TVIRD Career Day offers a glimpse of what a Subanon can become
He used to dream of becoming a soldier, but it changed after he had listened to the speech of a geologist.
Romeo Obongin, 18, a high school senior, told a group of professionals who spoke in front of third and fourth year students of Canatuan National High School that he no longer wants to become a soldier. The young Subanon student, instead, wants to be a Geologist someday.
This is just one of the dreams expressed by many students during the recent “sharing of experiences” between the young professionals of TVI Resource Development (Phils.) Inc.(TVIRD) and the junior and senior students of Canatuan National High School (CNHS) in an activity dubbed as “Career Day”.
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(left, standing) Romeo Obongin, “After listening to the speakers, I realized that there are many professions I can choose to pursue.” (right) HRAD Superintendent Rey Romero spearheaded the Career Day program to widen the horizons of graduating students about the choices they could make after graduating from high school.
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Dr. Jason dela Cruz, a company physician, shares his expertise in the field of medicine.
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“The activity aims to give the students ideas on what courses to take up in college based on their skills and inclinations. It is one of our programs for our host community,” Rey Romero, superintendent of the company’s Human Resource and Administration (HRAD) disclosed.
“As a Subanon, it is my great pride to share to the students my experiences and the sacrifices my parents made so that I can finish my studies. I hope that the students will someday become professionals. Poverty is not a hindrance to attain a better future,” narrated Gemma Tolentino, a Subana who has been working with TVIRD as forester for the last ten years.
All the speakers shared their experiences on how they persevered just to finish the course. Most of them are scholars during their student years.
“After listening to the speakers, I realized that there are many professions I can choose to pursue,” Obongin shared. He added that he is going to take up BS Geology because he is interested in Earth Science and that he grew up in a community engaged in small scale mining before the entry of TVIRD. He wishes to work as a geologist in a mining company, preferably with TVIRD in the future.
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Teachers and third and fourth year students alike share a light moment with the speakers in front.
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“I appreciate that TVIRD conducted this career counselling for graduating students. I am a product of an activity like this. My becoming a metallurgist is through the recommendation of my former principal who did not err in advising me to take up metallurgy,” disclosed Engr. Edgar Israel, chief metallurgist of TVIRD.
Engr. Hilario Gingo reminded all the students that what is important is sheer determination and perseverance to reach their goals.
He compared life to a pencil which, if always sharpened, will be able to write many times. “I hope they will remember me,” said Gingo who shared that education is one of the tools that man should have to realize his goals in life.
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(clockwise from top) Engr. Hilario Gingo, a civil engineer and chief maintenance planning engineer of Mill Maintenance department; Manuel Apolinario, accounting analyst in Finance department; Henry Mark Casocot, company nurse; and Engr. Edgar Israel, chief metallurgist in MetLab.
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The 12 professionals who are also employed with TVIRD served as resource speakers for the “Career Day”. The Speakers bureau is composed of the following: Engr. Edgar Israel, chief metallurgist in Met Lab, Engr. Hilario Gingo, civil engineer and chief maintenance planning engineer of Mill Maintenance Department, Manuel Apolinario, accounting analyst of Finance Department, Dr. Jason de la Cruz, company physician, Verna Sanico-Navarro, senior geologist in Mines Department, Delfin Butawan, chemist and senior laboratory supervisor at ASSAY Laboratory, Gemma Tolentino, company forester in Environmental Department, Rianne Marie Miranda, mass communicator and public affairs officer in Public Affairs Department (PA), John Paul Navarro, mining engineer in Mines Department, Jane Manaog, teacher and information education campaign (IEC) Officer of CREDO, Henry Mark Casocot, company nurse, and Rey Romero, site manager of HRAD.
“We are very grateful to TVIRD which heeded our invitation to conduct this career day activity. Even with just a short period, its impact to our students is great,” said Aileen dela Torre, teacher-in-charge of CNHS.
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(clockwise from top) Delfin Butawan, a chemist and senior laboratory supervisor of Assay Laboratory; John Paul Navarro, mining engineer of Mines Department; Verna Sanico-Navarro, senior geologist of Mines Department; and Gemma Tolentino, a company forester of Environment Department.
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The career day committee was composed of Rey Romero and Dr. Jason dela Cruz of HRAD, Rianne Miranda of PA, and Jane Manaog of CReDO.
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The Career Day committee, the professionals, and students and teachers are all fulfilled to have listened to the different stories and experiences of each and everyone.
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After the career day activity, many of the students expressed their interest to apply for scholarships in college. Canatuan National High School has 40 students who are candidates for graduation.
The elementary and secondary schools in Canatuan enjoy the support of TVIRD. The company provided the schools with additional school buildings, teachers, books, desktop computers and net books. Just recently it provided the school with internet. TVIRD offers scholarship grants to the deserving students as well. (Erica G. Etbew)
