PhD in Civil Engineering at DLSU-Manila

The Gokongwei College of Engineering - DLSU, Manila will offer the PhD in Civil Engineering starting 1st term SY2012-2013. Apply now.

The PhD in Civil Engineering aims to train professional civil engineers who can contribute solutions to specialized problems in civil engineering especially related to contemporary issues on sustainability and disaster risk reduction The PhD program has two integrative courses, namely: (1) Sustainable Infrastructure for the Natural and Built Environment, and (2) Natural Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, under five fields of specialization, namely (1) Construction Technology and Management, (2) Geotechnical Engineering, (3) Structural Engineering, (4) Transportation Planning and Engineering, and (5) Hydraulics and Water Resources Engineering.

Upon admission, the PhD student will be assigned and adviser and has to choose his/her field of specialization and the integrative course that he/she will have to pursue. Furthermore, his/her dissertation topic will dictate all these choices. Full time PhD students with MS in Civil Engineering (thesis option) will only need 18 academic units of specialization, integrative, philosophy, and seminar courses plus 12 units of dissertation to finish the degree in three years. For those with Master of Engineering (non-thesis option), a supervised research work (directed research) is required for two terms equivalent to 6 units of graduate enrolment before being accepted in the PhD program.

The curriculum of the PhD program is composed of 30 academic units of coursework and dissertation, summarized as follows:

Specialization and integrative courses  - 12 units
Philosophy course - 3 units
Seminar 3
Doctoral dissertation - 12 units
Total  - 30 units

Requirements for enrolment: Submit your application documents NOW!


••Application form with 2x2 picture
••Original copy of transcript of records
••Original copy of NSO birth certificate
••Transfer credential (for non-DLSU graduate)
••Two (2) letters of recommendation (downloadable forms at DLSU website)
••Updated curriculum vitae/resume
••Personal statement containing academic and career objectives
••Two (2) pieces of 2” x 2” picture for testing permit
••Certificate of good moral character from previous school/employer at least six months from date of issuance

Additional requirements for PhD applicants
••Photocopy of research output
••Concept paper for the proposed dissertation research
visit: http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/admissions/ for more information

Scholarships and financial assistance
••DOST-ERDT, CHED and DOST-SEI
Scholarship for Graduate Programs
For further information, please visit or call:
The SFA Office, LS Building, Room 151-A (Mezzanine floor of Graduate Admissions Office) Tel. Nos. 632-536-02-25 (Direct) or 632-524-46-11 loc. 162
http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/offices/sfa/graduate_scholarship.asp
 
Contact Information


The Chair, Civil Engineering Department
Gokongwei-College of Engineering
De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, 1004 Manila Philippines
Telephone No.: 632-5244611 loc. 226/217
Telefax: 632-5240563
E-mail Addresses: ronaldo.gallardo@dlsu.edu.ph , alexis.fillone@dlsu.edu.ph

DLSU CE Dept. graduates 2nd Summa Cum Laude

Katrina C. Tengki is the 2nd BSCE Summa Cum Laude graduate of De La Salle University-Manila. Ms. Tengki was also recognized as the Outstanding Civil Engineering student. Last Oct. 15, 2011, the university graduation was held for the 1st Term AY 2011-2012 graduating students. The other civil engineering students who were also recognized for their outstanding academic and extra-curricular performance are:

• Earl Marvin De Guzman - Magna Cum Laude and Outstanding Contribution to the CE Department
• Christopher Rey Gozum - Magna Cum Laude
• Mark Justin Kung - Cum Laude
• Analyn Yee Concepcion - Cum Laude
• Catherine Chan - Honorable Mention
• Francis Ebanos - Honorable Mention
• Xavier Lim - Honorable Mention
• Iris Mae Malabatuan - Honorable Mention
• Bertrand Teodosio - Honorable Mention
• Erica Elice Uy - Honorable Mention
• John Vincent Uy - Honorable Mention
• Daniel Nichol Valerio - Honorable Mention
• Maila Marie Victorino - Honorable Mention
  
  
  Congratulations!
  
  
  

Kyoto U & TCU Profs visit DLSU

Oreta, Culaba, Koike, Yoshida & Garciano - Sept 30, 2011



Professor Takeshi Koike of the Department of Civil and Earth Resources Engineering, Kyoto University and Prof. Ikumasa Yoshida of the Information System and Management Laboratory of Civil Engineering, Tokyo City University visited the Civil Engineering Department, DLSU last Sept. 30, 2011. Prof. Koike was the adviser of newly hired full time associate professor, Dr. Lessandro Garciano in Japan. Prof. Koike and Prof. Yoshida were keynote speaker  and technical paper presentor, respectively in the 15th ASEP International Convention held on Sept 28-29, 2011 at Dusit Hotel.

