The stairway to CITE is among the challenging steep steps that I have trudged through going to the main building of CITE Technical Institute, Inc., which happens to be on the hills of Talamban, Cebu City. I took these steps in strides and sometimes with considerable exhaustion—though the accelerating concrete steps could be taken as my daily dose of exercise when I’d fail to catch up the transportation intended for the staff of CITE. Though complaints would be definitely possible to come out from my mouth, I have known that this would happen for I signed up for it.
Values-formation of the male youths is one of the things cited in the programs of CITE. This is not only for the students. The officers and employees of CITE are also included in this program. Being the mentors of CITE, the employees and staff should become good role models and hence, should be trained and nurtured with the required characters of mentors worthy to be emulated.
Further, not only students have to go through the hundred steps to the main CITE building. Some employees may also go through with the stairway and a few even have to do it voluntarily for their fitness program.
I am one of the newly hired employees of the technical institution that brings technical education programs intended for less privileged male youths. Though my forte is in writing and blogging, I have taken up a challenge to experience a job in an institution that would be my way to bring back something to the blogging community- to possibly mentor young lads who are apt in blogging. And so, I established CITE Bloggers Club in just less than two months of my stay in the institution, even though my main job description does not include the scope of blogging.
Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), is a technical school, an industry-based and socially-oriented institution which plays a relevant role in the economic and social developments of Cebu, the Central Visayas, and Mindanao. Officially, it is known CITE Technical Institute, Inc. However, it is more commonly known as CITE.
As the school’s mainframe is copied from ELIS, an organization known for putting up best technical schools and with headquarters in Italy, the institution provides top-quality technical training to the underprivileged but deserving youths by means of scholarships. On its first year, the school started out with 15 staffs, some of whom are sent to Italy for high quality training. The school is run by its 4 regular donors, 2 of which are the most important: the student’s parents and their DTS partners.
CITE has a unique way of running the school’s curriculum. They’ve got programs and ways in enriching every youth’s personal and social awareness. After all, the school is built out of a servant of God.
But what makes CITE so remarkable that I have become a part of it and even one of the staff?
CITE delivers a mark as a prime technical school in Cebu. It offers 3-year courses in Industrial Technician Programs which provide competent graduates and eventually employees of such companies as Timex and Mitsumi. As noted by Engr. Ruben Laraya, the executive director of the technical institution, “CITE always makes sure to train technically competent students to become employable graduates. For our partners, we provide Cebu companies with competent manpower.”
Though CITE has partnered with different companies and organizations in Cebu and other parts of the Philippines, its main focus is in training the youths who belong to the Class C and D of the social strata. “The main customers of CITE that we primarily cater to are the students”, as pointed out by Mr. Laraya.
Indeed, the students are the primary customers of this educational institution. Serving the needs of the less-privileged male youths is among the aims of CITE Technical Institute, Inc. This is really different from the usual scopes in business-client relationship. The primary customers are being molded to become the competent technicians and professionals they could be when they graduate from CITE. From there, one can assess that CITE has delivered an impact to the education system of technical institutions in Cebu, and even perhaps in the Philippines.
I have personally witnessed the flexibility of the institution in demanding fees from the students. For other universities and colleges, tuition fees are to be charged to every student who is enrolled in their institutions. In CITE, tuition fees are not called tuition fees, but instead are called Parent’s share. Even the students can pledge what amount he can pay to CITE based on the program he avails. However, CITE-enrolled students still have to pay other fixed fees such as uniform, booklets and other necessary items. The costs may not be considerable compared what other students should avail from other universities.
I am in the Finance department of the institution. From the few months of stay working in that department, I am impressed by the flexibility of the institution in demanding the necessary fees for the students. The fees are not considerable. However, at student’s end, he should pay the required amount of his pledge for him to receive his clearance.
The technical programs of the institution also highlight the likelihood of the students to be employed by the schools and disseminate them in certain departments, although this seems to be the usual scenario of non-academic scholars in universities and colleges. When the students reach their third-year of educational stay in CITE, they are eligible as trainees in companies where CITE has partnered with. This is in the scope of ITP or Industrial Technical Program of the school.
Aside from the school’s Mission and Vision, one of its short-term goals is to get to help their families. Helping their family is an act of paying forward to CITE.
There are many things to highlight the difference of CITE in other institutions. One of which is the existence of the Parenting Seminar which is normally scheduled every third Saturday of the month. Parents are educated to become good and better parents of the students enrolled in CITE. Teachers and advisory staff can mingle with the parents, not only for social purpose, but also for extending the values-formation to the primary parents of the CITE students. The aim of the parenting seminary is for CITE mentors to collaborate with the parents to help in developing the CITE-enrolled students to become better workers and citizens.
“To live one’s destiny is a fulfillment to be done. Although it takes many boring days of living, but that every boring day is a contribution towards one’s dream, therefore the dullness of living makes it a day full of excitement.”
That’s what CITE is for –transforming every youth’s lives into an extraordinary one. As the motto goes: doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way. As stated in the Mission statement, it aims “to provide training technical skills and entrepreneurship, values formation, and social services to the less privileged youth, their families, the local community and the industrial sector of Visayas and Mindanao”. CITE has its trunk rooted on precious Christian teachings.
