An Autobiography of Unknown Filipino

A Spoken Autobiography: "I finished my elementary education in the early 60's in an old dilapidated schoolhouse in San Pablo City, Laguna. After graduation, I took a few years respite apparently for economic reason. At the age of 17, I was able to pursue my secondary course with some financial support from my lawyer brother - for my tuition fees alone. I used to attend my high school classes with only few pennies in my purse, just enough to ride in a passenger jeep going back home, taking my break period away from my classmates who had enough allowances to go snacking in the nearby school canteen.

To support my miscellaneous academic expenses, I worked as Pedi cab driver in the daytime and attended the Night High School classes in the afternoon onward. This sacrificial endeavor went on and on until I graduated from high school with excellent grades. I was able to pursue my college education through sweat and tears.

After reaching my third year college irregular classes, my brother obviously got fed up of financing my tuition fees and eventually pulled out his support. My Pedi-cab job could not afford it either, hence, I temporarily refrained from my schooling. However, my educational frustrations have never prevented me from pursuing other vocation. I enrolled in different low-cost short classes, i.e., Typewriting Course, Basic Criminal Investigation Course, Private Investigator Career Diploma Course, to name a few. I also attended several trainings and seminars; Human Development Seminar, Basic Seminar, Real Estate Marketing, Security Supervisory Courses, Anti-Terrorist Driving Course, Fingerprint Lifting and Dactylography, etc. Likewise, I was able to pass the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Examination as Police Officer 3rd Class and the Civil Service Commission Eligibility for Career Service Sub-Professional."

His Works: "I would say I possess an arsenal of work experiences, most of which were derived from investigation assignments and investigative reporting. As a young boy, I landed my first and brief employment as Police Rookie in our town. However, as a traffic policeman with frail physical condition at that time, I found it difficult to perform a broken time job; hence, I eventually resigned and ventured in Manila. From then on, I moved from one job to another looking for better position. I became a Store Detective, Security Officer, and a House Detective. While in such employment, I never stopped looking for more stable working place. I did believe that "the best time to look for a job is "WHEN YOU HAVE A JOB". Just because of this, I became adept to different company pre-employment exams and interviews.

After I passed the NAPOLCOM Police Eligibility and Civil Service Commission Exams, I continued to look for a greener pasture even in the government sector. Without fear or discomfiture, I went from one government office to another personally applying for some vacancies, i.e., the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Phil. Ports Authority, Central Bank, BIR, or Bureau of Customs, setting aside the fact that I was lack of strong sponsors to back me up but my basic civil service eligibilities. I was lucky though, when I received a telegram from the U.S. Embassy's Personnel Department asking me to report for personal interview. I was able to pass the typing requirements and examinations and was later hired as Clerk-Typist of the U.S. Treasury Department.

After a year of efficient and diligent services, I was promoted to the position of Mail and Checks Custodian. Then, I improved to become Senior Mail Clerk of the U.S. Embassy's Consular Section. After serving a span of eight months, I was promoted to the position of Investigator of the U.S. Embassy's Anti-Fraud Unit. For twelve years, I served the Consular Section as full time Consular Investigator where I received several official awards and commendations for the job well done.

Among them were:

• Meritorious Honor Award - June 1986, for constantly demonstrating high level of competence in accomplishing tasks, which has been outstanding and has substantially enhanced the effectiveness of the Anti-Fraud Unit.

• Group Meritorious Honor Award - March 1989, for the outstanding performance of duties and high degree of professionalism and dedication to the accomplishment of the goals of the Anti-Fraud Unit.

• Official recognition and Appreciation - September 1987, for completion of 10 years of service with the United States Government.

• Outstanding Performance Rating - July 1982, given by the U.S. Chief of Anti-Fraud Unit. "He merits the highest rating because of the speed with which he has absorbed the intricate and complex tenets of U.S. Immigration laws and regulations, for absorbing the points of immigration law needed to do his job very quickly; he has at the same time developed into a shrewd and imaginative field man whose aggressive dedication to duty has enabled the Anti-Fraud Unit to resolve several long-pending and difficult cases.

• Adopted Suggestion Award - 1978, awarded by the Chief, U.S. Treasury Department, for his views and suggestion so as to smooth the progress of the Treasury's internal operations.

• Special Achievement Award - 1979, U.S. Treasury, for his dedication and high level of competence in accomplishing tasks.

What a wonderful reminiscence of the past! So far, they were the best evidences of my performance, my best pieces - not until such time that I met an awful vehicular accident that completely broke my life and ruined the future of my children. The mishap happened when I and my driver-colleague, were traveling back home to Manila after completing our background investigations in the far away provinces. While running in a moderate speed along the winding road of a mountainous community, our vehicle suddenly went out of control and skidded right down the approximately 30 to 40-foot deep ravine. Thank God my driver and I were both alive, with only simple bruises and no broken bones. Perhaps it's because of the safety belts we wore at that time, and perhaps because the narrow valley bed to where the vehicle tripped up right-side down, was soft enough to bear the impact of the crash.

But that was a mere continuation of our misfortune. Despite my two Meritorious Honor Awards and several official recognitions for my loyalty to the interest of the diplomatic mission, I finally found myself saying goodbye to my colleagues. Farewell America!

I was then forced to look for another job in the private sector. Armed with extensive investigative experiences, I joined the private security industry as Investigator and at no time became the Security Manager/Director of different security agencies in Metro Manila. I retired at the age of 60.

At this stage, I engrossed myself in the writing world. I spend my time between essay article writings and family management. I have published my first eleven articles in different websites and I'm currently working on my twelfth essay article.

I value my co-writers' thoughts, opinions, ideas, and their passion towards what they want to achieve. My philosophy revolves around the simple premise that I exist to turn my dreams into something real, and then shape that reality into an exceptional product, one which exceeds all of our expectations.

Above all, I'm proud I am a Filipino, in thoughts, in words, in deeds".

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