagu.. ug tungod niini, mapasalamaton pud
kami nga inyong gitugot ug gisalig kanamo ang
inyung mga pangandoy ug damgo sa kinabuhi!
salamat!
- ug ang balay.. kung ikomparar lugar sa mga

tag-as na nga mga building diri sa ciudad, simpol ra
gyud ang tahas sa pag-design sa usa ka single-storey
nga balay.. apan, nahagit kami sa pagmugna ug plano
para sa inyung balay kai gi-isip gyud namu ang inyung
pagpuyo, ang inyung pamilya, ug ang inyung mga
plano sa umaabot nga tuig (kung inyung padakan o
patasan ba kaha?).. aminon naku nga commercialized
na kaayo ang mga designs sa balay karun, og usahay
gakasalikway na ang mga pangandoy sa lumolupyo..
mao nga amo gyu ng gipaningkamutan nga pwedi
mahimong modular ang design sa inyong mga
balay..
ika.duha: sa pagsugod pa lang niining proyekto
niaging tuiga, nag.ingon ko nga kinasingkasing
namo ng gidawat ni nga tahas tungod kai sama
kini sa pag-inom sa tubig o beer.. dili ba, pwidi man
moinum ta ug Tanduay aron maglipay-lipay? apan dili
pud ba nga lahi gyud ang pagbati kung bisan tubig
lang ang atung giinom pero para matagbaw ang
kauhaw? matood man nga nalipay mi uban sa akong
47
Dexter S Lo
REFLECTIONS
XUERC DIRECTORY 2012-2013

Director:
Dexter Lo
Program Coordinators:
Jofferdale Gallamaso
Meldy Grace Comandante
Eduardo Tangonan III
Administrative Assistant:
Julemer Ann Aying
Program Officer:
Ma Dolly Mae Ybaez
Specialists:
Gerardo Apor
Jan Taat
Gunnar Marc Shane Cabaraban
Ian Giovanni Pabillaran
Megan Montuno
Peter Andrew Gamones
Student Volunteers:
Jefferson Vallente, Jr
Ebony Kirstie Abogado
Gaeza Lagar
Gratz Dale Noel Redoble
Lorraine Anthonaitte Laganao
Alvin Ronnie Caballero
Student Assistants:
Cherry Mae Ricablanca

Leslie Tumulak
48
Through the years...
49
50
SHOWCASING
ENGINEERINGS
Julemer Ann G Aying
BEST
eveloping Engineering Solutions with the

Community - that was the theme of the Final
Year Project Display and Presentation (FYPDP)
held last February 22, 2013 at the Engineering-CIT Satellite
Canteen. FYPDP is an annual event of the college which
showcases the dierent thesis outputs of all graduating
engineering students from Chemical Engineering,
Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics
Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Industrial
Engineering.
The event started at around 1pm, and was ocially
opened by the FYP Chairperson, Engr. Jolou Miraor. The
future engineers were also able to grasp some insights
and motivation when the local techno-prenuer, Engr.
Elpidio Paras gave his inspirational speech. The ribbon
cutting ceremony of the display followed afterwards.
Every year, each department of the college picks their

best contender for the Best Project Award. This award is
given to a group who has an exemplary project which
also ts to the event s theme. This year, the judges for this
award includes Engr. Narvinso Tan from the Department
of Science and Technology, Dr. Astrid Sinco from the
Kinaadman Research Center and Biology Department, and lastly, Dr. Dennis Apuan of the college of Agriculture.
The judging is divided into 3 parts, the research/ technical category, the display category and lastly, the
presentation category. Days before the display, the judges were given the condensed paper and the score
sheet for the research/ technology part. On the event proper, each group was given 10 minutes to interact
and showcase their project to the judges and score them for the display category. The scores were then tallied
to determine the nal 3 teams who qualied for the presentation category. During this part, the top 3 teams
defended and presented their project to the panel of judges. The winner for the best project was then decided
by the panel. Aside from the search for the Best Project Award, special awards were also given to projects who
were environmental friendly, creative, charming and who were able to capture the crowd s heart.
The theme for this year s FYPDP will also be the theme in the next three years to emphasize the importance
of involving the community; it may be the industry or the marginalized, in creating and developing engineering
solutions. Just like a popular Chinese quote say, Tell me and I ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve
me and I ll understand.
51
Below is the list of winners for the FYPDP 2013:

