Taking Chances, Making Dreams Come True
Post date: Oct 11, 2017 3:48:17 AM
Raised from a family of farmers, Michael M. Loayon, fondly called as Badodo by his family and friends, dreamed of removing his family from poverty in P-1, Mabuhay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. Sadly, Badodo became an orphan and had a hard time fending for his own. To survive, his elder siblings took turns in giving his basic needs and education. Such harsh, raw experience made Michael firmly anchored to practicality and reality.
Badodo then heard of ASSAT and the graduates they produced from his friends. Inspired by the successes of ASSAT graduates, he decided to pursue his education and took up Shielded Metal Arc Welding on the said TESDA institution bringing within him the hope of succeeding in the future.
When his SMAW training started, he took advantage of any opportunity presented to him which include availability of materials and machine, trainers’ expertise as well as conversing with other trainees and sharing techniques.
Badodo said that he took the risk of studying SMAW instead of tending their farm because the training fees were reasonable aside from the fact that he wanted to become a welder and work overseas. In addition, his elder siblings are already farming and he knows that they will need a financier every cropping which he will gladly assume the part as his way of returning the favor to his siblings who had helped him from the start.
In 2016, Badodo is hired as a welder in FTV Proclad, Dubai with a monthly income of 2,300 dirhams.
“Nakatabang nako ug ginagmay sa akong mga igsuon sa pinansyal nga bahin (I am able to provide for my family’s minimal financial needs.)”
“Sa kompanya, nakatabang ko sa paghatag ug maayo nga trabaho para nindot ang record nako sa kompanya ug mahimo pong nindot ang record sa kompanya sa ubang kliyente (I helped the company by giving my best for me to have a good record as well as by putting my company in a good light in the eyes of our clients).”
Because of the hardship he faced, Badodo remains optimistic that all of his dreams will come true.
“Dahil sa TESDA, unti-unti ko nang naaabot ang mga pangarap ko (Because of TESDA, I am slowly making my dreams into reality),” he quipped.
In general, Badodo advises the next generation of blue collar job workers to be steadfast, diligent, humble and focused on anything one wants to achieve to succeed.
“ Maging matiyaga, masipag, mapagmakumbaba at maging focus sa trabaho.”
He is planning on putting up his own business someday to generate more earnings and help his family and community.