LCIC Civil Engineering Department

See you tomorrow, January 12, as we officially begin the Second Semester of Academic Year 2025–2026!

We look forward to welcoming everyone back and starting another productive and meaningful semester together. Please come prepared and on time as we set the pace for the term ahead.

LCIC warmly welcomes all students to the second semester of A.Y. 2025–2026. Classes officially begin on January 12, 2026. Wishing everyone a productive and successful term ahead!

𝘿𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮? 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙙𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙙!

This 𝟭𝟮𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆, gates are opening, lights are flickering, and a new semester officially begins. Coincidence?

𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒖𝒚𝒔, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔, 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆.

This new semester already feels like stepping into the upside down—pressure is heavier, mistakes feel bigger, and one weak beam can bring everything down. Concepts will get tougher, plates will pile up, and suddenly every load matters.

If Hawkins taught us anything, it’s that you don’t face the chaos alone. You need your party—the friends who stay up late with you, double-check your calculations, and laugh with you when things start to feel unreal. Add a solid playlist to tune out the noise, and the courage to face whatever “monsters” show up: exams, quizzes, and deadlines waiting just around the corner.

As Lapulapu-Cebu International College Inc. and the abyss draw together, only the strongest beams survive.

Beware of your buildings—because in LCIC Civil Engineering Department, we’ve seen 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬. 🏗️⚡

1st Semester, AY 2025–2026 has officially ended!

As we close this chapter, we hope you all take this opportunity to truly embrace the holiday season, a time to slow down, reconnect with your families, celebrate your blessings, and reflect on everything you have accomplished throughout the semester.

May this year end break bring you warmth, peace, and well-deserved rest. Spend quality time with the people who matter, appreciate the simple joys, and allow yourselves the space to recharge physically, mentally, and emotionally.

As we welcome the New Year, may it bring renewed strength, fresh motivation, and the determination to continue improving and reaching even greater heights. Let 2026 be a year filled with growth, better decisions, and meaningful progress.

Thank you for allowing us to teach, guide, and learn with you this semester. We are grateful for the experiences, lessons, and opportunities for growth that we shared together.

Wishing everyone a joyful holiday season, and a blessed New Year ahead! See you all on January 12, 2026!

Strength doesn't come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn't.

To all our future LCIC Civil Engineers: review with kweenly purpose, study with confidence, and face each exam with the strength you’ve built all semester. This Finals Week is your moment to prove what you’ve learned, overcome your limits, and rise as the engineers you are becoming. 💪

We are cheering for you as you take your finals this December 9, 10, 11, and 12, 2025. Give it your best, you’ve worked hard, now it’s time to shine.

Good luck, LCIC CE Students!

Today, the LCIC Civil Engineering Department solemnly observes the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. May her intercession bring guidance, protection, and inspiration to our community.

As we close Civil Engineering Month, we wholeheartedly recognize and appreciate all licensed Civil Engineers who continue to build the foundations of society whether through designing and analyzing structural systems that ensure safe buildings, constructing roads and bridges that connect people, engineering dams and drainage systems for flood control, or teaching and mentoring students who will become the next generation of professionals. You shape not only our physical environment, but also the future of the profession.

CE Concept of the Week: Your PRC License

Did you know that in the Philippines, you cannot legally call yourself a Civil Engineer unless you have passed the PRC Board Examination and hold a valid license? This title carries weight not just socially, but legally and professionally.

Under RA 544, Section 22, misrepresenting yourself as a Civil Engineer without proper licensure is a violation of the law. This regulation ensures that only qualified and accountable individuals can sign plans, supervise projects, and make engineering decisions that directly affect public welfare and safety.

A heartfelt congratulations to the 4,268 successful examinees out of 14,043 candidates who passed the Civil Engineers Licensure Examination administered by the Board of Civil Engineering across 19 testing centers nationwide this November 2025! 🎉

May you be:
• builders of safe and resilient structures,
• innovators of sustainable solutions,
• ethical models of professionalism, and
• inspiring mentors for future engineers.

As Civil Engineering Month concludes, let us continue to honor the profession with integrity, humility, technical excellence, and a dedication to public service because being a Civil Engineer is not just a title to carry, but a commitment to the nation!

CE CONCEPT OF THE WEEK:
Effects of Aftershocks

After an earthquake, smaller earthquakes called aftershocks happen in the same area. Even though they are usually weaker, they can still be dangerous especially to buildings that were already damaged.

Why Are Aftershocks Dangerous?
1. They make damaged buildings weaker.
If a building already has cracks from the main earthquake, an aftershock can make those cracks bigger and even cause collapse.

2. They add stress to structures.
Small repeated shaking can break materials over time just like bending a paperclip again and again until it snaps.

3. They affect repairs and rescue operations.
Engineers, rescuers, and workers are at risk because aftershocks can strike anytime while they’re checking or fixing buildings.

4. They cause more ground movement.
Aftershocks can trigger landslides, especially on slopes. They can worsen liquefaction, where the ground softens like liquid. Soil may sink further, causing more cracks or tilting.

