JEDDAH, 28 August — These days, when you do not know how to operate a computer, you are illiterate!
To help OFW’s overcome this dilemma, the Overseas Filipino Workers Cooperative Council (OFWCC) conducted an 8-week computer literacy seminar, the ninth in a series, which produced 75 graduates from the Western Region.
The graduates were a mix of men and women in their fifties to a teenagers as young as 13 years old. They also came from different parts of the region, some as far as Taif. All the graduates received certificates from Consul General Kadatuan P. Usop, assisted by OFWCC officers, during a simple graduation ceremony at the Tropicana Restaurant last Friday.
In his inspirational speech, Consul General Usop, challenged the graduates to become an "economic man." He said Filipinos, in general, are very kind such that when family or friends borrow their hard-earned money, they don’t even bother to ask for repayment. He said that this attitude must change.
"Even if its family, when they borrow money, they must pay back, so that the capital is kept intact. Hard-earned money must be put into profit-oriented business, transforming us into an economic man. This is the only way to grow," Usop said.
"The process of transformation starts here," he exhorted the graduates.
Noting the impact of computers in the lives of people, Usop also remarked that the seminars is "relevant and its about time Filipinos become actual partners in the development of their own towns and provinces in the Philippines."
Varied participants
One-third of the participants were women, mostly working in hospitals in the city and around the western region.
Marilou Aquino, for one, came all the way from Taif. When asked why she attended the seminar, she said: "I want to know more about computers and share it with my colleagues and friends."
Ms. Aquino said she found out that she had more to discover about computers after attending the eight-session OFWCC seminar-workshop.
For 52-year-old Abdul Hadi de Leon, the seminar is a way for him to be at par with the younger generation. "Wala pang PC noong araw, so slide rule pa ang gamit naming... naiiwanan na ako (there were no computers when we were in college. We belonged to the slide rule generation … we are left behind)."
To Marissa San Pedro, 13, who is already computer literate, the seminar introduced her to the more advanced features of PowerPoint -— a presentation software. "The program is very helpful especially in making school assignments," she said.
Basheer Ali Rebleza, from Kansas City in the United States, works for Abbot Laboratories. He was just passing by Jeddah on an assignment when he read about the seminar in Arab News. He grabbed the opportunity while he is in town. Good decision. He learned so many things during the seminar that he opined: "Very informative, basically my knowledge of computers was enhanced."
Ruben Atienza said he just accompanied his wife Ana Maria to the seminar and had no intention of participating. His wife prevailed upon him and he now realizes that they made a great decision. Next seminar, he said he will enrol his children.
Edriss Tamano, an architect and painter who "declared war" against the PC 10 years ago, said the seminar was an eye-opener. With the help of the computer, he said he could do a lot of things now.
The OFWCC’s pool of instructors are composed of experts led by Rudy Carillo, Gerry Paala, and Ernie Geslani.
Other upcoming seminars
OFWCC Chairman Dawood Enggay said the computer seminar is becoming more and more attractive and successful that, due to public demand, the 10th series had been set on Sept 20.
Participants, however, are accepted on a first-come first-served basis.
In addition to this, Wenfred Castolome, vice chairman of OFWCC and the chairman of education and training committee, said that an advanced course in Microsoft Access would be conducted on Sept. 6 at the Tropicana Restaurant. Those who attended the recent seminar are welcome to attend. They don’t have to pay seminar fees anymore, but they will have to chip in for lunch.
Aside from receiving the usual certificates, graduates received a diskette loaded with tools they may need when the use the programs and applications they have studied.