I woke up early today because I have to make a good impression on my first day of my OJT at PLDT España and my classmates and I had agreed that we meet by 7:30am infront of PLDT. I left the house at around 6:20am. I boarded a jeepney from our street across DC Arcadia towards my first destination which is Cubao. I reminisced on the years when I was still in my first year college when I used to take that route going to UST. It was a bit long trip compared to riding a train from Katipunan to Legarda. Anyways, since my destination is PLDT España which is just at the front end of España boulevard or near the Welcome Rotonda, I have to take two jeepney rides. It's nearer and less costly that way though it'll consume a bit more time than taking the ride on the train. Taking two jeepney rides didn't fail me because I arrived infront of PLDT at around 7:18am. No one was there yet so I decided to go inside MiniStop which is just at the corner of España and the street adjacent to PLDT tower. A few minutes later, I decided to have a stroll outside just to waste time. After several minutes, I saw Christian coming so I called him and we both went to the meeting place.
We waited for our classmates at the back entrance of PLDT for a few more minutes before 8am. Just then, I saw their ID and it was already laminated. I immediately thought that I should have done it yesterday when I went to Sta. Lucia after passing my grades to DOST in Bicutan and getting our ID in PLDT Boni instead of deciding to have it done later in the afternoon. When we were already complete at exactly 8am, we logged in and prepared to get inside. Unfortunately, the ID must be laminated to get inside because it must be worn all the time while inside the premises of PLDT. It was good though that Miko had not done his also so we went to the nearby store which offers a lamination service. I just thought again that I was late on my first day of OJT.
We went back to the building and took different floors in the elevator. I took the 3rd floor because that was what I remembered. I alighted from the elevator and saw the deserted hallway. I walked towards the first door that I saw and peeked in the vertical window on it. I saw several cubicles but I didn't see them there so I walked straight ahead. Then came out a regular employee. I asked where the Corenet is and then he instructed me to go inside the room with the door at the left of the farthest end. I knocked and enter. I saw several employees then asked again. They instructed me to another room and by that time I was feeling a bit stupid for I was asking a station that I wasn't so sure of if it's the right one or if there really exists one. I walked towards another far end room but along the way there came out two employees so I asked and they pointed towards the same direction as the previous one. To the room at the leftmost end from the elevator, I walked in and saw a spacious room with only a few people and several PC units. The first person that I saw who I knew was Daniel. For the last time, I asked an employee and finally, I saw them.
The first thing that I noticed about the room was its gloomy environment. The lights are a bit dim the glass separating the two sections of the division is tinted. Our supposedly supervisor, Mr. Gil Santos is kind and he didn't bother to tour us immediately at the switching room after we accomplished the finalized schedule of our OJT. Inside the switching, we saw of course switches but for me they look like lockers with built in motherboard. Sir Gil briefly discussed about what those switches are for and what we are to do there. By the way, the room is cold because the temperature is maintained at 18C-20C. After that, we were back to the same gloomy room and the same slack state.
A few moments passed and then we received an announcement from Sir Gil that two of us shall be transferred to the other section because we were overcrowding in that station. At first, I was hesitant and I really won't volunteer to go there because I didn't want to be separated from the group. What happened was everyone was pin pointing of who's to go. We were discussing among ourselves when the head of the SDAS section came in and was ready to get the three from us. Christian was very much willing to go and then Marc also wanted so I also accepted the invitation. I must say, the SDAS(Subscriber's Database Administration Section) is better in terms of the working environment. The lights are bright and several employees and trainees are also stationed. The only thing that I don't like about the section is that the computer units are very near each other so that means we have to work in a minimal space.
Assessing the people around us, I must say these people are very nice. Starting from our head supervisor, Mr. Revy P. Santiano; a regular employee, Ms. Melissa "Ms. Melle" Tayao down to other student trainees namely Kap and Kristine. Sir Revy also let us meet the head manager of the NSD(Network Surveillance Division), Mr. Benex Katigbak. He is also nice and authoritative when speaking just like other managers I should say. Later that day, we also met Mr. Raul Dotimas.
On our first day of OJT, as expected, we were given a brief overview about the day to day activities in SDAS. We were also taught about the software needed in performing the tasks in that section. Kap, our fellow ECE student trainee from FEU who's about to finish his term as trainee in PLDT in a couple of days, taught us the different tasks using the software. First, he taught us how to use mBOSS and Netman4000. The first thing that was introduced to us was the NGN Switch and how to implement the encoded service orders using the said software. He said the rest will be taught to us the next day or some other days.
During lunchtime, we went to the fifth floor where the canteen for the employees is situated. It's a good place and very spacious too. The food are also palatable at a reasonable price. Our head told us that there's a carinderia outside but we tried first the canteen because our other classmates were also there. After lunch we went back to our business.
We continued with our work and finished all the pending tasks until it was time for us to go home. We left our station a bit late on the first day of our work. Haayy.. it is really tiring. I must say, it's great to be in the real world. I am contented with my OJT and I don't regret choosing to go to SDAS.
