Self-Introduction

Greetings to whoever is reading this portfolio of mine! I hope you’re doing well. What lies ahead are
my precious experiences during my on-the-job training as a 3rd year Civil Engineering student. But
before anything else, allow me to introduce myself as an aspiring Civil Engineer.
Hi! I’m Nathaniel P. Cuachon, currently a 4th year Civil Engineering student at the University of Santo
Tomas. To me, it feels like these past three years just flew by in an instant. I remember waking up on
the first day of this academic year feeling nostalgic. That morning, I had a trip down memory lane
where I had flashbacks of my core memories in studying engineering, while also realizing that in less
than a year, this chapter of my life will come to an end. If I were to describe this journey of mine
towards becoming a licensed Civil Engineer, so far, it has been bumpy and full of uncertainties.
Just like many other engineering students, I’ve come across with a lot of academic obstacles and
personal issues that tested my different dimensions of wellness (physical, emotional, intellectual, etc.).
I had cases in a lot of courses where the finals are already approaching but my computed raw grade is
still way below the passing mark. For instance, I took the Statics of Rigid Bodies final exam with a
target score of 80 or above. Because if not, my raw grade will not suffice. Strength of Materials is
probably the hardest ordeal of my engineering studies, next to Steel Design. I had to take a removals
exam, a task for compliance, and a one-on-one exam with my professor just to move on from this
course. And for Steel? Probably no words needed. Thankfully, I passed all of these courses without
petitions.
Why full of uncertainties? Throughout my life, I’ve always seen myself as an average type of student.
My grades were consistently good, just enough to receive a few academic recognitions, but I do not
consider them high. I’m also not the type of student that can easily absorb information in one go.
Which is the case, especially, for subjects like Mathematics and Science. Hence, I am not really sure
until now where I took the courage to take up Civil Engineering in college. In the first place, I don’t
even know back then what I am really interested in. Other programs like architecture, aircraft
maintenance, aviation, and information technology even crossed my mind. Honestly, even in my 4 th
year of studying in this field, I am still uncertain of the career path I’ll be pursuing.
Despite all the struggles and uncertainties that I’ve had and I am having in this journey of mine, I am
able to learn how to enjoy the ride. Hopefully, soon enough, we will be able to bump into each other
in the field.
Expectations for the Internship
As a civil engineering student embarking on an internship, my expectations are probably influenced
by my enthusiasm and my desire for hands-on experience. Taking into consideration as well that for
the past three years, our batch has been kept within the walls of our homes, hence, not being able to
put into practice the engineering concepts and theories that we’ve learned, even in our laboratories. As
an intern, I look forward to an environment that bridges the gap between theory and practical
application, leaving rooms to immerse myself in real-world projects. In response, I will aspire to
absorb insights from seasoned professionals in order to learn the intricacies of the field that I chose.
This internship will serve as an opportunity to hone my technical skills under the care of a highly
honored company, while also making meaningful contributions to the project.
Company Introduction

E.M. Cuerpo, Inc., headed by its President and Chief Executive Officer, Arch. Celerino S. Cuerpo,
was incorporated and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on July 26,
2001. The company was established primarily to provide and undertake general building construction
and other related services. Currently, the company specializes in infrastructure projects such as
general building, steel fabrication, construction, and development of real properties. Since its humble
beginnings, E.M. Cuerpo, Inc. has consistently strived for excellence in workmanship and efficiency
in delivering high quality projects to its clients, from both the government and private sector. In 2019,
the company was awarded the prestigious “AAAA” Contractor License, the highest rating for
contractors issued by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB).

Vision and Mission

“E.M. Cuerpo, Inc. seeks to expand and diversify its services from general building design
and construction to include steel fabrication, real property development, mass housing, and other
specialty services. The company aims to continuously improve and streamline its processes by
utilizing new and conventional construction technologies to ensure delivery of exceptional and
reliable project outcomes and related services. It endeavors to strengthen its human resources by
providing meaningful employment opportunities, encouraging professional growth and development,
and improving the overall quality of life of its employees.”

“E.M. Cuerpo, Inc. will strive to conduct its business with integrity and utmost professionalism to
guarantee outstanding service to clients, reasonable returns to investors, and better lives to
employees.”
Notable projects (with pics)

 UP Diliman Department of Computer Science Building Phase 1

  Clark International Airport Terminal Expansion Project and Pavement Rehabilitation Works

 Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) Central Office Building

 ASEAN Summit Villas at Clark Freeport Zone

ROLE IN THE COMPANY

Main Job Description
As one of the accepted interns of the company, I was first employed to a site where it is most
convenient for me when it comes to the travel period. Since the project where I am initially assigned
to was almost complete, most of the task that were given involves creating a punch list of the different
areas in engineering, such as architectural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical elements. We were
able to utilize our CAD skills as we electronically publish the information that we’ve gathered. In
addition, we were also task to inspect the whole building and look for areas that need improvement.
For instance, damaged materials, slow progress, and unorganized working spaces. The findings will
be presented by us in front of our supervisors and the representatives of each subcontractor.
In order to witness an actual construction procedure, I was also assigned to another project where the
structure is still being built. Most of the time, we are asked to roam around the site and observe so we
can familiarize ourselves with the terminologies and the actual process. There were also times where
engineers, architects, and the owner of the other contractor arranges a lecture proper about the project.
We were taught how to create a cutting list and were also given assignments to test our problem-
solving skills. Another task given to us is consolidating the rendered hours of the workers for their
wages. There are also a few times when the workers actually allow us to try their job like bending
bars to create stirrups.
Project Handled: PCMC Pediatric Brain and Spine Center
Background of the Project

PCMC Pediatric Brain and Spine Center is a four-storey structure that will host a full outpatient care
facility, primarily for charitable patients of Child Neuroscience Services (CNS). Once operational, the
facility will provide advanced treatment for neurologic illnesses such as ophthalmology, otology,
neuromuscular and neuropathy services, as well as family empowerment rooms.

