Jun Marte

Jun Marte (PIONEER)

Jun, Marie and family (Mariel, Melissa & Al)...

Brod Jun, wife Marie and family (Mariel, Melissa & Al)...

When did you graduate from UP?

I graduated with a BS Chemical Engineering degree in October 1972. Upon completion of my studies, both Bing Castillo and myself jointly reviewed for the Board Examinations at their Pateros residence. Our review was timed such that we would have completed our intense efforts (with sufficient food prepared by Bing's Lola), shortly before the scheduled start of the Board exams.

In April 1973, San Miguel Corporation informed me to report to their Glass Plant in Binondo and worked initially in their Methods and Systems Departments. Shortly thereafter in June 1973, we received news that we had passed the Chemical Engineering Board Examinations.

Who were brods you remember?

My contemporaries at that time were primarily those in the picture which Obet Tiongson provided. (I was just wondering why I had not been included in that picture. Siguro absent ako noon or I was the one taking the picture.) Aside from the pioneers in the photo, names that come to mind are: Gil Aguirre, Jimmy Castillo, Danny Dungca, Tony Rapadas, Ding Villavicencio, Peter Valdes, etc.

What was your Martial Law experience?

The College of Engineering then was a prestigious college wherein other "foreign" (AS, BA, Nursing, Music, etc.) students were in awe, because we carried those impressive contraptions called slide rules (which are now extinct). Of course, we Engineering students relished the looks and admiration from these students (girls, pati), especially when we had to walk from our AS classes through the central path walk towards the Engineering building. Syempre, our slide rules were in our back pockets, exhibiting the marks of intelligent and abstract thinking students. What the other students didn't realized was that we were having a hard time with our subjects (thermodynamics, qualitative chemistry, quantitative chemistry, Math 53/54, etc.), perspiring when "terror instructors" began calling the roll asking technical questions assigned yesterday and pakiusap to the same instructors the make the 5's and Inc's into 4's, so that we could be given another chance to shoot for the 3s.

The college then was also slowly developing into a boiling cauldron of leftist and rightist activists. At the same time, we were witness to several frat wars during which we were almost involved directly on one occasion. However, the group focused to generating funds for the fraternity's activities (mainly, parties, outings, etc.) and promoting efforts of being known and recognized within the college (through, active participation in college election - Ben Cacha was our first pambato, sponsoring the college fair, participation at Smokers, etc.). The fraternity was actively involved when the military arm of the government attacked the premises of the university. You could say that we were really in the frontline, because we could literally hear the sounds and feel the whizzing of bullets. Of course, we countered by throwing back stones and molotovs. Bing Castillo can attest to this because he was featured in the 6 o'clock TV news.

What are your interests?

My first job in methods and systems had a major influence to what interests I had in life. The job exposed me to efficiency techniques that can be applied not only in the workplace, but also for home chores. This had also trained me to look at how things could evolve in the future, and plan accordingly for these changes. Thus, I constantly browse through scientific and futuristic magazines to keep in touch with the technical developments in certain fields and industries anticipate how these would eventually affect our lives. Watching the "Learning Channel" and the "Discovery Channel" also is equally interesting. Golf and Swimming are part of my interest in sports.

Brod, may hilig daw sa 'yo ang inuman? What is your free time like?

Shortly out of college, the normal activities during free times was to drink, drink and drink with friends and office mates. As maturity set in and the pocket money became less and less, I gradually learned to allocate more and more of my free time to share with my family (the wife and the kids). My wife and I try to bring them to places where there is culture and history that can be learned. We try to spend time talking more to them and probe whether they have problems, hang-ups, embarrassments, etc. that they may be ashamed to share with us. Actually, what has transpired was that we learn more from them, when we share our free times with them.

Where are you now?

We are now living in Chicago, since 1994. Marie, my wife, is a commodity trader and was instrumental in setting up a San Miguel office in the Chicago area in 1994. We had to go as a family and thus I resigned from my packaging job at Colgate-Palmolive Philippines. I am presently a Packaging Consultant for Flex Execs and currently assigned to work on projects with Kraft Foods (North America). We have three (3) kids: Al (20 years old), Mariel (18 years old) and Melissa (16 years old). Al is in college now and has a profound interest in telecommunications. Mariel will be graduating next year from high school and is interested in International Affairs as a profession. Melissa will be a sophomore next school year.

It has not been a smooth transiton since the 1994 relocation of the family, mainly because of the difference in cultures. Everybody adjusted accordingly and ironically these became our treasured learnings (looking back) that we cherished and shared with each other from time to time. Eventually as time passed by, we realized that we had grown up as individuals and as a family.

What was your most memorable fraternity experience?

It is difficult to select my most memorable experience with the fraternity. However, there are several memorable experiences in the fraternity and these involve breakthroughs. The most significant breakthrough I had experienced was when the fraternity was assigned to open the Smokers 1975-76 at the Engineering Theater. This just consisted of a very short skit (lasting about 30 seconds, wala pang talkies), but we practiced for about a month. The reward: spontaneous applause from the engineering community and congratulatory remarks from the Engineering Dean and his senior staff.

Other breakthroughs that come to mind: Ben Cacha's representation on the Engg Student Council, Obet Tiongson's placement in the Board Exams, etc. These breakthroughs were really the step-by-step successes that proceeded over several years. Today, it is heart warmijng to receive news about the accomplishments of the fraternity, how it has grown, how it is known and how it wants to grow (particularly the alumni sector).

The most valuable experience I am proud to share was serving as GQ for the fraternity in 1972-73. Getting the brods to work, contribute, share ideas, etc. require interpersonal skills and convincing power. These extra-curricular activities, although without formal college credits, is an invaluable part of the maturation process of a person. It teaches you that ideas and worthwhile objectives are more effective in convincing people, rather than instilling fear to make them work. It teaches you that people have feelings, fears and joys, and are not robots. It teaches you that it is easier to face adversity and roadblocks as group, rather than as individuals. It teaches you to look ahead into the future and plan accordingly. It teaches you that persistence and love of what you want to do will make things acheivable, against all odds.

These learnings will become invaluable later, both in your personal life and professional carrer. These are the basics that you will be learning while in the college. Later, you will encounter these same learnings, but will be known by a different name (i.e. planning = strategic thinking). Thus, maximize your experiences in the fraternity (or for that matter, extracurricular activities) without sacrificing your studies because this is one of the building blocks of your personality and attitudes. Learned well, your life can be more meaningful and satisfying.