Thesis it!
Since we have our pre-board in ELEX and ESAT tomorrow, let me tell you the story of our thesis journey. (Time check: 10pm and i haven’t review anything yet)
It all started with our thesis adviser saying that it is better if we will focus on different fields such as automation in agricultural things. Ate Mara’s first suggestion was about the automation of vermicompost but we learned that it already existed. Then she said that another composting is called “Bokashi”. Right at that moment when i saw the word “bokashi” in our chat box, it already ringed a bell in my mind so i searched about it and found out that it originated in Japan. Due to my fascination with the japanese culture, i then agreed to include it in our thesis proposal but only as a back-up to the piezoelectric generator from drainpipes. But then, during our proposal defense, our adviser told us to present the Bokashi first, and so since it was something new to their ears, the panelists agreed without even looking at our other back-up proposals.
You can back read at my post before about the undecided “best thesis for ece.” Who would have thought that it would become a big issue? So, just a week before the research forum, our adviser announced that my group would be the final presentation while Mernilo’s group for the tarpaulin exhibit. It’s already Saturday when i heard of it because we don’t have internet that time. I was surprised and already stressed about that news! Coz I thought we’re already done with the hardships of thesis HAHAHA The truth is that, we’re too afraid of the panellists, it seems to be a phobia since our title defense. But I think being pessimistic have done something good on us, at least we already think of all the possible scenarios or questions that’s why we are quite prepared for the q&a. I created our video presentation for days! *animation ko ang nagdala lol* I don’t have legit sleep until that day. Good thing its okay to just show a video regarding the prototype since its much of a hassle to bring all those things on the 4th floor where the research forum was held.
So ayun na nga, nagpresent na kami. Si Tian pa din sa intro, and super galing nya! Tawang-tawa na ko kasi para syang nagnenetworking, eh ako yung nagpipindot sa laptop sa may unahan, pigil na pigil na talaga ko HAHAHA no one dropped the englishan game until the end of our presentation, and habang nagsasalita ako, aba naman may tataas ng sign, LAST 5 MINUTES halaaaaaaa so binilisan ko na yung explanation then LAST 3 MINUTES ayun as in ang brief na ng conclusion na sinabi ko. So pinakita na naming yung video and nakakatuwa kasi pagkita ko sa panel, umiindak na with the rhythm of our presentation HAHAHA nagustuhan nila, pinaguusapan pa namin yun ni Tian nung ginagawa ko palang yung video, very catchy kasi yung music, medyo nakakahiya pala kasi may exposure yung pagmumuka ko dun HAHAHAHA Buti nalang talaga, sobrang dami naming videos kaya hindi na kami nahirapan, nag-edit nalang talaga ko. It’s like all the things that we prepared for our final defense na hindi namin ginamit ay for research Forum pala talaga. Astig ni Lord!
And so, Q&A na! unang nagtanong si Mam from research center, alam ko eto yung nanggigisa eh pero ang unang nyang sinabi, “Konnichiwa!” abay sobrang nakakatuwa. They just asked simple things like if there was an existing automation or how much would it be in the market, not so technical stuff. And naglolokohan pa nga kami after, kasi ba naman si Tian, sasagot rin sana kami pero sya may hawak ng mic so sya lagi ang nakamic tho rinig naman kami ng panel even di samin nakatapat yung mic,swabe lang ang tanungan, bilingual, since yung panel na ang nagFilipino. Sobrang natuwa ako kay Mam Engr from UP , sya yung idol ko na naging lecturer namin sa Eng Eco, sobrang simple lang nya, ang cute pa ng smile nya, ngiting-ngiti pa sya nung sinabi nyang “Very good! Blahblablah *I can’t remember the exact words* but it’s like, ang ganda ng presentation and ng project namin, very specific with the objectives and to where on we focus and scientific method was well-applied, she also added like “Ganun talaga, enjoyin nyo lang while adding important things and being serious of what you need to do” , parang nagflashback sakin lahat ng pagod namin and medyo naiiyak na ko nung time na to na parang WOW LORD! SUPER THANKS! To be praised by the panellist and to be applauded by a lot of students, ang sarap sa feeling. Especially yung makikita mong proud na proud ang tatlong unggoy *kalahating tropa* sa likod, na every time may magandang sabihin yung panel, sila nangunguna puamalakpak. Nung inintroduce pa nga lang kami, nung binangggit yung name ko, aba naman, nagsigawan hahahaha . And nakakaflatter din na nung malapit na kami magpresent, biglang nagdatingan yung mga classmate namin from E5Q, I really appreciated it and yung feeling na after namin, halos lahat sila nagcocongratulate ang kinamayan kami. Ang saya lang. Last nagtanong, si Dean ng LaSalle, kinompliment din nya kami and nagrecommend na next time, magkaron ng parang way para maiassure na specific yung values sa moisture sensor or other parameters. While si Mam na chemical engr, tiananong samin why not undergo NPK test, hihihi tinanggap naman nya yung sagot naming “too expensive 2400 each sample kasi, dina kinaya ng budget”. Nung tapos na sila magtanong, kinongratulate ulit kami then arigatou daw hihihi nagsabi din kaming Arigatou sabay bow! J Tapos takbo na ko kina Swag while hawak yung laptop ni Tian na ipupukpok ko na sana ky Clyde habang sinasapok-sapok ko din si Charles hahahaha masyado lang akong Masaya na natuwa sila at tapos na sa wakas!
Then, nag-announce na ng winner, ME for the tarp exhibit. At may narinig kaming “Electronics Engineering” tapos “Christian Marfil as best presentor” WOOOOOOOOOOOOH edi todo sigaw kami, ako nagsisisigaw ng “ang pogi mo TIAAAAAAAAN!” then nakita ko tinatawag kami ni Tian LOL nauna na pala banggitin na kami ang BEST IN GROUP PRESENTATION, di namin narinig hahahaha so takbo kami , kinda. Kinamayan kami ng panel then picturan tapos may yapusan with Mam Capul. Lablab Thanks sa support Mam! Masaya sa feeling kasi ‘di namin ineexpect tho sinabihan na kami ng iba na malaki pag-asa kasi nga ang saya nung mga panel. We won 1200 pesos na ipinanlibre nalang namin ng cake frost na shake na may tinda sa quad for our classmates na nangangantsaw. Ang daya kasi last time daw 1500 then 1k sa best presentor , bumaba ngayon . sadnu
Anyways, we made history. It was the first time that the chosen for best thesis was not the one with the highest grade in the final defense. The Bokashi Team broke the 3peat winning streak of Mechanical Engineering, stealing the crown of Best Thesis for Electronics Engineering. At least we have proven that we are worthy of the title and our adviser was right in choosing us, the people in the research forum could justify. :)