RIYADH, 11 December 2007 — Thirty-three Filipino and Indian accountants, engineers, and office executives have completed the MBA crash course conducted by the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Riyadh Chapter.
Considered to be the “first of its kind” in the national capital, the crash course ran for five Fridays until Dec. 6, with Ernesto Olita, an MBA graduate of Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom, as resource speaker.
Olita, who also took advanced studies at the Philippines’ prestigious Ateneo de Manila University, is a senior management consultant with Riyadh-based Souks Consulting Company.
Ambassador Antonio Villamor, the guest of honor, and chapter president Elmer Gironella handed out the certificates of completion at the close of the course on Dec. 6 at Siteen Palace Hotel.
In his speech, Villamor cited the PICPA project as a step in the right direction as he stressed the importance of continuing a “lifelong education.”
“Truly, education is the key to the formation of a culture of peace in a seamless society of service-oriented and civic-minded citizens — for the dedicated, high-achieving individual, learning never stops,” said Villamor.
“Everybody thinks of changing humanity and yet nobody thinks of changing himself. Education is the only investment that never fails and it is only through educated information that we could have formation of character leading to a transformation of society,” he added.
Lorenz Diaz, chapter vice president for community services and employment assistance, believed that the objectives of the course have been achieved.
“We were amazed and overwhelmed by the response of the participants who took the course seriously and intensely particularly when they worked on the case studies and exercises.
One of the NRI or non-resident Indian participants, industrial engineer Faizal Ziauddin, said he did not regret attending the course for it was “done professionally” and at par with other similar programs that he has attended.
“Being a member of Indian Engineers Forum in Riyadh, I know the effort and commitment that is required in conducting such program over five weeks with more than forty people participating,” he said.
Ras Mangadang, an HRD officer of Geant described the course as “very I.S.E.” which stands for informative, stimulating and educational.
Aside from the graduation ceremony, PICPA’s second general membership meeting for the program year 2007-2008 was also held and a seminar titled “Introduction to Stock Trading On-line and Mutual Funds” was conducted by Edwin Fontiveros of the Saudi Investment Bank.
The graduates were:
Albert Bakabak, Arnold T. Valeriano, Arsenio N. Trigo, Bukhari S.H. Nor Cali, Celso M. Ditalo, Cesar L. Delos Reyes Jr., Cherry M. Jabines, Edgar C. Garcia, Elmo Sadyangabay, Faisal Ziauddin, Froilan Rodriguez, Glenn Penales, Jayanta Kumar Mog, Jepanibing D. Enrique, Josefino M. Ortega, Joy D. Barrios, Julius I. Dunoz, Marilou A. Melo, Mario R. Mercurio, Mohammed Issa Atencia, Nelson Palacol, Nerissa P.Gironella.
Orlando R. De Vera, Pablo M. Milano, Ramy Pudadera, Rashid A. Mangadang, Renato M. Torres, Rene P. Sellado, Richard J. Virtudazo, Robert Daniel M. Ligot, Romeo C. Bautista, Ronnel A. Lawas, Virgilio G. Laungayan, Wilson V. Luna, Elmer T.Gironella, Augustin Tanagras, Erlyn P. Mateo, Profetiso Baliano, Frank S. Bufi, Lorenzo Juan E. Diaz, Dominador C. Barnachea, Beethoven T. Lee, Marlon M. dela Cruz, and Cesar H. Rementina.
Trigo was given a special award as leader of the “best group” for submitting the most outstanding case study.
“The speaker was excellent, superb and exceptional that we felt like we were studying a full course in a university,” said Trigo, a computer engineer who himself is involved in training OFWs in computer courses.
“This crash course is an investment in knowledge which will always pay the best interest,” said Cherry Jabines, a finance and accounting supervisor in Riyadh College of Dentistry and Pharmacy.
“It will lead me confidently in the right direction with purpose and determination to achieve a successful business management,” she added.