Prof. Koike and Prof. Yoshida visited the CE Dept. Structural Engineering Laboratory and then met with Prof. Dr. Alvin Culaba, Executive Vice Chancellor for Internationalization. They also delivered a lecture at the Graduate Course in Structural Dynamics of Dr. Garciano.

CE Dept participates at ASEP's 50th Anniversary Convention

The Faculty Presentors

The faculty, alumni and students of the De La Salle University-Manila, Civil Engineering Department presented papers at the 50th ASEP Anniversary International Convention and Expostion held on Sept. 28-30, 2011 at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City. The 50th ASEP Anniversary highlights the 15th ASEP International Convention (15AIC -  Sept. 28-29, 2011) and the 1st ASEP Software and Computing Technology Expo (A.SCTEX - Sept. 30, 2011). The faculty members who presented with their students were CE Dept. chair, Ronaldo Gallardo, Dr. Andres Oreta, Dr. Lessandro Garciano, Dr. Bernardo Lejano and Alden Paul Balili. The alumni/student presentors were Francesca Del Castillo, Krist Galicia, Daniel Valerio, El Rey Morales, Antonio Mayo III, Patricia Adiaz and David Joseph Vidad.

Alumni and Graduating Student Presentors

The papers presented at the 15AIC are listed below:

1. Assessment Of Reinforcement Corrosion In Fully Carbonated Concrete by Perlie F. Bohol, Ronaldo S. Gallardo and .Nobuaki Otsuki

2. Investigation of Concrete Mixtures for the Concrete Cover Repairs of RC Square Columns by Anna Francesca C. Del Castillo, Sarah Linette D. Cornejo, Romwell Louis L. Tan and Andres Winston C. Oreta

3. Retrofitting of RC Columns with Steel Fiber Reinforced Mortar by Bernardo A. Lejano, Krist Kevinson A. Galicia, Jonathan Vincent C. Sia and Daniel Nichol R. Valerio

4. Effects of Elevated Temperature on RC Beams Externally Bonded with CFRP by Bernardo A. Lejano, Reuben Aaron Flores, El Rey Morales and Marlon Bryan Palisoc

5. Theory of Structures Laboratory in the CE Curriculum: Understanding Structural Behavior through Laboratory Experiments by Andres Winston C. Oreta, Marcelo V. Castillo Jr., Manuel Antonio Mayo III and Ailene P. Tangonan

6. Estimating the Limit State Exceeding Probability of a Deteriorating Structure using the Kalman Filter, Extended Kalman Filter, Unscented Kalman Filter And The Sequential Monte Carlo Simulation by Lessandro Estelito Garciano and Ikumasa Yoshida

7. Retrofitting of Steel Wide Flange Beams using Exterior Post-Tensioning by Bernardo A. Lejano, Patricia C. Adiaz and David Joseph J. Vidad

The A.SCTEX, on the otherhand, highlighted the paper " Examples of Structural Modelling, Analysis and Design Automation through the SAP2000 API" by Alden Paul Balili

Retired DLSU Prof. Estanero: Outstanding ASEP Structural Engineer!

Congratulations to Dr. Romeo Estanero, retired faculty of the Civil Engineering Department for being selected as one of the 50 Outstanding ASEP Structural Engineers. The recognition was announced during the ASEP 50th Anniversary Gala Night held on Sept. 30, 2011 at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City. Estanero was the founding chair of CE Department at De La Salle University-Manila. He retired from DLSU as full professor in 2007.

Photo: From FB of Yen Ubay

Alden Paul Balili joins STE Division

DLSU alumnus (BSCE 2002, MSCE 2009), Engr. Alden Paul Balili is now a full time assistant professor under the Structural Engineering (STE) Division of the Civil Engineering Deaprtment.

Balili was awarded an Outstanding MSCE Thesis for his research on optimal design of RC frames using genetic algorithms. Before teaching at DLSU as a part-time faculty in 2010, he worked for seven years in various structural design projects at Parsons Brinckerhoff. Balili is a member of the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP), International Association of Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) and Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE). His research area is on applications of  software and computing technology in structural and earthquake engineering.

Balili at the IABSE Symposium, Bangkok, Thailand

Balili is tasked to teach engineering mechanics subjects, mechanics of deformable bodies, civil engineering computer methods, computer-aided structural analysis, structural design subjects and specialized structural engineering courses like bridge design and structural design of buildings. He also teaches graduate courses on finite element analysis and advanced structural analysis.

Paper on Timber Beams: Best Paper at the 7th ERDT Conference

The paper based on the undergraduate thesis, "Mechanical Properties on Flexure and Shear of Comercially Available Timber Beams in the Philippines" by Earl Marvin De Guzman, Michael Stephen Go and Katrina Tengki with Andres Oreta as adviser was awarded as the best paper in the environment and infrastructure track at the 7th ERDT Conference held at the Manila Hotel last Sept. 16, 2011. The paper was presented by Earl Marvin De Guzman with the collaboration of Katrina Tengki and Dr. Andres Oreta in the open forum. (view the abstract of the thesis).

