Vlad, sweat and victory

Vladimir is a common Russian name possibly originating from the Moscow city of the same name, made famous thanks to prominent people like Vladimir Nabokov (who penned the novel Lolita) and, of course, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

If you ask me, I would add Vladimir Santos to this prestigious list.

A former scholar and presently head of the electrical department of the Meralco Foundation Inc. (MFI), Vladimir Santos, as you may have already guessed, is not Russian. The 32-year-old Filipino electrical engineer grew up in the tough district of Tondo, Manila. Vlad is the second child in a brood of three. His dad Virgilio Santos is a former policeman presently employed at BFAR. Mom Felicidad Santos is a homemaker. Vlad got his name from the newspaper by his aunt, who thought Vladimir was a very manly monicker. And true enough, this Vladimir has become a man who dares to dream and conquers challenges.

It all started when Vlad took the Industrial Technician Program (ITP) in MFI under Electrical Technology back in 1986. "I could only study through a scholarship because we were financially hard up then," recalls Vlad. He had quite a few choices like Mapua, PLM, UPD and MFI. "But I particularly liked MFI because it was quite a different experience there — without the usual university atmosphere."

But even as he was selected to be one of the scholars of MFI, the battle ensued. "It was really tough entailing many sleepless nights and tiring schedules. Although we had transportation allowance back then, I was still financially broke," Vlad recounts.

"Difficult as it was, I still had a great time. The caring and nurturing attitude that MFI gave us is really different.

"I learned self-discipline and the drive for excellence. When I was a scholar, I realized that MFI was giving me something more valuable than technical skills. It gave me something I can be proud of someday — reasons to feel good about myself. Courage, patience, caring, knowledge, to name a few."

On the fruitful year of 1989, Vladimir Santos graduated, bagging the Academic Excellence Award, Most Outstanding Student plum and and Athlete of the Year honors.

Before Vlad started to work in MFI as an assistant instructor, he honed his technical skills working for several companies in on-the-job training. He continued his career as an educator in his alma mater and never stopped achieving. He placed third in the Registered Electrical Engineer Board Exam in 1998 and was awarded Employee of the Year 2000 in MFI. But it is not just all about technical skills. "The difference of being an MFI graduate is that you know how to survive and excel in the most adverse situations. MFI graduates may not be the smartest people, but they are independent, God-fearing and disciplined," Vlad attests.

All these exploits may not have made Vlad a millionaire but success or victory is not measured by monetary gains. "Learn to appreciate what life has given you and believe in yourself" is what he would advise you.

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To all those who are interested the Industrial Technician Program (ITP), it is a three-year post-secondary, non-degree course designed as a response to the critical shortage of quality middle-level manpower or technicians, who work with the hands of a craftsman and the mind of an engineer. This is offered mostly as scholarship grants to promising yet less privileged Filipino high school graduates. The curriculum is a balanced mix of classroom lecture and laboratory work performed in an ambience approximating an industrial setting. The ITP offers five specialization areas of technology namely: Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation, Tool & Die, and Information technology (IT).

Every year, MFI processes close to 2,000 applicants for the ITP scholarship in the Ortigas campus. It has developed a rigid screening process necessary to select the 150 new scholars it can accommodate every school year. These applicants come largely from Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Thousands more are processed in extension programs with sponsored partners. Most students of the ITP are sponsored by the Meralco Foundation, Inc. and by cooperating firms industry, associations, other foundations and socially oriented individuals. And as of graduation time, an average of 99.05 percent of the students are employed.

Scholarship applicants must be:

• A Filipino citizen between 16 to 22 years old;

• A high school graduate;

• Single;

• Able to pass the competitive admission tests, interview, and orientation classes;

• Physically and mentally fit;

If applying for full scholarship, the family income should not exceed P100,000 or a per capita income of P15,000 annually.

Applicants go through the admission tests, interviews and summer orientation program. Their performance in these activities, together with results of MFI validation visits to applicant’s homes, is used as the basis in selecting the new batch of scholars.

MFI is currently accepting applicants for this year. Inquire at the Meralco Foundation Inc. Bldg., Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City, or call 632-07-56. Visit the website at www.mfi.org.ph.

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E-mail: Jazkmdc@yahoo.com.