In a world where success is often measured by promotions and prestige, TFT Watchlist Top Filipino Engineers and Architects in the Middle East 2023 awardee and Filipino engineer Paul Anderson Vera has chosen a different yardstick, one that counts the people he has inspired, mentored, and helped succeed.
From rising through the ranks of the global construction industry to mentoring Filipino engineers seeking international recognition, Vera has built a career anchored on integrity, excellence, and servant leadership.
For him, being named a TFT Watchlist Awardee is more than another accolade. It reaffirmed his purpose and deepened his commitment to helping fellow Filipinos succeed beyond the country’s borders.
“It made me more proud of being a Filipino working on the international stage. I also wanted other Filipinos to succeed in their own respective career,” Vera said.
A graduate of Geothermal Engineering, a non-board degree often overshadowed by traditional engineering programs, Vera struggled to find opportunities in the Philippines. At just 21 years old, he left home to work overseas, determined to build a career through perseverance rather than convention.
Nearly two decades later, Vera serves as a Regional Contracts Manager responsible for contracts involving projects worth more than US$1 billion, making him one of the youngest Filipinos to hold a management position in his company.
Despite his accomplishments, Vera believes leadership is not defined by authority or position.
“I lead by example. In doing so, it is a must for me always to act professionally and with integrity. By setting an example, it encourages and inspires the younger generation to be better people and aspire to be a leader in their own ways,” he said.
His leadership philosophy extends beyond the workplace. Through the Philippine Institute of Certified Quantity Surveyors (PICQS), Vera leads structured training programs that prepare Filipino quantity surveyors to confidently present their professional competencies before international audiences.
He said many Filipinos possess exceptional technical skills but often struggle to communicate confidently in multicultural environments, limiting their opportunities for advancement.
To address this, Vera mentors professionals undergoing their Assessment of Professional Competence (APC), helping them strengthen their written submissions and prepare for chartership. He also serves as an instructor at the Philippine Institute of Built Environment (PIBE), teaching contracts administration to Filipino engineers and architects pursuing qualifications in quantity surveying.
For Vera, empowering others has become just as rewarding as achieving personal milestones.
Among the achievements he values most is becoming a Chartered Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), one of the world’s most respected professional organizations for quantity surveyors and construction professionals.
He also completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Surveying and earned a Master of Business Administration in Construction and Real Estate through UCEM. His academic excellence earned him a nomination as a finalist for the university’s Outstanding Student of the Year Award.
Equally meaningful to him was receiving the PICQS Mentor of the Year Award, recognizing his commitment to helping fellow Filipinos obtain international certifications and unlock better career opportunities abroad.
“We train them how to present a case study under time pressure effectively. We teach them to make smart, confident and spontaneous responses in front of others. Progressively they would develop such soft skills, which would help them progress in their careers,” Vera said.
Outside his profession, Vera quietly supports charitable initiatives in Dubai, participating in donation drives and feeding programs for workers while choosing to stay away from the spotlight.
Looking back on his journey from a young OFW searching for opportunities to becoming a respected industry leader and mentor, Vera hopes his story will encourage more Filipino professionals to believe in their abilities, pursue lifelong learning, and lift others as they climb.