Tengki and De Guzmam

De Guzman, Tengki, Concepcion, Malabatuan, Teodosio & Oreta

Poster presentations of other civil engineering researches were also displayed during the conference. The posters presented were:

Concepcion, Malabatuan & Teodosio

Deriving Optimum Mix Designs For High Strength Concrete Using Genetic Algorithms

by

Iris Mae M. Malabatuan, Bertrand B. Teodosio, Analyn C. Yee Concepcion, Alden Paul D. Balili and Andres Winston C. Oreta

Jao and Dychangco (MSCE Students)

Geotechnical Properties of Limestone and Limestone-blended Embankment Materirals

by

J.R. Dungca, L.T. Dychangco and J. I . Jao.

The TokyoTech-DLSU Student Exchange 2011 - Part II

Finding Home at the Land of the Rising Sun (Part 2)

by Christopher Gozum, Bernadette Konwat and Bertrand Teodosio

The trip to Tokyo will not be complete without paying a visit to Mickey Mouse and Friends. It was Disney Sea day. We had very high expectations but it was also the summer vacation of the Japanese students. That meant there were a lot of people visiting one of the best amusement parks in the world. There were great attractions but the ride itself only lasted to a maximum of a minute as compared to a two to three-hours waiting time. It was just bad timing. We weren’t able to maximize our time here. But nevertheless, we enjoyed the company and bonding time with our Japanese friends.

Then we also went to Odaiba where we were able to witness their man made sea in which according to the Japanese people required a lot of embanking and filling material. And the Toyota Showroom located here also featured hybrid Toyota cars. Some of us the DLSU students also tried the Japanese hot spring (onsen) in Odaiba with the Japanese friends.

Planking invades Japan! Some of our Japanese friends did planking and they were really into it.
We also went to Tokyo's Metropolitan Office/Building. We went up in the observatory at the 45th floor to appreciate the view and see the whole of Tokyo.

We also went to Ueno and Okachimachi where we bought some chocolate souvenirs (Tiramisu flavored KitKat and different flavors of omochi).

Akihabara. Japan’s Electric Town. A whole day is not enough to be able to go around this huge town so we had to go back here more than once. All those gadgets and electronics are tempting you to buy them at very reasonable prices and you just can’t get enough of Akihabara.

During our Karaoke night, some of us were very tired and stayed at home. But some enjoyed the night in Oookayama and had fun Karaoke-ing with the Japanese students. It was an altogether unique Karaoke experience; nothing like the regular Karaoke places in our country.

For our last day, we went to Asakusa Temple to buy ourselves souvenirs. For lunch, we went to Jiyugaoka where we ate at a Tempura house. There were also many shops in this area. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough time to tour here.

Time flies so fast. It seemed like yesterday it was just our welcoming party, and then it was the farewell party already? Well, all good things have their ends; including this Japan trip. Our Japanese friends prepared games, drinks, food, company and of course friendship. We are very appreciative of this.
We were really very touched of the effort that the Japanese students gave for accompanying us and making us feel at home in Japan. Through the sunny days and rainy days in our trip, they were with us. And as Chai Santiago (one of the Manufacturing Engineering DLSU students in this trip) said “What I'm gonna miss the most here in Japan are not the places that we've been to nor the food that we were able to eat, it's the people who made us feel at home even if we were actually a thousand miles away from the Philippines.”
The writers: Bertrand (Rightmost), Christopher (3rd from Right) & Bernadette (4th from Right)

And on behalf of the DLSU Students, we would like to thank:
Prof. Hirofumi Hinode and Prof. Noboaki Otsuki
Engr. Gallardo, Ms. Lan, Kuya Alvin, Kuya Panj, Ate Eden, and Ate Ann
And of course, our Tokyo Tech Friends:
Aki, Pham, Sho, Satoshi, Shuuhei, Ryushi, Kazuki, Endo, Ryosuke, Yun, Kenji, Honda, Kim, Mynt, Yasu, Keita, and Nori.

The TokyoTech-DLSU Student Exchange 2011 - Part I

Finding Home in the Land of the Rising Sun (Part I)
by Christopher Gozum, Bernadette Konwat and Bertrand Teodosio

Tokyo, one of Japan’s and the world’s most populous metropolis. De La Salle University, together with Tokyo Institute of Technology, had been sending students from Manila to Tokyo and vice versa as part of their partnership in the socio-cultural student exchange program.

Last September 2010, some Tokyo Tech students came in the Philippines and as senior students that time, some of us was asked to help accommodate the Japanese students during their stay here. From their first day to their last day of stay here in the Philippines, we were with them. From their English classes in DLSU to their tours/trips and leisure times, we were together. This built a strong bond of friendship between De La Salle University students and Tokyo Institute of Technology students despite the short time of knowing and accompanying each other.

