Worth the Oath?

We had our oath taking last Nov. 17, 2011 at the Manila Hotel. For me, it wasn't such a much-awaited event. There wasn't much to expect actually. Actually, all I wanted was to already take a hold of my own license; to see my name printed on that hard plastic card, my 1x1 picture on the right side, with a written "MECHANICAL ENGINEER" on it.

Last October 11, 2011, I registered myself to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) for my license. I was told that I was to register for the oath taking at the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) office which was located just in front of the PRC building. During that time, the issue regarding joining the oath taking was very blunt: some said that we were required to join, some said we weren't. I was torn!!! In some way I didn't want to join the oath taking because I heard that it was really expensive to join. But then I also saw it as a one time opportunity.

Posted at the PSME office was this:

And the first thing that came into my mind was "What the!!!!!!" It was actually too much! Too much! I say.

I repeat, TOO MUCH!!!


We've paid "enough" at the PRC (and I think it was a fair payment..  sorta). Then it really shocked me that they were to charge another extra for the membership, pin, sampaguita!!!, and ticket!!!

Before I've decided to pay for it I called my parents (actually I told them to call me,, ahihi) first to ask them for their opinion. I first told them about the price and what were they for. When I reached the price of the oath ticket my mom said, "1,200???!!!!!". But then she got a hold of herself quite fast and asked where the oath taking was and if there was food included already. So I explained what was told to me: I told her that the venue was at Manila Hotel, and that yes, food would also be served.

So she said that Manila Hotel was a nice place and maybe the food would be worth it of Php1,200. So being the supportive parents as they are, they also told me to go ahead and pay and buy 2 extra tickets for the both of them to attend the oath taking too.

So there, everything was settled. All I had to do was to just wait for the oath taking. During that time, the oath taking was dated "October 18, 2011" - very convenient because it wasn't too far from the releasing. But then it was suddenly change to "November 2011 exact date to be announced". Honestly, it was quite a hassle for me because I wasn't really resided at Metro Manila. But nevertheless I didn't want to stress out myself about that certain thing. What was important for me was my license.

During the last week of October (I'm not sure about this), I received an e-mail from the PSME office that the oath taking was dated November 15, 2011. So then and there, I set that day for that certain event. Then early that November, news was being spread that the oath taking was to be moved on November 17. It quite irritated me because the date was always moved. There wasn't any consistency - am I right? or is there a better term?

About a week before the oath taking I received a text from the PSME secretariet that the oath taking was indeed to be moved on November 17. So final was final. Hassle, again. It was mentioned on that text message that the registration would start at 12nn and that the oath taking program would start at 1pm.

But to minus the stress I just told my self that at least it was only two days after the "original" date.

November 17 - finally!

Me and my parents arrived at the venue at around 12:30pm. And upon the arrival what did we meet? A very unorganized crowd and long queues. Official photographers were crowded at the entrance to the hall convincing the inductees and their parents to have their pictures taken for the oath taking by them - and let me emphasize that they were there meeting all the inductees in a very unorganized way - the market unorganized type of way. I mean, if they were really official photographers, then they shouldn't be standing at the entrance like that. They should have at least have a "table" for the "registration" - which is actually the way official photographers really should be doing during the registration period.

At the entrance of the Fiesta Pavilion Hall, we were given copies of the program. Fast forward to when we were finally seated - while waiting for the event to start, me and my parents scanned the program, and stated there, the program starts at 2pm!! And so goodbye late lunch - which my parents and I (and I do think most of the inductees and their guests too) expected to be given to us. Fact: my parents and I didn't get to eat lunch that time so imagine how hungry we were during the program.

At 1pm, seats were still being arranged for everyone. PSME officers were called to find seats for the inductees and guests who weren't seated yet. Which, I think, was very inappropriate for a formal event like that., well since it wasn't really "formal", the people just went on allowing such.


I wouldn't be enumerating the whole program so let me just highlight a few events that were quite meaningful:

1. It was very hard for the officers to find seats because they didn't even allot ushers to guide the inductees and guests.
2. There wasn't an appropriate "head count" so there were last minute adding of table and chairs and not all of the inductees and guests were inside the hall to be able to witness the induction properly.
3. The emcee kept on telling green jokes. Which I think is very inappropriate for the crowd: there were ladies in the hall, and us inductees were with our parents. I'm not against green jokes but I do believe that there is a right time and right place for it. But regardless of that, some of his jokes were good and okay.
4. Second to that, he just kept on saying jokes every in between parts of the program. Hindi na siya naubusan nang joke - pinagkatuwaan na lang namin.. hehe!!!
5. Food served: Pancit, Half Sandwich, Ensaymada, Brownies, and Chicken. Drinks: Coffee and Water. And I think that some of the tables didn't get to have this full meal. All we had to say when the food was served: "This is worth 1,200?".
6. Not all tables were given the whole meal. Also, the program was about to end, and still, some tables haven't finished eating because of the slow service.
7. During the speech of the guest of honor he mentioned, "We are thinking of ways to conduct oath takings without any expense from the inductees, but then it is next to impossible"
8. I think the best part about the oath taking was our No. 1 Top Notcher's speech. His speech really had depth.

And what are my points about this blog entry?

1. Php 1,200 is too much of a charge on the oath taking ticket. Compared to what we experienced. It wasn't worth that much of money. My dad says that some organizations conduct events to raise funds. Well okay, if PSME needs fund raising then fine, but we all agreed (including my dad) that they asked too much and they got too much from the price of the oath taking ticket.
2. We wouldn't mind paying an amount of money for an activity like this as long as we receive in return worth the price that has been charged. But adding up the food, service, program content, the "quality" of the event, it does not add up to Php 1,200.
3. The PSME should have thought about who were attending the event - fresh graduates/board passers (clearly those without much money to pay for themselves) and their parents. Also, not all guests have the money. Some of the inductees come from families who have little income. Considering also those who don't reside at Metro Manila - they also have to spend to travel. The PSME should have made the price a lot more friendlier. I am pretty sure that a lot would have wanted to attended such an event but that they didn't have enough money to do so.
4. I didn't get to show on the highlights evidence for this but it's as if we, the inductees, were only "guests"; "audiences"; "extras" during the oath taking when it was supposed to be our time to shine. The program concentrated more on the VIP's. We didn't feel special.
5. Generally, parang pinagkakitaan lang kami. And to think, we weren't even told what benefits we were to have by joining the society. No orientation or whatsoever to inform us what to expect from the society.

Now was the oath taking worth it?

I'm writing this of frustration because I really felt that the oath taking was a waste of time and money.

This here blog entry is an eye opener to the society. Please do not take advantage of such activities. Charge us Php 1,200? Give us what we paid for. Better yet, make the price a lot more friendly to the real VIP's of the activity.