It started when, in 1987, Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, successor of St. Jose Maria Escriva of Opus Dei congregation, once visitedCebu. As he came to the old bridge of Mandaue, he was moved at the sight of poverty at the squatters. Because of the pitiful condition, after he went back to Rome, he organized a group of people to build something for the poor, something to get the people out of the claws of poverty. Inspired by his ideas, organizations in Cebu started to give their share. Out of these, CITE has been built.
Among the main programs of CITE is the Industrial Technician Program (ITP). The program runs for three (3) years, offered exclusively to male youths, and produces a well-trained, socially aware being. For one and a half year, the student has to undergo the common class setting, making him ready for the next one and a half year. The next phase, the student is then deployed to CITE’s industry partner, introducing him to the sphere of practicality. By that alone, he is equipped with skills, making him ready for life. But that’s not where he is made for… something more is reserved for him.
The school offer courses on what the industry needs. Presently, Information Technology and Electromechanical Technology are among the specializations.
Embedded in the program design is the change of the students’ behavior in dealing with work, his family and society. Thus, the change of oneself is the start of the change of the society.
For the past 20 years, CITE gained its status in the industry at par or even beyond its industry partners. It achieved its reputation on elevation socially. The graduates are reputed as what is to be expected of them. They speak for themselves, help their families, help the industry, and of course, build a change within their range. “They are built to be happy students to happy graduates and to a happy family,” Mr. Millan stated. Through one of its foundation, the Opus Dei, CITE is bold enough to adopt to the change of times. In fact, CITE is ranked as the best technical school in the Philippines. Given its system under the DTS program and a moral reference to Social Doctrine, isn’t social change bold enough to be predicted on the near future?
Also, CITE has been in strides to the seas of changes. It has given TESDA with a benchmark in terms of technicality and success– the raging waves is not more than a pebble waves on the shorelines.
CITE has achieved the standards of being an ISO certified company. To be certain to achieve something great in the near future, CITE is currently on the hold to hook the APACC certification. Mr. Millan, the school’s Development Director, said,”We, the administrators, are very confident enough to achieve the APACC certification. Not just that, we are aiming for the gold level.” This also includes taking the QMS ISO, a calibration to evaluate on how a certain company meets a certain standard. With determination and passion that starts from the administration’s core, dreams are not far to reach out.
CITE has considered expanding its long-term goals with varied considerations to take but with a room for extensive studies before final commitment is to be set and announced.
Putting up branches will easily lead to grasping the nation’s mentality of change. CITE is even tying up with other universities. Offering bachelors’ degree may be possible but perhaps for a remote future.
In the definite present, CITE embodies and integrates the importance of entrepreneurship. Through the ICO department of the institution, entrepreneurship programs and instructions have been carried out.
“CITE also considers the relevance of entrepreneurship for integration in the programs of the students. There is an entrepreneurial quality in many individuals and the students are no exceptions. CITE helps in nurturing this quality for their improvement” Engr. Laraya made a remark about the entrepreneurship program of CITE. ”Not all the time a technical worker is efficient and effective,” he added. “Diminishing quality is factored in age and we want the students to prepare for this likelihood.”
Also at present, CITE’s main aim is to develop subjects relevant to the industry’s level, shaping up the curriculum’s degree and a plan on building a research center.
With a school like this and a goal that is surely to win the hearts of society, there is a greater likelihood for poverty to be alleviated in the parts of Cebu and even other areas in the Philippines.
The future is at stake, for as one great man said that the future of the nation is at the hands of youths. Engraving and teaching in them moral values, discipline and positive work attitude, strongly points to the Work of God.
To help in shaping and molding the youths for the future, CITE maintains a priest from Opus Dei to serve as a guide to an enlightened path for the staff, for spiritual development for the staff and students, and as the source person for giving spiritual direction to every individual who is in the institution.
Living out one’s dream needs an immediate action. It is not carried out with only planning; it needs to be done, to be improved, to be cultivated, and to be cared upon. It demands action. For in there, the change of oneself starts on. For a dream lived upon is a change manifested to the society. CITE delivers the core in the alleviation of poverty and that is to provide the less privileged youths with spiritually-guided technical education.
CITE: a RAFI Triennial Awardee
CITE Technical Institute Inc. has been a recipient of RAFI Triennial Awards in 2003.
RAFI Triennial Awards provides recognition to deserving individuals and institutions who have made remarkable things for the big change in the community and in improving the lives of the community and the people.
It is worthy to note that with CITE’S vision, mission and goals, the institution is a deserving recipient of that recognition.
Despite the humble beginnings of CITE for over 20 years of its existence since its foundation, it has managed to keep up with the changes by nurturing the elements that deliver the big pace in development.
I have taken pride with this accolade gained by CITE and I believe that the employees of the institution and the students radiate certain pride out of this as well. This pride is extended to the communities the institution has done enormous changes and improvement.
Great post!!! God bless Kuya!