The most awaited Tokyo trip has finally come. The trip was supposed to be last May 2011. However, due to unfortunate events, the trip was canceled until it was pushed through this August 25, 2011. We, composed of 17 engineering students from DLSU, arrived at Narita Airport at around seven (7) in the evening already and arrived at Weekly Mansion, where we stayed, at around ten (10) in the evening, so our stomachs were craving for some Japanese food already. We explored our hometown in Shinmaruko and after wandering around for a while, we ended up eating in an authentic Japanese Ramen Restaurant where the food is oishi (delicious) and the owners were very friendly to us.

On our official first day in Tokyo after arriving late Thursday night, we had a campus tour at Tokyo Tech accompanied by some of our seniors who were also from De La Salle University and some of our Japanese friends from the batch last year who visited the Philippines. We also met Dr. Hirofumi Hinode who is our host from the Tokyo Institute of Technology. The whole day we toured their campus and went to see their Geotechnical Lab, Hydraulics Lab, Tsubame (The World's Fastest Super Computer), and other facilities. The Japanese hosts also gave us a welcome party with food and games. It was already late when we got home so we bought Takoyaki along the streets for our midnight snacks.
The following days were very busy days - mostly walking and touring. One of the places we went to was Ginza Street. Ginza is a haven for high-end shops in Japan including but not limited to Rolex, Zara, H n M, UNIQLO, Geox, and many more. Twice in our stay in Japan, we ate in buffet restaurants. Both were priced at 1200 Yen and were good for exactly 1 hour. Not bad for the price, especially for the fast eaters. But, it is a must in Japan buffet restaurants to chew and swallow real fast. We also dined in a Japanese style and an Italian resto.

We also went to the Ueno Museum of Natural Science. Their 360 degree Theater was exemplifying.

We had mass at the Meguro Catholic Church where we saw many Filipinos. Next Stop was The Meji Shrine where a festival was being held when we arrived. Japanese people all around Japan gathered here to showcase their own respective dances. And yes, to make sure that we get to remember this event, we took the opportunity to take pictures with all of the Japanese dances we saw. There was a time when the group of dancers kept getting bigger and bigger in our picture takings to the extent that even some of the other foreigners took out their cams and had to capture this crazy but very awesome moment.
Harajuku was the place next stop. It was the "Strange" Fashion District of Japan. We shopped here and also went to Shibuya, which is just nearby, where the statue of Hachiko is waiting for us. These two places are where Japanese youngsters usually hangout. Then for dinner in Shibuya, we divided into groups - since each group wanted to eat sushi, tempura, and Italian food. The tempura restaurant in Shibuya was exemplary. To end the night, we went to a bar in Shibuya. Kampai!

At nights, we did not waste any second for idling. Instead, we played card games and bonding in Yukata outfits. There were nights when we also bought Japanese snacks in convenience stores like Lawson 100, Family Mart, and Tokyu Store to have a midnight snack party in our rooms.

The most important part and major purpose of this trip, we had a company tour at Obayashi Corporation and they were very kind to accommodate us. They are one of the biggest civil engineering companies in Japan and they really invest in research and development. They schooled us how to use resources and how to follow the principle of sustainable development.

Their Research Facility was built by using High Strength Concrete. Not Impressed? The strength of that concrete is 720 MPa. Civil Engineering Students, you get the idea of how impressive that is.

They were using some kind of foam for their acoustics and sound proofing. They allowed us to hear what it felt like to be in a room in which all of the walls were fully installed with their foam technology. And it was great. There was ZERO echo. You couldn't hear anything from outside.

Then the most amazing technology was the equipment they used to counter earthquakes. When the earthquake pushes the building to the left, their equipment then negates the seismic load by pushing back the building to the right as to have zero displacement. Obayashi Corporation rocks!

4th Asian Transportion Research Society Conference - Thailand

Mascarina, Padua, Fillone, Kang, Jayme & Sia

CE Faculty, Dr. Alexis Fillone and Transportation Engineering (TRE) Major students presented during the 4th Asian Transportation Research Society (ATRANS) Conference.

The 4th ATRANS Symposium held last August 26-27, 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand was attended by academicians, government officials, professionals and students from all over Asia involve in the field of transportation. A total of 45 papers were successfully presented and three of which were presented by students and faculty of the Transportation Engineering Division, Civil Engineering Department, De La Salle University-Manila as follows:

1. Low Carbon Society Policy in Philippines: Clean Air Initiatives in Transportation, The Case of the Philippines by Dr. Alexis M. Fillone, De la Salle University-Manila

2. Effects of Pedicabs and Kuligligs on the Capacity of Roads in the Vicinity of De la Salle Univesity-Manila by Jamiel Louiee L. Jayme, Paul Angelo C. Sia, and Alexis M. Fillone

3. Proposed Scheduling Scheme of Jeepney Service Operations in the City of Manila, Philippines by Henry Ace M. Kang, Kevin Bryan M. Mascarina, Maria Jullen E. Padua, and Alexis M. Fillone

The symposium gave, especially the students the opportunity to present in an international conference as well as listen and learn from other researches in the field of transportation in the Asian region.

