RIYADH, 5 May 2005 — Around 300 Filipinos, including Labor Attaché Manuel Roldan, a student of Microsoft Access 2003 and PC Hardware Assembly, were awarded proficiency certificates on short courses offered by Computer Society of Filipinos (Comsofil) in a simple ceremony on Thursday at the Liwasang Bonifacio of the Philippine Embassy.

Jerico Mariano, Comsofil’s vice president for education, confirmed that 450 men and 135 women who took up any of the society’s 35 crash courses on computers were eligible for graduation.

Robert Malitao, the group’s press relations officer, said many were unable to attend the ceremonies because they were on duty on that day. “They may, however, claim their certificates at the Riyadh International School (RIS) when registration and classes open in June,” Malitao added.

Graduates in Comsofil’s courses were one in saying that their participation in any of the training courses was worth the time and effort spent.

“I would like to try other line of work and for this reason I took up Web Development,” said Rodel Cruz, a waiter at Seattle’s Best Coffee.

“My only goal is for financial gain,” said Michael Rementillo, an executive assistant, when asked why he still wanted to learn when he was already very familiar with personal computers.

Danny Maniglit, an executive secretary at Pure Breed Company, said: “This is a rare opportunity from Comsofil because I am not getting any younger. Designing through Adobe Photoshop and creating websites have no age requirements and I can do these jobs done at home.”

Comsofil is one of the few organizations in Saudi Arabia that offers short courses to overseas Filipinos on information technology. It has a roster of students who have succeeded and have been promoted in their jobs due to their enhanced skills on personal computers.

In an inspirational speech, Vice Consul Romulo Victor Israel Jr. lauded Comsofil for its commitment in serving OFWs. “We need this kind of organization...,” Israel said.

An undertaking that Comsofil would provide free computer classes to the residents of Bahay Kalinga (the temporary shelter for distressed Filipino workers maintained by the embassy) highlighted the ceremony. It was jointly signed by Archie Trigo (Comsofil president) and Labor Attaché Roldan, representing POLO/OWWA.

Registration for next semester’s classes will open in RIS on June 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 (10 a.m. — 4 p.m.) for women, and June 3, 10, 17, and 24 (8 a.m.— 5 p.m.) for men.

Interested applicants may contact the following Comsofil officials and representatives for details: Archie Trigo at 05093-89756, Jerico Mariano at 05022-84786, Romwald Miranda at 05064-21265, or Robert Malitao at 05064-81926.

Seminar on Creativity to Highlight PICPA Event

Bien Custodio, Arab News

RIYADH, 5 May 2005 — The Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA)-Riyadh Chapter iwill hold its first general membership meeting, induction ceremony and seminar on Friday at the White Palace Hotel along Airport Road. Registration will start at 4 p.m.

Ron Jacobe, Gulf Toastmasters champion in 2003, will conduct the seminar titled “Creativity: Unleashing Seldom Tapped Resources of Your Mind.”

“It’s about harnessing the creative and often untapped potentials of our mind,” Jacobe said.

He said the seminar is useful when a person is stuck and unable to find new and better ways of handling situations, or unable to continue and find solutions to problems.

“It will help us think out of the box,” he said.

Rolando Bermundo, PICPA-Riyadh’s past president, said the chapter also offers a continuing cluster program and seminars on accounting for non-accountants and on the Peachtree Accounting System for two hours every Friday.

“The program and seminar will run for three months, in cooperation with the Computer Society of Filipinos (Comsofil) at the Riyadh International School (RIS),” Bermundo said.

The second batch for year 2005 will start in July.

Enrollment will be in June during Thursdays and Fridays.

For more information, please contact Robert O. Gesell at 218-0180 Ext. 7003 or 05019-83208, Marlon dela Cruz at 218-0180 Ext. 7006 or 05094-45402, Bermundo at 456-5555 Ext. 291 or 05079-73008, or Ferdie Mar Abesamis at 461-3000 Ext. 232 or 05041-38200.