DUBAI A Filipina receptionist in Dubai who turned to XPRESS readers with an unusual request five years ago is back in the news with a heartwarming story.
In September 2009, Corazon Tarcena, 48, a former teacher had appealed to the public to donate an old PC so she could send it back home to her son Marco and daughter Maricar, studying in high school at the time. Today, they are not only computer-literate but technically qualified graduates ready to take on the world.
Tarcena, who hails from the remote Paluan town in Mindaro Occidental Province of the Philippines, earns Dh3,000 a month – up from Dh2,500 in 2009. The grateful receptionist said she received far more than what they bargained for.
Dream come true
“All I wanted at the time was that my children become computer-literate. But I am proud to say that both Marco and Maricar went on to do their graduation in fields I could never have imagined. While Marco did a five-year course in computer engineering – he is currently looking for employment - Maricar did a four-year accounting technology course. She has already landed a job. Both of them are here in Dubai now.”
Tarcena said the 2009 XPRESS report had generated an overwhelming response. “I was flooded with phone calls from people wanting to donate their old PCs. And just when I wondered how I could send them to the Philippines, a Dubai-based firm came forward offering to ship them for free.”
Tarcena said despite the many offers, she accepted four PCs and a laptop. “I chose five units because my son and daughter could have one each, while the other three could be used by teachers at their school. It used to pain me that children in the Province did not have the right infrastructure or facilities to study.”
She said back in 2009, use of computers was such a rarity in schools in Paluan that students largely learnt about them through pictures or posters. There were wireless access points in the Philippines 7,000-odd islands but Paluan was hampered by lack of electricity. A generator provided power to her hometown but it ran only from 5pm to midnight. The only time power was available through the day was when there was a special occasion.
“Children seldom used computers in school. They never had the feel of the real thing. But I was keen that my kids wouldn’t be left behind. Thankfully, Marco was so inspired by the laptop he received that he was determined to pursue a career in computer engineering. I just pray that he gets a decent job in Dubai now, with help from its kind residents,” said Tarcena.
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