Gawad Mag-aaral 2011 recognizes CE faculty and students

Congratulations to our CE faculty and students for the recognition they received during the DLSU Gawad Mag-aaral Awards 2011!

• Dr. Jonathan Dungca for winning the Best Faculty Adviser Award. Dr. Dungca has been the adviser of the Civil Engineering Society (CES) since 2008.



• Earl de Guzman for his service to the SDFO Student Representative Pool. Earl has been active student rep in the Student's Discipline Office.



• Katrina Tengki for being one of the nominees for Best Org President. Kat was the president of CES 2010-2011.

Photo: by Kat Tengki

Dungca is SSOT 2011!

Dr. Jonathan R. Dungca Associate Professor in Civil Engineering was awarded the Students' Search for Outstandning Teachers (SSOT) for the 2011. Dr. Dungca teaches engineering mechainics and geotechnical engineering courses in the undergraduate and graduate programs. This is the second SSOT award of Dr. Dungca. Incidentally, Dr. Andres Oreta was a finalist of the SSOT 2011.

Congratulations.

Gold Thesis 2011: Transportation Engineering (TRE)

Proposed Scheduling Scheme of Jeepney Operations in Malate Area

by

Henry Ace Kang, Kevin Bryan Mascarina & Maria Jullen Padua

Adviser: Dr. Alexis Fillone

Abstract

Jeepneys in the Malate district, City of Manila, with trips to Makati, Paco, and Pasay were found to dispatch vehicles based from previous experience and perceived demand as bases.

The researchers hypothesize that due to the improper assessment of demand there is an oversupply of vehicles in all three routes. Furthermore, the inefficiency caused by this operation resulted to high fuel consumption and cost and oversupply of manpower. The main objective of the study is to propose a scheduling scheme that could improve the efficiency of the jeepney operation and service in the area of Malate, city of Manila. To accomplish this, the researchers evaluated the level of service (LOS), in terms of speed, headway and jeepney service cycle of operation; and its transport work efficiency in terms of seat-km offered and passenger-km utilized.

Based on the traffic conditions, the researchers identified the important variables to improve efficiency that would satisfy the demand at the maximum load section of each route while keeping in context the possibility of applying an occupancy load (level) that would be comfortable to the onboard passengers in most of the route length. Savings on man-hours of manpower (i.e. driver) and fuel cost were also estimated as a result of the efficiency in jeepney service operation.

9th National CE Education Convention - Cebu City

Terante, Fillone, Oreta & Belino

CE Faculty members, Dr. Danilo Terante, Dr. Alexis Fillone and Dr. Andres Oreta attended the 9th National Civil Engineering Education Convention with the theme, "Moving Towards an Outcomes-Based Education" held on July 14-16, 2011 at the University of San Jose - Recolletos (USJ-R), Cebu City. The convention was organized by the Association of Civil Engineering Educators of the Philippines (ACEEP). On the first day, Dr. Fillone presented the PhD Program in Civil Engineeering which will start in 2012. He also discussed the ERDT scholarship and proposals related to the PhD program like a research-based and special (summer) programs. Dr. Oreta, on the otherhand presented a paper about the Laboratory Course in Theory of Structures at DLSU where TecQuipment Structures Modules are used in class.

The second day highlighted the lecture-workshop on Outcomes-Based Education with DLSU ME part-time faculty Dr. Manuel Belino (now Dean of ME, Mapua Tech) and Dr. Oreta as resource speakers. Dr. Belino presented about the ABET Model for OBE. Dr. Oreta, on the otherhand, presented OBE concepts for writing course learning outcomes and converting syllabi to OBE-format. Dr. Terante was a facilitator in the OBE workshops.

Dr. Terante is the current president of the ACEEP and he announced that the 10th CE Education Convention will be hosted by DLSU-Manila sometime in September 2012. Incidentally, the DLSU CE Dept. will be 25 years in 2012.

Gold Thesis 2011: Structural Engg (STE)

"Gold Struct": Van, Erica & John

This year, Gold Thesis Awards will be given to outstanding thesis for each specialization in the present civil engineering curriculum. Last July 1, 2011, the awardees were announced and the group of Van Wesley Lim, Erica Uy and John Vincent Uy was selected as the awardee for the Structural Engineering Division. The group's adviser is Ms. Mary Ann Adajar. The abstract of their thesis is given below:

