There has been so much about me that must be known to many: my selfless attitude, my leadership, my will to succeed and the lavish account of my active life. Yet while my contemporaries fritter away on some precarious and confined lives, I am favored and popular to the hearts of many people around me.

This profile has something to do with the full measure of my personality. I am a genuine Laguneňo, my father, Renato (deceased) was from Calamba, Laguna and my mother, Virginia is a native of Los Banos, Laguna. I was born on October 5, 1964 in Los Banos.

A BS Inland Fisheries graduate from University of the Philippines, and one of the recipients of the President Ferdinand E. Marcos Scholarship Program for Fisheries, I have had a charmed career back home as a Fishery Biologist for the Laguna de Bay Fishpen Development Project, located at Bangyas, Calauan, Laguna. It was a joint ADB-OPEC funded government project under the supervision of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA). My appointment there was co-terminus with the project. When the project terminated in 1988, I got transferred to the Laboratory Section of the Environmental Protection Division of Laguna Lake Development Authority where I worked as a Biologist. I used to monitor the Laguna Lake water and its tributaries such as taking samples regularly, bringing them to the laboratory for biological analysis.

But like thousands of others, I came here in the United Arab Emirates to fulfill my goals. I am now hard at work at the Private Office of Sheikh Mansoor bin Tahnoon Al Nahayan as a Laboratory Technician. I believe that everything is bound to changes but I always look forward to better changes in life. I admit that to dare to do something different and to live in a new place is scary but there's nothing much more hideous than living a stagnant life.

I plan to remain as an overseas worker as long as I can be and as long as the opportunities are still within my reach. I know that living in a different country requires some adjustments; I feel that it is all the same as living back home with the normal ups and downs. I adjusted with the Arab system in no time. The country is very keen to current innovations and developments.

But despite being an overseas worker for more than a decade, my love for my country remains. I am proud to say that I am a Filipino, and always do my share in boosting its culture.

At a glance, it seems that I am a bit reserved. But as one gets to know me, one will be surprised to find out that I am an open-minded firebrand. I treat people equally and interact with them with all sincerity and humility. I am a down-to-earth person, the main reason why I have a lot of friends.

My commitment to a life of dignity underlines my character. I live clean through my hard earned salary. In my system permeates idealistic notions and I follow them the best as I can. I feel more comfortable to give than to receive. I always believe that if nature has made you a giver, your hands are born open and so is your heart, and though there may be times when your hands are empty, your heart is always full, and you can give things out of that.

There was obvious delight in my life. I had a happy childhood despite belonging in a below average family. My only regret is that I never experienced to be fathered. My father died when I was just 3 years old. Neither got the chance to know him well nor had seen what kind of a father he was. Though, my mother told me good stories about him. She raised our family and God knows how hard to raise seven children by herself but she did her best. Mom would always tell me to put God first in all my undertakings. All problems have solutions and I should never surrender. Experiences taught me to become formidable and independent.

With a life begun in such dramatic chiaroscuro, I still don't consider myself as fulfilled. I strongly believe that as long as a person is living, the search for fulfillment goes on. Exploration is endless; otherwise if you don't need anything more in life, it's not worth living anymore!©