AN ENGINEER WHO PRAYS

Lito with his family.  He and his wife Cecille are prayer group leaders in Singapore.

Manuel Henares—Lito or Manny to family and friends—has been in Singapore for the last 16 years now.  He has taken a variety of Sales & Operations roles with his current employer, ExxonMobil, and has been involved in projects and initiatives across multiple countries within the Asia-Pacific region.

Born in Bacolod City, Lito moved to Manila in 1976,  when he was accepted in  Philippine Science High School. He  went on to earn his degree in BS Electrical Engineering at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.  Upon graduation, he targeted the then thriving semiconductor industry, but ended up as a Commodities Trading Assistant at Procter and Gamble instead.  He realized then that for him to move up in an organization, he had to have the knowledge and skills relevant in running a business. Hence, two year after, he resigned and enrolled in the MBA program of the Asian Institute of Management.  With the support of his wife Cecille, who was then working at San Miguel Corporation, they were able to manage financially.

After earning his MBA degree, he took on a number of roles of increasing responsibilities in the electronics & semiconductor industry, where he gained extensive experience in materials management, production and corporate planning. He got concerned about the fast-paced technology advances and short product life cycles within the industry, which exposed its vulnerabilities.  Thus, when the opportunity came to transfer to an oil company, he made the move.

In 1994, Lito became   Storage & Distribution Manager at Mobil Philippines.  Armed with his experience in supply and logistics, he was able to make the shift and succeed in this new industry.  In 2000, he and his family were expatriated to Singapore and he has remained there since.  He has always attributed his good fortunes to God, whom he continues to serve via  parish work and the prayer group that he and his wife lead.

In the book "Pointers for New College Graduates,"  Lito offers some advice:

• Plan your career. Know what you want to do, which industries to explore and which companies you want to work for. Keep milestones regarding your career progress. If you are not moving up in 2 to 3 years on a job, ask yourself why and be prepared to initiate action.

• Equip yourself. Be aware of your own areas for improvement. Identify the skills and knowledge needed for you to move up. In my case, I saw the need for an MBA and personally invested time and finances in it. And always guard your integrity. Aside from your competencies, your character will always be evaluated.

• Pray. You need more than luck to manage your personal life and your career.

Read more about Lito's pointers for new college graduates, specifically for  those aiming to  work in Logistics and Supply.

"Pointers for New College Graduates," by Gerry P. Siquijor. Available at FULLY BOOKED,  St. Pauls, Pauline Bookstores, and branches of Catholic Book Center.

LOVE OR CAREER: A TEACHER MADE A HARD CHOICE

Being the youngest in the family, Aurora "Au" Enriquez,  felt she received so much attention when she was growing up that she decided to take up a college course that would prepare her for a caring profession.

Au considered becoming a nurse, but eventually, found herself at the University of the Philippines - Diliman taking up B. S. in Social Work. Her course opened her eyes to social realities— the poor, the oppressed and the disadvantaged—which further deepened her resolve to be in community service.

At UP she met her best friend and eventual husband, Victor, who would eventually change the course of Au’s life. He left for New York to finish his college studies, while Au stayed at UP. 

Upon graduation, Au worked with the Philippine Red Cross, where she encountered children with special needs. These children were abused in their homes. They had to be taken out of their conditions and brought to Department of Social Work and Development and to some non- government centers. At that time, the temporary homes did not offer any alternative education for those children. Such sad realities inspired Au to design and implement new alternatives to regular schooling. She enrolled in UP’s Master’s Degree Program in Special Education with focus on Behavioral Disorder. While she was working at the Philippine Red Cross and while pursuing her master studies, she was nurturing a long-distance relationship with Vic—who later on offered her marriage. Au followed her heart, she accepted Vic’s proposal.

In 2002, when Au boarded the plane that would take her to the US, she had mixed emotions. She was excited to be with Vic yet she was sad that she would leave her home country. Au consoled herself with the thought that given her local teaching license, she could keep the door open to the Philippines for her to continue in the future her work with disadvantaged children.

Today, Au is a Special Education teacher in New Jersey, where she helps high school students with cognitive impairments. She and Vic now have four children, whose smiles remind her of the youth on the other side of the Pacific, still waiting for her return someday.

Au Enriquez, with her husband and four children.

Au’s pointers for new college graduates:

• Learn to listen. One of my favorite pieces is Desiderata, from which I find a line resonates in me:

                     “Listen to the dull and the ignorant. They too have their story.”

Take this to heart. In any type of work and in any setting, you will meet different types of people: who have different sets of values, beliefs, history and cultural backgrounds. Do not be quick to dismiss their personal narratives and life stories. There is much to be learned from other people, especially the ones who have no tolerance of human differences. Remember, you may one day find that you have turned into the exact person you vowed never to become. Close- minded people were once open minded- but became set in their ways.

• Seek out experience. Find out what you are truly passionate about and try to get as much experience in that field as possible.

• Establish a good work ethics. Early in your career, regardless of any industry, come to work on time and finish projects before due dates. This will establish you as a hard worker that is dependable and professional.

Read more about Au's  pieces of advice for those aspiring to have a career in Education.

"Pointers for New College Graduates" by Gerry P. Siquijor. Available at Fully Booked, St. Pauls and Paulines Bookstores, and branches of Catholic Book Center.