Shear Strength Determination under Isotropic Condition of Some Mine Tailings in the Philippines

by

Van Wesley Lim, Erica Uy and John Vincent Uy

This study aims to apply the cam clay model to predict the behavior and at the same time determine the shear strength parameters of some selected mine tailings in the Philippines namely Negros Oriental copper mine tailings, tailings from aggregate quarry in Cavite and Davao gold mine tailings. Tons of mine tailings are contained in dams which serve no purpose and could pose as threat if ever dam failures would occur and it is the interest of this paper to determine which among these three mine tailings possess strength parameters which may serve as construction materials. Three types of tiaxial tests, unconsolidated undrained test, consolidated undrained test and consolidated drained test, were conducted on the mine tailings in the determination of the shear strength parameters. The results of these tests classified tailings from aggregate quarry in Cavite as the mine tailing which has the greatest strength followed by the Davao gold mine tailings and lastly, the mine tailing which exhibited the least strength is the Negros Oriental copper mine tailings. Among the three mine tailings, the tailings from aggregate quarry in Cavite is considered to be the most suitable tailing which may be used as construction materials.

Three Generations of CE Faculty

THREE GENERATIONS OF CE FACULTY By Andy Oreta

The Civil Engineering program was revived at De La Salle University, Manila in 1987 and come 2012, the program will be 25 years. Thanks to a dedicated faculty. In the span of about 17 years of teaching at DLSU, I have worked with both senior and junior faculty members who have shaped outstanding Lasallian civil engineers. Let me write about the faculty in recognition of their untiring service to the university and the students. As I see it, the fulltime CE faculty members may be grouped into three generations – the grouping is not necessarily based on age but rather on milestones in the history of civil engineering education at DLSU, Manila.

The 1st Generation: THE PIONEERS

The 1st generation which I will refer to as “The Pioneers” are the faculty members who started or revived the BSCE program at DLSU. This group include the “founders” like Dr. Angel Lazaro III, the College of Engineering Dean who proposed the revival of the program and Dr. Romeo Estanero, the man behind the unique and specialized BSCE curriculum at DLSU and the first Department Chair. The other fulltime faculty members who pioneered this program were Dr Lydia de Castro, a PhD graduate in Geotechnical Engineering, Antonio Tansingco, an MS graduate at Stanford University, Manuel Vergel, a Hydraulics Engineering expert and Leopoldo Polintan (M.Eng., AIT). This 1st generation of CE faculty members who are now retired used effectively the blackboard and the overhead projector in their instruction and various teaching aids like models and posters. Dr. Estanero was the last pioneer when he retired in Dec 2007.

The 2nd Generation: THE SPECIALISTS

In the early 1990’s the department has to hire younger faculty members to address the growing population of CE students. Imposing the strict policy of Dr. Estanero, only civil engineers with at least a Master’s Degree were hired. I dubbed this 2nd generation of faculty members as “The Specialists.” Why? Because it was during this period, that the department started implementing the specialization program – starting with Structural Engineering (STE) and Construction Technology and Management (CTM), then followed later by Hydraulics and Water Resources Engineering (HWR) and Transportation Engineering (TRE).

The Specialists (Tanhueco, Fillone, Lejano, Terante, Gallardo, Oreta & Manalo)

The 2nd generation fulltime faculty members include Ronaldo Gallardo (MS, PLM), Francisco Franco (M.Eng., AIT), Alexis Fillone (M.Eng, AIT/ PhD, UP), Danilo Terante (M. Eng. Ed., DLSU / PhD, UP), Renan Tanhueco (M.Eng., Nagoya U/ PhD, UP), Andres Oreta (M.Eng & D. Eng., Nagoya U), Edgar Dona (MS, Virginia Polytech, USA / PhD, UP), Joseph Manalo (MS, PLM) and Bernardo Lejano (MS, UP / D. Eng., Nihon U). These faculty members went through various transitions in their teaching methods from blackboard instruction, OHP technology to Powerpoint presentations. The “Specialists” were active in presenting in many conferences here and abroad. Many of these faculty members earned their PhD Degrees while teaching fulltime at the university. One of the achievements of this generation is the department being selected as CHED’s Center of Development in Civil Engineering. The department also received a university recognition as the most productive department in research. In ten to fifteen years, this generation will retire from the university.

The 3rd Generation: THE TRANSFORMERS

The 3rd generation consists of relatively young and energetic faculty members – a number of them were students of the 1st and 2nd generation professors in either the undergraduate or graduate programs at DLSU. I will refer to them as the “The Transformers” because it was during their time that new teaching and learning paradigms like “Transformative Learning”, "Student-Centered Learning" and now “Outcomes-Based Education” were introduced at the university. These new breed of faculty members are challenged to transform their teaching strategies considering that they have access to new technologies in the classroom like the thin client (a multimedia with projector and speakers and connected to the internet) and various internet applications like Facebook, YouTube, Google Earth and blogs.

The Transformers and The Specialists - Ready for Battle!

