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OFW from Abu Dhabi earns engineering license after 20 years

A Filipina in Abu Dhabi finally gets her own license as an Electronics and Communications Engineer after 20 years.

Theresa Jaca Ocampo, a QA/QC Manager in the Middle East, joins the list of this year’s passers of the recently concluded Special Professional Licensure Exams (SPLE).

Theresa 20 years engineer

Mustering motivation

The OFW for almost 12 years shares that when she graduated in 1998, she immediately grabbed the chance to take the board after graduation, but was heavily disheartened when she learned that she didn’t pass. However, she had a change of heart when she joined an organization here in the UAE.

“Hindi ako pinalad noon, then never ko na inisip magtake ng board after that. Pero nuong dumating ako ng UAE nung 2007, at nagjoin sa IECEP-UAE, medyo nakita ko ang kahalagahan na pagiging lisensyado. Hindi pwedeng magstay kalang kung nasaan ka ngayon, dahil kailangan mo na ring iupdate ang estado ng profession mo,” said Ocampo.

She also shared that despite her efforts to continue her education as well as the number of trainings she attended, there was still something missing: “Naramdaman ko din na kahit anong dami kong certificates at trainings, at kahit graduate ako ng MBA, may kulang parin para masabi kong tapos na ako sa bachelor’s degree ko, hangga’t dko nakukuha ang lisensyang ito.”

A worthy sacrifice

With the program the IECEP-UAE had for its SPLE aspirants, Ocampo joined the weekends of reviews as they learned and relearned technical theories and practical applications to prepare themselves for the examinations – to the point of having to sacrifice their weekends for it.

“Gumigising ako ng maaga at natutulog ng hating gabi para magreview, nagbabasa basa din sa work during breaktime or basta may free time. Bawas ang gala pag weekend kasi sayang ang oras, inilalaan nalang sa pagrereview. Sakripisyo talaga! Alam natin na hindi madali ang buhay OFW, sa klase ng trabaho ko, grabe ang stress pero hindi iyon nagging hadlang para magpursige ako na makuha ang pangarap ko,” said Ocampo.

Theresa 20 years engineer 2

Don’t miss the opportunity

Ocampo hopes that fellow engineers who have either yet to take their exams or have initially failed would keep their hopes up and attempt to secure their license as the government already enables OFWs to take the exams right here in the UAE by way of the SPLE.

“Ang maipapayo ko sa mga Engineers na hindi pa kumukuha ng SPLE, hwag nyo sayangin ang opportunity. Isa itong programa ng gobyerno natin para itaas ang antas ng ating propesyon, para maging competitive tayo sa ating larangan. Saka ramdam natin na may kulang sa profesyon natin hangga’t hindi tayo lisensyado. Panahon na para isakatuparan ang minimithing lisensya. Laban lang!,” shares Ocampo.

 

Staff Report

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