Speaker Box Making at Tokyo Tech

FUN WAY TO MAKE A SPEAKER BOX
By Bertrand Teodosio

A speaker box is very interesting. It radiates frequencies flowing through our ear which lets us hear magical tones. Interesting enough, our group departed Manila to Tokyo to make our own speaker boxes. This is our mission at the Socio-Cultural and Technical Exchange Program between DLSU and Tokyo Institute of Technology which was held on Feb. 19-29, 2012.

Taking a break. Our speaker box projects

Making a speaker box is not as easy as one, two, three… You need to know the exact measurement of wood panels, advisable smoothness of the surface, and acceptable shapes and sizes of duct and fiber glass wool. Furthermore, theoretical and empirical formulas should be used to determine the location and dimensions of the parts of the speaker. Thinking about these factors might eventually change your mind to make one on your own.

The trip lasted for eleven days filled with delightful munchies, tranquilizing scenes, and friendly fellows. Just like what most people say, you cannot resist the sumptuous variety of Japanese food. From snacks such as "takoyaki" and "manju" to steamy "ramen" and melting "sushi" and "sashimi", indeed, the city is a haven of mouth-watering delights where you can indulge the country’s tradition.

Enjoying Japanese Food. Itadakimasu! 

In line with this, amazing traditional and innovative places can be seen in this awesome country. The Tokyo Tower, Sky Tree Tower, Kaminarimon in Asakusa, Emperor’s Castle, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya, Akihabara, and many more tourist spots can be visited with plenty of exciting activities and attractive stores.

A cultural tour in one of Tokyo's historic temples

The food and places are outstanding but the most exceptional asset of Japan is the honest, friendly, and kind people we met within our stay. It is evident in almost all the population of the metropolis especially the group mates, staffs, and professors of TokyoTech.

We had fun. Kampai!

Our stay was too short because of the awesome times we shared with our beloved professors and new TokyoTech friends. They imparted knowledge and fruitful understanding of both Japanese and Filipino culture. They were all hospitable and fun to be with which will make us miss Japan more.

Though making speaker boxes maybe hard, making our own made our stay in TokyoTech an unforgettable one. Even though there were lots of things to consider, with the help of our benevolent professors, staffs, and group mates, we successfully created an object that exemplifies our perseverance, teamwork, and passion. Hence, the best way to make one is to make it with your accommodating friends.

Without a doubt, we will go back to Japan again to eat more delicious Japanese food, see more astonishing sights and visit our beloved friends and professors. For now, we went back to the Philippines with a mission of applying all the good learning we gained in Japan to create a better change in our home country.

Snow at Tokyo. The author stands at the middle.



We are all very thankful to all the professors, Takeuchi-Sensei, Tsuda-Sensei, Yamada-Sensei, Otsuki-Sensei, Yamashita-Sensei, Matsuo-Sensei and all the TokyoTech students who patiently guided us to finish our hand-made speaker boxes. May this strong relationship of De La Salle University and Tokyo Institute of Technology continue to enrich students with wisdom.

The participants in this program consist of eight DLSU-M students and two staff members from the the CIV-TIT Office-Manila:

• 1. Tanhueco, Bea Katrina (COS) Biochemistry, 17 yrs old
• 2. Kalaw, Kristine Ma. Dominique (CCS), ComSci, 16 yrs old
• 3. Culaba, Florence Joan (CLA), Psychology, 17 yrs old
• 4. Pantoja, Michaella Stacy (COE), ChE, 17yrs old
• 5. Adalem, Bianca Mae (COE), ME, 20 yrs old 
• 6. Talampas, Joseph (COE), ME, 20 yrs old 
• 7. Mendoza, Tracey (COB), BA, 20 yrs old 
• 8. Young, Svend Ezer (COE), Civ, 20 yrs old 
• 9. Teodosio, Bertrand (COE) Civ Staff RA 
• 10. Buagas, Ma. Dianne (COE) Civ Staff RA 
  

  

  Infront of Tokyo Tech

  Photos from FB courtesy of Svend Ezer Young, TinTin Kalaw, Ding Buagas and Florence Culaba

Ms. Irene Ubay: SSOT 2012 Outstanding Teacher!