Problem # 1: By the time that we were deployed, many personnel has already resigned from this
project. As a result, the remaining people were forced to do additional workloads that were not
originally assigned to them. Hence, they needed some people to do some of the other tasks as they
proceed with the more important ones.

Solution: As interns, our current knowledge and skills were not enough to handle the more technical
tasks. Therefore, we were asked to start with the basics, which is punch listing. The task was to create
a punch list of various elements such as windows, doors, lights, switches, aircon, and many more.

Problem # 2: From the submitted punch lists, the supervising engineer noticed that the project was
progressing very slowly. Moreover, we also reported some of our observations as we walked around
the building during punch listing. We noticed some areas that needed improvements and repairs like
uneven plastering, water leakage, unorganized working spaces, and many other.
Solution: Us, interns, were tasked to look for more issues around the site that needed to be addressed.
Our findings should be documented in order to serve as proofs for the people concerned. A
PowerPoint presentation of the issues was also requested by our supervisor. To our surprise, we were
also the ones to present it in front of the representatives of each subcon involved in the project,

Problem # 3: They were having difficulties whenever a certain document was needed. The reason is
that the documents were not properly arranged and were all muddled up in one place.

Solution: The task to arrange the documents were entrusted to us. They were segregated and put on
the same folder depending on their types. Also, for better tracking, the dates must also be
chronologically arranged with the most recent ones on top. Another purpose of this task is to
familiarize us with those documents and their content, such as the request for approval, request for
information, etc.
Project Handled: Lung Center of the Philippines: Negative Pressure Type I Isolation Ward
Background of the Project

The project is a three-story negative pressure isolation ward which can be found within the vicinity of
the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City. The project, which is funded by Asian
Development Bank, was originally proposed to assist the Philippines health sector to scale up the
coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response. The initiative will facilitate the supply of medical supplies
and equipment to healthcare facilities. Additionally, it will set up isolation units and pandemic
subnational reference laboratories for COVID-19, which also allows the healthcare system to be ready
for the next public health emergency. The bidding for the project was held on July 2021 before
starting the construction last January 2022.
Problem # 4: To test our ability to solve problems and give a brief idea about quantity surveying, one
of the architects asked us to quantify the number of CHBs and AAC blocks that will be needed to
cover the entire perimeter of the building.
Solution: Initially, me and my fellow interns tried to manually measure the length of the sides where
the blocks will be installed. Since we don’t have a copy of the plan for the specifications, we had to
look for anyone who is knowledgeable enough to answer some of our questions, like the foreman or
the leadman. From them, we were able to acquire the other dimensions that we needed, such as the
beam and column sizes, as well as the height of each floor. We also got an access to a copy of the
plans, along with the doors and windows schedule, to verify whether the dimensions that we have
were correct. We were able to determine the required number of blocks by dividing the area of the
perimeter, disregarding the area of the columns, doors, windows, and beams, by the area of a single
block.
Leranings
Technical Skills

 AutoCAD
 Microsoft PowerPoint
 Quantity Surveying
 Value Engineering (Cutting List)
Soft Skills

 Critical thinking
 Collaboration
 Communication
 Flexibility
 Initiative
 Productivity
 Social skills
What and how were the theories and skills applied at work?

In our curriculum, we were trained to be precise in the values that we compute and to strictly abide by
the provisions as stated in our books. However, during my internship, I have observed that not every
theory that we’ve learned in the university is being applied strictly. It was also confirmed by one of
my supervisors that it is the reality in the field of construction. Not everything is 100% by the book.
Even the plans that were carefully designed and drafted are not usually built as it is. However, it is
also important to understand that the concepts that we’ve learned in the academe exist for a reason.
And that is to ensure the integrity of the structure and the safety of the people who will use it. During
my internship, I was also able to observe that the basis for the development and application of
practical abilities was theoretical knowledge. In real-world situations, the ideas learned in class about
structural analysis, material science, and design principles are acting as a guides. For example,
knowing the mechanics of soil and fluid dynamics affected decisions in infrastructure and building
projects, while knowing the mechanics of materials helped determine the stability of structures.
How did you improve yourself in the accomplishments of your assigned tasks?

First and foremost, I had to accept the fact that despite coming from a prestigious university, I am still
the most inexperienced and least knowledgeable among the people in that site. Hence, during my
tenure as a civil engineering intern, I focused on continual improvement within my assigned tasks by
asking a lot of questions to check myself if I am still on the right track. It’s not everyday that I get to
work with a bunch of professionals. My internship will only last for 240hrs, therefore my mindset at
that time is to make the most out of it. I had to gather as much experience and information as possible
in that short period of time from my assigned tasks and even from casual conversations.

How did you adjust for the work set-up?

As someone who does not have prior job experience in any field, adapting to the work set-up can be
challenging. I started by getting acquainted with the company's system and culture to ensure that I am
aware of how they accomplish things and their expected outcome from me. Effective communication
was also very essential. I had to overcome my shyness and actively sought guidance, explanations,
and feedback from my supervisors. Lastly, I have complete trust that the university was able to
prepare and bring out my potential for me to be able to excel and compete once deployed in the field.
Concluding Insights

In merely 240hrs of my internship experience, E.M Cuerpo were not only able to accomplish the
partitions, slabs, columns, and beams of the project. They have also succeeded implanting a strong
foundation of skills and deeper understanding of what it truly means to engineer the world around us.
These experiences serve as stepping stones toward my goal of becoming a well-rounded and adept
civil engineer in the future. My brief stint as an intern may have ended, but this only signifies that the
groundwork for my career path has already been laid out.