The Transformers include DLSU alumni and former faculty members, Agnes Galang and Cris Castillo, DLSU MSCE graduates, Jason Ongpeng, Dr. Jonathan Dungca, Mary Ann Adajar and Alden Balili, AUN-SEED Net MS graduates from Chulalongkorn University, Irene Ubay, Cherry Capiz and Nicanor Roxas, Jr. Newly hired Dr. Mario de Leon and soon to be hired Dr. Lessandro Garciano (also a DLSU MSCE graduate) also belong to this group. The Transformers have a great task ahead of them. They are challenged to succeed in applying outcomes-based education and transform Lasallian students into professional civil engineers who are critical thinkers, effective communicators, lifelong learners and service-driven citizens.

The Next Generation? The Pioneers have laid the foundations of the BS and Master’s Program in DLSU. The Specialists have erected the four pillars of the civil engineering specializations in STE, CTM, TRE and HWR. The Specialists have a great task also of offering the PhD-CE program. The Transformers must sustain the specialized curriculum and expand the program to include the Geotechnical Engineering specialization and many of them must earn their PhD degree. The challenge to the next generation is not only to continue the department’s tradition of excellence in instruction, research and community service but to produce globally competetive professional civil engineers who can make an impact in shaping our country and the world. The fourth generation - GLOBALIZERS?

A Vision Come True

NOTE: The CE Department was revived in SY1987-1988 and will celebrate its 25th year in SY 2012-2013. Let's look back and reflect about the past. Here is an article (published at ANIMOCIVnews 2008) by Dr. Romeo Estanero who retired from DLSU in 2007.

A Vision Come True

By Romeo Estanero, PhD

The end of the 2nd Term of SY2007-2008 on December 18, 2007 ends my continuous full time teaching at DLSU-M for exactly 21 years and four months, broken up only by service leaves for a term after every five or three years. Starting August 1986, my first year as a full-time faculty member was spent in teaching in what was then the Allied Sciences Department of the College of Engineering while preparing the feasibility study and developing the civil engineering curriculum in time for the opening of the program by the following school year.

The CE program of DLSU-M was offered for the main task of training future qualified civil engineers who are willing to take active part in the infrastructure development of the country. This despite the existence of a number of civil engineering schools in Metro Manila and in the provinces. The attainment of this objective was then anchored upon two major items. First, for a diversified field of civil engineering qualified civil engineers are those who are well-trained in their chosen areas of specialization. There was an urgent need to deviate from the conventional CE curriculum to open areas of specialization in construction technology and management, geotechnical, hydraulics and water resources, structural, and transportation engineering. Second, qualified civil engineers can only be students trained under a high standard of instruction from equally qualified teachers. It was my own unwritten policy more than a score of years ago -- a policy that has been sustained to date -- that nobody shall be teaching in the department without at least a master’s degree in one of the five areas of specialization so defined.

Starting with one freshman section in its maiden year of offering, we accomplished the realization of our vision when four years later, we attained a 90% passing (9 of 10) in the first licensure examinations with a 7th place to boot. Since then the CE graduates had always placed DLSU-M as one of the top performing schools throughout the country. In recognition of this achievement, the Commission on Higher Education immediately recognized the department as a Center of Development in Civil Engineering though in its infancy stage.(No academic institution in the country is recognized Center of Excellence in civil engineering.) The need to specialize that was envisioned more than 20 years ago is only recently confirmed by the CHED with a revision of the civil engineering curriculum starting school year 2008-2009 whereby specialized courses are to be offered in the curriculum. Of late, the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers requires its members to elect their areas of civil engineering specialization following the DLSU model before they can be registered as members.

Presently, the faculty profile boasts of 17 members, more than half of whom have already obtained their doctorate degrees in engineering. The achievements of both faculty and students place the DLSU-M at the top of civil engineering education in the country, now at par with other academic institutions not only in Asia, but probably the rest of the world -- A VISION COME TRUE.

Dr. Mario De Leon - Coastal Engg Expert Joins DLSU CE Dept

Joining the roster of full-time CE faculty at DLSU - Manila starting 1st term AY 2011-2012 is Dr. Mario P. de Leon. His academic undertakings in the field of civil engineering started at the University of San Carlos (USC) where he earned his BSCE degree in 1991. Right after graduation, he got his first employment stint with Primary Structures Corporation, a Triple “A” construction company in Cebu. In 1994, he decided to join the academe as full-time CE faculty in his alma mater, USC. Then, came an opportunity to pursue graduate study at UNESCO-IHE in Delft, the Netherlands where he completed his Master of Engineering degree specializing in Environmental Science and Technology in 1998. From 1998-2005, he served at USC both in academic and administrative capacities. In 2005, he was awarded the Monbukagakusho grant for a doctoral degree pursuit. He was then conferred in 2009 the Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering degree at Kagoshima University in Japan in the field of coastal engineering. Having had work experience both in the construction company and the academe since 1991, Engr. de Leon believes that his newfound niche at DLSU is a significant chapter of his lifelong journey to a mission of service.