The CE Department congratulates Engr. Irene "Yen" Ubay for being awarded as outstanding teacher in the recent Students' Search for Outstanding Teachers (SSOT) 2012. Engr. Ubay was selected as one of the seven finalists and the winner was announced during the awarding ceremony last March 30, 2012.  Engr. Ubay is a BSCE DLSU alumnus who graduated MSCE at Chulalongkorn University. She teaches Civil Engineering Materials, Theory of Structures and Mechanics courses. 

 The SSOT is one of the highlights of the Lasallian Excellence Awards, an annual project of the DLSU Council of Student Organizations. Initiated and implemented by the students, the SSOT honors Lasallian teachers who embody the values, ideas, and traditions pursued by St. John Baptist de La Salle.

The SSOT awardee in 2011 was Dr. Jonathan Dungca of the CE Dept. We wish all the finalists the best. Animo Lasalle!

In Memoriam: Francisco Franco

Dear CE Family,

It is with a heavy heart that I announce the death of a beloved colleague and DLSU CE dept. family member. Frank. He came home from the U.S. this month to have a vacation in his hometown in Iloilo. He was hospitalized due to illness. He passed away 3pm  - March 18, 2012. His remains lie in St Therese funeral home in Molo, Iloilo. Interment is tentatively set this coming Saturday, March 24,2012.

Engr. Francisco Franco (3rd from right)

Frank was a fulltime faculty member , a Faculty Administrative Assistant of the college of engineering and subsequently became chair of the CE department on the years 1999 and 2000. He also was a consultant to DLS schools particularly in De La Salle Zobel before working in the United States starting the year 2004 as a teacher in California,USA . He has various contributions to the university in the fields of research, teaching and administration.

May I request for prayers for our dear brother Frank for the repose of his soul.

Thank you and Godbless.

Sincerely,

Ronnie S. Gallardo

Chair - DLSU Civil Engg Dept.

International Conference on Outcomes-Based Teaching and Learning

DLSU GCOE faculty led by GCOE Dean Pag-asa Gaspillo, GCOE Vice Dean Efren Dela Cruz, Dr. Andres Oreta (CE), Dr. Alvin Chua (ME), and part-time faculty Dr. Manuel Belino attended the International Conference on Outcomes-Based Teaching and Learning (ICOBTL) on Feb. 16-17, 2012 at the TIP Campus in QC.

DLSU faculty - Chua, Oreta and De La Cruz- with Prof. John Biggs

The keynote lecturers were Prof. John Biggs, educator, psychologist and author of the 'constructive alignement' and 'SOLO taxonomy" concepts and his wife and co-author, Dr. Catherine Tang. About 500 teachers, university presidents and heads of government and professional organizations attended the conference.

CE Faculty visits Chula with DLSU Alumni

Photo (L-R): Em Sevillia (DLSU Alumnus now enrolled at CU), Erica Uy,
Dr. Anat, Prof. Panitan, Dr. Oreta, Irene Ubay, Dr. Chatpan, Jamiel Jayme and Daniel Valerio

 Dr. Andres Oreta, Professor in Civil Engineering (DLSU-M) visited Chulalongkorn University (CU) through the AUN/SEED-Net Short Term Visit Program last Jan 28 - Feb 5, 2012 to strengthen the Academic Exchange between the Departments of Civil Eng'g of the two universities.  Joining him was Ms. Irene Ubay, DLSU BSCE Alumnus and now Asst. Prof. Lecturer at DLSU. She is also an alumnus of CU who earned her MSCE degree as a scholar under the AUN/SEED-Net program. Three DLSU alumni, Daniel Valerio, Erica Uy and Jamiel Jayme also joined the visit and they presented their research to the CU faculty and students. The three alumni are applying for AUN/SEED Net scholarship at CU.

Dr. Oreta presented a lecture on February 1, 2012 to about 30 MS students in Structural Engineering of CU on the following topics:
 One Million Safe Schools & Hospitals Campaign,
 DLSU Research Initiatives on Safe & Sustainable Infrastructures,
 DLSU Academic Exchange.

Among the outputs of the visit were:
1. The Agreement on Academic Exchange Between DLSU-CU (signed in 2007) was reviewed and activities between the two departments were aligned to this agreement

2.  DLSU Undergraduate Student Exchange Visit at CU was formalized.
3. List of possible activities of Graduate Student Exchange and Faculty Exchange were identified.