Buhay Tan has proven that age does not matter when it comes to acquiring new skills in information technology (IT). Nearly 80, Tan resolved to further expand her knowledge by acquiring new skills in computers.
“I was able to learn fast typing and Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Publisher and also video calling,” said Tan who is among the thousands of graduates of the project called “Tulay.”
Tan gave her testimony during the official launch of Tulay’s new IT facility under the joint project of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Microsoft and Blas F. Ople Policy Center. The new facility is located at Blas F. Ople Development Center building in Intramuros, Manila.
“I really like to learn more. My grandchildren do not like to teach me maybe because of my old age. They underestimated me,” Tan said who hails from Davao.
With her new computer skills, this mother of nine has found a cheaper means to communicate with her nine children, some of whom are based abroad.
“I have children abroad. I would like to communicate with them so I was interested. I am very thankful to the people behind it,” said Tan.
Through the Tulay program, Tan now enjoys browsing and adding friends in her new Facebook account, a social networking site.
Another Tulay program graduate is Paterno Santos, a retired member of the military who went to Saudi Arabia as an overseas Filipino worker.
“Naisipan ko pong mag-OFW para mapag-aral ang dalawang anak ko sa kolehiyo. Nagtrabaho ako sa private at government hospital ng Saudi Arabia bilang dental technician,” Santos said.
With the little money he saved from working abroad, Santos was able to buy a small place for his Internet shop business.
“Kabubukas ko lang nitong November 2008, mayroong apat na computers at lima ang servers. Sa awa ng Diyos ayos naman ang negosyo at nakatulong sa kabuhayan namin,” he said.
Santos is now assisting in the operation of their Internet shop business after graduating from Tulay.
“Noong namasyal ako sa OWWA, nag-alok sila ng libreng Microsoft training na makakatulong sa pagpapatayo ng kabuhayan para sa OFW. Naisipan kong magparal para matuto akong gumamit ng computer at makatulong na din sa pagpapatakbo sa aking negosyo,” he said. “Napaka-importante po ang ginagampanan ng mga computers sa buhay natin ngayon dahil lahat po de-computer na. The most important thing is that communication with loved ones abroad or in distant towns and/or cities in the Philippines from has become cheaper and easier.”
From report by Maria Aleta O. Nieva