5. They damage roads and utilities.
Roads, bridges, pipes, and power lines can experience more damage from repeated shaking.

6. They increase the risk for tall or irregular buildings.
Tall buildings sway more, and aftershocks can make their movement worse if they were already stressed.

What Engineers Do After an Earthquake
1. Inspect buildings to check safety.
2. Label structures as Safe (Green), Limited Use (Yellow), or Unsafe (Red).
3. Add temporary supports to stop buildings from collapsing.
4. Advise people not to enter until a building is cleared.

Build like an engineer! Strong, safe, and prepared so that further damage can be prevented when aftershocks strike.

CE Concept of the Week:
How Urban Flooding Really Happens

Have you ever wondered why some neighborhoods flood quickly during heavy rain while others stay mostly dry? In civil engineering, flooding in cities usually happens when too much rainwater arrives too fast, and the drainage systems cannot carry it away. Two main factors cause this: how much water is flowing over the ground, and how well the drainage system can handle it.

Main Causes of Urban Flooding
1. Too Many Hard Surfaces
Cities have lots of concrete: roads, pavements, parking areas, and rooftops. Unlike soil or grass, concrete cannot absorb water. This means rainwater stays on the surface and becomes runoff. The more concrete an area has, the faster the water builds up and moves, making flooding more likely.

2. Blocked Drainage Systems
Drainage canals, pipes, and storm drains are supposed to carry water away. But when they fill up with trash, leaves, or mud, water cannot pass through properly. Even normal rain can cause flooding if the drains are clogged, just like water overflowing when a sink is blocked.

3. Drainage Systems That Are Too Old or Too Small
Many drainage systems were designed years ago when cities were smaller and weather patterns were different. Today, we experience stronger rains, more buildings, and more people. Old systems often cannot keep up, causing water to accumulate faster than it can be drained.

4. Buildings Near Rivers and Waterways
When houses or structures are built too close to rivers or natural channels, the water has less space to flow. This creates a “bottleneck” effect, raising water levels and increasing the chance of overflow and flooding in nearby areas.

5. High Tides and Rising Sea Levels (for Coastal Areas)
In cities near the coast, heavy rain during high tide can make flooding worse. Sea water can flow back into rivers and drainage pipes, stopping rainwater from flowing out to sea. As a result, the water stays inland and causes flooding.

How Engineers Reduce Flood Risks

Green Stormwater Solutions
Instead of relying only on concrete drains, engineers now use natural-style systems like rain gardens, bioswales, permeable pavements, and green roofs. These help absorb and slow down rainwater, reducing pressure on drainage systems.

Stormwater Storage Areas
Detention and retention ponds act like temporary holding areas for excess water during heavy rain. They store water and release it slowly, helping prevent sudden flooding downstream.

Upgrading and Expanding Drainage Systems
Cities improve their drainage networks by widening canals, installing bigger pipes, and adding pumping stations. Modern systems are designed for stronger storms to reduce the chance of overflow.

Cleaning and Improving Rivers
Dredging (removing silt) and widening rivers help them hold more water and allow it to flow more smoothly. This reduces the chances of rivers overflowing during storms.

Early Warning and Monitoring Systems
Sensors and computer models help predict flooding before it happens. These tools allow communities and local governments to prepare in advance and reduce potential damage.

Urban flooding is a complicated problem, and no single solution can fix it. Effective flood management requires a combination of engineering improvements, environmental strategies, and responsible community practices.

November is Civil Engineering Month!
Let us honor the innovators and builders who shape our world and protect our dear communities.

CE Concept of the Week:
Why do so many roofs fail during a typhoon?
The roof is usually the first to go, not because of weak materials, but because of aerodynamic uplift, a suction force that pulls the roof upward during strong winds.

Top 3 Reasons Roofs Fail:

1. Roof Shape (Gable vs. Hip): Gable roofs act like sails and catch the wind, while hip roofs let it flow over smoothly, reducing uplift.
2. Large Overhangs (Eaves): Wide eaves give wind a lever to lift the roof. Shorter overhangs perform better.
3. Fasteners (Nails vs. Screws): Nails pull out easily. Tek screws with washers grip tightly and resist suction forces.

A typhoon-resilient roof is an engineered system from its shape to its fasteners.
Build smarter. Build stronger. Build like a Civil Engineer.

We would like to recognize our LCIC Civil Engineering students and other volunteers for their hard work and dedication in extending help to those affected by the recent earthquake.
Thank you for your willingness to help, your compassion and service truly make a difference. Special mention to:

Adolfo, Jheane Celyn
Sagario, Herma Joy
Matidios, Alexa Kimberly
Alinsangan, Nomar Jr
Romano, Maria Pamela
Sitoy, Andrea Belle
Iroy, Marie Montserrat

God bless you all and keep safe.

To all our future LCIC Civil Engineers, keep calm, review well, and slay the exams. Wishing you the best this Prelim Week! 💪
Good luck on your prelims this September 8, 10, 11, and 12, 2025!