Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Davao 'best' studes meet 'best' companies
MORE than 20 outstanding college students from all over the country recently had a rare opportunity to learn from the leaders of some of American top corporations in the Philippines, by participating in the 2008 Business Orientation Program (BOP) of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.
The students included two exemplary students from Davao -- Nadine Abenoja of University of the Philippines-Mindanao, and Kristelle Jarabello of Ateneo de Davao University.
Aptly themed 'The Best Meets the Best,' the program allowed the country's future leaders to interact and gain knowledge from the most prominent executive leaders today.
"Launched in 2003, BOP aims to provide well-qualified students with a new understanding of key global business and economic issues, through a program of site tours plus in-depth discussions with management professionals from a wide spectrum of leading American multinational companies in Manila," said AmCham executive director Robert Sears.
"With this program, we aim to promote a venue for the constructive competitive exchange of ideas among aspiring young leaders from various universities across the country," Sears said.
"In addition, we at AmCham seek to make tomorrow's leaders aware of the contributions of American multinational businesses to the country's development."
This year's participants, each chosen through a competitive application process, are made up of a select group of college students from prominent universities in the country, which also included University of the Philippines (Diliman, Baguio and Cebu), De La Salle University, University of the East, University of Asia and the Pacific, Far Eastern University, Centro Escolar University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, St. Louis University in Baguio, Holy Angels University in Pampanga, and Silliman University.
To help these students enhance mutual understanding, cooperation, and communication skills, especially with AmCham member companies, participants were exposed to the real world operations of multinational companies through site visits and meetings with top company officers.
Among the companies that were visited this year include CitiBank, Chevron, Wachovia, Bellevue Hotel, Goodyear Philippines, Ogilvy & Mather Phils., International SOS, SunPower Philippines, Ford Philippines, Philam, Philip Morris, Convergys and the US Embassy-Commercial Services.
To harness the students' analytical and problem-solving skills in the context of real-life business environment, participants were asked to apply their knowledge and work together on a business plan, at the end of the company visits.
Using the case study of Lamoiyan Corporation, the participants were divided into teams, composed of students from different schools, and required to present their output to a prestigious panel of judges.
The three best projects and a best presenter were recognized in a ceremony during the closing awards dinner. Bagging the first place is the students' product development plan featuring Happee Solutions with oregano, by Kristell Jarabello (Ateneo de Davao), Gerswane Omaguing (Silliman University), Rachel Nava (PLM), Liza Pamintuan (Holy Angels University, Pampanga), and Alexter Bryan Uy (DLSU).
A close second was Hapee Fusion, a toothbrush and toothpaste combination project by Bea Camille Dedicatoria (University of Asia and the Pacific), Nadine Abenoja (UP-Mindanao), Kathrina Gabriel (University of Baguio), Ken Chester Wu (DLSU), and Kurt Dayrit (Holy Angels Univ, Pampanga).
The third place went to the group who presented Flosee, floss for children, by Conrad Lee (DLSU), Gretel Kelly Delos Santos (Silliman University), Ronalyn Laxamana (Holy Angels University), Pamela Ticzon (PLM), and Mary Love Siy (UA&P).
For her ability to communicate their business plan with clarity and comprehensiveness, Siy also was named as the single best presenter of the event.
In addition, students also had an opportunity to interact with the alumni of the BOP and other AmCham members, creating excellent opportunities for them to network with one another as well as with guests from AmCham member firms.
"These students are extremely motivated, with some giving up their summer break to participate in this program. We also extend our gratitude to the corporations for spending valuable time and effort to this program," said BOP committee chair David Joseph Morin, who is also Goodyear Philippines president and managing director.
According to Morin, "the program underscores AmCham's commitment to promote experiential learning, which gets students out of the classroom and into real-world business settings and competitions, where theory and practice come together in rich and meaningful ways."
"You can look at a company from afar and do a lot speculating about what might be going on within the organization. BOP puts a human face on corporate leadership and gives our students a seat at the table of some of the country's most interesting corporations," Morin added.
