On April 5, 2025, the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) welcomed the high school community to its campus for the School of Sciences and Engineering’s (SSE) information Session titled “Charting Your Course.” The event gave high school students, teachers, guidance counselors, and parents a deeper look into SSE’s four distinctive undergraduate programs: Data Science, Information Technology, Civil Engineering, and Industrial Engineering.

More than just a program showcase, the session highlighted SSE’s core strength: integrating engineering and technology with a strong business orientation. This unique positioning prepares students not only to be technically competent but also to thrive as future-ready professionals
equipped with business acumen and leadership potential.

Alumni speakers John Brylle Bae (BS Applied Mathematics, 2016), Research Director at The Fourth Wall; David dela Paz (BS Information Technology, 2013), Co-Founder and President of Netbank; and Javier Quinto (BS Industrial Engineering, 2017), Head of Global Partners at GCash International, underscored how the combination of technical training and business insight at SSE helped shape their professional paths. They emphasized that this dual competency is increasingly valued in today's corporate and tech-driven world.

Industry collaborators also enriched the session. Mr. Colin Legarde Hubo, Executive Director of UA&P’s Center for Social Responsibility, discussed the growing importance of sustainability and how SSE’s cross-disciplinary education empowers students to address evolving challenges with a strategic mindset. Mr. Jerome Evangelista, Vice President for Enterprise Marketing & Pricing at SEAOIL Philippines, Inc., delivered a short masterclass on supply chains in the oil and petroleum industry and invited future students to step up as innovative engineering leaders tackling real-world business challenges.

Current SSE students Joseph Segundera (BS Civil Engineering), Nicole Maniego (BS Industrial Engineering), Nico Estreba (BS Data Science), and Bien Garperio (BS Information Technology) also took the spotlight, sharing personal stories of why they chose their programs and how SSE continues to shape their academic and personal growth. They highlighted how SSE fosters a community where students gain both deep technical skills and a keen understanding of business, setting them apart in today’s competitive job market.

The event concluded with a campus tour, offering attendees a glimpse of student life and SSE’s learning environment - marking a fitting end to an inspiring session that aims to chart the course of tomorrow’s engineering and technology leaders.

For more information about SSE, kindly visit the SSE website.

Members of the SSE Operations Committee with SSE alumni speakers and current SSE students (L-R): BSIE lecturer Ms. Hannah Dela Paz, BS Data Science student Dominic Estreba, BSIT student Bien Garperio, Center for Social Responsibility Executive Director Mr. Colin Hubo, SEAOIL Vice President for Enterprise Marketing & Pricing Mr. Jerome Evangelista, SSE Vice Dean Dr. Maria Teresa Carale, BSIE alumnus and GCash International Head of Global Partners Mr. Javier Quinto, BSIE student Nicole Maniego, BSIT alumnus and co-founder and president of Netbank Mr. David dela Paz, and IE Program Director Dr. Varsolo Sunio.

SSE students greet arriving participants.

Info session participants (center) with SSE students and former BSIE program director Dr. Edwin Olmos (leftmost).