CE Faculty & Staff at the GREEN MILE

The faculty and staff of the CE Department participated at the GREEN MILE, an activity of DLSU for its 100 years anniversary infront of Taft Avenue, Manila. last June 16, 2011.

Congratulations New Lasallian Civil Engineers (May 2011)

CONGRATULATIONS to the new Lasallian Civil Engineers!

1. ENGR. ADIAZ, PATRICIA CRUZ
2. ENGR. ALI, AMMER AMANAT
3 ENGR. BOMBALES, DOMINICK ROMANO
4 ENGR. BOMBITA, KAREN KAYE MIRANDA
5 ENGR. CERTEZA, LORENZO GABRIEL DEMONTEVERDE
6 ENGR. CORNEJO, SARAH LINETTE DOLATRE
7 ENGR. DE LAS LLAGAS, JOSE LEO EPRES
8 ENGR. DEL CASTILLO, ANNA FRANCESCA CHENG
9 ENGR. ESTRADA, ALRIK LENCI MATIENZO
10 ENGR. FERAER, JONATHAN LLANERA
11 ENGR. FERNANDEZ, MICKEL NG
12 ENGR. FRANCO, RALPH LUIGI FONG
13 ENGR. FUENTES, CHRISTOPHER JOHN BARREDO
14 ENGR. GO, HANS IVAN ONG
15 ENGR. GURREA, FELVIN LONGNO
16 ENGR. LIM, JOSE ANTONIO ESTRADA
17 ENGR. LLANES, AIZEL MA KRISTINA ABULENCIA
18 ENGR. MADRAZO, FRANCIS JOHN RAMIREZ
19 ENGR. MANALO, DENISE GERALDINE DE JESUS
20 ENGR. MARTINEZ, MA KLARISSA GLORIOSO
21 ENGR. MAYO, MANUEL ANTONIO III FRANCISCO
22 ENGR. MORALES, EL REY ANDAL
23 ENGR. NG, KENNETH LAO
24. ENGR. OYONOYON, GERALD PARILLA
25 ENGR. PALISOC, MARLON BRYAN ROSALES
26 PENSOTES, LUIGI MELVIN I CABRERA
27 ENGR. PIQUE, GENE MARTIN LAPARAN
28 ENGR. RUBIO, ROWELL RIVERO
29 ENGR. SALUMBIDES, JONATHAN ALBERT VILLASEÑOR
30 ENGR. SANTOS, CARL ANDREW MANAPSAL
31 ENGR. SAY, MORGAN POLICARPIO
32 ENGR. SEVILLA, MARIA EMILIA PAMBID
33 ENGR. TAN, ROMWELL LOUIS LEE
34 ENGR. VIERNES, ALEXANDER PADILLA
35. ENGR. YU, PAUL JOSHUA DANAO

Did we miss somebody?

Oreta presents paper at PCEE 2011, NZ

With Bruce Deam of PCEE2011

Dr. Andres Oreta presented his paper, "AIJ-Level 1 Seismic Screening of Some Reinforced Concrete Buildings Damaged by the 1990 Luzon Earthquake" at the 9th Pacific Conference on Earthquake Engineering (PCEE 2011) held on April 14-16, 2011 at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. The study aims to determine the range of values of the basic structural performance index (BSPI) of damaged low rise RC buildings to guide decision makers in prioritizing existing buildings inspected using the AIJ Level 1 procedure for further detailed seismic inspection and retrofitting.

The conference with the theme "Building an Earthquake Resilient Soceity" was organized and hosted by the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering.

With Auckland University Prof. Rolly Orense and UPD Prof. Jun Ignacio

CIV Student De Guzman receives award from DO

Photo: Kat Tengki (CES President) and Earl De Guzman

The Department of Civil Engineering congratulates EARL MARVIN B. DE GUZMAN (CIV-STE/10723021) for being adjudged as Most Outstanding Student Representative to the Student Discipline Board (SDB). This award is given by the Student Discipline Board (SDB) to commend the exemplary performance of its student representatives during discipline case proceedings. The award was given during the recently concluded CSO Lasallian Excellence Awards-Harvest of Winners (LEA-HoW) 2011 held last 25 March 2011 at Gateway Suites, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City.

The department also congratulates Ms. Katrina Tengki for being one of the finalist of the TOC-TOYM awards.

STE Faculty - Finalists in the Students Search for Outstanding Teachers (SSOT SY2010-2011)

Structural Engineering faculty members of the Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. Andres Oreta, Dr. Bernardo Lejano and Dr. Jonathan Dungca were selected finalists in Phase 2 of the Students Search for Outstanding Teachers (SSOT) for the School Year 2010-2011. In Phase 2, the faculty member's "work ethics as an outstanding teacher from the perspectives of students, fellow teachers and senior professors..." will be evaluated.

The SSOT is a project of the DLSU Council of Student Organizations under the Lasallian Excellence Awards.