Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers inducts incoming members
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME), the only integrated professional organization of mechanical engineers accredited by the Professional Regulations Commission with certificate no. 1-apo-005, celebrated their 2009 Christmas party at the Rizal Ballroom of the Shangri-La Manila Hotel last Dec. 14. The affair was also used as the venue for the induction of the incoming members of the National Board of Directors and officers (elected during the 57th annual national convention last October) composed of engineers Rene Florencio, president; Mon Picornell, EVP; Joli Borja, VP-internal; Tony Tompar, VP-external; Rey Uy, VP-technical; Boy Marcelo, VP-finance; Lorenz Larion, VP-NCR; George Yorobe, VP Luzon; Ely Bagtasus, VP-Visayas; Rudy Sultan, VP Mindanao; Jojo Castro, national secretary; Joel Aviso, assistant national secretary and Joseph David, Robert Dy and Tikboy Tan, national directors.
Also inducted into office were the officers and members of the board of three PSME chapters, namely: Manila Host headed by Pabling Ocampo, president; Metro South headed by Leonor Berti and Marmatro headed by Neptali Bulilan. The affair was graced by the presence of CHED Undersecretary and Presidential Assistant for Education, Dr. Mona Valisno as guest speaker, as well as the complete board of mechanical engineering (BME) examiners led by chairman Freddie Po together with members Boy Conti and Vic Vosotros.
The Christmas party was the finale of the chain of activities conducted by the PSME national, which started last Dec. 12 with a fellowship among the members of the outgoing (2009) and incoming (2010) national board of directors at the Taal Vista Lodge,Tagaytay City.
A turnover ceremony, as well as a robust brainstorming session, was conducted the following day at the Phinma Training Center in Tagaytay, appointing Picornell as chair of the 58th annual national convention; Buddy Virata as special assistant to the national president and Sonny Lopez as national press relations officer. The group came out with the approved society’s slogan for 2010: “Go PSME for chapter excellence.”
Chot Reyes, head coach of Talk and Text PBA team, and director/founder of Coachcom.com Inc. gave an inspirational talk on “Leadership — the PSME way” during the chapter presidents’ assembly on Dec. 14 at the Philippine Columbian Association Clubhouse. The group later participated in listening to the presentations of the national VPs for internal, external and technical affairs, prior to grouping into regions (i.e.; NCR, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) wherein they established goals and formulated strategies to achieve them.
This year, the society’s focus is “going for chapter excellence” and is looking forward to more aggressive activities and projects that would enhance the Philippine Mechanical Engineering profession, particularly that of the implementation of RA 8495, known as the Mechanical Engineering Law. It would also continue to vigorously pursue its advocacy regarding climate change through the participation of its members (by the application of their mechanical engineering skills and knowledge) in checking the rise in global temperatures.
