The Society of Petroleum Engineers – Palawan State University Student Chapter (SPE–PSU–SC) conducted the second Philippine Oil and Gas Student Summit on March 8, 2019, with the theme, “Cultivating Progress, Recognizing our Role in the Energy Industry”.
Patrick Yap, President of SPE-PSU-SC, said in his opening remarks that this event is a platform for knowledge-sharing and to cultivate the progress not just in terms of academe, but also the harmony in the Philippine Oil and Gas Industry.
“POGSS or as we know, [the] Philippine Oil and Gas Student Summit, still young, on its second year, is already considered a milestone for SPE – Student Chapter. Same month last year, we opened our doors and became the platform for knowledge sharing,” he said.
He added, “This year, it will be to cultivate the progress, not just in terms of academe, but the progress in harmony of people of the present and the future of the Philippine Oil and Gas Industry. The role of the students in the Oil and Gas Industry is for them to see through this event [that] we continue to aspire, move forward, and continue to cultivate progress.”
The event’s highlight is the “Meet the Bosses Talk” session, where invited guest speakers shared their experiences in the Oil and Gas Industry and discussed topics related to the journey of PSU Petroleum Engineering students.
Sebastian Quiniones, Executive Director of Pilipinas Shell Foundation Incorporation, said that through this event, the PSU Petroleum Engineering students get an impression of what they need to do when they get in the industry and he also stated that through this event, the students get a first-hand view of what happens outside the school or in the industry after they graduate.
“When I graduated, industries did not actually go to the schools to do what we are doing now. We never got an impression of what it is outside. For the team that is here, they at least now got an impression of what it is in the industry and very specific to what they are having; petroleum engineering. What they have obtained is a first-hand view of what the intricacies of the things that [they] are getting into. For them, they can now develop an impression of what they need to do to be able to get into the field like petroleum engineering. I am hoping that the insights that were given would give them impetus to strive; to succeed,” he explained.
“I’d like to also remind them that paying back to communities is as important as studying and doing good in a company. Having a social responsibility element in the way that you do things, in my opinion, should be a mandatory part of any curriculum. And so we’re trying to inject that as Pilipinas Shell Foundation, into the system. A balance between head and heart, that’s what we’re trying to advocate,” he further said.
Meanwhile, Patrick Yap said that they conducted this kind of activity for them to broaden the knowledge of his fellow Petroleum Engineering students and that they’re also planning to keep in touch with the future administrations of Petroleum Engineering – Student Chapter as they’re hoping that this activity would also be experienced by the next generation of Petroleum Engineering students.
“This event, it is more on our responsibility as students. I want to promote na maging aware socially yung mga students ng Petroleum Engineering. That’s why we have to conduct this kind of activity, to broaden the knowledge of our students and let them expand their networks and connections and prepare them for work,” he said.
He added, “Even though sinasabi nila na walang future sa Petroleum Engineering, just strive and be positive sa ating mga ginagawa and we know that someday, it will be worth it.”