From overcoming poverty to helping build one of the world’s largest international events, Filipino civil engineer Engr. Gerry Ligtutan said servant leadership, lifelong learning, and giving back to the community have been the driving forces behind his professional journey.
Ligtutan, who was part of the team that delivered Expo 2020 Dubai and has earned multiple international engineering and project management certifications, said true leadership is rooted in service rather than authority.
“As a servant leader you must have the skills of a great leader, and for me some of these skills are stewardship, commitment to growth and lead by example,” he said.
Throughout his career, Ligtutan said he has encouraged fellow engineers and colleagues to continuously upgrade their skills to remain globally competitive.
“I always talking and encourage my friends, colleague, and other people to continue develop their skills, being a licensed Civil Engineer in the Philippines is not enough to compete in a global scale,” he said.
He added that he has mentored colleagues to pursue postgraduate studies and professional certifications, sharing his knowledge and experience to help them advance in their careers.
One of the defining moments of his professional journey came in 2019 when he joined the team behind Expo 2020 Dubai.
He described the project as both extraordinary and demanding, saying it strengthened his project management and leadership skills while allowing him to build a strong international professional network.
Ligtutan’s professional achievements include earning a LEED Green Associate certification, Chartered ASEAN Engineer status, ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor certification, Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, and Chartered Construction Manager (MCIOB) membership. He also completed a master’s degree in Construction Management while working full-time overseas.
“Dedication, hard work, perseverance, family support and guidance from above is my ultimate strength to achieved all those qualifications,” he said.
Despite his professional accomplishments, Ligtutan said success is measured not only by career milestones but also by happiness, strong relationships, and the ability to help others.
His commitment to service extended beyond the workplace. While living in the United Arab Emirates, he became active in Filipino professional organizations, including the Overseas Filipino Civil Engineers Association and the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers’ Abu Dhabi chapter. He also served as an officer of the Order of the Knights of Rizal – Emarat Dubai Chapter.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he and fellow volunteers distributed food supplies to overseas Filipino workers in Deira and Satwa under the spirit of “bayanihan.”
Back in the Philippines, Ligtutan has continued his philanthropic work by providing assistance to families affected by typhoon, donating school supplies and financial assistance to his former elementary school in Leyte, and supporting churches and community projects in his hometown.
Reflecting on the challenges faced by overseas Filipino workers, Ligtutan said job insecurity and low wages remain among their biggest concerns.
“I believed and strongly suggest that we OFW’s must continue to pursue our personal development by doing continuous educations to achieve professional certificates or qualifications to become better versions of ourselves and be globally competitive,” he said.
He emphasized that continuous education and internationally recognized certifications can open doors to better-paying jobs and broader professional networks.
For Ligtutan, professional success carries a greater responsibility to uplift others and inspire the next generation of Filipinos to dream beyond their circumstances.
“Aim high, work on, be humble and be a Servant Leader are my key values in my personal and work life that I kept for a very long time,” he said.
