Problem/Goal:

I'm a graduating Data Science student at Mapúa with two internship offers, and I'm trying to decide which one would be better for my career trajectory and resume when I apply as a fresh grad.

Context:

Both are in Metro Manila and easily accessible (walking distance to EDSA Carousel and MRT). I like both companies and would be happy with either, but they offer different trade-offs. Here's what I'm looking at:

RCBC (Data Science and Analytics Intern) — Mandaluyong

Pros:

• Bank prestige and established reputation in the industry
• Tech stack is more advanced (confirmed by a friend already interning there)
• I personally know my supervisor — he was my professor at Mapúa last year and is honestly one of my best professors in terms of my major. I really like his teaching style: on point, direct, and I learned a lot from him
• Stipend/bonus at the end of the internship (amount not disclosed)

Cons:

• 5 days RTO (return to office)

Henkel (Customer Excellence Data Science Intern) — Makati

Pros:

• International company (German-based)
• Good working environment
• Hybrid setup (2–3 days RTO)
• Internship allowance: ₱600/day (600 hours total ≈ ₱45,000)

Cons:

• Honestly not sure; I don't know enough about the role specifics yet

Previous Attempts:

I'm torn between two things: Henkel's ₱600/day allowance is really tempting haha, and the hybrid setup is a huge plus. That said, money is just a bonus for me — what really matters is learning and growth.

Any advice would be appreciated!