Best Project Award
Starch-Lignin Biopolymer Support for Urea Fertilizer in a Controlled Release System
Ms. Monique Cagatin
Ms. Jennifer Juanico
Mr. Russel Lambunao
Mentor: Dr. Hercules Cascon
2nd Prize
Automated Stock Inventory using Sensors (RFID) for Blood Bank
Ms. Camelle Atillo
Mr. Kristoffer Flores
Mr. Wilfredo Ng Jr.
Ms. Karen Jane Lim
Mentor: Engr. Ian Giovanni Pabillaran
3rd Prize
Proposed Drainage System Design for Zones 1, 2 and 3, Barangay Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro
Ms. Stephanie B. Cheng
Mr. John Alexander C. Malolot III
Ms. Roselle Grace Rodriguez
Ms. Sheryl Rose Tee
Mentor: Engr. Joel Camillo Haos and Engr. Jan Taat
Consolation
Design of Off-Grid Photovoltaic Power Generation System for Single House in Xavier Ecoville,
Brgy. Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro
Mr. James Roland Cortejos
Mr. Rejinne Louie Dumanon
Mr. Rey Norman Tagarda
Mr. Josaphat Villamore
Mentor: Engr. Gunnar Marc Shane Cabaraban
Technology Upgrading: Abaca Defibering Technology

Ms. Paola Luz Baliwis
Ms. Vida Marie Romano
Mentor: Engr. Glenn Paclijan
Water Desalination System Using Parabolic Trough Reflector for Sitio Malingin, Opol, Misamis Oriental
Mr. Micheal Louis Ong
Mr. Roine Anthon Limbaco
Mr. Franz Nikko Francisco
Mentor: Engr. Cyril Fabrea
52
Special Awards
Best in Project Display
Improving Safety In Public Schools In Cagayan de Oro Through Engineering And Traffic Education
Ms. Alech Madeleine Abogado
Ms. Ferven Cabugao,
Ms. Yvanie Yorvania Ebana
Mr. Jefferson Vallente Jr.
Mentor: Engr. Anabel Abuzo
Makamasa Award
Converting Alphabet Hand Sign into its Equivalent Sound using Artificial Neural Network (ANN)
BACKPROPAGATION
Mr. Mark Kenneth Arrogante
Mr. Edward Marlo Pacifico
Mr. Adrian Zayas
Mr. Lucky Jon Enguio
Mentor: Engr. Majiah Collado
Warriors Charm Award

Converting Alphabet Hand Sign into its Equivalent Sound using Artificial Neural Network (ANN)
BACKPROPAGATION
Mr. Mark Kenneth Arrogante
Mr. Edward Marlo Pacifico
Mr. Adrian Zayas
Mr. Lucky Jon Enguio
Mentor: Engr. Majiah Collado
Malikhain Award
Obstacle Detector for Visually Impaired Persons
Mr. Azur Dime
Mr. Vinmar Magto
Mr. Francisco Fernandez Jr.
Mentor: Mary Jean Apor
Kalikasan Award
Activated Carbon from GigantochloaAtter as Filter for Exhaust of Automobiles in Cagayan de Oro
Mr. Dean Cris Acabo
Ms. Elijah Fuentes
Ms. Stephanie Joaguin
Mentor: Engr. Melba Mendoza
53
Sponsors for Final Year Project Display 2013:
Engr Elpidio Paras
54
55
56
57
58
Xavier University- College Parents & Faculty Association
Engr Gerardo P Apor

Chairperson
Civil Engineering Department
College of Engineering
Engr Dexter S Lo
Director
XU Engineering Resorce Center
59
60

XUERC at 5

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XU Engineering

The First FIVE Years

Dulce Corazon Mangubat

Even Without The Storm

Showcasing Engineerings Best

XU ERC 5TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

s a Catholic and Jesuit university,

One of the many important issues of our

theme, Developing Engineering Solutions

community development and to ensure that

XU ERC 5TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

pride in its unparalleled

research that braces

the Final Year

Marrying research and

Project Study (FYPS)

and publication. You

have journeyed this

community. Though according to Randy Pausch, The

In this interesting eld of engineering, our own College

Last Lecture Engineering isn't about perfect solutions;

of Engineering has been in the forefront of this paradigm

shift. In particular, our engineers together with their

You continue to reinforce your commitment to the

students and volunteers have been involved in disaster

community and hence the theme on

risk reduction from hard infrastructure to development

Engineering Solutions with the Community capsulizes

work, applied geographic information system (GIS) tool

what you have been doing.

to innovate community-based information monitoring

Congratulations on the job well done!

system, to designing specialized toilets for sustainable

Hilly Ann Roa- Quiaoit, PhD

Lina G. Kwong, PhD

XU ERC 5TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

and the Xavier University

resources and eorts for

the success of this year s

Center (XUERC) for this

Final Year Project Display

of FYP Journal featuring

sacrices and patience

engineering students of Xavier University are not only

event happen. Your achievement today is indeed the

honed in engineering fundamentals and the latest in

direct result of your dedicated eort towards reaching

engineering concepts but that part of the students

your goal. The personal pride of your work is obvious

growth is to develop their skills through research and

and can never be taken for granted.

projects similar to what is being described herein. This

I would like to personally thank you for taking the

kind of exposure and the experienced process would

initiative. There can never be success unless someone,

develop among engineering students, skills that will

make them adapt better to real-world situations. In the

things happen and never succumbed to failure; you

Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP), these research

steadfastly persisted despite the diculties. By refusing

projects show that our engineering students are

to fail, you have led us into the success of this important

formed such that they would contribute intelligently